New Late Tertiary Fish Fossils from the Sinda Region, Eastern Zaire

Abstract

An assemblage of about 200 fish remains, recently collected from late Miocene early Pliocene deposits of the Sinda area, is described. Although the collection is small, several taxa not previously reported from these localities are included. Gymnarchus, Hydrocynus and Bagrus are new for the Sinda-Mogari ichthyofauna, whereas the previously doubtful presence of Clariidae is now confirmed by several finds, including one identifiable as Clarias. The discovery of three outer premaxillary teeth of Shungura Sindacharax along with the numerous Sindacharax lepersonnei specimens is surprising. The Shungura form is considered conspecific with Sindacharax lepersonnei. Other represented taxa are Synodontis, Auchenoglanis and Lates rhachirhinchus. Comparison of the ichthofauna from the oldest deposits (Ongoliba Beds) with that of the Middle Member of the Sinda Beds shows a decline in characiforms and an increase in siluriforms through time. Reconstruction of the former aquatic environment indicates a large and deep permanent water-body with shallow and marshy habitats at its margins.