Species New to Science

Neopanorpa quadristigma

Wang & Hua, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4483.1.2

Abstract

Neopanorpa van der Weele, 1909 is the second largest genus of Panorpidae, and is endemic to the Oriental Region. Yunnan, a province in the southwestern region of China, is well-known as a biodiversity hotspot and abundant in Neopanorpa species. However, only sixteen species of Neopanorpa have been described from Yunnan hitherto and the taxonomic study of Neopanorpa in Yunnan has lagged far behind as compared with studies performed in neighboring regions. In the present study, notably high diversity of Neopanorpa species is found in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan. Seven species of Neopanorpa are described as new: Neopanorpa semiorbiculata, N. tincta, N. triangulata, N. diancangshanensis, N. magnatitilana, N. longistipitata, and N. quadristigma spp. n. Neopanorpa spatulata Byers, 1965, originally described from Thailand, is recorded from China for the first time. Neopanorpa dimidiata Navás, 1930 is a synonym of N. brisi (Navás, 1930). Keys to species of Neopanorpa in Yunnan are provided. The phylogenetic relationships of Neopanorpa species from the Hengduan Mountains, the Indochinese Peninsula, and the eastern Himalayas are briefly discussed.

Keywords: Mecoptera, taxonomy, Insecta, China, Oriental Region, fauna

Neopanorpa quadristigma sp. n., male.

Photo by Ji-Shen Wang

Meng Wang and Bao-Zhen Hua. 2018. High Species Diversity of the Genus Neopanorpa (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) in Yunnan Province, China. Zootaxa. 4483(1); 36–66. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4483.1.2

Miconia rheophytica Posada‒Herrera & Almeda

in Posada-Herrera & Almeda, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.371.1.7

Abstract

Miconia rheophytica is described, illustrated, and compared with presumed relatives in the Octopleura clade. It is distinguished by its narrowly elliptic to ovate-lanceolate leaf blades with entire to subentire margins that have evenly spaced spreading smooth eglandular trichomes 0.8−1.4 mm long, an indumentum of dendritic trichomes with short axes and terete radiating arms on distal internodes, adaxial petiole surfaces, and primary and secondary veins on abaxial leaf surfaces, unribbed hypanthia that are constricted and tapered distally below the torus and covered with a mixture of basally roughened trichomes and dendritic trichomes with short axes, anthers with two ± truncate apical pores, eglandular anther appendages, 3-locular ovary, and berries that are bright blue at maturity. It is known only from flash-flooded riverbanks in three river canyons in the Magdalena Medio region of Antioquia, Colombia. A conservation assessment of “Endangered” is recommended for this species based on IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Keywords: Andes, rheophyte, endangered species, neotropics, Octopleura clade, Eudicots

Figure 1. A. Habit. B. Cauline node and internode enlargement. C. Leaf apex, showing evenly spaced smooth marginal trichomes. D. Dendritic trichome with terete radiating arms. E. Simple axillary dichasium. F. Flower at anthesis (profile view). G. Elongated trichome with roughened base. H. Petal, showing reflexed posture. I. Stamen (profile view). J. Seeds, dorsal view (lower) and profile view (upper). All drawn from the holotype.

Figure 2. Images of Miconia rheophytica.
A. Habit with immature and mature berries. B. Flower and immature berries. C. Flower (at anthesis) and flower bud. D. Berry at maturity. Image credits: A, C, Rodrigo Bernal; B, D, Saúl E. Hoyos-Gómez.

Miconia rheophytica Posada‒Herrera & Almeda, sp. nov.

Type:— COLOMBIA. Antioquia: Municipio de San Luis, río Samaná Norte, 2 km abajo del puente de la carretera Medellín‒Bogotá. ..., 430 m, 18 diciembre 2016 (fl, fr), S. E. Hoyos-Gómez 3105 (holotype: HUA!). Figs. 1, 2.

Diagnosis: Unusual and unique among species of the Octopleura clade in being rheophytic and in having a combination of narrowly elliptic to ovate-lanceolate leaf blades with entire to subentire margins that have evenly spaced spreading smooth eglandular trichomes 0.8−1.4 mm long, unribbed hypanthia covered with a mixture of basally roughened trichomes and dendritic trichomes with short axes, anthers with two ± truncate apical pores, eglandular anther appendages, 3-locular ovary, and berries that are bright blue at maturity.

....

Distribution and habitat:— Miconia rheophytica appears to be largely restricted to the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia where it is known only from the Department of Antioquia (Fig. 3). It grows along rocky banks of Río Nechí, and in the Río Samaná Norte and Río Claro river canyons in the municipalities of Anorí and San Luis at elevations of 110−600 m.

Etymology:— The specific epithet is derived from the word rheophyte, a plant that grows along margins of fast moving river currents with frequent flooding. This is an environment that is particularly harsh for many organisms.

Juan Mauricio Posada-Herrera and Frank Almeda. 2018. Miconia rheophytica (Melastomataceae: Miconieae), A New and Endangered Species from the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia. Phytotaxa. 371(1); 55–61. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.371.1.7

Amyema lisae

in Pelser, Olimpos, O'Byrne & Barcelona, 2018.
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.371.1.3

Abstract

Our recent fieldwork in the island of Negros, Philippines resulted in the discovery of a species new to science, Amyema lisae (Loranthaceae), and a new record for the Philippines, Gastrodiasabahensis (Orchidaceae), which we describe and report here. Amyemalisae differs from similar species with verticillate phyllotaxy and inflorescences of simple umbels by having relatively smaller leaves and 5-merous flowers that are yellow and tomentose. This new species is named in honor of Lisa J. Paguntalan, a champion of biodiversity conservation in the Philippines. In the same island, we also collected Gastrodiasabahensis, previously only known to occur in Borneo. Our specimens differ from typical plants of this species by having larger flowers with column bases that are slightly broader and stelidia that are broad with blunt apices.

Keywords: Balinsasayao - Twin Lakes Natural Park, Gastrodiaverrucosa complex, mistletoe, Northern Negros Natural Park, parasitic plant, taxonomy, Eudicots

Pieter B. Pelser, Shiella Mae B. Olimpos, Peter O'Byrne and Julie F. Barcelona. 2018. A New Species of Amyema (Loranthaceae) and A New Gastrodia (Orchidaceae) Record for the Philippines from Negros Island. Phytotaxa. 371(1); 25–32. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.371.1.3

facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156223052579843

facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10215986765195283

twitter.com/PBPelser/status/1044523283939393536

New mistletoe species found only in Negros Oriental named after Philippine wildlife biologist t.co/tpC5Jp9n0g @cebudailynews

Jinguofortis perplexus

Wang, Stidham & Zhou, 2018

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1812176115

(artwork by Chung-Tat Cheung)

Significance

We report the second most basal clade of the short-tailed birds (Pygostylia) from the Early Cretaceous. The new family Jinguofortisidae exhibits a mosaic assembly of plesiomorphic nonavian theropod characteristics, particularly of the fused scapulocoracoid and more derived flight-related features, further increasing the known ecomorphological diversity of basal avian lineages. We discuss the evolution of the scapula and coracoid in major tetrapod groups and early birds and hypothesize that the fused scapulocoracoid in some basal avian lineages, although rare, results from an accelerated rate of ossification and that the avian shoulder girdle likely was transformed by developmental plasticity along an evolutionary lineage leading to the crown group of birds.

Abstract

Early members of the clade Pygostylia (birds with a short tail ending in a compound bone termed “pygostyle”) are critical for understanding how the modern avian bauplan evolved from long-tailed basal birds like Archaeopteryx. However, the currently limited known diversity of early branching pygostylians obscures our understanding of this major transition in avian evolution. Here, we describe a basal pygostylian, Jinguofortis perplexus gen. et sp. nov., from the Early Cretaceous of China that adds important information about early members of the short-tailed bird group. Phylogenetic analysis recovers a clade (Jinguofortisidae fam. nov.) uniting Jinguofortis and the enigmatic basal avian taxon Chongmingiathat represents the second earliest diverging group of the Pygostylia. Jinguofortisids preserve a mosaic combination of plesiomorphic nonavian theropod features such as a fused scapulocoracoid (a major component of the flight apparatus) and more derived flight-related morphologies including the earliest evidence of reduction in manual digits among birds. The presence of a fused scapulocoracoid in adult individuals independently evolved in Jinguofortisidae and Confuciusornithiformes may relate to an accelerated osteogenesis during chondrogenesis and likely formed through the heterochronic process of peramorphosis by which these basal taxa retain the scapulocoracoid of the nonavian theropod ancestors with the addition of flight-related modifications. With wings having a low aspect ratio and wing loading, Jinguofortis may have been adapted particularly to dense forest environments. The discovery of Jinguofortis increases the known ecomorphological diversity of basal pygostylians and highlights the importance of developmental plasticity for understanding mosaic evolution in early birds.

Keywords: bird, development, Mesozoic, plasticity, phylogeny

Jinguofortis perplexus gen. et sp. nov., IVPP V24194.
Photographs of counter slab and main slab.

Systematic Paleontology

Aves Linnaeus, 1758

Pygostylia Chiappe, 2002

Jinguofortisidae fam. nov.

Jinguofortis perplexus gen. et sp. nov.

Holotype: A complete and articulated skeleton with feathers is housed at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) under the collect number IVPP V24194 (Fig. 1 and SI Appendix, Figs. S1–S7 and Table S1).

Etymology: The generic name is derived from “jinguo” (Mandarin), referring to female warrior, and “fortis”, Latin for brave; the specific name is derived from Latin “perplexus,” referring to the combination of plesiomorphic and derived characters present in the holotype specimen.

Locality and Horizon: IVPP V24194 was collected near the village of Shixia, Weichang County, Hebei Province, China; Lower Cretaceous Dabeigou Formation of the Jehol Biota (127 ± 1.1 Ma).

Reconstruction of Jinguofortis perplexus, second earliest member of the short-tailed birds Pygostylia

(artwork by Chung-Tat Cheung)

Fig. 3. Changes to the scapula and coracoid in vertebrates with a focus on basal avian clades. A simplified tree of vertebrates (Left) shows the scapula (colored in blue) and coracoid (in green) fused into a scapulocoraocid (in gray) in most major tetrapod clades (see SI Appendix, SI Text, for details). Simplified cladogram of basal Aves (Right) shows the changes to the shoulder girdle and manus (see SI Appendix, Fig. S8, for complete phylogenetic result). Thick green lines near each clade denote temporal range with the first-appearance datum denoted. Major changes to the shoulder girdle and manus across basal avian phylogeny are summarized: (1) in most nonavian theropods, the scapula and coracoid are fused into a scapulocoracoid at an obtuse angle, and they have a manual phalangeal formula of 2–3-4; (2) scapula and coracoid become separated and form an angle of ∼90°; (3, 4) independent evolution of a fused scapulocoracoid in the Confuciusornithiformes and Jinguofortisidae; (6) minor digit is reduced resulting in a manual phalangeal formula of 2–3-2; (7) scapula and coracoid are decoupled and form an acute angle with further manual digit reduction evolving in derived ornithuromorphs; (8) alternatively, it is equally parsimonious that a fused scapulocoracoid evolved at the base of Pygostylia and was lost in pygostylians crownward of Jinguofortisidae (5).

Min Wang, Thomas A. Stidham and Zhonghe Zhou. 2018. A New Clade of Basal Early Cretaceous Pygostylian Birds and Developmental Plasticity of the Avian Shoulder Girdle. PNAS. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1812176115

Min Wang, Xiaoli Wang, Yan Wang and Zhonghe Zhou. 2016. A New Basal Bird from China with implications for Morphological Diversity in Early Birds. Scientific Reports. 6: 19700. DOI: 10.1038/srep19700

Chinese Cretaceous fossil highlights avian evolution eurekalert.org/e/8pkg via @EurekAlert

phys.org/news/2018-09-chinese-cretaceous-fossil-highlights-avian.html via @physorg_com

Tosanoides aphrodite

Pinheiro, Rocha & Rocha, 2018

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.786.27382

Abstract

During a recent expedition to St. Paul’s Rocks, Atlantic Ocean, a distinctive and previously unknown species of Anthiadinae was collected at a depth of 120 m. A genetic analysis indicated the undescribed species is a member of the genus Tosanoides, which was only known to occur in the Pacific Ocean. This new taxon is distinguishable from all other Tosanoides species by the following combination of characters: soft dorsal fin rays 15–16; anal fin rays 9; ventral scale rows 9–10; last dorsal spine the longest (instead first through fourth). Here Tosanoides aphrodite sp. n. is described and illustrated, only known from St. Paul’s Rocks.

Keywords: Brazil, coral reefs, deep reefs, fish endemism, oceanic island, rebreather diving

Figure 3. Fresh specimens of Tosanoides aphrodite sp. n. collected in St. Paul’s Rocks, Brazil. A Male B Female. Photographs by LA Rocha.

Tosanoides aphrodite sp. n.

Diagnosis: The new species differs from all other Anthiadinae by the following combination of characters: Dorsal-fin spines X; last dorsal spine the longest, 1.8–2.2 in head length; dorsal-fin rays 15–16; 7th dorsal ray the longest, 2.65–2.80 in head length; anal-fin rays 9; pored lateral-line scales 32–35; ventral scale rows 9–10; body slender and compressed, greatest depth 2.96–3.18 in SL, and the width 1.77–2.09 in depth. Our phylogenetic analysis shows the new species belongs to Tosanoides Kamohara 1953, from which it differs of the other known species by: a divergence of at least 12.35% at the cytochrome oxidase I gene, last dorsal spine the longest (instead first through fourth), fewer dorsal-fin rays (15–16 vs. 16–17), and more anal-fin rays (9 vs. 8 in the other Tosanoides).

....

Figure 4. Tosanoides aphrodite sp. n. in its natural environment, photographed at a depth of 120 m in St. Paul’s Rocks, Brazil. Photograph by LA Rocha.

Etymology: The name “aphrodite” refers to the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty. While we were collecting the Aphrodite anthias, a large Six-gill shark (Hexanchus griseus) came very close to both of us (HTP and LAR), but that didn’t divert our attention from the new exquisitely beautiful species, and we never even saw the shark (youtu.be/pSZrmoEwR0Q). The beauty of the Aphrodite anthias enchanted us during its discovery much like Aphrodite’s beauty enchanted ancient Greek gods.

Distribution and habitat: Tosanoides aphrodite is only known from Saint Paul’s Rocks, off Brazil. It was found on mesophotic coral ecosystems of the island, observed between 100 and 130 m depth while rebreather diving, and a single observation at 260 m depth, taken from a submersible dive. The species inhabits small crevices of complex rocky reefs (Figure 4). The ambient seawater temperature at the collecting depth (~ 120 m) varied between 13 and 15 °C during the two-week period we stayed in the area.

Hudson T. Pinheiro, Claudia Rocha and Luiz A. Rocha. 2018. Tosanoides aphrodite, A New Species from Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems of St. Paul’s Rocks, Mid Atlantic Ridge (Perciformes, Serranidae, Anthiadinae). ZooKeys. 786: 105-115. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.786.27382

Flexor incus

Conway, Stewart & Summers, 2018

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.786.28539

Abstract

Flexor incus, new genus and species, is described from 15 specimens (14.0–27.2 mm SL) collected from shallow (0–9 meters) intertidal and sub-tidal waters of the Rangitāhua Kermadec Islands, New Zealand. The new taxon is distinguished from all other members of the Gobiesocidae by a combination of characters, including a heterodont dentition comprising both conical and distinct incisiviform teeth that are laterally compressed with a strongly recurved cusp, an oval-shaped opening between premaxillae, a double adhesive disc with a well-developed articulation between basipterygia and ventral postcleithra, and many reductions in the cephalic lateral line canal system. The new taxon is tentatively placed within the subfamily Diplocrepinae but shares a number of characteristics of the oral jaws and the adhesive disc skeleton with certain members of the Aspasminae and Diademichthyinae.

