Troglonectes canlinensis sp. nov. (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae), a New Troglomorphic Loach from Guangxi, China

Animals (Basel). 2023 May 22;13(10):1712. doi: 10.3390/ani13101712.

Abstract

A new species of the genus Troglonectes is described based on specimens from a karst cave in Andong Town, Xincheng County, Liuzhou City, Guangxi, China. Troglonectes canlinensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congener species by the following combination of characteristics: eye degenerated into a black spot; whole body covered by scales, except for the head, throat, and abdomen; incomplete lateral line; forked caudal fin; 8-10 gill rakers on the first gill arch; 13-14 branched caudal fin rays; 8-9 branched dorsal fin rays; 5-6 anal fin rays; 9-10 pectoral fin rays; upper adipose keel depth mostly 1/2 of the caudal peduncle depth; and caudal fin forked.

Keywords: Hongshuihe river; cave loach; complete mitochondrial gene; taxonomy.