- Messages
- 1,164
- Location
- New Jersey, USA
Dear Neil and Company,
Mike Wise of the ASG wrote a brief article concerning the above referenced subject for a recent issue of the Apisto-Gram. I will attempt to summarize and add a few observations of my own here.
In 2001, Mag. Dr. Anton Lamboj split the genus Chromidotilapia based on skeletal features, a low level of sexual dimorphism and the presence of a black spot in the soft doral fin of juveniles and some adults. Although I can't read Dr. Lamboj's German language description very well, some species exhibit a low level of sexual dichomatism (coloration) as well. Species of the Chromidotilapia batesii/finleyi-complex were placed in the newly erected genus Benitochromis, named after the Benito River in Gabon. In his paper, Dr. Lamboj scientifically described three new species as well. Please note the following:
Benitochromis finleyi (type species) was Chromidotilapia finleyi Mungo
B. batesii was C. batesii (probably Kienke)
B. riomuniensis was C. finleyi Campo
B. nigrodorsalis was C. finleyi Moliwe
B. ufermanni was C. sp. Mondemba
B. conjunctus was not recognized in the hobby
Add to the above B. sp. "Eseka" formally known as C. Batesii "Eseka," and all currently known forms of Benitochromis have been accounted for.
For further information, I may be contacted directly.
Thank you.
Randall Kohn
Mike Wise of the ASG wrote a brief article concerning the above referenced subject for a recent issue of the Apisto-Gram. I will attempt to summarize and add a few observations of my own here.
In 2001, Mag. Dr. Anton Lamboj split the genus Chromidotilapia based on skeletal features, a low level of sexual dimorphism and the presence of a black spot in the soft doral fin of juveniles and some adults. Although I can't read Dr. Lamboj's German language description very well, some species exhibit a low level of sexual dichomatism (coloration) as well. Species of the Chromidotilapia batesii/finleyi-complex were placed in the newly erected genus Benitochromis, named after the Benito River in Gabon. In his paper, Dr. Lamboj scientifically described three new species as well. Please note the following:
Benitochromis finleyi (type species) was Chromidotilapia finleyi Mungo
B. batesii was C. batesii (probably Kienke)
B. riomuniensis was C. finleyi Campo
B. nigrodorsalis was C. finleyi Moliwe
B. ufermanni was C. sp. Mondemba
B. conjunctus was not recognized in the hobby
Add to the above B. sp. "Eseka" formally known as C. Batesii "Eseka," and all currently known forms of Benitochromis have been accounted for.
For further information, I may be contacted directly.
Thank you.
Randall Kohn