Chromidotilapia

Anton Lamboj, 2003, Chromidotilapia melaniae and C. nana, two new cichlid species (Perciformes, Cichlidae) from Gabon, Central Africa., Zootaxa 143, pp. 1-15 : 10

[[ Chromidotilapia ]]

Discussion. Both new species clearly present all characteristics of chromidotilapiines and the character combination diagnostic of the genus Chromidotilapia (14-16 circumpeduncular scales and 5 openings - with the exception of 4 in C. schoutedeni - of the laterosensory system on the lacrymal) (Greenwood, 1987; Lamboj, 2001).

Trophic differentiation between the two new Chromidotilapia species is not evident; observations of stomach contents indicates that both feed primarily on aufwuchs with an incidental intake of insect larvae and shrimps eggs. All other congeners also do not exhibit any dietary specialisation. As a result, trophic morphological variation is muted within the genus and resolution of intrageneric relationships based on trophically associated morphological characters is problematic.