Research Article |
Corresponding author: Jiang Zhou ( zhoujiang@ioz.ac.cn ) Academic editor: Sven Kullander
© 2023 Cheng Xu, Tao Luo, Jia-Jun Zhou, Li Wu, Xin-Rui Zhao, Hong-Fu Yang, Ning Xiao, Jiang Zhou.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Xu C, Luo T, Zhou J-J, Wu L, Zhao X-R, Yang H-F, Xiao N, Zhou J (2023) Sinocyclocheilus longicornus (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), a new species of microphthalmic hypogean fish from Guizhou, Southwest China. ZooKeys 1141: 1-28. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1141.91501
|
Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. is described from the Pearl River basin in Hongguo Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou Province, Southwest China. Based on the presence of the long horn-like structure on the back of the head, Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. is assigned to the Sinocyclocheilus angularis species group. Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of morphological characters: (1) presence of a single, relatively long horn-like structure on the back of the head; (2) pigmentation absent; (3) reduced eyes; (4) dorsal-fin rays, ii, 7; (5) pectoral-fin rays, i, 13; (6) anal-fin rays, iii, 5; (7) pelvic-fin rays, i, 7; (8) lateral line pores 38–49; (9) gill rakers well developed, nine on first gill arch; and (10) tip of adpressed pelvic fin not reaching anus.
cave fish, morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny
The golden-line fish genus Sinocyclocheilus Fang, 1936, is endemic to China, and is mainly distributed in the karst areas of Southwest China, including Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Hubei provinces (
List of 76 currently recognized species of the genus Sinocyclocheilus endemic to China and references. Recognized species modified from
ID | Species | Species group | Province | River | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | S. altishoulderus (Li & Lan, 1992) | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
2 | S. anatirostris Lin & Luo, 1986 | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
3 | S. angularis Zheng & Wang, 1990 | S. angularis group | Guizhou | Nanpanjiang River |
|
4 | S. aquihornes Li & Yang, 2007 | S. angularis group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
5 | S. bicornutus Wang & Liao, 1997 | S. angularis group | Guizhou | Beipanjiang River |
|
6 | S. brevibarbatus Zhao, Lan & Zhang, 2009 | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
7 | S. broadihornes Li & Mao, 2007 | S. angularis group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
8 | S. convexiforeheadus Li, Yang & Li, 2017 | S. angularis group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
9 | S. hyalinus Chen & Yang, 1994 | S. angularis group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
10 | S. jiuxuensis Li & Lan, 2003 | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
11 | S. flexuosdorsalis Zhu & Zhu, 2012 | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
12 | S. furcodorsalis Chen, Yang & Lan, 1997 | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
13 | S. mashanensis Wu, Liao & Li, 2010 | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
14 | S. rhinocerous Li & Tao, 1994 | S. angularis group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
15 | S. simengensis Li, Wu, Li & Lan, 2018 | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
16 | S. tianeensis Li, Xiao & Luo, 2003 | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
17 | S. tianlinensis Zhou, Zhang, He & Zhou, 2004 | S. angularis group | Guangxi | Nanpanjiang River |
|
18 | S. tileihornes Mao, Lu & Li, 2003 | S. angularis group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
19 | S. zhenfengensis Liu, Deng, Ma, Xiao & Zhou, 2018 | S. angularis group | Guizhou | Beipanjiang River |
|
20 | S. anshuiensis Gan, Wu, Wei & Yang, 2013 | S. microphthalmus group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
21 | S. microphthalmus Li, 1989 | S. microphthalmus group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
22 | S. aluensis Li & Xiao, 2005 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
23 | S. angustiporus Zheng & Xie, 1985 | S. tingi group | Guizhou; Yunnan | Beipanjiang River; Nanpanjiang River |
|
24 | S. anophthalmus Chen & Chu, 1988 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
25 | S. grahami (Regan, 1904) | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Jinshajiang River |
|
26 | S. guishanensis Li, 2003 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
27 | S. huaningensis Li, 1998 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
28 | S. huizeensis Cheng, Pan, Chen, Li, Ma & Yang, 2015 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Niulanjiang River |
|
29 | S. bannaensis Li, Li & Chen, 2019 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Luosuojiang River |
|
30 | S. maculatus Li, 2000 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
31 | S. maitianheensis Li,1992 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
32 | S. malacopterus Chu & Cui, 1985 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
33 | S. longifinus Li, 1998 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
34 | S. longshanensis Li & Wu, 2018 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
35 | S. macrocephalus Li,1985 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
36 | S. lateristriatus Li,1992 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
37 | S. purpureus Li, 1985 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
38 | S. qiubeiensis Li, 2002 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
39 | S. qujingensis Li, Mao & Lu, 2002 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
40 | S. robustus Chen & Zhao, 1988 | S. tingi group | Guizhou | Nanpanjiang River |
|
41 | S. wumengshanensis Li, Mao, Lu & Yan, 2003 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Niulanjiang River |
|
42 | S. xichouensis Pan, Li, Yang & Chen, 2013 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Panlonghe River |
|
43 | S. tingi Fang, 1936 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River | Fang, 1936; |
44 | S. yangzongensis Chu & Chen, 1977 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
45 | S. yimenensis Li & Xiao, 2005 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Yuanjiang River |
|
46 | S. oxycephalus Li, 1985 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
47 | S. brevis Lan & Chen, 1992 | S. cyphotergous group | Guangxi | Liujiang River |
|
48 | S. cyphotergous (Dai, 1988) | S. cyphotergous group | Guizhou | Hongshuihe River |
|
49 | S. donglanensis Zhao, Watanabe & Zhang, 2006 | S. cyphotergous group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
50 | S. dongtangensis Zhou, Liu & Wang, 2011 | S. cyphotergous group | Guizhou | Liujiang River |
|
51 | S. huanjiangensis Wu, Gan & Li, 2010 | S. cyphotergous group | Guangxi | Liujiang River |
|
52 | S. hugeibarbus Li, Ran & Chen, 2003 | S. cyphotergous group | Guizhou | Liujiang River |
|
53 | S. gracilicaudatus Zhao & Zhang, 2014 | S. cyphotergous group | Guangxi | Liujiang River |
|
54 | S. lingyunensis Li, Xiao & Lu, 2000 | S. cyphotergous group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
55 | S. longibarbatus Wang & Chen, 1989 | S. cyphotergous group | Guizhou; Guangxi | Liujiang River |
|
56 | S. luopingensis Li & Tao, 2002 | S. cyphotergous group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
57 | S. macrolepis Wang & Chen, 1989 | S. cyphotergous group | Guizhou; Guangxi | Liujiang River |
|
58 | S. macrophthalmus Zhang & Zhao, 2001 | S. cyphotergous group | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
59 | S. macroscalus Li, 1992 | S. tingi group | Yunnan | Nanpanjiang River |
|
60 | S. multipunctatus (Pellegrin, 1931) | S. cyphotergous group | Guizhou; Guangxi | Wujiang River; Liujiang River; Hongshuihe River |
|
61 | S. punctatus Lan & Yang, 2017 | S. cyphotergous group | Guizhou; Guangxi | Liujiang River; Hongshuihe River |
|
62 | S. ronganensis Luo, Huang & Wen, 2016 | S. cyphotergous group | Guangxi | Liujiang River |
|
63 | S. xunlensis Lan, Zhan & Zhang, 2004 | S. cyphotergous group | Guangxi | Liujiang River |
|
64 | S. yaolanensis Zhou, Li & Hou, 2009 | S. cyphotergous group | Guizhou | Liujiang River |
|
65 | S. yishanensis Li & Lan, 1992 | S. cyphotergous group | Guangxi | Liujiang River |
|
66 | S. sanxiaensis Jiang, Li, Yang & Chang, 2019 | S. cyphotergous group | Hubei | Yangtze River |
|
67 | S. brevifinus Li, Li & Mayden, 2014 | S. jii group | Guangxi | Hejiang River |
|
68 | S. guanyangensis Chen, Peng & Zhang, 2016 | S. jii group | Guangxi | Guijiang River |
|
69 | S. guilinensis Ji, 1985 | S. jii group | Guangxi | Guijiang River |
|
70 | S. huangtianensis Zhu, Zhu & Lan, 2011 | S. jii group | Guangxi | Hejiang River |
|
71 | S. jii Zhang & Dai, 1992 | S. jii group | Guangxi | Guijiang River |
|
72 | S. gracilis Li & Li, 2014 | No assignment | Guangxi | Guijiang River |
|
73 | S. pingshanensis Li, Li, Lan & Wu, 2018 | No assignment | Guangxi | Liujiang River |
|
74 | S. wenshanensis Li,Yang, Li & Chen, 2018 | No assignment | Yunnan | Panlonghe River |
|
75 | S. wui Li & An, 2013 | No assignment | Yunnan | Mingyihe River |
|
76 | S. luolouensis Lan, 2013 | No assignment | Guangxi | Hongshuihe River |
|
Species of Sinocyclocheilus have variably developed eyes and horn-like structures on the back of the head. Eye morphology includes normal, microphthalmic, and anophthalmic conditions (
Sampling collection localities and distribution of the Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. and 21 species of the S. angularis and S. microphthalmus species groups of the genus Sinocyclocheilus in Southwest China. 1. Hongguo Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou Province. 2. Baotian Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou Province. 3. Xinlongchang Town, Xingren City, Guizhou Province. 4. Zhexiang Town, Zhenfeng County, Guizhou Province. 7. Huancheng Town, Luoping County, Yunnan Province. 5–6, 8–22 is detailed in Suppl. material
We collected specimens of a horned, scaleless, and unpigmented species of Sinocyclocheilus in a completely dark cave in southwestern Guizhou Province in China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons showed that these specimens represented an undescribed species of Sinocyclocheilus. Here, we provide the formal description of that species as Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov.
During a cavefish diversity survey in southern China in May 2021, 32 specimens of the genus Sinocyclocheilus were collected in southwestern Guizhou Province. Among these, 15 specimens represented an undescribed species, subject of this, paper from Hongguo Town in Panzhou City; seven were S. angularis from Baotian Town in Panzhou; two were S. bicornutus from Xiashan Town in Xingren City; and eight were S. zhenfengensis from Zhexiang Town in Zhenfeng County (Fig.
Genomic DNA was extracted from muscle tissues using a DNA extraction kit from Tiangen Biotech Co., Ltd. (Beijing, China). Because the most used molecular markers in Sinocyclocheilus are fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) genes, we selected these fragments for amplification and sequencing. Primers used for Cyt b were L14737 (5’-CCACCGTTGTTAATTCAACTAC-3’) and H15915 (5’-CTCCGATCTCCGGATTACAAGAC-3’), following
Localities, voucher information, and GenBank numbers for all samples used.
ID | Species | Locality (* type localities) | Voucher number | GenBank accession No. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cyt b | ND4 | ||||
1 | Sinocyclocheilus huizeensis | Leye Town, Huize County, Yunnan, China | hrfri2018046 | MH982229 | MH982229 |
2 | Sinocyclocheilus qiubeiensis | Songming, Yunnan, China | IHB:2006624 | EU366188 | EU366182 |
3 | Sinocyclocheilus yimenensis | Yimen, Yunnan, China | IHB:2006646 | EU366191 | EU366180 |
4 | Sinocyclocheilus grahami | Haikou, Kunming City, Yunnan, China | – | GQ148557 | GQ148557 |
5 | Sinocyclocheilus tingi | Fuxian Lake, Yunnan, China | YNUST201406180002 | MG323567 | MG323567 |
6 | Sinocyclocheilus wumengshanensis | Xuanwei County, Yunnan, China | YNUSM20160817008 | MG021442 | MG021442 |
7 | Sinocyclocheilus anophthalmus | Jiuxiang, Yiliang County, Yunnan, China | XH3001 | AY854715 | AY854772 |
8 | Sinocyclocheilus maculatus | Yiliang, Yunnan, China | IHB:2006632 | EU366193 | EU366183 |
9 | Sinocyclocheilus maitianheensis | Jiuxiang, Yiliang County, Yunnan, China | XH2301 | AY854710 | AY854767 |
10 | Sinocyclocheilus lateristriatus | Maojiachong, Zhanyi County, Yunnan | XH1102 | AY854703 | AY854760 |
11 | Sinocyclocheilus qujingensis | Huize County, Yunnan, China | hrfri2018044 | MH937706 | MH937706 |
12 | Sinocyclocheilus guishanensis | Guishan, Shilin County, Yunnan, China | XH5401 | AY854722 | AY854779 |
13 | Sinocyclocheilus huaningensis | Huaning County, Yunnan, China | XH3701 | AY854718 | AY854775 |
14 | Sinocyclocheilus oxycephalus | Heilongtan, Shilin County, Yunnan, China | XH0201 | AY854685 | AY854742 |
15 | Sinocyclocheilus macrocephalus | Heilongtan, Shilin County, Yunnan | XH0103 | AY854683 | AY854740 |
16 | Sinocyclocheilus malacopterus | Wulonghe, Shizong County, Yunnan, China | XH0901 | AY854697 | AY854754 |
17 | Sinocyclocheilus purpureus | Luoping County, Yunnan, China | IHB:2006638 | EU366189 | EU366178 |
18 | Sinocyclocheilus angustiporus | Xinlongchnag Town, Xingren City, Guizhou, China | GZNU20210322002 | MZ636515 | MZ636515 |
19 | Sinocyclocheilus yangzongensis | Yangzonghai Lake, Yunnan, China | XH6101 | AY854725 | AY854782 |
20 | Sinocyclocheilus multipunctatus | Huishui County, Guizhou, China | – | MG026730 | MG026730 |
21 | Sinocyclocheilus sanxiaensis | Guojiaba Town, Zigui County, Hubei, China* | KNHM 2019000001 | MN106258 | – |
22 | Sinocyclocheilus cyphotergous | Dongdang township, Luodian County, Guizhou, China* | GZNU20150819010 | MW024370 | MW024370 |
23 | Sinocyclocheilus punctatus | Dongtang Township, Libo County, Guizhou, China | GZNU20150811002 | MW014318 | MW014318 |
24 | Sinocyclocheilus macrolepis | Nandan County, Guangxi, China | XH8201 | AY854729 | AY854786 |
25 | Sinocyclocheilus brevis | – | GX0155 | MT373105 | MW548424 |
26 | Sinocyclocheilus huanjiangensis | – | GX0124 | MT373103 | MW548429 |
27 | Sinocyclocheilus longibarbatus | Dongtang Township, Libo County, Guizhou, China* | GZNU20150809004 | MW024372 | MW024372 |
