A New Species of Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) from Tributaries of the Kasai River in Northern Angola

Synodontis macropunctata, a new species of mochokid catfish, is described from tributaries of the Kasai River in northern Angola. Specimens of this species have been identified as S. zambesensis and more recently as S. nigromaculata. Synodontis macropunctata is distinguished from these species and all Congo basin congeners by the following combination of characters: large, discrete, widely spaced dark spots on the skin; minute, villous papillae on the skin; 27–35 mandibular teeth; 9–10 branched pectoral-fin elements; the lack of a distinct membrane on the maxillary barbel; interrupted premaxillary toothpad; 8–11 branches on the lateral mandibular barbel; and comparatively longer maxillary (138.2–176.3% HL), lateral mandibular (87.2–107.9% HL), and medial mandibular (38.5–54.5% HL) barbels. The description of this species restricts the known distribution of Synodontis nigromaculata within the Congo basin to the Lake Mweru–Luapula River–Lake Banguelu system and to neighboring rivers in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fig. 1

Holotypes of (A) Synodontis nigromaculata, BMNH 1905.11.10.10, 237 mm TL, 186 mm SL and (B) Synodontis macropunctata, MRAC 162203, 180 mm TL, 132 mm SL. Scale bars = 1 cm.

Fig. 2

Humeral process of Synodontis macropunctata, MRAC 162212, 308 mm TL, 229 mm SL. Scale bar = 1 cm.

Fig. 3

Holotype of Synodontis macropunctata, MRAC 162203, in (A) dorsal and (B) ventral views. Scale bars = 1 cm.

Fig. 4

Map of southern Africa showing known distributions of Synodontis macropunctata, S. melanosticta, and S. nigromaculata. Squares = S. macropunctata, triangles = S. melanosticta, circles = S. nigromaculata. Open circles indicate collections cited by Poll (1971), but not examined in this study. Inset: Map showing the Kasai River and tributaries, squares represent known collection localities of Synodontis macropunctata. Open square denotes type locality.

Contributor Notes

Associate Editor: C. J. Ferraris.

¹ Fish Division, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 1109 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1709, E-mail: jjwright@umich.edu. Send reprint requests to this address.

² Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Newell Drive and Museum Road, Gainesville, Florida 32611, E-mail: lpage1@ufl.edu.

Received: 09 Feb 2007

Accepted: 10 Oct 2007