 Through phylogenetic analysis, using the mitochondrial ND2 gene, it was hypothesized that the true egg spots evolved in the common ancestor of the Astatoreochromis-lineage and the modern Haplochrominis.This ancestor was most likely riverine in origin, based on the most parsimonious representation of habitat type in the cichlid family.The presence of egg-spots in a turbid riverine environment, would seem particularly beneficial and necessary for intra-species communication.