Shell Dwellers
   HOME
*





Shell Dwellers
The terms shell dwellers or shelldwellers, shell-breeding, or ostracophil are descriptive terms for cichlid fish that use the empty shells of aquatic snails as sites for breeding and shelter. The terms have no taxonomic basis, although most shell-dwelling cichlids are from Lake Tanganyikas lamprologine lineage.Loiselle PV. (1994) The Cichlid Aquarium, Voyageur Press, Many shell dwelling cichlids are popular with fishkeepings and are frequently kept in aquaria. Shell origins In Lake Tanganyika the shells inhabited are from the genus '' Neothauma'', while shells used by '' Pseudotropheus lanisticola'' in Lake Malawi are from genus ''Lanistes''. Shell Dwelling Cichlids Around 24 species of lamprologine cichlids use abandoned shells for shelter and breeding in Lake Tanganyika. Most, however, are not obligate shell-breeding cichlids and will spawn in other caves or crevices. Types of shell dwellers There are several groups the shell dwellers can be placed into: *Colonial shel ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Lamprologus Ocellatus Orange 2034
''Lamprologus'' is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family. They are native to Lake Tanganyika (where several species are shell dwellers) and the Congo River Basin in Africa. The type species for this genus is ''Lamprologus congoensis'', a species from the Congo River. The genus is under some revision and may eventually be restricted to these riverine types. Species There are currently 20 recognized species in this genus: * ''Lamprologus callipterus'' Boulenger, 1906 * ''Lamprologus congoensis'' Schilthuis, 1891 * '' Lamprologus finalimus'' Nichols & La Monte, 1931 * ''Lamprologus kungweensis'' Poll, 1956 * ''Lamprologus laparogramma'' I. R. Bills & Ribbink, 1997 * ''Lamprologus lemairii'' Boulenger, 1899 * ''Lamprologus lethops'' T. R. Roberts & D. J. Stewart, 1976 * ''Lamprologus markerti'' Tougas & Stiassny, 2014 Tougas, S. & Stiassny, M.L.J. (2014): Lamprologus markerti, a new lamprologine cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae) endemic to the lower Congo River in the Democ ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Lepidiolamprologus
''Lepidiolamprologus'' is a small genus of cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. It is closely related to ''Altolamprologus.'' and there is the possibility that a revision of the genus could see more species added. The placement of '' L. cunningtoni'' has been questioned, as it seems to be a close relative of '' N. modestus'' and the Fourspine Cichlid (''N. tetracanthus''), though with hybridization running rampant in the Lamprologini, one cannot entirely be sure of its relationships at present. However it differs enough from the other species in ''Lepidiolamprologus'' to conclude that it may not belong in this genus. (2007): Phylogenetic relationships of the Lake Tanganyika cichlid tribe Lamprologini: The story from mitochondrial DNA. '' Mol. Phylogenet. Evol.'' 45(2): 629–642. (HTML abstract) Species There are currently eleven recognized species in this genus: * '' Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus'' (Steindachner, 1909) * '' Lepidiolamprologus boulengeri'' (S ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Neolamprologus Kungweensis
''Neolamprologus'' is a genus of cichlids endemic to eastern Africa with all but one species, ''Neolamprologus devosi'' from the Malagarasi River, occurring in Lake Tanganyika. It is the largest genus of cichlids in Lake Tanganyika and also the largest genus in the tribe Lamprologini, which includes ''Altolamprologus'', ''Chalinochromis'', ''Julidochromis'', ''Lamprologus'', ''Lepidiolamprologus'', ''Telmatochromis'' and '' Variabilichromis''. The latter is a monotypic genus doubtfully distinct from ''Neolamprologus''. It is already known for some time that according to mtDNA sequence analysis, this genus is very probably polyphyletic. It is likely that it will be revised eventually; if ''Variabilichromis'' is split off, at least some of the more ancient lineages currently placed in ''Neolamprologus'' are probably worthy of separation also. However, the morphological similarity and numerous undescribed species do not make analyses easier, and as with many cichlids, recent specia ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Neolamprologus Ornatippinnis
''Neolamprologus'' is a genus of cichlids endemic to eastern Africa with all but one species, ''Neolamprologus devosi'' from the Malagarasi River, occurring in Lake Tanganyika. It is the largest genus of cichlids in Lake Tanganyika and also the largest genus in the tribe Lamprologini, which includes ''Altolamprologus'', ''Chalinochromis'', ''Julidochromis'', ''Lamprologus'', ''Lepidiolamprologus'', ''Telmatochromis'' and '' Variabilichromis''. The latter is a monotypic genus doubtfully distinct from ''Neolamprologus''. It is already known for some time that according to mtDNA sequence analysis, this genus is very probably polyphyletic. It is likely that it will be revised eventually; if ''Variabilichromis'' is split off, at least some of the more ancient lineages currently placed in ''Neolamprologus'' are probably worthy of separation also. However, the morphological similarity and numerous undescribed species do not make analyses easier, and as with many cichlids, recent specia ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  




Neolamprologus Signatus
''Neolamprologus'' is a genus of cichlids endemic to eastern Africa with all but one species, ''Neolamprologus devosi'' from the Malagarasi River, occurring in Lake Tanganyika. It is the largest genus of cichlids in Lake Tanganyika and also the largest genus in the tribe Lamprologini, which includes ''Altolamprologus'', ''Chalinochromis'', ''Julidochromis'', ''Lamprologus'', ''Lepidiolamprologus'', ''Telmatochromis'' and '' Variabilichromis''. The latter is a monotypic genus doubtfully distinct from ''Neolamprologus''. It is already known for some time that according to mtDNA sequence analysis, this genus is very probably polyphyletic. It is likely that it will be revised eventually; if ''Variabilichromis'' is split off, at least some of the more ancient lineages currently placed in ''Neolamprologus'' are probably worthy of separation also. However, the morphological similarity and numerous undescribed species do not make analyses easier, and as with many cichlids, recent specia ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Neolamprologus Calliurus
''Neolamprologus'' is a genus of cichlids endemic to eastern Africa with all but one species, ''Neolamprologus devosi'' from the Malagarasi River, occurring in Lake Tanganyika. It is the largest genus of cichlids in Lake Tanganyika and also the largest genus in the tribe Lamprologini, which includes ''Altolamprologus'', ''Chalinochromis'', ''Julidochromis'', ''Lamprologus'', ''Lepidiolamprologus'', ''Telmatochromis'' and '' Variabilichromis''. The latter is a monotypic genus doubtfully distinct from ''Neolamprologus''. It is already known for some time that according to mtDNA sequence analysis, this genus is very probably polyphyletic. It is likely that it will be revised eventually; if ''Variabilichromis'' is split off, at least some of the more ancient lineages currently placed in ''Neolamprologus'' are probably worthy of separation also. However, the morphological similarity and numerous undescribed species do not make analyses easier, and as with many cichlids, recent specia ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Neolamprologus Brevis
''Neolamprologus brevis'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it lives in snail shells, primarily of the genus ''Neothauma''. It feeds is on plankton. This species can reach a length of TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ... trade. The males are much larger than the females and can be identified even at a young age. References brevis Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger Fish described in 1899 {{Lamprologini-stub ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Telmatochromis
__NOTOC__ ''Telmatochromis'' is a small cichlid genus of the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. These ray-finned fishes are endemic to the Lake Tanganyika basin (mostly in the lake itself, but also its outflow river Lukuga) in Africa. Systematics Analysis of their mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) sequence shows that hybridization must have played some role in the evolution of this genus. (2007): Phylogenetic relationships of the Lake Tanganyika cichlid tribe Lamprologini: The story from mitochondrial DNA. '' Mol. Phylogenet. Evol.'' 45(2): 629–642. (HTML abstract) For one thing, it might be that ''Telmatochromis'' is close to ''Julidochromis'', which they somewhat resemble. A possibility is hybridization between the ancestor of ''Telmatochromis'' and a lineage of ''Julidochromis'' which later gave rise to '' J. marlieri'' and the Convict Julie (''J. regani''). Similar ND2 DNA has been found in these and '' T. bifrenatus'', '' T. brichardi'' and '' T. temporalis''. '' T. ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  




Altolamprologus Compressiceps
