Michael K. Oliver, Ph.D.
@mkocichlid.bsky.social
Ichthyology, systematics, taxonomy. #teamfish🐟 🐠 African cichlids! Curatorial affiliate at Yale Peabody Museum. Amateur coleopterist. 🪲 🐞 https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Michael_K._Oliver http://MalawiCichlids.com
That’s a tiny adult longhorn beetle on my fingertip. 𝘏𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢. Hamden, Connecticut.
June 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
That’s a tiny adult longhorn beetle on my fingertip. 𝘏𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢. Hamden, Connecticut.
How is it that, after walking on my living room carpet daily for years, I only noticed the Guinea pig today?
January 14, 2025 at 1:30 AM
How is it that, after walking on my living room carpet daily for years, I only noticed the Guinea pig today?
9/9
Finally, many "haplochromine" genera (tribe Pseudocrenilabrini) remain "incertae sedis"--of uncertain position--within this tribe, and so are not included in a subtribe. Besides "serranochromines" and riverine genera mentioned in #2, the many cichlids of Lake Victoria also need more study!
Finally, many "haplochromine" genera (tribe Pseudocrenilabrini) remain "incertae sedis"--of uncertain position--within this tribe, and so are not included in a subtribe. Besides "serranochromines" and riverine genera mentioned in #2, the many cichlids of Lake Victoria also need more study!
December 22, 2024 at 1:35 AM
9/9
Finally, many "haplochromine" genera (tribe Pseudocrenilabrini) remain "incertae sedis"--of uncertain position--within this tribe, and so are not included in a subtribe. Besides "serranochromines" and riverine genera mentioned in #2, the many cichlids of Lake Victoria also need more study!
Finally, many "haplochromine" genera (tribe Pseudocrenilabrini) remain "incertae sedis"--of uncertain position--within this tribe, and so are not included in a subtribe. Besides "serranochromines" and riverine genera mentioned in #2, the many cichlids of Lake Victoria also need more study!
8/9
𝗖𝘆𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 is my third and final new Lake Malawi subtribe. It includes all remaining endemic "haplochromines" in the lake--some 35 genera and 255 named species. Once again, someone else had proposed the same subtribe name years earlier, but had failed to satisfy all Code requirements.
𝗖𝘆𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 is my third and final new Lake Malawi subtribe. It includes all remaining endemic "haplochromines" in the lake--some 35 genera and 255 named species. Once again, someone else had proposed the same subtribe name years earlier, but had failed to satisfy all Code requirements.
December 22, 2024 at 1:35 AM
8/9
𝗖𝘆𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 is my third and final new Lake Malawi subtribe. It includes all remaining endemic "haplochromines" in the lake--some 35 genera and 255 named species. Once again, someone else had proposed the same subtribe name years earlier, but had failed to satisfy all Code requirements.
𝗖𝘆𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 is my third and final new Lake Malawi subtribe. It includes all remaining endemic "haplochromines" in the lake--some 35 genera and 255 named species. Once again, someone else had proposed the same subtribe name years earlier, but had failed to satisfy all Code requirements.
7/9
𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗮 is the second new subtribe of Lake Malawi "haplochromines" (tribe Pseudocrenilabrini). This group is familiar to aquarists and scientists as the "mbuna." Two previous attempts by others to give them the same name (as -ini or -ina) failed to meet requirements of the Code (ICZN).
𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗮 is the second new subtribe of Lake Malawi "haplochromines" (tribe Pseudocrenilabrini). This group is familiar to aquarists and scientists as the "mbuna." Two previous attempts by others to give them the same name (as -ini or -ina) failed to meet requirements of the Code (ICZN).
December 22, 2024 at 1:35 AM
7/9
𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗮 is the second new subtribe of Lake Malawi "haplochromines" (tribe Pseudocrenilabrini). This group is familiar to aquarists and scientists as the "mbuna." Two previous attempts by others to give them the same name (as -ini or -ina) failed to meet requirements of the Code (ICZN).
𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗮 is the second new subtribe of Lake Malawi "haplochromines" (tribe Pseudocrenilabrini). This group is familiar to aquarists and scientists as the "mbuna." Two previous attempts by others to give them the same name (as -ini or -ina) failed to meet requirements of the Code (ICZN).
6/9
Based on diagnostic morphological characters and other workers' molecular genetic characters, in my recent paper (doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....) I named three new subtribes endemic to Lake Malawi. The first is 𝗥𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮, with 𝘙𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘋𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘹𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯, and 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴. More info in Alt.
Based on diagnostic morphological characters and other workers' molecular genetic characters, in my recent paper (doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....) I named three new subtribes endemic to Lake Malawi. The first is 𝗥𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮, with 𝘙𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘋𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘹𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯, and 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴. More info in Alt.
December 22, 2024 at 1:35 AM
6/9
Based on diagnostic morphological characters and other workers' molecular genetic characters, in my recent paper (doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....) I named three new subtribes endemic to Lake Malawi. The first is 𝗥𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮, with 𝘙𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘋𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘹𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯, and 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴. More info in Alt.
Based on diagnostic morphological characters and other workers' molecular genetic characters, in my recent paper (doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....) I named three new subtribes endemic to Lake Malawi. The first is 𝗥𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮, with 𝘙𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘋𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘹𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯, and 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴. More info in Alt.
5/9
One Lake Tanganyika cichlid tribe, the Tropheini, clearly falls within the "Haplochromini" (correctly, Pseudocrenilabrini) according to many molecular phylogenetic studies. I therefore changed its status & reassigned it to that tribe, as the subtribe 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗮, with nine genera (see Alt text).
One Lake Tanganyika cichlid tribe, the Tropheini, clearly falls within the "Haplochromini" (correctly, Pseudocrenilabrini) according to many molecular phylogenetic studies. I therefore changed its status & reassigned it to that tribe, as the subtribe 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗮, with nine genera (see Alt text).
December 22, 2024 at 1:35 AM
5/9
One Lake Tanganyika cichlid tribe, the Tropheini, clearly falls within the "Haplochromini" (correctly, Pseudocrenilabrini) according to many molecular phylogenetic studies. I therefore changed its status & reassigned it to that tribe, as the subtribe 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗮, with nine genera (see Alt text).
One Lake Tanganyika cichlid tribe, the Tropheini, clearly falls within the "Haplochromini" (correctly, Pseudocrenilabrini) according to many molecular phylogenetic studies. I therefore changed its status & reassigned it to that tribe, as the subtribe 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗮, with nine genera (see Alt text).
4/9
One subgroup of the Pseudocrenilabrini tribe that IS apparently monophyletic, thus meriting formal subtribe status, is the 𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮. (Notice that tribe names end in -ini whereas subtribe names end in -ina.) This subtribe includes 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴, 𝘓𝘶𝘧𝘶𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹, & more.
One subgroup of the Pseudocrenilabrini tribe that IS apparently monophyletic, thus meriting formal subtribe status, is the 𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮. (Notice that tribe names end in -ini whereas subtribe names end in -ina.) This subtribe includes 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴, 𝘓𝘶𝘧𝘶𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹, & more.
December 22, 2024 at 1:35 AM
4/9
One subgroup of the Pseudocrenilabrini tribe that IS apparently monophyletic, thus meriting formal subtribe status, is the 𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮. (Notice that tribe names end in -ini whereas subtribe names end in -ina.) This subtribe includes 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴, 𝘓𝘶𝘧𝘶𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹, & more.
One subgroup of the Pseudocrenilabrini tribe that IS apparently monophyletic, thus meriting formal subtribe status, is the 𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮. (Notice that tribe names end in -ini whereas subtribe names end in -ina.) This subtribe includes 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴, 𝘓𝘶𝘧𝘶𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹, & more.
3/9
"Serranochromines" are another informal subgroup of Pseudocrenilabrini that seems to be not monophyletic - so not a subtribe. It includes 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘢, 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, and 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴 and currently includes some 30 described species in the four genera. Most of these inhabit rivers.
"Serranochromines" are another informal subgroup of Pseudocrenilabrini that seems to be not monophyletic - so not a subtribe. It includes 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘢, 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, and 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴 and currently includes some 30 described species in the four genera. Most of these inhabit rivers.
December 22, 2024 at 1:35 AM
3/9
"Serranochromines" are another informal subgroup of Pseudocrenilabrini that seems to be not monophyletic - so not a subtribe. It includes 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘢, 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, and 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴 and currently includes some 30 described species in the four genera. Most of these inhabit rivers.
"Serranochromines" are another informal subgroup of Pseudocrenilabrini that seems to be not monophyletic - so not a subtribe. It includes 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘢, 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, and 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴 and currently includes some 30 described species in the four genera. Most of these inhabit rivers.
1/9
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 "𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲" 𝗰𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗱𝘀
The largest tribe of African cichlids are the "Haplochromines." Alas, as I recently showed (doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....), "Haplochromini" is a junior synonym of the correct name, 𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶. I made new subtribes within it too: - A 🧵
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 "𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲" 𝗰𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗱𝘀
The largest tribe of African cichlids are the "Haplochromines." Alas, as I recently showed (doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....), "Haplochromini" is a junior synonym of the correct name, 𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶. I made new subtribes within it too: - A 🧵
December 22, 2024 at 1:35 AM
1/9
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 "𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲" 𝗰𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗱𝘀
The largest tribe of African cichlids are the "Haplochromines." Alas, as I recently showed (doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....), "Haplochromini" is a junior synonym of the correct name, 𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶. I made new subtribes within it too: - A 🧵
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 "𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲" 𝗰𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗱𝘀
The largest tribe of African cichlids are the "Haplochromines." Alas, as I recently showed (doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....), "Haplochromini" is a junior synonym of the correct name, 𝗣𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶. I made new subtribes within it too: - A 🧵
3/4:
I also explore the specific patterns with which the pterygiophores are situated between the neural or hemal spines of the vertebrae. I include the first cladogram to include all cichlid subfamilies, tribes, and subtribesAll raw data are provided in supporting information. …
I also explore the specific patterns with which the pterygiophores are situated between the neural or hemal spines of the vertebrae. I include the first cladogram to include all cichlid subfamilies, tribes, and subtribesAll raw data are provided in supporting information. …
November 27, 2024 at 11:04 PM
3/4:
I also explore the specific patterns with which the pterygiophores are situated between the neural or hemal spines of the vertebrae. I include the first cladogram to include all cichlid subfamilies, tribes, and subtribesAll raw data are provided in supporting information. …
I also explore the specific patterns with which the pterygiophores are situated between the neural or hemal spines of the vertebrae. I include the first cladogram to include all cichlid subfamilies, tribes, and subtribesAll raw data are provided in supporting information. …
1/4:
My recent cichlid paper is open-access: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.... It presents the first survey of variation in much of the cichlid skeleton behind the head. My data cover species in all but one of the 166 genera of African cichlids. …🧵
My recent cichlid paper is open-access: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.... It presents the first survey of variation in much of the cichlid skeleton behind the head. My data cover species in all but one of the 166 genera of African cichlids. …🧵
November 27, 2024 at 11:04 PM
1/4:
My recent cichlid paper is open-access: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.... It presents the first survey of variation in much of the cichlid skeleton behind the head. My data cover species in all but one of the 166 genera of African cichlids. …🧵
My recent cichlid paper is open-access: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.... It presents the first survey of variation in much of the cichlid skeleton behind the head. My data cover species in all but one of the 166 genera of African cichlids. …🧵
