Description of a new species of the genus Oreonectes (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from Guangxi, China

Abstract

A new loach species, Oreonectes zhangi sp. nov., was identified from Xingye County, Yulin City, Guangxi, China. The species can be distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of the following characters: six branched pelvic-fin rays; a reduced posterior chamber of air-bladder; vertebrae 4 + 32; the tip of the male pelvic fin does not reach the anus. Molecular analyses using the Cyt b gene showed that the new species forms a monophyletic group and is closely related to O. damingshanensis.