1. Taxonomic status of the six-band morph of Cyphotilapia frontosa (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika, Africa.
- Author
-
Tetsumi Takahashi, Benjamin Ngatunga, and Jos Snoeks
- Subjects
PERCIFORMES ,FISH speciation ,ANIMAL species ,ANIMAL classification ,TAXONOMY - Abstract
Abstract??Six- and seven-band morphs have been identified in a cichlid,Cyphotilapia frontosa, that is endemic to Lake Tanganyika. These color morphs have allopatric distributions; the six-band morph is widespread in the northern half of the lake while the seven-band morph is restricted to Kigoma on the east coast of the lake. Because no specimens of the seven-band morph have been available for taxonomic study except for the holotype ofC. frontosa, the taxonomic status of these morphs has not been discussed. In a recent survey at the lake, 21 specimens of the seven-band morph were collected. A comparison of these with existing collection specimens of the six-band morph showed significant differences in morphometric and meristic characters; however, because all characters largely overlapped between these morphs, they are regarded as conspecific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF