Cobitis sakahoko, a new species of spined loach (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) from southern Kyushu Island, Japan

摘要

We describe a new species of spined loach, Cobitis sakahoko, based on the holotype and nine paratypes collected from the Oyodo River system in the southern region of Kyushu Island, Japan. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characteristics: lamina circularis at the base of the pectoral fin in adult males, a rectangular plate with a neck in the mid-lower part; the upper segments of the first branched soft ray of the pectoral fin broad; snout relatively short, length 32.1-38.2% of head length; long maxillary barbel, longer than the eye diameter; prepelvic myotome number 14; and line L5 organised in 8-13 oblong or ovoid blotches.