A revised synonymy of Telmatochromis temporalis (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika (East Africa)

The taxonomic status of the nominal species Telmatochromis temporalis , T. lestradei , T. burgeoni and Julidochromis macrolepis has been reviewed. The synonymy of T. lestradei with T. temporalis is confirmed. A comparison of Telmatochromis burgeoni with Telmatochromis temporalis revealed no significant differences either. Hence T. burgeoni is considered synonymous with T. temporalis . Examination of the type of Julidochromis macrolepis showed it to be conspecific with Telmatochromis dhonti and not with T. temporalis , as had been suggested.     

A new species and geographical variation in the Telmatochromis temporalis complex (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika

Telmatochromis brachygnathus sp.n. is described from the southern and central parts of Lake Tanganyika. It can be distinguished from the similar T. temporalis mainly by its smaller mouth. Morphological distinct populations were found in both species.     

A revision of the genus Labidochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi

The diagnosis of the genus Labidochromis is revised to include species with bicuspid outer teeth. Sixteen species, of which 13 are new, are described and illustrated and the validity of five others is discussed. The interrelationships between members of the genus and the relationship of the genus to other genera are discussed. No clearly defined sister group to the genus has been found either within or outside the Lake Malawi cichlid species flock. A key based on the coloration of known species is included.     

Foraging behavior of the scale-eater Plecodus straeleni (Cichlidae,Teleostei) in Lake Tanganyika,Africa

Synopsis Sixty-nine individuals of Plecodus straeleni were followed for 1 h each in the field with the aid of SCUBA, and time budgets, hunting techniques and prey selection were investigated in relation to sex and body size. The time of cruising in midwater and on the substrate amounted to 3/4 of the total time. The rest of the time was mainly spent on five hunting techniques named pursuing, waiting, mingling, aiming and stealthy approaching. Pursuing (following a flying prey at high speed) was frequently used by adults, especially males, mainly to attack the spiny eel Afromastacembelus moorii. Waiting (keeping motionless on the substrate, waiting for a known prey) was used by some adult females when they tried to steal eggs of the mouthbrooder Cyathopharynx furcifer on the bower and by adult males when they targeted an eel having hidden under a rock. Mingling (mixing in a school of prey to attack school members) was a favorite tactic of subadults to attack plankton-feeders. Aiming (directing the head to a target fish for a moment) commonly occurred when both adults and subadults attacked solitary fishes. In stealthy approaching, the scale-eater approached an unwary prey from behind or sideway. Attacks by these hunting techniques amounted to 97% of the total attacks, which were made on 38 cichlid species and 7 non-cichlid species. Hunting techniques and prey preference varied not only with sex and size but even among consexuals of similar sizes. A number of individuals successively attacked only one or a few prey species in 1 h. Food specialization among individuals was attributed to their learning of the behavior and life style of preferred prey species.     

Description of a new cichlid fish species of the genus Benthochromis (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika

Benthochromis horii , a new cichlid species is described based on 19 type specimens from the deep waters of Lake Tanganyika. It differs from its congeners by having smaller eyes and longer snout (eye length usually shorter than snout length v. equal to or longer than snout length in Benthochromis tricoti and Benthochromis melanoides ), and more dorsal fin rays (total number of spines and soft rays in dorsal fin usually 30 or 31 v. usually 28 or 29 in B. tricoti and B. melanoides ). Large males of the new species differ from those of congeneric species in terms of their body colour pattern and long pelvic fins. This species has been confused with B. tricoti and has been traded as an aquarium fish.     

Systematics of the tribe Trematocarini (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika, Africa

 Phylogenetic relationships among eight Trematocara species and a single Telotrematocara species included in the Tanganyikan cichlid tribe Trematocarini were investigated on the basis of morphological features. The monophyly of the tribe is supported by the presence of hypertrophied sensory pores on the head, tendon “c” of adductor mandibulae section 1, a single scale row between the upper lateral line and body axis, great depth of the anteriormost infraorbital (reversed in Trematocara caparti and T. stigmaticum), and the absence of a lower lateral line. Trematocara is paraphyletic unless Telotrematocara is treated as a junior synonym. Received: December 10, 2001 / Revised: March 18, 2002 / Accepted: April 4, 2002     

Four new species of Gomphocythere (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa

Four new species of the ostracod genus Gomphocythere are described from Lake Tanganyika (East Africa): Gomphocythere downingi n. sp. G. coheni n. sp., G. wilsoni n. sp., and G. woutersi n. sp. All species are endemic to the lake and are found within a variety of substrates and depths. The addition of these four new species brings the total number of endemic Gomphocythere species in Lake Tanganyika to nine. Other Gomphocythere species are known from water bodies throughout East and South Africa and in the Levant. Brooding is an important, but not a unique, preadaptation for the persistence and taxic prolific speciation of this lineage in Lake Tanganyika.     

