Sinocyclocheilus guilinensis, a new species from an endemic cavefish group (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in China

摘要

The endemic Chinese cavefish genus Sino-cyclocheilus possesses very rich species diversity. Specimens of this genus collected from Guilin, Guangxi, China, were originally described in an unpublished document in 1982. Later, they were recognized as Sinocyclocheilus jii. Comparison to the type specimens of S. jii leads to the conclusion that, though similar, they represent two different species. Herein we describe them as a new species, Sinocyclocheilus guilinensis sp. nov. It can be distinguished fromall congeners by its possession of soft, unbranched dorsal ray without serrations, 19-20 (11-12) scale rows above (below) the lateral line, 34--36 circumpeduncular scales and 8-9 pre-dorsal vertebrae. Sinocyclocheilus guilinensis sp. nov. is most similar to S. jii. In addition to the scale count differences, a morphometrics-based principal component analysis (PCA) also supports designation of S. guilinensis and S. jii as two distinct species.