Jabarichromis Haefeli & Schedel & Ronco & Indermaur & Salzburger 2024, gen. nov.
Creators: name: Haefeli, Anja
name: Schedel, Frederic D. B.
name: Ronco, Fabrizia
name: Indermaur, Adrian
name: Salzburger, Walter
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Perciformes
Cichlidae
Jabarichromis

description: Genus Jabarichromis gen. nov.
Type Species. Paratilapia pfefferi (Boulenger 1898)
Diagnosis. Jabarichromis gen. nov. can be identified as a member of the Tropheini, which are nested within the Haplochromini (Ronco et al. 2021; Salzburger et al. 2005), by the definition from Takahashi (2003): “extensively granulated cycloid scales at midbody (granulations comprising irregularly arranged, variously shaped protrusions over almost entire exposed surface)”.A revision or specification of this definition is needed because all our specimens show additional scales with small ctenii along the midbody, increasing in numbers towards the ventral and posterior side. This state for Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi was also reported by Genner et al. (2022). Further, ctenoid scales along the midbody for species belonging to the Tropheini were reported by Viertler et al. (2021).
Jabarichromis gen. nov. can be distinguished from the other genera within the Tropheini by their longer premaxilla height (except Lobochilotes Boulenger 1915) as well as their longer lower jaw length (except Lobochilotes and Shuja). It is distinguishable from Lobochilotes by the total number of vertebrae (29 in Lobochilotes and 30 in Jabarichromis gen. nov.), the total number of gill rakers (22–27 in Lobochilotes and 15–18 in Jabarichromis gen. nov.), the number of scales between the upper lateral line and the dorsal fin origin (7–9 in Lobochilotes and 5–6 in Jabarichromis gen. nov.), and the number of pectoral rays (16–17 in Lobochilotes and 13–15 in Jabarichromis gen. nov.). Further, it is distinguishable from Shuja by the number of scales between the upper lateral line and the last dorsal fin spine (2 in Shuja and 3 in Jabarichromis gen. nov.).
Finally, Jabarichromis gen. nov. is distinguishable from Gnathochromis and its only remaining member G. permaxillaris by the premaxilla height (58%–63% in head length in G. permaxillaris and 46%–51% of head length in Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi), dorsal fin length (DFL) (51%–55% in standard length in G. permaxillaris and 56%–61% of standard length in Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi), premaxilla length (41%–48% in head length in G. permaxillaris and 30%–36% of head length in Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi), the number of total vertebrae (31– 31 in G. permaxillaris and 29 in Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi), the number of total gill rakers (24–27 in G. permaxillaris and 15–18 in Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi), the number of scales on horizontal line (33–34 in G. permaxillaris and 29–31 in Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi), and number of scales on upper lateral line (25–30 in G. permaxillaris and 20–23 in Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi).
Description. Jabarichromis gen. nov. currently comprises one species, Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi, which is endemic to Lake Tanganyika. The premaxilla height reaches 46%–51%, the lower jaw length 13%–15% and the premaxilla length ranges from 30%–36% of head length; the dorsal fin length ranges from 56%–62% of the standard length. The number of vertebrae is 29 (14–15 abdominal, 14–15 caudal); the total number of gill rakers ranges from 15–18; the number of scales between the upper lateral line and the dorsal fin origin ranges from 5–6; the number of scales between the upper lateral line and last dorsal fin spine is 3. The number of scales on the horizontal line ranges from 29–31 and the number of scales on the upper lateral line reaches from 20–23. The number of pectoral rays is 13–15. Like all members of the Tropheini Jabarichromis gen. nov. are mouthbrooders (Konings 2019; Takahashi 2003). The total length can reach up to 14 cm (Konings 2019).
Etymology. The genus name is derived from the Swahili word “Jabari” which is translated into English as “brave one” or “emperor”, “ruler”. It is referring to Jabarichromis gen. nov. pfefferi ’s hunting behaviour as well as their large hunting territories which can reach up to 500m 2 (Konings 2019). “Chromis” is an Ancient Greek word for fish and refers to a widely used suffix for cichlid genera. The gender of Jabarichromis gen. nov. is masculine.
Included species. Jabarichromis pfefferi (Boulenger 1898)
Paratilapia pfefferi Boulenger, 1898
Limnochromis pfefferi (Boulenger), Regan, 1920
Haplochromis pfefferi (Boulenger), Poll, 1974
Gnathochromis pfefferi (Boulenger), Poll, 1981
description: Published as part of Haefeli, Anja, Schedel, Frederic D. B., Ronco, Fabrizia, Indermaur, Adrian & Salzburger, Walter, 2024, Revision of the cichlid fish genus Gnathochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika with the description of a new genus Jabarichromis gen. nov., pp. 434-450 in Zootaxa 5410 (3) on pages 444-445, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5410.3.10, http://zenodo.org/record/10657342