Ptychochromoides Kiener & Mauge 1966

Sparks, John S., Loiselle, Paul V. & Baldwin, Zachary H., 2012, Rediscovery and phylogenetic placement of the endemic Malagasy cichlid Ptychochromoides itasy (Teleostei: Cichlidae: Ptychochrominae), Zootaxa 3352, pp. 17-24 : 22

Ptychochromoides Kiener & Mauge 1966

Diagnosis. Monophyly of Ptychochromoides is supported by the following apomorphic morphological features [refer to Sparks and Reinthal (2001) and Sparks (2008) for full character descriptions and additional illustrations]: (1) A single row of dentition on the second pharyngobranchial toothplate ( Fig. 4 A). (2) Chest scales are reduced in size and embedded ( Figs. 2 & 4 C). (3) Pigmentation pattern blotchy, mottled white and grey, blotchy grayish-black, or nearly jet-black ( Fig. 4 C).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Ptychochromoides itasy: (A) Image of live specimen (small adult, approx. 165 mm SL) immediately following capture illustrating pigmentation pattern in life. Sakay River, tributary of Tsiribihina River, western central Madagascar. (Photo by P. Loiselle, specimen not preserved). (B) Holotype, UMMZ 243393, immature female, 123. 2 mm SL; Madagascar.

FIGURE 4. Apomorphic anatomical features uniting members of Ptychochromoides: A) Upper pharyngeal elements in P tychochromoides showing characteristic single row of dentition on second pharyngobranchial toothplate (Ptychochromoides vondrozo, UMMZ 235294, C & S paratype). B) Upper pharyngeal elements characteristic of other members of Ptychochrominae for comparison (Ptychochromis grandidieri, UMMZ 237312, C & S). C) Blotchy, mottled white and grey, blotchy grayish-black, to nearly jet-black pigmentation pattern (Ptychochromoides vondrozo, UMMZ 235297, 182. 0 mm SL, holotype). Abbreviations: aa = anterior arm of first epibranchial; eb 1 – 4 = epibranchials 1 – 4; eb 2 - tp = second epibranchial tooth plate; pb 2 - tp = second pharyngobranchial tooth plate; pb 3 - tp = third pharyngobranchial tooth plate; up = uncinate process of first epibranchial; up 4 - tp = fourth upper tooth plate.