Pseudobarbus kubhekai sp. nov., a new redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A recent phylogeographic analysis of the remnant populations of Pseudobarbus quathlambae from Lesotho and South Africa revealed the existence of three allopatrically distributed lineages: (i) one in eastern Lesotho, (ii) one in Mohale, central Lesotho, and (iii) a third lineage in the Umzimkhulu (=...

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Main Authors: Fatah Zarei, Xiluva Mathebula, Albert Chakona
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-01-01
Series:Zoosystematics and Evolution
Online Access:https://zse.pensoft.net/article/134080/download/pdf/
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author Fatah Zarei
Xiluva Mathebula
Albert Chakona
author_facet Fatah Zarei
Xiluva Mathebula
Albert Chakona
author_sort Fatah Zarei
collection DOAJ
description A recent phylogeographic analysis of the remnant populations of Pseudobarbus quathlambae from Lesotho and South Africa revealed the existence of three allopatrically distributed lineages: (i) one in eastern Lesotho, (ii) one in Mohale, central Lesotho, and (iii) a third lineage in the Umzimkhulu (= Mzimkhulu) River, KwaZulu-Natal, adjacent to the Mkhomazana River (type locality), where the species has gone extinct. The present study provides morphological and osteological evidence corroborating the distinctiveness of the Umzimkhulu River population from all other populations (extant and extinct) of P. quathlambae, supporting their recognition as distinct species. Herein, we describe the Umzimkhulu River population as a new species, Pseudobarbus kubhekai. The new species, a single barbeled redfin, differs from all currently recognized congeners by having 51–56 scales in lateral-line series (vs. 60–72 in P. quathlambae and 25–45 in the other species). Proposed steps to resolve the taxonomic status of P. quathlambae from other localities (Mkhomazana population, Eastern Lesotho Highlands, and Mohale lineages) are presented.
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spelling doaj-art-1b80845543ce4f3793dcbb04a086a3a92025-08-20T02:36:44ZengPensoft PublishersZoosystematics and Evolution1860-07432025-01-01101111610.3897/zse.101.134080134080Pseudobarbus kubhekai sp. nov., a new redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaFatah Zarei0Xiluva Mathebula1Albert Chakona2NRF-South African Institute for Aquatic BiodiversityNRF-South African Institute for Aquatic BiodiversityRhodes UniversityA recent phylogeographic analysis of the remnant populations of Pseudobarbus quathlambae from Lesotho and South Africa revealed the existence of three allopatrically distributed lineages: (i) one in eastern Lesotho, (ii) one in Mohale, central Lesotho, and (iii) a third lineage in the Umzimkhulu (= Mzimkhulu) River, KwaZulu-Natal, adjacent to the Mkhomazana River (type locality), where the species has gone extinct. The present study provides morphological and osteological evidence corroborating the distinctiveness of the Umzimkhulu River population from all other populations (extant and extinct) of P. quathlambae, supporting their recognition as distinct species. Herein, we describe the Umzimkhulu River population as a new species, Pseudobarbus kubhekai. The new species, a single barbeled redfin, differs from all currently recognized congeners by having 51–56 scales in lateral-line series (vs. 60–72 in P. quathlambae and 25–45 in the other species). Proposed steps to resolve the taxonomic status of P. quathlambae from other localities (Mkhomazana population, Eastern Lesotho Highlands, and Mohale lineages) are presented.https://zse.pensoft.net/article/134080/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Fatah Zarei
Xiluva Mathebula
Albert Chakona
Pseudobarbus kubhekai sp. nov., a new redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Zoosystematics and Evolution
title Pseudobarbus kubhekai sp. nov., a new redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_full Pseudobarbus kubhekai sp. nov., a new redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_fullStr Pseudobarbus kubhekai sp. nov., a new redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Pseudobarbus kubhekai sp. nov., a new redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_short Pseudobarbus kubhekai sp. nov., a new redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_sort pseudobarbus kubhekai sp nov a new redfin teleostei cyprinidae from kwazulu natal south africa
url https://zse.pensoft.net/article/134080/download/pdf/
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AT xiluvamathebula pseudobarbuskubhekaispnovanewredfinteleosteicyprinidaefromkwazulunatalsouthafrica
AT albertchakona pseudobarbuskubhekaispnovanewredfinteleosteicyprinidaefromkwazulunatalsouthafrica