Mbuna is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi, and are members of the haplochromine family. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi. As the name implies, most mbuna are cichlids that live among the piles of rocks and along the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, as opposed to the utaka, cichlids that live in the open water or on sandy shores or soft substrates. Some species of mbuna are highly sexually dimorphic, although many are not. Almost all of the cichlid species of Lake Malawi, including mbuna and non mbuna such as the utaka, are believed to have descended from one or a very few species that became isolated in the lake. With rising water levels, new habitats could be colonized and the many isolated rocky outcrops allowed new mbuna species to form. Their striking colors, intriguing behavioral characteristics, and relative hardiness make them very popular despite their unique demands for the home aquarist.
Pseudotropheus is a genus of fishes in the family Cichlidae. These mbuna cichlids are endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa.
Maylandia or Metriaclima is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They belong to the mbuna (rock-dwelling) haplochromines.
Pseudotropheus crabro, the Bumblebee Cichlid or Hornet Cichlid, is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found in different habitats but most frequently in large caves or in the vicinity of large boulders. This species can reach a length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in) SL.
Microchromis zebroides is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur around Likoma Island where it prefers shallow, rocky areas. This species can reach a length of 8.6 centimetres (3.4 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade where it is known as the Mini-zebra.
Maylandia fainzilberi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. It can reach a length of 12.9 centimetres (5.1 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The honours the tropical fish dealer Misha Fainzilber who helped the author, Wolfgang Staeck, gain access to Lake Malawi.
Pseudotropheus brevis is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found in Nkudzi Bay and Monkey Bay in rocky areas. This species can reach a length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Pseudotropheus interruptus is a species of cichlid in the Cichlidae endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from Likoma Island. This species can reach a length of 9.8 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Pseudotropheus perileucos is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur around Likoma Island where it prefers rocky habitats, sometimes near to the interface with sandy substrates. This species can grow to a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) SL.
Nyassachromis purpurans is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it prefers areas with sandy substrates. This species can reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Pseudotropheus ater is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from around Chinyamwezi Island and Chinyankwazi Island. It prefers areas with rocky substrates at depths of from 3 to 15 metres where it grazes from the rock surfaces. This species can reach a length of 8.1 centimetres (3.2 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The cyan hap is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from Chinyamwezi Island. It prefers areas with plentiful rocks down to a depth of approximately 40 metres (130 ft) where it can graze from the rocks. This species can reach a length of 7.8 centimetres (3.1 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The elongate mbuna is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is known from Mkata Bay and Mbamba Bay. It prefers areas with rocky substrates where it can graze on algae. It can reach a length of 9.5 centimetres (3.7 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Pseudotropheus flavus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from Chinyankwazi Island. It prefers areas with rocky substrates where it remains about 1 metre (3.3 ft) above the bottom feeding on plankton. This species can reach a length of 7.6 centimetres (3.0 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Pseudotropheus fuscus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is known from Nkhata Bay and Lion's Cove. It prefers areas with rocky substrates, usually at depths of 5 metres (16 ft) or less. It feeds on algae. This species can reach a length of 11 centimetres (4.3 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Pseudotropheus longior is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from Mbamba Bay in Tanzania at depths of from 1 to 8 metres. This species can reach a length of 8.7 centimetres (3.4 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Tropheops lucerna is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found at depths of 2 to 4 metres in beds of Vallisneria in bays. This species can reach a length of 13.5 centimetres (5.3 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. It feeds by brushing loose strands of algae off of rocks, sand and the leaves of macrophytes.
Pseudotropheus minutus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. It prefers areas with rocky substrates where it can feed on algae, particularly in areas other species cannot access. It can reach a length of 6.6 centimetres (2.6 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Pseudotropheus saulosi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, where it lives in areas with rocky substrates. It is classified as a dwarf-mbuna and was first described by Ad Konings in 1990, who gave it the specific name saulosi in honour of Saulos Mwale who caught over 3,000 specimens in a single day on the expedition which collected the type. It comes from an area of the lake called Taiwan Reef, and from nowhere else. This fish can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Chindongo is a genus of haplochromine cichlids, the species of which are endemic to Lake Malawi. The genus was described in 2016 with Chindongo bellicosus as the type species, the authors then added species previously classified in the genus Pseudotropheus in the P. elongatus species complex.
