A new Genus and Species of Clupeoid Fish from West Africa

Specimens of a new clupeoid fish from the coastal regions of Ghana, Dahomey and Nigeria are described under the name Laeviscutella dekimpei gen. et sp. nov. The species is also recorded from the Ivory Coast, Gabon and Congo. In its possession of poorly developed and unkeeled pre-pelvic scutes, L. dekimpei resembles the dussumieriid Gilchristella aestuarius (Gilchrist). But it is distinguished from the latter by its possession of post-pelvic scutes ; however, the post-pelvic scutes are unique in that they lack ascending arms. The genus Laeviscutella thus bridges the gap between the clupeid subfamily Pellonulinae and the dussumieriid tribe Ehiravini of the subfamily Spratelloidinae. Problems relating to the relationship of Laeviscutella to other clupeoids are discussed, but for the present the existing classification is accepted, and Laeviscutella is placed with its presumed closest relative, Gilchristella, in the tribe Ehiravini.