HomeFreshwater aquarium fishAfrican cichlidsMalawi gar Malawi gar (Lichnochromis acuticeps) Scientific name: Lichnochromis acuticeps Trewavas, 1935 The Malawi gar (Lichnochromis acuticeps) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. Native range: Africa, Endemic to Lake Malawi. Known from the type specimen and one record from Nkhata Bay. Species factsScientific nameLichnochromis acuticepsFamilyCichlidae (Cichlids)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length14.0EnvironmentFreshwater; demersalClimateTropicalDistributionAfrica: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Known from the type specimen and one record from Nkhata Bay.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More african cichlidsOtopharynx lithobatesFlavescent peacockAulonocara stuartgrantiGreenface aulonocaraAulonocara saulosiBlue orchid aulonocaraAulonocara maylandi kandeensisAulonocara chizumuluAulonocara korneliaeFairy cichlidAulonocara jacobfreibergiSee all african cichlids SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026