Zebra mbuna

Zebra mbuna
Male zebra mbuna
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Maylandia
Species:
M. zebra
Binomial name
Maylandia zebra
(Boulenger, 1899)
Synonyms
  • Maylandia melabranchion (Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg & McKaye, 1997)
  • Metriaclima melabranchion Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg & McKaye, 1997
  • Metriaclima zebra (Boulenger, 1899)
  • Pseudotropheus zebra (Boulenger, 1899)
  • Tilapia zebra Boulenger, 1899

The zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra) is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. This species can reach a length of 11.3 cm (4.4 in). It feeds on aufwuchs, a surface layer of mostly algal material that grows on rocks. This cichlid is a mouthbrooder and the female broods the eggs in her mouth for about three weeks. This fish can sometimes be found in the aquarium trade.