Aulonocara
| Peacock cichlids | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male Fairy Cichlid (A. jacobfreibergi) (red morph) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Tribe: | Haplochromini |
| Genus: | Aulonocara Regan, 1922 |
| Type species | |
| Aulonocara nyassae Regan, 1922 | |
Aulonocara is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. All Aulonocara species are maternal mouth brooders. Particularly in the aquarium 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
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There are currently 22 recognized species in this genus:[1] Numerous distinct local populations also exist; these may be morphs, subspecies or even undescribed species:
- Aulonocara aquilonium Konings, 1995
- Aulonocara auditor (Trewavas, 1935)
- Aulonocara baenschi M. K. Meyer & Riehl, 1985 (Nkhomo-benga Peacock)
- Aulonocara brevinidus Konings, 1995
- Aulonocara brevirostre (Trewavas, 1935)
- Aulonocara ethelwynnae M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Chitande Aulonocara)
- Aulonocara gertrudae Konings, 1995
- Aulonocara guentheri Eccles, 1989
- Aulonocara hansbaenschi M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Fort Maguire Aulonocara)
- Aulonocara hueseri M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Night Aulonocara)
- Aulonocara jacobfreibergi (D. S. Johnson, 1974) (Freiberg's Peacock, Eureka Red Peacock, Fairy Cichlid)
- Aulonocara kandeensis Tawil & Allgayer, 1987 (Blue Orchid Aulonocara)
- Aulonocara koningsi Tawil, 2003
- Aulonocara korneliae M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Chizumulu Aulonocara)
- Aulonocara maylandi Trewavas, 1984 (Sulfurhead Peacock, Sulfurhead Aulonocara)
- Aulonocara nyassae Regan, 1922 (Emperor Cichlid)
- Aulonocara rostratum Trewavas, 1935
- Aulonocara saulosi M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Greenface Aulonocara)
- Aulonocara steveni M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Pale Usisya Aulonocara)
- Aulonocara stonemani (W. E. Burgess & H. R. Axelrod, 1973)
- Aulonocara stuartgranti M. K. Meyer & Riehl, 1985 (Flavescent Peacock)
- Aulonocara trematocephalum (Boulenger, 1901)
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aulonocara. |
- ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2013). Species of Aulonocara in FishBase. February 2013 version.