Macropodus minnanensis, Chen & Chiu, 2024

Chen, I-Shiung & Chiu, Yuh-Wen, 2024, A new species of Macropodus (Teleotsei: Osphronemidae) from Fujian Province, southern China, Zootaxa 5550 (1), pp. 328-332 : 329-331

Macropodus minnanensis n. sp.

( Figs. 1–2 )

Materials examined

Holotype — NTOUP-2023-12-255, 34.7 mm SL, coll. K.Y. Chen et al., 23 Spt. 2023, Janjiang basin, Jangjou City, Fujian Province, China.

Paratypes

NTOUP-2023-12-256, 38.4 mm SL, the date and collection data same as holotype .

NTOUP-2015-03-201, 45.7 mm SL, coll. I-S. Chen et al., 11 Mar. 2015, Joulongjiang basin, Jangjou City, Fujian Province, China .

Diagnosis

The new species Macropodus minnanensis , from Fujian Province, China can be well distinguished from congeners by the following combination of features: (1) dorsal fin with 13 spines and 7 soft rays; (2) anal fin with 20 spines and modally 10 soft rays; (3) vertical insertion of dorsal fin origin at second to third soft rays of anal fin; (4) longitudinal scale rows in midline modally 28; (5) transverse scale rows 14; (6) vertebrae 27 and (7) specific coloration: body tawny to blackish brown with posteriorly black margin on scale pockets; eye greyish; a large opecular, deep black ocellus spot in male.

Description

The all relevant morphometric data of 1 holotype and 2 paratypes see in Table 1 . Medium size osphronemids with deep, elongate and strong laterally compressed body. Higher body depth at anal fin origin. Snout short but laterally compressed. Body completely covered ctenoid scales. Lateral line absent. Lateral midline scales 28–29 (modally 28); 14 transverse scales. 12–17 gill rackers on ceratobranchial of first arch. 2–3 rows of teeth on upper jaws, 3–4 rows of lower jaws. Larger recorded specimen as 45.7 mm SL so far. Vertebrae 27.

Dorsal fin with 13 spines and 7 branched and unbranched soft rays (totally 20 spines and rays). Bases of unpaired fins scaled. Length of anterior 3–4 rays increasing, then decreasing to the last ray. Anal fin with 20 spines and 10 branched and unbranched soft rays (totally 30 spines and rays). Length of anterior 7–8 soft rays increasing, then decreasing to last rays. Soft dorsal rays 3–4 and soft anal rays 7–8 out margin pointed. Dorsal and anal fin pointed posteriorly, extending far beyond the origin of caudal fin base. Caudal fin emarginate in female to deeply forked in male, with 12–13 branched rays. Pectoral fin 10–11 rays with rounded margin, its rear tip reaching vertical of 3–5 dorsal spines. Pelvic fin pointed with 1 spine and 5 soft rays. First of soft pelvic-fin rays filamentous.

Coloration in fresh specimens

Body and head with tawny to blackish brown background. Lateral body scales with net-like greyish to black margin. Most of poster, outer margin with a black spot.A large deep black, round ocellus spot with a very narrow, posteriorly bright orange to golden rim. A greyish black bar in between eye and the large spot. Two greyish black blotches above the bar. Eye greyish outside pupil. Snout with 2–3 greyish black stripes.

Dorsal fin pale brown and 2–3 rows of deep brown to blackish brown spots on spinous region and 6–8 rows of deep brown to blackish brown spots on soft ray region.Anal fin pale brown with 1–2 rows of deep brown to blackish brown spots on spinous region and 3–5 rows of deep brown to blackish brown spots on soft rays region. Caudal fin pale brown with 9–15 rows of deep brown or blackish brown spots. Pectoral fin pale white and spotless. Pelvic fin pale white to light creamy yellow.

Etymology.— The specific name, minnanensis , is referred to its own type locality in Mandarin: “Min-nan” which means the southern part of Fujian Province, China.

Distribution.— So far, the new species is merely found from the southern region of Fujian province, China at least existing in the Joulongjiang basin and Jangjiang basin of Fujian Province, mainland China.

Remarks

The allopatric, new species Macropodus minnanensis , from Fujian Province, China can be well distinguished from its closely related species— M. hongkongensis from HongKong by the following features: (1) anal fin soft rays: modally 10 vs. modally 14; (3) vertical insertion of dorsal fin origin: second to third soft rays of anal fin vs. anal fin origin; (4) longitudinal scale rows in midline: modally 28 vs. 30–32; (5) transverse scales: 14 vs. 12; (6) vertebral count: 27 vs. 29–30; and (7) specific coloration: eye greyish in male vs red in male; opecular ocellus spot deep black in male vs. brownish green in male. Since the rare fish is not popular even in the type locality, the detailed ecological preference and conservation issue would be very necessary to concerned and conducted in near future.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Macropodus minnanensis, paratype, male, 45.7 mm SL, Pinhe, Joulongjiang basin, Jangjou, Fujian Province, China.

FIGURE 2. Macropodus minnanensis, holotype, female, mm SL, female, 34.7 mm SL, Jangjiang basin, Jangjou, Fujian Province, China.