The debate of the validity of Maylandia vs. Metriaclima as a genus for a group of rock-dwelling cichlids (Pseudotropheus zebra complex) in Lake Malawi, Africa, has been argued for more than 25 years. Probably the most important requirement in describing new zoological taxa is Article 13.1.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 4th edition). We demonstrate that the description of Maylandia did not meet these requirements. Thus, we maintain that Maylandia remains a nomen nudum.
Konings et al. (Sat,) studied this question.