Taxonomy & naming
Xenotilapia sp. "Kilesa" is a trade and database label for an undescribed sand cichlid. The atlas's article on Xenotilapia melanogenys calls it a close undescribed relative traded as Xenotilapia sp. "kilesa", and tanganyika.si files the same fish as Enantiopus sp. 'kilesa'. So the genus placement differs between the trade label and the database, and no formal name settles it. The form is undescribed, and its identity and range are not documented in the sources behind the atlas.
Morphology
The atlas's X. melanogenys article, following Konings, says kilesa males show a bright yellow throat, chin and lips and a shorter jaw and snout than melanogenys. Imperial Tropicals describes a long face used for sifting sand and a cigar-shaped body, silver juveniles and females, and males with metallic blue scales, an iridescent green sheen on the face, yellow lips, black pectoral and anal fins, and a blue dorsal fin dotted with yellow. No measurements are recorded.
Habitat
tanganyika.si lists one locality for the form, Kasenge, on the western shore. Imperial Tropicals also says it comes from the western side of the lake. Genus-level: Xenotilapia and the related Enantiopus live over sand and sandy-silt bottoms, where they patrol and sift the substrate.
Feeding
Imperial Tropicals says the fish are omnivores leaning toward carnivory, feeding mostly on tiny crustaceans and worms. Genus-level: Xenotilapia sift sand for small invertebrates.
Mating
Imperial Tropicals says males put on displays to get the attention of females. No details of the display are recorded for this form.
Breeding
Not documented for this form. Genus-level only: many Xenotilapia are maternal mouthbrooders, and some are paired, biparental mouthbrooders. Which applies to kilesa is not recorded.
In the aquarium
Imperial Tropicals calls it very rare and says it is not among the easiest Tanganyikan cichlids to keep. Sand-sifting cichlids need a fine sand bottom, open swimming space, hard alkaline water and gentle tankmates, and they do poorly with aggressive rock fish.
Conservation
An undescribed form has no IUCN category, and none is claimed here. Population and range data for it are not documented in the atlas's sources.