Description of a new cichlid species from Lake Malawi, with reexamination of Cynotilapia afra (Günther, 1893) and Microchromis zebroides Johnson, 197

Tawil P.

Date de parution: septembre 2011
Volume: 35
Number: 3
Pagination: 201–211
Editeur: Société Française d’Ichtyologie
doi: https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2011-353-004
Résumé

A reexamination of the type specimens of the cichlid genera Cynotilapia and Microchromis from Lake Malawi is given, revealing significant differences between them, and confirming the validity of Microchromis. Microchromis zebroides, type species of the genus, is reexamined with additional material. Microchromis aurifrons, a new species is described. It differs from the type species of the genus, with which it lives sympatrically in the lake, by wider melanic pattern on the flanks and absence of such coloration on the brow of adults. The distinction between Cynotilapia and Microchromis and the relationships with the bicuspid-toothed genus Maylandia, of which Microchromis is possibly a plankton-eater specialized offshoot, are debated.

Mots-clés: Cichlidae - Cynotilapia - Lake Malawi - Maylandia - Microchromis aurifrons - New species
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