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Trewavas' utaka (Copadichromis trewavasae) — Cichlidae

Trewavas' utaka

Copadichromis trewavasae
Family: Cichlidae

The Trewavas' utaka (Copadichromis trewavasae) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
10.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
10.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Mozambique, Tanzania
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Trewavas' utaka is a utaka cichlid (Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi in East Africa. The species grows to about 12 cm; dominant males colour up bright metallic-blue, females and juveniles stay silver-grey. Unlike the bottom-dwelling mbuna it hovers in schools in open water and sucks up zooplankton with a highly protrusible mouth. It is a mouthbrooder: the female protects the eggs and young in her mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Trewavas' utaka?

The Trewavas' utaka has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Trewavas' utaka live?

The Trewavas' utaka lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Africa: Mozambique, Tanzania

How big does the Trewavas' utaka get?

The Trewavas' utaka grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Trewavas' utaka dangerous to humans?

No, the Trewavas' utaka is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Trewavas' utaka edible?

Yes, the Trewavas' utaka is commonly eaten.

More photos

Trewavas' utaka (Copadichromis trewavasae) — Cichlidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Michael Verdirame, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Trewavas' utaka sourced
Scientific name
Copadichromis trewavasae
Family
Cichlidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Mozambique, Tanzania sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Copadichromis

More from the family Cichlidae

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