The genus Melanoides in Lake Malawi is revised based on the morphology of the
shell and the radula of collected snails and specimens in museum collections.
Extensive morphological variation in the genus led to the conclusion that
many of the previously described species are synonymous. M. virgulata
Ferrusac, 1827, which has erroneously been considered a synonym of
M. tuberculata in previous studies, is reinstated as a valid species.
In Lake Malawi the genus Melanoides comprises five species:
M. tuberculata, M. virgulata, M. nodicincta, M. simonsi
and M. polymorpha. The last three are endemic to Lake Malawi.