Original description as Orthochromis rugufuensis:
ZooBank:E9D6028A-4A16-4B93-9171-9DFD34362350.
- de Vos, Luc & L. Seegers. 1998. "Seven new Orthochromis species (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Malagarasi, Luiche and Rugufu basins (Lake Tanganyika drainage), with notes on their reproductive biology". Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwaters. 9(4):371-420 (crc01067) (abstract)
Conservation: Orthochromis rugufuensis is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (VU) vulnerable (2006).