First pictures of Hemichromis saharae

Cichlids of the genus Hemichromis were my passion when I was a student. These fishes are just the most beautiful.

Male and female of H. saharae.

The Desert jewel fish Hemichromis saharae is one of the least known of all the jewel fishes. These have been collected in the famous Touggourt oasis in the Algerian Sahara, the type locality of the species. Jewel fishes are widespread in West Africa and have made it to North Africa in Egypt and Algeria and adjacent Tunisia only.