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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Neolamprologus olivaceous.jpg Neolamprologus olivaceous 'Cape Tembwe'.jpg
Next pageNeolamprologus cf. olivaceous (unknown locality)
Tribe / Genus: Lamprologini / Neolamprologus
Type locality: Lunangwa Bay, Lake Tanganyika, Democratic Republic of Congo
Biotope: Rocky habitats, most commonly encountered between 7 and 15 m depth, but occurring from approximately 4 to 20 m.
Geographic distribution: Central western Congolese coast of Lake Tanganyika, occurring between Mtoto and Cape Tembwe, possibly extending slightly further north.
Typical adult size: Approximately 9–10 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism: No marked sexual dimorphism; males are on average slightly larger than females.
Recommended aquarium size: 200 L for a pair or small colony; larger aquaria (300 L or more) are required for larger colonies.
Aquarium setup: Fine sand substrate combined with rock structures forming caves and passages. Due to rapid colony expansion and effective territorial defence, this species is best kept in a species-only aquarium.
Diet: Carnivorous; feeds mainly on small invertebrates such as insect larvae and copepods, collected from the bioperiphyton or water column above the substrate.
Breeding: Once a pair is established, spawning occurs regularly. Each pair occupies a territory defended not only by the breeders but also by numerous helpers, sometimes exceeding 20 individuals. Initially small clutches are produced, later increasing to up to 150 eggs. Fry of different ages form structured colonies, with older juveniles assisting in territorial defence. Females may deposit eggs not only inside caves but also on exposed rock surfaces or aquarium glass.
Aggression: Highly aggressive towards other species and capable of repelling much larger fishes through coordinated colony defence. Territorial expansion increases as the colony grows.
Special notes: As with several species described in Pierre Brichard’s last book (Brichard, 1989), Neolamprologus olivaceous is considered an ill-described taxon. The original description contains inconsistencies, including a spelling error in the species name that nevertheless became valid due to page priority. Its distinction from Neolamprologus pulcher, which shares the same two chevron-shaped facial markings behind the eye, remains disputed.

Facial patterns alone appear insufficient for reliable species separation within the brichardi–pulcher complex, as even the characteristic T-shaped marking of N. brichardi has arisen independently in multiple areas of the lake. For this reason, some authors advocate merging several taxa, including N. brichardi and N. pulcher, into a single species, which would also place N. olivaceous into synonymy.

Nevertheless, the pronounced geographical variation observed within this complex has produced locally distinctive forms, among which N. olivaceous represents a particularly recognizable variant. Even if future revisions confirm synonymy with N. pulcher, the practical need for names to describe such geographically and morphologically distinct forms will likely persist, whether at species or subspecies level.

For these reasons, and because synonymy has not been unequivocally demonstrated, this taxon is here retained as a valid species. Both Ad Konings and the Karlsson brothers have expressed doubts regarding its status, citing in particular the incomplete original description by Brichard and the risk that premature synonymization may obscure real biological diversity within the group.

Photo gallery

Photo: © Benoit Jonas
Photo: © Benoit Jonas
Photo: © Benoit Jonas
Photo: © Aqua-Treff
Photo: © Jose Antonio Martin Cano
Photo: © Jose Antonio Martin Cano
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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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