Description of a commercially important pelagic species of the genus Diplotaxodon (Pisces: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi, Africa

A new species of pelagic haplochromine cichlid of the genus Diplotaxodon is described from Lake Malawi, Africa. The species, which attains a size of 14cm s. L., feeds mainly on zooplankton, shows no sexual dimorphism in size or body proportions, breeds throughout the year and lives at depths of 20 to at least 120 m. Approximately 600 tonnes of the species were caught by trawlers in 1990–1991, in the south–eastern arm of the lake alone. It appears that this species is a major component of the pelagic community, and occupies an ecological role similar to that of the clupeid Limnothrissa miodon in Lake Tanganyika.     

Greenwoodochromini Takahashi from Lake Tanganyika is a junior synonym of Limnochromini Poll (Perciformes: Cichlidae)

The infraorbitals (IOs) of four species endemic to Lake Tanganyika were examined and on the basis of this information and previous morphological and molecular studies, the tribe Greenwoodochromini is synonymized with the tribe Limnochromini and a new combination for Limnochromis abeelei and Limnochromis staneri is proposed: Greenwoodochromis abeelei and Greenwoodochromis staneri. The revised tribe Limnochromini, comprising 10 species belonging to seven genera, is characterized by IOs representing types G and I. The revised genus Greenwoodochromis, which consists of four species, is characterized by IOs representing type I.     

A taxonomic review ofXenotilapia sima andX. boulengeri (Cichlidae; Perciformes) from Lake Tanganyika

Two cichlid fishes from Lake Tanganyika,Xenotilapia sima Boulenger, 1899 andX. boulengeri (Poll, 1942) are often confused owing to insufficient information on the diagnostic morphological characters for each species. Morphological and morphometric analyses showed thatX. sima differs fromX. boulengeri in having a greater number of teeth and anal and pectoral fin soft rays, thicker caudal peduncle, larger eyes, and a shorter snout and anal fin base.     

A new diminutive genus and species of catfish from Lake Tanganyika (Siluriformes: Clariidae)

The examination of material representing one of Lake Tanganyika's six previously recognized endemic catfish lineages, has revealed the presence of an additional genus of clariid, described here as Pseudotanganikallabes new genus. This genus is represented by a single species, Pseudotanganikallabes prognatha sp. nov., which is distinguished from all other clariids by its lack of an infraorbital series, the presence of multiple osseous connections between the swim bladder capsules and elements of the neurocranium, the absence of an ethmoid notch, the presence of a very large, egg‐shaped occipital fontanelle and the extension of the lower lip beyond the margin of the upper jaw. A combination of additional external and molecular characters serves to further distinguish this taxon from all currently recognized clariid species. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial (cytb) and nuclear (18S‐ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2‐28S) sequence data supports the creation of a new genus for this species, as it appears to represent an independent, monophyletic lineage within the family Clariidae.     

Taxonomic status of the six-band morph of Cyphotilapia frontosa (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika, Africa

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 of C. 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.     

A revision of the genus Drimiopsis (Hyacinthaceae) in East Africa

The following taxa of Drimiopsis (Hyacintheceae) are recognized for East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda): D. barteri (2n=44), D. botryoides ssp. botryoides (2n=44, 55, 66), D. botryoides ssp. prostrata ssp. nov. (2n = 22), D. maculata and D . sp. A.     

A revision of the genus Drimia (Hyacinthaceae) in East Africa

The generic delimitation of Drimia and Urginea is discussed with special reference to flower and seed morphology (LM & SEM). The data support the joining of the two into one genus, Drimia. The following taxa are represented in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda): Drimia altissima, D. brachystachys comb, nov., D. calcarata comb, nov., D. congesta, D. elata, D. indica, D. macrocarpa sp. nov., and D. porphyrantha comb. nov.     

A new species of Petrochromis (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika

Based on morphological and molecular analyses of a Petrochromis fish (Cichlidae) from the southern end of Lake Tanganyika, this fish is considered a taxonomic species distinct from the six known congeners. A new scientific name is proposed for this fish. A key to the seven Petrochromis species is included.     

