@article {10.3897/zookeys.1129.90287, title = {Mitogenome recovered from a 19th Century holotype by shotgun sequencing supplies a generic name for an orphaned clade of African weakly electric fishes (Osteoglossomorpha, Mormyridae)}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1129}, year = {2022}, pages = {163-196}, publisher = {Pensoft Publishers}, abstract = {

Heteromormyrus Steindachner, 1866, a genus of Mormyridae (Teleostei: Osteoglossomorpha), has been monotypic since the description of Heteromormyrus pauciradiatus (Steindacher, 1866) from a single specimen. No type locality other than \“Angola\” was given and almost no specimens have been subsequently identified to this species. In order to investigate the relationship of this taxon to fresh specimens collected in Angola and elsewhere, whole genome paired-end sequencing of DNA extracted from the holotype specimen of Heteromormyrus pauciradiatus was performed and a nearly complete mitogenome assembled from the sequences obtained. Comparison of cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome b sequences from this mitogenome to sequences from recently collected material reveal that Heteromormyrus pauciradiatus is closely related to specimens identified as Hippopotamyrus ansorgii (Boulenger, 1905), Hippopotamyrus szaboi Kramer, van der Bank \& Wink, 2004, Hippopotamyrus longilateralis Kramer \& Swartz, 2010, as well as to several undescribed forms from subequatorial Africa collectively referred to in the literature as the \“Hippopotamyrus ansorgii species complex\” and colloquially known as \“slender stonebashers.\” Previous molecular phylogenetic work has shown that these species are not close relatives of Hippopotamyrus castor Pappenheim, 1906, the type species of genus Hippopotamyrus Pappenheim, 1906 from Cameroon, and are thus misclassified. Hippopotamyrus ansorgii species complex taxa and another species shown to have been misclassified, Paramormyrops tavernei (Poll, 1972), are placed in genus Heteromormyrus and one genetic lineage from the Kwanza and Lucala rivers of Angola are identified as conspecific Heteromormyrus pauciradiatus. Three additional new combinations and a synonymy in Mormyridae are introduced. The morphological characteristics and geographical distribution of the genus Heteromormyrus are reviewed. The electric organ discharges (EODs) of Heteromormyrus species are to be treated in a separate study.

}, keywords = {Angolan freshwater fishes, Heteromormyrus, Hippopotamyrus, historical DNA, mitogenomics, mormyrid, museomics, slender stonebasher}, issn = {1313-2989}, doi = {10.3897/zookeys.1129.90287}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1129.90287}, author = {John P Sullivan and Carl D Hopkins and Stacy Pirro and Rose Peterson and Albert Chakona and Tadiwa I. Mutizwa and Christian Mukweze Mulelenu and Fahad H. Alqahtani and Emmanuel Vreven and Casey B. Dillman} } @article {584, title = {The Cyphomyrus Myers 1960 (Osteoglossiformes: Mormyridae) of the Lufira Basin (Upper Lualaba: DR Congo): a generic reassignment and the description of a new species}, journal = {Journal of Fish Biology}, year = {2019}, month = {Jul-12-2020}, 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. aelsbroecki, C. cubangoensis and C. discorhynchus, 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\% LS (vs. shorter, 39.7\%, 38.9\–39.1\% and 37.0\–41.0\% LS, 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.

}, issn = {0022-1112}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.14237}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jfb.14237https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jfb.14237https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111\%2Fjfb.14237https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jfb.14237}, author = {Christian Mukweze Mulelenu and B. Katemo Manda and Eva Decru and Auguste Chocha Manda and Emmanuel Vreven} } @article {583, title = {Hidden species diversity in Marcusenius moorii (Teleostei: Mormyridae) from the Congo Basin}, journal = {Journal of Fish Biology}, year = {2019}, month = {Sep-12-2019}, abstract = {

New collections from the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve (YBR) and Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) revealed the presence of two groups of specimens similar to, but different from Marcusenius moorii. To study both these groups, an integrated morphological and genetic (mtDNA, cytb) approach was used. This study revealed that one of the two groups is conspecific with Marcusenius lambouri, a junior synonym of M. moorii, which is herein revalidated, with M. moorii longulus as its junior synonym. Marcusenius lambouri differs from M. moorii by a higher number of lateral line scales (44\–46 vs. 40\–43), a shorter pectoral-fin length (14.6\–19.9 vs. 20.3\–25.2\% standard length; LS) and a more elongated body due to a usually shallower middle body depth (19.8\–26.5 vs. 26.3\–35.9\% LS). The other group revealed to be a new species for science, Marcusenius verheyenorum, which can be distinguished from its congeners with eight circumpeduncular scales by the following unique combination of characters: a rounded head with a terminal mouth; a short and deep caudal peduncle (middle caudal-peduncle depth, 44.9\–54.6\% caudal-peduncle length; LCP), a deep body (middle body depth, 27.7\–34.2\% LS), 38\–43 scales on the lateral line, 40\–41 vertebrae, 20\–21 dorsal-fin rays and 26 anal-fin rays. Some specimens previously attributed to M. moorii were examined and reassigned to M. lambouri or M. verheyenorum. As a result, M. moorii and M. lambouri occur in sympatry in the middle Congo Basin, with the distribution area of M. moorii still further extending into the lower Congo Basin. Instead, the distribution of M. verheyenorum is limited to some right bank tributaries of the upstream part of the middle Congo Basin. Two museum records from the Lilanda River (YBR), collected in the 1950s and previously identified as M. moorii, were re-identified as belonging to the new species, M. verheyenorum. However, the species now seems locally extinct in that region, which reflects the significant anthropogenic effects even within this reserve.

