Accepted by W. Holleman: 10 Nov. 2017; published: 9 Jan. 2018 ZOOTAXA ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) Copyright © 2018 Magnolia Press Zootaxa 4370 (1): 095–100 http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/ Article 95 https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4370.1.8 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EC53F125-FAA9-4C3A-9F16-BCFDCB926EC4 Description of Metriaclima koningsi, a new species (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Malaŵi, Africa JAY R. STAUFFER, JR. Penn State University, 432 Forest Resources Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. Honorary Research Associate, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, SA. Abstract A new species, Metriaclima koningsi, is described from Likoma and Maingano islands in Lake Malaŵi. The species is distinguished from other congeners, except Metriaclima usisyae Li, Konings & Stauffer, by the absence of conspicuous bars along its flank and the presence of a dark submarginal band in the dorsal fin. Males of M. usisyae have gold coloured flanks, while males of M. koningsi have blue flanks. Key words: Mbuna, taxonomy, colour patterns Introduction The haplochromine cichlids are the largest known radiation of modern vertebrates. Lake Malaŵi harbours some 850 species of these cichlids (Konings 2007). Within this rich assemblage is a diverse group of endemic, small, rock-dwelling fishes known as mbuna. Although Joyce et al. (2011) found that mbuna were not resolved as a monophyletic group within the species flock of Lake Malaŵi, they all possess: 1) large number of small scales on the nape and chest region; 2) abrupt transition from large flank scales to small chest scales; 3) reduction of the left ovary; and 4) possession of true ocelli on the anal fins of males (Trewavas 1935; Fryer 1959; Oliver 1984). Stauffer et al. (1997) diagnosed Metriaclima, and this diagnosis was expanded by Konings & Stauffer (2006). Condé & Géry (1999) claimed that Metriaclima should be regarded as a junior synonym of Maylandia Meyer & Foerster (1984); however, Meyer & Foerster (1984) failed to supply a character in which their subgenus Maylandia, defined by its type species M. greshakei, is distinct from Pseudotropheus. They did provide characters for a so-called zebra complex, but M. greshakei was not considered part of that complex. The proposed subgenus was thus not diagnosed according to the requirements of Article 13.1.1 of the Code, and was therefore regarded a nomen nudum by Stauffer et al. (1997) and subsequent authors (Konings & Geerts 1999, Geerts 2002, Stauffer & Kellogg 2002). See Stauffer (1997) and Konings & Stauffer (2006) for the diagnosis of the genus Metriaclima. A new species of Metriaclima endemic to Membe Point, Likoma Island and Maingano Island, Lake Malaŵi is described here. Methods and materials Specimens were collected in Lake Malaŵi by SCUBA divers who chased them into a monofilament net (7m×1m; 1.5cm mesh). They were anaesthetized with clove oil (IACUC 110784), preserved in 10% formalin, and then placed in 70% ethanol for permanent storage in the Penn State University Fish Museum (PSUFM). Permits for all collections were issued by the government of Malaŵi. Colour and pigmentation patterns of males and females were recorded in the field at the time of capture. Habitat and behavior were recorded with digital photo and video cameras. Both photographs and colour/pigmentation notes of the type material are stored at PSUFM; catalogue numbers are provided under the species descriptions. Color and melanin patterns varied, so variation was