Jian Yang

A new cave-dwelling loach, Triplophysa xichouensis sp. nov. (Teleostei Nemacheilidae) from Yunnan, China

A new cave-dwelling loach of the genus Triplophysa, T. xichouensis, is described from an outlet of a subterranean river in Xisa Town, Xichou County, Yunnan Province, China. It can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: dorsal-fin rays iii, 8; anal-fin rays ii, 6; pectoral-fin rays i, 9 or 10; pelvic-fin rays i, 5 or 6; branched caudal-fin rays 16(8+8); eyes highly degenerated to a very tiny black dot; dorsal-fin origin closer to snout tip than to caudal-fin base and anterior to vertical line of pelvic-fin origin; pectoral fin length about two-thirds the distance between pectoral-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin; caudal peduncle slender, its length about three times its depth; caudal fin emarginate; body smooth and scaleless; lateral line complete and straight; anterior chamber of air bladder wrapped in dumbbell-shaped bony capsule and the posterior one well developed, long, oval; intestine short, bending in zigzag shape behind stomach. A key for the cave-dwelling species of Triplophysa is provided. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9162FFB1-7911-47C3-AE50-6A00E9590327.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF CLAM SHRIMP (BRANCHIOPODA: SPINICAUDATA) FROM YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA

Cyzicus altus n. sp. and Leptestheria kunmingensis n. sp. are described and diagnosed from Yunnan Province, China. Cyzicus altus can be distinguished from all other species of Cyzicus by the form of the telson and cercopods, and the lack of carapace setation. Leptestheria kunmingensis is separated from all other known Leptestheria by the form of the head (in the males) and the form of the telson and cercopods. Both species are so far known only from their type localities, and the sole wild population of L. kunmingensis has been destroyed by human activities. The known large branchiopod species of Yunnan and the general status of Chinese spinicaudatan clam shrimp taxonomy and diversity are briefly discussed.

A new species of Triplophysa (Nemacheilidae: Cypriniformes), from Guangxi, southern China

A new species, Triplophysa huapingensis, is described from the Hongshuihe River, Guangxi, China. The new species is distinguished from other species of Triplophysa by the following combination of characters: body covered with scales, lateral line complete, eyes not degenerate, dorsal fin truncate, caudal fin forked, tip of pelvic fin not reaching anus, eight branched rays of dorsal fin, six branched rays of pelvic fin, 16 branched rays of caudal fin, grey and black diffused blotches on dorsal and lateral head and body. A key to all recorded species of Triplophysa in the Xijiang River system is provided.

Threatened fishes of the world: Ptychobarbus chungtienensis Tsao 1964 (Cyprinidae)

Common name: Chungtien schizothoracin (English). Local name: Zhongdian Chongchunyu (Chinese). Conservation status: EN—China Species Red List, Vol. 1 Red List (Wang and Xie 2004). Identification: D III 7-8; A II 5; LL 100–110; pharyngeal teeth two rows, 3,4–4,3; one pair of barbels. Sides of body above lateral line is brown with a golden shine and densely covered with black speckles, sides below lateral line are yellowish and densely covered with black speckles, and the abdomen is silver. Illustration by Bao-Rong Wu. Distribution: Endemic to Zhongdian Plateau of Jinsha River drainage including Lake Bita, Lake Napa, Lake Shudu, Nayahe River, Xiaozhongdian River and Gezan River (Huang and Chen 1986; Chen 2010). Abundance: Since 1986, populations have declined or disappeared in most areas. Species is now extirpated from Lake Napa. Most remaining individuals are in Lake Bita with a few in Xiaozhongdian River and Naya River (Wang and Xie 2004). Habitat and ecology: Juveniles occur in the littoral zone of the lake and streams; the adults inhabit the middle and lower water layers of the lake. Reproduction: Individuals return from the lake to streams to spawn in June. Males dig pits with anal fin rays and lays eggs in the pit. Parental fishes spawn several times from July to September every year. Threats: Habitat degradation, water pollution, over-exploitation and exotic species. Most notably, Micropercops swinhonis invasion is a critical threat. Conservation actions: Lake Bita and primary forest around the lake have been well protected since 1984 by establishing Bitahai Provincial Natural Reserve. A population status monitoring of Chungtien Environ Biol Fish (2010) 89:1–2 DOI 10.1007/s10641-010-9654-5

Morphological redescription and neotype designation of Sulcospira paludiformis (Yen, 1939) from Hainan, China

ABSTRACT Semisulcospira paludiformis, collected from Hainan Island, China, was described by Yen in 1939. While the type specimens of S. paludiformis were destroyed in World War II, the systematic classification of this species has remained dubious because of the lack of further study. In 2015 we collected fresh specimens from near the type locality, based on which we have described the morphology and have designated a neotype. The anatomy shows that the species belongs to the genus Sulcospira Troschel, 1858 (family Pachychilidae).

Molecular and morphological analysis of endangered species Gymnodiptychus integrigymnatus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Gymnodiptychus integrigymnatus is a critically endangered species endemic to the Gaoligongshan Mountains. It was thought to be only distributed in several headwater-streams of the Longchuanjiang River (west slope of the Gaoligongshan Mountains, belonging to the Irrawaddy River drainage). In recent years, dozens of G. integrigymnatus specimens have been collected in some streams on the east slope of the Gaoligongshan Mountains (the Salween drainage). We performed a morphological and genetic analyses (based on cytochrome b and D-loop) of the newly discovered populations of G. integrigymnatus to determine whether the degree of separation of these populations warrants species status. Our analysis from the cytochrome b gene revealed that nine individuals from the Irrawaddy drainage area and seven individuals from the Salween drainage area each have only one unique haplotype. The genetic distance between the two haplotypes is 1.97%. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that G. integrigymnatus is closely related to highly specialized schizothoracine fishes. Analysis from the mitochondrial control region revealed that G. integrigymnatus has relatively high genetic diversity (π was 0.00891 and h was 0.8714), and individuals from different river drainages do not share the same haplotypes. The AMOVA results indicated 87.27% genetic variability between the Salween and Irrawaddy populations. Phylogenetic trees show two major geographic groups corresponding to the river systems. We recommend that G. integrigymnatus should be considered as a high priority for protected species status in the Gaoligongshan Mountains National Nature Reserve, and that the area of the Gaoligongshan Mountains National Nature Reserve should be expanded to cover the entire distribution of G. integrigymnatus. Populations of G. integrigymnatus from different river systems should be treated as evolutionarily significant units.

Threatened fishes of the world: Acheilognathus elongatus (Regan 1908) (Cyprinidae)

Common name: Kangpian Yu, Pangpi Yu (Chinese). Elongate bitterling (English). Conservation status: Endangered—China Species Red List, Vol. 1 Red List (Wang and Xie 2004); Endangered—IUCN Red List (Groombridge 1993). Identification: D III 11–13; A III 10–11; LL 36–38; predorsal scales, 14–18; pharyngeal teeth one row, 5–5; mouth sub-superior; no barbels; air-bladder developed (Chen and Li 1989; Lin 1998; Yang et al. 1990). Body silvery white, dorsal surface olive, lateral black stripe from caudal peduncle to the dorsal-fin origin (Wu 1964; Chen and Li 1989). Figure by Cai MJ (Lin 1998). Distribution: Endemic to Dianchi Lake (24°40′–25°02′1 N, 102°36′–102°47′ E, 1885 m above sea level, 306.3 km), Yunnan, China (Yang et al. 1990; Wang and Xie 2004). Abundance: Existed in Dianchi Lake before 1960s, no field records since 1970 (Chen et al. 2001) and no specimens in thriceyearly aquatic biodiversity survey from 2003 to 2008. Habitat and ecology: Occurs in shallow water along the lake shore (Chen and Li 1989), feeds mainly on Cladocera and Copepoda (Yang et al. 1990). Reproduction: Eggs must hatch in bivalves. Threats: Water pollution, habitat degradation, overfishing and use of illegal fishing methods are critical threats (Chen et al. 2001). Water pollution causes loss of bivalves. Artifical dykes and enclosing the lake to create farmland have caused habitat degradation (Chen et al. 2001). A 600year old medicine book claimed eating A. elongatus increased fertility (Lan M (ed), revised by Yu et al. 2004). Conservation action: Dianchi Freshwater Biodiversity Restoration Project conducts thrice-yearly survey and monitoring of aquatic biodiversity, including A. elongatus. Conservation recommendations: Control pollution and eutrophication. Long-term monEnviron Biol Fish (2009) 84:209–210 DOI 10.1007/s10641-008-9408-9

Threatened fishes of the world: Cyprinus micristius Regan 1906 (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)

Conservation status, identification, distribution, abundance, habitat and ecology, conservation actions and recommendations of a endemic cyprinid fish, Cyprinus micristius were introduced based on data and knowledge from a GEF project in Lake Dianchi, Yunnan, China.