''Labeotropheus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

fish Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of li ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Cichlidae 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 thi ...

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 elsew ...

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 fre ...

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 ...

. It includes at least 4

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

, each with a number of

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

or races. Further taxonomic work is required to determine how many species exist. These

cichlids Cichlids are fish from the family (biology), 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 c ...

are popular ornamental fish and are ideally suited to the cichlid aquarium. Like many Malawi cichlids, these species are

alga Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mi ...

l grazers. Like all

from

these cichlids are best maintained in hard,

alkaline In chemistry, an alkali (; from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is a base (chemistry), basic, ionic compound, ionic salt (chemistry), salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. An alkali can also be defined as ...

water. This genus are best kept in

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 with volumes greater than 120 L (31.5

gallon The gallon is a unit of volume in imperial units and United States customary units. Three different versions are in current use: *the imperial gallon (imp gal), defined as , which is or was used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Austral ...

). The aquarium should be decorated with rocks, although caves can also be easily created from

terracotta Terracotta, terra cotta, or terra-cotta (; ; ), in its material sense as an earthenware substrate, is a clay-based ceramic glaze, unglazed or glazed ceramic where the pottery firing, fired body is porous. In applied art, craft, construction, a ...

pots.

Species

There are currently 5 recognized species in this genus: * '' Labeotropheus artatorostris'' Pauers 2017 * '' Labeotropheus chlorosiglos'' Pauers, 2016 Pauers, M.J. (2016): Two New and Remarkably Similarly Colored Species of ''Labeotropheus'' (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa. ''Copeia, 104 (3): 628-638.'' * ''

Labeotropheus fuelleborni The blue mbuna (''Labeotropheus fuelleborni'') is a species of cichlid found in Lake Malawi where it inhabits areas with rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of SL. This species is important to local commercial fisheries as well ...

'' C. G. E. Ahl, 1926 * '' Labeotropheus simoneae'' Pauers, 2016 * ''

Labeotropheus trewavasae The scrapermouth mbuna (''Labeotropheus trewavasae'') is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it prefers areas with rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade. ...

'' Fryer, 1956

References

* Fishkeeping Cichlid genera Taxa named by Ernst Ahl {{Cichlidae-stub