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[Ichthyology • 2019] Tyttobrycon shibattai • On A Remarkable Sexual Dimorphic Trait in the Characiformes related to the Olfactory Organ and Description of A New Miniature Species of Tyttobrycon Géry (Characiformes: Characidae)

December 25, 2019, 1:00 am
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Tyttobrycon shibattai
Abrahão, Pastana & Marinho, 2019


Abstract
Among the order Characiformes, secondary sexual dimorphism is commonly associated to the occurrence of bony hooks on fins, shape and length of the dorsal and anal fins, and sexual dichromatism. The analysis of a new miniature Characidae species of the genus Tyttobrycon, described herein, yielded to the discovery of a sexually dimorphic trait related to nostril aperture and number of olfactory lamellae. In this type of dimorphism, mature males present larger nostril aperture and higher number of olfactory lamella than females. A dimorphic olfactory organ is for the first time recorded and described for a member of the Characiformes. Gross morphology and development of brain and peripheral olfactory organ of Tyttobrycon sp. n. are described and compared to other species of Characidae. It is hypothesized that such dimorphic trait is related to male-male detection during cohort competition in small characids. The new species of Tyttobrycon is diagnosed from its congeners by the number of branched anal-fin rays (19–21) and the absence of a caudal-peduncle blotch. It occurs in a small tributary of Rio Madeira basin, near to the limit between Brazil and Bolivia, Acre State, Brazil.

Fig 1. Tyttobrycon shibattai. (A) MZUSP 125268, holotype, male, 17.1 mm SL, Brazil, Acre, Xapuri, Seringal Cachoeira road, Rio Iná, tributary of Rio Abunã, Rio Madeira drainage, Rio Amazonas basin; (B) MZUSP 125269, paratype, female, 17.7 mm SL, collected with the holotype.

Tyttobrycon shibattai, sp. nov.   

Diagnosis: Tyttobrycon shibattai can be distinguished from all congeners, except T. spinosus, by having 19–21 branched anal-fin rays (vs. up to 17). It can be diagnosed from T. spinosus by lacking a caudal-peduncle blotch (vs. blotch present). Additionally, it is further distinguished from all species, except T. dorsimaculatus, by the presence of both tricuspid and conical teeth on premaxilla and dentary (vs. teeth exclusively conical). It is distinguished from T. dorsimaculatus by having hyaline dorsal-fin, with few scattered melanophores (vs. dorsal fin with a conspicuous dark blotch) and by the presence of a parallel line of subjacent melanophores dorsal to anal-fin base (vs. melanophore line absent).

Fig 8. Type locality of Tyttobrycon shibattai. Rio Iná, tributary of Rio Abunã, Rio Madeira drainage. Photograph taken in October 2010.

Geographical distribution: Tyttobrycon shibattai is only known from its type locality at Rio Iná, a tributary of Rio Abunã, near to the limit between Brazil and Bolivia, Rio Madeira drainage, Rio Amazonas basin, Acre State, Brazil (Fig 7).

Ecological notes: 
Specimens of Tyttobrycon shibattai were collected in lentic habitats in the Rio Iná (Fig 8). The type locality was relatively shallow, with its deepest portion reaching 60 cm, and exhibiting a muddy-brown water. The river bottom was composed of clay and sand. Water physicochemical parameters during samples was 30.5°C, 6.3 mg/L of O2 dissolved, pH 6.31, and 62.1 conductivity microSiemens (uS)/cm. The only syntopic species collected with Tyttobrycon shibattai was Tridentopsis sp., which was abundant in the area.

Stomach contents of two adults containing mostly sediments, plant and algae debris, and some autochthonous invertebrates with predominance of ostracods. The stomach content of one juvenile specimen presented mostly plant and algae debris.

Etymology: The specific name honors O. A. Shibatta, a renowned icththyologist from Universidade Estadual de Londrina-MZUEL, for his great contributions to the systematic of fishes and support to new generations of ichthyologists. This honor is also dedicated to the vast influence and importance on the early ichthyological formation of the leading author of this paper (VPA). Shibatta was responsible for encouraging his studies with nervous system of Neotropical fishes.


Vitor Pimenta Abrahão, Murilo Pastana and Manoela Marinho. 2019. On A Remarkable Sexual Dimorphic Trait in the Characiformes related to the Olfactory Organ and Description of A New Miniature Species of Tyttobrycon Géry (Characiformes: Characidae). PLoS ONE. 14(12): e0226130. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226130

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[Mollusca • 2019] Eulimacrostoma gen. nov. • A New Genus of Eulimidae (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda) with Description of A New Species and Reevaluation of other western Atlantic Species

December 25, 2019, 7:53 pm
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Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata
 Souza & Pimenta, 2019

Abstract
A new genus and a new species of Eulimidae are described based on the shell morphology and on the host-parasite relationship of the type species. Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata Souza & Pimenta gen. nov. and sp. nov. parasitizes a starfish of the genus Luidia and has an elongated, conical, straight, or slightly curved shell, a protoconch with a brownish spiral band and convex whorls, a peculiar large and broad aperture with a strongly protruding outer lip, and microsculpture of axial lines on the teleoconch. Four other species are included in the genus, all from the western Atlantic: Eulimacrostoma chascanon (Watson, 1883), comb. nov., Eulimacrostoma fusus (Dall, 1889), comb. nov., Eulimacrostoma lutescens (Simone, 2002), comb. nov., and Eulimacrostoma patula (Dall & Simpson, 1901), comb. nov. Newly available material of Eulimacrostoma patula expands the known geographic distribution of this species in the Caribbean to the north coast of Brazil. Eulimacrostoma chascanon and Eulimacrostoma fusus and Eulimacrostoma lutescens are known only by the type series which was re-examined. A redescription is provided for Eulimacrostoma chascanon and Eulimacrostoma fusus. Species within Eulimacrostoma differ mainly by teleoconch sculpture, the presence or absence of an umbilical fissure, and shell dimensions. Lectotypes are designated for Eulimacrostoma chascanon, Eulimacrostoma fusus, and Eulimacrostoma patula.

Key Words: biodiversity, micromolluscs, parasitic snails shell morphology, taxonomy, Vanikoroidea

Figure 1. Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata gen. nov. and sp. nov. A. Holotype (USNM 429762); B, C. Paratype (USNM 433081); D–G. Paratype (FLMNH uncatalogued.)
A, B, D. Shell in frontal view; C, E. Shell in lateral view; F. Detail of apical whorls in frontal view; G. Specimen attached to the host Luidia ludwigi scotti Bell, 1917 (Echinoderm collection, FLMNH 5042), red ellipse indicates the eulimid.
Scale bars: 1 mm (A–E); 100 µm (F).

Systematics: 
Family Eulimidae Philippi, 1853

Genus Eulimacrostoma Souza & Pimenta, gen. nov.

Type species: Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata Souza & Pimenta, sp. nov. Recent, northwestern Atlantic and Caribbean.

Diagnosis: Eulimids parasitic on asteroids. Shell elongated, conical, straight or slightly curved. Protoconch subcylindrical, smooth. Teleoconch with slightly convex whorls, several incremental scars and microsculpture of axial lines, wide brownish spiral bands, a large and spread aperture, occupying between 60–70% of the body whorl length, and an orthocline outer lip, strongly protruding.

Etymology: Eulima, due to the systematic affinity and for being one of the most common names of the family, in combination with Macros, Gr. = long; and Stomatos, Gr. = mouth; in reference to the broad shape of the shell aperture.

Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata Souza & Pimenta, sp. nov. 
Melanella patula auct. non. 
(Dall & Simpson, 1901): Dall (1927, in part.: 67).

Etymology: The epithet alludes to the microsculpture characteristic of the present species.

Type locality: Puerto Rico: off San Juan, Johnson–Smithsonian Deep-sea expedition stn. 10 (..., 219–293 m), coll. Yacht Caroline, 02/ii/1933.

Diagnosis: Eulimid parasitic on starfish, with an elongated shell, presenting microsculpture of axial lines, dome-shaped apex, a narrow brownish spiral band close to the suture in the protoconch and a wide brownish spiral band along the teleoconch, a high, wide and spread aperture. Umbilicus absent.

Remarks: 
Dall (1927: 67) cited 20 specimens of “Melanella patula” from “off Georgia”. The USNM houses two lots (USNM 108031, USNM 108380, respectively from Fernandina, Florida, USFC stn. 2668, and from Georgia, USFC stn. 2415), that can be attributed to the material studied by Dall (1927) due to the labels. USNM 108031 contains a single shell with a broken protoconch and an eroded surface. Although the shell is not in perfect condition, it is possible to affirm that it is actually Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata sp. nov. by the general shape and teleoconch sculpture. USNM 108380 contains seven shells, most of them immature, which can neither be identified with certainty as Eulimacrostoma patula (Dall & Simpson, 1901), comb. nov. nor as Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata.

Most specimens of Eu. microsculpturata have a straight spire (Figs 1A, 2A), but individuals of the lot USNM 433081 (Fig. 1B) have a slightly curved spire. The curvature is a growth phenomenon related with the position of the incremental scars and usually helps to distinguish species (Bouchet and Warén 1986: 312). However, in the case of Eu. microsculpturata the protoconch, color pattern, shape of the aperture, and dimensions are very similar in all individuals and we consider all of them belonging to the same taxon. The holotype USNM 429762 and paratype FLMNH are young individuals and shows a more rhomboid aperture and angulated body whorl, which is a common feature at this stage of growth (Bouchet and Warén 1986: 310; Souza et al. 2018: 926).


 Leonardo Santos de Souza and Alexandre Dias Pimenta. 2019. Eulimacrostoma gen. nov., A New Genus of Eulimidae (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda) with Description of A New Species and Reevaluation of other western Atlantic Species.  Zoosystematics and Evolution. 95(2): 403-415. DOI: 10.3897/zse.95.33880

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[Entomology • 2019] Protosticta binhi • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam

December 25, 2019, 10:52 pm
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Protosticta binhi 
 Phan, To, Trinh & Dinh, 2019


Abstract
Protosticta binhi sp. n. is described from the Central Highlands of Vietnam (holotype male: Vietnam, Gia Lai Province, K’Bang District, Dak Roong Commune, Dak Hro village, ..., 1130 m asl, 22 May 2018, T.odo. 22051810, Zoological Collection of Duy Tan University). The new species can be easily distinguished from all other Protosticta species by the combination of huge body size, bird-head shape of cerci and paraprocts broad and apically armed with several sharp subapical projections in the male, and the anterior pronotal lobe of the prothorax well developed in the female.

Keywords: dragonfly; damselfly; new species; Protostictinae

Taxonomy: 
Family Platystictidae Kennedy, 1920 

Subfamily Protostictinae Dijkstra, Kalkman, Dow, Stokvis & van Tol, 2013 

Genus Protosticta Selys, 1855 

Figures 1, 2. Habitus of (1) holotype ♂ and (2) paratype ♀ of Protosticta binhi sp. n.

Figures 3–6. Head of holotype ♂ and paratype ♀ of Protosticta binhi sp. n. (3, 5) in frontal view; (4, 6) in dorsal view.

Protosticta binhi sp. n. Phan, To, Trinh & Dinh 

Etymology: The first author chose the specific name “binhi” after the last name of his father, Mr. Phan Dinh Binh (born in 1952) to whom he is grateful for his love and support. A noun in genitive case.

Diagnosis: The bird-head shape of the cerci, the paraprocts longer than the cerci, broad and armed with several sharp subapical projections of the male are unique amongst Protosticta species; anterior pronotal lobe of prothorax of the female extends up and backward much further than in the known Protosticta females.


Habitat and ecology: The new species was found in a shaded shallow narrow (about 1–3 m width) forest mountain stream with slow running water, with a sandy bottom with many large rocks in Dak Hro village (1130 m asl).

  
Quoc Toan Phan, Van Quang To, Dang Mau Trinh and Van Khuong Dinh. 2019. Description of Protosticta binhi sp. n. from the Central Highlands of Vietnam (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae), International Journal of Odonatology. 22(3-4); 199-206, DOI: 10.1080/13887890.2019.1696238
facebook.com/PhanToan988/posts/3196414680385633

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[Entomology • 2019] Hesperolyra guajavifoliae • A New Leafmining Pest of Guava, with Comments on the Diagnostics of the Endemic Neotropical Genus Hesperolyra van Nieukerken (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae)

December 31, 2019, 2:18 am
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Hesperolyra guajavifoliae Stonis & Vargas

in Stonis, Remeikis, Diškus, et al., 2019. 

Abstract
We describe a new pest of guava (Psidium guajava L.), Hesperolyra guajavifoliae Stonis & Vargas, sp. nov., that was recently discovered in western Colombia. Hesperolyra van Nieukerken is a small, Neotropical genus of pygmy moths (Nepticulidae). We re-examine and document the complex morphology of the male genitalia of the generic type species, H. diskusi (Puplesis & Robinson). We discuss the diagnostics and composition of the genus and provide a simple pictorial differentiation scheme for all currently known representatives of the genus. The new species is illustrated with photographs of the adults, some of the immature stages, male and female genitalia, and leaf mines. A link to the COI barcodes of H. guajavifoliae sp. nov. is provided and the relationship of Hesperolyra to other genera is discussed.

Keywords: New species, pygmy moths, guayaba, Psidium guajava, leaf mines, taxonomy, Colombia



Figures 13–27. Hesperolyra guajavifoliae Stonis & Vargas sp. nov. 
13–16 cocoons 17–20 pupae (found dead in cocoons at different stages of development and with various levels of dehydration) 21 male holotype (MPUJ) 22 female paratype 23 frontal tuft, female paratype 24 ventral view, female paratype 25–27 An Egg on a leaf underside of the host plant Psidium guajava.

Hesperolyra guajavifoliae Stonis & Vargas, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Externally, adults of the new species are distinguishable from all other Neotropical Nepticulidae, including congeneric Hesperolyra, by a dark, oblique fascia and two small, dark, basal and apical spots on the forewing. However, in some specimens, including worn ones, the spots may be inconspicuous or absent. In the male genitalia, a large apical process of the valva, two large, horn-like processes fused with the transtilla and weakly developed cornuti in the phallus distinguish H. guajavifoliae sp. nov. from all other Hesperolyra species. In the female genitalia, the unique, large vaginal sclerite and distally wide vesicles of ductus spermathecae are hypothesized to be unique to this species, but this character may not remain valid for species differentiation because females of many nepticulid species are unknown and remain to be discovered. Hesperolyra guajavifoliae sp. nov. is distinguishable from another guava feeder, Ozadelpha guajavae Puplesis & Robinson, by a dark, oblique fascia and two small spots on the forewing of the adults, and by blotch-like leaf mines (leaf mines of O. guajavae are slender and sinuous, see Remeikis et al. 2015: figs 1, 7).

Distribution: (Figs 1–6). So far, this species is known to occur at altitudes from 450 to 850 m on the western slopes of the Andes (Valle del Cauca, western Colombia), bordering with the lowland Choco province. The latter is possibly the most humid area on Earth, where annual rainfall reaches 11,770 mm (Wettest places on Earth 2019) and is equally distributed except for only slight dry season(s) (Figs 2–6).

Etymology: The species name derives from the Latin name of the host plant guajava, in combination with the Latin folium (a leaf), in reference to the feeding habit of the new species; although the ending -ae here is not correct Latin (van Nieukerken, personal comm.), we preferred to name the species as guajavifoliae and not otherwise.

Figures 7–12. Leaf mines of Hesperolyra guajavifoliae Stonis & Vargas sp. nov. on Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae), Colombia, Valle del Cauca, Cisneros, .., 450 m. 


