Metriaclima lundoense, Stauffer Jr, Jay R., Black, Kristin & Konings, Adrianus F., 2013

Stauffer Jr, Jay R., Black, Kristin & Konings, Adrianus F., 2013, Descriptions of five new species of Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa, Zootaxa 3647 (1), pp. 101-136 : 111-114

Metriaclima lundoense new species

Fig. 5 A–C

Pseudotropheus 'Black Dorsal Tanzania', Spreinat 1994 Pseudotropheus sp. 'black dorsal shauri', Konings 1995 Maylandia phaeos (non Stauffer et al.), Schraml 1998 Metriaclima sp. 'black dorsal cobalt', Konings 2001

Metriaclima sp. 'black dorsal lundo', Konings 2007

Holotype. PSU 4910, adult male, 81.5 mm SL, 11°13.438’ S, 34°44.076’ E, Lundo Island, Lake Malaŵi, Tanzania, Africa, A. F. Konings & J. R. Stauffer Jr. 28 Jan. 2004

Paratypes. PSU 4911, 17, AMNH 257794, 2 (63.2–83.4 mm), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. The presence of bicuspid teeth in the anterior portion of the outer row on both the upper and lower jaws and a moderately sloped ethmo-vomerine block with a swollen rostral tip place this species in Metriaclima . The presence of a dark submarginal band in the dorsal fin in combination with distinct black lateral bars on a blue ground color in the male distinguish M. lundoense from all other member of the genus except from M. phaeos and M. cyneusmarginatus and some populations of M. flavifemina , M. fainzilberi , and M. zebra . Males of M. phaeos , M. flavifemina , M. cyneusmarginatus , and M. zebra that have a black band in the dorsal fin, all have lateral bars which extend onto the dorsal fin, a trait not found in M. lundoense . Male M. lundoense are distinguished from those of M. fainzilberi by a black band in the anal fin which is absent in the latter species. Female M. lundoense are distinguished from all other female Metriaclima , except from those of M. nigrodorsalis , by the presence of a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin. Female M. lundoense cannot reliably be differentiated from those of M. nigrodorsalis .

Description. Morphometric and meristic data in Table 3 . Moderate elongate species (mean BD 30.1% SL) with greatest body depth at about base of eighth dorsal spine. Dorsal body profile with gradual curve to caudal peduncle with highest point at about eighth dorsal-fin spine; ventral body profile between pelvic and anal fin flat to slightly convex with upward curve to caudal fin. Dorsal head profile straight to slightly concave between snout tip and interorbital, making about 50–60° angle with body axis, then rounding to dorsal fin origin; eye (mean 36.2% HL) about one and a half times depth of preorbital. Snout in ¾ of anterior half of head with posterior orbit margin posterior of vertical median of head. Snout short with isognathous to slightly retrognathous jaws; teeth on lower jaw in 3 or 4 rows with outer row bicuspid (some lateral teeth unicuspid) and inner rows tricuspid.

Dorsal fin with XVII–XIX (mode XVIII) spines and 8–10 (mode 9) rays. Anal fin with III spines and 7 or 8 (mode 8) rays. First 3 or 4 dorsal spines gradually longer posteriorly with first spine about ½ length of fourth spine; last 14 spines slightly longer posteriorly with last spine longest; dorsal-fin rays with subacuminate tip, third or fourth ray longest, about to middle of caudal fin in males and to base of caudal fin in females. Anal-fin spines progressively longer posteriorly; fourth or fifth ray longest, length to almost middle caudal fin in some males, to about base of caudal in females. Caudal fin subtruncate to emarginate. Pelvic fin not to anal fin in females; length in males to third anal-fin spine. Pectoral fin rounded, paddle-shaped, short, to vertical through base of 11th or 12th dorsal spine.

Flank scales large, ctenoid; abrupt difference to small scales on breast and belly; cheek with 4–6 rows of small scales. Dorsal-fin and anal-fin rays with narrow proximal margin of tiny scales; tiny scales over proximal 75–90% of caudal fin.

