Species New to Science

Stenoptilia lasani Ustjuzhanin, Rekelj & Kovtunovich, 2017

DOI: 10.11646/Zootaxa.4319.2.3

Abstract

The present study gives a review of the Pterophoridae species recorded in the Republic of Tuva (Russia). 37 species of 17 genera are reported, new data on the distribution are provided, the distribution map of Pterophoridae in the Republic of Tuva is given, and Stenoptilia lasani Ustjuzhanin, Rekelj & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., is described.

Keywords: Lepidoptera, new species, plume moths, Tuva

Peter Ustjuzhanin, Jurij Rekelj, Vasiliy Kovtunovich and Anna Ustjuzhanina. 2017. Pterophoridae (Lepidoptera) Fauna of the Republic of Tuva. Zootaxa. 4319(2); 317–328. DOI: 10.11646/Zootaxa.4319.2.3

Asplenium minutifolium Kanem. & Tagane

DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2017.45.1.06

ABSTRACT

A new species of Asplenium (Aspleniaceae), Asplenium minutifolium Kanem. & Tagane, from Phu Kradueng National Park, Loei Province, Northeast Thailand and Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Nayok Province, Central Thailand, is described and illustrated. This species can be distinguished from all similar species in East and South-East Asia by its simple and small lamina (1–5 × 0.3–0.7 cm), small and entire pinnae (1–4 × 0.8–2.5 mm), reflexed pinna arrangement (>90° from the midrib) in the lower 2/3 of the lamina and a sori arrangement that is almost always arranged in a single row on the basiscopic vein.

KEYWORDS: Asplenium, Aspleniaceae, Pteridophyte, Fern, new species, Phu Kradueng National Park, Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.

Figure 2. Asplenium minutifolium Kanem. & Tagane, sp. nov.
A. habit; B. portion of lamina (undersurface) showing sori; C. rhizome with scales; D. habitat.

Asplenium minutifolium Kanem. & Tagane, sp. nov.

Similar to Asplenium kiangsuense Ching & Y.X.Jing of southern China in size and shape of lamina, but differs in having a narrower lamina (ca 0.7 cm wide in A. minutifolium vs. ca 1 cm wide in A. kiangsuense), wingless rachis (vs. 2 slightly raised lateral wings), smaller pinnae (1–4 × 0.8–2.5 mm vs. 4–5 × 4–5 mm), generally fewer sori per pinna (1– 3(–4) vs. 3–5), and in the sori arrangement (usually arranged in a row vs. arranged oppositely). Also similar to Asplenium siamense Tagawa & K.Iwats. of North-East Thailand, but can be distinguished by its simple pinnae at the tip of lamina (vs. lamina forked several times at the tip), thicker pinnae (thickly papery vs. thinly papery), reflexed pinna arrangement in lower part (vs. divaricate around lamina), and pinnae with entire or slightly undulate margins (vs. shallowly lobed (lobes to ca 1mm long)).

–– Type: Thailand. Loei Province, Phu Kradueng National Park, Lom Sak Cliff, alt. 1292 m, 12 June 2015, Kanemitsu et al. T4736 (holotype BKF!, isotype TNS!).

Distribution.–– Currently Asplenium minutifolium is known only from Phu Kradueng National Park and Khao Yai National Park.

Ecology.–– In Phu Kradueng National Park, Asplenium minutifolium occurs in a semi-shaded and damp rock crevice that is ca 50 cm wide and 10 cm deep, on the plateau at an altitude of ca 1300 m. Associated fern and lycophyte species include Aglaomorpha rigidula (Sw.) Hovenkamp & S.Linds., Goniophlebium subauriculatum (Blume) C.Presl, Oleandra undulata (Willd.) Ching, Pyrrosia lingua (Thunb.) Farw. var. heteractis (Mett. ex Kuhn) Hovenkamp, and Selaginella siamensis Hieron. Other than the elevation, nothing is known about the ecology of this species at Khao Yai National Park.

Etymology.–– The species epithet “minutifolium” refers to the very small lamina and pinnae of this species.

Hironobu Kanemitsu, Shuichiro Tagane, Somran Suddee, Sukid Ruangruaea, Tetsukazu Yahara. 2017. Asplenium minutifolium (Aspleniaceae), A New Species from Thailand. THAI FOREST BULL., BOT. 45(1); 29–34. DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2017.45.1.06

Psathyrella senex (Peck) A.H. Sm.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.321.1.7

Abstract

Four species of Psathyrella— Psathyrella subspadiceogrisea sp. nov., P. boreifasciculata, P. gordonii, P. senex were discovered in northeast China. P. subspadiceogrisea is described as new from Changbai Mountain; the other three species are recorded in China for the first time. The specimens were identified based on morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of ITS sequences. Detailed morphological descriptions, line drawings and photographs are presented.

Keywords: Phylogeny, Taxonomy, Fungi

Jun-Qing Yan and Tolgor Bau. 2017. New and Newly Recorded Species of Psathyrella (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) from northeast China.
Phytotaxa. 321(1); 139–150. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.321.1.7

Gastrophrynoides borneensis (Boulenger, 1897)

RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 65

Abstract

We report on biological notes of an enigmatic asterophryine Gastrophrynoides borneensis based on a male collected from western Sarawak. The male is immaculate brown in dorsal colour, without small white spots contrasting to previous descriptions. Whether this indicates intraspecific variation or specific differentiation requires further study. Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed the species to be monophyletic with, but sufficiently diversified from, the continental G . i mmaculatus. The species emits two call types that are distinct from calls reported in Asterophryinae.

