Haplochromis nigricans (Boulenger 1906)

Moderately convex dorsal head profile, short snout, terminal mouth and broad bands of contiguously set teeth. Distinguished from males of all species of Neochromis by having enlarged cephalic pores, and large scales on the lateral chest surface, gradually changing to small ones only at the level of the ventral fin insertions. Differs further from N. simotes by having a deeper body (38.4% SL vs. 34.0-35.7), a shorter (26.9% HL vs. 30.8-32.5) and narrower (31.7% HL vs. 35.4-37.7) snout, smaller preorbital depth (14.9% HL vs. 16.8-18.7); larger eyes (30.9% HL vs. 27.1-28.7), a shorter (30.1% HL vs. 30.8-33.1) and narrower (27.7-% HL vs. 32.8-34.4) lower jaw, subequally bicuspid crowns to the teeth in the outer rows, fewer inner tooth rows in both jaws (5), larger scales on the occiput, cycloid scales on the caudal part of the dorsum, larger scales on the chest, and the lack of small cycloid scales on the anal/genital region (Ref. 27668).

Mouthbrooding by females.

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

Inhabits rocky and shallow areas of the littoral zone (Ref. 4983). In the lake H. nigricans has been observed to graze on algae from rock surfaces (Ref. 558).

Haplochromis nigricans is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Victoria where it is known only known with certainty from Entebbe, Uganda, other populations now placed in H. rufocaudalis. Its preferred habitat is shallow waters with rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of 9.4 centimetres (3.7 in) SL.