A new small barb (Cyprininae, Smiliogastrini) from the Louesse, Lekoumou (upper Niari Basin), and Djoulou (upper Ogowe Basin) rivers in the Republic of Congo, west-central Africa. (American Museum novitates, no. 3917)

Abstract

A new species of smiliogastrin cyprinid is described from the Louesse, Lekoumou (upper Niari basin), and Djoulou (upper Ogowe basin) rivers in the Republic of Congo, west-central Africa. The new species is readily distinguished from congeners by the presence of a flexible, weakly ossified and smooth bordered last unbranched dorsal-fin ray, well-developed barbels, and a straight and complete lateral line in combination with a characteristic pigmentation patterning consisting of a distinctive, rounded black spot at the base of and extending over the first rays of the anal fin and a prominent, darkly pigmented blotch over the base of the anterior dorsal-fin rays. A combination of morphological features and pigmentation patterning that appears to be unique among Enteromius. The new species is widespread throughout the Louesse-Djoulou region, and the fact that such a seemingly common species has gone undetected until now serves to underscore how poorly known this region of the Republic of Congo remains.