Key words: acoustics, Asterophryinae, body color, Gastrophrynoides immaculatus, mitochondrial phylogeny

Fig. 1. Dorsolateral (A) views of Gastrophrynoides borneensis in life from Batu Kawa, western Sarawak (UNIMAS R21555).

Masafumi Matsui, Siew Teck Yeo, Kanto Nishikawa, Ramlah Zainudin, Koshiro Eto and Amir Hamidy. 2017. Biological Notes on An Enigmatic Microhylid, Gastrophrynoides borneensis (Anura, Microhylidae). RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 65; 466–473.

http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/images/data/raffles_bulletin_of_zoology/vol65/65rbz466-473.pdf

Gymnophthalmus marconaterai

García-Pérez & Schargel, 2017

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4318.3.9

Abstract

A new species of Gymnophthalmus is described from the Llanos of Venezuela in Apure State. Gymnophthalmus marconaterai sp. nov. is found mostly on sand dunes and is seemingly endemic to the eolic plains of Apure State. The new species differs from all other species of Gymnophthalmus with 13 scales around the midbody, by having distinctive coloration that includes complete and well-defined lateral and dorsolateral white stripes, a white ventral coloration in preservative (creamish white or yellow in life) devoid of dark markings, and salmon pink tail in life.

Keywords: Reptilia, Endemism, eolic plains, new species, reptiles, taxonomy, Orinoquia

FIGURE 1. Sexual species of Gymnophthalmus with 13 dorsal scales around midbody from South America:
holotype of Gymnophthalmus marconaterai sp. nov. (top left, photo by JEGP); G. cf. speciosus (top right, photo by JEGP) from Biruaca, Apure, Venezuela; G. leucomystax (bottom left, photo by M. Teixeira Junior) from Roraima, Brazil; G. vanzoi (bottom right, photo by M. Teixeira Junior) from Roraima, Brazil.

Juan E. García-Pérez and Walter E. Schargel. 2017. A New Species of Gymnophthalmus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Sand Dunes of the Llanos of Apure, Venezuela. Zootaxa. 4318(3); 576–586. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4318.3.9

Trachelochismus aestuarium

Conway, Stewart & King, 2017

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4319.3.6

Abstract

Trachelochismus aestuarium, new species, is described on the basis of 120 specimens, 10.1–45.5 mm SL, collected from shallow (0–29 meters depth) bay and estuarine areas along the coast of New Zealand. It is distinguished from congeners (T. melobesia and T. pinnulatus) by a combination of characters, including features of the cephalic sensory system, adhesive disc papillae, and colouration in life, head shape, and gill-raker, fin ray and vertebrae counts. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial loci (cytrochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 12S ribosomal RNA) and one nuclear locus (zic family member 1) for all three species of Trachelochismus and two outgroup taxa resulted in phylogenetic hypotheses in which T. aestuarium is the sister taxon to either T. pinnulatus (mitochondrial loci) or T. pinnulatus + T. melobesia (ZIC1). A new terminology is introduced for the superficial neuromasts arranged in rows on the surface of the head in members of Trachelochismus.

Keywords: Pisces, Taxonomy, Marine Fishes, Acanthomorpha, Cephalic sensory system

Kevin W. Conway, Andrew L. Stewart and Cragen King. 2017. A New Species of the Clingfish Genus Trachelochismus from Bay and Estuarine Areas of New Zealand (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae). Zootaxa. 4319(3); 531–549. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4319.3.6

Parapercis soliorta

Johnson & Motomura, 2017

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4320.1.7

Abstract

Five new species of sandperch (Pinguipedidae: Parapercis) from southeast Asia and northwest Australia are described. Parapercis soliorta sp. nov., known from a single specimen acquired from the Iloilo Central Market, taken off Iloilo, Panay Island, Philippines, is readily distinguished by a unique colour pattern including a series of nine brilliant yellow-ringed red spots along the body and caudal fin. Parapercis rubricaudalis sp. nov. is described from 15 specimens trawled between Dampier and Cape Leveque, Western Australia in 70–119 m and a single specimen taken by aquarium fish collectors off Zambales, Luzon, Philippines. It has the posterior end of the opercular ridge armed with two or three strong spines, the margin of the preopercle, subopercle and interopercle strongly serrated, and colouration including six broad irregular orange to reddish bands across the body, and the pelvic fins and lower third of the caudal fin crimson-red. A complex of three closely related species, Parapercis flavipinna sp. nov. from the Philippines, Parapercis caudopellucida sp. nov. from Myanmar and Parapercis hoi sp. nov. from northwest Australia and the Philippines, share a series of six or seven irregular dusky double blotches along the sides, a series of small black spots along the base of the soft dorsal-fin, a pair of dusky blotches on the caudal-fin base, and mostly similar meristic values. Parapercis hoi sp. nov. is known from four specimens trawled off Broome, Western Australia, in 97–109 m and one specimen trawled in the Sibuyan Sea, Philippines, in 73–84 m. It may be distinguished from its two closest congeners by cycloid cheek scales, a distinctive anal-fin colouration, and lower pectoral-fin ray, gill raker and lateral-line scale counts. Parapercis caudopellucida sp. nov., trawled in 125–129 m in the Andaman Sea off southern Myanmar, is described from two specimens. It differs from its two closest congeners most obviously by cycloid cheek scales, caudal-fin colouration, and the presence of a dusky bar extending posteroventrally from the tip of the maxilla to the anteroventral edge of the preopercle. Parapercis flavipinna sp. nov. is described from two specimens acquired from the Iloilo Central Market, taken off Iloilo, Panay Island, in the Philippines. It is distinguished most readily by the presence of ctenoid cheek scales and colouration including rows of bright yellow spots on the anal and caudal fins, a yellow upper lip, a series of yellow streaks and spots on the head, and fleshy pectoral-fin base with a large dark purplish grey blotch followed by a distinct white-edged black bar.