Males with blue flank and 7–10 narrow, black bars; breast and belly blue; caudal peduncle blue. Head dark blue/purple with blue/green highlights; dark blue opercle spot; 2 light-blue interorbital bars; blue throat. Dorsal fin proximally blue with black submarginal band, sometimes over most of fin, white lappets, and with small yellow spots in rayed part. Caudal fin with light-blue/gray rays and orange tips; blue membranes. Anal fin black with narrow blue proximal margin and white lappets; 2 or 3 yellow ocelli. Pectoral fin clear. Pelvic fin with white/blue leading edge; anterior dark brown/black, posterior light brown/gray.

Females with light-brown ground coloration and blue and green highlights; occasionally with faint brown bars; belly and breast white/gray. Head light brown with green highlights; gray/black opercle spot; interorbital green/ brown; throat white. Dorsal fin proximally light brown; narrow black submarginal band; white lappets with orange tips. Caudal and anal fins gray/brown. Pectoral fin clear. Anal and pelvic fins with first few membranes black and remainder clear; occasionally with white leading edge.

Distribution. Metriaclima lundoense is known only from Lundo Island, Lake Malaŵi, Tanzania ( Fig. 1).

Etymology. The name refers to Lundo Island, the only known location for this species.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Metriaclima lundoense. A. Holotype, PSU 4910, adult male, 81.5 mm SL, Tanzania: Lundo Island; B. Male in breeding coloration (approx. 80 mm SL) at Lundo Island, Tanzania; C. Female (approx. 70 mm SL) at Lundo Island, Tanzania.

Tables

TABLE 3. Morphometric and meristic values for Metriaclima lundoense from Lundo Island, Tanzania (PSU 4910 – 4911). Ranges include the holotype.

Metriaclima lundoense	Holotype	Mean	Range
Standard length, mm	81.5	74.6	63.2–83.4
Head length, mm	25.6	23.6	19.5–25.6
Percent standard length
Head length	31.8	31.7	30.5–32.9
Body depth	31.2	30.1	28.8–31.6
Snout to dorsal	34.8	33.8	32.4–35.9
Snout to pelvic	39.3	40.0	36.8–44.2
Dorsal-fin base length	59.8	59.7	57.2–62.2
Anterior dorsal to anterior anal	53.7	50.4	48.5–53.7
Anterior dorsal to posterior anal	63.8	62.3	59.6–65.3
Posterior dorsal to anterior anal	28.7	28.1	25.8–29.8
Posterior dorsal to posterior anal	15.5	15.0	13.8–16.6
Posterior dorsal to ventral caudal	18.4	17.8	16.6–18.5
Posterior anal to dorsal caudal	20.3	20.3	18.5–22.2
Anterior dorsal to pelvic-fin origin	35.5	34.6	32.6–37.6
Posterior dorsal to pelvic-fin origin	56.7	57.0	53.1–59.2
Caudal-peduncle length	13.2	13.4	12.2–15.1
Least caudal-peduncle depth	11.5	10.9	9.4–11.6
Percent head length
Snout length	39.9	36.8	33.1–39.9
Postorbital head length	39.2	38.3	37.1–40.8
Horizontal eye diameter	35.1	36.2	34.2–40.4
Vertical eye diameter	33.8	35.7	33.2–38.3
Head depth	79.2	79.2	75.5–84.2
Preorbital depth	21.5	21.1	19.3–24.8
Cheek depth	24.6	24.4	20.0–28.1
Lower-jaw length	31.2	33.6	30.6–35.9
Meristics	Holotype	Mode	Range
Dorsal-fin spines	17	18	17–19
Dorsal-fin rays	9	9	8–10
Anal-fin spines	3	3	3–3
Anal-fin rays	8	8	8–9
Pectoral-fin rays	15	15	14–15
Pelvic-fin rays	5	5	5
Lateral-line scales	31	31	30–32
Pored scales post lateral line	0	1	0–1
Cheek-scale rows	4	5	4–6
Gillrakers 1st ceratobranchial	12	11	11–12
Gillrakers 1st epibranchial	2	3	2–4
Teeth in outer series of left lower jaw	14	14	12–20
Tooth rows in upper jaw	3	3	3–4
Tooth rows in lower jaw	3	3	3–4