Heterochromis

{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Heterochromis multidens 14592159.jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Moelants, T. |date=2010 |title=Heterochromis multidens |volume=2010 |page=e.T181935A7767720 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T181935A7767720.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}

| grandparent_authority = Kullander, 1998

| parent_authority = Regan, 1922

| taxon = Heterochromis multidens

| display_parents = 2

| authority = (Pellegrin, 1900)

}}

Heterochromis is a genus of cichlid fish in the order Perciformes. It is the only genus of the subfamily Heterochromidinae, and contains a single species, Heterochromis multidens, which is endemic to the Congo River Basin in Central Africa. The relationships of Heterochromis to other cichlids have long been controversial, with several morphological features suggesting that it is more closely related to American cichlids than to other African species.Kullander SO (1998) A phylogeny and classification of the South American Cichlidae (Teleostei: Perciformes). Pp. 461-498 in Malabarba, L., et al. (eds), Phylogeny and Classification of Neotropical Fishes, Porto Alegre. Molecular studies have given contradictory results. The most comprehensive analysis done to date found more support for relationship to African cichlids, but could not conclusively reject a relationship to the American clade.{{cite journal|last1=Keck|first1=Benjamin P.|last2=Hulsey|first2=C. Darrin|title=Continental monophyly of cichlid fishes and the phylogenetic position of Heterochromis multidens|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|volume=73|year=2014|pages=53–59|issn=1055-7903|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2014.01.011|pmid=24472673|bibcode=2014MolPE..73...53K }}

It can reach a total length of {{convert|29.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}. This species is probably a substrate spawner and in older males a hump may develop on the head.{{FishBase |genus= Heterochromis|species= multidens| month = February | year = 2013}}