Keywords: Pisces, Parapercis soliorta, Parapercis rubricaudalis, Parapercis flavipinna, Parapercis caudopellucida, Parapercis hoi, Philippines, Myanmar

Jeffrey W. Johnson and Hiroyuki Motomura. 2017. Five New Species of Parapercis (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from southeast Asia and northwest Australia. Zootaxa. 4320(1); 121–145. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4320.1.7

Rathbunamon chumomrayense

Do, Dang, Cao & Hoang, 2016

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4179.2.8

Abstract
A new species of semi-terrestrial crab of the family Potamidae, Rathbunamon chumomrayense sp. nov. is described from Chu Mom Ray National Park, the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The new species can be distinguished from R. lacunifer (Rathbun, 1904), the only other species in the genus, by a suite of characters, including the slightly more rugose anterolateral regions, confluent epigastric and postorbital cristae that are sinuous, less convex anterolateral margins, relatively shorter fingers of the chelipeds, and the terminal segment of the male first gonopod being slightly curved outwards, with narrower dorsal flap.

Keywords: Crustacea, semi-terrestrial crabs, taxonomy

Introduction

The freshwater crabs of Vietnam are currently represented by 52 species, belonging to two families, Potamidae Ortmann, 1896 and Gecarcinucidae Rathbun, 1904 (Dang & Ho, 2012; Dang, Thai, & Pham, 1980; V.T. Do, 2014; V. T. Do, Le, & Nguyen, 2016; V. T. Do, Le, & Phan, 2015; V. T. Do, Shih, & Huang, 2016; Naruse, Nguyen Xuan, & Yeo, 2011; Ng & Yeo, 2001; Yeo & Ng, 1998; Yeo & Ng, 2007). Rathbunamon is a monotypic genus established by Ng (1996) with R. lacunifer (Rathbun, 1904) as the type species. A recent survey in the Central Highlands of Vietnam obtained two specimens which are here identified as a second species from this genus. The new species possesses the main generic characteristics of Rathbunamon. It appears to have a highly localized distribution and can be distinguished from its congener by a suite of morphological characteristics.

FIGURE 5. Rathbunamon chumomrayense sp. nov., on the forest ground in Chu Mom Ray National Park, Kon Tum Province, Vietnam.

Taxonomy

Family Potamidae Ortmann, 1896
Subfamily Potamiscinae Ortmann, 1896 (sensu Yeo & Ng 2003)

Rathbunamon Ng, 1996

Rathbunamon chumomrayense sp. nov.

Etymology. The new species is named after the type locality, Chu Mom Ray.

Ecological notes. This species inhabits forested mountain areas. The larger specimen was found running around on the forest floor, far from the stream; however, the smaller specimen was found near the stream. It is believed that this species spends most of their time in the terrestrial environment

Van Tu Do, Van Dong Dang, Thi Kim T. Cao and Ngoc Khac Hoang. 2016. A New Species of Semi-Terrestrial Freshwater Crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Zootaxa. 4179(2); 279–287. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4179.2.8

Murina hkakaboraziensis

Soisook,Thaw,Kyaw,Oo,Pimsai, Suarez-Rubio & Renner, 2017

ค้างคาวจมูกหลอดคากาโบราซี || Hkakabo Razi Tube-nosed Bat || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4320.1.9

Abstract

A new species of Murina of the suilla-type is described from the Hkakabo Razi Landscape, Kachin, Upper Myanmar, an area that is currently being nominated as a World Heritage Site. The new species is a small vespertilionid, with a forearm length of 29.6 mm, and is very similar to M. kontumensis, which was recently described from Vietnam. However, it is distinguishable by a combination of external and craniodental morphology and genetics. The DNA Barcode reveals that the new species clusters sisterly to M. kontumensis but with a genetic distance of 11.5%. A single known specimen of the new species was collected from a lowland forest area in the plains of the Hkakabo Razi landscape, south-eastern Himalaya. Additional information on ecology, echolocation, and conservation are included. The high cryptic diversity of the genus Murina in Southeast Asia, as well as the Hkakabo Razi Landscape being a bat diversity hotspot, is highlighted.

Keywords: Mammalia, cryptic species, Hkakabo Razi, Myanmar, new species, Southeast Asia

FIGURE 1. The appearance of the face, ear and pelage (a), dorsal pelage (b), and ventral pelage (c) of Murina hkakaboraziensis sp. nov., ♂PS160218.6, holotype, from Kachin, Myanmar.

Murina hkakaboraziensis sp. nov.

Etymology. The species is named after the Hkakabo Razi Landscape, where the only known specimen was collected. The proposed English name is ‘Hkakabo Razi Tube-nosed Bat’

Ecology and distribution. The new species, M. hkakaboraziensis sp. nov., was collected in a mist net set at the edge of a lowland semi-evergreen forest at the transition zone to an open space grassland, which undergoes an annual burn (Fig. 5). The new species was the only bat captured in the mist net. However, on the same night, four other insectivorous bats, Rhinolophus affinis, R. pusillus, Aselliscus stoliczkanus and Hipposideros pomona were captured in nearby mist nets and harp traps. Four other vespertilionids, M. cyclotis, M. feae, M. cf. eleryi, Kerivoula hardwickii, and K. furva were also captured in the same area on other nights. Currently, the new species is only known from the holotype collected from the type locality in the Hkakabo Razi Landscape, Kachin, northern Myanmar.

