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 of Maylandia, M. koningsi
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 from either the buttons or the text links below them. 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
Chindongo Li, Konings, & Stauffer, 2016
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. Photo © M.K. Oliver

Abactochromis labrosus (Trewavas, 1935)
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Chindongo Li, Konings, & Stauffer, 2016

Chindongo bellicosus. Photo © M.K. Oliver

Chindongo ater (Stauffer, 1988)
Chindongo bellicosus Li, Konings, & Stauffer, 2016 type species
Chindongo cyaneus (Stauffer, 1988)
Chindongo demasoni (Konings, 1994)
Chindongo elongatus (Fryer, 1956)
Chindongo flavus (Stauffer, 1988)
Chindongo heteropictus (Staeck, 1980) [redescribed by Stauffer et al. (1997)]
Chindongo longior (Seegers, 1996)
Chindongo minutus (Fryer, 1956)
Chindongo saulosi (Konings, 1990)
Introducing Pseudotropheus saulosi Konings 1990, illustrated article by Ad Konings at Cichlid Room Companion
Chindongo socolofi (Johnson, 1974)
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Cyathochromis Trewavas, 1935

Cyathochromis obliquidens. Photo © M.K. Oliver

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

Cynotilapia zebroides. Photo © M.K. Oliver

Gallery of Cynotilapia

Cynotilapia afra (Günther, 1894) type species
Cynotilapia aurifrons (Tawil, 2011)
Cynotilapia axelrodi Burgess, 1976
Cynotilapia chilundu Li, Konings, & Stauffer, 2016
Cynotilapia zebroides (Johnson, 1975)
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Genyochromis Trewavas, 1935

Genyochromis mento. From Ribbink et al. (1983)

Genyochromis mento Trewavas, 1935 type species
(see also Seegers, 1996)
Genyochromis mento — A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing? -Illustrated article by Ad Konings at Cichlid Room Companion

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Gephyrochromis lawsi. Photo © Ad Konings

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 sprengerae. Photo © M.K. Oliver

Iodotropheus Oliver & Loiselle, 1972

Iodotropheus sprengerae Oliver & Loiselle, 1972 type species (see also Stauffer, 1995)

Iodotropheus sprengerae declivitas Stauffer, 1994
Iodotropheus sprengerae sprengerae Oliver & Loiselle, 1972

Iodotropheus stuartgranti Konings, 1990
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Labeotropheus fuelleborni. Photo © M.K. Oliver

Labeotropheus Ahl, 1926

Labeotropheus artatorostris Pauers, 2017
Labeotropheus chlorosiglos Pauers, 2016
Labeotropheus fuelleborni Ahl, 1926 type species (synonym L. curvirostris Ahl, 1926)
Labeotropheus simoneae Pauers, 2016
Labeotropheus trewavasae Fryer, 1956
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Labidochromis heterodon. Photo © M.K. Oliver

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_zebra. From Ribbink et al. (1983)

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 cyneusmarginata (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) Note 7

Maylandia emmiltos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia estherae (Konings, 1995)
Maylandia fainzilberi (Staeck, 1976)
Maylandia flavicauda Li, Konings, & Stauffer, 2016
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, see under Chindongo]
Maylandia koningsi (Stauffer, 2018)
Maylandia lombardoi (Burgess, 1977) Aquaria Central's notes by Bumper Moore
Maylandia lundoensis (Stauffer, Black, & Konings, 2013)
Maylandia mbenjii (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia midomo (Stauffer, Black, & Konings, 2013)
Maylandia mossambica (Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011)
Maylandia nigrodorsalis (Stauffer, Black, & Konings, 2013)
Maylandia nkhunguensis (Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011)
Maylandia pambazuko (Stauffer, Black, & Konings, 2013)
Maylandia phaeos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia pulpican (Tawil, 2002) (follow "Tawil, 2002" link at left for more information)
Maylandia pura (Stauffer, 1991)
Maylandia pyrsonotos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) [Synonym: Maylandia sandaracinos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997); synonymized by Stauffer, Black, & Konings, 2013]
Maylandia sciasma (Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011)
Maylandia tarakiki (Stauffer, Black, & Konings, 2013)
Maylandia thapsinogen (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)
Maylandia usisyae Li, Konings, & Stauffer, 2016
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). Synonym: Maylandia melabranchion (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997); synonymized by Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011]
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Melanochromis Trewavas, 1935
Melanochromis The Beautiful Baddies From Lake Malawi, well-illustrated article by Paul Loiselle at Cichlid Room Companion (although nomenclature is outdated)

