Congicus - Katangae (カタンガエ) and Kongigusu (コンギクス)

[Vancouver_98683]

There are many overseas who believe that there are two known variants for Congicus. The biggest difference are the skeletal shape. Thought I'd just share this with you poly-geek-heads.

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/leaf21_1971/e/43bf4125eccd096dee702939191f7b86
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.leaf-int.ne.jp/
http://www.leaf-int.ne.jp/product-list/69 - Kongigusu (コンギクス)
http://www.leaf-int.ne.jp/product-list/70 - Katangae (カタンガエ)

 

[Polyaddict86]

One is round snout and one is more square?

 

[Vancouver_98683]

Kongigusu (square head shape)

 

[Hao]

Here is what King-eL wrote on a few facebook polypterus group recently:


It's confirmed that Polypterus senegalus meridionalis do exist. However the only Polypterid that still up in the air if they do exist or not. Perhaps just a synonym of Polypterus congicus as Frank Schafer as pointed out, is Polypterus bichir katangae. The closest we can get as of right now is the particular Congicus from Lualaba river as that was when Poll discovered a Polypterid and named it Polypterus bichir katangae. However Frank Schafer book stated it's just a synonym of... Polypterus congicus. Now both Congicus from Lualaba river in Democratic Republic of Congo and Congicus in Lake Tanganyika in Zambia around Kalambo area (Southern part of the lake) known as Polypterus sp. aff. "Congicus" aka Giselas bichir have similar characteristics that makes them different from the actual Polypterus congicus that are commonly seen. While many Polypterus congicus have twin stripes on the forehead similar to that of Polypterus bichir bichir and Polypterus bichir lapradei. Polypterus sp. aff. "Congicus" have circular or coronet patterns instead of twin stripes. This patterns can also be seen on some variants of Polypterus endlicheri especially from the Niger River in Nigerian areas. The problem now is, if you take a good closer look of the Natural Museum specimen first pic and second pics, they look just like Polypterus bichir complex as the faint patterns shown looks similar to Polypterus bichir lapradei. The rest of the pics just shows juveniles and kinda hard to tell. Now Japan have some particular Polypterid found in White Nile River in Uganda around Onigo area. It's the very first recorded of existence of Polypterus bichir lapradei in the East of Africa. Now Uganda is just border line close to Democratic Republic of Congo. Could Poll found this particular Polypterid on that time that looks simolar to Polypterus sp. "Onigo" and named it Polypterus bichir katangae back then? This now just confuses me even more. Is which really is the actual Polypterus bichir katagae, the Polypterus sp. aff. "Congicus or Polypterus sp. "Onigo" which is just a Polypterus bichir lapradei.

Pics credit from Aqualog book and Leaf-Int Japan



Polypterus sp. aff. "Congicus" aka Giselas bichir from Lake Tangikyika, Zambia around Kalambo area (Southern part of the lake)


Polypterus congicus "Lualaba river" in Democratic Republic of Congo.


Polypterus sp. "Onigo" from White Nile River, Uganda in Onigo area


Polypterus sp. "Onigo" on left and Polypterus bichir bichir on right.



Polypterus congicus twin stripes on the forehead

 

[Hao]

As for the 1st set of photos, King eL also said:

This is specimen from Natural History Museum. Actual specimen that was caught by Poll in Lualaba river in Democratic Republic of Congo. However no Lapradei exist in Congo. That's why Polypterus bichitr katangae is still in questions if it does exist or not. Frank Schafer noted that it's just a synonym to Congicus.

Also one of the very reason I added polypterus sp. "onigo" in the topics as it too is a possible contender for polypterus bichit katangae. Since polypterus sp. "onigo" is the very first lapradei found in east africa. Also the location is Uganda which is just borderline close to Democratic Republic of Congo. So some sp. "onigo" might have been swimming in DRC. I just couldn't confirm is there is a river that connects or there is really a bichir complex in DRC. Also congicus are part of bichirs group so Lualaba congicus and sp. aff. "Congicus" are also contenders for being Polypterus bichir katangae.

Until we can find a bichir complex in Congo, then we can scratch lualaba congicus and sp. aff. "Congicus" and can finally name polypterus bichir katangae. So far we do not have solid data.

 

[jaws7777]

That lualaba river congi is simply amazing as i the onigo...my god.

 

[jaws7777]

Vancouver_98683 Hao

I just re read the congicus section of schafer's aqualog book. Its amazing that the scientific facts we are reffering to are over 60yrs old smh such an interesting fish and no updated material. In the book it does mention that polypterus sp. Aff.cogicus has what they described as a coronet on the head where the polypterus congicus does not, but still he says they could not confirm that it was another species or variant (cryptic sibblings in his words) but only that it is not a characteristic of sexual dimorphism.

So what are we left with ?

Hao posted pics of congi with a squared off jaw and one with the coronet on the head. Dont you guys think if we were talking about endlis with these characteristic differences we would be thinking that they are different variants ?

I really didnt enjoy this book. Its filled with too many "may haves", "further studies needed" and "inconclusive findings" i really wish someone would publish updated material.

You guys think the onigo looks like lap patterns and congi head shape ?

 

[Polyaddict86]

Franks first congi kinda look like it had a lap pattern in the side.

 

[jaws7777]

Hao im confused dont the pictures you posted kind of prove or atleast gove a 50/50 shot of more than jist genetics playing a role in the differences we were talking about earlier ? The sp.aff.congicus head shape sort of resembles a pbb... no ?

 

[Vancouver_98683]

Why u got to pour salt on an old wound?