A new genus of cheline cyprinid fishes Gordon Jon Howes Zoology Department, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD In a recent review of the cyprinid genus Barilus (Howes, 1980), it was noted that one species, Barilius auropurpureus Annandale, 1919 was not a member of that genus but that it shared derived characters with the cheline group of cyprinids. This paper amplifies that statement and establishes a new genus to contain the species. Annandale (1918) described Barilius auropurpureus from Inle lake basin, south Shan States in Burma. He did not, however, compare the species with any other Barilius and gave no reason for including it in that genus. I have examined a series of specimens collected by Annandale and can find no characters that indicate affinity with Barilius or any member of the bariliine group (sensu Howes, 1980). On the contrary, auropurpureus shares apomorph features with the cheline group (sensu Howes, 1979). These characters are: marginal overlap of the supraethmoid by the frontals; triangular, lamellate kinethmoid; ethmo-vomerine bloc extended anteriorly and laterally as a shelf; wide midline separation of the medial anterior maxillary processes; anteriorly notched and hooked dentary; truncated supraoccipital; long, posteriorly curved lateral processes on the 2nd vertebra. Inclusion of auropurpureus in an existing cheline genus is precluded on the grounds of its autapomorphic features involving the ethmoid and jaw morphology (see below). I propose therefore that 'Barilius ' auropurpureus be assigned to a new genus: INLECYPRIS gen nov. TYPE SPECIES. Barilius auropurpureus Annandale, 1918 Slender fishes with large eye, pointed snout and obliquely angled mouth; ventral keel present. Supraethmoid produced laterally, the mesethmoid extending anteriorly beyond the supraethmoid as a shelf; preethmoid minute; kinethmoid lamellate, triangular; symphysial notch and process on dentary; large nasal; infraorbitals well developed, the 5th small and contacting the wide supraorbital; frontals narrow, overlapping the posterior margin of the supraethmoid; dilatator fossa small; parasphenoid horizontal, separated from the orbitosphenoid by a shallow septum; minute metapterygoid-quadrate fenestra; vertical cleithral limb short; postcleithrum well-developed, curved mesad; coracoids meeting along their ventral margins; neural complex low; 7 large lamellate supraneurals -1st & 2nd fused; lateral processes of 1st and 2nd vertebrae elongate and caudally directed; total number of vertebrae 37 (4+10+22+1). A single species, Inlecypris auropurpureus (Annandale, 1918), known only from Inle lake basin, Burma. Annandale (1918; 1922) adequately described the species, its habitat and habits. RELATIONSHIPS. Within the cheline group Inlecypris shares derived characters with Chela. The ethmoid region of both taxa is very similar. The supraethmoid is overlapped posteriorly by the frontals, the mesethmoid is depressed and is produced anteriorly as a long shelf, the preethmoids are minute. Both genera have a flat, triangular kinethmoid (Figs 1 A & B). Other synapomorphic features are the enlarged nasal; the morphology of the upper jaw, which in Chela lacks a prominent mid-lateral maxillary ascending process and which in Inlecypris is reduced to a spine (cf. Figs 2A & B); the posterior curvature of the cranium, reduction of the supraoccipital process and absence of posttemporal fossae; morphology of the supraneurals; morphology and degree of development of the transverse processes on the 1st and 2nd vertebrae. Both taxa also possess an enlarged supracleithrum which covers the Bull. Br. Mus. nal. Hist. (Zool.) 38 (3) : 1 7 1-1 73 Issued 29 May 1 980 171
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