Triplophysa nayongensis sp. nov. (Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae), a new blind cave‐dwelling loach from upper drainage of the Wujiang River, Guizhou, China

Abstract

Triplophysa nayongensis sp. nov., a new blind stygobitic fish, is described here assisted by voucher specimens collected from an underground cave in Zhangjiawan Town, Nayong County, Bijie City, Guizhou Province, China. This species can be distinguished from all its known congeners, which are cave‐restricted, based on morphological (eyes either reduced to discernible black dots or entirely absent; anterior nasal flaps not elongated into barbel‐like processes; dorsal‐fin origin anterior to pelvic‐fin insertions; pectoral‐fin tips failing to reach pelvic‐fin origins; hindmost parts of pelvic fins extending beyond anus but not reaching anal‐fin insertion; colourless body; and distal margin of dorsal fin truncate), geographic (upper basin of the Wujiang River vs. other sites) and phylogenetic (monophyletic with respect to close relatives) evidence. The finding elevates the number of cave‐dwelling plateau‐loach species from 42 to 43 and expands their spatial range to further upper drainage of the Wujiang River, a primary tributary of the Yangtze River.

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