Mchenga conophoros
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Mchenga conophoros faces severe threats from overfishing and habitat degradation in Lake Malawi. The species' restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and fishing pressure. Sedimentation from agricultural runoff and coastal development has degraded critical rocky reef habitats where this cichlid feeds and breeds.
Habitat
Mchenga conophoros inhabits rocky reefs and sandy-rocky interfaces in the deeper waters of Lake Malawi. This endemic cichlid is typically found at depths between 10-40 meters along the lake's shoreline where it feeds on algae and small invertebrates among the rocky substrates.
