Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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Characterised by an elongated, brown, non-barred body; brown finnage; and a lunate caudal fin with elongate lobes. The head is large with a straight-sloping upper profile and seemingly protruding jaws. Facial colour pattern is semi-unique among princess-like species and includes opercular ornamentation, notably a conspicuous single thick black vertical stripe along the edge of the operculum, along with a few subdued brownish spots behind the eye. A yellow edge is present at the posterior part of the dorsal fin and on the upper caudal-fin lobe.
Temporarily separated from N. savoryi primarily by its longer body, as well as differences in body and fin coloration, longer caudal-fin lobes, facial colour pattern, and the absence of numerous thick vertical bars on the flanks. It differs from N. sp. “Cygnus” by the presence of an opercular marking and, compared to the Fulwe Rocks variant of N. sp. “Cygnus”, by the absence of a yellow pectoral spot; N. sp. “Cygnus” is also reported to show a more pronounced black margin on the pelvic and anal fins.
Considered a likely young species that has recently begun adapting to a more modern and distinct ecological niche at Fulwe Rocks. An alternative hypothesis mentioned is that it could represent a hybrid between N. savoryi and N. sp. “Cygnus”. The species has been observed living sympatrically with N. sp. “Cygnus” and N. brichardi at Fulwe Rocks; typical N. savoryi was not observed there, although the locality was not explored at greater depths.
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