Discussion:

The discovery of Murina hkakaboraziensis sp. nov., as well as a recently described Kerivoula furva(Kuo et al. 2017), indicates that the Hkakabo Razi Landscape is extremely understudied in terms of bats. Based only on a single scientific expedition in 2016, 37 species of bats were recorded from HRL (P. Soisook, unpublished data) representing approximately 40% of bats in Myanmar. Nevertheless, the 2016 expedition focused only on a limited geographical area and elevation of the HRL. Future surveys to cover the variety of habitats, particularly at the higher elevations, would be of interest.

The vespertilionid community in the HRL appears to be a geographical connection and a unique mix of species those found widespread in the Indochinese Region (e.g. M. cyclotis, M. feae, M. cf. eleryi, K. kachinensis, K. hardwickii, and K. furva), and those from the Indian Region (e.g. M. cf. jaintiana, M. cf. pluvialis). It indicates the importance of primary forests, and ongoing biogeographical processes of the HRL, underlining the significance of Myanmar’s endeavour to nominate the area as a Natural World Heritage Site.

FIGURE 5. The edge of a lowland semi-evergreen forest at the transition zone to an open space grassland where the specimen of Murina hkakaboraziensis sp. nov. was captured. Photograph by Sai Sein Lin Oo.

Pipat Soisook,Win Naing Thaw,Myint Kyaw,Sai Sein Lin Oo,Awatsaya Pimsai, Marcela Suarez-Rubio and Swen C. Renner. 2017. A New Species of Murina (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from sub-Himalayan Forests of northern Myanmar. Zootaxa. 4320(1); 159–172. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4320.1.9

Hao-Chih Kuo, Pipat Soisook, Ying-Yi Ho, Gabor Csorba, Chun-Neng Wang and Stephen J. Rossiter. 2017. A Taxonomic Revision of the Kerivoula hardwickii complex (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) with the Description of A New Species. Acta Chiropterologica. 19(1); 19-39. DOI: 10.3161/15081109ACC2017.19.1.002

Impatiens putaoensis

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.321.1.4

CAS.cn

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Putao, Kachin State, Myanmar, are here described and illustrated. Impatiens casseabriae can be easily recognized by its narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate leaves, petioles up to 3 mm long, lower lateral united petals 25–40 mm long. Impatiens putaoensis differs from its closely related species I. xanthina in having light greenish yellow flowers, lateral sepals ovate to elliptic, lower lobe of united petals semilunar, upper lobe of united petals dolabrate, dorsal petal ovate to nearly orbicular, with a narrow inconspicuous dorsal crest. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of sequences from both nuclear ribosomal and plastidgenes confirm that the two new species are distinct from previously recorded species.

Keywords: phylogeny, botanical expeditions, diversity, CAS-SEABRI, Eudicots

Impatiens casseabriae. A-D. Habit; E. Different parts of the flower and capsule; F. Flower (front view).

Images by TAN Yunhong.

Impatiens putaoensis. G, H. Habit; I. Different parts of the flower, pedicel with immature capsule and pedicel with flower (lateral view).

Images by TAN Yunhong.

Impatiens casseabriae. A-D. Habit; E. Different parts of the flower and capsule; F. Flower (front view).
Impatiens putaoensis. G, H. Habit; I. Different parts of the flower, pedicel with immature capsule and pedicel with flower (lateral view). (Images by TAN Yunhong)

Bin Yang,Shi-Shun Zhou,Kyaw Win Maung andYun-Hong Tan. 2017. Two New Species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Putao, Kachin State, northern Myanmar. Phytotaxa. 321(1); 103–113. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.321.1.4

Two New Species of Balsaminaceae Reported from Northeern Myanmar
english.CAS.cn/newsroom/research_news/201709/t20170914_183100.shtml

Hyphessobrycon myrmex

Pastana, Dagosta & Esguícero, 2017

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13449

Abstract

Hyphessobrycon myrmex sp. nov., is described from the Rio Formiga, upper Rio Juruena, upper Rio Tapajós basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by having the lower half of the body deeply pigmented with dark chromatophores, chromatophores concentrated above the anal fin and forming a broad, diffuse, dark midlateral stripe and by having a dense concentration of dark chromatophores along unbranched dorsal-fin rays and distal portions of the two or three subsequent branched rays. In life, H. myrmex exhibits a conspicuous sexual dichromatism, with adult males red to orange and females and immatures pale yellow. A list containing 108 sexually dichromatic taxa in six families of Characiformes is provided and the distribution of this poorly known type of dimorphism across the Characiformes is discussed.

Key words: Amazon basin; miniaturization; Neotropical ichthyofauna; sexual dimorphism; Tapajós.

Hyphessobrycon myrmex
(a) Male, 21·6 mm standard length (LS) and (b) female, 19·5 mm LS, MZUSP 118672, paratypes.

Hyphessobrycon myrmex

Etymology: The specific epithet myrmex is derived from the Greek word for ant, in allusion to the small size of adult specimens of the species and also refers to the type locality, the Rio Formiga, which means ‘Ant River’ in Portuguese.

M. N. L. Pastana, F. C. P. Dagosta and A. L. H. Esguícero. 2017. A New Sexually Dichromatic Miniature Hyphessobrycon (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae) from the Rio Formiga, upper Rio Juruena basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil, with A Review of Sexual Dichromatism in Characiformes. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13449

facebook.com/israquarium/photos/1543598045706789

Tropidophorus micropus van Lidth de Jeude, 1905

DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.160015

Abstract

Tropidophorus micropus van Lidth de Jeude, 1905, described from the upper Mahakkam River, Kalimantan, Indonesia, is here redescribed, based on new material from upper Baleh, Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo), collected after over 100 years. The new locality is ca. 94 km to the north of the type locality, and comprises a new national record.

Keywords: Tropidophorus micropus; rediscovery; Scincidae; Malaysia; Borneo

Tropidophorus micropus van Lidth de Jeude, 1905 was described from a unique specimen (RMNH 4452, presumed to be an adult male, based on swollen tail base), collected from “Long Bloe Upper Mahakkam” (= Long Blu, also spelt Long Bloéoe, 00.71667°N; 114.2500°E; on the upper reaches of Sungei Mahakam, Kalimantan Timur Propinsi, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo). No images were provided in the original description, and the holotype is illustrated here (Figure 1). Subsequent authors (e.g., de Rooij, 1915) referred to the species, but apparently no further specimens have been collected. The recent records of the species by Stuebing et al. (1999) and Das (2004) are based on misidentified specimens.

In May 2015, two specimens of Tropidophorus were collected during an expedition to the headwaters of Sungei Baleh, central Sarawak, that we allocate to this nominal species. This constitutes the rediscovery of the poorly known species, as well as the first confirmed record for Sarawak and Malaysia.

We provide an expanded description of these specimens, including, for the first time, a description of its colouration as well as images.

.....

Figure 2: Tropidophorus micropus van Lidth de Jeude, 1905 (UNIMAS P1168) in life.

Ecological Notes and Distribution: The series was collected from narrow crevices of rocky banks of small streams at the headwaters of Sungei Baleh (Figure 4). Both females contained two yellowish-cream colored ova, and visible externally in life. The new locality provides the first record for both Sarawak and Malaysia, and lies ca. 94 km to the north of the type locality, across Pengunungan Mueller (= Müller Range) that forms the boundary between Sarawak (Malaysia) in the north and Kalimantan (Indonesia) to the south.

Yong Min PUI and Indraneil DAS. 2017. Rediscovery and Redescription of Tropidophorus micropus van Lidth de Jeude, 1905 (Squamata: Sauria: Scincidae) from Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo). Asian Herpetological Research. 8(2); 147-150. DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.160015

http://www.ahr-journal.com/Upload/PaperUpLoad/504f8f86-90a7-40d9-8d65-4be8b078d79d.pdf

Kadsura matsudae Hayata

emend. Suetsugu & T.C.Hsu
(Suetsugu, Hsu, Toma, Miyake & Saunders, 2017) DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.311.3.5

Abstract

The taxonomic identity of Kadsura matsudae is reevaluated. This taxon is often treated as a synonym of K. japonica, a species known from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. When studying the type materials of K. matsudae, however, we noted that some of its morphological characters, such as the non-contiguous thecae in adjacent stamens, do not fall within the typical variation range of K. japonica. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that although K. matsudae is retrieved within the sect. Kadsura clade, it is not closely related to K. japonica. We therefore propose that K. matsudae should be recognized as a distinct species. Because the protologue of K. matsudae lacks sufficient detail with regards to stamen morphology, which is one of the most important characteristics for identifying the species, we provide an emended description of K. matsudae based on the holotype specimen and newly collected specimens.

Keywords: Kadsura, Schisandraceae, Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, taxonomy, Eudicots

Left - the male flowers of the Kadsura japonica (Photo by MORI Sayoko)
Right - the male flowers of the Kadsura matsudae (Photo by TOMA Tsugutaka).
The stamen cluster in Kadsura japonica is always red, while the Kadsura matsudae is usually yellow (in rare cases it is red).

Kadsura matsudae Hayata (1920: 4, as “K. matsudai”) emend. Suetsugu & T.C.Hsu

Male flower of Kadsura matsudae newly discovered in Okinawa Island

Kenji Suetsugu, Tian-Chuan Hsu, Tsugutaka Toma, Takashi Miyake and Richard M. K. Saunders. 2017. Emended Description and Resurrection of Kadsura matsudae (Schisandraceae). Phytotaxa. 311(3); 255–262. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.311.3.5

ResearchGate.net/publication/318038281_Emended_description_and_resurrection_of_Kadsura_matsudae_Schisandraceae

Mistaken identity of East Asian vine species resolved after 100 years

phy.so/418036946 via @physorg_com

sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170630105023.htm

Abstract

Species are being lost at an unprecedented rate due to human-driven environmental changes. The cases in which species declared extinct can be revived are rare. However, here we report that a remote volcano in the Galápagos Islands hosts many giant tortoises with high ancestry from a species previously declared as extinct: Chelonoidis elephantopus or the Floreana tortoise. Of 150 individuals with distinctive morphology sampled from the volcano, genetic analyses revealed that 65 had C. elephantopus ancestry and thirty-two were translocated from the volcano’s slopes to a captive breeding center. A genetically informed captive breeding program now being initiated will, over the next decades, return C. elephantopus tortoises to Floreana Island to serve as engineers of the island’s ecosystems. Ironically, it was the haphazard translocations by mariners killing tortoises for food centuries ago that created the unique opportunity to revive this “lost” species today.

Figure 1: Distribution of tortoises among Galápagos Islands and representative photos of tortoise carapace morphology.
(a) Map of the distribution of tortoises among Galápagos Islands along with cartoons indicating carapace morphology for each. Light grey shading indicates domed morphology, unshaded indicates saddle-backed. Extinct species are noted with †. (b) Larger view of Volcano Wolf on northern Isabela Island. The circle indicates the approximate field location of the current study. Examples of Galápagos giant tortoises with domed (c) saddle-backed (d) morphology.

