Paedocypris, we hardly knew ye

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This is Paedocrypsis, a cyprinid fish that is less than one centimeter in length. PZ has blogged on it here in the past. Unfortunately, as PZ now notes, it looks like the species has gone extinct only weeks afier being formally described.

What little we know about the species is contained in Kotellat et al. (in press) "Paedocypris, a new genus of Southeast Asian cyprinid fish with a remarkable sexual dimorphism, comprises the world's smallest vertebrate" Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Biological Sciences DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3419. The abstract reads:

Paedocypris is a new genus of paedomorphic cyprinid fish from highly acidic blackwater peat swamps in Southeast Asia. It includes two new species, one of which (Paedocypris progenetica) appears to be the smallest fish and vertebrate known, with the smallest mature female measuring a mere 7.9mm. Paedocypris has many âlarvalâ features typically associated with paedomorphic fish (e.g. narrow frontals that leave the brain unprotected dorsally by bone and a precaudal larval-fin-fold), but, uniquely among fishes, males also possess highly modified pelvic fins with hypertrophied muscles and a keratinized pad in front of the pelvic girdle, which, we hypothesize, function together as a clasping or holding device, thereby suggesting an unusual reproductive mode. Unfortunately, habitat destruction jeopardizes the survival of these fishes and thus opportunities for further research.

Sad. How many species has the designer let go extinct before we discover them?

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