A new species of redfin (Teleostei, Cyprinidae, Pseudobarbus) from the Verlorenvlei River system, South Africa

Zookeys. 2014 Nov 11:(453):121-37. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.453.8072. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Pseudobarbusverloreni, a new species, is described from material collected in the Verlorenvlei River system on the west coast of South Africa. It differs from its congeners (except Pseudobarbusskeltoni, Pseudobarbusburchelli, and Pseudobarbusburgi) by the presence of two pairs of oral barbels. Pseudobarbusverloreni sp. n. can be distinguished from the three currently described double barbeled Pseudobarbus species by the following combination of characters: pigment pattern, generally deeper body relative to standard length, a longer intestine associated with the deeper body form, shorter snout relative to head length, and much shorter anterior barbels relative to head length. The new species is distinguished from Pseudobarbusburgi in the neighbouring Berg River system by its longer head and longer pre-dorsal length. It seems as if Pseudobarbusverloreni sp. n. has been extirpated from the Langvlei River system and face several threats to its survival in the Verlorenvlei River system.

Keywords: Freshwater fish; double barbeled redfins; endemic hotspot; threatened.