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[Ichthyology • 2019] Leptopanchax sanguineus • A New Species of Cynopoeciline Killifish (Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae), possibly Extinct, from the Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil

August 16, 2019, 7:56 am
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Leptopanchax sanguineus  
Costa, 2019


Abstract
Specimens found between 1985 and 1988 in the Magé River Basin, south-eastern Brazil were misidentified as L. splendens. The recent rediscovery of other specimens in the Estrela River Basin near the type locality of L. splendens has clarified the species’ concept, making it possible to recognise the Magé River Basin specimens as a new species. The new species is herein described as Leptopanchax sanguineus sp. nov. and is distinguished from all other cynopoecilines by a unique colour pattern in males, including red bars with sinuous margins. It was collected in a well-preserved, temporary shallow swampy area within dense moist forest, but since 1990 the species has not been found again. Leptopanchax sanguineus sp. nov. is one of three species of cynopoeciline killifishes living in lowland moist forests of the coastal plains of Rio de Janeiro State, where the greatest diversity of endemic cynopoecilines is concentrated. Each of these species has been recorded a single time in the last 30 years, a surprisingly low record attributable to intense deforestation during the last several decades resulting in small fragmented lowland moist forests of today. This study indicates that seasonal killifishes adapted to uniquely live in this kind of habitat should be regarded with special concern in studies evaluating conservation priorities.

Keywords: Biodiversity, conservation, moist tropical forest, systematics, taxonomy


Figure 2. Male fin morphology and life colour patterns in Leptopanchax.
A coloured pencil drawing illustrating Leptopanchax sanguineus sp. nov. in life, about 20 mm SL B L. splendens, UFRJ 6902, 22.7 mm SL
C L. aureoguttatus, UFRJ 6331, 22.3 mm SL D L. itanhaensis, UFRJ 6453, 20.7 mm SL
E L. citrinipinnis, UFRJ 8899, 20.6 mm SL F L. opalescens, UFRJ 8986, 20.2 mm SL.


Leptopanchax sanguineus sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Leptopanchax sanguineus differs from other cynopoecilines, except L. splendens, by the presence of red bars on the whole flank in males (vs. absence); uniquely in L. sanguineus, the bars are broad, wider than the interspace width (vs. narrow, half interspace width or less) and have sinuous margins (vs. straight). Leptopanchax sanguineus is further distinguished from L. splendens by having 15 dorsal-fin rays (vs. 12–14), 6 pelvic-fin rays (vs. 5), 27 scales on the longitudinal series and 9 on the transverse series (vs. 24–25 and 7, respectively), 29 vertebrae (vs. 26–27), pelvic fin tip posteriorly reaching the anal fin in males (vs. reaching urogenital papilla), pelvic-fin bases medially separated, in close proximity (vs. medially united), absence of filamentous rays on the caudal fin (vs. short filamentous rays on the posterior margin of the caudal fin in males), presence of a golden stripe on the distal margin of the dorsal fin in males (vs. white stripe), absence of contact organs on the male pectoral fin (vs. presence) and absence of the dermosphenotic bone (vs. presence). Leptopanchax sanguineus also differs from L. splendens and all other cynopoecilines by the presence of a small red spot on the posterior portion of the iris (vs. spot absent).

Etymology: The name sanguineus, from the Latin, meaning blood-coloured, is an allusion to the predominantly red colouration in males, unique among Neotropical killifishes.

Figure 4. Habitat of Leptopanchax sanguineus sp. nov. in 1988.


 Wilson J. E. M. Costa. 2019. Description of A New Species of Cynopoeciline Killifish (Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae), possibly Extinct, from the Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil.  ZooKeys. 867: 73-85. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.867.34034

Abstract: A recent collection of the seasonal killifish found Leptopanchax splendens c. 5 km from the type locality, 74 years after its last record. The species was historically common in its type locality, the Estrela River basin in south‐eastern Brazil, until 1950, after which it was not encountered and thought to have become extinct due to widespread deforestation and urbanization in the region. Despite the rediscovery, this study finds that other recently published reports of L. splendens are misidentifications.

Wilson J. E. M. Costa, José L. O. Mattos and Pedro F. Amorim. 2019. Rediscovery of Leptopanchax splendens (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheilidae): A Seasonal killifish from the Atlantic Forest of south‐eastern Brazil that was recently considered extinct. Journal of Fish Biology.  DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13898

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[Paleontology • 2019] Clevosaurus hadroprodon • A New Clevosaurid from the Triassic (Carnian) of Brazil and the Rise of Sphenodontians in Gondwana

August 17, 2019, 1:14 am
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Clevosaurus hadroprodon
 Hsiou, Nydam, Simões, Pretto, Onary, Martinelli, Liparini, Martínez, Soares, Schultz & Caldwell, 2019

 Reconstruction: Jorge Blanco.

Abstract
The early evolution of lepidosaurs is marked by an extremely scarce fossil record during the Triassic. Importantly, most Triassic lepidosaur specimens are represented by disarticulated individuals from high energy accretion deposits in Laurasia, thus greatly hampering our understanding of the initial stages of lepidosaur evolution. Here, we describe the fragmentary remains of an associated skull and mandible of Clevosaurus hadroprodon sp. nov., a new taxon of sphenodontian lepidosaur from the Late Triassic (Carnian; 237–228 Mya) of Brazil. Referral to Sphenodontia is supported by the combined presence of a marginal dentition ankylosed to the apex of the dentary, maxilla, and premaxilla; the presence of ‘secondary bone’ at the bases of the marginal dentition; and a ventrally directed mental process at the symphysis of the dentary. Our phylogenetic analyses recover Clevosaurus hadroprodon as a clevosaurid, either in a polytomy with the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Clevosaurus and Brachyrhinodon (under Bayesian inference), or nested among different species of Clevosaurus (under maximum parsimony). Clevosaurus hadroprodon represents the oldest known sphenodontian from Gondwana, and its clevosaurid relationships indicates that these sphenodontians achieved a widespread biogeographic distribution much earlier than previously thought.



Figure 2 Type and referred specimens of Clevosaurus hadroprodon sp. nov.
Photograph (a) and outline (b) of holotype partial skull (MMACR PV-027-T). Photograph (c) and outline (d) of referred partial left dentary (MMACR PV-028-T). Photograph (e) and outline (f) of posterior view of section in box in c showing cross sectional view of tooth attachement.

Abbreviations: Lt Den, left dentary; Lt Mx, left maxilla; MeG, Meckel’s groove; Pmx, right premaxilla; Pmx Fac, premaxillary facet in maxilla; Rt Den, right dentary; Rt Mx, right maxilla; SB, secondary bone; D.V.Cr., dentary ventral crest; Sym, symphyseal region of dentary.

Systematic Palaeontology

Lepidosauria Dumeril and Bibron, 1839 sensu Evans, 1984
Rhynchocephalia Günther, 1867sensu Gauthier et al., 1988
Sphenodontia Williston, 1925sensu Benton, 1985

Clevosauridae Bonaparte and Sues, 2006 (sensu this study)

Clevosaurus hadroprodon sp. nov.

Etymology: Species epithet comes from a combination of ‘hadroprodon’ (from the Greek “hadros”-meaning large) and “protos”, meaning first (Greek), and “odous”, meaning tooth (Greek); in reference to the “big first tooth”, i.e. the large tusk-like tooth of the premaxilla and the anteriormost/first dentary tooth position.

Locality and horizon: Linha Bernardino locality, Candelária municipality, Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil (Fig. 1); Santa Maria Formation (Santa Maria Supersequence, Candelária Sequence), Rosário do Sul Group, Paraná Basin; Carnian, Late Triassic.  ..... 

Diagnosis: Small sphenodontian rhynchocephalian differing from all other known sphenodontians in possessing the following combination of features: (1) a large, blunt, tusk-like tooth in both premaxilla and first tooth position of dentary; (2) in having an angled, but nearly vertical mandibular symphysis and relatively deep dentary; (3) absence of an edentulous gap between the tusk-like tooth and the remaining dentition; (4) absence of a posterodorsal process of the premaxilla; (5) in lacking well-developed medial-posteromedial expansion of the posterior dentition; (6) and lacking flanges on the teeth, and (7) lacking labially expanded teeth. Feature 4 makes this new taxon different from many sphenodontians, including other species of Clevosaurus, Rebbanasaurus, Godavariasaurus, Priosphenodon, Sphenotitan, Paminzisaurus and Ankylosphenodon. Features 5 and 6 make this taxon different from all other described species of Clevosaurus [Clevosaurus hudsoni, C. bairdi, C. latidens, C. sectumsemper, C. cambrica, and Clevosaurus sp. (China)]


Figure 3 Phylogenetic analyses evidencing the position of Clevosaurus hadroprodon sp. nov. within Rhynchocephalia using two distinct optimality criteria. (a) Resultant topology of the strict consensus of eight most parsimonious tree (249 steps each) (CI = 0.43; RI = 0.69); (b) Majority-rule consensus tree derived from the Bayesian analysis. Nodes values represent posterior probabilities. (Note that Clevosauridae sensu Bonaparte and Sues, was not recovered as a monophyletic group in both analyses and the genus Clevosaurus was not recovered as monophyletic in the Bayesian topology).
 Abbreviations: “Cle”: Clevosauridae; Hom: Homeosauridae; Pleu: Pleurosauridae; Opi: Ophistodontia.

