Yang Jian and researchers at the Kunming Institute of Zoology’s (KIZ) Phylogeny and Biogeography Research Group recently discovered two previously undocumented Schizothorax species in the Irrawaddy River system that have been named Schizothorax leukus sp. nov., for its white body, and Singular Schizothorax (Schizothorax heteri sp. nov.).
The white body Schizothorax has the following typical and distinguishing characteristics: the lower lip is full regardless of leaf surface and has well-developed papillae, the trailing edge of the lower lip has a straight horizontal strip; the mandibular protrusion inside the skin is very thick and filled the entire mouth, the skin at the front is sharp; pectoral before the end of the isthmus and abdomen are scaleless; eye diameter is equal; unbranched dorsal fin root end is softer, lateral line scales are 94 to 105, with 26 to 34 lateral line going up and 21 to 27 going down; the side is dark brown with no obvious dark spots.
Singular Schizothorax has the following typical characteristics: kiss skin and upper lip are of approximately equal thickness; the lower lip is developed and divided into three parts, with a small intermediate lobe; labial sulcus continuous; mandibular horn is not sharp; pectoral before the end of the isthmus and abdomen are scaleless; is about equal to eye diameter; unbranched dorsal fin root end of expansion for the rough shape of the hard tooth, posterior TEXT-ALIGN: justify" _fckxhtmljob="2">The discovery of further new species in the Irrawaddy River System highlights both the unique benefits of KIZ’s position in Southwestern China, where researchers can readily access the unique geography of the Yunnan Plateau and the major river basis of Southeast Asia, as well as the importance of ongoing studies into the rich biodiversity of aquatic systems of the area—Yunnan boasts some 45% of all China’s known fish species—which are unparalleled in China.
The full species report was recently published in KIZ’s Zoological Research special issue on fish (34 no. 4).
(By Andrew Willden)
