Luciobarbus lanigarensis, Brahimi & Libois & Henrard & Freyhof, 2018

Brahimi, Amina, Libois, Roland, Henrard, Arnaud & Freyhof, Jörg, 2018, Luciobarbus lanigarensis and L. numidiensis, two new species of barbels from the Mediterranean Sea basin in North Africa (Teostei: Cyprinidae), Zootaxa 4433 (3), pp. 542-560 : 547-551

Luciobarbus lanigarensis , new species

( Figs. 3–5 )

Holotype. RMCA 2017-022 -P-0024, 134 mm SL; Morocco: Guenfouda prov. : Oued Isly, 34.5118°N, 2.0 5826°W.

Paratypes. RMCA 2017-022 -P-0019-0042, 21, 71– 150 mm SL; ZFMK ICH-105602-105603 , 2 , 115– 123 mm SL; same data as holotype .

Material for molecular analyses. RMCA DNA-2017-022 -P-LO1-LO6; same data as holotype (GenBank accession numbers: Cyt b: MH187170 , MH187171 , MH187172 , MH187173 , MH187174 ; D-loop: MH187193 , MH187194 , MH187195 , MH187196 , MH187197 ).

Diagnosis. Luciobarbus lanigarensis is distinguished from other Luciobarbus species from the African Mediterranean Sea basin by a combination of characters, none of them unique. Luciobarbus lanigarensis is distributed adjacent to L. mascarensis in the east and L. yahyaouii and L. guercifensis in the west.

It is distinguished from L. guercifensis by having thin barbels (vs. thick), the rostral-barbel origin placed clearly behind the tip of the snout (vs. rostral-barbel origin at the extreme anterior of the snout) and from L. mascarensis , L. yahyaouii and L. leptopogon , by having a wider interorbital distance (38–47% HL vs. 36–40 in L. mascarensis , 33–40 in L. yahyaouii , 36–39 in L. leptopogon ) and a longer pectoral-fin (21–24% SL vs. 16–21 in L. mascarensis , 18–21 in L. yahyaouii ). It is further distinguished from L. chelifensis , L. leptopogon and L. mascarensis by having 43–45+1–3 lateral line scales (vs. 41–43+ 1–2 in L. chelifensis and L. leptopogon , usually 41+ 1–2 in L. mascarensis ) ( Table 8).

The new species is distinguished from L. callensis , L. chelifensis and L. rifensis by having the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray serrated along 2/3 of its length (vs. last unbranched dorsal-fin ray serrated along almost its entire length) and a longer anal-fin (19–23% SL vs. 17–19 in L. callensis and L. chelifensis , 16–19 in L. rifensis ). The new species is distinguished from L. leptopogon and L. setivimensis by having a greater pre-dorsal distance (53– 59% SL vs. 49–52 in L. leptopogon , 47–52 in L. setivimensis ).

Description. See Figures 3–5 for general appearance. Morphometric data are given in Table 2 and meristic data in Tables 7 and 8. Middle sized and stout species, with a moderately long head. Body deepest at dorsal-fin origin. Depth decreasing continuously towards caudal-fin base. Greatest body width between pectoral and dorsal- fin origins. Caudal peduncle compressed, 1.3–1.5 times longer than deep. Section of head roundish, flattened on ventral surface. Snout rounded. Mouth inferior. Dorsal-fin origin situated above pelvic-fin origin. Anal-fin origin at vertical of 50–60% of distance between dorsal and caudal-fin origins. Anal fin reaching to caudal-fin base. Pectoral fin reaching 70–80% of distance between pectoral-fin and pelvic-fin origins. Pelvic fin not reaching vertical of tip of last dorsal-fin ray when folded down. Pelvic fin reaching to about 70–90% of distance between pelvic and analfin origins. Posterior dorsal-fin margin slightly concave. Posterior pectoral- and anal-fin margins convex. Caudal fin forked with rounded lobes of equal length. Largest known specimen 150 mm SL, but expected to grow larger.

Dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 8½ branched rays, last unbranched ray ossified and serrated at 2/3 of its length. Anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5½ branched rays. Pectoral-fin with 14–17 (mode 16) and pelvic fin with 8 rays. Lateral line with 43–45 scales on flank and 1–3 scales on caudal-fin base. Between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line 8½–9½ (mode 8½) scale rows, and 5½–6½ (mode 5½) scale rows between pelvic-fin origin and lateral line. Pharyngeal teeth in three rows: 4+3+2. On first gill arch, 3-4 gill rakers on the on the upper and 8 on lower limb.

Coloration. Brown yellowish-golden in life and preserved individuals without colour pattern. Head golden, cheeks and ventral side of head and body whitish. In life, fins orange.

Etymology. Luciobarbus lanigarensis is named for Lanigar, the old name of Ouajda province, given by Claudius Ptolemaeus (100-170). An adjective.

Distribution. Luciobarbus lanigarensis was found in the Isly River in northestern Morocco, which is a headwater stream of the Tafna River. The Tafna River drainage is situated in the border area between Algeria and Morocco, having its estuary in Algeria close to the city of Tlemcen. Therefore, we expect L. lanigarensis to be found in Algeria also. See Figure 2 ( L. lanigarensis are Nr. 28–29) for the distribution of Luciobarbus species from the African Mediterranean Sea basin.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Records of Luciobarbus species examined in this study. Numbers correspond to materials examined.

FIGURE 3. Luciobarbus lanigarensis, RMCA 2017-022-P-0020, paratype, 102 mm SL; Morocco: Oued Isly.

FIGURE 4. Luciobarbus lanigarensis, 1, RMCA 2017-022-P-0024, holotype, 134 mm SL; 2, RMCA 2017-022-P-0020, paratype, 102 mm SL; 3, RMCA 2017-022-P-0021, paratype, 150 mm SL; 4, RMCA 2017-022-P-0032, paratype, 93 mm SL; Morocco: Oued Isly. Scale bars = 30 mm.

FIGURE 5. Luciobarbus lanigarensis, 1+5, RMCA 2017-022-P-0024, holotype, 134 mm SL; 2+6, RMCA 2017-022-P-0020, paratype, 102 mm SL; 3+7, RMCA 2017-022-P-0021, paratype, 150 mm SL; 4+8, RMCA 2018-022-P-0032, paratype, 93 mm SL; Morocco: Oued Isly. Scale bars: 1–4 = 30 mm; 5–8 = 10 mm.