[Mammalogy • 2019] Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis • Discovery and Description of A Mysterious Asian Flying Squirrel (Rodentia, Sciuridae, Biswamoyopterus) from Mount Gaoligong, southwest China

July 19, 2019, 2:44 am

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Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis  Li, Li, Jackson, Li, Jiang, Zhao, Song & Jiang, 2019  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.864.33678

Abstract

The flying squirrels of the tribe Pteromyini (Family Sciuridae) currently include 15 genera of which the genus Biswamoyopterus comprises two recognized species, B. biswasi Saha, 1981 and B. laoensis Sanamxay et al., 2013. These two species were each described from only one specimen that are separated from each other by 1,250 kilometres in southern Asia, where they occur in northeast India and central Lao PDR respectively. In 2017 and 2018, two specimens of Biswamoyopterus were discovered from Mount Gaoligong, west Yunnan province, southwest China (between the type locality of the two recognized species). This study aimed to evaluate the taxonomic status of these two newly acquired specimens of Biswamoyopterus by comparing their morphology with the two described species of the genus. The results of this study showed that the specimens from Yunnan province (China) differed from both B. laoensis and B. biswasi in both pelage colour and craniology, and should be recognised as a distinct species, Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis sp. nov., which is formally described here. This study contributes to the understanding of the flying squirrels of southern Asia and identifies an additional species that appears to be endemic to southwest China; however, more research is required to provide details of its ecology, distribution, and conservation status.

Keywords: Biodiversity, conservation, mammal, Pteromyini, systematics, taxonomy, threatened, wildlife, Yunnan

Figure 1. Known localities of three species of Biswamoyopterus.

     

Figure 4. Skins of the three known Biswamoyopterus species A, B (ZSI 20705, holotype) Biswamoyopterus biswasi C, D (KIZ 034924, holotype)  Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis sp. nov. E, F (NUoL FES.MM.12.163, holotype) Biswamoyopterus laoensis. The images E, F were derived from Sanamxay et al. (2013).

Figure 5. Skulls, left maxillary (above) and left mandibular (below) tooth rows of the three known Biswamoyopterus species. A (ZSI 20705, holotype) Biswamoyopterus biswasi B (KIZ 034924, holotype)  Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis sp. nov. C (NUoL FES.MM.12.163, holotype) Biswamoyopterus laoensis. The images of C were derived from Sanamxay et al. (2013).

Taxonomy

Class Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758
Order Rodentia Bowdich, 1821

Family Sciuridae Fischer, 1817
Subfamily Sciurinae Fischer, 1817
Tribe Pteromyini Brandt, 1855

Genus Biswamoyopterus Saha, 1981

Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis sp. nov. 

Common name: Mount Gaoligong Flying Squirrel. 

Chinese common name "高黎贡比氏鼯鼠".

Etymology: The specific name is derived from Mount Gaoligong, the type locality of the new species and –ensis, Latin for belonging to.

Diagnosis: Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other two described species of Biswamoyopterus by the following combination of traits: 1) The ear tufts at the base of the posterior margins of ears are bicolored, basally white and terminal black. The scrotum is dark brown which strongly contrasts with the yellowish-white abdominal pelage. 2) The muzzle is very short, and the zygomatic arch is distinctly expanding outward, making the outline of the skull short and wide. The outer margin of the nasal bone, the orbital margin of the frontal bone, and the post-orbital margin of the frontal bone are almost parallel to the midline of skull on the dorsal view. The central point of the posterior margin of the palatal bones lies in front of the posterior margin of M3. 3) M1 and M2 are sub-square in outline, and as large as P4. The hypoconid of P4-M2 are very developed, strongly pointed towards posterior buccal side.

Figure 6. Ear tufts of the three Biswamoyopterus species, the red arrow indicates the anterior tufts, and the yellow arrow indicates the posterior tufts  A (ZSI 20705, holotype) Biswamoyopterus biswasi B (KIZ 034924, holotype)  Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis sp. nov. C (NUoL FES.MM.12.163, holotype) Biswamoyopterus laoensis. The image C was derived from Sanamxay et al. (2013).

Distribution: Apart from the locality of the holotype, there are two more localities in Yunnan, China, where the Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis sp. nov. was photographed. These include Linjiapu, 10 km west of the type locality; and Banchang, 9 km south of the type locality (Fig. 1). Although these three localities cover the east and west slopes of Mount Gaoligong (the watershed of the Irrawaddy River and the Nu River [Salween River]), they are all restricted in a small area of southern Mount Gaoligong.

Natural history: Little is known about the natural history of Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis sp. nov. The holotype was collected from evergreen broad-leaved forest at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level. A set of photos taken in Linjiapu showed a Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis sp. nov. resting on the branches of Daphniphyllum sp. Petaurista yunanensis, P. elegans, and Hylopetes alboniger were also collected in the same habitat where the holotype was collected.

 Quan Li, Xue-You Li, Stephen M. Jackson, Fei Li, Ming Jiang, Wei Zhao, Wen-Yu Song and Xue-Long Jiang. 2019. Discovery and Description of A Mysterious Asian Flying Squirrel (Rodentia, Sciuridae, Biswamoyopterus) from Mount Gaoligong, southwest China. ZooKeys. 864: 147-160.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.864.33678

New species of flying squirrel from Southwest China added to the rarest and 'most wanted' |blog.pensoft.net/2019/07/18/new-species-of-flying-squirrel-from-southwest-china-added-to-the-rarest-and-most-wanted

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[Botany • 2019] Gentiana bolavenensis (Gentianaceae) • A New Species from Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area in southern Laos

July 20, 2019, 2:52 am

≫ Next: [Herpetology • 2019] Proahaetulla antiqua • Discovery of A Deeply Divergent New Lineage of Vine Snake (Colubridae: Ahaetuliinae) from the southern Western Ghats of Peninsular India with A Revised Key for Ahaetuliinae

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Gentiana bolavenensis Nagah., Tagane & Soulad. in Nagahama, Tagane, Souladeth, et al,, 2019.  Wheed Bolaven | ຫວີດບໍລະເວນ || DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2019.47.2.02

ABSTRACT

A new species of Gentiana, Gentiana bolavenensis (Gentianaceae) is described from Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area in southern Laos, with photographs, a vernacular name and a preliminary conservation status.

KEYWORDS:  Bolaven Plateau, flora, Gentianales, Indochina, taxonomy

Figure 2. Gentiana bolavenensis Nagah., Tagane & Soulad.:  A & B. habit; C. abaxial leaf surface; D. pale purple flower, top view; E. light pale blue flower, top view; F. flower opened; G. side view of flower bud; H. calyx opened out; J. outside of corolla opened; K. corolla opened out showing stamens; L. pistil. Scale bars: H–L = 5 mm. H–L from Tagane et al. L2116 (FOF).

Gentiana bolavenensis Nagah., Tagane & Soulad., sp. nov.

Gentiana bolavenensis is similar to G. ting-nung-hoae Halda and G. laotica, but differs from the former in having a larger size (9.5–18.3 cm tall in G. bolavenensis vs. 1–7(–10) cm tall in G. ting-nung-hoae), longer calyx tube and lobes (calyx tube 4 mm long, lobes 6–7 mm long, vs calyx tube 2.5 mm, lobes 2–3 mm long, respectively), longer stamens (ca 6 mm long vs 4–4.5 mm long) and shorter stigma (1 mm long vs 2–2.5 mm long), and from the latter in having light pale blue or pale purple corolla (vs whitish in G. laotica) and lanceolate, narrowly elliptic,oblanceolate leaves (vs obovate to obovate-oblong in G. laotica)

 Etymology.— The specific epithet refers to the Bolaven Plateau where we collected the plant.

Distribution.— Laos (so far known only from Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area; Fig. 1).

Ecology.— Three small populations each consisting of ca 20–30 individuals were found in the open grasslands on the top of Bolaven Plateau, at altitudes of 1,239 m, 1,260 m and 1,268 m (Fig. 2). From the latter two, we collected the above specimens.

Vernacular name.— Wheed Bolaven (ຫວີດບໍລະເວນ) (suggested here).

Ai Nagahama, Shuichiro Tagane, Phetlasy Souladeth, Anousone Sengthong and Tetsukazu Yahara. 2019. Gentiana bolavenensis (Gentianaceae), A New Species from Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area in southern Laos. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 47(2), 133-136. DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2019.47.2.02

[Herpetology • 2019] Proahaetulla antiqua • Discovery of A Deeply Divergent New Lineage of Vine Snake (Colubridae: Ahaetuliinae) from the southern Western Ghats of Peninsular India with A Revised Key for Ahaetuliinae

July 20, 2019, 3:24 am

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Proahaetulla antiqua  Mallik, Achyuthan, Ganesh, Pal, Vijayakumar & Shanker, 2019   DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218851   facebook.com: Ashok Kumar Mallik

Abstract

The Western Ghats are well known as a biodiversity hotspot, but the full extent of its snake diversity is yet to be uncovered. Here, we describe a new genus and species of vine snake Proahaetulla antiqua gen. et sp. nov., from the Agasthyamalai hills in the southern Western Ghats. It was found to be a member of the Ahaetuliinae clade, which currently comprises the arboreal snake genera Ahaetulla, Dryophiops, Dendrelaphis and Chrysopelea, distributed in South and Southeast Asia. Proahaetulla shows a sister relationship with all currently known taxa belonging to the genus Ahaetulla, and shares ancestry with Dryophiops. In addition to its phylogenetic position and significant genetic divergence, this new taxon is also different in morphology from members of Ahaetuliinae in a combination of characters, having 12–13 partially serrated keels on the dorsal scale rows, 20 maxillary teeth and 3 postocular scales. Divergence dating reveals that the new genus is ancient, dating back to the Mid-Oligocene, and is one of the oldest persisting monotypic lineages of snakes in the Western Ghats. This discovery adds to the growing list of ancient lineages endemic to the Agasthyamalai hills and underscores the biogeographic significance of this isolated massif in the southern Western Ghats.

Fig 2. (A) Maximum likelihood tree showing the relationship of Proahaetulla antiqua gen. et sp. nov. within family Ahaetuliinae. Value on each node indicates the bootstrap support. (B) Photograph of holotype specimen in life. (C) Dorsal and lateral view of head. (D) Dentition arrangement of maxillary arch.

Systematics

Ahaetuliinae Figueroa, McKelvy, Grismer, Bell, Lailvaux, 2016

Ahaetuliinae Pyron, Burbrink, Wiens, 2013 (invalid nomen).

Ahaetullinae Zheng & Wiens, 2015 (invalid nomen).

Proahaetulla gen. nov.

Type species, by present designation: Proahaetulla antiqua sp. nov., 

by monotypy.

Etymology: The generic epithet Proahaetulla gen. nov. stems from the generic nomen Ahaetulla indicating the early divergence of the lineage from the rest of the Ahaetuliinae members. Gender feminine. The specific epithet antiqua is Latin for ‘antique’ or old, a term alluding to the evolutionary age or antiquity of this new taxon.

Diagnosis: 

Lineage diagnosis.

1. Proahaetulla gen. nov. is a member of the subfamily Ahaetuliinae, and shares ancestry and a sister relationship with Aheatulla clade.
2. It shows high genetic divergence and differs from members of the genus Ahaetulla (including A. nasuta, A. pulverulenta, A. prasina, A. anomala, A. fronticinta, A. fasciolata and A. mycterizans) with genetic distances of 14.1–17.4% on Cytb, 16.0–18.1% on ND4 and 5.2–6.5% on 16S genes.
3. Morphologically, it is characterized by the presence of horizontally elliptical pupil; concave loreal region, enabling a near-binocular vision; snout produced forward to a fine point; and bright-green dorsum. Proahaetulla gen. nov. differs from Ahaetulla (A. anomala, A. nasuta, A. dispar, A. pulverulenta, A. mycterizans, A. fasciolata, A. fronticincta & A. prasina) in showing the following combination of morphological characters: 12–13 rows of mildly serrated, keeled dorsal scales starting from the nape till the dorsal scales that are situated in the row adjacent to the cloacal plate; strongest keels on the mid vertebral row (7th or 8th row) of scales; keels consecutively weaker in the paravertebral row of scales (dorsal scales smooth in most Ahaetulla, partly keeled near sacral region in A. perroteti); a set of 20 maxillary teeth (12–16 in Ahaetulla) and post-ocular scales 2–3 (2 in Ahaetulla); greenish yellow tongue with black speckles (vs. reddish, purplish or brownish tongue in Ahaetulla spp.).
4. Proahaetulla gen. nov. differs from all the known genera in Ahaetuliinae as follows: pupil horizontally elliptical (vs. rounded in Dendrelaphis, Chrysopelea); snout tip pointed (vs. rounded in Dendrelaphis, Chrysopelea); dorsum verdant green (vs. never totally green in Dendrelaphis, Chrysopelea, Dryophiops); dorsal scales keeled (vs. smooth in Dendrelaphis, Dryophiops, Ahaetulla); vertebral scales not enlarged (vs. enlarged in Dendrelaphis); dorsal body scales without apical pits (vs. with apical pits in Dendrelaphis, Chrysopelea, Dryophiops); maxillary teeth 20 (vs. < 16 in Ahaetulla; > 22 in Dendrelaphis, Chrysopelea); mid body scale rows 13–15 (vs. not less than 15 in Dryophiops, Ahaetulla; 17 in Chrysopelea) (Table 3).

 Proahaetulla antiqua gen. et sp. nov.

Relationships: The new lineage is a sister taxon to the genus Ahaetulla, as recovered in our phylogeny. Our tree topology varies slightly in comparison to previous reconstructions, likely due to the use of the different nucleotide substitution models for the analyses (Bayesian analysis with mixed substitution models vs. ML analysis with GTRG model). In addition, we were unable to include other available RAG1 sequences from the GenBank as they could not be aligned with our generated RAG1 sequences. Regardless of the variation in the topology within the Ahaetulla clade, there is very strong support for the node of interest (the relationship between Proahaetulla gen. nov. and Ahaetulla) in both the analyses. The generic status of Proahaetulla gen. nov. is further supported by the date of divergence (26.57 Ma) from its MRCA, indicating that it is the oldest lineage in the group, besides also differing from Ahaetulla and other genera in morphological characters.

Distribution: The new taxon was found only in the far south of the Western Ghats. It occurs in Agasthyamalai hills, where it was recorded in the high elevation wet forests (> 1200 m asl) at Agasthyamalai peak and in Pandimotta (Fig 5). The new taxon’s range is likely to encompass other high elevation regions of Agasthyamalai. This taxon also broadly overlaps in its latitudinal distributional range with A. cf. dispar and A. cf. nasuta.

Fig 5. Habitat at the type locality of Proahaetulla antiqua gen. et sp. nov., showing montane rainforests atop Agasthyamalai hills, southern Western Ghats.

Natural history: The holotype was collected from a tree branch inside a forest patch at an elevation of 1640 msl, on the way to Agasthyar peak. It was found resting coiled on a tree at ca. 1640 h about 2.5 meters above the forest floor. The paratype was sighted at night around 2200 h, sleeping on a shrub at a height of about 2 m from the ground, inside a dense forest patch at an elevation of 1224 msl in Pandimotta ca. 25 km north of the type locality. Members of Ahaetuliinae are mostly arboreal snakes with a few outliers such as Ahaetulla perroteti and A. dispar with environmental adaptations and a body plan suited for a life in open montane grasslands. The body morphology of this genus is similar to arboreal Ahaetulla and Dryophiops. Since both the specimens were found inside thickly wooded forests resting and showing activity on trees and shrubs, we speculate that this taxon is also adapted to a completely arboreal lifestyle.

....

Key to Ahaetuliinae

1a) pupil horizontal; canthus rostralis strongly concave … 2a

1b) pupil rounded; canthus rostralis not strongly concave … 4a

2a) mid-dorsum with 13–15 rows of keeled scales …. Proahaetulla gen. nov. (1 species)

2b) mid-dorsum with not < 15 rows of smooth scales … 3a

3a) dorsal scales without apical pits; ventrals smooth … Ahaetulla (9 species)

3b) dorsal scales with apical pits; ventrals keeled … Dryophiops (2 species)

4a) mid-dorsum with 13–15 rows of scales; ventrals keeled … Dendrelaphis (45 species)

4b) mid-dorsum with 17 rows of keeled scales; ventrals notched … Chrysopelea (5 species)

 Ashok Kumar Mallik, N. Srikanthan Achyuthan, Sumaithangi R. Ganesh, Saunak P. Pal, S. P. Vijayakumar and Kartik Shanker. 2019. Discovery of A Deeply Divergent New Lineage of Vine Snake (Colubridae: Ahaetuliinae: Proahaetulla gen. nov.) from the southern Western Ghats of Peninsular India with A Revised Key for Ahaetuliinae. PLoS ONE. 14(7): e0218851. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218851

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[Botany • 2019] Recircumscription and Revision of the Genus Vanoverberghia (Zingiberaceae)

July 20, 2019, 3:52 am

≫ Next: [PaleoOrnithology • 2019] Conflicto antarcticus • A Stem Anseriform from the early Palaeocene of Antarctica provides New Key Evidence in the Early Evolution of Waterfowl

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Vanoverberghia sepulchrei Merr.  Vanoverberghia diversifolia Elmer. Vanoverberghia sasakiana Funak. & H.Ohashi. in Docot, Banag, Tandang, et al., 2019.  DOI: 10.3767/blumea.2019.64.02.05  twitter.com/AxelGinger

The genus Vanoverberghia currently includes three species namely V. sepulchrei and V. rubrobracteata from the Philippines and V. sasakiana from Taiwan. New material targeting the Alpinia eubractea clade of the tribe Alpinieae was used to test the monophyly of Vanoverberghia. A combined analysis of the ITS and trnK/matK regions reveals that these three species form a strongly supported monophyletic clade with Alpinia diversifolia and Alpinia vanoverberghii. The morphological descriptions of all species were updated after examining recent collections and comparing with types and protologues. The original description of A. diversifolia did not include information on the flowers which are described here. The morphology of A. diversifolia and A. vanoverberghii is for most parts in accordance with the previous perception of the genus but a few characters are added and a recircumscription of Vanoverberghia is subsequently provided here. Vanoverberghia diversifolia is reinstated and A. vanoverberghii is combined in Vanoverberghia. Furthermore, collections from northern Luzon documents the presence of V. sasakiana and all species of Vanoverberghia thus occur in the Philippines. A key to the five species is provided including a comprehensive taxonomic revision and designation of three lectotypes.

Keywords: Alpinia; ITS; Lanyu; Luzon; new species record; trnK/matK

Vanoverberghia diversifolia Elmer. Photo: D.N. Tandang.

Vanoverberghia rubrobracteata Docot & Ambida. Photo: R.V.A. Docot. novataxa.blogspot.com

Vanoverberghia sasakiana Funak. & H.Ohashi. Photo: S.-W. Chung.

Vanoverberghia sepulchrei Merr.  Photo: R.V.A. Docot.

 R.V.A. Docot, C.I. Banag, D.N. Tandang, H. Funakoshi and A.D. Poulsen. 2019. Recircumscription and Revision of the Genus Vanoverberghia (Zingiberaceae). Blumea. 64; 140–157. 

DOI: 10.3767/blumea.2019.64.02.05  

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J.H.B. Ambida, A.M.A. Alviar, P.S.A. Co, F.G.M. Concepcion, C.I. Banag and R.V.A. Docot. 2018. A New Species of Vanoverberghia (Zingiberaceae) from the Philippines.  Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plant. DOI:  10.3767/blumea.2018.63.02.07

[PaleoOrnithology • 2019] Conflicto antarcticus • A Stem Anseriform from the early Palaeocene of Antarctica provides New Key Evidence in the Early Evolution of Waterfowl

July 23, 2019, 7:22 am

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Conflicto antarcticus   Tambussi, Degrange, De Mendoza, Sferco & Santillana, 2019   DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zly085    twitter.com/ZoolJLinnSoc Illustration by H. Santiago Druetta  facebook.com/HSantiagoDruetta

Abstract

A new Anseriformes, Conflicto antarcticus gen. et sp. nov., represented by associated bones of a single individual, from the early Palaeocene of Antarctica is described. The new taxon is unlike any other known member of the order. Conflicto antarcticus is a medium-sized (2 kg) stem anseriform. The forelimb and pectoral girdle bones suggest that it was a flying bird, and the bones of the hindlimb show that it had elongated legs. The os quadratum represents a unique combination of features; some are similar to the features of the ancestral quadrate for galloanserines and some are similar to Anseriformes, but features such as the presence of three foramina are exclusive among Neornithes. The incisura or foramen nervi suracoracoidei is absent in C. antarcticus, as in most anatids and all Galliformes. Phylogenetic analysis shows that C. antarcticus + Anatalavis oxfordi is the most basal stem Anseriformes clade. This implies that the duck-type beak must have developed at an early stage of anseriform evolution. Conflicto antarcticus represents one (and possibly the most) substantial record of a non-marine Palaeocene bird from the Southern Hemisphere and supports the hypothesis that Neognathae had already diversified in the earliest Palaeocene.

Keywords: Antarctica, Anseriformes, Conflicto antarcticus, Palaeocene, phylogeny

The skull of Conflicto antarcticus gen. et sp. nov. A, left lateral view. B, right lateral view. The arrows point at the bulges of the os frontale. Abbreviations: cnt, crista nuchalis transversa; fal, facies articularis lacrimalis; fg, fossae glandularum; fnII, nerve II exit foramen; fnV2-3, nerve V2–3 exit foramen; foc, fonticuli orbitocraniales; foi, fonticulus interorbitalis; fst, fossa subtemporalis; ft, fossa temporalis; na, nares; pbt, processus basipterygoideus; pc, prominentia cerebellaris; pco, processus coronoideus; plm, processus lateralis mandibulae; pp, processus paroccipitalis; ppo, processus postorbitalis; pr, processus retroarticularis; psn, pila supranasalis; rp, rostrum parasphenoidale; ta, tuba auditiva. Scale bar: 1 cm.

SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY

Aves Linnaeus, 1758

Neognathae Pycraft, 1900

Galloanseres Sibley & Ahlquist, 1990

Order Anseriformes (Wagler, 1831)

Incertae familiae

Conflicto gen. nov.

Derivation of name: Conflicto, from the Latin conflictus (contradiction, masculine in gender), owing to the controversial systematic position of the taxon. 

 Conflicto antarcticus sp. nov.

Derivation of name: Relative to the geographical area of origin, Antarctica.

Skeletal anatomy of Conflicto antarcticus gen. et sp. nov. MLP 07-III-1-1. Bones coloured in grey are missing. Some of the bones have been mirrored (e.g. os quadratum, os coracoideum) or restored based on both homologous bones (e.g. humerus) Scale bar: 5 cm.

 

Claudia P. Tambussi, Federico J. Degrange, Ricardo S. De Mendoza, Emilia Sferco and Sergrio Santillana. 2019. A Stem Anseriform from the early Palaeocene of Antarctica provides New Key Evidence in the Early Evolution of Waterfowl. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 186(3); 673–700. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zly085  

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Nueva clave para comprender la evolución del pico de pato conicet.gov.ar/nueva-clave-para-comprender-la-evolucion-del-pico-de-pato/

[Herpetology • 2019] Hemidactylus varadgirii • A Novel Member of the Hemidactylus brookii complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

July 23, 2019, 7:17 pm

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Hemidactylus varadgirii   Chaitanya, Agarwal, Lajmi & Khandekar, 2019  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4646.2.2

Abstract

A new rupicolous gecko from the Hemidactylus brookii complex is described from the forests and plateaus of Amboli, in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. This medium sized (average adult SVL 56.2±5.0 to at least 62 mm), nocturnal species is superficially similar to other congeners from the ‘H. brookii’ clade, but can be distinguished from them in having 17 or 18 fairly regular longitudinal rows of enlarged, conical, keeled tubercles at midbody, extending from posterior part of the head to groin; tubercles in parasagittal rows smaller, feebly keeled and more rounded; approximately six rows of tubercles on either side of parasagittal tubercle rows, highly enlarged, remarkably conical and strongly keeled; lamellae divided in a straight transverse series—seven or eight lamellae beneath fourth digit (manus and pes) and five or six beneath first digit (manus and pes). Males with nine or ten (rarely eight) femoral pores separated by four or five poreless scales; supralabials 11–13; infralabials 8–11. Molecular data based on the mitochondrial ND2 gene supports the distinctiveness of this species and helps ascertain its phylogenetic position within the ‘H. brookii’ group of the Indian Hemidactylus radiation.

Keywords: Reptilia, Hemidactylus brookii complex, H. murrayi clade, cryptic species, Amboli

R. Chaitanya, Ishan Agarwal, Aparna Lajmi and Akshay Khandekar. 2019. A Novel Member of the Hemidactylus brookii complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. Zootaxa. 4646(2); 236–250.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4646.2.2

[PaleoIchthyology • 2019] Scheenstia bernissartensis (Actinopterygii: Ginglymodi) from the Early Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium, with An Appraisal of Ginglymodian Evolutionary History

July 23, 2019, 7:31 pm

≫ Next: [Entomology • 2019] Sinopyrophorus schimmeli • Sinopyrophorinae, A New Subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the First Record of A Luminous Click Beetle in Asia and Evidence for Multiple Origins of Bioluminescence in Elateridae

≪ Previous: [Herpetology • 2019] Hemidactylus varadgirii • A Novel Member of the Hemidactylus brookii complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

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Scheenstia bernissartensis (Traquair, 1911) in Cavin, Deesri & Olive, 2019.   DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2019.1634649     twitter.com/JournalSystPal  facebook.com/UthumpornDeesri

Abstract

Lepidotes bernissartensis is a species of holostean ray-finned fish from the Barremian–Aptian of Bernissart, Belgium, described by Traquair in 1911. We provide here a revision of its anatomy, which led us to include this species in the genus Scheenstia, and to consider L. brevifulcratus and L. arcuatus, both from the same site, synonymous with S. bernissartensis. We performed two cladistic analyses in order to assess the phylogenetic position of S. bernissartensis and to do an updated appraisal of the evolutionary history of the ginglymodians. Scheenstia is included in the Lepidotidae, and placed in a pectinated position between the basal genus Lepidotes and the more derived members of the family (other species of Scheenstia, Isanichthys and Camerichthys). The nodes within the lepidotids are weakly supported. Although S. bernissartensis is not directly related to S. mantelli from the Wealden of Europe, the two species have similar palaeoenvironments and stratigraphical ranges. Taken as a whole, the ginglymodians experienced several episodes of diversification that are spatially and temporally restricted. The oldest episode involved basal ginglymodians and occurred in the Middle Triassic, in marine environments along the northern margin of the Tethys. A second episode affected the Semionotidae and occurred in freshwater environments of North America and Europe in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic. The remaining Semionotiformes, Macrosemiidae and Callipurbeckidae, ranged from the Triassic to the Early Cretaceous and were mostly marine. Among the Lepisosteiformes, two clades, the Lepidotidae and the Lepisosteoidi, show episodes of diversification, first in marine and then in freshwater environments.

Keywords: Lepisosteiformes, Lepidotidae, osteology, cladistic analysis, evolutionary history

Scheenstia bernissartensis. A–D, IRSNB P 1205, lectotype, photograph of the specimen (A) and interpretative drawing of the skull (B); photograph (C) and interpretative drawing (D) of the palate in ventral view. E, F, IRSNB P 1207, photograph of the specimen (E) and interpretative drawing of the skull (F).    twitter.com/JournalSystPal

Systematic palaeontology

Holostei Muller, 1844 (sensu Grande 2010)

Ginglymodi Cope, 1872 (sensu Grande 2010)

Lepisosteiformes Hay, 1929 (sensu L opezArbarello 2012)

Lepidotidae Owen, 1860

Scheenstia López-Arbarello & Sferco, 2011

Scheenstia bernissartensis (Traquair, 1911)

Lionel Cavin, Uthumporn Deesri and Sébastien Olive. 2019. Scheenstia bernissartensis (Actinopterygii: Ginglymodi) from the Early Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium, with An Appraisal of Ginglymodian Evolutionary History. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2019.1634649   

 twitter.com/JournalSystPal/status/1153670486506856448

 facebook.com/UthumpornDeesri/posts/2291644684275898

[Entomology • 2019] Sinopyrophorus schimmeli • Sinopyrophorinae, A New Subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the First Record of A Luminous Click Beetle in Asia and Evidence for Multiple Origins of Bioluminescence in Elateridae

July 23, 2019, 7:38 pm

≫ Next: [Crustacea • 2019] The Alpheid Shrimp Genus Nennalpheus Banner & Banner, 1981 (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Caridea) in the Tropical eastern Atlantic, with Description of A New Species from Gabon and New Records of N. sibogae (De Man, 1910) in the Indo-West Pacific

≪ Previous: [PaleoIchthyology • 2019] Scheenstia bernissartensis (Actinopterygii: Ginglymodi) from the Early Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium, with An Appraisal of Ginglymodian Evolutionary History

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Sinopyrophorus schimmeli Bi & Li in Bi, He, Chen, Kundrata & Li, 2019.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.864.26689

Abstract

The new subfamily Sinopyrophorinae within Elateridae is proposed to accommodate a bioluminescent species, Sinopyrophorus schimmeli Bi & Li, gen. et sp. nov., recently discovered in Yunnan, China. This lineage is morphologically distinguished from other click-beetle subfamilies by the strongly protruding frontoclypeal region, which is longitudinally carinate medially, the pretarsal claws without basal setae, the hind wing venation with a well-defined wedge cell, the abdomen with seven (male) or six (female) ventrites, the large luminous organ on the abdominal sternite II, and the male genitalia with median lobe much shorter than parameres, and parameres arcuate, with the inner margin near its apical third dentate. Molecular phylogeny based on the combined 14 mitochondrial and two nuclear genes supports the placement of this taxon far from other luminescent click-beetle groups, which provides additional evidence for the multiple origin of bioluminescence in Elateridae. Illustrations of habitus and main diagnostic features of S. schimmeli Bi & Li, gen. et sp. nov. are provided, as well as the brief description of its luminescent behavior.

Keywords: China, mitochondrial genome, molecular phylogeny, new genus, new species, taxonomy

Figures 2–3. Habitus of Sinopyrophorus schimmeli Bi & Li, gen. et sp. nov.  paratypes 2 male 3 female. a, dorsal view; b, ventral view; c, lateral view.

Figures 4–16. Sinopyrophorus schimmeli Bi & Li, gen. et sp. nov.   Male 4 head (anterior view) 5 labrum and mandibles (dorsal view) 6 labium 7 maxilla 8 prothorax 9 scutellum (dorsal view) 10 mesoventrite (ventral view) 11 mesoventrite (lateral view) 12 tarsomeres II–IV (lateral view) 13 tarsal claw (lateral view) 14 hind wing 15 ventrites IV–VII 16 abdominal luminescent organ (pale area above ventrite I). a, dorsal view; b, ventral view; c, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (4–11); 0.1 mm (12, 13); 1 mm (14); not to scale (15, 16).

Taxonomy

Sinopyrophorus Bi & Li, gen. nov.

= Sinopyrophorus He et al., 2019: 565

[nomen nudum; published without description, unavailable name according to the ICZN (1999, Art. 13)].

Type species: Sinopyrophorus schimmeli Bi & Li, sp. nov., here designated.

Diagnosis: Head with frontoclypeal region (Fig. 4) strongly protruding, longitudinally strongly carinate medially; antennomeres II and III short, subequal in length; clicking mechanism (i.e., prosternal process fitting into mesoventral cavity) fully developed; prosternal process straight in lateral view, pretarsal claw (Fig. 13) lacking setae at base; hind wing (Fig. 14) with well-defined wedge cell; abdomen with seven (male) or six (female) ventrites; large transverse luminous organ present on abdominal sternite II (Fig. 16); aedeagus (Fig. 20) with parameres arcuate and median lobe much shorter than parameres.

Etymology: The generic name is derived from the Latin prefix sino-, which means Chinese, and Pyrophorus, a bioluminescent click-beetle genus from Central and South America. Gender masculine.

Distribution: China: Western Yunnan.

Sinopyrophorus schimmeli Bi & Li, sp. nov.

Etymology: This species is named in honor of late Mr. Rainer Schimmel, a specialist in Elateridae, who kindly provided valuable comments at the beginning of this study.

Sinopyrophorinae Bi & Li, subfam. nov.

 Type genus: Sinopyrophorus Bi & Li, gen. nov., here designated.

Diagnosis: The molecular phylogenetic analysis (Fig. 1) and morphology (Figs 2–23) justify the establishment of a new monogeneric subfamily Sinopyrophorinae Bi & Li, subfam. nov. within Elateridae. Sinopyrophorinae are easily recognizable by the strongly protruding frontoclypeal region (Fig. 4), which is medially distinctly longitudinally carinate, antennomeres II and III subequal in length and together less than half as long as antennomeres IV–XI, pronotal hind angles (Fig. 8) acute, produced posterolaterally, prosternal process (Fig. 8c) straight in lateral view, tarsomeres III and IV (Fig. 12) with ventral lobes, abdomen with seven (male) or six (female) ventrites, with a luminous organ (Fig. 16) on sternite II, and aedeagus (Fig. 20) with a median lobe shorter than phallobase, and arcuate parameres.

 Wen-Xuan Bi, Jin-Wu He, Chang-Chin Chen, Robin Kundrata and Xue-Yan Li. 2019. Sinopyrophorinae, A New Subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the First Record of A Luminous Click Beetle in Asia and Evidence for Multiple Origins of Bioluminescence in Elateridae.  ZooKeys. 864: 79-97.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.864.26689

The first bioluminescent click beetle discovered in Asia represents a new subfamily bit.ly/30PbABV via @Pensoft @EurekAlert

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[Crustacea • 2019] The Alpheid Shrimp Genus Nennalpheus Banner & Banner, 1981 (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Caridea) in the Tropical eastern Atlantic, with Description of A New Species from Gabon and New Records of N. sibogae (De Man, 1910) in the Indo-West Pacific

July 24, 2019, 12:16 am

≫ Next: [Botany • 2019] Rhaptopetalum rabiense (Lecythidaceae) • A New Species of Rhaptopetalum from south-western Gabon

≪ Previous: [Entomology • 2019] Sinopyrophorus schimmeli • Sinopyrophorinae, A New Subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the First Record of A Luminous Click Beetle in Asia and Evidence for Multiple Origins of Bioluminescence in Elateridae

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Nennalpheus sibogae (De Man, 1910) in Anker, 2019.     DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4646.1.5

Abstract

The alpheid shrimp Nennalpheus Banner & Banner, 1981, hitherto known only from a few records in the tropical western Pacific, is recorded for the first time from the tropical eastern Atlantic, as well as from the Indian Ocean.Nennalpheus gabonensis sp. nov. is described based on a single but complete male specimen collected in mediocre visibility conditions at 11 m depth on a rocky reef north of Libreville, Gabon. The new species presents a substantial number of morphological differences from the two other species of Nennalpheus, especially in the armature of the cheliped fingers. The previously known distribution range of Nennalpheus sibogae (De Man, 1910), the type species of the genus, is extended significantly to include the Central Pacific (Hawaiian Archipelago) and the Indian Ocean (Glorioso Islands in the Scattered Islands group, and Mayotte Island in the Comoro Archipelago). In addition, new illustrations of N. sibogae are provided, including the previously not figured mouthparts and high-quality, contrasting background colour photographs. Field observations indicate that Nennalpheus is able to produce a weak snapping sound by rapidly closing one or both chelipeds, a previously suspected, but never observed behaviour.

Keywords: Crustacea, Alpheidae, Nennalpheus, caridean shrimp, new species, new records, Atlantic Ocean, Central Pacific, Indian Ocean, coral reef, tooth-fossa system, snapping

Nennalpheus sibogae (De Man, 1910) 

Arthur Anker. 2019. The Alpheid Shrimp Genus Nennalpheus Banner & Banner, 1981 in the Tropical eastern Atlantic, with Description of A New Species from Gabon and New Records of N. sibogae (De Man, 1910) in the Indo-West Pacific (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Caridea). Zootaxa. 4646(1); 87–100.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4646.1.5

[Botany • 2019] Rhaptopetalum rabiense (Lecythidaceae) • A New Species of Rhaptopetalum from south-western Gabon

July 24, 2019, 2:50 am

≫ Next: [Crustacea • 2019] Faxonius bellator • Systematics and Description of A New Species of Faxonius Ortmann, 1905 (Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae) from the Red River System of Kentucky and Tennessee

≪ Previous: [Crustacea • 2019] The Alpheid Shrimp Genus Nennalpheus Banner & Banner, 1981 (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Caridea) in the Tropical eastern Atlantic, with Description of A New Species from Gabon and New Records of N. sibogae (De Man, 1910) in the Indo-West Pacific

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Rhaptopetalum rabiense  Kenfack & Nguema in Kenfack & Nguema, 2019.   DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.128.34640

Abstract

Rhaptopetalum rabiense Kenfack & Nguema, sp. nov. from the Rabi forest in south-western Gabon is described, illustrated and assigned a provisional conservation status of “Critically Endangered”. An identification key to the five Gabonese species of Rhaptopetalum is also provided.

Keywords: ForestGEO, Gabon, IUCN Red List, new species, permanent plot, Rabi, rainforest, taxonomy

Figure 1. Rhaptopetalum rabiense  A flowering twig B close-up of the lower surface showing the indumentum and the punctate lamina C detail of inflorescence and stem showing lenticels D flower bud E opened flower F flower with pseudocorolla and stamens removed showing superior ovary G longitudinal section of F showing pendulous ovules H fruiting branch.

Figure 2. Rhaptopetalum rabiense  A flowering branch B lateral view of the flower C flower view from above showing the poricidal anthers and the gynoecium D fruiting branch. Photographs by Diosdado Nguema.

Rhaptopetalum rabiense Kenfack & Nguema, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Rhaptopetalum rabiense is similar to R. belingense by its dome-shaped ovary, its entire calyx margin, its apex placentation and smooth fruits, but differs by its pubescent (vs. glabrous) young branches, its longer pedicel (5–7 mm vs. 3 mm) articulated 1 mm below the calyx (vs. articulated directly below the calyx), and its uni-ovulated loci (vs. multi-ovulated) (Table 1).

 David Kenfack and Diosdado Ekomo Nguema. 2019. A New Species of Rhaptopetalum (Lecythidaceae) from south-western Gabon. PhytoKeys. 128: 39-46. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.128.34640

[Crustacea • 2019] Faxonius bellator • Systematics and Description of A New Species of Faxonius Ortmann, 1905 (Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae) from the Red River System of Kentucky and Tennessee

July 24, 2019, 3:06 am

≫ Next: [Botany • 2019] Camellia chinmeii (Theaceae) • A New Species of Camellia sect. Paracamellia in Taiwan

≪ Previous: [Botany • 2019] Rhaptopetalum rabiense (Lecythidaceae) • A New Species of Rhaptopetalum from south-western Gabon

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Faxonius bellator  Bloom, McCall, Schuster & Blanton, 2019 Screaming Eagle Crayfish  || DOI: 10.1093/jcbiol/ruy100   APSU.edu

Abstract

Faxonius barrenensis (Rhoades, 1944) is endemic to the Green River system of Kentucky and Tennessee, USA and closely related to Faxonius mirus (Ortmann, 1931), which is restricted to Tennessee River tributaries in Tennessee and Alabama. A crayfish with morphological affinities to these species (Faxonius sp.) occurs in the Red River system (Cumberland River Drainage) of Kentucky and Tennessee. Whether the latter represents a disjunct population of F. barrenensis, F. mirus, or a distinct species, has not been tested. Whether the shared morphological traits reflect shared ancestry or convergence is unknown. We used molecular and morphological data, including two mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and two nuclear (28S and GAPDH) genes and a standard suite of phenotypic measurements to examine the phylogenetic relationships and the taxonomic status of Faxonius sp., relative to F. barrenensis, F. mirus, and other species of Faxonius Ortmann, 1905. All gene datasets recovered focal taxa as a clade, implying their morphological similarities likely reflect shared ancestry. In all mitochondrial and combined gene trees, Faxonius sp. was recovered as genetically divergent from F. barrenensis and F. mirus. Faxonius sp. is phenotypically distinguished from F. barrenensis and F. mirus based on several characteristics including shorter rostrum, longer abdomen, wider areola, and straight margins on both mandibles (toothed in F. mirus; toothed and straight in F. barrenensis); Form I males have a strong angular shoulder on the gonopod, in comparison to F. barrenensis. Given these findings, we describe Faxonius sp. asFaxonius bellator n. sp.Faxonius bellatorn. sp. has been collected at only four localities, suggesting it has a small range and warrants conservation concern.

SYSTEMATICS

Family Cambaridae Hobbs, 1942

Genus Faxonius Ortmann, 1905

Dorsal view of Form I male Faxonius bellator n. sp. Photograph by C. Williams.

Faxonius bellator n. sp.

Etymology: The specific epithet, bellator, is Latin for “soldier,” reflecting the new species being primarily found on Fort Campbell US Army Base.

Common name: Screaming Eagle Crayfish, named after the special designation presented to the 101st Airborne Division, whose headquarters are located at Fort Campbell US Army Base.

Erin T. Bloom, Brittany L. McCall, Guenter A. Schuster and Rebecca E. Blanton. 2019. Systematics and Description of A New Species of Faxonius Ortmann, 1905 (Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae) from the Red River System of Kentucky and Tennessee, USA. Journal of Crustacean Biology. 39(1); 40–53. DOI: 10.1093/jcbiol/ruy100

Austin Peay-led research team names new crayfish species for 101st Airborne APSU.edu/news/march-2019-austin-peay-screaming-eagle-crayfish.php

[Botany • 2019] Camellia chinmeii (Theaceae) • A New Species of Camellia sect. Paracamellia in Taiwan

July 25, 2019, 1:33 am

≫ Next: [Herpetology • 2019] Dipsadoboa montisilva • A New Species of Tree Snake (Dipsadoboa, Serpentes: Colubridae) from ‘Sky Island’ Forests in northern Mozambique, with Notes on other Members of the Dipsadoboa werneri group

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Camellia chinmeii S.L. Lee & T.Y.A. Yang in Lee & Yang, 2019.  DOI: 10.6165/tai.2019.64.321  tai2.ntu.edu.tw/taiwania

  

Abstract

A new species of Camellia chinmeii S.L. Lee & T.Y.A. Yang (Theaceae; sect. Paracamellia Sealy) is described. Camellia chinmeii has sessile flowers, six to ten perules, four or five white, early deciduous petals, yellow radiating stamens separate to the base or nearly so, style 6-7 mm long and fused 1/2 to 2/3 from the base, densely tomentose ovary. The fruit is a globose, beaked or unbeaked capsule.

Keyword: Camellia chinmeii, New species, Section Paracamellia, Theaceae, Taiwan

Fig. 1. Camellia chinmeii S.L. Lee & T.Y.A. Yang. A. Habit; B. leaf, adaxial surface; C-G. perules; H-J. petals; K. stamens and carpel, moving out tepals; L. style and stigma; M-P. fruits, M. immatured, olive colour, N-P. matured, brown colour, P. seeds.

Fig. 2. Camellia chinmeii S.L. Lee & T.Y.A. Yang. A. Ms. Chin-Mei Hung stood in front of the tree of C. chinmeii in field; B. flower; C. fruit opening with the seeds inside; D. fruit; E. style and stigma; F. stamens; G. perules, petals and stamens, from left to right. (Photos, A, B, C, D taken by Shih-Lin Lee, and E, F, G taken and arranged by Yi-Fu Wang)

Camellia chinmeii S.L. Lee & T.Y.A, Yang, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Similar to Camelia brevistyla, but differing in having fewer stamens, fewer filaments free from each other, longer styles and smaller fruit. It is also similar to Camellia confusa, but has smaller leaves and flowers, fewer stamens and smaller fruit. It is also similar to Camellia hengchuensis, but has thin leaves and globose fruit. It is also similar to Camellia kissi, but differs in having the filaments free from each, longer styles and globose fruit.

Distribution and ecology: Endemic to Taiwan. Camellia chinmeii mainly occurs in mountainous areas between 2000 and 2350 m on gentle slopes in forests on Mt. Weishangshan, Nantou County, in central Taiwan.

 Etymology: The specific epithet, chinmeii, honors Ms. Chin-Mei Hung, wife of the first author, who first recognized Camellia chinmeii as a new taxon in 2010; she passed away during a field trip on 6 December 2014.

    

Shih-Lin Lee and Tsung Yu Aleck Yang. 2019. Camellia chinmeii, A New Species of Camellia sect. Paracamellia in Taiwan. Taiwania. 64(3); 321-325.  DOI: 10.6165/tai.2019.64.321

tai2.ntu.edu.tw/taiwania/abstract.php?type=abstract&id=1629

 facebook.com/TaiwaniaOffice/posts/2320071791547970

     

[Herpetology • 2019] Dipsadoboa montisilva • A New Species of Tree Snake (Dipsadoboa, Serpentes: Colubridae) from ‘Sky Island’ Forests in northern Mozambique, with Notes on other Members of the Dipsadoboa werneri group

July 25, 2019, 3:44 am

≫ Next: [Ichthyology • 2019] Knodus nuptialis • A New Species of Knodus Eigenmann (Characiformes: Characidae: Stevardiinae) from Rio Xingu Basin, Brazil, with Comments on Nuptial Tubercles and Gill Gland in Characiform Fishes

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Dipsadoboa montisilva Branch, Conradie & Tolley in Branch, Bayliss, Bittencourt-Silva, Conradie, Engelbrecht, et al., 2019.   DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4646.3.6    facebook.com/PEMHerp  DOI: 10.3897/zse.92.9948

Abstract

A new species of tree snake Dipsadoboa montisilva Branch, Conradie & Tolley sp. nov. (Serpentes: Colubridae) is described from the ‘sky islands’ of Mount Mabu and Mount Ribáuè in northern Mozambique. Features of scalation, colour, body form and habitat distinguish the new species from other Dipsadoboa. This is supported by a phylogenetic analysis using one mitochondrial marker (cytochrome b) that shows the new Mozambican species is divergent from other sampled Dipsadoboa, including D. flavida and D. aulica, the only congeners known to occur in Mozambique. Morphologically, the new Dipsadoboa forms part of the D. werneri-shrevei complex from east and southeast Africa, but differs in having higher subcaudal counts, a different temporal pattern and only two supralabials entering the orbit. Phylogenetically, it occurs in a clade with D. shrevei and D. werneri. The status of D. shrevei in East Africa is reassessed, particularly in terms of the poorly-known Dipsadoboa shrevei kageleri from northern Tanzania. It is morphologically well defined from D. shrevei shrevei and utilises a different habitat. Although based on limited genetic data, it appears to be well-defined from typical D. shrevei and is accordingly raised to specific status. The only Tanzanian record for typical D. shrevei from Mtene, Rondo Plateau in southeast Tanzania is well isolated from the species’ range to the west (e.g. Zambia, Angola) and the published scalation features, particularly ventral counts, do not fully accord with D. shrevei. The Rondo Plateau population is treated as Dipsadoboa incerta sedis, and because we return D. shrevei to its binomial status, we can no longer consider D. shrevei as occurring in Tanzania. Biogeographically, the Rondo Plateau population may have a stronger affinity to the new Mozambican species. The discovery of isolated populations of the new species in mid-altitude forest remnants on Mt Mabu and Mt Ribáuè emphasizes the high conservation importance of the Mozambique forest ‘sky islands’ from which numerous other endemic new species have been recently discovered. These species are impacted by ongoing habitat destruction through slash and burn clearing for subsistence agriculture.

Keywords: Reptilia, Dipsadoboa, Serpentes, Colubridae

 William R. Branch, Julian Bayliss, Gabriela B. Bittencourt-Silva, Werner Conradie, Hanlie M. Engelbrecht, Simon P. Loader, Michele Menegon, Cristóvão Nanvonamuquitxo and Krystal A. Tolley. 2019. A New Species of Tree Snake (Dipsadoboa, Serpentes: Colubridae) from ‘Sky Island’ Forests in northern Mozambique, with Notes on other Members of the Dipsadoboa werneri group. Zootaxa. 4646(3); 541–563. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4646.3.6

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 Werner Conradie, Gabriela Bittencourt-Silva, Hanlie M. Engelbrecht, Simon P. Loader, Michele Menegon, Cristóvão Nanvonamuquitxo , Michael Scott and Krystal A. Tolley. 2016. Exploration into the hidden world of Mozambique’s sky island forests: new discoveries of reptiles and amphibians. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 92(2): 163-180. DOI: 10.3897/zse.92.9948

[Ichthyology • 2019] Knodus nuptialis • A New Species of Knodus Eigenmann (Characiformes: Characidae: Stevardiinae) from Rio Xingu Basin, Brazil, with Comments on Nuptial Tubercles and Gill Gland in Characiform Fishes

July 29, 2019, 7:48 am

≫ Next: [Herpetology • 2019] Microgecko varaviensis • A New Species of the Genus Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from the southern Zagros Mountains, Iran

≪ Previous: [Herpetology • 2019] Dipsadoboa montisilva • A New Species of Tree Snake (Dipsadoboa, Serpentes: Colubridae) from ‘Sky Island’ Forests in northern Mozambique, with Notes on other Members of the Dipsadoboa werneri group

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Knodus nuptialis  Menezes & Marinho, 2019  DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217915

Abstract

Knodus nuptialis n. sp. is described from the Rio Curuá drainage, Rio Xingu basin, Brazil. It can be diagnosed from its congeners by having dentary teeth decreasing gradually in size posteriorly, outer premaxillary teeth row with five cusps, 12–15 branched anal-fin rays and a single humeral spot. The species presents notable sexual dimorphism consisting of densely concentrated nuptial tubercles on head, body, and fins, gill-gland, and bony hooks in the anal fin of mature males. It was found that these sexually dimorphic features are useful and functional in males of the new species only during the reproductive season and after this period, they become atrophied, and eventually disappear. The list of characiform species presenting breeding tubercles is updated and nine species and two genera of the Characidae, Deuterodon and Bryconacidnus, are for the first time reported to have breeding tubercles.

Fig 1. Type specimens of Knodus nuptialis. Brazil, Pará, Altamira, Rio 13 de Maio at PCH Salto do Três de Maio, tributary of Rio Curuá, Rio Xingu basin  (A) holotype, preserved coloration, MZUSP 124829, 46.5 mm SL, male; (B) paratype MZUSP 124828, female, 50.8 mm SL.

Knodus nuptialis, new species

Diagnosis: Knodus nuptialis can be distinguished from all congeners, except K. deuteronoides Eigenmann in Eigenmann and K. tiquiensis Ferreira and Lima, by having the dentary teeth arranged in a continuous series, with teeth decreasing gradually in size posteriorly (versus arranged in a discontinuous series with the anterior teeth conspicuously larger, followed by abruptly smaller teeth posteriorly). Knodus nuptialis differs from K. deuteronoides by having 3–5 (rarely 3) premaxillary teeth in the outer row (versus 2–3 (rarely 3)), 4 scale rows below lateral line (versus 3), the origin of the dorsal fin closer to snout tip than to caudal-fin base (versus dorsal-fin origin in the middle of the distance between snout tip and caudal-fin base), the origin of the anal fin posterior to vertical crossing base of last dorsal-fin ray (versus anal-fin origin anterior to vertical crossing base of last dorsal-fin ray in K. deuteronoides; data from [13], and midlateral dark stripe reaching humeral spot (versus not reaching, humeral spot with a pale area behind; data from [14]. The new species can be distinguished from K. tiquiensis by having a single humeral spot (versus two) and the relatively narrow midlateral stripe (versus broad stripe). Knodus nuptialis can be further distinguished from all congeners, except K. deuterodonoides, K. figueiredoi Esguícero and Castro, K. geryi Lima, Britski and Machado, K. meridae Eigenmann, K. orteguasae Fowler, and K. tiquiensis, by having 12–15 branched anal-fin rays (versus 16–26). It can be further distinguished from K. figueiredoi by having inner premaxillary teeth with 5 to 8 cusps (versus 3), from K. meridae and K. orteguasae by having 4 scale rows between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin (versus 2 ou 3) and from K. deuterodonoides and K. tiquiensis by the features aforementioned. The presence of densely concentrated nuptial tubercles in mature males may also help to diagnose the new species.

Fig 10. Type locality of Knodus nuptialis. Rio 13 de Maio, tributary of Rio Curuá, upper Rio Xingu basin at Serra do Cachimbo.

Fig 9. Geographic distribution of Knodus nuptialis.  Rio 13 de Maio, tributary of Rio Curuá, upper Rio Xingu basin at Serra do Cachimbo, state of Pará, Brazil. Shaded area corresponds to rio Tapajós basin.

Etymology: The species name nuptialis is from the Latin meaning pertaining to marriage, in allusion to the presence of a series of sexual dimorphic traits (hooks, gill glands and nuptial tubercles) during the breeding season of this species. 

Distribution: Knodus nuptialis is so far known from the Rio 13 de Maio, tributary of Rio Curuá, upper Rio Xingu basin in the state of Pará, Brazil (Figs 9 and 10).

Naércio A. Menezes and Manoela M. F. Marinho. 2019. A New Species of Knodus Eigenmann (Characiformes: Characidae: Stevardiinae) with Comments on Nuptial Tubercles and Gill Gland in Characiform Fishes. PLoS ONE. 14(7): e0217915. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217915

[Herpetology • 2019] Microgecko varaviensis • A New Species of the Genus Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from the southern Zagros Mountains, Iran

July 31, 2019, 7:28 pm

≫ Next: [Herpetology • 2019] Phylogenomic Reconstruction of the Neotropical Poison Frogs (Dendrobatidae) and Their Conservation

≪ Previous: [Ichthyology • 2019] Knodus nuptialis • A New Species of Knodus Eigenmann (Characiformes: Characidae: Stevardiinae) from Rio Xingu Basin, Brazil, with Comments on Nuptial Tubercles and Gill Gland in Characiform Fishes

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Microgecko varaviensis Gholamifard,  Rastegar-Pouyani & Rastegar-Pouyani, 2019  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.3.2

Abstract

The dwarf geckos of the genus Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 comprise five recognized species, ranging from western Iran to northwestern India. Iran harbors four species of the genus Microgecko. Until now, all populations of the genus Microgecko with a single pair of the postmental shields (as a key diagnostic character) were assigned to M. helenae. Here, based on significant differences in scalation characters, distinct coloration, and ecological peculiarities of habitat as well as support of our present molecular study we distinguish and describe a new species, Microgecko varaviensis sp. nov. within the M. helenae complex, from the southern regions of the Zagros Mountains in Fars Province, southern Iran. Detailed information and an updated identification key for the genus Microgecko are also presented.

Keywords: Reptilia, Dwarf geckos, Microgeckovaraviensis sp. nov., postmental shields, Varavi Mountain, Fars Province, Iran

 Microgeckovaraviensis sp. nov. 

 Ali Gholamifard, Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani and Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani. 2019. A New Species of the Genus Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from the southern Zagros Mountains, Iran. Zootaxa. 4648(3); 435–454. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.3.2

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[Herpetology • 2019] Phylogenomic Reconstruction of the Neotropical Poison Frogs (Dendrobatidae) and Their Conservation

July 31, 2019, 7:54 pm

≫ Next: [Botany • 2019] Dichotomous Keys to the Species of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) in continental Africa, Madagascar (incl. the Indian Ocean islands), Macaronesia and the Cape Verde Islands

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in Guillory, Muell, Summers & Brown, 2019  DOI: 10.3390/d11080126     twitter.com/GuillsonWillory

Abstract
The evolutionary history of the Dendrobatidae, the charismatic Neotropical poison frog family, remains in flux, even after a half-century of intensive research. Understanding the evolutionary relationships between dendrobatid genera and the larger-order groups within Dendrobatidae is critical for making accurate assessments of all aspects of their biology and evolution. In this study, we provide the first phylogenomic reconstruction of Dendrobatidae with genome-wide nuclear markers known as ultraconserved elements. We performed sequence capture on 61 samples representing 33 species across 13 of the 16 dendrobatid genera, aiming for a broadly representative taxon sample. We compare topologies generated using maximum likelihood and coalescent methods and estimate divergence times using Bayesian methods. We find most of our dendrobatid tree to be consistent with previously published results based on mitochondrial and low-count nuclear data, with notable exceptions regarding the placement of Hyloxalinae and certain genera within Dendrobatinae. We also characterize how the evolutionary history and geographic distributions of the 285 poison frog species impact their conservation status. We hope that our phylogeny will serve as a backbone for future evolutionary studies and that our characterizations of conservation status inform conservation practices while highlighting taxa in need of further study.

Keywords: UCE; phylogenetics; amphibians; Dendrobatidae; Aromobatidae; frogs; systematics

Figure 1. Time-calibrated genus-level phylogeny of Dendrobatidae produced using BEAST. Node labels indicate divergence times (mya). This figure is reduced to one tip per genus from the species-level chronogram in Figure S3. Art by W. X. Guillory.

Wilson X. Guillory, Morgan R. Muell, Kyle Summers and Jason L. Brown. 2019. Phylogenomic Reconstruction of the Neotropical Poison Frogs (Dendrobatidae) and Their Conservation. Diversity. 11(8) [the Special Issue Systematics and Conservation of Neotropical Amphibians and Reptiles]. DOI: 10.3390/d11080126   

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[Botany • 2019] Dichotomous Keys to the Species of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) in continental Africa, Madagascar (incl. the Indian Ocean islands), Macaronesia and the Cape Verde Islands

July 31, 2019, 9:09 am

≫ Next: [Botany • 2019] Paphiopedilum fairrieanum, P. spicerianum & P. venustum • Distribution and Habitats of Paphiopedilum Pfitzer (Orchidaceae: Cypripedioideae) known to Occur in Bhutan

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A Solanum terminale Forssk. (African non-spiny Clade) B Solanum madagascariense Dunal (African non-spiny Clade) C Solanum mauritianum Scop. (Brevantherum Clade) D Solanum laxum Spreng. (Dulcamaroid Clade) E Solanum trisectum Dunal (Normania Clade) F Solanum diphyllum L. (Geminata Clade)  in Knapp, Vorontsova & Särkinen, 2019.   DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.127.34326   Photos A, C, D, E, F, by S. Knapp B by M.S. Vorontsova.

Abstract

Solanum L. (Solanaceae) is one of the largest genera of angiosperms and presents difficulties in identification due to lack of regional keys to all groups. Here we provide keys to all 135 species of Solanum native and naturalised in Africa (as defined by World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions): continental Africa, Madagascar (incl. the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, La Réunion, the Comoros and the Seychelles), Macaronesia and the Cape Verde Islands. Some of these have previously been published in the context of monographic works, but here we include all taxa. The paper is designed to be used in conjunction with the web resource Solanaceae Source (www.solanaceaesource.org) and hyperlinks provide access to online descriptions, synonymy and images (where available) of each species. All taxa treated and specimens seen are included in searchable Suppl. material 1, 2.

Keywords: Africa, Aldabra, Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Comoros, cultivated plants, identification, keys, Madagascar, Madeira, Mauritius, La Réunion, Seychelles, Solanum, weeds

Figure 2. A, B Solanum wendlandii Hook.f. (Allophyllum-Wendlandii Clade) C Solanum tarderemotum Bitter (Morelloid Clade) D Solanum scabrum Mill. (Morelloid Clade) E Solanum pyracanthos Lam. (Leptostemonum Clade) F Solanum aculeastrum Dunal (Leptostemonum Clade) G Solanum nigriviolaceum Bitter (Leptostemonum Clade) H Solanum usambarense Bitter & Dammer (Leptostemonum Clade). Photos A, B, F, G H by M.S. Vorontosova C, D, E by S. Knapp.

Figure 3. A Solanum terminale Forssk. (African non-spiny Clade) B Solanum madagascariense Dunal (African non-spiny Clade) C Solanum mauritianum Scop. (Brevantherum Clade) D Solanumlaxum Spreng. (Dulcamaroid Clade) E Solanumtrisectum Dunal (Normania Clade) F Solanum diphyllum L. (Geminata Clade) G Solanum tuberosum L. (Potato Clade) H Solanum laciniatum Aiton (Archaeosolanum Clade).  Photos A, C, D, E, F, G, H by S. Knapp B by M.S. Vorontsova.

 Sandra Knapp, Maria S. Vorontsova and Tiina Särkinen. 2019. Dichotomous Keys to the Species of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) in continental Africa, Madagascar (incl. the Indian Ocean islands), Macaronesia and the Cape Verde Islands. PhytoKeys. 127: 39-76. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.127.34326

[Botany • 2019] Paphiopedilum fairrieanum, P. spicerianum & P. venustum • Distribution and Habitats of Paphiopedilum Pfitzer (Orchidaceae: Cypripedioideae) known to Occur in Bhutan

August 1, 2019, 3:45 am

≫ Next: [Botany • 2019] Pseuderanthemum melanesicum (Acanthaceae) • A New Coastal Species of Pseuderanthemum from Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia) and Vanuatu with Notes on P. carruthersii

≪ Previous: [Botany • 2019] Dichotomous Keys to the Species of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) in continental Africa, Madagascar (incl. the Indian Ocean islands), Macaronesia and the Cape Verde Islands

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Paphiopedilum fairrieanum and P. venustum growing side by side, Ngangla, Zhemgang. in Gurung, Gyeltshen, Tobgay, et al., 2019.   DOI: 10.11609/jott.3431.11.9.14101-14111   facebook.com/theJoTT

ABSTRACT

Paphiopedilum fairrieanum, P. spicerianum, and P. venustum (Orchidaceae: Cypripedioideae) are reported to occur in Bhutan, of which the former is known to be Critically Endangered and the latter two are Endangered.  Based on numerous field trips conducted over the last decade, populations of P. fairrieanum and P. venustum were located in Bhutan.  No individual of P. spicerianum, however, was found despite many search attempts.  Its occurrence in Bhutan may have been originally erroneous.  Based on the accessibility of the habitats, six 10m × 10m quadrats were defined to enumerate the plant species found in the Paphiopedilum habitats.  Vegetation analyses and cluster dendrograms of the plant species composition indicated the presence of three forest types with distinct species compositions.  Paphiopedilum fairrieanum was found growing mainly as a lithophyte on seasonally dry limestone cliffs or on limestone outcrops with a comparatively open forest canopy.  These populations were mostly located on southwest- or northwest-facing slopes with soil pH ranging from 7.1 to 7.8.  Paphiopedilum venustum, in contrast, was a ground-dwelling species restricted to relatively dense forests with soil pH ranging from 7.1 to 7.5.

Keywords: Cluster dendrogram, eastern Himalaya, orchid, Paphiopedilum fairrieanum, P. spicerianum, P. venustum, vegetation analysis

Paphiopedilum fairrieanum and P. venustum growing side by side, Ngangla, Zhemgang. photo: Nima Gyeltshen

Dhan Bahadur Gurung, Nima Gyeltshen, Kezang Tobgay, Stig Dalström, Jangchu Wangdi, Bhakta Bahadur Ghalley, Lekey Chaida, Phuntsho, Ngawang Gyeltshen, Kelzang Dawa, Tandin Wangchuk, Rebecca Pradhan, Thomas Hoijer and Choki Gyeltshen. 2019. Distribution and Habitats of Paphiopedilum Pfitzer (Orchidaceae) known to Occur in Bhutan. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 11(9); 14101-14111. DOI: 10.11609/jott.3431.11.9.14101-14111

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[Botany • 2019] Pseuderanthemum melanesicum (Acanthaceae) • A New Coastal Species of Pseuderanthemum from Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia) and Vanuatu with Notes on P. carruthersii

August 1, 2019, 4:10 am

≫ Next: [Ichthyology • 2019] Mystus prabini • A New Species of Catfish (Siluriformes: Bagridae) from Arunachal Pradesh, north-eastern, India

≪ Previous: [Botany • 2019] Paphiopedilum fairrieanum, P. spicerianum & P. venustum • Distribution and Habitats of Paphiopedilum Pfitzer (Orchidaceae: Cypripedioideae) known to Occur in Bhutan

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Pseuderanthemum melanesicum Gâteblé, Ramon & Butaud in Gâteblé, Ramon & Butaud, 2019.  84. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.128.36325

Abstract

When dealing with the taxonomy of Pacific coastal species within the region of New Caledonia and Vanuatu, one should examine all names published in Australasia and other Pacific islands. When the putative new species is also closely related to a highly praised ornamental species with many cultigens and with many old horticultural names, the task becomes more arduous. This is the case for the new species we describe as Pseuderanthemum melanesicum Gâteblé, Ramon & Butaud, which is closely related to the now pantropical cultivated species P. carruthersii (Seem.) Guillaumin s.l. Compared to P. carruthersii, P. melanesicum has carnose and shiny leaves, pedicels and sepals covered with glandular hairs, a short and enlarged corolla tube and can produce fertile capsules. The new species is a coastal taxon occurring naturally in the Melanesian archipelagos of New Caledonia and Vanuatu. This species seems uncommon in the Loyalty Islands but more common in the archipelago of Vanuatu and we propose it as Critically Endangered in New Caledonia, Vulnerable in Vanuatu and Least Concern when the IUCN evaluation is done globally.

Keywords: Acanthaceae, New Caledonia, new species, Pseuderanthemum, taxonomy, Vanuatu

Figure 2. Drawings of Pseuderanthemum melanesicum Gâteblé, Ramon & Butaud, sp. nov. and P. carruthersii A–G Pseuderanthemum melanesicum  A, D Structure of the inflorescence B Flower C Flower bud E Open corolla with the lower corolla lobe removed to show the arrangement of internal structures F Open mature and immature capsules G Glandular hairs on a flower bract  H–I Pseuderanthemum carruthersii H Eglandular hairs on the outer surface of the corolla tube I Part of inflorescence showing the long narrow tube of a flower.  Voucher specimens: A–D Gâteblé 1072 E, G Gâteblé 722 F Ramon 220 H–I Gâteblé 720.  Drawings by Laurence Ramon.

Figure 3. Field pictures of Pseuderanthemum melanesicum Gâteblé, Ramon & Butaud, sp. nov. and P. carruthersii  A–D. Pseuderanthemum melanesicum E–F Pseuderanthemum melanesicum and P. carruthersii  A Overview of a single shrub hanging from a coastal limestone cliff on Maré island B Flowering branch on Efaté island C Flower D Infructescence and ecology on Lifou island E Cultivated plants of P. carruthersii (left) and P. melanesicum (right) F Leaves and inflorescences of P. melanesicum (left) and two cultigens of P. carruthersii (center and right).  Photographs by G. Gâteblé (A, C, E–F), L. Ramon (B) and J.-F. Butaud (D);  Voucher specimens: A Gâteblé et al. 1024, B Ramon 220, C Gâteblé 722, F Gâteblé 722, 721, 720.

Pseuderanthemum melanesicum Gâteblé, Ramon & Butaud, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Pseuderanthemum melanesicum Gâteblé, Ramon & Butaud is most similar to some cultigens of P. carruthersii but differs from them by its carnose leaf texture vs. chartaceous, by its pedicels and sepals with glandular hairs vs. eglandular hairs, by its glabrous petals and tube vs. hairy petals and tube and by its short and enlarged corolla tube vs. longer cylindrical corolla tube.

...

Etymology: The new species is named after the Melanesian archipelagos of New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Species recognition: With its carnose and shiny leaves (especially seen on fresh material), its short and broaden corolla tube and its many glandular hairs on pedicels and sepals, P. melanesicum is easily separated from the cultivated, widespread and variable taxon, P. carruthersii. In addition, in both countries the new species has been collected in fruit while there is, to our knowledge, no fruiting specimen of P. carruthersii in the region. The well-known south-western Pacific botanical specialist Peter Shaw Green (1920–2009) also thought it was a putative new species as he wrote “Pseuderanthemum sp.? ined” on several herbarium sheets (e.g., Hallé 6331 and Gillison 3539).

Notes: 

Color figures of P. melanesicum have already been published twice under misapplied names of other species inhabiting Loyalty Islands and Vanuatu, once as P. repandum (G.Forst.) Guillaumin subsp. loyaltyensis (Guillaumin) Heine or «Waditcha» in Suprin (2008: 177), and the other one (fig. 119a) as P. carruthersii in Ramon and Sam (2015: 121). The vernacular name Watija in Maré can be related to P. repandum subsp. loyaltyensis but this name was not recorded recently (Lormée et al. 2011) for that species; Watija is clearly the local name of Psychotria nummularioides Baill. ex Guillaumin and has also been given to Cleidion verticillatum Baill., a shrub of the same size (Butaud, pers. obs.). Two local names are reported on Gillison 3539 for Vanuatu as Nuguvere and Malandi. According to Gâteblé et al. (2018), P. melanesicum is only the third non-endemic species described from New Caledonia since the beginning of the 21st Century. Pseuderanthemum melanesicum is easily propagated by cuttings and it thrives well in cultivation. Even in cultivation, the carnose and shiny leaves are maintained (Fig. 3) and it makes a nice native ornamental plant for gardens and landscaping in open or shaded areas.

The cultivated plant from which the type specimen was prepared was originally collected by J.-F. Butaud on Lifou, north of Wé to Luecila, (2 m elevation, ...E) on 19 April 2014.

Figure 1. Distribution of Pseuderanthemum melanesicum Gâteblé, Ramon & Butaud, sp. nov. in some islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Map done using CartoGIS Services, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University.

Distribution and ecology: In New Caledonia and Vanuatu, P. melanesicum is found in coastal thickets on limestone substrate, either coastal reef, cliffs or back of the beaches, with species of Bikkia Reinw. ex Blume, Dendrolobium (Wight & Arn.) Benth., Eugenia P.Micheli ex L., Heliotropium Tourn. ex L., Hibiscus L., Myoporum Banks & Sol. ex G.Forst., Nicotiana L., Pemphis J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Sarcolobus R.Br. and Xylosma G.Forst. at 2–60 m elevation in the Loyalty Islands. In New Caledonia, it is only known from Lifou and Maré in the Loyalty Islands and it is known from Efaté and Malakula in Vanuatu (Fig. 1). With such a distribution, the species should be more common than reflected by the available herbarium specimens. Recently (February 2019) the species was seen in relatively large populations on Erakor Island (Port Vila) and Port Resolution (Tanna). Like in other Acanthaceae, P. melanesicum seeds are dispersed through ballochory that could explain the many individuals found in some populations in Vanuatu. The seed seems also able to float on sea water for a few hours (observation made with only one seed).

 Gildas Gâteblé, Laurence Ramon and Jean-François Butaud. 2019. A New Coastal Species of Pseuderanthemum (Acanthaceae) from Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia) and Vanuatu with Notes on P. carruthersii.  PhytoKeys. 128: 73-84. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.128.36325

[Ichthyology • 2019] Mystus prabini • A New Species of Catfish (Siluriformes: Bagridae) from Arunachal Pradesh, north-eastern, India

August 1, 2019, 4:24 am

≫ Next: [Paleontology • 2018] Choyrodon barsboldi • A New iguanodontian (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia

≪ Previous: [Botany • 2019] Pseuderanthemum melanesicum (Acanthaceae) • A New Coastal Species of Pseuderanthemum from Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia) and Vanuatu with Notes on P. carruthersii

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Mystus prabini  Darshan, Abujam, Humar,Parhi,Singh,et al. 2019   DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.3.6

Abstract

Mystus prabini, new species, is described from the Sinkin and the Dibang River in the Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The new species differs from all South-Asian congeners except M. bleekeri, M. cavasius, M. zeylanicus,  M. falcarius, M. seengtee, M. cineraceus, M. ngasep, M. rufescens and M. ankutta in having a long adipose fin that reaches anteriorly (vs. distinctly does not reach) the base of the last dorsal-fin ray. The new species can be distinguished from the named nine species in having (vs. lacking) a narrow black mid-lateral stripe extending from the anterior region of tympanic spot to the rounded black spot at the caudal-fin base. The analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence shows that the K2P value between Mystus prabini and all other Mystus species ranges from 8.6–22.1%. Mystus prabini is closest genetically to M. bleekeri and M. albolineatus, from which species it has a genetic distance of 8.6% and 13.9%, respectively. The genetic distance (K2P) between the new species and M. dibrugarensis is 21.1%.  

Keywords: Pisces, DNA barcoding, Mystus, New species, Brahmaputra basin

Achom Darshan, Santoshkumar Abujam, Ram Humar,Janmejay Parhi,Yambem Suresh Singh ,Waikhom Vishwanath,Debangshu Narayan Das andPramod Kumar Pandey. 2019. Mystus prabini, A New Species of Catfish (Siluriformes: Bagridae) from Arunachal Pradesh, north-eastern, India. Zootaxa. 4648(3); 511–522. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.3.6

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