Danakilia dinicolai Stiassny, De Marchi & Lamboj 2010

Diagnosis: Danakilia dinicolai differs from its congener, D. franchettii, in the possession of longer pectoral fins, 31.1-38.7% of standard length vs. 21.7-30.6%; outer row teeth in both oral jaws composed of stout tricuspids, considerably more robust and fewer in number than those of D. franchettii; lower pharyngeal bone relatively massive, longer than wide, length 30-32% of head length, vs. small, only slightly longer than wide, length 25-27% of head length in D. franchettii, with 40-48 teeth in posterior row, vs. 26-36 in D. franchettii (Ref. 85754).Description: Snout acute, mouth terminal, lips thickened but not fleshy; head large, snout conical with straight profile, head smoothly convex behind nape to dorsal fin, except in largest males with a bulbous frontal gibbosity, particularly evident in life; greatest body depth between insertion of dorsal and pelvic fins; caudal peduncle always longer than deep (Ref. 85754). Caudal fin truncate; dorsal XIII-XIV 9-11; anal III 7-8; pectoral fin long, reaching to anal fin origin or beyond; first pelvic ray longer in males than females but pelvic fin always reaching anus, and often beyond anal origin (Ref. 85754). Jaws isognathous, both with 2-4 rows of tricuspid teeth; outer row teeth in both jaws stout tricuspids with small, symmetrically rounded lateral cusps and larger medial cusp, considerably more robust and fewer in number than in Danakilia franchettii; lower pharyngeal bone relatively massive, longer than wide, length 30-32% of head length; pharyngeal teeth in anterior field of jaw, robust unicuspids, sparsely implanted, becoming increasingly elongate, recurved and spatulate posteriorly, densely implanted over posterior field of jaw, 40-48 teeth in posterior row; pharyngeal teeth in D. franchettii are similarly arrayed, but coarser and less densely implanted in posterior field of jaw, 26-36 teeth in posterior row (Ref. 85754). Eleven to 14 small, moderately tuberculate gill rakers along lower limb of first arch, including raker at angle, 2 or 3 pointed epibranchial rakers; microbranchiospines absent (Ref. 85754). Scales cycloid, 2 or 3 rows on cheek, 2-4 horizontal rows on opercle; dark scaleless spot on outer edge of opercle; chest and belly scales deeply embedded, markedly smaller than on flank, 4 or 5 scales between pectoral and pelvic fins; upper lateral line separated from dorsal fin anteriorly by 3 or 4 scale rows, at 8th pored scale by 2 scale rows, at last pored scale by 1-1.5 scale rows; end of upper lateral line separated from lower lateral line by 1 or 2 scale rows; basal 1/3 of caudal fin covered with scales; other fins unscaled (Ref. 85754). Infraorbital series complete, with lachrymal (first infraorbital) and four tubular infraorbitals, lachrymal with five openings of laterosensory system; total of 25 or 26 vertebrae, 11-13 precaudal and 12-14 caudal; inferior vertebral apophysis supporting anterior end of gas bladder composed of elongate ventro-posteriorly directed process on 3rd vertebral centrum which abuts a stout ventro-posteriorly directed process on 4th centrum (Ref. 85754).Colouration: Females and non-dominant males in life: opercule and body pale silvery-grey, snout and nape dark brownish-black; dark scaleless spot on outer edge of opercle variously intense, but always present; upper lip with bluish cast, lower lip grey; throat and branchiostegal membranes pale silver-grey; two dark longitudinal stripes sometimes visible on flanks, upper stripe at level of upper lateral line, passing to end of dorsal-fin base, lower stripe from edge of opercle to caudal base, not extending into caudal fin; sometimes 5-7 dark vertical bars on body from dorsal-fin base to ventrum; eye golden-yellow to brownish-black (Ref. 85754). Dominant males in life: dorsal, caudal and anal fins pale blue, with numerous paler blue dots; white margin of dorsal fin flushed pale red-orange distally; thin white margin on upper caudal lobe; pelvic blue, paler distally; body scales with iridescent, pale blue posterior margins, centrally grey to greyish-black; scales on chest and belly silvery grey, with darker grey margins; prominent frontal gibbosity blackish-blue to greyish-blue; snout and lips pale blue (Ref. 85754). Colouration in preservation: both sexes with head and body brown, darker dorsally, with dark lines or bars often visible as described in living specimens; dorsal, anal and caudal fins heavily spotted in males, less so in females (Ref. 85754).

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7 - 8; Vertebrae: 25 - 26

Found in Lake Abaeded, a small oval depression in a volcanic crater; lake surface is about 30 m below sea level; sand from dunes along the eastern and southern rim is frequently blown into the lake; the lake is fed by many hot springs at surface level and underwater (Ref. 85754). The lakeshore is almost completely encircled by reeds, Phragmites australis, and stands of tamarisk, Tamarix aphylla, but is free of vegetation in the proximity of hot springs (Ref. 85754).

Found in Lake Abaeded, a small oval depression in a volcanic crater; lake surface is about 30 m below sea level; sand from dunes along the eastern and southern rim is frequently blown into the lake; the lake is fed by many hot springs at surface level and underwater (Ref. 85754). The lakeshore is almost completely encircled by reeds, Phragmites australis, and stands of tamarisk, Tamarix aphylla, but is free of vegetation in the proximity of hot springs (Ref. 85754). Diet primarily consisting of algae grazed from the surface of plants and rocks; however, it is likely that this species is an opportunistic feeder, as individuals were caught on lines baited with grasshoppers (Ref. 85754). Large males guard pits over sand (Ref. 85754).

fisheries:

Danakilia dinicolai is a species of cichlid endemic to the saline Lake Abaeded in Eritrea. The specific name honours Ernesto Di Nicola (1969-2001) who was a member of the expedition to Lake Abaeded who died in a car accident while returning from the lake.