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Zeng et al. 2026 (4)

Description: This new species most closely resembles G. quadriocellatus in overall morphology, including similar outline appearance, skin tubercles and colour pattern. It can be distinguished from its congeners that are found in east of the Red River in China by the following combination of characteristics: distinctive colour pattern, skin with sparse soft tubercules, dorsal surface of head smooth, thoracic adhesive apparatus (TAA) broad (length of 1–1.2 times its width, width of TAA 12.0–14.3% SL), adipose-fin base short (11.7–15.4% SL), caudal peduncle deep and short (13.7–17.5% SL in length, 10.3–12.3% SL in depth). Its validity is further confirmed by molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on mitochondrial COI and Cyt b gene sequences, indicating it forms a sister group with G. pallozonum. The estimated K2P genetic distances between the new species and G. pallozonum range from 5.7% to 6.0% (Zeng et al. 2026). Habitat: The new species is currently only known from Tuoniang River Basin (upper reach of the You River) in Yunnan and Guangxi, a sub-basin in the upper Pearl River system. Etymology: The specific name pulcher: From the Latin pulcher ='beautiful', alluding to the attractive colour pattern (Zeng et al. 2026). Remarks: In addition, phylogenetic evidence also suggests that G. zhujiangensis not be a valid species, but rather a junior synonym of G. pallozonumin in this study.

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Sisoridae

Asia: Tuoniang River Basin (upper reach of the You River) in Yunnan and Guangxi, a sub-basin in the upper Pearl River system, southwest China.

8.5cm. (3½ins)

18-23°c (63-73°f.)

6.0-7.0.

Fish in the News 2026.
Zeng Y-Y, Lin F, Yang H-F, Pu X-R, Jiang W-S, Chen X-Y (2026) Glyptothorax pulcher (Siluriformes, Sisoridae), a new species from the upper Pearl River of Yunnan and Guangxi, southwest China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 102(1): 17-26.