A New Species of Synodontis (Mochokidae) from the Congo River Basin with Notes on Its Ecological Adaptations
Keywords:
New Species (NS), Synodontis (SS), Cogo River (CR), Ecological Adaptations (EA)Abstract
A new species of Synodontis (family Mochokidae) is described from the Congo River Basin, thus increasing the
known diversity of this well-known group of catfish. These field-collected specimens with morphological traits,
including specific fin ray counts, body proportions and colouration patterns, were used to define a new species
using molecular data. This work is also valuable to understanding the species' natural behaviours within the
complex river habitats. Some of the noteworthy conclusions are that Arthur proactively associated with the
vibrant, energetic environments of the Congo River through specific adaptations to feeding mechanics, haptic
touch organs for impedance sensing for navigation during high suspended turbidity, and hydrology-optimized
morphological characteristics of its body parts for reduced pressure drag and larger surface area of the body for
better substratum attachment. These features, however, are considered concerning hydrologic and ecological
characteristics of the Congo River System, influencing high rates of speciation and endemism. This research
mobilizes the conservation of a region with a high concentration of species: the Congo River Basin, threatened
by rising pressures of habitat destruction, pollution, and overfishing. This new Synodontis species shows how
further research and conservation efforts in the basin are critical to preserve the area's primarily uninvestigated
diverse water sources.