Figure 5 Life reconstruction of Clevosaurus hadroprodon.
 Reconstruction created by Jorge Blanco.


Annie S. Hsiou, Randall L. Nydam, Tiago R. Simões, Flávio A. Pretto, Silvio Onary, Agustín G. Martinelli, Alexandre Liparini, Paulo R. Romo de Vivar Martínez, Marina B. Soares, Cesar L. Schultz and Michael W. Caldwell. 2019. A New Clevosaurid from the Triassic (Carnian) of Brazil and the Rise of Sphenodontians in Gondwana. Scientific Reports. 9, 11821. nature.com/articles/s41598-019-48297-9

In the shadow of the dinosaurs eurekalert.org/e/9Q6y via @EurekAlert


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[Botany • 2018] Sapria himalayana (Rafflesiaceae) on Vietnam’s Lang Biang Plateau: Identification, Sexual Dimorphism and Natural History

August 17, 2019, 2:06 am
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 Sapria himalayana Griff. f. albovinosa Bänziger & Hansen

in Trần, Lưu, Nguyễn, et al., 2018. 
 Photos: H.Đ. Trần

Abstract
Background: Sapria is a distinctive and narrowly host-specific holoparasitic genus belonging to the Rafflesiaceae. Sapria himalayana, rare throughout its range from NE India, SW China, Thailand to Vietnam, is a little-understood species first recorded for Vietnam in 1959, and only recollected there over half a century later in February 2017. This has facilitated an assessment of its taxonomic identity and our understanding of its morphology and natural history aspects.

Results: Six populations of Sapria at Vietnam’s Tuyền Lâm Lake, and another two populations at the Nam Ban Protection Forest and the Cam Ly area were found, in an area of about 20 km in radius. Previously documented size attributes, morphological details and colour patterns allowed clear identification of the Vietnamese taxon as Sapria himalayana f. albovinosa. A full description of the species for Vietnam is provided. Past authors have distinguished the sexes by column form and structure, colour of the upper disk, details of the inner surface of the perigone tube, and presence of ovarial chambers below the column in the female. We present additional observations that male flowers consistently have more steeply held perigone lobes than females, in which the lobes were more spread out at wider angles in fully open flowers, and that males have a much lower cupule than females. The latter difference, especially, appears to be useful for quick determination of the sex even in the advanced floral bud stage. The host plant was the lianescent Tetrastigma laoticum (Vitaceae), but superficially it was not possible to ascertain the clonal relationship of neighbouring host lianas. Male and female flowers were found mixed together in the same cluster from one individual liana. Potential pollinators included Calliphorid and Stratiomyid flies observed visiting open flowers.

Conclusions: Our observations have added to an increased understanding of the morphology of this highly specialized parasitic life form. More than this, we have ascertained its occurrence in Vietnam, with information made available to authorities of the Lâm Đồng Province where our studies were conducted, for the sites to be specially demarcated for conservation and carefully managed tourism use.

Figure 3:Sapria himalayana Griff. f. albovinosa Bänziger and Hansen, female flower.
 a Whole flower. b Habitat in natural forest at Tuyen Lam. c Longitudinal section of flower. d Ramenta on upper surface of diaphragm. e Cross section of ovary. f Lateral view of disk and upper part of column, with vestigial anthers (yellow structures in a ring below the disk) visible. g Ovules. Photos: H.Đ. Trần


Figure 4:Sapria himalayana Griff. f. albovinosa Bänziger and Hansen male flower.
a Whole flower. b Open flowers with more steeply held perigone lobes than in the female. c Longitudinal section of flower. d Ramenta on upper surface of diaphragm. e Part of upper disk surface. f Lateral view of column and disk, showing anthers (yellow structures) in a ring and longitudinal ridges on the inner surface of the perigone tube. g Anthers. Photos: H.Đ. Trần



Hữu Đăng Trần, Hồng Trường Lưu, Quốc Đạt Nguyễn, Hiếu Cường Nguyễn, Parusuraman Athen and K. M. Wong. 2018. Identification, Sexual Dimorphism and Aspects of the Natural History of Sapria himalayana (Rafflesiaceae) on Vietnam’s Lang Biang Plateau. Botanical Studies. 59: 29. DOI: 10.1186/s40529-018-0243-9


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[Paleontology • 2019] Adratiklit boulahfa • North Africa's First Stegosaur: Implications for Gondwanan Thyreophoran Dinosaur Diversity

August 17, 2019, 8:16 am
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Adratiklit boulahfa 
Maidment, Raven, Ouarhache & Barrett, 2019


Highlights: 
• Adratiklit boulahfa is a new genus of stegosaur from Morocco.
• Adratiklit is the oldest definitive stegosaur and the first from north Africa.
• It is closely related to the European stegosaurs Dacentrurus and Mirigaia.
• The dinosaur fossil record of Gondwana is biased.
• Armoured dinosaurs may have been as diverse in Gondwana as they were in Laurasia.

Abstract
Eurypoda, the major radiation of armoured dinosaurs, comprises the ankylosaurs and their sister group, the stegosaurs. As the earliest-branching major clade of ornithischian dinosaurs, the evolutionary history of Eurypoda is significant for understanding both the palaeobiology of bird-hipped dinosaurs and the composition of middle Mesozoic ecosystems. Eurypodans were diverse and abundant throughout the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous in Laurasia; in contrast, their remains are extremely rare in Gondwana. Herein, we describe a new genus and species of stegosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco, Adratiklit boulahfa. Adratiklit is the first eurypodan from north Africa and the oldest definitive stegosaur from anywhere in the world. The genus is more closely related to the European stegosaurs Dacentrurus and Miragaia than it is to the southern African taxa Kentrosaurus and Paranthodon. Statistically significant correlations between the number of dinosaur-bearing formations, dinosaur-bearing collections, and eurypodan occurrences in Gondwana indicates that their fossil record is biased by both geological and anthropogenic factors. Tantalizing but fragmentary remains and trackways suggest that eurypodan diversity in Gondwana may have been as rich as that of Laurasia, and the prospects for future discoveries of new genera across Gondwana are therefore very good.

Keywords: Stegosauria, Eurypoda, Morocco, Gondwana, Middle Jurassic, Diversity

 NHMUK PV R37366, holotype specimen of Adratiklit boulahfa.

NHMUK PV R37367, isolated cervical vertebra referred to Adratiklit boulahfa.

Systematic palaeontology: 
Dinosauria Owen, 1842
Ornithischia Seeley, 1887
Stegosauria Marsh, 1877

Adratiklit gen. nov.

Adratiklit boulahfa gen. et sp. nov.

Holotype: A dorsal vertebra, NHMUK PV R37366.



Locality and horizon: El Mers Group, probably El Mers II Formation (Bathonian), Boulahfa, south of Boulemane, Fès-Meknes, Morocco.

 Etymology: Generic name Adratiklit from ‘Adras’, Berber for ‘mountain’, and ‘tiklit’, a Berber word for lizard. The specific name, boulahfa, refers to the location where the specimen was found.

....

Conclusions:
Adratiklit boulahfa is the first eurypodan thyreophoran dinosaur from North Africa, and represents one of the earliest records of this clade from anywhere in the world. Based on currently available data, it is more closely related to a clade of European stegosaurs that it is to either of the known African genera, Kentrosaurus or Paranthodon. The paucity of eurypodan dinosaur material in Gondwana during the Jurassic and Cretaceous probably results from anthropogenic and geological sampling biases, and it is possible that eurypodans might have been as diverse and abundant in Gondwana as they were in Laurasia. The prospects for finding new thyreophorans on the continents that made up Gondwana are therefore stronger than previously supposed.

    

 Susannah C.R. Maidment, Thomas J. Raven, Driss Ouarhache and Paul M. Barrett. 2019. North Africa's First Stegosaur: Implications for Gondwanan Thyreophoran Dinosaur Diversity. Gondwana Research. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2019.07.007 

  

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[Botany • 2019] Mitrephora chulabhorniana (Annonaceae) พรหมจุฬาภรณ์ • An Extraordinary New Species from A Karst Habitat of southern Thailand

August 19, 2019, 3:55 am
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Mitrephora chulabhorniana Damth., Aongyong & Chaowasku

in Damthongdee, Aongyong & Chaowasku, 2019. 
พรหมจุฬาภรณ์ || DOI: 10.1007/s12228-019-09573-0 

Abstract
Mitrephora chulabhorniana, a remarkable new species with the smallest flowers in the genus, is described and illustrated. The new species, from a karst habitat of southern Thailand, morphologically most resembles M. andamanica, which is endemic to the Middle and North Andaman Islands, but differs primarily by having narrower leaves, shorter inner petals, and lower number of stamens and carpels per flower. The conservation status of M. chulabhorniana is assessed and a key to the species of Mitrephora in Thailand is given.

