New Species of Cyprichromis (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika, Africa
Cyprichromis zonatus, a new cichlid species, is described on the basis of 21 specimens from the Zambian coast of Lake Tanganyika. It differs from its congeners, Cyprichromis leptosoma, Cyprichromis microlepidotus, and Cyprichromis pavo, by having 39–43 scales in longitudinal line (vs 57–71 in C. microlepidotus), 29–36 upper lateral line scales (vs 49–60 in C. microlepidotus), usually 14 or 15 dorsal fin spines (vs 12 or 13 in C. leptosoma, usually 16 in C. pavo), a generally deeper body (24.5–30.3% SL vs 23.1–26.2% in C. microlepidotus, 24.5–26.4% in C. pavo), deeper caudal peduncle (9.9–11.1% SL vs 8.4–9.9% in C. microlepidotus, 9.3–9.9% in C. pavo), longer pectoral fin (27.1–33.0% SL vs 23.1–27.4% in C. leptosoma, 23.0–27.3% in C. microlepidotus), caudal fin dichromatism absent (vs blue and yellow dichromatism in male C. leptosoma), and three or four distinct vertical bands beneath the dorsal fin base in live males (vs absent or very indistinct in other species).Abstract
Lake Tanganyika, showing type locality of Cyprichromis zonatus
Holotype of Cyprichromis zonatus, HUMZ 175834, male, 82.8 mm SL, before preservation in alcohol.
Relationships of pectoral fin length, body depth and caudal peduncle depth between Cyprichromis zonatus (solid circles), Cyprichromis leptosoma (open circles), Cyprichromis microlepidotus (crosses), and Cyprichromis pavo (open triangles). Arrow indicates holotype
Radiograph of holotype of Cyprichromis zonatus, HUMZ 175834, male, 82.8 mm SL
Underwater photograph of Cyprichromis zonatus, Kasenga, Zambia, 11 m depth. Taken by T. Takahashi