A new species of redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae, Pseudobarbus) from the Verlorenvlei River system, South Africa

Abstract

Pseudobarbus verloreni, a new species, is described from material collected in the Verlorenvlei River system on the west coast of South Africa. It differs from its congeners (except Pseudobarbus skeltoni, Pseudobarbus burchelli, and Pseudobarbus burgi) by the presence of two pairs of oral barbels. Pseudobarbus verloreni sp. n. can be distinguished from the three currently described double barbeled Pseudobarbus species by the following combination of characters: pigment pattern, generally deeper body relative to standard length, a longer intestine associated with the deeper body form, shorter snout relative to head length, and much shorter anterior barbels relative to head length. The new species is distinguished from Pseudobarbus burgi in the neighbouring Berg River system by its longer head and longer pre-dorsal length. It seems as if Pseudobarbus verloreni sp. n. has been extirpated from the Langvlei River system and face several threats to its survival in the Verlorenvlei River system.

Evidence of hidden diversity and taxonomic conflicts in five stream fishes from the Eastern Zimbabwe Highlands freshwater ecoregion

“…Results of the present study thus add to the growing board of evidence that shows that a large proportion of freshwater fishes in southern Africa remain scientifically undocumented, because many river systems remain poorly explored as much of the previous research effort and application of molecular approaches has predominantly focussed on fishes of the Cape Fold Ecoregion (Ellender et al 2017). Despite being one of the geographically and taxonomically well explored regions in southern Africa, new species and deeply divergent genetic lineages continue to be discovered within almost all fish taxonomic groups of the Cape Fold Ecoregion (Chakona and Swartz, 2013; Chakona and Skelton, 2017; Chakona et al 2013, 2014; Wishart et al 2006), and estimates indicate that there are about 43 undescribed species within the 21 currently recognised fish species of this region (Linder et al 2010). The discovery of hidden diversity in the EZH freshwater ecoregion adds to the growing evidence for the existence of high species-level diversity within a number of fish species from high altitude streams in southern, east and west Africa (e.g., Friel and Vigliotta 2011; Morris et al 2016; Schmidt and Pezold 2011; Schmidt et al 2014, 2015, 2016; Thomson 2013; Thomson and Page 2010).…”

“…Growing evidence from previous and ongoing DNA-based studies shows that many species of freshwater fishes that were previously considered to have wide geographic ranges are instead complexes comprising several genetically divergent lineages (e.g., Chakona et al 2013; Goodier et al 2011; Kramer et al 2004; Kramer and Wink 2013; Linder et al 2010; Swartz et al 2007, 2009). These studies have stimulated renewed interest in the systematics of freshwater fishes in the region as evidenced by the recent revalidation of some junior synonyms as well as the identification and description of several new species (e.g., Chakona and Swartz 2013; Chakona et al 2014; Chakona and Skelton 2017; Kramer et al 2003, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014; Kramer and Swartz 2010; Kramer and van der Bank 2011; Maake et al 2014). There is thus need for expanding the application of molecular approaches as these may lead to the identification of presently unrecognised diversity and provide insights on the patterns of endemism of stream fishes from other understudied regions in southern Africa such as the EZH freshwater ecoregion.…”

A review of the Pseudobarbus afer (Peters, 1864) species complex (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) in the eastern Cape Fold Ecoregion of South Africa

“…Methods for obtaining DNA sequence data and their analyses follow Swartz et al (2007) and Chakona et al (2013a). We sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b ) gene to compare with data generated from previous studies (Swartz et al 2007; Chakona and Swartz 2013; Chakona et al 2014). The sequences were assigned as topogenetypes (for Pseudobarbus afer and Pseudobarbus senticeps ) and hologenetype and paragenetypes (for Pseudobarbus swartzi sp.…”

“…All species of this genus are confined to streams associated with the Cape Fold Ecoregion (CFE) at the southern tip of Africa, with the exception of Pseudobarbus quathlambae which is endemic to the headwater tributaries of the Orange River in the Lesotho Highlands (Barnard 1943; Skelton 1988; Chakona and Swartz 2013; Chakona et al 2014). Redfins were previously assigned to the genus Barbus Cuvier & Cloquet, 1816 until Skelton (1988) revalidated Smith’s (1841) subgenus Pseudobarbus and raised it to full generic status.…”

“…Many species of Pseudobarbus have restricted distribution ranges (Skelton 1988; Chakona and Swartz 2013; Chakona et al 2014). Pseudobarbus afer (Peters, 1864) as it is currently described was considered to be the only exception as it has the widest distribution range of all redfin species.…”