Nyassachromis

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Nyassachromis
Nyassachromis breviceps.jpg
Nyassachromis breviceps
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribe: Haplochromini
Genus: Nyassachromis
Eccles & Trewavas, 1989
Type species
Haplochromis breviceps
Regan, 1922

Nyassachromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi. They are open-water mouthbrooders, an ecological niche known as utaka to locals.

Species

There are currently eight recognized species in this genus: [1]

Related Research Articles

Mbuna

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. Among biologists, 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.

<i>Aulonocara</i> Genus of fishes

Aulonocara is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. All Aulonocara species are maternal mouth brooders. Particularly in the aquarium hobby, Aulonocara species are also known as peacock cichlids, aulonocaras or simply "peacocks". This genus is strongly sexually dichromic, even by haplochromine standards.

Dr. Ethelwynn Trewavas was an ichthyologist at the British Museum of Natural History. She was known for her work on the families Cichlidae and Sciaenidae. She worked with Charles Tate Regan, another ichthyologist and taxonomist.

<i>Copadichromis</i> Genus of fishes

Copadichromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Copadichromis are part of a group known as utaka and are popular with aquarists, as this genus is relatively peaceful in captivity compared to the mbuna.

<i>Protomelas</i> Genus of fishes

Protomelas is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The genus is part of the haplochromine tribe and have maternal mouthbrooding and sexual dimorphism typical of this group. Popular in the aquarium hobby, Protomelas species are sold under a variety of trade names.

<i>Taeniolethrinops</i> Genus of fishes

Taeniolethrinops is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi.

<i>Buccochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Buccochromis is a genus of relatively large haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi and the upper Shire River in East Africa.

<i>Otopharynx</i> Genus of fishes

Otopharynx is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa.

Haplochromine

The haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus (Haplochromis) plus a number of closely related genera such as Aulonocara, Astatotilapia, and Chilotilapia. They are endemic to eastern, southern and northern Africa, except for Astatotilapia flaviijosephi in the Middle East. A common name in a scientific context is East African cichlids – while they are not restricted to that region, they are the dominant Cichlidae there. This tribe was extensively studied by Ethelwynn Trewavas, who made major reviews in 1935 and 1989, at the beginning and at the end of her career in ichthyology. Even today, numerous new species are being described each year.

<i>Eclectochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Eclectochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi.

<i>Rhamphochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Rhamphochromis is a genus of East African haplochromine cichlids endemic to the Lake Malawi basin, also including Lake Malombe, Lake Chilingali, Chia Lagoon and upper Shire River. They mainly occur in offshore open waters, but a few species also near the coast. They are piscivores that typically feed on lake sardines and small utaka cichlids.

<i>Lethrinops</i> Genus of fishes

Lethrinops is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Particularly in the aquarium hobby, they are known as the sandeaters or sandsifters.

<i>Mylochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Mylochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa.

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.

<i>Stigmatochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Stigmatochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids that are endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa.

<i>Trematocranus</i> Genus of fishes

Trematocranus is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi.

<i>Tropheops</i> Genus of fishes

Tropheops is a genus of cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi.

<i>Tyrannochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Tyrannochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi.

<i>Mchenga</i> Genus of fishes

Mchenga is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They are part of a group known as utaka.

<i>Oneirodes</i> Genus of fishes

Oneirodes is a genus of fish in the family Oneirodidae.

References

  1. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). Species of Nyassachromis in FishBase . April 2013 version.