Niwaella laterimaculata ( Yan and Zheng, 1984 )

Chen, Yifeng & Chen, Yongxia, 2005, Revision of the genus Niwaella in China (Pisces, Cobitidae), with description of two new species, Journal of Natural History 39 (19), pp. 1641-1651 : 1645-1647

Niwaella laterimaculata ( Yan and Zheng, 1984)

( Figures 1C , 2A , 3A , 4A )

Cobitis laterimaculata Yan and Zheng 1984, p 82 –84 (Xikou, Fenfhua County, Zhejiang Province); Zheng 1991, p 145 –146 (Jinhua City; Xikou, Longquan, Fenfhua County).

Material examined

Five paratype specimens, nos 827009, 827012, 827017–8, 827020, 57.2– 50.1 mm TL, 50.3– 42.7 mm SL, collected from the Yongjiang River at Xikou , 29 ° 38.69N, 121 ° 23.49E, Fenghua County, Zhejiang Province, China, July 1982. Kept in IHB, CAS, Wuhan , Hubei Province. Nine specimens nos 743762–3, 743765, 743771–2, 743775–6, 743780, 48.6– 56.1 mm TL, 42.5–46.9 mm SL, collected from the same locality as the type specimens, 1974 .

Brief description

Vertebra 4 + 38–42. Morphometric characters are given in Table I. Small-sized species. Caudal peduncle shorter than other species of the genus Niwaella , depth of caudal peduncle 0.9–1.2 (1.1) of its length. Small head, length of head 5.6–6.4 (6.1) of standard length. Well-developed mental lobes, lip slightly blunt. Six barbels, of which two rostral, two maxillary and two maxillo-mandibular. Barbels shorter than eye diameter ( Figure 2A ).

Dorsal fin slightly long, situated halfway between nape and the base of caudal fin. Pelvic fin is approximately on the same line with dorsal fin. Anal fin short and small, situated onethird of distance between pelvic fin and tail fin. Caudal peduncle truncated, adipose crests developed. Lateral line short, exceeding length of pectorals.

No scales on the head and sides of head. On the body, the scales are small, round or oval, with a large eccentric focal area (being closer to the base), and 23–26 radial grooves, few supplementary radial grooves. The radial grooves on the front and on the side of the scale are broad and sparse, while at the base of the scale are closely spaced. The circular striae are relatively scarce ( Figure 3A ). Suborbital spine curved opposite the caudal processes ( Figure 4A ).

Pigmentation pattern

Body pale yellowish. Head sprinkled with many black spots, a black stripe visible from nape through eye to first barbel insertion. Dorsal body colour pattern of 17–20 angular black stripes, sometimes the stripes are small and striated. Small scattered dark speckles on the dorsolateral surface and 16–20 blotches below the lateral midline. There are four or five striations on the caudal fin and dorsal fin, and a conspicuous dark spot on upper part of the caudal base.

Sexual dimorphism

Not evident.

Distribution

Previously the species was known only in Yongjiang River.

Figures

Figure 1. Loaches of the genus Niwaella. (A) N. delicata; (B) N. multifasciata; (C) N. laterimaculata; (D) N. longibarba sp. n.; (E) N. xinjiangensis sp. n.

Figure 2. Ventral view of the mouth with barbels and mental lobes. (A) N. laterimaculata; (B) N. longibarba sp. n.; (C) N. xinjiangensis sp. n.

Figure 3. Subdorsal scales. (A) N. laterimaculata; (B) N. longibarba sp. n.; (C) N. xinjiangensis sp. n.

Figure 4. Suborbital spine. (A) N. laterimaculata; (B) N. longibarba sp. n.; (C) N. xinjiangensis sp. n.