Fivepearlus is a monospecific genus of freshwater Actinopterygii eblonging to the family Cyprinidae, the family which includes the carps, barbs, minnows and related fishes. The only species in the genus is Fivepearlus yunnanensis which is Endemism to China.
Taxonomy
Fivepearlus was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 2017 by
Li Chunqing,
Yang Hongfu,
Li Weixan and Chen Hongyu when they described its only species
Fivepearlus yunnanensis.
The type locality of
F. yunnanensis was given as the River Nanpanjiang in
Qiubei County of
Yunnan.
This taxon is classified in the
subfamily Labeoninae in the family Cyprinidae, within the order
Cypriniformes.
Etymology
Fivepearlus is a latinisation of the English words "five" and "
pearl", a reference to the bead-like protuberances on the lower lip resembling a "string of beads". The specific name
yunnanensis, refers to the type locality in Yunnan.
Description
Fivepearlus is distinguished from the other taxa in the subfamily Labeoninae by the possession of five round protuberences along its lower lip, these resemble a string of beads. It also has a body which is covered in scales and 5 branched fin rays in the
caudal fin. Other features onclude the
dorsal fin being supported by 2 spines and 7 soft rays while the
anal fin has 2 spines and 5 soft rays. The
holotype had a
total length of .
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Distribution
Fivepearlus is known from its type locality, the Qingshuijiang bridge on the Nanpangjiang River in Qiubei county, Yunnan. The type specimens were retained in Heilongtan Reservoir of Shilin.
