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Boraras naevus, a new species of miniature and sexually dichromatic cyprinid fish from Peninsular Thailand (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae)

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Boraras naevus, new species, is described from peninsular Thailand. It is distinguished from other congeners by features of its sexually dimorphic colour pattern, principal caudal-fin, pelvic-fin and branched dorsal-fin ray counts, lateral scale row counts, and a number of osteological features.
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Accepted by R. Pethiyagoda: 08 Aug. 2011; published: 24 Aug. 2011
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)
Copyright © 2011 · Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 3002: 4551 (2011)
www.mapress.com/zootaxa/Article
45
Boraras naevus, a new species of miniature and sexually dichromatic freshwater
fish from peninsular Thailand (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae)
KEVIN W. CONWAY1* AND MAURICE KOTTELAT2
1Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Texas A&M University, 210 Nagle Hall,
2258 TAMUS, College Station, TX 77843, USA. Email: kevin.conway@tamu.edu
2 Route de la Baroche 12, Case Postale 57, 2952 Cornol, Switzerland (permanent address), and Raffles Museum of Biodiversity
Research, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 6 Science Drive 2, #03-01, Singapore 117546.
Email: mkottelat@dplanet.ch
*author for correspondence
Abstract
Boraras naevus, new species, is described from peninsular Thailand. It is distinguished from other congeners by features of its
sexually dimorphic colour pattern, principal caudal-fin, pelvic-fin and branched dorsal-fin ray counts, lateral scale row counts,
and a number of osteological features.
Key words: Cypriniformes, Danioninae, Taxonomy, Southeast Asia
Introduction
Members of the cyprinid genus Boraras Kottelat & Vidthayanon are small, brightly coloured fishes that inhabit
swamps and slow-flowing streams throughout much of Southeast Asia (Kottelat & Vidthayanon, 1993). Reaching
maximum adult sizes less than 20 mm in standard length, all members of Boraras are considered miniature fishes
(sensu Weitzman & Vari, 1988) and exhibit a number of reductive characteristics, including the absence of the body
lateral line, reduced cephalic lateral line system, low numbers of scales, branched fin rays, gill rakers and pharyn-
geal tooth rows (Kottelat & Vidthayanon, 1993), and the complete absence of a number of skeletal elements (Con-
way, 2005; Britz & Conway, 2009). Boraras currently includes five species, most of which were formerly placed in
Rasbora Bleeker: B. brigittae (Vogt), B. maculatus (Duncker), B. merah (Kottelat), B. micros Kottelat & Vid-
thayanon and B. urophthalmoides (Kottelat). Several phylogenetic investigations have recovered Boraras as a
monophyletic group and suggest that the genus Trigonopoma Liao, Kullander & Fang (=R. pauciperforata-group
of Kottelat & Vidthayanon, 1993) may represent the sister group to Boraras (Conway, 2005; Liao et al., 2009; Tang
et al., 2010).
The relationships between the five species of Boraras are incompletely resolved (Conway, 2005). Amongst
Boraras, two species (B. maculatus and B. micros) exhibit a distinctive blotched pattern, consisting of three black-
ish brown circular markings in similar positions on the body (one at base of caudal fin, one at base of anal fin and
one situated at mid-height of flank, roughly midway between posterior margin of opercle and vertical through pel-
vic-fin origin). The other three species have a midlateral stripe and a small circular marking at the caudal-fin base
(B. urophthalmoides and B. brigittae) or a very elongated blotch on the anterior third of the flank, and a narrow
midlateral stripe from above the anal-fin origin to the middle of the caudal-fin base (B. merah). Ichthyological sur-
veys conducted in peninsular Thailand uncovered an additional species of blotched Boraras, similar to B. macula-
tus and B. micros but differing in a number of characters. In this paper we provide its formal description.
