Species New to Science

Liparis vestita Rchb.f.

in Tetsana, Sridith, Watthana & Pedersen. 2019.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.421.1.1

Abstract

Following a historical outline, the methods and results of a taxonomic revision of Liparis in Thailand are presented. Applying the traditional methods and techniques of morphology-based botanical revision work, the revision mainly relied on examination of dried and liquid-preserved specimens from 13 herbaria. However, the herbarium studies were supplemented with observations of live plants made during 24 field trips to five of the seven floristic regions of Thailand. The taxonomic value of selected morphological characters is assessed, and ecological aspects are surveyed together with occurrence patterns in Thailand and the overall geographic affinities of the Liparis species represented in the Thai flora. Thirty-seven species are accepted, whereas reports of L. distans and L. kwangtungensis from Thailand are treated as dubious. One new species, Liparis buddhawongii, is described as new, based on material from Doi Ang Khang in Chiang Mai province. Full taxonomic accounts are provided for the genus and species, including a dichotomous key to the species. Whereas the synonymies are intended to be complete, all morphological descriptions have been prepared exclusively from Thai material. The accepted names L. balansae and L. resupinata are lectotypified, whereas a neotype is designated for L. ferruginea; L. downii and L. melanoglossa are proposed as new taxonomic (heterotypic) synonyms. All accepted species are illustrated by line drawings, and references are provided to additional good illustrations in the literature.

Keywords: taxonomy, typification, Monocots, Asparagales

Naiyana Tetsana, Kitichate Sridith, Santi Watthana and Henrik Æ. Pedersen. 2019. A Taxonomic Revision of Liparis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Malaxideae) in Thailand. Phytotaxa. 421(1); 1–65. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.421.1.1

Synsepalum chimanimani S.Rokni & I.Darbysh.

in Rokni, Wursten & Darbyshire, 2019.

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.133.38694

Abstract

Synsepalum chimanimaniS.Rokni & I.Darbysh., sp. nov., a small tree endemic to the forests of the southern foothills of the Chimanimani Mountains of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is described and illustrated. The differences in morphology and distribution between the new species and the related S. kaessneri and S. muelleri, with which it has been confused, are clarified. The new species is globally Endangered due to ongoing habitat loss within its restricted range. The botanical importance and conservation of the Chimanimani foothills is also discussed, and they are highlighted as a candidate Important Plant Area.

Keywords: conservation, herbarium, Important Plant Area, Makurupini, taxonomy

Figure 1. Synsepalum chimanimani (A-K) and Synsepalum kaessneri (L)

A habit B stem apex with apical buds/young leaves and petioles showing indumentum C medifixed hairs on stem D abaxial leaf surface showing sparse medifixed hairs on midrib E leaf showing (faint) secondary veins F flower cluster showing bud, open flower and partially opened flower G flower, side view (hydrated) H corolla after removal of two petals and stamens (hydrated) I stamen and staminodes in situ on petal, inner face bases of neighbouring petals shown J side view of stamen and petal (staminodes omitted) K immature fruit (from photograph)

L leaf (abaxial) of Synsepalum kaessneri.

A, D-K drawn from B.T. Wursten BW897 (BR0000020700003) B, C from Timberlake et al. 6197 (K001291035) L drawn from Magogo & Glover 280 (K). Scale bars: 1mm (Single bar); 2 mm and 5 mm (graduated single bar); 1 cm (double bar); 5 cm (graduated double bar).

Drawn by Andrew Brown, November 2018.

Figure 2. Synsepalum chimanimani
A habit and leaves B, C flowering stems D flowers E immature fruit

(Photographs by Bart Wursten).

Synsepalum chimanimani S.Rokni & I.Darbysh., sp. nov.

Diagnosis: This species differs from Synsepalum kaessneri (Engl.) T.D.Penn. in the generally smaller (7.9–12.6 x 1.7–3.4 cm versus 9.8–16.7 x 2.8–5.2 cm) narrowly elliptic leaves with a long and narrow acuminate tip versus oblanceolate leaves with a short and broad acuminate tip (see illustration, Fig. 1E, L); flowers sessile or almost so with pedicels less than 1 mm long (extending to 2 mm long in fruit) versus flowers stalked with pedicels 1–3 mm long (extending to 3–5 mm in fruit); shorter corolla tube (0.75–0.8 mm long versus 1.2 mm long) and shorter (1.45–1.5 mm versus 1.8–1.9 mm), broadly ovate versus ovate corolla lobes; anthers with elliptic thecae with a minute, inconspicuous point at the apex of the connective versus arrow-head shaped anthers with oblong thecae with a conspicuous apiculate apex to the connective. Table 1 shows the distinguishing characters between the two species.

Etymology: The specific epithet is taken from the Chimanimani mountains to which the species is confined.

Saba Rokni, Bart Wursten and Iain Darbyshire. 2019. Synsepalum chimanimani (Sapotaceae), A New Species from the Chimanimani Mountains of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, with Notes on the Botanical Importance of This Area. PhytoKeys. 133: 115-132. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.133.38694

Tarsius niemitzi

Shekelle, Groves, Maryanto, Mittermeier, Salim & Springer, 2019

mongabay.com

facebook.com: Myron Shekelle

Abstract

We describe and name a new species of tarsier from the Togean Islands, in Tomini Bay, bounded by the northern and eastern peninsulas of Sulawesi. In doing so, we highlight how 25 years of sustained research on the alpha taxonomy of Sulawesian tarsiers, Tarsius, have helped to identify key conservation priorities in the Sulawesian region of the Wallacea Biodiversity Hotspot.

Key words: Biodiversity, bioacoustics, cryptic species, duet call, Togean form, taxonomy, hotspots

Figure 2. Top right: Southeast Asia and Australia, with red box indicating contents of Top Left. Top left: Sulawesi, with red box indicating contents of bottom. Bottom: The Togean Islands in the U-shaped bay of Tomini, bordered in the north and west by the northern peninsula, and the south by the eastern peninsula of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Expected species distribution circled in red, approximate location of type locality marked with red X.

Figure 1. Skulls of three type specimens (left to right), Tarsius supriatnai, T. spectrumgurskyae and Tarsius niemitzi.
Photos by Myron Shekelle.

Tarsius niemitzi sp. nov.

Description:

MORPHOLOGY:

Surveys of wild populations have indicated that body weight and tail length fall within the range of a number of other Tarsius species, including T. tarsier, T. fuscus, T. dentatus, T. spectrumgurskyae, and T. supriatnai. Body weights and tail lengths may well overlap with all species of Tarsius, except T. pumilus and possibly some offshore taxa, such as T. sangirensis. Body weight: female 104−110 g (n = 2); male 125−138 g (n = 3). Tail length: female = 245−261 mm (n = 2); male 246−258 mm (n = 3) (data from Shekelle 2003). Tarsius niemitzi is similar to T. dentatus in having darkly pigmented skin, particularly the tail, and relatively dark pelage with dark gray facial fur, particularly in adults (Fig. 3). Atypical for tarsier species endemic to small islands, T. niemitzi does not have a reduced tail tuft (see Shekelle et al. 2008b).

VOCALIZATIONS: Spectrograms of the Togean form were published by Nietsch and Kopp (1998) (Fig. 4). ....

Diagnosis: The duet call, and the species provenance and genetics are diagnostic.

Figure 3. Niemitz’s tarsier Tarsius niemitzi sp. n. from Malenge Island, Sulawesi.

Photo by Myron Shekelle,

illustration by Stephen D. Nash.

Distribution: Togean Islands, except for Una Una (Fig. 2).

Etymology: Niemitz’s tarsier. This species is named in honor of Dr. Carsten Niemitz, universally regarded as the father of tarsier field biology. Although his field work was preceded by that of Fogden (1974), it was Niemitz who first dedicated a substantial part of his career to the systematic study of wild tarsiers. Niemitz and his student, Alexandra Nietsch, surveyed tarsiers in Central Sulawesi. Subsequently, reportedly acting on a tip from an Indonesian government official, Rolex Lameanda, Nietsch traveled to the Togean Islands to survey tarsiers there and, with Niemitz, was the first to report their presence and the likelihood of their taxonomic distinctiveness (Nietsch and Niemitz 1993). We have found no evidence that Tarsius togeanus (as per Surjadi and Supriatna 1998, p.281; Ito et al. 2008, p.234) and T. togianensis (as per Gursky 2007, p.5) are names arising from formal descriptions, and they are as such nomina nuda.

Local Name: Bunsing, tangkasi, podi.

Myron Shekelle, Colin P. Groves, Ibnu Maryanto, Russell A. Mittermeier, Agus Salim and Mark S. Springer. 2019. A New Tarsier Species from the Togean Islands of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, with References to Wallacea and Conservation on Sulawesi. Primate Conservation. (33):

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/1200343/28189770/1568845686573/PC33_Shekelle_New_tarsier_species.pdf

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For Indonesia’s newest tarsier, a debut a quarter century in the making news.mongabay.com/2019/10/tarsier-niemitz-indonesia-sulawesi-species-biodiversity/ via @Mongabay

Vespamantoida wherleyi

Svenson & Rodrigues, 2019

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7886

Abstract

A wasp mimicking praying mantis (Mantodea) of the early evolving Mantoididae family was discovered in 2013 at a research station near the Amazon River in Northern Peru. This adult specimen exhibited a striking bright red/orange and black coloration pattern that was undocumented in all known praying mantis species. We tested the status of this new specimen using external morphology, male genital dissections, and geographic distribution. Our findings demonstrate the specimen to represent a new species, Vespamantoida wherleyi gen. nov. sp. nov., that is closely allied with a recently described species, Mantoida toulgoeti Roy, 2010, both of which are included within the newly erected genus. To support our actions, we present high resolution images of museum preserved and living specimens, morphological illustrations, a generic-level distribution map, and recorded video of the behavior of the holotype taken in the field at the time of collection. The bright red/orange coloration contrasted with black markings, the general appearance of a hymenopteran that includes a narrowed wasp waist, and the locomotory patterns and antennal movements mark this newly discovered species as unique among all hymenopteran mimicking Mantoididae as well as all other praying mantises.

Figure 1: Vespamantoida wherleyi gen. nov. sp. nov. male holotype from Peru, live habitus photos (CMNHENT0129976).
(A) On twig; (B) on leaf. Photo credit: Gavin J. Svenson.

Vespamantoida gen. nov.

Type-species— Vespamantoida wherleyi sp. nov. by original designation

Diagnosis— Forefemur narrow basally, only slightly wider than apex; discoidal spines elevated well above the ventral plane on a pronounced discoidal swelling (Figs. 4A–4D). Anteroventral femoral spines loosely arranged in two rows of three spines followed by a single row of four spines (Figs. 4A and 4B). Distal half of the first segment of the foretarsi flattened, laterally expanded, and black, forming a tarsal paddle (Figs. 4A–4D). Distal process of the ventral phallomere densely setose from narrowly rounded terminus to a heavily sclerotized, broad base; process comprised entirely of the paa, the distal process (pda) is highly reduced or absent (Figs. 5C and 5D).

Distribution— Although species of Mantoida are recorded across a broad range from Florida, USA to Northern Argentina, both Paramantoida amazonica and both species of Vespamantoida are restricted. Paramantoida amazonica is only recorded from a long transect that roughly follows the northern boundary of the Rio Negro from Manaus to the Parque Nacional Serrania La Neblina in southern Venezuela. The two species of Vespamantoida are found far from each other on near opposite sides of the Amazon Basin. This extremely disjunct distribution is supportive of the distinct boundary between the two species.

Etymology— Vespamantoida from the Latin word vespa, meaning “wasp,” and Mantoida, the name of the type genus of the family Mantoididae. This is a reference to the striking similarity between the type species and wasps.

Vespamantoida toulgoeti (Roy, 2010)

Mantoida toulgoeti (Roy 2010; Agudelo 2014; Roy 2019)

Vespamantoida wherleyi sp. nov.

Type Locality—Peru, Loreto Province, Madre Selva Biological Research Station.

Diagnosis—Head is bright red/orange with symmetrical black markings on the anterior half of the vertex and the ocellar tubercle; the pronotum, thorax, and first three segments of the abdomen bright red/orange. The forelegs and mesothoracic legs orange. The metathoracic legs are orange in the proximal half of the femur, then black to reddish to the terminus of the tibiae; the tarsi are orange. The flagellum of the antennae of the male thickening from base to the broadest antennomers 7–9, then tapering thinner to the terminus. A dark black spot centrally located on the frontal sclerite. The L1 shaped as an elongated bar with a slight curve distally that orients towards the afa, to form a claw-like structure with a broadly open gap (Figs. 1, 2, 4B, 4D, 5D, 6C, 6D, 7B and 7D).

Comments— This species is distinct from V. toulgoeti in the coloration of the specimen, the shape of the antennae and the male genitalia. The distribution of the two species, V. toulgoeti only known from French Guiana and V. wherleyi only from Northern Peru, allows for easy diagnosis between the congeneric species. The female of V. wherleyi is currently unknown.

Distribution— Known only from the type locality on the southern bank of the Amazon River in Northern Peru (Fig. 8; Table S1). Sympatric species of Mantoida were sampled from the same location, but none exhibited coloration outside of dark brown and black that is typical for the genus.

Etymology— Named for Rick Wherley, a valued member of the systematic entomology group at Cleveland Museum of Natural History. He has enriched the scientific content of the Museum for many years through imaging and computational improvements.

Natural history— The type specimen was collected in dense, tropical rainforest near the banks of small tributary of the Amazon River in Northern Peru. The specimen flew to our sampling lights within an hour after dark and was taken from the sheet shortly after. No observations were made of the mantis in situ for fear it would fly away and not be found again. The specimen was placed in a small enclosure on natural vegetation taken from the surrounding habitat for observation. Short video clips were recorded of the mantis walking on a blunt stick within this placed vegetation (Video S1). The 19 second video, including two behavioral segments, clearly demonstrates a number of behavioral characteristics that are strikingly similar to the movement patterns of many hymenopteran wasps. First, the mantis walks forward, with the head in a lowered position, and rapidly sweeps side to side, rotating its body in an alternating, circuitous pattern as it moves forward. This pattern is broken up by larger redirections on the terminus of the stick in what appears to be a search behavior. A second similarity is the antennal movements beginning a rapid up and down pattern that appears to be contacting the substrate to feel or sense the environment while walking, then moving with a declining amplitude following a pause in walking. A third similarity is the slight up and down movement of the abdomen while walking that resembles a hymenopteran-like pumping or venting behavior. The fourth similarity is the rapidity of the mantis’ walking and the rapid start and stop to this motion.

Gavin J. Svenson and Henrique M. Rodrigues. 2019. A Novel Form of Wasp Mimicry in A New Species of Praying Mantis from the Amazon Rainforest, Vespamantoida wherleyi gen. nov. sp. nov. (Mantodea, Mantoididae). PeerJ. 7:e7886. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7886

Extraordinarius andrematosi, E. brucedickinsoni, E. klausmeinei & E. rickalleni

Rheims, 2019

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4674.1.4

Abstract

A new genus of Sparianthinae, Extraordinarius gen. nov., is proposed to include the type species, Extraordinarius andrematosi sp. nov. (♂♀), from São Paulo, E. brucedickinsoni sp. nov. (♂♀), from Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and E. klausmeinei sp. nov. (♂) and E. rickalleni sp. nov. (♂♀), from Espírito Santo. The genus is remarkable in that it is the only Neotropical genus of Sparianthinae with a large, sclerotized, Z-shaped conductor in the male palp and represents the southernmost record for the subfamily in the region. A distribution map is provided for all known species of the genus.

Keywords: Araneae, Neotropical region, new species, taxonomy

Cristina A. Rheims. 2019. Extraordinarius gen. nov., A New Genus of Sparianthinae Spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae) from southeastern Brazil. Zootaxa. 4674(1); 83–99. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4674.1.4

Brazilian biologist discovers 4 new spider species and names them after heavy metal icons pri.org/stories/2019-10-17/brazilian-biologist-discovers-4-new-spider-species-and-names-them-after-heavy

Jasminanthes laotica Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding

in Ding, Yang, Zeng & Tan, 2019.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.393.3.7

(Photographed by H.B. Ding and Y.H. Tan).

Abstract

Jasminanthes laotica (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), a new species from northern Laos is described, illustrated and a diagnostic key to the species of Jasminanthes Blume is given in this paper. J. laotica is allied to J. xuanlienensis T.B. Tran & Rodda, but can be distinguished by its longer sepals, obtuse to subcordate lamina base, and bright yellow of the inner corolla lobes, salmon-pink of the outer corolla lobes.

Keywords: Marsdenieae, New record genus, Nam Ha National Bio-Diversity Park, Taxonomy, Eudicots

FIGURE 1. Jasminanthes laotica Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding.
A. Flowering branch; B. Inflorescence, underside view; C. Leaves branch in the habitat of the type locality (25 March 2018); D. Leaves; E. Inflorescence, side view; F. Gynostegium and staminal corona; G. Pollinarium; H. Flower, side view; I. Unopened flower, side view; J. Longitudinal section of flower; K. Corolla, inner view; L. Flower exclude corolla and two calyx sepals; M. Pedicel, three calyx sepals and ovary; N. Calycinal colleters

(Photographed by H.B. Ding and Y.H. Tan).

Jasminanthes laotica Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding, sp. nov.

Ding Hong Bo, Yang Bin, Xiao-Dong Zeng and Yunhong Tan. 2019. Jasminanthes laotica (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), The First New Species of Jasminanthes described from Laos. Phytotaxa. 393(3); 297-300. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.393.3.7

Researchgate.net/publication/331274655_Jasminanthes_laotica_the_first_new_species_of_Jasminanthes_described_from_Laos

twitter.com/Laobiodiversity/status/1178554772867043328

Tylototriton kachinorum

Zaw, Lay, Pawangkhanant, Gorin & Poyarkov, 2019

DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2019.043

Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Tylototriton from Ingyin Taung Mt., Mohnyin Township, Kachin State, Myanmar, based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new species is assigned to the subgenus Tylototriton s. str. and is clearly distinct from all known congeners by the following characters: medium body size; thin, long tail, lacking lateral grooves; rough skin; truncate snout; wide, protruding supratemporal bony ridges on head, beginning at anterior corner of orbit; weak, almost indistinct sagittal ridge; long, thin limbs, broadly overlapping when adpressed along body; distinct, wide, non-segmented vertebral ridge; 13 or 14 rib nodules; brown to dark-brown background coloration with dull orange-brown to yellowish-brown markings on labial regions, parotoids, rib nodules, whole limbs, vent, and ventral tail ridge. We also briefly discuss biogeography and species diversity of the genus Tylototriton in Myanmar.

Key words: Tylototriton kachinorum sp. nov., mtDNA genealogy, ND2, 16S rRNA, Shan, Biogeography, Endemism, Taxonomy

Figure 4: Holotype of Tylototriton kachinorum sp. nov. (ZMMU A5953, male) in situ

(Photo by Nikolay A. Poyarkov and Than Zaw)

Tylototriton kachinorum sp. nov.

Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Tylototriton based on molecular data and by the following combination of morphological attributes: (1) presence of dorsal granules, (2) dorsolateral bony ridges on head, (3) presence of dorsolateral series of knob-like warts (rib nodules); and (4) absence of quadrate spine (Figure 2). Tylototriton kachinorum sp. nov. is distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of the following morphological attributes: (1) medium body size, adult SVL 62.3–74.1 mm in males, 72.5– 84.8 mm in females; (2) tail thin and long, longer than body in both sexes, lacking lateral grooves; (3) skin rough with fine granules; (4) snout truncate in dorsal view; (5) supratemporal bony ridges on head wide, protruding, beginning at anterior corner of orbit; (6) sagittal ridge on head very weak, almost indistinct; (7) limbs long and thin, tips of forelimb and hindlimb broadly overlapping when adpressed along body; (8) vertebral ridge distinct, wide, non-segmented; (9) rib nodules weakly distinct, 13 – 14 along each side of body; (10) background coloration brown to dark-brown; (11) labial regions, parotoids, rib nodules, whole limbs, vent, ventral tail ridge with dull orange-brown to yellowish-brown markings.

The new species is also markedly distinct from all congeners for which comparable sequences are available of ND2 (P≥ 5.3%) and 16S rRNA (P≥2.4%) mitochondrial DNA genes.

Etymology: The specific name “kachinorum” is a Latin adjective in the genitive plural (masculine gender), derived from the name of the Kachin people who inhabit the montane areas of northern Myanmar and adjacent territories (Kachin Hills), including the type locality of the new species.

Recommended vernacular name: We recommend the following name in English: Kachin Crocodile Newt. Recommended vernacular name in Burmese (Myanmar) language: Kachin Yae Poke Thin.

Figure 6: Lateral (A), dorsal (B), and ventral (C) views of larval specimen (ZMMU A5957; Grosse (2013) stage 40) of Tylototriton kachinorum sp. nov. in life Scale bar: 3 mm.

Photos by Nikolay A. Poyarkov

Than Zaw, Paw Lay, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Vladislav A. Gorin and Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Jr. 2019. A New Species of Crocodile Newt, Genus Tylototriton (Amphibia, Caudata, Salamandridae) from the Mountains of Kachin State, northern Myanmar. Zoological Research. 40(3); 151-174. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2019.043

Montivipera xanthina varoli

Afsar, Yakin, Çiçek & Ayaz, 2019

biotaxa.org/em/article/view/57523

twitter.com/EMontenegrina

Abstract

A new Ottoman viper subspecies, Montivipera xanthina varoli n. subsp., is described from the higher altitudes of Gündoğmuş (Antalya). The new subspecies differs from the other M. xanthina populations by pholidosis; higher number of intercanthals and lower number of subcaudalia. Also, the whiteness between windings or spots on dorsum pattern were observed in new subspecies, similar to the southern populations. Furthermore, the spots on the ventrals became denser in the mid-body and forms darker colorization at the end of body of the males and the tail tips are yellowish-orange or light orange on both sexes.

Key words: Viperidae, new subspecies, Montiviperaxanthina varoli, n. subsp., systematics, Antalya, Turkey.

Figure 2. The holotype of Montivipera xanthina varoli (male) from Geyik Mountains, Antalya, Turkey.

Montivipera xanthina varoli n. subsp.

Diagnosis: This subspecies has similar characteristics with those of the southern populations according to Nilson & Andren (1986). The whiteness between spots and zig-zag windings in the dorsum is more prominent in the new subspecies than in the southern population, and females have darker greyish-brown skin color than males. Whiteness between blackish spots can be also more prominent in male specimens compared to only adult female specimen. In three male specimens, there was almost no spotting and colorization under the head. The spots on ventrals became denser in the mid-body and forms darker colorization at the end of body. Also, just as stated in Nilson & Andren (1986), in three of the four evaluated specimens, they have neck spots united with the dorsal band. The tail tips of all four specimens are yellowish-orange or light orange while tail tip is yellow for other M. xanthina populations according to Nilson & Andren (1986). In addition to color-pattern properties, new subspecies are differ from M. x. nilsoni by having two series of circumocular scales which is similar to nominate subspecies; M. x. dianae by having lower number of rows of dorsal scales (anterior 23-24; mid-body 23; posterior 17-18); M. x. occidentalis a higher number of intercanthals and dorsal scales rows. Also new subspecies can be distinguished from other M. xanthina populations in Turkey by both having more intercanthals (12, 13) and less subcaudalia (≤30).

...

Derivatio nominis: The newly described subspecies were named in honor of Prof. Dr. Cemal Varol TOK who made valuable contributions to Turkish Herpetofauna and also the word “var’ol” is a verb that means “to exist, to stay alive, to be in existence”.

Habitat and Distribution: The specimens were collected in rocky areas with subalpine herbaceous plant vegetation on mountain slope on Mühür Mt. on western of Geyik Mountains, Gündoğmuş/Antalya, Turkey (Figure 5). Euphorbia nicaeensis is common, and Verbascum sp. is also observed in the area. In addition, Astragalus sp. and Juniperus oxycedrus are also seen. There are steppe areas in the higher parts, and moist areas in the regions close to the valley floor. Other sympatrically living reptiles are; Testudo graeca, Anatololacerta pelasgiana, Stellagama stellio, Eirenis modestus, Platyceps najadum and newly described critically endangered viper subspecies Vipera anatolica senliki. Also, Pelophylax bedriagae and Ablepharus budaki were given as sympatric species in Göçmen et al. (2017)

Murat Afsar, Batuhan Y. Yakin, Kerim Çiçek and Dinçer Ayaz. 2019. A New Subspecies of Ottoman Viper, Montivipera xanthina (Gray, 1849), (Squamata: Viperidae) from Geyik Mountains, Mediterranean Turkey. Ecologica Montenegrina. 22: 214-225. biotaxa.org/em/article/view/57523

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Researchgate.net/publication/336533215_A_new_subspecies_of_Montivipera_xanthina_from_Mediterranean_Turkey

Bayram Göçmen, Konrad Mebert, Mert Karış, Mehmet Anıl Oğuz and Sylvain Ursenbacher. 2017. A New Population and Subspecies of the Critically Endangered Anatolian Meadow Viper Vipera anatolica Eiselt and Baran, 1970 in eastern Antalya province. Amphibia-Reptilia. 38: 289-305.

Aphonopelma bacadehuachi

Hendrixson, 2019

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4688.4.4

Abstract

The tarantula spider genus Aphonopelma Pocock, 1901 has received considerable attention in recent years but the group’s diversity remains poorly understood in Mexico, particularly in the pine-oak woodlands of the Sierra Madre Occidental and associated Madrean “Sky Islands”. A pair of tarantulas discovered from an unsampled region in the Sierra de Bacadéhuachi (the westernmost range of the Sierra Madre Occidental) in northeastern Sonora was found to be closely related to four species from the Madrean “Sky Islands” in Arizona and New Mexico. An integrative approach for delimiting species (incorporating data from molecular phylogenetics, morphology, distributions, and breeding periods) suggests that the specimens from Sierra de Bacadéhuachi belong to an undescribed species that is herein named Aphonopelma bacadehuachi sp. nov. This new species adds to our knowledge of an increasingly diverse assemblage of Aphonopelma from the Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands Hotspot. Collaborations between Mexican and American researchers are needed to accelerate discovery and description of the group’s remaining diversity, particularly in light of the many threats facing the ecoregion including habitat degradation and climate change.

Keywords: Araneae, biodiversity hotspot, DNA barcoding, integrative taxonomy, Madrean Sky Islands, Sierra de Bacadéhuachi, Sierra Madre Occidental, tarantula

Brent E. Hendrixson. 2019. A New Species of Aphonopelma (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae) from the Madrean Pine-oak Woodlands of northeastern Sonora, Mexico. Zootaxa. 4688(4); 519–534. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4688.4.4

Gehyra electrum

Zozaya, Fenker & Macdonald, 2019

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4688.4.3

twitter.com/StephenZozaya

Abstract

We describe a new species of rock-dwelling Gehyra Gray, 1834 (Gekkonidae) from the Einasleigh Uplands of inland north Queensland, Australia. Morphological, ecological, and molecular data clearly support the new species as distinct and place it within the ‘australis group’. Gehyra electrum sp. nov. is distinguished from congeners by a combination of medium adult size (SVL 46–50 mm), an orange-brown to pinkish-orange background colouration with a pattern of distinct whitish spots and irregular black to purple-brown blotches or bars, possessing 7–8 undivided subdigital lamellae on the expanded portion of the fourth toe, and a wedge-shaped mental scale that separates the inner-postmental scales along 40% or more of their length. Gehyra electrum sp. nov. is a rock specialist currently known only from granite outcrops of the Mt Surprise region, Queensland. This is the second recently described Gehyra from the Einasleigh Uplands and adds to the growing number of endemic reptiles recognised in the region.

Keywords: Reptilia, Einasleigh Uplands, endemism, Gehyra catenata, Gehyra dubia, Gehyra einasleighensis, Gehyra electrum sp. nov., sympatry

Gehyra electrum sp. nov.

Stephen M. Zozaya, Jessica Fenker and Stewart L. Macdonald. 2019. A New Species of Rock-dwelling Gecko (Gekkonidae: Gehyra) from the Mt Surprise region of northern Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa. 4688(4); 503–518. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4688.4.3

twitter.com/StephenZozaya/status/1187168725964746752

twitter.com/Jehzim/status/1187171024879542273

Isotrema cangshanense X.X.Zhu, H.L.Zheng & J.S.Ma

in Zhu, Zheng, Wang, et al., 2019.

苍山关木通 || DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.134.37243

Abstract

Isotrema cangshanense X.X.Zhu, H.L.Zheng & J.S.Ma, a new species from western Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. It is similar to I. utriforme, I. forrestianum, I. cucurbitoides and I. obliquum The major differences between them are outlined and discussed. A detailed description, along with line drawings, photographs, habitat and distribution, as well as a comparison to morphologically similar species, is also provided. Meanwhile, the new taxon is assessed as Vulnerable (VU D2), according to the IUCN Red List criteria.

Keywords: Aristolochia, Isotrema, morphology, subgenus Siphisia, taxonomy

Figure 2. Isotrema cangshanense X.X.Zhu, H.L.Zheng & J.S.Ma, sp. nov.
A habit B leaves C flower bud D inflorescence E flower (front view) F flowers (lateral view) G anthers and gynostemium H the dehiscent capsule I seeds. Photographed by Xinxin Zhu.

Figure 1. Isotrema cangshanense X.X.Zhu, H.L.Zheng & J.S.Ma, sp. nov.
A habit B flower (lateral view) C flower (front view) D opened flower (showing the inner structure) E anthers and gynostemium F the dehiscent capsule G seed. Illustration by Shizhen Qiao.

Isotrema cangshanenseX.X.Zhu, H.L.Zheng & J.S.Ma, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Isotrema cangshanense is morphologically similar to Isotrema utriforme (S. M. Hwang) X. X. Zhu, S. Liao & J. S. Ma, I. forrestianum (J. S. Ma) X. X. Zhu, S. Liao & J. S. Ma, I. cucurbitoides (C. F. Liang) X. X. Zhu, S. Liao & J. S. Ma and I. obliquum (S. M. Hwang) X. X. Zhu, S. Liao & J. S. Ma (Zhu et al. 2019a), but is distinguishable from these species by the following diagnostic characters: laminas oblong-lanceolate; calyx outside light yellow; limb narrow-ovoid, 2.4–3 × 0.9–1 cm, asymmetric, forming an acute angle with the upper part of the tube, 3-lobed, upper part separated to the middle, lower part shallowly lobed, inside black purple, net-shaped protruding stripes; throat ca. 5 mm in diam. ....

Figure 4.
A–C Isotrema cangshanense X.X.Zhu, H.L.Zheng & J.S.Ma, sp. nov. A leaves B flower (lateral view) C longitudinal section of flower (showing the inside structure)
D–F Isotrema utriforme (S. M. Hwang) X. X. Zhu, S. Liao & J. S. Ma D leaves E flower (lateral view) F longitudinal section of flower (showing the inside structure)
G–I I. forrestianum (J. S. Ma) X. X. Zhu, S. Liao & J. S. Ma G leaves H flower (lateral view) I longitudinal section of flower (showing the inside structure)
J–L I.obliquum (S. M. Hwang) X. X. Zhu, S. Liao & J. S. Ma J leaves K flower (lateral view) L longitudinal section of flower (showing the inside structure).

A–C, G–I Photographed by Xinxin Zhu D–F photographed by Lei Cai; J–L photographed by Yuan Wang.

Etymology: The specific epithet derives from the type locality, The Cangshan Mountain, Yangbi County, western Yunnan, south-western China. The Chinese name is given as “苍山关木通”.

Distribution and habitat: The new species is currently known only from the Cangshan Mountain, Yangbi County, Yunnan, China. It grows in forests at an elevation between 2239 m and 2379 m, together with Castanopsis sp. (Fagaceae), Disporum sp. (Colchicaceae), Notochaete hamosa Benth. (Lamiaceae), Photinia Lindl. (Rosaceae), Rubus sp. (Rosaceae) etc.

Xin Xin Zhu, Hai Lei Zheng, Jun Wang, Yong Qian Gao and Jin Shuang Ma. 2019. Taxonomic Studies on the Genus Isotrema (Aristolochiaceae) from China: I. I. cangshanense, A New Species from Yunnan. PhytoKeys. 134: 115-124. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.134.37243

Prosopanche demogorgoni Funez

in Funez, Ribeiro-Nardes, Kossmann, et al., 2019.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.422.1.6

facebook.com/LuisFunez14

Abstract

Here we describe a new species of Prosopanche from southern Brazil. This is the first report of Prosopanche in Santa Catarina state and for the Atlantic Forest region. We present field photographs, illustrations, ecologic and conservation comments on the new species. We contrast the morphology of the new species with the other Prosopanche species that occur in Brazil, P. bonacinai and P. caatinguicola. The new species is morphologically similar to P. bonacinai, which has anthers composed by 20–30 thecae, synandrium 15–25 × 6–8 mm and tepals 35–55 × 9–20 mm vs. anthers composed by 3–4 thecae, synandrium 5–6 × 3–4 mm and tepals 15–20 × 5–8 mm in P. demogorgoni.

Keywords: Hydnoraceae, Neotropics, Piperales, root parasite plant, threatened species, General, Magnoliids

FIGURE 1. Field photographs of Prosopanche demogorgoni.
A. Flower in frontal view. B. Flower in lateral view. C. Flower bud. D. Flower showing the long perigonial tube. E. Immature fruit. F. Trigonous rhizomes.

FIGURE 2. Line drawings of Prosopanche demogorgoni.
A–C. Synandrium. D. Longitudinal section of a flower. E. Stigma. F. Staminode. G. Floral bud. H. Flower at anthesis. I. Immature fruit and rhizome.

Prosopanche demogorgoni Funez sp. nov.

Etymology:— Demogorgon is a fictional monster whose mouth resembles the P. demogorgoni flower.

Luis Adriano Funez, Weslley Ribeiro-Nardes, Thiago Kossmann, Nivaldo Peroni and Elisandro Ricardo Drechsler dos Santos. 2019. Prosopanche demogorgoni: A New Species of Prosopanche (Aristolochiaceae: Hydnoroideae) from southern Brazil. Phytotaxa. 422(1); 93–100. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.422.1.6

facebook.com/LuisFunez14/posts/3717799944912988

A, Eriosyce aurata; B, E. marksiana var. lissocarpa; C, E. curvispina;
E, E. subgibbosa; F, E. senilis subsp. elquiensis; G, E. crispa; H, E. odieri subsp. malleolata (=E. malleolata).

in Guerrero, Walter, Arroyo, et al., 2019.

DOI: 10.1002/tax.12066

— Photos by P.C. Guerrero. twitter.com/PCGuerrero

Abstract

Eriosyce is one of most species‐rich genera within Notocacteae (Cactaceae) harboring a variety of stem and flower morphologies, and fruits with basal abscission. The lack of a well‐sampled molecular phylogeny contributes to the current taxonomic instability of the genus, where its circumscription and infrageneric classification has been questioned. Specimens of Eriosyce (63 taxa) plus 19 outgroups were analyzed through sequencing three plastid noncoding introns (rpl32‐trnL, trnL‐trnF, trnH‐psbA), one plastid gene (ycf1), and one nuclear gene (PHYC). Individual markers and concatenated matrices were analyzed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Phylogenetic analyses strongly support the monophyly of Eriosyce s.l. Furthermore, seven clades within Eriosyce s.l. were defined based on supported branches, although one of them was weakly supported. Our results suggest that some past taxonomic proposals have low phylogenetic support and should no longer be used, e.g., based on their scattered positions in the phylogenetic reconstruction, several infraspecific taxa appear unrelated to the typical form of the species in which they had been placed. We present a phylogeny‐informed infrageneric classification of the genus Eriosyce, and new combinations are proposed to update the nomenclature of species and sections.

Fig. 1. Diversity and morphology of some of the Eriosyce species included in the molecular analyses.
A, Eriosyce aurata; B, E. marksiana var. lissocarpa; C, E. curvispina; D, E. krausii; E, E. subgibbosa; F, E. senilis subsp. elquiensis; G, E. crispa; H, E. odieri subsp. malleolata (=E. malleolata); I, E. napina subsp. duripulpa (= E. duripulpa).

— Photos A–H by P.C. Guerrero; I by H. Villalobos.

Fig. 2. Taxonomic richness distribution of Eriosyce s.l. at the species and infraspecific ranks.

Pablo C. Guerrero, Helmut E. Walter, Mary T.K. Arroyo, Carol M. Peña, Italo Tamburrino, Marta De Benidictis and Isabel Larridon. 2019. Molecular Phylogeny of the Large South American Genus Eriosyce (Notocacteae, Cactaceae): Generic Delimitation and Proposed Changes in Infrageneric and Species Ranks. Taxon. DOI: 10.1002/tax.12066

twitter.com/PCGuerrero/status/1168512701443858433

Gretcheniao sinensis

Chiappe, Qingjin, Serrano, Sigurdsen, Min, Bell & Di, 2019

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7846

Abstract

During the last decade, several Bohaiornis-like enantiornithine species—and numerous specimens—have been recognized from the celebrated Jehol Biota of northwestern China. In this paper, we describe the anatomy of another “bohaiornithid” species from the 125 million-year-old Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. The new taxon differs from previously recognized “bohaiornithids” on a number of characters from the forelimb and shoulder girdle. We also provide a new phylogenetic framework for enantiornithine birds, which questions the monophyly of the previously recognized bohaiornithid clade and highlights ongoing challenges for resolving enantiornithine interrelationships. Additionally, we offer the first assessment of the flight properties of Bohaiornis-like enantiornithines. Our results indicate that while “bohaiornithids” were morphologically suited for flying through continuous flapping, they would have been unable to sustain prolonged flights. Such findings expand the flight strategies previously known for enantiornithines and other early birds.

Figure 1: Photo of the holotype of Gretcheniao sinensis (BMNHC Ph 829).

Systematic Paleontology

Aves Linnaeus, 1758

Pygostylia Chiappe, 2002

Ornithothoraces Chiappe, 1995

Enantiornithes Walker, 1981

Gretcheniao sinensis gen. et sp. nov.

Holotype. BMNH Ph 829 (Beijing Museum of Natural History, Beijing, China) (Fig. 1; Table 1). Nearly complete skeleton, largely exposed in ventral view, and contained in a single slab. Faint remnants of plumage are preserved as carbonized material, primarily around the neck and projecting from the distal portion of the left forelimb. A resin cast of the specimen is deposited in the collection of the Dinosaur Institute of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County under the number LACM 7917/156630.

Etymology. Gretcheniao in recognition of Mrs. Gretchen Augustyn and her support to the Dinosaur Institute of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the Chinese character (niăo), meaning “bird”; sinensis from “sino,” a term generally used in reference to China.

Geographic and Stratigraphic Provenance. BMNH Ph 829 (Fig. 1) was recovered from strata belonging to the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Jianchang County, near Huludao City in Western Liaoning, China. The fossiliferous beds of the Yixian Formation have been dated at approximately 125 million-year-old (Swisher et al., 2002; He et al., 2004, 2006), corresponding to the Barremian Epoch of the Cretaceous.

Differential Diagnosis. A medium-sized enantiornithine bird sharing the following traits with other “bohaiornithids”: robust rostrum with large subconical teeth that are gently recurved, caudolaterally directed lateral trabeculae of the sternum, and strongly curved and elongated pedal claws. The new species is distinguishable from other Bohaiornis-like enantiornithines in having a unique combination of characters including: humeral bicipital area scared by a large cranioventrally facing fossa; slightly tapered omal ends of the furcular rami; ventral tubercle at the convergence of the furcular rami; slender coracoid with a sternal margin that is slightly more than 1/3 the length of the bone and a straight lateral margin; significantly elongated carpometacarpus; and metacarpal II carrying a protuberance on its dorsal surface.

Conclusion:

BMNH Ph 829 adds diversity to the overall anatomy of Bohaiornis-like enantiornithines (“bohaiornithids”) by providing morphological details previously unknown for these birds. The unique combination of skeletal traits of BMNH Ph 829 supports the recognition of a new species, Gretcheniao sinensis, which appears to represent an early divergence among these birds. Nonetheless, our extensive cladistic analyses show that despite the discovery of many well-preserved enantiornithines from the Jehol Biota (Chiappe & Meng, 2016), the interrelationships of these birds remain contentious. Our analyses do not recover a monophyletic clade of the six species that have been previously considered as “bohaiornithids”—only a subset of these are clustered in a monophyletic group. Further studies are needed to test whether these previously identified “bohaiornithids” constitute an evolutionary grade, sharing an overall morphology (largely symplesiomorphic characters) but lacking a single common ancestry. The degree to which these “bohaiornithids” may have shared a similar ecology needs to be further explored considering that some of them (e.g., Fortunguavis xiaotaizicus) have been interpreted as highly specialized (i.e., scansorial) (Wang, O’Connor & Zhou, 2014).

Our study also provides the first assessment of the flight properties of “bohaiornithid” enantiornithines. Key flight parameters inferred for these birds suggest ineffectiveness for performing intermittent flight (either flap-gliding or bounding) that was inferred for other enantiornithines (Liu et al., 2017, 2019; Serrano et al., 2017, 2018). Instead, these parameters indicate that Gretcheniao sinensis and other “bohaiornithids” were morphologically suited for flying through continuous flapping, although not able to perform prolonged flights. Our aerodynamic results thus expand the previously known aerial repertoire of the Cretaceous enantiornithines.

Luis M. Chiappe, Meng Qingjin, Francisco Serrano, Trond Sigurdsen, Wang Min, Alyssa Bell and Liu Di. 2019. New Bohaiornis-like Bird from the Early Cretaceous of China: Enantiornithine Interrelationships and Flight Performance. PeerJ. 7:e7846. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7846

Etheostoma cyanorum (Moore and Rigney, 1952)

in Matthews & Turner, 2019.

DOI: 10.1643/CI-18-054

twitter.com/ASIHCopeia

Abstract

Etheostoma cyanorum, endemic to the Blue River drainage of southern Oklahoma, is redescribed and recognized as a distinct species within the Etheostoma whipplei–Etheostoma radiosum complex, separating it from E. radiosum. Originally described as Poecilichthys radiosus cyanorum, it was one of three putative subspecies of E. radiosum (with E. r. radiosum and E. r. paludosum) considered valid until now, defined in part by drainage-specific allopatry. Two separate mtDNA gene trees show that E. cyanorum forms a distinct and strongly supported lineage. Ten meristic and 16 morphometric traits are reexamined and new information included, confirming traits separating E. cyanorum from E. radiosum, and clarifying ambiguities about “bluntness of the snout” as diagnostic for P. r. cyanorum. Etheostoma cyanorum differs from E. radiosum by lower counts of unpored lateral line scales, higher counts of pored lateral line scales, and greater interorbital width. Large adult E. cyanorum have a deep body and blunt snout per earlier studies, but those traits are not diagnostic due to allometry. Head depth and head width can separate E. cyanorum from most populations of E. radiosum, but they overlap with some populations of E. radiosum in southwest Arkansas. All evidence supports recognition of E. cyanorum as a valid species. A broad geographic, molecular assessment to supplement existing morphological information is needed to assess validity of the two remaining subspecies of E. radiosum.

Fig. 3 (A) Male Etheostoma cyanorum, 63 mm SL, in nuptial color, from mainstem Blue River, 1.7 km west-northwest of Connerville, OK, 30 March 2018 (WJM 3645; OMNH 86859); (B) female E. cyanorum, 41 mm SL, same collection (OMNH 86860). Location: 34°27.067′ N, 96°39.327′ W. Photographs by N. Lang. (C) Detail of distal color band in nuptial male from same collection, same date (OMNH 86861). Photograph by WJM.

Etheostoma cyanorum (Moore and Rigney, 1952), elevated to species

Blue River Orangebelly Darter

Holotype.— UMMZ 161366, holotype of Poecilichthys whipplii cyanorum, adult breeding male, 68 mm SL, designated by Moore and Rigney (1952), collected by Moore in 1949 in Blue River at State Hwy 99 north of Connerville, Johnston County, Oklahoma (Fig. 2).

Paratypes.— Paratypes include 329 individuals collected by Moore or students from the Blue River drainage (museum acronyms and catalog numbers, Moore and Rigney, 1952: p. 10).

Diagnosis.— Etheostoma cyanorum differs from E. radiosum by their allopatric distribution, with E. cyanorum known only from Blue River and tributaries, versus E. radiosum occupying tributaries of Washita River west of Blue River and all drainages eastward from the Clear Boggy to the upper Ouachita and Little Missouri in southwest Arkansas. Etheostoma cyanorum differs from E. radiosum in having all assayed mtDNA haplotypes not shared with E. radiosum, lower counts of unpored lateral line scales, higher counts of pored lateral line scales, and a wider interorbital distance. Etheostoma cyanorum can be distinguished by a deeper and wider head from E. radiosum in all Oklahoma drainages, and in most but not all drainages in Arkansas. Nuptial males of Etheostoma cyanorum differ from nuptial E. radiosum in the geographically closest drainages (Washita, Clear Boggy, Muddy Boggy, and Kiamichi) by a solid blue distal band in the spinous dorsal (Fig. 3C), compared to the distal blue band in those populations of E. radiosum (=E. r. paludosum of Moore and Rigney) having an appearance of blue “dots” or “spots” bordered in white, between clear or orange tips of the fin spines.

....

Distribution.— Etheostoma cyanorum is known only from the Blue River drainage in southcentral Oklahoma, a tributary of Red River. It is most abundant in the upper, spring-fed, rocky portions of the drainage, and in some small tributary creeks, but is scarce or absent in lower, muddy portions of the drainage closer to Red River.

Etymology.— The specific name “cyanorum” (=“of the Blues” referring to Blue River) was suggested for the subspecies, on advice from R. M. Bailey (Moore and Rigney, 1952), to reflect restriction of this form to Blue River and its tributaries. Linder (1955) and Echelle et al. (2015) referred to it as the “Blue River Orangebelly Darter,” but Near et al. (2011) called it “Blue Darter.” We follow Linder (1955) and Echelle et al. (2015) and recommend the common name “Blue River Orangebelly Darter,” because E. cyanorum is not predominantly blue in coloration. This common name aligns with the practice of referring to other fishes in Oklahoma in a drainage-specific manner, including Red River Pupfish (Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis), Red River Shiner (Notropis bairdi), and Arkansas River Shiner (Notropis girardi).

