Serranochromis, Regan, 1920

Stauffer, Jay R., Bills, Roger & Skelton, Paul H., 2021, Four new species of Serranochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Cuanza and Okavango river systems in Angola, including a preliminary key for the genus, Zootaxa 4908 (1), pp. 66-84 : 82-83

Artificial key to the species of Serranochromis

1a. Teeth embedded in lips................................................................................. 2

1b. Teeth exposed........................................................................................ 3

2a. Body depth less than 40% SL............................................................ Serranochromis altus

2b. Body depth greater than 40% SL; found in Luapula River, Congo system.................... Serranochromis stappersi

3a. Series of blotches along flanks........................................................................... 4

3b No distinct blotches along flanks......................................................................... 5

4a Length of pectoral fin greater than 33% SL; males with silver/white ground colour........... Serranochromis longimanus

4b Length of pectoral fin less than 33% SL; males with blueish head.............................. Serranochromis alvum

5a Caudal fin rounded.................................................................................... 6

5b Caudal fin emarginated or rectangular.................................................................... 10

6a Ocelli in breeding males restricted to 4–5 posterior membranes................................................. 7

6b Ocelli in breeding males throughout anal fin................................................................ 8

7a. In fish greater than 100 mm SL, least caudal peduncle depth less than 12.8% SL; males blue/green laterally with a narrow yellow marginal band on the dorsal fin; native endemic to Lake Malaŵi; introduced elsewhere (e.g., Sand River Dam in Swa-ziland,, Komati River system in South Africa)............................................ Serranochromis robustus

7b. In fish greater than 100 mm SL least caudal peduncle depth greater than 13%; males yellow/green laterally with a bright orange marginal band on the dorsal fin in fish from the Okavango River system, but creamy yellow bands in fish from the Upper Zambezi River system; endemic to upper Zambezi Region, introduced into Zimbabwe................. Serranochromis jallae

8a. Premaxillary pedicel greater than 40% of HL......................................... Serranochromis angusticeps

8b. Premaxillary pedicel less than 39% of HL.................................................................. 9

9a. Teeth in outer series of upper jaw 30–52; horizontal eye diameter 22–29 % HL............ Serranochromis macrocephalus

9b. Teeth in outer series of upper jaw 54–74; horizontal eye diameter 16–20 % HL................... Serranochromis janus

10a. Lateral-line scales greater than 39; dorsal-fin spines 17–18................................ Serranochromis thumbergi

10b. Lateral-line scales less than 38; dorsal-fin spines less than 17................................................. 11

11a. Lateral-line scales less than 34......................................................... Serranochromis cacuchi

11b. Lateral-line scales 34 or more.......................................................................... 12

12a. Snout length greater than 37% HL; endemic to southern Limpopo and Incomatic systems in...................... South Africa and Mozambique.......................................................... Serranochromis meridianus

12b. Snout length less than 36% HL......................................................................... 13

13a. Lower jaw length greater than 53% HL; endemic to the Kwanza system in Angola.................. Serranochromis spei

13b. Lower jaw length less than 53% HL.................................................... Serranochromis swartzi