TAXONOMIC REVISION OF CHINESE SPECIES OF THE GENERA MISGURNUS AND PARAMISGUENUS (CYPRINIFORMES: COBITIDAE)

A taxonomic revision of the Chinese loach fishes of the genera of Misgurnus and Paramisgurnus was made in this paper based on the morphology features and sequences of mitochondrial Cyt b and COⅠ gene. The results indicated that the species of Misgurnus and Paramisgurnus can be distinguished from the size of the scale, the length of the beard, and the degree of healing of the end of the basioccipital. The genetic distance between Misgurnus and Paramisgurnus were 15.2%—17.5%, which was very close to those among species for Misgurnus (10.7%—18.4%). Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that the genus Misgurnus was not monophyletic, and Paramisgurnus was nested within Misgurnus. Misgurnus bipartitus and M. anguillicaudatus clustered together, and then clustered with Paramisgurnus dabryanus, M. mohoity was located at the basal of the phylogenetic tree. Based on the results of the morphology features and molecular data, Paramisgurnus should be recognized as a junior synonym of Misgurnus; M. bipartitus is a valid species distinct from M. mohoity.