Chromidotilapia mamonekenei, male with abnormally
prolongated rays in caudal fin
photo: Anton Lamboj
new species:
Chromidotilapia mamonekenei Lamboj, 1998
type locality:
Congo, Loubomo; holotype AMNH 227331 (male, 79.9 mm SL)
published in:
Lamboj, A. (2001):
Zur Cichlidenfauna des Biosphärenreservats von Dimonika (Mayome, Kongo), mit Beschreibung zweier neuer Chromidotilapia-Arten (Teleosei, Perciformes).
Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ichthyologie 1: 139-156
abstract (from publication):
During an ichthyological survey in the biosphere reservation of Dimonika (Congo Brazzaville) two new species of the genus Chromidotilapia were collected. They were found occurring sympatrically in the same river systems, but never syntopically. In previous collections both species were misidentified as C. kingsleyae Boulenger, 1898. Chromidotilapia elongate spec.nov. is endemic in the most upper regions of the rivers and creeks around the village of Dimonika. It differs from all described species of the genus and from C. mamonekenei spec.nov. mainly in the combination of the following characters:
More elongated body, blue colouration in head and posterior part of the body, a pattern of irregular big dark blotches on the body in a submissive state, and bredding behaviour as a pair-binding, biparental and ovophilic mouth breeder. Eggs and wrigglers are transferred between the partners during the whole breeding period in intervals of some days.
Chromidotilapia mamonekenei spec.nov. is known from the Mayombe region. It differs from C. kingsleyae mainly in having a reduced standard length and from all described species of the genus in a combination of the following characters: Bluish colouration of the head, on the operculum, on the upper edge of the dorsal and caudal fin and on the posterior edge of the pectoral fin. A pattern of two horizontal, interrupted dark bars on the body in a submissive state and breeding behaviour as a pairbinding, biparental ovophilic mouthbreeder. Breeding of the male, however, is restricted to a few days at the end of the breeding period.
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