Lake Malawi - Mumbo Island

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 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.