Metriaclima tarakiki
Metriaclima tarakiki was officially described in 2013 by Stauffer, Black and Konings. The genus name Metriaclima comes from ancient Greek and means moderately sloping, this is a reference to the head of these species that slopes slowly upwards. The species name tarakiki comes from Swahili and means slim. A reference to the elongated slender shape of this species.
Before this species was described, it was provisionally named as Pseudotropheus ‘Zebra Mbamba Bay Kompakt’, Spreinat 1994 or Metriaclima sp. ‘zebra slim’, Konings 2001.
The genus Metriaclima has a controversial name. In science, some use the name Metriaclima, others the name Maylandia. Depending on the scientist, the name is Metriaclima tarakiki or Maylandia tarakiki. At AquaInfo we use Metriaclima for this genus.
Description
In the wild, Metriaclima tarakiki reaches a maximum length of about 14 centimeters. The females remain slightly smaller and grow to a maximum of 12 centimeters in length. In the aquarium they are often given too much and too powerful food, which can cause them to grow a bit larger. Males then grow to a maximum length of 18 centimeters.
Dominant males have a light blue to white color on the flank. On top of the white/blue they have seven to nine vertical black stripes.
Biotope
Metriaclima tarakiki has a small distribution area. They are found at Ngkuyo Island, Higga Reef and the rocky coast south of Mbamba Bay, also called Chuwa. All three locations are located in Lake Malawi in coastal waters of Tanzania.
They inhabit the parts where large rocks provide shelter. Typically these rocks are free of sediment.
Video
Author
John de Lange
Copyright images
Mark Thomas – Marks Fiskenarie
References
Descriptions of five new species of Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa – Jay R. Stauffer JR. , Kristin Black & Adrianus F. Konings – 2013