 Jonas R. Stonis, Andrius Remeikis, Arūnas Diškus, Svetlana Orlovskytė, Sergio A. Vargas and Maria Alma Solis. 2019. A New Leafmining Pest of Guava: Hesperolyra guajavifoliae sp. nov., with Comments on the Diagnostics of the Endemic Neotropical Genus Hesperolyra van Nieukerken (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae).  ZooKeys. 900: 87-110. DOI: /10.3897/zookeys.900.46332

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[Botany • 2019] Linum aksehirense (sect. Dasylinum, Linaceae) • A New Species from Central Anatolia (Turkey)

January 1, 2020, 12:54 am
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Linum aksehirense Tugay & Ulukuş

in Tugay & Ulukuş, 2019.
Akşehir keteni  ||  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.136.46477 

Abstract
Linum aksehirense (Linaceae) is described as a new species known from the slopes of the Sultan Mountains in the Akşehir district of Konya in Central Anatolia (Turkey). It is most similar to L. pubescens Banks & Sol. and L. anisocalyx P.H.Davis, from which it is easily distinguished by its stem leaf shape, sepal shape and petal colour. Seed and pollen surface ornamentations were photographed under SEM microscopy to explore micromorphological characters distinguishing the new species from close relatives. In addition, photographs of living material, a distribution map, ecological details, and an identification key are provided.

Keywords: Endemic, Konya, Linaceae, Linum, taxonomy

Figure 2. Holotype specimen of Linum aksehirense Tugay & Ulukuş. 


Figure 3. General view of habit and flower A–C Linum aksehirense.

Linum aksehirense Tugay & Ulukuş, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Linum aksehirense belongs to Linum sect. Dasylinum. The new species is similar to L. pubescens but is distinguished by its spathulate lower stem leaves that are not evanescent (vs. oblong-spathulate evanescent), subequal lanceolate sepal shape (vs. subequal linear), petals 27–33 mm (vs. 18–27 mm) and petals that are blue-violet with a yellowish limb base (vs. pink with a bluish limb base).

Etymology: The species epithet comes from ‘Akşehir’, where the new species is found.

Proposed Turkish name for the new species: Akşehir keteni.



 Osman Tugay and Deniz Ulukuş. 2019. Linum aksehirense (sect. Dasylinum, Linaceae), A New Species from Central Anatolia (Turkey). PhytoKeys. 136: 23-34. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.136.46477


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[Herpetology • 2019] Cnemaspis kotagamai, C. dissanayakai & C. kawminiae • Three New Species of Day Geckos (Gekkonidae: Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887) from Isolated Granite Cave Habitats in Sri Lanka

January 1, 2020, 1:42 am
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Cnemaspis kotagamai Karunarathna, de Silva, Botejue, Surasinghe, Wickramasinghe, Ukuwela & Bauer

in Karunarathna, de Silva, Botejue, Gabadage, Somaratna, ... et Bauer, 2019. 

Abstract
Three new day gecko species of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 are described from three isolated granite cave habitats with rock walls in Bambaragala (Ratnapura District), Dimbulagala (Polonnaruwa District), and Mandaramnuwara (Nuwara-Eliya District) in Sri Lanka based on morphometric and meristic characters. All of these new species are assigned to the kandiana clade based on morphology. These species are small (28–35 mm SVL) in size and may be differentiated from all other Sri Lankan congeners by a suite of distinct morphometric and meristic characters. Each of these species described herein are categorized as Critically Endangered (CR) under IUCN Red List criteria. At the microhabitat scale, they are restricted to wet, cool, and shady granite caves and rock outcrops in isolated forested areas with limited anthropogenic disturbance. Further, these habitats are located in all three main bioclimatic zones (wet, intermediate, dry) and all three geographic peneplains (frst, second, third) of Sri Lanka. Due to their restricted distributions (as point endemics), the habitats of these specialist species are vulnerable to fragmentation, edge effects, and anthropogenic activities. Therefore, these isolated forest patches in Sri Lanka are in need of special conservation attention and management.

 Keywords: Climate condition, endangered species, habitat specialist, isolated forest, point endemic, range restriction, systematics, taxonomy


 Holotype male of Cnemaspis kotagamai sp. nov. (NMSL 2018.07.01) in life in-situ in Bambaragala isolated forest hill, Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka.

Rock outcrop habitat of Cnemaspis kotagamai sp. nov. at Bambaragala isolated forest hill, Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka.

Cnemaspis kotagamai sp. nov. Karunarathna, de Silva, Botejue, Surasinghe, Wickramasinghe, Ukuwela & Bauer
 Kotagama’s Day Gecko (English); 
Kotagamage Diva-seri Hoona (Sinhala); 
Kotagamavin Pahalpalli (Tamil)

Diagnosis. Cnemaspis kotagamai sp. nov. may be readily distinguished from its Sri Lankan congeners by a combination of the following morphological and meristic characteristics as well as color patterns: maximum SVL 32.6 mm; dorsum with heterogeneous, smooth intermixed with weakly keeled granular scales; 2/2 supranasals, one internasal, 2/2 postnasals; 3–4 enlarged postmentals; postmentals bounded by 5–6 chin scales; chin, gular, pectoral, and abdominal scales smooth, subimbricate; 21–22 belly scales across midbody; 6–7 well-developed tubercles on posterior fank; 114–119 paravertebral granules linearly arranged; one precloacal pore, 4–5 femoral pores in males, separated by 11–13 unpored proximal femoral scales, 2–6 unpored distal femoral scales; 131–137 ventral scales; 79–84 midbody scales; subcaudals smooth, median row comprising an irregular series of diamond-shaped, small scales; 7–8 supralabials; 7–8 infralabials; 13–15 total lamellae on 4th digit of manus, and 17–18 total lamellae on 4th digit of pes.

Etymology. The specifc epithet is an eponym Latinized (kotagamai) in the masculine genitive singular, honoring prominent Sri Lankan scientist (ornithologist), Sarath Wimalabandara Kotagama (Emeritus Professor of the University of Colombo) for his valuable contributions towards biodiversity conservation and management in Sri Lanka.
...

Remarks. Cnemaspis kotagamai sp. nov. most closely resembles C. ingerorum (southern dry zone, ~85 m asl) and C. kallima (northern wet zone, ~600 m asl) morphologically, the type localities of these species are separated by ~63 km (Sandagala in Tissamaharamaya) and ~115 km (Gammaduwa in Matale) straight line distances from Bambaragala in Pallebedda (Fig. 1). Also see the comparison with other species for more details. 


 Holotype male of Cnemaspis dissanayakai sp. nov. (NMSL 2018.20.01) in life in-situ in Dimbulagala isolated hill forest, Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka. 

Cnemaspis dissanayakai sp. nov. Karunarathna, de Silva, Madawala, Karunarathna, Wickramasinghe, Ukuwela & Bauer 
Dissanayaka’s Day Gecko (English); 
Dissanayakage Diva-seri Hoona (Sinhala);
 Dissanayakavin Pahalpalli (Tamil)

Diagnosis. Cnemaspis dissanayakai sp. nov., may be readily distinguished from its Sri Lankan congeners by a combination of the following morphological and meristic characteristics: maximum SVL 29.4 mm; dorsum with homogeneous, subconical granular scales; one internasal, 2/2 supranasals, 1/1 postnasals; 29–31 interorbital scales; 15–17 supraciliaries, 11–12 canthal scales, 21–23 eye to tympanum scales; three enlarged postmentals; postmentals bounded by 6–7 chin scales; chin with smooth granules, gular, pectoral, and abdominal scales smooth, subimbricate; 17 belly scales across the venter; 6–7 well developed tubercles on posterior fank; 105–107 linearly arranged paravertebral granules; two precloacal pores, 4–5 femoral pores on each side in males separated by 10–11 unpored proximal femoral scales, 5–7 unpored distal femoral scales; 118–120 ventral scales; 94–98 midbody scales; subcaudals smooth, median row small, in an irregular series of diamond-shaped scales; 7/7 supralabials; 7/7 infralabials; 21–22 total lamellae on 4th digit of manus, and 21–22 total lamellae on 4th digit of pes.

Etymology. The specifc epithet is an eponym Latinized (dissanayakai) in the masculine genitive singular, honoring Dissanayaka Mudiyanselage Karunarathna (born in Nilgala, Bibila) – father of the first author (Suranjan Karunarathna) for his encouragement, fnancial support for research, and for allowing SK to pursue his interest in wildlife.
...

