Protomelas

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Protomelas
Red Empress Flash Closeup 2852px.jpg
Male red empress (P. taeniolatus)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Tribe: Haplochromini
Genus: Protomelas
Eccles & Trewavas, 1989
Type species
Chromis kirkii
Günther, 1894
Species

16, see text

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 (e.g., Taiwan Reef Cichlid, Red Empress Cichlid).

Species

There are currently 16 recognized species in this genus: [1] [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbuna</span> Common name for several species of fish

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.

<i>Protomelas taeniolatus</i> Species of fish

Protomelas taeniolatus is a Haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. The fish is popular in the aquarium hobby due to the bright rainbow-like colors of adult males and its relatively peaceful temperament. Juvenile and female P. taeniolatus, like many Haplochromines, do not display bright coloration.

<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.

<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>Taeniolethrinops</i> Genus of fishes

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

<i>Nimbochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Nimbochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids mostly endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They are known as sleeper cichlids or kaligono due to their unique hunting behaviour.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haplochromine</span> Tribe of fishes

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>Haplochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Haplochromis is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cichlidae. It has been used as the default "wastebin taxon" for Pseudocrenilabrinae cichlids of the East African Rift, and as such became the "largest" fish "genus". Many of these cichlids are popular aquarium fishes; like similar Haplochromini they are known as "haplos", "happies" or "haps" among aquarium enthusiasts.

<i>Hemitaeniochromis urotaenia</i> Species of fish

Hemitaeniochromis urotaenia is a species of fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. It is the type species of the genus Hemitaeniochromis, and is part of family Cichlidae in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae and the tribe Haplochromini.

<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.

<i>Nyassachromis</i> Genus of fishes

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

<i>Protomelas kirkii</i> Species of fish

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.

<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>Tyrannochromis</i> Genus of fishes

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

References

  1. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). Species of Protomelas in FishBase . April 2013 version.
  2. Dierickx, Katrien; Snoeks, Jos (2020-06-23). "Protomelas krampus, a new paedophagous cichlid from Lake Malawi (Teleostei, Cichlidae)". European Journal of Taxonomy (672). doi: 10.5852/ejt.2020.672 . ISSN   2118-9773.