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[Entomology • 2019] Revision of the Genus Cimeliomorpha Diakonoff (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

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[18, 19, 7] ผีเสื้อขมิ้นดิ้นเงิน Cimeliomorpha jarujini,
[21] C. perspinosa,  [22-23] C. inflata

Pinkaew & Horak, 2019

Abstract
The enarmoniine genus Cimeliomorpha Diakonoff, 1966 is reviewed. Seven species are treated, and a key to the species is provided. Three named species, C. cymbalora (Meyrick), C. novarana (Felder & Rogenhofer), and C. egregiana (Felder & Rogenhofer), are redescribed, with the identity of C. novarana finally settled. Three new speciesCimeliomorpha jarujini, sp. n.; C. inflata, sp. n.; and C. perspinosa, sp. n., are described. Cimeliomorpha nabokovi Kuznetsov is included based on the original description. Illustrations of adults and genitalia of all species are provided, and the original hand-coloured images of C. egregiana and C. novarana are reproduced from a copy of the relevant book with unusually well-preserved plates.

Keywords: Lepidoptera, new species, Enarmoniini, Olethreutinae, Thailand, New Guinea

FIGURES 4−9. Labial palpi of Cimeliomorpha spp.
4. C. cymbalora, female (Thailand, KKIC, np2895). 5. C. novarana, female (Thailand, KKIC, np5789). 6. C. egregiana, male (Amboyna, Doherty, 1892 No.41343, NHMUK). 7. Cimeliomorpha jarujini, male (Thailand, holotype). 8. C. perspinosa, male (West Papua, holotype). 9. C. inflata, male (Woodlark Id, holotype).

Cimeliomorpha Diakonoff, 1966 
Cimeliomorpha Diakonoff, 1966: 50, fig. 1. Obraztsov, 1968: 185, figs 9‒13; Robinson et al., 1994: 104, plate 17 fig. 5; Kuznetsov, 1997: 801, fig. 7; Brown et al., 2005: 177. 

Type species: Copromorpha cymbalora Meyrick, 1907, by original designation. 

Diagnosis.Cimeliomorpha has an unmistakable two-toned forewing pattern with a uniformly yellow or white basal half and a distal half with complex mostly black pattern on red-brown ground with raised silvery lines and spots, and a hindwing that is either white or orange at the base, with a narrow to wide blackish band around its margin. Anthozela Meyrick and some Loboschiza species also have a conspicuously two-toned forewing, but in the former the basal half is yellow and either speckled with black or suffused with orange, and in the latter the hindwing is not white or yellowish in its basal half. The genitalia of both sexes of Cimeliomorpha also indicate a close relationship with Loboschiza, but not with Anthozela. The wing venation with widely separated Rs and M1 and parallel M2 and M3 in the hindwing (Fig. 3) is most similar to that of Irianassa Meyrick, but this is due rather to symplesiomorphy than to a close relationship as evidenced by the very different genitalia in both sexes.

The cymbalora-group. Forewing length 5.8−7.2 mm. Frons, vertex, labial palpus, pronotal collar, tegulae and mesonotum white. Forewing with basal 2/5 white; hindwing with basal half white; male genitalia with membrane next to juxta without setae, cucullus tip pointed and ending in short strong spine; female genitalia with one small signum, a granulate sclerite. 

The egregiana-group. Forewing length 7.2−9.9 mm. Frons, vertex, labial palpus, pronotal collar, tegulae and mesonotum yellow. Forewing with basal 2/5 yellow; hindwing with basal part orange or at least with large orange patch in centre; male genitalia with membrane next to juxta with numerous short setae, cucullus distally rounded and not ending in a single long spine (C. jarujini with one strong spine centrally); female genitalia with two horn-shaped signa.


Cimeliomorpha cymbalora (Meyrick, 1907)

Distribution. India, Thailand (new record). Specimens from Thailand were collected from evergreen forest. 

Cimeliomorpha novarana (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875) 

Distribution. Nicobar Island, Thailand (new record), Malaysia, Indonesia. Specimens from Thailand were collected from evergreen and dry evergreen forest.

Cimeliomorpha nabokovi Kuznetsov, 1997 

Distribution. Vietnam.

FIGURES 16−23. Adults of egregiana group (scale bars = 2 mm).
16. C. egregiana, male (Amboyna, Doherty, 1892 No.41343, NHMUK). 17. C. egregiana, female (Amboyna, Doherty, 1892 No.41344, NHMUK). 18. Cimeliomorpha jarujini, male holotype (Thailand). 19. C. jarujini, female paratype (Thailand, KKIC, np1852). 20. C. perspinosa, male holotype (West Papua). 21. C. perspinosa, female paratype (Papua New Guinea, NHMUK). 22. C. inflata, male holotype (Woodlark Id). 23. C. inflata, female paratype (Woodlark Id, ANIC).



Cimeliomorpha egregiana (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875) 

Distribution. Ambon Island (Maluku Islands), Indonesia. 


Cimeliomorpha jarujini, sp. n.

Diagnosis. This species differs from members of the cymbalora group by the yellowish basal 2/5 of the forewing and a mostly orange hindwing. It is similar to all other species of the egregiana group in forewing pattern, but in the hindwing the short crescent-shaped blackish band is diagnostic: it reaches neither the base of the costa nor the anal angle, or at most only as some scattered scales, unlike all other species of the egregiana group. The valva of C. jarujini is most similar to that of C. perspinosa, but the cucullus of the former is less densely setose and has a central single large spine.


Etymology. This species is named after the late Jarujin Nabhitabhata, the first director of The Thailand Natural History Museum. 

Distribution. Southern Thailand (Nakhon Si Thammarat). Specimens were collected from evergreen forest. 



Cimeliomorpha perspinosa, sp. n. 

Diagnosis. This species differs from members of the cymbalora group by the yellow basal 2/5 of the forewing and a mostly orange hindwing. It is similar to the other species of the egregiana group in forewing pattern. The hindwing above is similar to that of C. egregiana with the black band reaching to the anal angle but not beyond, while in C. jarujini it ends before the anal angle, and in C. perspinosa it extends also along the anal margin. A diagnostic difference on the ventral side of the hindwing separates C. perspinosa with the subelliptical patch on costa medially from C. egregiana with a longitudinal blackish patch on costa. The valva of C. perspinosa is most similar to that of C. jarujini, but the cucullus of C. perspinosa has a dense tuft of equally large spines, whereas C. jarujini has a single, much larger spine.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the cluster of bristles on the cucullus. 

Distribution. New Guinea: West Papua (Indonesia) and New Britain (Papua New Guinea).


 Cimeliomorpha inflata, sp. n.

Diagnosis. This species differs from members of the cymbalora group by the yellow basal 2/5 of the forewing and the partially orange hindwing. From other species in the egregiana group it differs by the very distinct but short, black, longitudinal fine striation in the ocelloid patch, and by the orange scales in the hindwing restricted to a bipartite median patch. The valva of C. inflata is unique, with a large and swollen cucullus, and the female genitalia are diagnostic with two elliptical patches of scale sockets on the membranous lamella postvaginalis and a very long colliculum.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the swollen appearance of the cucullus (inflata=swollen). 

Distribution. Papua New Guinea (St. Matthias Island near New Britain, and Woodlark, Goodenough and Bougainville islands) and Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal and The Nggela Islands).


Nantasak Pinkaew and Marianne Horak. 2019. Revision of the Genus Cimeliomorpha Diakonoff (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Zootaxa. 4615(3); 457–480.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4615.3.3
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[Mammalogy • 2019] Genetic Variation and Relationships among Afrotropical Species of Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

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Myotis welwitschii (Gray, 1866)

Patterson, Webala, Peterhans, et al., 2019. 

Abstract
The genus Myotis is nearly cosmopolitan and the second-most speciose genus of mammals, but its Afrotropical members are few and poorly known. We analyzed phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of six of the eight known Afrotropical species using Cytb and sequences from four nuclear introns. Using Bayesian and maximum-likelihood approaches to generate single-locus, concatenated, and species trees, we confirmed prior evidence that the clade containing Afrotropical Myotis also contains both Palearctic and Indomalayan members. Additionally, we demonstrate that M. bocagii is sister to the Indian Ocean species M. anjouanensis, that this group is sister to M. tricolor and the Palearctic M. emarginatus, and find evidence suggesting that M. welwitschii is the earliest-diverging Afrotropical species and sister to the remainder. Although M. tricolor and M. welwitschii are both currently regarded as monotypic, both mitochondrial and nuclear data sets document significant, largely concordant geographic structure in each. Evidence for the distinction of two lineages within M. tricolor is particularly strong. On the other hand, geographic structure is lacking in M. bocagii, despite the current recognition of two subspecies in that species. Additional geographic sampling (especially at or near type localities), finer-scale sampling (especially in zones of sympatry), and integrative taxonomic assessments will be needed to better document this radiation and refine its nomenclature.

Key words: Afrotropical biodiversity, DNA sequence, East Africa, introgression, phylogeny, taxonomy 



Bruce D. Patterson, Paul W. Webala, Julian C. Kerbis Peterhans, Steven M. Goodman, Michael Bartonjo and Terrence C. Demos. 2019. Genetic Variation and Relationships among Afrotropical Species of Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Journal of Mammalogy. gyz087.  DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz087

[Entomology • 2019] A Review of the Barsine hypoprepioides (Walker, 1862) Species-group (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae), with Descriptions of Fifteen New Species and A New Subspecies

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Barsine compar (Fang, 1991)

in Volynkin, Černý & Huang, 2019. 
 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4618.1.1

Abstract
The Barsine hypoprepioides (Walker, 1862) species-group is reviewed. Forty seven species and one subspecies belong to the species-group. Among them, fifteen species and one subspecies are new for science and described in the present paper: B. amoenissima sp. n. (Myanmar), B. selene sp. n. (Thailand and Laos), B. cao sp. n. (Thailand, Laos and Vietnam), B. speideli sp. n. (SE China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam), B. mesomene sp. n. (NE India, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam), B. pandeia sp. n. (Vietnam), B. karenkensis wushipheri ssp. n. (S Taiwan), B. euryphaessa sp. n. (Vietnam), B. ivanovamariae sp. n. (Vietnam and SE China), B. eos sp. n. (Thailand), B. mene sp. n. (Thailand), B. syntypicoida sp. n. (Malaysia and Indonesia), B. dubatolovi sp. n. (The Philippines), B. visaya sp. n. (The Philippines), B. nemea sp. n. (The Philippines) andB. kishidai sp. n. (The Philippines). Eight new combinations are established: B. parameia (Rothschild, 1913), comb. n. B. takamukui (Matsumura, 1927), comb. n., B. karenkensis (Matsumura, 1930), comb. n., B. rhipiptera (Wileman & West, 1928), comb. n., B. chi (Roepke, 1946), comb. nov., B. salakia (Schaus, 1922), comb. n., B. marginis (Fang, 1991), comb. nov. and B. dentata (Wileman, 1910), comb. nov. The lectotype is designated for Lithosia hypoprepioides Walker, 1862. Adults, male and female genitalia of all species are illustrated.

Keywords: Lepidoptera, Asia, lectotype, Lithosiini, new combination

Barsine compar (Fang, 1991) 
  
Anton V. Volynkin, Karel Černý and Si-Yao Huang. 2019. A Review of the Barsine hypoprepioides (Walker, 1862) Species-group, with Descriptions of Fifteen New Species and A New Subspecies (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae). Zootaxa. 4618(1); 1-82. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4618.1.1

[Botany • 2019] Cynanchum brevipedunculatum (Apocynaceae) • A New Species from Yunnan, China

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Cynanchum brevipedunculatum J. Y. Shen

in Shen, Ma, Wang & Shi, 2019

Abstract
Cynanchum brevipedunculatum (Apocynaceae), a new species from Menghai, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is compared with two morphologically similar species, Cynanchum decipiens and C. longipedunculatum. Cynanchum brevipedunculatum differs from the preceeding species in having much bigger leaves, adaxially sparsely strigillose, abaxially glabrous or sparsely strigillose on veins, shorter peduncle and the very distinctive bowl-shaped corona. A comprehensive morphological description of C. brevipedunculatum is provided, together with photographs, and a conservation assessment for this rare vine species.

Keyword: Apocynaceae, Asclepiadeae, China, Cynanchum brevipedunculatum, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan

Fig. 1. Cynanchum brevipedunculatum J. Y. Shen.
A. Habit. B-C. Adaxial and abaxial leaf surface. D-E. Inflorescences and flowers. F. Gynostegium in side view. G. Gynostegium in top view. H. Pollinarium.



Cynanchum brevipedunculatum J. Y. Shen, sp. nov.
短梗豹藥藤 

Type: CHINA, Yunnan, Menghai, Bada, Hesong village, roadside, climbing on the tree, 21°50′N, 100°7′E, alt. 1905 m, 18 Nov. 2018, Shen Jian-Yong 1352 (holotype: HITBC; isotype: HIB, TAI). 

Diagnosis: C. brevipedunculatum can be distinguished from its closest morphological matches C. decipiens and C. longipedunculatum, by several morphological features (Table 1), C. brevipedunculatum has bigger (compared to 5–8 × 2–4 cm in C. decipiens and ca. 5.6 × 2.3 cm in C. longipedunculatum) leaves (12–20 × 6–11 cm), adaxially sparsely strigillose and abaxially glabrous or sparsely strigillose on the veins, and with a shorter (compared to 4–10 cm in C. decipiens and 6–9 cm in C. longipedunculatum) peduncle (1.8–2.2 cm).  


Distribution & habitat: Currently known only from the type locality and found growing beside the road, not in a protected area, at ca. 1900 m high elevation. 

Etymology: The peduncle of this species is short (1.8– 2.2 cm), thus the specific epithet “brevipedunculatum” was chosen. Chinese name is “短梗豹藥藤” (duǎn gěng bào yào téng), which means the plant is poisonous and has short peduncle.


Jian-Yong Shen, Xing-Da Ma, Wen-Guang Wang and Ji-Pu Shi. 2019. Cynanchum brevipedunculatum, A New Species of Apocynaceae from Yunnan, China. Taiwania.  64(3); 217-220. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2019.64.217

[PaleoMammalogy • 2019] Diaphorocetus poucheti (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Physeteroidea) from Patagonia, Argentina: One of the Earliest Sperm Whales

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Diaphorocetus poucheti (Moreno, 1892)

in Paolucci, Buono, Fernández, et al., 2019. 

Abstract
Sperm whales (Physeteroidea) are the basal-most surviving lineage of odontocetes, represented today by just three highly specialized, deep-diving suction feeders. By contrast, extinct sperm whales were relatively diverse, reflecting a major Miocene diversification into various suction feeding and macroraptorial forms. The beginnings of this diversification, however, remain poorly understood. The Atlantic coast of South America provides a crucial window into early physeteroid evolution and has yielded some of the oldest species known from cranial material, Idiorophus patagonicus and Diaphorocetus poucheti – both of which are in need of re-description and phylogenetic reappraisal. Here, we re-examine Diaphorocetus in detail and, in light of its complex taxonomic history, declare it a nomen protectum. Phylogenetically, the species forms part of a polytomy including ‘Aulophyseter’ rionegresis and the two crown lineages (Physeteridae and Kogiidae) and demonstrates that facial asymmetry and a clearly defined supracranial basin have characterized this lineage for at least 20 Ma. With a total body length of 3.5–4 m, Diaphorocetus is one of the smallest physeteroids yet known. Its cranial morphology hints at an intermediate raptorial/suction feeding strategy and it has a moderately developed spermaceti organ and junk.

Keywords: Physeteroidea, Gaiman Formation, phylogeny, anatomy, body size, Miocene


Figure 10. Schematic reconstruction of Diaphorocetus poucheti.
 A, head in lateral view showing the nasal complex and proposed outline of spermaceti organ and junk, based on Zygophyseter varolai Bianucci & Landini, 2006; B, full body reconstruction. Drawing by Florencia Paolucci.

Systematic palaeontology

Cetacea Brisson, 1762
Neoceti Fordyce & de Muizon, 2001
Odontoceti Flower, 1867
Physeteroidea Gray, 1821

Diaphorocetus Ameghino, 1894 nomen protectum

Diaphorocetus poucheti (Moreno, 1892)

....


Florencia Paolucci, Mónica R. Buono, Marta S. Fernández, Felix G. Marx and José I. Cuitiño. 2019. Diaphorocetus poucheti (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Physeteroidea) from Patagonia, Argentina: One of the Earliest Sperm Whales. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2019.1605544    

[Ichthyology • 2019] Mollisquama mississippiensis • A New Western North Atlantic Ocean Kitefin Shark (Squaliformes: Dalatiidae) from the Gulf of Mexico

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Mollisquama mississippiensis
Grace, Doosey, Denton, Naylor, Bart & Maisey, 2019 


Abstract
A new species of kitefin shark (Squaliformes; Dalatiidae) is described from the Gulf of Mexico (Western North Atlantic Ocean) based on five diagnostic features not seen on the only other known Mollisquama specimen, the holotype of Mollisquama parini Dolganov which was captured in the Eastern South Pacific Ocean. The new species, Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov., is distinguished from its congener by a putative pit organ located ventrally just posterior of the lower jaw margin center, photophores irregularly distributed along many areas of the body, 16 distinct ventral-abdominal photophore aggregations, and two differences associated with the dentition. Other potential distinguishing features are 10 fewer vertebrae than Mollisquama parini and six morphometric proportional differences that exceeded +/- 20% from the holotype.

