Malawi cichlid checklist - The Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi, Africa

Checklist of the Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa/Niassa) by M.K. Oliver, Ph.D. 

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Checklist of the Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa/Niassa) 

by Michael K. Oliver, Ph.D. 

Updated 18 August 2012 

First posted June 1999 

The cichlids of Lake Malawi constitute the largest vertebrate species flock (or complex of flocks), and 

largest lacustrine fish fauna, on earth. This list includes all cichlid species (and the few subspecies) that have been 

given formal scientific names. Many – several hundred – additional endemic cichlid species are known but still 

undescribed, and this fact must be considered in assessing the biodiversity of the lake. Current estimates of the total 

size of the lake’s cichlid fauna (counting both described, and known but undescribed, species) are 700-843 species 

(Turner et al., 2001; Snoeks, 2001; Konings, 2007). Additional undescribed species are still frequently being 

discovered, particularly in previously unexplored locations and in deep water. 

The entire Lake Malawi cichlid metaflock is composed of two, possibly separate, endemic clades, the 

“Hap” clade and the Mbuna clade. Membership in one or the other, or nonendemic status, is indicated for each 

genus, as is the type species of each endemic genus. The classification and synonymies are primarily based on the 

Catalog of Fishes with a few deviations (notably of species included in Cynotilapia and Tropheops). Because this 

list has just caught up with several synonymies, the total numbers have dropped somewhat compared with the 

previous (19 Apr 2012) version of this checklist, despite the addition of a new species of Hemitaeniochromis and the 

resurrection of Oreochromis saka from synonymy; all synonymized genera and species should now be listed under 

their senior synonym. The now 57 genera and the 391 species are numbered separately; the few subspecies 

recognized are no longer numbered separately and are indented under the nominate subspecies. 

Nearly all species are endemic to L. Malawi, in some cases extending also into the upper Shiré River 

including Lake Malombe. The nonendemic species number only four or five — Astatotilapia calliptera, 

Serranochromis robustus, Oreochromis shiranus (which is, however, represented in the Lake by an endemic 

subspecies), Tilapia rendalli, and one doubtfully occurring fish, Pseudocrenilabrus philander philander. 

Photographs of many of these fishes, and complete bibliographic citations of the taxonomic publications, are 

available on the author’s Web site at http://malawicichlids.com/. 

1. Abactochromis Oliver & Arnegard, 2010 — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

1. Abactochromis labrosus (Trewavas, 1935) type species 

2. Alticorpus Stauffer & McKaye, 1988 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

2. Alticorpus geoffreyi Snoeks & Walapa, 2004 

3. Alticorpus macrocleithrum (Stauffer & McKaye, 1985) 

4. Alticorpus mentale Stauffer & McKaye, 1988 type species 

5. Alticorpus pectinatum Stauffer & McKaye, 1988 

6. Alticorpus peterdaviesi (Burgess & Axelrod, 1973) 

7. Alticorpus profundicola Stauffer & McKaye, 1988 

3. Aristochromis Trewavas, 1935 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

8. Aristochromis christyi Trewavas, 1935 type species 

4. Astatotilapia Pellegrin, 1904 — Nonendemic 

9. Astatotilapia calliptera (Günther, 1894) 

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5. Aulonocara Regan, 1922 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

10. Aulonocara aquilonium Konings, 1995 

11. Aulonocara auditor (Trewavas, 1935) 

12. Aulonocara baenschi Meyer & Riehl, 1985 

13. Aulonocara brevinidus Konings, 1995 

14. Aulonocara brevirostre (Trewavas, 1935) 

15. Aulonocara ethelwynnae Meyer, Riehl, & Zetzsche, 1987 

16. Aulonocara gertrudae Konings, 1995 

17. Aulonocara guentheri Eccles, 1989 

18. Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl, & Zetzsche, 1987 

19. Aulonocara hueseri Meyer, Riehl, & Zetzsche, 1987 

20. Aulonocara jacobfreibergi (Johnson, 1974) 

21. Aulonocara koningsi Tawil, 2003 

22. Aulonocara korneliae Meyer, Riehl, & Zetzsche, 1987 

23. Aulonocara maylandi maylandi Trewavas, 1984 

24. Aulonocara maylandi kandeensis Tawil & Allgayer, 1987 

25. Aulonocara nyassae Regan, 1922 type species 

26. Aulonocara rostratum Trewavas, 1935 [synonym: A. macrochir Trewavas, 1935] 

27. Aulonocara saulosi Meyer, Riehl, & Zetzsche, 1987 

28. Aulonocara steveni Meyer, Riehl, & Zetzsche, 1987 

29. Aulonocara stonemani (Burgess & Axelrod, 1973) 

30. Aulonocara stuartgranti Meyer & Riehl, 1985 

31. Aulonocara trematocephalum (Boulenger, 1901) 

6. Buccochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

32. Buccochromis atritaeniatus (Regan, 1922) 

33. Buccochromis heterotaenia (Trewavas, 1935) 

34. Buccochromis lepturus (Regan, 1922) 

35. Buccochromis nototaenia (Boulenger, 1902) type species 

36. Buccochromis oculatus (Trewavas, 1935) 

37. Buccochromis rhoadesii (Boulenger, 1908) 

38. Buccochromis spectabilis (Trewavas, 1935) 

7. Caprichromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

39. Caprichromis liemi (McKaye & Mackenzie, 1982) 

40. Caprichromis orthognathus (Trewavas, 1935) type species 

8. Champsochromis Boulenger, 1915 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

41. Champsochromis caeruleus (Boulenger, 1908) type species 

42. Champsochromis spilorhynchus (Regan, 1922) 

9. Cheilochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

43. Cheilochromis euchilus (Trewavas, 1935) type species 

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10. Chilotilapia Boulenger, 1908 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

44. Chilotilapia rhoadesii Boulenger, 1908 type species 

11. Copadichromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

45. Copadichromis atripinnis Stauffer & Sato, 2002 

46. Copadichromis azureus Konings, 1990 

47. Copadichromis borleyi (Iles, 1960) 

48. Copadichromis chizumuluensis Stauffer & Konings, 2006 

49. Copadichromis chrysonotus (Boulenger, 1908) 

50. Copadichromis cyaneus (Trewavas, 1935) 

51. Copadichromis cyanocephalus Stauffer & Konings, 2006 

52. Copadichromis diplostigma Stauffer & Konings, 2006 

53. Copadichromis geertsi Konings, 1999 

54. Copadichromis ilesi Konings, 1999 

55. Copadichromis insularis Stauffer & Konings, 2006 

56. Copadichromis jacksoni (Iles, 1960) 

57. Copadichromis likomae (Iles, 1960) 

58. Copadichromis mbenjii Konings, 1990 

59. Copadichromis melas Stauffer & Konings, 2006 

60. Copadichromis mloto (Iles, 1960) 

61. Copadichromis nkatae (Iles, 1960) 

62. Copadichromis parvus Stauffer & Konings, 2006 

63. Copadichromis pleurostigma (Trewavas, 1935) 

64. Copadichromis pleurostigmoides (Iles, 1960) 

65. Copadichromis quadrimaculatus (Regan, 1922) type species 

66. Copadichromis trewavasae Konings, 1999 

67. Copadichromis trimaculatus (Iles, 1960) 

68. Copadichromis verduyni Konings, 1990 

69. Copadichromis virginalis (Iles, 1960) 

12. Corematodus Boulenger, 1897 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

70. Corematodus shiranus Boulenger, 1897 type species 

71. Corematodus taeniatus Trewavas, 1935 

13. Ctenopharynx Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

72. Ctenopharynx intermedius (Günther, 1864) type species 

73. Ctenopharynx nitidus (Trewavas, 1935) 

74. Ctenopharynx pictus (Trewavas, 1935) 

14. Cyathochromis Trewavas, 1935 — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

75. Cyathochromis obliquidens Trewavas, 1935 type species 

15. Cynotilapia Regan, 1922 [Synonym: Microchromis Johnson] — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

76. Cynotilapia afra (Günther, 1894) type species 

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77. Cynotilapia aurifrons (Tawil, 2011) 

