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| Balitora dehouensis Lei, Pu & Yang, in Lei, Pu, Yang, Zhu, Mo, Liu, Wang et Bi, 2025. |
Abstract
A new species of cave-dwelling hillstream loach (Balitoridae, Cypriniformes), Balitora dehouensis sp. nov. is described from a cave in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Balitora dehouensis sp. nov. is confirmed to be a distinct species by morphological and phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene as well as the nuclear recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1), interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP), and early growth response protein 2B (EGR2B). Balitora ludongensis is confirmed to be the third cave-dwelling member of Balitora, after B. anlongensis and B. dehouensis.
Key Words: Balitora, Balitoridae, Cavefish, morphology, phylogeny
Family Balitoridae Swanson, 1839
Type Genus: Balitora Gray, 1830.
Genus Balitora Gray, 1830
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| Comparison of colorations of hypogean and epigean individuals of Balitora dehouensis sp. nov. A. Lateral view of epigean individual (PXR20241123001); B. Dorsal view; C. Lateral view of hypogean individual (YHF20230925005); D. Dorsal view. |
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| Morphological characteristics of Balitora dehouensis sp. nov. (Paratype, PXR20241123004); coloration in life. A. Lateral view; B. Dorsal view; C. Ventral view. |
Balitora dehouensis Lei, Pu & Yang, sp. nov.
Hao-Tian Lei, Xin-Rui Pu, Hong-Fu Yang, Ming-Xin Zhu, Hao-Lin Mo, Xiao-Yu Liu, Mo Wang and Bao-Liang Bi. 2025. Balitora dehouensis, A New Species of Cave-dwelling Hillstream Loach (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Balitoridae) from the upper Red River, southwestern China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(4): 1569-1584. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.157180
