A new cave-dwelling loach, Triplophysa macrocephala (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Balitoridae), from Guangxi, China

Abstract

A new cave-dwelling species, Triplophysa macrocephala sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from a karst cave in Renguang village, Lihu Town, Nandan County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by possessing the following combination of characters: pectoral fin not reaching beyond pelvic-fin origin; caudal fin forked; body smooth or scaleless; dorsal-fin origin anterior to pelvic-fin origin, edge of dorsal fin truncate; dorsal fin with eight branched rays; anal fin with five branched rays; eye small and vestigial; lower jaw arched with a median notch; air-bladder wrapped in bony capsule, lateral enlarged, posterior chamber of air-bladder degenerated.

Description of a new species of Triplophysa (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from Guizhou Province, China

“…In addition to the five species of Triplophysa from Guizhou Province, 28 more Triplophysa species have been recorded from the Pearl River basin (Chen & Yang, ; Chen et al, ; Chu & Chen, ; Ren et al, ; Wang & Li, ; Wu et al, , ; Yang et al ., , ; Zheng et al ., ). Triplophysa guizhouensis can be easily distinguished from these species by the following combination of characters: eye present, body posterior of dorsal fin covered by scales, 14 branched caudal‐fin rays, posterior chamber of air bladder developed, 8–10 gill rakers in inner row on first gill arch, lateral‐line complete, cephalic lateral‐line canals with 3 + 10–13 preoperculo‐mandibular pores and tip of depressed pelvic fin not reaching anus (Table ).…”

“…Specimens of Triplophysa langpingensis Yang 2013 were provided by J. H. Lan. Data on Triplophysa huanjiangensis Yang et al, , Triplophysa fengshanensis Lan 2013 and Triplophysa dongganensis Yang 2013 are from Lan et al . ().…”

A new species of Triplophysa (Nemacheilidae: Cypriniformes), from Guangxi, southern China

“…Triplophysa huapingensis shows the morphological features of the nostrils and gas bladder, and the sexual dimorphism of the pectoral fins and tubercles on cheeks, that are diagnostic for Triplophysa and hence support the placement of the species in this genus. To date, 20 valid species of Triplophysa have previously been recorded in the Xijiang River system: Triplophysa aluensis Li & Zhu 2000; Triplophysa flavicorpus Yang, Chen & Lan 2004; Triplophysa fuxianensis Yang & Chu 1990; Triplophysa gejiuensis (Chu & Chen 1979); Triplophysa huanjiangensis Yang, Wu & Lan 2011; Triplophysa lacustris Yang & Chu 1990; Triplophysa longibarbata Chen, Yang, Sket & Aljancic 1998; Triplophysa longipectoralis , Zheng, Du, Chen & Yang 2009; Triplophysa macrocephala Yang, Wu & Yang 2012; Triplophysa macromaculata Yang 1990; Triplophysa macrophthalma Zhu & Guo 1985; Triplophysa nandanensis Lan, Yang & Chen 1995; Triplophysa nanpanjiangensis (Zhu & Cao 1988); Triplophysa nasobarbatula Wang & Li 2001; Triplophysa qiubeiensis Li & Yang 2008; Triplophysa shilinensis Chen & Yang 1992; Triplophysa tianeensis Chen, Cui & Yang 2004; Triplophysa xiangshuingensis Li 2004; Triplophysa yunnanensis Yang 1990; Triplophysa zhenfengensis Wang & Li 2001 (Chu & Chen, 1979; Zhu & Guo, 1985; Zhu & Cao, 1988; Yang, 1990; Yang & Chu, 1990; Chen et al , 1992, 1998, 2004; Lan et al , 1995; Li & Zhu, 2000; Wang & Li, 2001; Li, 2004; Yang et al , 2004, 2011, 2012; Du et al , 2008; Li et al , 2008; Zheng et al , 2009). Triplophysa huapingensis is covered with scales, which is similar to T. flavicorpus , T .…”

“…Triplophysa huapingensis shows the morphological features of the nostrils and gas bladder, and the sexual dimorphism of the pectoral fins and tubercles on cheeks, that are diagnostic for Triplophysa and hence support the placement of the species in this genus. To date, 20 valid species of Triplophysa have previously been recorded in the Xijiang Wang & Li 2001(Chu & Chen, 1979Zhu & Guo, 1985;Zhu & Cao, 1988;Yang, 1990;Yang & Chu, 1990;Chen et al, 1992Chen et al, , 1998Chen et al, , 2004 Yunnan Guizhou B e i p a n j i a n g R i v e r H o n g s h u i h e R i v e r L i u j i a n g R i v e r Hunan Lan et al, 1995;Li & Zhu, 2000;Wang & Li, 2001;Li, 2004;Yang et al, 2004Yang et al, , 2011Yang et al, , 2012Du et al, 2008;Li et al, 2008;Zheng et al, 2009) Triplophysa fuxianensis: holotype, KIZ 873126, 69·1 mm L S; paratypes, KIZ 873127-128, 8611025-027, 029, six ex., 56·6-71·2 mm L S , Nanpanjiang River basin: Fuxianhu, Yunnan Prov., China.…”

A new cave‐dwelling loach, Triplophysa xichouensis sp. nov. (Teleostei Nemacheilidae) from Yunnan, China

“…The genus Triplophysa Rendahl 1933 is one of the largest groups in the family Nemacheilidae, most of which are so far known from China (He et al ., ; Kottelat, ; Ren et al ., ; Eschmeyer, ). It can be distinguished from other nemacheilid genera by the following characters: nostrils closely situated; posterior wall of the bony capsule of the swim bladder present; a specific type of sexual dimorphism in which males have tubercle‐bearing, elevated skin on both sides of the head and a thickened tuberculated pad or agglomerations on the dorsal surfaces of the broadened and widened pectoral‐fin rays (Zhu, ; He, ; Zheng et al ., ; Prokofiev, ; He et al ., ; Ren et al ., ; Yang et al ., ).…”