{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Melanochromis auratus 1.jpg | image_caption = Male Golden Mbuna (''Melanochromis auratus'') | taxon = Melanochromis | authority = Trewavas, 1935 | type_species = ''Melanochromis melanopterus'' | type_species_authority = Trewavas, 1935 }}
'''''Melanochromis''''' is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Ecologically, they belong to the rock-dwelling mbuna cichlids of Lake Malawi.
''Melanochromis'' are typically small, slim but muscular fishes with lengthwise stripes of black, yellow and blue. They usually display strong sexual dichromatism.
==Species== There are currently 15 recognized species in this genus:<ref name = KS2012/> * ''Melanochromis auratus'' <small>(Boulenger, 1897)</small> (Golden Mbuna, Auratus Cichlid, Malawi Golden Cichlid) * ''Melanochromis baliodigma'' <small>Bowers & Stauffer, 1997</small> * ''Melanochromis chipokae'' <small>D. S. Johnson, 1975</small> * ''Melanochromis dialeptos'' <small>Bowers & Stauffer, 1997</small> * ''Melanochromis heterochromis'' <small>Bowers & Stauffer, 1993</small> * ''Melanochromis kaskazini'' <small>Konings-Dudin, Konings & Stauffer, 2009</small> * ''Melanochromis lepidiadaptes'' <small>Bowers & Stauffer, 1997</small> * ''Melanochromis loriae'' <small>D. S. Johnson, 1975</small> * ''Melanochromis melanopterus'' <small>Trewavas, 1935</small> * ''Melanochromis mossambiquensis'' <small>Konings-Dudin, Konings & Stauffer, 2009</small> * ''Melanochromis mpoto'' <small>Konings & Stauffer, 2012</small>.<ref name = KS2012>{{cite journal | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 3258 | year = 2012 | pages = 1–27 | title = Review of the Lake Malaŵi genus ''Melanochromis'' (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with a description of a new species | url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2012/f/zt03258p027.pdf |author1=Konings, Adrianus F. |author2=Stauffer Jr., Jay R. | doi = 10.11646/zootaxa.3258.1.1 }}</ref> * ''Melanochromis robustus'' <small>D. S. Johnson, 1985</small> * ''Melanochromis simulans'' <small>Eccles, 1973</small> * ''Melanochromis vermivorus'' <small>Trewavas, 1935</small> (Purple Mbuna) * ''Melanochromis wochepa'' <small>Konings-Dudin, Konings & Stauffer, 2009</small>
<!--FB 10/2014: 1897 Melanochromis auratus Golden mbuna Africa 11 TL 1997 Melanochromis baliodigma Africa 8.6 SL 1975 Melanochromis chipokae Africa 12 SL 1997 Melanochromis dialeptos Africa 7.9 SL 1993 Melanochromis heterochromis Africa 9.7 SL 2009 Melanochromis kaskazini Africa 10.4 SL 1997 Melanochromis lepidiadaptes Africa 8.7 SL 1975 Melanochromis loriae Africa 11.4 SL 1935 Melanochromis melanopterus Africa 11.4 SL 2009 Melanochromis mossambiquensis Africa 7.6 SL 2012 Melanochromis mpoto Africa 9.1 SL 1985 Melanochromis robustus Africa 12.4 SL 1973 Melanochromis simulans Africa 7.4 SL 1935 Melanochromis vermivorus Purple mbuna Africa 7.4 SL 2009 Melanochromis wochepa -->
==References== {{Commons category}} {{Reflist}}
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Category:Melanochromis Category:Haplochromini * Category:Cichlid genera Category:Taxa named by Ethelwynn Trewavas
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