Haplochromis mbipi (Lippitsch & Bouton 1998)

A polygynous female mouthbrooder with maternal parental care. Males defend territories of usually less than a square meter surface around a larger crevice. During courtship and male-male interactions they leave the crevice, but usually do not move far away from it. Females are led to the crevice, where the spawning takes place. Males are vigorously defending the territories against conspecific males. Brooding females guard small territories around a small cave at variable water depths. In the aquarium, females release their fry after about 21 days but continue to keep them in the mouth in situations of danger and at night, for up to another 21 days.

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7 - 9; Vertebrae: 29 - 30

Inhabits various stony and rocky habitats, including stone-sand mixed substrates. It is generally more abundant at gently sloping shores with small and medium sized rock boulders. Females, nonterritorial males and subadults are gregarious and forage in groups. Feeds on a variety of food items such as diatoms, filamentous epilithic algae, detritus, insect larvae and Bryozoa.

Inhabits various stony and rocky habitats, including stone-sand mixed substrates. It is generally more abundant at gently sloping shores with small and medium sized rock boulders. Females, non-territorial males and subadults are gregarious and forage in groups. Feeds on a variety of food items such as diatoms, filamentous epilithic algae, detritus, insect larvae and Bryozoa.

Haplochromis mbipi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Victoria where it is known from the southeastern portion of the lake. This shallow water species, 0 to 6 metres (0 to 20 ft), is generally found along gently sloping rocky shores. This species can reach a length of 13.1 centimetres (5.2 in) SL. This species was originally described in the genus Mbipia, however not all scientists have accepted such placement. It may be placed back in Mbipia should a comprehensive review of the genus Haplochromis be conducted.