A new species of the cave-fish genus Lucifuga (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), from eastern Cuba

Recently, a barcoding study and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Cuban species of the cave-fish genus Lucifuga Poey, 1858 revealed the existence of different evolutionary lineages that were previously unknown or passed unnoticed by morphological scrutiny (i.e., cryptic candidate species). In...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ZooKeys 2020-07, Vol.946 (2), p.17-35
Main Authors: Hernández, Damir, Møller, Peter Rask, Casane, Didier, García-Machado, Erik
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Americas
Bythitidae
Cenozoic
Discovery and exploration
Life Sciences
Ophidiiformes
Sinkholes
Systematics
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Summary:Recently, a barcoding study and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Cuban species of the cave-fish genus Lucifuga Poey, 1858 revealed the existence of different evolutionary lineages that were previously unknown or passed unnoticed by morphological scrutiny (i.e., cryptic candidate species). In the present study, Lucifuga gibarensis is described as a new species restricted to anchialine caves in the northeastern karst region of the main island. The species was earlier described as a variety of Lucifuga dentata , but since the name was introduced as a variety after 1960, it is deemed to be infrasubspecific and unavailable according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature Art. 15.2. The new species differs from L. dentata by pigmented eyes vs. eyes absent and lack of palatine teeth vs. present. Lucifuga gibarensis seems to be most similar to the Bahamian species L. lucayana by showing pigmented eyes, 13 or 14 precaudal vertebrae and ten caudal fin rays. However, differs from it by a larger size of the pigmented eye (1.1–1.9 vs. 0.9–1.0% SL) and number of posterior lateral line neuromasts (30–33 vs. 34–35).
ISSN:1313-2989
1313-2970
DOI:10.3897/zookeys.946.51373