Remarks.Cnemaspis dissanayakai sp. nov. most closely resembles C. kumarasinghei (east intermediate zone) and C. latha (southern intermediate zone) morphologically. The type localities of these species are separated by ~105 km (Maragala in Monaragala, ~500 m asl) and ~90 km (Bandarawela in Badulla, ~700 m asl) straight line distances from Dimbulagala in Polonnaruwa (Fig. 1). Also see the comparison with other species for more details.


Cnemaspis kawminiae sp. nov. Karunarathna, de Silva, Gabadage, Karunarathna, Wickramasinghe, Ukuwela & Bauer 
Kawmini’s Day Gecko (English); 
Kawminige Divaseri Hoona (Sinhala); 
Kawminivin Pahalpalli (Tamil)

Diagnosis. Cnemaspis kawminiae sp. nov., may be readily distinguished from its Sri Lankan congeners by a combination of the following morphological and meristic characteristics: maximum SVL 35.2 mm; dorsum with homogeneous fat granular scales; one internasal, 2/2 supranasals and 2/2 postnasals; 20–22 interorbital scales; 9–10 supraciliaries, 10–11 canthal scales, 20–22 eye to tympanum scales; three enlarged postmentals; postmentals bounded by fve chin scales; chin with smooth and round granules, gular, pectoral, and abdominal scales smooth, subimbricate; 17–21 belly scales across the venter; 7–8 weakly developed tubercles on posterior fank; 86–92 linearly arranged paravertebral granules; two precloacal pores in males, 4/4 femoral pores on each side in males separated by 11–13 unpored proximal femoral scales, 6–7 unpored distal femoral scales; 107–114 ventral scales; 76–78 midbody scales; subcaudals smooth, median row small, in an irregular series of sub-rhomboid shaped scales; 7–8 supralabials; 7–8 infralabials; 14–15 total lamellae on 4th digit of manus, and 15–16 total lamellae on 4th digit of pes.

Etymology. The specifc epithet is an eponym Latinized (kawminiae) in the feminine genitive singular, honoring Hadunneththi Kawmini Mendis – mother of the first author (Suranjan Karunarathna) for her unconditional love, generous support, and fnancial support for research.
...
Remarks. Cnemaspis kawminiae sp. nov. most closely resembles C. kumarasinghei (east intermediate zone) and C. gotaimbarai (northeast dry zone) morphologically. The type localities of these species are separated by ~80 km (Maragala in Monaragala, ~500 m asl) and ~44 km (Kokagala in Padiyathalawa, ~300 m asl) straight line distances from Mandaramnuwara (~1,500 m asl) in Nuwara-Eliya District (Fig. 1). Also see the comparison with other species for more details.


Suranjan Karunarathna, Anslem de Silva, Madhava Botejue, Dinesh Gabadage, Lankani Somaratna, Angelo Hettige, Nimantha Aberathna, Majintha Madawala, Gayan Edirisinghe, Nirmala Perera, Sulakshana Wickramaarachchi, Thilina Surasinghe, Niranjan Karunarathna, Mendis Wickramasinghe, Kanishka D.B. Ukuwela and Aaron M. Bauer. 2019. Three New Species of Day Geckos (Reptilia: Gekkonidae: Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887) from Isolated Granite Cave Habitats in Sri Lanka.  Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 13(2) [General Section]: 323–354 (e216).
 amphibian-reptile-conservation.org  
 amphibian-reptile-conservation.org/pdfs/Volume/Vol_13_no_2/ARC_13_2_[General_Section]_323-354_e216.pdf
 facebook.com/SuranjanKarunarathna/posts/10159356635692907

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[Botany • 2019] Checklist to the Elatostema (Urticaceae) of Vietnam including 19 New Records, Ten New Combinations, Two New Names and Four New Synonyms

December 31, 2019, 12:50 am
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representative Elatostema species in Vietnam:
 (A) E. crassiusculum; (C) E. hookerianum; (G), E. obtusum; (H) E. ramosum; (J) E. fengshanense; (K) E. austrosinense.


in Fu, Monro, Do, et al., 2019. 

Abstract 
Elatostema (Urticaceae) comprises several hundred herbaceous species distributed in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania. The greatest species richness occurs on limestone karst in Southeast Asia. Taxonomic revisions of Elatostema are largely out of date and contradict each other with respect to the delimitation of Elatostema and Pellionia. Most herbaria in SE Asia and worldwide contain significant amounts of unidentified material. As part of a broader revision of Elatostema in SE Asia, we present an updated checklist for Vietnam based on field visits, a review of specimens in herbaria worldwide, a review of type material and nomenclature. We recognize 77 taxa (75 species and two infraspecific taxa) of Elatostema in Vietnam, 23 of which were previously ascribed to Pellionia. Nineteen of these are new records for the country, i.e., E. attenuatoides, E. austrosinense, E. backeri, E. brunneinerve, E. crassiusculum, E. crenatum, E. fengshanense, E. glochidioides, E. malacotrichum, E. nanchuanense, E. oblongifolium, E. obtusum, E. oppositum, E. pergameneum, E. prunifolium, E. pseudolongipes, E. pycnodontum, E. salvinioides and E. xichouense. We place E. baviensis in synonymy of E. platyphyllum, E. colaniae in synonymy of E. myrtillus, P. macroceras in synonymy of E. hookerianum, and P. tetramera in synonymy of E. dissectum for the first time. Fourteen taxa (18% of all the recognized taxa) are endemic to Vietnam, which makes Elatostema one of the richest genera for endemic species in this country; this level of endemism is comparable to levels observed in Orchidaceae. Our checklist suggests that the highest diversity and endemism of Elatostema occurs in northern Vietnam, and that there is the greatest floristic similarity of northern Vietnam to SW China. The relationship among floristic regions is also investigated. We could find no records of Elatostema for 33 out of 63 provincial units of Vietnam, including all the southernmost provinces. We propose that further studies on the diversity of Elatostema in central and southern Vietnam are severely needed.

Figure 3: Plate I of representative Elatostema species in Vietnam:
(A) E. crassiusculum; (B) E. glochidioides; (C) E. hookerianum; (D) E. prunifolium; (E), E. arcuatobracteatum; (F), E. retrohirtum; (G), E. obtusum; (H) E. ramosum; (I) E. integrifolium; (J) E. fengshanense; (K) E. austrosinense; (L) E. malacotrichum.

Conclusions: 
This study combines taxonomic and field expertise from China, Russia, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. It has strongly benefited from the availability of type images online which has accelerated the process of identification and the evaluation of taxon names. Ongoing research to document the floras of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam provides a huge opportunity for the taxonomy of Elatostema. Once combined with the completed Flora of China and Flora Malesiana accounts our updated checklist for Vietnam will fill a significant knowledge gap for this species-rich genus and lay the foundations for a global checklist. This fourth checklist for Vietnam not only doubles estimates of the diversity of the genus, it also identifies major knowledge gaps for the country, i.e., central Vietnam and, most notably, southern Vietnam. We propose that greater sampling effort of the flora of central Vietnam and southern Vietnam will result in a number of new additions to the flora of the country.


Long-Fei Fu, Alex Monro, Truong Van Do, Maxim S. Nuraliev, Leonid V. Averyanov, Fang Wen, Zi-Bing Xin, Tatiana V. Maisak, Andrey N. Kuznetsov, Svetlana P. Kuznetsova, Khang Sinh Nguyen and Yi-Gang Wei​. 2019. Checklist to the Elatostema (Urticaceae) of Vietnam including 19 New Records, Ten New Combinations, Two New Names and Four New Synonyms.  PeerJ. 7:e6188. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6188

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[Botany • 2019] Magnolia dixonii (M. subsect. Talauma, Magnoliaceae) • Rediscovered at Tesoro Escondido Reserve in the Biogeographic Chocó of Ecuador

January 1, 2020, 7:40 pm
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Magnolia dixonii (Little) Govaerts

in Morelos-Juárez, Giler-Mejía, ... et Vázquez-García, 2019. 

Magnolia dixonii (Little 1969: 457) Govaerts in Frodin & Govaerts (1996: 70) has been rediscovered by botanists and conservationists in November, 2017, at the Tesoro Escondido Reserve, a private reserve conserving 2000 ha of primary rainforest in the highly threatened Ecuadorian Chocó, protecting critically endangered species such as the Ecuadorian brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps). Magnolia dixonii had not been seen in the half a century since its discovery at Hoja Blanca-Gualpi, Esmeraldas Province, northwestern Ecuador.

FIGURE 1. Magnolia dixonii. A. Tree. B. Fruit with inconspicuous carpels. C. Flower bud. D. Fruits and fruit axis with extended dorsal walls. E. Trunk. F. Inner petal and seed. G. Dehiscing fruit with seeds. H. Fruit showing the apex of carpels on dorsal walls. I. Fruit with most seeds removed.


Citlalli Morelos-Juárez, Yasela Yadira Giler-Mejía, David A. Neill, R. Efrén Merino-Santi and J. Antonio Vázquez-García. 2019. Magnolia dixonii (M. subsect. Talauma, Magnoliaceae) Rediscovered at Tesoro Escondido Reserve in the Biogeographic Chocó of Ecuador. Phytotaxa. 427(4);291–295. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.427.4.8  
facebook.com/inicio1914/posts/10217284843208005

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[Herpetology • 2019] Kurixalus absconditus • A New Tree Frog of the Genus Kurixalus Ye, Fei & Dubois, 1999 (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from West Kalimantan, Indonesia

January 1, 2020, 8:16 pm
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Kurixalus absconditus 
Mediyansyah, Hamidy, Munir & Matsui, 2019
  
 Photographs by Mediyansyah || facebook.com/AmirHamidy7

ABSTRACT
Kurixalus absconditus sp. nov., a new species of tree frog of the genus Kurixalus, described from West Kalimantan on the basis of molecular phylogenetic and morphological evidence. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of following morphological characters: havingsmaller body size, more prominent of mandibular symphysis, skin smooth on throat, vomerine odontophores two oblique series touching anterior corner of choanae and widely separated, vomerine teeth thick, buccal cavity narrow and deep, choanae with teardrop shaped, single vocal slit, weakly crenulated dermal fringe on fore-and hindlimbs. 

Keywords: Kurixalus absconditus sp. nov., new species, West Kalimantan


Figure 4. (A & B) Adult male holotype of Kurixalus absconditus sp. nov. (MZB Amph 21862) in life;
(C & D) juvenile paratype MZB Amph 21860–21861. Not to scale.
(Photographs by Mediyansyah).

Kurixalus absconditus sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet “absconditus” is derived from a Latin word, ”disguised, concealed or hidden”. The name is an adjective in concordance with the previous undetected status of this species within K. appendiculatus group.

Suggested English common name. Piasak-frilled Swamp Treefrogs.
Suggested Indonesia common name. Katak-renda piasak.

Diagnosis. The new species is assigned to the genus Kurixalus based on molecular  analysis, and following morphological characters: asmall-sized rhacophorid(SVL<50 mm);tips of fingers dilated into round disks having circummarginal grooves; snout tip pointed; finger webbing poorlydeveloped; toe webbing moderately developed; dermalfringespresentonforearmand tarsus; narrow flap on heel and crenulate dermal projection on vent; dorsum brown with saddle-shaped or X-shaped marking (Nguyen et al., 2014a; Yu et al., 2017b, 2018). Kurixalus absconditus sp. nov. can bedistinguished from all known congeners by a combination of following morphological characters: (1)smaller body size of an adult male; (2) more prominent mandibular symphysis; (3) skin smooth on throat; (4) vomerine odontophores two oblique series touching anterior corner of choanae and widely separated; (5) vomerine teeth thick, short with oval-shaped; (6) narrow and deep buccal cavity; (7) choanae teardropshaped; (8) weakly crenulated dermal fringe on outer edges of fore-and hindlimb; (9) hindlimb slightly short, tibio-tarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaches center of the eye.

Figure 8. (A) Non–vouchered adult male of Kurixalus absconditus sp. nov.; 
(B) adult male of K. chaseni from Bukit Batikap, Central Kalimantan Province; (C) adult male of K. chaseni from Lahat, South Sumatra Province; (D) adult male of K. chaseni from Ketapang, West Kalimantan Province; (E) adult male of K. chaseni from Sungai Wain, East Kalimantan Province; (F) adult male of K . chaseni from Grand Forest Park (TAHURA) Sultan Adam, South Kalimantan Province; (G) adult male of K. chaseni from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia;
(H) adult male of K. appendiculatus from the Philippines. 


Not to scale. Photographs by Mediyansyah (A, B, C, D); Amir Hamidy (E); Zainudin. B. Akar (F); Evan Quah (G); Arvin C. Diesmos (H).

Map of the Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo showed the type locality of Kurixalus absconditus sp. nov. (red circle)

Distribution and Natural history. Kurixalus absconditus sp. nov. currently is known only from the type locality. The holotype and juvenile paratypes were collected in the shrub swamp habitat close to secondary swamp forest (Fig. 9). The holotype was found clinging to the trunk of a tree 70 cm above the ground and the juvenile paratypes were found perched on leave 100–190 cm above the ground. The tadpoles, eggs, and female individual were not found. The advertisement call of this species is unknown. Associated frog species observed in the collection site were Amnirana nicobariensis (Stoliczka), Chalcorana raniceps (Peters), Hylarana erythraea (Schlegel), Polypedates colletti (Boulenger), Pulchrana baramica (Boettger), and Limnonectes paramacrodon (Inger).


Mediyansyah, Amir Hamidy, Misbahul Munir and Masafumi Matsui. 2019.  A New Tree Frog of the Genus Kurixalus Ye, Fei & Dubois, 1999 (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae) from West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Treubia. 46; 51–72. DOI: 10.14203/treubia.v46i0.3790  


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[Botany • 2020] Impatiens gongchengensis (Balsaminaceae) • A New Species from Guangxi, Southern China

January 1, 2020, 11:28 pm
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Impatiens gongchengensis Z.C. Lu, B. Pan & Yan Liu

in Lu, Pan, Huang & Liu, 2020.

Abstract
Impatiens gongchengensis Z.C. Lu, B. Pan & Yan Liu is described and illustrated as a new species in northeastern Guangxi, China. This new species is similar to Impatiens platychlaena Hook.f., Impatiens soulieana Hook.f. and Impatiens faberi Hook.f., but differs in having stipitate glands at leaves base, 4–5 pairs of lateral veins, pale purple or purple-red flowers and the shape of the flower.

Keyword: Balsaminaceae, China, Impatiens faberi, Impatiens platychlaena, Impatiens soulieana, morphology, taxonomy

Fig. 1. Impatiens gongchengensis Z.C. Lu, B. Pan & Yan Liu
A. Flowering twig, B. Leaf base dorsal view with stipitate glands, C. Flower lateral view, D. Lateral sepals, E. Upper petal dorsal view, F. and H. Lateral united petals, G. Lip side view, I. Stamens and pistils, J. Capsule.
   

Fig. 2. Impatiens gongchengensis Z.C. Lu, B. Pan & Yan Liu
A. Habitat, B. Habit, C. Flower face view, D. Flower side view, E. Flower dorsal view, F. Dissected floral parts, G. Lateral united petal, H. Seed, I. Capsule.

Impatiens gongchengensis Z.C. Lu, B. Pan & Yan Liu,sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Impatiens gongchengensis is similar toImpatiens platychlaena Hook.f. (1908), Impatiens soulieana Hook.f. (1908) and Impatiens faberi Hook.f. (1910), but it is distinct from the three latter species in its having stipitate glands at leaves base, 4–5 pairs of lateral veins; pale purple or purple-red flowers, upper petal oblate, abaxial midvein thickened, narrowly carinate, beak-like, purple-red, 2-lobed lateral united petals, with a filamentous long hair at apex of base lobes and distal lobes. 


Etymology: The specific epithet gongchengensis refers to the type locality of this species. 

Notes:Impatiens gongchengensis is easily distinguished from the other species of Impatiens by having stipitate glands at leaves base; 4–5 pairs of lateral veins; pale purple or purple-red flowers; 2-lobed lateral united petals, lobes with a filamentous long hair at apex; basal lobes ovate, purple spotted; distal lobes dolabriform, purple striate, apex obtuse. 
More detailed morphological dissimilarities between I. gongchengensis and its related species are presented in Table 1.



