Lethrinops

__NOTOC__ Lethrinops is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Particularly in the aquarium hobby, they are known as the sandeaters or sandsifters. Cichlid fishes of the Lethrinops genus have been studied in biology and ichthyology, primarily due to their radiated speciation and rapid evolution in their native habitat of Malawi. In biology, the speciation seen in these fish is known as explosive speciation. Numerous environmental pressures, such as overfishing, invasive species, and pollution threaten species of the Lethrinops genus. Malawi has established a national park to protect the cichlid species within the lakes.

__NOTOC__ Lethrinops is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Particularly in the aquarium hobby, they are known as the sandeaters or sandsifters. Cichlid fishes of the Lethrinops genus have been studied in biology and ichthyology, primarily due to their radiated speciation and rapid evolution in their native habitat of Malawi. In biology, the speciation seen in these fish is known as explosive speciation. Numerous environmental pressures, such as overfishing, invasive species, and pollution threaten species of the Lethrinops genus. Malawi has established a national park to protect the cichlid species within the lakes. ==Species== There are currently 25 recognized species in this genus: Lethrinops albus Regan, 1922 Lethrinops altus Trewavas, 1931 Lethrinops argenteus C. G. E. Ahl, 1926 Lethrinops atrilabris G. F. Turner. 2022 Lethrinops auritus (Regan, 1922) (golden sand-eater) Lethrinops chilingali Turner, Crampton & Genner, 2023 Lethrinops christyi Trewavas, 1931 Lethrinops furcifer Trewavas, 1931 (greenface sandsifter) Lethrinops gossei W. E. Burgess & H. R. Axelrod, 1973 Lethrinops leptodon Regan, 1922 Lethrinops lethrinus (Günther, 1894) Lethrinops longimanus Trewavas, 1931 Lethrinops longipinnis Eccles & D. S. C. Lewis, 1978 Lethrinops lunaris Trewavas, 1931 Lethrinops macracanthus Trewavas, 1931 Lethrinops macrochir (Regan, 1922) Lethrinops macrophthalmus (Boulenger, 1908) Lethrinops marginatus C. G. E. Ahl, 1926 (Lethrinops rounded head) Lethrinops micrentodon (Regan, 1922) Lethrinops microdon Eccles & D. S. C. Lewis, 1977 Lethrinops microstoma Trewavas, 1931 (littletooth sandeater) Lethrinops mylodon Eccles & D. S. C. Lewis, 1979 Lethrinops parvidens Trewavas, 1931 (Lethrinops red flush) Lethrinops stridei Eccles & D. S. C. Lewis, 1977 Lethrinops turneri Ngatunga & Snoeks, 2003 Synonyms Lethrinops oculatus Trewavas, 1931 ; valid as L. marginatus ==See also== Eartheaters, a group of South American cichlids with a similar niche ==References== ==External links== Eccles, David H. and Lewis, Digby S.C. 1977. A taxonomic study of the Genus Lethrinops Regan (Pisces: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi: part 1. Ichthyological Bulletin of the J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 36. J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. Eccles, David H. and Lewis, Digby S.C. 1978. A taxonomic study of the Genus Lethrinops Regan (Pisces: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi: part 2. Ichthyological Bulletin of the J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 37. J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. Eccles, David H. and Lewis, Digby S.C. 1979. A taxonomic study of the Genus Lethrinops Regan (Pisces: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi: part 3. Ichthyological Bulletin of the J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 38. J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.

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