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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / May 2004Red Top Cobalt question
I was reading online about red top cobalts. Some sources refer to them as pseudotropheus, and others call them maylandia. Are they still considered to be from the pseudotropheus family? Also, when a species is designated BB, what does that refer to? Thanks, Mark > I was reading online about red top cobalts. Some sources refer > to them as pseudotropheus, and others call them maylandia. Are [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Thanks, > Mark I believe the correct genus for them to be Metriaclima. ;-) How's that for complicating things? Maylandia was suggested for the Pseudotropeus zebra family, but was never described to distinguish it from the other Pseudotropheus. So, it was labeled as nomen nudum. This was by a group of scientists in 1997. Metriaclima was proposed as a new generic name by Stauffer and McKaye in 2001 and was accompanied by a full description. This debate rages on for some, for others like my buddy Ad, the name is Metriaclima and there is no debate. =) If your fish has stripes, then it's most likely Metriaclima zebra. There are three or four geographical variants that have red tops. Two fish with no stripes and are powder blue in color would be Metriaclima greshakei and Metriaclima mbenjii. The cobalt zebras are now found under Metriaclima callainos, but I'm unaware of any geographical variant with a red top. This doesn't mean however that they don't exist. ;-) Amateur www.amateurcichlids.com >> I was reading online about red top cobalts. Some sources refer >> to them as pseudotropheus, and others call them maylandia. Are [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Pseudotropeus zebra family, but was never described to distinguish it > from the other Pseudotropheus. So, it was labeled as nomen nudum. This > was by a group of scientists in 1997. Metriaclima was proposed as a > new generic name by Stauffer and McKaye in 2001 and was accompanied by > a full description. This debate rages on for some, for others like my > buddy Ad, the name is Metriaclima and there is no debate. =) > If your fish has stripes, then it's most likely Metriaclima zebra. > There are three or four geographical variants that have red tops. > Two fish with no stripes and are powder blue in color would be > Metriaclima greshakei and Metriaclima mbenjii. > The cobalt zebras are now found under Metriaclima callainos, but I'm > unaware of any geographical variant with a red top. This doesn't mean > however that they don't exist. ;-) > Amateur > www.amateurcichlids.com Well, then this must be a variation of the metriaclima zebra. What is a good publication/periodical to keep up on the everchanging world of cichlid nomenclature? Thanks, Mark > Well, then this must be a variation of the metriaclima zebra. > What is a good publication/periodical to keep up on the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Thanks, > Mark IMO you can't go wrong with any of the Ad Konings books that are put out. But, then you only get a new one every four years or so. There's the Cichlid News http://www.cichlidnews.com/subscriptions.html that is put out bi-monthyly. Many reknowned scientists and hobbyists submit articles to that. It's a good way to stay on top of things and to pick up information. If you want to read the article by Martin Geerts on the Maylandia vs Metriaclima debate, it's in the October 2002 issue. For a general all around great cichlid aquaria book, I'd recommend "Enjoying Cichlids 2nd edition" edited by Ad Konings. Co-written by 12 authors. Amateur |
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