title: Phylogeographic, morphometric and taxonomic re-evaluation of the river sardine,Mesobola brevianalis(Boulenger, 1908) (Teleostei, Cyprinidae, Chedrini).
abstract: The river sardine,Mesobola brevianalis(Boulenger, 1908), is the type species ofMesobolaHowes, 1984. Standard phylogenetic analyses of partial sequences of the cytochrome oxidase I gene of individuals from populations across southern Africa that are currently identified asMesobola brevianalisshowed that these populations represent four genetically distinct allopatric lineages. Furthermore,Engraulicypris sardella(Günther, 1868), the type species ofEngraulicyprisGünther, 1894, was convincingly nested amongst these clades. These findings support synonymisation ofEngraulicyprisandMesobolasyn. n.; restoration ofEngraulicypris gariepinus(Barnard, 1943),stat. rev.for the lower Orange River population; description of two new species,Engraulicypris ngalalasp. n.andEngraulicypris howesisp. n.from the Rovuma and Kunene river systems, respectively; affirmation of the synonymy ofEngraulicypris brevianalis(Boulenger, 1908),comb. n.sensu stricto andEngraulicypris whiteivan der Horst, 1934; and restoration ofEngraulicypris bredoiPoll, 1945,stat. rev.andEngraulicypris spiniferBailey & Matthes, 1971,stat. rev.fromMesobola. Discriminant function analysis of a truss network of five traditional morphometric measurements and 21 morphometric measurements that characterised the shape of the fishes was used to seek morphological markers for the genetically distinct populations. OnlyEngraulicypris gariepinuswas morphometrically distinctive, but live colouration differed between the lineages. Detailed taxonomic descriptions and an identification key for the species are provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology & Entomology, Rhodes University, African Street, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa.
authors.forename: Megan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Riddin
authors.affiliation: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Somerset Street, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa.
authors.forename: I Roger
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Bills
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology & Entomology, Rhodes University, African Street, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa.
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Villet
keywords: Engraulicypris; Mesobola; Phylogeography; morphometrics; new combinations; new species; new synonym; nomenclature