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Stoneman's peacock (Aulonocara stonemani) — Cichlidae

Stoneman's peacock

Aulonocara stonemani
Family: Cichlidae

The Stoneman's peacock (Aulonocara stonemani) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
55.0–80.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Stoneman's peacock is a peacock cichlid (Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi in East Africa. The species grows to about 10 cm; dominant males are brilliantly metallic-blue or yellow, females stay sandy. On the underside of the head it carries large, sensor-filled pores with which it detects the movements of hidden prey in the sand. As a bottom-dweller it sifts mouthfuls of sand and eats small invertebrates and insect larvae. It is a mouthbrooder. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Stoneman's peacock?

The Stoneman's peacock has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Stoneman's peacock live?

The Stoneman's peacock lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Stoneman's peacock get?

The Stoneman's peacock grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Stoneman's peacock dangerous to humans?

No, the Stoneman's peacock is harmless to humans.

Is the Stoneman's peacock edible?

Yes, the Stoneman's peacock is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stonemans pauwcichlide sourced
English name
Stoneman's peacock sourced
Scientific name
Aulonocara stonemani
Family
Cichlidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
55.0 verified
Max depth (m)
80.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Aulonocara

More from the family Cichlidae

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