Keywords: Limestone, morphology, new species, Southeast Asia, taxonomy 



Flowers and fruit of Mitrephora chulabhorniana.
 A. Flower at female anthesis, viewed from below. B. Flower at early male anthesis, side view. C. Flower at late male anthesis, viewed from above, showing abaxial surface of sepals and outer petals. D. Flower at late male anthesis, side view, showing reflexed outer petals.
Photographs by Nakorn Chaowasku.



Mitrephora chulabhorniana Damth., Aongyong & Chaowasku, sp. nov. 

Etymology.— The epithet is to honor HRH Princess Chulabhorn, the youngest daughter of the late King Rama IX of Thailand. Princess Chulabhorn has a strong interest in science and has initiated the establishment of the “Chulabhorn Research Institute” principally to promote and conduct basic as well as applied scientific research of national importance for the improvement of mankind’s quality of life. One of her areas of expertise is the field of “natural products”, and the new species herein described might contain bioactive compounds (as evidenced by previous studies on other species of Mitrephora, e.g. Zgoda-Pols et al., 2002; Li et al., 2009; Mueller et al., 2009; Moharam et al., 2010; Rayanil et al., 2013), possibly leading to the discovery of new drugs.



    


    

     


Anissara Damthongdee, Kithisak Aongyong and Tanawat Chaowasku. 2019. Mitrephora chulabhorniana (Annonaceae), An Extraordinary New Species from southern Thailand. Brittonia. DOI: 10.1007/s12228-019-09573-0
     




คณะวิทย์ มช. ค้นพบพืชชนิดใหม่ของโลก ได้รับพระราชทานนาม “พรหมจุฬาภรณ์”  
worldvarietynews.com/cmu-chulabhorniana/

การค้นพบพืชชนิดนี้ สืบเนื่องจากคณะนักวิจัย นำโดย อาจารย์ ดร.ธนวัฒน์ เชาวสกู สังกัดภาควิชาชีววิทยา คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ ร่วมด้วยนางสาวอานิสรา ดำทองดี นักศึกษาระดับบัณฑิตศึกษา สาขาวิชาความหลากหลายทางชีวภาพและชีววิทยาชาติพันธุ์ภาควิชาชีววิทยา คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยเชียงใหม่ และนายกิติศักดิ์ อ๋องย่อง นักวิจัยอิสระ ได้ดำเนินโครงการวิจัยเรื่อง “อนุกรมวิธานและวิวัฒนาการชาติพันธุ์ของพรรณไม้วงศ์กระดังงา ในประเทศไทยที่หายากและยังไม่เป็นที่รู้จัก เพื่อการอนุรักษ์และการใช้ประโยชน์อย่างยั่งยืน” ซึ่งโครงการวิจัยนี้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของการจัดทำหนังสือพรรณพฤกษชาติแห่งประเทศไทย และได้รับการสนับสนุนบางส่วนจาก สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมวิทยาศาสตร์ วิจัยและนวัตกรรม (สกสว.)

การวิจัยครั้งนี้ได้ค้นพบพืชชนิดใหม่ของโลก ในสกุล "มหาพรหม"จากป่าบนเขาหินปูนในจังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช ซึ่งพืชชนิดนี้มีลักษณะเด่นคือ เป็นไม้ต้นขนาดเล็ก สูงไม่เกิน 2 เมตร มีดอกขนาดเล็กที่สุดในสกุล ขนาดเส้นผ่านศูนย์กลางไม่เกิน 1 เซนติเมตร สีขาวเด่น และเปลี่ยนเป็นสีครีมเมื่อดอกมีอายุมากขึ้น มีกลิ่นหอมปานกลางคล้ายกลิ่นดอกโมก กลีบดอกชั้นในประกบกันเป็นรูปโดม โคนกลีบคอด เผยให้เห็นช่องว่างระหว่างกลีบ ผลเมื่อสุกสีแดงอมส้ม

ด้วยสำนึกในพระกรุณาธิคุณ สมเด็จเจ้าฟ้าฯ กรมพระศรีสวางควัฒน วรขัตติยราชนารีที่ทรงสนพระทัยการศึกษาวิจัยในสาขาวิทยาศาสตร์เคมี วิทยาศาสตร์ชีวภาพและการแพทย์ และวิทยาศาสตร์สิ่งแวดล้อม และเพื่อเป็นการเฉลิมพระเกียรติ เนื่องในโอกาสที่ทรงเจริญพระชนมายุครบ 5 รอบ มหาวิทยาลัยเชียงใหม่จึงได้กราบทูลขอพระราชทานนามไทย “พรหมจุฬาภรณ์” สำหรับพืชชนิดใหม่ของโลกชนิดนี้ และกราบทูลขอพระราชทานนามระบุชนิด “chulabhorniana” เพื่อเป็นชื่อวิทยาศาสตร์ว่า Mitrephorachulabhorniana Damth., Aongyong & Chaowasku

การค้นพบ "พรหมจุฬาภรณ์"ได้รับการตีพิมพ์ในวารสารวิชาการระดับนานาชาติ Brittonia เมื่อวันที่ 7 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2562 เป็นพันธุ์ไม้ที่ใกล้สูญพันธุ์อย่างยิ่งยวด พบเพียงไม่กี่ต้น บริเวณป่าดิบแล้งบนเขาหินปูนขนาดเล็กในอำเภอสิชล จังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช ซึ่งอยู่นอกเขตอนุรักษ์ของกรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช ระบบนิเวศเขาหินปูนนั้นเป็นระบบนิเวศที่เปราะบาง และมักพบสิ่งมีชีวิตที่จำเพาะ กล่าวคือ ไม่พบที่อื่นใดอีก เมื่อถูกคุกคามมีโอกาสสูญพันธุ์สูง เขาหินปูนลูกที่พบต้นพรหมจุฬาภรณ์นี้มีโอกาสถูกคุกคามในอนาคตอันใกล้ เนื่องจากการขยายตัวของสวนยางพาราและสวนปาล์มน้ำมัน หรือแม้กระทั่งการระเบิดหินปูนเพื่อการใช้ประโยชน์ จึงสมควรอย่างยิ่งที่หน่วยงานรัฐที่เกี่ยวข้อง อีกทั้งประชาชนคนไทยทุกคนจะต้องช่วยกันอนุรักษ์



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[Botany • 2019] Sapria myanmarensis • A New Species and A Newly Recorded Taxon of the Genus Sapria (Rafflesiaceae) [Contributions to the Flora of Myanmar IV]

August 20, 2019, 1:32 am
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Sapria myanmarensis Nob. Tanaka, Nagam., Tagane & M.M. Aung

in Tanaka, Nagamasu, Tagane, et al., 2019. 

Abstract
In the course of our intensive floristic inventories for the flora of Myanmar, a new species of the genus Sapria (Rafflesiaceae), Sapria myanmarensis Nob. Tanaka, Nagam, Tagane & M.M. Aung is described and photographed. In addition, S. himalayana Griff. f. albovinosa Bänziger & B. Hansen is newly recorded in the country. A key to the species of Sapria presently occurring in Myanmar is provided.

Keyword: Burma, Inventory, Myanmar, Parasitic plant, Rafflesiaceae, Sapria myanmarensis, Sapria himalayana f. albovinosa


Fig. 1. Sapria myanmarensis (female flower) from the type locality (Mu Mu Aung & Aung Khaing Win MY3336) A: Fully opened flower. B: Side view of flower. C: Longitudinal section of a flower attached to a Tetrastigma root. D: Upper surface of disk and ramenta on collar. E: Inner surface of perigone tube.
 Scales: 3 cm for A, B and C; 1 cm for D and E. (Photographs: Mu Mu Aung).

Fig. 2. Sapria myanmarensis (male flower). A: Fully opened flower. B: Flower bud. C: Longitudinal section of flower. D: Central column viewed from the bottom showing stamens. E: Side view of central column and a tangential section of the disk from a flower bud.
Scales: 3 cm for A and B; 1 cm for C, D and E. 
Photographs: A–B, Mu Mu Aung, C–D, Win Nwe (Mu Mu Aung & Win Nwe MM140); E, S. Tagane (Tagane et al. MY1103).

Sapria myanmarensis Nob. Tanaka, Nagam., Tagane & M.M. Aung, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Similar to Sapria himalayana Griff., but it is distinguished from it by a combination of features including vermilion perigone lobes with white-colored warts distributed only basally, a shorter perigone tube (1.5–2 cm vs. 3–4 cm in S. himalayana), a flat central disk (not bowl- or pan-shaped), a greater diameter of the disk crest (4–4.5 cm in diam. vs. 3.5–3.9 cm in diam. in S. himalayana) and crateriform ramenta. 
....

Distribution: Endemic to Myanmar. Thus far known only from northwestern part (Kachin State and Sagaing Region). 

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the name of the country. 

Vernacular name (Myanmar): Taung Kyar, meaning “mountain lotus flower”.

Fig. 4. Sapria himalayana f. albovinosa (female flower).
A: Side view of flower. B: Fully opened, slightly senescent flower from the top. C: Central column and bowl-shaped disk. D: Inner surface of perigone tube (central column removed).
Scales: 5 cm for A and B; 2 cm for C and D.
 Photographs: N. Tanaka (Tanaka et al. 2813).

Nobuyuki Tanaka, Hidetoshi Nagamasu, Shuichiro Tagane, Mu Mu Aung, Aung Khaing Win and Phyu Phyu Hnin. 2019. Contributions to the Flora of Myanmar IV: A New Species and A Newly Recorded Taxon of the Genus Sapria (Rafflesiaceae). Taiwania. 64(4); 357-362. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2019.64.357  tai2.ntu.edu.tw/taiwania/abstract.php?type=abstract&id=1634

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[Arachnida • 2019] Chilobrachys jonitriantisvansicklei • A New Specis of Chilobrachys (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from A Fragmented Forest Patch in the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka [Another from Sri Lanka, After 126 years]

August 20, 2019, 2:38 am
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Chilobrachys jonitriantisvansicklei
Nanayakkara, Sumanapala & Kirk, 2019


The mygalomorph spider family Theraphosidae is represented by 980 species in 144 genera globally (World Spider Catalogue 2018). Within the family Theraphosidae sites the genus Chilobrachys. The genus Chilobrachys is found in South and East Asia, with 27 described species to date (World Spider Catalogue 2018). They are ground dwelling spiders, living in burrows lined with silk and other debris (Nanayakkara, 2013, Nanayakkara 2014b). In Sri Lanka the genus is represented by only one species, namely Chilobrachys nitelinus Karsch, 1892 (Pocock 1900a, Nanayakkara 2014b), which also happens to be the type species (species typica) for the genus. 

The new species of Chilobrachys was collected from a fragmented rainforest patch, 347 hectares in extent, located in the Kalutara District, Western Province of Sri Lanka. The specimens were collected from burrows on a soil embankment covered with bryophytes, along the road, with a clear tubular extension made up of soil and other debris. Interestingly, the majority of the known members of the genus Chilobrachys are shades of brown, black or grey, and lack vibrant colours or iridescent sheens on their dorsal surface. The collected specimen on the other hand has a metallic turquoise-blue sheen on all four legs and also an iridescent sheen on the carapace and abdomen. As such, the collected specimen, differs greatly from the other members of the genus, including C. nitelinus, thereby warranting its taxonomy description as a new species. The discovery was part of an ongoing, island-wide study on the mygalomorph spiders in Sri Lanka. Here we describe the second species of Chilobrachys from Sri Lanka after 126 years.

Systematics
 Family: Theraphosidae, Thorell, 1870 
Genus: Chilobrachys Karsch, 1892 

Chilobrachys jonitriantisvansicklei sp. nov.




Etymology: The specific name refers to co-founder of Idea Wild Joni Triantis Van Sickle, who was kind enough to donate research equipment to the first author and Idea Wild’s continuous support to further research in fauna and flora around the globe.


Ranil P. Nanayakkara, Amila P. Sumanapala and Peter Kirk. 2019. Another from Sri Lanka, After 126 years; Chilobrachys jonitriantisvansicklei sp. nov. (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from A Fragmented Forest Patch in the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka. Journal of British Tarantula Society. 34(2).
ResearchGate.net/publication/335135799_Chilobrachys_jonitriantisvansicklei_from_the_wet_zone_of_Sri_Lanka

twitter.com/AmilaSumanapala/status/1159691549409546240
twitter.com/Arachnologynews/status/1163152785074003968 

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[Herpetology • 2019] Relicts and Radiations: of An Australasian Lizard Clade (Gekkota: Diplodactyloidea) with east Gondwanan Origins

August 21, 2019, 1:30 am
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in Skipwith, Bi & Oliver, 2019.

Highlights: 
• Ultraconserved elements resolve nearly all problematic relationships of diplodactyloid geckos.
• Phylogenenomic estimates differs greatly from Sanger estimates at species-level rather than reaffirms previously proposed relationships.
• Molecular dating confirms young crown ages of New Caledonian and New Zealand diplodactylids relative to mainland Australian radiations.
• No mass extinction event associated with Eocene-Oligocene cooling detected.
• Tail moprhology suggests that the environment has influenced tail shape extensively.

Abstract
Australasia harbors very high squamate diversity and is a center of endemicity for a number of major lineages. However, despite this diversity, the diplodactyloid geckos of Australia, New Caledonia, and New Zealand (comprised of three endemic families and > 200 species) are the only extant squamates with unequivocal Mesozoic origins in the region. Diplodactyloid geckos also exhibit notable phenotypic and ecological diversity, most strikingly illustrated by the functionally limbless pygopods. Here, we present the first phylogenomic analyses of the pattern and timing of diplodactyloid evolution, based on a dataset of more than 4,000 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from 180 species. These analyses fully resolve nearly all nodes, including a number of intergeneric relationships that have proven problematic in previous studies. The hypothesis that New Caledonia and New Zealand clades represent independent post-KT boundary colonization events of Tasmantis from Australian ancestors is confirmed. Phylogenetic relationships recovered here further highlight contrasting patterns of diversity, most strikingly between insular and/or morphologically highly derived clades that have diversified rapidly, as opposed to other species poor and phylogenetically divergent relictual lineages on mainland Australia. Our new timetree suggests slightly older branching times than previous analyses and does not find a mass extinction event in the early Cenozoic. Finally, our new phylogeny highlights caudal variation across the clade. Most strikingly, the distinctive leaf-tail morphology shown by one family may in fact be plesiomorphic.




Conclusion: 
This study represents the first phylogenomic attempt to address the higher-level relationships of an Australasian group of squamates. Our findings resolve many problematic relationships for a biogeographically unique and ecomorphologically diverse lineage. In so doing they highlight both remarkable phylogenetic relicts and instances of marked and potentially convergent ecomorphological evolution. Our study highlights the power of implementing genome-scale data to address questions in macroevolution, and the need for similar frameworks for other diverse and highly endemic Australasian radiations.


 Phillip L. Skipwith, Ke Bi and Paul M. Oliver. 2019. Relicts and Radiations: of An Australasian Lizard Clade with east Gondwanan Origins (Gekkota: Diplodactyloidea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press.  DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106589 

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[Paleontology • 2019] Keresdrakon vilsoni • A New Toothless Pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea) from Southern Brazil with Insights Into the Paleoecology of A Cretaceous Desert

August 21, 2019, 2:37 am
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Keresdrakon vilsoni

 Kellner, Weinschütz, Holgado, Bantim & Sayão, 2019

ABSTRACT
  The first pterosaur bone bed from Brazil was reported in 2014 at the outskirts of the town Cruzeiro do Oeste, Paraná State, in the Southern region of the country. Here named 'cemitério dos pterossauros' site, these outcrops were referred to the Goio-Erê Formation (Turonian-Campanian) of the Caiuá Group (Bauru Basin) and revealed the presence of hundreds of isolated or partially articulated elements of the tapejarine pterosaur Caiuajaraand fewer amounts of a theropod dinosaur. Here we present a new tapejaromorph flying reptile from this site, Keresdrakon vilsoni gen. et sp. nov., which shows a unique blunt ridge on the dorsal surface of the posterior end of the dentary. Morphological and osteohistological features indicate that all recovered individuals represent late juveniles or sub-adults. This site shows the first direct evidence of sympatry in Pterosauria. The two distinct flying reptiles coexisted with a theropod dinosaur, providing a rare glimpse of a paleobiological community from a Cretaceous desert.

Key words: Paleoecology; Pterosauria; Pterodactyloidea; Keresdrakon vilsoni; Paraná; Cretaceous

Figure 3: Holotype of Keresdrakon vilsoni gen. et sp. nov. (CP.V 2069). Skull and lower jaw are presented in right lateral view.

Abbreviations: cra - skull, cv - cervical vertebra, fe - femur, gas - gastralia, hu - humerus, man - mandible, q - quadrate, ra - radius, ri - ribs, sca - scapula, st - sternum, ti - tíbia; l - left, r - right. Scale bar = 100mm.

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY

PTEROSAURIA Kaup 1834
PTERODACTYLOIDEA Plieninger 1901
AZHDARCHOIDEA Nesov 1984
TAPEJAROMORHA Andres et al. 2014

Keresdrakon gen. nov.

Etymology: A combination of Keres, death-spirits who personified violent death in Greek mythology and are associated to doom and/or plunder; and drakon, which is the Ancient Greek word for dragon or huge serpent.

Type species: Keresdrakon vilsoni, type by monotypy.


Keresdrakon vilsoni gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. In honor to Mr. Vilson Greinert, a volunteer who dedicated hundreds of hours preparing most of the specimens from 'cemitério dos pterossauros' site housed in CENPALEO and in the town of Cruzeiro do Oeste.

Figure 1 Map showing the location of the 'cemitério dos pterossauros' site in Cruzeiro do Oeste (red arrow), Paraná State, southern Brazil. (a) The outcrops of the Bauru Basin (light grey) in Brazil, (b) detail of the Bauru basin with the Rio Paraná (light green), Goio-Erê (light blue), Santo Anastácio (grey) formations, and the Bauru Group (dark grey), and (c) stratigraphic chart showing the relations of the former, including the underlying Serra Geral Formation (green).

