Haplochromis thereuterion Cichlid Haplochromis thereuterion

Haplochromis thereuterion is a cichlid native to upper layers of Lake Victoria in East Africa. It is sometimes called the Double Stripe Cichlid. They are silver, the adult male having red highlights on rear fins and the female (shown) having a black lateral stripe and a smaller thin stripe along the flank. They grow to some 8cm long. Females are mouthbrooders, like many East African cichlids.

Haplochromis thereuterion was one of the many endemic species declared extinct after Nile Perch were introduced to the lake in the 1980s. It was rediscovered in 1996 but remains endangered.