Abstract
Nemacheilus pezidion, new species, is described from the Xe Kong watershed, Mekong drainage, in Attapeu province, southern Laos. It is distinguished from all other Nemacheilidae in Southeast Asia by its unique colour pattern consisting of a black midlateral stripe and a middorsal row of 11–15 narrow saddles. Besides, the male has a globulous suborbital flap with tubercles along its posterior edge, and the pectoral fin with thickened anterior rays, and branched rays 1–4 and unculiferous pads behind them covered by small tubercles. It was found in habitats with moderate flow, on mud to gravel bottom. Nemacheilus pezidion was earlier misidentified as N. longistriatus.
Keywords: Pisces, Cobitoidei, Nemacheilus, Laos, Mekong, stone loach, sexual dimorphism
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| Nemacheilus pezidion, Laos: Xe Nam Noi: Xe Pian; a, MHNG 2787.088, holotype, 57.8 mm SL, male; b, CMK 15687, paratype, 53.8 mm SL, female; c, CMK 21330, paratype, 54.2 mm SL; female. |
Nemacheilus pezidion, new species
Etymology. From the ancient Greek πεζίδιον (pezidion), a ribbon, reference to the black stripe along the flank. A noun in apposition.
Maurice Kottelat. 2022. Nemacheilus pezidion, A New Species of Loach from southern Laos (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). Zootaxa. 5129(1); 92-104. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5129.1.5
https://wwfasia.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_greater_mekong_new_species_2021_2022_optimized.pdf
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