Pelvicachromis kribensis

Lamboj, Anton, Bartel, Daniela & Dell’Ampio, Emiliano, 2014, Revision of the Pelvicachromis taeniatus-group (Perciformes), with revalidation of the taxon Pelvicachromis kribensis (Boulenger, 1911) and description of a new species, Cybium 38 (3), pp. 205-222 : 219

Pelvicachromis kribensis

(Boulenger, 1911)

( Fig. 8 )

Syntypes. – BMNH 1902.11.12.164-165 and BMNH 1912.6.29.19-28, 7 males, 5 females, 1 ex., 28.5-52.4 mm SL, Cameroon , Kribi River at Kribi, southern Cameroon .

Additional material. – NMW 95240 , 3 females , 31.7- 36.2 mm SL, Cameroon, Nyong River system, small creek at region of Dehane, 03°29.087’N, 10°06.311’E, A. Lamboj coll., Feb. 2009. NMW 95241 , 1 male, 1 female , 42.3+ 45.7 mm SL, Cameroon, Moliwe River at village of Moliwe, 04°03.997’N, 09°15.288’E, A. Lamboj coll., Feb. 2009. NMW 95242 , 3 males, 3 females , 39.3-51.0 mm SL, Cameroon, Lobe River system, small creek near village of Massa’a, 02°52.384’N, 09° 54.096’E, A. Lamboj coll., Feb. 2009 .

Diagnosis

A moderately gracile species, with rounded head and well-developed sexual dimorphism and dichromatism. Differs from P. drachenfelsi sp. nov. and P. taeniatus , by a male caudal fin coloration without black or white margins/submargins (vs white margin and black submargin in upper half of fin in P. drachenfelsi sp. nov. and black margin with white to yellow submargin in lower half of fin in P. drachenfelsi sp. nov. and P. taeniatus ). Differs from P. drachenfelsi sp. nov. in caudal peduncle being shorter than deep to as long as deep (vs usually longer then deep). Differs from P. humilis , P. rubrolabiatus and P. signatus in absence of seven or eight dark, vertical bars on body, and in three tubular infraorbital bones vs two. Differs from P. silviae in lesser body depth 30.4-37.3% SL vs 37.4-43.0%, mean 33.2 vs 39.2%), shorter prepelvic distance (32.5-37.7% SL vs 37.9-44.3%, mean 35.1 vs 39.8%), greater preorbital distance (17.0-22.3% HL vs 16.3-17.3%, mean 19.1 vs 16.9%), and more spines in dorsal fin (17-18 vs 14-16). Differs from P. subocellatus in males by absence of a lappet-like elongation of some rays in upper half of caudal fin). Differs from P. roloffi ( Thys van den Audenaerde, 1968) in greater caudal peduncle length (12.1-15.4% SL vs 9.4-12.2, mean 13.6 vs 10.7%) and higher number of pored scales of lateral line (26-29 vs 24-26). Differs from P. sacrimontis Paulo, 1977 in shorter interorbital distance (20.7-29.3% HL vs 29.4-45.3%, mean 23.7 vs 36.0%). Differs from P. pulcher (Boulenger, 1901) in rows of dots in the central field and lower part of the male caudal fin (vs absence).

Description

Measurements and meristic counts for syntypes and 11 additional specimens are presented in table IV. Small cichlid species with body moderately gracile body, rounded dorsal head profile and short snout. Ventral body wall gently rounded toward caudal peduncle, more rounded in ripe and gravid females. Caudal fin rounded. Caudal peduncle usually deeper than long to as deep as long. Sexual dimorphism well developed, with males usually 10-15% larger in SL than females, with soft dorsal, anal and pelvic fins being more elongated. First ray of pelvic fin always longest in males, in females second ray always longest. In males, tip of pelvic fin can reach or overlap origin of anal fin.

Osteology and dentition. – Infraorbital bone series with lachrymal and three additional tubular bones and a gap between 2nd and 3rd tubular infraorbital, lachrymal with four openings of laterosensory system.

Premaxilla usually with 1-2 rows, dentary usually with 2 rows (one small syntype with SL 36.6 mm with 1 row) of regularly set unicuspid teeth. Anteriorly in the lower jaw a few teeth orientated posteriorly, not buccally. Lower pharyngeal bone triangular, with unicuspid to weakly bicuspid teeth on lateral parts of this bone, and asymmetric bicuspid teeth in the central field.

Gill rakers on first gill arch. Eight to 10 tuberculate gill rakers on ceratobranchials, 4-7 pointed gill rakers on epibranchials. Well-developed hanging pad on roof of pharynx.

Scales. – Cycloid, 2 or 3 rows of scales on cheek; 4 horizontal rows on opercle. Dark spot on outer edge of opercle unscaled. Chest-scales smaller than body scales, 3-5 scales between pectoral and pelvic fins. Upper lateral-line separated from dorsal-fin base anteriorly by two and a half to three scales, at the 8 th pored scale by one or one and a half scales, and at last pored scale by a half or one scale. End of upper lateral-line never overlapping lower lateral-line, usually separated from beginning of lower lateral-line by no to five rows of scales. About 1/5 to 1⁄4 of caudal fin covered with scales, all other fins unscaled.

Figures

Figure. 8. - Pelvicachromis kribensis. A, B: Two syntypes out of BMNH 1902.11.12.164-165 and BMNH 1912.6.29.19-28; A: Male, SL 51.2 mm, B: Female SL 40.8 mm, Cameroon, Kribi River at Kribi, South Cameroon; C: Male; D: Female from Kienke River system (Kribi), not preserved, not measured; E: Male; F: Female from Lobe River system (Lobe Masaa, SL 42.0 + 35.8 mm SL, preserved after photographing as NMW 95242); G: Male; H: female from Nyong River system (Dehane, male not measured, not preserved, female 36.2 mm SL, preserved after photographing as NMW 95240); I: Male; J: Female from Moliwe River (Moliwe village, 57.8+33.7 mm SL, preserved after photographing as NMW 95241).