Iodotropheus sprengerae, the rusty cichlid, lavender mbuna or lavender cichlid, is a species of cichlid endemic to the Boadzulu and Chinyankwazi Islands and Chinyamwezi Island regions of Lake Malawi. It prefers a temperature range of 24-26 °C.
Pseudotropheus johannii or the bluegray mbuna is an African freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae.
The Chitande aulonocara is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi, only occurring in the north-west of the Lake near Chitande Island. It occurs over habitats of mixed rock and sand and it feeds on benthic invertebrates. The males show territorial behaviour all year and defend their territories from other males. These territorial males are found in deeper areas around 15 metres (49 ft) while the non territorial males and the females are rarely seen below 3 metres (9.8 ft). Ripe females descend towards the males and spawning takes place in a cavity or, if the male's territory does not include a cavity, on the open sand. The specific name honours the British ichthyologist Ethelwynn Trewavas (1900–1993) of the British Museum who described a number of species of cichlid from Lake Malawi.
Aulonocara guentheri is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where they are restricted to the south eastern arm, and Lake Malombe, meaning that as far as is known this fish is endemic to Malawi. It prefers shallow sandy habitat where it forages in small schools, males in breeding colours have been caught by fishermen in November and December suggesting that is when they breed. The specific name honours the German born British herpetologist and ichthyologist Albert Günther (1830-1914), who was one of the first scientists to recognise the diversity of te cichlids in Lake Malawi.
The sulfurhead aulonocara or sulfurhead peacock is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi in the country of Malawi and has only been observed on West Reef and Eccles Reef. It is threatened by collection for the aquarium trade and this has caused a 70% reduction in numbers. In this mouthbrooding species, the eggs are cared for by the females only, and it is found over mixed sand and rocky areas where they hunt small invertebrates in the sand. It closely resembles the blue orchid aulonocara though it develops a yellow blaze across its dorsal In the past these two taxa have been considered to be subspecies. The specific name honours Hans-Joachim Mayland, an author on cichlids and a fishkeeper, brought the species to the attention of Ethelwynn Trewavas.
The greenface aulonocara is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi.
Buccochromis rhoadesii is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe and the upper Shire River in the countries of Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Caprichromis liemi, the happy, is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to the Lake Malawi region, being also found in Lake Malombe and the upper Shire River. It occurs over sandy substrates but it frequently remains in midwater. This species is a specialised predator, a paedophage, which steals the broods from mouthbrooding female cichlids by ramming the brooding female's head from below. Examination of their stomach contents resulted in the recovery of eggs, larvae and fry only. The juveniles act a cleaner fish, and so may the adults. The males build "sand castle" spawning sites. The specific name honours the ichthyologist Karel F. Liem (1935-2009), in recognition of his studies of cichlids.
Copadichromis verduyni is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found on the eastern shore and in the south eastern arm of the lake. It occurs in Malawi and Mozambique. This species inhabits the interface between sandy areas and rocky areas. Of all its congeners, this species defends the most cryptic spawning sites, these are found at depths of 9–15 metres (30–49 ft). The females and non-territorial males feed on plankton caught 1–3 metres (3.3–9.8 ft) above the lake bed and also on benthic invertebrates. Konings named this species after the Dutch cichlid dealer Dirk Verduyn (1942-2018).
Diplotaxodon ecclesi is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi, in East Africa, where it is found in open water at mainly at the deeper levels, although it is rarely caught by trawling. Its main prey is the Lake Malawi sardine.
Diplotaxodon greenwoodi is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It occurs in the reef and shelf zones of the lake where it preys on small cichlids. The specific name honours the English ichthyologist Peter Humphry Greenwood (1927-1995).
Lethrinops stridei is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it occurs at depths of from 15 to 55 metres in areas with sandy substrates. This species grows to a length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in) SL. The specific name honours Kenneth E. Stride, who introduced successful commercial trawling to Lake Malawi, and this species is now very rare in Lake Malawi and is threatened by overfishing by commercial trawlers.
Maylandia livingstonii is a species of cichlid native to Lake Malawi and Lake Malombe. This species can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name of this fish honours the Scottish explorer and missionary David Livingstone (1813-1873).
Mylochromis guentheri is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found over sandy substrates. This species can reach a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist Albert Günther (1830-1914).
The Super VC-10 hap is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi along the Malawian shores of the lake. It prefers areas with rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of 18.7 centimetres (7.4 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. In the wild uses its thickened lips to scrape algae from rocks and this seems to thicken the lips further, which tends not to be the case with aquarium specimens which have only slightly thickened lips.
The fenestratus is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. This species can reach a length of 14 centimetres (5.5 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Protomelas fenestratus is a substrate blower. They blow away the substrate, to uncover insect larvae and crustaceans. They are characterized by vertical bars, and thin horizontal lines of varying darkness depending on location. The males blue colouration obscures the barring when dominant. The lattice like pattern on this fish's body is reminiscent of windows which is what the specific name fenestratus refers to.
The red top williamsi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it occurs in areas with rocky substrates usually at depths of less than 2 metres (6.6 ft). This species can reach a length of 16.5 centimetres (6.5 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the Anglican missionary Joseph A. Williams who died by drowning in Lake Malawi in 1895, with Bishop Chauncy Maples, and who collected the type of the cichlid among others.
Rhamphochromis woodi is a species of piscivorous cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it prefers open waters at depths of from 8 to 121 metres. This species can reach a length of 42 centimetres (17 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours Rodney C. Wood, whose collection of cichlids from Lake Malawi, which included the type of this species, was presented to the British Museum.
Stigmatochromis woodi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it can be found hunting for prey over sandy areas. It can reach a length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours Rodney C. Wood, whose collection of cichlids from Lake Malawi, which included the type of this species, was presented to the British Museum. It is the type species of the genus Stigmatochromis.
Alticorpus geoffreyi is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi, where it is widely distributed and can be found at depths of 18–150 metres (59–492 ft), although it is most common below 60 metres (200 ft). The specific name honours the British carcinologist, ecologist and ichthyologist Geoffrey Fryer, who studied the fishes of Lake Malawi, especially the cichlids which occur in the rocky areas of the lake.
