Lamprologus mocquardi Pellegrin, 1903

SCHELLY, ROBERT C. & STIASSNY, MELANIE L. J., 2004, Revision of the Congo River Lamprologus Schilthuis, 1891 (Teleostei: Cichlidae), with Descriptions of Two New Species, American Museum Novitates 3451, pp. 1-40 : 14-18

Lamprologus mocquardi Pellegrin, 1903

Figures 12–14 , Table 3, Plate 1c

Lamprologus mocquardi Pellegrin, 1903: 221 (Type locality: Upper Ubangi River).

Lamprologus mocquardii: Boulenger, 1915: 466 , fig. 318.

Lamprologus moquardii: Roberts and Stewart, 1976: 283 .

Lamprologus obliquus Nichols and Griscom, 1917: 731 , fig. 31 (Type locality: Stanleyville).

LECTOTYPE: MNHN 1895 –66, Upper Ubangi, Viancín . (This specimen is here designated as the lectotype because it is the largest of the syntypes.)

PARALECTOTYPE: MNHN 1895–65, Upper Ubangi , Viancín .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED: 502 specimens. Avakubi, Ituri River (01 ° 20 ̍ N, 27 ° 34 ̍ E) MRAC 14528, 1/14/1914, J. Bequaert ; MRAC 14587, 1/14/1914, J. Bequaert. Bambari, Central African Republic (05 ° 45 ̍ N, 20 ° 40 ̍ E) MRAC 82.21.P.891–894 (confluence of the Bougwa and Ouaka Rivers), 4/4/1982, J.P. Marquet ; MRAC 84032.0336 (Baidou River, an affluent of the Ouaka), 3/8/1984, J.P. Marquet. Bambesa (03 ° 22 ̍ N, 25 ° 40 ̍ E) MRAC 56406, 6/1/ 1938 – 6/30/1938, J.M. Vrydagh. Bangui, Ubangi River, Central African Republic (04 ° 22 ̍ N, 18 ° 35 ̍ E) MRAC 98010.0025– 0032, 1/1/1998 – 1/31/1998, M. Levy ; MCZ 48394 (N = 1), Bangui fish market, 5/1971, T.R. Roberts ; MNHN 1921–0442, Baudon. Binga (Bangala) (02 ° 23 ̍ N, 20 ° 31 ̍ E) MRAC 39575, 1/1/1933 – 12/31/1933, Van den Put. Bokuma, Coquilhatville (00 ° 00 ̍ N, 18 ° 20 ̍ E) MRAC 78593, 7/14/1951, P. Lootens. Bokuma (00 ° 06 ̍ S, 18 ° 41 ̍ E) MRAC 94512, 1/1/ 1954 – 12/31/1954, P. Lootens ; MRAC 96772–96774, 1/1/1954 – 12/31/1954, P. Lootens ; MRAC 101480, 7/17/1955, G. Hulstaert. Bumba, Equateur (02 ° 11 ̍ N, 22 ° 32 ̍ E) MRAC 100589–100603, 1/1/1955 – 12/31/1955, IMEXAF. Bosabangi (01 ° 27 ̍ N, 27 ° 37 ̍ E) MRAC 7534, C. Christy. Buta (02 ° 47 ̍ N, 24 ° 50 ̍ E) MRAC 21244, 1/28/ 1925 – 1/30/1925, H. Schouteden ; MRAC 21245, 1/1/1925 – 1/31/1925, H. Schouteden ; MRAC 21252–21255, 1/1/1925 – 12/31/1925, J. Hutsebaut ; MRAC 29523, 1/1/1925 – 1/31/ 1925, H. Schouteden ; MRAC 30339, 1/1/ 1931 – 12/31/1931, J. Hutsebaut ; MRAC 30352–30353, 1/1/1931 – 12/31/1931, J. Hutsebaut ; MRAC 60897, 1/1/1939 – 6/21/1939, J. Hutsebaut, MRAC 61923–61947, 1/1/ 1939 – 6/21/1939, J. Hutsebaut ; MRAC 61948–61972, 1/1/1939 – 6/21/1939, J. Hutsebaut ; MRAC 61973–61992, 1/1/1939 – 6/ 21/1939, J. Hutsebaut ; MRAC 66643– 66645, 1/1/1939 – 12/31/1939, J. Hutsebaut. Coquilhatville (00 ° 04 ̍ N, 18 ° 16 ̍ E) MRAC 94207, 1/1/1954 – 12/31/1954, R. Philippe. Congo River sandspit between Kasongo and