Dibango () (named after Manu Dibango) is an extinct genus of percomorph teleost from the Late Ypresian-aged Monte Bolca site in Italy. The type and only species is D. volans, known from two well preserved specimens. Originally identified in the late 18th century by Giovanni Serafino Volta, it was known as ′"Pegasus volans"′ until its redescription by Davesne & Carnevale (2025) as "Pegasus volans" is a preoccupied name, being a synonym of the Longtail seamoth's scientific name.
Description.
"Dibango" is known from two specimens which were originally referred to as ′"Pegasus volans"′ by Volta, in 1796. The holotype, MNHN.F.BOL65/BOL66, consists of a "partially complete articulated skeleton lacking the posterior portion of the body".
The only referred specimen, MCSNV T.293/T.294, preserves less of the post-cranial skeleton compared to MNHN.F.BOL65/BOL66, with more of the specimen's axial skeleton being cut off and lost. The holotype's head length is , while the referred specimen's head length is .
"Dibango" is notable for its bizarre morphology, with an extremely elongate body, a highly reduced abdominal region (with just 3 abdominal vertebrae, suggesting an extremely small abdominal cavity), and enlarged dorsal, pelvic and anal fins. The elongated pelvic fins attaches to an external gut located just below the head, similar to the exterilium of certain larval teleosts; overall, the unique morphology of "Dibango" is reminiscent of larval ray-finned fish (especially pelagic fish larvae which live as ichthyoplankton), but the level of ossification on the fossils, being fully ossified, suggests that they represent adult individuals (as larval fish typically have incomplete ossification). It is thus more likely that "Dibango" was a highly paedomorphic fish where adults retained a larva-like appearance.
The species possesses "tiny dermal spinules" covering its whole body and form an especially dense "cluster" in the abdominal region; these scales are stellate (star-shaped) and bears an upright spine. Pigmentation is visible on the holotype through examination using ultraviolet light.
Taxonomy.
The generic name, "Dibango" (), honours Cameroonian musician and songwriter Manu Dibango. The specific name, "volans" (), is a Latin translates into English as 'flying' or 'moving swiftly' and also references the original description of the species as "′Pegasus volans′".
Classification.
The taxon was first described by Volta, (1796), where it was named "′Pegasus volans′". Unbeknownst to Volta, Linnaeus had already coined "′Pegasus volans′" (a species of sea moth) 30 years prior in 1766, which would later be recognized as a junior synonym of "Pegasus volitans". The name "′Pegasus volans′" continued to be used in the literature by various authors, until around 2014, when authors started adopting the notation of the genus as ″"Pegasus"″ "volans", with the quotations signifying a provisional name.
Davesne & Carnevale, (2025) redescribed the taxon and assigned it to the new species ′"Dibango volans"′, finding it to be a member of Percomorpha, though of uncertain placement ("incertae sedis").