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The Living Encyclopedia
Explore our comprehensive database of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Discover detailed care guides, morph varieties, and community setups.
fish
Mbuna
Mbuna
Mbuna is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi, and are members of the haplochromine tribe within the family Cichlidae. 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. 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.
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fish
Utaka
Utaka
Utaka is a term used for multiple open water-dwelling cichlid species that are found in Lake Malawi, the most diverse source of cichlids in the world of aquaria. Among others, they comprise all the members of the genera Copadichromis and Mchenga. "Utaka" apparently occupy the opposite of the niches used by the mbuna, the more common type of Malawi cichlid that dwells among rocks along the lake's fringes and bottom.
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fish
Fairy Cichlid
Neolamprologus brichardi
Neolamprologus brichardi is a species of cichlid endemic to the alkaline waters of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is a popular aquarium fish kept in the fishkeeping hobby, where it is known under a variety of common names including Princess cichlid, Princess of Burundi, Lyretail cichlid, Fairy cichlid and Brichard's lamprologus. In addition, the species is also the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour. It is closely related to N. pulcher from the southern half of Lake Tanganyika and some have recommended merging the two into a single species.
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L
fish
Lemon Cichlid
Neolamprologus leleupi
Lemon Cichlid (Neolamprologus leleupi)
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fish
Cylindricus Cichlid
Neolamprologus cylindricus
Neolamprologus cylindricus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is only known to occur in the southeastern part of the lake. It prefers to live in recesses in the substrate and eats small benthic invertebrates. It lays its eggs in caves. It keeps close to the rocky bottom of the lake, mainly in depths less than 10 metres (30 ft). This species can reach a length of 10.4 centimetres (4.1 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
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fish
Five Bar Cichlid
Neolamprologus tretocephalus
Neolamprologus tretocephalus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is found in sandy areas in the northern half of the lake. It is a predator on molluscs. This species can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
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fish
Buffalo Head Cichlid
Steatocranus casuarius
The lionhead cichlid, also known as African blockhead, buffalohead, humphead cichlid, lionhead or lumphead is a species of rheophilic cichlid native to Pool Malebo and the Congo River. It uses caves for spawning. This species can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
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B
fish
Blue Gularis
Fundulopanchax sjostedti
Blue Gularis (Fundulopanchax sjostedti)
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fish
Gardner's Killifish
Fundulopanchax gardneri
The blue lyretail, also known as the Gardner's killi and formerly as the steel-blue aphyosemion, is a species of killifish. It is endemic to freshwater habitats in Nigeria and Cameroon.
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fish
Least Killifish
Heterandria formosa
Heterandria formosa is a species of livebearing fish within the family Poeciliidae. This is the same family that includes familiar aquarium fishes such as guppies and mollies. Heterandria formosa is not as commonly kept in aquaria as these species. Despite the common name "least killifish", it belongs to the family Poeciliidae and not to one of the killifish families. H. formosa is one of the smallest fish species; the 1991 Baensch Aquarium Atlas listed it as the seventh smallest fish in the world, and as of 2006 it remains the smallest fish species found in North America.
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fish
American Flagfish
Jordanella floridae
The flagfish, also known as the American flagfish or Florida flagfish, is a species of pupfish, a type of killifish from the family Cyprinodontidae which is endemic to Florida. It is found in the aquarium trade. Its common name derives from the dominant males' body pattern, which bears some resemblance to the flag of the United States.
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F
fish
Florida Gar
Lepisosteus platyrhincus
Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus)
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S
fish
Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)
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A
fish
Alligator Gar
Atractosteus spatula
Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula)
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fish
Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus)
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B
fish
Bichir
Polypteridae
Bichir (Polypteridae)
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S
fish
Senegal Bichir
Polypterus senegalus
Senegal Bichir (Polypterus senegalus)
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O
fish
Ornate Bichir
Polypterus ornatipinnis
Ornate Bichir (Polypterus ornatipinnis)
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D
fish
Delhezi Bichir
Polypterus delhezi
Delhezi Bichir (Polypterus delhezi)
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fish
Ropefish
Erpetoichthys calabaricus
The reedfish, ropefish, or snakefish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus, is a species of fish in the family Polypteridae alongside the bichirs. It is the only member of the genus Erpetoichthys. It is native to fresh and brackish waters in West and Central Africa. The reedfish possesses a pair of lungs in addition to gills, allowing it to survive in very oxygen-poor water. It is threatened by habitat loss through palm oil plantations, other agriculture, deforestation, and urban development.
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