Staff directory
Tobias Musschoot
Biology
Vertebrates
Vertebrates
Publication details
Vreven, E., Musschoot, T., Snoeks, J. & Schliewen, U.K. 2016. ‘The African hexaploid Torini (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae): review of a tumultuous history’. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 177: 231–305. DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12366. (PR).
Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal
A review of the tumultuous history of the alpha- and genus-level taxonomy of the hexaploid African Torini, i.e.
Labeobarbus s.l. (synonym: Varicorhinus), as well as of the closely related monospecific genera Acapoeta and Sanagia,
is provided. The main purpose of the present paper is to provide a continental framework for multidisciplinary
research on this megadiverse vertebrate group. Based on the inspection of almost all relevant type specimens, a
complete and fully annotated checklist of all valid species and junior synonyms is provided for each of the four
nominal genera. It comprises ∼275 nominal taxa, 125 of which are valid African Labeobarbus spp. and three of
which are formally named hybrid phenotypes. Particular attention is drawn to the diversity and taxon-specific
distribution of mouth phenotypes, which previously served as generic identification characters, i.e. ‘rubberlips’ with
strongly developed, sometimes hypertrophied lips and a mental lobe, and ‘chiselmouths’ (former Varicorhinus spp.)
with a cornified sharp cutting edge on their lower jaw. Interestingly, many species are polymorphic and include a
large array of intermediate mouth phenotypes. The recurrent occurrence of similar mouth phenotype diversity
within, but also far beyond, the borders of Labeobarbus s.l. is highlighted, raising numerous evolutionary
questions.