{"id":95814,"date":"2023-06-24T07:42:59","date_gmt":"2023-06-24T05:42:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T07:02:28","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T05:02:28","slug":"lake-malawi-interactive-map","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/","title":{"rendered":"Interactive Map of Lake Malawi &#8211; Locations and Cichlids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Discover_Lake_Malawi_and_its_cichlids\" >Discover Lake Malawi and its cichlids<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Locations\" >Locations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#How_do_you_use_the_interactive_map_of_Lake_Malawi\" >How do you use the interactive map of Lake Malawi?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Searching_for_a_location\" >Searching for a location<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Searching_for_a_Malawi_cichlid\" >Searching for a Malawi cichlid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Locations_around_Lake_Malawi\" >Locations around Lake Malawi<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Islands\" >Islands<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Reefs_and_rocky_shores\" >Reefs and rocky shores<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Bays_and_sandy_areas\" >Bays and sandy areas<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Why_is_the_collection_location_important_for_Malawi_cichlids\" >Why is the collection location important for Malawi cichlids?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Geographical_variants\" >Geographical variants<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Local_populations\" >Local populations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Collection_locations_in_the_aquarium_hobby\" >Collection locations in the aquarium hobby<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Malawi_cichlids_and_their_distribution\" >Malawi cichlids and their distribution<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Mbuna\" >Mbuna<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Utaka_and_other_haplochromines\" >Utaka and other haplochromines<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Peacock_cichlids_%E2%80%93_Aulonocara\" >Peacock cichlids \u2013 Aulonocara<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#Species_with_a_large_distribution_range\" >Species with a large distribution range<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-interactive-map\/#More_about_Lake_Malawi\" >More about Lake Malawi<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Discover_Lake_Malawi_and_its_cichlids\"><\/span>Discover Lake Malawi and its cichlids<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lake Malawi in East Africa is world-famous for its great variety of cichlids. Many species are found only in this lake, and some even live in just a small part of the shoreline. That is why the exact location where a Malawi cichlid was found is often important.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With AquaInfo&#8217;s interactive map, you can view locations around Lake Malawi and discover which fish occur there. You can search by location name, but also filter by a particular fish species. This allows you to quickly see where a species has been found in Lake Malawi.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The map is especially useful when you want to learn more about the natural distribution of Malawi cichlids. Some species occur in many places around the lake, while others have only a small distribution area. Populations of the same species may also differ between locations in colour, pattern or body shape.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click on a location on the map to view more information. Where available, you can continue from the map to information about the location where the fish were found and the fish species that occur there.<\/p>\n  <section id=\"aimm-map-1\" class=\"aimm\" lang=\"en\" style=\"--aimm-map-height:640px\" data-endpoint=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/aquainfo-lake-map\/v1\/locations\" data-config=\"{&quot;lake&quot;:&quot;malawi&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;,&quot;center&quot;:[-12.2,34.5],&quot;bounds&quot;:[[-14.55,33.8],[-9.35,35.4]],&quot;zoom&quot;:7,&quot;i18n&quot;:{&quot;searchLocation&quot;:&quot;Find a location&quot;,&quot;locationPlaceholder&quot;:&quot;Type a location name&quot;,&quot;searchSpecies&quot;:&quot;Find a fish species&quot;,&quot;speciesPlaceholder&quot;:&quot;Type a scientific name&quot;,&quot;allSpecies&quot;:&quot;All species&quot;,&quot;clearFilters&quot;:&quot;Clear filters&quot;,&quot;wholeLake&quot;:&quot;Show the whole lake&quot;,&quot;showResults&quot;:&quot;Show all results&quot;,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:&quot;Full screen&quot;,&quot;exitFullscreen&quot;:&quot;Exit full screen&quot;,&quot;loading&quot;:&quot;Loading map\\u2026&quot;,&quot;loadError&quot;:&quot;The map data could not be loaded.&quot;,&quot;retry&quot;:&quot;Try again&quot;,&quot;location&quot;:&quot;location&quot;,&quot;locations&quot;:&quot;locations&quot;,&quot;species&quot;:&quot;species&quot;,&quot;viewLocation&quot;:&quot;View location page&quot;,&quot;viewSpecies&quot;:&quot;View species&quot;,&quot;back&quot;:&quot;Back to locations&quot;,&quot;noResults&quot;:&quot;No locations found. Adjust your filters.&quot;,&quot;unlinked&quot;:&quot;AquaInfo does not yet have a species profile for species without a link.&quot;,&quot;noSpecies&quot;:&quot;No species have been listed for this location yet.&quot;,&quot;clusterHint&quot;:&quot;Numbers on the map represent groups of locations. Click to zoom in.&quot;,&quot;coordinateHint&quot;:&quot;Only locations with known coordinates are shown on the map.&quot;,&quot;showAll&quot;:&quot;View all {count} locations&quot;,&quot;showLess&quot;:&quot;Show fewer locations&quot;,&quot;map&quot;:&quot;Map&quot;,&quot;satellite&quot;:&quot;Satellite&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Location type&quot;,&quot;allTypes&quot;:&quot;All location types&quot;,&quot;island&quot;:&quot;Island&quot;,&quot;reef&quot;:&quot;Reef&quot;,&quot;rocky_coast&quot;:&quot;Rocky coast&quot;,&quot;bay&quot;:&quot;Bay&quot;,&quot;coastal_town&quot;:&quot;Coastal town&quot;,&quot;other&quot;:&quot;Other&quot;,&quot;touchHint&quot;:&quot;Use two fingers to move or zoom the map.&quot;,&quot;noOptions&quot;:&quot;No species found.&quot;,&quot;results&quot;:&quot;Locations&quot;,&quot;mapLabel&quot;:&quot;Interactive map&quot;,&quot;zoomIn&quot;:&quot;Zoom in&quot;,&quot;zoomOut&quot;:&quot;Zoom out&quot;,&quot;tileError&quot;:&quot;The background map is temporarily unavailable. You can still explore the locations.&quot;,&quot;speciesSingular&quot;:&quot;species&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;Legend&quot;,&quot;unspecified&quot;:&quot;Other \\\/ unspecified&quot;,&quot;activeFilters&quot;:&quot;Active filters&quot;,&quot;removeFilter&quot;:&quot;Remove filter: {filter}&quot;,&quot;filterLocation&quot;:&quot;Location&quot;,&quot;filterSpecies&quot;:&quot;Species&quot;,&quot;viewDetails&quot;:&quot;View location&quot;,&quot;noSpeciesListed&quot;:&quot;No species listed yet&quot;,&quot;readMore&quot;:&quot;Read more&quot;,&quot;readLess&quot;:&quot;Read less&quot;,&quot;viewPhoto&quot;:&quot;Enlarge photo&quot;,&quot;closePhoto&quot;:&quot;Close photo&quot;,&quot;photoFailed&quot;:&quot;The photo could not be loaded.&quot;,&quot;shareLocation&quot;:&quot;Share this location&quot;,&quot;copyLink&quot;:&quot;Copy link&quot;,&quot;linkCopied&quot;:&quot;Link copied&quot;,&quot;shareHint&quot;:&quot;This link opens the map at this location.&quot;,&quot;shareFailed&quot;:&quot;Could not copy. Select and copy the link below.&quot;,&quot;backMap&quot;:&quot;Back to map&quot;,&quot;locationUnavailable&quot;:&quot;The shared location is not available on this map.&quot;,&quot;noResultsHelp&quot;:&quot;Try another name or clear the filters to see all locations.&quot;,&quot;linkedSpecies&quot;:&quot;Linked species&quot;,&quot;speciesUnavailable&quot;:&quot;The species in this link was not found on this map. It may not have any linked locations yet.&quot;,&quot;speciesAmbiguous&quot;:&quot;This name matches more than one species or variant. Select the correct entry in the search field.&quot;,&quot;loadVideo&quot;:&quot;Load video&quot;,&quot;viewYouTube&quot;:&quot;Watch on YouTube&quot;,&quot;videoLabel&quot;:&quot;YouTube video&quot;},&quot;version&quot;:&quot;3.3.0&quot;,&quot;layers&quot;:{&quot;map&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/tile.openstreetmap.org\\\/{z}\\\/{x}\\\/{y}.png&quot;,&quot;attribution&quot;:&quot;&copy; &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.openstreetmap.org\\\/copyright\\&quot;&gt;OpenStreetMap&lt;\\\/a&gt;&quot;,&quot;maxZoom&quot;:19},&quot;satellite&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/server.arcgisonline.com\\\/ArcGIS\\\/rest\\\/services\\\/World_Imagery\\\/MapServer\\\/tile\\\/{z}\\\/{y}\\\/{x}&quot;,&quot;attribution&quot;:&quot;Powered by &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.esri.com\\\/\\&quot;&gt;Esri&lt;\\\/a&gt; | &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.arcgis.com\\\/home\\\/item.html?id=10df2279f9684e4a9f6a7f08febac2a9\\&quot;&gt;World Imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics and the GIS User Community&lt;\\\/a&gt;&quot;,&quot;maxZoom&quot;:17}}}\" aria-label=\"Interactive map - Malawi\">\n   <div class=\"aimm__toolbar\">\n    <div class=\"aimm__field\">\n     <label for=\"aimm-map-1-search\">Find a location<\/label>\n     <input id=\"aimm-map-1-search\" class=\"aimm__search\" type=\"search\" autocomplete=\"off\" placeholder=\"Type a location name\" disabled aria-controls=\"aimm-map-1-list\">\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"aimm__field aimm__combobox\">\n     <label for=\"aimm-map-1-species\">Find a fish species<\/label>\n     <input id=\"aimm-map-1-species\" class=\"aimm__species-search\" type=\"text\" role=\"combobox\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-autocomplete=\"list\" aria-haspopup=\"listbox\" aria-controls=\"aimm-map-1-options\" autocomplete=\"off\" placeholder=\"Type