Zamba AI, Liyandja TLD, Lamboj A, Snoeks J& Vreven E. 2022.  Ichthyological exploration of freshwaters (IEF-1074): 14. pp. 1-14. LSID: zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1E76B30D-343F-49E5-BFBA-18503E6028EE . DOI: doi.org/10.23788/IEF-1074 .  Published 17 October 2022

Abstract

Parananochromis moutingae, new species, is the first species of Parananochromis to be recorded as endemic to the Congo Basin. It is recorded from the Lefini, Lebomo, and Mayi Ndombe Rivers in the middle Congo. Parananochromis moutingae is distinguished from all congeners by a unique combination of the following meristic and morphological characters: three tubular infraorbital bones; a well-developed hanging pad on the pharynx roof; more scales between the dorsal-fin origin and the upper lateral line (5.5-6.5); more small scales between pectoral and pelvic fin insertions (8-10); presence of scales on the chest; more gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch (8-9); more teeth (5-7) on pharyngobranchial 2 of upper pharyngeal jaw; longer snout (32-39 % HL); longer predorsal distance (33.9-36.1 % SL); broader than long lower pharyngeal jaw; straight urohyal spine; and slightly indented ventral margin of the lower pharyngeal keel. Despite concerted efforts, the species has not been collected in the Lefini River since its original discovery in 2008, probably as a result of the installation of a hydroelectric dam, but it seems to subsist in the other two locations.