2010) than to the holotype of Petrocephalus binotatus, despite the greater proximity of Yangambi to the type locality of Petrocephalus binotatus (Ikengo), than to Odzala-Kokua ( Fig. From the same locality, we examined two specimens of Petrocephalus that share more similarities to the specimens earlier identified as Petrocephalus binotatus from Odzala-Kokua ( Lavoué et al. Based on our long-term work on Petrocephalus, we believe this new species is rare, as we have identified only one specimen after examination of hundreds of Central African Petrocephalus specimens. Here, we first describe a new species of Petrocephalus from the main channel of the Congo River at Yangambi, Central Congo basin.

2000).Ĭentral African Petrocephalus are particularly diverse and abundant throughout the large Congo basin with 18 species ( Lavoué et al. Several morphological synapomorphies support the monophyly of Petrocephalus ( Taverne 1969, Taverne 1972), as do molecular data ( Sullivan et al. They are small fishes predominantly found in riverine systems where they are mostly active at dusk. Petrocephalus currently includes 43 valid species ( Eschmeyer and Fong 2014), not including Petrocephalus balteatus (for justification, see Daget 2000), which are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical African freshwaters. Despite often subtle morphological differentiation among species of Petrocephalus, the sole petrocephalin genus, the pace of new species discovery and description has been rapid in recent years, with about one third of Petrocephalus diversity having been described in the 21th century ( Lavoué et al.

While Mormyrinae are clearly more speciose than Petrocephalinae, true species diversity is clearly underestimated in both groups. (2011) suggested that differences among lineages in central and peripheral electrosensory anatomies are correlated with higher electric organ discharge (EOD) waveform diversity and greater species richness in Mormyrinae relative to the Petrocephalinae. 2008, Carlson and Arnegard 2011, Carlson et al. Recent comparative studies have revealed significant electrophysiological differences between Mormyrinae and Petrocephalinae ( Lavoué et al. These differences lead to the recognition of three main lineages: the monotypic Gymnarchidae and the two reciprocally monophyletic mormyrid subfamilies Mormyrinae and Petrocephalinae with 168 and 43 valid species, respectively ( Taverne 1972, Sullivan et al. While mormyroids are immediately identifiable by their distinctive appearance, considerable morphological, electrophysiological and behavioral diversity has evolved within the group ( Arnegard et al. All mormyroids generate and sense weak electric discharges for the purpose of intraspecific electrocommunication and spatial electrolocation using complex electrogenic and electroreceptive organ systems ( Moller 1995, Turner et al.

The monophyletic African weakly electric fishes superfamily Mormyroidea ( Teleostei, Osteoglossomorpha) contains two families, the Gymnarchidae and Mormyridae, and 212 species ( Eschmeyer and Fong 2014).

Signalscope 3.5 mm