Brycinus, Valenciennes, 1850

Toledo-Piza, Mônica, Baena, Eduardo G., Dagosta, Fernando C. P., Menezes, Naércio A., Ândrade, Marcelo, Benini, Ricardo C., Bertaco, Vinicius A., Birindelli, José Luís O., Boden, Gert, Buckup, Paulo A., Camelier, Priscila, Carvalho, Fernando R., Castro, Ricardo M. C., Chuctaya, Junior, Decru, Eva, Derijst, Eddy, Dillman, Casey B., Ferreira, Katiane M., Merxem, Dimitri G., Giovannetti, Victor, Hirschmann, Alice, Jégu, Michel, Jerep, Fernando C., Langeani, Francisco, Lima, Flávio C. T., Lucena, Carlos A. S., Lucena, Zilda Margarete S., Malabarba, Luiz R., Malabarba, Maria Cláudia S. L., Marinho, Manoela M. F., Mathubara, Kleber, Mattox, George M. T., Melo, Bruno F., Moelants, Tuur, Moreira, Cristiano R., Musschoot, Tobias, Netto-Ferreira, André L., Ota, Rafaela P., T. Oyakawa, Osvaldo, Pavanelli, Carla S., Reis, Roberto E., Santos, Osmar, Serra, Jane Piton, Silva, Gabriel S. C., Silva-Oliveira, Cárlison, Souza-Lima, Rosana, Vari, Richard P. & Zanata, Angela M., 2024, Checklist of the species of the Order Characiformes (Teleostei: Ostariophysi), Neotropical Ichthyology (e 230086) 22 (1), pp. 1-548 : 25-30

BRYCINUS Valenciennes, 1850

G Boden, D Geelhand de Merxem

Brycinus Valenciennes , in Cuvier, Valenciennes, 1850:157 . Type species: Brycinus macrolepidotus Valenciennes, 1850 . Type by monotypy. Gender: Masculine.

Brachyalestes Günther, 1864:314 . Type species: Myletes nurse Rüppell, 1832 . Type by subsequent designation by Jordan, 1919a:333. Gender : Masculine.

Alestogrammus Hoedeman, 1956d:559 . Type species: Alestes abeli Fowler, 1936 . Type by original designation. Gender: Masculine. Additional comments: Originally proposed as a subgenus of Phenacogrammus . Alestogrammus appeared first in Hoedeman (1951) as a subgenus of Alestopetersius ; it included 3 species, but no type was established (Art.13.3).

Brycinus abeli (Fowler, 1936)

Alestes abeli Fowler, 1936:255 , fig. 8. Type locality: Fort Sibut , Ubangi-Shari. [ Central African Republic]. Holotype: ANSP 65545 .

Distribution: 535 (Fowler, 1936; Paugy, 1986; Gosse, 1968).

Brycinus affinis (Günther, 1894)

Alestes affinis Günther, 1894:90 . Type locality: Merifano on the Tana River. [ Kenya]. Syntypes: BMNH 1893.12.2.51–53 (3).

Distribution: 531, 564, 567, 568 (Bailey, 1969; Paugy, 1986; Seegers et al., 2003; Getahun, 2007).

Brycinus batesii (Boulenger, 1903)

Alestes batesii Boulenger, 1903a:435 . Type locality: Kribi River , southern Cameroon. Syntypes: BMNH 1902.11.12.110–111 (2); BMNH 1903.7 .28.140 (1).

Distribution: 533 (Boulenger, 1909a; Paugy, 1986).

Remarks: Paugy, Schaefer (2007) questioned the validity of the species by suggesting it could be a morphotype of Brycinus macrolepidotus Valenciennes, 1850 .

Brycinus bimaculatus (Boulenger, 1899)

Alestes bimaculatus Boulenger, 1899b:85 , Pl. 36 (fig. 3). Type locality: Kutu, lac Léopold II, Congo. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Syntypes: BMNH 1899.9.26.92–93 (2), RMCA 792–795 (4).

Distribution: 532, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 545, 546, 547 (Pellegrin, 1928b; Poll, 1933; Paugy, 1986; Monsembula Iyaba, Stiassny, 2013; Stiassny et al., 2021a).

