Cynotilapia chilundu, Li, Shan, Konings, Adrianus F. & Stauffer, Jay R., 2016

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 : 370-372

Cynotilapia chilundu , new species

Fig. 7 A–C

Pseudotropheus sp. ‘ elongatus taiwan’, Konings 2001 Cynotilapia sp. ‘ elongatus taiwan’, Konings 2007

Holotype. PSU 12774, adult male, 82.9 mm SL, S 11°57.448’, E 34°35.298’, Taiwanee Reef , Lake Malaŵi, Malaŵi, Africa, 13Jan. 2008, A. F. Konings & J. R. Stauffer Jr ..

Paratypes. PSU 12775, 24 , (52.6 mm – 82.9 mm SL), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. The presence of widely spaced unicuspid teeth on both the upper and lower oral jaws and a moderately inclined vomer place this species in Cynotilapia . Cynotilapia chilundu is distinguished from C. afra , C. zebroides and C. aurifrons by its slender body with BD 24.9%–31.1% SL (mean 28.3%) vs. BD 31.8–37.2% SL (mean 34.9%) in the other three species. Male C. chilundu differ from those of C. axelrodi by the presence of a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin which is absent in C. axelrodi . Females of the latter species lack distinct bars on the flank and interorbital bars on the head, while both these characters are evident in female C. chilundu .

Description. Morphometric and meristic data in Table 6 . Vomer moderately inclined (38.4° in holotype). Elongate species (BD 22.6–28.5% SL) with greatest body depth at base of seventh or eighth dorsal-fin spine; ventral body profile between pelvic and anal fins flat with upward curve to caudal fin. Head profile slightly concave between snout tip and interorbital area, with 40–50° (42.6° in holotype) angle with body axis, then round to dorsal-fin origin. Snout short with thick, slightly prognathic lower jaw. First 5 dorsal-fin spines gradually longer posteriorly with first spine less than one third length of fifth spine. Soft dorsal fin with subacuminate tip, fourth ray longest, reaching to one third of caudal fin in males and slightly beyond caudal-fin base in females. Pectoral fin rounded, paddle-shaped. Anal fin with 3 spines progressively longer posteriorly; fourth ray longest, length to base of caudal fin in both male and female. Caudal fin subtruncate to emarginate.

Flank scales ctenoid; small cycloid scales on breast and belly; cheek with 4–7 (mode 5) rows of small scales. Dorsal fin and anal fin with narrow proximal band of tiny scales; tiny scales on proximal 3/4 caudal fin.

Color notes and photos of live breeding adults (PSU 12776).

Males in territorial color with blue ground coloration and 5–6 distinct dark blue/black bars. Caudal peduncle dark blue; breast dark brown; belly light brown/white. Head black with 2 blue interorbital bars; throat black. Anal fin black/blue with 4–6 yellow ocelli; light blue leading margin. Pectoral fin rays gray with clear membranes. Pelvic fin black with blue leading edge; membranes dark gray ( Fig. 7 B).

Females’ ventral flank light brown; rest of body light blue with 4 light brown bars on flank, less pronounced posteriorly. Belly and breast white/beige. Head light brown with 2 faint light blue interorbital bars; throat light brown. Anal fin proximally 2/3 dark gray, remaining 1/3 light gray with 2–4 yellow/orange ocelli. Pectoral fin light gray with clear membranes ( Fig. 7 C).

Distribution. Cynotilapia chilundu is only known from Taiwanee Reef (S 11°57.448’, E 34°35.298’).

Etymology. The name chilundu is derived from Chichewa meaning “reef”, and refers to the fact that the species is only found on a reef.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Cynotilapia chilundu. A. Holotype, PSU 12774, adult male, 82.9 mm SL, Taiwanee Reef, Lake Malaŵi, Malaŵi, Africa; B. Male in breeding coloration (approx. 75 mm SL) at type locality; C. Female (approx. 60 mm SL) at type locality.

Tables

TABLE 6. Morphometric and meristic data for Cynotilapia chilundu from Taiwanee Reef, Lake Malaŵi, PSU 12774, holotype; PSU 12775, n = 24. Ranges include holotype.

Variable	Holotype	Mean Std Dev	Min	Max
	PSU12774	PSU12775
Standard length (mm)	82.9	67.1 8.5	52.6	82.9
Head length (mm)	24.5	20.4 2.4	16.4	25.3
Percent head length (%)
Snout length	35.3	34.7 1.7	31.1	39.0
Postorbital head length	39.2	39.9 1.4	38.2	42.9
Horizontal eye diameter	27.4	28.2 1.2	25.6	30.5
Vertical eye diameter	22.8	25.2 1.6	22.1	27.7
Preorbital depth	20.5	20.2 1.3	17.4	22.0
Cheek depth	28.3	26.8 1.6	24.4	30.3
Lower jaw length	38.4	38.1 2.0	34.1	41.2
Head depth	78.8	78.5 4.3	70.6	88.8
Percent standard length (%)
Body depth	25.1	26.2 1.2	22.6	28.5
Snout to dorsal fin origin	30.2	31.1 1.1	29.4	33.3
Snout to pelvic fin origin	37.4	36.5 1.0	34.3	38.5
Dorsal fin base length	62.3	61.7 1.6	59.2	64.8
Anterior dorsal to anterior anal	47.0	46.3 1.5	43.7	49.5
Anterior dorsal to posterior anal	63.6	62.1 1.8	58.6	65.1
Posterior dorsal to anterior anal	27.7	27.2 1.0	24.7	28.5
Posterior dorsal to posterior anal	13.1	13.2 0.6	11.9	14.0
Posterior anal to dorsal caudal	17.2	15.6 0.7	14.5	17.2
Posterior dorsal to ventral caudal	18.8	18.4 0.7	16.3	19.7
Anterior dorsal to pelvic-fin origin	29.4	28.9 1.4	25.7	32.1
Posterior dorsal to pelvic-fin origin	56.1	56.0 1.4	53.1	58.8
Caudal peduncle length	10.9	10.4 0.8	8.6	11.8
Least caudal peduncle depth	10.8	11.3 0.4	10.5	11.9
Meristics		Mode Frequency(%)	Min	Max
Dorsal-fin spines	18	18 80	17	19
Dorsal-fin rays	9	9 72	7	10
Anal-fin spines	3	3 100	3	3
Anal-fin rays	8	8 88	7	8
Pelvic-fin rays	5	5 96	4	5
Pectoral-fin rays	13	13 96	13	14
Lateral-line scales	33	33 52	31	34
Pored scales caudal	3	2 84	1	3
Cheek-scale rows	5	5 64	4	7
Gill rakers 1st ceratobranchial	12	12 48	11	14
Gill rakers 1st epibranchial	4	4 68	4	5
Teeth outer left lower jaw	6	6 36	3	8
Tooth rows upper jaw	3	3 80	2	4
Tooth rows lower jaw	3	3 88	2	4