text: The genus Chromidotilapia was described by Boulenger in 1898. In the original description he did not explain the meaning of the name. The name is probably made up of several parts. “-ido” means “shape” or having the shape of Chromis. The word Chromis has already been mentioned by Aristotle and may be derived from the word “Chrome” which means neighing. It is a reference to a drum which in turn refers to the ability to make sound. Chromis was later used for a large group of fish including cichlids, damselflies, wrasses, etc. Previously it was thought that all these perch species were related. This name is often used in the names of African genera. Tilapia is often also used, which is a Latinization of the word !api, the word for fish in the local language !Kung (the ! is pronounced like a click, which is often translated as “ti”).
  The genus Chromidotilapia has 11 officially described species: