The discovery of *Nothobranchius sylvaticus*, a critically endangered killifish species from Kenya, was reported in *Zootaxa*. It is unique as the first endemic killifish inhabiting a forest, and research indicates that the Gongoni Forest, where it was found, is over 7 million years old. This finding underlines the need for conservation due to the species’ limited habitat.
A newly identified species of killifish, named Nothobranchius sylvaticus, has been documented in the journal Zootaxa. This species, critically endangered and endemic to forests, was first sampled from ephemeral swamps in the Gongoni Forest, Kenya, during expeditions conducted in 2017 and 2018.
Professor Dirk Bellstedt from Stellenbosch University was part of the international team responsible for this discovery, which was supported by the Volkswagen Foundation in Germany. The research initiative was dubbed “Off the Beaten Track,” aimed at uncovering lesser-known aspects of biodiversity.
To classify N. sylvaticus, the team utilized principal component analysis of physical traits alongside DNA sequencing. Their phylogenetic analysis indicated that this lineage diverged from related species approximately 7.09 million years ago, suggesting that the Gongoni Forest is an ancient habitat over 7 million years old.
Spanning approximately 8.2 square kilometers, the Gongoni Forest exemplifies the East African Mosaic, a habitat mixing savannah with forest areas, extending across countries like South Africa and Somalia. This research has aimed to reconstruct the tectonic history of Central Africa over the last 20 million years by employing modern DNA sequencing and precise geological dating.
The discovery of N. sylvaticus signifies the relationship between evolutionary changes in the genus Nothobranchius and the paleo-drainage dynamics influenced by tectonic changes within the East African River Valley System. However, the species faces significant threat due to its limited forest habitat.
The type specimen has been deposited in the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, and other comparative specimens are housed at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium. The article detailing this find, titled “The Description of a Critically Endangered New Species of Seasonal Killifish, Nothobranchius sylvaticus (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae), a Relict Species from an East African Forest Refugium in South-Eastern Kenya,” lists Prof. Dirk Bellstedt among other contributors ranging from Kenya to Canada.
The identification of *Nothobranchius sylvaticus* marks a significant advance in the understanding of Kenya’s biodiversity and the ancient ecosystems present across regions like the Gongoni Forest. The research highlights the importance of conservation efforts, given the species’ critically endangered status and restricted habitat. Continued studies in this area provide valuable insights into evolutionary processes and the geological history of East Africa.
Original Source: www.sun.ac.za
