Neolamprologus multifasciatus, Photo: Michael Lahanas
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Ovalentaria
Superordo: Cichlomorphae
Ordo: Cichliformes
Familia: Cichlidae
Subfamilia: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribus: Lamprologini
Genus: Neolamprologus
Species: Neolamprologus multifasciatus
Name
Neolamprologus multifasciatus (Boulenger, 1906: 558 & Pl. 35 fig. 3)
Syntypes: BMNH 1906.9.8.106-109 (5, now 4), MNHN 1906-0005 (1, not found)
Type locality: Niamkolo Bay [Zambia], Lake Tanganyika, depth about 12 fathoms
Synonymy
Lamprologus multifasciatus (original combination)
References
Boulenger, G.A. 1906: Fourth contribution to the ichthyology of Lake Tanganyika.--Report on the collection of fishes made by Dr. W. A. Cunnington during the Third Tanganyika Expedition, 1904-1905. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, 17 (part 6, no. 1): 537–619, Pls. 30-41. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1906.tb07891.x BHL
Links
Neolamprologus multifasciatus in FishBase,
Froese, R. & Pauly, D. (eds.) 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication, www.fishbase.org, version 02/2024.
Neolamprologus multifasciatus in Catalog of Fishes, Eschmeyer, W.N., Fricke, R. & van der Laan, R. (eds.) 2024. Catalog of Fishes electronic version.
Vernacular names
čeština: Pestřenec proužkovaný
Deutsch: Vielgestreifter Schneckenbuntbarsch
English: Multies
polski: Muszlowiec wielopręgi
slovenčina: Neolamprologus multifasciatus
Neolamprologus multifasciatus is one of the small shell-dwelling cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika. The male reaches 5 cm (2 in) in length, and the female only 2.5 cm (1 in) in the aquarium. In the wild, they reach only 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in standard length of male and female reaches less than 2.2 centimetres (0.87 in) in standard length. This makes them one of the smallest cichlid species in the world. Its natural habitat is the Neothauma shell beds of Lake Tanganyika, where it forms huge colonies with thousands of individuals. Their unique behavior is associated with their affinity to shells. They burrow sand to move shells, take refuge in shells and also breed in them. They have pale white coloring with black vertical bars running the length of their bodies. The species is sexually monomorphic, meaning sexing individuals is extremely hard or impossible based on external appearance alone (although size separates them when fully adult).
Aquarium care
In the aquarium trade N. multifasciatus are commonly known as "multies" and are moderately popular. Stores specializing in fish or quality fish stores will at least be aware of shell dwelling fish even if they are not stocked at that time. They are not as popular as larger cichlids but because they are suitable for smaller tanks and due to their prolific nature they still are widely available.
Tank requirements are very similar to other African cichlids, an example is the Mbuna. Unique requirements include a sandy substrate for burrowing and the placement of shells. A tank should have at least one shell per fish, ideally two.
Two other species of fish are similar to N. multifasciatus; N. similis and N. brevis. The three species are similar enough that stores normally sell them all under the common name "shellbreeders", "Breeding Material" or "shell dwellers".[3]
See also
List of freshwater aquarium fish species
References
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1749
Maréchal, C. and M. Poll, 1991. Neolamprologus. p. 274-294. In: J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4.
Axelrod, H.R., 1993. The most complete colored lexicon of cichlids. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey.
Bigirimana, C. (2006). "Neolamprologus multifasciatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2006: e.T60602A12381989. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T60602A12381989.en.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Neolamprologus multifasciatus" in FishBase. October 2018 version.
"Why Fish Commit Suicide?" – via YouTube.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Neolamprologus multifasciatus.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Neolamprologus similis" in FishBase. February 2013 version.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Neolamprologus brevis" in FishBase. February 2013 version.
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