CONWAY & KOTTELAT
46 · Zootaxa 3002 © 2011
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Material and methods
Counts and measurements follow those of Kottelat & Vidthayanon (1993) except for dorsal- and anal-fin ray
counts. Measurements were taken on the left side of specimens using a Zeiss DRC Stereomicroscope equipped
with an ocular micrometer to the nearest 0.1mm. Specimen photographs were obtained using a Zeiss SteREO Dis-
covery V20 Stereomicroscope equipped with an axiocam MRc5. Selected specimens were cleared and double
stained (c&s) following the protocol of Taylor & Van Dyke (1985). Counts of pharyngeal teeth, vertebrae, procur-
rent rays and hypurals were obtained from c&s specimens. Vertebrae counts include the four Weberian centra and
the terminal compound centrum (Fink & Fink, 1981). Numbers in parentheses following a count indicate the fre-
quency of that count when variation was encountered. Materials examined are housed in the following collections:
BMNH, Natural History Museum, London; CMK, collection of the second author; NRM, Swedish Museum of
Natural History, Stockholm; USNM, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington;
TCWC, Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, College Station; ZRC, Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research,
National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Results
Boraras naevus, new species
Figure 1
Holotype. ZRC 53120, male, 10.6 mm SL; Thailand: Surat Thani Province: swamp, East of road North of Amphoe
Tha Chana, 83 km before Surat Thani on road from Lang Suan; M. Kottelat et al., 4 March 2001.
Paratypes. CMK 16459, 255; ZRC 53121, 50; BMNH 2011.8.3.1-20, 20; NRM 61765, 20; TCWC 15185.01,
4(c&s), 10.2–12.7 mm SL; same data as holotype.
Diagnosis. Boraras naevus is distinguished from its congeners with a similar blotched color pattern (viz. B.
maculatus and B. micros) by pronounced sexual dimorphism of the anteriormost blotch situated on the body side,
which is a small circular marking of roughly orbit size or smaller in females and a large dorso-ventrally orientated
oval-shaped marking larger than the orbit in males (vs. anteriormost blotch similar in size and shape in both sexes)
and by its lower number of principal caudal-fin rays (9+8 vs. 9+9 in B. micros, 9–10+9 in B. maculatus). It is fur-
ther distinguished from B. maculatus by its lower number of body scales in the midlateral row (24–26 vs. 26–29),
and its lower number of pelvic-fin rays (i.5.i vs. i.6.i), and from B. micros by its higher number of body scales in
the midlateral row (24–26 vs. 22–23), higher number of branched dorsal-fin rays (7 vs. 5–6), the presence of red
and black pigment along the anterior edge of the dorsal and anal fins of males in life (vs. all fins transparent with-
out red or black pigmentation in life in both sexes), the presence of infraorbital 4 (vs. infraorbital 4 absent), infraor-
bital 2 contacting both infraorbital 1 and infraorbital 3 (vs. infraorbital 2 greatly reduced in size, without contact
with adjacent infraorbital bones), and the presence of the mesocoracoid (vs. mesocoracoid absent). Boraras naevus
can be distinguished from the remaining species of Boraras (B. brigittae, B. merah and B. urophthalmoides) by the
absence of a midlateral stripe (vs. broad, uninterrupted midlateral stripe from upper extremity of gill opening to
middle of caudal-fin base in B. brigittae and B. urophthalmoides; or narrow, frequently interrupted midlateral stripe
from above anal-fin origin to middle of caudal-fin base in B. merah).
Description. General body shape as in Figure 1. Morphometric and meristic data are listed in Table 1. Minia-
ture species, largest specimen examined 12.7 mm SL (range 10.2–12.7 mm). Head and eye large, snout rounded,
mouth small, terminal. Anterior nostril small, oval-shaped, separated from larger posterior nostril by a narrow, low
strip of skin. Body compressed, deepest midway between occiput and dorsal-fin origin. Caudal peduncle slender.
