taxonID	type	description	language	source
03D0F929FFD3FFE7FE008D23FD75FB0C.taxon	description	Figures 2 – 5, table 1 Clarias buthupogon (in part): Monsembula Iyaba and Stiassny (2013).	en	Bernt, Maxwell J., Stiassny, Melanie L. J. (2022): A New Species of Air-breathing Catfish (Clariidae: Clarias) from Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Museum Novitates 2022 (3990): 1-20, DOI: 10.1206/3990.1, URL: https://bioone.org/journals/american-museum-novitates/volume-2022/issue-3990/3990.1/A-New-Species-of-Air-Breathing-Catfish-Clariidae--Clarias/10.1206/3990.1.full
03D0F929FFD3FFE7FE008D23FD75FB0C.taxon	materials_examined	HOLOTYPE: AMNH 244176, 1, 226 mm SL, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equateur, Salonga National Park, Luilaka River at Ilenge, 2 ° 35 ′ 47 ″ S, 21 ° 34 ′ 36 ″ E. R. J. C. Monsembula Iyaba, 11 November 2007. PARATYPES: AMNH 244163, 1, 244 mm SL; Yenge River ca. Boyenga, 1 ° 03 ′ 50 ″ S, 20 ° 44 ′ 44 ″ E; AMNH 252236, 3, 164 – 193 mm SL; small stream at Katanyongo, near Salonga National Park, 2 ° 08 ′ 10.7 ″ S, 21 ° 07 ′ 9.5 ″ E; AMNH 244162, 1, 183 mm SL; Salonga River at Watsikengo; AMNH 252219, 2, 187 – 231 mm SL; Salonga National Park at Bekongo, 1 ° 54 ′ 42.74 ″ S, 20 ° 51 ′ 11.35 ″ E; AMNH 244164, 1, 127 mm SL, Luilaka River, beach at Monkoto; AMNH 252267, 1, 179 mm SL, Mpongo, large stream ca. 2 kilometers from Luilaka River, near Salonga National Park, 1 ° 55 ′ 19.9 ″ S, 20 ° 51 ′ 49.8 ″ E; AMNH 252222, 1, 167 mm SL; Luilaka River at Lokaka in Salonga National Park, 2 ° 0 ′ 24.9 ″ S, 20 ° 58 ′ 6.2 ″ E; RMCA 2022 - 019 - P- 0001 - 0002, 2, 143 – 172 mm SL, Salonga River at Watsikengo.	en	Bernt, Maxwell J., Stiassny, Melanie L. J. (2022): A New Species of Air-breathing Catfish (Clariidae: Clarias) from Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Museum Novitates 2022 (3990): 1-20, DOI: 10.1206/3990.1, URL: https://bioone.org/journals/american-museum-novitates/volume-2022/issue-3990/3990.1/A-New-Species-of-Air-Breathing-Catfish-Clariidae--Clarias/10.1206/3990.1.full
03D0F929FFD3FFE7FE008D23FD75FB0C.taxon	description	NONTYPE SPECIMENS: AMNH 242721, 14, 54 – 81 mm SL, small tributary of Luilaka River near Monkoto in Salonga National Park, 1 ° 45 ′ 0 ″ S, 20 ° 40 ′ 49.9 ″ E.	en	Bernt, Maxwell J., Stiassny, Melanie L. J. (2022): A New Species of Air-breathing Catfish (Clariidae: Clarias) from Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Museum Novitates 2022 (3990): 1-20, DOI: 10.1206/3990.1, URL: https://bioone.org/journals/american-museum-novitates/volume-2022/issue-3990/3990.1/A-New-Species-of-Air-Breathing-Catfish-Clariidae--Clarias/10.1206/3990.1.full
03D0F929FFD3FFE7FE008D23FD75FB0C.taxon	diagnosis	DIAGNOSIS: Clarias monsembulai can be distinguished from all congeners, with the exception of C. buthupogon, by its exceptionally long maxillary barbels (60 % of standard length or greater) vs. maxillary barbels less than 60 % SL (usually considerably less). It differs from C. buthupogon in the absence of fine, pale spots over the surface of the body and by an exposed bony surface of the cleithrum reaching 14 % – 20 % of head length (vs. cleithrum deeply imbedded in soft tissue with only a narrow bony ridge visible externally). Clarias monsembulai can be further differentiated from C. angolensis, the species with which it shares closest phenotypic similarity, by longer nasal barbels (37 % – 51 % SL vs. 22 % – 34 % SL), longer internal mandibular barbels (29 – 37 % SL vs. 16 – 27 % SL), longer external mandibular barbels (45 % – 57 % SL vs. 24 % – 40 % SL); and by the coloration of maxillary barbels which are white or cream-colored distally over more than half of their length (vs. brown or gray over more than half their length).	en	Bernt, Maxwell J., Stiassny, Melanie L. J. (2022): A New Species of Air-breathing Catfish (Clariidae: Clarias) from Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Museum Novitates 2022 (3990): 1-20, DOI: 10.1206/3990.1, URL: https://bioone.org/journals/american-museum-novitates/volume-2022/issue-3990/3990.1/A-New-Species-of-Air-Breathing-Catfish-Clariidae--Clarias/10.1206/3990.1.full
03D0F929FFD3FFE7FE008D23FD75FB0C.taxon	description	DESCRIPTION: Morphometrics summarized in table 1. Maximum observed total length 270 mm (standard length 244 mm). Head broad, depressed with slightly convex dorsal profile, snout rounded. Anterior nares tubular, medial to posterior nares and nasal barbels. Mouth subterminal, lips and bases of barbels papillose. Four pairs of barbels, all extending beyond dorsal fin origin. Barbels rounded at base, becoming flat, ellipsoid in cross section. Body cylindrical between head and anal fin origin, becoming laterally compressed posteriorly. Dorsal fin with 80 – 86 rays, originating a short distance (less than 10 % SL) behind supraoccipital process. Anal fin with 57 – 61 rays, origin nearly equidistant from snout tip and caudal fin base. Dorsal and anal fins not confluent with caudal fin. Pectoral fin with robust spine and 10 – 12 rays. Spine sharply pointed with slight posterior curve. Strong serration present on both anterior and posterior margins. Serrae angled proximally, larger on posterior margin, increasing in number with body size. Pelvic fins present on all specimens examined, with six rays. Caudal fin rounded, with 18 – 22 rays. Elements of skull and pectoral girdle shown in figure 3. Neurocranium robustly ossified. Fourth infraorbital contacting suprapreopercle in all specimens examined (80 – 244 mm SL). Frontal fontanel long and narrow (knife shaped). Supraoccipital fontanel narrowly oblong, supraoccipital process sharply pointed in both juveniles and adults. Premaxillary and vomerine tooth plates similar in width, about 30 % of head length. Premaxillary teeth villiform. Vomerine toothplate with short posterior median process, teeth subgranular. Dentary teeth villiform, extending over half of dorsal surface, nearly reaching coronoid process. First branchial arch with 16 – 18 slender gill rakers. Second and fourth arches diverticulate, forming arborescent suprabranchial organ (fig. 4). Rosette on second arch with few branches, not overlapping larger, more extensively, branched rosette on fourth arch. Respiratory organ occupies approximately one fourth of suprabranchial chamber volume. Seven or eight branchiostegal rays. Urohyal trifurcate, lateral processes longer than posteromedial process. Cleithrum superficial, visible externally as striated bony band at isthmus (fig. 5). Coracoid with single circular foramen at margin with cleithrum near articulation with pectoral spine. Parapophyses of fourth and fifth vertebrae expanded, forming hourglass-shaped Weberian apparatus encapsulating bilobed gas bladder. Posterolateral processes of os suspensorium forming ventral floor of Weberian capsule. Fifty-eight to 61 (mode = 60) vertebrae posterior to first four vertebrae comprising Weberian apparatus. Two free neural spines between skull and first dorsal-fin pterygiophore. First rib articulated with seventh vertebra, 12 ribs present. No fusion of caudal fin hypurals. COLORATION: Preserved specimens are dark brown dorsally, fading to light brown, gray, or cream colored ventrally. Some lighter colored specimens exhibit a faint mottling of irregular dark brown markings over a slightly lighter background. Fins uniformly dark brown. Barbels brown at base, becoming creamy white over most of their length. Underside of head pale, but with band of dark pigment above fleshy furrow between mandibular barbels and isthmus. Lateral line visible as a series of small regularly spaced white pores extending from the base of the head to the base of the caudal peduncle. Pores of the secondary canals of the lateral line system form a regular pattern over the flanks, but these pores are not readily visible against the darkly pigmented skin.	en	Bernt, Maxwell J., Stiassny, Melanie L. J. (2022): A New Species of Air-breathing Catfish (Clariidae: Clarias) from Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Museum Novitates 2022 (3990): 1-20, DOI: 10.1206/3990.1, URL: https://bioone.org/journals/american-museum-novitates/volume-2022/issue-3990/3990.1/A-New-Species-of-Air-Breathing-Catfish-Clariidae--Clarias/10.1206/3990.1.full
