Checklist of the Mbuna Species Flock

Checklist of the
Mbuna Species Flock

Labeotropheus trewavasae `marmalade cat,` photo © M.K. Oliver

Labeotropheus trewavasae "marmalade cat"
photo © by M.K. Oliver

Latest addition: A new species, Melanochromis mpoto

Below is an alphabetical checklist of all scientifically described and named species in the Mbuna species flock of Malawi haplochromine cichlids, with many links to photo pages. Select the genus desired. Within the checklist for each genus, you can click on any colored scientific name (which will look, e.g., like "Cynotilapia afra") to go to an illustrated page for that species. All mbuna images and species accounts available at this site are linked below in this way. If instead you click on the colored name of any species' author and year of description [e.g., "(Günther, 1894)"] you will go to the full citation of that species' scientific publication on the bibliography page.
If you don't care about this complete checklist of formally described mbuna species and are looking for pictured species only, see Picture List for the Mbuna Species Flock. (Other options: You can go to Checklist of the Malawi "Hap" Species Flock (Alphabetically) or to Checklist of the Malawi "Hap" Species Flock (by Color Pattern), both of which have links to photos of that flock.)

Abactochromis Oliver & Arnegard, 2010
Cyathochromis Trewavas, 1935
Cynotilapia Regan, 1922 (synonym: Microchromis)
Genyochromis Trewavas, 1935
Gephyrochromis Boulenger, 1901 (synonym: Christyella)
Iodotropheus Oliver & Loiselle, 1972
Labeotropheus Ahl, 1926
Labidochromis Trewavas, 1935
Maylandia Meyer & Foerster, 1984 (synonym: Metriaclima)
Melanochromis Trewavas, 1935
Petrotilapia Trewavas, 1935
Pseudotropheus Regan, 1922
Tropheops Trewavas, 1984

Abactochromis Oliver & Arnegard, 2010

Abactochromis labrosus (Trewavas, 1935)
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Cyathochromis Trewavas, 1935

Cyathochromis obliquidens Trewavas, 1935 type species
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Cynotilapia Regan, 1922
(synonym Microchromis Johnson, 1975)

Gallery of Cynotilapia

Cynotilapia afra (Günther, 1894) type species
Cynotilapia aurifrons (Tawil, 2011)
Cynotilapia axelrodi Burgess, 1976
Cynotilapia pulpican Tawil, 2002 (follow "Tawil, 2002" link at left for more information)
Cynotilapia zebroides (Johnson, 1975) (Valid species?)
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Genyochromis Trewavas, 1935
Genyochromis mento — A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing? -Illustrated article by Ad Konings at Cichlid Room Companion

Genyochromis mento Trewavas, 1935 type species
(see also Seegers, 1996)
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Gephyrochromis Boulenger, 1901
(synonym Christyella Trewavas, 1935)

Gephyrochromis lawsi Fryer, 1957
Gephyrochromis moorii Boulenger, 1901 type species (synonym Christyella nyasana Trewavas, 1935)
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Iodotropheus Oliver & Loiselle, 1972

Iodotropheus declivitas Stauffer, 1994 Note: Based on extensive observations of Iodotropheus populations in Lake Malawi, Konings (1995c: 90) believes that I. declivitas is a synonym of I. sprengerae.
Iodotropheus sprengerae Oliver & Loiselle, 1972 type species (see also Stauffer, 1995) Dan McMonigle's article
Iodotropheus stuartgranti Konings, 1990
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Labeotropheus Ahl, 1926

Labeotropheus fuelleborni Ahl, 1926 type species (synonym L. curvirostris Ahl, 1926)
Labeotropheus trewavasae Fryer, 1956
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Labidochromis Trewavas, 1935
Try out Lewis's (1982) 2-page key to some Labidochromis species (112Kb) based on coloration of live males (Adobe Acrobat Reader for the above can be downloaded free)

Labidochromis caeruleus Fryer, 1956 Breeding L. caeruleus "electric yellow", by Jessica Miller
Labidochromis chisumulae Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis flavigulis Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis freibergi Johnson, 1974
Labidochromis gigas Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis heterodon Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis ianthinus Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis joanjohnsonae Johnson, 1974 [synonym: Melanochromis exasperatus Burgess, 1976; see Lewis (1980)]
Labidochromis lividus Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis maculicauda Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis mathotho Burgess & Axelrod, 1976
Labidochromis mbenjii Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis mylodon Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis sp. "perlmutt"
Labidochromis pallidus Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis shiranus Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis strigatus Lewis, 1982
Labidochromis textilis Oliver, 1975
Labidochromis vellicans Trewavas, 1935 type species
Labidochromis zebroides Lewis, 1982
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Maylandia Meyer & Foerster, 1984
(Metriaclima Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye (1997) is a junior synonym of Maylandia, as officially established by Condé and Géry (1999). Genus redescribed by Konings & Stauffer (2006). See also FAQ about the status of Maylandia versus Metriaclima.)