Zhao-Cen Lu, Bo Pan, Fu-Zhao Huang and Yan Liu. 2020. Impatiens gongchengensis (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from Guangxi, Southern China. Taiwania. 65(1); 1-4.  DOI:  10.6165/tai.2020.65.1  tai2.ntu.edu.tw/taiwania/abstract.php?type=abstract&id=1645

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[Botany • 2019] Dendrobium perplexum (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Malaxideae) • A New Species of Dendrobium described from previously Perplexing Specimens of the Seidenfaden Collection

January 2, 2020, 12:16 am
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Dendrobium perplexum Phueakkhlai, Sungkaew & H.A.Pedersen

in Phueakkhlai, Suddee, Hodkinson, Sungkaew & Pedersen, 2019. 

Abstract
A previously unrecognized species represented by six spirit samples in the collection of the late Gunnar Seidenfaden, pioneering Danish explorer of the Thai orchid flora, is newly described. It is evident that Seidenfaden was perplexed by the material, as three different species names can be observed on the labels (often accompanied by question marks or indications such as “probably”): Dendrobium fimbriatum, D. gibsonii and D. chryseum. In our view, the new species has the strongest morphological resemblance to D. fimbriatum, but it differs in characters of the stems, leaves, lateral sepals, petals and labellum. We describe the new species as Dendrobium perplexum, the epithet referring to the previously perplexing properties of the material. So far, D. perplexum is only known from NE Thailand, but as the confirmed Thai localities are close to the Laotian border, future finds in Laos might be expected.

Keywords: Flora of Thailand, orchids, section Dendrobium, taxonomy, Monocots


FIGURE 2. Dendrobium perplexum Phueakkhlai, Sungkaew & H.A.Pedersen, sp. nov..
 A. Flowering shoot (inflorescence removed). B. Inflorescence. C. Flower, upper view. D. Column and lip. E. Map of Thailand showing the positions of confirmed localities. Photos by O. Phueakkhlai.

FIGURE 1. Dendrobium perplexum Phueakkhlai, Sungkaew & H.A.Pedersen, sp. nov.
 A. Flowering shoot (all leaves shed). B. Leaf. C. Flower, front view. D. Flower, side view. E. Floral bract. F. Dorsal sepal. G. Petal, ventral side and dorsal side. H. Lateral sepal, ventral side and dorsal side. I. Lip, flattened, ventral side. J. Lip, in natural conformation. K. Column. L. Anther. M. Pollinia. A and C–J from sine coll. GT 9608 (C); K–M from sine coll. GT 9600 (C). Drawn by O. Phueakkhlai.

Dendrobium perplexum Phueakkhlai, Sungkaew & H.A.Pedersen, sp. nov. 

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the previously perplexing properties of the material upon which the new species is described.



Orporn Phueakkhlai, Somran Suddee, Trevor R. Hodkinson, Sarawood Sungkaew and Henrik Æ. Pedersen. 2019. A New Species of Dendrobium (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Malaxideae) described from previously Perplexing Specimens of the Seidenfaden Collection. Phytotaxa. 419(2); 197–202. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.419.2.6  
forest.ku.ac.th/webdev3/newsdetail.php?newsid=1037


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[PaleoIchthyology • 2019] Isityumzi mlomomde • A High Latitude Devonian Lungfish, from the Famennian of South Africa

January 2, 2020, 1:26 am
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Isityumzi mlomomde 
 Gess & Clement,​ 2019


Abstract 
New fossil lungfish remains comprising two parasphenoids, tooth plates and scales from the Famennian Witpoort Formation of South Africa are described. From the parasphenoid material, which bears similarity to Oervigia and Sagenodus but is nevertheless unique, a new genus, Isityumzi mlomomde gen. et sp. nov. is erected. Tooth plates and scales from the same locality may be conspecific but are not yet assigned until further material becomes available. The tooth plates closely resemble those of some taxa in the Carboniferous genus Ctenodus. The new taxon is significant as only the second Devonian lungfish described from the African continent, and for hailing from the high-latitude (polar) Waterloo Farm environment situated close to 70° south during the Famennian.


Palaeozoic Lungfish Parasphenoid Morphology. Isityumzi mlomomde n. gen. et sp.,
(A) partial parasphenoid (AM 4821); (B) and (C) part and counterpart of the holotype (AM 6501a/b); (D) interpretive drawing of the holotype. 

Figure 1: Palaeozoic Lungfish Parasphenoid Morphology. Isityumzi mlomomde n. gen. et sp., (A) partial parasphenoid (AM 4821); (B) and (C) part and counterpart of the holotype (AM 6501a/b); (D) interpretive drawing of the holotype.
Comparative parasphenoid outlines: (E) Oervigia nordica (Lehman, 1959, Fig. 27), (F) Soederberghia groenlandica (Lehman, 1959, Fig. 17), (G) Rhinodipterus kimberleyensis (Clement, 2012, Fig. 3), (H) Rhinodipterus secans (Gross, 1956, Fig. 20), (I) Ctenodus cristatus (Sharp & Clack, 2013, Fig. 16), (J) Sagenodus i(Schultze & Chorn, 1997, Fig. 22), (K) Andreyevichthys epitomus (Krupina, 1987, Fig. 2), (L) Uranolophus (Denison, 1968, Fig. 8), (M) Chirodipterus australis (Miles, 1977, Fig. 76), (N) igogoensis (Miles, 1977, Fig. 77), (O) Griphognathus i(Miles, 1977, Fig. 75), (P) isp. (Berman, 1976, Fig. 4), and (Q) Eoctenodus microsoma (Long, 1987, Fig. 3). Parasphenoids not drawn to scale, redrawn from references given within.

Systematic Palaeontology
OSTEICHTHYES Huxley, 1880
SARCOPTERYGII Romer, 1955
DIPNOMORPHA Ahlberg, 1991
DIPNOI Müller, 1844

Isityumzi mlomomde gen. et sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Lungfish with parasphenoid corpus and stalk equal in length, stalk narrow with parallel sides tapering to a single point. Corpus almost as wide as long and with a broad anterior angle of 90°.

Etymology/Derivation of name. Generic name ‘Isityumzi’, from isiXhosa language meaning a device for crushing (fromukutyumza, to crush). Specific name ‘mlomomde’ from isiXhosa meaning ‘long mouthed’.

Holotype. Complete parasphenoid, AM6501, Albany Museum, Grahamstown/Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Other material. AM 4821 (partial parasphenoid).

Horizon and type locality. Waterloo Farm, Grahamstown/Makhanda, South Africa; Witpoort Formation, Witteberg Group, Famennian, Late Devonian.

Note. The new taxon is erected from the parasphenoid material alone. Although we expect that the tooth plate and scale material are conspecific, we do not formally assign them to Isityumzi mlomomde gen. et sp. nov. here.


Conclusions: 
• Isityumzi represents the only record of Late Devonian lungfish remains from western Gondwana (South America and Africa) and is described from its parasphenoid.
• The parasphenoid of Isityumzi bears similarity to Oervigia and Sagenodus but differs from those taxa in having a single pointed stalk (c.f. Oervigia) and the corpus and stalk being equal in length (c.f. Sagenodus).
• The lungfish tooth plates from the same horizon and locality are similar to the Carboniferous taxon Ctenodus cristatus.
• The new genus is the first Devonian lungfish described from a high-latitude environment, and the only lungfish known from the Witpoort Formation.
• It appears likely that Isityumzi conforms to a common morphotype for Famennian lungfishes in possessing a long head and tooth plates bearing radiating ridges.
• Isityumi adds further evidence for the co-occurrence of lungfish with tetrapod taxa.


Robert W. Gess and Alice M. Clement​​. 2019. A High Latitude Devonian Lungfish, from the Famennian of South Africa. PeerJ. 7:e8073. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8073

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[Fungi • 2019] Hygrocybe aurantiomagnifica (Hygrophoraceae, Basidiomycota) • A New Species of Subgenus Pseudohygrocybe Section Firmae from Brazil

December 31, 2019, 1:02 am
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Hygrocybe aurantiomagnifica Silva-Filho & Wartchow

in Silva-Filho, Meiras-Ottoni & Wartchow, 2019.  
Photo: F. Wartchow. facebook.com/KewBulletin

Summary
Hygrocybe aurantiomagnifica (Agaricales), which we describe here as a new species, is characterised by gregarious basidiomata, yellow to orange pileus with an almost plane, smooth surface and undulate or lobed margin; distant, whitish lamellae becoming pinkish-violet at the edge; absence of cheilocystidia and an enterocutis pileipellis. Morphological along with molecular phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and the nuclear large subunit (nrLSU), confirm H. aurantiomagnifica as a new species of subgenus Pseudohygrocybe section Firmae. A comprehensive morphological description, illustrations, comparisons with related species and a key including similar Brazilian species are provided.

Keywords: Agaricomycetes, brejo de altitude, fungi, phylogeny, taxonomy, wax caps

Hygrocybe aurantiomagnifica (FW 129/2012 holotype). Basidiomes in situ.

Scale bar = 20 mm. Photo: F. Wartchow.


Hygrocybe aurantiomagnifica Silva-Filho & Wartchow, sp. nov. 

Etymology. Latin, ‘aurantio’ = orange; and ‘magnifica’ = large, meaning large yellow-orange Hygrocybe.


Alexandre G. S. Silva-Filho, Angelina Meiras-Ottoni and Felipe Wartchow. 2019. Hygrocybe aurantiomagnifica: A New Species of Section Firmae (Hygrophoraceae, Basidiomycota) from Brazil. Kew Bulletin. 74: 63. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-019-9848-8 
facebook.com/KewBulletin/photos/2592726577627357

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[Crustacea • 2019] Aegla nebeccana • A New Species of Freshwater Anomuran (Decapoda: Anomura: Aeglidae) from Ivaí Basin, Paraná, Brazil

December 31, 2019, 2:21 am
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Aegla nebeccana 
Trombetta, Páez, Santos & Teixeira, 2019


Abstract
A new species of freshwater anomuran, Aegla nebeccana n. sp. (Decapoda: Aeglidae), is described from the Ivaí River sub-basin, a tributary of the Paraná River Basin, in Paraná state, southern Brazil. The species is illustrated in detail with drawings and photographs. It can be distinguished from its congeners based on both morphological and molecular evidence. Morphologically, the new species resemblesAegla meloi Bond-Buckup & Santos, 2015 by the general shape of the carapace and chelipeds, but differs by having a developed protograstic lobe and by the cheliped ischium ornamentation. Aegla nebeccana n. sp. has pronounced protogastric lobes, similar to Aegla castro Schmitt, 1942 and Aegla schimitti Bond-Buckup & Buckup, 1994 but differs clearly from these in relation to the morphology of the cheliped palmar crest. Based on molecular analysis, A. nebeccana is sister species of Aegla parva Bond-Buckup & Buckup 1994.

Keywords: Crustacea, Anomuran crab, COI, Upper Paraná Ecoregion

Aegla nebeccana n. sp., male holotype, CLE 17.6 mm.

Aegla nebeccana n. sp.  

Etymology. Named in reference to the NEBECC (Crustacean Biology, Ecology and Culture Study Group) in honor of its coordinators Dr. Adilson Fransozo and Dr. Maria Lucia Negreiros Fransozo. 


 Alana De Souza Trombetta, Fernanda Polli Páez, Sandro Santos and Gustavo Monteiro Teixeira. 2019. Aegla nebeccana n. sp. (Crustacea, Aeglidae) from Ivaí Basin, Paraná, Brazil. Zootaxa. 4712(1); 138–150. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4712.1.10

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[Botany • 2020] Primulina yulinensis (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from Guangxi, China

January 3, 2020, 1:56 am
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Primulina yulinensis Ying Qin & Yan Liu

in Qin, Ye, Xu & Liu, 2020. 
 Taiwania. 65(1) 

Abstract
Primulina yulinensis sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae), a new species from the limestone area in Guangxi, China is here described and illustrated. P. yulinensis is similar to P. hezhouensis (W. H. Wu & W. B. Xu) W. B. Xu & K. F. Chung, but it differs from the latter by its smaller and margin lobed leaves, long pedicel, larger flower and 2-lipped limb.

Keyword: China, Chiritopsis, Gesneriaceae, new species, Primulina yulinensis

Fig. 1. Primulina yulinensis A: Flowering habit. B: Flower in side view. C: Opened corolla. D: Flower in top view. E: Flower in face view. F: Pistil and disc. G: Capsule. H: Calyx. I: Bract.

Fig. 2. Primulina yulinensis A: Flowering habit. B: Cyme. C: Capsule. D: Flower. E: Opened corolla. F: Flower in face view. G: Flower in side view. H: Pistil and disc. I: Bract with coarse teeth. J: Bract entire.

Primulina yulinensis Ying Qin & Yan Liu, sp. nov.
  
Primulina yulinensis is similar to P. hezhouensis (W. H. Wu & W. B. Xu) W. B. Xu & K. F. Chung, but it differs from the latter by its leaves 3.3–7 × 2.8–7.7 cm, margin lobed (vs. 7–13 × 6–12 cm, margin deeply lobed), pedicel 0.5–2 cm long (vs. 1–3 mm long), corolla ca. 1 cm long, corolla tube ca. 6.4 mm long, ca. 4.8 mm in diameter (corolla 3–5 mm long, corolla tube 3–4 mm long, ca. 2.5 mm in diameter), limb 2-lipped (vs. indistinctly 2-lipped). 

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from Yulin city, Guangxi, China.  


Ying Qin, Xiao-Xia Ye, Wei-Bin Xu and Yan Liu. 2020. Primulina yulinensis, A New Species of Gesneriaceae from Guangxi, China. Taiwania. 65(1); 5-9. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2020.65.5  
tai2.ntu.edu.tw/taiwania/abstract.php?type=abstract&id=1646

   

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[Botany • 2020] Begonia daunhitam (Begoniaceae) • A New Species of Begonia from West Kalimantan, Indonesia

January 5, 2020, 7:20 pm
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Begonia daunhitam W.G. Wang, C.X.L. Wang, S.Z. Zhang & A. Randi

in Wang, Randi, Wang, et al., 2020. 

ABSTRACT
 Begonia daunhitam, a new species from West Kalimantan, Indonesia with strongly bullate black leaves is described and illustrated here, and details of the distribution, ecology and conservation status are provided.

KEY WORDS: Begonia darthvaderiana, Begonia daunhitam, Begoniaceae, Borneo, Indonesia, new taxa, taxonomy.


Begonia daunhitam W.G. Wang, C.X.L. Wang, S.Z. Zhang & A. Randi, sp. nov.
 黑森林秋海棠 
Sect. Petermannia 

Type: INDONESIA. Borneo. West Kalimantan Province. Kapuas Hulu Regency, Boyan Tanjung District, ..., (..., 260 m alt.), 23 September 2016, A. Randi AR-855-KB (holotype BO!, isotype BO!). 

Diagnosis: This new species is similar to B. darthvaderiana in having dark olive nearly black leaves and pink flowers, but differing in having a dichasial cyme inflorescence, adaxial surface of leaves being strongly bullate, denticulate at the margin and without a narrow silvery band along the leaves margin and many more stamens (fig. 3).  


Fig. 1. Begonia daunhitam W.G.Wang, C.X.L Wang, S.Z. Zhang & A. Randi, sp. nov. 
A. Habit; B. Cultivated individual; C. Inflorescence; D. Both side surface of the leaves; E, G. Side view of staminate flower; F. Front view of staminate flower; H, I. Front view of pistillate flower; J. Side view of pistillate flower; K. Cross section of ovary. (A, C, H: Photo by Ripin; B, D, E, F, G, I, J, K: Photo by C. X. L. Wang).

