Original description as Microchromis zebroides:
- Johnson, Donald. 1975. "More new Malawi cichlids". Today's Aquarist. 2 (1); po 16-18 (crc00085)
Conservation: Cynotilapia zebroides is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (VU) vulnerable (2006). The fact that Cynotilapia zebroides feeds in the water column makes it vulnerable to scoop nets which are used for catching utaka, however most foraging schools occur close the rocky shores and I have not yet noticed a visible impact on population densities of this common cichlid.