78. Cynotilapia axelrodi Burgess, 1976 

79. Cynotilapia pulpican Tawil, 2002 

80. Cynotilapia zebroides (Johnson, 1975) 

16. Cyrtocara Boulenger, 1902 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

81. Cyrtocara moorii Boulenger, 1902 type species 

17. Dimidiochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

82. Dimidiochromis compressiceps (Boulenger, 1908) 

83. Dimidiochromis dimidiatus (Günther, 1864) 

84. Dimidiochromis kiwinge (Ahl, 1926) 

85. Dimidiochromis strigatus (Regan, 1922) type species 

18. Diplotaxodon Trewavas, 1935 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

86. Diplotaxodon aeneus Turner & Stauffer, 1998 

87. Diplotaxodon apogon Turner & Stauffer, 1998 

88. Diplotaxodon argenteus Trewavas, 1935 type species 

89. Diplotaxodon ecclesi Burgess & Axelrod, 1973 

90. Diplotaxodon greenwoodi Stauffer & McKaye, 1986 

91. Diplotaxodon limnothrissa Turner, 1994 

92. Diplotaxodon macrops Turner & Stauffer, 1998 

19. Docimodus Boulenger, 1897 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

93. Docimodus evelynae Eccles & Lewis, 1976 

94. Docimodus johnstoni Boulenger, 1897 type species 

20. Eclectochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

95. Eclectochromis lobochilus (Trewavas, 1935) 

96. Eclectochromis ornatus (Regan, 1922) type species [synonym: E. festivus (Trewavas, 1935)] 

21. Exochochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

97. Exochochromis anagenys Oliver, 1989 type species 

22. Fossorochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

98. Fossorochromis rostratus (Boulenger, 1899) type species [synonym: Haplochromis macrorhynchus Regan, 

1021] 

23. Genyochromis Trewavas, 1935 — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

99. Genyochromis mento Trewavas, 1935 type species 

24. Gephyrochromis Boulenger, 1901 [Synonym: Christyella Trewavas, 1935] — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

100. Gephyrochromis lawsi Fryer, 1957 

101. Gephyrochromis moorii Boulenger, 1901 type species [synonym: Christyella nyasana Trewavas, 1935] 

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25. Hemitaeniochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

102. Hemitaeniochromis brachyrhynchus Oliver, 2012 

103. Hemitaeniochromis urotaenia (Regan, 1922) type species 

26. Hemitilapia Boulenger, 1902 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

104. Hemitilapia oxyrhyncha Boulenger, 1902 type species 

27. Iodotropheus Oliver & Loiselle, 1972 — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

105. Iodotropheus declivitas Stauffer, 1994 [Konings (2007) considers this a synonym of I. sprengerae)] 

106. Iodotropheus sprengerae Oliver & Loiselle, 1972 type species 

107. Iodotropheus stuartgranti Konings, 1990 

28. Labeotropheus Ahl, 1926 — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

108. Labeotropheus fuelleborni Ahl, 1926 type species [synonym: L. curvirostris Ahl, 1926] 

109. Labeotropheus trewavasae Fryer, 1956 

29. Labidochromis Trewavas, 1935 — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

110. Labidochromis caeruleus Fryer, 1956 

111. Labidochromis chisumulae Lewis, 1982 

112. Labidochromis flavigulis Lewis, 1982 

113. Labidochromis freibergi Johnson, 1974 

114. Labidochromis gigas Lewis, 1982 

115. Labidochromis heterodon Lewis, 1982 

116. Labidochromis ianthinus Lewis, 1982 

117. Labidochromis joanjohnsonae Johnson, 1974 [generic placement as in Konings & Stauffer, 2012; synonym: 

Melanochromis exasperatus Burgess, 1976] 

118. Labidochromis lividus Lewis, 1982 

119. Labidochromis maculicauda Lewis, 1982 

120. Labidochromis mathotho Burgess & Axelrod, 1976 

121. Labidochromis mbenjii Lewis, 1982 

122. Labidochromis mylodon Lewis, 1982 

123. Labidochromis pallidus Lewis, 1982 

124. Labidochromis shiranus Lewis, 1982 

125. Labidochromis strigatus Lewis, 1982 

126. Labidochromis textilis Oliver, 1975 

127. Labidochromis vellicans Trewavas, 1935 type species 

128. Labidochromis zebroides Lewis, 1982 

30. Lethrinops Regan, 1922 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

129. Lethrinops albus Regan, 1922 

130. Lethrinops altus Trewavas, 1931 

131. Lethrinops argenteus Ahl, 1926 

132. Lethrinops auritus (Regan, 1922) 

133. Lethrinops christyi Trewavas, 1931 

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134. Lethrinops furcifer Trewavas, 1931 

