Cynotilapia chilundu, Li, Shan, Konings, Adrianus F. & Stauffer, Jay R., 2016

Li, Shan, Konings, Adrianus F. & Stauffer, Jay 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), pp. 353-381 : 370-372

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4168.2.9

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C1C701D7-B409-43FB-BB36-78F880B8D178

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6059728

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/56313F37-703F-4B1B-9340-EA9377061141

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:56313F37-703F-4B1B-9340-EA9377061141

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Cynotilapia chilundu
status

sp. nov.

Cynotilapia chilundu , new species

Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 A–C

Pseudotropheus View in CoL sp. ‘ elongatus View in CoL taiwan’, Konings 2001 Cynotilapia View in CoL sp. ‘ elongatus View in CoL taiwan’, Konings 2007

Holotype. PSU 12774, adult male, 82.9 mm SL, S 11°57.448’, E 34°35.298’, Taiwanee Reef , Lake Malaŵi, Malaŵi, Africa, 13Jan. 2008, A. F. Konings & J. R. Stauffer Jr .. GoogleMaps

Paratypes. PSU 12775, 24 , (52.6 mm – 82.9 mm SL), same data as holotype. GoogleMaps

Diagnosis. The presence of widely spaced unicuspid teeth on both the upper and lower oral jaws and a moderately inclined vomer place this species in Cynotilapia . Cynotilapia chilundu is distinguished from C. afra , C. zebroides and C. aurifrons by its slender body with BD 24.9%–31.1% SL (mean 28.3%) vs. BD 31.8–37.2% SL (mean 34.9%) in the other three species. Male C. chilundu differ from those of C. axelrodi by the presence of a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin which is absent in C. axelrodi . Females of the latter species lack distinct bars on the flank and interorbital bars on the head, while both these characters are evident in female C. chilundu .

Description. Morphometric and meristic data in Table 6 View TABLE 6 . Vomer moderately inclined (38.4° in holotype). Elongate species (BD 22.6–28.5% SL) with greatest body depth at base of seventh or eighth dorsal-fin spine; ventral body profile between pelvic and anal fins flat with upward curve to caudal fin. Head profile slightly concave between snout tip and interorbital area, with 40–50° (42.6° in holotype) angle with body axis, then round to dorsal-fin origin. Snout short with thick, slightly prognathic lower jaw. First 5 dorsal-fin spines gradually longer posteriorly with first spine less than one third length of fifth spine. Soft dorsal fin with subacuminate tip, fourth ray longest, reaching to one third of caudal fin in males and slightly beyond caudal-fin base in females. Pectoral fin rounded, paddle-shaped. Anal fin with 3 spines progressively longer posteriorly; fourth ray longest, length to base of caudal fin in both male and female. Caudal fin subtruncate to emarginate.

Flank scales ctenoid; small cycloid scales on breast and belly; cheek with 4–7 (mode 5) rows of small scales. Dorsal fin and anal fin with narrow proximal band of tiny scales; tiny scales on proximal 3/4 caudal fin.

Color notes and photos of live breeding adults (PSU 12776).

Males in territorial color with blue ground coloration and 5–6 distinct dark blue/black bars. Caudal peduncle dark blue; breast dark brown; belly light brown/white. Head black with 2 blue interorbital bars; throat black. Anal fin black/blue with 4–6 yellow ocelli; light blue leading margin. Pectoral fin rays gray with clear membranes. Pelvic fin black with blue leading edge; membranes dark gray ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 B).

Females’ ventral flank light brown; rest of body light blue with 4 light brown bars on flank, less pronounced posteriorly. Belly and breast white/beige. Head light brown with 2 faint light blue interorbital bars; throat light brown. Anal fin proximally 2/3 dark gray, remaining 1/3 light gray with 2–4 yellow/orange ocelli. Pectoral fin light gray with clear membranes ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 C).

Distribution. Cynotilapia chilundu is only known from Taiwanee Reef (S 11°57.448’, E 34°35.298’).

Etymology. The name chilundu is derived from Chichewa meaning “reef”, and refers to the fact that the species is only found on a reef.

TABLE 6. Morphometric and meristic data for Cynotilapia chilundu from Taiwanee Reef, Lake Malaŵi, PSU 12774, holotype; PSU 12775, n = 24. Ranges include holotype.

Variable Holotype Mean Std Dev Min Max
  PSU12774 PSU12775    
Standard length (mm) 82.9 67.1 8.5 52.6 82.9
Head length (mm) 24.5 20.4 2.4 16.4 25.3
Percent head length (%)        
Snout length 35.3 34.7 1.7 31.1 39.0
Postorbital head length 39.2 39.9 1.4 38.2 42.9
Horizontal eye diameter 27.4 28.2 1.2 25.6 30.5
Vertical eye diameter 22.8 25.2 1.6 22.1 27.7
Preorbital depth 20.5 20.2 1.3 17.4 22.0
Cheek depth 28.3 26.8 1.6 24.4 30.3
Lower jaw length 38.4 38.1 2.0 34.1 41.2
Head depth 78.8 78.5 4.3 70.6 88.8
Percent standard length (%)        
Body depth 25.1 26.2 1.2 22.6 28.5
Snout to dorsal fin origin 30.2 31.1 1.1 29.4 33.3
Snout to pelvic fin origin 37.4 36.5 1.0 34.3 38.5
Dorsal fin base length 62.3 61.7 1.6 59.2 64.8
Anterior dorsal to anterior anal 47.0 46.3 1.5 43.7 49.5
Anterior dorsal to posterior anal 63.6 62.1 1.8 58.6 65.1
Posterior dorsal to anterior anal 27.7 27.2 1.0 24.7 28.5
Posterior dorsal to posterior anal 13.1 13.2 0.6 11.9 14.0
Posterior anal to dorsal caudal 17.2 15.6 0.7 14.5 17.2
Posterior dorsal to ventral caudal 18.8 18.4 0.7 16.3 19.7
Anterior dorsal to pelvic-fin origin 29.4 28.9 1.4 25.7 32.1
Posterior dorsal to pelvic-fin origin 56.1 56.0 1.4 53.1 58.8
Caudal peduncle length 10.9 10.4 0.8 8.6 11.8
Least caudal peduncle depth 10.8 11.3 0.4 10.5 11.9
Meristics   Mode Frequency(%) Min Max
Dorsal-fin spines 18 18 80 17 19
Dorsal-fin rays 9 9 72 7 10
Anal-fin spines 3 3 100 3 3
Anal-fin rays 8 8 88 7 8
Pelvic-fin rays 5 5 96 4 5
Pectoral-fin rays 13 13 96 13 14
Lateral-line scales 33 33 52 31 34
Pored scales caudal 3 2 84 1 3
Cheek-scale rows 5 5 64 4 7
Gill rakers 1st ceratobranchial 12 12 48 11 14
Gill rakers 1st epibranchial 4 4 68 4 5
Teeth outer left lower jaw 6 6 36 3 8
Tooth rows upper jaw 3 3 80 2 4
Tooth rows lower jaw 3 3 88 2 4
PSU

Portland State University, Vertebrate Biology Museum

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