title: Epiplatys atratus (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae), a new species of the E. multifasciatus species group from the Lulua Basin (Kasaï drainage), Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: Epiplatys atratus, a new species of the E. multifasciatus group, is described from specimens collected from several tributaries of the middle Lulua River, a tributary of the Kasaï River, south of Kananga (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kasaï Occidental Province). Epiplatys atratus is the south-eastern most representative of the genus. Large adult E. atratus males differ from all congeners in displaying a dark grey to black pigmentation of body and fins. In contrast to other Epiplatys species, with a fully exposed laterosensory system of the head, the lobes surrounding the supra-orbital part of the laterosensory system almost completely cover the system in large males of E. atratus. Also in males of E. atratus the dorsal fin is positioned on average more anteriorly than in other members of the E. multifasciatus group. Small males and females show a unique pattern of three fine oblique dark bars just behind the pectoral fin.
authors.affiliation: Royal Museum for Central Africa, Zoology Department, Ichthyology, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium. joukevdz@upcmail.nl
authors.forename: Van Der Zee
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Jouke R
authors.forename: Munene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: José J Mbimbi Mayi
authors.forename: Sonnenberg
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rainer
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification*; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity