Wildcichids discover new Aulonocara

[Esben]

Then succeeds the guys to discover a new Aulonocara species. Read more here:

So we found a new species!

We (Gissel and Kenneth) was down to 50-60m by GOME to find Virginalis fire crest and to find the right habitat.

We started Thursday afternoon to explore the area to locate and find Viginalis, but instead we found a brand new ART AULONOCARA. We call it Aulonocara sp. Yellow Neon until further:)

We found it on 47-53m. More info follows ... surely when we come home with a little more stable internet: /

If you log in you can see the pictures here:

http://www.wildcichlids.com/Forum/engli ... 31#post931

[Juan Artigas]

Very exciting. Thanks! Probably you can post one of the pictures here when you can?

[Mark Smith]

Hi Esben

I cannot seem to open up the attachment once on Carsten's website. Anyway around this?

[Esben]

Hi, we are working on, so it you can see all our forum pictures without login. We have quite alot from the lake. Only this time Carsten and Kenneth got over 3,500 new pictures and lots of videos. The pictures at 53 meters is not that good, but they are the best for now.

[Esben]

And the last one

[cichla]

Thanks Espen.
May I ask what are the diagnostic characters for this putative new species? How it differs from the remaining species of the genus?
Greetings, IS

[Esben]

Carsten and Kenneth took the pictures. I have not talking that must to Carsten about the diagnostic characters yet.

[Juan Artigas]

Hi, we are working on, so it you can see all our forum pictures without login. We have quite alot from the lake. Only this time Carsten and Kenneth got over 3,500 new pictures and lots of videos. The pictures at 53 meters is not that good, but they are the best for now.

Esben thank you so much! That is really deep, I realize they can not spend much time there without using a mix of gases for diving (probably not available at the lake). I would personally not spend more than three to five minutes that deep, considering the decompression time involved. Those are very valuable pictures!

[Mark Smith]

Thanks Esben. Interesting species for sure.

[adkonings]

Hi Esben, thank you very much for posting the photos of the new Aulonocara. It looks new to me. Perhaps closely related to the Aul. sp. 'blue orange' of George Turner's book. In one of the photos there is, what it looks like, a M. zebra. I have never seen algae browsers that deep. Could you ask Carsten or Kenneth whether they have any idea what it could be? Perhaps a very large Cynotilapia as you have near the Cape Maclear area at depths of more than 40 meters. Thanks again. Ad

[Esben]

Hi Ad,

Carsten and Kenneth didn't notice the mbuna. But they have some video of the Aulonocara, som maybe it is also at the video. We will try to study the video closely.

All the best
Esben

[adkonings]

Hi Ad,

Carsten and Kenneth didn't notice the mbuna. But they have some video of the Aulonocara, som maybe it is also at the video. We will try to study the video closely.

All the best
Esben

Thank you, Esben.

[Tachymarptis]

Very interesting, thank you for posting these photos. It looks like something intermediate between Lethrinops and the sand-dwelling aulonocaras.

[SergeS]

Very nice! Over 1200 and still counting I see

@ Tachymarptis: I was thinking the same thing It also looks a bit like a Chitande type Aulonocara, for what it's worth. Oh well, that's all speculation for now. I'm sure someone will have a closer look at these guys at some point. Until then we'll have to live with the pictures

[Alton]

I just joined on here and saw this posting. I have to admit this guy looks allot like my Aulonocara Sp. Chitande Type Masinje. I have had wild caught fish of these and now raising 48 fry of them. Just courious about them and what ever become of the name for them.

[Alton]

I am very courious the status of this species. I have wid caught Aulonocara Sp Chitande Type Masinje and they look allot like these guys. Anyone know more about this species?

[Tachymarptis]

It is not one of the Chitande types, which are shallower-bodied. By the way, I could see and shot these fish in aquarium as a special new import. I am not sure that this is the same fish, but it looks like very much, and is probably not an Aulonocara, since it has no enlarged cephalic pores.

Patrick

[Alton]

I can see simualiarities to the chitande Masinje's. But the blaze on this guy is definately different. They are a cool looking fish for sure.