Bibarba bibarba explained

Bibarba bibarba is a species of loach that is found in the Chengjiang River of the Long River system in China.It is the only known congener of Bibarba parvoculus, a troglobitic species described in 2015, from which it is believed to have evolutionarily split in the Early Miocene.[1] [2]

Description

B. bibarba is a surface-dwelling species with normal eyes.[2] Males display a duplication of the lamina circularis on the second and third pectoral rays. The coracoid, mesocoracoid, and scapula are stouter in males, and the three bones are fused with the cleithrum.[2] It differs from B. parvoculus, by having lower vertebral counts, a narrower anterior part of the frontal bone at the orbital region, and increased sexual dimorphism.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Bohlen J. Li F. Šlechtová V.. 2020. Phylogenetic position of the genus Bibarba as revealed from molecular genetic data (Teleostei: Cobitidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 29. 297–304.
  2. You He. Yongxia Chen. Jian Yang. Lawrence M Page. Phylogenetic analysis and osteological comparison of the cave-dwelling spined loach, Bibarba parvoculus (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae), and its surface congener. 2021. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 191. 4. 1059–1074. 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa073.