page_title: Mbuna
section_title: Notable mbuna cichlids
hierarchical_section_title: Mbuna / Notable mbuna cichlids
caption_attribution_description: Iodotropheus sprengerae
context_page_description: Mbuna is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi, and are members of the haplochromine family. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi. As the name implies, most mbuna are cichlids that live among the piles of rocks and along the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, as opposed to the utaka, cichlids that live in the open water or on sandy shores or soft substrates. Some species of mbuna are highly sexually dimorphic, although many are not. Among biologists, almost all of the cichlid species of Lake Malawi, including mbuna and non mbuna such as the utaka, are believed to have descended from one or a very few species that became isolated in the lake. With rising water levels, new habitats could be colonized and the many isolated rocky outcrops allowed new mbuna species to form. Their striking colors, intriguing behavioral characteristics, and relative hardiness make them very popular despite their unique demands for the home aquarist.
context_section_description: Many mbuna cichlids are regularly stocked and sold by pet shops. Some of the most common ones are the bumblebee cichlid or hornet (Pseudotropheus crabro), golden cichlid (Melanochromis auratus), electric yellow or yellow lab cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus), red zebra cichlid (Maylandia estherae), blue zebra (Maylandia callainos), and Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (blue johannii). Many of these species are considered to have large territorial needs and aggressively defend these territories. Cichlids belonging to any of the genera listed below are considered mbuna.
  Abactochromis Oliver & Arnegard 2010
  Cyathochromis Trewavas 1935
  Cynotilapia Regan 1922
  Genyochromis Trewavas 1935
  Gephyrochromis Boulenger 1901 
  Iodotropheus Oliver & Loiselle 1972 
  Labeotropheus Ahl 1926 
  Labidochromis Trewavas 1935
  Maylandia Meyer & Foerster 1984. (syn. Metriaclima Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye 1997 )
  Melanochromis Trewavas 1935
  Petrotilapia Trewavas 1935
  Pseudotropheus Regan 1922
  Tropheops Trewavas 1984
  The list below includes groups of nonmbuna mouthbrooding cichlids from Lake Malawi.
  Peacock cichlids (Aulonocara species)
  Utaka cichlids
  Other genera such as Rhamphochromis
caption: Rusty cichlid,Iodotropheus sprengerae
exif: {"Image Make": "EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY", "Image Model": "KODAK Z700 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "230", "Image YResolution": "230", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0", "Image DateTime": "2006:07:29 16:32:17", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered", "Image ExifOffset": "252", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "886", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "5631", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/60", "EXIF FNumber": "14/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "80", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0221", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2006:07:29 15:31:06", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2006:07:29 15:31:06", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "6", "EXIF ApertureValue": "3", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "3", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF LightSource": "Unknown", "EXIF Flash": "Flash fired, auto mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "6", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "600", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "455", "EXIF ExposureIndex": "80", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF FileSource": "Digital Camera", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF DigitalZoomRatio": "0", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "35", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF GainControl": "None", "EXIF Contrast": "Normal", "EXIF Saturation": "Normal", "EXIF Sharpness": "Normal", "EXIF SubjectDistanceRange": "1"}