Type locality, horizon and age. 'cemitério dos pterossauros' site (53° 03′ 53,4″W; 23° 45′ 34,5″S - contra Langer et al. 2019), Cruzeiro do Oeste, Paraná State, Brazil; Bauru Basin, Caiuá Group, Goio-Erê Formation Cretaceous (Milani et al. 2007, Basilici et al. 2012, Batezelli 2015).

Diagnosis. Azhdarchoid pterodactyloid with the following autapomorphies: short blunt ridge on the dorsal surface of the posterior end of the dentary; foramen on the ventral surface at the anterior half of the proximal articulation of the first phalanx of digit IV; and foramen on lateral surface of the ischium.

The new species can be further distinguished from other azhdarchoid pterosaurs by the following combination of characters: dorsal margin of the premaxillae above the nasoantorbital fenestra rounded; sagittal groove on the dorsal surface of the premaxillae above the nasoantorbital fenestra; ridge on the medial surface of the splenial; ventral bar of the nasoantorbital fenestra thick; lateral pneumatic foramen on mid-cervical vertebra large; and strongly asymmetrical sternal articulation of the coracoid.


Figure 10: Time-calibrated phylogenetic tree showing the relationships of Keresdrakon vilsoni gen. et sp. nov. within the Pterodactyloidea. Intermittent bars show uncertain temporal range. Letters in intermittent bars indicate controversial age hypotheses of the Goio-Erê Formation: (a) Albian-Aptian; (b) Turonian-Campanian. Outgroup relationships are not shown (see Holgado et al. 2019 - Supplementary Information for further details). Stratigraphic chart modified from Cohen et al. (2013).

Figure 16: Sample (CP.V 2374) from bonebed C of Figure 2, showing two caudal vertebrae from Vespersaurus paranaensis (a), the diaphysis of a large first phalanx of manual digit IV of Keresdrakon vilsoni gen. et sp. nov. (b), and bones of Caiuajara dobruskii (c), separated by the white line. 
Abbreviations: cdr - caudal vertebrae, ph1d4 - first phalanx of manual digit IV. Scale bar = 100mm.

   

Figure 17: Reconstruction of the paleoenvironment showing the possible interaction of the vertebrate fauna recovered from the 'cemitério dos pterossauros' site. Artwork by Maurilio Oliveira.

CONCLUSIONS: 
The coexistence of fossil vertebrates, including pterosaurs, are hard to be proven in the fossil record, specially cases of sympatry. Regarding pterosaurs, there must have been several places along deep time where closely related species might have overlapped and shared similar geographic distribution. The challenge is to find direct evidences of this. The 'cemitério dos pterossauros' site represents the co-occurrence of distinct pterosaur species in the same bone beds, showing that Keresdrakon and Caiuajara were coeval. This site also shows that the dinosaur Vespersaurus paranaensis shared this ancient desert environment with these two flying reptiles. While Caiuajara, despite being small and therefore potentially having a more fragile skeleton, by far outnumber the other taxa and is one of the few examples in the fossil record that might argue for gregarious behavior in pterosaurs, Keresdrakon vilsoni was scarcer and apparently represents a species with solitary behavior. We advocate that both specialized in different feeding items of this most likely depauperate environment. Caiuajara is regarded as being frugivorous and Keresdrakon might have been an opportunistic predator or a scavenger feeding at small animals or carcasses such as that of Vespersaurus. The latter might have made a living by hunting individuals of Caiuajara dobruskii that were abundant. All three were part of a paleobiological community that existed in this region during part of the Cretaceous.

As has been pointed out before (Kellner 2012), the outcrops in the region of Cruzeiro do Oeste, more specifically deposits from the Caiuá Group as the Goio-Erê formation, might turn out to become the `Brazilian Mongolia´ in terms of fossil vertebrates. The hundreds of fossils from two pterosaur species and one theropod dinosaur, as well as the occurrence of a lizard, endorse this potential. It is also likely that the future might show additional taxonomic groups like mammals and other reptiles. More fieldwork and careful collection of specimens might contribute to a better understanding of the ecosystem of ancient Cretaceous deserts that, despite its general depauperate conditions, had areas where life could prosper.


Alexander W.A. Kellner, Luiz C. Weinschütz, Borja Holgado, Renan A. M. Bantim and Juliana M. Sayão. 2019. A New Toothless Pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea) from Southern Brazil with Insights Into the Paleoecology of A Cretaceous Desert. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências. [An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.] 91; supl. 2.  DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201920190768 


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[Paleontology • 2019] Vallibonavenatrix cani • A New Spinosaurid Theropod (Dinosauria: Megalosauroidea) from the late Barremian of Vallibona, Spain: Implications for Spinosaurid Diversity in the Early Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula

August 21, 2019, 11:41 pm
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 Vallibonavenatrix cani
Malafaia, Gasulla, Escaso, Narváez, Sanz & Ortega, 2019   

 twitter.com/HdCiencia 
Reconstruction: José Antonio Peñas 

Abstract
A new medium-sized theropod dinosaur from the Arcillas de Morella Formation (upper Barremian) in Vallibona (Castellón, Spain) is described based on a partial skeleton. Vallibonavenatrix cani, gen. et sp. nov., is diagnosed by five autapomorphies: moderately high dorsal neural spines relative to the centrum height, the presence of deep pleurocoelous fossae and pneumatic foramina in the sacral vertebrae, a strongly pneumatic ilium with large internal cameras, the presence of a broad and flat platform on the ventromedial surface of the postacetabular blade of the ilium, and the strong ventral torsion of the ischium diaphysis. Phylogenetic analysis recovered Vallibonavenatrix cani as a spinosaurid megalosauroid and revealed that the new Iberian form is more closely related to Gondwanan spinosaurines, such as Spinosaurus, Irritator or Angaturama and the Asian taxon Ichthyovenatorthan it is to its synchronic contemporary European taxon Baryonyx walkeri. The Gondwanan or Asian affinities of Vallibonavenatrix indicate a complex palaeobiogeographic pattern and may be interpreted simultaneously as evidence for contact between Europe and North Africa and between Europe and Asia before the Aptian. This specimen is currently the most complete evidence of a spinosaurid theropod known in the fossil record of the Iberian Peninsula.

Keywords: Vallibonavenatrix, Spinosauridae, Early Cretaceous, Iberian Peninsula, Arcillas de Morella Formation

Figure 3. Mid and posterior dorsal vertebrae of Vallibonavenatrix in anterior (A, E, I), left lateral (B, F, J), posterior (C, G, K), and ventral (D, H, L) views.
Abbreviations: asl, accessory lamina; cdf, centrodiapophyseal fossa; hy, hyposphene; nc, neural canal; ncs, neurocentral suture; ns, neural spine; pcd, pleurocentral depression; pcdl, posterior centrodiapophyseal lamina; pocdf, postzygapophyseal centrodiapophyseal fossa; poz, postzygapophysis; pp, parapophysis; ppdl, paradiapophyseal lamina; prcdf, prezygapophyseal centrodiapophyseal fossa; prdl, prezygodiapophyseal lamina; prz, prezygapophysis; spof, spinopostzygapophyseal fossa; spol, spinopostzygapophyseal lamina; tp, transverse process; vg, ventral groove; vr, ventral ridge.

Figure 1. Geographic location of the locality of Vallibona (Castellón province, Spain) where the material of the holotype of Vallibonavenatrix was found.


Reconstruction: José Antonio Peñas 

Systematic Paleontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842.
Theropoda Marsh, 1881.
Megalosauroidea (Fitzinger, 1843)
Spinosauridae Stromer, 1915.

Vallibonavenatrix gen. nov.

Etymology. Vallibona-, as the town where the holotype specimen was found, and -venatrix, as the Latin for huntress.

Vallibonavenatrix cani sp. nov.

Etymology. The species epithet honours Juan Cano Forner, who found the holotype specimen.

Type locality and type horizon. The specimen was collected in the locality of Santa Águeda, near the town of Vallibona (Castellón province, Spain). The sediments that contained the fossils belong to the Arcillas de Morella Fm., late Barremian in age (Bover-Arnal et al., 2016).

....


Figure 11. Time-calibrated reduced consensus tree from phylogenetic analysis after pruning Xuanhanosaurus. Capitalized terminal clades have been summarized, but are fully shown in a version of this tree in Table 5 of the Supplementary material. Note that Vallibonavenatrix is nested within “Spinosaurinae”, which is highlighted by a violet box.


