Species New to Science

Megachile foersteri Gerstaecker, 1869

in Dorchin & Praz, 2018.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4524.3.1

Abstract
The subgenus Pseudomegachile Friese of the large genus Megachile Latreille is revised for the Western Palaearctic region, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula. Twenty species are recognized, of which five are new: Megachile blepharis Dorchin & Praz from Israel, M. plumigera Dorchin & Praz from Oman and the United Arab Emirates, M. syriaca Dorchin & Praz from Syria and Turkey, M. yezidica Dorchin & Praz from Turkey and Iran, and M. maxschwarzi Dorchin & Praz from Iran and Central Asia. The following new synonymies are proposed: M. inermis Radoszkowski 1893 (as well as the replacement name M. mitis Cockerell 1899), M. albifasciata Rebmann 1970 and M. transgrediens Rebmann 1970 are placed in synonymy with M. saussurei Radoszkowski 1874; M. tuberculata Radoszkowski 1893 (as well as the replacement name M. tuberculosa Dalla Torre 1896) is placed in synonymy with M. seraxensis Radoszkowski 1893; M. rubripes Morawitz 1875 and M. persica Rebmann 1972 are placed in synonymy with M. flavipes Spinola 1838; M. stolzmanni Radoszkowski 1893 and M. flavidula Rebmann 1970 are placed in synonymy with M. tecta Radoszkowski 1888. Lectotypes are designated for M. cinnamomea Alfken 1926, M. nilotica Pérez 1897, M. inermis, M. seraxensis, M. tuberculata, M. farinosa Smith 1853, M. derasa Gerstäcker 1869, M. erythrocnemis Alfken 1930 and M. xanthocnemis Alfken 1938. An identification key is provided, a phylogenetic hypothesis including most species in the subgenus is presented, and the biology of the species is briefly summarized.

Keywords: Hymenoptera, Apiformes, Arabian, Chalicodoma, dauber bees, Mediterranean, mason bees, nesting biology, phylogeny, pollen host, trap nest

Achik Dorchin and Christophe J. Praz. 2018. Taxonomic Revision of the Western Palaearctic Bees of the Subgenus Pseudomegachile (Hymenoptera, Apiformes, Megachilidae, Megachile). Zootaxa. 4524(3); 251–307. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4524.3.1

Trichactia meridiana Ziegler & Gilasian

in Gilasian, Ziegler & Parchami-Araghi, 2018.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4526.2.6

Abstract

The genus Trichactia Stein, 1924 (Diptera: Tachinidae) is newly recorded from Iran and its Palaearctic species are reviewed. The new species Trichactia meridiana Ziegler & Gilasian, sp. nov. is described from Iran and the East Mediterranean. An identification key to the three known Palaearctic species of Trichactia, photographs of all species and illustrations of their male terminalia are provided. Intraspecific variation between different geographical populations of T. meridiana sp. nov. is discussed.

Keywords: Diptera, identification key, Middle East, new records, taxonomy, Tachininae

Ebrahim Gilasian, Joachim Ziegler and Mehrdad Parchami-Araghi. 2018. Review of the Genus Trichactia Stein (Diptera: Tachinidae) in the Palaearctic Region, with the Description of A New Species from Iran and the East Mediterranean. Zootaxa. 4526(2); 207–220. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4526.2.6

Haplophyllum ermenekense Ulukuş & Tugay

in Ulukuş & Tugay, 2018.

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.111.24241

Abstract

A new species of Haplophyllum, Haplophyllum ermenekense (Rutaceae) is described and illustrated in line drawing. It grows on stony slopes of Ermenek town, Karaman province, in southern Turkey. It is compared with the closely related species H. myrtifolium. H. ermenekense is distinguished from the morphologically similar H. myrtifolium chiefly by sepal shape, petal size, capsule size, presence of capsule hair and appendage form. On the other hand, the seed coat and pollen grains surface of H. ermenekense and H. myrtifolium are demonstrated in SEM photographs. In addition to the detailed description, the illustration, distribution map, conservation status and ecology of the new species are also provided.

Keywords: Endemic, Haplophyllum, Karaman, Rutaceae, taxonomy

Figure 2. Line drawing of Haplophyllum ermenekense.
A habit B petal of H. ermenekense C petal of H. myrtifolium D calyx of H. ermenekense E calyx of H. myrtifolium F stamen of H. myrtifolium G stamen H. ermenekense H capsule of H. myrtifolium I capsule of H. ermenekense J flower of H. ermenekense (Drawn from the holotype by O.Tugay).

Figure 3. General view of habit and flowers: A, B Haplophyllum ermenekense C, D H. myrtifolium.

Haplophyllum ermenekense Ulukuş & Tugay, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Haplophyllum ermenekense most resembles the closely related H. myrtifolium. It differs from H. myrtifolium by its inflorescence usually lax form (versus dense), sepals ovate or ovate-oblong (versus lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong) and deciduous in fruit (versus persistent in fruit), petals 4–5.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm (versus 6.5–9.5 × 3.5–4.5 mm), capsule 2–2.5 × 3–4 mm (versus 3–3.5 × 5–6 mm) and glabrous (in contrast to not glabrous), with a conspicuous usually erect appendage on the outer upper surface (versus incurved appendage on the outer upper portion).

Etymology: The name of Ermenek town where new species found is given to the species epithet.

Proposed Turkish name for the new species: Ermenek sedosu.

Ecology: Haplophyllum ermenekense is endemic to Turkey. It grows at altitudes between 980 and 1200 m on limestone slopes amongst bushes (e.g. Quercus coccifera L., Juniperus oxycedrus L., Pistacia terrebinthus M.Bieb. etc.). Plant diversity in this place is mainly composed of herbaceous and suffruticose plants including Adonis flammea Jacq., Aegilops cylindrica Host, Aethionema stylosum DC., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., Centaurea virgata Lam., Digitalis cariensis Boiss. ex Jaub. & Spach, Ebenus plumosa Boiss. & Bal. subsp. speciosa Boiss.& Bal., Glaucium corniculatum (L.) Rud. subsp. corniculatum, Glaucium leiocarpum Boiss., Hyoscyamus aureus L., Hyoscyamus niger L., Isatis ermenekense Yıld., Micromeria cristata (Hampe) Griseb. subsp. cristata, Salvia albimaculata Hedge & Hub-Mor. and Salvia aucheri Bentham var. canescens Boiss. & Heldr.

Distribution and conservation status: Haplophyllum ermenekense is endemic to Karaman province. It is an element belonging to the east Mediterranean phytogeographic region (Fig. 1). The range of this new species is limited to a single locality and its area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 5 km or 5 km2. The number of mature individual plants is estimated to be less than 250. As it is perennial, this new species has a crucial advantage for its future as destruction of the bushes by local people, road construction and deterioration of habitats may cause some threats. Thus, according to criterion D, it can be included in the EN (Endangered) category (IUCN 2001; 2016).

Deniz Ulukuş and Osman Tugay. 2018. Haplophyllum ermenekense (Rutaceae), A New Species from Turkey. PhytoKeys. 111: 119-131. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.111.24241

Acranthera hoangii Hareesh & T.A. Le

in Hareesh, Le, Tien & Viet, 2019.

DOI: 10.1080/00837792.2018.1548813

facebook.com/HareeshVadakkoot

ABSTRACT

Acranthera hoangii Hareesh & T.A. Le (Rubiaceae) is described as a new species from Vietnam. The new species shows similarities with A. longipes, but shows significant differences in its densely pubescent shoot and petiole, larger flowers, five-nerved calyx lobes and ribbed ovary.

KEYWORDS: Acranthera, Amphoterosanthus, new species, Rubiaceae, Vietnam

Acranthera hoangii. A twig with flowers.

Photo by T. A. Le.

Acranthera hoangii Hareesh & T.A. Le, sp. nov.

Etymology: The species is named in honour of Dr Hoang Le Tuan Anh, Director, Mientrung Institute for Scientific Research (MISR), Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Hue city who is the first to notice the plant during the collection in central Vietnam.

Vadakkoot Sankaran Hareesh, Tuan Anh Le, Chinh Vu Tien and Cuong Pham Viet. 2019. Acranthera hoangii (Rubiaceae), A New Species from central Vietnam. Webbia: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography. DOI: 10.1080/00837792.2018.1548813

facebook.com/HareeshVadakkoot/posts/1816486621796847

Hoya pulchra Aurigue & Cabactulan

in Cabactulan, Aurigue, Pimentel, De Leon, Sahagun & Rodda, 2019.

photo: facebook.com/MiguelDeLeon75033149

A new species, Hoya pulchra Aurigue & Cabactulan (Apocynaceae), is described and illustrated. It is compared with the similar H. waymaniae, endemic to Borneo, from which it differs in lamina shape (lanceolate with a flat edge vs. elliptic-ovate with undulate edge) and the absence of bilobed apex in the outer corona lobe apex vs. a short raised bilobed apex.

Derek D. Cabactulan, Fernando Aurigue, Reynold Pimentel, Miguel D. De Leon, Jorge Sahagun and Michele Rodda. 2019. Hoya of the Philippines, part II: Hoya pulchra (Apocynaceae), A New Species from southern Philippines. Ann. Bot. Fennici. 56: 49–53.

facebook.com/MiguelDeLeon75033149/posts/1078317419017575

Liolaemus antonietae

Troncoso-Palacios, Esquerré, Urra, Díaz, Pastene & Ruiz, 2018

DOI: 10.6620/ZS.2018.57-22

Liolaemus is a particularly species-rich radiation of New World iguanid lizards from southern South America. Thanks to intense systematic and taxonomic research, the knowledge on its species-level diversity has increased rapidly over the past several years. The L. elongatus species-complex has received considerable attention and a remarkable case is Liolaemus chillanensis, a name that has been used for two different species that are sympatric in Termas de Chillán, central Chile. Since the holotype is lost, we propose that the first step to identify the true L. chillanensis is through the analysis of the original description. Then we provide a morphological and molecular characterization of L. chillanensis based on topotypes and a description of the taxon previously confused with it.

Key words: Chile, Cytochrome b, Liolaemus monticola, Phylogeny, Principal component analysis.

Fig. 1. Variation in the true Liolaemus chillanensis.
(A-B) Male from Termas de Chillán (SSUC Re 708). (C) Male from near Aguas Calientes (SSUC Re 710). (D) Male from Termas de Chillán (SSUC Re 707). (E-F) Female from Termas de Chillán (SSUC Re 709).

Fig. 8. Liolaemus antonietae sp. nov., all from type locality.
(A-B) Holotype, male (SSUC Re 697), (C-E) Paratypes males (SSUC Re 698 and 695) and (F-G) Paratype female (SSUC Re 699).

Liolaemus antonietae sp. n.

2009 Liolaemus monticola chillanensis, Torres-Pérez, Méndez, Benavides, Moreno, Lamborot, Palma & Ortiz. Biol. J. Linn. Soc., 96: 635.

2015 Liolaemus chillanensis, Escobar-Huerta, Santibáñez & Ortiz. Gayana, 79: 95.

2016 Liolaemus sp. Chillán Troncoso-Palacios, Díaz, Puas, Riveros-Riffo & Elorza. Zookeys, 632:127

2017 Liolaemus chillanensis Medina, Avila, Sites & Morando. J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Res., 55: 238.

Diagnosis: Here we provide a diagnosis in regards of all species in the L. elongatus clade plus Liolaemus chillanensis - previously confused with L. antonietae - and L. monticola - which has a similar color pattern. Liolaemus antonietae is a medium size Liolaemus (max. SVL = 77.6 mm), with many midbody scales (86-98; 91.5 ± 3.8), lateral dark band, absence of dorsal melanism or black ventral color. The males have precloacal pores and it is the only member of the L. elongatus clade that can exhibit arboreal behavior.

Distribution and natural history: Known from two localities in the Biobío Region, Chile: Termas de Chillán (type locality, 36°54'S, 71°24'W, 1,766 m, Fig. 9) and Laguna del Huemul, Shangrila (36°52'S, 71°28'W, 1,955 m), 8 km NW from the type locality. Unlike other species of the L. elongatus clade, which are mainly saxicolous (Morando et al. 2003; Avila et al. 2015), L. antonietae is mostly arboreal, which was seen basking on fallen trunks and on trees up approximately 4 m high. Few specimens were observed basking on rocks. Furthermore, we observed a very peculiar gregarious behavior, in which 18 specimens were observed coming out of the surrounding vegetation and entering to the same hollow of a stand tree (Nothofagus sp.) at sunset, in a time frame no longer than an hour. The vegetation in the type locality is dominated by Chusquea sp. and Nothofagus sp. It is an abundant lizard. At the date of capture (January), one female had three embryos and the other had several small oocytes. No remains were found in the stomach, but remnants of insects and plants along with parasitic nematodes were observed inside the intestine. In both localities, L. antonietae was found in syntopy with snake Tachymenis chilensis and lizards L. chillanensis, L. septentrionalis and L. tenuis, being recently recorded also Phymaturus vociferator (Urra et al. 2017).

Etymology: This species is named after Antonieta Labra Lillo, a prominent Chilean herpetologist who has made significant contributions to the eco-physiology and behavior of lizards, especially to the study of the influence of chemical signals on their behavior. She has also edited the book “Herpetología de Chile”, which had a great impact on the Chilean herpetology.

We propose the common name “Antonieta’s lizard” in English and “Lagarto de Antonieta” in Spanish. JTP gratefully thanks AL for years of teaching and collaboration.

Jaime Troncoso-Palacios, Damien Esquerré, Félix A. Urra, Hugo A. Díaz, Carlos CastroPastene and María Soledad Ruiz. 2019. The True Identity of the New World Iguanid Lizard Liolaemus chillanensis Müller and Hellmich 1932 (Iguania: Liolaemidae) and Description of A New Species in the Liolaemus elongatus Group. Zoological Studies. 57: 22. DOI: 10.6620/ZS.2018.57-22

Maiabalaena nesbittae

Peredo, Pyenson, Marshall & Uhen, 2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.10.047

