Environmental Influences on Fish Species Distribution in the Musolo River System, Congo River Basin (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa)

Here we examine new collections of Petrocephalus species (Osteoglossomorpha: Mormyridae: Petrocephalinae) made within Odzala National Park in the Republic of the Congo (Lékoli River drainage, northwestern Congo River basin). We compare these collections to type material of all nominal Petrocephalus species described from the Congo basin and the adjacent Lower Guinea ichthyofaunal province. Based on morphology and electric signal characteristics we recognize eleven distinct species of Petrocephalus in these collections, including five new species described herein: Petrocephalus binotatus, Petrocephalus zakoni n. sp., Petrocephalus valentini n. sp., Petrocephalus balayi, Petrocephalus microphthalmus, Petrocephalus odzalaensis n. sp., Petrocephalus christyi, Petrocephalus sauvagii, Petrocephalus pulsivertens n. sp., Petrocephalus grandoculis and Petrocephalus mbossou n. sp. Each species can be distinguished by a combination of characters, the most important of which are numbers of dorsal and anal fin rays, mouth width, eye size, number of upper jaw teeth and melanin markings. Electric signal waveform characteristics are useful for diagnosing a few of the species. The eleven Petrocephalus species of the Odzala assemblage appear to be reproductively isolated biological species based on genetic evidence we have gathered from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Our study of Petrocephalus type material reveals that Petrocephalus guttatus was erroneously assigned to this genus; we now assign this species to Pollimyrus within the sister subfamily, Mormyrinae. Additionally, we provide a dichotomous key to the eleven Petrocephalus species of Odzala National Park.

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Redescription of Potamonautes walderi (Colosi, 1924) from the lower Congo River basin in Central Africa (Brachyura, Potamoidea, Potamonautidae)

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-00003632 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 90 (7-10) ◽

pp. 917-930

Author(s):

Neil Cumberlidge

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Central Africa ◽

The Other ◽

Congo River ◽

Congo River Basin

Potamonautes walderi(Colosi, 1924), is redescribed from the lectotype and the male gonopods, abdomen, mouthparts, chelipeds, and sternum are illustrated. Photographs of the lectotype are provided and its distribution and conservation status is discussed.Potamonautes walderiis also compared to the other species of this genus that are found in the Congo River basin in Central Africa.

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Redescription of Potamonautes walderi (Colosi, 1924) from the lower Congo River basin in Central Africa (Brachyura, Potamoidea, Potamonautidae)

Studies in Decapoda: Michael Türkay Memorial Volume ◽

10.1163/9789004366435_011 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 147-160

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Central Africa ◽

Congo River ◽

Congo River Basin

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Shrew trap efficiency: experience from primary forest, secondary forest, old fallow land and old palm plantation in the Congo River basin (Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mamm.2008.039 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 72 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mbalitini Gambalemoke ◽

Itoka Mukinzi ◽

Drazo Amundala ◽

Gatate-Banda Katuala ◽

Jan Kennis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Primary Forest ◽

Fallow Land ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

Trap Efficiency ◽

Congo River ◽

Congo River Basin

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First observation of Aedes albopictus in the Tshuapa province (Boende) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

10.1101/2021.08.03.454759 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joachim Marien ◽

Nicolas Laurent ◽

Nathalie Smitz ◽

Sophie Gombeer

Keyword(s):

Aedes Albopictus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Central Africa ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Capital City ◽

Congo Basin ◽

Congo River ◽

Coi Barcoding ◽

Republic Of The Congo

In May-June 2021, we detected Aedes albopictus adults near the central hospital in Boende, the capital city of the Tshuapa province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We identified the mosquitoes using morphological and molecular techniques (COI barcoding). This is the first report of this species in the DRC outside of Kinshasa and Kongo Central. Given the central location of Boende in the Congo Basin, our finding suggests that the vector might also have spread to other cities which are located upstream of the Congo River and its major tributaries. Because Aedes albopictus is an important vector for human arbovirus transmission, we highlight the need to investigate its distribution range and to update disease risk maps in Central Africa.

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Potamonautes nheenae, a new species of freshwater crab from Gabon, Central Africa, with a description of the first known male of Erimetopus brazzae (A. Milne-Edwards, 1886) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4286.2.6 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4286 (2) ◽

pp. 228 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

NEIL CUMBERLIDGE

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Central Africa ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Freshwater Crab ◽

Male Specimen ◽

Congo River Basin ◽

Comparative Zoology ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

A New Species

A new species of the freshwater crab genus Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838, is described from Ivindo National Park in Sofala Province, Gabon, Central Africa. Potamonautes nheenae n. sp. is morphologically distinct from the other species of this genus found in Gabon and nearby countries in Central Africa, and is most closely related to P. paecilei (A. Milne-Edwards, 1886) from the Lower Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The new species is recognised by a unique combination of morphological characters of the adult male first gonopod, anterior sternum, mouthparts, and major cheliped. Illustrations of P. nheenae n. sp. are provided and differences with congeners found in Central Africa are discussed. In addition, the male gonopods, pleon, and sternum of the unusual freshwater crab Erimetopus brazzae (A. Milne-Edwards, 1886), are illustrated for the first time since its description in 1886, following the discovery of the first known male specimen of this species in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.

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Gomphonema grande sp. nov., a new diatom (Bacillariophyta) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tropical Africa

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.245.3.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 245 (3) ◽

pp. 187 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Balasubramanian Karthick ◽

Patrick John Kociolek ◽

Jonathan C Taylor ◽

Christine Cocquyt

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Tropical Africa ◽

Congo River ◽

Large Size ◽

Congo River Basin ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Unique Shape ◽

Scanning Electron

Gomphonema grande sp. nov. is described from a single sample collected from the Congo River Basin, Tropical Africa. The morphological features of the new species are described and documented through light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses. Gomphonema grande differs from most species of the genus by its relatively large size, robust valves, unique shape, and distinctive suite of valve features such as a labium-shaped internal stigma opening. Further discussion on the diverse nature of certain characters in the genus Gomphonema is presented.

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