Sunday, April 23, 2017

[Ichthyology • 2011] Fangfangia spinicleithralis • A New Genus and Species of Miniature Cyprinid Fish (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Peat Swamp Forests of Borneo


Fangfangia spinicleithralis 
Britz, Kottelat & Tan, 2011 

Fangfangia spinicleithralis, new genus, new species, is described from peat swamp forest habitats in Kalimantan Tengah, Borneo, Indonesia. It differs from all other cyprinids in having the anteroventral tip of the left cleithrum projecting into a strong anteriorly directed spine and a pointed posteriorly directed spine at the posteroventral aspect of each cleithrum. In addition, it can be diagnosed by the following characters: the base of the dorsal hemitrich of the first pectoral-fin ray with serrated margin, multicuspid pharyngeal teeth, ventrally directed lateral processes on vertebra 1, the high number of procurrent caudal-fin rays (14-18 dorsally, 11-15 ventrally), absence of scales with the exception of six or seven tubular lateral line ossicles, and the greatly elongated middle radials in the anal fin, which may reach half the length of proximal radials.


Fangfangia, new genus

Etymology. The new genus is named after the late Fang Fang, a passionate and productive cypriniform researcher, who left us too early, honouring her contribution to danionine taxonomy and phylogeny. Gender feminine.


 Fangfangia spinicleithralis, new species 

Distribution. Fangfangia spinicleithralis is presently known only from the type locality in Sebangau peat swamp forest, Kalimantan Tengah, Borneo, Indonesia.

Etymology. The species name spinicleithralis, an adjective, is derived from the Latin words spina, thorn, and cleithralis, belonging to the cleithrum (the main element of the dermal shoulder girdle). It refers to the unique pointed anterior and posterior spines on the cleithrum of this species.


Britz, R., Kottelat, M., & Tan, H.H. 2011. Fangfangia spinicleithralis, A New Genus and Species of Miniature Cyprinid Fish from the Peat Swamp Forests of Borneo (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).
 Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters. 22 (4): 327-335.