Illustration: Alex Boersma (AlexBoersma.com)

twitter.com/CMPeredo

Highlights

• Maiabalaena nesbittae is 33 million year old fossil baleen whale from Oregon

• Maiabalaena has neither teeth, nor baleen

• Early whales lost teeth entirely before the evolutionary origin of baleen

• Despite no teeth or baleen, these whales were effective suction feeders

Summary

Whales use baleen, a novel integumentary structure, to filter feed; filter feeding itself evolved at least five times in tetrapod history but demonstrably only once in mammals. Living baleen whales (mysticetes) are born without teeth, but paleontological and embryological evidence demonstrate that they evolved from toothed ancestors that lacked baleen entirely. The mechanisms driving the origin of filter feeding in tetrapods remain obscure. Here we report Maiabalaena nesbittae gen. et sp. nov., a new fossil whale from early Oligocene rocks of Washington State, USA, lacking evidence of both teeth and baleen. The holotype possesses a nearly complete skull with ear bones, both mandibles, and associated postcrania. Phylogenetic analysis shows Maiabalaena as crownward of all toothed mysticetes, demonstrating that tooth loss preceded the evolution of baleen. The functional transition from teeth to baleen in mysticetes has remained enigmatic because baleen decays rapidly and leaves osteological correlates with unclear homology; the oldest direct evidence for fossil baleen is ∼25 million years younger than the oldest stem mysticetes (∼36 Ma). Previous hypotheses for the origin of baleen are inconsistent with the morphology and phylogenetic position of Maiabalaena. The absence of both teeth and baleen in Maiabalaena is consistent with recent evidence that the evolutionary loss of teeth and origin of baleen are decoupled evolutionary transformations, each with a separate morphological and genetic basis. Understanding these macroevolutionary patterns in baleen whales is akin to other macroevolutionary transformations in tetrapods such as scales to feathers in birds.

Keywords: baleen, cetacea, filter-feeding, mysticeti, suction feeding

Figure 1. Cranial Elements of the Holotype of Maiabalaena nesbittae, USNM 314627.

Systematics

Cetacea; Pelagiceti;

Neoceti; Mysticeti;

Maiabalaena nesbittae gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology: Maiabalaena combines Maia-, meaning mother, and -balaena, meaning whale. Named for its phylogenetic position as basal to baleen-bearing mysticetes. The specific epithet nesbittae honors Dr. Elizabeth A. Nesbitt for her lifetime of contribution to paleontology of the Pacific Northwest and her mentorship and collegiality at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, Washington, USA.

3D models of select specimens in lateral view with artistic reconstructions of their feeding modes:
(B) Basilosaurus isis; (C) Coronodon havensteini; (D) Maiabalaena nesbittae; and (E) Balaenoptera musculus.

These panels illustrate the loss of a functional dentition, the intermediate phase with neither teeth nor baleen, and the subsequent origin of baleen. Illustrations are original artwork by Alex Boersma (www.alexboersma.com).

Figure 2. Phylogenetic Relationships of Stem Mysticetes Illustrating the Evolutionary Loss of Teeth and Subsequent Origin of Baleen Figure illustrates a composite phylogeny including results from this analysis (Figure S4) and recently published analyses.
(A) Time calibrated simplified phylogeny, with collapsed clade resolution for Mammalodontidae, Aetiocetidae and Eomysticetidae, and crown Mysticeti.
(B–E) Colored bars indicate groups figured; gray bars indicate groups not figured. Panels (b–e) represent 3D models of select specimens in lateral view with artistic reconstructions of their feeding modes: (B) Basilosaurus isis; (C) Coronodon havensteini; (D) Maiabalaena nesbittae; and (E) Balaenoptera musculus. These panels illustrate the loss of a functional dentition, the intermediate phase with neither teeth nor baleen, and the subsequent origin of baleen. Illustrations are original artwork by Alex Boersma (www.alexboersma.com).

This is an artistic reconstruction of a mother and calf of Maiabalaena nesbittae nursing offshore of Oregon during the Oligocene, about 33 million years ago. While Maiabalaena would not have been able to chew or filter feed, muscle attachments on the bones of its throat indicate it likely had strong cheeks and a retractable tongue. These traits would have enabled it to suck water into its mouth, taking up fish and small squid in the process. The ability to suction feed would have rendered teeth, whose development requires a lot of energy to grow, unnecessary. The loss of teeth, then, appears to have set the evolutionary stage for the baleen, which the scientists estimate arose about 5 to 7 million years later.

Illustration: Alex Boersma (www.alexboersma.com)

Carlos Mauricio Peredo, Nicholas D. Pyenson, Christopher D. Marshall and Mark D. Uhen. 2018. Tooth Loss Precedes the Origin of Baleen in Whales. Current Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.10.047

twitter.com/CMPeredo/status/1068179652135534592

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twitter.com/PyensonLab/status/1068215385613324290

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Whales Lost Their Teeth Before Evolving Hair-like Baleen in Their Mouths si.edu/newsdesk/releases/whales-lost-their-teeth-evolving-hair-baleen-their-mouths via @Smithsonian

Toothless, 33-Million-Year-Old Whale Could Be an Evolutionary ‘Missing Link’ gizmodo.com/toothless-33-million-year-old-whale-could-be-an-evolut-1830739126 via @gizmodo

[73-74] Megacraspedus gallicus sp. n., [75-76] M. ribbeella (Caradja, 1920), [77-78] M. libycus sp. n.

Huemer & Karsholt, 2018

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.800.26292

Abstract

The taxonomy of the Palearctic genus Megacraspedus Zeller, 1839 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) is revised, based on external morphology, genitalia and DNA barcodes. An integrative taxonomic approach supports the existence of 85 species which are arranged in 24 species groups (disputed taxa from other faunal regions are discussed). Morphology of all species is described and figured in detail. For 35 species both sexes are described; for 46 species only the male sex is reported, in one species the male is unknown, whereas in three species the female adult and/or genitalia morphology could not be analysed due to lack of material.

DNA barcode sequences of the COI barcode fragment with > 500 bp were obtained from 264 specimens representing 62 species or about three-quarters of the species. Species delimitation is particularly difficult in a few widely distributed species with high and allegedly intraspecific DNA barcode divergence of nearly 14%, and with up to 23 BINs in a single species. Deep intraspecific or geographical splits in DNA barcode are frequently not supported by morphology, thus indicating a complex phylogeographic history or other unresolved molecular problems.

The following 44 new species (22 of them from Europe) are described: Megacraspedus bengtssoni sp. n. (Spain), M. junnilaineni sp. n. (Turkey), M. similellus sp. n. (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey), M. golestanicus sp. n. (Iran), M. tokari sp. n. (Croatia), M. neli sp. n. (France, Italy), M. faunierensis sp. n. (Italy), M. gredosensis sp. n. (Spain), M. bidentatus sp. n. (Spain), M. fuscus sp. n. (Spain), M. trineae sp. n. (Portugal, Spain), M. skoui sp. n. (Spain), M. spinophallus sp. n. (Spain), M. occidentellus sp. n. (Portugal), M. granadensis sp. n. (Spain), M. heckfordi sp. n. (Spain), M. tenuiuncus sp. n. (France, Spain), M. devorator sp. n. (Bulgaria, Romania), M. brachypteris sp. n. (Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro), M. barcodiellus sp. n. (Macedonia), M. sumpichi sp. n. (Spain), M. tabelli sp. n. (Morocco), M. gallicus sp. n. (France, Spain), M. libycus sp. n. (Libya, Morocco), M. latiuncus sp. n. (Kazahkstan), M. kazakhstanicus sp. n. (Kazahkstan), M. knudlarseni sp. n. (Spain), M. tenuignathos sp. n. (Morocco), M. glaberipalpus sp. n. (Morocco), M. nupponeni sp. n. (Russia), M. pototskii sp. n. (Kyrgyzstan), M. feminensis sp. n. (Kazakhstan), M. kirgizicus sp. n. (Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan), M. ibericus sp. n. (Portugal, Spain), M. steineri sp. n. (Morocco), M. gibeauxi sp. n. (Algeria, Tunisia), M. multipunctellus sp. n. (Turkey), M. teriolensis sp. n. (Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia), M. korabicus sp. n. (Macedonia), M. skulei sp. n. (Spain), M.longivalvellus sp. n. (Morocco), M. peslieri sp. n. (France, Spain), M. pacificus sp. n. (Afghanistan), and M. armatophallus sp. n. (Afghanistan). Nevadia Caradja, 1920, syn. n. (homonym), Cauloecista Dumont, 1928, syn. n., Reichardtiella Filipjev, 1931, syn. n., and Vadenia Caradja, 1933, syn. n. are treated as junior synonyms of Megacraspedus. Furthermore the following species are synonymised: M. subdolellus Staudinger, 1859, syn. n., M. tutti Walsingham, 1897, syn. n., and M. grossisquammellus Chrétien, 1925, syn. n. of M. lanceolellus (Zeller, 1850); M. culminicola Le Cerf, 1932, syn. n. of M. homochroa Le Cerf, 1932; M. separatellus (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1843), syn. n. and M. incertellus Rebel, 1930, syn. n. of M. dolosellus (Zeller, 1839); M. mareotidellus Turati, 1924, syn. n. of M. numidellus (Chrétien, 1915); M. litovalvellus Junnilainen, 2010, syn. n. of M. imparellus (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1843); M. kaszabianus Povolný, 1982, syn. n. of M. leuca (Filipjev, 1929); M. chretienella (Dumont, 1928), syn. n., M. halfella (Dumont, 1928), syn. n., and M. arnaldi (Turati & Krüger, 1936), syn. n. of M. violacellum (Chrétien, 1915); M. escalerellus Schmidt, 1941, syn. n. of M. squalida Meyrick, 1926. Megacraspedus ribbeella (Caradja, 1920), comb. n., M. numidellus (Chrétien, 1915), comb. n., M. albella (Amsel, 1935), comb. n., M. violacellum (Chrétien, 1915), comb. n., and M. grisea (Filipjev, 1931), comb. n. are newly combined in Megacraspedus.

Keywords: Brachyptery, DNA barcoding, Gelechiidae, Lepidoptera, Megacraspedus, new species, Palearctic, taxonomy

Figures 25–30.Megacraspedus adults in dorsal view.
25 M. similellus sp. n. – Holotype, male (RCJJ) 26 M. similellus sp. n. – Paratype, female (RCJJ) 27 M. golestanicus sp. n. – Paratype, male (TLMF) 28 M. tokari sp. n. – Holotype, male, Croatia (RCZT) 29 M. dolosellus (Zeller, 1839) – male, Slovenia (RCZT) 30 M. dolosellus (Zeller, 1839) – female (form dolosellus), Slovenia (RCZT).

Figures 37–42. Megacraspedus adults in dorsal view.
37 M. dolosellus (Zeller, 1839) – male (form incertellus), Bulgaria (RCZT) 38 M. dolosellus (Zeller, 1839) – male, Greece (ZMUC) 39 M. neli sp. n. – Holotype, male, France (TLMF) 40 M. faunierensis sp. n. – Paratype, male, Italy (TLMF) 41 M. faunierensis sp. n. – Paratype, female, Italy (TLMF) 42 M. gredosensis sp. n. – Paratype, male, Spain (TLMF).

Figures 73–78.Megacraspedus adults in dorsal view.
73 Megacraspedus gallicus sp. n. – Holotype, male, Spain (TLMF) 74 M. gallicus sp. n. – Paratype, female, France (TLMF) 75 M. ribbeella (Caradja, 1920) – male, Spain (ZMUC) 76 M. ribbeella (Caradja, 1920) – female, Spain (NHMW) 77 M. libycus sp. n.– Holotype, male, Libya (ZMUC) 78 M. libycus sp. n.– Paratype, female, Morocco (ZSM).

Peter Huemer and Ole Karsholt. 2018. Revision of the Genus Megacraspedus Zeller, 1839, A Challenging Taxonomic Tightrope of Species Delimitation (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae). ZooKeys. 800: 1-278. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.800.26292

Pinguicula zamudioana D.Juárez & Muñiz-Castro

in Juárez-Gutiérrez, Muñiz-Castro, Rendón & Nuño-Rubio, 2018.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.372.4.1

instagram.com/HerbarioIBUG

Abstract

Pinguicula zamudioana (Lentibulariaceae), a new species endemic to western Mexico, is described and illustrated. This new species belongs to Pinguicula section Orcheosanthus and is morphologically close to Pinguicula oblongiloba and P. michoacana, but differs in having a homophyllous rosette with a single type of leaves (summer leaves), light green leaves with glabrous petioles, short peduncles, a calyx with triangular-lanceolate to lanceolate lobes, a pink corolla with oblong to suborbiculate lobes and the fact that it only inhabits calcium concretions. Pinguicula zamudioana is easily distinguished from the other two taxa, due to the lack of a winter rosette, i.e. isomorphic leaves during the entire year, and to the fact that it is in constant growth and blooms all year round.

Keywords: carnivorous plant, Jalisco, Nueva Galicia region, Eudicots

habit of Pinguicula zamudioana, face view.

Photo by A. Nuño.

Pinguicula zamudioana D.Juárez & Muñiz-Castro, sp. nov.

.....

Etymology:— The specific epithet honors Sergio Zamudio Ruiz, who has enthusiastically dedicated himself to the study of the genus Pinguicula in Mexico and Central America.

Héctor David Juárez-Gutiérrez, Miguel Ángel Muñiz-Castro, Julián Hernández Rendón and Ana Teresa Nuño-Rubio. 2018. Pinguicula zamudioana (Lentibulariaceae) A New Species Endemic to western Mexico. Phytotaxa. 372(4); 243–255. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.372.4.1

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Macrovipera razii

Oraie, Rastegar-Pouyani, Khosravani, Moradi, Akbari, Sehhatisabet, Shafiei, Stümpel & Joger, 2018

SALAMANDRA. 54(4)

Abstract

A new species of blunt-nosed viper of the genus Macrovipera is described from the central and southern parts of Iran on the basis of morphological and molecular examination. The mitochondrial Cytb gene was used to investigate phylogenetic relationships amongst the Iranian species of the genus Macrovipera. A dataset with a final sequence length of 1043 nucleotides from 41 specimens from 18 geographically distant localities across Iran was generated. The findings demonstrated that two major clades with strong support can be identified within the genus Macrovipera in Iran. One clade consists of individuals belonging to a new species, which is distributed in the central and southern parts of Iran; the second clade includes two discernible subclades. The first subclade is distributed in western and northwestern Iran, Macrovipera lebetina obtusa, and the second subclade consists of northeastern populations, representing Macrovipera lebetina cernovi. The new species, Macrovipera razii sp. n., differs from its congeners by having higher numbers of ventral scales, elongated anterior chin-shields, and lower numbers of canthal plus intersupraocular scales.

Key words. Squamata, Serpentes, Viperidae, Macrovipera, new species, mitochondrial Cytb, phylogeny, taxonomy, Iran.

Macrovipera razii

Figure 8. Macrovipera razii sp. n., paratype (adult female ERP 1941) from Pariz, 50 km north of Sirjan, Kerman Province (Photo: N. Moradi).

Figure 9. Macrovipera razii sp. n. (ERP 1981) in its natural habitat in the Bamoo National Park, Fars Province, southern Iran (Photo: H. Oraie).

