Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 41(3): 201-214, doi: 10.3750/AIP2011.41.3.08
A recent inventory of the fishes of the north-western and central western coast of Lake Tanganyika (Democratic Republic Congo)
M. Van Steenberge, M.P.M. Vanhove, D. Muzumani Risasi, T. Mulimbwa N’Sibula, F. Muterezi Bukinga, A. Pariselle, C. Gillardin, E. Vreven, J.A.M. Raeymaekers, T. Huyse, F.A.M. Volckaert, V. Nshombo Muderhwa, J. SnoeksCorresponding author: M. Van Steenberge © M. Van Steenberge, M.P.M. Vanhove, D. Muzumani Risasi, T. Mulimbwa N’Sibula, F. Muterezi Bukinga, A. Pariselle, C. Gillardin, E. Vreven, J.A.M. Raeymaekers, T. Huyse, F.A.M. Volckaert, V. Nshombo Muderhwa, J. Snoeks. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Citation:
Van Steenberge M, Vanhove M, Muzumani Risasi D, Mulimbwa N’Sibula T, Muterezi Bukinga F, Pariselle A, Gillardin C, Vreven E, Raeymaekers J, Huyse T, Volckaert F, Nshombo Muderhwa V, Snoeks J (2011) A recent inventory of the fishes of the north-western and central western coast of Lake Tanganyika (Democratic Republic Congo). Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 41(3): 201-214. https://doi.org/10.3750/AIP2011.41.3.08 |  |
Abstract
Background. Despite the importance of Lake Tanganyika’s biodiversity for science and the livelihoods of the riparian people, high-resolution surveys of the fish biodiversity are sparse and fragmentary, especially along the western (Congolese) shoreline. The coast suffers locally from intensive human activities and lacks adequate protective measures or nature reserves. However, in view of the intra-lacustrine endemism of this fish fauna, conservation needs to be managed lake-wide at a fine scale, necessitating detailed inventories on fish species distribution. The study aims at updating knowledge on fish diversity and distribution along the north-western and central western shores of Lake Tanganyika. Materials and methods. Fish specimens were collected using gill- and seine nets, by snorkelling and SCUBA diving, and through purchases on the local markets. Results. Over 28 locations were sampled, and 84 cichlid- and 30 non-cichlid fish species (belonging to Protopteridae, Clupeidae, Cyprinidae, Alestidae, Claroteidae, Clariidae, Malapteruridae, Mochokidae, Poeciliidae, Latidae, and Mastacembelidae) collected. Conclusion. Our records substantially expand the known range of fish species in a range of habitats. As numerous specimens are hard to assign to nominal species, a taxonomic revision of a number of genera is underway. It should take into account intraspecific geographic variation.
Keywords
Africa, ancient lake, biodiversity, Cichlidae, ichthyofauna, Mastacembelidae, Mochokidae, Teleostei