Oxylapia

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Oxylapia
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: Ptychochrominae
Genus: Oxylapia
Kiener & Maugé, 1966
Species:
O. polli
Binomial name
Oxylapia polli
Kiener & Maugé, 1966

Oxylapia is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae. It contains the single species Oxylapia polli, known locally as the songatana. It is an endangered species, endemic to the Marolambo Rapids in the Nosivolo River (a tributary of the Mangoro River) in east-central Madagascar. [2] It is threatened by habitat loss and sedimentation caused by deforestation. [1] The only other monotypic cichlid genus in Madagascar is Katria , and it is restricted to the same region as Oxylapia. [3] In 2010, the Nosivolo River was designated as a Ramsar Site. [4] The Oxylapia is the conservation flagship species for the district capital Marolambo. [4]

Oxylapia is a highly aggressive, elongate species that reaches about 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length. [2] [5] It is the Malagasy cichlid most adapted to rheophilic conditions, but not the only (members of the lamena group in the genus Paretroplus are also rheophilic). [5]

Its specific name honours Max Poll (1908-1991), a Belgian ichthyologist for his research into African cichlids and for the guidance he gave to the authors. [6]

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<i>Ptychochromis grandidieri</i> Species of fish

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Ptychochromis loisellei is a species of cichlid from the Mahanara River basin north of Sambava in northeastern Madagascar. It remains common within its small range, but it is threatened by habitat loss and introduced species. It reaches about 11.9 centimetres (4.7 in). The similar named Paretroplus loisellei is also restricted to the Mahanara River basin. The specific name honours Paul V. Loiselle, Emeritus Curator of Freshwater Fishes at the New York Aquarium and a researcher in, and campaigner for the conservation of, the freshwater fish of Madagascar.

Katria is a genus of freshwater fish in the cichlid family. It contains the single species Katria katria, a vulnerable species from the Mangoro and Nosivolo Rivers in east-central Madagascar, that was formerly included in the genus Ptychochromoides. The only other monotypic cichlid genus in Madagascar is Oxylapia, and it is restricted to the same region as Katria. In 2010, the Nosivolo River was designated as a Ramsar Site. The Katria reaches about 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length.

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Ptychochromis ernestmagnusi is a species of fish cichlid only known from the Mananara du Nord River in northeastern Madagascar, but it is probably more widespread in that region. If so, it likely occurs in the Mananara-Nord Biosphere Reserve, which would give it a level of protection. It can reach 14.7 cm (5.8 in) in standard length. The specific name honours Ernest Magnus (1908-1983) who was the uncle of the German-American marine biologist and ichthyologist Rudolf Arndt who gave generous support to the author's research, at the request of Anrdt's family, whose “generous gift” supported the authors’ research. Magnus played an important part in assisting the Arndt family to survive in Berlin after the Second World War and then emigrate to New York City in 1950, by giving them "food, clothing, shelter, love, many kindnesses and moral support".

Paretroplus loisellei is a vulnerable species of cichlid fish from the Mahanara River basin north of Sambava in northeastern Madagascar. Until its scientific description in 2011, this population was usually referred to as Paretroplus sp. nov. "Ventitry" or included in P. damii, which it resembles. It reaches about 15 centimetres (5.9 in) in length, and is threatened by habitat loss and introduced species. The similar named Ptychochromis loisellei is also restricted to the Mahanara River basin. The specific name honours Paul V. Loiselle, Emeritus Curator of Freshwater Fishes at the New York Aquarium and a researcher in, and campaigner for the conservation of, the freshwater fish of Madagascar.

<i>Astatotilapia bloyeti</i> Species of fish

Astatotilapia bloyeti is a species of haplochromine cichlid from the coastal river systems of Tanzania. Reports from other areas of Africa are considered to refer to related species. The IUCN considers it to be endemic to the Pangani River and includes Kenya in its range. This species taxonomic status is uncertain and some authorities place it in the genus Haplochromis while others retain it in Astatotilapia. This taxonomic uncertainty has led the IUCN to classify this species conservation status as Data Deficient. The specific name honours the collector of the type, Capitaine A. Bloyet, chief of the French research station at "Kandôa, Tanzania".

References

  1. 1 2 Ravelomanana, T. (2016). "Oxylapia polli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T15778A58296944. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15778A58296944.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2011). "Oxylapia polli" in FishBase . July 2011 version.
  3. Sparks, J.S. (2020). "Katria katria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T44512A176532003. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T44512A176532003.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (20 September 2010). Nosivolo is designated as Madagascar's first riverine Ramsar site. Accessed 14 July 2011
  5. 1 2 de Rham, P. (1996). Oxylapia polli, the enigmatic cichlid of the Nosivolo River. Accessed 14 July 2011
  6. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 July 2018). "Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamilies ETROPLINAE and PTYCHOCHROMINAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 20 November 2018.