Aulonocara
Encyclopedia
- "Peacock cichlid" redirects here. Not to be confused with peacock bassPeacock BassPeacock bass is the common name in English for a group of closely related species of tropical, freshwater fish of the genus Cichla, native to the Amazon River basin of South America. They also inhabit the waters of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Venezuela and parts of the United States,...
.
Aulonocara is a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of haplochromine
Haplochromine
The haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus plus a number of closely related genera such as Aulonocara, Astatotilapia, and Chilotilapia. They are endemic to eastern and southern Africa...
cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
s endemic to Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. All Aulonocara species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are maternal mouth brooders. Particularly in the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
hobby, Aulonocara species are also known as peacock cichlids, aulonocaras or simply "peacocks". This genus is strongly sexually dichromic, even by haplochromine standards.
As aquarium fish, they are best kept with other medium sized non-aggressive cichlids from Lake Malawi. The aquarium is usually decorated with a lot of open space for the Aulonocaras to swim in and a lot of caves where fish can hide, rest or establish territories. It is recommended to keep one male unless the aquarium is large enough to support several territories.
Species
There are 22 described Aulonocara species. Numerous distinct local populations also exist; these may be morphs, subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
or even undescribed species:
- Aulonocara aquiloniumAulonocara aquiloniumAulonocara aquilonium is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara auditorAulonocara auditorAulonocara auditor is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara baenschi – Nkhomo-benga PeacockNkhomo-benga peacockThe nkhomo-benga peacock is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara brevinidusAulonocara brevinidusAulonocara brevinidus is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara brevirostre
- Aulonocara ethelwynnae – Chitande AulonocaraChitande aulonocaraThe Chitande Aulonocara is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara gertrudaeAulonocara gertrudaeAulonocara gertrudae is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara guentheriAulonocara guentheriAulonocara guentheri is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara hansbaenschi – Fort Maguire Aulonocara
- Aulonocara hueseri – Night AulonocaraNight aulonocaraThe Night Aulonocara is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 3 August 2007....
- Aulonocara jacobfreibergiAulonocara jacobfreibergiThe Eureka Red Peacock is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is also known as Freiberg's Peacock or Fairy Cichlid. There are several colour morphs including red or yellow. They generally can get around 15 cm in length.It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater...
– Freiberg's Peacock, Eureka Red Peacock, Fairy Cichlid - Aulonocara koningsi Tawil, 2003
- Aulonocara korneliae – Chizumulu Aulonocara
- Aulonocara macrochirAulonocara macrochirAulonocara macrochir is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara maylandi – Sulfurhead Peacock, Sulfurhead Aulonocara
- Aulonocara maylandi kandeensis Tawil & Allgayer, 1987 – Blue Orchid Aulonocara
- Aulonocara nyassae – Emperor CichlidEmperor CichlidThe Emperor Cichlid is a common name applied to more than one fish. is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family that is endemic to Lake Malawi. is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family that is endemic to Lake Tanganyika...
- Aulonocara rostratumAulonocara rostratumAulonocara rostratum is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara saulosi – Greenface AulonocaraGreenface aulonocaraThe Greenface Aulonocara is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is found in Malawi and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:...
- Aulonocara steveni – Pale Usisya AulonocaraPale usisya aulonocaraThe Pale Usisya Aulonocara is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kazembe, J. & Makocho, P. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Aulonocara stonemaniAulonocara stonemaniAulonocara stonemani is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi.Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes. It is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN.-References:...
- Aulonocara stuartgranti – Flavescent PeacockFlavescent peacockThe Flavescent Peacock is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. Its common name refers to its "flavescent" colour.It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes....
- Aulonocara trematocephalum (Boulenger, 1901)