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George Turner

Here's our recent open access paper on Lake Malawi cichlid taxonomy, using genome sequences, morphology & coloration to sort out ID of a group of major ecological and fishery importance (Copadichromis virginalis, C. mloto) link.springer.com/article/10.1

SpringerLinkTaxonomic investigation of the zooplanktivorous Lake Malawi cichlids Copadichromis mloto (Iles) and C. virginalis (Iles) - HydrobiologiaThe 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.
George Turner

We concluded that C. virginalis is deeper bodied and males have a distinctive breeding dress with a yellow upper surface & yellow dorsal fin, separated by a narrow black band at the base of the fin (c), while C. mloto is slimmer with males showing yellow only the anterior part of the upper surface (if at all) and having a wider black base to the fin that gets gradually broader posteriorly (g,h). Females of both are silvery (d) but can be distinguished by body shape.

Nov 12, 2022, 09:09 AM·Public·Web
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George Turner

The confusion stemmed from species descriptions in 1960, where adult males (and a few deeper bodied females) of C. mloto (f) were mistakenly included in the type series of C. virginalis (a,b) with the comment that they seemed to represent a different 'morph'. The types of C. mloto were all juveniles or 'spent' adults - none showing male breeding dress (e). Sequencing freshly collected fish allowed us to split them by male colour & body shape, so we could go back and sort out the type specimens.

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George Turner

A male Copadichromis mloto I photographed back in the 1990s. Lots of yellow in the dorsal fin, and a pearly-white / yellow 'blaze' on top of the head. The live courting male would be completely black on the body, apart from this 'blaze'.

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George Turner

A male Copadichromis virginalis from Nkhata Bay in 2016. You can see the yellow upper surface all along the body, with the black base to the dorsal fin, and the 'uptick' of black at the end of the soft dorsal- all characteristic of C. virginalis males. Like the C. mloto males, the flanks would be dark during courtship.

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George Turner

This male Copadichromis virginalis was collected around 2004, and shows some nice blue-green iridescence on the flank scales.

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