Keywords: Acanthomorpha, Aspasminae, Diademichthyinae, Diplocrepinae, taxonomy

Figure 1. Flexor incus, NMNZ P.060717, holotype, 20.8 mm SL;
New Zealand, Kermadec Islands, Raoul Island.

Figure 2. Flexor incus, Te konui Point, Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, 28 meters depth, photographed by R. Robinson (www.depth.co.nz) during the 2011 Kermadec Islands Biodiscovery Expedition, a project led by the Auckland Museum. Specimen not retained.

Systematics

Flexor gen. n.

Diagnosis: A genus of the Gobiesocidae differing from all other genera by a combination of characters, including: head and anteriormost part of body similar in width; a relatively elongate body with a small, double adhesive disc located beneath anteriormost part of body; an oval-shaped gap between premaxillae formed by a semicircular indentation along medial edge of premaxilla; premaxilla with a single row of teeth, comprising 2–3 peg-like, conical teeth anteriorly at, and adjacent to, symphysis and 10–12 strongly laterally compressed, incisiviform teeth with strongly recurved cusp, along outer margin of bone; lower jaw with a single row of 14–16 small, conical teeth with sharply pointed and slightly recurved tip; posterior tip of basipterygium expanded and articulating with anteromedial edge of ventral postcleithrum via a shallow concave facet; mandibular portion of preoperculo-mandibular lateral line canal absent; lachrymal canal with two pores; upper and lower lip simple, uniform in thickness along jaw margin.

Etymology: New Latin, anatomical term for muscles, from the Latin flexus, past participle of flectere, to bend. In reference to the great flexibility of clingfishes, many of which have the ability to bend the body so that the tail end comes to lie close to the head. Masculine.

Type species: Flexor incus, new species

Aspasmogaster sp.: Stewart 2015: 1539, 1544;

Trnski et al. 2015: 473, 476, Table 1.

Etymology. Incus is the Latin word for anvil, in reference to the anvil-like outline of Raoul Island, the largest island in the Kermadec archipelago and type locality of the new species. A noun in apposition.

Figure 11. Distribution of Flexor incus. Type locality in red.

Distribution and habitat. Known to date only from intertidal and subtidal waters of the Kermadec Islands (Figure 11), including Raoul Island (type locality) and L’Esperance Rock. The majority of available specimens were collected from rock pools and from shallower subtidal areas (down to 9 meters) over rock and coral rubble substrates using ichthyocides (Stewart 2015). However, a single specimen of the new species has been observed (and photographed) at 28 meters in depth (Figure 2).

Kevin W. Conway, Andrew L. Stewart and Adam P. Summers. 2018. A New Genus and Species of Clingfish from the Rangitāhua Kermadec Islands of New Zealand (Teleostei, Gobiesocidae). ZooKeys. 786: 75-104. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.786.28539

Hebius chapaensis (Bourret, 1934)

in Ren, Wang, Nguyen, Hoang, Zhong, et al., 2018.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4486.1.2

Photograph by Kai Wang.

Abstract

The Asian monotypic genus Pararhabdophis Bourret, 1934 has long been known from a single holotype of the type species Pararhabdophis chapaensis Bourret, 1934 only. The limited available information hampered the identification of the natricine species. On the basis of eight newly collected specimens of P. chapaensis from the type locality in Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam and from Pingbian, Yunnan Province in southwestern China, the taxonomic position of the genus Pararhabdophis was re-evaluated using both morphological and molecular datasets for the first time. Pararhabdophis chapaensis is nested within the genus Hebius Thompson, 1913 with strong support, and morphologically indistinguishable from the latter genus. As a consequence, we herein synonymize the genus Pararhabdophis with Hebius and discuss about the existing paraphyly of some Hebius species. In addition we report Hebius chapaensis for the first time from China and provide redescription and natural history data of this poorly known species. To facilitate future taxonomic work, an identification key to all known natricine genera from China and Vietnam is also provided.

Keywords: Reptilia, Amphiesma, Hebius, Parahelicops, cryptic diversity, distribution, misidentification, new record

General aspect of Hebius chapaensis (YBU 14026; male), showing coloration in life, Daweishan National Nature Reserve, Pingbian County, southern Yunnan Province, China.

Photograph by Kai Wang.

Hebius chapaensis

Hebius chapaensis (Bourret, 1934)

Pararhabdophis chapaensis Bourret, 1934. Bull. Gén. Instr. Publ. Hanoi 14 (7): 131–132, fig. 2.

Type locality. “Chapa, province de Laokay (Tonkin), à l’altitude moyenne de 1.600 m., Indochine française” [= Sa Pa, NW Lao Cai Prov., ext. N Vietnam, ..., elevation 1500–1600 m]. Holotype. MNHN 1938.0125 (formerly RLB M.270), a 690+ mm male (Collected by R.L. Bourret, collected around 1930–1931).

....

Etymology. The original generic nomen, Pararhabdophis, is based on the Greek prefix para-, meaning near or similar, and the natricine generic name Rhabdophis, presumably refers to the morphological similarity between two genera, and the gender of this generic name is possibly masculine. The newly referred generic nomen is Hebius, which was erected by Thompson (1913) on the basis of the morphology of the hemipenis. The generic name presumably derived from the Greek noun ἥβη “hebe”, meaning youth or pubescence, maybe refers to the densely spinous hemipenis, which is the salient diagnostic characteristic of this group. The gender of this generic name is masculine.

The species name is derived from the type locality of this species (Chapa, = Sa Pa, in Lao Cai Province of Vietnam) and it remains unchanged if the gender of the genus changes. We suggest “SaPa Keelback” as its common name, and “Sha Ba Fu Lian She” as its Chinese common name.

Jin-Long Ren,Kai Wang, Tao Thien Nguyen, Chung Van Hoang, Guang-Hui Zhong, Ke Jiang, Peng Guo and Jia-Tang Li. 2018. Taxonomic Re-evaluation of the Monotypic Genus Pararhabdophis Bourret, 1934 (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) with Discovery of Its Type Species, P. chapaensis, from China. Zootaxa. 4486(1); 31–56. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4486.1.2

Oedura argentea

Hoskin, Zozaya & Vanderduys, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4486.2.1

Abstract

We describe a new species of velvet gecko (Diplodactylidae: Oedura) from the sandstone ranges of central-north Queensland, Australia. Oedura argentea sp. nov. is a medium-sized (SVL 61–80 mm) gecko that is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of its relatively small size, a pattern of 5–6 dark-edged pale transverse bands from neck to pelvis, a silvery iris, a slender tail, a single cloacal spur, and in possessing 14–22 pre-cloacal pores in males. Oedura argentea sp. nov. is a sandstone specialist currently known only from the Gregory Range and nearby sandstone outcropping at Bulleringa National Park. Further surveys are required to determine the limits of distribution through this region. Oedura argentea sp. nov. is the fifth described species of Oedura in north-eastern Queensland. We also assess the name O. fracticolor De Vis, 1884 because it is an unresolved name pertaining to this general region. Based on colour-pattern and locality in the original description, we conclude that O. fracticolor is a senior synonym of O. castelnaui (Thominot, 1889); however, we propose that priority be overturned under Articles 23.9.1.1 and 23.9.1.2 of the ICZN (1999) and that the name O. fracticolor be regarded as nomen oblitum and O. castelnaui a nomen protectum.

Keywords: Reptilia, Oedura argentea sp. nov., Oedura castelnaui, Oedura fracticolor

Conrad J. Hoskin, Stephen M. Zozaya and Eric Vanderduys. 2018. A New Species of Velvet Gecko (Diplodactylidae: Oedura) from Sandstone Habitats of Inland north Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa. 4486(2); 101–124. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4486.2.1

Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus

Sornoza-Molina, Freile, Nilsson, Krabbe & Bonaccorso, 2018

Adult male (above left, center right), adult female (below), and immature male (above right)
at the type locality, El Oro province, southwest Ecuador.

