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| Barbodes klapanunggalensis Wibowo, Rahmadi & Lumbantobing, in Wibowo, Willyanto, Dharmayanthi, Rahmadi et Lumbantobing, 2025. Barbodes |
Abstract
Barbodes klapanunggalensis sp. nov. is described on the basis of two specimens collected from the subterranean cave system of Klapanunggal karst area, Bogor Regency, West Java Province, Java Island, Indonesia. The new species is unique among its congeners in completely lacking eyes, its ocular vestige being marked by an orbital concavity fully covered with skin, and with no orbital rim. It also differs distinctly from most species of Barbodes by having relatively long paired fins (pectoral fin 26.0–31.4% SL; pelvic fin 21.5–24.4% SL), the adpressed tips of each overlapping the basal area of the adjacent posterior (pelvic and anal, respectively) fins; and the presence of a short pelvic axillary scale with a rounded posterior margin. Barbodes klapanunggalensis sp. nov. is further distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: head length 32.9–35.3% SL; pre-pectoral fin length 32.6–33.6% SL; pre-pelvic fin length 54.0–59.6% SL; anal-fin base length 9.7–11.8% SL; caudal peduncle depth 13.2–18.2% SL; completely nonpigmented body; and all fins with translucent interradial membranes and light cream to brownish rays. As reflected by its highly troglomorphic features, the new species is strictly adapted to cave habitats. Its small population size, coupled with a high level of potential threats to its known habitat, suggest that future conservation efforts will become necessary.
Key words: Cave-dwelling fish, coloration, endemic, morphology, silvery barbs
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| Photographs of the holotype of Barbodes klapanunggalensis sp. nov. A in situ photograph, from video; B picture photos taken in 2020 by M. Iqbal Willyanto. |
Barbodes klapanunggalensis Wibowo, Rahmadi & Lumbantobing, sp. nov.
English name: Klapanunggal Blind Cave Barb
New Indonesian name: Wader Gua Buta Klapanunggal
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| Barbodes klapanunggalensis sp. nov., MZB.26657, holotype, 63.8 mm SL; MZB.26656, paratype, 73.0 mm SL A fresh B preserved C radiograph. |
Diagnosis. A species of Barbodes distinguished from all its congeners by the absence of eyes, as the eye is vestigially replaced by an orbital concavity being fully closed by an epidermal layer, while lacking the orbital rim. The species is also uniquely diagnosed by having relatively long pectoral and pelvic fins, with their adpressed tips each extending past the vertical through the insertion or origin of the next fin posterior to the tip, as to further pass posteriorly about two scales in anteroposterior; and by the presence of a relatively short and rounded axillary pelvic-fin scale, with tip not reaching posterior edge of pelvic-fin base. It is further distinguished from other Barbodes species in having by the following combination of characters: head length 32.9–35.3% of SL; pre-pectoral fin length 32.6–33.6% of SL; pre-pelvic fin length 54.0–59.6% of SL; pectoral fin length 26.0–31.4% of SL; pelvic fin length 21.5–24.4% of SL; anal-fin base length 9.7–11.8% of SL; caudal peduncle depth 13.2–18.2% of SL; body without pigmentation (black dots, bars, stripes, blotches, and triangular markings all absent from lateral surface); all fins with translucent interradial membrane and light cream to brownish rays.
Etymology: The specific epithet klapanunggalensis is derived from the type locality, the Klapanunggal karst area, which includes the Cisodong 1 Cave, Nambo Village. The name reflects the unique habitat and geological significance of the Klapanunggal karst area, where the species is likely endemic.
Kunto Wibowo, M. Iqbal Willyanto, Anik Budhi Dharmayanthi, Cahyo Rahmadi and Daniel Natanael Lumbantobing. 2025. Barbodes klapanunggalensis, A New Species of blind subterranean fish (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) from Klapanunggal Karst Area, West Java, Indonesia, with notes on its conservation. ZooKeys. 1229: 43-59. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1229.135950