135. Lethrinops gossei Burgess & Axelrod, 1973 

136. Lethrinops leptodon Regan, 1922 

137. Lethrinops lethrinus (Günther, 1894) type species 

138. Lethrinops longimanus Trewavas, 1931 

139. Lethrinops longipinnis Eccles & Lewis, 1978 

140. Lethrinops lunaris Trewavas, 1931 

141. Lethrinops macracanthus Trewavas, 1931 

142. Lethrinops macrochir (Regan, 1922) 

143. Lethrinops macrophthalmus (Boulenger, 1908) 

144. Lethrinops marginatus Ahl, 1926 

145. Lethrinops micrentodon (Regan, 1922) 

146. Lethrinops microdon Eccles & Lewis, 1977 

147. Lethrinops microstoma Trewavas, 1931 

148. Lethrinops mylodon mylodon Eccles & Lewis, 1979 

Lethrinops mylodon borealis Eccles & Lewis, 1979 

149. Lethrinops oculatus Trewavas, 1931 

150. Lethrinops parvidens Trewavas, 1931 

151. Lethrinops stridei Eccles & Lewis, 1977 

152. Lethrinops turneri Ngatunga & Snoeks, 2003 

31. Lichnochromis Trewavas, 1935 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

153. Lichnochromis acuticeps Trewavas, 1935 type species 

32. Maylandia Meyer & Foerster, 1984 [Synonym: Metriaclima Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye 

(1997); see Eschmeyer’s online Catalog of Fishes – http://bit.ly/Ouhlbm] — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

Note: Originally proposed as a subgenus of Pseudotropheus. 

154. Maylandia aurora (Burgess, 1976) 

155. Maylandia barlowi (McKaye & Stauffer, 1986) 

156. Maylandia benetos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) 

157. Maylandia callainos (Stauffer & Hert, 1992) 

158. Maylandia chrysomallos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) 

159. Maylandia cyneusmarginata (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) 

160. Maylandia elegans (Trewavas, 1935) 

161. Maylandia emmiltos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) 

162. Maylandia estherae (Konings, 1995) 

163. Maylandia fainzilberi (Staeck, 1976) 

164. Maylandia flavifemina (Konings & Stauffer, 2006) 

165. Maylandia glaucos (Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011) 

166. Maylandia greshakei (Meyer & Foerster, 1984) type species 

167. Maylandia hajomaylandi (Meyer & Schartl, 1984) 

168. Maylandia heteropictus (Staeck, 1980) 

169. Maylandia lanisticola (Burgess, 1976) 

170. Maylandia livingstonii (Boulenger, 1899) 

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171. Maylandia lombardoi (Burgess, 1977) 

172. Maylandia mbenjii (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) 

173. Maylandia mossambica (Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011) 

174. Maylandia nkhunguensis (Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011) 

175. Maylandia phaeos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) 

176. Maylandia pursus (Stauffer, 1991) 

177. Maylandia pyrsonotos (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) [synonym: M. sandaracinos (Stauffer, 

Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997)] 

178. Maylandia sciasma (Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011) 

179. Maylandia thapsinogen (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997) 

180. Maylandia xanstomachus (Stauffer & Boltz, 1989) 

181. Maylandia xanthos (Ciccotto, Konings, & Stauffer, 2011) 

182. Maylandia zebra (Boulenger, 1899) [synonym: M. melabranchion (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 

1997)] 

33. Mchenga Stauffer & Konings, 2006 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

183. Mchenga conophoros (Stauffer, LoVullo, & McKaye, 1993) 

184. Mchenga cyclicos (Stauffer, LoVullo, & McKaye, 1993) type species 

185. Mchenga eucinostomus (Regan, 1922) 

186. Mchenga flavimanus (Iles, 1960) 

187. Mchenga inornata (Boulenger, 1908) 

188. Mchenga thinos (Stauffer, LoVullo, & McKaye, 1993) 

34. Melanochromis Trewavas, 1935 — Endemic: Mbuna clade (included species after Konings & 

Stauffer, 2012) 

189. Melanochromis auratus (Boulenger, 1897) 

190. Melanochromis baliodigma Bowers & Stauffer, 1997 [synonym: M. xanthodigma Bowers & Stauffer, 1997] 

191. Melanochromis chipokae Johnson, 1975 

192. Melanochromis dialeptos Bowers & Stauffer, 1997 

193. Melanochromis heterochromis Bowers & Stauffer, 1993 

194. Melanochromis kaskazini Konings-Dudin, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009 

195. Melanochromis lepidiadaptes Bowers & Stauffer, 1997 

196. Melanochromis loriae Johnson, 1975 [synonym: M. parallelus Burgess & Axelrod, 1976] 

197. Melanochromis melanopterus Trewavas, 1935 type species [synonym: Melanochromis mellitus Johnson, 1976] 

198. Melanochromis mossambiquensis Konings-Dudin, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009 

199. Melanochromis mpoto Konings & Stauffer, 2012 

200. Melanochromis robustus Johnson, 1986 

201. Melanochromis simulans Eccles, 1973 

202. Melanochromis vermivorus Trewavas, 1935 

203. Melanochromis wochepa Konings-Dudin, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009 

35. Mylochromis Regan, 1922 [Synonyms: Maravichromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989; Platygnathochromis 

