At this point in time this species is not yet described therefore it it is given the name of its location “Hongi”, which is taken from its name sake Hongi Island. Common Names: include:: Hongi Cichlid, Red Top Kimpuma, Hongi Red Top, and Hongi Super Red Top.
The coloration of this fish differs depending on its mood. Dorsal fins also range in colour from yellow to orange. The colors of the dominant male can be quite exquisite, including orange blaze and creamy lilac coloring. Dark vertical barring extends along the sides of the fish from the base of the dorsal fin to the above the upper lip and can completely disappear depending on mood. The dominant males develop egg spots on anal fin and partial egg spots on the dorsal fin. Subdominant males will normally display a drab brownish purple coloration with some orange or yellow highlights. Females will normally show a submissive brownish purple colour, although they too can color shift to a marvellous pale lilac, showing off their darkened bars.
Mbunas are a large group of closely related fish that live among the rocks along the shores of Lake Malawi in East Africa. Mbunas have similar shapes but quite different colors and patterns, Nowadays, there are more than 200 species of mbunas described, although the total number of species is hard to estimate.