Petrocephalus boboto

description

Description. Morphometric ratios and meristic data for holotype presented in Table 1. Standard length = 56.9 mm. Sex undetermined: specimen lacks anal fin " notch " present in mature males, but may be juvenile. Body ovoid, 2.7 times longer than high and laterally compressed. Head length 3.3 times in standard length. Snout short (HL / SNL = 6.6) and round. Mouth small (HL / MW = 4.4), subterminal, opening under anterior half of eye. Teeth small and bicuspid, 13 in single row in upper jaw, 24 in single row in lower jaw. Nostrils closely set (distance between nostrils = 0.4 mm) with the posterior one very close to eye (distance between posterior nostril and eye = 0.1 mm). Dorsal and anal fins originating in posterior half of body (SL / PDD = 1.6 and SL / PAD = 1.8). Pre-dorsal distance slightly greater than pre-anal distance (PDD / PAD = 1.1). Dorsal fin with 23 branched rays. Anal fin with 34 branched rays. Pectoral fins with 9 rays. Pelvic fin with 6 rays. Distance between pelvic fin and anal fin = 10.1 mm. Distance between pectoral fin and anal fin = 16.4 mm. Scales cover body, except for head. Lateral line visible and complete with 34 pored scales along its length. Ten scales arou

Petrocephalus boboto and Petrocephalus arnegardi, two new species of African electric fish (Osteoglossomorpha, Mormyridae) from the Congo River basin

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Petrocephalus boboto sp. n. is distinguished from all other Petrocephalus species of Central Africa (i. e., Lower Guinea and Congo provinces) by the following combination of characteristics: three distinctive bilateral black spots on body, one at origin of the pectoral fin, one at origin of caudal fin and one on flank just below anterior part of dorsal fin; two distinct electoreceptive rosettes in head (i. e., Nakenrosette and Khelrosette), the third rosette (Augenrosette) reduced in size to few knollenorgan pores; 23 branched rays in dorsal fin and 34 branched rays in anal fin; triphasic EOD waveform of normal polarity (i. e. first phase head-positive).

Petrocephalus boboto and Petrocephalus arnegardi, two new species of African electric fish (Osteoglossomorpha, Mormyridae) from the Congo River basin

distribution

Distribution (Fig. 1). Holotype (and only specimen known) of Petrocephalus boboto sp. n. collected from the main channel of the Congo River, at Yangambi, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Petrocephalus boboto and Petrocephalus arnegardi, two new species of African electric fish (Osteoglossomorpha, Mormyridae) from the Congo River basin

etymology

Etymology. The name boboto is a word in Lingala, the language spoken at the type locality of Petrocephalus boboto sp. n., meaning " peace, " alluding to the right of all people of D. R. Congo to live in peace and safety.

Petrocephalus boboto and Petrocephalus arnegardi, two new species of African electric fish (Osteoglossomorpha, Mormyridae) from the Congo River basin