Schizothorax beipanensis, Yang, Jian, Chen, Xiaoyong & Yang, Junxing, 2009

Yang, Jian, Chen, Xiaoyong & Yang, Junxing, 2009, The identity of Schizothorax griseus Pellegrin, 1931, with descriptions of three new species of schizothoracine fishes (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from China, Zootaxa 2006, pp. 23-40 : 36-37

Schizothorax beipanensis , sp. nov.

Figure 11

Schizothorax griseus (non Pellegrin): Mo in Chu & Chen ed. 1989: 321. Fig. 291 (in part); Huang, 1989: 222, Fig. 170; Chen & Huang, 1998: 222, Fig. 156 (in part).

Holotype: KIZ 200600065, 167.0 mm SL; China: the Suoqiao River, Shanbanqiao Town, Pu’an County, Gui- Zhou Province, 25°47΄7.3ʺN 104°43΄31.3ʺE, 1326 m above sea level, 25 May 2006.

Paratypes: KIZ 20060064, 1 specimen, 163.0 mm SL; same data as holotype. KIZ 82100080, 82100199−203, 82100205, 7 specimens, 61.5−151.0 mm SL; China: Xuanwei Conuty, Yunnan Province. KIZ 871001−004, 4 specimens, 86.4−123.4 mm SL; China: Yangliu, Xuanwei Conuty, Yunnan Province. KIZ 2006001−003, 2006005, 2006009, 3 specimens, 86.4−125.3 mm SL; China: the Xiaochahe River, Yangchang Town, Xuanwei County, Yunnan Province, 25°54΄49.5ʺN 104°10΄54.3 ʺE, 1945 m above sea level, 22 May 2006.

Diagnosis. Schizothorax beipanensis is distinguished from all congeners by the combination of the following characters: absence of horny sheath on the lower jaw; upper lip developed; lower lip developed, trilobed; postlabial groove continuous, with a minute median lobe. Schizothorax beipanensis can be distinguished from S. griseus by the absence (vs. presence) of black spots on the flank, along the lateral line; distal 20-25 % of the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray soft (vs. strong); rostral barbel not reaching (vs. reaching) the middle of the eye; eye diameter 58.5−120.1 % length of maxillary barbel (vs. 33.4−93.7 %). Schizothorax beipanensis is most similar to S. heterophysallidos , from which it is distinguished, however, by the unique air bladder of the latter.

Description. Morphometric data are given in Table 4 . Body elongated, laterally compressed. Snout blunt. Dorsal surface of head descends sharply anterior to nostrils, forming an inconspicuous ethmoidal groove. Mouth inferior, horseshoe-shaped. Lips developed, lower lip fleshy, with three lobes; postlabial groove continuous, with a small median lobe of width greater than that of isthmus, surface of posterior parts of side lobes rugged ( Fig. 3 D). Only two labial lobes present in some specimens (<123.2 mm SL), with no obvious median lobe or posterior groove interruption, a minute crescent-shaped horny sheath present on anterior lower jaw. Two pairs of barbels: maxillary barbel equal to or longer than rostral barbel, which reaches short of mid-eye; maxillary barbel may or may not reach posterior border of eye. Scales minute, absent on thorax and abdomen before pectoral-fin tip. Lateral line straight, with 91−111 (11*) scales; scales in transverse series from dorsalfin origin to lateral line 20−27 (8*); scales in transverse series from pelvic-fin origin to lateral line 21−25 (3*). Two rows of enlarged scales on each side, extending from base of vent to anal fin.

Dorsal fin with three simple and 8 (18*) branched rays. Last simple unbranched dorsal-fin ray strong, with 13−19 (10*) serrae along its posterior edge ( Fig. 4 D). Dorsal-fin origin above or posterior to pelvic-fin origin. Predorsal length equal to or greater than distance from dorsal-fin origin to caudal-peduncle base. Pectoral fin with one simple and 16 (1*), 17 (6*), 18 (7*), 19 (3*) branched rays, its length 56.7−80.5 % of distance between pectoral-fin origin and pelvic-fin origin. Pelvic fin with one simple and 8 (2*), 9 (9*), 10 (6*) branched rays. Anus located immediately anterior to anal-fin origin. Anal fin with three simple and 5 (18*) branched rays. Anal fin elongated, reaching caudal-fin base in mature females. Caudal fin forked, lower lobe slightly longer than upper one. Pharyngeal teeth in three rows, tooth pattern 2,3,5−5,3,2, tips of teeth hooked. Outer side of first gill arch with 14−19 (14*) gill rakers, inner side with 18−25 (14*). Air bladder with two chambers, length of posterior chamber twice that of anterior one.

Coloration. In life, dorsal surface darkish cyan; margins of pectoral, pelvic and anal-fins reddish; dorsal and caudal fins grey; abdomen whitish. After fixation in 10% formalin and preservation in 75% alcohol, upper body blackish grey, lower body yellowish; abdomen whitish-yellow.

Distribution. The species is known from the upper tributaries of the Beipan Jiang (a tributary of the Pearl River) drainage area ( Fig. 6 ).

Habitat and ecology. In the Xiaochahe River (a tributary of Beipan Jiang), Yangchang Town, Xuanwei County, Yunnan Province, these fishes occur in slow-flowing water. Here the river is 0.5−1.5 m deep. The river substrate comprises of mud, sand and large stones. Schizothorax beipanensis inhabits deep pools with large stones. Other sympatric fishes include the cyprinid species S. lissolabiatus , Discogobio elongatu s Huang, D. yunnanensis (Regan) , Abbottina rivularis (Basilewsky) , Carassius auratus auratus (Linnaeus) , Aphyocypris chinensis Günther , Rhodeus ocellatus (Kner) , Sinocyclocheilus sp. and the cobitid Misgurnus anguillicaudatus . In Suoqiao River (a tributary of the Beipan Jiang River), Shanbanqiao Town, Pu’an County, GuiZhou Province, these fishes occur in clear, fast-flowing water. Here the river is 0.5−3.0 m deep. The river substrate is comprised of sand, pebbles and boulders. Sympatric fishes include the cyprinid species Discogobio elongatus , S. lissolabiatus and Sinocyclocheilus sp.

Etymology. The species name is a reference to the type locality, the Beipan Jiang, formed as an adjective.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Ventral view of head of: (A) Schizothorax griseus, KIZ 20060175; (B) S. nudiventris, KIZ 20050507224; (C) S. heterophysallidos, KIZ 20060038; and (D) S. beipanensis, KIZ 20060065. Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 4. Lateral view of the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray of: (A) Schizothorax griseus, KIZ 20060206, 141.7 mm SL, China: the Sancha River, Yangchang Town, Nayong County, Bijie, Guizhou Province; (B) S. nudiventris, KIZ 20050507224, 148.0 mm SL; China: the Lancang Jiang, Wulonglong village, Badi Town, Weixi County, Yunnan Province; (C) S. heterophysallidos, KIZ 775854, 143.8 mm SL; China: Luoping, Yunnan Province; and (D) S. beipanensis, KIZ 20060064, 157.0 mm SL; China: the Suoqiao River, Shanbanqiao Town, Pu’an County, GuiZhou Province.

FIGURE 6. Map showing distributions of Schizothorax griseus, S. nudiventris, S. heterophysallidos and S. beipanensis.

FIGURE 11. Lateral view of Schizothorax beipanensis, KIZ 20060065, holotype, 167.0 mm SL; China: the Shuoqiaohe River, Sanbanqiao town, pu’an County, Guizhou Province.