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[Herpetology • 2016] Rediscovery and a Redescription of the Crooked-Acklins Boa, Chilabothrus schwartzi (Buden, 1975)

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Chilabothrus schwartzi  (Buden, 1975)

in Reynolds, Puente-Rolón, Burgess & Baker, 2018. 
DOI:  10.3099/MCZ46.1 

Abstract
The Crooked-Acklins Bank, a component of the southern Bahamas Archipelago, supports a terrestrial herpetofauna largely in common with other islands in the region, including a boid snake. This boa, Chilabothrus chrysogaster schwartzi (Buden, 1975), was considered a subspecies of the Southern Bahamas Boa complex (Chilabothrus chrysogaster), although the original description was based on limited specimen material. As the author of the original description used recently deceased specimens collected by locals, no description of living animals exists. Since its description in 1975 and the associated collection of four type specimens, no additional boas from Crooked-Acklins have been reported in the literature. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, no photographs of live specimens have been published, and no juveniles have been described. For these reasons, it has been suggested that the subspecies is either extremely rare or possibly extirpated from the bank. Here we report the first four living boas from the Crooked-Acklins Bank, including both juveniles and an adult. We present the first photographs of and morphological data from live wild specimens, including habitat descriptions and natural history observations. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of these boas using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian approaches, as well as divergence time analyses, finding that the Crooked-Acklins Boa is a distinct species sister to the recently described Silver Boa (C. argentum), and is not closely related to C. chrysogaster populations. The distinctness of this taxon is also supported by known morphological and meristic characters. We describe the species as the Crooked-Acklins Boa, elevating the epithet C. schwartzi (Buden, 1975) comb. nov. to refer to boas of this genus from the Crooked and Acklins banks, Bahamas—the 13th species of Chilabothrus. We further assess the systematics of the Southern Bahamas Boa (C. chrysogaster) and the central Bahamas boas (C. strigilatus, C. argentum,and C. schwartzi) with novel sequence data for these lineages.

Keywords: Boidae, Caribbean, Chilabothrus, mtDNA, phylogenetics, systematics



Chilabothrus schwartzi (Buden, 1975) comb. nov. 
Crooked-Acklins Boa



Figure 6. A, close-up view of the head of a juvenile Chilabothrus schwartzi. Photo by Joseph P. Burgess.
 
Bin-situ photo of a juvenile Cschwartzi as discovered. Photo by Alberto R. Puente-Rolón.


R. Graham Reynolds, Alberto R. Puente-Rolón, Joseph P. Burgess and Brian O. Baker. 2018. Rediscovery and a Redescription of the Crooked-Acklins Boa, Chilabothrus schwartzi (Buden, 1975), Comb. Nov. Breviora. 558; 1-16.  DOI:  10.3099/MCZ46.1
 twitter.com/CaribbeanBoas/status/971853453923364865

    


[Paleontology • 2018] Yunnanechinus luopingensis • A New Stem Group Echinoid from the Triassic of China leads to A Revised Macroevolutionary History of Echinoids during the end-Permian Mass Extinction

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Yunnanechinus luopingensis
Thompson, Hu, Zhang, Petsios, Cotton, Huang, Zhou, Wen & Bottjer, 2018


Abstract
The Permian–Triassic bottleneck has long been thought to have drastically altered the course of echinoid evolution, with the extinction of the entire echinoid stem group having taken place during the end-Permian mass extinction. The Early Triassic fossil record of echinoids is, however, sparse, and new fossils are paving the way for a revised interpretation of the evolutionary history of echinoids during the Permian–Triassic crisis and Early Mesozoic. A new species of echinoid, Yunnanechinus luopingensis n. sp. recovered from the Middle Triassic (Anisian) Luoping Biota fossil Lagerstätte of South China, displays morphologies that are not characteristic of the echinoid crown group. We have used phylogenetic analyses to further demonstrate that Yunnanechinus is not a member of the echinoid crown group. Thus a clade of stem group echinoids survived into the Middle Triassic, enduring the global crisis that characterized the end-Permian and Early Triassic. Therefore, stem group echinoids did not go extinct during the Palaeozoic, as previously thought, and appear to have coexisted with the echinoid crown group for at least 23 million years. Stem group echinoids thus exhibited the Lazarus effect during the latest Permian and Early Triassic, while crown group echinoids did not.

KEYWORDSsea urchin, Triassic, Lazarus effect, echinoderm, Luoping Biota


Figure 1. Specimens and location of Yunnanechinus luopingensis n. sp.
(a) Locality map showing the location of the Luoping Biota marked as star.
(b) specimen 61701; note the bulge in the centre of the test which probably indicates the Aristotle's lantern inside of the compressed test. (c) Specimen 32321 which shows an apical view of a compressed test with apical disc with genital plates, an ocular plate and the madreporite. (d) Specimen 61163 showing a compressed test with spines. (e) Close-up of spines and ambulacral plate on specimen 32321. Note the absence of a milled ring and the striate nature of the spines. (f) Close-up view of the madreporite, ocular plate and adapical coronal plating of specimen 32321. Note the imbrication of the plates, with more adoral plating imbricating over more adapical plates. (g) Close-up of coronal plating and spines on specimen 32321. Spines and tubercles are arranged in distinct rows with larger spines lying slightly below corresponding imperforate and non-crenulate tubercles.

Scale bars in (b,d) are 1 cm, bar in (c) is 2 mm and bars in (e–g) are 500 µm.

Systematic palaeontology

Echinoidea Leske, 1778
Stem group Echinoidea

Incertae familiae

Genus Yunnanechinus n. gen.

Etymology. Named for Yunnan, China from whence the type species is known.

Type species. Yunnanechinus luopingensis n. sp.


Yunnanechinus luopingensis n. sp.

Etymology. Named for the Luoping Biota, the fossil Lagerstätte from which the species is described.

Diagnosis. Test with imbricate plating, at least adapically and ambitally. Genital plates with one gonopore per plate (figure 1f). Plates of apical system covered with small, imperforate non-crenulate tubercles. Interambulacral plates polygonal to subpentagonal in shape. Interambulacral plates with a single imperforate non-crenulate tubercle, and sparse imperforate non-crenulate secondary tubercles. Spines less than half the diameter of the test in length, finely striate and without a milled ring (figure 1e,g).

Material. The holotype is specimen LPI-32321, paratypes are specimens LPI-2638, LPI-61163, and LPI-61701A,B.

Occurrence. All specimens from the Middle Anisian (Pelsonian) Guanling Formation of the Luoping Biota of Yunnan Province, South China.



Jeffrey R. Thompson, Shi-xue Hu, Qi-Yue Zhang, Elizabeth Petsios, Laura J. Cotton, Jin-Yuan Huang, Chang-yong Zhou, Wen Wen and David J. Bottjer. 2018. A New Stem Group Echinoid from the Triassic of China leads to A Revised Macroevolutionary History of Echinoids during the end-Permian Mass Extinction. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171548
  
For #FossilFriday here's Yunnanechinus luopingensis from our paper that came out earlier this week. The #phylogenetic placement of this species indicates that a lineage of the stem group #seaurchins, which were diverse in the #Palaeozoic Era, actually survived into the #Mesozoic! 

[Botany • 2018] Primulina malipoensis • A New Species (Gesneriaceae) from Sino-Vietnamese Border Area

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Primulina malipoensis  L.H. Yang & M. Kang

 P. maguanensis (Z. Yu Li, H. Jiang & H. Xu) Mich. Möller & A. Weber
P. lungzhouensis  (W.T. Wang) Mich. Möller & A. Weber

in Yang, Chen, Wen & Kang, 2018. 

Abstract
Primulina malipoensis, a new species from limestone areas around the Sino-Vietnamese border, is described and illustrated. This new species is morphologically similar to P. maguanensis and P. lungzhouensis, but obviously differs from the latter two species by its pale greenish-yellow flowers (vs. purple, with different colour patterns). The phylogenetic affinity, illustration and photographs of this new species are provided in this paper.

Keywords: Limestone flora, New taxon, Sino-Vietnamese border area, Taxonomy




Primulina malipoensis L.H. Yang & M. Kang, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Primulina malipoensis mainly differs from P. maguanensis and P. lungzhouensis by its pale greenish-yellow flowers (vs. purple, with different colour patterns). This new species can further be distinguished from P. maguanensis by its greenish bracts (vs. white) and from P. lungzhouensis by its entire bracts margin (vs. denticulate).

Figure 2. Primulina malipoensis.
A flowering plant cultivated in South China Botanical Garden B plant in natural habitat C flower in side view D opened corolla, showing stamens and staminodes E flower in front view F pistil and calyx G bracts.
Photographs by Li-Hua Yang. 

Figure 3. Primulina maguanensis (A, B), P. lungzhouensis (D, E),
  P. beiliuensis var. fimbribracteata (C, F), P. beiliuensis var. beiliuensis (G, H) and P. maculata (I, J).
(A, C, D, G, J) habit, (B, E, F, H, I) flower.
Photographs by Fang Wen (A–H) and Li-Hua Yang (I, J). 

Distribution and habitat: Primulina malipoensis is a narrowly endemic species restricted to a small area at both sides of the Sino-Vietnamese border (Xiajinchang Town, Malipo County, Yunnan Province, China. Khau La Village, Quyet Tien Community, Quan Ba District, Ha Qiang province, Vietnam.) (Figure 4). It grows on moist and shady limestone rocks, at ca. 1000–1500 m altitude.

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the place, Malipo County in Yunnan province, China, where the new species was first found.

Note: Primulina malipoensis (Figures 1 and 2) can be morphologically connected to P. maguanensis (Z. Yu Li, H. Jiang & H. Xu) Mich. Möller & A. Weber (Figure 3A–B) and P. lungzhouensis (W.T. Wang) Mich. Möller & A. Weber (Figure 3D–E) by its ovate or broadly elliptic leaf blade, with inconspicuously (or conspicuously) serrate margin, obvious bracts, white calyx lobes and infundibuliform corolla tube. However, it can easily be distinguished from the latter two species by the characters summarised in the diagnosis.
....


 Li-Hua Yang, Jun-Lin Chen, Fang Wen and Ming Kang. 2018. Primulina malipoensis (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Sino-Vietnamese Border Area.  In: Jin X-H, Shui Y-M, Tan Y-H, Kang M (Eds) Plant Diversity in Southeast Asia. PhytoKeys. 94: 107-116.  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.94.20861

[Herpetology • 2018] Sumaterana gen. n. • Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of A Taxonomically Unstable Ranid from Sumatra, Indonesia, reveals A New Genus with Gastromyzophorous Tadpoles and Two New Species

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[a] Sumaterana crassiovis (Boulenger, 1920) 

[b] Sumaterana dabulescens  
 [c] S. montana
Arifin, Smart, Hertwig, Smith, Iskandar & Haas, 2018


Abstract

The presence of an adhesive abdominal sucker (gastromyzophory) allows tadpoles of certain species of anurans to live in fast-flowing streams. Gastromyzophorous tadpoles are rare among anurans, known only in certain American bufonids and Asian ranids. To date, Huia sumatrana, which inhabits cascading streams, has been the only Sumatran ranid known to possess gastromyzophorous tadpoles. In the absence of thorough sampling and molecular barcoding of adults and larvae, it has remained to be confirmed whether other Sumatran ranid species living in similar habitats, i.e., Chalcorana crassiovis, possesses this larval type. Moreover, the taxonomic status of this species has long been uncertain and its taxonomic position within the Ranidae, previously based exclusively on morphological characters, has remained unresolved. To study the diversity and relationships of these frogs and to establish the identity of newly collected gastromyzophorous tadpoles from Sumatra, we compared genetic sequences of C. crassiovis-like taxa from a wide range of sites on Sumatra. We conducted bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses on a concatenated dataset of mitochondrial (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and tRNAval) and nuclear (RAG1 and TYR) gene fragments. Our analyses recovered C. crassiovis to be related to Clinotarsus, Huia, and Meristogenys. The DNA barcodes of the gastromyzophorous tadpoles matched adults from the same sites. Herein, we provide a re-description of adult C. crassiovis and propose “C. kampeni” as a synonym of this species. The molecular evidence, morphological features, and distribution suggest the presence of two related new species. The two new species and C. crassiovis together represent a distinct phylogenetic clade possessing unique molecular and morphological synapomorphies, thus warranting a new genus.

Key Words: Clinotarsus, Huia, Meristogenys, Morphology, Molecular systematics, Ranidae, Species diversity, Taxonomy

Figure 2. Bayesian (on the right) and Maximum Likelihood (on the left) trees showing the phylogenetic relationship of the crassiovis-group. A, B, C are distinct lineages within crassiovis-group. Black circles represent well supported nodes (PP ≥ 0.95 and BS ≥ 70). Red branches represent relationship between Clinotarsus and Huia melasma. Tadpole sequences named with specimen number_Tad_locality (province). Adult sequences named with specimen number_locality (province). MZB.AMPH.29336 and ZMH.A14197 were collected from the type locality of C. kampeni and C. crassiovis, respectively.

Figure 3. Comparison of three lineages within Clade 1 based on the coloration of iris, the coloration of rear of thigh, and nuptial pad. Clade 1A (a–c), Clade 1B (c–d) and Clade 1C (g–i). Photographs were taken from ZMH.A14197, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat (a–c); ZMH.A14194, female, Provinsi Bengkulu (d–e); MZB.AMPH.23524, male, Provinsi Sumatera Utara (f); and MZB.AMPH.29396, male, Provinsi Aceh (g–i). Photos by U. Arifin.


Sumaterana gen. n.

Type species: Rana crassiovis Boulenger, 1920,
Syntypes: two adult females, BMNH1947.2.3.99 and BMNH1947.2.4.1.


Diagnosis: Sumaterana gen. n. belongs to a group of ranid torrent frogs, along with Huia and Meristogenys that possess gastromyzophorous larvae (Inger 1966, Inger and Gritis 1983, Inger 1986, Yang 1991). Sumaterana gen. n. species can be diagnosed by a combination of: (1) gastromyzophorous tadpole; (2) larval upper jaw sheaths thick, smooth, broadly arched, with thinner medial section; (3) lower jaw sheaths undivided, smooth, and V-shaped; (4) Labial Tooth Row Formula (LTRF): 8(5–9)/8(1) to 9(5–9)/9(1); (5) infraorbital and postorbital gland clusters present; (6) adult frogs medium sized (SVL males = 27.94–48.87 mm; females = 40.98–83.99 mm); (7) dorsum finely granulated, with or without scattered tubercles; (8) supratympanic fold present (skin fold above the tympanum, starting behind the eye); (9) posttympanic fold absent (vertical skin fold immediately posterior to tympanum); (10) dorsolateral fold absent or present; (11) tibia length 58.08–79.67% SVL; (12) outer metatarsal tubercle absent; (13) inner metatarsal tubercle present; (14) Finger I relatively shorter or subequal to Finger II; (15) width of finger discs larger or subequal to width of toe discs; (16) vocal sacs and nuptial pads present; (17) humeral gland absent.

Etymology: Sumaterana is a compound generic epithet created from the Indonesian proper noun Sumatera, the Indonesian name for the island of Sumatra, and rana, the feminin Latin word for frog. Sumatera itself is named after the kingdom of Samudra Pasai, which was located along the coast of Aceh, Sumatra from the 13th to the 16th centuries CE. Samudra is a sanskrit word that means gathering of the seas, a place where the Andaman, Java, and South China seas meet the Indian Ocean. Rana, was also the very first generic name to be assigned to a member of the S. crassiovis group, endemic to the island of Sumatra.

Common name: Sumatran Cascade Frogs (English) and
Katak Jeram Sumatra (Bahasa Indonesia).

Phylogenetic definition and content: Sumaterana gen. n. is a node-based genus that consists of three known species: Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n. (Fig. 2 Clade A, Fig. 5a), S. montana sp. n. (Fig. 2 Clade B, Fig. 5c), and S. dabulescens sp. n. (Fig. 2 Clade C, Fig. 5b), and their most recent common ancestor. Chalcorana kampeni is considered a junior synonym of S. crassiovis comb. n. based on Inger and Iskandar (2005) and the new molecular evidence. The monophyletic clade of Sumaterana gen. n. is restricted to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Our phylogenetic analyses and morphological examination supports these taxonomic recognitions (uncorrected p-distances in Suppl. materials 3).

Distribution and habitat: Species of Sumaterana gen. n. inhabit riparian habitats in primary or secondary forest in Sumatra, Indonesia. Inhabited streams are typically fast flowing, 5 m wide or less, dominated by big rocks (diameter > 1 m). The known elevational range is from 314–2033 m a.s.l.. Adult frogs of these genus usually perched on rocks or vegetation at the stream. Tadpoles of these frogs can be found in groups attached to the top or sides of rocks in fast moving water.



Figure 5. Sumaterana gen. n. species:
(a) Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n., ZMH.A14197, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat; (b) S. dabulescens sp. n., MZB.AMPH.29396, male, holotype, Provinsi Aceh; (c)S. montana sp. n., ZMH.A14194, female, paratype, Provinsi Bengkulu. Photos by U. Arifin. 

Figure 8. Morphological variation within Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n.
(a) MZB.AMPH.29196, female, Provinsi Aceh, (b) Provinsi Sumatera Utara, (c) MZB.AMPH.29200, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (d) ZMH.A14197, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat. Photos by U. Arifin, except for (b) by A. Irawan.

Figure 8. Morphological variation within Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n.
 (e) MZB.AMPH.29320, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (f) MZB.AMPH.29277, young male, Provinsi Bengkulu, (g) ZMH.A14151, male, Provinsi Sumatera Selatan, (h) ZMH.A14185 and MZB.AMPH.29296, male and female, Provinsi Lampung.

Photos by U. Arifin. 

Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n. 
Rana pantherina Van Kampen, 1910.
Rana crassiovis Boulenger, 1920.
Rana (Hyloranakampeni Boulenger, 1920.
Rana (Hyloranacrassiovis Boulenger, 1920.
Rana (Hylaranakampeni Van Kampen, 1923.
Rana (Hylaranacrassiovis Van Kampen, 1923.
Rana (Chalcoranakampeni Dubois, 1992.
Rana (Chalcoranacrassiovis Dubois, 1992.
Hydrophylax kampeni Frost et al., 2006.
Hydrophylax crassiovis Frost et al., 2006.
Hylarana kampeni Che et al., 2007.
Hylarana crassiovis Che et al., 2007.
Chalcorana kampeni Fei et al., 2010; Oliver et al., 2015.
Chalcorana crassiovis Fei eal., 2010; Oliver et al., 2015.

Common name: We propose Kerinci Cascade Frogs as the common English name (to replace the old spelling in “Korinchi Frog”, Iskandar and Mumpuni 2004) and Katak Jeram Kerinci as the Indonesian name.

Figure 8. Morphological variation within Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n.
(a) MZB.AMPH.29196, female, Provinsi Aceh, (b) Provinsi Sumatera Utara, (c) MZB.AMPH.29200, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (d) ZMH.A14197, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (e) MZB.AMPH.29320, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (f) MZB.AMPH.29277, young male, Provinsi Bengkulu, (g) ZMH.A14151, male, Provinsi Sumatera Selatan, (h) ZMH.A14185 and MZB.AMPH.29296, male and female, Provinsi Lampung. Photos by U. Arifin, except for (b) by A. Irawan.



Sumaterana montana sp. n.

Diagnosis: (1) medium sized frog, SVL males (n = 10) 27.94–31.56 mm and females (n = 7) 50.11–63.37 mm; (2) dorsum skin finely granulated, color generally brown with scattered light spots; (3) tympanum distinct and translucent, slightly deep, supratympanic fold present, posttympanic fold absent; (4) dorsolateral fold present, thin, continuation of supratympanic fold to the level of pelvic joint, uninterrupted or broken; (5) venter smooth, white or yellowish; (6) tibia length 69.63–79.67% SVL; (7) Finger I 87.67–10.18% Finger II; (8) width of disc of Finger III 73.68–120.00% width of disc of Toe IV; (9) rear of thigh mottled; (10) approx. a quarter of the upper part of iris golden brown and the remaining iris with dense bright red stippling on black background; (11) webbing formula: I(0+―11/2)II(0+―2)III(0+―3+)IV(3-―0+)V; (12) outer metatarsal tubercle absent, inner metatarsal tubercle present; (13) males with paired vocal sacs, undivided nuptial pad, humeral gland absent.

Etymology: The specific epithet is the Latin adjective montana in allusion to the distribution of this species at high elevations of the Bukit Barisan mountain range of Sumatra.

Common name: We propose Mountain Cascade Frogs as common English name and Katak Jeram Gunung in Bahasa Indonesia.



Sumaterana dabulescens sp. n.

Diagnosis: (1) medium sized frog, SVL males (n = 27) 34.69–40.86 mm and females (n = 3) 48.03–66.60 mm; (2) dorsum finely granulated with scattered round, distinct tubercles; generally gray with dark gray spots on tubercles; (3) tympanum distinct and translucent (not transparent), supratympanic fold present, posttympanic fold absent; (4) dorsolateral fold absent; (5) venter smooth, granulated posteriorly, white; (6) tibia length 58.08–68.81% SVL; (7) Finger I 58.57–94.16 Finger II; (8) width of disc of Finger III 105.13–144.53% width of disc of Toe IV; (9) rear of thigh mottled; dark blotches on light background; (10) iris silver-gray with dark netting, slightly yellow to orange golden in the upper part; (11) all toes fully webbed to base of discs (I(1+/-―1+/-)II(1+/-―1+/-)III(1+/-―1+/-)IV(1+/-―1+/-)V); (12) outer metatarsal tubercle absent, inner metatarsal tubercle present; (13) males with paired vocal sacs, divided nuptial pad, humeral gland absent.


Etymology: The species epithet dabulescens is an artificial construct of “dabul”, “gray” in Gayo language, combined with the Latin ending “-escense”, here in the sense of “tending to be”, in allusion to the gray appearance of this species. The Gayo are a local tribe in the Aceh region of Sumatra and after which the Gayo highlands have been named.

Common name: We propose Gayo Cascade Frogs as the English common name and Katak Jeram Gayo as name in Bahasa Indonesia.

Figure 10. (a–b) Typical cascading stream habitat of Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n. at Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser, Provinsi Aceh. Sumaterana dabulescens sp. n. inhabits similar stream habitats. (c) Specimen of S. dabulescens sp. n. on a rock near a small cascade in its natural habitat at Taman Buru Linge Isaq, Provinsi Aceh. Photos by U. Arifin.


 Umilaela Arifin, Utpal Smart, Stefan T. Hertwig, Eric N. Smith, Djoko T. Iskandar and Alexander Haas. 2018. Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of A Taxonomically Unstable Ranid from Sumatra, Indonesia, reveals A New Genus with Gastromyzophorous Tadpoles and Two New Species. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 94(1): 163-193. DOI:  10.3897/zse.94.22120

Abstrak: Pada beberapa jenis katak tertentu yang hidup di sungai berarus deras, di bagian abdomen berudunya terdapat semacam alat perekat sebagai mekanisme adaptasi pada kondisi habitat tempat tinggalnya. Tipe berudu seperti ini dikenal dengan nama gastromyzophorous dan sangat jarang ditemukan, hanya diketahui pada beberapa jenis bufonid di Amerika dan katak ranid di Asia. Hingga saat ini, hanya Huia sumatrana, dengan habitat sungai berarus deras, yang diketahui memiliki tipe berudu seperti ini di Sumatra. Tanpa survey menyeluruh dan tanpa DNA barcoding untuk katak dewasa dan kecebong, dugaan mengenai keberadaan katak jenis lain dengan tipe berudu serupa di pulau ini, misalnya Chalcorana crassiovis, masih harus dibuktikan. Di sisi lain, status taksonomi jenis ini hingga kini masih belum dapat dipastikan, dan posisi taksonominya dalam famili Ranidae hanya berdasarkan karakter morfologi saja. Oleh karena itu, untuk mengetahui keanekaragaman dan hubungan kekerabatan dari katak-katak jenis tersebut, serta untuk memastikan identitas koleksi berudu gastromyzophorous dari Sumatra, kami membandingkan data genetik dari semua taxa yang mirip dengan C. crassiovis dari berbagai lokasi di Sumatra. Kami merekonstruksi pohon filogeni dengan menganalisis sekuens DNA dari gabungan fragmen gen mitokondria (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, dan tRNAval) dan gen inti (RAG1 dan TYR) menggunakan metode Bayesian dan Maximum Likelihood. Hasil penelitian kami membuktikan bahwa C. crassiovis berkerabat dekat dengan Clinotarsus, Huia, dan Meristogenys. Sekuens DNA dari berudu gastromyzophorous memiliki kecocokan dengan sekuens DNA katak dewasa dari lokasi yang sama. Dalam paper ini, kami menyajikan deskripsi ulang untuk C. crassiovis dan menyarankan agar “C. kampeni” menjadi junior synonym dari C. crassiovis. Bukti molekuler, karakter morfologi, dan kisaran distribusi menunjukkan bahwa terdapat dua jenis baru yang berkerabat dengan C. crassiovis. Ketiganya menunjukkan perbedaan filogenetik yang signifikan, yang dibuktikan dengan adanya synapomorphy pada karakter molekuler dan morfologi yang unik. Oleh sebab itu dibentuk genus baru untuk ketiga jenis ini.

Kata Kunci: Clinotarsus, Huia, Meristogenys Morfologi, Molekular sistematik, Keanekaragaman spesies, Taksonomi

[Arachnida • 2018] Repeated Diversification of Ecomorphs in Hawaiian Stick Spiders, Ariamnes spp.

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Gillespie, Benjamin, Brewer, et al., 2018.

Highlights: 
• Hawaiian stick spiders show adaptive radiation with repeated evolution of ecomorphs
• This phenomenon is found in only a few adaptive radiations of island insectivores
• Camouflage against a finite set of predators and wandering habit play key roles
• Limited pathways for the development of color contribute to deterministic evolution

Summary
Insular adaptive radiations in which repeated bouts of diversification lead to phenotypically similar sets of taxa serve to highlight predictability in the evolutionary process. However, examples of such replicated events are rare. Cross-clade comparisons of adaptive radiations are much needed to determine whether similar ecological opportunities can lead to the same outcomes. Here, we report a heretofore uncovered adaptive radiation of Hawaiian stick spiders (Theridiidae, Ariamnes) in which different species exhibit a set of discrete ecomorphs associated with different microhabitats. The three primary ecomorphs (gold, dark, and matte white) generally co-occur in native forest habitats. Phylogenetic reconstruction mapped onto the well-known chronosequence of the Hawaiian Islands shows both that this lineage colonized the islands only once and relatively recently (2–3 mya, when Kauai and Oahu were the only high islands in the archipelago) and that the distinct ecomorphs evolved independently multiple times following colonization of new islands. This parallel evolution of ecomorphs matches that of “spiny-leg” long-jawed spiders (Tetragnathidae, Tetragnatha), also in Hawaii. Both lineages are free living, and both have related lineages in the Hawaiian Islands that show quite different patterns of diversification with no evidence of deterministic evolution. We argue that repeated evolution of ecomorphs results from a rugged adaptive landscape, with the few peaks associated with camouflage for these free-living taxa against the markedly low diversity of predators on isolated islands. These features, coupled with a limited genetic toolbox and reduced dispersal between islands, appear to be common to situations of repeated evolution of ecomorphs.


Figure 2. Ecological Forms of the Hawaiian Ariamnes Colored boxes around images show the different ecomorphs: matte white, dark, and gold.
 (A) Ariamnes huinakolu; Kauai, Makalehas; July 2008. (B) A. sp.; Kauai, Pihea; November 2016. (C) A. kahili; Kauai, Wailua River; November 2016. (D) A. sp.; Oahu, Pahole; August 2008. (E) A. makue; Oahu, Kaala; November 2016. (F) A. uwepa; Oahu, Poamoho; November 2016. (G) A. corniger; East Maui; November 2016. (H) A. laau; East Maui; July 2013. (I) A. sp.; Molokai; November 2016. (J) A. waikula on web of Orsonwelles; Hawaii; July 2013. (K) A. hiwa; Hawaii; July 2014. (L) A. waikula; Hawaii, Saddle Road; July 2013.

Note that all of the gold forms—(C), (F), (I), and (L)—can exhibit color polymorphism, with red superimposed on the gold, as shown in (I). Photo credits: G. Roderick, (A–J), A. Rominger, (K), D. Cotoras, (L). Insets (B1, F1, and G1) show details of the guanine structure of the respective forms.

Ariamnes corniger, a stick spider from East Maui, Hawaiian Archipelago. This white matte ecomorph is cryptic against lichen.
 photo: George Roderick

Gold Molokai spider.
photo: George Roderick

An undescribed species of Ariamnes from Kauai, Hawaiian Archipelago. It is an example of the dark ecomorph.
photo: George Roderick 


Rosemary G. Gillespie, Suresh P. Benjamin, Michael S. Brewer, Malia Ana J. Rivera and George K. Roderick. 2018.  Repeated Diversification of Ecomorphs in Hawaiian Stick Spiders. Current Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.01.083

How brightly colored spiders evolved on Hawaii again and again... and again http://phy.so/439734740   @physorg_com


[Botany • 2018] Hedychium putaoense • A New Species (Zingiberaceae) from Putao, Kachin State, Northern Myanmar

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Hedychium putaoense  Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding

in Ding, Bin, Zhou, et al., 2018.

Abstract
Hedychium putaoense Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding, a new species of Zingiberaceae from Putao, Kachin state, Northern Myanmar, is described and illustrated. It is similar to H. densiflorum Wall. and H. longipedunculatum A.R.K. Sastry & D.M. Verma, but differs by its very small bract (4–6 × 2.5–3 mm vs. 18–19 × 5–5.5 mm and ca. 11 × 7 mm, respectively), semicircle and dark red bracteole, orange flower and broadly falcate to lanceolate lateral staminodes.

Keywords: Hedychium, Myanmar, Taxonomy, Morphology, Zingiberaceae


 

    



Figure 1. Hedychium putaoense Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding. 
a–b Habit c–d Inflorescence e–f Front and lateral view of flower g Bract h Bracteole i Calyx j–k Corolla lobe l–m Lateral staminodes n Labellum o Corolla tube with anther and calyx p Ovary with pistil and glands.

Photographed by Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding.

Hedychium putaoense Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Hedychium putaoense Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding is morphologically similar to H. densiflorum Wall. and H. longipedunculatum A.R.K. Sastry & D.M. Verma, but it can be easily distinguished by its very small bract (4–6 × 2.5–3 mm vs. 18–19 × 5–5.5 mm and ca. 11 × 7 mm, respectively) and bracteole (2–2.5 × 3–3.5 mm vs. ca. 9 × 2 mm and ca. 6 × 4 mm, respectively), orange flower and broadly falcate to lanceolate lateral staminodes.


Distribution and habitat: This new species is known to grow at the top of the mountain from Masabu village to Namti village, Putao District, Kachin State, where it grows epiphytically on the trees of tropical montane forests at an elevation of ca. 1400–1800 m.

Etymology: The species is named after the type locality, Putao county, in Kachin State, Myanmar.


 Hong-Bo Ding, Yang Bin, Shi-Shun Zhou, Ren Li, Mya Bhone Maw, Win Maung Kyaw and Yun-Hong Tan. 2018. Hedychium putaoense (Zingiberaceae), A New Species from Putao, Kachin State, Northern Myanmar. In: Jin X-H, Shui Y-M, Tan Y-H, Kang M (Eds) Plant Diversity in Southeast Asia. PhytoKeys. 94: 51-57.  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.94.22065

[Herpetology • 2018] Leptobrachella Smith 1928 • Large-scale Phylogenetic Analyses provide insights into Unrecognized Diversity and Historical Biogeography of Asian Leaf-litter Frogs, Genus Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae)

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Leptobrachella spp. 

in Chen, Poyarkov, Suwannapoom, Lathrop, Wu, et al., 2018.
 

 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.02.020 

Highlights
• The most comprehensive and robust phylogeny for Leptolalax to date is presented.
• The presence of many putative undescribed species in Leptolalax is detected.
• Diversification in the group is complex, involving a high degree of sympatry and prevalence of microendemic species.
• The genus appears to have originated in Sundaland, consistent with an “upstream” hypothesis of colonization.
• A taxonomic revision of the genera Leptolalax and Leptobrachella is proposed.

Abstract
Southeast Asia and southern China (SEA-SC) harbor a highly diverse and endemic flora and fauna that is under increasing threat. An understanding of the biogeographical history and drivers of this diversity is lacking, especially in some of the most diverse and threatened groups. The Asian leaf-litter frog genus Leptolalax Dubois 1980 is a forest-dependent genus distributed throughout SEA-SC, making it an ideal study group to examine specific biogeographic hypotheses. In addition, the diversity of this genus remains poorly understood, and the phylogenetic relationships among species of Leptolalax and closely related Leptobrachella Smith 1928 remain unclear. Herein, we evaluate species-level diversity based on 48 of the 53 described species from throughout the distribution of Leptolalax. Molecular analyses reveal many undescribed species, mostly in southern China and Indochina. Our well-resolved phylogeny based on multiple nuclear DNA markers shows that Leptolalax is not monophyletic with respect to Leptobrachella and, thus, we assign the former to being a junior synonym of the latter. Similarly, analyses reject monophyly of the two subgenera of Leptolalax. The diversification pattern of the group is complex, involving a high degree of sympatry and prevalence of microendemic species. Northern Sundaland (Borneo) and eastern Indochina (Vietnam) appear to have played pivotal roles as geographical centers of diversification, and paleoclimatic changes and tectonic movements seem to have driven the major divergence of clades. Analyses fail to reject an “upstream” colonization hypothesis, and, thus, the genus appears to have originated in Sundaland and then colonized mainland Asia. Our results reveal that both vicariance and dispersal are responsible for current distribution patterns in the genus.

Keywords: Species delimitation; Biogeography; Source-sink dynamics; Taxonomy; Leptolalax; Leptobrachella




"Leptolalax Dubois 1980 to being a junior synonym of 
Leptobrachella Smith 1928"

 Conclusions:
This study provides valuable insights into the diversity, phylogeny and biogeography of Asian leaf-litter frogs formerly in the genus Leptolalax, using broad sampling and a multilocus approach. Our results reveal multiple, geographically structured, clades within Leptolalax, and for the first time, we produce convincing evidence that Leptolalax is paraphyletic, as Leptobrachella is recovered nesting within the genus. Analyses reject the earlier proposed recognition of two subgenera of Leptolalax. An underestimation of species diversity occurs in the group, which suggests a high degree of localized diversification and microendemism. Our spatiotemporal analysis suggests that the past climatic and tectonic events have likely contributed to the current distribution pattern of Leptobrachella. A synthesis of 20 diversification patterns for a wide range of other genera endemic to SEA-SC will yield a more comprehensive picture of the drivers of speciation in this highly diverse but complicated region.


Jin-Min Chen, Nikolay A. Poyarkov Jr., Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Amy Lathrop, Yun-He Wu, Wei-Wei Zhou, Zhi-Yong Yuan, Jie-Qiong Jin, HongMan Chen, He-Qun Liu, Truong Quang Nguyen, Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Tang Van Duong, Koshiro Eto, Kanto Nishikawa, Masafumi Matsui, Nikolai L. Orlov, Bryan L. Stuart, Rafe M. Brown, Jodi J.L. Rowley, Robert W. Murphy, YingYong Wang, Jing Che. 2018. Large-scale Phylogenetic Analyses provide insights into Unrecognized Diversity and Historical Biogeography of Asian Leaf-litter Frogs, Genus Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press.   DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.02.020

[Entomology • 2018] Osmanthedon domaticola • A New Genus and Species of Myrmecophile Clearwing Moth (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) from East Africa

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Osmanthedon domaticola  Agassiz & Kallies, 2018


Abstract

A new genusOsmanthedon Kallies gen. nov., in the tribe Synanthedonini and a new speciesOsmanthedon domaticola Agassiz & Kallies spec. nov., are described. This is the first record of a sesiid species associated with ant galls (domatia) found on whistling thorn Acacia, Vachelliadrepanolobium(Harms ex Sjöstedt) P.J.H.Hurter (Fabaceae), in East Africa.

Keywords: Lepidoptera, Acacia, Afrotropical, Osmanthedon, Synanthedonini, new taxa, Kenya, Tanzania



David Agassiz and Axel Kallies. 2018. A New Genus and Species of Myrmecophile Clearwing Moth (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) from East Africa. Zootaxa. 4392(3); 588–594. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4392.3.8


[Herpetology • 2018] Neusticurus arekuna • Integrative Taxonomy of the Gymnophthalmid Lizard Neusticurus rudis Boulenger, 1900 identifies A New Species in the eastern Pantepui Region, north-eastern South America

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Neusticurus arekuna 
Kok, Bittenbinder, van den Berg, Marques-Souza, Nunes, Laking, Teixeira, Fouquet, Means, MacCulloch & Rodrigues, 2018


ABSTRACT
The gymnophthalmid lizard genus Neusticurus Duméril and Bibron, 1839 currently contains six described species. One of them, Neusticurus rudis Boulenger, 1900 has a long history of taxonomic confusion, and uncertainty remains about the number of species involved under that name, especially in the Pantepui region. Our molecular phylogenetic (concatenation and species tree) and morphological (morphometrics, external and hemipenial morphology) analyses confirm Neusticurus rudis as a species complex with several candidate species in the eastern Pantepui region. Neusticurus rudis is here redescribed based on the re-examination of the holotype and 10 specimens from the vicinity of the type locality (ca. 15 km airline) in Guyana. The geographic distribution of N. rudis sensu stricto is restricted to east of the Venezuelan Gran Sabana, extending from the slopes of Mount Roraima in Venezuela through the slopes of Maringma-tepui and Wayalayeng to Mount Ayanganna in Guyana, between 678 and 1500 m elevation. Populations tentatively assigned to N. rudis also occur from Mount Wokomung in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana to the Iwokrama Forest Reserve in Guyana, between 159 and 1234 m elevation. A new Neusticurus species is described from the uplands and highlands of the eastern Pantepui region, west of the Venezuelan Gran Sabana in Brazil and Venezuela, between 900 and 2200 m elevation. Populations provisionally assigned to the new species were also found from the La Escalera region to Chivatón, the summit of Abakapá-tepui and the slopes and summit of Auyán-tepui, Venezuela, between 1100 and 2203 m elevation. Our results suggest the Gran Sabana as a possible recent biogeographical barrier for the genus in the region and indicate that tepui-summit Neusticurus populations derive from uplands populations that shifted their habitat preference.

KEYWORDS: Brazil, cryptic species, Guyana, lizard, Pantepui, savannah, Venezuela


Neusticurus arekuna, male paratype from Pacaraima, Brazil, in life (MZUSP106223).


Neusticurus arekuna sp. nov.

Etymology The specific epithet is a noun in apposition honouring the Arekuna tribe (also known as the Pemon tribe) that lives in the region of Pantepui where the new species was collected.


Philippe J. R. Kok, Mátyás A. Bittenbinder, Joris K. van den Berg, Sergio Marques-Souza, Pedro M. Sales Nunes, Alexandra E. Laking, Mauro Teixeira Jr, Antoine Fouquet, D. Bruce Means, Ross D. MacCulloch and Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues. 2018. Integrative Taxonomy of the Gymnophthalmid Lizard Neusticurus rudis Boulenger, 1900 identifies A New Species in the eastern Pantepui Region, north-eastern South America. Journal of Natural History.  DOI:   10.1080/00222933.2018.1439541 
 twitter.com/ccostah/status/972454350302990336

[Botany • 2018] Rhizanthella johnstonii • Flowering in Darkness: A New Species of Subterranean Orchid Rhizanthella (Orchidaceae; Orchidoideae; Diurideae) from Western Australia

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Rhizanthella johnstonii   K.W.Dixon & Christenh.

in Dixon & Christenhusz, 2018.

Few plants are so cryptic as the underground orchids, Rhizanthella Rogers (1928: 1), of Australia. Unlike the species on the eastern seaboard of Australia, the Western Australian species spend their entire life cycle, including flowering, below the soil surface (only rarely with the tips of the bracts showing), making them unique among orchids and indeed, among flowering plants generally (Brown et al. 2013). Discovery in 1928 of the first underground orchid in Western Australia was an international sensation where the plant was described as ‘a remarkable subterranean orchid’ (Wilson 1929). The new taxon described in this paper resolves the enigmatic, disjunct distribution of Rhizanthella in Western Australia, where there was thought to be a central and southern node of a single species, R. gardneri Rogers (1928: 1).
....

Rhizanthella johnstonii from Munglinup, Western Australia.
Photo by A. Brown.

Rhizanthella johnstonii K.W.Dixon & Christenh., sp. nov.  

 Etymology:—We name this species in recognition of Lionel Johnston, who has worked tirelessly and without reward on the many field trips to resolve the distributional status of this new taxon. His unwavering support of orchid conservation and his life-long support of KWD’s programme of orchid research is also acknowledged with the publication of this new taxon.


Kingsley W. Dixon and Maarten J.M. Christenhusz. 2018. Flowering in Darkness: A New Species of Subterranean Orchid Rhizanthella (Orchidaceae; Orchidoideae; Diurideae) from Western Australia. Phytotaxa.  334(1); 75–79.  DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.334.1.12

[Botany • 2018] Passiflora kumandayi • A New Species (Passifloraceae) from the Colombian Andes in A New Section within Subgenus Decaloba

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Passiflora kumandayi M.A. Buitrago A. & Coca

in Buitrago A., MacDougal & Coca, 2018. 

Abstract
A new species of passion flower from the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes is here described; Passiflora kumandayi M.A. Buitrago A. & Coca (subgenus Decaloba, supersection Auriculata). This species, along with five other closely related Andean species, comprise a monophyletic group characterized by paired branched inflorescences and small flowers with short or absent androgynophores. A provisional key to the species in the newly described section Apodae is presented. Passiflora kumandayi is here illustrated and its affinities with related species are discussed based on morphology and phylogenetic binning analysis using molecular site weight calibration.

Keywords: Passiflora, section Apodae, subgenus Decaloba, Colombia, Molecular Site Weight Calibration, Eudicots




María Alejandra Buitrago A., John M. MacDougal and Luis Fernando Coca. 2018. Passiflora kumandayi (Passifloraceae), A New Species from the Colombian Andes in A New Section within Subgenus DecalobaPhytotaxa. 344(1); 13–23. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.344.1.2

[Herpetology • 2018] Phylogenetic Surveys on the Newt Genus Tylototriton sensu lato (Salamandridae, Caudata) reveal Cryptic Diversity and Novel Diversification Promoted by Historical Climatic Shifts

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Figure 1: Sampling localities (A) and Maximum likelihood (ML) tree obtained based on mtDNA data of Tylototriton s.l. and relatives (B). Sample number 1–108 refer to Table S1. Five clades (I, II, III, IV and V) of the genus were denoted as different colors. Bootstrap supports (bs) resulted from ML analyses and posterior probability (pp) resulted from Bayesian inference (BI) method were labeled on major nodes. Node supports ML1 and BI1 were resulted from analyses on mtDNA data, while ML2 and BI2 were from analyses on four-gene concatenated data. Black: bs > 70% or pp > 0.95, grey: bs = 50–70% or pp = 0.85–0.95, white: bs < 50% and pp < 0.85.

in Wang, Nishikawa, Matsui, et al​., 2018.

Abstract

Global climatic transitions and Tibetan Plateau uplifts are hypothesized to have profoundly impacted biodiversity in southeastern Asia. To further test the hypotheses related to the impacts of these incidents, we investigated the diversification patterns of the newt genus Tylototriton sensu lato, distributed across the mountain ranges of southeastern Asia. Gene-tree and species-tree analyses of two mitochondrial genes and two nuclear genes revealed five major clades in the genus, and suggested several cryptic species. Dating estimates suggested that the genus originated in the early-to-middle Miocene. Under different species delimitating scenarios, diversification analyses with birth-death likelihood tests indicated that the genus held a higher diversification rate in the late Miocene-to-Pliocene era than that in the Pleistocene. Ancestral area reconstructions indicated that the genus originated from the northern Indochina Peninsula. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the Miocene Climatic Transition triggered the diversification of the genus, and the reinforcement of East Asian monsoons associated with the stepwise uplifts of the Tibetan Plateau promoted the radiation of the genus in southeastern Asia during the Miocene-to-Pliocene period. Quaternary glacial cycles likely had limited effects on speciation events in the genus, but mainly had contributions on their intraspecific differentiations.



Figure 1: Sampling localities (A) and Maximum likelihood (ML) tree obtained based on mtDNA data of Tylototriton s.l. and relatives (B).
Sample number 1–108 refer to Table S1. Five clades (I, II, III, IV and V) of the genus were denoted as different colors. Bootstrap supports (bs) resulted from ML analyses and posterior probability (pp) resulted from Bayesian inference (BI) method were labeled on major nodes. Node supports ML1 and BI1 were resulted from analyses on mtDNA data, while ML2 and BI2 were from analyses on four-gene concatenated data. Black: bs > 70% or pp > 0.95, grey: bs = 50–70% or pp = 0.85–0.95, white: bs < 50% and pp < 0.85.


in Wang, Nishikawa, Matsui, et al​., 2018.




Conclusions: 
Our findings provided evidence for the profound influences of historical climate shifts especially associated with the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau on the diversification of animals occurring in the southeastern Asia. The results basically confirmed the reports on plant lineages, such as Rheum (Sun et al., 2012), Lepisorus (Wang et al., 2012a; Wang et al., 2012b), Juniperus (Mao et al., 2010) and Isodon (Yu et al., 2014), and on animal groups, such as Chiastocheta Pokorny, 1889 (Anthomyiidae, Diptera, Insecta; Espíndola, Buerki & Alvarez, 2012) and spiny frogs (Dicroglossidae, Anura, Amphibia; Che et al., 2010). Yet the present study further supplied some other indications. Primarily, although diversification of the newt group was promoted by the climatic shifts, several factors, for example, niche limits and their intrinsic low dispersal capacity, might have contributed to their Pleistocene rate-slowdown diversification. In addition, this study provided a putative “complete” species tree for Tylototriton s.l. to date. The inclusion of many putative cryptic species in the diversification analyses seems to be effective in finding diversification models of the group. But at present, wild populations of Tylototriton s.l. show a significant decline due to many reasons, such as climate changes, human capture and habitat deterioration. Further deep investigations of undetected cryptic lineages might supply the basic requirement for disclosing “true” diversification history of the taxa.


Bin Wang, Kanto Nishikawa, Masafumi Matsui, Truong Quang Nguyen, Feng Xie, Cheng Li, Janak Raj Khatiwada, Baowei Zhang, Dajie Gong, Yunming Mo, Gang Wei, Xiaohong Chen, Youhui Shen, Daode Yang, Rongchuan Xiong and Jianping Jiang​. 2018. Phylogenetic Surveys on the Newt Genus Tylototriton sensu lato (Salamandridae, Caudata) reveal Cryptic Diversity and Novel Diversification Promoted by Historical Climatic Shifts. PeerJ. 6:e4384.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4384

[Ichthyology • 2018] Schistura kottelati • A New Species of Loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park in central Vietnam

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 Schistura kottelati
 Tuan, Thao & Quang, 2018

 RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 66 

Abstract

 Schistura kottelati, new species, is described from the Hung Dang Valley (Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park) in central Vietnam. It is distinguished from all other species of Schistura known from Vietnam and adjacent areas in Laos by a unique combination of characters, including features of lateral line and body pigmentation, counts of fin rays, and barbel and body measurements.

Key words. cypriniformes, taxonomy, morphology, Southeast Asia, karstic area


Schistura kottelati, new species

Diagnosis. Schistura kottelati differs from the other species of genus Schistura known from Vietnam and adjacent areas in Laos by the unique combination of the following characters: lateral line very short, with 5–14 pores; pelvic fin with 1 unbranched and 8 branched rays; a long maxillary barbel (reaching vertical through nape) and inner rostral barbel (reaching vertical through anterior margin of eye); body without obvious markings; caudal fin deeply forked (length of median ray 1.5–1.7 times in length of upper slobe); no external sexual dimorphism; caudal peduncle slender (its length 8.0–11.6% SL); a large eye (eye diameter 4.7–6.2% SL); and wide interorbital region (interorbital width 9.1–11.7% SL).

Etymology. The species is named for Maurice Kottelat, in appreciation for his research on Eurasian freshwater fishes, among others those of Vietnam. A noun in genitive.


 Ho Anh Tuan, Hoang Ngoc Thao and Ngo Xuan Quang. 2018. Schistura kottelati, A New Species of Loach from the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park in central Vietnam (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 66; 142–148.

[Paleontology • 2018] Late Maastrichtian Pterosaurs from North Africa and Mass Extinction of Pterosauria at the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary

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Size disparity of late Maastrichtian pterosaurs. 
Maastrichtian pterosaurs are larger than coeval birds in both marine (blue) and terrestrial/freshwater (orange) ecosystems. 

in Longrich, Martill & Andres, 2018.

Abstract
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight and the largest animals to ever take wing. The pterosaurs persisted for over 150 million years before disappearing at the end of the Cretaceous, but the patterns of and processes driving their extinction remain unclear. Only a single family, Azhdarchidae, is definitively known from the late Maastrichtian, suggesting a gradual decline in diversity in the Late Cretaceous, with the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction eliminating a few late-surviving species. However, this apparent pattern may simply reflect poor sampling of fossils. Here, we describe a diverse pterosaur assemblage from the late Maastrichtian of Morocco that includes not only Azhdarchidae but the youngest known Pteranodontidae and Nyctosauridae. With 3 families and at least 7 species present, the assemblage represents the most diverse known Late Cretaceous pterosaur assemblage and dramatically increases the diversity of Maastrichtian pterosaurs. At least 3 families—Pteranodontidae, Nyctosauridae, and Azhdarchidae—persisted into the late Maastrichtian. Late Maastrichtian pterosaurs show increased niche occupation relative to earlier, Santonian-Campanian faunas and successfully outcompeted birds at large sizes. These patterns suggest an abrupt mass extinction of pterosaurs at the K-Pg boundary.


Fig 20. Size disparity of late Maastrichtian pterosaurs and birds. Maastrichtian pterosaurs are larger than coeval birds in both marine (blue) and terrestrial/freshwater (orange) ecosystems. Wingspan estimates for pterosaurs are from S2 Data. Wingspans for terrestrial birds were made using estimated masses from Longrich et al. [2011] and the equation for passeriformes from Norberg [1981] or from reconstructions based on fossils [Dyke, et al 2002; Agnolín, et al 2017].


Nicholas R. Longrich, David M. Martill and Brian Andres. 2018. Late Maastrichtian Pterosaurs from North Africa and Mass Extinction of Pterosauria at the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary. PLoS Biol. 16(3): e2001663.  DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2001663

  

Author summary: Pterosaurs were winged cousins of the dinosaurs and lived from around 200 million years ago to 66 million years ago, when the last pterosaurs disappeared during the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs. The pterosaurs are thought to have declined in diversity before their final extinction, suggesting that gradual processes played a major role in their demise. However, pterosaur fossils are very rare, and thus, it is unclear whether pterosaurs were really low in diversity at this time or whether these patterns merely result from a paucity of fossils. We describe new pterosaur fossils from the end of the Cretaceous in Morocco, including as many as 7 species. They represent 3 different families and show a large range of variation in size and skeletal proportions, suggesting that they occupied a wide range of ecological niches.

[Botany • 2015] Rhododendron leigongshanense • A New Species (Ericaceae) from southwest China

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Rhododendron leigongshanense C.H. Yang, Z.G. Xie, Y.F. Yu & Z.R. Yang
in Yang, Xie, Yu & Yang, 2015

Abstract
Rhododendron leigongshanense, a new species from Leishan County, Guizhou Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is close to R. magniflorun W.K. Hu and R. glanduliferum Franchet, but differs by having stipitatus glands on leaf abaxial surface, corolla trumpet-shaped with 7 lobes, 7.58.0 cm long, 810 cm in diameter and calyx 7- lobed.

Keywords: China; Ericaceae; New species; Rhododendron.

Fig. 2. Rhododendron leigongshanense C.H. Yang, Z.G. Xie, Y.F. Yu & Z.R. Yang, sp. nov.
A. Habitat and habit; B. Leaf blade showing stipitatus glands on leaf abaxial surface; C. Flower, showing trumpetshaped corolla with 7 petals; D. Capsule.

Rhododendron leigongshanense C.H. Yang, Z.G. Xie, Y.F. Yu & Z.R. Yang, sp. nov.

 Diagnosis: The new species is morphologically similar to R. magniflorum and R. glanduliferum, but differs by its leaf abaxial surface with stipitatus glands, corolla trumpet-shaped with 7 lobes, 7.5–8.0 cm long, 8–10 cm in diameter, and calyx 7-lobed.
 ..... 


Etymology: The specific epithet is named after the type locality Leigongshan
Vernacular name: Leigongshan Dujuan. 

 Habitat: This species grows in evergreen broad-leaved forests on limestone hills at 1,400 m.
Distribution: So far, this species is only known from the type locality Leigongshan Nature Reserve, Leishan County, Guizhou Province, southwest China.


Cheng-Hua Yang, Zheng-Guo Xie, Yong-Fu Yu and Zhi-Rong Yang. 2015. Rhododendron leigongshanense (Ericaceae), A New Species from China. Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy. 22(2); 119-123.  DOI:  10.3329/bjpt.v22i2.26073


[Botany • 2018] Didymocarpus puhoatensis • A New Species (Gesneriaceae) from Vietnam

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Didymocarpus puhoatensis X.Hong & F.Wen

in Hong, Li, Maciejewski, Wen & Do. 2018. 

Abstract
Didymocarpus puhoatensis, a new species from Vietnam is described and illustrated with photographs. The new species is morphologically similar to D. brevicalyx and D. epithemoides, but can be easily distinguished by a combination of characters. So far, five species have been recorded in the genus Didymocarpus from Vietnam.

Keywords: Didymocarpus, Gesneriaceae, plant taxonomy, Vietnam



Figure 1. Didymocarpus puhoatensis X.Hong & F.Wen
A Habitat B Adaxial surface view of leaf blade C Adaxial surface view of leaf blade D Cyme with flowers, showing the bracts E Lateral view of corolla, showing the calyx consisting of a tube. 

Figure 2. Flower of Didymocarpus puhoatensisX.Hong & F.Wen
 A–B Frontal view of corolla, showing the disc-like stigma C Top view of corolla D Upward view of corolla E Opened corolla, showing stamens and staminodes F Pistils without corolla.

Didymocarpus puhoatensis X.Hong & F.Wen, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Although it is morphologically similar to D. brevicalyx, it differs by stem densely pubescent, orbicular purple bracts, apices of calyx lobes obtuse, filaments glabrous, staminodes 2; and also similar to D. epithemoides, but differs from the latter in having purple calyx, funnel-form corolla, 4–5 cm long, glabrous, dark purple-blackish, ovary glandular puberulent.

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, Nghệ An Province, Vietnam.

Distribution and habitat: This new taxon is an endemic species from Pu Hoat Nature Reserve of Vietnam. The species grows on limestone rocks in tropical monsoon forest with sufficient seasonal run-off water, at an elevation of 390 m a.s.l. It distributes much lower in altitude and the habitat is much hotter and more humid than other species with stems of the genus.


 Xin Hong, Zhen-Long Li, Stephen Maciejewski, Fang Wen and Truong Van Do. 2018. Didymocarpus puhoatensis (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Vietnam. In: Jin X-H, Shui Y-M, Tan Y-H, Kang M (Eds) Plant Diversity in Southeast Asia. PhytoKeys. 94; 87-93.  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.94.21650

[Herpetology • 2018] Pristimantis antisuyu & P. erythroinguinis • Two New Species of Terrestrial-breeding Frogs (Anura, Strabomantidae) from the eastern Slopes of the Andes in Manu National Park, Peru

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Pristimantis antisuyu
 Catenazzi & Lehr, 2018


Abstract

We describe two new species of Pristimantis from the Kosñipata valley in the eastern slopes of the Andes near Manu National Park, Peru. The two new species are closely related but do not overlap elevationally: Pristimantis antisuyu sp. n. occurs from 1485–1823 m a.s.l., whereas Pristimantis erythroinguinis sp. n. occurs from 930–1255 m a.s.l. Both species are readily distinguished from all other species of Pristimantis but P. cruciocularis and P. flavobracatus by possessing an iris with a cruciform pattern, no tympanum, and red bright or yellow coloration on groin. We used a Maximum Likelihood approach to infer a molecular phylogeny on a dataset composed of 27 terminals and 903 bp of the concatenated 16S rRNA and COI mitochondrial fragments. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that, despite differing in groin coloration from red to yellow, individuals of P. cruciocularis and P. flavobracatus form a single clade, and some specimens have identical 16S sequences. Therefore, we synonymize P. flavobracatus with P. cruciocularis. The two unnamed species are closely related to P.cruciocularis. Pristimantis antisuyu sp. n. differs from P. cruciocularis and P. erythroinguinis sp. n. by having smaller yellow spots, instead of extensive red coloration, on groin and hind limbs, by being larger with proportionally longer tibias, and by having an inner metatarsal tubercle three times the size of outer metatarsal tubercle (twice as long in the other two species). Pristimantis erythroinguinis sp. n., despite having coloration very similar to P. cruciocularis, is the sister taxon to both P. antisuyu sp. n. and P. cruciocularis, and can be distinguished from the latter by having much darker ventral coloration, and no cream or yellow spots on flanks and surrounding the red inguinal marks.

