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Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4-6; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Diagnosis: Chiloglanis nzerekore is distinguished from C. waterloti and C. longibarbis in having more mandibular teeth in the functional row, and is distinguished from C. camarabounyi, C. dialloi, C. loffabrevum, C. pezoldi, C. tweddlei, C. polyodon, and C. lamottei in having fewer mandibular teeth in the functional row; it is distinguished from C. kabaensis and C. kolente in having longer pectoral and dorsal spines; it is readily distnguished from Chiloglanis aff. micropogon in having moderately long mandibular barbels vs. absent or reduced mandibular barbels; it can be distinguished from C. normani in that the males do not display sexual dimorphism in the caudal and anal fins; it is distinguished from C. occidentalis in having a shorter primary premaxillary tooth patch width, 12.9-16.4% of standard length vs. 14.2-18.1%, a larger adipose fin, its height 3.4-5.0% of standard length vs. 2.9-4.5%, a longer lower lip, 21.3-34.0% of head length vs. 15.7-27.3%, and longer pectoral and dorsal spines (Ref. 116018).
Description: A moderate-sized Chiloglanis; 45.2 mm maximum standard length observed; body dorsally depressed anteriorly; laterally compressed posteriorly; pre-dorsal profile convex; sloping ventrally to nares; pre-orbital profile convex; post-dorsal profile sloping ventrally towards caudal fin; pre-anal profile horizontal; post-anal profile concave towards caudal fin (Ref. 116018). Small unculiferous tubercles scattered on body; concentrated on head; lateral line complete; arising above level of orbit and sloping ventrally towards caudal fin; urogenital papillae sexually dimorphic; elongate in males; reduced and separated from anus by shallow invagination in females (Ref. 116018). Head depressed; gill membranes broadly united; gill openings restricted; opening dorsal of pectoral-fin origin to level of orbit; occipital-nuchal shield covered and visible through skin; eyes moderate; located mid-head length; horizontal axis longer; without free margins; anterior and posterior nares located mid-snout; equidistant; posterior nares with elongated medial and anterior flaps (Ref. 116018). Mouth inferior; upper and lower lips united to form oral disc; oral disc moderate in size, its width 18.2-22.6% of standard length; slightly wider than long and covered in papillae (Ref. 116018). Barbels in three pairs; maxillary barbels originating from posterolateral region of disc; unbranched and moderate in length, 22.1-30.9% of head length; lateral and medial mandibular barbels moderate; incorporated into lower lip and positioned on both sides of midline cleft on posterior margin of oral disc; lateral barbels, 10.1-16.5% of head length, nearly twice the length of medial barbels (Ref. 116018). Primary premaxillary teeth "S"-shaped with exposed brown tips; 36-79 teeth in 3-4 rows on two ovoid patches; secondary premaxillary teeth scattered on posterior surface of premaxillae; tertiary teeth small and needle-like; grouped near midline; mandibular teeth in 1-2 rows; "S"-shaped and bunched near midline; functional, anterior, row usually contains 10 brown-tipped teeth (Ref. 116018). Dorsal-fin origin just posterior to anterior third of body; dorsal fin with small spinelet, spine, and 4-6 rays; dorsal spine relatively long, 13.8-24.4% of standard length; anterior edge smooth with small notches distally; posterior edge mostly smooth; adipose fin moderate in length, 13.8-20.8% of standard length; margin convex; small notch at terminus; caudal fin forked with rounded lobes; lower lobe longer than upper lobe; count i,7,8,i; anal-fin origin posterior to vertical of adipose-fin origin; margin convex; count iii,6-7; pelvic-fin origin midway between terminus of dorsal fin and adipose origin; extending beyond anal-fin origin; margins convex; count i,6; pectoral fin with smooth spine; relatively long , 15.4-26.7% of standard length; count I,8-9 (Ref. 116018). Postcleithral process sexually dimorphic; males with elongate, spatulate process; females with shorter, bluntly pointed process (Ref. 116018).
Colouration: In dorsal view, body medium brown with areas of light brown; large areas of light brown at origin of dorsal fin, and origin and terminus of adipose fin; lighter circles scattered across dorsum; in lateral view, body cream-buff overlain with medium brown; light areas at origin and terminus of adipose fin, extending ventrally along body; small melanophores scattered across sides; in ventral view, body cream-buff; few small melanophores near origins of anal and pelvic fins; oral disc and barbels cream (Ref. 116018). Pectoral and dorsal spine and rays cream to translucent; triangular light brown patch at base of dorsal and pectoral fins; scattered melanophores at mid-length of dorsal fin; producing a bar; adipose fin translucent; medium brown at origin and at mid-length; pelvic fin cream; melanophores at mid-length; anal fin translucent; few melanophores at midlength; caudal fin translucent to cream; two medium brown markings in upper and lower lobes (Ref. 116018). |