Paretroplus loisellei explained

Paretroplus loisellei is a vulnerable species of cichlid fish from the Mahanara River basin north of Sambava in northeastern Madagascar.^[1] 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.^[1] It reaches about 15cm (06inches) in length, and is threatened by habitat loss and introduced species. The similar named Ptychochromis loisellei is also restricted to the Mahanara River basin.^[2] 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.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Sparks, J. S. and Schelly, R. C. (2011). A new species of Paretroplus (Teleostei: Cichlidae: Etroplinae) from northeastern Madagascar, with a phylogeny and revised diagnosis for the P. damii clade. Zootaxa 2768: 55–68.
2. Stiassny, M., and Sparks, J. S. (2006). Phylogeny and Taxonomic Revision of the Endemic Malagasy Genus Ptychochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae), with the Description of Five New Species and a Diagnosis for Katria, New Genus. American Museum Novitates 3535.
3. Web site: Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamilies ETROPLINAE and PTYCHOCHROMINAE . 19 November 2018 . Christopher Scharpf . Kenneth J. Lazara . amp . The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database . Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara . 22 July 2018.