28 | Sinocyclocheilus xunlensis | Huanjiang, Guangxi, China | IHB:04050268 | EU366187 | EU366184 |
29 | Sinocyclocheilus donglanensis | Hongshuihe River, Donglan County, Guangxi, China | CA139 | AB196440 | MW548425 |
30 | Sinocyclocheilus lingyunensis | Shadong, Lingyun County, Guangxi, China | XH0502 | AY854691 | AY854748 |
31 | Sinocyclocheilus hugeibarbus | Xiaoqikong Town, Libo County, Guizhou, China* | GZNU20150120005 | MW014319 | MW014319 |
32 | Sinocyclocheilus macrophthalmus | Xiaao, Duan County, Guangxi, China | XH8401 | AY854733 | AY854790 |
33 | Sinocyclocheilus yishanensis | Liujiang County, Guangxi, China | – | MK387704 | MK387704 |
34 | Sinocyclocheilus ronganensis | Rong’an County, Guangxi, China | – | KX778473 | KX778473 |
35 | Sinocyclocheilus furcodorsalis | Tian’e County, Guangxi, China | – | GU589570 | GU589570 |
36 | Sinocyclocheilus tianlinensis | – | GX0087-L17-16 | MT373102 | MW548431 |
37 | Sinocyclocheilus anatirostris | Leye County, Guangxi, China | XH1901 | AY854708 | AY854765 |
38 | Sinocyclocheilus anshuiensis | Lingyun County, Guangxi, China | – | KR069120 | KR069120 |
39 | Sinocyclocheilus microphthalmus | Lingyun County, Guangxi, China | NNNU201712001 | MN145877 | MN145877 |
40 | Sinocyclocheilus altishoulderus | Mashan County, Guangxi, China | – | FJ984568 | FJ984568 |
41 | Sinocyclocheilus mashanensis | – | GX0026-L18-12 | MT373107 | MW548430 |
42 | Sinocyclocheilus brevibarbatus | – | GX0064-L20-13 | MT373106 | MW548423 |
43 | Sinocyclocheilus jiuxuensis | Jiuxu Town, Hechi City, Guangxi, China | XH8501 | AY854736 | AY854793 |
44 | Sinocyclocheilus angularis | Baotian Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou, China* | GZNU20210322001 | MZ636514 | MZ636514 |
45 | Sinocyclocheilus zhenfengensis | Zhexiang Town, Zhenfeng County, Guizhou, China* | GZNU20150112021 | MW014317 | MW014317 |
46 | Sinocyclocheilus bicornutus | Xinlongchnag Town, Xingren City, Guizhou, China* | – | KX528071 | KX528071 |
47 | Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. | Hongguo Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou, China* | GZNU20210503016 | MZ634123 | MZ634125 |
48 | Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. | Hongguo Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou, China* | GZNU20210503017 | MZ634124 | MZ634126 |
49 | Sinocyclocheilus hyalinus | Alugudong, Luxi County, Yunnan, China | XH4701 | AY854721 | AY854778 |
50 | Sinocyclocheilus rhinocerous | Luoping County, Yunnan, China | – | KR069119 | KR069119 |
51 | Sinocyclocheilus guanyangensis | – | GX0173 | MT373108 | MW548426 |
52 | Sinocyclocheilus jii | Gongcheng County, Guangxi, China | YNUSJ201308060038 | MF100765 | MF100765 |
53 | Sinocyclocheilus huangtianensis | – | GX0175 | MT373109 | MW548428 |
54 | Sinocyclocheilus guilinensis | – | GX0073-L17-2 | MT373104 | MW548427 |
55 | Carassius auratus | – | – | AB111951 | AB111951 |
56 | Cyprinus carpio | – | – | JN105357 | JN105357 |
57 | Garra orientalis | – | – | JX290078 | JX290078 |
58 | Neolissochilus hexagonolepis | – | – | KU380329 | KU380329 |
59 | Schizothorax yunnanensis | – | – | KR780749 | KR780749 |
60 | Barbus barbus | – | – | AB238965 | AB238965 |
61 | Onychostoma simum | – | – | KF021233 | KF021233 |
62 | Pethia ticto | – | – | AB238969 | AB238969 |
63 | Myxocyprinus asiaticus | – | – | AY526869 | AY526869 |
64 | Danio rerio | – | -– | KM244705 | KM244705 |
We used a total of 108 mitochondrial gene sequences for molecular analyses (55 Cyt b sequences and 53 ND4 sequences). Four samples of muscle tissues from S. Sinocyclocheilus angustiporus, S. angularis, and Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. were sequenced for two mitochondrial genes and 100 sequences from 45 species of Sinocyclocheilus were downloaded from GenBank. Following
All sequences were assembled and aligned using the MUSCLE (
The analysis suggested the best partition scheme for each codon position of Cyt b and ND4 genes. GTR+I+G, HKY+I+G, and TRN+I+G were selected for first, second, and third codons, respectively for both Cyt b and ND4 genes. Two independent runs were conducted in BI analysis, each of which was performed for 2 × 107 generations and sampled every 1000 generations. The first 25% of the samples were discarded as burn-in, resulting in a potential scale reduction factor of < 0.01. Nodes in the trees were considered well supported when Bayesian posterior probabilities (BPP) were ≥ 0.95 and the ML ultrafast bootstrap value (UBP) was ≥ 95%. Uncorrected p-distances (1000 replicates) based on Cyt b and ND4 genes were calculated in MEGA 7.0 (
Morphometric data were collected from 44 well-preserved specimens of Sinocyclocheilus (Suppl. material
TL total length (from the tip of snout to the end of the caudal-fin);
SL standard length (from the tip of the upper jaw to the position of the last half-centrum);
BD body depth (from the insertion of the dorsal fin vertically to the ventral midline);
PL predorsal length (from the tip of the upper jaw to the origin of the dorsal-fin);
DFL dorsal-fin depth (from the origin of the dorsal-fin to the tip of the longest ray);
DBL dorsal-fin length (from the origin to the insertion of dorsal-fin base);
PAL preanal length (from the tip of the upper jaw to the origin of the anal-fin);
ABL anal-fin base length (from the origin to the insertion of anal-fin base);
AFL anal-fin depth (from the origin of the anal-fin to the tip of the longest ray);
PPTL prepectoral length (from the tip of the upper jaw to the base of anterior pectoral-fin ray);
PTBL pectoral-fin base length (from the anterior to posterior end of pectoral-fin base);
PTFL pectoral-fin length (from the base of the first pectoral-fin ray to the tip of the longest ray);
PPVL prepelvic length (from the tip of the upper jaw to the base of the first pelvic-fin ray);
PVBL pelvic-fin base length (from the anterior to the posterior end of the pelvic-fin base);
PVFL pelvic-fin length (from the base of the first pelvic-fin ray to the tip of the longest ray);
CPL caudal peduncle length (from the anal-fin insertion to the position of the last centrum);
CPD caudal peduncle depth (depth at the narrowest part of the caudal peduncle);
HL head length (from the tip of the upper jaw to the posteriormost point of the operculum);
HD head depth at nape;
HW head width (widest distance between the two gill covers);
SNL snout length (from tip of snout to the anterior corner of the eye);
ED eye diameter (diameter of the exposed portion of the eyeball);
IOD interorbital distance (minimum distance between the eyes);
IPND prenostril distance (the tip of the upper jaw to the anterior margin of the anterior nostril);
POND distance between posterior nostrils (the shortest distance between posterior nostrils);
UJL upper jaw length (from the tip of the upper jaw (the symphysis of the premaxilla) to the corner of the mouth);
LJL lower jaw length (from the symphysis of the dentary to the corner of the mouth);
MW mouth width (the distance between the two corners of the mouth);
RBL rostral barbel length;
MBL maxillary barbel length;
FHL forehead horn length;
PFPVL distance from the pectoral-fin insertion to the ventral-fin origin; and
PVAFL distance from the insertion of the pelvic fin to the origin of the anal-fin.
