Description of a New Eyeless Cavefish Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods—<i>Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from Guizhou, China
China’s southwestern karst landscapes support remarkable cavefish diversity, especially within <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Sinocyclocheilus</i>, the world’s largest cavefish genus. Using integrative taxonomic methods, we describe <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element=&...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Yewei Liu Tingru Mao Hiranya Sudasinghe Rongjiao Chen Jian Yang Madhava Meegaskumbura |
| author_facet | Yewei Liu Tingru Mao Hiranya Sudasinghe Rongjiao Chen Jian Yang Madhava Meegaskumbura |
| author_sort | Yewei Liu |
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| description | China’s southwestern karst landscapes support remarkable cavefish diversity, especially within <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Sinocyclocheilus</i>, the world’s largest cavefish genus. Using integrative taxonomic methods, we describe <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> sp. nov., found in a subterranean river in Guizhou Province. This species lacks horn-like cranial structures; its eyes are either reduced to a dark spot or absent. It possesses a pronounced nuchal hump and a forward-protruding, duckbill-shaped head. Morphometric analysis of 28 individuals from six species shows clear separation from related taxa. Nano-CT imaging reveals distinct vertebral and cranial features. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">cytb</i> and <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">ND4</i> genes place <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. wanlanensis</i> within <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. angularis</i> group as sister to <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. bicornutus</i>, with p-distances of 1.7% (<i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">cytb</i>) and 0.7% (<i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">ND4</i>), consistent with sister-species patterns within the genus. <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> is differentiated from <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. bicornutus</i> by its eyeless or degenerate-eye condition and lack of bifurcated horns. It differs from <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. zhenfengensis</i>, its morphologically closest species, in having degenerate or absent eyes, shorter maxillary barbels, and pelvic fins that reach the anus. The combination of morphological and molecular evidence supports its recognition as a distinct species. Accurate documentation of such endemic and narrowly distributed taxa is important for conservation and for understanding speciation in cave habitats. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-5af41e7d47314e87a5581ddac73b46782025-08-20T03:36:32ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011515221610.3390/ani15152216Description of a New Eyeless Cavefish Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods—<i>Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from Guizhou, ChinaYewei Liu0Tingru Mao1Hiranya Sudasinghe2Rongjiao Chen3Jian Yang4Madhava Meegaskumbura5Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaDivision of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandGuangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environment Change and Resource Use, Beibu Gulf, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaChina’s southwestern karst landscapes support remarkable cavefish diversity, especially within <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Sinocyclocheilus</i>, the world’s largest cavefish genus. Using integrative taxonomic methods, we describe <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> sp. nov., found in a subterranean river in Guizhou Province. This species lacks horn-like cranial structures; its eyes are either reduced to a dark spot or absent. It possesses a pronounced nuchal hump and a forward-protruding, duckbill-shaped head. Morphometric analysis of 28 individuals from six species shows clear separation from related taxa. Nano-CT imaging reveals distinct vertebral and cranial features. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">cytb</i> and <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">ND4</i> genes place <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. wanlanensis</i> within <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. angularis</i> group as sister to <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. bicornutus</i>, with p-distances of 1.7% (<i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">cytb</i>) and 0.7% (<i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">ND4</i>), consistent with sister-species patterns within the genus. <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> is differentiated from <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. bicornutus</i> by its eyeless or degenerate-eye condition and lack of bifurcated horns. It differs from <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">S. zhenfengensis</i>, its morphologically closest species, in having degenerate or absent eyes, shorter maxillary barbels, and pelvic fins that reach the anus. The combination of morphological and molecular evidence supports its recognition as a distinct species. Accurate documentation of such endemic and narrowly distributed taxa is important for conservation and for understanding speciation in cave habitats.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2216<i>Sinocyclocheilus</i>new speciesBeipanjiang River<i>cytochrome b</i><i>NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4</i>integrative taxonomy |
| spellingShingle | Yewei Liu Tingru Mao Hiranya Sudasinghe Rongjiao Chen Jian Yang Madhava Meegaskumbura Description of a New Eyeless Cavefish Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods—<i>Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from Guizhou, China Animals <i>Sinocyclocheilus</i> new species Beipanjiang River <i>cytochrome b</i> <i>NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4</i> integrative taxonomy |
| title | Description of a New Eyeless Cavefish Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods—<i>Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from Guizhou, China |
| title_full | Description of a New Eyeless Cavefish Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods—<i>Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from Guizhou, China |
| title_fullStr | Description of a New Eyeless Cavefish Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods—<i>Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from Guizhou, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Description of a New Eyeless Cavefish Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods—<i>Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from Guizhou, China |
| title_short | Description of a New Eyeless Cavefish Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods—<i>Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis</i> (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from Guizhou, China |
| title_sort | description of a new eyeless cavefish using integrative taxonomic methods i sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis i cypriniformes cyprinidae from guizhou china |
| topic | <i>Sinocyclocheilus</i> new species Beipanjiang River <i>cytochrome b</i> <i>NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4</i> integrative taxonomy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2216 |
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