Bathybates Explained

Bathybates is a genus of piscivorous cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. The genus includes both pelagic species that mainly feed on Tanganyika sardines and benthic species that mainly feed on other cichlids.^[1] They are some of the deepest-living cichlids, regularly occurring down to 200m (700feet).^[1]

They are elongated in shape with a silvery color and a dark spotted or striped pattern. Depending on the species involved, they reach lengths of up to 20.5to(-).

Although not closely related, they have sometimes been compared to piscivorous Rhamphochromis cichlids of Lake Malawi.^[2]

Species

There are currently seven recognized species in this genus:

• Bathybates fasciatus Boulenger, 1901
• Bathybates ferox Boulenger, 1898
• Bathybates graueri Steindachner, 1911
• Bathybates hornii Steindachner, 1911
• Bathybates leo Poll, 1956
• Bathybates minor Boulenger, 1906
• Bathybates vittatus Boulenger, 1914

Notes and References

1. Kirchberger; Sefc; Sturmbauer; and Koblmuller (2012). Evolutionary History of Lake Tanganyika’s Predatory Deepwater Cichlids. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Volume 2012, Article ID 716209.
2. Lindqvist, O.V.; H. Mölsä; K. Solonen; J. Sarvala, editors (1999). From Limnology to Fisheries: Lake Tanganyika and Other Large Lakes. Pp. 213—214. Springer.