A new species of Yunnanilus (Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from Yunnan, southwest China

By

Qin, Zhi-Xian
Shao, Weihan
Du, Li-Na
Wang, Zhen-Xing

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

Zoosystematics and evolution

Volume

100

Series / Issue

Issue: 2

Pages

747--754

Subjects

loach , Mitochondrial gene , Morphology , Nanpanjiang River , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.122962

 

Abstract

A new species of Yunnanilus is described from the Nanpanjiang River, Yunnan, China. The new species, Yunnanilus polylepis, can be distinguished from other species of Yunnanilus by the following combination of characteristics: Processus dentiformis absent; eye diameter smaller than interorbital width; outer gill raker absent and 10 inner gill rakers on first gill arch; whole trunk covered by scales; nine branched dorsal-fin rays; 10 or 11 branched pectoral-fin rays; six branched pelvic-fin rays. Despite our phylogenetic analysis, which sheds light on the complex relationships among Yunnanilus species, the majority of Yunnanilus species are restricted to more localized environments and habitats. It is urgent to address the environmental threats that jeopardize their survival, especially given their generally restricted distribution.