Red Top Cobalt question

I was reading online about red top cobalts. Some sources refer
to them as pseudotropheus, and others call them maylandia. Are
they still considered to be from the pseudotropheus family?

Also, when a species is designated BB, what does that refer to?


Thanks,
Mark

"Mark Cooper" wrote in message
.. .
I was reading online about red top cobalts. Some sources refer
to them as pseudotropheus, and others call them maylandia. Are
they still considered to be from the pseudotropheus family?

Also, when a species is designated BB, what does that refer to?


Thanks,
Mark

I believe the correct genus for them to be Metriaclima. ;-)
How's that for complicating things? Maylandia was suggested for the
Pseudotropeus zebra family, but was never described to distinguish it from
the other Pseudotropheus. So, it was labeled as nomen nudum. This was by a
group of scientists in 1997. Metriaclima was proposed as a new generic name
by Stauffer and McKaye in 2001 and was accompanied by a full description.
This debate rages on for some, for others like my buddy Ad, the name is
Metriaclima and there is no debate. =)
If your fish has stripes, then it's most likely Metriaclima zebra. There are
three or four geographical variants that have red tops.
Two fish with no stripes and are powder blue in color would be Metriaclima
greshakei and Metriaclima mbenjii.
The cobalt zebras are now found under Metriaclima callainos, but I'm unaware
of any geographical variant with a red top. This doesn't mean however that
they don't exist. ;-)
Amateur
www.amateurcichlids.com

"Amateur Cichlids" wrote in
:


"Mark Cooper" wrote in message
.. .
I was reading online about red top cobalts. Some sources
refer
to them as pseudotropheus, and others call them maylandia.
Are
they still considered to be from the pseudotropheus family?

Also, when a species is designated BB, what does that refer
to?


Thanks,
Mark

I believe the correct genus for them to be Metriaclima. ;-)
How's that for complicating things? Maylandia was suggested
for the
Pseudotropeus zebra family, but was never described to
distinguish it
from the other Pseudotropheus. So, it was labeled as nomen
nudum. This
was by a group of scientists in 1997. Metriaclima was
proposed as a
new generic name by Stauffer and McKaye in 2001 and was
accompanied by
a full description. This debate rages on for some, for
others like my
buddy Ad, the name is Metriaclima and there is no debate. =)
If your fish has stripes, then it's most likely Metriaclima
zebra.
There are three or four geographical variants that have red
tops.
Two fish with no stripes and are powder blue in color would
be
Metriaclima greshakei and Metriaclima mbenjii.
The cobalt zebras are now found under Metriaclima callainos,
but I'm
unaware of any geographical variant with a red top. This
doesn't mean
however that they don't exist. ;-)
Amateur
www.amateurcichlids.com




Well, then this must be a variation of the metriaclima zebra.
What is a good publication/periodical to keep up on the
everchanging
world of cichlid nomenclature?

Thanks,
Mark

"Mark Cooper" wrote in message
.. .
Well, then this must be a variation of the metriaclima zebra.
What is a good publication/periodical to keep up on the
everchanging
world of cichlid nomenclature?

Thanks,
Mark

IMO you can't go wrong with any of the Ad Konings books that are put out.
But, then you only get a new one every four years or so.
There's the Cichlid News http://www.cichlidnews.com/subscriptions.html that
is put out bi-monthyly. Many reknowned scientists and hobbyists submit
articles to that. It's a good way to stay on top of things and to pick up
information.
If you want to read the article by Martin Geerts on the Maylandia vs
Metriaclima debate, it's in the October 2002 issue.
For a general all around great cichlid aquaria book, I'd recommend "Enjoying
Cichlids 2nd edition" edited by Ad Konings. Co-written by 12 authors.
Amateur