The Cichlid Fishes of Western Africa
The bible of West African CichlidsAuthor: Lamboj, Anton, 2004
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Review
by Ken Boorman, 21-Nov-2004.
This book fills a void that has existed for too long - an accurate, up-to-date book on the very popular cichlids from West Africa. I was very impressed whilst reading this all-too-short book. Don't get me wrong - it is very comprehensive. I just wish it could have been longer because of the sheer artistry of writing displayed by Dr. Lamboj, accompanied by his excellent photographs that depicted the subjects discussed. One of the things I was very impressed with was the apparent lack of "fixing", or colour editing of the photographs by the author and the publisher, something that is prevalent in a lot of other books on fishes by other authors and publishers.
Each cichlid Genus discussed is grouped together with its closest relatives and tabulated into associated tribes. I find this an intriguing and very valuable guide to the relative aquarium care of the different species as one can assume that members of the same tribe are fairly similar in care requirements etc. This seems to be true in most cases.
Dr. Lamboj has the happy knack of being able to write for both the scientific and the hobbyist markets with equal proficiency. I had no difficulty in reading and following the straightforward approach adapted by the author. In short, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in these "gems from the West".
Content
Western Africa (Map), 7
Foreward, 8
Chapter 1: Some Comments on the Systematics of Cichlids from Western Africa, 11
Chapter 2: Natural Habitats of the Cichlids of Western Africa, 13
Chapter 3: Cichlids from West and Central Africa in Aquaria, 19
Chapter 4: The Cichlid Species of Western Africa, 21
Subfamily Heterochromidinae, 21
Genus Heterochromis Regan, 1920
Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae, 23
Tribe Tylochromini
Genus Tylochromis Regan, 1920
Genus with specific status, 29
Genus Etia Schliewen & Stiassny, 2003
Tribe Tilapiini, 31
Genus Chilochromis Boulenger, 1902
Genus Gobiocichla Kanazawa, 1951
Genus Konia Trewavas, Green & Corbet, 1972
Genus Myaka Trewavas in Trewavas et al., 1972
Genus Oreochromis Gunther, 1889
Genus Pungu Trewavas, 1972
Genus Saratherodon Ruppel, 1852
Genus Steatocranus Boulenger, 1899
Genus Stomatepia Trewavas, 1962
Genus Tilapia Smith, 1840
Tribe Hemichromini, 94
Genus Anamolochromis Greenwood, 1985
Genus Hemichromis Peters, 1858
Tribe Pelmatochromini, 123
Genus Pterochromis Trewavas, 1973
Genus Pelmatochromis Steindachner, 1894
Tribe Chromidotilapiini, 127
Genus Benitochromis Lamboj, 2001
Genus Chromidotilapia Boulenger, 1898
Genus Divandu Lamboj & Snoeks, 2000
Genus Limbochromis Greenwood, 1987
Genus Nanochromis Pellegrin, 1904
Genus Parananochromis Greenwood, 1987
Genus Pelvicachromis Thys van den Audenaerde, 1968
Genus Teleogramma Boulenger, 1899
Genus Thysochromis Daget, 1988
Tribe Lamprologini, 202
Genus Lamprologus Schilthius, 1891
Tribe Haplochromini, 208
Genus Astatotilapia Pellegrin, 1903
Genus Chetia Trewavas, 1961
Genus Ctenochromis Peters, 1983
Genus Cyclopharynx Poll, 1948
Genus Orthochromis Greenwood, 1954
Genus Pharyngochromis Greenwood, 1979
Genus Pseudocrenilabrus Fowler, 1935
Genus Sargochromis Regen, 1920
Genus Schwetzochromis Poll, 1948
Genus Serranochromis Regen, 1920
Genus Thoracochromis Greenwood, 1979
List of References, 240
Index, 246