We compared the morphological characters of the new species with literature data for 21 other species in the S. angularis and S. microphthalmus species groups (Table
Comparison of the diagnostic features of the new species described here with those selected for the 21 species of the S. angularis and S. microphthalmus species groups within the genus Sinocyclocheilus. Grey shading indicates clear difference in character compared to that of Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov.
Species | Horn length | Horn shape: forked (2), single (1), absent or indistinct (0) | Eyes: normal (2), reduced (1), absent (0) | Dorsal-fin rays | Pectoral-fin rays | Anal-fin rays | Pelvic-fin rays | Lateral-line scales/pores | Body scales | Gill rakers | Pelvic-fin rays reaches backward |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S. longicornus sp. nov. | Long | 1 | 1/0 | ii, 7 | ii, 13 | iii, 5 | i, 7 | 38–49 | Absent | 9 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays without reaches to the anus |
S. altishoulderus | Absent | 0 | 1 | iv, 4–7 | i, 16 | iii, 3–5 | i, 8 | 54–58 | Body covered with thin scale | 10–12 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to or beyond the anus |
S. anatirostris | Short | 1 | 0 | iii, 8 | i, 12–13 | iii, 6 | i, 6–8 | 33–42 | Absent | 8–12 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays without reaches to the anus |
S. angularis | Short | 1 | 1 | iii, 7 | i, 15–18 | iii, 5 | i, 8 | 37–39 | Absent | 7 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays without reaches to the anus |
S. anshuiensis | Short | 1 | 0 | iii, 7 | i, 11–12 | ii, 5 | i, 7 | 34–38 | Body covered with thin scale | 14 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays without reaches to the anus |
S. aquihornes | Short | 1 | 0 | iii, 7 | i, 9 | ii, 5 | i, 6 | 36 | Absent | 8 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to the anus |
S. bicornutus | Short | 2 | 1/0 | iii, 7 | i, 13–15 | iii, 5 | i, 7–9 | 36–40 | Body covered with thin scale | 7–9 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to the anus |
S. brevibarbatus | Absent | 0 | 2 | iii, 7 | i, 14–15 | iii, 5 | i, 8–9 | 49–51 | Body covered with thin scale | 8–9 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays without reaches to the anus |
S. broadihornes | Short | 1 | 1 | iii, 6–7 | i, 12–13 | ii, 5 | i, 5–6 | 35–37 | Absent | 4–6 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to or beyond the anus |
S. convexiforeheadus | Short | 1 | 0 | iii, 7 | i, 9 | ii, 5 | i, 6 | / | Absent | / | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays without reaches to the anus |
S. flexuosdorsalis | Short | 1 | 1 | iii, 8 | i, 12–13 | iii, 5 | i, 7 | 37–41 | Body covered with thin scale | 10 | Tip of the pelvic-fin beyond the anus |
S. furcodorsalis | Short | 2 | 0 | iii, 7 | i, 14–15 | ii, 5 | i, 7 | 40–46 | Body covered with thin scale | 8–10 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to the anus |
S. hyalinus | Long | 1 | 0 | iii, 7 | i, 12–13 | iii, 5 | ii, 6–7 | 35–37 | Absent | 7–9 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to the anus |
S. jiuxuensis | Absent | 0 | 1 | iii, 7 | ii, 12–14 | ii, 5 | i, 8 | 47–49 | Body covered with thin scale | 7–9 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays without reaches to the anus |
S. mashanensis | Absent | 0 | 2 | iii, 7 | i, 9–11 | ii, 5 | i, 7–8 | 47–50 | Body covered with thin scale | 7–9 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to the anus |
S. microphthalmus | Absent | 0 | 1 | iii, 8 | i, 12 | iii, 5 | i, 7 | 48–57 | Absent | 10–12 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to the anus |
S. rhinocerous | Long | 1 | 1 | iii, 7 | i, 12 | iii, 5 | i, 6 | 37–45 | Absent | 8 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays without reaches to the anus |
S. simengensis | Short | 1 | 2 | iii, 7 | i, 13–15 | ii, 5 | i, 7 | 56–57 | Body covered with thin scale | 9–10 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays without reaches to the anus |
S. tianlinensis | Short | 1 | 0 | iii, 8 | i, 12 | iii, 5 | i, 7 | Absent | Absent | 10 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays nearly reaches to the anus |
S. tianeensis | Short | 2 | 0 | iii, 7 | i, 9–11 | ii, 5 | i, 6 | 35–39 | Body covered with thin scale | 7–9 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to the anus |
S. tileihornes | Long | 2 | 1 | iii, 7 | i, 12–14 | iii, 5 | ii, 6–7 | 35–37 | Absent | 6–8 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays reaches to the anus or to the origin of the anal fin rays |
S. zhenfengensis | Absent | 0 | 2 | iii, 6–7 | i, 13–15 | iii, 5 | i, 7 | 36–41 | Body covered with thin scale | 7–9 | Tips of the pelvic-fin rays nearly reaches to the anus |
ML and BI phylogenies were constructed based on two concatenated mitochondrial gene sequences, including 1140 bp Cyt b and 1380 bp ND4. The ML and the BI phylogenetic trees showed identical topology (Fig.
Phylogenetic tree based on mitochondrial Cyt b + ND4 genes. In this phylogenetic tree, ultrafast bootstrap supports (UBP) from ML analyses/Bayesian posterior probabilities (BPP) from BI analyses were noted beside nodes. The scale bar represents 0.07 nucleotide substitutions per site. The numbers at the tip of branches corresponds to the ID numbers in Table
The smallest p-distances between S. longicornus sp. nov. and other species of Sinocyclocheilus were 6.0% in Cyt b (with S. rhinocerous) and 5.6% in ND4 (with S. bicornutus). These levels of divergence were similar to those between pairs of other recognized species. For example, the Cyt b p-distance was 2.4% between S. anatirostris and S. angularis, 3.4% between S. bicornutus and S. brevibarbatus, while the ND4 p-distance was 2.7% between S. anatirostris and S. angularis and 2.6% between S. bicornutus and S. anatirostris (Suppl. materials
Mann–Whitney U tests showed that the Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. differed from S. angularis, S. bicornutus, and S. rhinocerous in several morphological characters (Table
Morphological comparison of Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. (SL), S. angularis (SA), S. bicornutus (SB), S. rhinocerous (SR), S. zhenfengensis (SZ), and S. hyalinus. All units in mm. P-values are at 95% significance. Morphometric characters are explained in the methods section.
Measurements | S. longicornus sp. nov. (N = 15) | S. angularis (N = 7) | S. bicornutus (N = 2) | S. rhinocerous (N = 11) | S. zhenfengensis (N = 8) | S. hyalinus (N = 1) | P-value from Mann-Whitney U test | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Range | Mean ± SD | Range | Mean ± SD | Range | Mean ± SD | Range | Mean ± SD | Range | Mean ± SD | Range | SL vs. SA | SL vs. SB | SL vs. SR | SL vs. SZ | |
TL | 104.8–145.8 | 123.3 ± 11.3 | 93.8–133.1 | 118.7 ± 13.9 | 157.8–163.1 | 160.5 ± 3.7 | 60.8–107.3 | 76.5 ± 12.3 | 71.73–138.4 | 100.9 ± 20.9 | 98.9 | 0.731 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.013 |
SL | 84.3–116.4 | 99.8 ± 9.1 | 76.5–106.8 | 96.4 ± 11.0 | 123.1–128.4 | 125.8 ± 3.7 | 49.1–91.1 | 63.2 ± 11.2 | 56.78–114.1 | 81.2 ± 17.2 | 80.2 | 0.783 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.008 |
BD | 23.9–37.4 | 30.9 ± 3.7 | 23.8–33.5 | 29.2 ± 3.8 | 29.2–33.6 | 31.4 ± 3.1 | 11.9–23.4 | 16.0 ± 3.2 | 19.1–35.3 | 24.9 ± 5.6 | 18.8 | 0.581 | 0.824 | 0.000 | 0.008 |
PL | 45.3–64.5 | 53.4 ± 5.1 | 41.9–58.9 | 51.7 ± 5.9 | 66.5–68.2 | 67.4 ± 1.2 | 28.5–52.2 | 35.4 ± 6.5 | 35.9–59.5 | 47.0 ± 7.9 | 47.6 | 0.783 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.056 |
DFL | 12.1–17.3 | 14.2 ± 1.7 | 12.6–15.6 | 14.2 ± 1.3 | 16.3–24.1 | 20.2 ± 5.5 | 6.9–13.8 | 9.1 ± 1.9 | 8.6–16.9 | 11.9 ± 2.7 | 12.8 | 0.837 | 0.059 | 0.000 | 0.023 |
DBL | 10.9–24.6 | 19.8 ± 3.0 | 14.7–23.2 | 20.4 ± 2.9 | 25.6–29.6 | 27.6 ± 2.8 | 10.7–17.6 | 14.0 ± 2.2 | 13.3–27.5 | 17.8 ± 5.0 | 16.6 | 0.447 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.115 |
PAL | 58.1–83.6 | 70.6 ± 7.4 | 53.9–78.9 | 70.0 ± 9.0 | 89.4–93.9 | 91.7 ± 3.2 | 14.6–64.3 | 41.3 ± 11.9 | 50.1–81.6 | 62.5 ± 11.8 | 59.2 | 1.000 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.101 |
ABL | 6.9–11.8 | 8.9 ± 1.3 | 7.3–9.3 | 8.4 ± 0.7 | 9.9–12.2 | 11.1 ± 1.6 | 4.2–9.3 | 6.0 ± 1.5 | 5.7–10.1 | 7.7 ± 1.5 | 9.8 | 0.581 | 0.088 | 0.001 | 0.076 |
AFL | 14.9–21.5 | 18.1 ± 1.8 | 12.8–17.6 | 15.5 ± 1.8 | 22.5–24.7 | 23.6 ± 1.6 | 8.6–15.9 | 11.5 ± 1.8 | 11.3–17.77 | 14.2 ± 2.2 | 13.9 | 0.014 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.001 |
PPTL | 26.4–36.4 | 30.8 ± 2.8 | 22.7–33.1 | 29.1 ± 3.6 | 38.8–39.2 | 39.0 ± 0.3 | 16.6–32.8 | 22.4 ± 4.3 | 20.1–33.73 | 25.9 ± 5.1 | 29.6 | 0.407 | 0.015 | 0.001 | 0.040 |
PTBL | 2.5–4.6 | 3.8 ± 0.6 | 3.3–5.1 | 4.3 ± 0.5 | 6.5–6.5 | 6.5 ± 0.0 | 1.5–3.3 | 2.2 ± 0.5 | 2.7–5.1 | 3.9 ± 0.8 | 2.7 | 0.106 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.776 |
PTFL | 17.9–30.8 | 23.7 ± 3.1 | 15.7–22.8 | 20.9 ± 2.5 | 27.5–30.9 | 29.2 ± 2.4 | 10.9–21.2 | 13.5 ± 2.8 | 13.8–24.78 | 18.8 ± 4.1 | 18.0 | 0.047 | 0.059 | 0.000 | 0.016 |
PPVL | 41.9–61.8 | 50.8 ± 5.1 | 38.5–56.4 | 50.4 ± 6.0 | 66.3–66.7 | 66.5 ± 0.3 | 23.6–47.7 | 31.9 ± 6.4 | 36.3–62.1 | 46.1 ± 9.9 | 46.3 | 0.837 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.149 |
PVBL | 3.1–5.6 | 4.2 ± 0.8 | 3.6–5.6 | 4.6 ± 0.7 | 5.1–5.9 | 5.5 ± 0.6 | 1.7–4.5 | 2.7 ± 0.8 | 2.5–5.3 | 4.0 ± 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.267 | 0.059 | 0.001 | 0.636 |
PVFL | 12.9–46.8 | 17.6 ± 8.2 | 12.4–15.1 | 14.0 ± 0.9 | 19.2–22.6 | 20.9 ± 2.4 | 7.1–14.3 | 10.3 ± 2.2 | 11.8–16.83 | 14.1 ± 2.2 | 11.5 | 0.014 | 0.059 | 0.000 | 0.131 |
CPL | 13.6–25.3 | 21.0 ± 3.7 | 12.3–22 | 18.6 ± 3.9 | 20.1–22.6 | 21.4 ± 1.8 | 9.6–16.7 | 12.6 ± 2.2 | 14.5–22.01 | 17.6 ± 2.5 | 14.5 | 0.142 | 1.000 | 0.000 | 0.034 |
CPD | 8.9–13.1 | 11.2 ± 1.2 | 8.8–13.1 | 11.7 ± 1.5 | 10.6–13.4 | 12.0 ± 2.0 | 3.7–8.3 | 6.1 ± 1.3 | 7.8–12.6 | 10.1 ± 1.8 | 5.5 | 0.368 | 0.529 | 0.000 | 0.149 |
HL | 24.3–34.6 | 28.7 ± 3.1 | 22.7–32.1 | 27.6 ± 3.4 | 38.1–39.6 | 38.9 ± 1.1 | 16.1–30.9 | 20.7 ± 4.0 | 19.8–34.8 | 26.1 ± 4.8 | 27.7 | 0.680 | 0.015 | 0.001 | 0.190 |
HD | 14.7–22.6 | 17.9 ± 2.3 | 12.7–17.9 | 15.7 ± 1.8 | 19.2–26.9 | 23.1 ± 5.4 | 7.9–15.6 | 10.6 ± 2.2 | 11.9–19.85 | 15.6 ± 2.7 | 16 | 0.047 | 0.176 | 0.000 | 0.040 |
HW | 11.6–17.2 | 14.0 ± 1.8 | 10.9–14.2 | 13.0 ± 1.3 | 17.4–21.2 | 19.3 ± 2.7 | 6.7–12.4 | 8.6 ± 1.8 | 9.5–17.2 | 13.3 ± 2.4 | 11.5 | 0.380 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.506 |
