taxonID	type	description	language	source
D5EAFFD5C4B35B7883CCC75197E4A212.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. A medium-sized balitorid with separated pelvic fins and two simple pelvic fin rays. Paired fins with no dark markings. Arched mouth with both jaws covered by a horny sheath; rostral flap divided into three lobes, separated by long rostral barbels; both lips with one row of indistinct papillae; two pairs of prominent maxillary barbels at corners of mouth, both longer than eye diameter. Oblique caudal-fin base, upper end significantly longer than lower end (Figs 8, 9). The upper lobe of caudal fin longer than lower.	en	Lei, Hao-Tian, Pu, Xin-Rui, Yang, Hong-Fu, Zhu, Ming-Xin, Mo, Hao-Lin, Liu, Xiao-Yu, Wang, Mo, Bi, Bao-Liang (2025): Balitora dehouensis, a new species of cave-dwelling hillstream loach (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Balitoridae) from the upper Red River, southwestern China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1569-1584, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.157180
D5EAFFD5C4B35B7883CCC75197E4A212.taxon	description	Description. Morphological comparison of B. dehouensis with two other known troglobitic members of Balitora as well as their only congener possessing two pairs of long maxillary barbels, Namely B. anlongensis, B. longibarbata and B. ludongensis are demonstrated in Table 2. See Fig. 3 for a general profile of body. Body elongated, rounded laterally and flattened ventrally, posterior portion gradually compressed from dorsal fin to caudal-fin base, With the highest point of body at dorsal-fin origin. Body covered in small scales, lateral-line scales 74 – 78. Each scale with a prominent longitudinal keel along center. Lateral-line scales with two additional smaller keels along posterior edge, above and below principal longitudinal keel. Head blunt and depressed, dorsum of head densely covered with tiny tubercles. Head length greater than head width and head width much greater than head depth. Eyes small, 2.31 – 1.05 % SL; situated dorsally, slightly posterior to the midpoint of head, not visible from ventral view. Interorbital space wide and flat. Mouth small, arched shaped, inferior, relatively shallow preoral groove present between rostral cap and upper lip, extending across corners of mouth. Rostral cape around upper lip and divided into three lobes by rostral barbels, the median one the largest, slightly curved. Two pairs of rostral barbels, both longer than eye diameter, outer one slightly longer than the inner one. Two pairs of long maxillary barbels, both exceeding eye diameter, outer one slightly longer than the inner one, situated at corner of mouth. Upper and lower jaws covered by a horny sheath. Upper and lower lips with a single row of large, indistinct papillae. Lower jaw with radiate ridges on surface. Two longitudinal fleshy ridges on mid-chin (Fig. 4). Gill opening large, extending to the pectoral fin origin on the ventral surface. Dorsal fin rays i, 8, pectoral fin rays xi, 12, pelvic fin rays ii, 8, anal fin rays i, 5, and Principal caudal fin rays 7 + 8. Dorsal fin origin slightly anterior to pelvic-fin origin and nearer to tip of snout than to caudal fin base. Pectoral fins large and horizontally placed, posterior margin rounded. Tip of the pectoral fin not reaching pelvic fin origin. Pelvic fins short, not reaching or just reaching anus, posterior margin straight. Pelvic fin origin closer to snout tip than caudal fin base and closer to anal fin origin than snout tip. Pelvic fin not reaching anus. Anus situated approximately 2 / 3 distance from posterior end of the pelvic-fin base to the anal fin origin. Anal fin short, origin close to the anus and far from the caudal fin base, tips of which not reaching caudal fin base when extended backwards. Caudal-fin base oblique, upper end significantly longer than lower end. Caudal fin deeply forked, upper lobe longer than lower lobe. Uppermost and lowermost three or four principal caudal rays without interradial membranes and tightly associated. Caudal peduncle slender, length of which 4.82 – 3.37 times of depth.	en	Lei, Hao-Tian, Pu, Xin-Rui, Yang, Hong-Fu, Zhu, Ming-Xin, Mo, Hao-Lin, Liu, Xiao-Yu, Wang, Mo, Bi, Bao-Liang (2025): Balitora dehouensis, a new species of cave-dwelling hillstream loach (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Balitoridae) from the upper Red River, southwestern China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1569-1584, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.157180
D5EAFFD5C4B35B7883CCC75197E4A212.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. This species is presently only known from the outlet and subterranean river of Lengfeng Cave, a stretch of Dehou River (Fig. 7). This species inhabits torrential stretches of river with clear, well-oxygenated water as well as boulder and gravel substrate. Enlarged and flattened paired fins enable it to resist the current and adhere to the rocky surface while feeding on algae and aquatic invertebrates. During the rainy season, subterranean water levels rise, creating a riparian environment at the outlet of Lengfeng Cave ideal for B. dehouensis, making it possible to be collected outside the cave. During the dry season, subterranean water levels fall and B. dehouensis retreats into the cave. It was initially discovered by locals on 10. I. 2023. (private communication). Syntopic fish species observed at the same locality with B. dehouensis include Anabarilius transmontana (Xenocyprididae), Discogobio antethoracalis, Sinocyclocheilus wenshanensis (Cyprinidae), Homatula wenshanensis, Triplophysa wenshanensis (Nemacheilidae) and Paralepidocephalus yui (Cobitidae).	en	Lei, Hao-Tian, Pu, Xin-Rui, Yang, Hong-Fu, Zhu, Ming-Xin, Mo, Hao-Lin, Liu, Xiao-Yu, Wang, Mo, Bi, Bao-Liang (2025): Balitora dehouensis, a new species of cave-dwelling hillstream loach (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Balitoridae) from the upper Red River, southwestern China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1569-1584, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.157180
D5EAFFD5C4B35B7883CCC75197E4A212.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet “ dehouensis ” refers to the type locality: Tieze Village, Dehou Town, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Regarding the bizarre caudal-fin base of B. dehouensis, we propose the common English name “ Dehou heterocercal stone loach ” and the Chinese name “ De Hou Yi Wei Pa Qiu (德厚异尾爬鳅) ”.	en	Lei, Hao-Tian, Pu, Xin-Rui, Yang, Hong-Fu, Zhu, Ming-Xin, Mo, Hao-Lin, Liu, Xiao-Yu, Wang, Mo, Bi, Bao-Liang (2025): Balitora dehouensis, a new species of cave-dwelling hillstream loach (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Balitoridae) from the upper Red River, southwestern China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1569-1584, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.157180
DD2E53B74B405F2C903052AA4D2973DC.taxon	type_taxon	Type Genus: Balitora Gray, 1830. Genus Balitora Gray, 1830	en	Lei, Hao-Tian, Pu, Xin-Rui, Yang, Hong-Fu, Zhu, Ming-Xin, Mo, Hao-Lin, Liu, Xiao-Yu, Wang, Mo, Bi, Bao-Liang (2025): Balitora dehouensis, a new species of cave-dwelling hillstream loach (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Balitoridae) from the upper Red River, southwestern China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1569-1584, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.157180
