Hemitaeniochromis brachyrhynchus

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hemitaeniochromis brachyrhynchus
the holotype

the holotype

Systematics
Order : Cichliformes
Family : Cichlids (Cichlidae)
Subfamily : Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribe : Haplochromini
Genre : Hemitaeniochromis
Type : Hemitaeniochromis brachyrhynchus
Scientific name
Hemitaeniochromis brachyrhynchus
Oliver , 2012

Hemitaeniochromis brachyrhynchus is a rare, in Malawi endemic living cichlid . The species was described on the basis of two type specimens that were found during the sorting of preserved Malawi cichlids at the Peabody Museum of Natural History . Since the type specimens of the species come from two places 270 km apart ( Nkhata Bay and Thumbi Island West) on Lake Malawi, it is assumed that it is widespread in the lake.

features

The holotype of Hemitaeniochromis brachyrhynchus is an adult male that has a standard length of 123.6 mm, the paratype (gender undetermined ) is 81.5 mm long. From the second species of the genus Hemitaeniochromis , H. urotaenia , H. brachyrhynchus differs mainly in its narrow tearbone , the width of which is only a third (33.5 to 34.5%) of the length of the orbit , a feature that is not only in of the genus Hemitaeniochromis , but is unique among all cichlids in Lake Malawi. In H. urotaenia , the tear bone is almost as wide as the length of the orbit. The snout is also shorter than the orbit is long (longer in H. urotaenia ), the eyes are larger. The diameter of the orbit is 36 to 38% of the length of the head (compared to 22 to 28% in H. urotaenia ). The lower jaw is shorter (39 to 41% of the head length (compared to 45 to 51% in H. urotaenia )).

Since the description was based on preserved museum specimens, which all take on a more or less brown color, the coloration of living animals is unknown. One can, however, see dark melanin patterns (dots and lines), but they are less clear than in H. urotaenia .

literature

  • Michael K. Oliver (2012): Hemitaeniochromis brachyrhynchus , a new species of cichlid fish from Lake Malaŵi, with comments on some other supposed members of the genus (Teleostei: Cichlidae). Zootaxa , 3410: 35-50.

Web links