William J. Matthews and Thomas F. Turner. 2019. Redescription and Recognition of Etheostoma cyanorum from Blue River, Oklahoma. Copeia. 107(2); 208-218. DOI: 10.1643/CI-18-054

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Gynacantha vargasi Haber, 2019

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4612.1.3

Abstract

The male and female of Gynacantha vargasi sp. nov. are described from three sites on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica. The species is distinguished from its congeners by lime-green lateral thoracic stripes, orange-brown hind femur tipped with black, dorsal side of the hind tibia yellow, unique cercus shape, diurnal behavior, and barcode analysis. A key to all species of Gynacantha recorded from Mexico and Central America is provided.

Keywords: Odonata, barcode, dragonflies, endangered species, endemic, darners, Gynacantha caudata, Gynacantha tenuis, key to species, Monteverde

Gynacantha vargasi sp. nov., holotype male.

Gynacantha vargasi sp. nov.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Ronald Vargas Castro, one of Costa Rica’s great naturalists, a trusted companion who has accompanied me on many Odonata expeditions in Costa Rica and Ecuador and who has collected numerous rare and undescribed species of Odonata, including two of the four known specimens of this new Gynacantha.

William A. Haber. 2019. Gynacantha vargasi (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) sp. nov. from Costa Rica. Zootaxa. 4612(1); 58–70. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4612.1.3

Abstract: El macho y la hembra de Gynacantha vargasi sp. nov. se describen de tres sitios en la vertiente caribeña de Costa Rica. La especie se distingue de sus congéneres por sus franjas torácicas laterales de color verde limón, el fémur posterior de color marrón anaranjado con el ápice negro, lado dorsal de la tibia trasera amarillo, la forma única del cerco, su comportamiento diurno, y el análisis de código de barras. Se proporciona una clave para todas las especies de Gynacantha registradas de México y América Central.

in Guillory, French, Twomey, et al., 2020.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106638

twitter.com/GuillsonWillory

Highlights:

• We present the first comprehensive phylogeny for the poison frog Ameerega from genome-scale data.

• There is evidence for at least six undescribed species of Ameerega.

• Our phylogenetic reconstruction of Ameerega differs strongly from previously published ones.

• Ameerega almost certainly has its origins in the Andes Mountains.

• Ameerega most likely diverged from its sister taxon ~20 million years ago.

Abstract

The Amazonian poison frog genus Ameerega is one of the largest yet most understudied of the brightly colored genera in the anuran family Dendrobatidae, with 30 described species ranging throughout tropical South America. Phylogenetic analyses of Ameerega are highly discordant, lacking consistency due to variation in data types and methods, and often with limited coverage of species diversity in the genus. Here, we present a comprehensive phylogenomic reconstruction of Ameerega, utilizing state-of-the-art sequence capture techniques and phylogenetic methods. We sequenced thousands of ultraconserved elements from over 100 tissue samples, representing almost every described Ameerega species, as well as undescribed cryptic diversity. We generated topologies using maximum likelihood and coalescent methods and compared the use of maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods for estimating divergence times. Our phylogenetic inference diverged strongly from those of previous studies, and we recommend steps to bring Ameerega taxonomy in line with the new phylogeny. We place several species in a phylogeny for the first time, as well as provide evidence for six potential candidate species. We estimate that Ameerega experienced a rapid radiation approximately 7–11 million years ago and that the ancestor of all Ameerega was likely an aposematic, montane species. This study underscores the utility of phylogenomic data in improving our understanding of the phylogeny of understudied clades and making novel inferences about their evolution.

Keywords: Phylogenomics, UCEs, Ameerega, Systematics, Dendrobatidae, Amphibians

Wilson X. Guillory, Connor M. French, Evan M. Twomey, Germán Chávez, Ivan Prates, Rudolf von May, Ignacio De la Riva, Stefan Lötters, Steffen Reichle, Shirley J .Serrano-Rojas, Andrew Whitworth and Jason L. Brown. 2020. Phylogenetic Relationships and Systematics of the Amazonian Poison Frog Genus Ameerega using Ultraconserved Genomic Elements. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 142; 106638. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106638

twitter.com/GuillsonWillory/status/1182331090947588096

twitter.com/diegojsantana/status/1181222095101018113

Geographical distribution of the sampled extant (circles) and fossil (triangles) Hominoid species.
Distinct colors were used for Hominidae (orange) and Hylobatidae (dark cyan) families.

in Rocatti & Perez, 2019.

nature.com/articles/s41598-019-51685-w

Abstract

Over the last 150 years the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the hominoids have been one of the main focuses in biological and anthropological research. Despite this, the study of factors involved in their evolutionary radiation and the origin of the hominin clade, a key subject for the further understanding of human evolution, remained mostly unexplored. Here we quantitatively approach these events using phylogenetic comparative methods and craniofacial morphometric data from extant and fossil hominoid species. Specifically, we explore alternative evolutionary models that allow us to gain new insights into this clade diversification process. Our results show a complex and variable scenario involving different evolutionary regimes through the hominid evolutionary radiation –modeled by Ornstein-Uhlenbeck multi-selective regime and Brownian motion multi-rate scenarios–. These different evolutionary regimes might relate to distinct ecological and cultural factors previously suggested to explain hominid evolution at different evolutionary scales along the last 10 million years.

Figure 4: Geographical distribution of the sampled extant (circles) and fossil (triangles) Hominoid species. Distinct colors were used for Hominidae (orange) and Hylobatidae (dark cyan) families. Extant species distribution was obtained from IUCN redlist (www.iucnredlist.org) database, while fossil locations were extracted from bibliographical sources.

Guido Rocatti and S. Ivan Perez. 2019. The Evolutionary Radiation of Hominids: A Phylogenetic Comparative Study. Scientific Reports. 9: 15267. nature.com/articles/s41598-019-51685-w

Placobdelloides sirikanchanae (arrows)
on the Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentata (Gray, 1831)) (left) and the dark-bellied leaf turtle (C. enigmatica Fritz et al., 2008) (right).

Trivalairat, Chiangkul & Purivirojkul, 2019
ปลิงอาจารย์ประไพสิริ || DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.882.35229

Abstract

A new species of glossiphoniid leech, Placobdelloides sirikanchanae sp. nov., is reported in the Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentata) and the dark-bellied leaf turtle (C. enigmatica) from Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. The examination of morphological characters revealed that this new species is similar to P. siamensis (Oka, 1917), a common turtle leech species found in Thailand. Placobdelloides sirikanchanae sp. nov. demonstrates distinct morphological characters, with an elongated, narrow body, 13–17 well-developed knob papillae on each annulus, dark brown to greenish dorsal color with a crimson median line, the absence of a scarlet dot, different male and female gonopore distributions, a rough posterior sucker with a random pit distribution, and 104–115 eggs per clutch. The phylogenetic relationships of COI-ND1 genes were clarified and shown to be distinct from those of P. siamensis. Additionally, habitat preferences tended toward low oxygen conditions such as puddles or water patches on rubber plantations.

Keywords: Clitellata, Cyclemys, Glossiphoniidae, Hirudinea, leaf turtle, Songkhla

Placobdelloides Sawyer, 1986

Type species: Placobdelloides multistriata (Johansson, 1909) by original designation.

Genus diagnosis: eyes one pair, esophageal organ, crop caeca seven pairs, mouth pore terminal (Oosthuizen 1979).

