The African hexaploid Torini (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae): review of a tumultuous history

A review of the tumultuous history of the alpha- and genus-level taxonomy of the hexaploid African Torini, i.e. Labeobarbus s.l. (synonym: Varicorhinus), as well as of the closely related monospecific genera Acapoeta and Sanagia, is provided. The main purpose of the present paper is to provide a continental framework for multidisciplinary research on this megadiverse vertebrate group. Based on the inspection of almost all relevant type specimens, a complete and fully annotated checklist of all valid species and junior synonyms is provided for each of the four nominal genera. It comprises ∼275 nominal taxa, 125 of which are valid African Labeobarbus spp. and three of which are formally named hybrid phenotypes. Particular attention is drawn to the diversity and taxon-specific distribution of mouth phenotypes, which previously served as generic identification characters, i.e. ‘rubberlips’ with strongly developed, sometimes hypertrophied lips and a mental lobe, and ‘chiselmouths’ (former Varicorhinus spp.) with a cornified sharp cutting edge on their lower jaw. Interestingly, many species are polymorphic and include a large array of intermediate mouth phenotypes. The recurrent occurrence of similar mouth phenotype diversity within, but also far beyond, the borders of Labeobarbus s.l. is highlighted, raising numerous evolutionary questions. © 2016 The Linnean Society of London