Keywords: Pisces, Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov., bioluminescent shark, putative pit organ, synchrotron scans

Figure 1. Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov., TU 203676 illustrated to scale in (A) lateral and (B) ventral view.

Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov.
 American Pocket Shark

Diagnosis. Differs from the only other described species of Mollisquama, M. parini (Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, ZIL-45988), in having a putative pit organ centrally placed just posterior to the lower jaw margin, photophores irregularly distributed along many areas of the body, a series of 16 ventral-abdominal photophore aggregations, upper teeth without a labial-surface ridge (M. parini has a labial-surface ridge), and lower teeth with a weak or absent basal sulcus (M. parini has a deep basal sulcus). The distinguishing external features the pit organ and photophore aggregations were clearly discernable when the new species was captured (Grace et al. 2015) and after preservation. These features were not reported as present on M. parini.
....

Etymology: The Latin specific epithet is in recognition of the vast North American Mississippi River Basin (Fig. 7); a biologically and geographically rich region that nurtures Gulf of Mexico fauna and unites diverse cultures. The proposed common name is the American Pocket Shark in recognition of the extraordinary Americas of the Western Hemisphere.

Conclusion:  
Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov. is distinguished from M. parini by five features that cannot be accounted for by ontogeny or sexual dimorphism. Additionally, there are 10 fewer vertebrae than M. parini and six morphometric proportional differences that vary from the holotype by +/- 20% that are not affected by ontogenetic allometry for distal features that is often characteristic of squaloid sharks; the vertebral count and morphometric differences are potential distinguishing features. Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov. and M. parini were collected from different habitats that are influenced by differing oceanographic conditions–M. parini from an area of the Pacific Ocean known for its isolation and high degree of endemism (Parin et al. 1997). The accession of M. mississippiensis sp. nov. has led to important dalatiid-characterization advances including a considerable range extension for the genus Mollisquama, the first report of a putative pit organ set on a neuromast from a squaliform shark, detailed imagery of the highly specialized pocket gland and confirmation of its bioluminescent properties, a new report of photophores for a dalatiid, and the broadest degree of dalatiid character transformations (eight) based on phylogenetic analysis and character optimization (Denton et al. 2018; two dental, two chondrocranial, three jaw, one muscular). 


Mark A. Grace, Michael H. Doosey, John S. S. Denton, Gavin J. P. Naylor, Henry L. Jr. Bart and John G. Maisey. 2019. A New Western North Atlantic Ocean Kitefin Shark (Squaliformes: Dalatiidae) from the Gulf of Mexico. Zootaxa. 4619(1); 109–120.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4619.1.4


[Herpetology • 2019] On the Road to Mandalay: Contribution to the Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Anura: Microhylidae) Fauna of Myanmar with Description of Two New Species; Microhyla fodiens & M. irrawaddy

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Microhyla irrawaddy
Poyarkov, Gorin, Zaw, Kretova, Gogoleva, Pawangkhanant & Che, 2019


Abstract
We present a morphological and molecular assessment of the Microhyla fauna of Myanmar based on new collections from central (Magway Division) and northern (Kachin State) parts of the country. In total, six species of Microhyla are documented, including M. berdmorei, M. heymonsi, M. butleri, M. mukhlesuri and two new species described from the semi-arid savanna-like plains of the middle part of the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) River Valley. We used a 2 481-bp long 12S rRNA–16S rRNA fragment of mtDNA to hypothesize genealogical relationships within Microhyla. We applied an integrative taxonomic approach combining molecular, morphological, and acoustic lines of evidence to evaluate the taxonomic status of Myanmar Microhyla. We demonstrated that the newly discovered populations of Microhyla sp. from the Magway Division represent two yet undescribed species. These two new sympatric species are assigned to the M. achatina species group, with both adapted to the seasonally dry environments of the Irrawaddy Valley. Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. is a stout-bodied species with a remarkably enlarged shovel-like outer metatarsal tubercle used for burrowing and is highly divergent from other known congeners (P-distance≥8.8%). Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. is a small-bodied slender frog reconstructed as a sister species to M. kodial from southern India (P-distance=5.3%); however, it clearly differs from the latter both in external morphology and advertisement call parameters. Microhyla mukhlesuri is reported from Myanmar for the first time. We further discuss the morphological diagnostics and biogeography of Microhyla species recorded in Myanmar.

Key words: Narrow-mouth frogs, Burma, Indochina, Magway, Kachin, Biodiversity, Taxonomy, mtDNA, Morphology, Acoustics, Advertisement call

Figure 1 Map of Myanmar (A) showing geographic location of survey sites, including the close-up of Irrawaddy River Valley near Pakokku, Magway Division (B) Colors of localities correspond to B those used in Figure 3. Photo shows female Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov.
 Photo by Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 
Map data – courtesy of Google Maps (2018).

Figure 3 Bayesian inference tree of Microhyla derived from analysis of 2 481 bp long alignment of 12S rRNA, tRNAVal, and 16S rRNA gene fragments For voucher specimen information and GenBank accession Nos. see Table 1. Red and blue denote new species of Microhyla from Myanmar (see Figure 1). Numbers at tree nodes correspond to BI PP/ML BS support values, respectively. Outgroup taxa not shown. 
Photos showing six species of Microhyla recorded from Myanmar
 taken by Nikolay A. Poyarkov.


Figure 2 Species of Microhyla encountered during our herpetological surveys in the Magway Division and Kachin State of Myanmar.
 A: Male Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. from Pakokku, Magway (paratype); B: Female Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. from Kan Pauk, Magway (paratype);
C: Male Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. from Kan Pauk, Magway (holotype);
D: Male Mmukhlesuri from Pakokku, Magway; E: Male M. mukhlesuri from Ingyin Taung Mt., Kachin;
F: Male M. heymonsi from Ingyin Taung Mt., Kachin; G: Male Mbutleri from Ingyin Taung Mt., Kachin.
Photos by Nikolay A. Poyarkov.

Figure 7 Natural habitats of Microhyla in Myanmar.
 A: Natural habitat of Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. at Kan Pauk village, Magway (type locality), green hill in background is Shinma Taung Mountain; B: Breeding habitat of Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. from Pakokku, Magway (type locality); C: Natural habitat of M. heymonsiM. butleri, and Mmukhlesuri in bamboo forest on slopes of Ingyin Taung Mt., Indawgyi Lake region, Kachin.
Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant. 

Figure 2 Species of Microhyla encountered during our herpetological surveys in the Magway Division and Kachin State of Myanmar.  
A: Male Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. from Pakokku, Magway (paratype); B: Female Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. from Kan Pauk, Magway (paratype); C: Male Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. from Kan Pauk, Magway (holotype); D: Male Mmukhlesuri from Pakokku, Magway; E: Male M. mukhlesuri from Ingyin Taung Mt., Kachin; F: Male M. heymonsi from Ingyin Taung Mt., Kachin; G: Male Mbutleri from Ingyin Taung Mt., Kachin. 

Figure 7 Natural habitats of Microhyla in Myanmar. 
B: Breeding habitat of Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. from Pakokku, Magway (type locality); 
A: Natural habitat of Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. at Kan Pauk village, Magway (type locality), green hill in background is Shinma Taung Mountain; 
C: Natural habitat of M. heymonsiM. butleri, and Mmukhlesuri in bamboo forest on slopes of Ingyin Taung Mt., Indawgyi Lake region, Kachin.
 Photos by Nikolay A. Poyarkov & Parinya Pawangkhanant.  

Figure 6 Holotype of Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. (ZMMU A5960), male, in life.
 A: Dorsolateral view in situ; B: Lateral view of head; C: Posterior view of thighs and inguinal region showing regular black markings. Photos by Nikolay A. Poyarkov (A) and Parinya Pawangkhanant (B, C).

Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. 
 Chresonymy: Microhyla rubra – (?) Parker, 1934, p. 145 (B. M. 87.2.26.24, coll. from“Moulmein, Burma”by W. Theobald). 
Microhyla rubra – Wogan et al., 2008, p. 84–86; Peloso et al., 2016, p. 5, 23. 
Microhyla sp. B – Mulcahy et al., 2018, p. 99, 116–117.

Diagnosis: Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following morphological attributes: (1) males with medium body size, SVL 20.8 – 29.12 mm in two adult individuals, body habitus stout; (2) head flattened, triangular, much wider than long, snout rounded in dorsal and bluntly rounded in lateral views, notably protruding above lower jaw in ventral aspect; canthus rostralis rounded, indistinct; (3) skin on dorsum and flanks feebly granular with numerous small round tubercles, ventral surfaces smooth; (4) dorsolateral skinfold presents as row of large tubercles ventrally underlined with black stripe; (5) mid-vertebral skin ridge and dorsomedial stripe absent; (6) supratympanic fold almost indistinct; (7) finger I well developed, notably less than one-half length of finger II; (8) finger and toe tips lacking disks and median longitudinal grooves; (9) two large palmar tubercles (inner palmar tubercle ovoid, slightly elongated; outer palmar tubercle almost rounded); (10) two very prominent metatarsal tubercles (inner metatarsal tubercle large, beanshaped, outer metatarsal tubercle greatly enlarged, shovelshaped); (11) limbs short, tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb not reaching eye level; (12) toe webbing basal, reaching proximal tubercles; webbing formula: I 1–2 II 1¾–3 III 2¾–3¾ IV 4 – 2¾ V; (13) superciliary tubercles absent; (14) dorsum beige-brown with“teddy-bear-shaped”dark-brown marking running from interorbital to sacral region; two large dark-black inguinal spots continuing on dorsal surfaces of thighs; posterior surfaces of thighs and cloacal region with regular black stripes; chin and throat marbled with gray, chest and belly whitish, limbs ventrally pink. Interspecific genetic Pdistances in 16S rRNA gene fragment between new species and congeners vary from 9.1% to 12.4%.
....

Distribution: Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality in Kan Pauk, Yesagyo Township, Magway Division, Myanmar (Figure 1). The species was recorded at an elevation of 230 m a.s.l. The actual distribution of the new species is unknown, but it is likely to be found in other arid areas of the Irrawaddy River Valley in the region of the Irrawaddy and Chindwin interfluve; discovery of new localities in Magway, Sagaing, and Mandalay divisions is anticipated. The record of“Microhyla rubra”from“Moulmein, Burma”(now Mawlamyine) by Parker (1934) based on W. Theobald’s collection comes from Mon State in southern Myanmar—a region with a much milder tropical monsoon climate—might refer to a different species. The taxonomic status of this record requires clarification by further studies. 

Etymology: The specific name“fodiens”is a Latin adjective in the nominative singular derived from“fodio”— Latin verb meaning“to dig”or“to burrow”referring to the distinctive enlarged shovel-shaped outer metatarsal tubercle of the new species, suggesting that it is a good burrower, which may serve as an adaptation to the dry climate of the Irrawaddy River Valley in central Myanmar. The recommended common name in English is “Burrowing narrow-mouth frog”. The recommended common name in Burmese is“Twin Aoung Thaephar”.


Figure 10 Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. type series in situ. 
A: Dorsolateral view of holotype (ZMMU A5965); B, C: Paratype males (ZMMU A5966 and A5967) in calling position in hollows and buffalo footprints in dirt at type locality. Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant.



Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. 
ChresonymyMicrohyla sp. A – (?) Mulcahy et al., 2018, p. 99, 116–117.

Diagnosis: Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. is distinguished by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) small adult body size: males SVL 12.3–17.1 mm, females SVL 16.7 – 20.9 mm, body habitus very slender; (2) head small, triangular, wider than long, snout acuminate with rounded tip in dorsal view and rounded in lateral view, slightly protruding above lower jaw in ventral aspect; canthus rostralis indistinct; (3) skin on dorsum and flanks granular with irregularly scattered numerous large and small round tubercles, ventral surfaces completely smooth; (4) dorsolateral skinfold and dark lateral band absent; (5) mid-vertebral skin ridge and dorsomedial stripe absent; (6) supratympanic fold distinct; (7) finger I well developed, slightly longer than onehalf length of finger II; (8) tips of fingers II–IV and toes II–V weakly dilated, not forming conspicuous disks; peripheral grooves ventrally present on tips of fingers II–IV and toes II– IV; fingers and toes lacking dorsal median grooves or distal notches; (9) two small palmar tubercles (inner palmar tubercle rounded, prominent; outer palmar tubercle smaller and less distinct than inner, rounded, flattened); (10) two small metatarsal tubercles (inner metatarsal tubercle elongated, ovoid, flattened; outer metatarsal tubercle small, rounded, prominent); (11) limbs comparatively short, tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching eye level; (12) toe webbing completely reduced; webbing formula: I 2–3 II 2–3 III 3 – 4½ IV 4½ – 2¾ V; (13) superciliary tubercles absent; (14) dorsum yellowish-brown with dark-brown contrasting“teddybear”- shaped marking running from interorbital to sacral region; larger tubercles on dorsum orange to red; body flanks grayish with darker mottling not clearly separated from dorsum coloration; dorsal surfaces of thighs and shanks with two to three dark crossbars; chin and throat with grayish mottling (blackish in males), body and limbs ventrally cream to whitish at belly. Interspecific genetic P-distances in the 16S rRNA gene fragment between the new species and other currently recognized species of Microhyla vary from 5.7% to 12.9%.
...

Distribution: Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. is at present known from two closely located areas in Pakokku District of Magway Division, central Myanmar: i.e., suburbs of Pakokku city on the bank of the Irrawaddy River (the type locality) and in the vicinity of Kan Pauk village, Yesagyo Township (ca. 30 km north of type locality) (Figure 1). The species was recorded from elevations of 60 to 220 m a.s.l.. A genealogically closely related population of Microhyla (herein indicated as Microhyla sp. 2, see Table 1) was recorded from the vicinity of Chatthin in Sagaing Division of northern Myanmar by Mulcahy et al. (2018). Considering the notable genetic divergence between Sagaing and Magway populations (P=2.0%), further research is needed to clarify whether Microhyla sp. 2 is conspecific with Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. The actual distribution of the new species is unknown and discoveries of new localities within the middle part of the Irrawaddy River Valley are anticipated. 

Etymology: The new species name“irrawaddy”is given as a noun in apposition in reference to the Irrawaddy (or, officially, Ayeyarwady) River – the greatest water basin in Myanmar and western Indochina, and the cradle of Burmese civilization. The new species is known to occur in dry areas of the central part of the Irrawaddy Valley in the Magway Division, but likely has a wider distribution in the dry zone of central Myanmar. The recommended common name in English is“Irrawaddy narrow-mouth frog”. The recommended common name in Burmese is “Myanmar Thaephar”.




Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Jr., Vladislav A. Gorin, Than Zaw, Valentina D. Kretova, Svetlana S. Gogoleva, Parinya Pawangkhanant and Jing Che. 2019. On the Road to Mandalay: Contribution to the Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) Fauna of Myanmar with Description of Two New Species. Zoological Research. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2019.044


[Ichthyology • 2019] Redescription of the Indo-West Pacific Scorpionfish Scorpaena neglecta Temminck & Schlegel, 1843 (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae), A Senior Synonym of Four Nominal Species

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Scorpaena neglecta Temminck & Schlegel, 1843

in Wibowo & Motomura, 2019.

Abstract
The Indo-West Pacific scorpionfish Scorpaena neglecta Temminck & Schlegel (1843) is redescribed on the basis of two syntypes and 129 additional specimens from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and Australia, and a lectotype is proposed. Four nominal species, Scorpaenafimbriata Döderlein in Steindachner & Döderlein, 1884, Scorpaenaizensis Jordan & Starks, 1904, Scorpaenahemilepidota Fowler, 1938 and Scorpaenopsellaarmata Fowler, 1938, are regarded as junior synonyms of Scorpaenaneglecta. Morphological changes with growth of S. neglecta are discussed.

Keywords: Pisces, Scorpaenafimbriata, Scorpaenaizensis, Scorpaenahemilepidota, Scorpaenopsellaarmata




 Kunto Wibowo and Hiroyuki Motomura. 2019. Redescription of the Indo-West Pacific Scorpionfish Scorpaena neglecta Temminck & Schlegel, 1843, A Senior Synonym of Four Nominal Species (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae).  Zootaxa. 4619(2); 311–329. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4619.2.7


[Botany • 2019] Solanum plastisexum (Solanaceae) • An Enigmatic New Bush Tomato from the Australian Monsoon Tropics Exhibiting Breeding System Fluidity

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Solanum plastisexum Martine & McDonnell

in McDonnell, Wetreich, Cantley, Jobso & Martine, 2019. 

Abstract
A bush tomato that has evaded classification by solanologists for decades has been identified and is described as a new species belonging to the Australian “Solanum dioicum group” of the Ord Victoria Plain biogeographic region in the monsoon tropics of the Northern Territory. Although now recognised to be andromonoecious, Solanum plastisexum Martine & McDonnell, sp. nov. exhibits multiple reproductive phenotypes, with solitary perfect flowers, a few staminate flowers or with cymes composed of a basal hermaphrodite and an extended rachis of several to many staminate flowers. When in fruit, the distal rachis may abcise and drop. A member of Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum, Solanum plastisexum is allied to the S. eburneum Symon species group. Morphometric analyses presented here reveal that S. plastisexum differs statistically from all of its closest relatives including S. eburneum, S. diversiflorum F. Meull., S. jobsonii Martine, J.Cantley & L.M.Lacey, S. succosum A.R.Bean & Albr. and S. watneyi Martine & Frawley in both reproductive and vegetative characters. We present evidence supporting the recognition of S. plastisexum as a distinctive entity, a description of the species, representative photographs, a map showing the distribution of members of the S. eburneum species group and a key to the andromonoecious Solanum species of the Northern Territory of Australia. This new species is apparently labile in its reproductive expression, lending to its epithet, and is a model for the sort of sexual fluidity that is present throughout the plant kingdom.