Kongolo (5 ° 23 ̍ S, 27 ° 00 ̍ E) BMNH 1975.6.20.665, K.E. Banister. Dungu, Kibali River (03 ° 37 ̍ N, 28 ° 33 ̍ E) MRAC 1793, A. Hutereau ; MRAC 6955, A. Hutereau ; MRAC 77025.0452, 10/26/1959, J. Lambert. Eala (00 ° 04 ̍ S, 18 ° 20 ̍ E) MRAC 17482, H. Schouteden. Elisabetha (Basoko) (01 ° 09 ̍ N, 23 ° 37 ̍ E) MRAC 19667, Mme Tinant. Gozobangui, Mbomou River, Central African Republic MCZ 51998 (N = 14), 5/29/1971 – 5/30/1971, T.R. Roberts. Gumugu, Ubangi River, Libenge (03 ° 39 ̍ N, 18 ° 38 ̍ E) MRAC 167844–167867 (2 specimens c&s), 5/1/ 1948 – 5/31/1948, Cremer and Neumann. Ibembo (02 ° 38 ̍ N, 23 ° 37 ̍ E) MRAC 73970– 73972, 1/1/1950 – 12/31/1950, J. Hutsebaut. Kabalo, Lualaba River (06 ° 03 ̍ S, 26 ° 32 ̍ E) MRAC 70062, 7/7/1947, M. Poll ; MRAC 70063–70064, 7/7/1947, M. Poll. Kala, Ubangi River, Libenge (03 ° 23 ̍ N, 18 ° 39 ̍ E) MRAC 167841–167843, 12/16/1947, Cremer and Neumann. Kabebwe, Katanga (08 ° 41 ̍ S, 26 ° 08 ̍ E) MRAC 21214–21218, 5/ 1/25–5/31/25, G.­F. de Witte. Kiambi, Luvua River (07 ° 20 ̍ S, 28 ° 01 ̍ E) MRAC 125011, 10/1/1956 – 10/31/1956, N. Leleup. Kindu, Lualaba River (02 ° 57 ̍ S, 25 ° 56 ̍ E) MRAC 70331, 7/19/1947, M. Poll ; MRAC 70336–70337, 7/19/1947, M. Poll ; MRAC 70478, 7/17/1947, M. Poll ; BMNH 1975.6.20.664, K.E. Banister. Kisingani (Stanleyville) (00 ° 30 ̍ N, 25 ° 12 ̍ E) MRAC 15593–15599, H. Lang and J.P. Chapin ; MRAC 19955–19958, 1/1/1930 – 1/31/1930, Richard ; MRAC 37098–37100, 1/1/1931 – 12/20/1931, Richard ; MRAC 39065–39068, H. Lang and J.P. Chapin ; MRAC 77458 (Wamba River, Stanleyville), 12/4/1947, A. Hulot ; MRAC 89043.3396–3404 (Tshopo River), 2/20/1989, L. De Vos ; MRAC 89043.3405–3406 (Tshopo River), 2/25/ 1989, L. De Vos ; MRAC 89043.3407–3409 (Tshopo River), 3/5/1989, L. De Vos ; MRAC 90029.0637 (Wagenias rapids), 1/1/1989 – 12/ 31/1989, U. Nyongombe ; MRAC 124697 (Wagenias rapids), 9/28/1949, A. Hulot ; AMNH 5828 (N = 159; Paratypes of Lamprologus obliquus Nichols and Griscom, 1917 ; 10 specimens c&s), 4/1915, H. Lang and J.P. Chapin; AMNH 5897 (N = 25; paratypes of Lamprologus obliquus Nichols and Griscom, 1917 ; 5 specimens c&s), 2/1915, H. Lang and J.P. Chapin ; AMNH 5829 (Holotype of Lamprologus obliquus Nichols and Griscom, 1917 ), vicinity of Stanleyville, small forest brook, affluent of Tshopo River, 00 ° 33 ̍ N, 25 ° 07 ̍ E, 4/1915, H. Lang and J.P. Chapin. Kotto River at Kembe, Central African Republic (04 ° 36 ̍ N, 21 ° 54 ̍ E) MCZ 48392 (N = 25), 5/23/1971, T.R. Roberts ; MCZ 48393 (N = 2), Kotto River at village of Mbutu, near Kembe, 8/6/1971 – 12/6/1971, T.R. Roberts. Landjia, Ubangi River, Central African Republic (04 ° 22 ̍ N, 18 ° 39 ̍ E) MRAC 82013.1597–1599, 1/13/1982, De Vos and Kempeneers. Lowa River (1 ° 24 ̍ S, 25 ° 51 ̍ E) BMNH 1976.10.12.296, K.E. Banister. Lualaba River (2 ° 0 ̍ S, 25 ° 47 ̍ E) BMNH 1976.10.12.262, K.E. Banister. Lualaba River at Lukuge junction (5 ° 39 ̍ S, 26 ° 54 ̍ E) BMNH 1975.6.20.666–667, K.E. Banister. Mobaye, Ubangi River, Central African Republic (04 ° 19 ̍ N, 21 ° 11 ̍ E) MCZ 48395 (N = 18), 5/26/1971, T.R. Roberts. Mongala River, Ubangi (02 ° 24 ̍ N, 20 ° 13 ̍ E) MRAC 124696, 1/1/1948 – 12/31/1948, A. Hulot. Motenge­Boma, Ubangi River, Libenge (03 ° 15 ̍ N, 18 ° 39 ̍ E) MRAC 167839– 167840, 11/25/1947, Cremer and Neumann. Ngene Ngene (00 ° 23 ̍ N, 25 ° 10 ̍ E) MRAC 85007.0307 (pisciculture), 1/1/1985 – 1/31/ 1985, D. Thys van den Audenaerde. Panga (01 ° 52 ̍ N, 26 ° 23 ̍ E) MRAC 21219–21222, 1/ 1/26–1/31/26, E. Bock. Poko (03 ° 09 ̍ N, 26 ° 53 ̍ E) MRAC 8126, C. Christy ; MRAC 8150, C. Christy. Rungu (03 ° 11 ̍ N, 27 ° 53 ̍ E) MRAC 22456, 8/1/1925 – 8/31/1925, H. Schouteden. Stanley Falls (00 ° 30 ̍ N, 25 ° 12 ̍ E) MRAC 2339–2341 (1 specimen c&s), 6/25/1912, C. Christy. Titule, Bima River (03 ° 17 ̍ N, 25 ° 32 ̍ E) MRAC 72786– 72788, 1/1/1949 – 12/31/1949, J. Hutsebaut ; MRAC 72823, 6/1/1949 – 6/30/1949, J. Hutsebaut ; MRAC 72826–72829, 6/1/1949 – 6/ 30/1949, J. Hutsebaut. Wanie­Rukula, Lualaba River (00 ° 15 ̍ N, 25 ° 32 ̍ E) MRAC 78019.0251, 5/23/1958, J. Lambert ; BMNH 1919.9.10.310 –311, C. Christy ; BMNH 1919.9.10.312, C. Christy. Wilia, Congo River, near Kisangani (00 ° 33 ̍ N, 25 ° 04 ̍ E) MRAC 189519 –189521, 7/10/1973, S.P. Klapwijck. Yaekama, Congo River (00 ° 47 ̍ N, 24 ° 17 ̍ E) MRAC 94912–94913, 12/1/1953 – 12/31/1953, J.P. Gosse. Yaekela, Congo River (00 ° 48 ̍ N, 24 ° 16 ̍ E) MRAC 102295–102298, 4/6/1955, J.P. Gosse ; MRAC 135948, 12/23/1953, J.P. Gosse. Yangambi, Congo River (00 ° 47 ̍ N, 24 ° 28 ̍ E) MRAC 135949, 3/1/1960 – 3/31/ 1960, J.P. Gosse. Yangambi, Congo River, Yaosuka cliff (00 ° 45 ̍ N, 24 ° 29 ̍ E) MRAC 124695, 12/20/1948, A. Hulot. Zongo, Ubangi River, Libenge (04 ° 21 ̍ N, 18 ° 36 ̍ E) MRAC 167868–167870, 6/1/1948 – 6/30/ 1948, Cremer and Neumann. MRAC 52, locality given as Matadi (probably erroneously and therefore excluded from Fig. 14 ), E. Wilverth.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: Lamprologus mocquardi is distinguished from L. lethops and L. symoensi by its regularly imbricating, large, uniformly sized flank scales. It is distinguished from L. congoensis by a shallow supraoccipital crest, and from L. congoensis , L. teugelsi , n.sp., L. werneri , and L. tigripictilis , n.sp., by always lacking a single supraneural and by having dark pigment that is restricted to dorsal half of exposed margin of flank scales, giving the appearance of parallel oblique lines. Lamprologus mocquardi differs from L. tumbanus in having 33–35 (versus 29–31) lateral line scales, a shorter HL as a percentage of SL, and five sensory pore openings on the lachrymal instead of four.

