A new loach species of the genus Oreonectes (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from Guangxi, China

Abstract

A new loach species, Oreonectes andongensis sp. nov. is described from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The new species can be differentiated from other members of the genus by combinations of characters: a developed posterior chamber of the swim bladder, 13–14 branched caudal-fin rays, 8–16 lateral-line pores, body width 12–15% of standard length (SL), interorbital width 42–47% of head length (HL), and caudal peduncle length 11–16% of SL. Bayesian inference phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial Cyt b provided strong support for validity of O. andongensis sp. nov. (uncorrected p-distance 6.0–7.5%).