A new cavefish of Sinocyclocheilus (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from the Nanpanjiang River in Guizhou, China

A new species, Sinocyclocheilus xingyiensis, is described based on specimens collected from a karst cave in Guizhou Province, China. The authors used an integrated taxonomic approach, including morphological and molecular data, to identify the new species as a member of the Sinocyclocheilu angularis group, and it can be distinguished from all other members of this group by a combination of the following features: two pairs of long barbels and long pectoral fins, 42-46 lateral-line scales, 7 (13-14) on outer (inner) side of the first gill arch and 35 (14-15 + 4 + 16 - 17) vertebrae. Phylogenetic analyses based on the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene fragment suggest that S. xingyiensis is a sister lineage to Sinocyclocheilus flexuosdorsalis. The genetic distance (Kimura 2-parameter) between the S. xingyiensis and S. angularis groups of Sinocyclocheilus species based on cyt b gene fragment ranged from 1.2% to 15.4%.

Automated summary

A new species called Sinocyclocheilus xingyiensis was discovered in a karst cave in Guizhou Province, China. The authors used both morphological and molecular data to identify the new species as part of the Sinocyclocheilu angularis group, and it differs from other species in the group due to certain distinguishing features. Phylogenetic analyses based on the cyt b gene fragment indicate that S. xingyiensis is closely related to Sinocyclocheilus flexuosdorsalis, with a genetic distance ranging from 1.2% to 15.4% compared to the S. angularis group.