Keywords: New species, andromonoecy, Solanaceae, Leptostemonum

Figure 2. Closely related species of andromonoecious bush tomatoes included in this study.
 A Solanum jobsonii B S. watneyi C S. succosum
Solanum plastisexum E S. diversiflorum and F S. eburneum.  

Figure 1. Morphology and the earliest-known herbarium specimen of Solanum plastisexum.
 A Flowering stem with a single staminate flower in 2016 B Mature fruit C Erect inflorescences bearing staminate flowers in 2018 and D Specimen collected by P. Latz in 1974, held at DNA and annotated by D. Symon with an annotation indicating his confusion about the reproductive morphology of the specimen (male rachis visible above fruit on far left).





Solanum plastisexum Martine & McDonnell, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Like Solanum eburneum, Solanum watneyi and Solanum succosum, but differing by having elliptic, unlobed (or rarely very shallowly lobed) leaves, small apical leaves, long calyx lobes on the staminate flowers and fully erect staminate inflorescence branches.
...

Etymology: The name is based on the Latin “plastus” (“deceptive,” but derived from the Greek “plastikos/plasticos/plasticus” for “able to be molded, changeable”) and the Latin “sexus” for sex. We suggest the use of Dungowan Bush Tomato for the common name of this species, which refers to the cattle station on which the majority of the collections have been made.


 Angela J. McDonnell, Heather B. Wetreich, Jason T. Cantley, Peter Jobso and Christopher T. Martine. 2019. Solanum plastisexum, An Enigmatic New Bush Tomato from the Australian Monsoon Tropics Exhibiting Breeding System Fluidity. PhytoKeys 124: 39-55. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.124.33526
Meet Australia’s New Sex-Changing Tomato: Solanum plastisexum nyti.ms/2MSzL01
Scientists challenge notion of binary sexuality with naming of new plant species  eurekalert.org/e/9J0Z via @Pensoft @EurekAlert

[Entomology • 2019] Coprosylia bisetosa • A New Genus and Species of Limosinine Sphaerocerid (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) Phoretic on Dung Beetles in Borneo

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 Coprosylia bisetosa Marshall

in Marshall & Yau, 2019
RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY67 

Abstract
 Coprosylia bisetosa new genus and new species (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae: Limosininae) is described on the basis of four males and one female found riding on the abdominal sternites of a dung-rolling scarab beetle (Paragymnopleurus maurus [Sharp]) in Sarawak, Malaysia. This is the first record of phoretic Diptera associated with coprophagous beetles in Southeast Asia. The new species is presumed to be kleptoparasitic in dung balls sequestered by host beetles.

  Key words: phoresy, Sarawak, kleptoparasitism, coprophagy, Scarabaeinae



Figs. 1, 2.  Coprosylia bisetosa.
 1A, B, Male and female flies on host Paragymnopleurus maurus2A, Male paratype, right wing; 2B, Male holotype, left lateral; 2C, Male paratype, left mid tibia and tarsomere one.

Coprosylia bisetosa Marshall & Yau, new genus and new species

Type of genus (by current designation): Coprosylia bisetosa Marshall, new species

Diagnosis. Small Limosininae with conspicuously large presutural dorsocentral bristles, small eyes, subequal second and third costal sectors with the latter not overlapped by the costa, and mid tibial chaetotaxy including apicoventral, midventral, preapical anterior, and multiple dorsal bristles (Fig. 2).
...

Etymology. The generic name is an adaptation of the Greek term nekrosylia, defined in Brown (1954) as “robbery of the dead”. The gender of the name is feminine. The altered prefix “copro” (dung) reflects the assumption that the larvae of this species develop as robbers of the dung transported by scarabaeine beetles. The specific name refers to the strikingly large anterior dorsocentral bristles.


Stephen A. Marshall and Tiffany Yau. 2019. Coprosylia bisetosa, A New Genus and Species of Limosinine Sphaerocerid (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) Phoretic on Dung Beetles in Borneo. RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY67; 183–188.  

[PaleoMammalogy • 2019] First Fossils of Hyenas (Chasmaporthetes, Hyaenidae, Carnivora) from North of the Arctic Circle

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 cf. Chasmaporthetes ossifragus Hay, 1921

in Tseng, Zazula & Werdelin, 2019.
illustation: Julius T. Csotonyi 

Abstract
The northern region of Beringia is ecologically and biogeographically significant as a corridor for biotic dispersals between the Old and New Worlds. Large mammalian predators from Beringia are exceedingly rare in the fossil record, even though carnivore diversity in the past was much higher than it is in this region at present. Here we report the first fossils of cursorial hyenas, Chasmaporthetes, in Beringia and north of the Arctic Circle. Two isolated teeth recovered in the Old Crow Basin, Yukon Territory, Canada, were identified amongst over 50,000 known fossil mammal specimens recovered from over a century of collecting in the Old Crow Basin. These rare records fill an important intermediary locale in the more than 10,000 km geographic distance between previously known New and Old World records of this lineage. The Pleistocene age of these fossils, together with its Arctic Circle occurrence, necessitate a rethinking of the role of large-bodied hunter-scavengers in Ice Age megafaunas in North America, and the implications of lacking an important energy flow modifier in present day North American food webs.

Keywords: Yukon, Pleistocene, Beringia, Carnivore, Predator


Systematic Palaeontology

Order CARNIVORA Bowdich, 1821
Family HYAENIDAE Gray, 1869
CHASMAPORTHETES Hay, 1921
CHASMAPORTHETES cf. C. OSSIFRAGUS Hay, 1921
Adcrocuta sp. Harington, 1989
Hyaena”, Hyaenidae Harington, 2011
 ...


  Z. Jack Tseng, Grant Zazula and Lars Werdelin. 2019. First Fossils of Hyenas (Chasmaporthetes, Hyaenidae, Carnivora) from North of the Arctic Circle. Open Quaternary. 5(1) DOI: 10.5334/oq.64

Fossil teeth reveal ancient hyenas in the Arctic phys.org/news/2019-06-fossil-teeth-reveal-ancient-hyenas.html via @physorg_com


[Crustacea • 2019] Deep-sea Spider Crabs of the Family Epialtidae MacLeay, 1838 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea), from Papua New Guinea, with A Redefinition of Tunepugettia and Descriptions of Two New Genera; Crocydocinus & Neophrys

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Tunepugettia corbariae 

Lee, de Forges & Ng, 2019




Abstract
The deep-water epialtid spider crab (superfamily Majoidea) material collected from recent French expeditions to Papua New Guinea (BIOPAPUA 2010, PAPUA NIUGINI 2012, MADEEP 2014, and KAVIENG 2014) was studied. In addition to several new records for the country, five new species of Oxypleurodon Miers, 1885, Rochinia A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, and Tunepugettia Ng, Komai & Sato, 2017, are described. The taxonomy of Tunepugettia is reappraised, and a new genusCrocydocinus n. gen., is established, characterised by its smooth ambulatory legs and a distinct male first gonopod structure. Four species from the Bay of Bengal, Sumatra, and Réunion Island, currently placed in Rochinia and Tunepugettia are transferred to Crocydocinus n. gen. and four new species from Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Vanuatu are described. A new genusNeophrys n. gen., with one new species from Papua New Guinea, is established, and is characterised by the supraorbital eave being fused with the carapace and the poorly developed pre-orbital angle.

Keywords: Crustacea, Papua New Guinea, spider crabs, Epialtidae, taxonomy, new genera, new species, deep-sea




Bee Yan Lee, Bertrand Richer de Forges and Peter K. L. Ng. 2019. Deep-sea Spider Crabs of the Family Epialtidae MacLeay, 1838, from Papua New Guinea, with A Redefinition of Tunepugettia Ng, Komai & Sato, 2017, and Descriptions of Two New Genera (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea). Zootaxa. 4619(1); 1–44.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4619.1.1

[Herpetology • 2019] On the Occurrence of Apostolepis phillipsi (Serpentes, Elapomorphini) in Brazil, with the Description of A New Specimen from Mato Grosso

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Apostolepis phillipsi Harvey, 1999

in Colli, Barreto-Lima, Dantas, et al., 2019.

Abstract
We describe a specimen of Apostolepis phillipsi Harvey, 1999, from Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade, Mato Grosso, establishing the first unambiguous record of the species in Brazil. The new locality is ca. 120 km from the type locality, in Bolivia. We present an updated species diagnosis, the first image of a living specimen, and the first description of A. phillipsi coloration in life. Even though the Brazilian range of A. phillipsi lies within a protected area (Parque Estadual Serra Ricardo Franco—PESRF), it is threatened by cattle raising, logging and agriculture. PESRF lacks formal delimitation and a management plan, and the Mato Grosso State Legislature is considering a decree to extinguish PESRF, which could cause the extirpation of the Brazilian range of several endemic species.

