Parauchenoglanis punctatus (Boulenger, 1902)

Geerinckx, T., Adriaens, D., Teugels, G. G. & Verraes, W., 2004, A systematic revision of the African catfish genus Parauchenoglanis (Siluriformes: Claroteidae), Journal of Natural History 38 (6), pp. 775-803 : 796

Parauchenoglanis punctatus (Boulenger, 1902)

(figure 8c)

Auchenoglanis punctatus Boulenger, 1902a .

Auchenoglanis iturii Steindachner, 1911 (new synonymy).

Auchenoglanis grandis Fowler, 1936 (new synonymy).

Parauchenoglanis punctatus: Teugels et al., 1991 .

Diagnosis. Head height greater than, rarely as great as, preorbital head length. Barbels extremely long, with maxillary barbel usually reaching beyond base of pectoral fin spine; external mandibular barbel always reaching beyond tip of pectoral fin spine. Both margins of pectoral fin spine coarsely serrated. High caudal peduncle, with minimal height of peduncle usually twice horizontal distance between adipose fin and caudal fin bases, or even greater.

Description. Based on 47 specimens including holotype (see below). See also table 4. Body and head relatively elevated. Anterior margin of pectoral fin spine always coarsely serrated from base to tip, with serrae being smaller but usually more numerous than those on posterior margin. Humeral process narrow and pointed. Eight (rarely seven) pectoral fin rays. Adipose fin thick and remarkably higher than in most Parauchenoglanis species , except for P. altipinnis .

Head dark brown, typically darker than flanks, sometimes with indistinct, large, dark marks. Flanks brown, occasionally with a purple hue, and 6–10 (rarely 11) vertical rows of very dark to black separate dots, each smaller than eye. In younger specimens dark vertical bands may be barely apparent. Belly pale brown to whitish. Fins spotted or not.

Note on the synonyms. Neither Steindachner (1911) nor Fowler (1936) mentioned the existence of P. punctatus when describing P. iturii and P. grandis , respectively. Possibly they were unaware of the description of P. punctatus by Boulenger (1902a). The holotype of P. punctatus is a small, juvenile specimen, in which some of the distinguishing traits for the species are not yet fully apparent. This may account for the failure of Steindachner and Fowler to recognize that their species were conspecific with it. Both authors distinguished their species from P. ngamensis by the longer external mandibular barbel. Parauchenoglanis ngamensis can be discerned from P. punctatus by its shorter barbels, as mentioned in the original description of the species by Boulenger (1911). The results of this paper unequivocally indicate that both P. iturii and P. grandis should be considered synonyms of P. punctatus .

Distribution (figure 9). Parauchenoglanis punctatus has a wide distribution. It is present in the lower and central Congo River basin up to Kisangani; it also inhabits the San Benito and Ogowe River basins. It is the most widespread of all Parauchenoglanis species ( Gabon, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Maximum size recorded. The maximum size recorded is 410 mm SL.

Material examined. Forty-seven specimens. ISNB 9 (holotype): Lindi River (north-eastern Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 65 mm SL. NMW 47475–47476 (syntypes of P. iturii ): Ituri River (tributary of Aruwimi River, Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); two spm, 186–188 mm SL. ANSP 66.125 (holotype of P. grandis ): Sangha River at Nola ( Congo basin, Central African Republic); 3°31∞N, 16°03∞E; 120 mm SL. MRAC P.1322: Mawambi, Ituri River ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 1°04∞N, 28°34∞E; 185 mm SL. MRAC P.3164: Oshwe, Lac Léopold II, Lukenie River ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 3°23∞S, 19°30∞E; 100 mm SL. MRAC P.14624: Uelé River (tributary of Ubangi River, Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 73 mm SL. MRAC P.17461: Basongo (tributary of Kasai River, Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); approx. 4°20∞S, 20°22∞E; 83 mm SL. MRAC P.19605: Luluabourg (=Kananga), Lulua River ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 5°55∞S, 22°19∞E; 103 mm SL. MRAC P.20426–20427: Sémbé River (tributary of Koudou River, Congo basin, Congo Brazzaville); approx. 1°38∞N, 14°34∞E; two spm, 92–97 mm SL. MRAC P.29641: Kunungu ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo): 2°10∞S, 16°14∞E; 57 mm SL. MRAC P.29708: Lomami River ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); approx. 0°41∞N, 24°12∞E; 120 mm SL. MRAC P.38067–38069, 38072: Kunungu ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 2°10∞S, 16°14∞E; three spm, 94–138 mm SL. MRAC P.38326: Kunungu ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 2°10∞S, 16°14∞E; 62 mm SL. MRAC P.42908: Budjala, tributary of Moeko River ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 2°39∞N, 19°42∞E; 81 mm SL. MRAC P.57197, 57200: Nolva, Kunungu ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 2°10∞S, 16°14∞E; two spm, 68–103 mm SL. MRAC P.68811–68814: Mushie (tributary of Kasai River, Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); approx. 3°02∞S, 16°56∞E; four spm, 96–185 mm SL. MRAC P.72562–72563: Flandria, Momboyo River ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 0°03∞S, 18°28∞E; two spm, 113–119 mm SL. MRAC P.117627: Stanley Pool (=Malebo Pool) ( Congo River; Democratic Republic of Congo); 4°10∞S, 15°23∞E; 93 mm SL. MRAC P.131264–131271: Lake Tumba ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 0°46∞S, 18°02∞E; eight spm, 48–76 mm SL. MRAC P.131272: Ikela, Botiti River (tributary of Tshuapa River, Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 1°11∞S, 23°15∞E; 50 mm SL. MRAC P.135369–135374: Yaekama, tributary of Lopori River ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 0°47∞N, 23°17∞E; five spm, 73–178 mm SL. MRAC 75-56-P-1433–1435: Mang, Boumba River ( Congo basin, Democratic Republic of Congo); 3°20∞N, 14°05∞E; three spm, 106–190 mm SL. MRAC A0-48-P-1328: Mvoul River (tributary of Lake Ezanga, Ivindo River, Ogowe basin, Gabon); 1°54∞N, 12°37∞E; 290 mm SL. MRAC A0-48-P-1329: Mabora River (tributary of Lake Nkonié, Ogowe basin, Gabon); 0°32∞S, 9°55∞E; 410 mm SL. MRAC A0-49-P-210: pont de Lebombi, Békoyo, near Franceville (Ogowe basin, Gabon); 1°38∞N, 13°24∞E; 194 mm SL.