 Analysis of their mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) sequence shows that hybridization must have played some role in the evolution of this genus.For one thing, it might be that "Telmatochromis" is close to "Julidochromis", which they somewhat resemble.A possibility is hybridization between the ancestor of "Telmatochromis" and a lineage of "Julidochromis" which later gave rise to "J. marlieri" and the Convict Julie ("J. regani").