Africa: endemic to Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 188, 28136, 107916), but introduced into several other lakes, like Lake Kivu, Lake Kariba and Cahora Bassa reservoir (Ref. 188, 7248, 28136, 52193, 107916). Also reported as Microthrissa stappersii from Lake Mweru (Ref. 246, 52958), but this is based on an erroneous type locality of the species (Ref. 26733).