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Dorsal spines (total): 17-19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8. Diagnosis: All diagnostic characteristics of Labeotropheus present: steeply sloping head; broad, fleshy snout; wide jaws with retrognathous lower jaw; mouth is inferior and subterminal (Ref. 111073). Labeotropheus simoneae differs from all other species of Labeotropheus in having extensive orange colouration on the operculum in males, vs. blue in L. fuelleborni, L. trewavasae and L. chlorosiglos; although the male nuptial colour pattern is extremely similar to that of L. chlorosiglos, the presence of the orange pigmentation on the operculum is a clear difference between L. simoneae and L. chlorosiglos (Ref. 111073). It differs from the deeper-bodied Labeotropheus primarily based on a shallow, slender body, body depth 28.4-30.8% of standard length vs. 35.1-41.6% in L. fuelleborni and 31.9-34.7% in L. chlorosiglos, and head, head depth 88.0-98.8% of head length vs. 101.2-108.9% in L. fuelleborni and 99.3-108.0% in L. chlorosiglos, as well as a shorter distance from the origin of the dorsal fin to the origin of the anal fin, 47.1-50.5% of standard length in L. simoneae vs. 51.3-54.6% in L. chlorosiglos and 52.5-55.5% in L. fuelleborni, and a shorter distance between insertion of the dorsal fin and the origin of the anal fin, 27.4-28.5% of standard length in L. simoneae vs. 29.1-33.2% in L. chlorosiglos and 29.6-31.7% in L. fuelleborni (Ref. 111073). It differs from L. trewavasae in the number of neuromasts present in the infraorbital pores, 27-29 vs. 8-25 in L. trewavasae, and has generally larger pectoral fins, 21.9-26.3% of standard length vs. 20.8-23.9% in L. trewavasae, greater distance between the insertion of the dorsal fin and the insertion of the anal fin, 14.6-16.0% of standard length vs. 12.7-15.5% in L. trewavasae, deeper preorbital depth, 24.0-28.5% of head length vs. 21.2-27.6% in L. trewavasae, longer and wider lower jaw, 27.4-36.3% of head length vs. 23.0-32.7% and 41.2-47.8% of head length vs. 34.7-43.9% respectively, and a greater interorbital width, 34.6-42.7% of head length vs. 29.6-40.5% (Ref. 111073).
Description: Body relatively long and slender; body depth 28.4-30.8% of standard length, but distance between dorsal-fin insertion and anal-fin insertion is relatively deep, 14.6-16.0% of standard length; body moderately slender at opercular tabs, width at opercular tabs 14.7-16.7% of head length, but width at pectoral fins relatively wide, 13.0-15.6% of head length (Ref. 111073). Pectoral fin long, 21.9-26.3% of standard length, rounded, 14-15 rays; pelvic fins long, especially in mature males, to anal-fin origin and sometimes beyond (Ref. 111073). Head of typical length for Labeotropheus, head length 28.4-31.9% of standard length; head not deep, head depth 88.0-98.8% of head length; snout compact; snout length 28.2-31.5% of head length, snout width 33.8-36.7% of head length; snout pad short to moderate length, 9.5-15.9% of head length; lower jaws long and wide, 27.4-36.3% and 41.2-47.8% of head length respectively; but lateral length of mandible short, 16.8-20.4% of head length; both upper and lower jaws with 4-7 rows of teeth; 31-33 teeth present in left half of first row of lower jaw, 4-11 teeth on lateral portion of left upper jaw (Ref. 111073). Gill rakers sout, triangular, and widely spaced; 8-10 ceratobranchial and with 2-3 epibranchial gill rakers present on first gill arch; 1 raker between the cerato- and epibranchial rakers (Ref. 111073). Anterior lateral line scales 23-24; posterior lateral line scales 11-16; overlapping lateral line scales 4-5; dorso-lateral scale rows 7-10; pectoral-pelvic scale rows 9-11; cheek scale rows 3-4 (Ref. 111073).
Colouration: Sexually mature, territorial males with dark blue ground colour and two distinct colour patches: a narrow, deep blue patch on the dorsum overlying an orange patch on the ventral portion of flank; scales in the ventral patch vary from solid orange to orange with a blue patch on the exposed, more distal portion, to blue with the slightest orange highlights; this seems to depend largely upon the social status of the individual, with dominant territorial males displaying more orange pigmentation; the 11 bars across the flank typically less visible than those of Labeotropheus chlorosiglos, though this also depends upon activity state; head same shade of blue as dorsum, but becomes darker blue towards snout, with dusky to blackish-gray interorbital bars; regions between interorbital bars iridescent blue; operculum with dark blue ground colour, overlain with large orange patch; patch is same shade of orange as the ventral flank; opercular tab metallic blue; anteriormost portion of dorsal fin lighter shade of blue than the upper flank, fading to an iridescent blue-white, turning to yellow at the distal end; no obvious submarginal band, but tips of this fin are yellow-orange, especially in dominant, territorial males; anal fin whitish blue, with at least one to several yellow egg-mimic ocelli on the ventral and distal portions; pectoral fins hyaline; the pectoral-fin rays gray; pelvic fins with white leading edge and black submarginal band; trailing portion of the pelvic fins varies from dusky gray to white to orange-red, faint yellow ocelli may be present in territorial males (Ref. 111073). Mature females uniform dark, muddy brown; scales on ventral portion of flank can have very small yellow-range highlights; the 11 faint flank bars typically not visible; head same dark brown as body, becoming somewhat darker towards snout; interorbital bars gray-brown with intervening iridescent patches; operculum uniform muddy brown; opercular tab dark, almost black, metallic green; dorsal fin dark, chocolate brown at anteriormost portion, becoming darker at posterior portion; anal fin somewhat lighter brown than dorsal fin; some individuals have a small number, 1-4, of yellow-orange egg spots on ventral and distal portions; pectoral-fin membranes hyaline; pectoral-fin rays gray; pelvic fins with white leading edge and black submarginal band; trailing portion of pelvic fins varies from dusky gray to white to yellow-orange (Ref. 111073). |
