Evolution:
Molecular phylogenetic studies (Sullivan et al. 2000; Lavoué et al. 2003) indicate that this species is not a close relative of other Marcusenius and rather belongs to a lineage that is sister to species of Paramormyrops, a clade very diverse in Lower Guinea, particularly Gabon. Future systematic revision will have to place this taxon within Paramormyrops, or erect a new genus for it.
Taxonomic name: