| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 17-18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8. Diagnosis: A moderately gracile species, with rounded head and well-developed sexual dimorphism and dichromatism (Ref. 97630). It differs from all congeners by a coloration in male caudal fin with a white to yellow upper half of this fin, having a number of black dots in the dorsal half, without any margin, and a black margin with a white to pale bluish submargin in the lower half of this fin, vs. no margin/submargin in lower half of this fin in all congeners with exception of Pelvicachromis drachenfelsi and a white margin and black submargin in upper half of caudal fin in P. drachenfelsi (Ref. 97630). Females differ from females of P. drachenfelsi and P. kribensis in having two or three horizontal dark bars in the caudal fin, vs. none in P. drachenfelsi and one in some populations of P. kribensis (Ref. 97630). It differs from P. drachenfelsi in a caudal peduncle shorter then deep, vs. usually longer then deep; it differs from P. humilis, P. rubrolabiatus and P. signatus in absence of seven-eight dark, vertical bars on bodyand in three tubular infraorbital bones vs. two; it differs from P. silviae in lesser body depth, 29.9-36.4% of standard length vs. 37.4-43.0%, shorter preanal distance, 62.8-66.7% of standard length vs. 66.2-69.8%, shorter prepelvic distance, 36.0-37.5% of standard length vs. 36.9-39.8%, and more spines in dorsal fin, 17-18 vs. 14-16; it differs from P. subocellatus in lesser body depth in males in lappet-like elongation of some rays of caudal fin vs. no such elongation; it differs from P. roloffi in greater caudal peduncle length, 12.4-14.1% of standard length vs. 9.4-12.2%, and more pored scales of lateral-line, 26-28 vs. 24-26; it differs from P. sacrimontis in shorter interorbital distance, 21.4-26.8% of head length vs. 29.4-45.3%; it differs from P. pulcher in shorter preorbital distance, 18.6-21.2% of head length vs. 21.0-33.8%, and in rows of dots in the central field and lower part of the male caudal fin, vs. absence (Ref. 97630).
Description: Small cichlid species with body moderately gracile, dorsal head profile rounded and short snout; ventral body wall gently rounded toward caudal peduncle, more rounded in ripe and gravid females; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 53405, 97630). Caudal peduncle shorter than deep (Ref. 97630). Infraorbital bone series with lachrymal and three additional tubular bones and a gap between 2nd and 3rd tubular infraorbital; lachrymal with four openings of laterosensory system (Ref. 97630). Premaxilla with 1 or more often 2 rows, dentary with 2 rows of regularly set unicuspid teeth; anteriorly in the lower jaw a few teeth orientated posteriorly, not buccaly; lower pharyngeal bone triangular, with unicuspid to weakly bicuspid teeth on lateral parts of this bone, and asymmetric bicuspid teeth in the central field (Ref. 97630). Gill rakers on first gill arch; 9 to 10 tuberculate gill rakers on ceratobranchials, 5 or 6 pointed gill rakers on epibranchials; well-developed hanging pad on roof of pharynx (Ref. 97630). Cycloid scales; 2 or 3 rows of scales on cheek; 4 horizontal rows on opercle; dark spot on outer edge of opercle unscaled; chest-scales smaller than body scales, 3 or 4 scales between pectoral and pelvic fins; upper lateral-line separated from dorsal-fin base anteriorly by two and a half to three and a half scales, at the 8th pored scale by one or one and a half scales, and at last pored scale by a half or one scale; end of upper lateral-line never overlapping lower lateral-line, usually separated from beginning of lower lateral-line by no to two rows of scales; about 1/5 to 1/4 of caudal fin covered with scales, all other fins unscaled (Ref. 97630).
Colouration: Live specimens of both sexes: head and body pale brown to greyish brown; dorsum somewhat darker than ventrum; dark scaleless spot on outer edge of opercle, with a pale iridescent blue margin on anterior and posterior edge; upper lip yellow to orange-brown, lower lip greyish to yellow; throat and ventral parts of branchiostegal membranes pale yellow, more prominent in dominant specimens (Ref. 97630). Dark longitudinal stripe sometimes visible on sides, at about height of lower lateral-line, from posterior edge of eye to end of caudal peduncle, but not extending onto caudal fin in males, extending onto caudal fin in females; dark stripe over upper lip, proceeding to a dark stripe from posterior end of upper lip to anterior edge of eye; eye silver to golden-yellow, with red colouration on most upper parts in adult specimens; dark yellow to red horizontal stripe from angle of the mouth to anterior edge of preopercular, bordered dorsally by a thin pale bluish to turquoise line in some specimens; pectoral fin clear to pale yellow (Ref. 97630). Male-specific colouration: dorsal fin with red margin, followed by a white to yellow submargin in most specimens; spines light blue, interspinous membranes red, membrane of soft dorsal fin red with numerous light blue maculae; most caudal parts of this fin with some pale bluish maculae; upper half of caudal fin white to yellow, with 3-12 dark dots; lower half of this fin with black margin and white to yellow submargin; central field of this fin reddish with 4-8 rows of blue maculae; anal fin red to bluish-violet, with dark margin, and some pale bluish maculae in most posteriormost parts; leading edge of pelvic fins black to dark blue, followed by a thin blue line, and red colouration over 1 or 2 rays, posteriormost part of this fin greyish; body scales with dark margins; most ventral parts of opercle, subopercle, interopercle and chest pale greenish to bright yellow, in some specimens lower caudal body parts with some reddish colouration (Ref. 97630). Female-specific colouration: dorsal fin iridescent yellow, with black margin and whitish to bluish submargin in most parts; black margin broadest on first 1 or 2 spines, reaching from tip down to base of dorsal fin, continuously narrowing toward posterior parts and absent on last 2 or 3 rays; one or two black dots in soft ray part of this fin in some individuals; caudal fin yellow, with dark grey to blackish margin and 1-3 horizontal dark bars, most prominent one these in middle of fin, extending from dark midlateral band; upper half of this fin with 1-3 black dots in some individuals; anal fin whitish to pale yellow or pale blue, with blackish margin on outer edge; anterior edge of pelvic fins dark blue to black, other parts of this fin red to dark violet; lower parts of opercle, subopercle and interopercle whitish to yellow, chest whitish; flanks and belly region, up to about middle of the body but usually not touching midlateral band, wine red; parts between dark midlateral band and dark dorsum whitish to pale yellow; caudal and anterior dorsal body parts pale blue, as are parts between red belly and midlateral band (Ref. 97630). Juveniles of both sexes exhibit a pattern of 2 or 3 rows of irregular dark spots on brown colouration, up to about 10-12 mm standard length; with increasing size, sex-specific colouration is seen (Ref. 97630). |
