Cichlidae

Blue orchid aulonocara

Aulonocara kandeense

Breeding males sift small invertebrates from sand

• Blue
• Tropical
• Island endemic
• Island endemic species
• Local endemic species
• Single-lake endemic
• Freshwater fish
• Africa
• Small
• Tropical fish

Aulonocara kandeense, the blue orchid aulonacara, is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi where it occurs only around Kande Island, in Malawian waters. It is found in a mixed habitat where rocky areas meet softer substrates. The breeding males are found at a mean depth of 8 metres (26 ft) They sift their food from the sand and this is made up of small invertebrates.