The Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi, Africa
 

Abstract of Publication

Stauffer, J.R., Jr., T.J. LoVullo, and K.R. McKaye. 1993. Three new sand-dwelling cichlids from Lake Malawi, Africa, with a discussion of the status of the genus Copadichromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae). Copeia 1993 (4): 1017-1027.  

Three new species of the cichlid fish genus Copadichromis Eccles and Trewavas (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi are described. The new species superficially resemble Copadichromis eucinostomus but are clearly distinguished by overall shape and meristic characters. The C. eucinostomus group is comprised of seven phenetically similar species, which lack lateral spots, have a silver lateral ground color with faint bars appearing in some individuals, and have 19 or fewer gill rakers on the outer ceratobranchial. Overall body shape, meristic characters, coloration, and behavior distinguish the three new species from each other. It is recommended that the name C. eucinostomus be restricted to the two original syntypes, now designated as a lectotype and paralectotype and cataloged into the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH.1921.9.6.191-192).
 

 

 

 

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