Diplotaxodon argenteus Trewavas 1935

Diagnosis: Relatively shallow body with flat dorsal profile; relatively large, upwardly-pointing mouth with strongly protruding lower jaw; large number of gill-rakers (Ref. 55949).Description: Moderately elongated with fairly large teeth and predatory facies; eyes not particulary large; snout narrow and fairly concave in profile, with a prominent premaxillary pedicel; mental process moderate to prominent (Ref. 55949). Dorsal fin with 14-15 spines and 11-13 rays, spines slender, last 1/3 length of head; anal fin with 3 spines and 10-11 rays, third spine stronger and shorter than last dorsal; pectoral fin length 66-75% of head length, not reaching anal fin; caudal fin emarginate (Ref. 127501).Colouration: Females and non-breeding males with silvery countershaded body, grey dorsally; snout dark; body with an overall silver sheen; fins generally grey, though pelvic fins may be white; males in breeding dress develop a darker head and dorsum, black eyes, snout and fins; anal fin with 1-2 large yellow eggspots (Ref. 55949).

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 10 - 11

Found in open water at mostly deep levels, where it can form enormous shoals (Ref. 5595). It is a piscivore that mainly feeds on lake sardine, Engraulicypris sardella (Ref. 5595).

Found in open water at mostly deep levels, where it can form enormous shoals (Ref. 5595). It is a piscivore that mainly feeds on lake sardine, Engraulicypris sardella (Ref. 5595).

aquarium: commercial

Diplotaxodon argenteus is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.