Note: Maylandia was originally proposed as a subgenus of Pseudotropheus. The gender of the name is feminine; some species names need to have their endings changed to agree.
See also Gallery of Miscellaneous Maylandia for some forms without formal scientific names

Maylandia aurora (Burgess, 1976)
Maylandia barlowi (McKaye & Stauffer, 1986)
Maylandia benetos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia callainos (Stauffer & Hert, 1992) [redescribed by Stauffer et al. (1997)]
Maylandia chrysomallos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia crabro (Ribbink & Lewis, 1982) [originally described as a Melanochromis; transferred to Pseudotropheus by Trewavas (1984a)]
Maylandia cyneusmarginata (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) Note 7
Maylandia elegans (Trewavas, 1935)
Maylandia emmiltos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia estherae (Konings, 1995)
Maylandia fainzilberi (Staeck, 1976)
Maylandia flavifemina (Konings & Stauffer, 2006)
Maylandia glaucos (Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011)
Maylandia greshakei (Meyer & Foerster, 1984) type species [redescribed by Stauffer et al. (1997)]
Maylandia hajomaylandi (Meyer & Schartl, 1984)
Maylandia heteropicta (Staeck, 1980) [redescribed by Stauffer et al. (1997)]
Maylandia lanisticola (Burgess, 1976) [Trewavas (1984a) believed this species to be distinct from M. livingstonii, but Konings (1995c) believes it is a synonym of M. livingstonii]
Maylandia livingstonii (Boulenger, 1899) [redescribed by Trewavas (1984a)]
Maylandia lombardoi (Burgess, 1977) Aquaria Central's notes by Bumper Moore
Maylandia mbenjii (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia melabranchion (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia mossambicus Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011
Maylandia nkhunguensis Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011
Maylandia phaeos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia pursa (Stauffer, 1991)
Maylandia pyrsonotos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia sandaracinos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia sciasma Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011
Maylandia thapsinogen (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia xanstomachus (Stauffer & Boltz, 1989) [redescribed by Stauffer et al. (1997)]
Maylandia xanthos Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011
Maylandia zebra (Boulenger, 1899) [redescribed by Stauffer et al. (1997)]
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Melanochromis Trewavas, 1935
Melanochromis The Beautiful Baddies From Lake Malawi, well-illustrated article by Paul Loiselle at Cichlid Room Companion

Melanochromis auratus (Boulenger, 1897) Cleared & stained specimen, showing skeleton; Aquaria Central's article by Mike McEwan
Melanochromis baliodigma Bowers & Stauffer, 1997
Melanochromis benetos Bowers & Stauffer, 1997
[Melanochromis brevis, see Pseudotropheus brevis]
Melanochromis chipokae Johnson, 1975
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos Bowers & Stauffer, 1997
Melanochromis dialeptos Bowers & Stauffer, 1997
Melanochromis elastodema Bowers & Stauffer, 1997
Melanochromis heterochromis Bowers & Stauffer, 1993
Melanochromis interruptus Johnson, 1975
[Melanochromis joanjohnsonae, see under Labidochromis]
Melanochromis johannii (Eccles, 1973)
Melanochromis kaskazini Konings-Dudin, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009
[Melanochromis labrosus, see under Abactochromis]
Melanochromis lepidiadaptes Bowers & Stauffer, 1997
Melanochromis loriae Johnson, 1975 [synonym: M. parallelus Burgess & Axelrod, 1976; see Konings & Stauffer, 2012]
Melanochromis melanopterus Trewavas, 1935 type species
Melanochromis mellitus Johnson, 1976
Melanochromis mossambiquensis Konings-Dudin, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009
Melanochromis mpoto Konings & Stauffer, 2012
[Melanochromis parallelus, see M. loriae]
Melanochromis perileucos Bowers & Stauffer, 1997
[Melanochromis perspicax, see under Pseudotropheus]
Melanochromis robustus Johnson, 1986
Melanochromis simulans Eccles, 1973
Melanochromis vermivorus Trewavas, 1935
Melanochromis wochepa Konings-Dudin, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009
Melanochromis xanthodigma Bowers & Stauffer, 1997 [M. "blotch," in part, of Ribbink et al., 1983]
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Petrotilapia Trewavas, 1935

