Pollimyrus brevis (Boulenger, 1913)
Species overview
Very small fish, body moderately short, deep, head as long as deep, snout somewhat truncate, mouth slightly subterminal; caudal peduncle short. Body and fins brown, with dark spots and patches. Size observed: 65 mm SL.
P. brevis(measurements)
Taxonomic description
-Body moderately short, laterally compressed, body depth 30-34 % SL, greatest depth at middle of trunk.
-Head length 20-28 % SL; head depth 22-26 % SL, 74-84 % body depth.
-Outline of back slightly convex, upper profile of head strongly convex, underside of head convex, outline of belly slightly convex, bases of unpaired fins rather steeply running to caudal peduncle.
-Snout rounded, short, feebly protruding mouth, 13-19 % head length, 19-28 % postorbital length.
-Mouth 17-24 % head length, slightly subterminal, its edge extending to a line halfway between nostrils, upper jaw on a level with lower edge of opercular cleft.
-Chin inconspicuous.
-Teeth notched, 7/8.
-Nostrils separate, circular, distance in between much wider than distance from eye, anterior nostril on a level with lower rim of lens, posterior nostril on a level slightly above lower rim of eye; axis of nostrils cutting axis of head at an angle of about 30°.
-Eye diameter 14-19 % head length, 22-33 % postorbital length.
-Opercular cleft S-shaped 29-36 % head length, 31-41 % head depth.
-Dorsal fin 19-21 fin-rays, base of D 18-21 % SL, anal fin 24-27 rays, base of A 23-25 % SL, origin of D behind origin of A, end of D more or less opposite to end of A; predorsal length 61-65 % SL, preanal length 57-61 % SL.
-Pectoral fin obtusely pointed, extending to middle of pelvic fin. V is closer to P than to A.
-Caudal fin obtusely pointed, the scaled lobes short, rounded. 40-44 scales in lateral line; 12 round caudal peduncle.
-Caudal peduncle 16-24 % SL, its depth 6-7 % SL, 26-44 % its length.
-Coloration »-Body brownish, speckled with numerous irregular, more or less merging blackish spots which are forming larger dark patches«. (P. brevis ) »Pale or very light brown, marbled with dark brown, also finely speckled with dark brown. On head 4 dark brown bands radiate from eye, first or lowest downward and others obliquely down. Each of these bands marked with large blackish brown spots or blotches«. (M. macularius )
Type locality
P. brevi: »Dungu, district du Haut Uélé«, Democratic Republic of Congo. (3° 42 ‘ N 28° 40 ‘ E),
M. macularius: »Fort Sibut, Ubangi-Shari« (5° 44 ‘ S 18° 05 ‘ E) Central African Republic.
Distribution
»Congo basin. (Uele, Ubangi rivers; Canhicuna river, Angola.)«