Gobio coriparoides Nichols, 1925

Gobio coriparoides Nichols, 1925

Figs 11 View Figure 11 , 12 View Figure 12 , Table 2 View Table 2

Gobio coriparoides Nichols, 1925: 4. View in CoL

Material examined.

• AMNH 8418 About AMNH (Holotype), 1 specimen, 77.8 mm SL; the vicinity of Ningwu, Kolan, and Tsinglo , Shansi (= Ningwu, Kelan and Jingle County, Shanxi Province), collected by C. H. Pope. • ASIZB 232933 View Materials , 1 specimen, 67.9 mm SL; Liulin County, Lvliang City , Shanxi Province, from the main stream of the Yellow River (37.3891°N, 110.6281°E); 31 July 2022 GoogleMaps . • ASIZB 241456 View Materials (Topotype), 1 specimen, 81.8 mm SL; Jingle County, Xinzhou City , Shanxi Province, from the Fenhe River (38.4726°N, 111.9957°E, ca 1250 m a. s. l.); collected by Dong Sheng, 14 September 2023 GoogleMaps . • ASIZB 242006–242008 View Materials , 242009 View Materials , 242011 View Materials , 242016 View Materials , and 242033–242037, 11 specimens, 60.0–73.0 mm SL; Lan County, Lvliang City , Shanxi Province, from the Fenhe River (38.2148°N, 111.7785°E, ca 1150 m a. s. l.); collected by Yutian Fang, 16 May 2024 GoogleMaps . • ASIZB 242015 View Materials , 242041 View Materials (Topotype), 2 specimens, 68.3–70.7 mm SL, Jingle County, Xinzhou City , Shanxi Province; from the Fenhe River (38.4720°N, 111.9970°E, ca 1260 m a. s. l.); collected by Yutian Fang, 17 May 2024 GoogleMaps .

Vouchers for molecular study.

• ASIZB 241456 View Materials (Topotype), 1 specimen, Jingle County, Xinzhou City , Shanxi Province, from the Fenhe River (38.4726°N, 111.9957°E, ca 1250 m a. s. l.); collected by Dong Sheng, 14 September 2023 GoogleMaps . • ASIZB 242015 View Materials (Topotype), 1 specimen, Jingle County, Xinzhou City , Shanxi Province; from the Fenhe River (38.4720°N, 111.9970°E, ca 1260 m a. s. l.); collected by Yutian Fang, 17 May 2024 GoogleMaps . • ASIZB 242033 View Materials , 1 specimen, Lan County, Lvliang City , Shanxi Province, from the Fenhe River (38.2148°N, 111.7785°E, ca 1150 m a. s. l.); collected by Yutian Fang, 16 May 2024 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from other Gobio species in East Asia by following characteristics: barbel reaching between vertical position of posterior orbit and posterior preopercle margin (vs. reaching beyond posterior preopercle margin in G. huanghensis and G. guentheri ); lateral-line scales 39–41 (mode 40, mean 40) (vs. more than 40 in G. huanghensis , G. rivuloides and G. guentheri ); circumpeduncular scales 16–20 (mode 18, mean 18) (vs. lesser than 16 in G. rivuloides ); anus positioned at posterior one-third of distance from pelvic-fin base end to anal-fin origin (vs. anus centrally located between pelvic-fin base and anal-fin origin in G. huanghensis and G. rivuloides ).

Redescription.

Body relative abbreviated, dorsal body profile rising from nostrils to dorsal-fin origin, dropping along dorsal-fin base, then gradually sloping to caudal-fin base. Maximum body depth at dorsal-fin origin. Head relative abbreviated, length equal to body depth; snout obtuse. Mouth horseshoe-shaped and inferior, with one pair of maxillary barbels root at extremity of upper lip, barbel relative elongated, reaching from vertical position of posterior orbit to posterior preopercle margin. Lips thin, lower lip fused with throat; lips connected at mouth corner. Eyes positioned on dorsal half of head; interorbital region flattened; width larger than eye diameter. Thoracic region flattened, abdomen rounded, caudal peduncle robust, compressed laterally. Anus positioned at posterior one-third of distance from pelvic-fin base end to anal-fin origin.

Body covered with moderately large cycloid scales. Lateral line complete, almost straight in lateral center. Lateral line scales 39 (3 specimens), 40 (11), 41 (1); scales above lateral line 6 (4), 6.5 (8), 7 (2), 7.5 (1); scales below lateral line 4 (14), 5 (1); circumpeduncular scales 16 (6), 18 (8), 20 (1). Longitudinal epithelial crests absent on pre-dorsal region scales; the ventral scaleless region of most specimens (9) extends to middle of pectoral-fin base and to pelvic-fin base; other specimens (6) extend to pectoral-fin base.

Dorsal fin with three unbranched and seven (15 specimens) branched rays; distal margin concave, origin closer to snout than caudal-fin base. Pectoral fin with one unbranched and 14 (10), 15 (5) branched rays; tip of adpressed reaching anterior margin of pelvic-fin insertion. Pelvic fin with one unbranched and seven (15) branched rays; tip of adpressed reaching to posterior anus. Anal fin with three unbranched and six (15) branched rays; origin closer to pelvic-fin insertion than to caudal-fin base. Caudal fin deeply forked, with nine branched rays on upper lobes and eight branched rays on lower lobes, lobes rounded, upper lobes slightly more pointed than lower lobes.

Total vertebrae 4 + 35. Gill rakers rudimentary. Pharyngeal teeth “ 3, 5–5, 3 ”.

Coloration in life.

Dorsal side of head and body yellowish brown, mid-lateral side shallow yellowish grey, and ventral side grayish white. Dorsal side of body without black crossbars. Flank with 8–12 vague black blotches; margin of scales on back and flank slightly black pigmented. One slightly fluorescent yellowish-green stripe extends above lateral line. One distinct black stripe between anterior orbit and snout. Fins translucent, with slightly black pigments on dorsal fin, pectoral fin, and caudal fin rays; fins without black spots (Fig. 12 B View Figure 12 ).

Coloration in preservation.

Dorsal side of head and body brownish grey, mid-lateral side shallow brownish grey, and ventral side greyish white. Dorsal side of body with one dark stripe from posterior head to caudal peduncle end. Small blotches on flank vague, merge into a dark stripe. Margin of scales on back and flank slightly black pigmented. The fluorescent yellowish-green stripe faded. One distinct black stripe between anterior orbit and snout. Fins pale, with slightly black pigments on dorsal fin, pectoral fin, and caudal fin rays; fins without black spots. The black pigments on fin rays faded after long-time preserve.

Sexual dimorphism.

No sexual dimorphism observed.

Distribution.

Gobio coriparoides is mainly distributed in the tributaries of the Yellow River drainage, such as the Fenhe, Kuyehe, and Qinhe Rivers, etc. It is rarely found in the mainstream of the Yellow River (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ).

Habitat and biology.

Gobio coriparoides inhabits the tributaries of the Yellow River. It usually appears in fast-flowing water with sandy bottoms mixed with gravel and pebbles. It feeds on the bottom of the river.