Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus Regan 1922

Diagnosis: large, big-toothed brownish species; eyes rather large; premaxillary pedicel relatively short (Ref. 55949).Description: mouth and eyes rather large; often with decurved snout; lower jaw moderately to strongly protruding; larger specimens tend to have an arched back and a flabby, rather rounded lower profile; premaxillary pedicel bone variable in length, usually shorter than in similary-sized R. woodi; teeth fairly strong and slender but variable (Ref. 55949).Coloration: females and non-breeding males countershaded, dark grey-brown dorsally; overal brownish cast especially marked in juveniles; caudal fin dark grey; pelvic fins sometimes long; sexually mature and ripe males with orange, females with white pelvic fins; throat may be flushed with orange or may be white (Ref. 55949).

Species probably forms breeding leks on or near the bottom; juveniles are common in the adult habitat (Ref. 55949).

Common on the shelf zone; occasionally found off reefs; but not commonly recorded from the middle of the lake (Ref. 55949). Moves in the open water but stays 2-5 m above the substrate; feeds on fish like the small Utaka and Usipa (Engraulicypris sardella) (Ref. 5595).

aquarium: commercial

Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus is a species of piscivorous cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it prefers open waters at depths of from 30 to 109 metres (98 to 358 ft). This species can reach a length of 28.9 centimetres (11.4 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. FishBase treats this species as a valid species, but the Catalog of Fishes treats it as a synonym of Rhamphochromis longiceps, as does the IUCN.