Zuojiangia jingxiensis Zheng, He, Yang & Wu, 2018

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Max. size:  11.39 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 1 - 2 m
Distribution:  Asia: China.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished by the following characters: a well-developed, pendulous and conspicuously arched rostral fold, with an entirely crenulated margin; prominent papillae densely covering the margin of the rostral fold and the anterior part of the lower lip; long postlabial grooves, partitioning the lower lip into three parts; left dentary is shaped like an inverted L in ventral view (right dentary is a mirror image), with the transverse branch longer than half the length of the longitudinal branch; stubby lateral process at the anterolateral margin of the longitudinal branch, close to the corner; upper jaw, the premaxilla bears a triangular ascending process tapering to a point; maxilla with a pair of articular heads at the anterodorsal margin, a distinct fingerlike descending process posterior to the medial articular head embracing the ascending process of the premaxilla; three rows of teeth on the pharyngeal bone (= ceratobranchial 5); teeth are coarsely compressed; dentition formula was variable among the three examined specimens: 2.4.5-6.4.2 in holotype KIZ2012003910, 2.4.4-5.4.2 in paratype KIZ2012003911, and 2.4.5-5.4.2 in paratype KIZ2012005694; main row on the right ceratobranchial 5 had six teeth in the holotype, but four on the left side of one of the paratypes (Ref. 128942).
Biology:  Found in a karst cave outlet and connected stream, at 1-2 m depth. Sympatric with Balitora ludongensis, Cophecheilus bamen, Prolixicheilus longisulcus, Rectoris longibarbus and Yunnanilus jinxiensis (Ref. 128942).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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