Cichlidae

Haplochromis orthostoma

Haplochromis orthostoma

Swallowing small fish with huge mouth

• Tropical
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• Africa
• Small
• Tropical fish

Haplochromis orthostoma is a species of cichlid fish that is endemic to the Lake Kyoga system in Uganda, where only known from Lake Bisina (a medium-sized lake to the east of Lake Kyoga itself) and Lake Nawampassa (a small lake southeast of Lake Kyoga itself and only separated by a thin swamp). Its continued survival in Lake Bisina is questionable as it has not been recorded in recent surveys, but it still survives in Lake Nawampassa. This piscivorous species is peaceful among similar-sized or larger fish, but will rapidly swallow smaller fish with its very large mouth.