 Elisabete Malafaia, José Miguel Gasulla, Fernando Escaso, Iván Narváez, José Luis Sanz and Francisco Ortega. 2019. A New Spinosaurid Theropod (Dinosauria: Megalosauroidea) from the late Barremian of Vallibona, Spain: Implications for Spinosaurid Diversity in the Early Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula. Cretaceous Research. In Press.  DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2019.104221
#Vallibonavenatrix #dinossáurio #terópode #espinossaurídeo #Cretácico #Castellón

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[Herpetology • 2019] Pristimantis nelsongalloi • A New Species of Terrestrial-breeding Frog of the Genus Pristimantis (Anura: Terrarana: Craugastoridae) from the eastern Andean Slopes of the southern Ecuador

August 22, 2019, 7:56 pm
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Pristimantis nelsongalloi
Valencia, Valladares-Suntasig, Tipantiza-Tuguminago & Dueñas, 2019


Abstract
A new frog of the genus Pristimantis is described from a montane cloud forest at 9 de Octubre (2°14’52” S, 78°16’37” W; 1778 m) province of Morona Santiago in the upper basin of the Upano River, southeastern Ecuador. The description of the new species is based on the examination of eleven adult males and three adult females. The new taxon can be readily distinguished from other congeneric species that inhabit the eastern Andes of Ecuador by the unique combination of the following characters: small body (adult males SVL 12.0–17.0 mm, adult females SVL 18.5–21.7 mm); skin of dorsum finely shagreen with two subconical scapular tubercles, weak and discontinuous dorsolateral folds in the middle of the back; large tympanum 70–93% of eye diameter; snout subacuminate in dorsal view, rounded in profile; upper eyelid bearing four or five small and flat supraocular tubercles; males lacking vocal slits and nuptial pads; all discs on fingers and toes lanceolate. Additionally, we provide information on the advertisement call and natural history of the new species.

Keywords: Andes, Ecuador, Pristimantis bicantus, Pristimantis nelsongalloi sp. nov., Craugastoridae, Anura, Amphibia


Pristimantis nelsongalloi sp. nov.


Jorge H. Valencia, Francisco Valladares-Suntasig, Luis Tipantiza-Tuguminago and Manuel R. Dueñas. 2019. A New Species of Terrestrial-breeding Frog of the Genus Pristimantis (Anura: Terrarana: Craugastoridae) from the eastern Andean Slopes of the southern Ecuador. Zootaxa. 4658(3); 509–525. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4658.3.4


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[Botany • 2019] Pseuderia samarana (Orchidaceae: Podochileae, Eriinae) • A New Species and Genus Record from the Philippines

August 22, 2019, 8:42 pm
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 Pseuderia samarana Z.D. Meneses & Cootes

in Meneses & Cootes, 2019. 

Abstract
A new species of orchid, Pseuderia samarana Z.D. Meneses & Cootes (Orchidaceae: Podochileae, Eriinae) from Samar Island, Philippines is described and illustrated. This is also a new generic record for the country. It is distinguished from other known species by the combination of the following characters: relatively smaller lanceolate leaves, minutely cuspidate bracts, 2-flowered raceme borne on short peduncle, narrower labellum, and entire clinandrium margins. Notes on its habitat and ecology, distribution, conservation status, and comparison with other closely related New Guinean speciesare also presented.

Keyword: Eriinae, Orchidaceae, Philippines, Podochileae, Pseuderia samarana, Samar Island

Fig. 1. Pseuderia samarana Z.D. Meneses & Cootes.
A: Inflorescences bearing 2 flowers borne on short peduncles B: Habit of Pseuderia samarana C: Fruits.
 Photos A‒B by Zhereeleen D. Meneses, photo C by Jiro T. Adorador. 
A = 1 cm, B = 6 cm, C = 2 cm


Fig. 2. Pseuderia samarana Z.D. Meneses & Cootes
 A: Flowering branch B: Flower at anthesis. Detached floral parts C: Abaxial surface of dorsal sepal D: Abaxial surface of lateral sepal E: abaxial surface of Lateral petal F: Labellum side view, showing adaxial surface G: Abaxial surface of labellum H: Column side view I: Column, front view.
Drawn from the holotype (Z.D. Meneses 213). 
Scale bar: A = 6 cm, B = 0.8 cm, C‒I = 1 cm. Drawn by Jiro T. Adorador.

Pseuderia samarana Z.D. Meneses & Cootes, sp. nov.

Diagnosis.Pseuderia samarana shares similarity with both P. frutex and P. floribunda but the new species significantly differs in its 2-flowered inflorescence (vs. 3‒ 5-flowered in other two species), much narrower labellum (2.5 mm wide vs. 4.5‒5 mm) and entire clinandrium margins (vs. serrulate in P. frutex and dentate in P. floribunda).  
....

Etymology. This new orchid species is named after the type province, Samar. The province forms a large partion of the Samar Island Natural Park. It has several rolling limestone formations which supports a distinct forest type. Samar also houses the headquarters of the park’s Protected Area Management Board which is the governing and managing office of the natural park


Zhereeleen D. Meneses and James Edward Cootes. 2019. Pseuderia samarana (Orchidaceae), A New Species and Genus Record from the Philippines. Taiwania. 64(4); 353-356. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2019.64.353 
 http://tai2.ntu.edu.tw/taiwania/abstract.php?type=abstract&id=1633

In Samar, there’s a new orchid on the block newsinfo.inquirer.net/1156167/in-samar-theres-a-new-orchid-on-the-block via @inquirerdotnet

     

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[Botany • 2019] Euphorbia rimireptans (Euphorbiaceae, Articulofruticosae) • A New Species from the Skeleton Coast, Namibia

August 23, 2019, 12:00 am
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Euphorbia rimireptans Swanepoel, R.W.Becker & Alma Möller

in Swanepoel, Becker, Mӧller & de Cauwer, 2019. 

Abstract 
Euphorbia rimireptans, here described as a new species, is known only from the northern part of the Skeleton Coast (part of the Namib Desert) in the Kaokoveld Centre of Endemism, northwestern Namibia. These perennial shrublets grow on rocky outcrops of latite under harsh desert conditions. Diagnostic characters for E. rimireptans include the procumbent, sometimes pendant habit, the soft, rubber-like terete or slightly tapering branches that are curved or ± straight, frequently orientated in the same direction from the base, and the glabrous or sparsely hairy capsule, which releases verrucose ovoid seeds. A comparison of some of the more prominent morphological features to differentiate between E. rimireptans and its possible nearest relative, E. giessii, is provided. 

Keywords: endemism, flora, Kaokoveld Centre of Endemism, latite, Namib Desert, taxonomy

FIGURE 2. Euphorbia rimireptans. A. Staminate cyathia. B. Pistillate cyathia, in different stages of development. C. Capsule. D. Inflorescences, staminate plant. Photographs by W. Swanepoel.

FIGURE 1. Habit of Euphorbia rimireptans. A. Pendant. B. Procumbent, all branches orientated in one direction, showing grey base. C. Procumbent, branches intertwined. Photographs by W. Swanepoel.

FIGURE 4. Euphorbia rimireptans plant (foreground, centre) in its natural habitat. Photograph by W. Swanepoel.

Euphorbia rimireptans Swanepoel, R.W.Becker & Alma Möller sp. nov. 

Diagnosis:— Succulent shrublet up to 0.5 m in its greatest diam., similar to E. giessii, from which it differs in being procumbent, sometimes pendant (vs. erect, up to 0.8 m high); branches, shorter and thinner (up to 0.5 m long, 2.8–6.0 mm diam.), soft, rubber-like, terete or only slightly tapering [vs. longer and thicker (up to 0.8 m long, 4–12 mm diam.), rigid, firm, tapering]; leaf lamina not panduriform, of uniform thickness, glabrous (vs. somewhat panduriform, thickened towards apex, densely hairy at base adaxially); bracts dissimilar to the leaves, hairy adaxially at base only, otherwise glabrous (vs. bracts similar to the leaves, hairy adaxially); gland shape mostly variable on each involucre, oblong, oblong-elliptic, elliptic, reniform, ovate or flabellate (vs. gland shape uniform on each involucre, oblongelliptic, elliptic or sub-circular); staminate flowers with filaments glabrous, shorter (0.4–0.8 mm long), anther theca pale yellow [vs. filaments glabrous or with long hairs, longer (0.9–1.2 mm long), anther theca pale green]; capsule glabrous or sparsely hairy, rarely dotted, pedicel ± 0.6 mm diam. (vs. sparsely to densely hairy, seldom glabrous, conspicuously dotted, pedicel ± 1.1 mm diam.); seed verrucose.
...

Etymology:— The specific epithet is derived from Latin and refers to the habit of Euphorbia rimireptans: ‘rimireptans’ = creeping from rock fissures.

FIGURE 3. Euphorbia rimireptans plant that was pressed as the type specimen, showing subtuberous root. Photograph by W. Swanepoel.



