Two cichlid species morphological [sic] specialized for scraping algae were observed in
Lake Malawi also to feed extensively upon zooplankton, phytoplankton, detritus, fish fry and
fish eggs. These field observations confirm laboratory studies that cichlids are facultative in
their feeding repertoire. Such an ability contributes to the success of the family Cichlidae.
We hypothesize that the morphological specializations become critically important when food
resources are low and effective cropping is required.