KOREAN JOURNAL OF ICHTHYOLOGY, Vol. 21 Supplement, 7-28, July 2009 Received : April 21, 2009 ISSN: 1225-8598 Revised : May 13, 2009 Accepted : June 24, 2009 A Review of the Spined Loaches, Family Cobitidae (Cypriniformes) in Korea By Ik-Soo Kim Institute for Biodiversity Research, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea ABSTRACT The family Cobitidae of Korea was reviewed as 16 species in 5 genera with the key to species for the identification by the external features. The three genera of Iksookimia, Koreocobitis, and Kichulchoia erected from the genus Cobitis were reclassified based on the presence or absence of Gambetta’s zones on the body sides, their body pigmentation, the shape of lamina circularis in males, the number of unbranched anal fin rays, and some molecular phylogenetic data. By the results of these reexamination, the generic names of the three species were changed as Cobitis choii, Iksookimia paci- fica, and Kichulchoia mutifasciata. It was remarked biogeographically that most species of genera Co- bitis, Iksookimia, Koreocobitis, and Kichulchoia show the disjunct distributions with bottom-dwelling preferences as endemic to Korean peninsular. Three species of Cobitis choii, Kichulchoia brevifasciata, and Koreocobitis naktongensis are considered to be critically endangered according to the severe habi- tat destruction and the alteration of river topography. Key words : Spined loaches, Cobitidae, Cobitis, Iksookimia, Kichulchoia, Koreocobitis, Misgrunus, lamina circularis INTRODUCTION (1939) reviewed in detail 5 species in the genera Cobitis and Misgrunus. Recently many cobitid taxa have conti- The fishes of the family Cobitidae are distributed in the nuously been described from Korea and known in availa- bottoms of freshwaters in the entire temperate Eurasia ble field observations (Kim, 1975; Kim et al., 1976, including the Morocco where about 140 species in 16 1999, 2000, 2003; Kim and Son, 1984; Kim and Lee, genera are recognized. These loaches are small, elongate 1987, 1995, Kim and Park, 1997). The diploid-triploid body forms with great variation of colour patterns on coitid complex lineages were reported as an unisexual body sides and the presence of an suborbital spine. Tax- reproductive mode by hybridogenesis between Cobitis onomic studies on the Cobitidae have been carried out hankugensis and Iksookimia longicorpa in the Nakdong in connection with the secondary sexual character, lami- River, Korea (Kim and Lee, 2000). Three genera of na circularis (Vladykov, 1935; Ikeda, 1936). Many ich- Iksookimia, Koreocobitis, and Kichulchoia were erected thyologists have been interested in these loaches, but from the genus Cobitis (Nalbant, 1993; Kim et al., 1997, their wide geographic ranges and extensive morphologi- 1999), however they were not provided a phylogenetic cal variabilities made it difficult for them to carry out classification. classification studies to reach a stable taxonomy and sys- 13 species in 6 genera of Acanthopsis, Cobitis, Parale- tematics (Saitoh et al., 2000). pidocephalus, Misgrunus, and Paramisgrunus have been Since C. taenia was recorded from Korea (Jordan and reported from China (Chen, 1981). Hosoya (2002) classi- Starks, 1905; Jordan and Metz, 1913), two species of fied Japanese Cobtidae into 8 species and 4 subspecies Cobitis multifasciata and C. rotundicaudata have been including unidentified species and subspecies in the ge- described by Wakiya and Mori (1929). And Uchida nera Misgrunus, Niwaella, and Cobitis. And the striated spined loaches in Japan and Korea were discussed with *Corresponding author: Ik-Soo Kim Tel: 82-63-270-3351, their phylogenetic positions by the mitochodrial DNA Fax: 82-63-270-3362, E-mail: [email protected] analysis (Kitakawa et al., 2004). Vasil’eva (2001) pre- — 7 — http://www.fishkorea.or.kr 8 Ik-Soo Kim sented the loaches of genus Misgrunus of Russian Asia with taxonomic problems of related forms from adjacent countries. 35 species in 3 genera of the Cobitidae in Eu- rope have been reviewed with available taxonomic infor- mations in the handbook of European Fishes (Kottelat and Freyhof, 2007). And the molecular phylogeny of the family Cobitidae was discussed with the problems of their generic delimitation (Slechtova et al., 2008). Fig. 1. Typical body pigmentation of genera Cobitis (left) and Ikso- The present paper is to re-evaluate the delimitation of okimia (right). the genera Cobitis, Iksookimia, Niwaella, and Kichul- choia and to provide a review of the family Cobitidae known from Korea today and their biogeographical ish vermiculate speckles above dorsolateral part.∙∙∙∙∙∙ aspects. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙Iksookimia (Fig. 1) MATERIALS AND METHODS Genus Cobitis Linnaeus Most specimens on which this study is based were col- Cobitis Linnaeus, 1758; 303 (type species: C. taenia). lected in Korea by the author and his colleagues. Most holotypes and paratypes belong to the collections of the Body slightly elongated and compressed. Mouth small, Faculty of Biological Science, Chonbuk National Uni- inferior with 3 pairs of barbels. Mental lobes on lower lip, versity (CNUC). Methods of counting and measuring small with pointed tip. Suborbital spine erectile, move- followed Hubbs and Lagler (2004). Vertebral counts were able, bifid. Anterior chamber of air bladder enclosed in taken from radiographs, and the Weberian apparatus a bony capsule of globular form. Four Gambetta’s zones located at the anterior vertebral column was counted as on body sides. Caudal fin truncated. Body covered by four vertebrae. Gambetta’s zones in pigmentations of the minute oval scales with medium focal area. Lateral line genus Cobitis were defined as described by Gambetta short, not exceeding pectorals. Males with lamina circul- (1934). Measurements expressed as percentage of stan- aris at base of pectoral fin rays. About 50 species in Eu- dard length (SL) or head length (HL) are given as range rasia and Moroco and 4 species in Korea. with mean. The terminology of the morphological aspects on the mouth and barbels, scales, pigmentations, subor- Key to the species of the genus Cobitis in Korea bital spine, and gas bladder capsule followed Nalbant (1963). 1a. Body pigmentation consisting of a series of dark brown roundish or rectangular blotches on below Key to genera of family Cobitidae in Korea midlateral part (Z4 zone). ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙2 1b. Body pigmentation consisting of 3 to 4 dark brown 1a. Non-functional suborbital spine; scales with small stripes on midlateral part (Z1-4 zones). ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ eccentric focal area. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙Misgrunus ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙C. tetralineata 1b. Movable suborbital spine, scales with large central 2a. Body pigmentation consisting of a series of dark focal area. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙2 brown rectangular blotches on below midlateral part 2a. Irregular densely dark small spots on body sides; (Z4 zone); roundish lamina circularis at base of pec- margin of caudal fin slightly rounded. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ toral fin of males; large scales with medium sized ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙Koreocobitis focal area. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙3 2b. A series of blotches, vertical bars or stripes on body 2b. Body pigmentation consisting of a series of dark sides; margin of caudal fin truncate. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙3 brown roundish blotches on below midlateral part 3a. 4 branched anal rays, 6 branched dorsal rays; no la- (Z4 zone); elongated lamina circularis at base of pec- mina circularis at pectoral fin base in males. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ toral fin of males; small scales with large focal area. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙Kichulchoia ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙C. choii 3b. 5 branched anal rays, 7 branched dorsal rays; lamina 3a. Fourth Gambetta’s zone with a series of ovoid blotch- circularis at pectoral fin base in males.∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙4 es; 2n chromosomes 48; interorbital width narrow, 4a. Body pigmentation usually four Gambetta’s zones; 11-14% in head length. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙C. hankugensis tip of 2nd pectoral fin ray of males not pointed.∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 3b. Fourth Gambetta’s zone with a series of rectangle ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙Cobitis blotches; males with two stripes (Z2 and Z4) in 4b. Body pigmentation a row of dark brown vertical blo- spawning season; 2n chromosomes 50; interorbital tches below midlateral part and irregular dark blown- width broad, 14-19% in head length. ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙C. lutheri Review of Loaches from Korea 9 Cobitis choii Kim and Son, 1984 (Plate 1. A) Cobitis by its body pigmentaion composition and the suggestion of molecular phylogeny by RAG-1 analysis Cobitis choii Kim and Son, 1984: 49 (type locality: in the northern cobitid fishes (Slechtova et al., 2008). Ochang-myon, Cheongwon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, This species is threatened for their survival by the dest- Miho-cheon stream, a tributaty of the Geum River, ruction of the specific habitats, so it has been designated Korea). as the endangered species of the Ministry of Environ- Iksookimia choii, Nalbant, 1993: 105 (transferred). ment and as a natural monument species from the Cul- tural Heritage Administration of Korea. According to Common name: Miho spined loach (English); Mi-ho- current findings, it