Macrovipera razii sp. n.

Differential diagnosis: The newly described species differs from M. schweizeri by its higher number of mid-dorsal scales (25 vs. 23), which however overlaps the counts in other M. lebetina subspecies. Macrovipera razii sp. n. differs from M. lebetina by possessing a higher count of ventrals (172–175 vs. 160–170), and by having elongated anterior chin-shields, which are more than three times longer than the posterior ones. In contrast, M. lebetina has square anterior chin-shields, which are less than twice as long as the posterior chin-shields (Fig. 6). Compared to M. lebetina, the new species has a lower number of canthal + intersupraocular scales. More comparisons are provided in Table 4. Interestingly, Macrovipera razii sp. n. and M. lebetina cernovi are similar in both possessing one large supraocular scale, which is absent in M. lebetina obtusa (Fig. 5). Outside Iran, the subspecies M. lebetina euphratica (Schmidt, 1939) differs by having supraoculars that are split up into five scales, making it clearly distinguishable from Macrovipera razii sp. n., which has one large supraocular scale. The latter can be distinguished from Macrovipera lebetina lebetina (Linnaeus, 1758) and Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea (Nilson & Andrén 1988) by the higher number of ventrals (172– 175 vs. 146–163 and 150–164, respectively), from Macrovipera lebetina turanica (Chernov, 1940) by the latter’s semidivided supraoculars and a dorsal colour pattern that consists of a dark ground colour with a lighter, orange zigzag pattern.

....

Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case, in honour of Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Razi (854–925 CE), a Persian polymath, physician, alchemist, philosopher, and important figure in the history of medicine. Macrovipera is one of the most medically important snakes in Iran, and historically, physicians like him have been involved in snake bite therapy. We propose “Razi’s Viper” as a standard English name.

Distribution: All our specimens of Macrovipera razii sp. n. were collected from localities in central and southern Iran (Table 1, Fig. 1). This species might occur in other provinces of Iran, too, however. It is at present considered to be endemic to Iran.

Figure 8. Macrovipera razii sp. n., paratype (adult female ERP 1941) from Pariz, 50 km north of Sirjan, Kerman Province (Photo: N. Moradi).
Figure 9. Macrovipera razii sp. n. (ERP 1981) in its natural habitat in the Bamoo National Park, Fars Province, southern Iran (Photo: H. Oraie).

Figure 10. Various types of natural habitats of Macrovipera razii sp. n., type locality, 105 km on the road from Jiroft to Bam near Babgorgi village and Valley, Kerman Province (A); at the Fill Spring in Bamoo National Park, Fars Province (B); at Tolombeh Badi, Bakhtegan Lake protected area, Fars Province (C); at Ghatroyeh, Bahrame Goor National Park, Fars Province (D). (Photos: H. Oraie).

Hamzeh Oraie, Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani, Azar Khosravani, Naeim Moradi, Abolfazl Akbari, Mohammad Ebrahim Sehhatisabet, Soheila Shafiei, Nikolaus Stümpel and Ulrich Joger. 2018. Molecular and Morphological Analyses have revealed A New Species of Blunt-nosed Viper of the Genus Macrovipera in Iran. SALAMANDRA. 54(4); 233-248.

Microhyla beilunensis

Zhang, Fei, Ye, Wang, Wang & Jiang, 2018

DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.180032

Abstract

We described a new species, Microhyla beilunensis sp. nov., from Zhejiang Province of China. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial 12S, 16S and CO1 gene sequences suggested that the new taxon was distinctly separated from its congeners and closed to M. mixtura and M. okinavensis. Morphologically, the new species could be identified from its congeners except M. mixtura by several characters: (1) rudimentary webs on toe base; (2) absence of disks and dorsal median longitudinal grooves on finger tips; (3) presence of disks and dorsal median longitudinal grooves on toe tips. As well, the new species could be identified from topotype M. mixtura by the combination of characters: (1) apart from the stripes, bar-shaped and oval-shaped patterns, the rounded spots present on the dorsum of body and legs; (2) the outer metacarpal tubercles prominently larger than the inner one; (3) of males, the ratios of HW, IND, UEW and LAW to SVL of the new species were significantly larger than those of M. mixtura (P < 0.01), and the ratios of SL, IOD, LAHL, HLL, TL, TFL and FL to SVL of the new species were significantly less than those of M. mixtura (P < 0.05).

Keywords: Microhyla; morphological comparison; new species; phylogenetic analysis; taxonomy; Zhejiang

Figure 6: Variation in Microhyla beilunensis sp. nov. from Chaiqiao Town, Beilun District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, China.
A and B, dorsal and ventral views of the holotype in life, respectively; C and D, dorsal and ventral views of the allotype in life, respectively; E, mating couples; F, breeding site.

Microhyla beilunensis sp. nov.

Microhyla mixtura: Fei, Ye, Xie and Cai. 1999.

Chin Zool Res, Beijing (Beilun, Zhejiang): 239−240.

Etymology: This specific name beilunensis is a Latinize toponymic adjective that refers to Beilun District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province of China, where the new species was collected. For the common name, we suggest Beilun Pygmy frog (English) and Bei lun ji wa (Chinese).

Diagnosis: The new species is allocated to the genus Microhyla, because it is consistent with the generic diagnostic characters: relatively small body size; maxillary and vomerine teeth absent; vomer divided into two parts and disappearing at the posterior edge of the choana; tongue posteriorly rounded; skin smooth or with tubercles; tympanum hidden or indistinct; 1−2 row of horizontal skin ridges on the palate; fingers without webbing; toes webbed or free of webbing; 2 or 3 metacarpal tubercles; the absence of supernumerary tubercles below the base of fingers and toes; the absence of skin ridge or skin projection between the subarticular tubercles of toes III and IV (Parker, 1934; Fei et al., 2005, 2009).

Distribution and habits:Microhyla beilunensis sp. nov. is now known only from the type locality, Beilun District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province of China. This species lives in the water pits or ponds about 3 m diameter or adjacent grass thickets, subterranean holes and mud pits in the mountainous regions at elevation 1400 m a.s.l. The male frogs make vibrating calls on the last 10 days of March. Small tadpoles seen in the early April would dive to the bottom when disturbed. On the 9th April 1998, four gravid females, egg groups, and small tadpoles were found. Mating of females and males took place in the pond of imitated natural eco-breeding in Chengdu (Fei et al., 1999). Small tadpoles were found in the last 10 days April. It took 60 days for the fertilized eggs to finish metamorphosis. Newly metamorphic frogs were 8−10 mm. Sympatric species of amphibians in the Beilun District during the surveys includes Hynobius yiwuensis, Echinotriton chinhaiensis, Bufo gargarizans, Rana zhenhaiensis, Pelophylax nigromaculatus, Sylvirana latouchii, Fejervarya multistriata.

Meihua Zhang, Liang Fei, Changyuan Ye, Yufan Wang, Bin Wang and Jianping Jiang. 2018. A New Species of Genus Microhyla (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from Zhejiang Province, China. Asian Herpetological Research. 9(3); 135-148. DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.180032

Diplazium thailandicum Pongkai, Boonkerd & Pollawatn

in Pollawatn, Pongkai, Zhang & Boonkerd, 2018
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.379.2.8
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Abstract

A new fern species, Diplazium thailandicum(Athyriaceae), is described. It was discovered from the North of Thailand. It is distinguished from the most similar species, D. chioui and D. lobatum, in having a pinnatisect base of the terminal pinna, 5–8 pairs of oblong lateral pinnae with stalk < 5 mm, and sori curved, 0.5–0.7 cm long, and borne half way between midribs and margins.