Keywords: Reptilia, snake, Cerrado, Serra de Ricardo Franco, Bolivia, conservation

 


Guarino Rinaldi Colli, André Felipe Barreto-Lima, Pedro Tourinho Dantas, Carlos José S Morais, Arthur de Sena and Heitor Campos de Sousa. 2019. On the Occurrence of Apostolepis phillipsi (Serpentes, Elapomorphini) in Brazil, with the Description of A New Specimen from Mato Grosso. Zootaxa. 4619(3); 580–588. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4619.3.11

[Ichthyology • 2019] Morphology and Molecular Evidence support the Validity of Pogonias courbina (Lacepède, 1803) (Teleostei: Sciaenidae), with A Redescription and Neotype Designation

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Pogonias courbina (Lacepède, 1803)

in Azpelicueta, Delpiani, Cione, et al., 2019. 
Abstract
The family Sciaenidae comprises about 300 species. The black drum Pogonias cromis was the only valid species of the genus. Herein, Pogonias courbina Lacepède 1803 is redescribed based on morphological and molecular evidence and a neotype is designated. Pogonias courbina is distinguished by the following characters: the occurrence of characteristic thickening of the dorsal spines VII to XI in all specimens larger than 250 mm SL; all pterygiophores in the dorsal-fin laminar, thin; anal-fin pterygiophores slender excluded those of spines; lateral projections of gas bladder with few finger-like projections; genetic distance between both species 1%; exclusive occurrence of characters in six informative sites of COI (58 G; 214 G; 328 A; 331 A; 553C; 580 G). The method Automatic Barcode gap Discovery detected gaps in nucleotid distance congruent with the NJ, MP, and ML tree analysis. Also, advertisement calls are three times shorter in duration in P. courbina than in P. cromis. In addition, two monophyletic groups for P. cromis and P. courbina appear in trees obtained with different methodologies, emphasizing the absence of shared haplotypes. A gap of about 8000 km occurs in the distribution of both species along coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean.

Fig 1. Pogonias courbina. Neotype. Argentina, Provincia de Buenos Aires, San Clemente del Tuyú, 488 mm SL. Scale bar = 10 cm.


Pogonias courbina (Lacepède, 1803)

Pogonathus courbina Lacepède 1803: 120. 
Type locality: Rio de la Plata

Diagnosis:Pogonias courbina is distinguished from P. cromis by the characteristic hyperostoses in the spines of the central part of dorsal fin of all specimens over 250 mm SL (vs hyperostose absent); by having all pterygiophores in the dorsal fin always laminar and thin (vs dorsal-fin pteygiophores broad); pterygiophores of anal fin slender excluded those of the anal spines (vs anal.fin pterygiophores broad); gas bladder with lateral processes simple (vs anterior and lateral processes complex); advertisement call short,120–200 milliseconds (vs advertisement call long, 600±22 ms). Genetic distance between P. cromis andP. courbina 1%. A compound nucleotide diagnostic discriminates between P. cromis and P. courbina by the exclusive occurrence of characters in six informative sites of COI (58 G; 214 G; 328 A; 331 A; 553C; 580 G).
...


María de las Mercedes Azpelicueta , Sergio Matías Delpiani, Alberto Luis Cione, Claudio Oliveira, Alexandre Pires Marceniuk and Juan Martín Díaz de Astarloa. 2019. Morphology and Molecular Evidence support the Validity of Pogonias courbina (Lacepède, 1803) (Teleostei: Sciaenidae), with A Redescription and Neotype Designation. PLoS ONE. 14(6): e0216280. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216280

[Conservation / Mammalogy • 2013] Camera Trapping reveals A Diverse and Unique High-elevation Mammal Community Under Threat

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in Huarcaya, Beirne, Serrano Rojas & Whitworth, 2019.

Abstract
The Cerros del Sira in Peru is known to hold a diverse composition of endemic birds, amphibians and plants as a result of its geographical isolation, yet its mammalian community remains poorly known. There is increasing awareness of the threats to high-elevation species but studying them is often hindered by rugged terrain. We present the first camera-trap study of the mammal community of the Cerros del Sira. We used 45 camera traps placed at regular elevational intervals over 800–1,920 m, detecting 34 medium-sized and large mammal species. Eight are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List, three are categorized as Data Deficient and one is yet to be assessed. Although other authors have reported that the upper elevations of the Cerros del Sira are free from hunting, we found evidence of hunting activity occurring above 1,400 m, and inside the core protected area. In addition to this direct evidence of hunting, recent information has identified significant amounts of canopy loss in the northern reaches of the core zone. Despite widespread ecological degradation in the surrounding lowlands, the high-elevation areas of the Cerros del Sira still maintain a unique assemblage of lowland and highland tropical rainforest mammals. It has been assumed that the Cerros del Sira and other similar remote locations are safe from disturbance and protected by their isolation but we suggest this is an increasingly dangerous assumption to make, and secure protection strategies need to be developed.

Keywords: Camera traps, El Sira, habitat loss, hunting, oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus, Peru, spectacled bear, Tremarctos ornatus


Tremarctos ornatus, Myrmecophaga tridactyla Puma concolor

 Tapirus terrestris& Panthera onca

Ruthmery Pillco Huarcaya, Christopher Beirne, Shirley Jennifer Serrano Rojas and and Andrew Whitworth. 2019. Camera Trapping reveals A Diverse and Unique High-elevation Mammal Community Under Threat.  Oryx. First View. DOI: 10.1017/S0030605318001096

A unique high-elevation mammal community under threat


[Herpetology • 2019] Pseudocalotes austeniana (Annandale, 1908) • Range Extension of the Rare Agamid (Sauria, Draconinae) in the East Himalaya, with Comments on Its Ontogenetic Shift

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Pseudocalotes austeniana (Annandale, 1908)

in Wang, Ci, Jiang, et al., 2019.
 Abhor Hills Agama  || DOI: 10.15560/15.3.425

Abstract
Despite its recognition since the early 1900s, the agamid lizard Pseudocalotes austeniana remains known based on 3 vouchered specimens only from the East Himalaya, and little is known about its general biology. During herpetological surveys of Tibet, China, we collected 3 specimens of P. austeniana from Medog County, southeastern Tibet, including the first juvenile specimen ever vouchered. We provide a detailed description based on new material of this enigmatic species, report on a range extension of 400 km northeastward from its type locality, its ontogenetic shift, and clutch size.

Keywords: Agamidae, Himalaya, Mictopholis, Salea, synonym



Figure 2. Adult female Pseudocalotes austeniana (KIZ 013873) in life.
A. Dorsolateral view of body. B. Ventral view of body. C. Lateral, close-up view of head. D. Dorsal, close-up view of body. Photographs by Kai Wang.

Figure 3. Photographed individuals of Pseudocalotes austeniana (not vouchered) in Medog County, Nyinchi Prefecture, Tibet, China. 
A. Dorsal view of an adult female from 62K, Medog. B. Lateral view of the same adult female from 62K, Medog. C. Juvenile from Hanmi, Medog. 
Photographs by Chao Wu and Zheng Shi.

Figure 5. Eggs of Pseudocalotes austeniana (produced by the vouchered female TMNH 20170001). 
Photograph by Shiyang Weng.

    

 Pseudocalotes austeniana (Annandale, 1908)
 Salea austeniana 

Identification. The recently collected adult and juvenile specimens from Tibet resemble closely the pholidosis characteristics of the vouchered holotype and topotypic specimen of Pseudocalotes austeniana (Table 1). In summary, these specimens are identified as P. austeniana based on the following morphological characters (following Mahony 2010): (1) tympanum exposed; (2) sub-ocular scale row singular, or multiple but one distinctively enlarged; (3) head robust, HW/HL > 59.7%, HD/HW > 72%, HD/HL > 43%; (4) distinct, strongly-developed cranial ridges present on dorsal and lateral surfaces of occipital region of head, forming rectangular, convex areas on temporal region of head and triangular concave area on posterior lateral region of head; (6) postorbital and postoccipital spines absent; (7) nuchal crest in triangular shape or short lanceolate shape, not strongly differentiated from dorsal crests; (8) mid-dorsal scale count less than 39; (9) longitudinal gular fold present, highly developed in dewlap, with a distinct, pointy tip toward posterior end; (10) transverse gular fold absent; (11) dorsal scales heterogeneous in size and shape, flat, feebly keeled or smooth, arranged irregularly in most parts, some enlarged ones in approximate transverse rows; (12) enlarged scales of dorsum not arranged into clear dorsolateral or V-shaped rows; (13) ventral body scales smooth or feebly keeled, larger than background dorsal scales, distinctively heterogeneous in size and shape, irregularly arranged; (14) antehumeral fold present; and (15) axillary fold present.
...

