Chromaphyosemion

Rainer Sonnenberg, 2007, Description of three new species of the genus Chromaphyosemion Radda, 1971 (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae) from the coastal plains of Cameroon with a preliminary review of the Chromaphyosemion splendopleure complex., Zootaxa 1591, pp. 1-38 : 33-34

Currently known synonyms of Chromaphyosemion species.

The following available names are currently regarded as synonyms of Chromaphyosemion species ( Daget et al. 1986; Huber 2000; Seegers 1986, 1988; Sonnenberg 2000; Wildekamp 1993):

Fundulopanchax bivittatus var. coerulea Meinken, 1930b was preoccupied by Fundulus gularis var. caerulea Boulenger, 1915 and renamed by Myers (1933) to Aphyosemion bivittatum hollyi Myers, 1933 , which is a synonym of C. bivittatum (see Huber 2000; Seegers 1986; Wildekamp 1993).

Fundulus rubrostictum Ahl, 1924 was currently regarded as synonym of Chromaphyosemion bitaeniatum ( Ahl, 1924) ( Seegers 1986) . Recently Pohlmann (2006b, in litt.) mentioned that the color description given by Ahl (1924) for this species gives the diagnostic character for C. bivittatum , the dark red dot or dots at the posterior end of the caudal peduncle. Restudying the original description I found him right in his conclusion, the color description is diagnostic for C. bivittatum whereas the locality is doubtful, as currently no collection of this species is known from the Niger river system, the closest known collections are from the Cross river basin ( Huber 2000). Regrettably, the type specimens show no traces of the color pattern any more (photos in Seegers1986). Fundulus rubrostictus Ahl, 1924 has to be regarded as junior synonym of Fundulus bivittatus Loennberg, 1895 . Unfortunately Pohlmann (2006b, in litt.) used the name as a trinomen; however, actually no indication for an infraspecific subdivision of C. bivittatum is known.

Fundulopanchax multicolor Bruening, 1929c and Aphyosemion (Fundulopanchax) nigri Ahl, 1935 are regarded as synonyms of C. bitaeniatum ( Daget et al. 1986; Huber 2000; Seegers 1986; Sonnenberg 2000; Wildekamp 1993).

Fundulus pappenheimi Ahl, 1924 is recognized as a synonym of C. loennbergii . The specimens Scheel (1990) assigned to this species in the collection of the Musée Royal de l'Afrique Central ( MRAC P 73039.0895-73039.0908 ) do not differ in any stable character from other preserved C. loennbergii . In addition, Scheel's specimens were collected approximately 37 km southwest of Lolodorf towards Bipindi , which is not the type locality. According to the description from Ahl (1924), the type locality of this species and Aphyosemion (Fundulopanchax) unistrigatus Ahl, 1935 is Bipindi from which C. loennbergii is known. Therefore both names are regarded as junior synonyms of C. loennbergii ( Huber 2000; Seegers 1988; Sonnenberg 2000).

Aphyosemion volcanum Radda and Wildekamp, 1977 is here again considered as a synonym of C. splendopleure , as no diagnostic differences in color pattern with regard to the populations around the type locality Tiko in Cameroon are recognized compared to specimens from Kumba (see also Legros 1991; Sonnenberg 2000).