DOI: 10.1642/AUK-18-58.1

Illustration: Paul Greenfield

ABSTRACT

We describe a new species of the genus Oreotrochilus from the southwestern Andes of Ecuador. The new species is most similar in adult male plumage to O. stolzmanni and O. chimborazo. However, male and female show unique combinations of plumage characters that are likely to act as social signals. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA indicate that this new taxon is closely related to O. stolzmanni and O. melanogaster, whereas genetic distances and preliminary comparisons of vocalizations suggest a sister relationship with O. stolzmanni. The geographic distribution of the new species seems to be restricted to cordillera Chilla-Tioloma-Fierro Urcu, in the southwestern highlands of Ecuador, an area historically poorly explored by ornithologists. Thus, based on its restricted distribution, apparently low population size, and lack of protection of its habitat, we evaluate it as critically endangered.

Keywords: Andes, Oreotrochilus, southwest Ecuador, sp. nov., Trochilidae

Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus sp. nov.

Blue-throated Hillstar / Estrella de Garganta Azul (Spanish)

Holotype: Study skin MECN-9614; adult male (testes 3.7 × 3 mm, no bursa fabricii), 1 km W of Cerro de Arcos, El Oro province; 3,648 m a.s.l.; collected on May 23, 2017, by F. Sornoza-Molina, J. Freile, and J. Nilsson; prepared by F. Sornoza-Molina; field catalogue number AVES-0319; GenBank accession number MH543324.

FIGURE 1. Series of Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus species nova collected at Cerro de Arcos, El Oro province, southwest Ecuador, May 23, 2017:
(A) holotype, (B) paratopotype male, (C) paratopotype females, (D) paratype males.

Diagnosis: The following combination of characters are diagnostic for male Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus from other Oreotrochilus species (Figure 4): (1) ultramarine blue throat, (2) emerald green head with blue green terminal tips, (3) emerald green upperparts with blue green terminal tips, (4) narrow and faint emerald green terminal tips to throat feathers. Females are distinguished by the following characters: (1) dusky grayish chin and upper throat contrasting with whitish lower throat, (2) emerald green head with blue green terminal tips, (3) emerald green upperparts with faint blue green shine, especially on the rump.

....

Etymology: The compound specific epithet is a Latinized Greek noun in apposition (ICZN 1999) and describes the most distinctive character of the new species: its deep to ultramarine blue (kuanos) throat patch or gorget (laimos = throat).

Francisco Sornoza-Molina, Juan F. Freile, Jonas Nilsson, Niels Krabbe and Elisa Bonaccorso. 2018. A Striking, Critically Endangered, New Species of Hillstar (Trochilidae: Oreotrochilus) from the southwestern Andes of Ecuador [Una sorprendente y críticamente amenazada especie nueva de estrella (Trochilidae: Oreotrochilus) de los Andes suroccidentales de Ecuador]. The Auk. 135(4);1146-1171. DOI: 10.1642/AUK-18-58.1

Newly discovered hummingbird species already critically endangered phys.org/news/2018-09-newly-hummingbird-species-critically-endangered.html via @physorg_com

twitter.com/AukJournal/status/1044971594303426560

Una sorprendente y críticamente amenazada especie nueva de estrella (Trochilidae: Oreotrochilus) de los Andes suroccidentales de Ecuador

RESUMEN: Describimos una nueva especie del género Oreotrochilus de los Andes suroccidentales de Ecuador. Esta nueva especie se asemeja en plumaje de macho adulto a O. stolzmanni y O. chimborazo. Sin embargo, macho y hembra muestran una combinación única de características de plumaje que probablemente actúan como señales sociales. Los análisis filogenéticos basados en ADN mitocondrial muestran que la nueva especie está más emparentada con O. stolzmanni y O. melanogaster, mientras que las distancias genéticas y un análisis preliminar de vocalizaciones sugieren que es especie hermana de O. stolzmanni. La distribución geográfica de esta nueva especie está al parecer confinada a las cordilleras de Chilla-Tioloma-Fierro Urcu, en los Andes del suroeste de Ecuador, en un área históricamente poco explorada desde el punto de vista ornitológico. En base a su distribución muy restringida, aparente bajo tamaño poblacional y la falta de protección en sus hábitats, la calificamos como críticamente amenazada.

Palabras clave: Oreotrochilus, sp. nov., Trochilidae, Andes, suroccidente de Ecuador

Pagurus fraserorum Landschoff & Komai

in Landschoff, Komai, du Plessis, Gouws & Griffiths, 2018.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203107

Abstract

A new species of hermit crab, Pagurus fraserorum n. sp. (family Paguridae) is described from rocky subtidal reefs off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and illustrated using both conventional drawings and colour photographs, and via three-dimensional (3D) X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). Because of the limitation μCT has in detecting very fine and soft structures, a novel approach of manually drawing setation and spinulation onto the two-dimensional images of the 3D visualizations was used to illustrate the pereopods. In addition, an interactive figure and rotation movie clips in the supplement section complement the species description, and the 3D raw data of the 3D type data are downloadable from the Gigascience Database repository. The new species is the sixth species of Pagurus Fabricius, 1775 reported from South Africa and is closely allied to the Indo-Pacific P.boriaustraliensis Morgen, 1990 and P. pitagsaleei McLaughlin, 2002, from which it differs by its shorter ocular peduncles, by the armature of the carpus of the right cheliped, and also in colouration. This study presents the first description of a hermit crab in which a majority of taxonomic details are illustrated through 3D volume-rendered illustrations. In addition, colour photographs and COI molecular barcodes are provided, and the latter compared to COI sequences of specimens from Western Australia previously identified as P. boriaustraliensis and of specimens of P. pitagsaleei from Taiwan, as well as to three additional South African members of the genus. The South African taxon was confirmed to be genetically distinct from all species tested.

Taxonomy

Family Paguridae Latreille, 1802

Genus Pagurus Fabricius, 1775

Pagurus fraserorum Landschoff & Komai, n. sp.

Fig 6. Pagurus fraserorum n. sp., colouration in life or fresh.
(A) male holotype 2.7 mm (SAMC MB-A066790), dorsal view; (B) ovigerous female paratype 2.4 mm (SAMC MB-A066770), dorsal view; (C) holotype, frontal view, in shell; (D) female paratype 2.4 mm (SAMC MB-A066407), left lateral view, parasitized by undescribed parasitic gills isopod Pseudionella sp..

Pagurus fraserorum n. sp., colouration in life or fresh. male holotype 2.7 mm (SAMC MB-A066790), frontal view, in shell.

Pagurus fraserorum n. sp., colouration in life or fresh. (D) female paratype 2.4 mm (SAMC MB-A066407), left lateral view, parasitized by undescribed parasitic gills isopod Pseudionella sp..

Distribution: Known from rocky reefs off Pumula and Hibberdene, near Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and from a photographic record from Vetch’s Pier, Durban, South Africa; 6–20 m depth.

Parasites: Host of an undescribed parasitic bopyrid isopod Pseudionella sp. (Fig 6D) that is currently being described by Williams & Landschoff, and of a second parasitic isopod, Pseudione sp., both inhabiting the branchial chamber.

Etymology: The species is named after the Fraser family, in particular Valda and Mike, but also to their son Allan and honours their deep passion for the marine world and the many exciting species discoveries they have made in South African waters. Mike and Valda generously hosted the senior author and his supervisor Charles L. Griffiths over the collection trip in October 2015, when this species was first recorded. This sampling would have not been possible without the use of the facilities and guidance they provided.

Jannes Landschoff, Tomoyuki Komai, Anton du Plessis, Gavin Gouws and Charles L. Griffiths. 2018. MicroCT Imaging Applied to Description of A New Species of PagurusFabricius, 1775 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae), with Selection of Three-dimensional Type Data. PLoS ONE. 13(9): e0203107. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203107

Cerasus kumanoensis T. Katsuki

in Katsuki, 2018

DOI: 10.18942/apg.201801

A new species, Cerasus kumanoensis T. Katsuki (Rosaceae), sp. nov., is described from the southern Kii Peninsula, Japan. It is similar to C. jamasakura var. jamasakura and C. leveilleana because the corymbose inflorescences and extended peduncle are identical in these three taxa. However, C. kumanoensis is distinguished by several morphological and phenological characteristics, an earlier flowering period, narrowly ovate and smaller leaf blade (4–8 cm long, 1.8–3.6 cm wide) and glabrous petiole and pedicel.

Key words: Cerasus kumanoensis, flowering cherry, flowering period, Japan, Kii Peninsula

Fig. 1. Cerasus kumanoensis, sp. nov.
A, shape of tree in full bloom (in Kumano on 9 Apr. 2017, TFA HAD-000288); B, hypanthium and calyx lobes [in Kozagawa on 21 Mar. 2017, TI00012970 (holotype)]; C–E, flower (C in Kumano on 9 Apr. 2017, TFA HAD-000295, D in Kushimoto on 21 Mar. 2017, FA HAD-000213, E in Kumano on 14 Mar. 2017, TFA HAD000190); F, mature fruit (in Kumano on 28 May 2017, TFA HAD-000295); G, leaves on short shoot (TI00012971).

Toshio Katsuki. 2018. A New Species, Cerasus kumanoensis from the Southern Kii Peninsula, Japan. Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 69(2); 119-126. DOI: 10.18942/apg.201801

Vorombe titan (Andrews, 1894)

in Hansford & Turvey, 2018
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.181295

Illustration: Jaime Chirinos twitter.com/JamesHansford5

Abstract

Madagascar's now-extinct radiation of large-bodied ratites, the elephant birds (Aepyornithidae), has been subject to little modern research compared to the island's mammalian megafauna and other Late Quaternary giant birds. The family's convoluted and conflicting taxonomic history has hindered accurate interpretation of morphological diversity and has restricted modern research into their evolutionary history, biogeography and ecology. We present a new quantitative analysis of patterns of morphological diversity of aepyornithid skeletal elements, including material from all major global collections of aepyornithid skeletal remains, and constituting the first taxonomic reassessment of the family for over 50 years. Linear morphometric data collected from appendicular limb elements, and including nearly all type specimens, were examined using multivariate cluster analysis and the Bayesian information criterion, and with estimation of missing data using multiple imputation and expectation maximization algorithms. These analyses recover three distinct skeletal morphotypes within the Aepyornithidae. Two of these morphotypes are associated with the type specimens of the existing genera Mullerornis and Aepyornis, and represent small-bodied and medium-bodied aepyornithids, respectively. Aepyornis contains two distinct morphometric subgroups, which are identified as the largely allopatric species A. hildebrandti and A. maximus. The third morphotype, which has not previously been recognized as a distinct genus, is described as the novel taxon Vorombe titan. Vorombe represents the largest-bodied aepyornithid and is the world's largest bird, with a mean body mass of almost 650 kg. This new taxonomic framework for the Aepyornithidae provides an important new baseline for future studies of avian evolution and the Quaternary ecology of Madagascar.

Systematic Palaeontology

Order Struthioniformes Latham, 1790

Family Aepyornithidae Bonaparte, 1853

GenusAepyornis Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1851

Aepiornis Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1851, p. 52

Epiornis Muller and Baldamus, 1851, p. 48

Epyornis Bonaparte, 1853, p. 139

Type species:Aepyornis maximus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1851 (by monotypy).

Recognized species: Aepyornis maximus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1851; Aepyornis hildebrandti Burckhardt, 1893

.....

Genus Mullerornis Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, 1894

Flacourtia Andrews, 1895, p 23

Type species: Mullerornis betsilei Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, 1894; designated by Richmond.

Recognized species:Mullerornis modestus (Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, 1869)

Vorombe titan (Andrews, 1894)

Illustration: Jaime Chirinos

Genus Vorombe gen. nov.

Etymology: From the Malagasy for ‘big bird’ (neuter).

Type species: Aepyornis titan Andrews, 1894

Vorombe titan (Andrews, 1894)

Aepyornis titan Andrews 1894, p. 18

Aepyornis ingens Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, 1894, p. 124

Figure 7. Vorombe titan , femur (NHMUK A439), Itampolo (Itampulu Vé), Madagascar; part of syntype series.

James P. Hansford and Samuel T. Turvey. 2018. Unexpected Diversity within the Extinct Elephant Birds (Aves: Aepyornithidae) and A New Identity for the World's Largest Bird. Royal Society Open Science. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.181295

After decades of conflicting evidence, scientists at @ZSLScience have put the ‘world’s largest bird’ debate to rest. The extinct Vorombe titan has taken the title at over 3 metres tall and weighing up to 800kg: zsl.org/science/news/zsl-names-world’s-largest-ever-bird-–-vorombe-titan… #elephantbirds #birds

twitter.com/JamesHansford5/status/1044870794063618049

Team names world's largest ever bird—Vorombe titan phys.org/news/2018-09-team-world-largest-birdvorombe-titan.html via @physorg_com

Swinhoe’s Rail Coturnicops exquisitus (Swinhoe, 1873)

in Heim, Trense, Heim, et al., 2018.

DOI: 10.1017/S0959270918000138

twitter.com/KampJohannes

Summary

The ‘Vulnerable’ Swinhoe’s Rail Coturnicops exquisitus is believed to occur in only two regions in Russia’s Far East and China’s Heilongjiang province, separated by more than 1,000 km. Recent observations suggest that the Amur region, situated between the two known populations, might be inhabited by this secretive species as well. As the species is rather similar in appearance and field characteristics to its Nearctic sister taxon, the Yellow Rail C. noveboracensis, and almost all field records relate to flushed individuals in flight, we aimed to complement the field observations by genetic evidence. Samples were obtained from four individuals and one eggshell and their mitochondrial cytochrome b genes were amplified and sequenced. The genetic analyses unequivocally confirmed that swab samples and eggshell were attributable to Swinhoe’s Rail, thus constituting the first known breeding record of this species for 110 years. It is therefore likely that the individuals observed in the field also belonged to this species. It seems possible that Swinhoe’s Rail is more widely distributed in the Amur region and was overlooked in the past, possibly due to a misleading description of its calls in the literature.

Wieland Heim, Daronja Trense, Arend Heim, Johannes Kamp, Sergei M. Smirenski, Michael Wink and Tom Wulf. 2018. Discovery of A New Breeding Population of the Vulnerable Swinhoe’s Rail Coturnicops exquisitus confirmed by Genetic Analysis. Bird Conservation International. DOI: 10.1017/S0959270918000138

twitter.com/KampJohannes/status/1045320052550111232

Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) salticus

Schileyko, Iorio & Coulis, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4486.4.9

Abstract

The paper provides new data on seven scolopendromorph centipede species collected in Martinique Island. Two new species are described: Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) salticus n. sp. and Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) martinicensis n. sp.; their systematic position is discussed. Notes on the system of subgenus Trigonocryptops Verhoeff, 1906 are given and Cryptops sarasini var. furcata Ribaut, 1923 is confirmed as subspecies. Cormocephalus guildingii Newport, 1845, Newportia longitarsis guadeloupensis Demange, 1981 and N. pusilla Pocock, 1893 are reported from Martinique for the first time. A list of the Scolopendromorpha of this island is given.

Keywords: Myriapoda, Lesser Antilles, Martinique, Otostigmus (Parotostigmus), Cryptops (Trigonocryptops), new species, taxonomy, list of species

Order Scolopendromorpha Pocock, 1895

• Family Scolopendridae Leach, 1814

•• Subfamily Scolopendrinae Leach, 1814

Genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758

Scolopendra subspinipes subspinipes Leach, 1816

Genus Cormocephalus Newport, 1844

Cormocephalus guildingii Newport, 1845

Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) salticus n. sp.
Adult male (the holotype, No P2 in MNHN) alive in a storing box just after collection.

•• Subfamily Otostigminae Kraepelin, 1903

Genus Otostigmus Porat, 1876

Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) salticus n. sp.

Derivatio nominis: Jumping behaviour was observed in this animal, so this species has been named after this habit (“salticus” means “jumping” or “dancing”) as it makes one remember the well-known spiders of genus Salticus Latreille, 1804 which can jump well.

• Family Cryptopidae Kohlrausch, 1881

Genus Cryptops Leach, 1814

Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) martinicensis n. sp.

Derivatio nominis: we name this species after the Martinique Island in Lesser Antilles were the type material was collected.

• Family Scolopocryptopidae Pocock, 1896

•• Subfamily Scolopocryptopinae Pocock, 1896

Genus Scolopocryptops Newport, 1844

Scolopocryptops melanostoma Newport, 1845

Genus Newportia Gervais, 1847

Newportia longitarsis guadeloupensis Demange, 1981

Newportia pusilla Pocock, 1893

Arkady Schileyko, Étienne Iorio and Mathieu Coulis. 2018. A Contribution to the Knowledge of Scolopendromorph Centipedes of Martinique Island, with Descriptions of Two New Species (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha). Zootaxa. 4486(4); 559–574. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4486.4.9

Striga crispata

S.-Z. Yang, Z.-X. Chen, C.-F. Chen & P.-H. Chen

in Yang, Chen, Chen & Chen, 2018.

大武獨腳金 | DOI: 10.6165/tai.2018.63.287

ABSTRACT

A new hemiparasitic species, Striga crispata sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Tawu Township, Taitung County, Southern Taiwan. It most closely resembles the Australian species, S. parviflora (R. Brown) Benth, but can be differentiated by longer corollas that are pink or pinkish purple in color, corolla-lobes with crispate margins, and ornamented seed surface that is only covered by the primary ridge. A morphological description, line drawings, photographs, and conservation status are provided to aid identification.

KEY WORDS: Hemiparasite, Orobanchaceae, Striga, Striga parviflora, Taiwan.

Fig. 2. Striga crispata (Z. -X. Chen s. n., PPI 78580).
A: Habit. B: Flower, with 1-bract and 2-bracteolates. C: Corolla lobes rhombus to ovate in shape (face view). D: Fruit black or brown in color at maturity stage; calyx persistent and longer than the fruit.

Striga crispata S.-Z. Yang, Z.-X. Chen, C.-F. Chen & P.-H. Chen, sp. nov.

大武獨腳金

Similar to S. parviflora in having leaf of 15–25 mm long; corolla shortly lobed, lips entire at the margin, violet, but differing from S. parviflora with leaves of 7– 15 mm long; corolla deeply lobed, lips crispate at the margin, pink or pinkish purple.

....

Ecology: Striga crispata sp. nov. is only known from the type locality in Taiwan, found on the edge of streams, at altitudes 20–30 m. The host plant is Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult (Poaceae) (Fig. 2), and the other congeners Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze (Orobanchaceae) are found near this new taxon. The flowering and fruiting occurs from October to November, with it withering in winter.

Sheng-Zehn Yang, Zi-Xuan Chen, Chien-Fan Chen and Po-Hao Chen. 2018. Striga crispata sp. nov. (Orobanchaceae), A New Hemiparasitic Species from Taiwan. Taiwania. 63(4): 287-291, 2018 DOI: 10.6165/tai.2018.63.287

Tosanoides annepatrice

Pyle, Greene, Copus & Randall, 2018

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.786.28421

Abstract
The new species Tosanoides annepatrice sp. n. is described from four specimens collected at depths of 115–148 m near Palau and Pohnpei in Micronesia. It differs from the other three species of this genus in life color and in certain morphological characters, such as body depth, snout length, anterior three dorsal-fin spine lengths, caudal-fin length, and other characters. There are also genetic differences from the other four species of Tosanoides (d ≈ 0.04–0.12 in mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I). This species is presently known only from Palau and Pohnpei within Micronesia, but it likely occurs elsewhere throughout the tropical western Pacific.

Keywords: closed-circuit rebreather, coral-reef twilight zone, mesophotic coral ecosystems, Micronesia

Figure 1. Holotype of Tosanoides annepatrice (BPBM 40848), 80.9 mm TL, collected at a depth of 115 m off Ngaruangl Atoll, Kayangel State, Republic of Palau. Photograph by RL Pyle.
Figure 2. Paratype of Tosanoides annepatrice (USNM 444916), 104.0 mm TL, adult male, collected at a depth of 148 m off Ahnd (Ant) Atoll, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Photograph by BD Greene.

Tosanoides annepatrice sp. n.

Diagnosis: A species of Tosanoides (sensu Katayama and Masuda 1980) distinguished by the following combination of characters: fourth or fifth dorsal spine the longest; dorsal-fin soft rays 16–17; anal-fin soft rays 8; pored lateral-line scales 33–34; head 2.3–2.9 in SL; body depth 2.6 in SL; color in life of males: head and body rose-pink, crossed by four bright yellow stripes, the third continuing as a bright red stripe with magenta edges along the middle of the body, becoming yellow centered on base of caudal fin; dorsal fin with a very broad middle yellow stripe with magenta margin; base of anal fin colored like body anteriorly, grading broadly to magenta posteriorly; pelvic fins yellow, except for magenta last two rays; eye magenta with an uneven ring of yellow around pupil; color of immature and presumed female yellow with irregular, near-vertical, wavy red lines following scale margins; anal fin magenta anteriorly, grading posteriorly to purple, with a greenish yellow streak; pelvic fins bright magenta.
....

Figure 3. Adult male Tosanoides annepatrice alive in an aquarium, collected in Pohnpei.
Figure 5. Adult female Tosanoides annepatrice alive in an aquarium, collected in Pohnpei.

Photographs by LA Rocha.

Distribution: Tosanoides annepatrice is known on the basis of four specimens, one (the holotype) collected at a depth of 115 m in Palau, and three paratypes collected at a depth of 148 m near Pohnpei. Additional individuals have been observed at depths of ~120–150 m at Pohnpei. The species likely occurs at similar depths throughout much of Micronesia, and perhaps more broadly within the tropical western Pacific; but more exploration of habitat at appropriate depths throughout this region is necessary to determine its complete geographic range.

Habitat and Ecology: Tosanoides annepatrice has been observed and collected along steep limestone coral-reef drop-offs at depths from 115–150 m. The paratypes were collected along a small rocky crevice near the entrance to a cave, but other individuals have been seen in similar habitats not in association with caves. Most individuals of this species have been observed in groups consisting of one apparent male and several apparent females and juveniles.

Etymology: We name this species annepatrice (a noun in apposition) in honor of Anne Patrice Greene, mother of Brian D. Greene who collected all known specimens of this new species, in recognition of the support and encouragement she has consistently provided to Brian’s exploration of the deep coral reefs of Micronesia.

Richard L. Pyle, Brian D. Greene, Joshua M. Copus and John E. Randall. 2018. Tosanoides annepatrice, A New Basslet from Deep Coral Reefs in Micronesia (Perciformes, Percoidei, Serranidae). ZooKeys. 786: 139-153. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.786.28421

Pasiphaea debitusae Hayashi, 1999

in Komai, Ohtsuka, Yamaguchi & Nakaguchi, 2018.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4457.1.5

Abstract

Six species of caridean shrimps from four families are recorded from Japanese waters for the first time on the basis of material from the Ryukyu Islands and its adjacent waters, collected during research cruises of the T/RV “Toyoshio-maru” of Faculty of Applied Biological Science, Hiroshima University: two species of Crangonidae, Lissosabinea unispinosa Komai, 2006 and Pseudopontophilus serratus Komai, 2004; one species of Oplophoridae, Systellaspis pellucida (Filhol, 1885); one species of Pandalidae, Calipandalus elachys Komai & Chan, 2003; and two species of Pasiphaeidae, Pasiphaea debitusae Hayashi, 1999 and P. gracilis Hayashi, 1999. Of them, L. unispinosa, Pseudopontophilus serratus, Pasiphaea debitusae and P. gracilis are heretofore known from the South-West Pacific localities, and then the geographical ranges of these four species are greatly extended to the north and west. Illustrations and/or colour images are provided for each species to supplement previous descriptions and to give evidence for identification.