Figure 3. Photographed individuals of Pseudocalotes austeniana (not vouchered) in Medog County, Nyinchi Prefecture, Tibet, China.
A. Dorsal view of an adult female from 62K, Medog. B. Lateral view of the same adult female from 62K, Medog. C. Juvenile from Hanmi, Medog. Photographs by Chao Wu and Zheng Shi.



Distribution range. Prior to our observations of Pseudocalotes austeniana in the field, the species was thought to be a rare endemic to the southern parts of Southern Tibet (Mahony 2010, Venugopal 2010, 2013), and the species was not officially listed as a member of the Chinese herpetofauna (Zhao and Jiang 1977, Zhao and Adler 1993, Zhao et al. 1999, Cai et al. 2015). However, the newly discovered populations represent a range expansion of about 400 km northeastward from the species’ previous range limits in the East Himalaya. Given the recognized habitat connectivity and similar environment spanning this region, it is likely that P. austeniana is currently, or once was, distributed continuously across this area. Future survey efforts for this species should focus on habitat to the west in Bhutan. Additional studies of this enigmatic and secretive lizard are needed to better understand its ecology, population densities, and full geographic distribution.


 Kai Wang, Ping Ci, Ke Jiang, Shiyang Weng, Cameron D. Siler and Jing Che. 2019. Range Extension of the Rare Agamid, Pseudocalotes austeniana (Annandale, 1908) (Reptilia, Sauria, Draconinae) in the East Himalaya, with Comments on Its Ontogenetic Shift. Check List. 15(3); 425-433.  DOI: 10.15560/15.3.425

[Diplopoda • 2019] The Millipede Genus Antichiropus (Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae), Part 3: Species of the Pilbara Bioregion of Western Australia

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Antichiropus uvulus  Car

in Car, Harvey, Hillyer & Huey, 2019.

Abstract
The species of the millipede genus Antichiropus Attems, 1911 found in the Pilbara region of Western Australia are reviewed, and 33 new species are described. The new species are: A. anguinus Car, n. sp., A. antius Car, n. sp., A. apricus Car, n. sp., A. cirratus Car, n. sp., A. confragus Car, n. sp., A. cristatus Car, n. sp., A. cucumeraceousCar, n. sp., A. cunicularisCar, n. sp, A. echinusCar, n. sp., A. filiolus Car, n. sp., A. forcipatus Car, n. sp., A. georginae Car, n. sp., A. gibbus Car, n. sp., A. hystricosusCar, n. sp., A. julianneaeCar, n. sp., A. literulusCar, n. sp., A. lucyae Car, n. sp., A. nicholasi Car, n. sp., A. nimbusCar, n. sp., A. patriciaeCar, n. sp., A. pendiculus Car, n. sp., A. picus Car, n. sp., A. procerus Car, n. sp., A. quaestionis Car, n. sp., A. rupinus Car, n. sp., A.salutus Car, n. sp., A. servulusCar, n. sp., A. simmonsiCar, n. sp., A. sloanae Car, n. sp., A. spathion Car, n. sp., A. uvulus Car, n. sp., A. verutus Car, n. sp. andA. vindicatus Car, n. sp.. The number of described Antichiropus species now stands at 72. Two species (A. julianneae Car, n. sp. and A. pendiculus Car, n. sp.) lack one diagnostic feature of the genus, namely a solenomere process, but are included here because they conform to the genus definition in all other characters. We also obtained sequence data from four mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 [COI], cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 [COIII], cytochrome B [CytB], and 12S rRNA [12S]), and one nuclear gene (28S rRNA [28S]) for 19 species. Three main clades were recovered: one in the northern Pilbara, one in the southern Pilbara, and one just outside the south-western margin of the Pilbara.

Keywords: Myriapoda, native millipedes, Western Australia, new species, taxonomy




Catherine A. Car, Mark S. Harvey, Mia J. Hillyer and Joel A. Huey. 2019. The Millipede Genus Antichiropus (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae), Part 3: Species of the Pilbara Bioregion of Western Australia. Zootaxa. 4617(1); 1-71. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4617.1.1

[Ichthyology • 2019] Leptonotus vincentae • A New Pipefish Species (Syngnathidae: Syngnathinae) from the south‐west Atlantic Ocean near northern Patagonia

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Leptonotus vincentae
Luzzatto & Estalles, 2019

Patagonian Pipefish || DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14056 

Abstract
A new species of pipefish Leptonotus vincentae sp. nov. (Syngnathidae) is described on the basis of 12 specimens found in shallow waters (<2 m depth) of San Antonio Bay, Patagonia, Argentina, in the south‐west Atlantic Ocean. The species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of: dorsal‐fin rays 30–33, pectoral‐fin rays 12–13, trunk rings 18–19, tail rings 43–46, subdorsal rings (2–4) + (5.5–8) = (8.5–10), head length 13–14% standard length, snout length 35–55% head length and snout depth 21–30% in snout length. Although this species has often been mistaken for Leptonotus blainvilleanus, most diagnostic characters of the two species differ. Both species are clearly distinguished by their snout length. L. blainvilleanus has a relatively longer snout than L. vincentae sp. nov. The new species is similar to a south‐west Pacific species, Leptonotus elevatus. However, L. vincentae sp. nov. differs from this species in that it exhibits a lower number of dorsal‐fin rays and a relatively longer head.

Keywords: Atlantic Ocean, Leptonotus blainvilleanus, new species, San Antonio Bay, sexual dimorphism, Syngnathiformes



Leptonotus vincentae sp. nov. 

Etymology: The species is named after Amanda Vincent, whose work on conservation of syngnathids has increased our chances of having healthy populations of these fishes in the threatened seas of the world.
English: Patagonian Pipefish; 
Spanish (Argentina): pez aguja patagónico; 
Spanish (Spain): pez pipa patagónico.


Diego C. Luzzatto and María L. Estalles. 2019. Leptonotus vincentae, A New Pipefish Species (Syngnathidae: Syngnathinae) from the south‐west Atlantic Ocean near northern Patagonia. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14056  


[Mammalogy • 2019] Palaeoproteomics resolves Sloth relationships

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In the tree, going clockwise from left: extinct West Indian sloth (Acratocnus), extant three-toed sloth or ai (Bradypus), and extant two-toed sloth or unau (Choloepus).
From left to right on the ground are representative giant ground sloths: 
Mylodon (South America), Megalonyx (North America), and Megatherium (South America).
According to new molecular studies, Bradypus is most closely related to a group that includes 
Megalonyx and MegatheriumCholoepus is related to Mylodon, but Acratocnus and its West Indian kin represent a separate branch that is distinct from that of all other sloths. 

Human for scale: 1.8.5 m.
Illustration: Jorge Blanco 

in Presslee, Slater, Pujos, et al., 2019. 
  DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0909-z

Abstract
The living tree sloths Choloepus and Bradypus are the only remaining members of Folivora, a major xenarthran radiation that occupied a wide range of habitats in many parts of the western hemisphere during the Cenozoic, including both continents and the West Indies. Ancient DNA evidence has played only a minor role in folivoran systematics, as most sloths lived in places not conducive to genomic preservation. Here we utilize collagen sequence information, both separately and in combination with published mitochondrial DNA evidence, to assess the relationships of tree sloths and their extinct relatives. Results from phylogenetic analysis of these datasets differ substantially from morphology-based concepts: Choloepus groups with Mylodontidae, not Megalonychidae; Bradypus and Megalonyx pair together as megatherioids, while monophyletic Antillean sloths may be sister to all other folivorans. Divergence estimates are consistent with fossil evidence for mid-Cenozoic presence of sloths in the West Indies and an early Miocene radiation in South America.

In the tree, going clockwise from left: extinct West Indian sloth (Acratocnus), extant three-toed sloth or ai (Bradypus), and extant two-toed sloth or unau (Choloepus). From left to right on the ground are representative giant ground sloths: Mylodon (South America), Megalonyx (North America), and Megatherium (South America). According to new molecular studies, Bradypus is most closely related to a group that includes Megalonyx and MegatheriumCholoepus is related to Mylodon, but Acratocnus and its West Indian kin represent a separate branch that is distinct from that of all other sloths. Human for scale: 1.8.5 m (6 ft 1 in). Illustration: Jorge Blanco.


