Tropheops sp. ‘Band’

Tropheops sp. ‘Band’

Tropheops sp. ‘Band’ is a species not yet officially described. This variant was first recorded by Ribbink in 1983, then as Pseudotropheus tropheops ‘band’ and Pseudotropheus tropheops sp. ‘no band’. In 2001, Konings changed the name to Tropheops sp. ‘band’ and dropped ‘no band’. He assumes it is one species.

Description

The males have a yellow color, especially around the head. The abdomen turns into gray blue towards the tail. A number of vertical dark stripes are visible on the flank. In dominant males, these stripes become paler.

There are two species competing at the point of origin for a spot. Tropheops sp. ‘Band’ and Tropheops sp. ‘No Band’. The designation ‘Band’ refers to the black stripe on the dorsal fin of the male. Males with a black stripe on their dorsal fin are on average one centimetre larger than males without a black stripe. The females are indistinguishable from each other. In both cases, they are light grey/brown with yellow on their fins.

The larger males are larger and therefore somewhat stronger than their smaller cousins. This makes Tropheops sp. ‘No Band’ much rarer. Research should reveal if these are really two separate species or if they are variants of the same species.

Origin

Nkhata Bay, Malawi.

Author

John de Lange

Copyright images

Mark Thomas – Marks Fiskenarie

References

Malawicichliden in hun natuurlijke omgeving 3e oplage – blz. 217-218 – Ad Konings