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| Lethrinops atrilabris Turner, 2022 |
Abstract
A new species of cichlid fish, Lethrinops atrilabris is described from specimens collected by trawling at a depth of around 90m off Monkey Bay, southern Lake Malawi. It is assigned to the genus Lethrinops on the basis of its vertical flank barring, lack of enlarged cephalic lateral line canal pores and the form of the lower jaw dental arcade. It can be distinguished from congeneric species by its male breeding dress of contrasting flank barring and dark ventral surface, most strikingly on the lips, throat and chest, its relatively small known maximum size (<75mm SL), large eyes (38-41% head length), laterally compressed body (depth 2.5-2.7 times max head width) and lower gillraker count (13-14).
Keywords: New species, Lake Malawi, cichlidae, Lethrinops
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| Lethrinops atrilabris sp. nov. Fresh coloration. Above: one of the type specimens photographed shortly after capture. Below: probable L. atrilabris, collected from trawl catch at 95-105m depth, East of Domwe Island, SE Arm, 4th March 2016. Cambridge University collection, identification not confirmed. |
Lethrinops atrilabris sp. nov.
Diagnosis: the lower jaw dentition ‘Lethrinops-type’. Mature males with a melanic pattern of strongly contrasting dark vertical flank bars on a pale background, and a dark area on the jaws and the underside of the head and chest. In addition, the species can be identified by its relatively small adult body side (not known to exceed 73mm SL), large eye, short, rounded snout, ventrally-placed mouth, 13-14 ceratobranchial gill rakers and laterally compressed body.
Etymology: ‘Atri-‘ from plural of the adjective ‘ater’ (Latin) = black + ‘labris’ from plural of labrum (Latin)= lip, in reference to the black lips of the males in breeding dress.
George F. Turner. 2022. A New Species of Deep-water Lethrinops (Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15208