Keywords: Diplazium chioui, D. lobatum, D. yinchanianum, Southeast Asia, Pteridophytes

Rossarin Pollawatn, Puttamon Pongkai, Liang Zhang and Thaweesakdi Boonkerd. 2018. Diplazium thailandicum (Athyriaceae), A New Fern from Thailand. Phytotaxa. 379(2); 227–230. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.379.2.8

Diplazium thailandicum เฟิร์นชนิดใหม่ของโลกค้นพบครั้งแรกที่ประเทศไทย

เฟิร์นชนิดนี้เป็นเฟิร์นในสกุลเดียวกับผักกูดหรือกูดกิน เป็นเฟิร์นขนาดกลางมีลักษณะเด่นคือ มีลำต้นทอดเลื้อยไปกับดิน มีใบประกอบแบบขนนกชั้นเดียว และใบย่อยที่ปลายสุดมีลักษณะหยักลึกรูปขนนก ถูกค้นพบครั้งแรกที่น้ำตกหมันแดง จ.พิษณุโลก โดย นายพุทธมน ผ่องกาย นิสิตระดับปริญญาเอก ภาควิชาพฤกษศาสตร์ คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย และได้ทำการตีพิมพ์การค้นพบร่วมกับ อ.ที่ปรึกษา ศ.ดร.ทวีศักดิ์ บุญเกิด และ ผศ.ดร.รสริน พลวัฒน์ ซึ่งคำระบุชนิด “thailandicum” หมายถึงสถานที่ซึ่งค้นพบพืชชนิดนี้ครั้งแรก คือประเทศไทย และเฟิร์นชนิดนี้ยังเป็นพืชถิ่นเดียว (endemic species) ของไทยอีกด้วย.

ผลงานการวิจัยการค้นพบเฟิร์นชนิดนี้ได้ตีพิมพ์เผยแพร่ในวารสารระดับนานาชาติ -- Phytotaxa 379(2): 227-230

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Kaempferia graminifolia Noppornch. & Jenjitt.

in Nopporncharoenkul & Jenjittikul, 2018.
ดอกดินใบข้าว || DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.379.3.4
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Abstract

Kaempferia graminifolia, a new species belonging to subgen. Protanthium with unique grass-like foliage is described and illustrated. A preliminary IUCN conservation assessment finds that the status of this endemic species is Vulnerable.

Keywords: grass-like leaves, Kaempferia rotunda, new taxa, precocious flowering Kaempferia, vulnerable, Monocots

Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul and Thaya Jenjittikul. 2018. Kaempferia graminifolia (Subgen. Protanthium: Zingiberaceae), A New Endemic Species from Thailand. Phytotaxa. 379(3); 261-266. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.379.3.4

Kaempferia graminifolia Noppornch. & Jenjitt.

ดอกดินใบข้าว (dok din bai khao)

พืชชนิดใหม่นี้ (รายงานการพบครั้งเเรกของโลก) ถูกพบโดยพี่นิด-วัชราพร เมื่อประมาณสิบปีที่แล้ว ต่อมาพี่จิ๋ว-สุนิสา เก็บตัวอย่างพืชชนิดนี้ในปี 2554 เป็น living specimen ไว้ที่โรงเรือน ณ สวนพฤกษศาสตร์สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ แม่ริม จังหวัดเชียงใหม่ พวกเรา (ดร.ทยา เจนจิตติกุล ภาควิชาพฤกษศาสตร์ คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล และผม) เห็นพืชชนิดนี้ในตอนเเรกก็ตัดสินใจว่าเป็นเพียงฟอร์มหนึ่งของดอกดิน/ทิพยเนตร (K. rotunda) ที่มีใบแคบเรียวยาวคล้ายใบข้าวเท่านั้น เพราะดอกของพืชทั้ง 2 ชนิดแทบจะไม่ต่างอะไรกันเลย

หลังจากลงพื้นที่เก็บข้อมูลภาคสนามหลายครั้งตั้งแต่ปี 2559 จนถึงปัจจุบัน เราได้ข้อมูลเชิงลึกของพืชชนิดนี้มากขึ้น ทั้งนิสัยการออกดอก สภาพแหล่งที่อยู่ ตลอดจนชนิดดินที่พืชชนิดนี้ขึ้น พบว่าเเตกต่างจากพืชชนิดอื่นที่รู้จักมาก่อน

จนกระทั่งปีนี้ (2561) ผมได้หลักฐานทางพันธุกรรมที่หนักเเน่นและสามารถเเยกพืชชนิดนี้ออกจากดอกดินสกุลเปราะชนิดก่อนหน้าได้อย่างสิ้นเชิง ผมหยิบ manuscript ที่ร่างไว้เมื่อนานมาเเล้วขึ้นมาปัดฝุ่น แก้ไขคำบรรยายลักษณะ วาดภาพลายเส้นประกอบคำบรรยายเพิ่มเติม และส่งรายงานพืชนี้เป็นพืชชนิดใหม่ของโลกตามหลักพฤกษศาสตร์โดยให้ชื่อวิทยาศาสตร์ “Kaempferia graminifolia Noppornch. & Jenjitt.” ที่ระบุถึงลักษณะของใบคล้ายกับพืชในกลุ่มหญ้า และกำหนดชื่อไทยว่า “ดอกดินใบข้าว” ส่วนสถานะการอนุรักษ์ตาม IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) ของพืชชนิดนี้ พวกเราประเมินเบื้องต้นให้เป็น สิ่งมีชีวิตที่เกือบอยู่ในข่ายใกล้การสูญพันธุ์ (vulnerable) เนื่องจากจำนวนประชากรค่อนข้างน้อยและพื้นที่การกระจายพันธุ์จำกัด

ปัจจุบันพืชชนิดนี้ได้ตีพิมพ์ในวารสาร Phytotaxa ฉบับปีที่ 379(3) วันที่ 29 พฤศจิกายน 2561 (2018) หน้า 261-266 biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/issue/view/phytotaxa.379.3

ขอบคุณทุกท่านที่มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องกับงานชิ้นนี้ พี่จินาย-ดร.วัฒนา พี่ชอบ-ฉัตรทอง กวาง-ธัญชนก ที่ให้บัตรผ่านประตูศึกษาตัวอย่าง อสพ พี่นิด-วัชราพร พี่จิ๋ว-สุนิสา พี่อาร์ต-พสธร พี่แวนดี้-วันดี สำหรับข้อมูลพืช การช่วยเหลือระหว่างลงพื้นที่ภาคสนาม และนอนสถานีตำรวจเป็นเพื่อน ขอบคุณพิพิธภัณฑ์พืชทุกแห่ง และผู้สนับสนุนทุนวิจัยทุกท่านครับ

#NewSpecies #EndemicThailand #PlantScience #MahidolUniversity

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Parotocinclus yaka

Lehmann A., Lima & Reis, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4521.4.7

