Melanochromis wochepa, Konings-Dudin, Gertrud, Konings, Adrianus F. & Stauffer, Jay R., 2009

Konings-Dudin, Gertrud, Konings, Adrianus F. & Stauffer, Jay R., 2009, Descriptions of three new species of Melanochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) and a redescription of M. vermivorus, Zootaxa 2076 (1), pp. 37-59 : 47-50

Melanochromis wochepa new species

( Figs. 5 , 7b ; Table 3)

Melanochromis dialeptos (part) Konings 2001

Holotype. PSU 4553 , 62.5 mm SL, male; Mozambique, Lake Mala ẁi, Lumessi , 13° 8.229’ S, 34° 47.848’ E, Stauffer and Konings, 14 Feb 2002.

Paratypes. PSU 4551 , 17 , 41.7–65.1 mm SL, data as for holotype ; AMNH 246006 , 2 , 58.6 –62.0 mm SL, data as for holotype .

Diagnosis. Melanochromis wochepa is distinguished from its congeners, except M. auratus , M. dialeptos , and M. mossambiquensis , by a steeper-angled vomer (72–80° vs. 35–53°). It is distinguished from M. auratus , M. dialeptos , and M. mossambiquensis by the male coloration pattern which is blue without white stripes and which is brown/black with yellow and pale-blue stripes in males of the other species. Female M. wochepa are distinguished from M. auratus by a submarginal dorsal band that is wider than the mid-lateral and the dorsolateral stripe. The abdominal yellow stripes in female M. wochepa are thin and never cover the entire lower abdomen, while those in female M. auratus usually cover the entire lower half of the body. M. wochepa is further distinguished from M. dialeptos by a longer head (30.2–33.3 vs. 29.8–31.4 % SL), a deeper body (30.2–34.7 vs. 26.8–31.8 % SL), by a larger distance between the posterior dorsal and pelvic fin (53.3–59.8 % vs. 49.8–55.8 % SL), by a longer pectoral fin (22.8–33.0 % vs. 19.5–24.3 % SL), and by more dorsal-fin rays (7–10 (mode 9) vs. 7–9 (mode 7)). It is further distinguished from M. mossambiquensis by a deeper body as expressed in a larger distance between the origins of the dorsal and anal fins (49.6–54.5 % vs. 47.1–50.8 % SL) and a larger distance between the origins of the dorsal and pelvic fins (30.1–36.4 % vs. 27.6–33.4 % SL), and by a shorter lower jaw (26.7–32.5 % vs. 29.0–41.5 % HL).

Description. Morphometric ratios and meristic values appear in Table 3. Small, oblong species (mean BD 33.2% SL) with greatest body depth at about base of third dorsal spine. Dorsal body profile gradually curving downward to caudal peduncle; ventral body profile slightly convex between pelvic fins and vent then tapering upward along base anal fin to caudal peduncle. Dorsal head profile rounded, curving almost continuously between snout tip and dorsal fin origin; eye (mean 33.9% HL) larger than depth preorbital and positioned entirely in anterior half of head; steep, rounded snout and slightly retrognathous jaws; wide tooth bands with 6–9 rows in lower and upper jaws with teeth in outer rows bicuspid and teeth in inner rows tricuspid.

Dorsal fin with XVII–XIX (mode XVIII) spines and 7–10 (mode 9) soft rays. Anal fin with III spines and 7 or 8 (mode 7) soft rays. First 3 or 4 dorsal spines gradually increasing in length posteriorly with first spine less than ½ length of fourth spine; last 14 spines slightly increasing in length posteriorly with last spine longest; soft dorsal with rounded (females) or subacuminate (males) tip, third or fourth ray longest, not reaching in females and about reaching base of caudal fin in males. Anal spines progressively increasing in length posteriorly; third or fourth ray longest, not reaching (in females) or just reaching (males) base of caudal fin. Caudal fin subtruncate to emarginate. Pelvic fin not reaching anal fin in females; reaching first anal spine in males. Pectoral fin rounded, paddle-shaped, short, reaching vertical through base 10 th or 11 th dorsal spine.

Flank scales large, ctenoid; abrupt difference to small scales on breast; cheek with 4–7 (mean 5) rows of small scales. Upper branch of lateral line with 22–27 pored scales; lower branch 9–13. Small scales on proximal posterior margins of dorsal and anal fins and on proximal half of caudal fin.

Coloration. Breeding males: head blue; snout gray/blue with two dark-gray/blue interorbital bands; postorbital head with few white/golden spots behind eye. Body blue with sometimes faint midlateral pale blue stripe; caudal peduncle blue; belly and breast blue/gray-blue. Dorsal fin gray/blue with white/light blue margin and yellow lappets. Caudal fin blue with pale-blue rays and yellow distal membranes. Anal fin blue with black submarginal band and light-blue distal margin; 1–3 yellow ocelli in trailing part. Pelvic fins black/ dark-blue with light-blue leading margin. Pectoral fins with gray rays and clear membranes.

Females: head gray/yellow with gray/white gular region and irregular yellow markings, snout with two black interorbital bands. Body gray/white with narrow black midlateral and dorso-lateral stripes, irregular orange/yellow stripe between these two stripes; gray/brown irregular band along base dorsal fin. Dorsal fin white/light-yellow with broad black submarginal band and yellow lappets, gray/brown irregular band proximally. Caudal fin with irregular pattern of yellow, black, and pale-blue markings throughout. Anal fin white/pale-blue with yellow distal margin and black pigment on anterior part; 1 or 2 yellow ocelli in trailing part. Pelvic fins yellow with black markings, narrow white leading margin. Pectoral fins clear with gray rays.

Distribution. Melanochromis wochepa is restricted to the eastern shoreline between Nkhungu Point (12° 58.849’ S, 34° 45.814’ E) and the Lumessi River (13° 8.987’ S, 34° 47.893’ E) in Mozambique ( Fig. 1 ).

Field observations. Habitat preference and behavior of M. wochepa is similar to those of M. auratus and M. dialeptos . It occurs in the shallow rocky habitat and is mostly seen solitary, although it is not an uncommon appearance. Males in breeding coloration do not defend a territory, but displays between males are frequent but of short duration. Melanochromis wochepa primarily feeds from the aufwuchs on rocks from which it picks algal strands and diatoms.

Etymology. The specific epithet, a noun in apposition, is derived from Chinyanja, the local language around the lake, and means “small” referring to the small adult size of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of Lake Malaẁi with localities mentioned in the text.

FIGURE 5. Melanochromis wochepa, holotype, PSU 4553, 62.5 mm SL, male; Lumessi, Lake Malaŵi, Mozambique.

FIGURE 7. a. A non-territorial male Melanochromis kaskazini (approx. 105 mm SL) at Ngwazi, Lake Malaŵi, Tanzania; inset: a female (approx. 65 mm SL) at Nkanda, Lake Malaŵi, Tanzania; b. two males of Melanochromis wochepa (approx. 60 mm SL) at Lumessi, Mozambique; inset: a female (approx. 50 mm SL) at same location; c. a male Melanochromis mossambiquensis (approx. 70 mm SL) at Minos Reef, Mozambique; inset: a female (approx. 55 mm SL) at same location.