A new loach species of the genus Paranemachilus (Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from Guangxi, China

A new species of Paranemachilus , Paranemachilus nonggangensis sp. nov . is described from the Zuojiang river basin, a tributary of the Pearl River system. The new species can be differentiated from other members of the genus by morphological characters and molecular evidence. In morphology, the new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species by having scaled cheeks, the postcleithrum present, 12 or 13 branched pectoral fin rays, six branched pelvic fin rays, 11–15+3 infraorbital canal pores, and 6–10 supraorbital canal pores. A Bayesian inference phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial Cyt b gene strongly supports the validity of P. nonggangensis sp. nov .; the uncorrected p -distance is 5.18–7.67%.