Tropheops

Li, Shan, Konings, Adrianus F. & Stauffer, Jay R., 2016, A Revision of the Pseudotropheus elongatus species group (Teleostei: Cichlidae) With Description of a New Genus and Seven New Species, Zootaxa 4168 (2), pp. 353-381 : 355

Tropheops

(type species Tropheops tropheops, Regan )

Tropheops is diagnosed by the following morphological characteristics: 1) the presence of bicuspid teeth in outer rows and enlarged conical teeth on the posterior ends of the dentigerous arms of the premaxilla; 2) a steeply sloped (71– 96° to the parasphenoid) ethmo-vomerine block; 3) narrow ventral mouth with lower jaw shorter than the upper; 4) the cleft of the upper and lower jaws forms a 15–35° angle with the body axis.

We propose that two of the undescribed elongate species, Pseudotropheus elongatus ‘boadzulu’ and Pseudotropheus elongatus ‘reef’, that Ribbink et al. (1983) had placed in their P. elongatus species-group, and one form later given the cheironym Pseudotropheus elongatus ‘greenback’ by Reinthal (1990), should all three be placed in Tropheops . These elongate Tropheops appear to be less aggressive than members retained in the P. elongatus group, and they are often found around small to medium sized rocks with behaviors more like that observed in other Tropheops spp.