A new species of cyprinid in the genus Achondrostoma has been described from western Spain.
Ignacio Doadrio and Benigno Elvira have named the fish Achondrostoma salmantinum, after the Roman name (Salmantia) of the region (Salamanca) where this fish occurs, in the latest issue of the journal Graellsia.
Achondrostoma salmantinum differs from other members of the genus in having a combination of: seven branched rays in the dorsal and anal fins, 5-5 pharyngeal teeth, narrow caudal peduncle, 15"22 gill rakers on the first arch, 44"53 scales on the lateral line, 9"10 scales on the upper transverse line, and 4"6 scales on the lower transverse line.
The new species is also distinguished genetically from congeners.
Achondrostoma salmantinum is known from the southwestern portion of the Salamanca Province of Spain, where it typically inhabits seasonal streams, with clear waters, sandy bottoms, preferring slow flowing reaches with abundant aquatic macrophytes.
The authors propose the common name of Sarda for this species.
For more information, see the paper: Doadrio, I and B Elvira (2007) A new species of the genus Achondrostoma Robalo, Almada, Levy and Doadrio, 2007 (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) from western Spain. Graellsia 63, pp. 295"304.