Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Tribe / Genus:	Cyprichromini / Paracyprichromis
Biotope:	Rocky habitat with crevices. The population was found at a depth of about 10 metres, associated with rocky structures.
Geographic distribution:	Southern Tanzania, Lake Tanganyika.
Special notes:	The genus Paracyprichromis currently comprises two described species, P. nigripinnis and P. brieni, both traditionally regarded as having a lake-wide distribution. In practice, many geographically isolated and little-known populations are routinely assigned to one of these two species, an approach that obscures true biodiversity and hampers accurate species assessment. Several distinct populations within both nominal species exist and may warrant recognition as separate species if studied in detail. In 2008, a distinctive population was discovered in southern Tanzania. Individuals show vertical lateral bars similar to P. brieni, combined with two distinct horizontal rows of bright blue dots on the flanks, reminiscent of P. nigripinnis. Additional diagnostic features include yellow-orange dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, yellow coloration of the cheek and chin, and the absence of filamentous extensions on the caudal fin. This population was found living sympatrically with P. nigripinnis, while P. brieni was absent from the same habitat. It is therefore treated as a distinct, undescribed species under the provisional name Paracyprichromis sp. “Brieni Two-Stripe”.