TheCyphomyrusMyers 1960 (Osteoglossiformes: Mormyridae) of the Lufira basin (Upper Lualaba: DR Congo): A generic reassignment and the description of a new species

Abstract

Within a comparative morphological framework, Hippopotamyrus aelsbroecki, only known from the holotype originating from Lubumbashi, most probably the Lubumbashi River, a left bank subaffluent of the Luapula River, is reallocated to the genus Cyphomyrus. This transfer is motivated by the fact that H. aelsbroecki possesses a rounded or vaulted predorsal profile, an insertion of the dorsal fin far anterior to the level of the insertion of the anal fin, and a compact, laterally compressed and deep body. In addition, a new species of Cyphomyrus is described from the Lufira basin, Cyphomyrus lufirae. Cyphomyrus lufirae was collected in large parts of the Middle Lufira, upstream of the Kyubo Falls and just downstream of these falls in the lower Lufira and its nearby left bank affluent, the Luvilombo River. The new species is distinguished from all its congeners, that is, firstly, from C. macrops, C. psittacus and C. wilverthi, by a low number of dorsal fin rays, 27-32 (vs. higher, 36 (37), 34 (33-41) an 38 (38-40), respectively) and, secondly, from C. aelsbroecki, C. cubangoensis, and C. discorhynchus by a large prepelvic distance, 41.0-43.8% L S (vs. shorter, 39.7%, 38.9-39.1% and 37.0-41.0% L S , respectively). The description of yet another new species for the Upemba National Park and the Kundelungu National Park further highlights their importance for fish protection and conservation in the area. Hence, there is an urgent need for the full integration of fish into the management plans of these parks.

Revision of Nannocharax luapulae Boulenger, 1915 (Characiformes: Distichodontidae) from the Upper Congo basin: Evidence for a species pair

“…(2020), Cyphomyrus lufirae by Mukweze Mulelenu et al . (2020), Synodontis denticulatus by Kasongo Ilunga et al . (2020), Chiloglanis msirii by Kashindye et al .…”

An integrative taxonomic review of theNatal mountain catfish,Amphilius natalensisBoulenger1917(Siluriformes,Amphiliidae), with description of four new species

“…Integrative taxonomy, or the use of multiple sources of evidence, including genomic, morphological, anatomical, physiological, ecological, behavioural and geographical information, has been proposed as a rigorous approach for delimiting putative species to address the taxonomic impediment (CBD, 1992;Dayrat, 2005). This approach has proven extremely valuable in delimiting species boundaries and uncovering hidden diversity in a number of morphologically conservative groups of freshwater fishes in Africa, for example species in the families Mormyridae (Maake et al, 2014;Mukweze Mulelenu et al, 2020;Rich et al, 2017), Cyprinidae (Chakona & Skelton, 2017;Englmaier et al, 2020) and Mochokidae (Schmidt et al, 2014(Schmidt et al, , 2015(Schmidt et al, , 2016(Schmidt et al, , 2017. The discovery of extreme levels of hidden diversity in rheophilic fishes from high altitude Afromontane streams (Friel & Vigliotta, 2011;Schmidt & Pezold, 2011;Thomson & Page, 2010), which for a long time had been considered to harbour a depauperate fish fauna, stimulated a resurgence in ichthyological surveys and systematics research in these systems, focusing on poorly explored areas in southern, east and west Africa (Chakona et al, 2018;Morris et al, 2016;Schmidt et al, 2014Schmidt et al, , 2015Schmidt et al, , 2016Schmidt et al, , 2017.…”

Journal of Fish Biology special issue on The Biology and Ecology of African Freshwater Fishes

“…This special issue includes four papers that applied an integrative taxonomic approach combining genetic and morphological data to delineate and describe new species from the Congo River system Mambo Baba et al, 2020; Kasongo Ilunga et al, 2020; Katemo Manda et al, 2020; Mukweze Mulelenu et al, 2020). Baba et al .…”

“…Mukweze Mulelenu et al . (2020) described another new species of mormyrid in the genus Cyphomyrus and transferred Hippopotamyrus aelsbroecki (Poll 1945) to this genus. Kasongo Ilunga et al .…”