Original reference as:
- Seehausen, Ole. 1996. "Lake Victoria Rock Cichlids: Taxonomy, Ecology, and Distribution". Verduyn Cichlids (crc00686)
Conservation: Haplochromis sp. 'red back scraper' is not evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species. This species was only collected once. This included one holding female. All Haplochromis sp. 'red back scraper' in our aquariums today are descendants from this one collection. Unfortunately, this colorful little haplochromine has not been seen in the wild since and is now thought to be extinct.