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| Welcome to the spring issue of Cichlid News. A quick scan of
the contents will reveal that this issue contains one less article than
the norm. While we here at CN try to present coverage on as wide
a range of topics as possible, there are times when less is more. One of
an editor’s primary tasks is to do just that, yet some articles defy attempts
at parsing and remain compelling enough to be printed in an extended format.
Some of the most suitable are those that deal with both captive specimens
and those in their natural habitat. Throw in a bit of taxonomic discussion
and now we’re really talking.
First, consider Thomas Andersen’s discussion of the “Red Princess” Xenotilapia. This fish, a somewhat enigmatic and newly-discovered Tanganyikan cichlid, is highly sought after by aquarists. One only has to browse the various internet forums to find numerous threads discussing this fish, its natural history, and precise identity. Luckily for us, Thomas now presents his findings after having placed an immense amount of time and effort into researching these topics and gathering information from first-hand sources. Next up is Ad Konings, presenting his thoughts on what really makes an mbuna a Gephyrochromis. Systematic decisions are often made in the lab, with preserved specimens, but Ad shows us the value of combining morphology with observations of fish in the wild. The Gephyrochromis of Lake Malawi are prefect examples of how combining physical characters with behavioral ones can aid in our urge to categorize living, evolving things. When it comes to Central American cichlids, there aren’t many people that have spent more time watching them in their home waters than Juan Miguel Artigas Azas. His focus this month is Thorichthys helleri, a close cousin of the ever-popular Firemouth (T. meeki). From a discussion of its etymology to one on its breeding behavior, it is safe to say that Juan Miguel has this fish covered. Speaking of adequate coverage, this month’s fourth and final article deals with an immense task: a review of Heiko Bleher’s new book on Discus. Who better to enumerate the virtues of the latest work by everyone’s favorite Heikomobile-driving explorer than Wayne Leibel? As only he can, Wayne takes us on a virtual tour of this somewhat overwhelming volume. Rounding out this list of heavy-hitters, Dr. Paul V. Loiselle presents a list of his six favorite cichlids. So, as always, sit back and enjoy this issue
of Cichlid News. I hope it satisfies your thirst for the beautiful
and/or rare.
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Ariel Bornstein, Editor
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