Dorsal fin origin situated roughly at mid-body, insertion of posteriormost dorsal-fin ray slightly anterior to vertical
through anal-fin origin. Pelvic-fin origin situated anterior to vertical through dorsal-fin origin. Pectoral fin insertion
situated low on flank. Caudal fin forked, upper and lower lobes rounded, upper lobe slightly longer than lower.
Zootaxa 3002 © 2011 Magnolia Press · 47
NEW BORARAS FROM THAILAND
TABLE 1. Morphometric and meristic characters of Boraras naevus, B. micros and B. maculatus. Values for B. naevus obtained from
holotype (ZRC 53120) and 10 paratypes (CMK 16459). Values for B. maculatus obtained from CMK 20696, BMNH 1985.12.18:10–
18, 1995.5.17.112–126, USNM 101267 and 229241. Morphometric values for B. micros taken from Kottelat & Vidthayanon (1993)
with additional meristic data obtained from BMNH 2004.4.29.1–3.
Branchiostegal rays 3. Pharyngeal teeth arranged in two or three rows, formula 2,4–5,2,1(1) or 1,2,4–4,2,1(2).
Infraorbital series composed of infraorbital 1 to infraorbital 4. Infraorbital 1 irregular in shape, its posterior edge
rimming anterior margin of orbit. Infraorbital 2 smaller than infraorbital 1, rimming anteroventral margin of orbit
ventral to posterior edge of infraorbital 1 and anterior edge of infraorbital 3. Infraorbital 3 largest of series, roughly
Boraras naevus Boraras micros Boraras maculatus
Holotype Range Mean St. Dev. Range Range Mean St. Dev.
Standard length 10.6 10.2–12.7 8.7–13.3 11.4–18.5
In percentage of standard length
Head length (HL) 28.3 27.3–30.1 28.9 0.9 26.0–32.0 23.6–30.0 27.8 1.6
Body depth 25.5 23.1–25.8 23.8 123.0–28.0 20.2–26.4 24.2 2.7
Predorsal length 61.3 55.5–61.2 58.2 1.5 53.0–60.0 53.7–60.1 56.3 2.8
Prepelvic length 50 49.1–50.8 49.8 0.6 46.0–52.0 48.3–50.4 49.9 1.1
Preanal length 66 63.0–66.0 64.6 1.2 60.0–68.0 63.2–64.8 64 0.8
Length of caudal peduncle 28.3 27.5–29.1 28 0.8 25.0–33.0 27.0–31.0 28.9 1.7
Depth of caudal peduncle 11.3 10.2–11.3 10.8 0.4 10.0–14.0 8.8–12.0 10.6 1.4
Eye diameter 10.4 9.4–11.1 10.4 0.6 10.0–12.0 8.8–9.7 9.2 0.4
Snout length 4.7 3.8–5.5 4.7 0.5 4.0–6.0 4.0–5.6 4.7 0.6
Length of dorsal fin 21.7 19.6–22.5 21.4 121.0–27.0 24.0–26.9 24.7 2.4
Length of anal fin 17.9 17.9–22.3 20.6 1.1 17.0–22.0 20.3–24.1 22.4 1.8
Length of pectoral fin 17.9 14.8–17.9 16.1 0.9 14.0–18.0 16.8–18.6 17.5 0.8
Length of pelvic fin 14.1 11.9–14.5 13.5 0.7 14.0–17.0 14.2–16.8 15.7 1.2
Length of upper caudal fin lobe 30.2 26.5–33.3 29.5 2.1 27.0–31.0 30.4–33.8 32.2 1.4
Length of lower caudal fin lobe 33 29.6–33.0 31.1 1.5 26.0–32.0 30.4–34.5 33.2 1.9
Length of median caudal rays 16 14.4–16.6 16 0.8 11.0–15.0 15.8–18.6 16.6 1.3
In percentage of head length
Eye diameter 33.6 33.3–40.0 36.4 1.8 -31.4–35.9 33.2 1.9
Snout length 16.6 13.3–20.0 16.3 1.9 -15.4–17.9 17 2.4
Meristics
Dorsal fin rays ii.7.i ii.7.i - - ii.5–6.i ii.7.i/ii.8 - -
Anal fin rays iii.5.i iii.5.i - - iii.5.i iii.5.i/iii.6 - -
Principal caudal fin rays 9+8 9+8 - - 9+9 9–10+9 - -
Dorsal procurrent rays -4–5 - - 5 5 - -
Ventral procurrent rays - 5 - - 5 5 - -
Pelvic fin rays i.5.i i.5.i - - i.5.i i.6.i - -
Pectoral fin rays i.6.ii i.6.ii - - i.6–8 i.8.i–ii - -
Abdominal vertebrae -14 - - 13 14 - -
Caudal vertebrae -15–16 - - 14–15 15–17 - -
