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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: zebra mbuna
Synonyms and Other Names: blue mbuna, Nyassa blue cichlid
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: According to Eccles and Trewavas (1989), the genus Pseudotropheus is in particular need of revision and critical appraisal. Pseudotropheus zebra alone represents a complex of about 27 species (Ribbink et al. 1983). Some distinguishing characteristics of the species complex, a description of color patterns, figures, and photographs were given by Ribbink et al. (1983). Color photographs of various species and morphs were given in Ribbink et al. (1983), Axelrod et al. (1985), Lewis et al. (1986), and Axelrod (1993); also see illustrations in Petrovicky (1988). Size varies among members of the complex, with maximum size ranging from about 6 to 14 cm (Axelrod 1993).
Size: 6 to 14 cm
Native Range:
Tropical Africa. Lake Malawi.
Nonindigenous Occurrences: The first report of this fish in Nevada was by a member of the American Cichlid Association, who observed several specimens of the "marmalade" form of P. zebra during a visit to Rogers Spring, a tributary of Lake Mead near Overton, Clark County, in July 1981 (Courtenay and Deacon 1982). Later records from Rogers Spring included a single male fish taken on 14 November 1981 (Courtenay, personal communication), and several individuals reportedly found in 1983 (Courtenay, personal communication). These records were apparently the basis for the listing of the species in later publications as introduced but not established in Nevada (e.g., Deacon and Williams 1984; Courtenay et al. 1984, 1986, 1991; Courtenay and Stauffer 1990; Vinyard 2001).
Means of Introduction: Probable aquarium release.
Status: Reported from Nevada.
Impact of Introduction: Unknown.
Remarks:
This species or species complex is well known in the aquarium trade. In its native range, the true P. zebra is distributed widely in Lake Malawi and shows marked geographical variation in coloration and markings (Ribbink et al. 1983). In contrast to references given in selected published fish lists (e.g., Deacon and Williams 1984), we found no mention of P. zebra in Courtenay and Deacon (1983), a review paper on introductions into Rogers Spring, Nevada.
There are no known voucher specimens; however, a photograph is on file to support record.
Axelrod, H. R. 1993. The most complete colored lexicon of cichlids. Tropical Fish Hobbyist Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ.
Axelrod, H. R., W. E. Burgess, N. Pronek, and J. G. Walls. 1985. Dr. Axelrod's atlas of freshwater aquarium fishes. Tropical Fish Hobbyist Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ.
Courtenay, W. - Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., and J. E. Deacon. 1982. Status of introduced fishes in certain spring systems in southern Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist 42(3):361-366.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., and J. E. Deacon. 1983. Fish introductions in the American southwest: a case history of Rogers Spring, Nevada. Southwestern Naturalist 28:221-224.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., and J. R. Stauffer, Jr.. 1990. The introduced fish problem and the aquarium fish industry. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 21(3):145-159.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., D. A. Hensley, J. N. Taylor, and J. A. McCann. 1984. Distribution of exotic fishes in the continental United States. Pages 41-77 in W. R. Courtenay, Jr., and J. R. Stauffer, Jr., editors. Distribution, biology and management of exotic fishes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., D. A. Hensley, J. N. Taylor, and J. A. McCann. 1986. Distribution of exotic fishes in North America. Pages 675-698 in C. H. Hocutt, and E. O. Wiley, editors. The zoogeography of North American freshwater fishes. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., D. P. Jennings, and J. D. Williams. 1991. Appendix 2: exotic fishes. Pages 97-107 in Robins, C. R., R. M. Bailey, C. E. Bond, J. R. Brooker, E. A. Lachner, R. N. Lea, and W. B. Scott. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada, 5th edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 20. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.
Deacon, J. E., and J. E. Williams. 1984. Annotated list of the fishes of Nevada. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 97(1):103-118.
Eccles, D. H., and E. Trewavas. 1989. Malawian cichlid fishes: the classification of some haplochromine genera. Lake Fish Movies, Herten, Germany.
Lewis, D., P. Reinthal, and J. Trendall. 1986. A guide to the fishes of Lake Malawi National Park. World Wildlife Fund, Gland, Switzerland. 71 pp.
Petrovicky, I. 1988. Aquarium fish of the world. Hamlyn, London, England.
Ribbink, A. J., B. A. Marsh, A. C. Marsh, A. C. Ribbink, and B. J. Sharp. 1983. A preliminary survey of the cichlid fishes of rocky habitats in Lake Malawi. South African Journal of Zoology (Zoology Dierkunde) 18(3):149-310.
Other Resources:
FishBase Fact Sheet
Author: Leo Nico
Revision Date: 4/21/2006 Citation for this information:
Leo Nico. 2009. Pseudotropheus zebra. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=474> Revision Date: 4/21/2006
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