Greek Names in Fish Taxonomy: Malawi Cichlids - Page 2

Greek Names in Fish Taxonomy: Malawi Cichlids - Page 2

Written by Marina Parha and George J. Reclos Sunday, 11 August 2002 02:00

PDF | Print | E-mail

Article Index
Greek Names in Fish Taxonomy: Malawi Cichlids
2
3
All Pages

Part I : Non-mbuna Malawi Cichlids.

Notes:

Names derived from Greek, or the Greek part in a composite word, are signified in bold italics. It should be noted that in presenting the greek words (or composite parts) we have not always adopted the correct greek spelling. This is to facilitate readers who may not be familiar with Greek to see the connection. For example in the case of Aulonacara macrochir the word macrochir is a composite from Makros = long and heir = hand. The sound of the letter K in Greek, as in English, can also be reproduced using a hard c; similarly, the sound of the Greek diphtong ei is the same as this of the letter i (eg in the word similarly). Accordingly, the spelling of the composite word makroheir has been changed to macrochir. In our explanation below we indicate this to be derived from macro=long + hir = hand.

Dr. Michael K. Oliver, biologist, with a Ph.D. on the taxonomy of African Cichlids of Lake Malawi kindly commented on the initial list, which was sent to him before publishing. Dr. Oliver's comments are indicated in yellow). The authors wish to thank him once more for his time and kindness.

If the genus name contains Greek words, the translation is shown next to the genus name. The same translation is not repeated next to species names. Therefore, to get a complete picture the reader should combine the two translations. For example: in the case of Aulonacara macrohir  the reader must combine the translation of the genus Aulos = music organ made by pipes + cara = head) with that of the species (Macros=long + chir=hand).

Finally, a word about the composite -chromis. There is a long standing debate in the field regarding the meaning of Chromis. It is generally accepted that it is a greek word, though some believe it was, and in some cases is still, used to describe a colourful fish (the word derived from Greek chroma = colour) whether others refer to it as a genus without indicating any particular meaning of it. A discussion of this can be found in the article of Marc Elieson (http://www.hagblomfoto.com/article_names.htm), who claims that authors use it in different ways. We have not highlighted Chromis below in any way as there is no solid evidence as to its meaning. Yet there is no doubt that, whatever its meaning, it is a Greek word.

Alticorpus macrocleithrum (macro=big; long + cleithrum=key)
(Alticorpus) macrocleithrum: long key: the -cleithrum part refers directly to the large bone of the pectoral girdle that is called the cleithrum; this is the paired bone whose tips protrude downward from the ventral outline of the body in this peculiar species.

Aristochromis (Ariston=excellent)
Genera based on -chromis: Although true that chromis means colored, when used in a cichlid name, this probably refers more directly to the fish genus Chromis, a reef fish genus with many, many species in the family Pomacentridae. Early taxonomists who named cichlids were reminded of the genus Chromis by the appearance of the cichlids, and now very many cichlid genera are compounds of -chromis.

Aulonocara (Aulos=music organ made by pipes + cara=head)
(Aulonocara) macrochir (Macros=long + chir=hand)
(Aulonocara) trematocephala (trema=hole + cephala=head)

Buccochromis
Buccochromis atritaeniatus (taeniatus=with a stripe)
Buccochromis heterotaenia (hetero=other + taenia=stripe)
Buccochromis lepturus (leptos=thin + ura=tail)
Buccochromis nototaenia (taenia=stripe). The noto- part is from Greek too, notos, the back, the dorsum. This fish has a stripe on its back (like so many Malawi cichlids!).

Caprichromis
Caprichromis orthognathus (ortho=standing; erected + gnathus=jaw)

Champsochromis: The Champso- is from Greek champsos, crocodile. This is a genus of voracious predators with jaws resembling those of a crocodile.
Champsochromis spilorhynchus (spilos=dot, smear, stain + rhynchus=snout)

Cheilochromis (Cheilos=lips)
Cheilochromis euchilus (eu=well, good, beautiful + chilus=lips)

Copadichromis chrysonotus (copas = part, section, also, as in this case having the meaning of herd, chryso=golden, notus = back, dorsal)
Copadichromis conophoros (conos=cone + phoros=carrying)
Copadichromis cyaneus (cyanus=blue)
Copadichromis cyclicos (cyclicos=circular)
Copadichromis eucinostomus (eucinos=flexible + stomus=mouth)
Copadichromis pleurostigma (pleuro=side + stigma=dot)
Copadichromis pleurostigmoides (pleuro=side + stigmoides=dot like)

Corematodus (odus=tooth). The Coremat- is from Greek korema, korematos, a broom;
the taxonomist imagined the teeth to function like a broom.
Corematodus taeniatus (taeniatus=with stripe)
Ctenopharynx (cteno=comb + pharynx=throat)

Cyrtocara (cyrto=rounded + cara=head)

Dimidiochromis

Diplotaxodon (Diplo=double + taxo=class, rank +odon=tooth)
(Diplotaxodon) aeneus: Like most uses of aeneus or aeneo- in fish names, this is intended to mean brassy in color, from Latin aeneus = of brass, of copper.
Diplotaxodon apogon (a=without + pogon=chin)

Eclectochromis (eclecto=chosen, oustanding)
Eclectochromis lobochilus (lobos=lobe + chilus=lip)

Exochochromis (exocho=outstanding, excellent)
Exochochromis anagenys. Anagenys is one more of Dr.Oliver's names. He coined the name from Greek ana- (back, again) plus Greek genys (chin, jaw, cheek), intending it to mean with a back(ward) chin, with its chin moved back from the usual place. This distinctive species has a lower jaw whose tip fits behind the upper jaw when the mouth is closed -- very unusual. (Names like this are what happens when you give an American a few books of classical words!)

Fossorochromis

Hemitaeniochromis (hemi=half + taenia=stripe)
Hemitaeniochromis urotaenia (uro=tail + taenia=stripe)

Hemitilapia (Hemi=half)
Hemitilapia oxyrhynchus (oxy=sharp angle + rhynchus=snout)

Lethrinops (lethrinus = corruption of the word erythrinus = red, commonly used to refer to the species Pagellus erythrinus + ops = looking like).
Lethrinops leptodon (leptos=thin + odon=tooth)
Lethrinops macracanthus (macros=long + acanthus=spine)
The translation of acanthus here is spine as it refers to the long anal-fin spines of this species.
Lethrinops macrochir (macros=long + chir=hand)
Lethrinops macrophthalmus (macros=long + opthalmus=eye)
Lethrinops microdon (micros=small + odon=tooth)
Lethrinops microstoma (micro=small + stoma=mouth)

Lichnochromis (lichnos=greedy, voracious)

Maravichromis

Mylochromis (mylos=mill)
Mylochromis ericotaenia (taenia=stripe)
Mylochromis labidodon (labido=pincer-shaped + odon=tooth)
Mylochromis melanotaenia (melano=black + taenia=stripe)
Mylochromis plagiotaenia (plagio=at an angle + taenia=stripe)
Mylochromis sphaerodon (sphaera=sphere + odon=tooth)

Naevochromis
Naevochromis chrysogaster (chryso=gold + gaster=belly)

Nimbochromis
Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus (taenia=stripe)
The fusco- is from Latin fuscus= dusky, dark, swarthy; a dusky-banded fish.

Nimbochromis polystigma (poly=many + stigma=dots)

Nyassachromis
Nyassachromis leuciscus (leuciscus=whitish)
Nyassachromis microcephalus (micro=small + cephalus=head)
Nyassachromis nigritaeniatus (taeniatus=with stripe)
Nyassachromis serenus
(Nyassachromis) serenus: serenus is pure Latin, =bright, clear.

Otopharynx (Oto=Ear + pharynx=throat)
Otopharynx argyrosoma (argyro=silver + soma=body)
Otopharynx heterodon (hetero=other, different + odon=tooth)
Otopharynx lithobates (litho=stone + bates=walker)
(Otopharynx) lithobates: another of Dr.Oliver's species names; he meant -bates to mean one who frequents, one who haunts; this is one of the few non-mbuna "haps" that is found on rocky shores. "Stone-walker" is too literal a translation. I think of this one as the haunter of the stones.
Otopharynx selenurus (selene= moon + urus=tail) to indicate its less crescentic caudal fin
Otopharynx tetraspilus (tetra=four + spilus=dot)
Otopharynx tetrastigma (tetra=four + stigma=points, dots)

Pallidochromis

Placidochromis
This genus is from Latin placidus=quiet, still, gentle; not from Greek plax, plakos, a stone tablet. This genus contains "gentle," non-predatory cichlids.
Placidochromis electra (electra=amber, electric)
Placidochromis macrognathus (macro=long + gnathus=jaw)
Placidochromis phenochilus (pheno=obvious, showing + chilus=lips)

Platygnathochromis (platy=wide + gnatho=jaw)
Platygnathochromis melanonotus (melano=black, + notus = backside)

Protomelas (Proto=first + melas=black)
Protomelas kirkii
Protomelas macrodon (macros=long + odon=tooth)
Protomelas pleurotaenia (pleuro=side + taenia=stripe)
Protomelas spilopterus (spilos=dot, blemish + pterus=wing)
Protomelas taeniolatus (taenia=stripe)
Protomelas triaenodon (triaena=three point harpoon + odon=tooth)

Rhamphochromis (Rhamphos=beak)
Rhamphochromis leptosoma (lepto=thin + soma=body)
Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus (macro=long + ophthalmus=eye)

Sciaenochromis
Sciaenochromis psammophilus (psammos=sand + philus=friend)
Sciaenochromis spilostichus (spilos=dot, blemish + stichos=line)

Stigmatochromis (stigmato=points, dots)
(Stigmatochromis) pholidophorus: Trewavas almost certainly named this fish because of its resemblance to an extinct fossil fish genus, This, in turn, would have been named from pholis, pholidos=scale, spot, fleck; and -pher, -phor, from phero, bear or carry.
Stigmatochromis pleurospilus (pleuro=side + spilos=dot, blemish).

Taeniochromis (taenio=stripe)
Taeniochromis holotaenia (holo=whole + taenia=stripe)
Taeniolethrinops (taenio=stripe + lethrinus = red coloured + opsis = looks)
(Taeniolethrinops) cyrtonotus (cyrto=rounded + notus = back)

Tramitichromis
Tramitichromis trilineata (tri=three)

Trematocranus (tremato=hole + cranos=head)
(Trematocranus) microstoma (micro=small + stoma=mouth)
(Trematocranus) placodon (placo=flat + odon=tooth)

Tyrannochromis (Tyranno=tyrant, the largest)
(Tyrannochromis) macrostoma (macro=long + stoma=mouth)
(Tyrannochromis) polyodon (poly=many + odon=tooth)

< Prev