Luciobarbus chelifensis and L. mascarensis, two new species from Algeria (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Abstract

Cyprinids of the genus Luciobarbus are the most abundant and widespread fishes in most freshwater ecosystems in the Maghreb. In the Mediterranean basin of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, all species of Luciobarbus—with exception of L. guercifensis—are superficially very similar and are distinguished mostly by minor morphometric characters. Molecular characters distinguish all species well and nine species are recognised from the area, two of them described here. Luciobarbus chelifensis, from the Chelif River drainage in Algeria, is distinguished by having 41–43+1–2 lateral line scales and a very short anal fin (18–19% SL). Luciobarbus mascarensis, from the Macta River drainage in Algeria, is distinguished by having usually 41+1–2 lateral line scales, a long anal-fin (19–22%) and a short caudal peduncle (15–17% SL). An identification key is given for all African Mediterranean Luciobarbus species except for L. callensis and L. rifensis, which could not be distinguished.

Luciobarbus lanigarensis and L. numidiensis, two new species of barbels from the Mediterranean Sea basin in North Africa (Teostei: Cyprinidae)

“…This study follows Casal-Lopez et al (2015), Doadrio et al (2016aDoadrio et al ( , 2016b and Brahimi et al (2017) in describing new species of African Luciobarbus based largely on molecular distances. We further made considerable efforts to detect external morphological characters usable for an univocal identification of the different Luciobarbus species from the African Mediterranean Sea basin.…”

“…Doadrio et al (2016a) stated that L. moulouyensis from the Moulouya River drainage is a synonym of Carasobarbus fritschii and described the Luciobarbus previoulsly known as L. moulouyensis as L. yahyaouii. Finally, Brahimi et al (2017) presented an identification key of all Luciobarbus species found in the African Mediterranean Sea basin, a new set of molecular data and described two additional new species from Algeria (L. chelifensis & L. mascarensis).…”

Uncovering the diversity of monogeneans (Platyhelminthes) on endemic cypriniform fishes of the Balkan Peninsula: new species of Dactylogyrus and comments on their phylogeny and host-parasite associations in a biogeographic context

“…Recent studies on Mediterranean cypriniforms suggest that the species diversity and endemicity of these fishes is higher than previously estimated [6,7,12,16]. Considering the high host specificity of Dactylogyrus spp., the discovery of new species parasitizing Mediterranean cypriniforms can likewise be expected.…”

Morphometric Characteristics of Luciobarbusmascarensis and L. lanigarensis (teleostei: cyprinidae) in western Algeria

“…Doadrio et al (2016) described the species previously known as L. nasus in the Moulouya river watershed, as L. guercifensis. Finally, Brahimi et al (2017) presented an identification key for all Luciobarbus species found in the African watershed that flows into the Mediterranean Sea.…”