Brycinus brevis (Boulenger, 1903)

Alestes brevis Boulenger, 1903b:594 . Type locality: Lagos and Gold Coast. [ Nigeria (Lagos) and Ghana (Gold Coast)]. Syntypes: BMNH 1866.3 .8.11 (1); BMNH 1903.4.24.152–153 (2); BMNH 1903.4.24.154–155 (2).

Distribution: 505, 506, 515, 516, 517 (Paugy, 1986; Dankwa et al., 1999; Paugy, 2003).

Brycinus carmesinus (Nichols, Griscom, 1917)

Alestes carmesinus Nichols, Griscom, 1917:681 , fig. 5. Type locality: Zambi , Belgian Congo. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Holotype: AMNH 6330 .

Distribution: 550 (Nichols, Griscom, 1917; Paugy, 1986).

Brycinus carolinae (Paugy, Lévêque, 1981)

Alestes carolinae Paugy, Lévêque, 1981:97 , fig. 1. Type locality: le Niandan à Niandan ( République Populaire de Guinée). [ Guinea]. Holotype: MNHN 1980-1522 .

Distribution: 507 (Paugy, Lévêque, 1981; Paugy, 1986; Paugy, 2003).

Brycinus comptus (Roberts, Stewart, 1976)

Alestes comptus Roberts, Stewart, 1976:270 , Pl. 6 (fig. a). Type locality: Lower Zaïre River , near Inga hydroelectric dam, lat. 5°31.5’S, long. 13°37.5’E. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Holotype: MCZ 50506 .

Distribution: 535, 537, 540, 541, 546, 548, 549 (RMCA fish collection; Roberts, Stewart, 1976; Stiassny et al., 2009; Mbimbi Mayi Munene, Stiassny, 2011; Kisekelwa et al., 2020).

Brycinus epuluensis Decru, Vreven, Sadio, Snoeks, 2016

Brycinus epuluensis Decru, Vreven, Sadio, Snoeks, 2016:55 , figs. 4, 5. Type locality: DRC: Ituri basin: Edoro River , upstream of the bridge, near the research camp at Edoro-Afarama, affluent of Epulu River, 1°33’01”N, 28°30’41”E. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Holotype: RMCA 2009-029 - P-0612 .

Distribution: 537 (Decru et al., 2016).

Brycinus ferox (Hopson, Hopson, 1982)

Alestes ferox Hopson, Hopson, 1982:299 , fig. 5.19. Type locality: 1 km west of North Island at a lake depth of 38 m, Lake Turkana. [ Kenya]. Holotype: BMNH 1978.5 .16.1.

Distribution: 530 (Hopson, Hopson, 1982; Seegers et al., 2003).

Brycinus fwaensis Géry, 1995

Brycinus fwaensis Géry, 1995:48 , figs. 25–26. Type locality: Lake Fwa , draining into Lubi River , Kasai basin, ca 155 km east of Kananga, Kasai Occidental, Zaïre (ca 6°30’ S and 23° E). [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Holotype: MHNG 2572.07 .

Distribution: 546 (Géry, 1995).

Brycinus grandisquamis (Boulenger, 1899)

Alestes grandisquamis Boulenger, 1899b:85 , Pl. 35 (fig. 3). Type locality: Bas-Congo, Matadi, Boma et lac Léopold II. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Syntypes: BMNH 1887.1 .13.1 (1); BMNH 1899.9 .26.91 (1); RMCA 354–55 (2) ; RMCA 800 (1) ; RMCA 801 (1) ; RMCA 802 (1) ; RMCA 1195 (1).

Distribution: 532, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 541, 544, 546, 547, 548, 550 (RMCA fish collection; Ibala Zamba et al., 2019; Matthes, 1964b; Poll, 1967; Paugy, 1986; Mamonekene, Stiassny, 2012a; Van Steenberge et al., 2014; Monsembula Iyaba, Stiassny, 2013; Mbimbi Mayi Munene, Stiassny, 2011; Kisekelwa et al., 2020).

Brycinus imberi (Peters, 1852)

Alestes imberi Peters, 1852:276 . Type locality: Mossambique. [ Peters (1852) gave a short description of Alestes imberi , without mentioning an exact locality. However , Peters (1868a) provided more details about the locality: “ Flumina Zambeze et Licuare ”. Mozambique]. Lectotype: ZMB 3574 . [Designated by Seegers (1996)].

Alestes fuchsii Boulenger, 1899b:83 , Pl. 36 (fig. 1). Type locality: Boma (rivière des crocodiles), Stanley-Pool (région des chutes), lac Léopold II et Monsembé, Congo. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Syntypes: BMNH 1896.3.9.22– 23 (2); BMNH 1899.9 .26.94 (1); BMNH 1901.12.21.25–26 (2); RMCA 796 (1) ; RMCA 797 (1) ; RMCA 798 (1) ; RMCA 799 (1) . [It is clear that Boulenger (1899b) has seen the syntypes BMNH 1896.3.9.22–23 (2; River Congo, 50 miles south of Mangala [changed to Monsembé by Boulenger (1909)]) and BMNH 1901.12.21.25–26 (2; Monsembé) at the time of the description of Alestes fuchsii , because he mentioned specimens from Monsembé. However, they were not indicated as syntypes in Boulenger (1909), which was probably followed in later publications] .

Alestes lemairii Boulenger, 1899b:84 , Pl. 36 (fig. 2). Type locality: lac Moero , Congo. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Syntypes: BMNH 1899.11 . 27.97 (1), RMCA 221 (1).

Alestes fuchsii var. taeniata Pellegrin, 1903:328 . Type locality: Ouellé. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Holotype: MNHN 1903-0291 .

Alestes bequaerti Boulenger, 1920a:148 . Type locality: Ituri , à Avakubi. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Holotype: RMCA 14538 .

Alestes curtus Boulenger, 1920b:16 . Type locality: Avakubi , Congo belge. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Holotype: RMCA 7584 .

Distribution: 507, 512, 514, 515, 516, 517, 534, 535, 536, 537, 539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 548, 549, 550, 551, 558, 559, 560, 561, 563, 564, 565, 576 (Boulenger, 1909a; Poll, 1953; Banister, Bailey, 1979; Paugy, 1986; Seegers, 1996; De Vos et al., 2001; Skelton, 2001; Paugy, 2003; Snoeks, 2004; Paugy, Schaefer, 2007; Marshall, 2011; Van Steenberge et al., 2014; Mbimbi Mayi Munene, Stiassny, 2011).

Remarks: Taxonomic uncertainties remain in Brycinus imberi , a widespread species that is morphological variable compared to other species in the genus. According to Paugy, Schaefer (2007) it is not present in the Lower Guinea Ichthyofaunal Province. According to Marshall (2011) the population that occurs in the coastal rivers of West Africa is likely to be a different species.

Brycinus jacksonii (Boulenger, 1912)

Alestes jacksonii Boulenger, 1912a:601 . Type locality: Malawa River , Kavirondo, 4000 feet, Uganda. Holotype: BMNH 1912.10 .15.6.

Distribution: 521 (Paugy, 1986; De Vos et al., 2001; Seegers et al., 2003; Seegers, 2008).

Brycinus kingsleyae (Günther, 1896)

Alestes kingsleyae Günther, 1896b:279 , Pl. 15 (fig. B). Type locality: Ogowe River, Gaboon. Lectotype: BMNH 1896.5 .5.77. [Designated by Kamdem Toham, Teugels (1997)].

Distribution: 505, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 540, 541, 545, 546, 550 (Paugy, 1986; Kamdem Toham, Teugels, 1997; Paugy, Schaefer, 2007; Kullander, Roberts, 2012; Mamonekene, Stiassny, 2012a).

Brycinus macrolepidotus Valenciennes, 1850

Brycinus macrolepidotus Valenciennes , in Cuvier, Valenciennes, 1850:157 , Pl. 639. Type locality: Sénégal. Holotype: MNHN 0000-6335.

Alestes macrolepidotus Bilharz, 1852:469 , Pl. 37. Type locality: Nil [ Nile ]. Syntypes: NMW (2). [No type specimens of Alestes macrolepidotus Bilharz, 1852 were found in NMW. They may have been lost or misplaced (A. Palandacic, pers. comm.)].

Alestes rutilus Boulenger, 1916:181 , fig. 116. Type locality: N. Sherbo district, Sierra Leone. Syntypes: BMNH 1915.4.13.16–17 (2).

