Décrit initialement sous Pseudotropheus lucerna:
ZooBank:DBF11946-7034-43D4-8D00-B4F07B02C2F8.
- Trewavas, Ethelwynn. 1935. "A Synopsis of the Cichlid Fishes of Lake Nyasa". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Series 10; pp. 65-118 (crc00118)
Conservation: Pseudotropheus lucerna est évalué par l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature dans la Liste Rouge des espèces menacées comme étant (LC) Peu menacée (2018). The shallow intermediate habitat is very common along the lake's shores and P. lucerna is probably present in large numbers. The rocks of the habitat prevent it from being captured by beach seines and the species is thus not vulnerable to over-fishing. Even with a possible deterioration of shallow habitats by increased agricultural runoffs P. lucerna is accustomed to living in sediment-rich environments and will probably also cope with such types of threats.