Joshua M. Miller, Maud C. Quinzin, Nikos Poulakakis, James P. Gibbs, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Ryan C. Garrick, Michael A. Russello, Claudio Ciofi, Danielle L. Edwards, Elizabeth A. Hunter, Washington Tapia, Danny Rueda, Jorge Carrión, Andrés A. Valdivieso and Adalgisa Caccone. 2017. Identification of Genetically Important Individuals of the Rediscovered Floreana Galápagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis elephantopus) Provide Founders for Species Restoration Program. Scientific Reports. 7, Article number: 11471. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11516-2

Back from the dead—how to revive a lost species
phy.so/424511176 via @physorg_com

Pomatoschistus nanus Engin & Seyhan, 2017

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13455

Abstract

The new sand goby species Pomatoschistus nanus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) is described from the northern coast of the Levantine Sea (eastern Mediterranean Sea) based on both morphological and DNA barcoding data. The new species is the smallest fish in the Mediterranean Sea and may be distinguished from congeners by the following features: predorsal area, first dorsal-fin base and breast naked; δ-pore missing; anterior point of the suborbital row b not reaching level of posterior point of suborbital row d; slightly emarginated caudal fin and nape coloration pattern. DNA barcode data clearly discriminate Pomatoschistus spp. in the neighbour-joining tree with an average of 17·7% interspecific K2P distance. The most closely related taxon to P. nanus sp. nov. is Pomatoschistus bathi and the most distantly related is Pomatoschistus tortonesei with 11·9 and 21·9% K2P distances respectively. Morphometric and genetic data are also provided for Pomatoschistus bathi.

Key words: DNA barcoding; Pomatoschistus bathi; Pomatoschistus nanus; rebreather; sand goby.

Fig. 3. (a) Preserved paratype Pomatoschistus nanus sp. nov., IKC.PIS.1059, male, 14·63 mm standard length (LS); (b) preserved holotype, IKC.PIS·1057, female, 15·88 mm LS; (c) live specimen observed in natural habitat.

Pomatoschistus nanus sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from ancient Greek, which means pygmaean.

S. Engin and D. Seyhan. 2017. A New Species of Pomatoschistus (Teleostei, Gobiidae): the Mediterranean's Smallest Marine Fish. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13455

Pachycheles tuerkayi Werding & Hiller, 2017

DOI: 10.1163/15685403-00003684

A new species of porcellanid crab from the southern Caribbean Sea is described. Pachycheles tuerkayi n. sp. has been confused with P. serratus (Benedict, 1901) since the 1950s because the two species are morphologically and ecologically similar and have overlapping distributions in the southern Caribbean. P. tuerkayi n. sp. is restricted to the coasts of Costa Rica, Panamá and Colombia. P. serratus ranges from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to the coasts of Panamá, Colombia and Venezuela. Genetic differences based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene from the two species surpassed those estimated for geminate porcellanids on each side of the Isthmus of Panamá. Field observations where P. tuerkayi n. sp. and P. serratus overlap indicated that the two species come into contact when sharing the same substrate. The total number of porcellanid species in the western Atlantic rises to 50.

A large male Pachycheles tuerkayi, new species from Santa Marta, Colombia (a) and large male P. serratus (Benedict, 1901) from the Gulf of Morrosquillo, Colombia (b).

Scale = 4.5 mm. photos: Alexandra Hiller

Pachycheles tuerkayi n. sp., male holotype, INV CRU8408, dorsal view. Scale = 5.4 mm.

Bernd Werding and Alexandra Hiller. 2017. Description of A New Species of Pachycheles (Decapoda, Anomura, Porcellanidae) from the southern Caribbean Sea. Crustaceana. 90(7-10); 1279 – 1288. DOI: 10.1163/15685403-00003684

New porcelain crab species from Colombia named

phy.so/424020767 via @physorg_com

Japalura slowinskii Rao, Vindum, Ma, Fu & Wilkinson, 2017

DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.160053

Abstract

A population of Japalura from Yunnan Province, China, previously assigned to Japalura splendida, is described as a new species. The new species has been recorded between 1138–2500 m in the Nu River drainage between the towns of Liuku and Binzhongluo, and on the lower western slopes of the Nushan and eastern slopes of the Goaligongshan. The new species can be distinguished from other species of Japalura, except J. dymondi, by the following combination of characters: exposed tympani, prominent dorso-lateral stripes, and small gular scales. It is very similar with but differs from J. dymondi by having smooth or feebly keeled dorsal head scales, three relatively enlarged spines on either side of the post-occiput area, strongly keeled and mucronate scales on occiput area and within the lateral stripes, back of arm and leg green, higher number of dorsal-ridge scales (DS) and fourth toe subdigital scales (T4S). A principal component analysis of body measurements of adult male specimens of the new species and J. dymondi showed principal component 1 loading highest for upper arm length, fourth toe length and snout to eye length and principal component 2 loading highest for head width, head length and fourth toe length.

Keywords: Agamidae, Japalura sp. nov., Goaligongshan Mountain, Nujiang River Valley, Hengduan Mountains, Yunnan, China

Japalura slowinskii sp. nov.

Diagnosis: A large species of Japalura with a robust head and body compressed dorso-ventrally; SVL = 89.6±5.44 mm (n = 18; Male); SVL = 83.9±6.71 mm (n = 7; Female); smooth or feebly keeled dorsal head scales; exposed tympani; a transverse gular fold; a distinct oblique fold anterior to shoulder extending dorsally from transverse gular fold and continuing posteriorly beyond shoulder; dorsal scales heterogeneous, larger scales strongly keeled; a broken dorso-lateral row of enlarged and strongly keeled scales separated from dorsal crest scales by one large or two smaller scales, and separated from each other by one or two small scales; tail in adult males slightly swollen posterior to base; dorsum of males black with a turquoise dosolateral stripe on either side of mid-dorsal crest: fore and hind limbs green.

