Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 4, 2026

Cyrtocara

Cyrtocara moorii, commonly known as the hump-head, is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa where they prefer areas with sandy substrates. It can grow to a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. The species is popular among aquarium keepers where it is known as the hump-head cichlid, blue dolphin cichlid, Malawi dolphin or simply as moorii. It is currently the only known member of its genus. The specific name honours the English cytologist and biologist John Edmund Sharrock Moore (1870-1947).

Last revised
Jul 4, 2026
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≈ 1 min
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Citations
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Cyrtocara
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribe: Haplochromini
Genus: Cyrtocara
Boulenger, 1902
Species:
C. moorii
Binomial name
Cyrtocara moorii
Boulenger, 1902

Cyrtocara moorii, commonly known as the hump-head, is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa where they prefer areas with sandy substrates. It can grow to a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. The species is popular among aquarium keepers where it is known as the hump-head cichlid, blue dolphin cichlid, Malawi dolphin or simply as moorii. It is currently the only known member of its genus.2 The specific name honours the English cytologist and biologist John Edmund Sharrock Moore (1870-1947).3

Description

They are varying shades of blue, ranging from turquoise to a silvery-blue, and grow a distinctive hump on their forehead. The male is usually brighter blue than the female.4

Aquarium care

The Malawi dolphin is best kept at temperatures of 75–78 °F (24–26 °C). It is relatively tame except when it is spawning.

The minimum aquarium size should be 48 US gallons (180 L; 40 imp gal) but increased as the fish grows larger.4

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Konings, A. (2019) [errata version of 2018 assessment]. "Cyrtocara moorii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T60920A148657804. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T60920A148657804.en. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Cyrtocara moorii". FishBase. February 2013 version.
  3. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 July 2018). "Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamily PSEUDOCRENILABRINAE (a-g)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  4. James Milner. "Blue Dolphin Cichlid Care and Breeding". theaquarium.club. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020.