|
''Nimbochromis'' is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids mostly endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They are known as sleeper cichlids or (in Chichewa) ''kaligono'' ("sleepers"), due to their unique hunting behaviour. These piscivorous species are often seen lying motionless on the lake bottom near rocks where mbuna live, even adopting an unusual sideways position rarely seen in living fish. If smaller fishes approach, the ''Nimbochromis'' will "wake up" and try to seize them. Their coloration has an irregular dark cloudy pattern on lighter background; for one thing, this provides camouflage, but it is also suspected that it is – at least in some – evolving into aggressive mimicry by imitating a rotting fish carcass and thus luring scavengers to their demise. ==Species== There are currently five recognized species in this genus: * ''Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus'' (Regan, 1922) (Spothead Hap, Fuscotaeniatus Hap) * ''Nimbochromis linni'' (W. E. Burgess & H. R. Axelrod, 1975) * ''Nimbochromis livingstonii'' (Günther, 1894) (Livingston's Cichlid) * ''Nimbochromis polystigma'' (Regan, 1922) * ''Nimbochromis venustus'' (Boulenger, 1908) (Giraffe Hap, Venustus Hap) 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Nimbochromis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|