Melanochromis auratus. Photo © M.K. Oliver

Melanochromis auratus (Boulenger, 1897) Cleared & stained specimen, showing skeleton
Melanochromis baliodigma Bowers & Stauffer, 1997 [synonym: Melanochromis xanthodigma Bowers & Stauffer, 1997]
[Melanochromis brevis, see Pseudotropheus brevis]
Melanochromis chipokae Johnson, 1975
Melanochromis dialeptos Bowers & Stauffer, 1997
[Melanochromis elastodema, see Pseudotropheus interruptus]
Melanochromis heterochromis Bowers & Stauffer, 1993
[Melanochromis joanjohnsonae, see under Labidochromis]
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 [synonym: Melanochromis mellitus Johnson, 1976]
Melanochromis mossambiquensis Konings-Dudin, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009
Melanochromis mpoto Konings & Stauffer, 2012
[Melanochromis parallelus, see M. loriae]
[Melanochromis perspicax, see under Pseudotropheus]
Melanochromis robustus Johnson, 1986
Melanochromis simulans Eccles, 1973
Melanochromis vermivorus Trewavas, 1935
Melanochromis wochepa Konings-Dudin, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009
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Petrotilapia Trewavas, 1935

Petrotilapia tridentiger. Photo © M.K. Oliver

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 initially assigned to a subgenus. The subgenera, each now recognized as a full genus, were 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).
In addition, a number of species formerly assigned to Pseudotropheus have been removed to a new genus Chindongo.

Pseudotropheus lucerna. Photo © Ad Konings

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, see under Chindongo]
[Pseudotropheus aurora, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus barlowi, see under Maylandia]
Pseudotropheus benetos (Bowers & Stauffer, 1997)
Pseudotropheus brevis (Trewavas, 1935)
[Pseudotropheus callainos, see under Maylandia]
Pseudotropheus crabro (Ribbink & Lewis, 1982) [originally described as a Melanochromis; transferred to Pseudotropheus by Trewavas (1984a)]
Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos (Bowers & Stauffer, 1997)
[Pseudotropheus cyaneus, see under Chindongo]
[Pseudotropheus demasoni, see under Chindongo]
Pseudotropheus elegans Trewavas, 1935
[Pseudotropheus elongatus, see under Chindongo]
Gallery of Pseudotropheus Species Resembling P. elongatus
[Pseudotropheus estherae, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus fainzilberi, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus flavus, see under Chindongo]

Pseudotropheus fuscus Trewavas, 1935 [synonym: Pseudotropheus fuscoides Fryer, 1956]
Pseudotropheus galanos Stauffer & Kellogg, 2002
[Pseudotropheus gracilior, see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus greshakei, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus hajomaylandi, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus heteropictus, see under Chindongo]
Pseudotropheus interruptus (Johnson, 1975) [synonym: Melanochromis elastodema Bowers & Stauffer, 1997]
Pseudotropheus johannii Eccles, 1973
Pseudotropheus lanisticola (Burgess, 1976) [synonym: Metriaclima purus Bowers & Stauffer, 1997] [Trewavas (1984a) believed this species to be distinct from M. livingstonii; Konings previously (1995c) believed it a synonym of P. livingstonii but currently treats it as a separate species]
Pseudotropheus livingstonii (Boulenger, 1899) [redescribed by Trewavas (1984a)]
[Pseudotropheus lombardoi, see under Maylandia]
[Pseudotropheus longior, see under Chindongo]
Pseudotropheus lucerna (Trewavas, 1935)
[Pseudotropheus "lucerna brown", see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus macrophthalmus, see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus microstoma, see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus minutus, see under Chindongo]
[Pseudotropheus modestus, see under Tropheops]
[Pseudotropheus novemfasciatus, see under Tropheops]
Pseudotropheus perileucos (Bowers & Stauffer, 1997)
Pseudotropheus perspicax (Trewavas, 1935) [originally described as a Melanochromis; transferred to Pseudotropheus by Ribbink et al. (1983: 194)]
Pseudotropheus purpuratus Johnson, 1976
[Pseudotropheus purus (misspelled pursus), see Ps. lanisticola]
[Pseudotropheus saulosi, see under Chindongo]
[Pseudotropheus socolofi, see under Chindongo]
[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 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 tropheops. From Ribbink et al. (1983)

Tropheops biriwira Li, Konings, & Stauffer, 2016
Tropheops gracilior (Trewavas, 1935)
Tropheops kamtambo Li, Konings, & Stauffer, 2016
Tropheops kumwera Li, Konings, & Stauffer, 2016
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