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| Pseudobarbus outeniqua Zarei, Bragança, Skelton & Chakona, 2025 |
Abstract
Previous DNA-based studies identified four genetic lineages within Pseudobarbus afer: (i) the Mandela lineage confined to the Sundays, Swartkops, and Baakens river systems, (ii) the Krom lineage endemic to the Krom River system, (iii) the St Francis lineage occurring in the Gamtoos and adjacent river systems, and (iv) the Forest lineage occurring in several southern coastal river systems from the Tsitsikamma to the Klein Brak river system. Subsequent detailed morphological evaluation provided a redescription of P. afer s.s. (Mandela lineage), supported revalidation of P. senticeps (Krom lineage) and description of a new species, P. swartzi (St Francis lineage). The present study builds on these earlier findings and provides a formal description of the Forest lineage as a new species for science, Pseudobarbus outeniqua sp. nov. The new species differs from the aforementioned congeners by the conspicuous pigmentation on the centre of the scales which gives it a distinctive speckled hen pattern. The new species thus closely resembles the small-scale redfin, P. asper, in colour pattern, but it is readily separated from this species by genetic characters and fewer number of scales in predorsal region (16–17, mode 16 vs 18–26, mode 20–23) and around the caudal peduncle (14–15, mode 15 vs 16–22, mode 18–20). A revised key for the single-barbeled redfins is presented.
Key words: Conservation, endemic hotspot, Forest lineage, minnows, systematics, threatened freshwater fish
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| Live specimens of Pseudobarbus outeniqua sp. nov. from the Klein Brak River system A SAIAB 237307 (tag number FZ03), male, holotype, 67.6 mm SL B SAIAB 246084 (tag number FZ04), paratype, 80.6 mm SL C SAIAB 246084 (tag number FZ06), paratype, 77.9 mm SL. |
Pseudobarbus outeniqua sp. nov.
Proposed common names. Forest redfin (English),
Wildernis rooivlerkie (Afrikaans).
Diagnosis. Pseudobarbus outeniqua sp. nov. is diagnosed among all currently recognised congeners by the following combination of character states: mouth with one pair of barbels; barbel length 1.0–1.9 times orbit diameter, reaching vertical through posterior edge of eye; pigmentation distinct, with scale centres darkly pigmented, giving the fish an overall speckled appearance, speckling less conspicuous or absent ventrally; presence of a distinct dark mid-lateral band, with a broader anterior half and a narrower posterior half which ends in form of a large triangular mark at the base of the caudal fin; lack of dark spots, dashes, stripes or wavy lines on back and mid-dorsal; scales moderate sized, 35–37 in lateral line series, 14–15 (mode 15) around caudal peduncle, and 16–17 (mode 16) on predorsal region. Detailed comparison of the new species with the other congeners is presented below.
Etymology. The specific epithet outeniqua refers to the Outeniqua mountain range and highlights the species’ occurrence in streams draining its southern slopes within the southern Cape Fold Ecoregion.
Fatah Zarei, Pedro H. N. Bragança, Paul H. Skelton and Albert Chakona. 2025. Pseudobarbus outeniqua sp. nov., A New redfin Species (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from the Cape Fold Ecoregion of South Africa. ZooKeys 1239: 231-255. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1239.131064