Total vertebrae - 29–30 - - 28–29 29–31 --
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boomerang-shaped, its dorsal margin rimming much of posteroventral margin of orbit. Infraorbital 4 smallest of
series, represented by poorly ossified sliver of dermal bone. Cephalic lateral line sensory system greatly reduced,
composed only of short, open segment of canal ossification representing preopercular portion of preopercular-man-
dibular canal along ventral arm of preopercle. Otic, infraorbital, supraorbital, supratemporal and mandibular por-
tion of preopercular-mandibular canal absent.
FIGURE 1. Boraras naevus, Thailand: Surat Thani Province. Above. ZRC 53120, holotype, male, 10.6 mm SL. Below. CMK 16459,
paratype, female, 11.7 mm SL.
Dorsal-fin rays ii.7.i. Anal-fin rays iii.5.i. Principal caudal-fin rays 9+8. Pectoral-fin rays i.6.ii, pelvic-fin rays
i.5.i. Dorsal procurrent rays 4(1) or 5(3), ventral procurrent rays 5(4). Total number of vertebrae 29–30, comprising
14 abdominal and 15(1) or 16(3) caudal vertebrae. Caudal-fin skeleton composed of 5 hypural elements, compris-
ing fused parhypural+hypural 1 and hypurals 2–5. Free (second) uroneural absent. Three supraneurals posterior to
supraneural 3, representing supraneurals 5–7.
Scales relatively large, cycloid, lacking radii. Scales in midlateral row from upper extremity of gill opening to
caudal flexure 24–26. Predorsal scales 11 or 12. Transverse scale rows ½5½ or ½6½. Circumpeduncular scale rows
12. Coloration in preservative. Body background colour ranging from light cream to light yellow. Body with
three black blotches, one situated mid-height of body side, anterior to origin of pelvic fins, one situated at base of
branched anal-fin rays (equivalent to the supraanal pigment of Brittan, 1954), and one at center of caudal-fin base.
Black blotches made of pigments located in deeper layers of epidermis. Anteriormost blotch in males oval-shaped
and larger than orbit, remaining blotches roughly circular in shape and smaller than orbit. All blotches of similar
size and shape in females. Dorsal surface of body with weak reticulate pattern formed by heavy scattering of dark-
brown pigment along posterior edge of scales. Dorsal reticulation more pronounced in males. Posterior edge of
scales situated along body posterior to anteriormost blotch in males with weak scattering of dark-brown melano-
phores giving appearance of a weak reticulate pattern over posterior half of body side. Dense scattering of dark-
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NEW BORARAS FROM THAILAND
brown melanophores concentrated along body side below scales directly anterior and posterior to anteriormost
blotch in males, separated from blotch by an area without pigment. Equivalent area in females with weak scattering
of dark melanophores. Axial streak pronounced along posterior half of body, not visible on side anterior to dorsal
fin origin. Occiput dark brown. All fins with light scattering of dark-brown melanophores across fin membranes
between rays. Anterior edge of dorsal and anal fin and base of pelvic fin with intense scattering of dark brown-
black melanophores in males. Anterior edge of dorsal fin weakly marked with dark brown-black melanophores in
females.
Distribution and habitat. We have examined material from the type locality, in a swampy area north of Surat
Thani. The species is reported to have a wider distribution in the lower Tapi drainage, on the Gulf of Thailand slope
of peninsular Thailand. It is suspected that most of its natural habitats (swamps) has been transformed into paddy
fields. Additional populations, or another, similar species is known from the Andaman Sea slope of the Malay Pen-
insula near Trang.
Etymology. From the Latin naevus, a spot, a mark on skin, a blemish, in allusion to the large sexually dichro-
matic blotch on the side of the body. A noun in apposition.
Discussion
The new species is assigned to Boraras because it possess all of the diagnostic characteristics of that genus (Kotte-
lat & Vidthayanon, 1993) and exhibits all four of the osteological synapomorphies identified for Boraras by Con-
way (2005): (1) the absence of a supraorbital canal; (2) urohyal with a leaf-shaped appearance in ventral view; (3)
outer arm of the os suspensorium (referred to as the 4th pleural rib by Conway, 2005) elongate, extending ventrally
to a level parallel with or surpassing the ventralmost tip of the supracleithrum; and (4) the dorsalmost tip of the
postcleithrum level with or higher than the distal end of the supracleithrum.
Within Boraras, B. naevus is most similar in terms of pigmentation pattern to B. maculatus, a species distrib-
uted throughout southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and eastern Sumatra, and B. micros from the Mekong
drainage of Thailand and Laos (Kottelat & Vidthayanon, 1993; Kottelat et al., 1993; Kottelat, 2001). All three
exhibit a distinctive blotched pigment pattern, consisting of three black/brown circular markings (one at the base of
the caudal fin, one at the base of the anal fin, and one situated at mid-height of flank, roughly midway between the
posterior margin of the opercle and the vertical through the pelvic-fin origin). In B. naevus, the anteriormost blotch
(which is the largest of the three) exhibits obvious sexual dimorphism, represented by a small circular marking of
roughly orbit size or smaller in females compared to a large dorso-ventrally orientated oval-shaped marking much
larger than the orbit in males (Fig. 1). In B. maculatus (Fig. 2) and B. micros (see Kottelat & Vidthayanon, 1993:
figs. 7–8) the anteriormost blotch does not exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism, being similar in size and shape
in both sexes (there appears to be considerable variation in the size and shape of the blotch situated at the base of
the anal fin in B. maculatus, not present in the two other blotched species, which may be shown to be the result of
sexual dimorphism upon further investigation). In addition to this pigmentation feature, B. naevus is distinguished
from B. maculatus and B. micros by a number of counts, including fewer principal caudal-fin rays (9+8 vs. 9–10+9
in B. maculatus and 9+9 in B. micros) and a different number of scales in midlateral row (24–26 vs. 22–23 in B.
micros and 26–29 in B. maculatus). It is further distinguished from B. maculatus by a lower number of pelvic-fin
rays (i.5.i vs. i.6.i) and from B. micros by a higher number of branched dorsal-fin rays (7 vs. 5–6). Males of B. nae-
vus also exhibit prominent black markings along the anterior edge of the dorsal and anal fins, which are edged by
red pigment in life, features that are absent in B. micros (all fins are hyaline in both sexes) but present in B. macu-
latus and the Bornean species of Boraras, viz. B. brigittae and B. merah (Kottelat, 1991). Boraras naevus is also
distinguished from B. micros by a number of osteological features, including the presence of the mesocoracoid in
the shoulder girdle (vs. absence), the presence of infraorbital 4 (vs. absence), and the size and shape of infraorbital
2 (infraorbital 2 in contact with both infraorbital 1 and infraorbital 3 vs. infraorbital 2 greatly reduced in size, with-
out contact to adjacent infraorbital bones).