Petrotilapia chrysos Stauffer & van Snik, 1996
Petrotilapia flaviventris Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011
Petrotilapia genalutea Marsh, 1983
Petrotilapia "gold eastern"
Petrotilapia "likoma barred"
Petrotilapia microgalana Ruffing, Lambert, & Stauffer, 2006
Petrotilapia mumboensis Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011
Petrotilapia nigra Marsh, 1983
Petrotilapia palingnathos Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011
Petrotilapia pyroscelos Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011
Petrotilapia tridentiger Trewavas, 1935 type species
Petrotilapia xanthos Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011
Petrotilapia "yellow chin"
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Pseudotropheus Regan, 1922
Note: Three subgenera have been described, but not all species in the genus were assigned to a subgenus. The subgenus is indicated for each species when known. The subgenera are the following:

Pseudotropheus (Maylandia) Meyer & Foerster, 1984 [type species: P. greshakei Meyer & Foerster, 1984; now recognized as a separate genus (see Maylandia above). Metriaclima Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye (1997) is a synonym of Maylandia.]
Pseudotropheus (Pseudotropheus) Regan, 1922 [type species: P. williamsi (Günther, 1894)]
Pseudotropheus (Tropheops) Trewavas, 1984a (type species: P. tropheops Regan, 1922); now recognized as a separate genus (see Tropheops below).

Pseudotropheus "acei"
Pseudotropheus "aggressive brown"
Pseudotropheus "aggressive gray"
Pseudotropheus "aggressive gray head"
Pseudotropheus "aggressive yellow fin"
Pseudotropheus "aggressive yellow head"
Pseudotropheus "aggressive zebra"
Pseudotropheus ater Stauffer, 1988
[Pseudotropheus aurora, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus barlowi, see under Maylandia]
Pseudotropheus brevis (Trewavas, 1935)
[Pseudotropheus callainos, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus crabro, see under Maylandia]
Pseudotropheus cyaneus Stauffer, 1988
Pseudotropheus demasoni Konings, 1994
[Pseudotropheus elegans, see under Maylandia]
Pseudotropheus elongatus Fryer, 1956 (see also Seegers, 1996)
Gallery of Pseudotropheus Species Resembling P. elongatus
[Pseudotropheus estherae, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus fainzilberi, see under Maylandia]
Pseudotropheus flavus Stauffer, 1988
Pseudotropheus fuscoides Fryer, 1956 [Ribbink et al. (1983: 194) suggested that this might prove to be synonymous with P. fuscus but provisionally retained both species; Konings (1995c: 84) considered P. fuscoides a synonym of P. fuscus.]
Pseudotropheus fuscus Trewavas, 1935

Pseudotropheus galanos Stauffer & Kellogg, 2002
[Pseudotropheus gracilior, see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus greshakei, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus hajomaylandi, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus heteropictus, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus lanisticola, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus livingstonii, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus lombardoi, see under Maylandia]
Pseudotropheus longior Seegers, 1996
[Pseudotropheus lucerna, see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus macrophthalmus, see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus microstoma, see under Tropheops]
Pseudotropheus minutus Fryer, 1956
[Pseudotropheus modestus, see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus novemfasciatus, see under Tropheops]
Pseudotropheus perspicax (Trewavas, 1935) [originally described as a Melanochromis; transferred to Pseudotropheus by Ribbink et al. (1983: 194)]
Pseudotropheus purpuratus Johnson, 1976
[Pseudotropheus pursus, see under Maylandia]
Pseudotropheus saulosi Konings, 1990
Introducing Pseudotropheus saulosi Konings 1990, illustrated article by Ad Konings at Cichlid Room Companion
Pseudotropheus socolofi Johnson, 1974
[Pseudotropheus romandi, see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus tropheops, see under Tropheops]
Pseudotropheus tursiops Burgess & Axelrod, 1975 [should perhaps be transferred to Melanochromis, based on the horizontal stripes]
Pseudotropheus (Pseudotropheus) williamsi (Günther, 1894) type species of genus and subgenus [redescribed by Trewavas (1984a)]
[Pseudotropheus xanstomachus, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus zebra, see under Maylandia]
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Tropheops Trewavas, 1984
See also Gallery of Tropheops

Tropheops gracilior (Trewavas, 1935)
Tropheops lucerna (Trewavas, 1935)
Tropheops "lucerna brown"
Tropheops macrophthalmus (Ahl, 1926)
Tropheops microstoma (Trewavas, 1935)
Tropheops modestus (Johnson, 1974)
Tropheops novemfasciatus (Regan, 1922)
Tropheops romandi (Colombe, 1979)
Tropheops tropheops (Regan, 1922) type species
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The Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi, Africa: MalawiCichlids.com