Genus distribution: Placobdelloides species can be found in Africa (P. fimbriata (Johansson, 1909); P. jaegerskioeldi (Johansson, 1909); P. multistriata (Johansson, 1909)), Australia and United States, eastward to India (P. fulva (Harding, 1924); P. emydae (Harding, 1920); P. undulata (Harding, 1924); P. horai (Baugh, 1960); P. indica (Baugh, 1960)), Southeast Asia (P. siamensis in China and Thailand; P. okadai (Oka, 1925) in China; P. okai (Soós, 1969); P. stellapapillosa Govedich et al., 2002 in Malaysia and Singapore), and throughout Australia and New Zealand (P. octostriata (Grube, 1866); P. maorica (Benham, 1907); P. bancrofti (Best, 1931); P. bdellae (Ingram, 1957)).

Figure 2. Dorsal surface (upper) and ventral surface (lower) of the live holotype of Placobdelloides sirikanchanae sp. nov.

Placobdelloides sirikanchanae sp. nov.

Material examined: Holotype (ZMKU-ANN-0006), puddle on rubber plantation, Sadao District, Songkhla Province, Thailand , 21 October 2018. Paratypes (nine individuals, ZMKU-ANN-0007 to 0015), same locality data as the holotype. All collected specimens were kept in 70% alcohol and deposited at the Zoological Museum of Kasetsart University (ZMKU), Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University on 23 November 2018.

Diagnosis: This species can be recognized from its elongated, narrow body, crimson median dorsal line, rich dark green pigmentation, 13–17 well-developed knob papillae on each annulus, symmetrical dorsal papillae between the left and right body sides, male gonopore on XIa1/a2, female gonopore on XIa3/XIIa1, amorphous salivary glands, smooth surface with random pits inside the anterior sucker, and rugged surface with randomly distributed pits inside the posterior sucker.

Etymology: The species is named in honor of Associate Professor Prapaisiri Sirikanchana, the pioneer aquatic parasitologist of Thailand. The following common names, Sirikanchana’s leech (English), Pling Arjan Prapaisiri (Thai: ปลิงอาจารย์ประไพสิริ), and Sirikanchanas Plattegel (German) are suggested.

Figure 1. Live Placobdelloides sirikanchanae sp. nov. (arrows) on the Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentata (Gray, 1831)) (left) and the dark-bellied leaf turtle (C. enigmatica Fritz et al., 2008) (right): carapace (lower), plastron (upper).

Type host: Dark-bellied leaf turtles (Cyclemys enigmatica).

Additional host: Asian leaf turtles (C. dentata).

Habitat: Placobdelloides sirikanchanae sp. nov. can be found attached on the shell surface, both the carapace and plastron, of C. dentata and C. enigmatica, which inhabit the bottom of enclosed shallow muddy puddles on rubber plantations. In the rainy season, several puddles will be connected due to an increase in the water level. Numerous small vertebrates are present in these puddles, such as small fishes or tadpoles. In the dry season, the puddles will be disconnected as the shallower waters disappear from evaporation. These aquatic ecosystems usually have low oxygen due to decomposition of leaf litter and nonflowing water.

Poramad Trivalairat, Krittiya Chiangkul and Watchariya Purivirojkul. 2019. Placobdelloides sirikanchanae sp. nov., A New Species of Glossiphoniid Leech and A Parasite of Turtles from lower southern Thailand (Hirudinea, Rhynchobdellida). ZooKeys. 882: 1-24. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.882.35229

[A] Sphenomorphus stellatus (Boulenger, 1900)

from the Bukit Larut, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia.

[C] Sphenomorphus preylangensis

Grismer, Wood, Quah, Anuar, Poyarkov, Thy, Orlov, Thammachoti & Seiha. 2019

from Phnom Chi, Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4683.3.4

Photographs by L. L. Grismer & Neang Thy.
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Abstract

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the sister species Sphenomorphus stellatus and S. praesignis based on the mitochondrial genes 12S and 16S rRNA recover the former as paraphyletic with respect to the latter in that a specimen of S. stellatus from the type locality in Peninsular Malaysia is more closely related to S. praesignis than to Indochinese populations of S. stellatus. Furthermore, the phylogeny indicates that the Indochinese populations represent two species, thus resulting in four major lineages within this clade. These relationships are consistent with multivariate and univariate analyses of morphological and discrete color pattern data which statistically define and diagnose the four lineages and together with the molecular data, provide the foundation for robust, testable, species-level hypotheses. As such, S. stellatus is herein restricted to Peninsular Malaysia; S. annamiticus is resurrected for the circum-continental populations ranging through southeastern Thailand, southern Cambodia, and southern Vietnam; a new species— Sphenomorphus preylangensis sp. nov. —is described from an isolated mountain, Phnom Chi, from the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in central Cambodia; and the taxonomy of S. praesignis remains unchanged. The description of S. preylangensis sp. nov. underscores the necessity to conserve this remnant of lowland evergreen rainforest in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.

Keywords: Reptilia, Phylogenetic systematics, Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Scincidae, Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary

FIGURE 3. Maximum likelihood consensus tree. Black circles represent nodes supported by BI and UFB support values of 1.00 and 100, respectively. Numbers in parentheses correspond to the localities in Figure 1.

FIGURE 4. Sphenomorphus annamiticus.
A. LSUDPC 10975 from Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chantaburi Province, Thailand. Photograph by Ian Dugdale.
B. CBC 02530 from Bokor National Park, Kampot Province, Cambodia. Photograph by Hun Seiha.
C. LSUDPC 4853 from Kon Tum, Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. Photograph by Nikolai Orlov.
D. ZISP 19804 from Buon Luoi Village, An Khe District, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam. Photograph by Nikolai Orlov.

FIGURE 7. A. Sphenomorphus stellatus (LSUHC 13483) from the Bukit Larut, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. Photograph by L. L. Grismer. B. Sphenomorphus annamiticus (ZISP 30194) from Mang Canh Village, Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. Photograph by Nikolai Orlov.
C. Sphenomorphus preylangensis sp. nov. (CBC 02404) from Phnom Chi, Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia. Photograph by Neang Thy. D. Sphenomorphus praesignis (LSUDPC 9558) from Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. Photograph by L. L. Grismer.

FIGURE 11. Human-made resin collecting depression cut into the side of tree (C) forming the microhabitat of a Sphenomorphus preylangensis sp. nov. (A and B; CBC 2403) from Phnom Chi, Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia. B. The skink is actually submerged in the resin. Photographs by Neang Thy.

Sphenomorphus preylangensis sp. nov.

Suggested Common Name: Prey Lang Forest Skink

Etymology. The specific epithet preylangensis is a Latinized toponymic adjective named after the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sphenomorphus annamiticus (Boettger, 1901)

Based on this study, it appears Sphenomorphus annamiticus has a disjunct circum-continental distribution along the southern and eastern hilly margins of the Indochinese Peninsula from at least Khao Soi Dao, Thailand through the Cardamom Mountains of southern Cambodia to the Bokor Plateau at the western margin of the Mekong Delta. Its distribution begins again in the lowland areas of Ma Da and Cat Tien, Dong Nai Province on the eastern margin of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam and continues northward to at least the type locality of Phuoc Son in Quang Nam Province (Fig. 1).

...

Sphenomorphus stellatus (Boulenger, 1900)

Sphenomorphus stellatus is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia although it very likely ranges farther north up the Thai-Malay Peninsula to at least the Isthmus of Kra.

...

L. Lee Grismer, Perry L. Jr. Wood, Evan S. H. Quah, Shahrul Anuar, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Neang Thy, Nikolai L. Orlov, Panupong Thammachoti and Hun Seiha. 2019. Integrative Taxonomy of the Asian Skinks Sphenomorphus stellatus (Boulenger, 1900) and S. praesignis (Boulenger, 1900) with the Resurrection of S. annamiticus (Boettger, 1901) and the Description of A New Species from Cambodia. Zootaxa. 4683(3); 381–411. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4683.3.4

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Researchgate.net/publication/336369115_Integrative_taxonomy_of_Sphenomorphus_stellatus

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