Melanochromis auratus

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Ovalentaria
Superordo: Cichlomorphae
Ordo: Cichliformes

Familia: Cichlidae
Subfamilia: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribus: Haplochromini
Genus: Melanochromis
Species: Melanochromis auratus
Name

Melanochromis auratus (Boulenger, 1897)
Holotype: BMNH 1896.12.1.7
Type locality: "Monkey Bay, W. Nyassa" [Lake Malawi, Malawi]

Synonyms

Chromis aurata Boulenger, 1897
Chromis auratus Boulenger, 1897
Pseudotropheus auratus (Boulenger, 1897)
Tilapia aurata (Boulenger, 1897)

References

Boulenger, G.A. 1897: Description of a new fish from Lake Nyassa. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 6), 19 (110): 155. PDF
Bowers, N. & J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1997: Eight new species of rock-dwelling cichlids of the genus Melanochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi, Africa. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 8 (1): 49–70.
Melanochromis auratus in FishBase,
Froese, R. & Pauly, D. (eds.) 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication, www.fishbase.org, version 02/2024.

Vernacular names
English: Golden Mbuna
ไทย: ปลาหมอแตงไทย

Melanochromis auratus, the auratus cichlid, is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family. It is also known as golden mbuna and Malawi golden cichlid. It is endemic to the southern region of Lake Malawi, particularly from Jalo Reef southward along the entire western coast down to Crocodile Rocks.
Description

Auratus cichlids are small, elongate fish that can grow up to 11 centimetres (4.3 in). Juveniles and females are bright yellow with black and white stripes on the upper half of the body. Adult male coloration is drastically different with dark brown or black body and light blue or yellow stripes on the upper half of the body.
In the Aquarium

The auratus cichlid is one of the most popular mbuna cichlids in the aquarium trade. In aquarium stores, there will usually be one dominant male that is colored black, the rest will display the submissive "female" coloration of yellow. If this male is sold, the next dominant male will take on the black color.[citation needed]
Reproduction

Like many other cichlids from Lake Malawi, auratus cichlids are mouthbrooders. Females hold their fertilized eggs and fry in their mouth for a few weeks before releasing the fry.[2]
See also

Mbuna
List of freshwater aquarium fish species

References

Konings, A.; Kazembe, J. (2018). "Melanochromis auratus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T61108A148673951. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T61108A148673951.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Melanochromis auratus" in FishBase. February 2013 version.