Like the blotched species of Boraras, B. merah (a species from southern Borneo; Kottelat, 2001) also exhibits
a large blotch, surrounded by a depigmented area, on the anterior third of the flank. The anterior blotch of B. merah
differs in shape from the anteriormost blotch of B. maculatus, B. micros and B. naevus (longitudinally elongate
oval-shaped marking vs. circular, dorso-ventrally orientated marking) and does not appear to exhibit pronounced
CONWAY & KOTTELAT
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sexual dimorphism (vs. anteriormost blotch exhibiting sexual dimorphism in B. naevus). In addition, Boraras
merah also exhibits a narrow, frequently interrupted or faint midlateral stripe, extending from above the anal-fin
origin to the middle of the caudal-fin base. This feature is unique to B. merah and appears “intermediate” between
that of the blotched species of Boraras (B. maculatus, B. micros and B. naevus) and the two striped species (B. bri-
gittae from southern Borneo and B. urophthalmoides from mainland southeast Asia; Kottelat, 2001).
FIGURE 2. Boraras maculatus, BMNH 1985.12.18:8-9, Malaysia: Kelantan: Ayer Hitam. Above. Male, 12.9 mm SL. Below.
Female, 15.0 mm SL.
In a recent morphological phylogenetic investigation of Boraras (Conway, 2005), the blotched species (B.
maculatus and B. micros) and striped species (B. brigittae and B. urophthalmoides) were recovered in different
clades and not each other’s closest relatives. This was due to the recovery of a sister group relationship between the
two smallest members of the genus, the blotched B. micros and striped B. urophthalmoides. The results of a recent
molecular phylogenetic investigation on danionines (Tang et al., 2010) also suggested that the blotched and striped
species of Boraras are not monophyletic groups. Contrary to Conway (2005), Tang et al. (2010) recovered the
striped species B. urophthalmoides as the sister group to all remaining species of Boraras and the blotched species
B. maculatus as the sister group to a clade composed of B. cf. micros (actually B. naevus; K. W. Conway pers. obs),
B. brigittae and B. merah. Given these conflicting results and the discovery of additional blotched Boraras diver-
sity, the intrarelationships of Boraras may be worth revisiting.
Comparative material
Boraras maculatus. BMNH 1913.5.24.15-17, paralectotypes, 3; Malaysia: Johor: Bukit Tray, Bandar Maharani [Muar]. BMNH
1960.3.8.11-12, 2; Malaysia: Johor: Sungei Sendai. BMNH 1970.9.3:53-54, 2; Singapore: Nee Soon. BMNH
1985.12.18:8-9, 3; Malaysia: Kelantan: Ayer Hitam. BMNH 1985.12.18:10-18, 9; Malaysia: Johor: "Johor Bahru, 7km
Zootaxa 3002 © 2011 Magnolia Press · 51
NEW BORARAS FROM THAILAND
South of Kuantan" [erroneous ?]. BMNH 1985.12.18:6-7, 2; BMNH 1995.5.17.112-126, 15 (6c&s); Malaysia: Johor; 6km
South of Kluang on Road to Renggam. CMK 18398, 30; Indonesia: Sumatra; Jambi (aquarium trade). CMK 20696, 2;
Indonesia: Sumatra: Jambi, blackwater ditch at about km 18 on road Muara Sabak–Jambi. USNM 101267, 1; Malaysia:
Melaka: outlet of Lake Chin Chin, Jasin, Malacca. USNM 229241, 2; Malaysia: Johor: blackwater forest tributary of Muar
River, 0.5 miles North of Kampong Bukit Kepong.
Boraras micros. BMNH 2004.4.29.1-3, 3(2c&s); Thailand (aquarium-fish trade).
Boraras urophthalmoides. CMK 16507, 94; Thailand: Nakhorn Sri Thammarat Prov.: heath forest swamp near Ban Bo Lo.
CMK 18734, 20; Thailand: Chantaburi Prov.: heath forest west of Tha Mai.
Boraras brigittae. CMK 7437, 4; Indonesia: Borneo: Kalimantan Selatan: Banjarmasin (aquarium bred).
Boraras merah. CMK 16317, 56; Indonesia: Borneo: Kalimantan Barat: Anjungan (aquarium-fish trade). CMK 20318, 7; Indo-
nesia: Borneo: Kalimantan Tengah: Mentaya drainage.
Acknowledgments
We are pleased to thank Katsuma Kubota (Bangkok) for his help and support in the field, Kelvin Lim (ZRC), Jeff
Williams (USNM), Ralf Britz and James Maclaine (BMNH) for providing access to specimens, Heok Hui Tan and
an anonymous reviewer for helpful comments on the manuscript, and Ralf Britz (BMNH) for accommodating the
first author on a recent visit to London, during which time much of this manuscript was prepared. KWC acknowl-
edges financial support from Texas Agrilife Research. This is publication number 1416 of the Texas Cooperative
Wildlife Collection.
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... The distribution of the B. maculatus complex seems to be constrained by the pH of the water, as these fishes are essentially found in acidic environment such as peat swamps (Conway & Kottelat, 2011;Kottelat & Vidthayanon, 1993;Li et al., 2016;Lim & Ng, 1990). Timecalibrated phylogenetic results support the hypothesis that the Since the end of the Miocene, the Sunda Shelf has been mostly exposed, with large paleodrainages connecting different Sundaic regions. ...
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The variability in the stenotopic miniature rasborine Boraras maculatus (Cypriniformes: Danionidae: Rasborinae) across acidic‐water habitats of Peninsular Malaysia (PM) was investigated using two molecular markers (the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [COI] gene and the nuclear rhodopsin gene), as well as morphological evidence. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed differentiation among populations of B. maculatus in PM with the distinction of four allopatric lineages. Each of them was recognized as a putative species by automatic species delimitation methods. These lineages diverged from each other between 7.4 and 1.9 million years ago. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to examine the multivariate variation in 11 morphometric measurements among three of these lineages. PCA results showed a significant overlap in morphological characteristics among these lineages. Additionally, a photograph‐based machine learning approach failed to fully differentiate these lineages, suggesting limited morphological differentiation. B. maculatus represents a case of morphological stasis in a stenotopic miniature species. Strong habitat preference, coupled with long‐term habitat fragmentation, may explain why each lineage of B. maculatus has a restricted distribution and did not disperse to other regions within and outside of PM, despite ample possibilities when the Sunda shelf was emerged and drained by large paleodrainages for most of the past 7 million years. The conservation status of B. maculatus and its peat swamp habitats are discussed, and it is concluded that peat swamps comprise several evolutionary units. Each of these units is considered a conservation unit and deserves appropriate protection.
... Generic assignment follows Tang et al. (2010). Conway and Kottelat (2011) report specimens of Boraras cf. micros in Tang Kottelat (2000Kottelat ( , 2001Kottelat ( , 2008b; Siebert (1997); Siebert and Guiry (1996). ...
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Full list of specimens, identifications, morphological characters, comments, and bibliography of samples generated in this study. (PDF)
... As part of zooplankton surveys conducted under the co-ordination of the PSU from 1999 (-ongoing), we investigated the cladocerans from swamp habitats, including peat swamps, in S Thailand. Peat swamps in S Thailand, either inland swamps related to river systems or those originating from marine transgressions, have proven to be valuable habitats for freshwater biodiversity (fish: Conway and Kottelat, 2011;rotifers: Chittapun et al., 1999;Chittapun and Pholpunthin, 2001;Chittapun et al., 2002Chittapun et al., , 2003Chittapun et al., , 2007. Chittapun and Pholphuntin (2001) note for the Thai Rotifera, that peat swamps are underestimated habitats with high diversities: most of the studies sampled canals, rivers, ponds, rice fields or reservoirs, but peat-swamps, an important wetland habitat in Thailand, have largely been ignored… peat-swamps are interesting areas for the study of rotifer biodiversity. ...
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