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| Oreonectes zhangi Zhong, Yang & Chen, in Zhong, Yang, Mo et Chen, 2024. |
Abstract
A new loach species, Oreonectes zhangi sp. nov., was identified from Xingye County, Yulin City, Guangxi, China. The species can be distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of the following characters: six branched pelvic-fin rays; a reduced posterior chamber of air-bladder; vertebrae 4 + 32; the tip of the male pelvic fin does not reach the anus. Molecular analyses using the Cyt b gene showed that the new species forms a monophyletic group and is closely related to O. damingshanensis.
Key Words: Morphology, new species, phylogeny, stream fish, taxonomy
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| Dorsal, lateral, ventral, and living views of Oreonectes zhangi sp. nov. NNNU2023100203, holotype, 71.1 mm TL, 63.1 mm SL. |
Oreonectes zhangi Zhong, Yang & Chen, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Comparative data between Oreonectes zhangi sp. nov. and all seven known species within the genus Oreonectes are provided in Table 3. Oreonectes zhangi sp. nov. can be distinguished from O. guilinensis, O. luochengensis, O. guananensis, O. andongensis, and O. polystigmus by the reduced posterior chamber of air-bladder (vs. developed), from O. platycephalus by six branched plevic-fin rays (vs. 7), seven branched dorsal-fin rays (vs. 6), from O. damingshanensis by six branched pelvic-fin rays (vs. 7), the tip of the male pelvic fin not reaching the anus (vs. exceeding) (Fig. 8), vertebrae 4 + 32 (vs. 4 + 34), head depth at nape (59.6–68.1% HL vs. 46.7–54.6%), body depth at dorsal-fin origin (14.0–16.1% SL vs. 11.1–13.3%).
Etymology: The species was named in honor of the three Zhang brothers, who assisted local residents in locating water during an ancient drought. Following their passing, they were revered as rain deities by the community (Li 2014). We suggest the common Chinese name “张氏岭鳅” (Zhang Shi Ling Qiu).
Jia-Hong Zhong, Jian Yang, Hao-Lin Mo and Wei-Cai Chen. 2024. Description of A New Species of the Genus Oreonectes (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from Guangxi, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100(4): 1259-1267. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.125866
