Hidden species diversity in the Enteromius Cope, 1867 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Aruwimi basin (Middle Congo) in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Two new African minnow species, Enteromius cerinus sp. nov. and Enteromius ruforum sp. nov., are described for science from the Angadiko River, a left-bank sub-affluent of first order of the Nepoko River, draining the north-eastern part of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR). Both new species belong to the group of Enteromius for which the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray is flexible and underrated. Within this morphological group, both are most similar to Enteromius kamolondoensis, especially in life colour pattern characteristics. However, Enteromius cerinus sp. nov. differs from E. kamolondoensis by its low number of circumpeduncular scales, 10-11 (vs. 12), low maximum body depth, 22.8%-25.7% standard length (Ls) (vs. 26.1%-30.0%), and long anterior and posterior barbel lengths, 32.6%-35.3% head length (LH) (vs. 23.6%-27.2%) and 41.6%-43.9% LH (vs. 30.3%-34.9%), respectively. Further, E. ruforum sp. nov. is also easily distinguished from E. kamolondoensis by its high maximum body depth, 30.6%-33.3% Ls (vs. 26.1%-30.0%), and small, isometric, eye diameter, 26.2%-28.0% LH (vs. 29.1%-31.9%). A barcoding study (mtDNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit I [COI]) revealed that specimens of both new species form lineages well differentiated from those of other available species. As such, (i) E. cerinus sp. nov. diverges from E. kamolondoensis by a K2P genetic distance (GD) of 10.3% and (ii) E. ruforum sp. nov. by a K2P GD of 11.2%. To the present day, the fish fauna of the left-bank sub-affluents of the Nepoko River, in general, remains poorly known or undocumented. Unfortunately, at the same time, multiple anthropogenic impacts are affecting this fauna, such as (i) the destruction of habitats along the river banks for agriculture and fishing and (ii) the use of illegal fishing practices, such as fishing with plant-based ichthyotoxins during ecopage, which is combined with dam building. As a result of the demographic growth, this ecopage results in overfishing and thus is threatening both new species in particular, but all other co-occurring fish species as well. Both new species, E. cerinus sp. nov. and E. ruforum sp. nov., should thus be considered Vulnerable (VU) according to IUCN criterion D2. It is therefore hoped that their discovery highlights the urgent need for a better protection and further in situ exploration of the reserve's freshwater (fish) biodiversity, in general, and that of those small sub-affluents, in particular.

Population genomics of introduced Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Repeated introductions since colonial times with multiple sources.

During colonial times, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) was introduced into non-native parts of the Congo Basin (Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC) for the first time. Currently, it is the most farmed cichlid in the DRC, and is present throughout the Congo Basin. Although Nile tilapia has been reported as an invasive species, documentation of historical introductions into this basin and its consequences are scant. Here, we study the genetic consequences of these introductions by genotyping 213 Nile tilapia from native and introduced regions, focusing on the Congo Basin. Additionally, 48 specimens from 16 other tilapia species were included to test for hybridization. Using RAD sequencing (27,611 single nucleotide polymorphisms), we discovered genetic admixture with other tilapia species in several morphologically identified Nile tilapia from the Congo Basin, reflecting their ability to interbreed and the potential threat they pose to the genetic integrity of native tilapias. Nile tilapia populations from the Upper Congo and those from the Middle-Lower Congo are strongly differentiated. The former show genetic similarity to Nile tilapia from the White Nile, while specimens from the Benue Basin and Lake Kariba are similar to Nile tilapia from the Middle-Lower Congo, suggesting independent introductions using different sources. We conclude that the presence of Nile tilapia in the Congo Basin results from independent introductions, reflecting the dynamic aquaculture history, and that their introduction probably leads to genetic interactions with native tilapias, which could lower their fitness. We therefore urge avoiding further introductions of Nile tilapia in non-native regions and to use native tilapias in future aquaculture efforts.

Hidden species diversity in Marcusenius moorii (Teleostei: Mormyridae) from the Congo Basin.

New collections from the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve (YBR) and Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) revealed the presence of two groups of specimens similar to, but different from Marcusenius moorii. To study both these groups, an integrated morphological and genetic (mtDNA, cytb) approach was used. This study revealed that one of the two groups is conspecific with Marcusenius lambouri, a junior synonym of M. moorii, which is herein revalidated, with M. moorii longulus as its junior synonym. Marcusenius lambouri differs from M. moorii by a higher number of lateral line scales (44-46 vs. 40-43), a shorter pectoral-fin length (14.6-19.9 vs. 20.3-25.2% standard length; LS ) and a more elongated body due to a usually shallower middle body depth (19.8-26.5 vs. 26.3-35.9% LS ). The other group revealed to be a new species for science, Marcusenius verheyenorum, which can be distinguished from its congeners with eight circumpeduncular scales by the following unique combination of characters: a rounded head with a terminal mouth; a short and deep caudal peduncle (middle caudal-peduncle depth, 44.9-54.6% caudal-peduncle length; LCP ), a deep body (middle body depth, 27.7-34.2% LS ), 38-43 scales on the lateral line, 40-41 vertebrae, 20-21 dorsal-fin rays and 26 anal-fin rays. Some specimens previously attributed to M. moorii were examined and reassigned to M. lambouri or M. verheyenorum. As a result, M. moorii and M. lambouri occur in sympatry in the middle Congo Basin, with the distribution area of M. moorii still further extending into the lower Congo Basin. Instead, the distribution of M. verheyenorum is limited to some right bank tributaries of the upstream part of the middle Congo Basin. Two museum records from the Lilanda River (YBR), collected in the 1950s and previously identified as M. moorii, were re-identified as belonging to the new species, M. verheyenorum. However, the species now seems locally extinct in that region, which reflects the significant anthropogenic effects even within this reserve.