Abstract

Parotocinclus yaka is described as a new species of hypoptopomatine cascudinho from tributaries of the Rio Tiquié, tributary to the Rio Uaupés, upper Rio Negro drainage, Amazon basin, Amazonas State, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from its congeners in northeastern and southeastern Brazil by having the cheek canal plate elongated posteriorly on the ventral surface of the head and in contact with the cleithrum. Parotocinclus yaka is diagnosed from the Parotocinclus species of the Amazon, Orinoco and Guianas watersheds by having a conspicuous dark spots smaller than the pupil diameter distributed dorsally and laterally on the head; it is also differentiated from P. polyochrus (Casiquiare, Venezuela), P. longirostris (Rio Amazonas, Brazil), and P. eppleyi (Río Orinoco) by the absence of a Y-shaped light mark dorsally on the head. In addition, the absence of premaxillary and dentary accessory teeth and the presence of a Y-shaped spot on the snout distinguish the new species from P. collinsae (Essequibo River, Guyana), P. halbothi (Rio Trombetas, Brazil and Marowijne River, Suriname) and P. variola (Río Amazonas, Colombia). Parotocinclus yaka also differs from P. amazonensis (lower Amazon basin), P. aripuanensis (lower Amazon basin), P. britskii (Guyana, Suriname, eastern Venezuela, and Amapá State, Brazil), and P. dani (Rio Tapajós basin), by having more numerous oral teeth. The new species described herein is part of the group of small cascudinhos usually associated with marginal or submerged vegetation and submerged logs, of moderate current and clear transparency, found in conserved habitats in streams of the Amazon, Orinoco and Guianas rivers.

Keywords: Pisces, Neotropical, biodiversity, taxonomy, systematics, upper Amazon

FIGURE 1. Holotype of Parotocinclus yaka, female, 30.1 mm SL, MZUSP 123655. Brazil, Amazonas, Rio Tiquié basin, Igarapé Açaí near São Pedro Village.

Parotocinclus yaka, new species

Etymology. Parotocinclus yaka in named after yaka, the common name for non-loricariine loricariids in both languages of the Tukano and the Tuyuka ethnic groups of the upper Rio Tiquié (Lima et al., 2005).

Pablo Lehmann A., Flávio C. T. Lima and Roberto E. Reis. 2018. Parotocinclus yaka, A New Species of Armored Catfish (Loricariidae: Hypoptopomatinae), from the Amazon Basin in Brazil. Zootaxa. 4521(4); 584–592. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4521.4.7

Researchgate.net/publication/328992826_Parotocinclus_yaka_a_new_species_of_armored_catfish_from_the_Amazon_basin_in_Brazil

Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839

in Ganesh, 2018.

DOI: 10.11609/jott.3946.10.10.12376-12381

ABSTRACT

The description of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii is expanded herein based on recent field sightings and a voucher specimen. Three individuals comprising an adult male, an adult female, and a juvenile were encountered in Kodaikanal, Palni Hills of the southern Western Ghats. Morphological and ecological notes on the voucher specimen and these live sightings are elaborated to enrich the current knowledge on this little-known species. This species is also illustrated in life herein for the first time. The current report forms the rediscovery of this species after nearly 90 years and after a lapse of 175 years since its original description. A review of its past distribution records is compiled and further surveys are recommended to revise the geographic range and conservation status of this Data Deficient species.

Keywords: distribution, morphology, Palni hills, scientific obscurity, skink

Image 1. Ristella rurkii. a - reproduction of type drawing from Boulenger (1887), b - live adult - dorsolateral view, c - live adult - ventral view, d - live juvenile. © S.R. Ganesh

Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839

Ateuchosaurus travancoricus Beddome, 1870 (part)

Ristella travancorica — Beddome, 1871 (part)

Ristella malabarica Stoliczka, 1871

Ristella rurki — Roux, 1928; Smith, 1935 (Images 1 & 2; Table 1)

Field observations: In January 2015, during herpetological surveys in the Palni Hills of the southern Western Ghats, this species was sighted in some localities in and around the Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary. From 60 man hours of survey, a total of three sightings of this species were obtained. A juvenile was sighted within dense grass clumps on open hill slopes at 16:35hr in Mannavanaur (...; 1,900m). One adult female was sighted under a fallen log at 12:25hr in Mathikettan Shola (...; 2,050m). An adult male was sighted at 14:20hrs under a rock in Berijam (...; 2,100m). Two nearterm eggs were visible when seen through the venter of the female. Sightings of gravid females and hatchlings indicate that January falls within the breeding season of Ristella rurkii, at least in the Palni hills region (Image 3).

Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh. 2018. The Rediscovery of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Ristellidae) with Remarks on Distribution and Natural History. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 10(10); 12376–12381. DOI: 10.11609/jott.3946.10.10.12376-12381

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Dendronotus claguei

Valdés, Lundsten & Wilson, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4526.4.1

Abstract
Increased exploration of northeastern Pacific deep-sea habitats has revealed a diverse and often poorly-known invertebrate community, including a number of undescribed species of nudibranchs studied herein. We used morphology to distinguish several new species from their congeners, and generated data where possible for mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear markers (H3) to place them in a phylogenetic context. We described here Tritonia nigritigris sp. nov., Dendronotus claguei sp. nov., Ziminella vrijenhoeki sp. nov., Cuthona methana sp. nov., Aeolidia libitinaria sp. nov. and redescribed Zeusia herculea (Bergh, 1894). Another species of Tritonia is described but not named due to the absence of reproductive system information. Although there are difficulties in collection from deep-sea habitats, only two of our new species are known from single specimens. As with many other deep-sea regions, we expect the number of new species from this region to increase with further exploration. Because the deep regions of the northeast Pacific are particularly vulnerable to the effects of decreasing oxygenation due to climate change, we consider that documenting this fauna has some level of urgency.

Keywords: Mollusca, molecular systematics, taxonomy, phylogenetics, anatomy, methane seep, whale fall, seamount

Ángel Valdés, Lonny Lundsten and Nerida G. Wilson. 2018. Five New Deep-sea Species of Nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Cladobranchia) from the Northeast Pacific. Zootaxa. 4526(4); 401–433. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4526.4.1

Panaspis namibiana

Ceríaco, Branch & Bauer, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.1.12

Abstract

A recent molecular revision of the snake-eyed skinks of the genus Panaspis Cope, 1868 uncovered extensive cryptic diversity within the P. wahlbergi (Smith, 1849) and P. maculicollis Jacobsen & Broadley, 2000 species complexes. We here describe an unnamed central and northern Namibian lineage of the P.maculicollis group as a new species. We base the description on previously published molecular evidence and newly collected morphological, meristic and coloration data. Members of the group share a conservative morphology and the newly described species is very similar to P. maculicollis, from which it differs mostly on the basis of its coloration. This description raises the number of Panaspis recognized to 17 species and reinforces the already strong evidence that northern Namibia is a hotspot of reptile diversity.

Keywords: Reptilia, endemism, Panaspis namibiana, arid environments, cryptic species, taxonomy

Luis M. P. Ceríaco, William R. Branch and Aaron M. Bauer. 2018. A New Species of African Snake-eyed Skink (Scincidae: Panaspis) from central and northern Namibia. Zootaxa. 4527(1); 140–150. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.1.12

Rachunia cymbiformis D.J.Middleton.

Rachunia D.J.Middleton & C.Puglisi gen. nov.

in Middleton, Khew, Poopath, et al., 2018.

