Aulonocara is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. All Aulonocara species are maternal mouth brooders. Particularly in the aquarium hobby, Aulonocara species are also known as peacock cichlids, aulonocaras or simply "peacocks". This genus is strongly sexually dichromic, even by haplochromine standards.
As aquarium fish, they are best kept with other medium-sized nonaggressive cichlids from Lake Malawi. All peacock cichlids are known to be less aggressive than their Mbuna counterparts, and thrive in warmer waters that have a slightly basic pH.
Species
The 19 recognized species in this genus are:
- Aulonocara aquilonium <small>Konings, 1995</small>
- Aulonocara auditor <small>(Trewavas, 1935)</small>
- Aulonocara baenschi <small>M. K. Meyer & Riehl, 1985</small> (nkhomo-benga peacock)
- Aulonocara brevinidus <small>Konings, 1995</small>
- Aulonocara ethelwynnae <small>M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987</small> (Chitande aulonocara)
- Aulonocara gertrudae <small>Konings, 1995</small>
- Aulonocara guentheri <small>Eccles, 1989</small>
- Aulonocara hueseri <small>M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche 1987</small> (night aulonocara)
- Aulonocara jacobfreibergi <small>(D. S. Johnson, 1974)</small> (Freiberg's peacock, eureka red peacock, fairy cichlid)
- Aulonocara kandeense <small>Tawil & Allgayer, 1987</small> (blue orchid aulonocara)
- Aulonocara koningsi <small>Tawil, 2003</small>
- Aulonocara korneliae <small>M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987</small> (Chizumulu aulonocara)
- Aulonocara maylandi <small>Trewavas, 1984</small> (sulfurhead peacock, sulfurhead aulonocara)
- Aulonocara nyassae <small>Regan, 1922</small> (emperor cichlid)
- Aulonocara rostratum <small>Trewavas, 1935</small>
- Aulonocara saulosi <small>M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987</small> (greenface aulonocara)
- Aulonocara stonemani <small>(W. E. Burgess & H. R. Axelrod, 1973)</small>
- Aulonocara stuartgranti <small>M. K. Meyer & Riehl, 1985</small> (flavescent peacock)
- Aulonocara trematocephalum <small>(Boulenger, 1901)</small>
Synonyms
References
External links