An Introduction to the Taxonomy and Morphology of the Haplochromine Cichlidae from Lake Victoria

Witte-Maas, E.L.M.; Oijen, M.J.P. van; Witte, Frans; Barel, C.D.N.

doi:10.1163/002829677x00199

Cited by 157 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…Speciation may be encouraged by changing water levels which repeatedly subdivide and reconnect rocky habitat patches (Owen et al, 1990) Evidence for genetic subdivision within Lake Malawi highlights the question of what evolutionary forces cause allopatric populations to diverge from each other and prevent them from interbreeding if geographical barriers are removed. Qualitative observations have led to the suggestion that the initial divergence between populations is usually in male breeding colours (Ribbink etal., 1983;Witte & Witte-Maas, 1987). Apparently closely related forms, both allopatric and sympatric, frequently differ mainly in male colours, with females difficult to distinguish from each other and few obvious differences in trophic behaviour or habitat (Ribbink et al, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colour diversification in Malawi cichlids: evidence for adaptation, reinforcement or sexual selection?

Deutsch¹

1997

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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The mechanisms responsible for the explosive radiations of haplochromine cichlid fishes in Africa's great lakes remain controversial. Since species thought to be closely related often differ most apparendy in male breeding colours, I examined patterns of male colour variation in rock‐dwelling cichlids from Lake Malawi to test whether initial divergence between species is likely to have been caused by adaptation to differing habitats, by selection against hybridization (reinforcement or character displacement), or by sexual selection. I found that all significant variation in overall male colour occurs within, not between, species complexes, in contrast to variation in habitat and behavioural traits, which differed significandy between complexes. Male colour does not vary significandy with habitat characteristics such as water depth, and sympatric species differ no more in colour than allopatric ones. These results fail to provide support for adaptation or reinforcement as initial causes of colour divergence, and are consistent with the possibility that divergence may instead have been caused by sexual selection, but a direct test of sexual selection is not yet possible.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colour diversification in Malawi cichlids: evidence for adaptation, reinforcement or sexual selection?

Deutsch¹

1997

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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“…Several authors have discussed phenotypic plasticity of the LPJ in A. alluaudi (Greenwood 1965a;Hoogerhoud 1984Hoogerhoud , 1986Huysseune 1995;Smits et al 1996a;Witte et al 1990Witte et al , 1997 and its consequences on adjacent structures in the head (Barel et al 1977;Smits et al 1996b) and the discovery of environmental effects shaping pharyngeal structures was the reason why the subspecific division within A. alluaudi was abandoned (Greenwood 1965a). Our results indicate that this phenotypic plasticity, in natural conditions, is linked to differential growth trajectories of the pharyngeal jaw between the populations examined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-tests, corrected with sequential Bonferroni correction (Rice 1989) for multiple comparisons, were performed on the meristics and the morphometric measurements. Additional qualitative observations such as the shape of oral and LPJ teeth, caudal fin shape, and shape of gill rakers were made following Barel et al (1977). Data on colour patterns were taken from the literature, and from photographs and observations on live specimens (GB).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A revision of the genus Astatoreochromis (Teleostei, Cichlidae), East–Africa

Banyankimbona

Vreven

Snoeks

2013

EJT

470

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Abstract.A taxonomic revision of the cichlid genus Astatoreochromis is presented. Eighteen meristic and 23 morphometric measurements were taken on 185 individuals, including type specimens. While fin counts separate populations from the Lake Victoria region (Astatoreochromis alluaudi) from those of the Rusizi and Malagarazi rivers in the Lake Tanganyika basin (A. vanderhorsti and A. straeleni respectively), clear differentiation was not detected between the latter two. Mann-Whitney U-tests on specimens of comparable size from the two Tanganyika populations revealed significant differences in specimens < 75 mm SL, mainly in pharyngeal jaw proportions, but also in some other measurements on the head and body. However, these differences were not detected in specimens > 75 mm SL and Astatoreochromis vanderhorsti is herein considered a junior synonym of A. straeleni. A redescription of the two valid species of Astatoreochromis, A. alluaudi and A.straeleni, is provided.

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“…1). Twenty-four measurements and 14 counts follow Barel et al (1977) and Konings & Stauffer (2006). When possible, 20 individuals were measured per collection.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Descriptions of five new species of <i>Metriaclima</i> (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa

Stauffer¹,

Black²,

Konings³

2013

Zootaxa

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Lake Malaŵi is known for its endemic haplochromine species flock, most notably the rock-dwelling cichlids known as mbuna. One of the larger genera of mbuna is Metriaclima, a group consisting of 31 described species (including the five described herein) and approximately 45 recognized unique populations. Metriaclima is diagnosed by its feeding behavior and several morphological characteristics including the angle of the vomer and the presence of bicuspid teeth in the outer row of both the upper and lower jaws. Metriaclima zebra, the type species for the genus, was described based on a single specimen. While the collection location of this holotype is not known, based on the travel records of its collector, it is likely that the specimen originated from Likoma Island. The holotype was therefore compared to specimens from several localities around this island and was found to be morphologically indistinguishable from some of these. This study includes the morphological analysis of 496 specimens of Metriaclima belonging to 31 collections from Lake Malaŵi. Morphometric differences were analyzed and the relationships among several distinguishable populations of Metriaclima zebra were investigated. Our study further resulted in the description of the following five new species belonging to the M. zebra species com-plex: M. pambazuko, M. lundoense, M. midomo, M. tarakiki, and M. nigrodorsalis. These species were distinguished and described based on color patterns, morphometric, meristic, and ecological differences. These new species were compared with and distinguished from nearby populations of Metriaclima having similar pigmentation patterns and/or similar eco-logical niches. An artificial dichotomous key to the described species of Metriaclima is presented.

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An Introduction to the Taxonomy and Morphology of the Haplochromine Cichlidae from Lake Victoria

Cited by 157 publications

References 0 publications

Colour diversification in Malawi cichlids: evidence for adaptation, reinforcement or sexual selection?

Colour diversification in Malawi cichlids: evidence for adaptation, reinforcement or sexual selection?

A revision of the genus Astatoreochromis (Teleostei, Cichlidae), East–Africa

Descriptions of five new species of <i>Metriaclima</i> (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa

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