Original description as Haplochromis velifer:
ZooBank:107A4A83-4FF2-427E-9DE9-D268B4C3FFFC.
- Trewavas, Ethelwynn. 1933. "Scientific results of the Cambridge Expedition to the East African Lakes, 1930-1. --11. The cichlid fishes". Journal of the Linnean Society of London (Zoology). v. 38; n. 259; pp. 309-341. DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1933.tb00062.x (crc01010)
Conservation: Astatotilapia velifer is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (VU) vulnerable (1996).