Keywords: Amphibia, Amazon Basin, Brachycephaloidea, frog, cloud forest, Paucartambo, phylogenetics, synonymy, taxonomy, Terrarana






Alessandro Catenazzi and Edgar Lehr. 2018. Pristimantis antisuyu sp. n. and Pristimantis erythroinguinis sp. n., Two New Species of Terrestrial-breeding Frogs (Anura, Strabomantidae) from the eastern Slopes of the Andes in Manu National Park, Peru.   4394(2); 185–206.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4394.2.2
Two new frog species for Manu National Park - Catenazzi Lab  CatenazziLab.org/1/post/2018/03/two-new-frog-species-for-manu-national-park.html


[Herpetology • 2018] Scolecoseps broadleyi • A New Species of Scolecoseps (Reptilia: Scincidae) from coastal north-eastern Mozambique

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 Scolecoseps broadleyi
Verburgt, Verburgt & Branch, 2018


ABSTRACT
Seven specimens of Scolecoseps Loveridge, 1920 from the vicinity of Palma on the north coast of Mozambique are compared morphologically with other known material of this genus. The new material can be distinguished morphologically from all other Scolecoseps by the presence and position of certain head scales, particularly a supraciliary and four small suboculars, a small mental and high subcaudal counts. It is described as a new species, Scolecoseps broadleyi sp. nov. The new species is found in coastal savannah habitat under leaf litter of Berlinia orientalis trees, in sandy soils in close proximity to large wetlands. Its currently known distribution is south of the range of Scolecoseps litipoensis Broadley, 1995 and north of that of Scolecoseps boulengeri Loveridge, 1920. We provide a review of the available literature for the genus Scolecoseps and highlight the necessity for additional research on these poorly known fossorial skinks.

KEYWORDS: arenosols, coastal savannah habitat, fossorial, sandy soils, skinks


Scolecoseps broadleyi sp. nov.; Paratype, PEM R22698, showing head shields


Scolecoseps broadleyi sp. nov. 

Etymology— Named in honour of Donald George Broadley in recognition of his numerous contributions to African herpetology. Don assisted greatly with the description of this new species. 

Figure 3 .Scolecoseps broadleyi sp. nov.
 
A) Holotype, NMZB 17985 in life and B) ventral view after preservation;
 C) Paratype, PEM R22697 in life and D) Paratype, PEM R22698, showing head shields. 


Luke Verburgt, Ursula K. Verburgt and William R. Branch. 2018. A New Species of Scolecoseps (Reptilia: Scincidae) from coastal north-eastern Mozambique. African Journal of Herpetology. DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1413014

[Hexapoda • 2018] Isotomurus festus • A New Member of the Genus Isotomurus from the Kuril Islands (Collembola: Isotomidae): Returning to the Problem of “Colour Pattern Species”

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Isotomurus festus
Potapov, Porco & Deharveng, 2018


Abstract

Colour pattern is the most common character to identify species in several large genera of Collembola. Its use often raises problems due to various and poorly investigated extent of chromatic variability among species. Isotomurus festus sp. nov. is here described from Kunashir Isl. (the Kuriles, the Far East of Russia). The species, a member of the ‘antennalis’ group, is characterized by the lack of trichobothria and slender claws, but is greatly variable in coloration. DNA barcoding (COI) results supports that all the colour forms encountered belong to the same species. While colour pattern has been shown to be the most reliable character for species identification in several Entomobryidae genera, it might not be the case in Isotomurus Börner, 1903, the sole large Isotomidae genus where colour pattern is routinely used for taxonomy.

Keywords: Collembola, the Far East, hydrophilic, colour pattern, barcoding, taxonomy, polymorphism



Mikhail Potapov, David Porco and Louis Deharveng. 2018. A New Member of the Genus Isotomurus from the Kuril Islands (Collembola: Isotomidae): Returning to the Problem of “Colour Pattern Species”. Zootaxa. 4394(3); 383–394. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4394.3.4

[Herpetology | Microbiology • 2018] Widespread Elevational Occurrence of Antifungal Bacteria in Andean Amphibians Decimated by Disease: A Complex Role for Skin Symbionts in Defense Against Chytridiomycosis

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FIGURE 1. Representative amphibian hosts and their habitats sampled for this study:
(A,B) Hypsiboas gladiator is non-susceptible to chytridiomycosis and lays aquatic eggs in streamside basins along montane streams in the cloud forest; (C,D) Psychrophrynella usurpator is non-susceptible and lays terrestrial eggs that undergo direct development under mosses in the high-Andean grassland; (E,F) Telmatobius marmoratus is highly susceptible to chytridiomycosis and lays aquatic eggs in small, high-Andean streams.
Photographs by A. Catenazzi.

in Catenazzi, Flechas, Burkart, et al. 2018.

Emerging infectious disease is a growing threat to global health, and recent discoveries reveal that the microbiota dwelling on and within hosts can play an important role in health and disease. To understand the capacity of skin bacteria to protect amphibian hosts from the fungal disease chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), we isolated 192 bacterial morphotypes from the skin of 28 host species of frogs (families Bufonidae, Centrolenidae, Hemiphractidae, Hylidae, Leptodactylidae, Strabomantidae, and Telmatobiidae) collected from the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes (540–3,865 m a.s.l.) in the Kosñipata Valley near Manu National Park, a site where we previously documented the collapse of montane frog communities following chytridiomycosis epizootics. We obtained isolates through agar culture from skin swabs of wild frogs, and identified bacterial isolates by comparing 16S rRNA sequences against the GenBank database using BLAST. We identified 178 bacterial strains of 38 genera, including 59 bacterial species not previously reported from any amphibian host. The most common bacterial isolates were species of Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus, Chryseobacterium, Comamonas, Sphingobacterium, and Stenotrophomonas. We assayed the anti-fungal abilities of 133 bacterial isolates from 26 frog species. To test whether cutaneous bacteria might inhibit growth of the fungal pathogen, we used a local Bd strain isolated from the mouthparts of stream-dwelling tadpoles (Hypsiboas gladiator, Hylidae). We quantified Bd-inhibition in vitro with co-culture assays. We found 20 bacterial isolates that inhibited Bd growth, including three isolates not previously known for such inhibitory abilities. Anti-Bd isolates occurred on aquatic and terrestrial breeding frogs across a wide range of elevations (560–3,695 m a.s.l.). The inhibitory ability of anti-Bd isolates varied considerably. The proportion of anti-Bd isolates was lowest at mid-elevations (6%), where amphibian declines have been steepest, and among hosts that are highly susceptible to chytridiomycosis (0–14%). Among non-susceptible species, two had the highest proportion of anti-Bd isolates (40 and 45%), but one common and non-susceptible species had a low proportion (13%). In conclusion, we show that anti-Bd bacteria are widely distributed elevationally and phylogenetically across frog species that have persisted in a region where chytridiomycosis emerged, caused a devastating epizootic and continues to infect amphibians.

Keywords: 16S rRNA gene, amphibian declines, amphibian skin bacteria, antifungal bacteria, elevational gradient, montane diversity gradient, neotropical, tropical Andes


Conclusion: 
We found that anti-Bd bacteria are widely distributed across bacterial phyla and genera, occur along a wide elevational range in the Amazon to Andes transition, and are found on amphibian hosts that use aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal environments. The pattern of elevational distribution of anti-Bd isolates, and the association of high proportion of anti-Bd isolates of high inhibitory strength with low host susceptibility to disease, support the idea that symbiotic bacteria play a functional role in amphibian skin defense. Yet this association does not consistently explain the fate of amphibian hosts along the elevational gradient, suggesting complex interactions among bacterial symbionts, hosts, and environmental factors in determining frog persistence in a region of high disease prevalence.


Alessandro Catenazzi, Sandra V. Flechas, David Burkart, Nathan D. Hooven, Joseph Townsend and Vance T. Vredenburg. 2018. Widespread Elevational Occurrence of Antifungal Bacteria in Andean Amphibians Decimated by Disease: A Complex Role for Skin Symbionts in Defense Against Chytridiomycosis. Front. Microbiol., DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00465

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