Original description:
- Eccles, David H. & Ethelwynn Trewavas. 1989. "Malawian cichlid fishes. The Classification of some Haplochromine genera". Lake Fish Movies, Herten, West Germany. 1-334 (crc00063)
Type species: Haplochromis praeorbitalis Regan, 1922 (original designation).
Described species included (6):
valid: 5 synonym: 1- Haplochromis praeorbitalis Regan, 1922 (valid)
- Lethrinops macrorhynchus Regan, 1922 (valid)
- Lethrinops fasciatus Ahl, 1927 (synonym)
- Lethrinops cyrtonotus Trewavas, 1931 (valid)
- Lethrinops furcicauda Trewavas, 1931 (valid)
- Lethrinops laticeps Trewavas, 1931 (valid)
Potentially undescribed species (2):
- sp. 'furcicauda liuli' (undescribed)
- sp. 'furcicauda ntekete' (undescribed)