''Altolamprologus compressiceps'' is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to the shallow rocky areas of Lake Tanganyika. It is not considered threatened by the IUCN. Description It is physically similar to its close relative '' A. calvus'', though it is deeper-bodied and has a shorter snout. Several local variants exist, and some may prove to be distinct species or subspecies. Some examples include: * 'Fire Fin' * 'Gold' * 'Gold Head Kasanga' * 'Kigoma' * 'Mutondwe' * 'Red Fin' * 'Yellow Chaitika' * 'Zaire Gold' Evolutionary biology Lake Tanganyika holds at least 250 species of cichlid fish and there are still undescribed species in the lake. Almost all (98%) of the Tanganyika cichlids are endemic to the lake and it is thus an important biological resource for the study of speciation Speciation is the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species. The biologist Orator F. Cook coined the term in 1906 for cladogenesis, the ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Altolamprologus
''Altolamprologus'' is a small genus of pseudocrenilabrine cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. They inhabit areas of the lake with large amounts of rock, most frequently in water two to ten metres in depth. Two formally described species comprise this genus, with perhaps one dwarf ''A. compressiceps''-like species being considered an undescribed species by some. Species There are currently two recognized species in this genus: * ''Altolamprologus calvus'' (Poll, 1978) * ''Altolamprologus compressiceps'' ( Boulenger, 1898) Description They are moderately-sized Lamrologines, growing to a total length of in adult males. Their bodies are laterally compressed and remarkably high-backed; hence the scientific name which means "high ''Lamprologus''" (from Latin ''altus'', "high"). They are predators which feed on large invertebrates and small fish, particularly crustaceans and juveniles of other cichlids. In the aquarium ''Altolamprologus'' are hardy at the stand ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Neolamprologus Meeli
''Lepidiolamprologus meeli'' is a cichlid species in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it is found in the waters of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. It is sometimes placed in ''Neolamprologus'', and this may well be appropriate. As it seems, it belongs to a group also including '' N. boulengeri'' and '' L. hecqui'', '' L. attenuatus'' and '' L. kendalli''. Abstract Etymology This cichlid is named in honor of botanist Ludo van Meel (1908-1990), a member of the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika that took place between 1946 and 1947, during which the type specimen was collected. Hybrids As hybridization seems to have played a major role in the radiation of this group, the exact relationships of the present species are obscure; one specimens was found to belong to an mtDNA lineage quite similar to ''L./N. hecqui'', while another was distantly similar to ''L. kendalli'' in this regard. Pe ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Neolamprologus Variostigma
''Neolamprologus'' is a genus of cichlids endemic to eastern Africa with all but one species, ''Neolamprologus devosi'' from the Malagarasi River, occurring in Lake Tanganyika. It is the largest genus of cichlids in Lake Tanganyika and also the largest genus in the tribe Lamprologini, which includes ''Altolamprologus'', ''Chalinochromis'', ''Julidochromis'', ''Lamprologus'', ''Lepidiolamprologus'', ''Telmatochromis'' and '' Variabilichromis''. The latter is a monotypic genus doubtfully distinct from ''Neolamprologus''. It is already known for some time that according to mtDNA sequence analysis, this genus is very probably polyphyletic. It is likely that it will be revised eventually; if ''Variabilichromis'' is split off, at least some of the more ancient lineages currently placed in ''Neolamprologus'' are probably worthy of separation also. However, the morphological similarity and numerous undescribed species do not make analyses easier, and as with many cichlids, recent specia ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]