Labeo sp.

Liyandja, Tobit L. D. & Stiassny, Melanie L. J., 2023, Description of two new Labeo (Labeoninae; Cyprinidae) endemic to the Lulua River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kasai ecoregion); a hotspot of fish diversity in the Congo basin, American Museum Novitates 2023 (3999) : -

Labeo sp. ‘Lulua’: Liyandja et al., 2022

HOLOTYPE: AMNH 269110 ( AMCC 249240 , CT), 121.2 mm SL, main channel of the Lulua River over rocks at Sandoa (Sanduwa), 0.05 km downstream of Sandoa Bridge, Lualaba Province, D.R.C., 09°41′37.2″S, 022°51′30″E, J.J. Mbimbi and T. Liyandja, September 2014.

PARATYPES: AMNH 269103 ( AMCC 249230 , CT), 97.3 mm SL, main channel of the Lulua River in rocky and rapids habitat about 0.35 km downstream of crossing point on road to Kapanga, Lualaba Province, D.R.C., 08º16′04.3″S, 022º35′50.2″E, J.J. Mbimbi and T. Liyandja, September 2014 ; AMNH 277861 ( AMCC 249238–9 , 2 , 2 CT), 52.88–70.46 mm SL, collected with AMNH 269103; ZSM 48370 (2, 1 CT), 50.23–74.47 mm SL, Lukushi River (tributary of Lulua) at Mukanda rapids, Lualaba Province, D.R.C., 10°30′25.4″S, 23°23′ 33.8″E, E. Vreven et al., August 2012 .

ADDITIONAL NONTYPE MATERIAL: AMNH 247858, 1, 116.4 mm SL, main channel of the Lulua River over rocks at Ntumba Shambuyi Rapids located 2.23 km downstream of Dipumu Rapids , Kasai Central Province , D.R.C., J.J. Mbimbi, July 2008 .

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: While no unambiguous morphological autapomorphies have been located to diagnose Labeo manasseeae the species is distinguished from all central African L. forskalii group congeners except L. dhonti , L. lukulae , L. luluae , L. mbimbii , L. parvus , L. quadribabrbis , and L. simpsoni in the possession of 28 vertebrae (vs. 30 or more). Labeo manasseeae is distinguished from L. lukulae , L. luluae , and L. quadribarbis by a larger interpectoral width (94.7%–107.9% vs. 66.7%–92.8% BD), from L. parvus , L. quadribarbis , and L. simpsoni by a shorter vent–anal-fin distance (5.0%–6.9% vs. 11.4%–7.1% SL), and from L. dhonti and L. lukulae in the possession of 30–31 (vs. 35–36) pored lateral-line scales. It is distinguished from L. mbimbii in the possession of 3 fully developed supraneural bones (vs. 4), 4 predorsal vertebrae (vs. 5), a pointed snout with a shallow ethmoid furrow and weakly developed fleshy appendage versus a truncate snout with a deep ethmoid furrow and well-developed fleshy appendage, and a gracile, narrow-necked, shallow-keeled (vs, robust, thick-necked, and deep-keeled) urohyal bone.

DESCRIPTION: Based on the holotype and five paratypes. General appearance as in figure 7, proportional measurements and meristic counts in table 2. Small-bodied species, maximum observed size 121.2 mm SL (holotype), elongate, cylindriform, somewhat dorsoventrally compressed ( BD 16.1 %–19.2% SL). Genital opening situated well in advance of anal-fin origin, vent –