SNL | 10.5–15.4 | 12.4 ± 1.5 | 8.5–12.6 | 11.3 ± 1.5 | 13.4–16.1 | 14.8 ± 1.9 | 6.1–11.7 | 8.3 ± 1.6 | 7.2–14.2 | 9.9 ± 2.0 | 12.9 | 0.332 | 0.176 | 0.000 | 0.001 |
ED | 0–1.6 | 1.1 ± 0.5 | 1.5–2.6 | 1.9 ± 0.4 | 2.2–3.5 | 2.9 ± 0.9 | 0.6–4.1 | 1.3 ± 1.0 | 2.1–2.84 | 2.3 ± 0.2 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.015 | 0.291 | 0.000 |
IOD | 5.5–8.6 | 7.0 ± 0.9 | 7.2–8.7 | 7.9 ± 0.6 | 6.2–7.8 | 7.0 ± 1.1 | 3.2–7.4 | 4.3 ± 1.3 | 5.9–9.28 | 7.0 ± 1.2 | / | 0.056 | 1.000 | 0.000 | 0.591 |
IPND | 2.9–4.7 | 3.9 ± 0.6 | 3.1–4.8 | 4.0 ± 0.6 | 4.8–7.2 | 6.0 ± 1.7 | 1.3–3.3 | 2.1 ± 0.7 | 3.8–6.9 | 4.8 ± 0.9 | 3.9 | 0.783 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.013 |
POND | 4.3–6.6 | 5.5 ± 0.6 | 4.2–5.9 | 5.0 ± 0.6 | 6.5–7.1 | 6.8 ± 0.4 | 3.1–5.9 | 4.1 ± 0.8 | 3.9–6.66 | 5.1 ± 1.1 | / | 0.106 | 0.029 | 0.000 | 0.213 |
UJL | 4.2–6.9 | 5.3 ± 0.7 | 4.8–7.6 | 6.2 ± 1.2 | 8.5–8.5 | 8.5 ± 0.0 | 3.5–6.2 | 4.6 ± 0.8 | 3.8–7.27 | 5.4 ± 1.1 | 6.7 | 0.123 | 0.015 | 0.028 | 0.925 |
LJL | 3.2–5.6 | 4.5 ± 0.6 | 3.9–6.3 | 5.3 ± 0.9 | 7.5–7.6 | 7.6 ± 0.1 | 3.4–6.2 | 4.4 ± 0.8 | 3.3–5.6 | 4.6 ± 0.9 | 5.1 | 0.039 | 0.015 | 0.367 | 0.825 |
MW | 4.6–7.9 | 6.1 ± 1.0 | 4.2–7.4 | 6.1 ± 1.2 | 6.8–9.7 | 8.3 ± 2.1 | 2.5–5.8 | 3.6 ± 1.0 | 4.5–8.49 | 6.8 ± 1.3 | 5.9 | 1.000 | 0.176 | 0.000 | 0.169 |
RBL | 10.8–19.7 | 15.5 ± 2.5 | 7.8–15.1 | 12.2 ± 2.4 | 21.3–22.2 | 21.8 ± 0.6 | 2.9–7.9 | 5.9 ± 1.8 | 8.9–15.3 | 11.9 ± 2.2 | 3.8 | 0.011 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.003 |
MBL | 10.1–18.3 | 14.2 ± 2.5 | 7.2–14.7 | 11.1 ± 2.5 | 22.4–23.1 | 22.8 ± 0.5 | 2.6–7.9 | 6.0 ± 1.9 | 8.5–14.1 | 11.9 ± 1.7 | 3.3 | 0.014 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.034 |
FHL | 12.5–18.2 | 14.7 ± 1.5 | 8.4–13.4 | 10.6 ± 1.9 | 13.2–13.3 | 13.3 ± 0.1 | 7.0–13.6 | 9.4 ± 2.1 | 0–0 | 0.0 ± 0.0 | 12.9 | 0.000 | 0.059 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
PFPVL | 15.3–24.5 | 19.1 ± 2.3 | 14.3–22.8 | 18.6 ± 3.0 | 21.3–22.6 | 22.0 ± 0.9 | 7.1–14.3 | 9.5 ± 2.2 | 13.7–28.6 | 18.1 ± 4.9 | 12.4 | 0.680 | 0.088 | 0.000 | 0.190 |
PVAFL | 13.2–22.9 | 18.6 ± 2.8 | 14.1–22.8 | 18.8 ± 3.0 | 21.8–23.3 | 22.6 ± 1.1 | 7.0–14.3 | 9.8 ± 2.1 | 12.4–19.9 | 15.2 ± 2.7 | 12.6 | 0.891 | 0.059 | 0.000 | 0.013 |
SL/TL | 0.79–0.83 | 0.81 ± 0.01 | 0.80–0.83 | 0.81 ± 0.01 | 0.78–0.79 | 0.78 ± 0.01 | 0.80–0.85 | 0.82 ± 0.02 | 0.79–0.82 | 0.80 ± 0.01 | 0.81 | 0.332 | 0.015 | 0.266 | 0.325 |
SL/BD | 2.98–3.66 | 3.24 ± 0.19 | 3.18–3.60 | 3.31 ± 0.15 | 3.82–4.22 | 4.02 ± 0.28 | 3.76–4.59 | 3.96 ± 0.24 | 1.95–3.97 | 3.34 ± 0.61 | 4.27 | 0.267 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.056 |
SL/HL | 3.12–3.70 | 3.49 ± 0.14 | 3.33–3.72 | 3.50 ± 0.14 | 3.23–3.24 | 3.24 ± 0.01 | 2.93–3.17 | 3.06 ± 0.08 | 1.86–3.52 | 3.14 ± 0.53 | 2.90 | 0.945 | 0.059 | 0.000 | 0.003 |
SL/CPL | 4.18–6.72 | 4.85 ± 0.69 | 4.83–6.66 | 5.31 ± 0.78 | 5.68–6.12 | 5.90 ± 0.31 | 4.28–5.72 | 5.05 ± 0.50 | 2.58–5.88 | 4.67 ± 0.99 | 5.53 | 0.032 | 0.088 | 0.238 | 0.776 |
SL/CPD | 8.04–9.84 | 8.95 ± 0.63 | 7.69–8.69 | 8.25 ± 0.36 | 9.58–11.61 | 10.60 ± 1.44 | 8.62–13.27 | 10.61 ± 1.42 | 4.59–9.15 | 8.14 ± 1.49 | 14.58 | 0.056 | 0.059 | 0.003 | 0.131 |
SL/PL | 1.77–2.00 | 1.87 ± 0.06 | 1.78–1.98 | 1.87 ± 0.07 | 1.85–1.88 | 1.87 ± 0.02 | 1.72–1.87 | 1.79 ± 0.04 | 1.06–1.94 | 1.74 ± 0.28 | 1.68 | 0.783 | 1.000 | 0.001 | 0.213 |
SL/PPTL | 3.06–3.46 | 3.25 ± 0.12 | 3.19–3.43 | 3.32 ± 0.09 | 3.14–3.31 | 3.22 ± 0.12 | 2.77–2.96 | 2.83 ± 0.06 | 1.68–3.80 | 3.20 ± 0.64 | 2.71 | 0.185 | 1.000 | 0.000 | 0.169 |
SL/PPVL | 1.87–2.06 | 1.97 ± 0.05 | 1.83–1.99 | 1.92 ± 0.06 | 1.86–1.93 | 1.89 ± 0.05 | 1.91–2.08 | 1.99 ± 0.05 | 0.96–1.97 | 1.80 ± 0.34 | 1.73 | 0.066 | 0.088 | 0.184 | 0.028 |
SL/PAL | 1.36–1.48 | 1.42 ± 0.04 | 1.32–1.42 | 1.38 ± 0.03 | 1.31–1.44 | 1.37 ± 0.09 | 1.37–3.99 | 1.68 ± 0.77 | 0.74–1.46 | 1.32 ± 0.23 | 1.35 | 0.106 | 0.441 | 0.023 | 0.238 |
CPL/CPD | 1.25–2.35 | 1.88 ± 0.27 | 1.15–1.78 | 1.58 ± 0.22 | 1.69–1.90 | 1.79 ± 0.15 | 1.72–2.71 | 2.11 ± 0.30 | 1.45–1.89 | 1.76 ± 0.17 | 2.64 | 0.011 | 0.618 | 0.066 | 0.149 |
HL/SNL | 2.04–2.55 | 2.32 ± 0.13 | 2.25–2.67 | 2.45 ± 0.14 | 2.46–2.84 | 2.65 ± 0.27 | 2.31–2.78 | 2.51 ± 0.15 | 2.27–3.54 | 2.67 ± 0.39 | 2.15 | 0.066 | 0.059 | 0.008 | 0.002 |
