Metriaclima

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Metriaclima
Metriaclima lombardoi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Metriaclima
Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye, 1997

Metriaclima (type species: Tilapia zebra, Boulenger 1899) is genus of African cichlid containing many of the species traditionally included in the genus Pseudotropheus.[1] All Metriaclima are relatively small, colourful fish found only in Lake Malawi and many of which have some value as aquarium fish.[2]

[edit] Current status

The status of Metriaclima is hotly contested. Many ichthyologists consider the name to be a junior synonym of Maylandia Meyer & Forester 1984.[3][4][5] However, this is far from universally accepted, the argument put forward by advocates of Metriaclima over Maylandia essentially being that Maylandia was inadequately defined in the original description making it impossible to securely attribute species to the genus, rendering the name Maylandia invalid under the ICZN rules for zoological nomenclature.[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Konings A F & Stauffer J R (2006). Revised diagnosis of Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with description of a new species from Lake Malawi National Park. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, Vol. 17, No. 3. pp. 233-246
  2. ^ Matt Clarke. New Metriaclima described. Practical Fishkeeping. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
  3. ^ Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.. Genera Reference - Detail. FishBase. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
  4. ^ Oliver MK.. Maylandia, Metriaclima, or Pseudotropheus?. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
  5. ^ Oliver MK.. Validity and availability of Maylandia — The technical details. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
  6. ^ Ad Konings. Maylandia or Metriaclima, ...again!. The Cichlid Room. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.