TAXONOMY OF SMALL-SIZED CICHLID FISHES IN THE SHELL-BED AREA OF LAKE-TANGANYIKA

Several species of small-sized cichlid fishes inhabit the shell-bed ar ea at Rumonge, Burundi, in the northeastern part of Lake Tanganyika. S ome of them are very similar in morphology to the known species occurr ing in rocky and sandy habitats, but their bodies are unusually small. Investigations of three such small-sized cichlids were made from taxo nomic point of view, and it was concluded that they represent small mo rphs of Altolamprologus compressiceps, Lamprologus callipterus and Neo lamprologus mondabu. Their small bodies and some minor morphological d ifferences were interpreted as adaptations to the utilization of empty shells as brooding sites and shelters in the shell-bed environment.