Morphology features and sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt
b) gene were analyzed of the species Cobitis Linnaeus, 1758 from the River Pearl basin of China. Three new species of C. leptosoma sp. nov., C. wumingensis sp. nov.,and C. obtusirostra sp. nov. were described. C. leptosoma is distinguishable from its congeners by a long knife-shaped lamina circularis; a sharp and nearly filamentous tip of the pectoral-fin ray in males; four Gambetta pigment lines, L2 usually being absent, L5 consisting
of 10-12 oval blotches; and a round or oblong spot smaller than or equal to the eye diameter on the upper part of the caudal peduncle. C. wumingensis
is distinguishable by small barbels, maxillo-mandibular barbels shorter than eye diameter; a long fingerlike lamina circularis; a sharp and nearly filamentous tip of the pectoral-fin ray in males; L5 showing sexual dimorphism; a deeper bluish band pigment in females; a surface pigment with 13-14 blotches in males; and a conspicuous jet-black roundish spot smaller than or equal to the eye diameter on the upper part of the caudal peduncle.
C. obtusirostra is distinguished by a cystiform lamina circularis; a sharp and
nearly filamentous tip of the pectoral-fin ray in males; L5 consisting of 8-10 rounded blotches; and a conspicuous jet-black arcuate spot smaller than the eye diameter on the upper part of the caudal peduncle.