a scientific name\" disabled>\n     <ul id=\"aimm-map-1-options\" class=\"aimm__options\" role=\"listbox\" aria-label=\"Find a fish species\" hidden><\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"aimm__field aimm__type-field\" hidden>\n     <label for=\"aimm-map-1-type\">Location type<\/label>\n     <select id=\"aimm-map-1-type\" class=\"aimm__type-filter\"><option value=\"\">All location types<\/option><\/select>\n    <\/div>\n    <button class=\"aimm__button aimm__reset\" type=\"button\" disabled>Clear filters<\/button>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"aimm__active-filters\" aria-label=\"Active filters\" hidden><\/div>\n   <div class=\"aimm__controls\">\n    <p class=\"aimm__status\" role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">Loading map\u2026<\/p>\n    <div class=\"aimm__actions\">\n     <button class=\"aimm__button aimm__home\" type=\"button\" disabled>Show the whole lake<\/button>\n     <button class=\"aimm__button aimm__fit\" type=\"button\" disabled>Show all results<\/button>\n     <button class=\"aimm__button aimm__fullscreen\" type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" disabled>Full screen<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"aimm__legend\" aria-label=\"Legend\" hidden><\/div>\n   <p class=\"aimm__hint\">Numbers on the map represent groups of locations. Click to zoom in.<\/p>\n   <div class=\"aimm__layout\">\n    <div class=\"aimm__map-wrap\">\n     <div class=\"aimm__map\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Interactive map\"><\/div>\n     <p class=\"aimm__touch-hint\">Use two fingers to move or zoom the map.<\/p>\n     <div class=\"aimm__layers\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Map\" hidden><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <aside class=\"aimm__sidebar\" aria-label=\"Locations\">\n     <div class=\"aimm__results\"><h3 class=\"aimm__panel-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Locations\"><\/span>Locations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><ol id=\"aimm-map-1-list\" class=\"aimm__location-list\"><\/ol><button class=\"aimm__button aimm__more\" type=\"button\" hidden><\/button><\/div>\n     <div class=\"aimm__detail\" hidden><\/div>\n    <\/aside>\n   <\/div>\n   <p class=\"aimm__footnote\">Only locations with known coordinates are shown on the map.<\/p>\n   <button class=\"aimm__button aimm__retry\" type=\"button\" hidden>Try again<\/button>\n   <noscript>Schakel JavaScript in \/ Enable JavaScript.<\/noscript>\n  <\/section>\n  \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_use_the_interactive_map_of_Lake_Malawi\"><\/span>How do you use the interactive map of Lake Malawi?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The interactive map helps you quickly see where particular Malawi cichlids occur. You can use the map to look up a specific location, but also to see where a particular fish species has been found.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Searching_for_a_location\"><\/span>Searching for a location<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Would you like to learn more about a particular place on Lake Malawi? Use the search function and enter the name of the location. For example, this could be an island, bay, reef or coastal settlement. If the location is in the database, you can select it on the map. This gives you a better idea of where this place is situated on the lake and which fish species occur there.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is especially useful for Malawi cichlids whose location is part of the name used in the aquarium hobby.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Searching_for_a_Malawi_cichlid\"><\/span>Searching for a Malawi cichlid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also use the map to search by fish species. Select a species and then view the locations where it occurs. This makes it easy to see whether a species is distributed across a large part of Lake Malawi or occurs only in a small area. That difference is important because populations at different locations sometimes differ from one another in colour, pattern or appearance.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The map therefore functions not only as a geographical map, but also as a tool for better understanding the distribution of Malawi cichlids.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Locations_around_Lake_Malawi\"><\/span>Locations around Lake Malawi<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are hundreds of known cichlid collection locations around Lake Malawi. These locations may consist of islands, rocky shores, reefs, bays, sandy areas and transition zones. For many Malawi cichlids, such a location is important because populations are often strongly associated with a particular part of the lake.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This applies especially to species that live among rocks. Such fish generally do not simply move across large expanses of open sand. As a result, populations can remain separated from one another for long periods. Over time, differences may develop in colour, pattern and sometimes also body shape.