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Triplophysa cehengensis Luo, Mao, Zhao, Xiao & Zhou, T. rongduensis Mao, Zhao, Yu, Xiao & Zhou, T. panzhouensis Yu, Luo, Lan, Xiao & Zhou, T. anlongensis Song, Luo, Lan, Zhao, Xiao & Zhou, in Luo, Mao, Lan, Song, Zhao, Yu, Wang, Xiao, Zhou et Zhou, 2023. |
Abstract
Recently described cave species of the genus Triplophysa have been discovered in southwestern China, suggesting that the diversity of the genus is severely underestimated and that there may be many undescribed species. In this work, four new species of the genus Triplophysa are described from southwestern Guizhou Province, China, namely Triplophysa cehengensis Luo, Mao, Zhao, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov. and Triplophysa rongduensis Mao, Zhao, Yu, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov. from Rongdu Town, Ceheng County, Guizhou, Triplophysa panzhouensis Yu, Luo, Lan, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov. from Hongguo Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou, and Triplophysa anlongensis Song, Luo, Lan, Zhao, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov. from Xinglong Town, Anlong County, Guizhou. These four new species can be distinguished from all recognized congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics and significant genetic divergences. The discovery of these species increases the number of known cave species within the genus Triplophysa to 39, making the genus the second most diverse group of cave fishes in China after the golden-line fish genus Sinocyclocheilus. Based on the non-monophyletic relationships of the different watershed systems in the phylogenetic tree, this study also discusses the use of cave species of the genus Triplophysa to determine the possible historical connectivity of river systems.
Key words: Diversity, karst cave, morphology, new species, taxonomy, Triplophysa
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Triplophysa cehengensis sp. nov. in life A holotype GZNU20230214010 B paratype GZNU20230214011. Triplophysa rongduensis sp. nov. in life, paratype GZNU20230106001 A left side view B right side view. |
Triplophysa cehengensis Luo, Mao, Zhao, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet cehengensis is in reference to the type locality of the new species: Longjing Village, Rongdu Town, Ceheng County. We propose the common English name “Ceheng high-plateau loach” and the Chinese name “Cè Hēng Gāo Yuán Qīu (册亨高原鳅)”.
Triplophysa rongduensis Mao, Zhao, Yu, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet rongduensis is in reference to the type locality of the new species: Rongdu Town, Ceheng County, Guizhou Province, China. We propose the common English name “Rongdu high-plateau loach” and the Chinese name “Rǒng Dù Gāo Yuán Qīu (冗渡高原鳅).”
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Triplophysa panzhouensis sp. nov. in life, paratype GZNU20230115001 A left side view B right side view. Triplophysa anlongensis sp. nov. in life, paratype GZNU20230215022 A left side view B right side view. |
Triplophysa panzhouensis Yu, Luo, Lan, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet panzhouensis is in reference to the type locality of the new species: Hongguo Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou Province, China. We propose the common English name “Panzhou high-plateau loach” and the Chinese name “Pán Zhõu Gāo Yuán Qīu (盘州高原鳅).”
Triplophysa anlongensis Lan, Song, Luo, Zhao, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet anlongensis is in reference to the type locality of the new species: NaNao Village, Xinglong Town, Anlong County, Guizhou Province, China. We propose the common English name “Anlong high-plateau loach” and the Chinese name “ān lóng Gāo Yuán Qīu (安龙高原鳅).”
Tao Luo, Ming-Le Mao, Chang-Ting Lan, Ling-Xing Song, Xin-Rui Zhao, Jing Yu, Xing-Liang Wang, Ning Xiao, Jia-Jun Zhou and Jiang Zhou. 2023. Four New hypogean Species of the Genus Triplophysa (Osteichthyes, Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from Guizhou Province, Southwest China, based on molecular and morphological data. ZooKeys. 1185: 43-81. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1185.105499
