Michael Pauers (right) sorts recently caught cichlids with Joseph Chombo, research assistant with the Malawi Department of Fisheries. (Photo courtesy of Michael Pauers)
The research team focused on rocky areas of Lake Malawi. Labeotropheus is unique because the fish feeds on algae that it scrapes off the rocks with its bottom jaw. (Photo courtesy of Michael Pauers)
The new species L. rubidorsalis is named for the brilliant red fin on the middle of its back. (Photo courtesy of Michael Pauers)
Titus Phiri is a research scientist with the Malawi Department of Fisheries and Pauers’ partner on the 2018 and 2020 collection trips to Lake Malawi. One of the African Great Lakes, Lake Malawi is exclusive home to more than 600 cichlid species. (Photo courtesy of Michael Pauers)
Pauers snorkels in Lake Malawi. Cichlids’ ability to adapt allows them to live in both shallow and deep water and have a wide array of diets. (Photo courtesy of Michael Pauers)
Michael Pauers, associate professor in the College of General Studies, shows some of the cichlid specimens from the genus Labeotropheus that he has contributed to the Milwaukee Public Museum’s collection. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Michael Pauers, an associate professor in UWM’s College of General Studies, traveled in 2018 and 2020 to Lake Malawi, one of the African Great Lakes in the southeastern part of the continent, to look for new species of cichlids, a popular aquarium fish.
He and his research colleague, Titus Phiri, have been successful. In fact, over the course of his career, Pauers has been involved in identifying nine of the 11 known species in this genus.
Pauers has contributed around 500 cichlid specimens to the Milwaukee Public Museum, where he is an adjunct curator of fishes.
