 |
 |
**Teugels, G.G. and C. D. Hopkins (1997) Morphological and Osteological evidence for the generic position of Mormyrus kingsleyae in the Genus Brienomyrus (Teleostei: Mormyridae). Copeia 1998, 199-204.)
|
The five new species to be described in this manuscrpt bear a certain
resemblance to Brienomyrus kingsleyae (Günther, 1896), which
was reportedly collected from Old Calabar, but which may have been
collected in Gabon (see Teugels, G. and Hopkins, C.
D.,1998**). All five of these new species are
all found in forested creeks in the Ivindo or upper Ogooué River basins.
Although cryptic morphologically, they can be reliably identified
by the Electric Organ Discharges. All five taxa have blunt snouts.
**Teugels, G.G. and C. D. Hopkins (1997) Morphological and Osteological evidence for the generic position of Mormyrus kingsleyae in the Genus Brienomyrus (Teleostei: Mormyridae). Copeia 1998, 199-204.) |
|
The five additional new species to be described in this second manuscript bear a certain resemblance to Brienomyrus sphecodes (Sauvage, 1879), originally collected in the Ogooué River of Gabon, and to Brienomyrus curvifrons (Taverne et al., 1977) which was described from the upper Ivindo River in Gabon, a tributary of the Ogooué. One of the species more closely resembles Brienomyrus longicaudatus Taverne, 1977 which was also described from Gabon from similar habitats. All five come from Gabon. All five have gently pointed snouts. Three have distinctive Electric Organ Discharge waveforms, which are diagnostic of the species when it is alive. One can be distinguished from all others by the distinctive histology of its electric organ. |
Consisting of more than 200 nominal species placed in 18 nominal genera, the African weakly electric fish family mormyridae represents one of the world's most remarkable radiations of freshwater fishes. Morphologically and ecologically diverse, recent studies have revealed an even greater diversity in electric organ and electrosensory characteristics. In order to understand the evolutionary history of these features, a well-supported hypothesis of interrelationships of these fishes is needed.
The goal of this research is to identify the major monophyletic groups of mormyrids and to reconstruct their phylogeny through a cladistic analysis of molecular and morphological characters. A species-level analysis of the genus Brienomyrus, extending the work already published in Alves-Gomes and Hopkins (1996)* is also underway. Electric organ characters and other characters of interest will be mapped onto the phylogenetic tree produced from the cladistic analyses to identify historical sequences of evolution in this system. In this work we hope to achieve insight into the evolution of electrogenic/electrosensory traits and related behaviors, sexual dimorphism, morphology, ecology and biogeography of mormyrids and to provide a framework for a revised classification of mormryrids based on natural groups.
*Alves-Gomes, J. & C.D. Hopkins 1997. Molecular insights into the phylogeny of mormyriform fishes and the evolution of their electric organs. Brain Behav. Evol., 49:324-351.
Return to Mary Kingsley Centennial Expedition
