DESCRIPTION OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS ACHONDROSTOMA ROBALO, ALMADA, LEVI & DOADRIO, 2007 (ACTINOPTERYGII, LEUCISCIDAE) IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

Abstract

Three new species, Achondrostoma garzonorum sp. nov., Achondrostoma asturicense sp. nov. and Achondrotoma numantinum sp. nov. are described on the basis of morphological and genetic characters. Achondrostoma garzonorum sp. nov. is restricted to the Cuerpo de Hombre and Alagón rivers (Tajo Drainage, Alagón sub-basin) and Corneja river (Duero Drainage, Tormes sub-basin) in western Spain. Achondrostoma garzonorum sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Achondrostoma species through a combination of morphometric, meristic and genetic characters: 43-49 (¯x = 45.9; Md = 46) canaliculate scales on the lateral line; 6-7 (¯x = 6.8; Md = 7) scales above the lateral line; 4-5 (¯x = 4.4; Md = 4) scales below the lateral line; a high caudal peduncle in proportion to the body depth; 5-5 pharyngeal teeth, narrow and high coronoid process of dentary and 3 autapomorphies, none of them transversions, in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Achondrostoma asturicense sp. nov. inhabits the sub-basin of the Esla river in the Duero Drainage of Spain. Achondrostoma asturicense sp. nov. can be differentiated from other Achondrostoma species through a set of morphometric, meristic and genetic characters: 38-44 (¯x = 40.9, Md = 41) canaliculate scales on the lateral line; 5-6 (¯x = 5.8, Md = 6) scales above the lateral line; 3-4 (¯x = 3.1, Md = 3) scales below the lateral line; a narrow skull; 5-5 pharyngeal teeth; and 13 autapomorphies in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, one of which is a transversion. Achondrostoma numantinum sp. nov. inhabits the Duero Drainage in Spain except for Esla and Sabor sub-basins and Corneja river within the Duero Drainage. Achondrostoma numantinum sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Achondrostoma species through a combination of morphometric, meristic and genetic characters: 43-48 (¯x = 45.1; Md = 45) canaliculate scales on the lateral line; 6-8 (¯x = 6.9; Md = 7) scales above the lateral line; 4-5 (¯x = 4.3; Md = 4) scales below the lateral line; a wide skull; low caudal peduncle in proportion to the body depth; 5-5 pharyngeal teeth, and one autapomorphy, no transversion, in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene.