Descripción original como Metriaclima phaeos:
ZooBank:903753A7-C23F-4E64-91E1-7C76BCF261A3.
- Stauffer, Jay Richard Jr. & N.J. Bowers, K.A. Kellogg, K.R. McKaye. 1997. "A revision of the blue-black Pseudotropheus zebra (Teleostei: Cichlidae) complex from Lake Malawi, Africa, with a description of a new genus and ten new species". The Proceedings of the Academy Natural Sciences Philadelphia. 148; pp 189-230 (crc00049)
Conservación: Metriaclima phaeos es evaluada por la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza en la lista roja de especies amenazadas como (LC) Poca preocupación (2018). It is a rather common cichlid in its preferred habitat along an almost 100 km stretch of the east central coast of the lake and no known threats are recognized, apart perhaps from increased sedimentation due to runoff from agricultural activities onshore.