Chromedome
09-28-2007, 10:07 AM
Well, everyone was waiting for it. The revision of the "Convict" group of cichlids has been published, and boy, are there some big changes.
First, the "regular" type convict is in yet another new genus, it is now Amatitlania nigrofasciata. (Sounds obscene to me.) There are also three newly described species in this new genus. I don't know yet which one is attached to the HRP - if any.
The next big change is the good ole Jack Dempsey. As many already knew, it was moved to Archocentrus some time ago, but never really fit there. Well, now it has a new genus, and two new sister species. The new name is Rocio octofasciata. Personally, I think it sounds like an Italian pasta dish.
Neetroplus nematopus has been moved to Hypsophrys with the Nic, while Neetroplus panamense has been moved to Cryptoheros, albeit under a seperate subgenus. Also, Herotilapia has been synonymized with Archocentrus, making the Rainbow Cichlid Archocentrus multispinosus. This one is highly questionable under genetic analysis, but the similarity of form has long been noted.
I am awaiting the opinions of real ichthyologists to see if any of these hold. Normally, however, once the paper is published, the names are official until further revision is also published.
First, the "regular" type convict is in yet another new genus, it is now Amatitlania nigrofasciata. (Sounds obscene to me.) There are also three newly described species in this new genus. I don't know yet which one is attached to the HRP - if any.
The next big change is the good ole Jack Dempsey. As many already knew, it was moved to Archocentrus some time ago, but never really fit there. Well, now it has a new genus, and two new sister species. The new name is Rocio octofasciata. Personally, I think it sounds like an Italian pasta dish.
Neetroplus nematopus has been moved to Hypsophrys with the Nic, while Neetroplus panamense has been moved to Cryptoheros, albeit under a seperate subgenus. Also, Herotilapia has been synonymized with Archocentrus, making the Rainbow Cichlid Archocentrus multispinosus. This one is highly questionable under genetic analysis, but the similarity of form has long been noted.
I am awaiting the opinions of real ichthyologists to see if any of these hold. Normally, however, once the paper is published, the names are official until further revision is also published.