Taxonomic investigation of the zooplanktivorous Lake Malawi cichlids Copadichromis mloto (Iles) and C. virginalis (Iles).

ABSTRACT: The taxonomic status of the zooplanktivorous cichlids Copadichromis mloto and C. virginalis has been confused since their original descriptions by lles in 1960. Whilst two forms of C. virginalis, 'Kaduna' and 'Kajose', were distinguished in the type material, C. mloto has not been positively identified since its original description. Here we re-examined the types as well as 54 recently collected specimens from multiple sampling locations. Genome sequencing of 51 recent specimens revealed two closely related but reciprocally monophyletic clades. Geometric morphological analysis indicated that one clade morphologically encompasses the type specimens of C. virginalis identified by Iles as the Kaduna form, including the holotype, whilst the other clade encomp

SUBMITTER: Turner GF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10261246 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature