Oryginalny opis jako 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. 148:189-230 (crc00049)
Ochrona: Metriaclima phaeos jest wpisany prez Międzynarodową Unię Ochrony Przyrody do Czerwonej Księgi Gatunków Zagrożonych IUCN jako (LC) Najmniejszej troski (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.