Acrossocheilus multistriatus, Lan & Chan & Zhao, 2014

Lan, Zhao-Jun, Chan, Bosco-Puilok & Zhao, Jun, 2014, Acrossocheilus multistriatus, a new species of barbine fish (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Zhujiang River basin, South China, Zoological Systematics 39 (3), pp. 433-441 : 434-436

Acrossocheilus multistriatus sp. nov. ( Figs 1–4 )

Holotype SCNU 1998080018, female, 80.63 mm, SL, 25°31 ′ N, 109°50 ′ E, Liujiiang drainage; Zhujiang ( Pearl River ) Basin , Longsheng County, Guangxi, China, Hong-Jing Li, August 1998.

Paratypes SCNU 1998080016, 1998080020, 1998080026, 1998080028–1998080029, 1998080033–1998080034, 1998080036, 8 specimens, 65.58–117.09 mm SL, same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. A. multistriatus sp. nov. is diagnosed from all other barred congeners except A. monticola by its unique coloration pattern of 8–12 vs. 5–7 vertical dark bars on the flank. Although 8 vertical black bars are also present in specimens of A. monticola, the new species is distinct from it by having a well-developed (vs. poor-developed) lower lip, with or without a median interruption (vs. with a median interruption which wider than 1/2 mouth width) on lower jaw, the lower jaw entirely covered (vs. uncoverd) by the lower lip, body depth 22.57%–25.22% SL (vs. 25.64%–32.26% SL).

Description. Body elongate and laterally compressed. Greatest body depth less than head length. Dorsal profile slightly convex. Head moderately large; interorbital space slightly convex. Eye moderately large and located dorsolaterally. Mouth subterminal and horse-shoe shaped. Rostral fold present, overlying base of upper lip. Upper lip thick, fully adnate to upper jaw, continuous with lower lip around corners of mouth. Lower lip well-developed, with or without a median interruption on lower jaw, separated from lower jaw by a groove extending along full length of lower jaw. Lower jaw bearing horny sheath on its arched cutting edge and covered by lower lip. The ventral view of the head showing mouthpart structures is shown in Fig. 4 . Two pairs of barbels; rostral pair shorter than eye diameter, maxillary pair longer than eye

© Zoological Systematics, 39(3): 433–441

diameter and reaching posterior edge of eyes. Air bladder bipartite, anterior chamber oval, and posterior one slender and twice as long as anterior chamber. Gill rakers sparse, short and small, outer gill rakers on first gill arch 10–11; inner gill rakers on first gill arch 14–15.

© Zoological Systematics, 39(3): 433–441

Dorsal fin with 3 simple and 8 branched rays, last ray split to base; last simple ray soft and with no serrations along posterior margin, distal margin moderately concave, origin closer to caudal-fin base than to snout tip, or anterior to origin of pelvic fin. Pectoral fin with 1 simple and 15–16 branched rays; adpressed fin nearly reaching origin of pelvic fin. Pelvic fin with 1 simple and 8 branched rays; adpressed fin reaching beyond midway to anal-fin origin, but not as far as to anus. Caudal fin deeply forked.

Scales moderately large; those immediately above or below lateral line larger. Lateral line complete, with 38–39 perforated scales, extending medially along caudal peduncle; scale rows above and below lateral line 5 and 4, respectively. Predorsal scales 12–14, almost of same size as those on flank and not embedded underneath skin. Circumpeduncular scales 16. Pharyngeal teeth in three rows, tooth pattern 2, 3, 5-5, 3, 2 (3); teeth with pointed, curved and compressed tips.

Morphometric data of Acrossocheilus multistriatus sp. nov. are provided in Table 1.

Coloration in formalin. Body pale brown dorsally and yellowish ventrally. Eight to twelve dark vertical bars on dorsum and flanks, each bar 1–3 scales in width. All bars positioned above or reaching to lateral line: first bar above base of pectoral fin, second and third above pectoral fin, fourth to base of last simple dorsal-fin ray or immediately anterior to origin of pelvic fin; subsequent bars in a series from below base of dorsal fin to base of caudal fin. Bars are irregular in coloration; some not distinct in some specimens of type series. Indistinct longitudinal stripe extending along lateral line ( Fig. 3 ) (also absent in some specimens). Pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins yellowish. Caudal fin grayish. Dark stripes on membranes between dorsal fin rays.

Distribution. Currently known from Huaping National Nature Reserve, located in between Longsheng and Lingui Counties, Guangxi, China. The type locality is at the upper reach of the Liujiang River, a tributary of Xijiang River flowing into Zhujiang (Pearl River) basin, the largest catchment basin in Southern China draining into the South China Sea.

Ecology. Acrossocheilus multistriatus sp. nov. was collected from rapid streams clean, highly oxygenated water, and a boulder/pebble/gravel substrate. It coexists with other species such as Acrossocheilus parallens , Opsariichthys bidens , Zacco platypus .

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin multi (many) and striatus (bar), in allusion to the high number of vertical black bars on the flank as compared with all other barred congeneric species.

© Zoological Systematics, 39(3): 433–441

Figures

Figs 1–3. Acrossocheilus multistriatus sp. nov. 2. Holotype, SCNU 1998080018, female, 80.63mm SL. 3. Paratype, SCNU 1998080033, indistinct longitudinal stripe along lateral line. Scale bars =1cm.

Fig. 4. Acrossocheilus multistriatus sp. nov., ventral views of head showing mouthpart structures.