Thursday 14 August 2025, 10.30am (SAST)
Venue: Lecture Room
Zoom Registration Link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/ayB5S54cTtai22lQicctvg
Passcode: 200496
by Dr Tadiwa Mutizwa (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, NRF-SAIAB)
Hidden in the Riffles: The Amazing Diversity of Suckermouth Catfishes (Mochokidae, Chiloglanis) in the Zambezi River, Southern Africa
Suckermouth catfishes of the genus Chiloglanis Peters 1868 are small riffle-dwelling fishes endemic to Africa. This genus is very diverse with over 69 species distributed across most river systems in Africa. Despite the high species richness in Chiloglanis, currently, only ten valid species occur in southern Africa, all of which have relatively narrow geographic distribution ranges. The present study investigates hidden species diversity within Chiloglanis. This talk presents preliminary results from ongoing work that supports the description of at least eight new Chiloglanis species from the Zambezi River system. These results add to the growing evidence of high levels of undocumented diversity within previously neglected small riffle-dwelling taxa in southern Africa. Additionally, the talk highlights the urgent need for conservation of habitats such as montane streams that not only play a pivotal role in providing water resources but also harbour high levels of endemic biodiversity.
