''Copadichromis'' 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 ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

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 ...

Eastern 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 historical ...

. ''Copadichromis'' are part of a group known as

utaka '' Copadichromis azureus'', one of the utaka of Lake Malawi in Africa Utaka is the term used for open water-dwelling cichlids found in Lake Malawi, the most diverse source of cichlids in the world of aquaria. Among others, they comprise all the m ...

and are popular with

aquarist An aquarist is a person who manages aquariums, either professionally or as a hobby. They typically care for aquatic animals, including fish and marine invertebrates. Some may care for aquatic mammals. Aquarists often work at public aquariums. They ...

s, as this genus is relatively peaceful in captivity compared to the

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 ...

Species

There are currently 25 recognized species in this genus: * ''

Copadichromis atripinnis ''Copadichromis atripinnis'' is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Malawi in Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and d ...

'' Stauffer & Te. Sato, 2002 * ''

Copadichromis azureus ''Copadichromis azureus'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found in the country of Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked c ...

Konings Konings is a Dutch surname and may refer to: *Ad Konings (b. 1956), Dutch ichthyologist *Anthony Konings (1821–1884), Dutch Catholic priest and Redemptorist professor *Jean Konings (1886–1974), Belgian sprinter *Giovanni Matteo Konings ...

, 1990 * '' Copadichromis borleyi'' (

Iles Iles is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Albert Iles (1914–1979), English footballer *Alex Iles, American musician *Bob Iles (born 1955), English footballer *Bradley Iles (born 1983), New Zealand golfer * Brian Iles, American ...

, 1960) (redfin hap, goldfin hap) * '' Copadichromis chizumuluensis'' Stauffer &

, 2006 * '' Copadichromis chrysonotus'' (

Boulenger Boulenger is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Benjamin Boulenger (born 1990), French footballer * Edward George Boulenger (1888–1946), British zoologist, director of aquarium at London Zoo * George Albert Boulenger (1858� ...

, 1908) * ''

Copadichromis cyaneus ''Copadichromis cyaneus'' is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * '' Copadichromis cyanocephalus'' Stauffer &

, 2006 * '' Copadichromis diplostigma'' Stauffer &

, 2006 * ''

Copadichromis geertsi ''Copadichromis geertsi'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. Description ''Copadichromis geertsi'' is a small to medium-sized cichlid, growing to a standard length of , which shows two, occasionally just one, ...

, 1999 * ''

Copadichromis ilesi ''Copadichromis ilesi'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid, which is endemic to Lake Malawi, where it is widespread, although not recorded from Mozambique. The specific name of this species honours the British fisheries scientist and ichthyo ...

, 1999 * ''

Copadichromis insularis ''Copadichromis'' is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. ''Copadichromis'' are part of a group known as utaka and are popular with aquarists, as this genus is relatively peaceful in captivity compared to th ...

'' Stauffer &

, 2006 * ''

Copadichromis jacksoni ''Copadichromis jacksoni'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. This species normally occurs in sheltered bays where it lives in schools in the open water and feeds on plankton. It breeds in clear water where t ...

'' (

, 1960) * ''

Copadichromis likomae ''Copadichromis likomae'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It forms schools and feeds on zooplankton Zooplankton are the animal component of the planktonic community ("zoo" comes from the Greek word for '' ...

'' (

, 1960) * ''

Copadichromis mbenjii ''Copadichromis mbenjii'' 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 Lake and the southernmost lake in the East A ...

, 1990 (Quads Hap) * '' Copadichromis melas'' Stauffer &

, 2006 * ''

Copadichromis mloto ''Copadichromis mloto'' is a species of haplochromine 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 ...

'' (

, 1960) * ''

Copadichromis nkatae ''Copadichromis'' is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemism, endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. ''Copadichromis'' are part of a group known as utaka and are popular with aquarists, as this genus is relatively peaceful in captivity comp ...

'' (

, 1960) * ''

Copadichromis parvus ''Copadichromis'' is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. ''Copadichromis'' are part of a group known as utaka and are popular with aquarists, as this genus is relatively peaceful in captivity compared to t ...

'' Stauffer &

, 2006 * ''

Copadichromis pleurostigma ''Copadichromis pleurostigma'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is occurs throughout the lake and therefore is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republ ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * ''

Copadichromis pleurostigmoides ''Copadichromis pleurostigmoides'' is a species of haplochromine 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 ( Labrid ...

'' (

, 1960) * ''

Copadichromis quadrimaculatus ''Copadichromis quadrimaculatus'' is a species of haplochromine 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 ( Labrida ...

'' (

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) * ''

Copadichromis trewavasae ''Copadichromis trewavasae'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is widespread in the Lake, and so occurs in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. It is often found in areas rich in sediment where muddy deposits ...

, 1999 * ''

Copadichromis trimaculatus Verduya's hap (''Copadichromis trimaculatus'') is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi where it has a lake wide range and so is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United ...

'' (

, 1960) (Verduya's hap) * ''

Copadichromis verduyni ''Copadichromis verduyni'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found on the eastern shore and in the south eastern arm of the lake. It occurs in Malawi and Mozambique. This species inhabits the interf ...

, 1990 * ''

Copadichromis virginalis ''Copadichromis virginalis'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid, which is endemic to Lake Malawi the upper Shire River and to Lake Malombe. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The population has shown signs of a severe decline an ...

'' (

, 1960) In addition, several local populations are known. Most are probably colour

morph Morph may refer to: Biology * Morph (zoology), a visual or behavioral difference between organisms of distinct populations in a species * Muller's morphs, a classification scheme for genetic mutations * "-morph", a suffix commonly used in tax ...

s or at best subspecies. But some seem to be distinct species, such as: * ''Copadichromis'' sp. 'Virginalis Kajose'

References

* Cichlid genera Taxa named by David Henry Eccles Taxa named by Ethelwynn Trewavas {{Cichlidae-stub