Samantha Presslee, Graham J. Slater, François Pujos, Analía M. Forasiepi, Roman Fischer, Kelly Molloy, Meaghan Mackie, Jesper V. Olsen, Alejandro Kramarz, Matías Taglioretti, Fernando Scaglia, Maximiliano Lezcano, José Luis Lanata, John Southon, Robert Feranec, Jonathan Bloch, Adam Hajduk, Fabiana M. Martin, Rodolfo Salas Gismondi, Marcelo Reguero, Christian de Muizon, Alex Greenwood, Brian T. Chait, Kirsty Penkman, Matthew Collins and Ross D. E. MacPhee. 2019. Palaeoproteomics resolves Sloth relationships. Nature Ecology & Evolution. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0909-z

New research shakes up the sloth family tree phys.org/news/2019-06-sloth-family-tree.html via @physorg_com

[Botany • 2019] Hoya of Sumatra (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), An Updated Checklist, Three New Species, and A New Subspecies

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 Hoya sumatrana S.Rahayu & Rodda

in Rahayu & Rodda, 2019.

Abstract
The list of the species of Hoya R.Br. occurring on the Indonesian island of Sumatra is updated and the type citation is clarified. Sixteen taxa are added to the latest checklist. Hoya danumensis subsp. amarii S.Rahayu & Rodda subsp. nov.H. rigidifolia S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov.H. solokensis S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov., and H. sumatrana S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov. are newly described. Hoya parviflora Wight, H. parvifolia Schltr., and H. purpureofusca Hook. are lectotypified.

Keywords: Apocynaceae; Asclepiadaceae; Asclepiadoideae; Indonesia; Marsdenieae


Checklist of the genus Hoya of Sumatra

Class Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Subclass Asteridae Takht.

Order Gentianales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family Apocynaceae Juss.

Genus Hoya R.Br.

Hoya andalensis Kloppenb.
Hoya beccarii Rodda & Simonsson
Hoya brooksii Ridl.
Hoya campanulata Blume
Hoya caudata Hook.f.
Hoya coriacea Blume
Hoya coronaria Blume

Hoya danumensis subsp. amarii S.Rahayu & Rodda subsp. nov.

Etymology The new species is named after Amar Husein Sitompul, who collected the type specimen.

Notes Hoya danumensis subsp. amarii subsp. nov. can be separated from H. danumensis Rodda & Nyhuus (2009) subsp. danumensis because of the shape and size of the corolla that is shallowly campanulate, 20–23 mm in diameter and deeply campanulate, vs 25–35 mm in the latter; in the shape and size of the corona lobes that are ovate-oblong and 5.5–6 × 2.4–2.6 mm in H. danumensis subsp. danumensis vs ovate and 4.5–5 × 2.3–2.5 mm in the new subspecies.

Hoya deykeae T.Green
Hoya diversifolia Blume
Hoya elliptica Hook.f.
Hoya fauziana subsp. angulata Rodda, A.L.Lamb, Gokusing & S.Rahayu
Blumea 63: 144 (Rodda et al. 2018).  
Hoya finlaysonii Wight
Hoya forbesii King & Gamble
Hoya glabra Schltr.
Hoya imperialis Lindl.
Hoya kastbergii Kloppenb.

Hoya lacunosa Blume
Hoya lasiantha (Korth. ex Blume) Miq.
Hoya latifolia G.Don
Hoya mitrata Kerr nom. cons.
Hoya multiflora Blume

Hoya obtusifolia Wight
Hoya omlorii (Livsh. & Meve) L.Wanntorp & Meve
Hoya parviflora Wight
Hoya parvifolia Schltr.
Hoya purpurascens Teijsm. & Binn.
Hoya purpureofusca Hook.
Hoya revoluta Wight ex Hook.f.
Hoya rhodostele Ridl.

Fig. 2. Inflorescence, pollinarium, and leaf. C, E. Inflorescences. D, G. Pollinaria. F. Leaf.
C–D. Hoya solokensis S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov. (Fadly s.n. leg., BO).
E–G. Hoya rigidifolia S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov. (S. Rahayu 865 leg., BO).
Photos: Fadly (C), S. Rahayu (E–F), and M. Rodda (D, G).

Hoya rigidifoliaS.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov.

Etymology The new species is named for its rigid and stiff leaves.

Notes Hoya rigidifolia sp. nov. flowers only open for a single day. The flowers of H. finlaysonii are also open for a single day and have a similar flower morphology (rotate corolla, ovoid corona lobes of similar size). Both species are, however, easily separated based on leaf characters. Hoya finlaysonii has lanceolate to oblong leaves with pinnate venation, usually darker than the rest of the lamina; H. rigidifolia sp. nov. also has pinnate venation, but additionally it has two basal secondary veins running along the entire length of the lamina. The leaf venation of H. erythrina Rintz (1978) is similar to that of H. rigidifolia sp. nov.; however, both species can be separated based on flower charaters: H. erythrina has flowers with corolla > 15 mm in diameter when flattened, long-pubescent inside, and lasting > 2 days, while H. rigidifolia sp. nov. has flowers with corolla < 12 mm in diameter when flattened, glabrous inside, and lasting one day.


Hoya rintzii Rodda, Simonsson & S.Rahayu
Hoya rundumensis (T.Green) Rodda & Simonsson
Hoya sarcophylla Ridl.
Hoya scortechinii King & Gamble
Hoya sigillatis T.Green subsp. sigillatis


Hoya solokensisS.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov.

Etymology The new species is named after the collection locality in Solok, Sumatra.

Notes Hoya solokensis sp. nov. is one of the few species of Hoya that exhibits a non-climbing habit but is instead an epiphytic shrub. It is morphologically similar to H. papaschonii Rodda (Rodda & Ercole 2014), a species only found in southern Thailand. Both species share a shrubby habit, short-lived peduncles, and flowers with a tubular corolla. However, H. papaschonii has the free part of the corolla lobes mostly held upright, while in H. solokensis sp. nov. the lobes are spreading; furthermore, the corona of H. papaschonii has both staminal and interstaminal elements while H. solokensis sp. nov. only has a staminal corona. Another species with a tubular corolla is H. telosmoides Omlor (1996) from Borneo, that is, however, a climber. The flowers of H. solokensis sp. nov. superficially resemble those of the Bornean H. hamiltoniorum A.L.Lamb, Gavrus, Emoi & Gokusing (Lamb et al. 2014) because both species have the free part of the corolla lobes spreading, however H. hamiltoniorum is a climber and its inner apex of the corona lobe is bifid, while the apex of the inner lobes of H. solokensis sp. nov. is entire.

Fig. 3. Hoya sumatrana S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov. 
A. Buds. B. Inflorescence, from underneath. C. Flower, from top. D. Corolla, from underneath, calyx and pedicel. E. Flower, side view. F. Corona, from underneath. G. Pedicel, calyx and ovaries. H. Pollinarium. Photos: M. Rodda.




Hoya sumatrana S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov

Etymology The new species is named after the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

NotesHoya sumatrana sp. nov. is a new species in H. sect. Peltostemma Schlechter (1916: 14), characterized by upright corona lobes, long linear anther appendages extending well above the style-head and pollinaria with well developed caudicle wings. This section includes six species, two of which, H. soidaoensis Kidyoo (2013) and H. phuwuaensis Kidyoo (2016), have been recently published. Hoya sumatrana sp. nov. can be separated from all other members of this section because its flowers are much smaller; for example, the corolla of H. sumatrana sp. nov. is 7–9 mm in diameter, while the corolla of the second smallest species, H. flagellata Kerr (1940: tab. 3407), is > 10 mm in diameter, as well as the corona of Hoya sumatrana sp. nov. is 2.8–3.2 mm in diameter, while that of H. flagellata is > 4 mm in diameter. Another useful character to separate H. sumatrana sp. nov. from all other members of the section is the inner corona lobe process, that is bilobed in H. sumatrana sp. nov., while the other species have acute or rounded processes.


Hoya uncinata Teijsm. & Binn.
Hoya vitellinoides Bakh.f.
Hoya vitellina Blume
Hoya wrayi King & Gamble


Discussion: 
Since Rahayu & Wanntorp (2012), the Sumatran specimens identified as H. erythrostemma Kerr (1939) have been identified as H. rintzii, H. micrantha Hook.f. (Hooker 1883) has been re-determined as H. rundumensis, and H. verticillata was reported as H. parasitica Wall. ex Wight (1834). Nine species have been added to the inventory of Sumatran Hoya (Rahayu & Wanntorp 2012), all described based on Sumatran collections. These are H. andalensis, H. beccarii, H. brooksii, H. deykeae, H. omlorii, H. parvifolia, H. purpurascens, H. sarcophylla, and H. uncinata.

Hoya variifolia is considered a new synonym of H. parviflora. Two further species, H. glabra Schltr (Schlechter 1908) and H. kastbergii, are newly recorded.

The total count of taxa of Hoya known from Sumatra now stands at 43 and includes 41 species and two subspecies


Sri Rahayu and Michele Rodda. 2019. Hoya of Sumatra, An Updated Checklist, Three New Species, and A New Subspecies. European Journal of Taxonomy. 508; 1–23. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2019.508

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