Mylochromis lateristriga, breeding male. (Compare the very similar, but more specialized, Lichnochromis acuticeps which, Oliver suspects, is the sister species of M. lateristriga.) Scroll down for two closeups. All photos copyright © 1997 by M. K. Oliver.

In the first closeup, notice the soft part of the dorsal fin, with the small, dark-edged oval orange spots from which anal fin non-ocellated egg-dummies are believed to have evolved; from these, in turn, ocellated egg-dummies surrounded by a depigmented area are derived. Also, note the orange streaks on the caudal fin, mostly between the fin's rays, quite striking against the pale blue background color of the fin and markedly different from the oval spots of the dorsal fin.

In the second closeup, below, look for the anal fin's highly unusual elongate, gray-edged white markings (egg dummies?), on the equally unusual orange-red background of the fin.

Last Update: 13 June 1998 Web Author: M. K. Oliver, Ph.D. Copyright © 1997-2021 by M. K. Oliver, Ph.D. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED