Pseudobarbus vulneratus ( Castelnau, 1861 )

Zarei, Fatah, Martin, Melissa B., Skelton, Paul H. & Chakona, Albert, 2025, Systematic review of Pseudobarbus burchelli (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), with revalidation of P. vulneratus and description of a new species, Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (3), pp. 1271-1296 : 1271-1296

Pseudobarbus vulneratus ( Castelnau, 1861)

English name: Breede River redfin Afrikaans name: Breederivier-rooivlerkie Figs 8 , 9

Gnathendalia vulnerata Castelnau, 1861: 57 (Tributary of Breede River at Moravian mission of Genadendal, Cape Province, South Africa).

Barbus multimaculatus Steindachner, 1870: 633, Pl. 3 (fig. 2).

Pseudobarbus burchelli Smith, 1841 – Skelton 1988: 264, 1993: 123, 2001: 123 (in part).

Pseudobarbus vulnerata ( Castelnau, 1861) – Skelton 2024: 248; Zarei et al. 2025 a: 2.

Neotype designation for Pseudobarbus vulneratus

( Castelnau, 1861). The original syntypes of Pseudobarbus vulneratus [BMNH (skins), not found], described by Castelnau (1861), are currently untraceable. To ensure taxonomic stability (in accordance with Art. 75.3 of the ICZN), we designate a neotype from the type locality — the Baviaans River at Genadendal in the Breede River system — as a definitive reference for P. vulneratus . The neotype, SAIAB 246286 (male, 67.3 mm SL; Fig. 8 A, B ), was selected from well-preserved, recently collected material.

Neotype.

• SAIAB 246286 (tag number X 19), male, 67.3 mm SL, Baviaans River at Genadendal, Breede River system, South Africa, -34.026972, 19.5558, collected by A. Chakona & J. Merron, 2 March 2009.

Additional material

(n = 55). • SAIAB 201149 (tag numbers X 18 and X 20 – X 21), 3 specimens, 65.9–70.9 mm SL, Baviaans River at Genadendal, Breede River system, South Africa, -34.026972, 19.5558, collected by A. Chakona & J. Merron, 2 March 2009 . • SAIAB 210452 (tag numbers X 11 – X 17), 7 specimens, 62.1–70.5 mm SL, Melkhout River , Breede River system, South Africa, -34.370527, 20.6456, collected by A. Chakona & J. Merron, 28 September 2009 . • SAIAB 200995 (tag numbers X 22 – X 28), 7 specimens, 51.1–89.4 mm SL, Gobos River at Greyton, Breede River system, South Africa, -34.03638, 19.62575, collected by A. Chakona & E. Swartz, 5 March 2009 . • SAIAB 210457 (tag numbers X 29 – X 32), 4 specimens, 63.6–75.0 mm SL, Duiwenhok River , South Africa, -34.00705, 20.88383, collected by A. Chakona & W. Kadye, 1 October 2009 . • SAIAB 209918 (tag numbers X 33 – X 36), 4 specimens, 54.8–69.7 mm SL, Amandel River , Breede River system, South Africa, -33.50661, 19.494972, collected by A. Chakona & E. Swartz, 7 December 2008 . • SAIAB 193378 (tag numbers X 37 – X 40), 4 specimens, 47.0–61.0 mm SL, Willem Nels River , Breede River system, South Africa, -33.7583, 19.875, collected by E. Swartz & H. Roos, 19 March 2001 . • SAIAB 193373 , 3 specimens, 55.7–61.6 mm SL, Melkhout River , Breede River system, South Africa, - 34.36, 20.638, collected by E. Swartz & H. Roos, 17 March 2001 . • SAIAB 210019 , 2 specimens, 62.0– 67.5 mm SL, Keurbooms River , Breede River system, South Africa, -33.98561, 20.373, collected by A. Chakona & W. Kadye, 7 October 2009 . • SAIAB 201128 , 2 specimens, 51.6–53.9 mm SL, Titus River , Breede River system, South Africa, -33.4053, 19.41805, collected by A. Chakona & E. Swartz, 22 February 2009 . • SAIAB 193816 , 2 specimens, 64.7–66.8 mm SL, Twee , Breede River system, South Africa, - 33.6, 19.32361, collected by E. Swartz & H. Roos, 23 March 2001 . • SAIAB 186076 , 2 specimens, 56.1–67.2 mm SL, Duiwenhoks River , South Africa, -33.97839, 21.03233, collected by E. Swartz & W. Bronaugh, 9 March 2012 . • SAIAB 130671 , 3 specimens, 40.1–42.5 mm SL, Baviaans River at Genadendal, Breede River system, South Africa, -34.0325, 19.55861, collected by S. Thorne, 9 December 1986 . • SAIAB 209991 , 2 specimens, 54.2–58.4 mm SL, Duiwenhoks River , South Africa, -34.019638, 20.93455, collected by A. Chakona. • SAIAB 209799 , 5 specimens, 58.6–70.9 mm SL, Goukou River , South Africa, -34.017194, 21.290583, collected by A. Chakona & J. Merron, 7 April 2009 . • SAIAB 209807 , 5 specimens, 67.4–81.2 mm SL, Goukou River , South Africa, -33.984916, 21.20716, collected by A. Chakona & J. Merron, 9 April 2009 .

Diagnosis.

Pseudobarbus vulneratus can be distinguished from all currently recognised congeners by the following combination of character states: subterminal mouth with two pairs of barbels; circumpeduncular scale count of 12–13; predorsal scale rows of 14–18 (usually 15–16); head length 24.2–29.8 % SL; anterior barbel 6.8–31.2 % HL; orbit diameter 18.1–27.2 % HL; absence of linear body stripes; presence of dorsal and mid-lateral spots and blotches; tuberculation in mature breeding males (large to small conical / blunt tubercles, 1–6 in each snout cluster, single row above each naris with 1–3 tubercles per cluster, single row above each orbit with 1–5 tubercles per cluster); and 2 teeth in the outer pharyngeal tooth row. Additionally, Pseudobarbus vulneratus is distributed across the Breede River system (excluding the Huis and Tradouw catchments), as well as the Duiwenhoks and Goukou river systems.

Description.

All morphometric values in the text are presented with the neotype value first, followed by any differing values for additional material in parentheses.

General morphology. See Table 3 for body proportions and meristics. Body moderately elongate, fusiform and laterally compressed; dorsal profile more convex than ventral profile; greatest depth anterior to dorsal fin origin 4.2 (3.6–5.0) in SL. Caudal peduncle depth 0.5 (0.4–0.6) times its length. Large head, length 3.7 (3.4–4.2) in SL, depth at eye 6.6 (6.0–7.8) in SL and 0.6 (0.5–0.7) times greatest body depth. Dorsal profile of head posterior to orbit steep. Snout short and oblique, convex, its length 1.8 (1.1–2.0) times eye diameter and 2.6 (2.5–3.9) in head length. Large eyes, diameter 4.5 (3.7–5.6) in head length, dorsolaterally placed, not extending above the dorsal outline. Interorbital width 1.6 (1.1–2.0) of orbit diameter. Mouth sub-terminal and sickle-shaped, with two pairs of well-developed barbels. Anterior barbel 0.9 (0.3–1.3) times eye diameter, significantly short of anterior eye margin to reaching the middle of the eye. Posterior barbel 1.4 (0.3–2.0) times orbit diameter, ends between posterior edge of pupil and slightly beyond preopercular margin.

Tuberculation. Mature breeding males with conical / blunt tubercles of different sizes on snout and top of head (Fig. 6 ). Bilateral clusters of large to small tubercles present on snout (1–6 tubercles per cluster). A row of large to small tubercles (similar to snout tubercles in size and shape) extends in an arc above each naris (1–3 tubercles per cluster) to the anterodorsal edge of the orbit and then continues posteriorly with single row of 1–5 tubercles (anteriorly larger) along the dorsal edge of each orbit. Anterior and posterior dorsal clusters, either naked or usually with a few small to tiny tubercles, progressively decrease in size toward the posterior. Scales naked or with a line of minute tubercles along the free edge, except for ventral scales anterior to pelvic fin origin. Scattered minute tubercles may also occur on some scales. Lines of minute tubercles present on fin rays (except caudal fin).

Scales. LL 32–39 (neotype: 36; other material: 32: 6, 33: 6, 34: 11, 35: 12, 36: 7, 37: 4, 38: 7, 39: 2), LD 5–7 (neotype: 6; other material: 5: 3, 6: 31, 7: 21), LP 4–6 (neotype: 4; other material: 4: 9, 5: 35, 6: 11), LA 4–6 (neotype: 5; other material: 4: 14, 5: 34, 6: 7), CP 12–13 (neotype: 12; other material: 12: 42, 13: 9), PDS 14–18 (neotype: 17; other material: 14: 7, 15: 24, 16: 13, 17: 8, 18: 3). Predorsal and ventral scales embedded and smaller than flank scales. All scales cycloid.

Fins. Dorsal fin rays iv / 6 – iv / 8 (neotype: iv / 7; other materials: iv / 6: 1, iv / 7: 53, iv / 8: 1); anal fin rays iv / 5; pectoral fin rays 13–15 (neotype: 14; other materials: 13: 35, 14: 15; 15: 5); pelvic fin rays 7–8 (neotype: 8; other materials: 7: 1, 8: 54); caudal fin branched rays 15–18 (neotype: 17; other materials: 15: 2, 16: 2, 17: 48, 18: 3). Dorsal fin in the centre of the body excluding the caudal fin; origin slightly behind origin of pelvic fin; tip of depressed dorsal fin nearly reaches vertical line at anal fin posterior base or is 0.5–1.5 scales short in both sexes. Pectoral fin fan-shaped, variable in length, reaches / surpasses or short (0.5–3 scales) of pelvic fin origin in both sexes. Pelvic fin origin slightly in front of dorsal fin origin, length variable, tip of depressed pelvic fin reaches / surpasses or 0.5–2 short of anterior anal fin origin in both sexes. Caudal fin forked.

