Neolamprologus

Neolamprologus
Neolamprologus
Neolamprologus brichardi from Lake Tanganyika.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Superclass: Osteichthyes
Class: Actinopterygii
Subclass: Neopterygii
Infraclass: Teleostei
Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cichlidae
Tribe: Lamprologini
Genus: Neolamprologus
Colombe & Allgayer, 1985
Species

About 50, but see text.

Neolamprologus is a genus of cichlid fishes endemic to eastern Africa with all but one species[1] occurring in Lake Tanganyika. It is the largest genus of cichlids in Lake Tanganyika and also the largest genus in the tribe Lamprologini, which includes Altolamprologus, Chalinochromis, Julidochromis, Lamprologus, Lepidiolamprologus, Telmatochromis and Variabilichromis. The latter is a monotypic genus doubtfully distinct from Neolamprologus.

It is already known for some time that according to mtDNA sequence analysis, this genus is very probably polyphyletic. It is likely that it will be revised eventually; if Variabilichromis is split off, at least some of the more ancient lineages currently polaced in Neolamprologus are probably worthy of separation also. However, the morphological similarity and numerous undescribed species do not make analyses easier, and as with many cichlids, recent speciation and abundant hybridization seriously confound molecular studies to the point where single-gene studies or those using only mtDNA or nDNA are essentially worthless for resolving Lamprologini phylogeny.[2]

While lineages are clearly different in their morphology, habits and ecology, gene flow between genera and species is common enough due to extremely low postzygotic isolation. Males of Neolamprologus apparently have always readily and successfully mated with females of other Lamprologini they found ready to spawn: mtDNA lineages similar to other Lamprologini genera are widely encountered in species placed in Neolamprologus. And not only do such hybrids seem to be fertile at least to a limited extent in many cases, new species often appear to originate from such interbreeding.[3]

Species

About 1-2 new species are described every year[4]. Neolamprologus fasciatus is sometimes placed in Altolamprologus[5], and this seems well warranted. Some other species are occasionally moved to Lepidiolamprologus; this placement may also be correct but requires verification.[3]

Neolamprologus cylindricus
Neolamprologus multifasciatus