DESCRIPTION: Counts and measurements of 21 specimens, including lectotype and paralectotype, are given in table 3. Body depth moderate (20.6–25.9%, mean 22.5% SL). Greatest body depth at about base of third dorsal spine. Head length 29.2–34.0%, mean 32.0% SL. Dorsal profile convex, with no clear demarcation of forehead. Head profile rises smoothly at angle of 35–40 ° to dorsal fin origin. Dorsal body profile slopes gradually to caudal peduncle. Ventral profile more or less horizontal. Mature males lack nuchal hump development but differ from females in larger body size (largest male 67.9 mm SL, largest female 49.7 mm SL).

Fins: Dorsal fin XIX–XX (mode XIX) 7– 9 (mode 8). Anal fin V–VII (mode VI) 5–7 (mode 6). Dorsal and anal fin spines increasing in length posteriorly, and with soft rays extending to middle of caudal fin. Caudal fin large, rounded, and paddle­shaped, with 14 branched rays; often appears lance­shaped, subacuminate in preserved specimens. Pectoral fins short, not reaching vertical through anus. Pelvic fins somewhat elongate, reaching anus in larger individuals, but nonetheless falling short of anal fin origin (pelvic fin length 18.2–24.8%, mean 21.2% SL). Second ray of pelvic fin is longest in fin of both sexes.

Teeth: Jaws isognathous, but with lower lip sometimes protruding slightly, both jaws with sharply pointed, unicuspid teeth in outer and inner rows. Single series of 6–8 greatly enlarged, recurved, procumbent canines situated anteriorly; lateral­most canines largest. These canines followed by about 5 poorly defined rows of densely packed, small caniniform teeth, tapering to single rows posteriorly, and running most of length of dentary and premaxilla. Teeth in lateral­most row somewhat larger than inner teeth in both jaws.

Gill Rakers: Slender and short to somewhat elongate, non­denticulate. Gill rakers number 5–8 (typically 6) along hypobranchial and ceratobranchial of first gill arch. Single raker almost always present in angle of arch. Rakers number 2–5 (mode 2) along epibranchial of first arch.

Lower Pharyngeal Jaw: Wider than long, interdigitations along ventral suture absent or very slight. Posterior­most tooth row with 24–26 teeth. Most teeth slender, either beveled or slightly hooked; median teeth somewhat more robust, but not molariform.

Scales: Flank scales ctenoid and uniformly sized. Lateral line scales 33–35. Upper and lower branches of lateral line sometimes overlapping. Cheek naked; opercle and subopercle partially scaled. Belly scales small and embedded, with gradual transition to larger flank scales. Nape and region just below dorsal fin origin scaleless; gradual transition to small, embedded scales between lateral line and anterior portion of dorsal fin.

Vertebrae: 30–32; 14 + 16 (2), 14 + 17 (16), 14 + 18 (2), or 13 + 18 (1).

Additional Osteology (fig. 13): Infraorbital series comprised of broad, platelike lachrymal with 5 sensory canal openings and 3–5 tubular infraorbitals adjacent to lachrymal. Dermosphenotic absent. Supraneurals absent. Supraoccipital crest low, without frontal ridge.

Coloration: Live coloration unknown. Preserved background coloration brown to yellowish brown. Four to six relatively dark vertical bars along flanks. Dark, scaleless opercular spot present. Individual flank scales with dark pigment on dorsal half of caudal field of each scale, creating series of thin, parallel bands running obliquely posteroventrally. Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with black maculae. Oblique bands on flanks faded in some specimens that have been in preservative for decades, but pattern still remarkably conspicuous in many (particularly specimens from 1915, AMNH Lang­Chapin expedition).

DIET: Gut short and simple, with length of about 60% of SL. Gut contents include mostly insect parts, some of which appear to be aquatic insect larvae.

DISTRIBUTION (fig. 14): Widely distributed throughout the upper Congo Basin; from the Upemba lakes on the Lualaba to Mbandaka on the Congo mainstream; also most of the Ubangi­Uele drainage, the lower Ruki, the lower Mongala, the Itimbiri, the Ituri­Aruwimi, the Lindi, and the Luvua.

REMARKS: Lamprologus mocquardi is the most widely distributed of the Congo River Lamprologus , and the possibility exists that as more material becomes available, it may be revealed to constitute a species complex encompassing additional entities. In the course of the present study, however, we were unable to discern any meaningful variation between geographically disparate populations.

Figures

Plate 1. (a) Lamprologus congoensis, MRAC 118140–53, male, 104 mm SL; (b) Lamprologus tumbanus, MRAC 100851–53, male, 51 mm SL; (c) Lamprologus mocquardi, AMNH 5897, male, 78 mm SL; (d) Lamprologus werneri, MRAC 98158–92, male, 56 mm SL.

Fig. 12. Lamprologus mocquardi, AMNH 5897, male, 78 mm SL, drawn by Patricia Wynne.

Fig. 13. Lamprologus mocquardi, AMNH 5828: (a) neurocranium and first vertebra; (b) lachrymal and adjacent infraorbitals.

Fig. 14. Collection localities of Lamprologus mocquardi.