Distribution: 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 520, 521, 522, 523, 530, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 540, 544, 545, 546, 548, 549, 550 (RMCA fish collection; Greenwood, 1966; Roberts, Stewart, 1976; Banister, Bailey, 1979; Paugy, 1986; Bailey, 1994; Paugy, 2003; Paugy, Schaefer, 2007; Mbimbi Mayi Munene, Stiassny, 2011).

Brycinus minutus (Hopson, Hopson, 1982)

Alestes minutus Hopson, Hopson, 1982:302 , fig. 5.20. Type locality: 5 km north west of Ilaret at e [spawning site in the open lake] a lake depth of 8 m, Lake Turkana. [ Kenya]. Holotype: BMNH 1978.5 .16.37.

Distribution: 530 (Hopson, Hopson, 1982; Seegers et al., 2003).

Brycinus nigricauda (Thys van den Audenaerde, 1974)

Alestes nigricauda Thys van den Audenaerde, 1974:143 , fig. 1. Type locality: Toyébli (6°38’N, 8°29’W) dans la rivière Nipoué ou Cess. [ Ivory Coast]. Holotype: RMCA 73-10 - P-1510 .

Distribution: 512 (Thys van den Audenaerde, 1974; Paugy, 1986; Paugy, 2003).

Brycinus nurse (Rüppell, 1832)

Myletes nurse Rüppell, 1832:12 , Pl. 2 (fig. 3). Type locality: Cairo, Nil. [ Nile , Egypt]. Holotype: SMF 1051 .

Myletes allenii Bennett, 1834:45 . Type locality: Quorra River, into the interior of Africa. [Quorra River is an old name for the lower course of the Niger River]. No types known.

Myletes guilé Joannis, 1835 :no page number, Pl. 9. Type locality: Thèbes , Nil. [Nile, Egypt]. Holotype: MNHN A-9717.

Chalceus guile Valenciennes , in Cuvier, Valenciennes, 1850:255 . Type locality: Thèbes, Nil & Richardsthal, Sénégal. Syntypes: MNHN A-9767 (1); MNHN A-9768 (3). [Some authors (Bertin, 1948; Paugy, 1984) also include MNHN A-9717 as syntype, which is also the holotype of Myletes guile Joannis, 1835 . The length of this specimen, MNHN A-9717, is indicated as “6 pouces”, while Valenciennes (1850) mentioned only one specimen with a length of “5 pouces et demi” from Thèbes. Most probably MNHN A-9767 should be considered as the only syntype from Thèbes for Chalceus guile Valenciennes, 1850 ].

Brachyalestes rüppellii Günther, 1864:315 . Type locality: Chartoum , Upper Nile. [ Sudan]. Syntypes: BMNH 1862.6.17.15–16 (2); BMNH 1862.6 .17.154 (1).

Alestes erythropterus Pellegrin, 1907b:139 . Type locality: Soubré (Bassin de la Moyenne Sassandra), Côte d’Ivoire. Syntypes: MNHN 1907-0320 (1); MNHN 1907-0321 (1).

Alestes nurse var. nana Pellegrin, 1935a:133 . Type locality: Nanoropus (lac Rodolphe), altitude 565 m. [“lac Rodolphe” is an old name for Lake Turkana. Kenya]. Syntypes: MNHN 1933-0084 (7) ; MNHN 1933-0085 (6) ; MNHN 1933-0086 (7) ; NMBA 4888 (1).

Alestes dageti Blache, Miton, 1960:100 . Type locality: Lac Tchad, zone E.-S.-E. en bordure des Ilôts-bancs (loc. Bangarom). [ Chad]. Syntypes: MNHN 1959-0224 (19); CEPFL 1082–1089 (8); CEPFL 1091-1094 (4). [Original description gives both “types” ( MNHN 1959-0224 ) and “ paratypes ” ( CEPFL 1082–1089 and CEPFL 1091-1094 ), all to be treated as syntypes (See ICZN, 1999: Art. 72.1 and 73.2)].

Alestes bouboni Roman, 1973:51 , fig. (p.55). Type locality: dans le Niger à Boubon, à 20 km au Nord de Niamey, République du Niger . Holotype: MH-V 436. [MHV stands for “Musée de Haute-Volta ”, now

Musée National de Burkina Faso].

Distribution: 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 520, 522, 523, 524, 530 (Paugy, 1986; Bailey, 1994; Paugy, 2003; Seegers et al., 2003; Paugy, Schaefer, 2007).