Etymology: The specific epithet is a patronym honoring our late friend and colleague Joseph Bruno Slowinski. The epithet is a masculine noun in the genitive case. Dr. Joseph B. Slowinski worked in CAS until his death on September 11, 2001 in north Myanmar a bite from a krait during a field expedition at the age of 38 years old, when he was in charge of both the projects of Myanmar Biodiversity Survey, and the China Natural History Project — the NSF-funded Gaoligongshan Project (collaborative project between KIZ, KIB, and CAS).

Distribution and Natural History:Japalura slowinskii has only been found within the Nu River Valley drainage system between the town of Liuku, Liushu County, and the town of Binzhongluo, Gongshan County, a northsouth distance of approximately 210 km (refer to Figure 1). The species has been found on the western slopes of the Nu Shan and the eastern slopes of the Goaligongshan between elevations of 1 138–2 500 m. J. slowinskii has not been recorded on the eastern slopes of the Nushan or the Hengduan Shan, or on the western slope of the Goaligongshan; however, these areas have not been thoroughly surveyed for reptiles. It is unlikely that the species extends beyond the western slopes of the Goaligongshan because of the high altitude of the ridge (above 3 000 m [Chaplin, 2005]). A recent collecting trip (2005) to Dulong Valley, west of the Goaligongshan ridge, only recorded a single agamid species, Pseudocalotes kingdonwardi. ....

Dingqi Rao, Jens V. Vindum, Xiaohui Ma, Mingxia Fu and Jeffery A. Wilkinson. 2017. A New Species of Japalura (Squamata, Agamidae) from the Nu River Valley in Southern Hengduan Mountains, Yunnan, China. Asian Herpetological Research. 8(2); 86–95 DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.160053http://www.ahr-journal.com/Upload/PaperUpLoad/e696531f-1317-4b8a-bc9e-6caac3bcc6a7.pdf

Polyalthia yingjiangensis Y. H. Tan & B. Xue

DOI: 10.1111/njb.01612

Abstract

Polyalthia yingjiangensis sp. nov. is described from the China/Myanmar border. It is distinct in having outer petals that are much shorter than the inner petals and having a very long pedicel. It is most similar to P. miliusoides I.M. Turner, but differs in having perianth parts that are glabrous adaxially and pubescent abaxially, thicker and sparsely pubescent pedicels, as well as verrucose and darker monocarps.

Figure 1. Flower and fruit morphology of Polyalthia yingjiangensis sp. nov. (A)–(E) branch and inflorescence, showing extra-axillary inflorescence with long pedicel, unequal corolla whorls and leaves with slightly asymmetrical leaf base with petiole superficially below lamina surface, (F) dried fruits (C. L. Dang 9977, YUKU), (G) a single dried monocarp, showing the verrucose surface (86 Exped. 01111, KUN), (H) lateral and top view of one seed, showing the shallow longitudinal circumferential groove (86 Exped. 01111, KUN), (I) transverse and longitudinal section of the seed, showing spiniform endosperm ruminations (86 Exped. 01111, KUN).

Photos: (A)–(E) De-Ping Ye, (F)–(I) Bine Xue.

Polyalthia yingjiangensis Y. H. Tan & B. Xue sp. nov.

Etymology: The new species Polyalthia yingjiangensis is named after its type locality, Yingjiang county of Yunnan province, China.

Bine Xue, De-Ping Ye, Yun-Yun Shao and Yun-Hong Tan. 2017. Polyalthia yingjiangensis sp. nov (Annonaceae) from the China/Myanmar Border. Nordic Journal of Botany. 35; 476–481. DOI: 10.1111/njb.01612

Arminisaurus schuberti Sachs & Kear, 2017

DOI: 10.1080/03115518.2017.1367419

Abstract

We describe a new plesiosaurian from the upper Pliensbachian Amaltheenton Formation of Bielefeld in northwestern Germany. The taxon is based upon an incomplete associated skeleton comprising part of the right mandibular ramus, several teeth, a series of cervical, pectoral, dorsal and caudal vertebrae, as well as ribs, limb girdle elements including a nearly complete right scapula, and various distal limb bones. A unique character state combination serves to distinguish the Amaltheenton Formation remains from other previously documented Early Jurassic plesiosaurians. The most important features are the presence of a longitudinal notch incising the posterior rim of the glenoid fossa and retroarticular process, and a pronounced ventrolateral shelf on the scapula, both of which constitute derived states otherwise shared with Early Cretaceous leptocleidians. However, phylogenetic analysis using a ‘total group’ Plesiosauria data-set that specifically accommodates for Pliensbachian taxa unanimously placed the Amaltheenton Formation plesiosaurian among Early–Middle Jurassic pliosaurids. This discovery is significant because it reveals unexpected homoplasy, but also because it establishes what is only the third formally named plesiosaurian taxon thus far documented from Pliensbachian strata worldwide.

Key words: Plesiosauria, Early Jurassic, pliosaurid, ‘Pliensbachian gap’.

Systematic palaeontology

SAUROPTERYGIA Owen, 1860

PLESIOSAURIA de Blainville, 1835

PLIOSAURIDAE Seeley, 1874

Arminisaurus gen. nov.

Etymology. Armini-, referring to Arminius (Armin), chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe who defeated a Roman army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest; and -saurus Latinized Greek for ‘lizard’.

Arminisaurus schuberti sp. nov.

Etymology: The species name honours Mr. Siegfried Schubert, who recovered the holotype NAMU ES/jl 36052 for science and has contributed to palaeontological research in the Bielefeld region for the last decade.

