Haplochromis

Malawi Cichlids

Haplochromis is a ray-finned fish genus in the family cichlidae. It has been used as the default "wastebin taxon" for pseudocrenilabrinae cichlids of the east African rift, and as such became the "largest" fish "Genus". Many of these cichlids are popular aquarium fishes; like similar Haplochromini they are known as "haplos", "happies" or "haps" among aquarium enthusiasts.

Formerly in Haplochromis

Among other genera of Haplochromini that were formerly included here, many are small or monotypic. The distinctness of these is highly doubtful, as they may just be distinct lineages of Haplochromis or other haplochromines. That nonwithstanding, Haplochromini genera to which some former "Haplochromis" have been removed are in particular.

See the list of former Haplochromis Species from lake Malawi.
All these species have now been re-classified and placed into other genus groups.