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When identifying and keeping Malawi cichlids, it is therefore advisable to consider not only the species name, but also the origin.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Islands\"><\/span>Islands<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lake Malawi contains several islands that are known as cichlid collection locations. Examples include Likoma Island, Chizumulu Island, Boadzulu Island and Domwe Island. The areas around these islands often have rocky shores and underwater formations. Such areas provide many hiding places and sources of food for rock-dwelling cichlids. Some species occur only around one island or a small number of nearby locations.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other species have separate populations around different islands. These may differ in appearance. In the aquarium hobby, the location is therefore regularly added to the fish&#8217;s name.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Boadzulu-Island-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Boadzulu Island\" class=\"wp-image-66309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Boadzulu-Island-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Boadzulu-Island-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Boadzulu-Island-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Boadzulu-Island-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Boadzulu-Island-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Boadzulu-Island-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Boadzulu-Island.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Boadzulu Island &#8211; Lunofabo &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reefs_and_rocky_shores\"><\/span>Reefs and rocky shores<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A large proportion of the known Malawi cichlids live along rocky shores and around reefs. Mbuna in particular are strongly associated with this environment. A layer of algae, microorganisms and other organic material grows on the rocks. This layer is often referred to as aufwuchs and is an important food source for many species.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rock formations also provide caves, crevices and territories. Because suitable rocky areas are sometimes separated from one another by sand, populations can become relatively isolated. As a result, the same species may have a different appearance at different locations.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bays_and_sandy_areas\"><\/span>Bays and sandy areas<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all Malawi cichlids live among rocks. Large parts of the lake consist of sandy bottoms, open bays and areas where sand and rock alternate. Species live here that search for food above or in the sand, dig pits or make use of the open space. Cichlids that mainly live in transition zones between rock and sand also occur here.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bottom and structure of a location therefore have a major influence on which species occur there. By viewing different locations on the interactive map, you gain a better understanding of the relationship between collection location, habitat and the distribution of Malawi cichlids.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_the_collection_location_important_for_Malawi_cichlids\"><\/span>Why is the collection location important for Malawi cichlids?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Malawi cichlids, the collection location often tells you more than simply where a fish was caught or observed. Populations can differ clearly from one another depending on the location. That is why a fish&#8217;s origin is often included with its name in the aquarium hobby.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Populations can remain separated from one another for long periods, especially in species that are strongly associated with rocky areas. A sandy stretch between two rocky shores may already be enough to prevent fish from regularly moving between the two areas.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geographical_variants\"><\/span>Geographical variants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Different geographical variants may occur within a single species. They may differ, for example, in colour, pattern or the intensity of certain colour areas. A species may have a blue body colour at one location, while a population elsewhere may be noticeably darker or more yellow. Nevertheless, both populations may belong to the same species.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is precisely why it is advisable not to look only at the species name when dealing with Malawi cichlids. The collection location can provide important additional information about the fish&#8217;s appearance and origin.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Local_populations\"><\/span>Local populations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some populations occur only in a small area. This makes them vulnerable, but also interesting to enthusiasts who want to preserve natural forms as faithfully as possible.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is therefore advisable not to cross different geographical variants of the same species with one another indiscriminately in the aquarium. The offspring may then acquire characteristics of multiple populations, causing the original local form to be lost. Anyone breeding Malawi cichlids would do well to retain the known collection location with the fish and also pass on this information when the offspring go to a new owner.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Collection_locations_in_the_aquarium_hobby\"><\/span>Collection locations in the aquarium hobby<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You regularly encounter collection location names with Malawi cichlids offered in shops, at trade shows or by specialist breeders. The name of an island, reef, bay or coastal location may then appear after the scientific name. Such a location designation is not part of the official scientific name. It is additional information about the origin of that particular population.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This information is valuable to enthusiasts. It allows you to better determine which colour variant you have and prevent different local populations from being unintentionally mixed. AquaInfo&#8217;s interactive map can help with this. By looking up a species or location, you can better see how different populations are distributed across Lake Malawi.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Malawi_cichlids_and_their_distribution\"><\/span>Malawi cichlids and their distribution<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lake Malawi is particularly known for its enormous wealth of cichlids. Many species occur only in this lake. However, they are not all distributed in the same way. Some species live along large parts of the shoreline. Others are restricted to a single island, reef or small coastal area. This difference is closely related to their way of life and the biotope in which they occur.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mbuna\"><\/span>Mbuna<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/c\/freshwater\/fish\/common-freshwater-fish-names\/malawi-cichlids\/mbuna\/\" data-type=\"product_cat\" data-id=\"12602\">Mbuna<\/a> mainly live in rocky areas. There they search for food, hiding places and territories among the rocks. Because rocky areas are often interrupted by sandy bottoms or deep water, populations can sometimes remain separated from one another for long periods. As a result, distinct colour variants can develop at different locations.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The collection location is therefore often important specifically for Mbuna. Two fish of the same species may look quite different when they come from different parts of Lake Malawi.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Utaka_and_other_haplochromines\"><\/span>Utaka and other haplochromines<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all Malawi cichlids are as strongly associated with rocks as Mbuna. Many other species use sandy bottoms, transition zones or open water. <a href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/c\/freshwater\/fish\/common-freshwater-fish-names\/malawi-cichlids\/utaka\/\" data-type=\"product_cat\" data-id=\"512\">Utaka<\/a> often live more in open water and search for plankton there. Other haplochromines search for food above the sand, among rocks or in transition areas.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Species that are less strongly associated with a single rocky area may sometimes have a larger distribution range. Even in these fish, however, local differences between populations may develop.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peacock_cichlids_%E2%80%93_Aulonocara\"><\/span>Peacock cichlids \u2013 Aulonocara<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Peacock cichlids of the genus <a href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/c\/freshwater\/fish\/common-freshwater-fish-names\/malawi-cichlids\/peacocks-en\/\">Aulonocara<\/a> form another well-known group of Malawi cichlids. Many Aulonocara live above sandy bottoms or in transition zones where sand and rocks alternate. These fish have noticeably enlarged sensory canals on their heads. They use these to detect the movements of small prey in the sand. They often swim or hover slowly just above the bottom until they discover prey.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The collection location also plays an important role in Aulonocara. Some species occur at multiple locations and may differ in colour from one place to another. In aquarium fish, the collection location is therefore regularly included after the species name, for example to indicate a particular geographical variant.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the interactive map, you can see where different Aulonocara species and populations occur in Lake Malawi.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Species_with_a_large_distribution_range\"><\/span>Species with a large distribution range<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some Malawi cichlids occur in many places around the lake. This does not automatically mean that all populations look exactly alike. Local differences may also occur within species with a large distribution range. These differences are sometimes small, but in certain species they may be clearly visible. It is therefore useful, when reading a species description, to look not only at the general distribution but also at the known collection locations.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can easily compare this using the interactive map. Search for a species and then view the locations around Lake Malawi where it occurs. This gives you a better understanding of its distribution range and the relationship between species, habitat and location.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"More_about_Lake_Malawi\"><\/span>More about Lake Malawi<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The interactive map focuses mainly on collection locations and the distribution of Malawi cichlids. At AquaInfo, you can also find more information about other aspects of the lake.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Would you like to learn more about the different habitats and all the fish that occur in the lake? Then take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/ecosysteem\/lake-malawi-en\/\">Lake Malawi \u2013 ecosystem and fish<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are you curious about how the enormous diversity of cichlids came about? Then read <a href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-darwins-playground\/\">Lake Malawi &#8211; Darwin&#8217;s Playground<\/a>, which covers evolution, feeding strategies and geographical isolation, among other topics.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Would you like to see the natural habitat with your own eyes? On the page <a href=\"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/lake-malawi-great-rift-valley-africa\/\">Lake Malawi &#8211; Great Rift Valley \u2013 Africa<\/a>, you will find videos of various biotopes, locations and cichlids in Lake Malawi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover Lake Malawi and its cichlids Lake Malawi in East Africa is world-famous for its great variety of cichlids. Many species are found only in this lake, and some even live in just a small part of the shoreline. That is why the exact location where a Malawi cichlid was found is often important. With [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":216699,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-95814","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart.jpg",1600,917,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-150x86.jpg",150,86,true],"medium":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-300x172.jpg",300,172,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-768x440.jpg",768,440,true],"large":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-1024x587.jpg",1024,587,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-1536x880.jpg",1536,880,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart.jpg",1600,917,false],"commercegurus-pdp-large":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-990x567.jpg",990,567,true],"commercegurus-plp-mobile":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-441x253.jpg",441,253,true],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-300x172.jpg",300,172,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-600x344.jpg",600,344,true],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Malawimeer-Interactieve-Kaart-150x86.jpg",150,86,true]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Table of Contents Toggle Discover Lake Malawi and its cichlidsLocationsHow do you use the interactive map of Lake Malawi?Searching for a locationSearching for a Malawi cichlidLocations around Lake MalawiIslandsReefs and rocky shoresBays and sandy areasWhy is the collection location important for Malawi cichlids?Geographical variantsLocal populationsCollection locations in the aquarium hobbyMalawi cichlids and their distributionMbunaUtaka and other haplochrominesPeacock cichlids \u2013 AulonocaraSpecies with a large distribution rangeMore about Lake Malawi Discover Lake Malawi and its cichlids Lake Malawi in East Africa is world-famous for its great variety of cichlids. Many species are found only in this lake, and some even live in&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"John","url":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/author\/john-de-lange\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/95814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/95814\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/216699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquainfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}