Type locality and unit. Beukenhorst-II claypit in the Jöllenbeck district of Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Germany. Type stratum is the upper Pliensbachian (Lower Jurassic) middle Amaltheus subnodosus Subzone (Amaltheus margaritatus Zone) of the Amaltheenton Formation.

Sven Sachs and Benjamin P. Kear. 2017. A Rare New Pliensbachian Plesiosaurian from the Amaltheenton Formation of Bielefeld in northwestern Germany. Alcheringa. DOI: 10.1080/03115518.2017.1367419

Ancestor of sea reptile super-predators found in Germany http://phy.so/424681896 via @physorg_com

Abavorana nazgul

Quah, Anuar, Grismer, Wood, Azizah & Muin, 2017

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4320.2.4

Abstract

The recently erected ranid genus Abavorana is thought to contain one nominal species, A. luctuosa, that ranges from the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Borneo and Sumatra. A melanistic form from Gunung Jerai, Peninsular Malaysia previously thought to be the same species is new to science and herein described based on new specimens and data. Based on morphology, colour pattern, and phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial genes 16s, ND1 and three tRNAs (tRNA-leu, tRNA-lle, and tRNA-gln), we determine that this new species, Abavorana nazgul sp. nov., is the sister lineage to other populations of A. lucutosa from Peninsular Malaysia and one from Borneo. It differs from A. luctuosa by a minimum sequence divergence of 7.5% and the following combination of morphological and colour pattern characteristics: (1) SVL 42.1–50.0 mm in adult males; (2) prominent but small humeral glands in males (2.3–2.5 mm); (3) dorsolateral stripe continuous, orange to yellow in colour; (4) mid-dorsal region of dorsum black, with or without faint orange or yellow speckles; (5) flanks with distinct cream spots; (6) dorsal surfaces of limbs with cream spots–bar; and (7) venter grayish brown, with prominent light spots on throat and belly. The discovery of yet another endemic species from the upland regions of Peninsular Malaysia highlights the rich diversity of these habitats and the need for more studies in montane areas throughout the region.

Keywords: Amphibia, Herpetofauna, montane, new species, taxonomy, conservation, systematics

Abavorana lucutosa

Evan S.H. Quah, Shahrul M.S. Anuar, L.L. Grismer, Perry L. JR. Wood, Siti M.N. Azizah and Mohd Abdul Muin. 2017. A New Species of Frog of the Genus Abavorana Oliver, Prendini, Kraus & Raxworthy 2015 (Anura: Ranidae) from Gunung Jerai, Kedah, northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. Zootaxa. 4320(2); 272–288. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4320.2.4

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[Entomology • 2017] Pterophoridae Fauna (Lepidoptera) of the Republic of Tuva

[Botany • 2017] Asplenium minutifolium (Aspleniaceae) • A New Species from Thailand

[Fungi • 2017] New and Newly Recorded Species of Psathyrella (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) from northeast China

[Herpetology • 2017] Biological Notes on An Enigmatic Microhylid, Gastrophrynoides borneensis (Anura, Microhylidae)

[Herpetology • 2017] Gymnophthalmus marconaterai • A New Species of Gymnophthalmus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Sand Dunes of the Llanos of Apure, Venezuela

[Ichthyology • 2017] Trachelochismus aestuarium • A New Species of the Clingfish Genus Trachelochismus (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from Bay and Estuarine Areas of New Zealand

[Ichthyology • 2017] Five New Species of Sandperch Genus Parapercis (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from southeast Asia and northwest Australia; Parapercis soliorta, P. rubricaudalis, P. hoi, P. caudopellucida & P. flavipinna

[Crustacea • 2016] Rathbunamon chumomrayense • A New Species of Semi-Terrestrial Freshwater Crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam

[Mammalogy • 2017] Murina hkakaboraziensis • A New Species of Murina (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from the Hkakabo Razi Landscape, Sub-Himalayan Forests of northern Myanmar

[Botany • 2017] Impatiens casseabriae & I. putaoensis • Two New Species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Putao, Kachin State, northern Myanmar

[Ichthyology • 2017] Hyphessobrycon myrmex • A New Sexually Dichromatic Miniature Hyphessobrycon (Characiformes: Characidae) from the Rio Formiga, upper Rio Juruena basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil, with A Review of Sexual Dichromatism in Characiformes

[Herpetology • 2017] Rediscovery and Redescription of Tropidophorus micropus van Lidth de Jeude, 1905 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo)

[Botany • 2017] Emended Description and Resurrection of Kadsura matsudae (Schisandraceae)

[Herpetology • 2017] Identification of Genetically Important Individuals of the Rediscovered Floreana Galápagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis elephantopus) Provide Founders for Species Restoration Program

[Ichthyology • 2017] Pomatoschistus nanus (Teleostei, Gobiidae) • the Mediterranean's Smallest Marine Fish

[Crustacea • 2017] Pachycheles tuerkayi • A New Species of Pachycheles (Decapoda, Anomura, Porcellanidae) from the southern Caribbean Sea

[Herpetology • 2017] Japalura slowinskii • A New Species of Japalura (Squamata, Agamidae) from the Nu River Valley in southern Hengduan Mountains, Yunnan, China

[Botany • 2017] Polyalthia yingjiangensis • A New Species (Annonaceae) from the China/Myanmar Border

[Paleontology • 2017] Arminisaurus schuberti • A Rare New Pliensbachian Plesiosaurian from the Amaltheenton Formation of Bielefeld in northwestern Germany

[Herpetology • 2017] Abavorana nazgul • A New Species of Frog of the Genus Abavorana (Anura: Ranidae) from Gunung Jerai, Kedah, northwestern Peninsular Malaysia