Altolamprologus compressiceps

{{Short description|Species of fish}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Altolamprologus compressiceps - Karlsruhe Zoo 01.jpg

| image_caption =

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Bigirimana, C. |date=2006 |title=Altolamprologus compressiceps |volume=2006 |page=e.T60454A12368481 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T60454A12368481.en |access-date=16 November 2021}}

| taxon = Altolamprologus compressiceps

| authority = (Boulenger, 1898)

| synonyms =

  • Lamprologus compressiceps Boulenger, 1898
  • Haplochromis compressiceps (Boulenger, 1898)
  • Neolamprologus compressiceps (Boulenger, 1898)

| synonyms_ref = {{FishBase|Altolamprologus|compressiceps|month=October|year=2018}}

}}

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

{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}

A. compressiceps are close relatives to A. calvus and can be distinguished by their shorter jaws and turned up snout. Calvus have a long sloping face, less distinct bars, and more distinct spots.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-03 |title=Gold Head Compressiceps (Altolamprologus compressiceps) {{!}} Tropical Fish Keeping |url=https://tropical-fish-keeping.com/gold-head-compressiceps-altolamprologus-compressiceps.html |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=Tropical Fish Keeping - Tropical Fish Keeping for fresh and saltwater aquarium fish}}

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

{{cite web |url=https://iwlearn.net/documents/6644 |title=Lake Tanganyika: Results and Experiences of the UNDP/GEF Conservation Initiative (RAF/92/G32) in Burundi, D.R. Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia |last=West |first=Kelly |date=2001-02-28 |website=iwlearn.net |publisher=International Waters Learning Exchange & Resource Network |access-date=2022-05-17}} Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project. and there are still undescribed species in the lake.

{{cite web |url=http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/lake_tanganyika_diverse.php |title=Lake Tanganyika and its Diverse Cichlids. |last=Morfitt |first=Craig |date=2009-12-24 |website=www.cichlid-forum.com |publisher=Cichlid-Forum |access-date=2022-05-17}} 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 in evolution.{{cite journal | last1 = Takahashi | first1 = T. | last2 = Hori | first2 = M. | year = 2012 | title = Genetic and Morphological Evidence Implies Existence of Two Sympatric Species in Cyathopharynx furcifer (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika | journal = International Journal of Evolutionary Biology | volume = 2012 | page = 980879 | doi = 10.1155/2012/980879 | pmid = 22675655 | pmc = 3363988 | doi-access = free }}{{cite journal | last1 = Kornfield | first1 = Irv | last2 = Smith | first2 = Peter F. | year = 2000 | title = African Cichlid Fishes: Model Systems for Evolutionary Biology | journal = Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics | volume = 31 | pages = 163–196 | doi=10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.31.1.163}}

References

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