Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2024-01-11
Page range: 181-189
Abstract views: 386
PDF downloaded: 10

Description of a rock-dwelling cichlid that re-invaded the sand substrate in Lake Malaŵi, Africa

Cichlid Press; PO Box 13608; El Paso; TX 79913
Penn State University; 432 Forest Resources Building; University Park; Pennsylvania 16802
Penn State University; 432 Forest Resources Building; University Park; Pennsylvania 16802; Honorary Research Associate; South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity; Makhanda; RSA
Pisces Mbuna Sand-dwelling cichlid Pseudotropheus likoma Island

Abstract

Pseudotropheus Regan had been a catch-all genus for many of the rock-dwelling cichlids of Lake Malaŵi, known as mbuna, for over half a century. Although many of the species previously assigned to this genus have since been allocated to other genera there are still about a dozen species in the genus that do not appear to be closely related to its type species, P. williamsi, but for which no better placement could be found. Pseudotropheus livingstonii (Boulenger) is one such species and the new species described herein appears to be closely related and has for that reason been temporarily assigned to Pseudotropheus. Pseudotropheus likomae n. sp. from Likoma Island can be diagnosed from all other Pseudotropheus spp., by having five or fewer distinct vertical bars below the dorsal fin and two horizontal stripes in mature individuals.

 

References

  1. Barel, C.D.N., Van Oijen, M.J.P., Witte, F. & Witte-Maas, E.L.M. (1977) An introduction to the taxonomy and morphology of the haplochromine Cichlidae from Lake Victoria. Netherlands Journal of Zoology, 27 (4), 333–389. https://doi.org/10.1163/002829677X00199
  2. Burgess, W. (1976) Studies on the family Cichlidae: 6. A new shell-dwelling cichlid from Lake Malawi and its inquiline catfish. Tropical Fish Hobbyist, 25 (1), 39–48.
  3. Fryer, G. & Iles, T.D. (1972) The Cichlid Fishes of the Great Lakes of Africa: Their Biology and Evolution. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 641pp.
  4. Greenwood, P.H. (1979) Towards a phyletic classification of the genus Haplochromis (Pisces, Cichlidae) and related taxa, Part 1. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 35, 265–322. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.20455
  5. Humphries, J.M., Bookstein, F.L., Chernoff, B., Smith, G.R., Elder, R.L. & Poss, S.G. (1981) Multivariate discrimination by shape in relation to size. Systematic Zoology, 30, 291–308. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/30.3.291
  6. Konings A.F. (2016) Malaŵi cichlids in their natural habitat. 5th Edition. Cichlid Press, El Paso, Texas, 432 pp.
  7. Konings, A.F. & Stauffer Jr., J.R. (2006) Revised diagnosis of Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with description of a new species from Lake Malaŵi National Park, Africa. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 17 (3), 233–246.
  8. Li, S., Konings, A.F. & Stauffer Jr., J.R. (2016) A revision of the Pseudotropheus elongatus species group (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with description of a new genus and seven new species. Zootaxa, 4168 (2), 353–381. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4168.2.9
  9. Miller, T.A., Konings, A.F. & Stauffer Jr., J.R. (2021) Descriptions of two new shell-dwelling species of Metriaclima (cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa. Zootaxa, 5052, 419–432. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.3.7
  10. Ribbink, A.J., Marsh, B.A., Marsh, A.C. Ribbink, A.C. & Sharp, B.J. (1983) A preliminary survey of the cichlid fishes of rocky habitats in Lake Malaŵi. South African Journal of Zoology, 18, 149–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/02541858.1983.11447831
  11. Stauffer Jr., J.R., Black, K. & Konings, A.F. (2013) Descriptions of five new species of Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa. Zootaxa, 3647 (1), 101–136. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3647.1.6
  12. Stauffer, J.R., Bowers, N.J., Kellogg K.A. & McKaye, K.R. (1997) A revision of the blue-black Pseudotropheus zebra (Teleostei: Cichlidae) complex from Lake Malaŵi, Africa, with a description of a new genus and ten new species. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia, 148, 189–230.
  13. Stauffer Jr., J.R., Konings, A.F. & Ryan, T.M. (2016) Redescription of Pseudotropheus livingstonii and Pseudotropheus elegans from Lake Malaŵi, Africa. Zootaxa, 4154 (2), 169–178. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4154.2.4
  14. Stauffer Jr., J.R. & Van Snik-Gray, E. (2004) Phenotypic plasticity: its role in trophic radiation and explosive speciation in cichlids (Teleostei: Cichlidae). Animal Biology, 54, 137–158. https://doi.org/10.1163/1570756041445191