From fin rays to DNA: supplementary morphological and molecular data to identify Mormyrus subundulatus Roberts, 1989 (Pisces: Mormyridae) from the Bandama River in Cote d'Ivoire

The genus Mormyrus Linnaeus, 1758 has been well studied in western Africa where five species are currently recognized. Mormyrus subundulatus Roberts, 1989 was described in 1989, and, although morphologically and genetically close to Mormyrus rume Valenciennes, 1847, is still considered by the most recent studies as a distinct species. It is endemic to the Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana River systems. It was historically recorded from only three locations but is today very likely extirpated from one of them and threatened in the remaining two. It is categorized as Vulnerable B1ab(iii) by the IUCN Red List (Dankwa 2020). Although a few papers describe precisely the morphology and electric signal of the species, they are based on a very limited number of samples. In this paper, we present new data on the morphological characteristics of the species (extending the dorsal fin rays count range, which is the main morphometric criterium to distinguish M. subundulatus and M. rume) based on Museum samples and samples collected recently a few kilometers away from the type locality. Determination of the newly collected material was confirmed by the analysis of a fragment of the Cytochrome b gene, and we produced the first sequence fragment of the cytochrome oxydase subunit 1 (COI) for this species.

Automated summary

Mormyrus subundulatus, described in 1989, is considered a distinct species endemic to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with populations threatened in its limited distribution range. New data on its morphology and genetic characteristics have been presented in this study.