Aulonocara

Genus Overview: Aulonocara (Peacock Cichlids)

The genus Aulonocara contains some of the most highly prized freshwater aquarium fish in the world. Often referred to simply as "Peacocks," these mild-tempered cichlids are famous for their brilliant sexual dimorphism. While females and juveniles remain a cryptic, silvery-gray camouflage to hide from predators over open sandy beds, mature males undergo a striking transformation, developing radiant, metallic, jewel-like colours.

The "Flute Head" Acoustic Radar

The name Aulonocara is derived from the Greek words aulos (flute) and kara (head or face), which directly references the unique, canal-like sensory pores pitted along their lower jaws and skulls. These cavities function as highly sensitive acoustico-lateral systems.

In the wild, a Peacock will float completely motionless just millimeters above the sand bed, listening intently. The moment a tiny crustacean or insect larva twitches beneath the substrate, the fish detects the vibration via its jaw pores, plunging its snout into the loose sediment to capture its prey while venting the excess sand out through its gills.

Valid Species Directory

While line-bred domestic variants (like the OB Peacock, Dragon Blood, or Firefish) are incredibly common in the aquarium trade, modern scientific records catalog roughly 20 naturally occurring, valid species in Lake Malawi:

• Aulonocara aquilonium Konings, 1995
• Aulonocara auditor (Trewavas, 1935)
• Aulonocara baenschi Meyer & Riehl, 1985 – The Benga/Nkhomo Peacock
• Aulonocara brevinidus Konings, 1995
• Aulonocara ethelwynnae Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 – Chitande Peacock
• Aulonocara gertrudae Konings, 1995
• Aulonocara guentheri Eccles, 1989
• Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 – Fort Maguire Peacock
• Aulonocara hueseri Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 – Night Peacock
• Aulonocara jacobfreibergi (Johnson, 1974) – Eureka / Fairy Cichlid (Cave dweller)
• Aulonocara kandeense Tawil & Allgayer, 1987 – Blue Orchid Peacock
• Aulonocara koningsi Tawil, 2003 – Mbenji Peacock
• Aulonocara korneliae Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 – Chizumulu Peacock
• Aulonocara maylandi Trewavas, 1984 – Sulfurhead Peacock
• Aulonocara nyassae Regan, 1922 – Emperor Cichlid (The Genus Type Species)
• Aulonocara rostratum Trewavas, 1935
• Aulonocara saulosi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 – Greenface Peacock
• Aulonocara steveni Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 – Pale-Usisya Peacock
• Aulonocara stuartgranti Meyer & Riehl, 1985 – Flavescent Peacock (Includes many geographic morphs like Ngara, Chilumba, and Maleri)
• Aulonocara trematocephalum (Boulenger, 1901)

Aquarium Husbandry

Peacocks are considered excellent choices for aquarists moving into African cichlids due to their lower aggression thresholds compared to rowdy Mbuna. To thrive, they require a soft sandy substrate to allow them to engage in their natural sand-sifting foraging habits—rough gravel can permanently damage their delicate jaw pores. Provide rock formations to create visual boundaries and cave structures (especially for A. jacobfreibergi), but leave large areas of open swimming space.