A new species of cyprinoid fish from the Tana River, Kenya (Actinopterygii: Danionidae)

Abstract

Sampling of streams in the middle reaches of the Tana River Basin in Meru National Park, Kenya, from 2010 to 2012 for an NSF-funded International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) project, resulted in the capture of a number of specimens of what were first thought to be Neobola fluviatilis. On closer examination the specimens were determined to represent a distinct species, endemic to the Tana River basin, which is herein formally described. The new species is readily diagnosed from N. fluviatilis by higher counts of lateral line, pre-dorsal, and caudal peduncle circumferential scales, higher numbers of pectoral rays, lower numbers of anal fin rays, and a shorter anal-fin base length.

Species of the cyprinid genusGarrain Mount Kenya, East Africa: Species delineation, taxonomy and historical biogeography

“…More attention has recently been focused on hidden biodiversity, phylogeography, speciation and multiple genetically divergent, but morphologically cryptic lineages for various taxa within the EAR (Bannikova et al, 2021;Demos et al, 2014;Hughes et al, 2018;Mairal et al, 2017;Onditi et al, 2021). Integrative approaches have proven extremely valuable in the detection of unrecognized diversity for rheophilic fishes of the region, particularly widespread taxa (Bart et al, 2019;Chakona et al, 2018;Moritz et al, 2019;Schmidt et al, 2014Schmidt et al, , 2015Schmidt et al, , 2017Schmidt et al, , 2018. The continuing discovery of new fish species and genetic lineages in the EAR highlights the importance of highland streams as the new frontier for biodiversity research (Chakona et al, 2018;Mazungula & Chakona, 2021;Schmidt et al, 2019).…”

“…Unfortunately, the lack of basic knowledge on fish diversity hampers efforts made to prioritize conservation areas, thus leading to further biodiversity loss (Darwall et al, 2005;Holland et al, 2012). The taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Mount Kenya fish species remain largely unexplored (Bart et al, 2019;Okeyo, 2003;Seegers et al, 2003). Even so, undetected species diversity of Mount Kenya and adjacent river basins has been unveiled for African small barbs and catfishes (Bart et al, 2019;Schmidt et al, 2014Schmidt et al, , 2015Thomson & Page, 2010;Thomson et al, 2015).…”

“…The taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Mount Kenya fish species remain largely unexplored (Bart et al, 2019;Okeyo, 2003;Seegers et al, 2003). Even so, undetected species diversity of Mount Kenya and adjacent river basins has been unveiled for African small barbs and catfishes (Bart et al, 2019;Schmidt et al, 2014Schmidt et al, , 2015Thomson & Page, 2010;Thomson et al, 2015). Presently, DNA-based evidences not only highlight the diversity and endemism of the fish in Kenya, but also raise the questions about the historical biogeography of Kenyan fishes (Bart et al, 2019;Ndeda et al, 2018;Schmidt et al, 2014Schmidt et al, , 2017Schmidt et al, , 2018Thomson et al, 2015).…”

“…Even so, undetected species diversity of Mount Kenya and adjacent river basins has been unveiled for African small barbs and catfishes (Bart et al, 2019;Schmidt et al, 2014Schmidt et al, , 2015Thomson & Page, 2010;Thomson et al, 2015). Presently, DNA-based evidences not only highlight the diversity and endemism of the fish in Kenya, but also raise the questions about the historical biogeography of Kenyan fishes (Bart et al, 2019;Ndeda et al, 2018;Schmidt et al, 2014Schmidt et al, , 2017Schmidt et al, , 2018Thomson et al, 2015). Species of Garra within this mountain's streams are the candidate target used for biogeographic issues as they exhibit adaptive evolution to rapid water habitats (Yang et al, 2016).…”