Fate of heterotrophic bacteria in Lake Tanganyika (East Africa)

Bacterial mortality was studied using two complementary methods between 2002 and 2004 in the two main basins (north and south) of Lake Tanganyika. The disappearance of radioactivity from the DNA of natural assemblages of bacteria previously labeled with tritiated thymidine was used to estimate the mortality due to grazing by predators (72%) and due to the cell lysis (28%). Measurements of ingestion rate of bacteria by protozoa using fluorescent micro-particles yielded protozoan grazing rates similar to those provided by the thymidine method, and showed that heterotrophic nano-flagellates were responsible for most of the grazing pressure on the bacterial community of the pelagic zone (92-99%). Bacterial cell lysis was the second process involved in bacterial mortality, ranking before ciliate grazing. Overall, bacterial mortality was balanced with bacterial production. With regard to the assessment of the trophic role of bacteria, it was estimated that c. 5-8% of the organic carbon taken up by bacteria was converted into protozoan biomass and was thus available for metazoans.     

A new morph of Telmatochromis temporalis (Cichlidae; Cichliformes) from Lake Tanganyika

Telmatochromis temporalis is a cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Two morphs of this species, normal and dwarf, form a good model for the study of ecological speciation through divergent natural selection on body size. This study reports a third morph of this species, slender morph, which was collected from deep waters off Kasenga, Zambia, whereas the normal morph inhabits shallow waters of the same locality. This study examined morphological characters and mitochondrial DNA sequences in 18 populations of the three T. temporalis morphs and two closely related species. The slender morph was morphologically similar to the normal and dwarf morphs of the same species, but clearly differed from closely related species. Genetic analyses showed that the slender morph was closest to but significantly different from the parapatric normal morph, suggesting reproductive isolation between them. Due to the lack of colour differences between morphs and of obvious geographical barriers between habitats, reproductive isolation between these morphs may be attributed to ecological factors, rather than sexual or geographical segregation. Further studies examining the evolution of the slender morph may deepen our knowledge of initial stages of speciation, like in the dwarf morph.

     

The genus Pyrus L. (Rosaceae) in south-west Europe and North Afkica

A multivariate morphometric study of the genus Pyrus in south-west Europe and North Africa shows that five species may be recognized in the area: P. bourgaeana Decne., P. communis L., P. cordata Dew., P. spinosa Forssk, and P. nivalis Jacq. Some valuable characters for identification of these species are proposed. In particular the width of fruit peduncle, petal size, leaf width and petiole length served to discriminate the taxa. Several names such as P. gharbiona Trab., P. cossonii Rehder (|M= P. longipes Balansa ex Coss. & Durieu) and P. boisseriana Buhse, are regarded as synonyms of P. cordata , while P. marnormis Trab. of P. bourgaeana. Consequently a check-list and a key to these species are provided.     

A revision of the genus Dinofelis (Mammalia, Felidae)

This paper consists of a taxonomic and systematic revision of the extinct felid genus Dinofelis (Felidae, Ma-chairodontinae) and an analysis of its ecomorphology and evolution. Dinofelis has a broad distribution, with material from all northern continents and Africa, the latter of which was the apparent centre of evolution of the genus. We describe new material of Dinofelis from a number of sites in eastern Africa and reconsider all previously described material. We name two new species and identify several other distinct species-level taxa but refrain from naming these due to a paucity of well-preserved material. At the same time, we synonymize the two named Asian species, D. cristata and D. abeli , of which the former has priority. There are few characters useful in systematic analysis, but we can suggest at least one migration from eastern to southern Africa. Ecomorphological analysis of both craniodental and postcranial characters suggests that Dinofelis in many respects converged on modern pantherine cats in morphology and behaviour, a trend culminating in the South African D. barlowi and the Asian D. cristata , which are the most pantherine-like of all machairodont felids. This trend is reversed in the evolution of the youngest species, D. piveteaui , which is also the most machairodont in its ecomorphology. The timing of the extinction of Dinofelis is difficult to determine. Outside Africa material is scarce at all times, while in Africa the apparent extinction of Dinofelis at about 1.4 Mya coincides with the end of the good, semi-continuous fossil record present in eastern Africa from about 4 Mya onwards. Dating of Kanam East (with D. piveteaui) to the Jaramillo Subchron (1.070-0.990 Mya) suggests possible survival considerably later. Thus, the extinction datum for Dinofelis cannot at present be firmly established.