Keywords: Crangonidae, Oplophoridae, Pandalidae, Pasiphaeidae, Japanese fauna, Crustacea

Pasiphaea debitusae Hayashi, 1999, female (cl 10.8 mm), CBM-ZC 11278.
Habitus in lateral view, showing coloration in fresh condition.

Tomoyuki Komai, Susumu Ohtsuka, Shuhei Yamaguchi and Kazumitsu Nakaguchi. 2018. New Records of Six Deep-sea Caridean Shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda) from the Ryukyu Islands and Its Adjacent Waters, southwestern Japan. Zootaxa. 4457(1); 114–128. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4457.1.5

Brachycephalus mirissimus

Pie, Ribeiro, Confetti, Nadaline & Bornschein, 2018

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5683

Abstract

A new miniaturized frog of the genus Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) is described from Morro Santo Anjo in the municipality of Massaranduba, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Specimens were collected from the leaf litter between 470 and 540 above sea level. The new species is distinguished from all its congeners by the combination of the following characters: (1) body robust and bufoniform; (2) size snout-vent length 9.9–11.7 mm for males and 10.0–12.9 mm for females; (3) smooth dorsum; (4) general color (in life) orange with white dots and stripe in the middle of the head and along its vertebral column; (5) iris completely black; (6) advertisement call composed of note groups; (7) isolated notes with 1–3 pulses; and (8) short isolated notes (0.002–0.027 s). An estimate of the male density of the new species is also presented. Phylogenetic information indicates that the new species is part of the southernmost clade of Brachycephalus, which includes Brachycephalus fuscolineatus, B. albolineatus, and B. boticario. The severe anthropogenic impacts in and around the type locality indicate that immediate actions should be taken to ensure the long-term preservation of the new species.

Figure 2: Drawings of the holotype of Brachycephalus mirissimus.
Holotype of Brachycephalus mirissimus (MHNCI 10793), adult male: (A) dorsal view of the body; (B) lateral view of the head; (C) ventral view of right hand; (D) ventral view of right foot. Drawing by Verônica R. Apolônio.

Figure 3: Holotype of Brachycephalus mirissimus (MHNCI 10793), adult male, in life in lateral (A), dorsal (B) and ventral view (C).
Notice in C, from the left to right, two white arrows indicated the presence of the linea masculinea, a pair of bands of fibrous connective tissue present only in males of the species and the vocal sac.

Black bar in C = 5 mm. Photographs by Luiz F. Ribeiro.

Brachycephalus mirissimus sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Brachycephalus mirissimus is a member of the genus Brachycephalus based on its position in a phylogenetic tree (Fig. 5). B. mirissimus is a member of the B. pernix group, as defined by Ribeiro et al. (2015) and modified above, by having a bufoniform body shape and linea masculina (Figs. 3C and 4H). B. mirissimus is distinguished from all of the species in the genus by the following combination of characters: (1) body robust and bufoniform; (2) size SVL 9.9–11.7 mm for males and 10.0–12.9 mm for females (Table 1); (3) smooth dorsum (Figs. 3 and 4); (4) general color (in life) orange with white dots and stripe in the middle of the head and along its vertebral column (Figs. 3 and 4); (5) iris completely black (Fig. 3A); (6) advertisement call composed of note groups; (7) isolated notes with 1–3 pulses; and (8) short isolated notes (0.002–0.027 s).

Figure 4: Variation in coloration of paratypes of Brachycephalus mirissimus.
(A–F) dorsal view; (G and H) ventral view.
(A) MHNCI 10802; (B) MHNCI 10799; (C) MHNCI 10803; (D) MHNCI 10794;
(E) MHNCI 10801; (F) MHNCI 10800; (G) MHNCI 10796; (H) MHNCI 10803. Notice in H the white arrow indicated the linea masculinea. Black bar in H = 5 mm.

Photographs by Luiz F. Ribeiro.

Figure 6: Map indicating the location of the type locality of Brachycephalus mirissimus (yellow dot), as well as other species of the genus that are found in the region (state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil) (indicated clockwise): B. mirissimus, B. fuscolineatus, B. boticario and B. albolineatus.

Original photographs by Luiz F. Ribeiro.

Map data by Google.

Phylogenetic relationships. The phylogenetic analysis of species of the B. pernix species group places B. mirissimus as part a clade which includes B. fuscolineatus and B. boticario (Fig. 5), which are the southernmost species of the genus and are distributed in the region of the new species (Fig. 6).

Photographs by Luiz F. Ribeiro

Figure 8: Vegetation at the type locality of Brachycephalus mirissimus, at 535 m above sea level, characterized by high-elevation forest (Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana).
(A) The middle and low strata of the forest, evidencing the habitat of Brachycephalus mirissimus in the leaf litter. (B) General view of the Morro Santo Anjo’s forest.
Figure 9: Impacts at the type locality of Brachycephalus mirissimus.
In (A) Morro Santo Anjo with plantation of Pinus sp. along the slope. In (B) forest boundary with palm plantation of Archontophoenix alexandrae.

Photographs by Luiz F. Ribeiro.

Habitat, abundance, and distribution. We recorded B. mirissimus calling throughout the day under the leaf litter, but with more intense vocal activity in the morning and later in the day. We did not hear the species throughout the study area, as it showed a patchy distribution, and it is not homogeneously abundant in these patches. In the patch where it appeared particularly abundant, we heard 14 males in 202 m2, resulting in one calling male per 14.5 m2.

The species is known from the type locality (Fig. 6), where it was found in a patchy distribution between 470 and 540 m a.s.l. in montane forest (Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana; Fig. 8) that reaches about 18–28 m in height. We did not find the species in montane forest with a lower canopy (<10 m), which was in a very steep terrain. We estimate its “actual” extent of occurrence to be 56.8 ha (calculated excluding forested areas in very steep terrains). That estimate resulted in three in-line polygons, distant from each other by 190 and 60 m, which became isolated due to replacement of the original vegetation by Eucalyptus sp., Pinus sp. and palm plantations of Archontophoenix alexandrae H. Wendl. & Drude (Fig. 9; areas encompassed by polygons are 28.3, 23.1, and 5.4 ha). The historical extent of occurrence (i.e., before the deforestation) taken the above criteria, resulted in a continuous polygon of 111.8 ha.

...

Remarks. The type locality of B. mirissimus is 17.4 km distant in a straight line from the type locality of B. albolineatus, 18.9 km distant from the type locality of B. fuscolineatus, and 19.5 km distant from the type locality of B. boticario.

Marcio R. Pie, Luiz F. Ribeiro, André E. Confetti, Mário J. Nadaline and Marcos R. Bornschein. 2018. A New Species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from southern Brazil. PeerJ. 6:e5683. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5683

Viola pluviae Marcussen, H.E. Ballard & Blaxland

in Blaxland, Ballard & Marcussen, 2018.

DOI: 10.1111/njb.01931

chasmogamous flower. Washington: Issaquah, May 1996.

Photos by Kim Blaxland, botanikim.com.

Abstract

As hirtherto circumscribed, the allo‐octoploid Viola palustris L. exists in three distinct races in North America. The race occurring in the Pacific Northwest of North America has previously been shown to have originated by polyploidy from a different set of ancestral tetraploids than the nominal, Amphi‐Atlantic race. These two races differ also in a number of morphological characters, which has been a historical source of confusion. We here propose a new name for the western plants, Viola pluviae Marcussen, H.E. Ballard & Blaxland, and typify it with a specimen collected near Mt Rainier (USA, Washington) with known chromosome number. Distribution, phylogenetic history and taxonomy are discussed and an updated morphological key to the Pacific Northwestern species of Viola is presented.

