Journal Article
Karstsinnectes cehengensis (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae), a new species of cave fish from Guizhou, China
Zhao, X., Lan, C., Luo, T., Yu, J., Zhou, J., Xiao, N. and Zhou, J.
Record Number:
6372
Year:
2024
Journal:
Zoological Systematics
Pages:
101-115
Volume:
49
Abstract:
Abstract Four species of the genus Karstsinnectes, which live in dark, low-energy
groundwater ecosystems, are currently recorded, mainly distributed in the upstream of the Pearl
River, the Youjiang River and the Hongshui River. Completing biodiversity surveys is
particularly difficult due to the particular cave habitats inhabited by these species. In this work,
we describe a new cave fish of the genus Karstsinnectes, namely K. cehengensis Luo, Zhao &
Zhou, sp. nov., collected from the Beipanjiang River, the upstream of the Hongshui River.
Genetically, the four individuals of the new species form a phylogenetically separate lineage, as
the sister clade of K. acridorsalis, with a 9.4–9.5% genetic difference in mitochondrial Cyt b.
Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of
the following morphological characteristics: body naked, without body color; eyes reduced,
diameter 1.4–3.8% of head length; anterior and posterior nostrils adjacent, anterior nostril not
elongated to a barbel-like tip; lateral line incomplete; caudal fin forked; dorsal-fin rays iii-7,
pectoral-fin rays i-11–12, pelvic-fin rays i-7, anal-fin rays iii-5, with 14 branched caudal-fin
rays. The discovery of this new species represents the northernmost distribution of species
within the genus Karstsinnectes and the first record from Guizhou Province. All currently
known species of this genus inhabited in caves, making them ideal organisms for studying
historical river connectivity and cave formation process.
Key words Diversity, karst cave, morphology, phylogeny, Karstsinnectes.
Times Cited:
2