A new species of small Barbus (Pisces, Cyprinidae) from Tanzania, East Africa. Roland G. Bailey Department of Zoology, Chelsea College, University of London, Hortensia Road, London SW100QX A collection of Barbus made by the author in northern Tanzania belongs to the group characterized by radiately striated scales and a thin, flexible last unbranched dorsal fin ray. It is described here as a new species. Barbus venustus sp.nov. (Fig. 1) HOLOTYPE. A male fish, 29-0 mm SL from Nyumba ya Mungu reservoir situated at 345'S, 3725'E at an altitude of 670 m on the upper Pangani river, Tanzania, BM (NH) 1979.10.3:1. PARATYPES. Nineteen fishes from Nyumba ya Mungu reservoir and its affluent streams, BM(NH) 1979. 10.3:2-20. DESCRIPTION. Based on 20 fishes, 19-6-30-2 mm SL. Body moderately compressed, its depth equal to or, in mature females, a little greater than the length of the head. Predorsal profile convex with a slight nuchal hump. Snout rounded, shorter than the eye diameter which is slightly less than or equal to the interorbital width. Mouth moderate and subterminal. Anterior barbel short, posterior barbel longer, extending as far as the vertical to the mid-point of the pupil of the eye. Well developed sunken pit-lines are present on the cheek and operculum and, less distinctly, on the dorsal surface of the head. There may be as many as 12 lines between the preoperculum and the anterior orbital margin, some branching ventrally. In any line the pits are separated from each other and their mouths may rise above the level of the surrounding skin. Sharply pointed conical tubercles or spinules are developed on the snout and lower jaw of males. The caudal peduncle is relatively slender, its depth 1 -36-1 -76 (mean 1 -56) in its length. In alizarin stained preparations of two fishes, 26-0 and 27-8 mm SL, the post Weberian vertebral count is 27. The pharyngeal bones and teeth (Fig. 2) are similar in appearance in both specimens. The teeth number 2.3.5-5.3.2 and have recurved crowns. Fig. 1 A paratype of Barbus venustus, 27-6 mm SL. Bull. Br. Mus. nal. Hist. (Zool.)38 (3) : 141-144 Issued 29 May 1980 141
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