[1] They mainly occur in offshore open waters (down to depths of 200 m or 660 ft[2]), but a few species also near the coast.

[3] They are piscivores that typically feed on lake sardines and small utaka cichlids.

[4] Although not closely related, they have sometimes been compared to piscivorous Bathybates cichlids of Lake Tanganyika.

[5] There are currently six recognized species in this genus,[4] although the naming of these cichlids has been complicated.

[7] The IUCN and the Catalog of Fishes recognise the following five species as valid within this genus:[7][8]