Notoglanidium thomasi Boulenger 1916

Geerinckx, Tom, Vreven, Emmanuel, Dierick, Manuel, Hoorebeke, Luc Van & Adriaens, Dominique, 2013, Revision of Notoglanidium and related genera (Siluriformes: Claroteidae) based on morphology and osteology, Zootaxa 3691 (1), pp. 165-191 : 184

Notoglanidium thomasi Boulenger 1916

( Figs. 5 C, 5D & 10H)

Syntypes. BMNH 1915.5.27.3–4: Victoria, Sierra Leone; 7°56’N, 11°19’W; 2 spec., 38–43 mm SL. BMNH 1915.5.27.10: Pujehun, Waanje basin, Sierra Leone (7°21’N, 11°43’W), 42 mm SL; badly damaged (not included in metric analysis).

Other specimens examined. BMNH 1976.11.12.84–85: Kasewe, Sierra Leone; 2 spec., 39–44 mm SL. BMNH 1985.6.12.35–39: Yele, tributary of Tai River, Sierra Leone; 35 mm SL. BMNH 1985.6.12.35–39: same locality; 2 cleared and stained spec., 39–40 mm SL.

Diagnosis. Notoglanidium thomasi differs from all congeners in the large interorbital distance (41.0–46.7% HL) [vs. <37% in all other species (Table 4)]. It differs from other species in the genus in having: a rather large eye diameter (9.1–12.5% HL) [vs. smaller in N. depierrei (6.8–8.8% HL), N. maculatum (3.3–5.3% HL) and N. pallidum (3.8–7.0% HL)]; a small combined premaxillary tooth plate width (11.9–18.2% HL) [vs. larger in N. akiri (22.0–26.1% HL), N. boutchangai (30.1–35.3% HL), N. macrostoma (33.5–41.7% HL) and N. pembetadi (21.0– 26.4% HL)]; a relatively large number of soft dorsal-fin rays (12–16) [vs. less in N. akiri (7), N. boutchangai (7), N. depierrei (9 or 10) and N. macrostoma (7)].

Description. Body slender but not elongate (predorsal body depth 16.1–19.2% SL, minimal caudal peduncle depth 10.7–13.1% SL). Head not depressed (head depth 52.2–65.2% HL). Branchiostegal membranes completely fused. Dorsal fin with short spine (4.6–6.2% HL). Adipose fin low (1.2–4.5% SL). See also Table 4.

Colouration in life. Light brown with many round to irregular, large spots covering most of the head and body surface, leaving little space in between; spots are smaller ventrally and on the caudal fin. Spots on pectoral, pelvic and anal fins very faint.

Maximum size recorded. 44 mm SL.

Etymology. Named in honour of N.W. Thomas, collector of the type specimens (Boulenger 1916).

Distribution. Known from localities north and east of the Sierra Leone river estuary, including the Tai (Taia, Taye) River, and the Kasewe (Kassawe) Forest (southern central Sierra Leone; Fig. 13 ).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Distribution of all * documented specimens of Notoglanidium species known by the authors (* not exhaustive for N. macrostoma).

FIGURE 5. A, Dorsal and B, lateral view of the skull region of Notoglanidium pembetadi (MRAC A 5 - 36 - P- 119, 111 mm SL). C, Dorsal and D, lateral view of the skull region of N. thomasi (BMNH 1976.11. 12.84, 44 mm SL). CT scan reconstructions. N. thomasi specimen has been partially decalcified during preservation. Only selected structures indicated (see text for details). Scale bars = 5 mm.