New record of Misgurnus mohoity (Actinopterygii, Cypriniformes, Cobitidae) from South Korea

Abstract

Misgurnus mohoity (Dybowski, 1869) is recorded for the first time from the Korean Peninsula based on specimens collected from South Korea. It is distinguished from other Korean Misgurnus by the following characteristics: 48–50 total vertebrae; 19–20 caudal vertebrae; 164–180 lateral line scales; a poleaxe-shaped lamina circularis with a shallow neckline at the base in mature males; and a slender, elongated caudal peduncle with a CPL/CPD (caudal peduncle length/caudal peduncle depth) ratio of > 1.7 and an LPC/DPA (the projected length from the posterior edge of the anal fin base to the base of the caudal fin to the projected length from the pelvic fin insertion point to the anterior edge of the anal fin base) ratio of > 1.1. Mitochondrial cytb gene analysis revealed that the Korean specimens form a monophyletic clade (100% bootstrap support) with populations from Russia, China, and North Korea, exhibiting a high genetic distance (K2P: 10.04%) from other Korean congeners. A new Korean name, “Ga-neun-mi-ggu-ri”, is proposed based on the slender and elongated shape of the body and caudal peduncle. These findings provide crucial biogeographical evidence for understanding the dispersal and differentiation of the genus Misgurnus in Northeast Asia.