Eccles & Trewavas, 1989] — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

204. Mylochromis anaphyrmus (Burgess & Axelrod, 1973) 

205. Mylochromis balteatus (Trewavas, 1935) 

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206. Mylochromis chekopae Turner & Howarth, 2001 

207. Mylochromis ensatus Turner & Howarth, 2001 

208. Mylochromis epichorialis (Trewavas, 1935) 

209. Mylochromis ericotaenia (Regan, 1922) 

210. Mylochromis formosus (Trewavas, 1935) 

211. Mylochromis guentheri (Regan, 1922) 

212. Mylochromis incola (Trewavas, 1935) 

213. Mylochromis labidodon (Trewavas, 1935) 

214. Mylochromis lateristriga (Günther, 1864) type species 

215. Mylochromis melanonotus (Regan, 1922) 

216. Mylochromis melanotaenia (Regan, 1922) 

217. Mylochromis mola (Trewavas, 1935) 

218. Mylochromis mollis (Trewavas, 1935) 

219. Mylochromis obtusus (Trewavas, 1935) 

220. Mylochromis plagiotaenia (Regan, 1922) 

221. Mylochromis semipalatus (Trewavas, 1935) 

222. Mylochromis sphaerodon (Regan, 1922) 

36. Naevochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

223. Naevochromis chrysogaster (Trewavas, 1935) type species 

37. Nimbochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

224. Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus (Regan, 1922) [May belong in Tyrannochromis] 

225. Nimbochromis linni (Burgess & Axelrod, 1974) 

226. Nimbochromis livingstonii (Günther, 1894) type species 

227. Nimbochromis polystigma (Regan, 1922) [synonyms: N. maculimanus (Regan, 1922); N. pardalis (Trewavas, 

1935)] 

228. Nimbochromis venustus (Boulenger, 1908) [synonym: Haplochromis simulans Regan, 1922] 

38. Nyassachromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

229. Nyassachromis boadzulu (Iles, 1960) 

230. Nyassachromis breviceps (Regan, 1922) type species 

231. Nyassachromis leuciscus (Regan, 1922) 

232. Nyassachromis microcephalus (Trewavas, 1935) 

233. Nyassachromis nigritaeniatus (Trewavas, 1935) 

234. Nyassachromis prostoma (Trewavas, 1935) 

235. Nyassachromis purpurans (Trewavas, 1935) 

236. Nyassachromis serenus (Trewavas, 1935) 

39. Oreochromis Günther, 1889 — Nonendemic genus. Except for O. shiranus, all L. Malawi species have 

been placed in the subgenus Nyasalapia, which also includes species not found in L. Malawi. 

237. Oreochromis (Nyasalapia) karongae (Trewavas, 1941) — Endemic species. 

238. Oreochromis (Nyasalapia) lidole (Trewavas, 1941) — Endemic species, except also occurs in the crater lakes 

L. Kingiri and L. Chungruru in the Rungwe Mtns. in Tanzania some 50 km north of L. Malawi. 

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239. Oreochromis (Nyasalapia) saka (Lowe, 1953) — Endemic species. 

240. Oreochromis (Nyasalapia) squamipinnis (Günther, 1864) — Endemic species. 

241. Oreochromis (Oreochromis) shiranus shiranus Boulenger, 1897 — Endemic subspecies of a nonendemic 

species. O. shiranus is composed of two subspecies: O. s. shiranus, endemic to the Lake Malawi basin 

(including inflowing rivers and the upper Shiré River), and O. s. chilwae, endemic to Lakes Chilwa and 

Chiuta. 

