Hanssens, M,  Snoeks, J & Verheyen, E. 1999. ‘A morphometric revision of the genus Ophthalmotilapia (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika (East Africa)’.

Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal

A detailed morphometric study of the endemic cichlid genus Ophthalmotilapia Pellegrin, 1904 from Lake Tanganyika was made. At present, four species are recognized within the genus Ophthalmotilapia: O. boops (Boulenger, 1901), O. heterodonta (Poll & Matthes, 1962), O. nasuta (Poll & Matthes, 1962) and O. ventralis (Boulenger, 1898). The morphometric analysis included 24 measurements on 129 specimens and 17 meristics on 132 specimens that belong to the four species. A redescription of the genus is given. The most important diagnostic features distinguishing the genus Ophthalmotilapia from the other genera within the tribe Ectodini are listed. The four species currently recognized are redefined on the basis of distinctive morphological characters and their within-lake distributions are discussed. KEY WORDS: -morphometry - taxonomy - distribution patterns