Melanochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. 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.
Species
There are currently 15 recognized species in this genus:
- Melanochromis auratus <small>(Boulenger, 1897)</small> (Golden Mbuna, Auratus Cichlid, Malawi Golden Cichlid)
- Melanochromis baliodigma <small>Bowers & Stauffer, 1997</small>
- Melanochromis chipokae <small>D. S. Johnson, 1975</small>
- Melanochromis dialeptos <small>Bowers & Stauffer, 1997</small>
- Melanochromis heterochromis <small>Bowers & Stauffer, 1993</small>
- Melanochromis kaskazini <small>Konings-Dudin, Konings & Stauffer, 2009</small>
- Melanochromis lepidiadaptes <small>Bowers & Stauffer, 1997</small>
- Melanochromis loriae <small>D. S. Johnson, 1975</small>
- Melanochromis melanopterus <small>Trewavas, 1935</small>
- Melanochromis mossambiquensis <small>Konings-Dudin, Konings & Stauffer, 2009</small>
- Melanochromis mpoto <small>Konings & Stauffer, 2012</small>.
- Melanochromis robustus <small>D. S. Johnson, 1985</small>
- Melanochromis simulans <small>Eccles, 1973</small>
- Melanochromis vermivorus <small>Trewavas, 1935</small> (Purple Mbuna)
- Melanochromis wochepa <small>Konings-Dudin, Konings & Stauffer, 2009</small>
References