It remains unclear whether this fish represents an as yet undescribed species or not but in either case the unofficial, vernacular name is confusing due to it being based on that of a described taxon. As a result it is often referred to as A. stuartgranti ‘Maleri’ or ‘Maleri Islands’, either through error or because some authors believe it to be conspecific with A. stuartgranti.

The population from the Maleri Islands is traded as ‘yellow regal peacock’ (not to be confused with the ‘new yellow regal peacock’, i.e., A. baenschi) and the one from Chidunga Rocks as ‘sunshine peacock’ or ‘orange peacock’.

This species may also be sold variously as ‘yellow regal cichlid’, ‘Baensch’s peacock’, ‘sunshine peacock’ and ‘Nkhomo-Benga peacock’. The easiest way to distinguish it from similar-looking congeners is to look at the profile of the snout, which is steeper and more curved than that of its congeners.

Aulonocara spp. are benthophagous by nature employing a method of feeding whereby mouthfuls of substrate are taken and sifted for edible items with the remaining material expelled via the gills and mouth. They’re equally-skilled at hunting as grazing, tending to hover above the substrate until tiny movements are detected, and possess enlarged sensory pores on the head which assist in this technique.