DesDescriptioncription
Nagy, B., B.R. Watters, P.D.W. van der Merwe, F.P.D. Cotterill & D.U.
Bellstedt. 2020. Review of the Nothobranchius ugandensis species
group from the inland plateau of eastern Africa with descriptions
of six new species (Teleostei: Nothobranchiidae). Ichthyol. Explor.
Freshwaters, 30 (1): 45, figs. 13-14.
Abstract
The Nothobranchius ugandensis species group from the inland
plateau of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is reviewed. Members of
this group are characterized in males by the combination of
characters of a light blue body coloration with red to red-brown
scale margins; a frontal part of head red-brown; throat light blue
or red; a uniform red or yellow caudal fin; and a light blue or yellow
anal fin with red-brown spotted pattern. Six new species are
identified, to raise total species richness to eleven.
Nothobranchius albertinensis, Nagy, Watters & Bellstedt, new
species, from the Albert Nile drainage in western and north-
western Uganda, is characterized by a yellow dorsal fin with
stripes in medial part parallel to fin rays; yellow anal fin without
markings; and anal fin positioned anterior to dorsal fin.
Nothobranchius attenboroughi Nagy, Watters & Bellstedt, new
species, from the Grumeti and other lesser systems east of Lake
Victoria in northern Tanzania, is characterized by a light blue anal
fin with red-brown dots proximally and medially, and becoming
yellow distally with narrow red-brown stripes parallel to fin rays.
Nothobranchius hoermanni Nagy, Watters & Bellstedt, new
species, from the upper Wembere drainage in central Tanzania, is
characterized by a red throat; light blue anal fin with red-brown
spots and stripes proximally and medially, and with a broad light
blue distal zone without markings; pectoral fin hyaline with red-
brown stripes parallel to fin rays; and exposed branchiostegal
membrane red-brown, with cream distal margin. Nothobranchius
itigiensis Nagy, Watters & Bellstedt, new species, from the
uppermost Ruaha drainage and the Bahi Swamp area in central
Tanzania, is characterized by a yellow anal fin with red-brown
spots proximally, that merge medially to a pattern parallel to fin
rays and are fused distally to form a marginal band.
Nothobranchius moameensis Nagy, Watters & Bellstedt, new
species, from the Moame system south of Lake Victoria in
northern Tanzania, is characterized by a light blue anal fin with
red-brown dots proximally and medially, and with light blue or
yellow distal zone without markings. Nothobranchius venustus
Nagy, Watters & Bellstedt, new species, from lesser systems in
south-western Lake Victoria basin in north-western Tanzania, is
characterized by a dorsal fin with a narrow light blue subdistal
band and a narrow red-brown to black distal band; a light blue anal
fin with irregular red-brown stripes perpendicular to fin rays
proximally and medially, and orange with red-brown stripes
parallel to fin rays in distal zone. The species group on the inland
plateau in eastern Africa also includes N. derhami, N. kardashevi,
N. streltsovi, N. torgashevi and N. ugandensis; furthermore N.
nubaensis from southern Sudan and western Ethiopia is also
included. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences of their
mitochondrial ND2 and COI, and nuclear Glyt, MyH6 and SNX33
gene sequences supports the genetic distinction of the six new
species and confirms their position, together with all known
members in the N. ugandensis species group.
Clasification
Genus: Nothobranchius
Subgenus: Zonothobranchius.
Group: ugandensis
Geographical Distribution
Maps
Tanzania
Type locality:1 km southwest of the railroad at Itigi, (northern central)
Tanzania
Itigi, 1 km S.W. railroad, Tanzania * [5.699 S : 34.481 E]
Locations/codes
Itigi (TAN 03-8), Tangawizi
Tangawizi TAN 98-7,
Notes
Status specie: Not unanimously confirmed
Bibliography
Related:
Krysanov, E. Y., B. Nagy, B. R. Watters, A. Sember & S. A. Simanovsky. 2023.
Karyotype differentiation in the Nothobranchius ugandensis species group
(Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes), seasonal fishes from the east African inland
plateau, in the context of phylogeny and biogeography. Comparative
Cytogenetics, 17 (1): 13–29. [chromosomes]