Wessel Swanepoel, Rolf W. Becker, Alma Mӧller and Vera de Cauwer. 2019. Euphorbia rimireptans (Euphorbiaceae, Articulofruticosae), A New Species from the Skeleton Coast, Namibia. Phytotaxa. 414(4); 165–173. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.414.4.2

    

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[Herpetology • 2019] New Species of Lepidodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from New Guinea and Adjacent Islands; Lepidodactylus aignanus, L. zweifeli, L. mitchelli, L. kwasnickae & L. dialeukos

August 23, 2019, 7:30 am
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Lepidodactylus kwasnickae
Kraus, 2019


Abstract
I describe five new species of Lepidodactylus from New Guinea or adjacent islands that are members of Brown & Parker’s (1977) phenetic Groups I and II and belong to the clades identified as the L. orientalis, L. pumilus, and L. novaeguineae groups of Oliver et al. (2018a). One of the new species is restricted to an isolated mountain range on New Guinea; the remainder inhabit offshore islands ranging from 3–250 km from New Guinea. These species are distinguished from their congeners primarily by unique combinations of toe lamellar numbers and shape, numbers and distribution of enlarged precloacal/femoral scales and pores, toe webbing, toe width, and color pattern. These clades are ancient, and the ancestor of one of them has been on the East Papuan Composite Terrane for at least 28 MY, highlighting the long-term importance of that former large island in generating regional biodiversity. At least one, and probably three, of the new species are inhabitants of forest interiors; one occupies disturbed coastal areas; and the habitat of the last is currently unsurmisable. All of the new species likely have restricted geographic distributions, with four of them being limited to one or a few small islands. As a result of their small ranges, rapid habitat conversion in the ranges of some of these species, and the threat of further habitat loss in the others, most of these species are of conservation concern although it is uncertain if any of them is under immediate threat.

Keywords: Reptilia, Adelbert Mts, East Papuan Composite Terrane, Misima, Woodlark, Yapen


Lepidodactylus aignanus sp. nov.

Etymology. The name is a masculine adjective referring to the type locality of Misima Island, whose former name was St. Aignan Island. 


Lepidodactylus zweifeli sp. nov. 

Etymology. The name is a genitive honorific for the collector, Richard Zweifel, whose contributions to knowledge of the herpetofauna of New Guinea and nearby islands were foundational to current understanding.


Lepidodactylus mitchelli sp. nov. 

Etymology. The name is a genitive honorific for my friend, David Mitchell, who has directed a series of conservation organizations in Milne Bay Province for many years, frequently provided logistical support to my expeditions in that same province, and helped collect part of the type series.

Holotype of Lepidodactylus kwasnickae sp. nov. (BPBM 39880).

Lepidodactylus kwasnickae sp. nov. 

Etymology. The name is a genitive honorific for my friend Gretta Kwasnicka who has long provided gracious hospitality and support for my fieldwork in Milne Bay Province.


Lepidodactylus dialeukos sp. nov. 

Etymology. The name is a masculine possessive Greek adjective meaning marked with white. The name is in reference to the numerous narrow white markings that typify this species.


Fred Kraus. 2019. New Species of Lepidodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from New Guinea and Adjacent Islands. Zootaxa. 4651(2); 305–329. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4651.2.7  
Logging, mining companies lock eyes on a biodiverse island like no other news.mongabay.com/2019/07/logging-mining-companies-lock-eyes-on-a-biodiverse-island-like-no-other/ @Mongabay

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[Herpetology • 2019] Bothrops monsignifer • A New Species of Pitviper of the Genus Bothrops (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from the Central Andes of South America

August 23, 2019, 7:55 am
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Bothrops monsignifer
Timms, Chaparro, Venegas, Salazar-Valenzuela, Scrocchi, Cuevas, Leynaud & Carrasco, 2019


Abstract
We describe a new species of montane pitviper of the genus Bothrops from the Cordillera Oriental of the Central Andes, distributed from southern Peru to central Bolivia. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the characteristic combination of a dorsal body color pattern consisting of triangular or subtriangular dark brown dorsal blotches, paired dark brown parallel occipital stripes, a conspicuous dark brown postocular stripe, the presence of canthorostrals in some specimens, prelacunal fused or partially fused with second supralabial, one scale usually separating internasals, rostral trapezoidal, two canthals oval to rounded, similar size or slightly larger than internasals, three or four medial intercanthals, eight to twelve intersupraoculars, intercanthals and intersupraoculars keeled and frequently slightly keeled, supraoculars oval, one to three suboculars, two to three postoculars, loreal subtriangular, two to six prefoveals, subfoveals absent, two or none postfoveals, one or two scales between suboculars and fourth supralabial, seven or eight supralabials, nine or eleven infralabials, 23–25 middorsal scales, 189–195 ventrals in females and 182–190 in males, 48–58 subcaudals in females and 54–63 in males, exceptionally undivided. The new species is apparently restricted to areas within Andean montane forests that are less humid and devoid of large trees.

Keywords: Reptilia, Andes, Bolivia, morphology, Peru, phylogeny, pitviper species

First specimen of the new species photographed in Bolivia (Refugio Los Volcanes, department of Santa Cruz).
Photo by W. Guzmán.

Bothrops monsignifer sp. nov.  

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the Latin (noun) by the union of “mons” (=montane) + “ignifer” (=flame, fire or flash), meaning fire mountain or volcano, in allusion to the location where the first Bolivian specimen was photographed (Refugio Los Volcanes, department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia).

 Juan Timms, Juan C. Chaparro, Pablo J. Venegas, David Salazar-Valenzuela, Gustavo J. Scrocchi, Jairo Cuevas, Gerardo C. Leynaud and Paola A. Carrasco. 2019. A New Species of Pitviper of the Genus Bothrops (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from the Central Andes of South America. Zootaxa. 4656(1); 99–120. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4656.1.4

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[PaleoMammalogy • 2019] Casatia thermophila • A New Monodontidae (Cetacea, Delphinoidea) from the lower Pliocene of Italy Supports A Warm-water Origin for Narwhals and White Whales

August 25, 2019, 6:54 am
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Casatia thermophila
Bianucci, Pesci, Collareta & Tinelli, 2019

Illustration: A. Gennari.  facebook.com/SimoneCasati31

ABSTRACT
A new taxon of monodontid cetacean, Casatia thermophila, gen. et sp. nov., is here described on the basis of a partial skull from lower Pliocene (5.1–4.5 Ma) marginal-marine deposits of Tuscany (central Italy). This new taxon belongs to Monodontidae based on the presence of a medial exposure of the maxillae anterior and lateral to the external bony nares; it mainly differs from all other named monodontids by the presence of a median depression of the premaxillae anterior to the premaxillary sac fossae and by a medial margin of the premaxillary-maxillary suture that does not parallel the anterolateral profile of the external bony nares. Our phylogenetic analysis, the first including all taxa of Monodontidae, recovers Casatia as a crown monodontid, more closely related to Delphinapterus than to Monodon and sister group of an unnamed taxon from the North Sea. The holotype of Casatia represents the first and only fossil monodontid from the Mediterranean Basin. Taking its place beside abundant fossils of strongly thermophilic marine vertebrates, such as the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas, the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier, and the extinct sirenian Metaxytherium subapenninum, Casatia thermophila represents the strongest evidence supporting the hypothesis that monodontids once thrived in low-latitude, warm-water habitats. On the basis of our phylogenetic reconstruction, early relatives of the extant monodontids might have adapted independently to the high-latitude, cold-water environments they currently master. The definitive disappearance of the Neogene thermophilic monodontids could be attributed to the cooling episode that accompanied the onset of long-term Northern Hemisphere glaciation around 3 Ma.




Life reconstruction of Casatia thermophila, gen. et sp. nov., swimming in the coastal waters off present-day Tuscany in early Pliocene times (5.1–4.5 Ma). Behind the cetacean, two individuals of the sirenian Metaxytherium subapenninum are approaching the shallow sea floor, likely attracted by the presence of abundant seagrasses. The coexistence of monodontids (C. thermophila) and sea cows (M. subapenninum) in the warm marginalmarine waters of the central Mediterranean Basin during the early Pliocene reflects the composition of the fossil vertebrate assemblage from Arcille, where a sirenian specimen was collected from the same horizon as the holotype of C. thermophila.
Illustration: A. Gennari

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY
CETACEA Brisson, 1762
ODONTOCETI Flower, 1867
DELPHINOIDEA Gray, 1821
MONODONTIDAE Gray, 1821

CASATIA, gen. nov.

Type and Only Known Species— Casatia thermophila, sp. nov.

Etymology— The genus name honors Simone Casati, prominent amateur paleontologist who discovered most of the fossil vertebrates from Arcille (the locality where the holotype of Casatia thermophila was found) and author of several academic and popularizing works on the Pliocene marine vertebrates of Tuscany (Casati, 2007; Bianucci et al., 2009; Cigala-Fulgosi et al., 2009; Oddone et al., 2009; Casati and Oddone, 2011; Collareta et al., 2017, 2018).

CASATIA THERMOPHILA, sp. nov.

Etymology— The species name is from the Greek ‘thermós’ (= hot) and ‘philos’ (= loving), considering the warm-water habits of this extinct cetacean.

Map of the Northern Hemisphere showing the distribution of extant Delphinapterus (pink area) and congeneric Quaternary fossils (pink squares), extant Monodon (blue area) and congeneric Quaternary fossils (blue squares), and the extinct Casatia (arrow) and other Neogene monodontid genera (green squares).


Giovanni Bianucci, Fabio Pesci, Alberto Collareta and Chiara Tinelli. 2019. A New Monodontidae (Cetacea, Delphinoidea) from the lower Pliocene of Italy Supports A Warm-water Origin for Narwhals and White Whales. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.  DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2019.1645148 

   

    

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[Arachnida • 2019] Taxonomic Revision of the Colombian Tityus (Archaeotityus) (Scorpiones, Buthidae) Species: A Morphological and Morphometric Approach, with A Description of A New Species

August 26, 2019, 6:26 am
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Tityus tayrona Lourenço, 1991

in Moreno-González, González & Flórez, 2019. 


