Sinocyclocheilus brevibarbatus Zhao, Lan & Zhang, 2009

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Cyprininae
Max. size:  16.83 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: known only from an underground river in the vicinity of Gaoling Town in Guangxi, China.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal soft rays: 5-5; Vertebrae: 37-38. Diagnosed from all species of the genus Sinocyclocheilus by the following combination of characters: body totally covered with scales excluding head; back strongly humped; eye well- developed; lateral line almost straight, with 49-51 perforated scales; dorsal fin with seven soft rays; relatively large eye-ball (3.3-5.7% of SL) and short maxillary and rictal barbels (1.7-5.7% and 4.5-7.0% of SL, respectively). This species is most similar to Sinocyclocheilus microphthalmus, Sinocyclocheilus altishoulderus, and Sinocyclocheilus jiuxuensis in terms of its strongly-humped back and general body shape, but Sinocyclocheilus microphthalmus and Sinocyclocheilus altishoulderus have eight soft dorsal rays. Sinocyclocheilus jiuxuensis has a smaller eye-ball (2.3-3.3% of SL) and longer maxillary and rictal barbels (5.1-11.0% and 8.0-11.3% of SL, respectively) than Sinocyclocheilus brevibarbatus (Ref. 75598).
Biology:  Inhabits underground river (Ref. 75598).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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