Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Traditionally Cichlids were classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses (Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping. On the basis of fossil evidence, it first appeared in Tanzania during the Eocene epoch, about 46–45 million years ago. The closest living relative of cichlids is probably the convict blenny, and both families are classified in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as the two families in the Cichliformes, part of the subseries Ovalentaria. This family is large, diverse, and widely dispersed. At least 1,650 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families. New species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 2,000 and 3,000.
Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is the second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, the second-largest by volume, and the second-deepest, in all cases after Lake Baikal in Siberia. It is the world's longest freshwater lake. The lake is shared among four countries—Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Zambia, with Tanzania (46%) and DRC (40%) possessing the majority of the lake. It drains into the Congo River system and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean.
Bathybates is a genus of piscivorous cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. The genus includes both pelagic species that mainly feed on Tanganyika sardines and benthic species that mainly feed on other cichlids. They are some of the deepest-living cichlids, regularly occurring down to 200 m (660 ft).
Lepidophagy is a specialised feeding behaviour in fish that involves eating the scales of other fish. Lepidophagy is widespread, having evolved independently in at least five freshwater families and seven marine families. A related feeding behavior among fish is pterygophagy: feeding on the fins of other fish.
Hemibates stenosoma is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is generally most numerous at depths between 80 and 200 m (260–660 ft), but performs a seasonal migration to inshore regions when it can occur as shallow as 20 m (65 ft). It is predatory, feeding on fish and prawns, and grows to a total length of 30 cm (1 ft). This species was formerly regarded as the only formally described member of its genus., however, another species, Hemibates koningsi, which was formerly referred to as Hemibates sp. "stenosoma chituta" before its formal description.
Hemibates is a genus of cichlid from the tribe Bathybatini of the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. They are endemic to Lake Tanganyika. They are piscivorous. The genus was considered to be monospecific until the description of Hemibates koningsi in 2017. there is also at least one additional species in this genus, undescribed.
The giant cichlid, also known as the emperor cichlid, is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae, endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa. It is the only member of its genus Boulengerochromis and tribe Boulengerochromini.
Bathybates ferox is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is Lake Tanganyika where it lives in shallow water and is exclusively piscivorous. The IUCN has assessed it as being a "least-concern species".
Trematocara caparti is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 6.7 centimetres (2.6 in) TL. This fish's specific name honours André Capart (1914-1991) the Belgian oceanographer who was a member of the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika in 1946 and 1947, during which type of this species was collected.
Trematocara is a genus of cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa. They are relatively small, up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long, and slender in shape. These schooling, light-shy fish are typically found in relatively deep waters, but move closer to the surface at night to feed on plankton. They are mouthbrooders.
Trematocara macrostoma is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is known from the southern portion of the lake. This species can reach a length of 9.5 centimetres (3.7 in) SL.
Trematocara marginatum is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 9.8 centimetres (3.9 in) TL.
Trematocara nigrifrons is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 11.5 centimetres (4.5 in) TL.
Trematocara stigmaticum is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in) TL.
The Pseudocrenilabrinae are a subfamily in the cichlid family of fishes to which, according to a study from 2004, includes all the Middle Eastern and African cichlids with the exception of the unusual Heterochromis multidens and the Malagasy species. This subfamily includes more than 1,100 species. Previous authors recognized additional African subfamilies, e.g. the Tilapiinae of Hoedeman (1947), Tylochrominae of Poll (1986), or Boulengerochrominae of Tawil (2001).
Lamprologini is a tribe of African cichlid fishes. It contains seven genera and nearly 100 species. Over half of the species in this tribe are in the large genus Neolamprologus. Most genera in the tribe are endemic to Lake Tanganyika, but one species of Neolamprologus is from the Malagarasi River in Tanzania, and several species of Lamprologus are from the Congo River Basin.
Eretmodini is a tribe of African cichlids. It contains five species of freshwater fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika. They are small fish with reduced swim bladders that are found near the bottom in the turbulent, coastal surf zone. They are mouthbrooders.
Perissodini is a tribe of African cichlids, containing three genera of freshwater fish found only in Lake Tanganyika.
Cichlidogyrus is a genus of monopisthocotylean monogeneans in the family Ancyrocephalidae. The type-species of the genus is Cichlidogyrus arthracanthusPaperna, 1960, by original designation. All the species of the genus are parasites on the gills of fish, namely African Cichlidae, Nandidae and Cyprinodontidae.
Cichlidogyrus sturmbaueri is a species of monopisthocotylean monogenean in the family Ancyrocephalidae. It was first found infecting the gills of Ophthalmotilapia ventralis in Lake Tanganyika. It can be differentiated from its cogenerates by the unique shape of the accessory piece of its male genitalia.
