The Upemba National Park (Upper Congo Basin, DR Congo): An Updated Checklist Confirming Its Status as an African Fish Biodiversity Hotspot

• Published in: Diversity (Basel) Vol. 15; no. 9; p. 966
• Main Authors: Katemo Manda, Bauchet, Snoeks, Jos, Chocha Manda, Auguste, Abwe, Emmanuel, Mukweze Mulelenu, Christian, Ilunga Kayaba, Micheline Kasongo, Kiwele Mutambala, Pacifique, Ngoy Kalumba, Lewis, Vreven, Emmanuel J. W. M. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Alestidae; Amphiliidae; anthropogenic activities; Anthropogenic factors; Aquaculture; Basins; Biodiversity; Biodiversity hot spots; Biological diversity conservation; Buffer zones; Check lists; Cichlidae; conservation; Cyprinidae; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Distichodontidae; Distichodontinae; Drainage basins; Endemic species; endemicity; fauna; Fish; Fish-culture; Fishing; Geographical distribution; Heterotis niloticus; humans; ichthyofauna; Indigenous species; Introduced species; Literature reviews; Methods; Mochokidae; Mormyridae; Museums; National parks; National parks and reserves; Native species; protection; Protection and preservation; Rivers; systematics; Upper Lualaba; Congo (Kinshasa); Belgium; Congo-Democratic Republic of Congo; Congo Basin; Democratic Republic of the Congo
• ISSN: 1424-2818; 1424-2818
• DOI: 10.3390/d15090966

An annotated checklist of the ichthyofauna of the Upemba National Park, draining part of the Upper Lualaba basin and situated in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is presented, based on a literature review, a re-examination of museum collections, and a study of recent collections (2012–2020). In total, 247 native and 1 introduced species, Heterotis niloticus, are reported. The native species belong to 78 genera, 26 families, and 15 orders. Of these, 45 species (18%) are endemic to the park, 35 species (14%) await formal description, and 5 taxa (2%) need further study to clarify their status. With 51 species, the Cyprinidae is by far the most species-rich family, followed by the Mormyridae (26), Mochokidae (26), Alestidae (18), Distichodontidae (18), Amphiliidae (17), and Cichlidae (16). The remaining families are represented by less than 15 species. Comments about the species distribution and the fish fauna shared with adjacent ecoregions are provided. Although the park provides some protection for the fish species living within its borders by limiting human access to the core zone, the annex and buffer zones are both subject to strong anthropogenic pressure. These observations underscore the need for the implementation and further elaboration of fish-related preservation guidelines and plans to enable better protection/conservation of the park’s ichthyofauna.