Tropheina Poll 1986

Tropheina Poll, 1986 (new rank) Diagnosis According to Takahashi (2003): 379, “ This tribe [now subtribe] is characterized exclusively by extensively granulated cycloid scales at midbody (granulations comprising irregularly arranged, variously shaped protrusions over almost entire exposed surface) ”. Haefeli et al. (2024): 445 extended this diagnosis, noting the presence of “ … additional scales with small ctenii along the midbody, increasing in numbers towards the ventral and posterior side ”. Type genus: Tropheus Boulenger 1898 Included genera: Interochromis Yamaoka, Hori, & Kuwamura, 1998; Jabarichromis Haefeli, Schedel, Ronco, Indermaur, & Salzburger, 2024; Limnotilapia Regan, 1920; Lobochilotes Boulenger, 1915; Petrochromis Boulenger, 1898; Pseudosimochromis Nelissen, 1977; Shuja Genner, Ngatunga, & Turner, 2022; Simochromis Boulenger, 1898; Tropheus Boulenger, 1898. Distribution Lake Tanganyika. Notes Multiple molecular phylogenetic studies have recovered the tropheines as a clade nested within Pseudocrenilabrini (Salzburger et al. 2005, Koblmüller et al. 2008, Takahashi and Koblmüller 2011, Dunz and Schliewen 2013, Meyer et al. 2015, Ronco et al. 2021). Thus it is logical to place the tropheines as subordinate within Pseudocrenilabrini and not as a separate tribe. Vertebral and pterygiophore counts and most-frequent insertion patterns of the latter, are summarised in Tables 1, 2, but are not distinctive for the Tropheina.