KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PARAMORMYROPS FROM LOWER GUINEA

Combined with the summary figure (Fig. 16) this key can be used to distinguish among seven described and one undescribed species of Paramormyrops from Lower Guinea. P. retrodorsalis (Nichols & Grissom, 1917), P. tavernei (Poll, 1972) and P. jacksoni (Poll, 1967) are excluded here as they reside outside this region.

1. Te e t h b i c u s p i d, 7 i n u p p e r j aw, 8 i n l o w e r jaw……...............................……………… P. hopkinsi

Teeth bicuspid, 5 in upper jaw, 6 in lower jaw……2

2. 16 or more scales around the caudal peduncle ........…...............………………………………………..3

12 scales around caudal peduncle.....……… ……………………………………………................…..5

3. Lower jaw profile straight, submental swelling reduced or absent…..………………………………….4

Lower jaw profile concave, submental swelling present..…………………….. Paramormyrops batesii

4. Pre-dorsal distance 58–62% SL; CPL 20.7–25.5% SL…………………………………...……….. P. sp. OFF

P D D 5 5. 3 – 5 9. 4 % S L; C P L 2 4. 2 – 2 9. 8 % SL…………………………..………… P. longicaudatus

5. Head profile blunt or U shaped when viewed from above……………..……………............................……6

Head profile sharp or V shaped when viewed from above…...........................…………………………......7

6. Forehead slightly concave viewed from side; HL 24.9–27.6% SL; caudal peduncle slender, its depth 3.7–4.7% SL; interorbital distance 110–133% SNL…….........................................…… P. gabonensis

Forehead rounded: HL 19.5–28% SL; caudal peduncle depth 4.1–7.5% SL; interorbital distance 121– 202% SNL……………………………….. P. kingsleyae

7. Upper profile of head downward sloping, slightly c o n c a v e: m o u t h s u b t e r m i n a l: P r e -p e c t o r a l

distance large, PPCD more than 3 7 % SL