| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-6; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-10. Diagnosis: Chiloglanis loffabrevum is distinguished from C. normani, C. waterloti, C. longibarbis, C. occidentalis, C. kabaensis, C. kolente, and C. nzerekore in possessing more mandibular teeth in the functional row, and readily distinguished from C. polyodon and C. lamottei in having fewer mandibular teeth in the functional row; it can be distinguished from Chiloglanis aff. micropogon in possessing moderately long mandibular barbels vs. reduced or absent; it is distinguished from C. tweddlei and C. pezoldi in having shorter pectoral and dorsal spines; it is distinguished from C. camarabounyi in having shorter dorsal and pectoral spines, and a wider primary premaxillary tooth patch width, 16.9-20.2% of standard length vs. 12.7-17.7%; it can be distinguished from C. dialloi in having larger premaxillary tooth pads width, 16.9-20.2% of standard length vs. 15.1-16.6%, and length, 3.4-5.4% of standard length vs. 4.1-4.3%, and longer pre-pectoral length, 31.9-37.1% of standard length vs. 29.0-32.6% (Ref. 116018).
Description: A moderate-sized Chiloglanis; 37.9 mm maximum observed standard length; body dorsally depressed anteriorly; laterally compressed posteriorly; pre-dorsal convex; sloping ventrally to posterior naris; pre-orbital convex; post-dorsal body sloping ventrally to caudal fin; pre-anal profile horizontal; post-anal concave to caudal fin (Ref. 116018). Small unculiferous tubercles scattered across dorsum; more concentrated on head and snout; lateral line complete; arising at level of orbit and sloping ventrally to midlateral of body towards caudal fin; urogenital papillae sexually dimorphic; elongate in males; shorter and separated from anus by shallow invagination in females (Ref. 116018). Head depressed; gill membranes broadly united; gill opening restricted; opening from above pectoral-fin origin to level of orbit; occipital-nuchal shield covered and visible through skin; eyes moderate; located just posterior of midhead length; horizontal axis longer; orbits without free margins; anterior and posterior nares located mid-snout; equidistant; posterior nares with elongated anterior and medial flaps (Ref. 116018). Mouth inferior, upper and lower lips united to form oral disc; oral disc moderate in size, its width 21.2-25.8% of standard length; slightly wider than long; covered in papillae (Ref. 116018). Barbels in three pairs; maxillary barbel originating from posterolateral region of disc; unbranched; moderate in length, 14.0-27.9% of head length; lateral and medial mandibular barbels moderate; incorporated into the lower lip and positioned on both sides of midline cleft; lateral barbels, 6.2-13.5% of head length, usually twice the length of the medial barbels (Ref. 116018). Primary premaxillary teeth "S"-shaped with exposed orange-brown tips; 68-106 teeth in 4-5 scattered rows on two ovoid tooth patches; secondary premaxillary teeth scattered on posterior surface of premaxillae; tertiary teeth sharp and needle-like; grouped near midline on dorsal edge of toothplate; mandibular teeth arranged in 1-2 rows; "S"-shaped and bunched near midline; functional, anterior, row usually contains 12 brown-tipped teeth (Ref. 116018). Dorsal-fin origin posterior to anterior third of body; dorsal fin with small spinelet, spine, and 5-6 rays; dorsal spine relatively short, 11.4-13.9% of standard length; anterior margin smooth with small notches distally; posterior edge of spine smooth; adipose fin moderate in length, 14.3-18.7% of standard length; margin convex with small notch at terminus; caudal fin forked with rounded lobes; lower lobe distinctly longer than upper lobe; count i,7,8,i; anal-fin origin posterior to vertical of adipose-fin origin; margin convex; count iii,5-7; pelvic-fin origin at vertical midway between dorsal-fin terminus to adipose-fin origin; count i,6; pectoral fin with smooth, relatively short spine, 13.0-16.6% of standard length; count I,8-9 (Ref. 116018). Postcleithral process sexually dimorphic; elongate and spatulate in males; shorter and bluntly pointed in females (Ref. 116018).
Colouration: In dorsal view, body medium brown; areas of lighter brown at origin of dorsal fin, and origin and terminus of the adipose fin; head medium brown; small unculiferius tubercles across surface; in lateral view, body medium brown; few areas of light brown dorsally, light area at terminus of adipose fin extends to anal-fin terminus, lighter areas ventral of lateral line with scattered melanophores; in ventral view, body cream with few melanophores near origin of pelvic and anal fins; oral disc and barbels cream (Ref. 116018). Pectoral and dorsal spines and rays translucent to cream; melanophores at origin of dorsal and pectoral fins; a faint bar at mid-length; pelvic fin cream; adipose fin translucent to cream; small area of brown near base at mid-length; anal fin translucent to cream: melanophores at mid-length; caudal fin translucent to cream; brown areas at mid-length of upper and lower lobes (Ref. 116018). |