''Protomelas'' is a genus of

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'', '' Astat ...

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 ...

s 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 is part of the

tribe and have maternal mouthbrooding and sexual dimorphism typical of this group. Popular in the

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 ...

hobby, ''Protomelas'' species are sold under a variety of trade names (e.g.
Taiwan Reef CichlidRed Empress Cichlid
.

Species

There are currently 16 recognized species in this genus: * ''

Protomelas annectens ''Protomelas annectens'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found in sandy shallows with large species of cichlid. This species can reach a length of TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium An aquariu ...

'' ( Regan, 1922) * ''

Protomelas dejunctus ''Protomelas dejunctus'', the fire blue hap, is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from around Chinyankwazi Island and Chinyamwezi Island in the southern portion of the lake. It is known from depths of from . T ...

'' Stauffer, 1993 (fire blue hap) * ''

Protomelas fenestratus The fenestratus (''Protomelas fenestratus'') is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. This species can reach a length of TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Protomelas fenestratus is a substrate blower. ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) (fenestratus hap) * '' Protomelas insignis'' ( Trewavas, 1935) (one-and-a-half-stripe hap) * ''

Protomelas kirkii ''Protomelas kirkii'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where it is most commonly found in areas vegetated with ''Vallisneria''. This species can reach a length of TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Description Thi ...

'' ( Günther, 1894) *''

Protomelas krampus ''Protomelas'' is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemism, endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The genus is part of the haplochromine tribe (biology), tribe and have maternal mouthbrooding and sexual dimorphism typical of this group. Popula ...

'' * '' Protomelas labridens'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * '' Protomelas macrodon'' Eccles, 1989 * ''

Protomelas marginatus ''Protomelas marginatus'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it prefers shallow, vegetated waters. This species can reach a length of TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. References marginatus This list of L ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * ''

Protomelas pleurotaenia ''Protomelas pleurotaenia'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from Monkey Bay and Nkhata Bay where it is known to occur from the surface to . This species can reach a length of TL. This species can also be ...

'' (

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 (1858–1 ...

, 1901) * ''

Protomelas similis ''Protomelas similis'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it prefers shallow waters with plentiful vegetation. This species can reach a length of TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium An aquarium (plural: ...

'' ( Regan, 1922) * ''

Protomelas spilonotus ''Protomelas spilonotus'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it prefers areas with clean, rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of TL. It can also be found in the aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums' ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * ''

Protomelas spilopterus ''Protomelas spilopterus'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. It is believed to be a specialist predator on fish fry. This species can reach a length of TL. It can also be found in the aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aqua ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * ''

Protomelas taeniolatus ''Protomelas taeniolatus'' (often sold under various trade names: ''Haplochromis'' red empress, red empress or spindle hap) is a Haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. The fish is popular in the aquarium hobby due to the ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) (red empress
spindle hap
* ''

Protomelas triaenodon ''Protomelas triaenodon'' is a species of cichlid native to the southern portion of Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe and the Shire River. This species can reach a length of TL. It can also be found in the aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquar ...

'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * '' Protomelas virgatus'' ( Trewavas, 1935)

References

Haplochromini * Cichlid genera Taxa named by Ethelwynn Trewavas {{Cichlidae-stub