Homatula wuliangensis (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae), a new loach from Yunnan, China

Abstract

A new species of Homatula, Homatula wuliangensis, is described from the Lancang River of the Wuliang Mountain, Pu- Er City, Jingdong County, Yunnan Province, China. Homatula wuliangensis sp. nov. is readily distinguished from other species of Homatula by the combination of several morphological characters, including a long upper lobe of the caudal fin relative to the lower lobe, high and long dorsal adipose crest, series of 22-26 very closely aligned body markings, body scaled, and 41-42 vertebrae. In addition, H. wuliangensis differs from the similar species H. anguillioides in having short-er barbels, spots on the caudal fin, the origin of the pelvic fin under the last simple dorsal-fin ray, and a pointed axillary pelvic lobe divided from the body. The new species is further distinguished from the similar species H. pysnolepis in hav-ing shorter barbels, lacking a notch on the lower jaw, and lacking vermiform markings on top of the head. Copyright © 2001-2012 Magnolia Press.