Species of the Doumea chappuisi Complex (Siluriformes, Amphiliidae) with the Descriptions of New Species from the Upper Sanaga River and Nyong River Basins

The Doumea chappuisi complex within the catfish family Amphiliidae is diagnosed on the form of the dorsolateral and ventrolateral processes of the vertebrae along the posterior portion of the body. Three species are recognized in the complex: Doumea chappuisi of the West African coastal river basins in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cote d'Ivoire, and Liberia; D. reidi, new species, described herein from a portion of the upper Sanaga River in Nigeria; and D. stilicauda, new species, described herein from the Nyong River basin in Cameroon. Members of the complex are distinguished from each other on the basis of the overall body form, the caudal-peduncle length, the predorsal length, the head length, the degree of development of the pelvic fin in larger specimens, the anterior extent of the exposed vertebral processes along the ventral surface of the body, and details of the pigmentation pattern of the unbranched rays of the pectoral and pelvic fins.

Fig. 1

Doumea chappuisi, 58.8 mm SL, MRAC 89-031-P-0028-0056, Cote d'Ivoire, Danané, tributary to Cavally River on road between Danané and Sipitou. Dorsal, lateral, and ventral views.

Fig. 2

Map of western central Africa, showing the distribution of Doumea chappuisi (dots), D. reidi (triangle), and D. stilicauda (filled square); some symbols represent more than one collecting locality or sample.

Fig. 3

Doumea reidi, new species, holotype, 93 mm SL, USNM 337914, Nigeria, Mayo Dande Village, Mayo Melafa, tributary of Banyo River, Mbam River basin [Sanaga River drainage] near border with Cameroon, 6°59′00″N, 11°39′30″E. Dorsal, lateral, and ventral views.

Fig. 4

Doumea stilicauda, new species, holotype, 158 mm SL, SAIAB 80182, Cameroon, So'o River, tributary of Nyong River, at Pont So'o, 3°19′N, 11°29′E. Dorsal, lateral, and ventral views.

Fig. 5

Type locality of Doumea stilicauda. Indigenous fishing fence on So'o River, Nyong River basin, Cameroon, in high water conditions. Photograph by P. Skelton, June 2008.

Contributor Notes

¹ 2944 N.E. Couch Street, Portland, Oregon 97232; E-mail: carlferraris@comcast.net

² South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Pvt Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; E-mail: p.skelton@saiab.ac.za

³ Division of Fishes, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, National Museum of Natural History, WG-14, MRC 159, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012; E-mail: varir@si.edu. Send reprint requests to this address.

Associate Editor: D. Buth.

Received: 30 Mar 2010

Accepted: 09 Aug 2010