Docimodus is a small genus of cichlids native to east Africa where they are found in Lake Malawi and one species (D. johnstoni) also occurs in Lake Malombe and the upper Shire River.
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.
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.
Copadichromis mbenjii is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is only found around Mbenje Island from where it takes its specific name.
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).
Diplotaxodon limnothrissa is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi and it is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. It occurs in inshore and offshore waters, on reefs and over the rock shelf; and it is abundant over the anoxic zone. It is a maternal mouthbrooder and it feeds on zooplankton. It is probably the most abundant species of cichlid in Lake Malawi. The specific name references the clupeid Limnothrissa miodon, the Lake Tanganyika sardine, to which this species bears some morphological and biological similarities.
Docimodus evelynae is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi; it is widespread in the lake and found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. This species has unusual feeding habits: it feeds upon the flank scales of cichlids or cyprinids and the skin of catfishes. The specific name honours Evelyn Axelrod, the wife of the publisher Herbert R. Axelrod (1927-2017).
Astatotilapia tweddlei is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is found in Malawi and Mozambique. Its natural habitats are rivers and freshwater lakes.
Iodotropheus stuartgranti is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. This species can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. The specific name honours Stuart M. Grant (1937-2007), an exporter of cichlids from lake Malawi for the aquarium trade. This species feeds maonly on aufwuchs. The males are territorial and the female will lay anywhere within a male's territory.
Lethrinops christyi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from the southern part of the lake. This species grows to a length of 18.3 centimetres (7.2 in) TL. The specific name honours the collector of the type, Cuthbert Christy (1863-1932), an explorer and naturalist.
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.
The pearl of Likoma is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae endemic to Lake Malawi where it is native to rocky areas around Likoma Island and it has been introduced to Thumbi West Island. This species can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Males are blue, while females are a greenish blue with rows of yellowish spots and shiny gills. They feed on crustaceans, insects, and larvae.
Melanochromis loriae is a species of cichlid in the Cichlidae endemic to Lake Malawi. This species can reach a length of 12.5 centimetres (4.9 in) TL.
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).
Nimbochromis linni is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it prefers areas with rocky substrates, though it occasionally enters intermediate habitats. This species can reach a length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours D. Wayne Linn of the Fisheries Office in Malawi, whose help to Herbert R. Axelrod made his field trip to Lake Malawi possible.
Placidochromis johnstoni is a species of cichlid native to Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe and the upper reaches of the Shire River where it prefers shallow waters with plentiful vegetation. This species can reach a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the British explorer, botanist, artist, colonial administrator and linguist Sir Henry Hamilton Johnston, better known as Harry Johnston, who collected the type and sent it to the British Museum.
Protomelas kirkii is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is most commonly found in areas vegetated with Vallisneria. This species can reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
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.
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.
