Lethrinops

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 24 recognized species in this genus:Lethrinops albus Regan, 1922Lethrinops altus Trewavas, 1931Lethrinops argenteus C. G. E. Ahl, 1926Lethrinops atrilabris G. F. Turner. 2022Lethrinops auritus Lethrinops christyi Trewavas, 1931Lethrinops furcifer Trewavas, 1931 Lethrinops gossei W. E. Burgess & H. R. Axelrod, 1973Lethrinops leptodon Regan, 1922Lethrinops lethrinus Lethrinops longimanus Trewavas, 1931Lethrinops longipinnis Eccles & D. S. C. Lewis, 1978Lethrinops lunaris Trewavas, 1931Lethrinops macracanthus Trewavas, 1931Lethrinops macrochir Lethrinops macrophthalmus Lethrinops marginatus C. G. E. Ahl, 1926 Lethrinops micrentodon Lethrinops microdon Eccles & D. S. C. Lewis, 1977Lethrinops microstoma Trewavas, 1931 Lethrinops mylodon Eccles & D. S. C. Lewis, 1979Lethrinops oculatus Trewavas, 1931Lethrinops parvidens Trewavas, 1931 Lethrinops stridei Eccles & D. S. C. Lewis, 1977Lethrinops turneri Ngatunga & Snoeks, 2003