''Labidochromis'' is a genus of

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 this ...

fishes that are endemic to Lake Malawi in

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 historical ...

. The genus includes 18 formally described species, and several yet undescribed species. It includes a number of species commonly kept in cichlid

aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''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. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...

s such as '' L. caeruleus'' (electric yellow). The species in this genus can easily

hybridize Hybridization (or hybridisation) may refer to: *Hybridization (biology), the process of combining different varieties of organisms to create a hybrid *Orbital hybridization, in chemistry, the mixing of atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals *Nu ...

, 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'' Fryer, 1956 (Blue streak hap) * '' Labidochromis chisumulae'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis flavigulis The Chisumulu pearl (''Labidochromis flavigulis'') is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur in areas with rocky substrates around Likoma Island and Chisumulu Island. This species can reach a length of SL. ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 (Chisumulu pearl) * ''

Labidochromis freibergi ''Labidochromis freibergi'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur around Likoma Island in areas with rocky substrates. This species grows to a length of TL. The specific name of this species honours th ...

'' D. S. Johnson, 1974 * ''

Labidochromis gigas ''Labidochromis gigas'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur in areas with rocky substrates around Likoma Island and Chisumulu Island. This species can reach a length of SL. It can also be found in t ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis heterodon ''Labidochromis heterodon'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur around Boadzulu Island. This species can reach a length of SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. References heterodon ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis ianthinus ''Labidochromis ianthinus'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur around the Mbenji Islands. This species can reach a length of TL. It can also be found in the aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''a ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis lividus ''Labidochromis lividus'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur over rocky substrates along the western coast of Likoma Island. This species can reach a length of SL. It can also be found in the aquar ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis maculicauda ''Labidochromis maculicauda'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from the northwestern coast. It prefers rocky areas and lives in shallow waters down to a depth of about . This species can reach a length of ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis mathotho ''Labidochromis mathotho'' is a species of cichlid 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, l ...

'' W. E. Burgess & H. R. Axelrod, 1976 * ''

Labidochromis mbenjii ''Labidochromis mbenjii'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur in the area around the Mbenji Islands. This species can reach a length of SL. It can also be found in the aquarium An aquarium (p ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis mylodon ''Labidochromis mylodon'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur around Mumbo Island. This species can reach a length of TL. It is also found in the aquarium trade and is also raised as a food fish. Re ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis pallidus ''Labidochromis pallidus'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur around the Maleri Islands and around Thumbi West Island. This species can reach a length of SL. It can also be found in the aquarium ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis shiranus ''Labidochromis shiranus'' is a species of cichlid endemism, endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur along the western coast of the southeastern arm of the lake. This species can reach a length of fish measurement, SL. It can al ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis strigatus ''Labidochromis strigatus'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur in areas with rocky substrates around Likoma Island and Chisumulu Island. This species can reach a length of SL. It can also be found ...

'' D. S. C. Lewis, 1982 * ''

Labidochromis textilis ''Labidochromis textilis'' is a species of cichlid 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, l ...

'' 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 ''Labidochromis'' is a genus of cichlid fishes that are endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The genus includes 18 formally described species, and several yet undescribed species. It includes a number of species commonly kept in cichlid aquar ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q134088 Haplochromini Cichlid genera * Taxa named by Ethelwynn Trewavas