Brycinus opisthotaenia (Boulenger, 1903)

Alestes opisthotaenia Boulenger, 1903c:22 , Pl. 1 (fig. 2). Type locality: Kribi River and Mvile River, southern Cameroon. [In the original description, four specimens referred to as originating from the Kribi River and Mvile River were examined. However, Boulenger (1909a) specifically listed four specimens from “Kribi River” as the types. Moreover, in the BMNH collection only the four Kribi specimens are labeled as type material. Therefore, Kamdem Toham, Teugels (1997) considered that the Mvile specimen has no type status, and the type locality should be “Kribi River, southern Cameroon ”]. Lectotype: BMNH 1902.11 .12.109. [Designated by Kamdem Toham, Teugels (1997)].

Distribution: 505, 532, 533 (Paugy, 1986; Kamdem Toham, Teugels, 1997; Paugy, Schaefer, 2007; Mamonekene, Stiassny, 2012a).

Brycinus peringueyi (Boulenger, 1923)

Alestes péringueyi Boulenger, 1923:437 . Type locality: Mansa River , N. Rhodesia. [ Zambia]. Holotype: SAIAB 135259 .

Distribution: 544 (Boulenger, 1923; Paugy, 1986; Van Steenberge et al., 2014).

Brycinus poptae (Pellegrin, 1906)

Alestes poptae Pellegrin, 1906b:367 . Type locality: Congo. Holotype: MNHN 1890- 0019 .

Distribution: 534, 535, 536, 537, 540, 546 (David, Poll, 1937; Paugy, 1986; Ibala Zamba, 2010; Mbimbi Mayi Munene, Stiassny, 2011; Monsembula Iyaba, Stiassny, 2013; Decru et al., 2017).

Brycinus rhodopleura (Boulenger, 1906)

Alestes rhodopleura Boulenger, 1906a:547 , Pl. 30 (fig. 3). Type locality: Niamkolo, Mtondwe Bay, and Lofu, Lake Tanganyika. [ Zambia]. Syntypes: BMNH 1898.9 .9.79 (1) Tanganyika ; BMNH 1906.9 .8.37 (1) Niamkolo ; BMNH 1906.9 .8.38 (1) Mtondwe Bay ; BMNH 1906.9 .8.39 (1) Lofu. [Boulenger (1909a) mentioned two specimens from Lofu as types. There is however only one specimen known from that locality in the BMNH fish collection ( BMNH 1906.9.8.39). It is known that Boulenger divided type material between BMNH and RMCA, at least for some species, but no specimens from “Lofu” (or “Luvu”) of A. rhodopleura could be found in the RMCA fish collection] .

Distribution: 542 (Poll, 1953; Paugy, 1986).

Brycinus schoutedeni (Boulenger, 1912)

Alestes schoutedeni Boulenger, 1912b:7 , Pl. 18 (fig. 1). Type locality: la Lebuzi à Kuka Muno et Boma Vonde, Bas-Congo. [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Syntypes: BMNH 1912.4.1.241–242 (2); BMNH 1912.4 .1.243 (1); RMCA 1599 (1) ; RMCA 1600 (1).

Distribution: 532, 533 (David, Poll, 1937; Paugy, 1986; Mamonekene, Stiassny, 2012a).

Remarks: Paugy, Schaefer (2007) questioned the validity of the species by suggesting it could be a morphotype of Brycinus macrolepidotus Valenciennes, 1850 . This requires confirmation, most likely with genetic studies.

Brycinus taeniurus (Günther, 1867)

Alestes taeniurus Günther, 1867:113 [5]. Type locality: Gaboon. Holotype: BMNH 1867.5 .3.26.

Distribution: 532, 533 (Paugy, 1986; Paugy, Schaefer, 2007; Mamonekene, Stiassny, 2012a).

Species inquirenda ( Brycinus )

Petersius bahr-sarae Fowler, 1949b:245 , figs. 15–18. Type locality: Bahr Sara, Shari River basin. [ Chad]. Holotype: ANSP 71876. [The holotype is missing from its jar since 1970 (Böhlke, 1984)]. Remarks: Poll (1967) treated this species as a juvenile Alestes species, but he still had doubts about its generic placement. Later, Géry (1977) placed it as an unidentified Brycinus species.