''Aulonocara'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
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'', '' Astatotila ...
cichlid
Cichlids ()
are a large, diverse, and widespread family of percomorph fish in the family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. At least 1,760 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families, with on ...
s endemic to
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, () is an African Great Lakes, African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
It is ...
in
East Africa
East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...
. All ''Aulonocara''
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
are maternal
mouth brooders. Particularly in the
aquarium
An aquarium (: aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. fishkeeping, Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aquati ...
hobby, ''Aulonocara'' species are also known as peacock cichlids, aulonocaras or simply "peacocks". This genus is strongly
sexually dichromic, 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 tribe within the family Cichlidae. The name ''mbuna'' means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga pe ...
counterparts, and thrive in warmer waters that have a slightly basic pH.
Species
The 22 recognized species in this genus are:
* ''
Aulonocara aquilonium''
Konings, 1995
* ''
Aulonocara auditor''
( Trewavas, 1935)
* ''
Aulonocara baenschi''
M. K. Meyer & Riehl, 1985 (nkhomo-benga peacock)
* ''
Aulonocara brevinidus''
Konings, 1995
* ''
Aulonocara brevirostre''
( Trewavas, 1935)
* ''
Aulonocara ethelwynnae''
M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Chitande aulonocara)
* ''
Aulonocara gertrudae''
Konings, 1995
* ''
Aulonocara guentheri''
Eccles, 1989
* ''
Aulonocara hansbaenschi''
M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Fort Maguire aulonocara)
* ''
Aulonocara hueseri''
M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche 1987 (night aulonocara)
* ''
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi''
( D. S. Johnson, 1974) (Freiberg's peacock, eureka red peacock, fairy cichlid)
* ''
Aulonocara kandeense''
Tawil
''Ṭawīl'' (, literally 'long'), or ''al-Ṭawīl'' (), is a Meter (poetry), 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 b ...
& Allgayer, 1987 (blue orchid aulonocara)
* ''
Aulonocara koningsi''
Tawil
''Ṭawīl'' (, literally 'long'), or ''al-Ṭawīl'' (), is a Meter (poetry), 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 b ...
, 2003
* ''
Aulonocara korneliae''
M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Chizumulu aulonocara)
* ''
Aulonocara maylandi''
Trewavas, 1984 (sulfurhead peacock, sulfurhead aulonocara)
* ''
Aulonocara nyassae''
Regan, 1922 (emperor cichlid)
* ''
Aulonocara rostratum''
Trewavas, 1935
* ''
Aulonocara saulosi''
M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (greenface aulonocara)
* ''
Aulonocara steveni''
M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (pale Usisya aulonocara)
* ''
Aulonocara stonemani''
( W. E. Burgess & H. R. Axelrod, 1973)
* ''
Aulonocara stuartgranti''
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
{{Pseudocrenilabrinae-stub