Triplophysa (Rendahl)

Jinlu Li, Naifa Liu & Junxing Yang, 2007, A brief review of Triplophysa (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae) species from the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, China, with description of a new species., Zootaxa 1605, pp. 47-58 : 54-55

[[ Triplophysa (Rendahl) ]]

At present, there are 13 valid species of genus Triplophysa recorded in the Tarim Basin.

Key to Triplophysa species in the Tarim Basin

1 No subocular groove delimiting two groups of breeding tubercles on the sides of the head, breeding tubercles restricted to a triangular area on the anteroinferior side of the eye; anterior chamber and capsule of air bladder strongly developed........................................................................ T. yarkandensis yarkandensis

- Subocular groove delimiting two groups of breeding tubercles on the sides of the head, breeding tubercles present from the eye almost to the insertion of the maxillary barbel; anterior chamber and capsule of air bladder normal ............................................................................................................................................. 2

2 Free posterior portion of air bladder rudimentary ....................................................................................... 3

- Free portion of air bladder developed .......................................................................................................... 6

3 Lateral line incomplete or lateral pores gradually more sparse toward caudal base; except young specimen, pelvic fins generally not extending beyond anus .................................................................. T. microps

- Lateral line complete; pelvic fins extending beyond anus ........................................................................... 4

4 Dorsal fin origin closer to snout tip than to caudal fin base; edge of lower jaw not sharp ....... T. ladacensis

- Dorsal fin origin closer to caudal fin base than to snout tip; edge of lower jaw sharp ................................ 5

5 Caudal peduncle depth reduced sharply towards caudal fin base; caudal peduncle round, at posterior end of anal fin base, caudal peduncle width equal or bigger than its height; caudal fin deeply emarginate ........ ....................................................................................................................................................... T. stenura

- Caudal peduncle depth not reduced sharply towards caudal fin base; caudal peduncle compressed, at posterior end of anal fin base, caudal peduncle width smaller than its height; caudal fin emarginate.. ............. .................................................................................................................................................... T. stoliczkae

6 Caudal peduncle depth reduced sharply towards caudal fin base; caudal peduncle round, width of caudal peduncle at posterior end of anal fin base equal to or bigger than caudal peduncle height ........................ 7

- Caudal peduncle depth not reduced sharply towards caudal fin base; caudal peduncle compressed, width of caudal peduncle at posterior end of anal fin base smaller than caudal peduncle height.. ..................... 10

7 Lateral line incomplete or lateral pores gradually more sparse towards caudal base; free posterior portion of air bladder directly connecting to anterior encapsulated portion ............................................. T. stewarti

- Lateral line complete; free posterior portion of air bladder connecting to anterior encapsulated portion with long tube .............................................................................................................................................. 8

8 D iii -v, 7-8 (7); BD/SL(%)=11.5-18.2; upper lip normal; interorbital space flat ....... T. papilloso-labiatus

- D iii -v, 7-9(8); BD/SL(%)=9.3-12.5; lateral projection of upper lip covering insertions of mandibular barbels; interorbital space convex ............................................................................................................... 9

9 PDL/SL(%)=49-50; adpressed dorsal fin tip and tips of pelvic fins reaching vertical of anal fin origin; dark-colored with small epithelia protrusions that do not differ from basic background coloration ............ ..................................................................................................................................................... T. incipiens

- PDL/SL(%)=41-44; adpressed dorsal fin tip and tips of pelvic fins not reaching vertical of anal fin origin; light-colored with larger, whitish epithelia protrusions distinctly standing out against basic background... ................................................................................................................................................. T. bombifrons

10 Free posterior portion of air bladder directly connecting to anterior encapsulated portion ...................... 11

- Free posterior portion of air bladder connecting to anterior encapsulated portion with long tube ............ 12

11 Dorsal profile cuneiform, highest body point near origin of pectoral fin; free posterior portion of air bladder spherical; intestine longer, 2-3 loops, with end of most anterior bend at least at middle part of stomachic dilatation ............................................................................................................... T. zamegacephala

- Dorsal profile slightly arched, highest body point at origin of dorsal fin; free posterior portion of air bladder narrow and elongate; intestine shorter, only 2 single bends immediately behind posterior end of stomachic dilatation ......................................................................................................................... T. orientalis

12 D iii, 8; lips smooth; length of free posterior portion of air bladder much smaller than length of long tube; outer rostral barbel reaching vertical of posterior naris, mandibular barbel length contained 1.5 times in snout length .............................................................................................................................. T. microphysa

- D iii,7; lips strongly papillated; length of free portion of air bladder almost equal to length of long tube; outer rostral barbel surpassing vertical of anterior margin of eye, mandibular barbel length contained 0.8- 1.3 times in snout length ..................................................................................................... T. laterimaculata