''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 ...

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 ...

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 ''Aulonocara aquilonium'' is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes where it occurs in areas of sandy substrate where mature males defend a small territory of sand against othe ...

'' 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 ''Aulonocara brevirostre'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is 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 southe ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * ''

Aulonocara ethelwynnae The Chitande aulonocara (''Aulonocara ethelwynnae'') is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi, only occurring in the north-west of the Lake near Chitande Island. It occurs over habitats of mixed rock and sand and it f ...

'' 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 ar ...

'' ( 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''

, 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