Aulonocara

The new yellow regal peacock, Aulonocara baenschi, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, known from five sites along the lake's western shoreline. It inhabits intermediate zones where rocky shores give way to sand with scattered rocks, usually at 4 to 6 metres. Also sold as the 'yellow regal cichlid', 'Baensch's peacock', 'sunshine peacock' and 'Nkhomo-Benga peacock', it is most easily told from similar congeners by its steeper, more curved snout.

The northern aulonocara, Aulonocara ethelwynnae, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, known only from Chitande Island and the nearby northwest shore. Quite rarely seen in the hobby, it is most easily distinguished by the chocolate-brown striping of mature males. In intermediate zones, females and immature males form loose schools at around 3 metres while mature males hold territories deeper, at 6 to 7 metres.

The red shoulder peacock, Aulonocara hansbaenschi, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, known from four localities on its southeastern shore. Some authors regard it as a geographical variant of the highly variable A. stuartgranti. It is also sold as the 'firebird cichlid' and 'red peacock'. At Masinje it shows a distinct preference for rocky caves and crevices in 3 to 6 metres of water, where most of the genus forage over sand.

The Malawi butterfly, Aulonocara jacobfreibergi, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, living where rocky shores give way to sand. One of the larger members of the genus, with males reaching 150 to 170 mm, it was among the first Aulonocara species in the hobby and is also sold as 'Freiberg's peacock' and 'fairy cichlid'. Males react aggressively to fish with a similar colour pattern, so tankmates need choosing with care.

The sulphurhead peacock, Aulonocara maylandi, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where it occurs in two principal colour forms. Males from West Reef and Eccles Reef, in the southeast of the lake, carry a bright yellow band from the snout along the back and dorsal-fin margin. At Kande Island, off the central-western shore, the stripe is whitish and both sexes have an enlarged lower pharyngeal bone. That population was described as A. maylandi kandeensis, a name still widely used in the hobby.

The sunshine peacock, Aulonocara sp. 'stuartgranti maleri', is a cichlid endemic to the south-west of Lake Malawi around the Maleri Islands. Whether it represents an undescribed species remains unclear, and the vernacular name is confusing because it is based on that of a described taxon: it is often called A. stuartgranti 'Maleri', and the Maleri Islands fish are traded as 'yellow regal peacock'. It resembles A. baenschi but has a straighter head and snout profile and relatively smaller eyes.

The blue-faced peacock, Aulonocara sp. 'walteri', is a cichlid known only from Chizumulu Island and Likoma Island in Lake Malawi. The confusing trade name has led to it often being referred to incorrectly as 'Aulonocara walteri'. It inhabits the intermediate zones where rocky shores give way to sand, and males hold territories in caves. Males act aggressively towards any fish with a similar colour pattern, and other Aulonocara are best avoided as most can hybridise.

Grant's peacock, Aulonocara stuartgranti, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, widely distributed along both the east and west coastlines. Males vary in colour by locality, with blue forms found mostly in the north of the lake and yellow in the south, and many populations are traded under their own names. That variation has caused taxonomic problems: A. baenschi, A. korneliae and A. hueseri were all once considered forms of it. It inhabits the intermediate zones where rocky shores give way to sand.