''Aulonocara'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

haplochromine __NOTOC__ The haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus ('' Haplochromis'') plus a number of closely related genera such as ''Aulonocara'', ''Astatoti ...

cichlid Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses ( Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted th ...

s endemic to

Lake Malawi Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. It is the fifth largest fres ...

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the histori ...

. All ''Aulonocara''

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

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 Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most ani ...

, 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 Mbuna (pronounced Mmm-boo - nah ) is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi, and are members of the haplochromine family. The name ''mbuna'' means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi.Loiselle ...

counterparts, and thrive in warmer waters that have a slightly basic pH.

Species

The 22 recognized species in this genus are: * ''

Aulonocara aquilonium ''Aulonocara aquilonium'' is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area ...

'' Konings, 1995 * ''

Aulonocara auditor ''Aulonocara auditor'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. It was known only from the holotype collected in northern Lake Malawi near Vua, Malawi. The IUCN state that this species may possibly be extinct due to beach sei ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * ''

Aulonocara baenschi The nkhomo-benga peacock (''Aulonocara baenschi''), also known as the new yellow regal peacock, is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. This species is threatened by capture for the aquarium trade. Distribution The ...

'' M. K. Meyer & Riehl, 1985 (nkhomo-benga peacock) * ''

Aulonocara brevinidus ''Aulonocara brevinidus'' is a species of haplochromine Cichlid it is endemic to Lake Malawi and widespread along the eastern shore of the lake. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. In this species the males defend small territories ...

'' Konings, 1995 * '' Aulonocara brevirostre'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * '' Aulonocara ethelwynnae'' M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Chitande aulonocara) * ''

Aulonocara gertrudae ''Aulonocara gertrudae'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi, being found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The habitat varies between populations, those south of the Ruhuhu River are sand dwellers which expl ...

'' Konings, 1995 * ''

Aulonocara guentheri ''Aulonocara guentheri'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where they are restricted to the south eastern arm, and Lake Malombe, meaning that as far as is known this fish is endemic to Malawi. It prefers shallow sandy ...

'' Eccles, 1989 * ''

Aulonocara hansbaenschi The Fort Maguire aulonocara (''Aulonocara hansbaenschi''), also known as ''Aulonocara'' 'Fort Maguire' in the aquarium fish trade, is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. It is found in Malawi and Mozambique. Its natural ha ...

'' M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Fort Maguire aulonocara) * ''

Aulonocara hueseri The night aulonocara (''Aulonocara hueseri'') is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Malawi and known from the Malawian part of the lake. It grows to SL. The specific name honours the cichlid aquarist Eb ...

'' M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche 1987 (night aulonocara) * ''

Aulonocara jacobfreibergi ''Aulonocara jacobfreibergi'', the eureka red peacock, is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is also known as Freiberg's peacock or fairy cichlid. There are several colour morphs including red or yellow. They generally can grow to aro ...

'' ( D. S. Johnson, 1974) (Freiberg's peacock, eureka red peacock, fairy cichlid) * ''

Aulonocara kandeense ''Aulonocara kandeense'', the blue orchid aulonacara, is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is Endemism, endemic to Lake Malawi where it occurs only around Kande Island, in Malawi, Malawian waters. It is found in a mixed habitat where rocky ...

Tawil ''Ṭawīl'' ( ar, طويل, literally 'long'), or ''al-Ṭawīl'' (), is a meter used in classical Arabic poetry. It comprises distichs (''bayt'') of two 'lines'—in Arabic usually written side by side, with a space dividing them, the first bei ...

& Allgayer, 1987 (blue orchid aulonocara) * ''

Aulonocara koningsi ''Aulonocara koningsi'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is restricted to the waters around Mbenji Island and is therefore endemic to Malawi too. It is common in the restricted area in which it occurs but c ...

, 2003 * ''

Aulonocara korneliae ''Aulonocara korneliae'', known in the aquarium fish trade as the Aulonocara Chizumulu, Aulonocara blue gold or blue orchard ''Aulanocara'', is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, and only known fro ...

'' M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Chizumulu aulonocara) * ''

Aulonocara maylandi ''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 ...

'' Trewavas, 1984 (sulfurhead peacock, sulfurhead aulonocara) * ''

Aulonocara nyassae ''Aulonocara nyassae'', known as the emperor cichlid, is a species of haplochromine Cichlid that is Endemism, endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. It has been recorded from the southeastern arm of the lake and may be present in the southwestern arm ...

Regan The family name Regan, along with its cognates O'Regan, O Regan, Reagan, and O'Reagan, is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin or Ó Ríogáin, from Ua Riagáin. The meaning is likely to have originated in ancient Gaelic ''ri' ...

, 1922 (emperor cichlid) * ''

Aulonocara rostratum ''Aulonocara rostratum'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is Endemism, endemic to Lake Malawi in Malawi and Tanzania. The males gather in loose aggregations in sandy areas, defending small territories from other males. The females do som ...

'' Trewavas, 1935 * '' Aulonocara saulosi'' M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (greenface aulonocara) * ''

Aulonocara steveni The pale Usisya aulonocara (''Aulonocara steveni'') is a putative species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes. This species is treated as junior synonym of ''Aul ...

'' M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (pale Usisya aulonocara) * ''

Aulonocara stonemani ''Aulonocara stonemani'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to the southeastern and southwestern arms of Lake Malawi. ''Aulonocara stonemani'' is found in deep waters (), over a substrate consisting of mud or sand with sediment ...

'' ( W. E. Burgess & H. R. Axelrod, 1973) * ''

Aulonocara stuartgranti The flavescent peacock (''Aulonocara stuartgranti''), also known as Grant's peacock, is a species of haplochromine cichlid. Its common name refers to its "flavescent" (yellowish) colour. It is endemic to Lake Malawi where found in the countries ...

'' M. K. Meyer & Riehl, 1985 (flavescent peacock) * '' Aulonocara trematocephala'' ( Boulenger, 1901)

References

External links

Aulonocara localisations
Freshwater fish genera Cichlid genera * Taxa named by Charles Tate Regan {{cichlid-stub