Key words: Viola palustris, bog violet, Plagiostigma, allopolyploid, Pleistocene

Viola pluviae Marcussen, H.E. Ballard & Blaxland sp. nov.

Etymology:Viola pluviae literally translates to ‘rain’s violet’ in reference to the rainy, coastal climate where it occurs. The pun on the name of the type locality, Mt Rainier, is of course entirely unintended.

Distribution:Viola pluviae is widespread along the Pacific coast from northern California to southern Alaska, the Cascades, and parts of the Rocky Mountains (Montana, Idaho).

Kim Blaxland, Harvey E. Ballard and Thomas Marcussen. 2018. Viola pluviae sp. nov. (Violaceae), A Member of Subsect. Stolonosae in the Pacific Northwest Region of North America. Nordic Journal of Botany. 36(9) e01931 DOI: 10.1111/njb.01931

facebook.com/NordicJBotany/photos/1868965806552325

Liolaemus evaristoi

Gutiérrez, Chaparro, Vásquez, Quiroz, Kirigin & Abdala, 2018

DOI: 10.31017/CdH.2018.(2017-034)

Description and phylogenetic relationships of a new species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) and notes on the L. montanus group of Peru. A new lizard species of the Liolaemus montanus group endemic of the Andes western slope, Huaytará Province, Huancavelica, Peru is described. This new species of Liolaemus is of medium size (maximum SVL 70.1 mm) and is characterized by presenting a unique color standard in males, where several light-blue scales on the back and side of the body are prominent, and the abdomen is of an intense yellow. Also, the scales of the back and sides of the body are sub-imbricated, with a slight keel and its shape is rounded to triangular. While females, as well as males exhibit pre-cloacal pores. The combination of several states of morphological, morphometric and flake characters and their color standard clearly differentiate these new taxa of the other Liolaemus species, especially of the members of the L. montanus group described for the center and south of Peru. Also, in this study, we present a revision of the taxonomic status and distribution of species of the L. montanus group described or cited for Peru

Key words: Lizards; Distribution; Taxonomy; Morphology; Huancavelica.

Male Liolaemus evaristoi sp. nov. from the type locality.
(upper) Photo: J. C. Chaparro.;
(lower) Paratype (MUBI 10474). Photo: R. Gutiérrez

Liolaemus evaristoi sp. nov.

Liolaemus sp. 2. Gutiérrez et al. 2013,
Chapter in Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 429 Pp. (Figs. 1–3)

....

Etimología: Dedicamos el nombre científico de esta especie al Dr. Evaristo López Tejeda, Profesor Principal de la Cátedra de Zoología y Director del Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Perú. Por su continua contribución al conocimiento de la biodiversidad del Sur del Perú, especialmente en el estudio de los reptiles del departamento de Arequipa, así como por su amistad, constante apoyo y asesoramiento, por lo que amerita la dedicatoria de esta nueva especie de Liolaemus.

Dr. Evaristo López Tejeda, Principal Professor of the Chair of Zoology and Director of the Museum of Natural History of the National University of San Agustín de Arequipa, Peru.

Resumen: Se describe una nueva especie de lagartija del grupo de Liolaemus montanus, endémico de lavertiente occidental de los Andes, en la provincia de Huaytará, departamento de Huancavelica,Perú. Esta nueva especie de Liolaemus, es de tamaño medio (máximo LHC 70,1 mm),se caracteriza por presentar un patrón de coloración único en los machos, donde numerosasescamas celestes se destacan sobre el dorso del cuerpo y el vientre es de color amarillo intenso.Además tiene las escamas del dorso y lados del cuerpo subimbricadas, con quilla leve y deforma redondeada a triangular. Tanto machos como hembras tienen poros precloacales. Lacombinación de varios estados de caracteres morfológicos, morfométricos, de escamación, yen el patrón de coloración, diferencian claramente este nuevo taxón de las demás especies de Liolaemus, especialmente de los integrantes del grupo de L. montanus descritos para el centroy sur del Perú. Asimismo, en este trabajo, presentamos una revisión del estado taxonómico ydistribución de las especies del grupo de L. montanus descritas o citadas para Perú.

Palabras clave: Lagartijas; Distribución; Taxonomía; Morfología; Huancavelica.;

Roberto Gutiérrez, Juan Carlos Chaparro, Meylin Y. Vásquez, Aarón Josue Quiroz, Álvaro Aguilar Kirigin and Cristian Simon Abdala. 2018. Descripción y relaciones filogenéticas de una nueva especie de Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) y notas sobre el grupo de L. montanus de Perú / Description and Phylogenetic Relationships of A New Species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) and Notes on the L. montanus group of Peru. Cuad. herpetol.32(2); 81-99. DOI: 10.31017/CdH.2018.(2017-034)

Researchgate.net/publication/328027572_una_nueva_especie_de_Liolaemus_el_grupo_de_L_montanus_de_Peru

[Entomology • 2018] High Species Diversity of the Genus Neopanorpa (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) in Yunnan Province, China

[Botany • 2018] Miconia rheophytica (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) • A New and Endangered Species from the Magdalena Medio Region of Colombia

[Botany • 2018] Amyema lisae (Loranthaceae) • A New Species from Negros Island, the Philippines

[PaleoOrnithology • 2018] Jinguofortis perplexus • A New Clade of Basal Early Cretaceous Pygostylian Birds and Developmental Plasticity of the Avian Shoulder Girdle

[Ichthyology • 2018] Tosanoides aphrodite • A New Species (Perciformes, Serranidae, Anthiadinae) from Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems of St. Paul’s Rocks, Mid Atlantic Ridge

[Ichthyology • 2018] Flexor incus • A New Genus and Species of Clingfish (Teleostei, Gobiesocidae) from the Rangitāhua Kermadec Islands of New Zealand

[Herpetology • 2018] Hebius chapaensis • Taxonomic Re-evaluation of the Monotypic Genus Pararhabdophis Bourret, 1934 (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) with Discovery of Its Type Species, P. chapaensis, from China

[Herpetology • 2018] Oedura argentea • A New Species of Velvet Gecko (Diplodactylidae: Oedura) from Sandstone Habitats of Inland north Queensland, Australia

[Ornithology • 2018] Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus • A Striking, Critically Endangered, New Species of Hillstar (Trochilidae: Oreotrochilus) from the southwestern Andes of Ecuador

[Crustacea • 2018] Pagurus fraserorum • MicroCT Imaging Applied to Description of A New Species of Pagurus Fabricius, 1775 (Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) from South Africa, with Selection of Three-dimensional Type Data

[Botany • 2018] Cerasus kumanoensis (Rosaceae) • A New Species from the Southern Kii Peninsula, Japan

[PaleoOrnithology • 2018] Vorombe gen. nov. • Unexpected Diversity within the Extinct Elephant Birds (Aves: Aepyornithidae) and A New Identity for the World's Largest Bird

[Ornithology • 2018] Coturnicops exquisitus • Discovery of A New Breeding Population of the Vulnerable Swinhoe’s Rail confirmed by Genetic Analysis

[Chilopoda • 2018] A Contribution to the Knowledge of Scolopendromorph Centipedes (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) of Martinique Island, with Descriptions of Two New Species; Otostigmus (P.) salticus & Cryptops (T.) martinicensis

[Botany • 2018] Striga crispata (Orobanchaceae) • A New Hemiparasitic Species from Taiwan

[Ichthyology • 2018] Tosanoides annepatrice • A New Basslet (Perciformes, Serranidae) from Deep Coral Reefs in Micronesia

[Crustacea • 2018] New Records of Six Deep-sea Caridean Shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda) from the Ryukyu Islands and Its Adjacent Waters, southwestern Japan

[Herpetology • 2018] Brachycephalus mirissimus • A New Species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from southern Brazil

[Botany • 2018] Viola pluviae (Violaceae) • A Member of Subsect. Stolonosae in the Pacific Northwest Region of North America

[Herpetology • 2018] Liolaemus evaristoi • Description and Phylogenetic Relationships of A New Species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) and Notes on the L. montanus group of Peru