Abstract
We present a taxonomic revision of the Colombian Tityus (Archaeotityus) species based on morphological and morphometric evidence. We examined more than 385 specimens and evaluated new and previously used qualitative and quantitative morphological characters. We redescribe the Colombian species and present morphological characters for both sexes and an emended diagnosis for the subgenus Tityus (Archaeotityus). We describe a new species Tityus guane sp. nov. from Santander department, Colombia, Tityus betschi Lourenço 1992 is synonymized with Tityus parvulus Kraepelin, 1914, and Tityus wayuu Rojas-Runjaic & Armas, 2007 is synonymized with Tityus tayrona Lourenço, 1991. We measured 186 specimens and performed a multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) for 34 selected morphometric ratios for each sex. We found that a few morphological ratios support species level distinctions within the Colombian species. We provide updated distributional maps with new records and an identification key for both sexes. Furthermore, we provide an updated checklist for the subgenus and a discussion about the character systems used within Tityus (Archaeotityus). The new morphological characters proposed and the traditional morphometry examined with a PCA are useful for studying Tityus (Archaeotityus) taxonomy.


Keywords: Arachnida, Scorpions, South America, Neotropical region, Scorpiones



Jairo A. Moreno-González, Ranulfo González O. and Eduardo Flórez D.. 2019. Taxonomic Revision of the Colombian Tityus (Archaeotityus) (Scorpiones, Buthidae) Species: A Morphological and Morphometric Approach, with A Description of A New Species. Zootaxa. 4660(1); 1–94.   DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4660.1.1

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[Herpetology • 2019] Noblella losamigos • A New Species of Terrestrial-Breeding Frog (Strabomantidae, Noblella) from the Upper Madre De Dios Watershed, Amazonian Andes and Lowlands of Southern Peru

August 26, 2019, 7:02 am
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Noblella losamigos 
Santa-Cruz, von May, Catenazzi, Whitcher, Tejeda & Rabosky, 2019


Abstract
 We describe and name a new species of Noblella Barbour, 1930 (Strabomantidae) from southern Peru. Key diagnostic characteristics of the new species include the presence of a short, oblique fold-like tubercle on the ventral part of the tarsal region, two phalanges on finger IV, and an evident tympanum. The elevational distribution of the new species spans 1250 m (240–1490 m) from lowland Amazon rainforest to montane forest on the eastern slopes of the Andes. 

Keywords: amphibians; ecomorphology; miniaturization; systematics; taxonomy


Figure 3. Photographs of live specimen of Noblella losamigos sp. n. (A–C) Adult male paratype MUSM 37355 (SVL 9.5 mm). Photographs by Rudolf von May

Noblella losamigos sp. n.  

Diagnosis: A new species of Noblella characterized by (1) skin on dorsum smooth to finely shagreen, skin on belly smooth, discoidal fold absent, dorsolateral folds absent; (2) tympanic annulus visible below skin, with the upper portion (1/4) covered by a supratympanic fold; tympanic membrane evident; columella present (Figure 6); (3) snout short, rounded in dorsal view and bluntly rounded to subtruncate in profile; (4) upper eyelid with minute tubercles, cranial crests absent; (5) dentigerous process of vomers absent; (6) vocal slits present; nuptial pads absent; .... 


Etymology: The specific epithet is a toponym used in apposition and it refers to the type locality. Los Amigos Biological Station is located next to Los Amigos Conservation Concession, on the lower Los Amigos River watershed. Both the station and the conservation concession were established by the Amazon Conservation Association, which is a nonprofit organization that (along with its Peruvian counterpart, Conservación Amazónica—ACCA) promotes scientific research, education, and conservation in the western Amazon. 


Figure 4. Photographs of live specimens of Noblella losamigos sp. n. (A,B) Adult male paratype MUSM 37357 (SVL 10.3 mm). (C,D) Adult female paratype MUSM 37356 (SVL 9.7 mm).
Photographs by Roy Santa-Cruz.


Figure 8. Photographs of live specimens of Noblella losamigos sp. n. (A) Dorsal view and (B) ventral view of MUBI 17413, adult male paratype (SVL 9.6 mm); (C) dorsal view and (D) ventral view of CORBIDI 17520, adult male paratype (SVL 11.1 mm); (E) dorsal view and (F) ventral view of CORBIDI 17521, adult male paratype (SVL 9.6 mm).
Photographs by A. Catenazzi.


Figure 9. Photographs of live specimens of Noblella losamigos sp. n. (A) Dorsal view and (B) ventral view of MUSM 30427, adult female paratype (SVL 11.6 mm); (C) dorsal view and (D) ventral view of MVZ:Herp:292684, adult female paratype (SVL 13.2 mm); (E) dorsal view and (F) ventral view of CORBIDI 17522, adult female paratype (SVL 13.6 mm). Photographs by A. Catenazzi.


Roy Santa-Cruz, Rudolf von May, Alessandro Catenazzi, Courtney Whitcher, Evaristo López Tejeda and Daniel L. Rabosky. 2019.  A New Species of Terrestrial-Breeding Frog (Amphibia, Strabomantidae, Noblella) from the Upper Madre De Dios Watershed, Amazonian Andes and Lowlands of Southern Peru.  Diversity. 11; 0145. DOI: 10.3390/d11090145  
New species of minute leaf-litter frog from Peru - Catenazzi Lab  CatenazziLab.org/1/post/2019/08/new-species-of-minute-leaf-litter-frog-from-peru.html


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[Botany • 2019] Diastema fimbratiloba (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species of Diastema from the eastern Andean Slopes of Peru

August 26, 2019, 7:52 pm
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Diastema fimbratiloba Moonlight & J.L.Clark

in Clark & Moonlight, 2019. 

Abstract
A striking new species of Diastema, D. fimbratiloba, is described from Ucayali Region, along the eastern Andean slopes in central Peru. The new species has a fimbriate lower corolla lobe, a feature not previously documented in the genus. We also provide a general comparison of the newly described species and morphologically related species in the context of the taxonomy and phylogeny of the poorly known genus Diastema.

Keywords: Diastema, Gesneriaceae, Peru.


Diastema fimbratiloba Moonlight & J.L.Clark, sp. nov.
Photograph taken by P. W. Moonlight 
of the type collection in the field.

Diastema fimbratiloba Moonlight & J.L. Clark, sp. nov.
 A, Habit; B, dissected corolla tube, showing the androecium; C, abaxial view of the calyx lobes; D, gynoecium, side view; E, nectary and base of the gynoecium, side view; F, stigma, side view; G, anthers, bottom view. Scale bars: A, 3 cm; B–D, 6 mm; E–G, 3 mm. Illustration by C. Banks from the type collection.

Diastema fimbratiloba Moonlight & J.L.Clark, sp. nov. 


Etymology. The species is named for the distinctive fimbriations on the lower corolla lobe. Fimbriations are common in several genera of New World Gesneriaceae (especially Drymonia Mart.), but no currently known described species in Diastema is known for this feature. It is possible that other species of Diastema have fimbriate corolla margins (cf. note above regarding the population without collection from Atalaya, Peru), but this is a difficult character to evaluate from collections, because the flowers are delicate and ephemeral. As a result, corolla features in Diastema are not readily available on most herbarium specimens.



J. L. Clark and P. W. Moonlight. 2019. A New Species of Diastema (Gesneriaceae) from the eastern Andean Slopes of Peru. Edinburgh Journal of Botany: An International Journal of Plant Systematics and Biodiversity. DOI:  10.1017/S0960428619000192  


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[Ichthyology • 2019] Gymnothorax andamanensis • A New Short Brown Unpatterned Moray Eel (Muraenidae: Muraeninae) from Andaman waters, India

August 27, 2019, 3:30 am
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Gymnothorax andamanensis 
Mohapatra, Kiruba-Sankar, Praveenraj & Mohanty, 2019


Abstract
Gymnothorax andamanensis sp. nov., a new short brown moray eel, is described here on the basis of two specimens collected from Port Mout, Port Blair, South Andaman (11.659327°N; 92.696148°E), caught using baited hand-lines in a sandy habitat at a depth of less than 2 m. The species is characterized in having the dorsal-fin origin before the gill opening, pre-anal length 2.1–2.2, jaw pores with black rim, two branchial pores, predorsal vertebrae 3, preanal vertebrae 57 and total vertebrae 135–136, teeth smooth, three large fang-like median intermaxillary teeth, biserial maxillary and uniserial vomerine teeth, and dentary teeth biserial with two teeth in each side in the second row of the dentary. The new species is compared with all 10 short brown unpatterned moray eels known from the world and two from Indian waters.

Keywords: Anguilliformes, South Andaman, Pisces, new species


Anil Mohapatra, R. Kiruba-Sankar, J. Praveenraj and Swarup Ranjan Mohanty. 2019. A New Short Brown Unpatterned Moray Eel Gymnothorax andamanensis (Muraenidae: Muraeninae) from Andaman waters, India. Zootaxa. 4661(1); 189–196. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4661.1.11

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