A New Species of Labeotropheus (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from Southern Lake Malaŵi, Africa
Labeotropheus is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malaŵi, Africa. Since its original description, surprisingly few additional species have been described, largely due to a misinterpretation of the historical taxonomic treatment of allopatric populations of Labeotropheus. Previously published evidence of genetic and morphological divergence among southern populations of Labeotropheus suggests that species diversity is underestimated. Morphometric, meristic, and color characteristics are employed to describe a new species of Labeotgropheus endemic to Mumbo Island and Thumbi West Island near the Nankumba Peninsula in southern Lake Malaŵi. The new species is distinguished from congeners by a wider body, longer pectoral fins, a shorter snout, and male nuptial coloration.
Map of Lake Malaŵi displaying where specimens were collected. (A) Lake Malaŵi. (B) Detail of Nankumba Peninsula, including Mumbo Island and Thumbi West Island.
Holotype of L. artatorostris, female, 114.9 mm SL, UMMZ 250296.
Graph of body depth versus standard length in all species of Labeotropheus. Labeotropheus artatorostris is clearly distinguished from the slender-bodied species, including L. simoneae; the type series of L. trewavasae; and the sympatric (i.e., Mitande/Mumbo/Thumbi West) form of the slender-bodied species currently assigned to L. trewavasae. The body depth-standard length ratio of L. artatorostris overlaps completely with that of L. fuelleborni; see Table 3 for details.
Graph of snout pad length versus head length in Labeotropheus. (A) All species; (B) L. artatorostris and L. fuelleborni (Lumbila + Messule). Labeotropheus artatorostris has a distinctly shorter snout pad than the type specimens of L. fuelleborni, though there is some overlap between L. artatorostris and the Messule population of L. fuelleborni. Nonetheless, the differences between the snout pad lengths of L. artatorostris and both populations of L. fuelleborni are statistically significant; see Table 4 for details.
Plots of meristic PC 1 versus sheared morphometric PC 2 for the three deep-bodied species of Labeotropheus (L. artatorostris, L. chlorosiglos, and L. fuelleborni). (A) Labeotropheus artatorostris, L. chlorosiglos, and the expanded set of specimens of L. fuelleborni (Lumbila and Messule); (B) L. artatorostris, L. chlorosiglos, and the type specimens of L. fuelleborni. See Tables 5 and 6 for the meristic and morphometric loadings, respectively.
Typical color patterns of adult male L. artatorostris. (A) Non-type, wild male photographed at Thumbi West Island; (B) non-type, wild males engaged in agonistic behavior, photographed at Thumbi West Island; (C) non-type, wild male photographed at Mumbo Island. All photographs were generously provided by, and are © Ad Konings/Cichlid Press.
Contributor Notes
Associate Editor: D. Buth.