Sinocyclocheilus altishoulderus (common name: high-shoulder golden-line barbel) is a species of cave fish in the family Cyprinidae.[1] It is endemic to Guangxi province in southern China, and only known from a cave in Donglan County, from a subterranean tributary of the Hongshui River, a tributary of the Pearl River.
Sinocyclocheilus altishoulderus grow to 22cm (09inches) total length; mean length is much less, about 9.7cm (03.8inches). The eyes are small. The body is hump-backed and depigmented, semi-transparent and whitish in colour.
Ecology and behaviour of this species are unknown. It shares its habitat (and type locality) with another cave fish species, Sinocyclocheilus donglanensis.[2]
The type locality, near Gongping Village, Taiping Town, Donglan County, is a subterranean river some 10–20 metres inside from the mouth of a small cave. During the rainy season, the water can extend outside the cave to form a small lake. The habitat is potentially threatened by water extraction, waste disposal and pesticide pollution, and landscape alterations in general.[3]