A new species of Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) from tributaries of the Kasai River in northern Angola

Synodontis macropunctata, a new species of mochokid catfish, is described from tributaries of the Kasai River in northern Angola. Specimens of this species have been identified as S. zambesensis and more recently as S. nigromaculata. Synodontis macropunctata is distinguished from these species and all Congo basin congeners by the following combination of characters: large, discrete, widely spaced dark spots on the skin; minute, villous papillae on the skin; 27-35 mandibular teeth; 9-10 branched pectoral-fin elements; the lack of a distinct membrane on the maxillary barbel; interrupted premaxillary toothpad; 8-11 branches on the lateral mandibular barbel; and comparatively longer, maxillary (138.2-176.3% HL), lateral mandibular (87.2-107.9% HL), and medial mandibular (38.5-54.5% HL) barbels. The description of this species restricts the known distribution of Synodontis nigromaculata within the Congo basin to the Lake Mweru-Luapula River-Lake Banguelu system and to neighboring rivers in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.