TY - JOUR

T1 - Taxonomic investigation of the zooplanktivorous Lake Malawi cichlids Copadichromis mloto (Iles) and C. virginalis (Iles)

AU - Turner, G. F.

AU - Crampton, D. A.

AU - Rusuwa, B.

AU - Hooft van Huysduynen, A.

AU - Svardal, H.

PY - 2023/6

Y1 - 2023/6

N2 - The taxonomic status of the zooplanktivorous cichlids Copadichromis mloto and C. virginalis has been confused since their original descriptions by lles in 1960. Whilst two forms of C. virginalis, ‘Kaduna’ and ‘Kajose’, were distinguished in the type material, C. mloto has not been positively identified since its original description. Here we re-examined the types as well as 54 recently collected specimens from multiple sampling locations. Genome sequencing of 51 recent specimens revealed two closely related but reciprocally monophyletic clades. Geometric morphological analysis indicated that one clade morphologically encompasses the type specimens of C. virginalis identified by Iles as the Kaduna form, including the holotype, whilst the other clade encompasses not only the paratypes identified as the Kajose form, but also the type series of C. mloto. Given that all three forms in Iles’s type series are from the same locality, that there are no meristic or character states to differentiate them and that there are no records of adult male C. mloto in breeding colours, we conclude that the Kajose form previously identified as C. virginalis represents relatively deeper bodied sexually active or maturing individuals of C. mloto.

AB - The taxonomic status of the zooplanktivorous cichlids Copadichromis mloto and C. virginalis has been confused since their original descriptions by lles in 1960. Whilst two forms of C. virginalis, ‘Kaduna’ and ‘Kajose’, were distinguished in the type material, C. mloto has not been positively identified since its original description. Here we re-examined the types as well as 54 recently collected specimens from multiple sampling locations. Genome sequencing of 51 recent specimens revealed two closely related but reciprocally monophyletic clades. Geometric morphological analysis indicated that one clade morphologically encompasses the type specimens of C. virginalis identified by Iles as the Kaduna form, including the holotype, whilst the other clade encompasses not only the paratypes identified as the Kajose form, but also the type series of C. mloto. Given that all three forms in Iles’s type series are from the same locality, that there are no meristic or character states to differentiate them and that there are no records of adult male C. mloto in breeding colours, we conclude that the Kajose form previously identified as C. virginalis represents relatively deeper bodied sexually active or maturing individuals of C. mloto.

KW - Cichlid fish

KW - Lake Malawi

KW - Utaka

KW - Systematics

KW - Whole-genome sequencing

KW - geometric morphometrics

U2 - 10.1007/s10750-022-05025-1

DO - 10.1007/s10750-022-05025-1

M3 - Article

VL - 850

SP - 2165

EP - 2175

JO - Hydrobiologia

JF - Hydrobiologia

SN - 1573-5117

IS - 10-11

ER -