title: Validation of the South Asian cichlid genus Pseudetroplus Bleeker (Pisces: Cichlidae).
abstract: The South Asian Cichlidae are composed of two clades that together represent the sister group of the Madagascan genus Paretroplus Bleeker. Chaetodon suratensis Bloch and Etroplus canarensis Day are retained in Etroplus Cuvier, while Chaetodon maculatus Bloch is allocated to Pseudetroplus Bleeker. Pseudetroplus is distinguished from Etroplus in having, among other characters, 11 (vs. 12-13) pleural ribs; 26-27 (vs. 28-29) vertebrae; the anterior half of the median suture between the lower pharyngeal jaw serrated (vs. smooth); the first 6 anal-fin pterygiophores arranged anterior to the first 3 (vs. 2) haemal spines; the supraoccipital-exoccipital prong extending ventrally about half-way across the foramen magnum (vs. not extending into the foramen magnum); and the anterior jaw teeth tricuspid, acuminate (vs. unicuspid, spatulate). Microgaster Swainson is a synonym of Pseudetroplus and a junior homonym of Microgaster Latreille in Hymenoptera.
authors.affiliation: Ichthyology Section, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2010.; Email: rohanpet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pethiyagoda
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.; Email: kalanapm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kalana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maduwage
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, 407 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.; Email: onlinecss.kelum@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kelum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manamendra-Arachchi
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D023681:Cichlids / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D008297:Male