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Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4-6; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-11. Diagnosis: Chiloglanis devosi is distinguished from C. somereni by having shorter dorsal spines, 12.3-17.2% of standard length vs. 17.9-23.0%, and having the anterior and posterior nares the same distance apart vs. posterior nares further apart in C. somereni (Ref. 105400). Chiloglanis devosi is easily distinguished from the other Kenyan congeners in having a wider occipital shield width, more than 5% of standard length vs. less than 5%, more mandibular teeth, 8 or more vs. 8 or fewer, and a smaller orbit, less than 4% of head length vs. more than 4% (Ref. 105400).
Description: Moderate to small sized Chiloglanis, maximum standard length observed 49.2 mm; body dorsally depressed anteriorly and laterally compressed posteriorly; predorsal convex, post-orbital slightly so, pre-orbital sharply convex; postdorsal body sloping ventrally towards caudal fin; preanal profile horizontal; postanal sloping dorsally towards caudal fin (Ref. 105400). Skin with numerous small unculiferous tubercles, body uniformly covered with higher concentrations in the head region; lateral line complete, arising horizontal to orbit and sloping ventrally to midlateral alongside of body; urogenital papillae elongate in males; reduced and separated from anus by shallow invagination in females (Ref. 105400). Head depressed; gill openings restricted, from level of pectoral fin attachment to middle of eye; gill membranes broadly united; occipital-nuchal shield covered and visible through the skin; eyes small, horizontal axis longest, orbit without free margin; anterior and posterior nares positioned mid-snout length and equidistant; nares with raised rim, posterior nares with elongated anterior flaps (Ref. 105400). Mouth inferior, upper and lower lips united to form sucking disc; oral disc moderate in size, slightly wider than long and covered in papillae (Ref. 105400). Barbels in three pairs; maxillary barbel originating from posterolateral region of the disc, unbranched, moderate in length, reaching 25% of head length; lateral and medial mandibular barbels short, one-third length of maxillary barbel, and incorporated into lower lip; mandibular barbels positioned on both sides of prominent midline cleft on the posterior margin of disc; medial mandibular barbel adjacent to cleft and lateral mandibular barbel just lateral to medial barbel (Ref. 105400). Primary maxillary teeth numerous, 51-81, "S" shaped with exposed tips brown in colour, arranged in three scattered rows on kidney-shaped patched on ventral surface; secondary premaxillary teeth fewer in number and scattered on posterior surface of premaxillae; tertiary teeth small and needle-like, inserted near midline on dorsal edge of toothplate; mandibular teeth arranged in one to two rows, "S" shaped and crowded at midline; the anterior row supporting 7-12 brown tipped sharp teeth (Ref. 105400). Dorsal fin origin in anterior third of body; dorsal fin with small spinelet, spine and 4-6 rays; dorsal spine long, nearly half as long as head length; anterior margins of spine marked with three small notches distally, posterior margins smooth; adipose fin moderate in length, length into standard length four times; margin convex and slightly incised posteriorly; caudal fin forked with rounded lobes, lower lobe slightly longer than upper lobe, count i,7,8,i; anal fin sexually dimorphic; males displaying elongated rays that extend well beyond terminus of adipose fin, margin convex, count iii,8; pelvic fin origin at vertical between dorsal and adipose fin, margins convex, count i,6; pectoral fin with slightly curved smooth spine, moderate in length, count i,8-9 (Ref. 105400). Post cleithral process elongate, going into standard length ten times, buried under the skin; body dimorphism present with females attaining larger sizes than males (Ref. 105400).
Colouration: Live colouration: body with pinkish brown ground colour with overlying melanophores that produces the pattern observed in preserved specimens; iridescent gold markings along sides of body, large iridescent gold area dorsal and posterior to pectoral fin origin with smaller gold markings on side of body, dorsal of lateral line; fins yellow with brown markings (Ref. 105400). Typical colouration of preserved specimens: in dorsal view, specimens appear medium brown with three distinct areas of light brown to cream colouration; the first lies anterior to the dorsal fin; second and third bands are anterior and posterior, respectively, to the adipose fin; lighter spots visible along sides of dorsal fin above lateral line; head medium brown with areas of mottled lighter brown; in lateral view, specimens with cream-buff ground colour with medium brown present along sides and above lateral line; cream-buff ground colour anterior to dorsal fin extends to lateral line, dark area anterior to adipose fin extends onto side below lateral line, and the light area posterior to adipose fin extends through caudal peduncle, giving the peduncle a depigmented appearance; light spots on sides above and along lateral line; numerous small black melanophores scattered across sides, more concentrated posteriorly and below lateral line; ventral surface cream coloured; few melanophores near origin of pelvic fins and around anal fin; oral disc and barbels yellow to cream coloured (Ref. 105400). |
