Lacustricola petnehazyi (Nagy & Vreven, 2018)

Family:  Procatopodidae (African lampeyes), subfamily: Procatopodinae
Max. size:  1.91 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6.32 - 7.18
Distribution:  Africa: Tshipokokolo system, Upper Lufira drainage, tributary of Congo River in Democratic Republic of Congo (Ref. 122040).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-16. Diagnosis: Micropanchax petnehazyi is distinguished from all other Micropanchax species, with the exception of M. hutereaui, by the combination of following characters in male colouration: dark transverse markings on the median fins; reticulate markings on the side; as well as the structure of the cephalic sensory system in both sexes characterised by a supraorbital canal composed of two short, discontinuous grooves containing exposed neuromasts; postorbital and preopercular sensory systems tubular with pores (Ref. 122040). Furthermore, M. petnehazyi is distinguished from M. hutereaui by the following unique combination of characters in males: dorsal and anal fins with faint brown stripes perpendicular to fin rays vs. curved stripes in M. hutereaui; anal fin with a faint brown margin and without a light submarginal band vs. with dark brown margin and with light submarginal band; caudal fin with irregular vertical markings forming a reticulate pattern vs. narrow vertical bands; as well as, in both sexes, preorbital sensory system in a shallow canal with three exposed neuromasts vs. tubular with three pores; mandibular sensory system in open groove with small exposed neuromasts vs. tubular with pores; smaller body depth at pelvic-fin origin 25.3-28.7% of standard length vs. 30.0-32.3%; smaller interorbital width 34-40% of standard length vs. 47-51%; larger postorbital length 45-46% of head length vs. 38-43%; smaller suborbital depth 11-14% of head length vs. 21-25%; and larger caudal peduncle length 1.4 times of its depth vs. 1.0-1.1 (Ref. 122040). Description: General body shape slightly laterally compressed and moderately deep; small-sized species; greatest vertical body depth in front of pelvic-fin origin and shallowest at mid-portion of caudal peduncle; greatest body width at pectoral-fin base with body progressively narrowing towards caudal-fin base (Ref. 122040). Dorsal profile slightly convex from snout to base of first dorsal-fin ray, slightly concave from base of dorsal to caudal fin; ventral profile convex from lower jaw to base of last anal-fin ray, straight to slightly concave on ventral midline of caudal peduncle (Ref. 122040). Caudal peduncle shallow, length 1.4 times its depth; ans directly in front of anal-fin origin (Ref. 122040). Head short, laterally compressed, deeper than wide, head width 68-75% of its depth; snout slightly rounded, smaller than eye diameter; mouth superior, oblique in profile; jaws not equal, lower jaw longer than upper, posterior end of corner of mouth at same level to centre of eye; premaxilla and dentary with many irregularly distributed conical teeth; orbit large, 34-38% of head length, in anterior half of head, in dorsal portion of head side (Ref. 122040). Dorsal-fin origin posterior to anal-fin origin; both fins originating posterior to mid-length of body; dorsal and anal fins rounded; pectoral fin subtriangular, insertion relatively high and slightly posterior to margin of opercular opening; base oblique, upper fin rays placed anteriorly to lower fin rays; pelvic fin short, sub-abdominal, origin at about mid-length between insertions of pectoral and anal-fins; caudal fin subtruncate (Ref. 122040). Scales cycloid, body and head entirely scaled, except for ventral surface of head; frontal squamation pattern G-type; cephalic sensory system at preorbital level in shallow groove with three exposed neuromasts; postorbital canal tubular with two pores; preopercular sensory systems tubular with seven pores; frontal neuromasts separate, lodging two neuromasts; cephalic sensory system at supraorbital level in two short discontinuous grooves with one and two exposed neuromasts; whereas at supratemporal level in a curved groove, with four exposed neuromasts; mandibular canal in shallow open grove with two small exposed neuromasts (Ref. 122040). Colouration: Live males: scales on trunk and head yellow to light greyish brown with dark brown margin, conferring dark reticulated pattern on body sides; flank with faint light blue to silver iridescence; scales on abdomen faint light blue to silver, scales on dorsum of body greyish brown; snout and dorsal portion of head greyish brown, throat silver; exposed branchiostegal membrane white; iris silver, iridescent in upper portion; iridescent silver blotch on postorbital opercular region; iridescent blue spot on post-opercular region; narrow dark grey stripe on scales of midlongitudinal series; dorsal fin membrane yellowish hyaline, with faint brown stripes perpendicular to fin rays; anal fin membrane yellowish hyaline, with faint brown stripes perpendicular to fin rays in posterior portion; caudal fin membrane yellowish hyaline, with narrow faint brown vertical stripes perpendicular to fin rays in proximal and median portions, without coloured circumcaudal margin; pelvic fin yellowish hyaline; pectoral fin hyaline (Ref. 122040). Live females: scales on trunk and head yellow to light grey-brown, ventrally silver; flank with faint light blue to silver iridescence; narrow dark grey mid-lateral stripe on trunk; iris silver, iridescent in upper part; all fins hyaline (Ref. 122040).
Biology:  Currently known from ephemeral pools of the Tshipokokolo system (Ref. 122040). The water of the habitat was transparent with the bottom of the pool well visible although the water was slightly brownish in colour (Ref. 22040).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 14 January 2023 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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