back to the startingpage
Cyprichromus en Paracyprichromis 1

Paracyprichromis nigripinnisChituta bay alb.
Cyprichromis leptosoma Blue flash vrouwtje
Cyprichromis brieni
Cyprichrichromis microlepidotus burundi
Paracyprichromis nigripinnis Chituta Bay

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
.............................................................................................................................................

Scientiffically seen the sardine cichlids are known quite a lot of years. Namely It was already in 1898 that BOULENGER described the fish we now know by the name Cyprichromis leptosoma as Limnochromis leptosoma. Only just in 1977 there was drawn up an own genus for this cichlids because of their many specific qualities : Cyprichromis SCHEUERMANN, 1977. Within the scope of a revision of the cichlids of Lake Tanganyika the Belgian POLL (1986) a subdivision of the Genus Cyprichromis, after the relative number of Abdominal- and Caudal vertebras as well as the total number of vertebral bodies, in Cyprichromis sensu stricto and Paracyprichromis. To the average aquarist the numbers of vertebral bodies don't tell very much. To him they don't represent a useful distinguishing mark. That is probably why in literature people are so careless with it and the Aquarius's as well in that way that both Paracyprichromini often simply are indicated as Cyprichromis. But besides the inner difference their is also difference in behavior. At the moment there have been described some seven species, that each are subdivided in a large number of local varieties, that mostly bear in an addition to the name the place of origin.
Cyprichromis Ieptosoma (BOULENGER, 1898), Cyprichromis leptosoma "Ikola"
Cyprichromis leptosoma "Karilani",Cyprichromis leptosoma "Kigoma", Cyprichromis leptosoma "Malasa",Cyprichromis leptosoma "Mpulungu",
Cyprichromis leptosoma "Kasanga",Cyprichromis leptosoma "Kiku",
Cyprichromis leptosoma "Nangu"
Paracyprichromis nigripinnis (BOULENGER, 1901)
of which not so very long ago a albinotic variety was created.
Cyprichromis microlepidotus (POLL, 1956)
Cyprichronis microlepidotus "Bemba",
Cyprichronis microlepidotus "Kasai",
Cyprichronis microlepidotus "Kavala",
Cyprichronis microlepidotus "Kiriza",
Cyprichronis microlepidotus "Moba",
Cyprichronis microlepidotus "Magara"

P. brieni (POLL, 1981).
In his story in Datz BUSCHER writes how during several expeditions to the Southwest coast of Lake Tanganyika (Zaire) at a at least 60 kilometers long part of the coast he observed 4 sympatric living forms of this geslachtsgroep, of which until then only P. brieni was scientifically known Of the other forms the species Paracyprichromis sp blue neon is known in the trade and several times indicated as P. nigripinnis. Two specimen belonged to the genus Cyprichromis. That is closely related with C. leptosoma; she was imported as aquariumfish under the indication "Jumbo Leptosoma" several times from the southern part of the lake. The second species of this genus differs itself in morphological way and in ethological way as well from C. leptosoma and C. microlepidotus. As result of this they have been described at that time as e new species
Cyprichromis pavo (BUSCHER, 1994)
Cyprichromis pavo Chaitika "Blue"
Cyprichromis. pavo Msalba "Yellow"
Cyprichromis zebra (BUSCHER 1997)
Cyprichromis sp. "Zebra Zaire
Cyprichromis sp. "Zebra"
Cyprichromis sp. "Zebra Chituta
In the mean time there is of the species Leptosoma subspecies? known which grows a little bit greater then the species known before This is indicated as the Jumbo with the term Jumbo
There are of this variety Cyprichromis sp. Ieptosoma Jumbo in the meantime the color varieties Chaitika, Chipimbi, Isanga, Kapampa, Kapemba, Kasanga, Kekese, Kibishi, Kavala, Kibishi Tembwe II, Kitumba, Malasa, Moliro, Mpimbwe (Azuri),Mpimbwe (Yellow Head), Tembwe (Speklback Rainbow) have been available from time to time. It will be that All in all it will be clear that in a scientific way we haven't heard the last word about these very interesting and beautiful cichlidspecies . On the other hand for the serious aquarist there will be many things to study and to improve out of he point of view of acting in favor of the animal This pages have the intention to be a little support in it