03D0F929FFD3FFE7FE008D23FD75FB0C.taxon	distribution	DISTRIBUTION: The species is currently known only from the Momboyo, Luilaka, Salonga, and Yenge river systems within the Cuvette Centrale of the middle Congo River Basin (fig. 6). However additional collecting throughout the region will likely extend this range (E. Decru, personal commun.).	en	Bernt, Maxwell J., Stiassny, Melanie L. J. (2022): A New Species of Air-breathing Catfish (Clariidae: Clarias) from Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Museum Novitates 2022 (3990): 1-20, DOI: 10.1206/3990.1, URL: https://bioone.org/journals/american-museum-novitates/volume-2022/issue-3990/3990.1/A-New-Species-of-Air-Breathing-Catfish-Clariidae--Clarias/10.1206/3990.1.full
03D0F929FFD3FFE7FE008D23FD75FB0C.taxon	etymology	ETYMOLOGY: Named in honor of Raoul Monsembula Iyaba (professor of biology, University of Kinshasa) for collecting the type series of this species, and in recognition of his substantial contributions to central African ichthyology.	en	Bernt, Maxwell J., Stiassny, Melanie L. J. (2022): A New Species of Air-breathing Catfish (Clariidae: Clarias) from Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Museum Novitates 2022 (3990): 1-20, DOI: 10.1206/3990.1, URL: https://bioone.org/journals/american-museum-novitates/volume-2022/issue-3990/3990.1/A-New-Species-of-Air-Breathing-Catfish-Clariidae--Clarias/10.1206/3990.1.full
03D0F929FFC1FFFEFF5988CBFF66FA8E.taxon	description	Clarias jaensis: Republic of Congo: Niari: AMNH 264353, 1, 253, tributary of the Nyanga River west of Mayoko. AMNH 264352, 1, 219, Léala River (tributary of Louessé River), 2 ° 13 ′ 27.8 ″ S, 12 ° 49 ′ 9.8 ″ E. Clarias laeviceps: Liberia: AMNH 59064, 4, 183 – 304, small stream in mountainside, 1 km east, 12 km north of Zigida, Wologizi Mountains, St. Paul’s River drainage. Clarias liocephalus: Uganda: AMNH 216262, 2, 106 – 181, Lake Nabugabo to Juma River (Lake Victoria drainage). Clarias pachynema: Cameroon: AMNH 236519, 4, 117 – 189, Pont So’o, confluence of So’o and Fala Rivers, Nyong Basin. Gabon: Haute-Ogooue: AMNH 211416, 2, 170 - 173, Mopia, Franceville. Ogooue-Ivindo: AMNH 263005, 2, 46 – 77, Bale Creek on border of Ivindo National Park at Impassa. Republic of Congo: Kouilou: AMNH 258345, 2, 126 – 130, Npakou (Emissaire Lac Ndembo), 4 ° 21 ′ 14.6 ″ S, 11 ° 38 ′ 15.2 ″ E. Clarias platycephalus: Democratic Republic of Congo: Kasai Occidental: AMNH 247473, 1, 269, Tshina River, 6 ° 12 ′ 6 ″ S, 22 ° 44 ′ 4.2 ″ E. Clarias stappersii: Democratic Republic of Congo: Orientale: AMNH 6492, 1, 220, Dungu River at Faradje, Uele River drainage, (Ubangi, Middle Congo River). Zambia: Luapula: CUMV 91263, 1, 165, Lwela River at bridge on Mansa-? Road, 11 ° 33 ′ 25.2 ″ S, 29 ° 10 ′ 10.2 ″ E. Clarias theodorae: Zambia: Western Province: AMNH 215586, 5, 83 – 192, Barotse floodplain, 1 km west of Sefula. Clarias werneri: Uganda: AMNH 216263, 2, 165 – 176, Lake Nabugabo. Dinotopterus cunningtoni: Tanzania: CUMV 82794, 1, 242, Lake Tanganyika, Jakobsen’s Beach near Kigoma, 4 ° 54 ′ 36.39 ″ S, 29 ° 35 ′ 51.96 ″ E. Heterobranchus longifilis: Central African Republic: AMNH 230730, 1, 266, Bamingui River, Bamingui-Bangoran National Park, 7 ° 30 ′ N, 19 ° 50 ′ E. Xenoclarias eupogon: Uganda: AMNH 71860, 4, 174 – 200, Lake Victoria, east of Dagusi Island.	en	Bernt, Maxwell J., Stiassny, Melanie L. J. (2022): A New Species of Air-breathing Catfish (Clariidae: Clarias) from Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Museum Novitates 2022 (3990): 1-20, DOI: 10.1206/3990.1, URL: https://bioone.org/journals/american-museum-novitates/volume-2022/issue-3990/3990.1/A-New-Species-of-Air-Breathing-Catfish-Clariidae--Clarias/10.1206/3990.1.full
