Species learning profile
Zebra mbuna
Maylandia zebra
Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra) is a freshwater fish associated with lake habitat in Africa. Rows of specialized teeth comb algae from Lake Malawi rocks.
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At a glance
- পানি
- মিঠা পানি
- Habitat
- হ্রদ
- সর্বোচ্চ দৈর্ঘ্য
- 13 cm
- বিস্তৃতি
- Africa
- গোত্র
- Cichlidae
- বর্গ
- Cichliformes
Observe
How to identify Zebra mbuna
- Rows of specialized teeth comb algae from Lake Malawi rocks.
- Guide context: lake habitat in Africa.
- Reported maximum length: 13 cm — roughly ruler-length. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with lake habitat across Africa. Temperature, oxygen, depth, and shoreline cover divide a lake into very different living zones.
Behavior
Defends rocky grazing territories; females mouthbrood
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Algae and attached microorganisms.
Ecological role
Crops algal communities on rocky lake shores.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Zebra mbuna প্রায় 13 সেমি পর্যন্ত বড় হয় এবং সাধারণত হ্রদ-এর কাছে থাকে।
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Healthy lake populations depend on suitable temperature and oxygen, clean spawning areas, and balanced harvest and food webs.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Zebra mbuna in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections