rs79.vrx.palo-alto.ca.us

Only recently, on July 4, 1904, Siggelkow received a consignment of fish from the Niger River among which were 8 specimens of a small new Fundulus, apparently only males. Mr. G. A. Boulenger F.R.S., London to whom I sent a specimen, had the kindness to identify the fish as his Fundulus loenbergi. The lovely fish, of which I have two specimens in my possession, is, according to its external appearance, very closely related to Fundulus arnoldi Blgr. I refrain from any further communication about this new species, as I have not yet completed any final statements on the young, still undeveloped, now approx. 3-3 1/2 cm long animal during its weekly possession. I do not want to fall into the mistake of certain fast reporters about "novelties". I will later, when the fish are fully grown and succeed, also include the females of this species, I only leave the description of the fish by Boulenger in the Annales and Magazine of Natural History Ser. 7 Vol XII 1903, p 4401 in translation follow.

Fundulus loennbergii Blgnr
    "Height of the body 4 1/2 times in the total length of the head 3 2/3 to 4 times included. Mouth as long as the eye, its diameter 3 1/2 times in The length of the head is included. The lower jaw protrudes slightly above the Upper jaw protruding. The interorbital space is approximately 1/8 the length of the head. Dorsal fin and anal fin exactly opposite one another; the former with 11 or 12, the latter with 12 or 13 rays. The dorsal fin begins a little closer to the head than to the root of the caudal fin; its first ray corresponds to the tenth axis of the lateral line; some of the posterior cervical fin rays are angled to long filaments. Pectoral fins about 2/3 the length of the head. Caudal fin pointed, central rays angularly shaped like threads. Caudal peduncle almost twice as long as it is wide. 27 scales in the longitudinal row, 10 in the transverse row.


Yellowish olive, most of the scales with a crimson spot or a vertical line, head with crimson wavy lines, fins dark, all with the exception of the pectoral fins with small crimson spots. Total length 30 mm.

Two specimens of Kribi fish (Cameroon) This species is named in honor of Dr. E. Lonnberg, Uppsala, named after several contributions on the fish fauna of Cameroon.

Since our imported specimens, according to the sailor who was brought with him near Wari, on the lower course of the Niger, seem to have been caught Fundulus loennbergi Blgr. not only to be limited to Cameroon.

Hamburg, late August 1908.