}, issn = {0022-1112}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.14226}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jfb.14226}, author = {Taylor Mambo Baba and Kisekelwa, T. and Celestin Danadu Mizani and Eva Decru and Emmanuel Vreven} } @article {578, title = {Marcusenius wamuinii (Teleostei: Mormyridae), a new elephantfish from the Mangroves National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo}, journal = {Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters}, volume = {1090}, year = {2019}, month = {15 May 2019}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {

Marcusenius wamuinii, a new large-scaled Marcusenius species, is described from the Mangroves National Park (MNP), a protected area situated at the mouth of the Lower Congo basin and its surroundings in the DR Congo. It can be distinguished from all its congeners based on the following unique combination of characteristics: 8 circumpeduncular scales, 27-31 anal-fin rays, 22-25 dorsal-fin rays, 19-22 scales between dorsal and anal fin, 46-53 lateral line scales, and a slender caudal peduncle (depth 4.4-5.9 \% SL). Its status as a distinct species is ad- ditionally confirmed by genetic data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. This is the first new fish species discovered in the MNP, highlighting the importance of freshwater conservation in this area in which the fish fauna is still poorly known.
Marcusenius wamuinii, une nouvelle espèce de Marcusenius à grandes écailles est décrite du Parc Marin des Mangroves (PMM), une zone protégée située dans l\’embouchure du Bas Congo et ses environs en RD Congo. Elle se distingue de tous ses congénères sur la base de la combinaison unique des caractères suivants : 8 écailles circumpédonculaires, 27-31 rayons à la nageoire anale, 22-25 rayons à la nageoire dorsale, 19-22 écailles entre les nageoires dorsale et anale, 46-53 écailles en ligne latérale et un pédoncule caudal mince (hauteur 4.4-5.9 \% SL). Son statut d\’espèce distincte est également confirmé à base de résultats génétiques sur le gène mitochondrial cytochrome b. Ceci est la première nouvelle espèce de poisson découverte dans le PMM, soulignant l\’importance de la conservation des eaux douces dans cette Zone, dont la faune de poissons est encore largement méconnue.

}, issn = {0936-9902 }, doi = {10.23788 / IEF-1090}, url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333293882_Marcusenius_wamuinii_Teleostei_Mormyridae_a_new_elephantfish_from_the_Mangroves_National_Park_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo}, author = {Eva Decru and John P Sullivan and Emmanuel Vreven} } @article {497, title = {Marcusenius kaninginii, a new species of elephantfish from the Lowa River basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Osteoglossiformes: Mormyridae)}, journal = {Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwaters}, volume = {26}, year = {2016}, month = {03/2016}, pages = {341{\textendash}352}, chapter = {341}, abstract = {

Marcusenius kaninginii, a new Marcusenius species with eight large circumpeduncular scales, is described from the Lowa River, a right bank tributary of the Lualaba (Upper Congo basin). It is distinguished from all other Mar- cusenius species with eight circumpeduncular scales by the following unique combination of characters: 43-47 lateral line scales; 18-23 dorsal-fin rays; 27-30 anal-fin rays; 42-44 vertebrae; a relatively shallow body at the anterior base of the anal fin (depth 25.0-28.6 \% SL); a deep caudal peduncle (39-57 \% of caudal peduncle length); and a short pectoral fin (15.5-19.1 \% SL). Additionally, it has a typical dark-brown body coloration with a black transversal bar between the anterior parts of the dorsal and anal fins, and a black horizontal band along the lat- eral line from just behind the opercle up to the transversal bar.


Marcusenius kaninginii, une nouvelle espèce de Marcusenius à huit écailles autour du pédoncule caudal, est décrite de la rivière Lowa, un affluent de la rive droite du Lualaba (bassin du Congo Supérieur). Il se distingue des autres Marcusenius à huit écailles autour du pédoncule caudal par la combinaison unique des caractères suivants: 43-47 écailles sur la ligne latérale; 18-23 rayons à la dorsale; 27-30 rayons à l\’anale; 42-44 vertèbres; corps relativement moins élevé à la base antérieure de la nageoire anale (hauteur 25,0-28,6 \% LS); un pédoncule caudal haut, (39- 57 \% de la longueur du pédoncule caudal); et une nageoire pectorale courte (15,5-19,1 \% LS). De plus, il présente une coloration corporelle typique noire-brunâtre avec une bande transversale noire entre les parties antérieures des nageoires dorsale et anale ainsi qu\’une bande noire horizontale le long de la ligne latérale allant de l\’opercule jusqu\’à la bande transversale.

}, issn = {0936-9902}, url = {https://pfeil-verlag.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ief26_4_04.pdf}, author = {Kisekelwa, Tchalondawa and Boden, G. and Snoeks, Jos and Emmanuel Vreven} }