Description of a New Eyeless Cavefish Species Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods-<i>Sinocyclocheilus changlensis</i> (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), From Guangxi, China.

ABSTRACT: The extensive limestone landscapes of southwestern China form one of the world's largest karst regions, providing ideal conditions for cavefish evolution. Within this region, Sinocyclocheilus, the most speciose cavefish genus globally, comprises 84 species adapted to dark environments. Despite the many species, the region is still poorly explored, with new species currently being added to the total. Here, using integrative taxonomic methods involving morphological and molecular analyses, we describe Sinocyclocheilus changlensis, a new troglobitic species discovered in a cave in central Guangxi, China. This species is characterized by the absence of eyes, an unpigmented and complete scaled body, and a forked, horn-like structure at the dorsal posterior edge of the head. Morpho

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12630078 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature