A review of the Cypriniform tribe Yunnanilini Prokofiev, 2010 from China, with an emphasis on five genera based on morphologies and complete mitochondrial genomes of some species

Abstract

The loach tribe Yunnanilini from China is reviewed here using morphological characters and complete mitochondrial genomes of select species. Molecular data suggest that the tribe Yunnanilini is not monophyletic and can be divided into three clades. Species of the Yunnanilus nigromaculatus group form an independent genus and are placed in Eonemachilus . In the phylogenetic tree, Y. jinxiensis clusters with Paranemachilus genilepis , and Y. pulcherrimus clusters with Micronemacheilus cruciatus , indicating that Y. jinxiensis and Y. pulcherrimus belong to Paranemachilus and Micronemacheilus , respectively. Based on morphological data, Y. bailianensis and Y. longibarbatus are placed in Heminoemacheilus , while Y. jinxiensis and Y. pulcherrimus , are placed in Paranemachilus and Micronemacheilus , respectively. Yunnanilus niulanensis and Y. qujinensis are treated as junior synonyms of Eonemachilus caohaiensis . Eonemachilus , Micronemacheilus , and Yunnanilus are show short separation between anterior and posterior nostrils. The genera can be distinguished from each other by mouth structure, lateral line and cephalic lateral-line canals, and papillae on median part of both lips. The anterior and posterior nostrils of Heminoemacheilus and Paranemachilus are closely set. Paranemachilus and Micronemacheilus are distinguished by cheeks covered with scales and lips with papillae, respectively. Our phylogenetic tree and morphological characters support Traccatichthys as a valid genus, which can be distinguished from Micronemacheilus by anterior and posterior nostrils closely set (vs. clearly separated). Four species are placed in Traccatichthys .

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Schistura fasciolata: Phylogenetic and Evolutionary Implications within Tribe Nemacheilini

“…4), which was in line with previous studies [1,9,11,13]. On the other hand, our study reveals a widespread paraphyly within the tribe Nemacheilini, which is also prevalent across the entire Nemacheilidae family [4,10]. Speci cally, Schistura, Troglonectes, and Heminoemacheilus form a paraphyletic lineage.…”

“…Proko ev performed a detailed comparative morphological analysis [3], which divided Nemacheilidae into ve tribes: Vaillantellini, Lefuini, Yunnanilini, Triplophysini, and Nemacheilini [4,[6][7][8][9][10]. However, the challenges of valid species identi cation exist due to morphological and genetic diversity, especially within the tribe Nemacheilini [9,11].…”

Eight in One: Hidden Diversity of the Bagrid Catfish Tachysurus albomarginatus s.l. (Rendhal, 1928) Widespread in Lowlands of South China

“…South China lies within the Asian subtropical region with an affluent diversity of freshwater fish species ( Du et al, 2021 ). In stark contrast to the high amount of conservation attention currently given to the highlands of South China, including the upper Yangtze River (= Chang-Jiang in Chinese) and upper Pearl River (=Zhu-Jiang in Chinese) basins, which have high numbers of endemic and threatened fishes ( Dao et al, 2020 ), little or no efforts have been made to protect the non-charismatic fish species of the lowlands of South China such as the mid-lower Chang-Jiang and Zhu-Jiang basins, likely due to a lower level of endemism.…”

Complete mitochondrial genome of Eonemachilus longidorsalis (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae): genome characterization and phylogenetic consideration

“…This species combines morphological characteristics that can be distinguished from other Eonemachilus fishes: scales covering the whole body; extremely long dorsal fin iii-11-12; anal fin ii-7; pectoral fin i-10; caudal fin i-14-i; 12 inner gill rakers on the first gill-arch and no outer gill rakes (Du et al. 2021 ). Eonemachilus (Berg 1938 ) was once regarded as a synonym of Yunnanilus by some ichthyologists (Kottelat and Chu 1988 ; Zhu 1989 ; Yang 1991 ), but morphological studies supported that Eonemachilus was a valid genus, which can be distinguished from Yunnanilus based on absent (vs. present) lateral line and cephalic lateral-line canals (Li WX et al.…”