Language: English
Contains four contributions
1. The Hemichromis fasciatus species group
The history of the genus Hemichromis in the scientific and aquaristic literature is reviewed. The genus Hemichromis is redefined in the light of morphological, colorational and behavioral data. Hemichromis fasciatus Peters 1858 is redescribed with reference to the paralectotypes. It consists of two species, H. fasciatus and Hemichromis frempongi sp. nov., the latter endemic to Lake Bosumptwi, Ghana. The distribution of H. fasciatus is defined, and it is concluded that this species is identical to the A-form of Hemichromis fasciatus sensu Burchard and Wickler (1965). Hemichromis elongatus (Guichenot 1861) is redescribed with reference to the holotype. Its distribution is defined. Evidence is presented supporting the identity of H. elongatus with the B-form of Hemichromis fasciatus sensu Burchard and Wickler.
2. The Hemichromis bimaculatus species group
Hemichromis bimaculatus Gill 1862 Is redescribed and its range delimited. The inappropriate use of this nomen In the aquarium literature is considered, as Is the status of Hemichromis fugax Payne and Trewavas 1976. Two new species. Hemichromis cristatus sp. nov. and Hemichromis paynei sp. nov., whose lower pharyngeal dentition suggests close affinity to H. bimaculatus are described and their ranges delimited.
3. The Hemichromis guttatus species group
Hemichromis guttatus Günther 1862 is removed from the synonymy of H. bimaculatus, redescribed and its range delimited. The identity of H. guttatus with the Jewel Fish of the aquarium hobby is demonstrated. Hemichromis stellifer sp. nov. is described from the coastal basins of Rio Muni, Gabon, the Republique du Congo and Zaïre, and its affinities and probable evolutionary history discussed, Paratilapia cerasogaster Boulenger 1899 is redescribed and reassigned to the genus Hemichromis on the evidence of its pattern of squamation, color pattern and dentition.
4. The Hemichromis letourneauxi species group
Hemichromis letourmeauxi was described in 1880 by Sauvage from a series of specimens collected from Lake Mareotis, near Alexandria in Egypt. Together with the other nominal H. bimaculatus-like species described between 1862 and the turn of the century, H. letoumeauxi was placed in the synonymy of that species by Boulenger (1915). In this paper, I will I redescribe H. letoumeauxi and delimit Its range. An allopatric cognate from the Zaïre basin is described, and the affinities of both species are considered.