''Labeotropheus'' 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 nom ...
of
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 ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Cichlidae 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 else ...
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, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
It is the fifth largest fr ...
in
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 historica ...
. 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 or
races. Further taxonomic work is required to determine how many species exist. These
cichlids
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 ...
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 mic ...
l grazers. Like all
cichlids
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 ...
from
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 fr ...
these cichlids are best maintained in hard,
alkaline water. This genus are best kept in
aquariums 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, Austr ...
). 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 unglazed or glazed ceramic where the fired body is porous.
In applied art, craft, construction, and architecture, terracotta ...
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''
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. It ...
'' Fryer, 1956
References
*
Fishkeeping
Cichlid genera
Taxa named by Ernst Ahl
{{Cichlidae-stub