Osteology (n = 17). Vertebral column including Weberian apparatus and urostyle: total vertebrae 34–38 (neotype: 37; other materials: 34: 1, 35: 1, 36: 8, 37: 5, 38: 1), predorsal vertebrae 11–13 (neotype: 12; other material: 11: 4, 12: 11, 13: 1), precaudal vertebrae 19–21 (neotype: 19; other material: 19: 9, 20: 5, 21: 2), caudal vertebrae 15–18 (neotype: 18; other material: 15: 2, 16: 3, 17: 9, 18: 2).

Gill rakers (n = 5): 3–5 + 1 + 9 – 11 (epibranchial: 3: 3, 4: 1, 5: 1; angle: 1: 5; ceratobranchial: 9: 1, 10: 3, 11: 1).

Pharyngeal teeth (n = 5). Three rows of pharyngeal teeth, teeth pattern 2, 3, 4–5 + 4–5, 2–3, 2. The distribution frequency of pharyngeal teeth is given in Table 4 .

Colour of fresh specimens.

Refer to Fig. 9 for general live colouration. The colouration of the species varies from light to dark olive green or golden brown, with larger specimens tending to be darker. The dorsal surface of the head and body is typically darker, while the ventral surface is lighter. A mid-lateral band may be present, though it can be either distinct or indistinct. The dorsal half of the body is often marked by large dark spots and blotches, including a series of irregular spots along the mid-lateral line and a prominent triangular or sub-triangular marking at the end of the caudal peduncle. The basal half of the fins is scarlet, with dark brown fin rays, and the distal membranes are hyaline.

Colour of preserved specimens.

Refer to Fig. 8 for colouration of preserved specimens. A distinct mid-lateral band ending in the form of a triangular mark anterior to the base of the caudal fin usually present. Dorsal head and body dark or dark brown, fading to lighter below. A mid-lateral series of irregular blotches and spots over the dorsal half of the body usually present. Blotches and spots may be absent in some larger specimens or breeding males with conical tubercles on heads.

Distribution and ecology.

Pseudobarbus vulneratus has a relatively wide geographical range, as it occurs across the Breede, Duiwenhoks and Goukou River systems (Fig. 2 ; Swartz et al. 2009, 2014; Chakona et al. 2013). It has been known to inhabit boulders and bedrock pools with deep flowing stretches of larger tributary streams and mainstreams. As a bottom feeder, it feeds on detritus and small organisms. Breeding season occurs during summer, where males have been recorded to generate sounds ( Lowe and Skelton 2008).

Conservation.

This lineage has been classified in the IUCN Red List Assessment of South African freshwater fish as Vulnerable (VU) ( Chakona et al. 2022). According to Skelton (2024), the large reduction in the population range of this lineage is due to destroyed habitats for the development of townships and large-scale agriculture, industries that abstract or divert water, pollution, invasive riparian plants, and introduced alien predatory fishes, particularly bass and trout.

Etymology.

Castelnau (1861) did not clarify the origin or reasoning behind the specific name. The gender-correct scientific name is Pseudobarbus vulneratus , as the genus is masculine.

Figures

Figure 2. Distribution map of all double-barbeled Pseudobarbus species / lineages based on genetic data (this study; Bloomer and Impson 2000; Tsigenopoulos et al. 2002; Chakona et al. 2013, 2014; Swartz et al. 2014).

Figure 6. A. Diagrammatic representation of the head tubercle pattern in a mature breeding male redfin: a, cluster on snout; b, row above nares; c, row above orbit; d, anterior dorsal cluster; e, posterior dorsal cluster (modified from Skelton 1988). Tuberculation of head in mature breeding males of B. Pseudobarbus burchelli (SAIAB 126387, neotype, 102 mm SL, Tradouw catchment, Breede River system); C. P. skeltoni (SAIAB 187243, holotype, 158.2 mm SL, Riviersonderend River upstream, Breede River system); D. P. vulneratus (SAIAB 210457, 63.6 mm SL, Duiwenhoks River system), and E. P. agulhas sp. nov. (SAIAB 246288, 66.4 mm SL, Klein River system).

Figure 8. Pseudobarbus vulneratus, A, B. SAIAB 246286 (tag number X 19), male, neotype, 67.3 mm SL, Breede River system; C, D. SAIAB 200995 (tag number X 26), 69.5 mm SL, Breede River system.

Figure 9. Fresh specimens of Pseudobarbus vulneratus from the A. Goukou River (SAIAB 209807); B. Melkhoutrivier near Malgas, Breede River system (SAIAB 210452); C. Koringlandsrivier at Swellendam, Breede River system (SAIAB 210023), and D. Riviersonderend, Breede River system (SAIAB 209790).