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Type: Article
Published: 2015-11-17
Page range: 45–64
Abstract views: 37
PDF downloaded: 1

Two new species of African suckermouth catfishes, genus Chiloglanis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae), from Kenya with remarks on other taxa from the area

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118; Present affliation: Smithsonian Mpala Postdoctoral Fellow, Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555-10400- Nanyuki, KENYA
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118; Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute, Belle Chasse, LA 70037
Ichthyology Section, National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658-00100- Nairobi, KENYA
Pisces Chiloglanis deckenii Peters 1868 Chiloglanis somereni Whitehead 1958 Lake Victoria East Africa

Abstract

Recent expeditions in Kenya and examination of existing collections confirmed the presence of two undescribed Chiloglanis species and revealed previously unknown diversity within the Athi River system. The two new species are easily distinguished from described congeners in the area by external morphology, allopatric distributions, and genetic markers. Chiloglanis kerioensis sp. nov., is restricted to the Kerio River system and is the only known suckermouth catfish from the Lake Turkana basin. Chiloglanis devosi sp. nov., is known only from the type locality, the Northern Ewaso Nyiro (Ng’iro) below Chanler’s Falls. In addition to these two new species, this study confirmed the presence of an undescribed Chiloglanis sp. occurring sympatrically with Chiloglanis brevibarbis in the Tsavo River. A dichotomous key for identifying all described Chiloglanis species found within Kenya is presented along with comments.