A new species of Cichlid Fish from Lake Tanganyika.

The Cichlid Fish genus Chalinochromis is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. To date two species have been formally described, Chalinochromis brichardi, from the area around Magari in Burundi at the north end of the lake, and Chalinochromis popelini from the area around Moba in Congo, on the southwest shore of the lake. In addition two further species are known in the aquarium trade, but have never been formally described, Chalinochromis ‘bifrenatus’ and Chalinochromis ‘ndobhoi’, both from the central eastern shore of the lake.

In a paper published in the journal Zootaxa on 22 April 2014, Sven Kullander of the Department of Zoology at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, Mikael and Magnus Karlsson of African Diving Ltd in Dar es Salaam and Michael Norén, also of the Department of Zoology at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, describe a new species of Chalinochromis from the south of Lake Tanganyika.

The new species is named Chalinochromis cyanophleps, meaning ‘blue-veined’, in reference to a conspicuous blue stripe beneath the eye. Chalinochromis cyanophleps is a 103.3-129.3 grey Cichlid Fish with blue fins, which have brighter blue tips and a conspicuous blue stripe beneath its eye. Both sexes show similar colouration, as do the juveniles, though these have faint brown vertical bars.

Chalinochromis cyanophleps in natural habitat at Namansi, depth 8 m. Kullander et al. (2014).

Chalinochromis cyanophleps was found living at depths of 5-10 m to the west the village of Namansi in Nkansi District, Tanzania, and along much of the southeast coast of Lake Tanganyika from Mvuna Island to Kala Bay, at depths of 6-45 m. It was hard to observe, living in rock crevices and caves, and found only as single Fish or breeding pairs.

Chalinochromis cyanophleps, breeding pair in their nest at Kisi Island, depth 12 m. Kullander et al. (2014).

Type locality of Chalinochromis cyanophleps, western shore of Namansi village. Kullander et al. (2014).

See also…

 A new species of Cichlid Fish from the Río Acaray in Paraguay.

 Five new species of Mbuna from Lake Malaŵi.

Mbuna are rock dwelling Cichlids known only from Lake Malaŵi in...

 Two new species of Cichlid Fish from Lake Victoria.

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A new species of Cichlid Fish from Lake Tanganyika.

Cichlid fish of the genus Lepidiolamprologus are restricted to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa. There are at least six species, and possibly over ten, though taxonomists differ about classification schemes for the genus.

In a paper published in the journal Zootaxa on 20 September 2012, Sven Kullander of the Department of Vertebrate Zoology at the Swedish Museum of Natural History and  Magnus and Mikael Karlsson, of African Diving Ltd. in Dar es Salaam propose a new species of fish in the genus, from the waters around Kamamba Island near the east shore of the lake.

Kamamba Island. Kullender et al. (2012).

The new Fish is named Lepidiolamprologus kamambae, meaning from Kamamba. It is a 118-135 mm mottled brown fish, with a protruding lower jaw, known only from male specimens.

Lepidiolamprologus kamambae in the wild. Kullender et al. (2012).

Map showing the distribution of Lepidiolamprologus kamambae, and closely related species within the same genus (top). Members of the genus Lepidiolamprologus (bottom). (A) L. kamambae. (B) L. kendalli. (C) L. elongatus. (D) L. profundicola. Kullender et al. (2012).

See also A new species of Cichlid Fish from Lake Malaŵi, Two new species of Sandperch from the South China Sea, A new species of Toothcarp from Iran, New species of Grenadier from Japan and Boney Fish on Sciency Thoughts YouTube.

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