This group includes the type genus Haplochromis plus a number of closely related genera such as Aulonocara, Astatotilapia, and Chilotilapia.

This tribe was extensively studied by Ethelwynn Trewavas, who made major reviews in 1935 and 1989, at the beginning and at the end of her career in ichthyology.

The haplochromines were in older times treated as subfamily Haplochrominae, However, the great African radiation of pseudocrenilabrine cichlids is certainly not monophyletic without them, and thus they are today ranked as a tribe therein.

In the aquarium hobby, these fishes are popular; however due to their often aggressive behaviors and rather unusual water parameters, they are generally unsuitable for beginners or community tanks.

[3] As numerous Haplochromini, in particular those species still placed in the "wastebin genus" Haplochromis, are of unclear relationships, the number and validity of genera in this tribe is subject to change.