Cichlidae · Haplochromini · Victoria Basin
Species Directory
Taxonomic and ecological reference for haplochromine cichlids of the Victoria Basin. Entries are drawn from primary collection records, peer-reviewed revisions, and direct field and captive observation.
A Note on Identification
Misidentification is endemic to this group. The Victorian radiation produced hundreds of morphologically similar species across overlapping trophic guilds, and the aquarium trade compounded the problem by circulating fish under incorrect or invented names for decades. Astatotilapia latifasciata was sold as Haplochromis obliquidens throughout the 1980s and 1990s; the error persists in hobbyist literature to this day. Where misidentification history is documented, it is noted in the relevant entry.
Scientific names are used as primary identifiers throughout. Common names, where they exist, are informal and inconsistently applied; they are included for reference only. Trophic guild designations follow the functional classification system established in the primary literature.