Melanochromis
Encyclopedia
Melanochromis is a genus
of haplochromine
cichlid
s endemic to Lake Malawi
in Eastern Africa. It was established by Ethylwynn Trewavas
in 1935. Ecologically, they belong to the rock-dwelling mbuna
cichlids of Lake Malawi.
Melanochromis are typically small, slim but muscular fishes with lengthwise stripes of black, yellow and blue. They usually display strong sexual dichromatism. They are very aggressive, particularly amongst conspecifics and similarly patterned heterospecifics (such as Julidochromis
). Thus, though they are popular aquarium
fishes, they are not suited for beginners and community tanks.
at present:
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of haplochromine
Haplochromine
The haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus plus a number of closely related genera such as Aulonocara, Astatotilapia, and Chilotilapia. They are endemic to eastern and southern Africa...
cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
s endemic to Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
in Eastern Africa. It was established by Ethylwynn Trewavas
Ethylwynn Trewavas
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...
in 1935. Ecologically, they belong to the rock-dwelling mbuna
Mbuna
Mbuna is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi...
cichlids of Lake Malawi.
Melanochromis are typically small, slim but muscular fishes with lengthwise stripes of black, yellow and blue. They usually display strong sexual dichromatism. They are very aggressive, particularly amongst conspecifics and similarly patterned heterospecifics (such as Julidochromis
Julidochromis
Julidochromis is a genus of cichlids in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. They are commonly called julies and are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. This genus includes at least 5 species, each with a number of subspecies and local variants of uncertain taxonomic status...
). Thus, though they are popular aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
fishes, they are not suited for beginners and community tanks.
Species
The genus contains 27 speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
at present:
- Melanochromis auratusMelanochromis auratusThe auratus cichlid, Melanochromis auratus, is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family. It is also known as golden mbuna and Malawi golden cichlid. It is endemic to the southern region of Lake Malawi, particularly from Jalo Reef southward along the entire western coast down to Crocodile Rocks...
– Golden Mbuna, Auratus Cichlid, Malawi Golden Cichlid - Melanochromis baliodigmaMelanochromis baliodigmaMelanochromis baliodigma is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis benetosMelanochromis benetosMelanochromis benetos is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis brevisMelanochromis brevisMelanochromis brevis is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis chipokaeMelanochromis chipokaeMelanochromis chipokae is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis cyaneorhabdosMelanochromis cyaneorhabdosMelanochromis cyaneorhabdos is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes. Since it is an endemic species, there is not very much information available, except that posted below by owners...
– Maingano - Melanochromis dialeptosMelanochromis dialeptosMelanochromis dialeptos is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes. It can be identified by the black markings found throughout its fin...
- Melanochromis elastodemaMelanochromis elastodemaMelanochromis elastodema is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis heterochromisMelanochromis heterochromisMelanochromis heterochromis is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis interruptusMelanochromis interruptusMelanochromis interruptus is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis joanjohnsonae – Pearl of LikomaPearl of likomaThe Pearl of Likoma is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is the hard, rocky water of the lake.-References:...
- Melanochromis johanniiMelanochromis johanniiMelanochromis johannii, is a freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae. The species is endemic to littoral zones on the east, Mozambique coastline of Lake Malawi, south of Chuanga. The species is popular in the fishkeeping hobby and is frequently kept in cichlid aquariums...
– Bluegrey Mbuna, Johanni Mbuna, electric blue johanni - Melanochromis kaskazini Konings-Dudin, Konings & Stauffer Jr, 2009
- Melanochromis lepidiadaptesMelanochromis lepidiadaptesMelanochromis lepidiadaptes is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis loriaeMelanochromis loriaeMelanochromis loriae is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis melanopterusMelanochromis melanopterusMelanochromis melanopterus is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis mellitusMelanochromis mellitusMelanochromis mellitus is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis mossambiquensis Konings-Dudin, Konings & Stauffer Jr, 2009
- Melanochromis parallelus – Parallel-striped Mbuna
- Melanochromis perileucosMelanochromis perileucosMelanochromis perileucos is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis perspicax Trewavas, 1935
- Melanochromis robustusMelanochromis robustusMelanochromis robustus is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is found in Malawi and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis simulansMelanochromis simulansMelanochromis simulans is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is found in Malawi and Mozambique. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis vermivorus – Purple MbunaPurple mbunaThe purple mbuna is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Melanochromis wochepa Konings-Dudin, Konings & Stauffer Jr, 2009
- Melanochromis xanthodigmaMelanochromis xanthodigmaMelanochromis xanthodigma is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to the east coast of Lake Malawi, east Africa.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....