An annotation checklist of the fishes of Rwanda (East Central Africa), with historical data on introductions of commercially important species

Abstract

A checklist of the fishes of Rwanda is given. Currently 82 species belonging to 12 families are known from Rwandese waters. With at least 37 species, cichlids are by far the largest fish family in the country followed by Cyprinidae, Mormyridae and Mochokidae, respectively represented by 24, six and four species. The other eight families are represented by one or two species only. The presence of at least 12 species is the result of introductions by man. The list includes the general distribution of each species in Rwanda, common English names and local Kinyarwanda names, annotations referring to introductions, distribution and taxonomic status of the species, as well as to older records from literature. Historical data on introductions of various species are reported.

Journal of East African Natural History Vol. 90 (1&2) 2001: pp. 41-68