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
Male Golden Mbuna (Melanochromis auratus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Tribe: Haplochromini
Genus: Melanochromis
Trewavas, 1935
Type species
Melanochromis melanopterus
Trewavas, 1935

Melanochromis are typically small, slim but muscular fishes with lengthwise stripes of black, yellow and blue. They usually display strong sexual dichromatism.

Species

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There are currently 15 recognized species in this genus:[1]


References

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  1. ^ a b Konings, Adrianus F.; Stauffer Jr., Jay R. (2012). "Review of the Lake Malaŵi genus Melanochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with a description of a new species" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3258: 1–27. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3258.1.1.