摘要：DEAR EDITOR, A new blind loach species, Triplophysa erythraea sp. nov., from a karst cave in Hunan Province, central south China, is described based on morphology and cyt b gene sequencing. It can be distinguished from other species of Triplophysa by the following combi nation of characters: eyes absent;body scaleless and colorless;caudal-fin 17;maxillary barbel Ion gest;fins tran sparent, compressed pectoral-fin reachi ng 2/3 distanee between pectoral-fin and pelvic-fin origins;pelvicfin and dorsal-fin origins relative;posterior chamber of airbladder well developed, Iong, oval, and dissociative.