New goby cichlids from Lake Tanganyika

by Patrick Tawil

TA female Tanganicodus cf. irsacae from Moba. Note the gorgeous coloration, making it one of the most attractive of the goby cichlids.
A female Spathodus erythrodon from Tanzania. Note the absence of bars on the flanks, and the elongate and narrow snout.
The overall shape of Spathodus marlieri is similar to S. erythrodon but larger, with fewer blue spots, no orange dot, and a marked cephalic hump. Photo A. Konings.
A pair of Tanganicodus sp. “M’toto” showing the diagnostic dorsal spot. The overall coloration is close to that of typical T. irsacae specimens.
In subdominate Tanganicodus sp. “M’toto” the dorsal spot tends to vanish as is seen in this adult male. 
The teeth of this goby cichlid from M’toto (Congo) are of generalized Spathodus type, except that they are procumbent, as in Tanganicodus.
In frontal view, the new species from M’toto is clearly reminiscent of an Eretmodus species with its wide mouth.
Eretmodus cyanostictus (top) found in a shipment of E. sp. “North” from Kigoma. The flanks are particularly dotted in orange, as with specimens of E. sp. “North” from this locality. Otherwise, the fish is identical to those from Zambia (bottom).
A pair of Eretmodus sp. “North,” originating from Kigoma, where the spots are more numerous on the caudal peduncle.
A mouthbrooding male of Eretmodus sp. “North” originating from Bulu Point. The orange spots are more reddish and concentrated on the chest.
Tanganicodus irsacae caught at Nyanza-Lac, type locality of the species. The specimens from this locality are less colorful, and the blue spots and lips are paler. 
Young reared specimens of Tanganicodus from Kavalla, showing the absence of vertical bars and the blue spots brighter and more numerous than in other Tanganicodus, with which they probably are not conspecific.
 
All species of Tanganicodus bear one diagnostic spot in the dorsal fin, but in some Congolese shipments, up to four spots may be present.
A male of a beautiful species of Tanganicodus from Moba, DR Congo (female above, first photo).

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