''Labidochromis'' 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
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 ...
fish that are
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only 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 foun ...
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 ...
. The genus includes 18 formally described species, and several yet
undescribed species
In taxonomy, an undescribed taxon is a taxon (for example, a species) that has been discovered, but not yet formally described and named. The various Nomenclature Codes specify the requirements for a new taxon to be validly described and named. U ...
. It includes a number of species commonly kept in cichlid
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 ...
s such as ''
L. caeruleus'' (electric yellow). The species in this genus can easily
hybridize, so if kept in an aquarium it is recommended to only have one species from this genus.
Species
There are currently 18 recognized species in this genus:
* ''
Labidochromis caeruleus
''Labidochromis caeruleus'' is a species of cichlid endemic to the central western coastal region of Lake Malawi in East Africa. It is also known as lemon yellow lab, the blue streak hap, the electric yellow or yellow prince, depending on the c ...
''
Fryer, 1956 (Blue streak hap)
* ''
Labidochromis chisumulae''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis flavigulis''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 (Chisumulu pearl)
* ''
Labidochromis freibergi''
D. S. Johnson, 1974
* ''
Labidochromis gigas''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis heterodon''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis ianthinus''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis lividus''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis maculicauda''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis mathotho''
W. E. Burgess & H. R. Axelrod, 1976
* ''
Labidochromis mbenjii''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis mylodon''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis pallidus''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis perlmutt''
* ''
Labidochromis shiranus''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis strigatus''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
* ''
Labidochromis textilis''
M. K. Oliver, 1975
* ''
Labidochromis vellicans''
Trewavas, 1935
* ''
Labidochromis zebroides''
D. S. C. Lewis, 1982
There is also one potentially undescribed species:
* ''
Labidochromis sp. Hongi''
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q134088
Haplochromini
Cichlid genera
*
Taxa named by Ethelwynn Trewavas