Cichlids in these lakes fill nearly all of the roles typically filled by many fish families, including those of predators, scavengers, and herbivores, with varying dentitions and head shapes to match their dietary habits. In each case, the radiation events are only a few million years old, making the high level of speciation particularly remarkable.
Cichlids in these lakes fill most roles typically filled by many fish families, including predators, scavengers, and herbivores, with diverse teeth and head shapes to match their diets. The rapid evolution of these species is remarkable given that the radiation events are only a few million years old.