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Zhou J-J et al 2024 (4)

Abstract: Tachysurus wuyueensis, new species, is described from the Qiantang-Jiang Basin, situated in Suichang County, Zhejiang Province and Xiuning County, Anhui Province, southeast China. The coastal basin drains into the East China Sea. The new species belongs to the T. pratti-T. truncatus group within the genus Tachysurus defined by having a smooth anterior margin of the pectoral-fin spine, short maxillary barbels not extending beyond the base of the pectoral-fin spine, short dorsal spine not exceeding two thirds of head length and an emarginated caudal fin. This new species is distinct from all other species of this group, Tachysurus pratti (Gunther, 1892), T. truncatus (Regan 1913), T. gracilis (Li, Chen & Chan, 2005) and T. brachyrhabdion (Cheng, Ishihara & Zhang, 2008), in having a shorter prepelvic body (length 40.0–46.4% of SL vs. 45.8–54.8%). It further differs from T. pratti, T. truncatus and T. gracilis in having more vertebrae (45–47 vs. 37–44) and more anal fin rays (21–25 vs. 14–20), from T. brachyrhabdion in having a more slender body (depth 10.1–13.5% of HL vs. 13.1–17.6%). Molecular phylogeny, based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt. b) gene confirms the validity of T. wuyueensis and the T. pratti-T. truncatus group. Furthermore, this study addresses the diagnostic traits distinguishing the T. pratti-T. truncatus group from the T. tenuis-T. crassilabris group which have historically been treated as a single species group due to morphological similarities (Zhou J-J et al 2024). Habitat: Currently only known from the Qiantang-Jiang in Suichang County, Zhejiang Province and Xiuning County, Anhui Province, south China. T. wuyueensis is found in montane streams of this river basin, co-existing with Acrossocheilus fasciatus, Pseudogastromyzon fasciatus, Rhinogobius niger and Tachysurus albomarginatus (Zhou J-J et al 2024). Etymology: The genus name of Tachysurus: tachys, swift; oura, tail, referring to the presumed agility of T. sinensis based on its “long and nimble” tail (translation). The specific name of wuyueensis: based on the two rival states Wu and Yue which were bordered by the Qiantang-Jiang in southeast China more than 2000 years ago. The onomatopoeic Chinese sound of this species is “Wu Yue Ni Chang”.

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Bagridae

Asia: Qiantang-Jiang in Suichang County, Zhejiang Province and Xiuning County, Anhui Province, south China.

7.0cm (2¾ins)

21-24°C (69-75°F)

6.0-7.0.

Fish in the News 2024.
Zhou J-J, Yuan L-Y, Shao W-H (2024) Tachysurus wuyueensis (Teleostei, Bagridae), a new species of catfish from the Qiantang-Jiang basin, southeast China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(2): 583-595.