A new species of the genus Aphanius (Nardo, 1832) (Actinopterygii, Cyprinodontidae) from Algeria

Abstract

A new species, Aphanius saourensis sp. nov., is described based on morphological and genetic characters. The new species comes from the Saoura Valley in northwestern Algeria. It differs from Aphanius iberus, in which the Saoura Valley populations have been included until now, by a combination of the following characters: 7–8 (9) branched rays in dorsal fin; greater preorbital length (PrOL/ED=0.9–1.3); and a narrower caudal peduncle (CPL/BLD=1.7–2.0). Body pigmentation in live males consists of a profusely mottled blue and silver pattern, without vertical bars. Females lack conspicuous black spots. The new species differs from both of its sister taxa (Aphanius iberus and A. baeticus) at 26 fixed nucleotide positions (molecular autapomorphies) in the cytochrome b gene. Genetic divergence between Aphanius iberus and Aphanius saourensis sp. nov. for the cytochrome b gene is 4.9–5.8 % and between Aphanius baeticus and Aphanius saourensis sp. nov. 6.3– 6.5 %.