Description of Hylopanchax paucisquamatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae), a new lampeye species from the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo

Researchers have identified and described Hylopanchax paucisquamatus, a new species of deep-bodied lampeye fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) from the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo. This discovery represents the first deep-bodied Hylopanchax species found outside the Kasaï River drainage, distinguishing it from related congeners like H. leki and H. ndeko. The species is characterized by a unique combination of morphological traits, including a low number of mid-longitudinal and transverse scales, dorsal-fin ray count, and the position of its dorsal fin relative to the anal fin. The study highlights the biodiversity significance of the Odzala-Kokoua region, contributing to our understanding of freshwater fish diversity in the Congo basin.

SONNENBERG, R., FRIEL, J. P., & VAN DER ZEE, J. R. (2014). Description of Hylopanchax paucisquamatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae), a new lampeye species from the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo. Zootaxa, 3846(4). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3846.4.6