Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
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Online Publication Date: 27 Dec 2011

A New Genus of African Loach Catfish (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae) from the Congo River Basin, the Sister-Group to All Other Genera of the Doumeinae, with the Description of Two New Species

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Page Range: 477 – 489
DOI: 10.1643/CI-11-005
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Abstract

Congo River basin catfishes previously identified as Doumea alula (Amphiliidae, Doumeinae) were found to include three species that belong not to the genus Doumea but are, instead, the sister-group to a clade formed by all remaining Doumeinae. The species are assigned to a new genus, Congoglanis. Characters delimiting the Doumeinae and the clade consisting of all members of the subfamily except Congoglanis are detailed. Congoglanis alula is distributed throughout much of the Congo River basin; C. inga, new species, is known only from the lower Congo River in the vicinity of Inga Rapids; and C. sagitta, new species, occurs in the Lualaba River basin of Zambia in the southeastern portion of the Congo River system.

Copyright: 2011 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Fig. 1. 
Fig. 1. 

Congoglanis alula, CU 91469, 96 mm SL, Central African Republic, Ouaka Prefecture, Congo River basin, Oubangui River drainage, Mbourou River rapids within AXMIN Ndassima mining concession, 6°13′00″N, 20°45′39″E.

Fig. 2. 
Fig. 2. 

Radiographs of caudal portion of bodies of Congoglanis inga, USNM 216351 (above), and Doumea typica, CU 82958 (below), to show differences in form of caudal vertebrae between Congoglanis and other doumeines.

Fig. 3. 
Fig. 3. 

Map of central Africa, showing Congo River system, with localities of species of Congoglanis indicated: C. inga (triangle), C. alula (circles), and C. sagitta (squares). Open symbols indicate type localities.

Fig. 4. 
Fig. 4. 

Congoglanis sagitta, new species, holotype, CU 96001, 83 mm SL, Zambia, Luapula Province, Congo River basin, Luapula River drainage, Mulembo River at bridge on Mansa-Serenge road, 12°32′34″S, 30°23′24″E.

Fig. 5. 
Fig. 5. 

Congoglanis inga, new species, holotype, MCZ 169063, 91 mm SL, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo River near Inga I Dam, 5°31′30″S, 13°37′30″E.

Contributor Notes

Associate Editor: R. E. Reis.

1  2944 N.E. Couch Street, Portland, Oregon, 97232; E-mail: carlferraris@comcast.net.
2  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.
3  South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Pvt Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; E-mail: p.skelton@saiab.ac.za.
Received: 13 Jan 2011
Accepted: 01 Jul 2011
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