| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 17-19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: The presence of bicuspid teeth in the anterior portion of the outer row on both the upper and lower jaws and a moderately sloped ethmo-vomerine block with a swollen rostral tip place this species in Maylandia (Ref. 93436). Male Maylandia tarakiki are distinguished from those of the other members of Maylandia by the blue ground colour with distinct black bars, the extension of the lateral bars onto the blue dorsal fin, the blue anal fin, and the absence of a dark submarginal band in the dorsal fin or yellow pigment on the body; while some males of M. zebra and M. fainzilberi exhibit extension of the lateral bars into the dorsal fin, these extensions fuse into a broad submarginal band, which is not observed in males of M. tarakiki (Ref. 93436). Male and female M. tarakiki are further distinguished from M. zebra by a shallower body as expressed in the distance between the dorsal fin origin and pelvic fin which ranges from 28,1-36,0% of standard length in M. tarakiki and from 34,2-40,7% of standard length in M. zebra populations from the Tanzanian shores and from Chiwindi in Mozambique (Ref. 93436). On average M. tarakiki has more tooth rows on the lower jaw, range 5-8, than M. zebra, range 3-5 (Ref. 93436).
Description: Moderately elongate species with greatest body depth at about base of 6th dorsal spine (Ref. 93436). Dorsal body profile with slight curve to caudal peduncle with highest point at about sixth dorsal spine; ventral body profile between pelvic and anal fin slightly convex with upward curve to caudal fin; dorsal head profile straight to slightly concave between snout tip and interorbital, making about 45° angle with body axis, then round above orbit to dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 93436). Eye about one and a half times depth of preorbital and present for ¾ in anterior half of head with posterior orbit margin posterior of vertical median of head; snout short with isognathous to slightly prognathous jaws; teeth on lower jaw in 5-8 rows with outer row biscuspid and inner rows tricuspid (Ref. 93436). Dorsal fin with 17-19 spines and 8-10 rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8-9 rays; first 4 or 5 dorsal spines gradually increasing in length posteriorly with first spine about half the length of fourth spine; last 13 spines slightly longer posteriorly with last spine longest; dorsal-fin rays with subacuminate tip in males, round in females, third or fourth ray longest, about to middle of caudal fin in males and to base of caudal fin in females; anal spines longer posteriorly; fourth or fifth ray longest, length to about ¼ caudal fin in some males, to about base of caudal fin in females; caudal fin subtruncate to emarginate; pelvic fin not to anal pore in females, length in males about to anal fin; pectoral fin rounded, paddle-shaped, short, to vertical through base of 9th or 10th dorsal-fin spine (Ref. 93436). Flank scales large, ctenoid; abrupt difference to small scales on breast and belly; cheek with 4 or 5 rows of small scales; dorsal-fin rays and anal fin with narrow proximal margin of tiny scales; tiny scales over proximal 90% of caudal fin (Ref. 93436).
Colouration: Breeding males with blue/white flank and 7-9 black lateral bars; caudal peduncle blue/gray; belly gray; breast dark gray; head blue/black with two blue interorbital bars; throat blue/gray; opercle with light blue and green highlights (Ref. 93436). Dorsal fin blue to white-blue with some lateral bars on proximal portion of dorsal fin; usually with white marginal band; proximal 2/3 of caudal fin gray/blue and distal 1/3 dark gray; anal fin blue/gray, posterior margin clear in some individuals, 2-8 yellow ocelli; pectoral fin with gray rays and clear membranes; pelvic fin black/dark gray with white leading edge (Ref. 93436). Females light brown or orange blotch (Ref. 93436). Non-orange blotch females with brown flank; center of flank scales blue; belly and breast white/beige; head light brown; blue/black opercular spot; light brown/white throat; dorsal fin dark gray or brown with white/light-blue distal margin; proximal ½ of caudal fin gray/brown and distal ½ light brown to clear; pectoral fin with gray rays and clear membranes; pelvic fin with white leading edge, gray rays and clear membranes (Ref. 93436). Orange blotch females with yellow-gray/orange flank with irregular black blotches; belly white with black blotches; breast yellow with black blotches; head gray-yellow/orange with black blotches; throat white with black blotches; opercle with blue/green highlights; dorsal, caudal, and anal fins gray-yellow with black blotches; pectoral fins with yellow/black rays and clear membranes with black blotches (Ref. 93436). |