Original description as Copadichromis ilesi:
ZooBank:A080750B-E4C0-46B1-B0A6-7C38F5CF13CB.
- Konings, Ad. 1999. "Description of Three New Copadichromis Species (Labroidei; Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi, Africa". Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine. v. 47 (9) May; pp. 62-85 (crc00963)
Conservation: Copadichromis ilesi is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (LC) least concern (2006).