Nanochromis Pellegrin, 1904

STIASSNY, MELANIE L. J. & SCHLIEWEN, ULRICH K., 2007, Congochromis, a New Cichlid Genus (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Central Africa, with the Description of a New Species from the Upper Congo River, Democratic Republic of Congo, American Museum Novitates 3576, pp. 1-16 : 3-4

Nanochromis Pellegrin, 1904

Type species: Nanochromis nudiceps (Boulenger, 1899)

[ Type locality: Kutu, Lake Leopold II, Zaire (Lake Mai

Ndombe, Democratic Republic of Congo)].

Included species: N. consortus Roberts and Stewart, 1976 ,

N. minor Roberts and Stewart, 1976 , N. parilus Roberts and Stewart, 1976 , N. splendens Roberts and Stewart,

1976, N. teugelsi Lamboj and Schelly, 2006 , N.

transvestitus Stewart and Roberts, 1984, and N. wickleri

Schliewen and Stiassny, 2006.

Nanochromis is diagnosed by the following combination of apomorphic features: at least the posterior half of the upper lateral line contiguous with the dorsal-fin base; presence of an asquamate nape, cheek, and belly; absence of a supraneural bone; possession of extremely fine, closely spaced unicuspid teeth in upper and lower jaws ( fig. 1 , *1 1 vs. *1 0); presence of a horizontally oriented, elongate second infraorbital ( fig. 1 , *2 1 vs. *2 0).

Nanochromis shares with Congochromis , its putative sistergroup, the apomorphic features of an elevated lateral line that is at least partially contiguous with the dorsal fin (less extensively so in Congochromis ), a characteristic reduction of the infraorbital series consisting of a single, elongate element behind the first infraorbital (preorbital) ( figs. 1 , 5A ), and

8150, (B) Nanochromis parilus, MCZ 50202, and (C) Nanochromis minor, AMNH 237660.

an exoccipital contribution to the ventral articular surface of the pharyngeal apophysis.

Figures

Fig. 1. Isolated infraorbital series, oral jaws, and suspensoria of (A) Congochromis dimidiatus, AMNH

Fig. 5. Congochromis pugnatus, AMNH 237670, paratype, male, 51.5 mm SL: (A) infraorbital series, (B) suspensorium and jaws, (C) 1st gill arch, and (D) lower pharyngeal jaw.