40. Otopharynx Regan, 1920 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

242. Otopharynx antron Cleaver, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009 

243. Otopharynx argyrosoma (Regan, 1922) 

244. Otopharynx auromarginatus (Boulenger, 1908) type species 

245. Otopharynx brooksi Oliver, 1989 

246. Otopharynx decorus (Trewavas, 1935) 

247. Otopharynx heterodon (Trewavas, 1935) 

248. Otopharynx lithobates Oliver, 1989 [synonym: O. walteri Konings, 1990] 

249. Otopharynx ovatus (Trewavas, 1935) 

250. Otopharynx pachycheilus Arnegard & Snoeks, 2001 

251. Otopharynx selenurus Regan, 1922 

252. Otopharynx speciosus (Trewavas, 1935) 

253. Otopharynx spelaeotes Cleaver, Konings, & Stauffer, 2009 

254. Otopharynx tetraspilus (Trewavas, 1935) 

255. Otopharynx tetrastigma (Günther, 1894) 

41. Pallidochromis Turner, 1994 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

256. Pallidochromis tokolosh Turner, 1994 type species 

42. Petrotilapia Trewavas, 1935 — Endemic: Mbuna clade 

257. Petrotilapia chrysos Stauffer & van Snik, 1996 

258. Petrotilapia flaviventris Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011 

259. Petrotilapia genalutea Marsh, 1983 

260. Petrotilapia microgalana Ruffing, Lambert, & Stauffer, 2006 

261. Petrotilapia mumboensis Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011 

262. Petrotilapia nigra Marsh, 1983 

263. Petrotilapia palingnathos Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011 

264. Petrotilapia pyroscelos Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011 

265. Petrotilapia tridentiger Trewavas, 1935 type species 

266. Petrotilapia xanthos Lundeba, Stauffer, & Konings, 2011 

43. Placidochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

267. Placidochromis acuticeps Hanssens, 2004 

268. Placidochromis acutirostris Hanssens, 2004 

269. Placidochromis argyrogaster Hanssens, 2004 

270. Placidochromis boops Hanssens, 2004 

271. Placidochromis borealis Hanssens, 2004 

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272. Placidochromis chilolae Hanssens, 2004 

273. Placidochromis communis Hanssens, 2004 

274. Placidochromis domirae Hanssens, 2004 

275. Placidochromis ecclesi Hanssens, 2004 

276. Placidochromis electra (Burgess, 1979) 

277. Placidochromis elongatus Hanssens, 2004 

278. Placidochromis fuscus Hanssens, 2004 

279. Placidochromis hennydaviesae (Burgess & Axelrod, 1973) 

280. Placidochromis intermedius Hanssens, 2004 

281. Placidochromis johnstoni (Günther, 1894) [synonym: Haplochromis sexfasciatus Regan, 1922] 

282. Placidochromis koningsi Hanssens, 2004 

283. Placidochromis lineatus Hanssens, 2004 

284. Placidochromis longimanus (Trewavas, 1935) type species 

285. Placidochromis longirostris Hanssens, 2004 

286. Placidochromis longus Hanssens, 2004 

287. Placidochromis lukomae Hanssens, 2004 

288. Placidochromis macroceps Hanssens, 2004 

289. Placidochromis macrognathus Hanssens, 2004 

290. Placidochromis mbunoides Hanssens, 2004 

291. Placidochromis milomo Oliver, 1989 

292. Placidochromis minor Hanssens, 2004 

293. Placidochromis minutus Hanssens, 2004 

294. Placidochromis msakae Hanssens, 2004 

295. Placidochromis nigribarbis Hanssens, 2004 

296. Placidochromis nkhatae Hanssens, 2004 

297. Placidochromis nkhotakotae Hanssens, 2004 

298. Placidochromis obscurus Hanssens, 2004 

299. Placidochromis ordinarius Hanssens, 2004 

300. Placidochromis orthognathus Hanssens, 2004 

301. Placidochromis pallidus Hanssens, 2004 

302. Placidochromis phenochilus (Trewavas, 1935) 

303. Placidochromis platyrhynchos Hanssens, 2004 

304. Placidochromis polli (Burgess & Axelrod, 1973) 

305. Placidochromis rotundifrons Hanssens, 2004 

306. Placidochromis subocularis (Günther, 1894) 

307. Placidochromis trewavasae Hanssens, 2004 

308. Placidochromis turneri Hanssens, 2004 

309. Placidochromis vulgaris Hanssens, 2004 

44. Protomelas Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

310. Protomelas annectens (Regan, 1922) 

311. Protomelas dejunctus Stauffer, 1993 

312. Protomelas fenestratus (Trewavas, 1935) 

313. Protomelas insignis (Trewavas, 1935) 

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314. Protomelas kirkii (Günther, 1894) type species 

315. Protomelas labridens (Trewavas, 1935) 

316. Protomelas macrodon Eccles, 1989 

317. Protomelas marginatus marginatus (Trewavas, 1935) 

Protomelas marginatus vuae (Trewavas, 1935) 

318. Protomelas pleurotaenia (Boulenger, 1901) [synonym: Haplochromis microstoma Regan, 1922] 

319. Protomelas similis (Regan, 1922) 

320. Protomelas spilonotus (Trewavas, 1935) 

321. Protomelas spilopterus (Trewavas, 1935) 

322. Protomelas taeniolatus (Trewavas, 1935) [synonym: Haplochromis cancellus Greenwood, 1963] 

323. Protomelas triaenodon (Trewavas, 1935) 

324. Protomelas virgatus (Trewavas, 1935) 

45. Pseudocrenilabrus Fowler, 1934 — Nonendemic 

325. Pseudocrenilabrus philander philander (Weber, 1897) [Note: This genus and species is listed as occurring in 

L. Malawi by CLOFFA, Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of Africa (1991, Vol. IV: 396); see also 

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Pseudocrenilabrus-philander+philander.html. No literature or specimen 

citation was provided in support of this listing. The occurrence of this species in Lake Malawi seems 

doubtful and should be substantiated by a museum specimen.] 

46. Pseudotropheus Regan, 1922 — Endemic: Mbuna clade. Note: Many additional species were formerly 

placed in Pseudotropheus within two groups originally proposed as subgenera, Maylandia and Tropheops, 

both now recognized as full genera (which see). It is thought that some of the species included below 

belong in Pseudotropheus sensu stricto, but that others below may eventually reside in other genera. 

326. Pseudotropheus ater Stauffer, 1988 

327. Pseudotropheus benetos (Bowers & Stauffer, 1997) 

328. Pseudotropheus brevis (Trewavas, 1935) 

329. Pseudotropheus crabro (Ribbink & Lewis, 1982) 

330. Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos (Bowers & Stauffer, 1997) 

331. Pseudotropheus cyaneus Stauffer, 1988 

332. Pseudotropheus demasoni Konings, 1994 

333. Pseudotropheus elongatus Fryer, 1956 

334. Pseudotropheus flavus Stauffer, 1988 

335. Pseudotropheus fuscoides Fryer, 1956 

336. Pseudotropheus fuscus Trewavas, 1935 

337. Pseudotropheus galanos Stauffer & Kellogg, 2002 

338. Pseudotropheus interruptus (Johnson, 1975) [synonym: Melanochromis elastodema Bowers & Stauffer, 1997] 

339. Pseudotropheus johannii Eccles, 1973 

340. Pseudotropheus longior Seegers, 1996 

341. Pseudotropheus minutus Fryer, 1956 

342. Pseudotropheus perileucos (Bowers & Stauffer, 1997) 

343. Pseudotropheus perspicax (Trewavas, 1935) 

344. Pseudotropheus purpuratus Johnson, 1976 

345. Pseudotropheus saulosi Konings, 1990 

346. Pseudotropheus socolofi Johnson, 1974 

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347. Pseudotropheus tursiops Burgess & Axelrod, 1975 

348. Pseudotropheus williamsi (Günther, 1894) type species 

47. Rhamphochromis Regan, 1922 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

349. Rhamphochromis esox (Boulenger, 1908) [synonyms: R. leptosoma Regan, 1922; R. melanotus Ahl, 1926] 

350. Rhamphochromis ferox Regan, 1922 

351. Rhamphochromis longiceps (Günther, 1864) type species 

352. Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus Regan, 1922 

353. Rhamphochromis woodi Regan, 1922 [synonyms: R. brevis Trewavas, 1935; R. lucius Ahl, 1926] 

48. Sciaenochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

354. Sciaenochromis ahli (Trewavas, 1935) type species [synonym: Haplochromis serranoides Ahl, 1926] 

355. Sciaenochromis benthicola Konings, 1993 

356. Sciaenochromis fryeri Konings, 1993 

357. Sciaenochromis gracilis (Trewavas, 1935) [Note: Sometimes classified in Mylochromis] 

358. Sciaenochromis psammophilus Konings, 1993 

359. Sciaenochromis spilostichus (Trewavas, 1935) [Note: Sometimes classified in Mylochromis] 

49. Serranochromis Regan, 1920 — Nonendemic 

360. Serranochromis robustus robustus (Günther, 1864) 

50. Stigmatochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade. 

361. Stigmatochromis macrorhynchos Stauffer, Cleaver-Yoder, & Konings, 2011 

362. Stigmatochromis melanchros Stauffer, Cleaver-Yoder, & Konings, 2011 

363. Stigmatochromis modestus (Günther, 1894) 

364. Stigmatochromis pholidophorus (Trewavas, 1935) 

365. Stigmatochromis pleurospilus (Trewavas, 1935) 

366. Stigmatochromis woodi (Regan, 1922) type species 

51. Taeniochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade. 

367. Taeniochromis holotaenia (Regan, 1922) type species [synonym: Haplochromis bodyi Ahl, 1926] 

52. Taeniolethrinops Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

368. Taeniolethrinops cyrtonotus (Trewavas, 1931) 

369. Taeniolethrinops furcicauda (Trewavas, 1931) 

370. Taeniolethrinops laticeps (Trewavas, 1931) 

371. Taeniolethrinops praeorbitalis (Regan, 1922) type species [synonyms: Lethrinops fasciatus Ahl, 1926; L. 

macrorhynchus Regan, 1922] 

53. Tilapia Smith, 1840 — Nonendemic 

372. Tilapia rendalli (Boulenger, 1897) 

373. Tilapia sparrmanii Smith, 1840 Note: G. Bell-Cross (The Fishes of Rhodesia. National Museums and 

Monuments of Rhodesia, Salisbury, 1976: 236) reported this tilapia to occur in L. Malawi and the same 

statement was repeated by Bell-Cross and J. L. Minshull in the revised edition of the same book (The 

Fishes of Zimbabwe. National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Harare, 1988: 271). B. Marshall 

(The Fishes of Zimbabwe and their Biology. Smithiana Monograph 3, 2011: 235) also states that it occurs 

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in Lake Malawi and includes a dot for it just below the lake’s southeast arm in the distribution map. No 

supporting details or literature citation are provided in any of these books. However, I was finally 

persuaded that this species should be listed as part of the Lake Malawi fauna by an email from Denis 

Tweddle (pers. commun. 27-Feb-2012); Denis wrote that “I have never seen it in the lake itself but it 

occurs right on the edge and must occasionally get into the lake. It is abundant (or at least was in 1976) 

around the gabions of the bridge over the entrance to Chia Lagoon and that could be regarded as an inlet of 

the lake.” I agree; the road bridge over the Chia Lagoon inlet (which I have also driven over) is only 600 m 

from Lake Malawi proper, as can be measured in Google Earth. The channel between the lagoon and the 

lake proper appears quite uniform; T. sparrmanii would be expected to occur along its entire length. 

54. Tramitichromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

374. Tramitichromis brevis (Boulenger, 1908) type species 

375. Tramitichromis intermedius (Trewavas, 1935) 

376. Tramitichromis lituris (Trewavas, 1931) 

377. Tramitichromis trilineatus (Trewavas, 1931) 

378. Tramitichromis variabilis (Trewavas, 1931) 

55. Trematocranus Trewavas, 1935 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

379. Trematocranus labifer (Trewavas, 1935) 

380. Trematocranus microstoma Trewavas, 1935 type species 

381. Trematocranus placodon (Regan, 1922) 

56. Tropheops Trewavas, 1984 — Endemic: Mbuna clade. [Note: Originally proposed as a subgenus of 

Pseudotropheus] 

382. Tropheops gracilior (Trewavas, 1935) 

383. Tropheops lucerna (Trewavas, 1935) 

384. Tropheops macrophthalmus (Ahl, 1926) 

385. Tropheops microstoma (Trewavas, 1935) 

386. Tropheops modestus (Johnson, 1974) 

387. Tropheops novemfasciatus (Regan, 1922) 

388. Tropheops romandi (Colombe, 1979) 

389. Tropheops tropheops (Regan, 1922) type species 

57. Tyrannochromis Eccles & Trewavas, 1989 — Endemic: “Hap” clade 

390. Tyrannochromis macrostoma (Regan, 1922) type species [synonyms: T. maculiceps (Ahl, 1926); T. polyodon 

(Trewavas, 1935)] 

391. Tyrannochromis nigriventer Eccles, 1989 

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Malawi cichlid checklist - The Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi, Africa

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