Oreochromis karongae is a critically endangered species of cichlid that is endemic to Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe, and upper and middle Shire River in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

[1] This species is important to local commercial fisheries,[2] but has declined drastically due to overfishing.

[6] The breeding males of chambo have long genital tassels that somewhat resemble fish eggs.

[3] The lepidophagous cichlid Corematodus shiranus is an aggressive mimic of chambo in both color pattern and swimming mode.

It is, therefore, able to approach unsuspecting schools of chambo and rapidly take a mouthful of scales or fin.