A Biodiversity Hotspot Heats Up: Nine New Species of Suckermouth Catfishes (Mochokidae: Chiloglanis) from Upper Guinean Forest Streams in West Africa
The widespread species, Chiloglanis occidentalis, is recorded in flowing waters from Senegal to Ghana. Recent studies of this species within the Upper Guinean Forests revealed genetic divergence among the populations sampled, suggesting the presence of several unconfirmed candidate species. A detailed study of these populations revealed morphological variation congruent with the molecular results. Nine new species are described herein: Chiloglanis camarabounyi, new species, Chiloglanis kolente, new species, Chiloglanis kabaensis, new species, Chiloglanis dialloi, new species, Chiloglanis loffabrevum, new species, Chiloglanis longibarbis, new species, Chiloglanis pezoldi, new species, Chiloglanis nzerekore, new species, and Chiloglanis tweddlei, new species. These new species, each endemic to specific river basins, are diagnosed through a combination of meristic and morphometric characters. Chiloglanis waterloti, from the Senegal and Niger river basins, is elevated from synonymy with Chiloglanis occidentalis, and Chiloglanis occidentalis is restricted to the Sassandra and Volta rivers in Côte d'Ivoire, and the Pra River in Ghana. A key for these new species and other species of Chiloglanis from the area is presented.
Localities of species of Chiloglanis in this study. Extent of river drainages denoted by shading. White circles are localities where no Chiloglanis were collected; black circles represent areas were non-type material was collected. (A) Location of short-spine species: holotype of C. camarabounyi (black star) and paratypes (white star), holotype and paratypes of C. kolente (black cross), holotype of C. kabaensis (black asterisk) and paratypes (white asterisk), holotype and paratypes of C. dialloi (black X), and holotypes and paratypes of C. loffabrevum (black triangle). (B) Location of long-spine species: holotype and paratypes of C. longibarbis (black X), holotype of C. pezoldi (black star) and paratypes (white star), holotype of C. nzerekore (black diamond) and paratypes (white diamond), holotype of C. tweddlei (black asterisk) and paratypes (white asterisk), C. waterloti (triangle), C. lamottei (black square), and C. occidentalis (black cross).
Chiloglanis camarabounyi, new species, holotype, TU 203389, male, 42.2 mm SL, Guinea, Konkouré River drainage, Safa-Khoure River, at Camara-Bounyi, 9.90155°N, 13.02243°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Chiloglanis kolente, new species, holotype, TU 203378, male, 21.0 mm SL, Guinea, Kolenté River drainage, Santa River, near Morigbea on Kindia to Mamou Rd, 10.00333°N, 12.78046°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Chiloglanis kabaensis, new species, holotype, TU 203560, male, 39.7 mm SL, Guinea, Kaba (Little Scarcies) drainage, Mongo River, east of Marela, on N2, 10.17023°N, 11.39935°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Chiloglanis dialloi, new species, holotype, TU 204175, male, 22.7 mm SL, Guinea, Moa River drainage, Masseni River, about 3 miles north of Konesseridou, 8.7204°N, 9.52436°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Chiloglanis loffabrevum, new species, holotype, TU 203492, male, 29.8 mm SL, Guinea, Loffa River drainage, Loffa River, at Bongomadou, 8.48703°N, 9.45072°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Chiloglanis longibarbis, new species, holotype, TU 203507, female, 41.4 mm SL, Guinea, Moa River drainage, Masseni River, about 3 miles N of Konesseridou, 8.7204°N, 9.52436°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Chiloglanis pezoldi, new species, holotype, TU 203497, male, 40.2 mm SL, Guinea, Loffa River drainage, Noulava River, near Zoboroma village, on N2 to Seradou, 8.39338°N, 9.34121°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Chiloglanis nzerekore, new species, holotype, AMNH 264624, male, 44.2 mm SL, Guinea, St. Paul River drainage, Loh River, at Gbegnema, 8.7222°N, 8.43675°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Chiloglanis tweddlei, new species, holotype, SAIAB 188628, male, 47.1 mm SL, Liberia, St. John River drainage, Nimba County, Gba River, 7.574°N, 8.662278°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Chiloglanis waterloti, TU 203541, Guinea, Niger River drainage, Tsé River, on N2, S of Faranah, 9.84786°N, 10.63675°W; in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Scale bar equals 1 cm. Photographs by R. C. Schmidt.
Plot of PC 2 and PC 3 from sheared principal components analysis of 45 morphometric measurements from 242 specimens of Chiloglanis. Polygons outline specimens from each species; stars represent the holotype for each new species.
Contributor Notes
Associate Editor: D. Buth.