HL/HW | 1.79–2.34 | 2.06 ± 0.14 | 2.04–2.26 | 2.11 ± 0.10 | 1.87–2.19 | 2.03 ± 0.23 | 2.19–2.67 | 2.43 ± 0.16 | 1.82–2.08 | 1.97 ± 0.08 | 2.41 | 0.581 | 0.824 | 0.000 | 0.131 |
HL/HD | 1.43–1.78 | 1.61 ± 0.10 | 1.60–1.92 | 1.76 ± 0.10 | 1.47–1.98 | 1.73 ± 0.36 | 1.77–2.16 | 1.96 ± 0.11 | 1.54–1.85 | 1.67 ± 0.09 | 1.73 | 0.007 | 0.824 | 0.000 | 0.149 |
HL/RBL | 1.47–2.46 | 1.88 ± 0.27 | 1.88–2.91 | 2.30 ± 0.37 | 1.78–1.79 | 1.79 ± 0.00 | 2.34–5.55 | 3.79 ± 1.04 | 1.90–2.41 | 2.20 ± 0.18 | 7.29 | 0.017 | 0.529 | 0.000 | 0.007 |
HL/MBL | 1.77–2.75 | 2.05 ± 0.26 | 1.93–3.15 | 2.56 ± 0.47 | 1.65–1.77 | 1.71 ± 0.08 | 2.31–6.19 | 3.82 ± 1.32 | 1.92–2.59 | 2.20 ± 0.24 | 8.39 | 0.007 | 0.015 | 0.000 | 0.131 |
HL/IPND | 6.20–9.59 | 7.37 ± 0.88 | 5.97–10.35 | 7.06 ± 1.51 | 5.50–7.94 | 6.72 ± 1.72 | 5.73–14.77 | 10.45 ± 2.55 | 4.98–6.51 | 5.47 ± 0.53 | 7.10 | 0.210 | 0.529 | 0.012 | 0.000 |
HL/POND | 2.07–3.06 | 2.56 ± 0.25 | 2.41–2.96 | 2.63 ± 0.21 | 2.45–3.26 | 2.86 ± 0.57 | 1.84–2.45 | 2.10 ± 0.19 | 2.39–2.88 | 2.65 ± 0.20 | / | 0.630 | 0.618 | 0.000 | 0.466 |
PTFL/PFPVL | 1.09–1.40 | 1.24 ± 0.08 | 1.00–1.27 | 1.13 ± 0.11 | 1.22–1.45 | 1.33 ± 0.17 | 1.20–1.62 | 1.43 ± 0.13 | 0.81–1.71 | 1.07 ± 0.29 | 1.45 | 0.066 | 0.368 | 0.003 | 0.007 |
PVFL/PVAFL | 0.74–2.14 | 0.94 ± 0.34 | 0.61–0.88 | 0.76 ± 0.10 | 0.82–1.04 | 0.93 ± 0.15 | 0.72–1.40 | 1.06 ± 0.17 | 0.79–1.34 | 0.95 ± 0.18 | 0.91 | 0.056 | 0.721 | 0.021 | 0.392 |
HW/IOD | 1.68–2.64 | 2.01 ± 0.29 | 1.51–1.86 | 1.66 ± 0.15 | 2.72–2.81 | 2.76 ± 0.06 | 1.04–2.53 | 2.07 ± 0.39 | 1.61–2.07 | 1.89 ± 0.16 | / | 0.004 | 0.015 | 0.186 | 0.728 |
Holotype. GZNU20210503002, 135.9 mm total length (TL), 109.8 mm standard length (SL), adult male collected by Jia-Jun Zhou and Tao Luo on May 6, 2021 in Hongguo Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou Province, China (25.6576°N, 104.4044°E; ca. 1852 m a.s.l.). Paratypes. Fourteen adult male specimens from the same locality as the holotype: GZNU20210503001, GZNU20210503003–03013, GZNU20210503015–503016, 84.3–116.4 mm SL, collected by Tao Luo, Jia-Jun Zhou, and Xing-Liang Wang on May 6, 2021.
Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) having a single, relatively long horn-like structure on the back of the head; (2) body scaleless, albinotic body without pigmentation; (3) reduced eyes; (4) dorsal-fin rays, ii, 7; (5) pectoral-fin rays, i, 13; (6) anal-fin rays, iii, 5; (7) pelvic-fin rays, i, 7; (8) lateral line pores 38–49; (9) gill rakers well developed, 9 on first gill arch; (10) tip of the pelvic-fin rays not reaching the anus when pelvic-fin rays extended backward.
Body moderately elongate and compressed. Dorsal profile convex from nape to dorsal-fin; greatest body depth at dorsal-fin insertion; ventral profile slightly concave, tapering gradually toward the caudal-fin; greatest body depth slightly anterior to dorsal-fin insertion.
Head short, compressed laterally, length longer than maximum head width, depth longer than maximum head width. large and long anterior horn-like structure present on back of head not forked at tip, at about 45° angle to horizontal and curved downward at tip. Reduced eyes present in upper half of head; eye diameter less than interorbital distance; interorbital distance larger than distance between posterior nostrils. Snout short, U-shaped, and projecting beyond lower jaw in dorsal view, less than half head length.
Mouth subterminal, with slightly projecting upper jaw. Two pairs of nostrils, anterior and posterior nostrils neighboring, nares at 1/3 between snout tip and anterior margin of eye; anterior nares possessing an anterior rim with a posterior fleshy flap forming a half-tube. Two pairs of barbels; rostral barbels long, insertion of rostral barbel in front of anterior nostril, not reaching anterior edge of operculum when rostral bent backward; maxillary barbel slightly shorter compared to rostral barbel, tip surpassing eye but not reaching anterior edge of operculum when bent backward. Gill opening large, opercular membranes connected at isthmus, gill rakers well developed, nine on first gill arch. Pharyngeal teeth in three rows with counts of 2, 3, 5–5, 3, 2; pharyngeal teeth strong and well developed, with curved and pointed tips.
Dorsal fin with two unbranched and seven branched rays; last unbranched dorsal-fin ray hard at base, softening toward tip, with strong serrations along posterior edge; distal margin slightly concave, origin slightly anterior to, or superior to, pelvic-fin insertion and closer to caudal-fin base than to snout tip. Pectoral fin long with one unbranched and 13 branched rays; tip of depressed fin extending about midway between pectoral fin and pelvic-fin insertion; extending from posterior to pelvic-fin insertion and reaching to 35.44% of pelvic-fin length. Pelvic-fin long with one unbranched and seven branched rays, insertion slightly in front of dorsal-fin insertion, tip of the pelvic-fin rays not reaching the anus when pelvic-fin rays extended backward. Anus closer to anal-fin insertion than pelvic-fin insertion; anal fin with three unbranched and five branched rays; tip of anal-fin not reaching to caudal-fin base. Caudal fin with 17 branched rays and 14 unbranched rays, strongly forked; upper and lower lobes broadly pointed, unequal in length and shape.
Lateral line complete, slightly straight, curved upward at the anus position, originating from posterior margin of operculum and extending to end of caudal peduncle. Body scaleless, lateral line pores 38–49.
Coloration of holotype. In life, body overall white, slightly pink posterior to dorsal fin; barbels and gills red (Fig.
Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. is assigned to the Sinocyclocheilus angularis species group based on phylogenetic analysis and the shared presence of the anterior horn-like structure on the back of the head (Fig.
Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. differs from 55 species in the S. cyphotergous, S. jii, and S. tingi species groups by the presence of a horn-like structure on the back of the head (vs. absent). From the 21 species in the S. angularis and S. microphthalmus species groups, Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. can be distinguished from S. altishoulderus, S. jiuxuensis, S. brevibarbatus, S. microphthalmus, S. zhenfengensis, and S. mashanensis by having a long horn-like structure on the back of the head (vs. absent or indistinct), further distinguished from S. brevibarbatus, S. mashanensis, S. simengensis, S. zhenfengensis by reduced eyes (vs. normal); differs from S. furcodorsalis, S. hyalinus, S. anatirostris, S. aquihornes, S. tianlinensis, S. anshuiensis, S. convexiforeheadus, and S. tianeensis by reduced eyes (vs. absent).
Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. differs from S. angularis by having a relatively long horn-like structure (14.7 ± 1.5 mm vs. 10.6 ± 1.9 mm; p-value < 0.01, Table
Sinocyclocheilus longihornes can be morphologically distinguished from its close relatives S. rhinocerous and S. hyalinus. Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. differs from S. hyalinus by eyes small and degenerate (vs. absent), dorsal-fin rays (ii, 7 vs. iii, 7), pelvic-fin rays (i, 7 vs. ii, 6–7), lateral line pores (39–45 vs. 35–37), and tip of the pelvic-fin rays not reaching the anus when pelvic-fin rays extended backward (vs. beyond the anus). Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. differs from S. rhinocerous by having a large body size (123.3 ± 11.3 mm vs. 76.5 ± 12.3 mm; p-e = 0.00, Table
Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. is only known from the type locality, a vertical cave some distance from Hongguo Town, Panzhou city, Guizhou, China at an elevation of 2276 m. There was no light inside the cave. Individuals of S. longicornus sp. nov. were located in a small pool ~ 25 m from the cave entrance. The pool was ~ 1.8 m wide and 80 cm deep, with a water temperature of ~ 16 °C at collection time and a water pH of 7.4. The 15 specimens collected on 3 May 2021 were all adult males. Therefore, we believe that the breeding period started from mid-April. Within this cave, Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. co-occurred with Triplophysa sp., and Sinocyclocheilus sp. Outside the cave, the arable land was farmed to produce maize, wheat, and potatoes.
The specific epithet longicornus is an invariable noun in apposition, derived from the Latin words longus, meaning long, and cornu or cornus, meaning horn of the forehead, in reference to the presence of a long horn-like structure on the forehead of the species. We propose the English common name Long-Horned Golden-lined Fish and the Chinese common name Cháng Jiǎo Jīn Xiàn Bā (长角金线鲃).
Morphological comparison and phylogenetic analysis support the generic assignment and and separate species status of Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov. The genetic differences between the new species and its close relatives, S. hyalinus and S. rhinocerous, were greater than the known genetic distances between other species (Suppl. materials
The genus Sinocyclocheilus is recognized as monophyletic, but there is no consensus on the classification of species groups (
Variable or specialized morphological characters of Sinocyclocheilus are closely related to the orogeny producing dark cave environments (
This research was supported by the programs of the Strategic Priority Research Program B of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (No. XDB31000000), the National Animal Collection Resource Center, China (No. 2005DKA21402), the Guizhou Normal University Academic Emerging Talent Fund Project (Qianshi Xin Miao [2021] 20), and the Postgraduate Education Innovation Programme of Guizhou Province (No. Qianjiaohe YJSKYJJ [2021] 091). We thank Gao-Kui Feng, Xing-Liang Wang, Ya-Li Wang, Wei Li, and Chang-Ting Lan for help with specimen collection. We thank LetPub (www.letpub.com) for its linguistic assistance during manuscript preparation.
Specimens examined
Sinocyclocheilus angularis (N = 7): China: Guizhou Province: Panzhou City: Baotian Town, (type locality): GZNU 20210505001–05004, GZNU 20210505006–05007, GZNU 0505001, collected by Tao Luo, Jiajun Zhou and Xingliang Wang on 5 May 2021. These specimens are stored at the Guizhou Normal University, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province. China.
Sinocyclocheilus bicornutus (N = 2): China: Guizhou Province: Xingren City: Xiashan Town, Gaowu Village (type locality): GZNU 20210506001–06002, collected by Tao Luo, Jiajun Zhou and Xingliang Wang on 6 May 2021. These specimens are stored at the Guizhou Normal University, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China.
Sinocyclocheilus hyalinus (N = 1): China: Yunnan Province: Luxi County: Alu Ancient Cave (type locality): KIZ 916001 (type locality). Currently preserved in Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
Sinocyclocheilus rhinocerous (N = 11): China: Yunnan Province: Luoping County: Huancheng Township, Xiaomingzhai Group (type locality): FWOQB199309001–09006, collected by Weixian Li and Jinneng Tao in September 1993;Yunnan Province: Shizong County: Wulong Township, Huaga Village (topotype locality): FWOQB20180322001–22005, collected by Hongfu Yang on 22 March 2018. Currently these specimens are stored by Yang Hongfu at the fisheries workstation in Qubei County, Yunnan Province, China.
Sinocyclocheilus zhenfengensis (N = 8): China: Guizhou Province: Zhenfeng County: Zhexiang Town, Shuangrufeng Scenic Area (type locality): GZNU20120701001(Holotype), GZNU20190707001–07003, GZNU20210619001–19004. These specimens are stored at the Guizhou Normal University, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China.
Measurements of the adult specimens of Sinocyclocheilus longicornus sp. nov.
Data type: table (word document).
Uncorrected p-distance (%) between 53 species of the genus Sinocyclocheilus based on mitochondrial Cyt b sequences
Data type: table (excel document).
Uncorrected p-distance (%) between 52 species of the genus Sinocyclocheilus based on mitochondrial ND4 sequences
Data type: table (excel document).
Variable loadings for principal components with Eigenvalues greater than 2, from morphometric characters corrected by SL
Data type: table (word document).
Parameters in the canonical discriminant analysis (CDA)
Data type: table (word document).