Pelvicachromis humilis

[tjudy]

Here is one for Randall... and anyone else who wants to weigh in...

I just got some Pelvicachromis humilis from Neil... very nice fish. I am no expert in taxonomy, but not new to it either. I also know that there is a push to reorganize Pelvicachromis.

P. humilis is so VERY different from P. pulcher, subocellatus, teaniatus and rollofi. Each of those species have their own differences too, but humilis is quite unique.

When 'they' get around to reorganizing the genus, is it likely the P. humilis will end up out of the taxon?

 

[Randall]

P. humilis

Dear Ted,

Although I am no scientist and have but a hobbyist's perspective to share with you, at ca. 6 inches for males in total length, a snout that meristically amounts to a larger percentage of standard length than the other species of the genus, a distribution that includes not only forested areas but also open bushlands, and a limited distribution of primarily Sierra Leone but also, to a lesser extent, Liberia; I would not be surprised that when Pelvicachromis is revised at the generic level that the humilis forms are spit from the existing genus.

Should I have more to offer you in the future, I will gladly post such here.

Thanks!

Randall Kohn

 

[tjudy]

Here is what happens when you actually READ... the L&S west african cichlids book actually addresses the placement of P. humilis in the P. genus. Having read most of that book, I got to the point where I basically salivated over the pictures and glanced around the text for water parameters (many of the sections on husbandry are rather redundant after a while).

Buried in the middle of the text is a paragraph that describes why it is a Pelvicachromis.. mostly due to the morphology of the females. The text also describes why it is not a Chromidotilapia (though obviously humilis is not a mouth-brooder).

The passage does say that the authors expect that when the Pelvicachromis genus is revised, P. humilis will be separated from the genus.

Mine are way cool. I like them a lot. Thanks again Neil. They are getting quite brave in their 40 gallon tank full of driftwood, and I hope to have GOOD pictures soon.