DOI: 10.1111/njb.01992

Abstract

Rachunia, a new genus of Gesneriaceae from Thailand, is described with a single species, Rachunia cymbiformis. Its relationship to the rest of subtribe Didymocarpinae is investigated through a phylogenetic study based on Bayesian Inference and Parsimony analyses of nuclear ITS and plastid trnL‐trnF (intron‐spacer) sequences. Morphologically, Rachunia differs from the related genera Codonoboea in the large boat‐shaped bracts and orthocarpic vs plagiocarpic fruit; from Microchirita in the bracts, wiry vs fleshy stem, the campanulate vs tubular corolla and the clavate vs chiritoid stigma, and from Henckelia in the clavate vs chiritoid stigma, large boat‐shaped bracts in the inflorescence, free and imbricate sepals, short and campanulate corolla, clavate stigma, and relatively robust orthocarpic fruit.

Keywords: phylogeny, Henckelia, Didymocarpinae

Rachunia cymbiformis D.J.Middleton. close-up of bracts and flower.

Photo by Manop Poopath.

Rachunia D.J.Middleton & C.Puglisi gen. nov.

Type species: Rachunia cymbiformis D.J.Middleton.

Etymology: The genus is named in honour of the Thai botanist Dr Rachun Pooma of the Forest Herbarium Bangkok (BKF) to recognise his great contribution to our understanding of plant diversity in Thailand and the wider region.

Rachunia cymbiformis D.J.Middleton sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘cymbiformis’ refers to the boat-shaped bracts in the inflorescence.

D. J. Middleton, G. S. Khew, M. Poopath, M. Möller and C. Puglisi. 2018. Rachunia cymbiformis, A New Genus and Species of Gesneriaceae from Thailand. Nordic Journal of Botany. 36(11); e01992. DOI: 10.1111/njb.01992

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The taxa of Copiapoa subsection Cinerei: A – C Copiapoa gigantea; D C. cinerea subsp. cinerea; E C. cinerea subsp. krainziana; F C. cinerea subsp. columna-alba.

in Larridon, Veltjen, Semmouri, et al., 2018.

DOI: 10.1007/s12225-018-9780-3

Photos: A, D, E M.-S. Samain; B, C P. C. Guerrero; F I. Larridon. facebook.com/KewBulletin

Summary

Copiapoa (Cactaceae) is a genus endemic to the Chilean Atacama Desert. The taxa of Copiapoa subsection Cinerei occur in an area of high species richness and high levels of species endemism of the Central Chilean biodiversity hotspot. Four taxa are usually recognised in this group: Copiapoa gigantea (sometimes placed in C. cinerea as C. cinerea subsp. haseltoniana) and C. cinerea including three subspecies (subsp. cinerea, subsp. krainziana and subsp. columna-alba), one of which is often recognised at species level, i.e. the narrow endemic C. krainziana. Here, we evaluate the taxon boundaries of Copiapoa subsection Cinerei using chloroplast sequences and microsatellite data. We generated sequences of three cpDNA markers (rpl32–trnL, trnH–psbA, ycf1) and as indicated in a previous study, found variation between C. gigantea and C. cinerea on a subsample of 34 individuals. Five microsatellite loci were genotyped for 68 individuals from the known range of Copiapoa subsection Cinerei. In contrast with expectations, we found relatively high levels of genetic diversity (e.g., He = 0.775 – 0.827; Ho = 0.580 – 0.750) and no population structure, even between the two species. Additionally, species distribution models were conducted based on abiotic suitability and transformed to 3D maps to account for topographical complexity. The species distribution models and their 3D projections support an allopatric distribution of the four taxa of Copiapoa subsection Cinerei, with each taxon related to a different range with complex topographical features. The obtained molecular results, combined with the presented species distribution modelling, and calculations of extent of occurrence and area of occupancy for the four taxa of Copiapoa subsection Cinerei, suggest a high extinction risk for most of the taxa. A taxonomic treatment is provided.

Key Words: Atacama Desert, conservation, cpDNA, endemic species, population genetics, species distribution modelling

Fig. 1. The taxa of Copiapoa subsection Cinerei:
A – C Copiapoa gigantea; D C. cinerea subsp. cinerea; E C. cinerea subsp. krainziana; F C. cinerea subsp. columna-alba.

Photos: A, D, E M.-S. Samain; B, C P. C. Guerrero; F I. Larridon.

Isabel Larridon, Emily Veltjen, Ilias Semmouri, Pieter Asselman, Pablo C. Guerrero, Milén Duarte, Helmut E. Walter, Mauricio A. Cisternas and Marie-Stéphanie Samain. 2018. Investigating Taxon Boundaries and Extinction Risk in Endemic Chilean Cacti (Copiapoa subsection Cinerei, Cactaceae) Using Chloroplast DNA Sequences, Microsatellite Data and 3D Mapping. Kew Bulletin. 73:55. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-018-9780-3

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Ancistrus shuar

Provenzano R. & Barriga-Salazar, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.2.4ption

Abstract

To elucidate the species of the genus Ancistrus that inhabit freshwater systems of Ecuador, cataloged lots of the Fish Collection, Museo de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (MEPN), in Quito, were analyzed. Four species were identified: Ancistrus alga (Cope, 1872), A. malacops (Cope, 1872), A. clementinae Rendahl, 1937, and a new species that herein is described. Ancistrus clementinae inhabits aquatic systems of the Pacific slope, mostly in the Guayas River drainage. The other three species live in freshwater systems that drain to the Amazon River Basin. Ancistrusalga inhabit the northern and central portions of eastern Ecuador. Ancistrus malacops has a broad distribution from north to south, but is absent from the Santiago River. Both species occasionally live in sympatry. The new species is restricted to the Santiago River, in Morona-Santiago province. Each species has unique external morphological features and/or a coloration pattern that allow unambiguous identification, at least of males. This paper provides a description of the new species, and a re-description and images of the other three.

Keywords: Pisces, catfishes, Neotropical freshwater Fishes, taxonomy, systematics, South America

FIGURE 4. Ancistrus shuar, MECN-DP-1637, 96.5 mm SL, male, paratype when alive.

Photo: Jorge Brito

Ancistrus shuar new species

Etymology. Dedicated to ancient and brave Shuar, indigenous group that live in the Morona-Santiago province. It is considered a noun in apposition.

Francisco Provenzano R. and Ramiro Barriga-Salazar. 2018. Species of Ancistrus (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from Ecuador, with the Description of A New Species from the Amazon River Basin. Zootaxa. 4527(2); 211–238. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.2.4

Resumen: Para dilucidar las especies del género Ancistrus que habitan los sistemas de agua dulce del Ecuador, se analizaron los lotes catalogados de la Colección de Peces, Museo de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (MEPN), en Quito. Se identificaron cuatro especies: Ancistrus alga (Cope, 1872), A. malacops (Cope, 1872), A. clementinae Rendahl, 1937, y una nueva especie que aquí se describe. Ancistrus clementinae habita en sistemas acuáticos de la vertiente del Pacífico, principalmente en el drenaje del río Guayas. Las otras tres especies viven en sistemas de agua dulce que drenan a la cuenca del río Amazonas. Ancistrus alga habita la zona norte y central del oriente de Ecuador. Ancistrus malacops tiene una amplia distribución de norte a sur, pero está ausente del río Santiago. Ambas especies ocasionalmente viven en simpatría. La nueva especie está restringida al río Santiago, en la provincia de Morona-Santiago. Cada una de las especies posee características morfológicas externas y/o un patrón de coloración que permiten su identificación sin ambigüedades, al menos en los ejemplares machos. En este trabajo se presenta la descripción de la nueva especie y la re-descripción y figuras de las otras tres.

Palabras clave: Corronchos, Peces dulceacuícolas Neotropicales, Taxonomía, Sistemática, Sur América

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