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Tachysurus sinovietnamensis Shao, Nguyen & Zhang 2026

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Description: A striped Tachysurus species. Distinguished from all other striped congeners except T. analimaculatus by the following combination of characters: a deeply (vs. moderately) forked caudal fin, presence (vs. absence) of a prominent post-dorsal-fin notch on the dorso-lateral stripe and a constricted, irregular and tapering (vs. unconstricted and uniformly wide) mid-lateral stripe. It can be differentiated from T. analimaculatus in having a deeper body (depth at anus 19.1–24.5% vs. 13.8–19.2% HL). Tachysurus sinovietnamensis exhibits overall morphological similarity to T. qiongzhouensis but can be distinguished by the ratios of SL/HL to maxillary barbel length (71.28–89.23% vs. 45.23–56.34%) and SL/HL to nasal barbel length (34.21–36.21% vs. 67.21–78.21%). Habitat: Currently known from the Red River in Southwest China and Northern Vietnam as well as coastal rivers in northern central Vietnam including the Gianh and Lam Rivers in Quang Binh and Ha Thin Provinces. Inhabiting exclusively main channels of rivers. 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 epithet sinovietnamensis: Refers to the known distribution of this species across China (Sino-) and Vietnam (-vietnamensis). Remarks: This species is a member of the T. virgatus Group, noticing the two broken areas in the mid lateral line in this species.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Bagridae

Distribution:

Asia: China: Yunnan Prov.: Yuanyang County, Red River.

Size:

7.5cm (3ins)

Temp:

21-25°C (70-77°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

IUCN Red List

Not Evaluated.

Reference:

Fish in the News 2026.
Shao, W., Cai, X., Nguyen, T. D., & Zhang, E. (2026). Beyond Morphological Conservatism: Integrative Taxonomy Unveils Remarkable Cryptic Diversity in the Tachysurus virgatus (Oshima 1926) Group (Siluriformes: Bagridae) Endemic to the Northern Margin of East Asian Tropics. Animals, 16(15), 2422.

Family: Bagridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Tachysurus sinovietnamensis
Red arrow shows the two constrictions in the mid-lateral stripe

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