Malawi Genus

Welcome to the Lake Malawi Genus Directory

(sorry, our new directory is waiting for images to be added)

For a quarter of a century, this site has served as a dedicated repository for African Rift Valley enthusiasts. To ensure our records remain accurate for the modern fishkeeping community, this master genus directory has been fully reviewed and updated to reflect the latest scientific classifications.

Lake Malawi is globally celebrated for its explosive evolutionary radiation, hosting hundreds of vibrant, endemic cichlids. Over the last 25 years, advancements in DNA sequencing and molecular biology have allowed ichthyologists to map these incredible fish with unprecedented accuracy, leading to significant updates in their taxonomy.

Summary of Key Taxonomic Revisions:

• The Rise of Chindongo: Established formally in 2016, this crucial new genus was created to accommodate several elongated dwarf Mbuna split away from Pseudotropheus. This includes major hobby mainstays like Chindongo demasoni and Chindongo saulosi.
• The Mbuna Monograph Updates: The distinct genus Abactochromis was established to properly classify the unique species Abactochromis labrosus (formerly Melanochromis labrosus). Additionally, the decades-long debate between Maylandia and Metriaclima has largely stabilized in global scientific catalogs, recognizing Maylandia as the senior valid name.
• Streamlining Synonyms: Overlapping historical groupings have been cleaned up. The old genus Maravichromis has been formally dissolved into Mylochromis, while riverine cichlids like true Tilapia have been correctly reallocated to Oreochromis.

Select any genus from the responsive grid below to explore its specific profiles, habitat parameters, and species breakdowns.

• Abactochromis
• Alticorpus
• Aristochromis
• Astatotilapia
• Aulonocara
• Buccochromis
• Caprichromis
• Champsochromis
• Cheilochromis
• Chindongo
• Chilotilapia
• Copadichromis
• Corematodus
• Ctenopharynx
• Cyathochromis
• Cynotilapia
• Cyrtocara
• Dimidiochromis
• Diplotaxodon
• Docimodus
• Eclectochromis
• Exochochromis
• Fossorochromis
• Genyochromis
• Gephyrochromis
• Haplochromis
• Hemitaeniochromis
• Hemitilapia
• Iodotropheus
• Labeotropheus
• Labidochromis
• Lethrinops
• Lichnochromis
• Maylandia
• Mchenga
• Melanochromis
• Mylochromis
• Naevochromis
• Nimbochromis
• Nyassachromis
• Oreochromis
• Otopharynx
• Pallidochromis
• Petrotilapia
• Placidochromis
• Platygnathochromis
• Protomelas
• Pseudotropheus
• Rhamphochromis
• Sciaenochromis
• Serranochromis
• Stigmatochromis
• Taeniochromis
• Taeniolethrinops
• Tramitichromis
• Trematocranus
• Tyrannochromis