Considéré comme synonyme junior de Melanochromis melanopterus Trewavas, 1935
- Konings-Dudin, Gertrud & A. Konings, J.R. Stauffer Jr. 2009. "Descriptions of three new species of Melanochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) and a redescription of M. vermivorus". Zootaxa. 2076:37-59 (crc01584) (résumé)
Décrit initialement sous Melanochromis mellitus:
ZooBank:880D3FFF-4A9B-4C2B-B06F-3D2CF1CDE0AF.
- Johnson, Donald. 1976. "Two new cichlids of the Mbuna group from Malawi with a discussion of several bicuspid toothed Labidochromis sp.". Today's Aquarist. 2(3):17-24 (crc00179)