Acrossocheilus parallens (NICHOLS, 1931)

SynonymsTop ↑

Barbus (Lissochilichthys) parallens Nichols, 1931

Etymology

Acrossocheilus: from the Greek a- (Gr. ἀ-), meaning ‘without’, krossós (Gr. κροσσός), meaning ‘fringe, tassel’, and cheílos (Gr. χείλος), meaning ‘lip’, in reference to the smooth upper lip in members of this genus.

parallens: presumably from the Greek parállēlos (Gr. παράλληλος), meaning ‘parallel, side-by-side’. Allusion not explained, but possibly in reference to the pattern of dark vertical bars on the flanks of this species.

Classification

Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae

Distribution

Recorded from Guangdong and Hainan provinces (principally Hainan Island), southern China, plus the island of Taiwan.

Type locality is ‘Lung T’au Shaan, Kwangtung Province, China’.

Maximum Standard Length

100 – 160 mm.

Diet

Wild fish are known to feed on small, benthic invertebrates and graze biofilm from rocks and other solid surfaces.

NotesTop ↑

The genus Acrossocheilus is restricted to southern China, northern Vietnam and northern Laos. It can be distinguished from related genera by the following combination of characters: rostral fold present; lips fleshy and continuous around corners of mouth; lower lip with a median interruption; mouth inferior; horny sheath on lower jaw; two pairs of barbels; last simple ray of dorsal fin osseous with a serrated or smooth posterior margin.

Members of the genus are characterised by possessing a particular number of dark vertical bar on each flank, and A. parallens belongs to  a group of species with five or six such bars, each of which is two scales in width. Congeners sharing this pattern include A. fasciatus, A. hemispinus (in juveniles only), A. jishouensis, A. kreyenbergii, A. paradoxus, A. spinifer, A. wenchowensis, and A. wuyiensis.

References

1. Nichols, J. T., 1931 - Lingnan Science Journal, Canton 10(4): 455-459
   A new Barbus (Lissochilichthys) and a new loach from Kwangtung Province.
2. Lan, Z.-J., B.-P. Chan and J. Zhao, 2014 - Zoological Systematics 39(3): 433-441
   Acrossocheilus multistriatus, a new species of barbine fish (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Zhujiang River basin, south China.
3. Yuan, L.-Y., Z.-Q. Wu and E. Zhang, 2006 - Journal of Fish Biology 68 (Supplement B): 163-173
   Acrossocheilus spinifer, a new species of barred cyprinid from south China (Pisces: Teleostei).