[Ichthyology • 2020] Protomelas krampus • A New Paedophagous Cichlid (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi

Protomelas krampus 

Dierickx & Snoeks, 2020

DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.672  

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Abstract

A new paedophagous species of Protomelas, Protomelas krampus sp. nov., is described from Lake Malawi. It has been found in Lukoma Bay in Tanzania, near Mara Point in Mozambique, and at Otter Point, Chizumulu, the Likoma Islands and Mazinzi Reef in Malawi. This species is placed in the genus Protomelas based on its melanin pattern, which comprises a continuous midlateral stripe. A morphometric study was done to compare this species with its congeners and similar species of Hemitaeniochromis and Caprichromis. It differs from most congeners by having only one inner tooth row. Furthermore, P. krampus sp. nov. differs from P. insignis, P. spilopterus, H. brachyrhynchus, H. urotaenia, Caprichromis liemi and C. orthognathus by its shorter premaxillary pedicel, shorter prepectoral distances and dentition. It also differs largely in its melanin pattern from the paedophagous species C. liemi, C. orthognathus, Diplotaxodon greenwoodi and Naevochromis chrysogaster, as well as H. brachyrhynchus and H. urotaenia. Protomelas krampus sp. nov. has been observed to ram mouth-brooding cichlids from above to feed on their eggs or larvae.

Keywords: Cichliformes; East Africa; mouth-brooding cichlids; Mozambique; trophic ecology

Taxonomy

 Class Actinopterygii Klein, 1885
Order Cichliformes Betancur et al., 2013

Family Cichlidae Bonaparte, 1840
Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae Fowler, 1934
Tribe Haplochromini Poll, 1986

Genus Protomelas Eccles & Trewavas, 1989

Protomelas Eccles & Trewavas, 1989: 40

(type species: Chromis kirkii Günther, 1894, 

by original designation).

Photograph of live specimen of Protomelas krampus sp. nov. (specimen not preserved; length unknown)

(photo: Ad Konings).

Fig. 4. Photographs of preserved specimens of Protomelas krampus sp. nov. A. Holotype (RMCA 99- 041-P-4768). B. Paratype (RMCA 99-041-P-4767). Melanin pattern strongly faded.
Fig. 5. Photograph of preserved paratype (RMCA 99-041-P-4767) of Protomelas krampus sp. nov., shortly after preservation.

Protomelas krampus sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Protomelas krampus sp. nov. differs from most species of Protomelas, i.e., P. annectens (Regan, 1922), P. fenestratus (Trewavas, 1935), P. kirkii (Günther, 1894), P. labridens (Trewavas, 1935), P. macrodon Eccles, 1989, P. marginatus (Trewavas, 1935), P. pleurotaenia (Boulenger, 1901), P. similis (Regan, 1922), P. spilonotus (Trewavas, 1935), P. taeniolatus (Trewavas, 1935), P. triaenodon (Trewavas, 1935) and P. virgatus (Trewavas, 1935), by having only one inner tooth row, whereas the other species have two rows.
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 Etymology: The specific name, ʻkrampusʼ, is a noun in apposition and was chosen in reference to the European folklore character Krampus. This demon puts naughty children in a bag and takes them away, which is reminiscent of a paedophagous behaviour. The goat-like appearance of Krampus also implicitly refers to the head-butting behaviour of the species. The same implicit reference to this behaviour is also found in the genus name Caprichromis of other paedophagous species of Lake Malawi.

Fig. 7. Distribution map of Protomelas krampus sp. nov. Red star = holotype; red dot = paratype; green triangles = possible sightings by Konings (2016); orange square = possible sighting by McKaye & Kocher (1983); yellow diamond = possible sighting by Stauffer (pers. comm.). Inset: map of Africa with indication of area of Lake Malawi.

Geographical distribution (Fig. 7): The specimens of P. krampus sp. nov. were found in Lukoma Bay (11°22.50′ S, 34°52.00′ E), south of Mbamba Bay, Lake Malawi (Tanzania) and at rocks just south of Mara Point (12°11.34′ S, 34°41.73′ E), Aldeia Mala, Lake Malawi (Mozambique), at depths of 32.5–33.2 m. Three others specimens that also may belong to this species were caught near Otter Point (14°03′ S, 34°49′ E), Mangochi, Lake Malawi (Malawi), at a depth of 7–20 m (McKaye & Kocher 1983). It has also been observed near Chizumulu and Likoma Islands (Konings 2016) and Mazinzi Reef (Stauffer, pers. comm.). Hence the species has a confirmed distribution in the central-eastern part of the lake, but it may also occur in the southern part.

 Ecology: The behaviour and ecology of specimens most likely belonging to this species have been observed by McKaye & Kocher (1983) and Konings (1989, 2016). They observed this species feeding on eggs and fry while stealing them from mouth-brooding females of other cichlid species. The paedophage rams these females from above on the snout and the brooding females may release some eggs or larvae upon this impact. The brood can then be snatched by P. krampus sp. nov. The inclined position of the mouth enables the fish to immediately grab the brood since it is already in a good position relative to the prey after ramming from above (Konings 1989, 2016).

Katrien Dierickx and Jos Snoeks. 2020. Protomelas krampus, A New Paedophagous Cichlid from Lake Malawi (Teleostei, Cichlidae). European Journal of Taxonomy. 672: 1–18. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.672   

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[Ichthyology • 2013] Descriptions of five new species of Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa; Metriaclima pambazuko, M. lundoense, M. midomo, M. tarakiki, and M. nigrodorsalis

Abstract

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 complex: 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 ecologicalniches. An artificial dichotomous key to the described species of Metriaclima is presented.

Key words: Mbuna, zebra cichlid, pigmentation patterns

 

Stauffer Jr JR, Black K, Konings AF. 2013. Descriptions of five new species of Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa. Zootaxa. 3647(1): 1010-136. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2013/f/zt03647p136.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2011] Stigmatochromis macrorhynchos & S. melanchros • 2 new Stigmatochromis from southern Lake Malaŵi

Abstract

Species of Stigmatochromis are haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malaŵi, and the genus currently includes four species, S. woodi (type species), S. modestus, S. pholidophorus, and S. pleurospilus. The latter two are known from only their holotypes. Herein, we describe two additional species, Stigmatochromis macrorhynchos and Stigmatochromis melanchros from southern Lake Malaŵi.

Keywords: haplochromine cichlids, sand-dwelling cichlids

Fig. 1 A, Stigmatochromis pholidophorus; adult individual (approximately 13 cm TL) at Chiofu Bay, Malaŵi in Lake Malaŵi. B, territorial male Stigmatochromis woodi (approximately 22 cm TL) guarding his sand bower at Luwala Reef, Malaŵi, Lake Malaŵi.

Fig. 2 Stigmatochromis macrorhynchos. A, PSU4774, holotype, 128.2 mm SL, off Domwe Island, Malaŵi, Lake Malaŵi. B, non-territorial male (approximately 12 cm TL) at Mumbo Island, Malaŵi, Lake Malaŵi.

Stigmatochromis macrorhynchos

Etymology: Specific epithet a noun in apposition from Greek makros meaning “long” and rhynchos meaning “snout,” referring to the elongated snout of this species.

Fig. 3 Stigmatochromis melanchros. A, PSU4944, holotype, 160.7 mm SL, Mazinzi Reef, Malaŵi, Lake Malaŵi. B, male (approximately 19 cm TL). C, female (approximately 17 cm TL) at Mazinzi Reef, Malaŵi, Lake Malaŵi.

Stigmatochromis melanchros

Etymology: Specific epithet is a noun in apposition derived from the Greek melas, meaning “black” and from khros meaning “skin” or “surface of body” in reference to the overall black color of the breeding males.

Remarks: Stigmatochromis melanchros is a piscivore that breeds in rocky reefs where territorial males defend the vertical face of a large boulder near the sandy bottom. This differs from the sympatric S. woodi; males of which build large bowers on the open sand away from any rocks (Fig. 1B).

Stauffer, J. R. Jr, Cleaver-Yoder, R. M. & Konings, A. F. 2011. Two new species of Stigmatochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi, Africa. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 124 (3): 212–222. DOI: 10.2988/10-30.1 : http://acrobat.com/app.html#d=LHZwrgK0ubSfW1B-J1E8NA