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Brachymystax tsinlingensis

Brachymystax tsinlingensis

China
Status
Not Evaluated

IUCN conservation assessment category

Habitat
Freshwater, Mountain

Primary ecological niche & biome

Diet
Omnivorous

Dietary type and primary food source

Activity
Diurnal

Diurnal, nocturnal, or active patterns

Scientific Summary

GBIF Taxonomic Backbone & Wikipedia Registry Profile

Diagnosis. Brachymystax tsinlingensis can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characteristics: no spots on operculum; gill rakers 15 - 20; lateral-line scales 98 - 116; pyloric caeca 60 - 71. Re-description. General body features are shown in Figure 2. Morphometric and meristic characters are listed in Table 2. Body elongated, compressed. Dorsal profile rising slightly from snout tip to dorsal-fin origin, then sloping gently to adipose-fin origin, and then sloping slightly to end of caudal peduncle. Ventral profile horizontal to pelvic-fin origin, then upward clearly to caudal fin. Caudal peduncle moderately compressed. The greatest body depth at dorsal-fin origin, and least depth of caudal peduncle close to caudal-fin base. Head blunt, top broad, flat at center. Blunt-snouted, lower jaw nearly equal to or slightly shorter than upper jaw. Teeth on the upper and lower jaws. Anterior nostril tubular and short, next to posterior nostril. Eyes large and rounded, nearer to snout lip than to trailing edge of operculum; interorbital broad. Pair of short rictal barbels, shorter than half of eye diameter. Gill opening large, reaching or extending downwards beyond pectoral-fin base. Gill rakers developed and sparse. TABLE 2. Biometric data for species of Brachymystax. Brachymystax tsinlingensis (n = 50) Brachymystax lenok (n = 84) Brachymystax tumensis (n = 14) Number of branched rays Dorsal fin 10 - 11 9 - 10 9 - 10 Anal fin 9 8 - 10 8 - 10 Pectoral fin 15 - 16 14 - 17 15 - 16 Pelvic fin 9 8 - 9 9 Number of countable characters rakers 15 - 20 17 - 29 23 - 25 Lateral-line scales 98 - 116 111 - 158 111 - 124 Pyloric caeca 60 - 71 70 - 111 55 - 65 Circumpedunclar scales 34 - 40 34 - 40 32 - 48 Mean ± Mean ± Range (mm) Range (mm) Range (mm) Mean ± SD (mm ± SD) SD (mm ± SD) SD (mm ± SD) Standard length 63.48 - 257.3 147.22 ± 53.81 76.21 - 340.36 202.73 ± 63.61 112.86 - 133.45 123.29 ± 6.87 % standard length Body depth 10.87 - 31.05 21.66 ± 3.02 12.04 - 38.97 22.81 ± 2.40 20.64 - 25.55 22.72 ± 1.39 Predorsal length 38.53 - 59.28 47.78 ± 2.83 36.65 - 62.71 48.80 ± 3.06 45.02 - 50.77 47.90 ± 1.72 Head to dorsal 15.34 - 37.72 29.48 ± 3.32 25.89 - 44.88 31.72 ± 2.77 27.32 - 33.57 29.89 ± 1.96 Dorsal-fin base length 12.02 - 19.64 15.21 ± 1.37 8.97 - 22.42 13.11 ± 1.95 11.60 - 15.07 13.52 ± 0.98 Dorsal-fin length 16.56 - 24.79 21.06 ± 1.66 14.30 - 29.66 19.1 ± 2.30 14.30 - 21.12 18.76 ± 1.60 Preanal length 61.18 - 85.22 77.62 ± 3.77 68.34 - 91.41 79.67 ± 4.18 73.86 - 78.88 76.51 ± 1.25 Anal-fin base length 8.90 - 13.07 10.71 ± 0.86 7.01 - 12.95 9.53 ± 0.96 8.90 - 10.78 9.99 ± 0.59 Anal-fin length 14.37 - 20.10 16.87 ± 1.16 12.38 - 23.01 15.38 ± 1.57 13.36 - 15.55 14.63 ± 0.64 Prepectoral length 21.69 - 33.80 26.10 ± 2.98 17.33 - 30.56 23.83 ± 1.88 22.17 - 27.84 24.77 ± 1.68 … Continue on the next page Dorsal-fin origin in front of vertical line of pelvic-fin origin, nearer to snout tip than to caudal-fin base; distance between snout tip and dorsal-fin origin nearly equal to distance from posterior end of dorsal-fin base to adipose-fin origin. Dorsal fin short, posterior end of base opposite to pelvic-fin origin. Pectoral fin insertion in vertical through posterior margin of operculum, pectoral fin short, not reaching to upright position of dorsal-fin origin. Pelvic-fin insertion nearer to anal-fin base than to pectoral-fin origin, opposite to third or fourth branched ray of dorsal fin, end not reaching to anus. Anal fin short, insertion nearly at midway between pelvic-fin origin and caudal-fin base, origin nearly opposite to adipose-fin origin. Adipose-fin origin nearer to caudal-fin base than to dorsal-fin base. Caudal-fin bifurcate, upper lobe equal to lower one. Lateral line complete, almost straight. Body covered by small scales. Lateral-line scales 98 - 116, rows of scales above lateral line 20 - 28, below lateral line 20 - 28. Predorsal scales 47 - 70, regularly arranged. Circumpeduncular scales 34 - 40. Gill rakers 15 - 20. Pyloric caeca 60 - 71. Air bladder with one chamber, larger than eye diameter, with thin membrane and slim vessel connecting to intestine. Coloration. Live individual (Fig. 3): body generally brownish, back dark brownish, light yellowish on sides and whitish on belly. A number of black oval spots with light pinkish edges scattered on back and sides except on operculum; 7 - 8 dark spots on the bases of dorsal fin and adipose fin. Around 10 light blackish bars on side of body. Orange on the edges of pectoral fin, pelvic fin, anal fin and caudal fin. Preserved specimens (Fig. 2): lectotype specimen had been fixed and preserved in formalin since 1962, and then transferred to alcohol in 2005. Body dark brownish, back darker and belly lighter. Spots on back and sides; bars on sides. All fins light grayish.
Biology & Conservation

Ecologically, the conservation status of Brachymystax tsinlingensis is officially designated as Not Evaluated. Current field registries estimate a global population composed of an unquantified number of individuals, making habitat preservation critical to maintaining their wild populations.

It is typically endemic to freshwater, mountain, showing great physiological synergy with its surroundings. In terms of dietary preferences, it relies primarily on a diet of diverse organic matter. It exhibits specialized adaptations centered around a its natural cycle activity pattern, optimizing its energy conservation and interactions within its native ecosystem.

Ongoing biological monitoring and ecological advocacy emphasize the importance of protecting this species. The stability of its food chain and the prevention of fragmentation in its primary range are vital for the continued survival of Brachymystax tsinlingensis.

Energy & Activity Profile
Habitat & Adaptation Index
Quick Facts
Native RangeChina
Habitat RangeFreshwater, Mountain
Lifespan
StatusData Deficient
ScientificBrachymystax tsinlingensis
Registry Info
LifespanUnknown
KingdomAnimalia
FamilySalmonidae