Fig. 2. Begonia daunhitam W.G.Wang, C.X.L Wang, S.Z. Zhang & A. Randi, sp. nov.
A. Habit; B. The margin of the leaf; C. Petiole; D. Bract; E. Inflorescence; F. Front view of staminate flower; G. Side view of staminate flower; H. Androecium; I. Side view of pistillate flower; J, K. Front view of pistillate flower; L. Styles; M. Cross section of ovary. 
(Drawn by Mr. Zhi-Ming Li, based on the plants cultivated in XTBG).

Distribution: Endemic to Borneo, so far only recorded from ..., Boyan Tanjung district, Kapuas Hulu regency, West Kalimantan province, Indonesia (Fig. 4). 

Habitat: Grows in wet areas on slopes near the river under dense canopies of dipterocarp forest at elevation 200–300 m asl. 

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the color of the leaves in Bahasa Indonesia, daun hitam = black leaves (daun = leaves, hitam = black). 


Wen-Guang Wang, Agusti Randi, Cheng-Xin-Luo Wang, Jian-Yong Shen, Xing-Da Ma, Ji-Pu Shi, Ting Xu and Shou-Zhou Zhang. 2020. Begonia daunhitam, A New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Taiwania. 65(1); 27-32. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2020.65.27 
 tai2.ntu.edu.tw/taiwania/abstract.php?type=abstract&id=1649
 facebook.com/TaiwaniaOffice/posts/2451423128412835

    

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[Botany • 2020] Hedysarum turcicum (Fabaceae: Hedysareae) • A New Species from Inner Anatolia, Turkey

January 5, 2020, 11:46 pm
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Hedysarum turcicum Hamzaoğlu & Koç

in Hamzaoğlu & Koç, 2020. 

Abstract
Hedysarum turcicum, a new species endemic to Inner Anatolia, Turkey, is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to sect. Multicaulia in Hedysarum (Fabaceae) and it is related to H. elegans, H. cappadocicum, and H. persicum. Its description, images, chorology, and ecology, are provided. The diagnostic morphological characteristics, as well as a full description, ecological characteristics, and distribution data are given.

Keywords: Hedysarum, new species, Yozgat, Inner Anatolia, Turkey, Eudicots


FIGURE 1. Hedysarum turcicum Hamzaoğlu & Koç. A. Habit, B. Bract, C. Bracteoles, D. Calyx, E. Standard, F. Wings, G. Keel, H. Stamens and ovary, I. Fruit (pod)
(scale bar of B–I: 5 mm).

Hedysarum turcicum Hamzaoğlu & Koç, sp. nov.

Diagnosis:— Hedysarum turcicum is related to H. elegans in inflorescence, calyx and corolla dimensions, and pod number of segments, but can be distinguished by bracts (5–6 mm long and ovate-lanceolate versus 8–15 mm long and linear-lanceolate), bracteoles (3.5–4.5 mm long versus (7–)8–11 mm long), corolla colour (white or sometimes very pale pinkish versus purplish), and width of keels (6–8 mm versus 4–5 mm) in H. elegans (Table 1).

Habitat and Ecology:— Hedysarum turcicum belongs to Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region and is an endemic species for Inner Anatolia according to the current distribution information (Fig. 2). The species prefers marly steppes from around 1200–1400 meters. In general, these areas are under the influence of arid summers and a cold climate in winter. For now, it is estimated that it has grown in approximately 4 sq.km. only at the type locality. On the other hand; Boğazlıyan, Yenifakılı, Çayıralan districts in Yozgat province, and Felahiye, Özvatan, Sarıoğlan districts in Kayseri province have similar climate and soil areas are common. The species is very likely to grow in these areas. Therefore, it was decided that it would be appropriate to collect more data to determine the threat category of the new species.

Proposed Turkish name for the new species:—Türk batalağı.


 Ergin Hamzaoğlu and Murat Koç. 2020. Hedysarum turcicum (Hedysareae, Fabaceae), A New Species from Turkey. Phytotaxa. 428(1); 1–6. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.428.1.1


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[Entomology • 2019] Alucita udovichenkoi • A New Species of Many-plumed Moths (Lepidoptera: Alucitidae) from the Republic of South Africa

January 6, 2020, 12:50 am
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Alucita udovichenkoi Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin 

in Kovtunovich, Ustjuzhanin & Streltzov, 2019.

The article describes a new species of many-plumed moth, Alucita udovichenkoi Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov., from the province Mpumalanga, the Republic of South Africa.

Figure 1. Alucita udovichenkoi Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. adult, male (Holotype, ZISP).

Alucita udovichenkoi Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov.

Etymology. The species is named after the Russian entomologist Pavel Udovichenko (Moscow), participant of numerous expeditions in South Africa.


Vasiliy Kovtunovich, Petr Ustjuzhanin and Alexander Streltzov. 2019. New Species of Many-plumed Moths (Lepidoptera: Alucitidae) from the Republic of South Africa. Ecologica Montenegrina. 26; 1-3. biotaxa.org/em/article/view/58448/58753  

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[Herpetology • 2019] Amolops pallasitatus • A New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from Tibet, China

January 6, 2020, 2:26 am
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Amolops pallasitatus Qi, Zhou, Lyu, Lu & Li

in Qi, Zhou, Lyu, ... et Li, 2019.
Chentang Cascade Frog  ||  陈塘湍蛙  ahr-journal.com 

Abstract
A new species, Amolops pallasitatus sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from Chentang Town, Dinggyê County, southern Tibet, China. The new species can be distinguished from other known congeners by mitochondrial divergence and morphological characteristics including: (1) medium body size, SVL 70.6–72.3 mm in adult females; (2) skin smooth over the entire body; (3) absence of dorsolateral fold; (4) tympanum small, edge indistinct, less than half of eye diameter; (5) vomerine teeth in two short oblique; (6) circummarginal and transverse grooves absent on disk of the first finger; (7) presence of inner metacarpal tubercle; (8) toes fully webbed, webbing formula I 0 - 0- II 0 - ? III0 - 1+ IV 1+ - 0 V; (9) absence of outer metatarsal tubercle and tarsal glands; (10) tibio-tarsal articulation of the hind limb reaches posterior corners of the eye; (11) dorsum yellow-green, with irregular dark brown blotches without margins; (12) blotches concentrated on the dorsum, less on the flanks. In morphology, Amolops pallasitatus sp. nov. is similar to A. himalayanus and A. formosus, the difference between them is length of hind limbs, web of toe and dorsal colour pattern. The systematic placement of the new species within the genus is unresolved and it is not assigned to any recognized species group, for the lack of convictive evidences.

Keywords: Amolops pallasitatus sp. nov.;  mitochondrial;  morphology;  unknown species group;  torrent frog

Figure 3: Holotype (SYNU 1507035, female) of Amolops pallasitatus sp. nov. in life. Photo by Zhengyan Zhou.

Figure 6: Paratype (SYNU 1507034, female) of Amolops pallasitatus sp. nov. in life. Photo by Zhengyan Zhou.

Amolops pallasitatus Qi, Zhou, Lyu, Lu & Li, sp. nov.  

Diagnosis. Amolops pallasitatus sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristic: (1) medium body size, SVL 70.6–72.3 mm in adult females; (2) skin smooth over the entire body; (3) absence of dorsolateral fold; (4) tympanum small, edge indistinct, less than half of eye diameter; (5) vomerine teeth in two short oblique; (6) circummarginal and transverse grooves absent on disk of the first finger; (7) presence of inner metacarpal tubercle; (8) toes fully webbed, webbing formula I 0 - 0- II 0 - ½ III0 - 1+ IV 1+ - 0 V; (9) absence of outer metatarsal tubercle and tarsal glands; (10) tibio-tarsal articulation of the hind limb reaches posterior corners of the eye; (11) dorsum yellow-green, with irregular dark brown blotches without margins; (12) blotches concentrated on the dorsum, less on the flanks.  

Figure 1: Map showing the collecting location of Amolops pallasitatus sp. nov. indicated by red star.

Figure 7: Habitat of Amolops pallasitatus sp. nov. in the type locality. Photo by Zhengyan Zhou.

Etymology: The specific name pallasitatus means “pallasite like”, which derived from meteoritics term pallasite (a class of stony–iron meteorite). The name refers to the numerous irregular dark brown blotches on the dorsal background resembling olivine crystals in an iron-nickel matrix. According to the type locality, we suggest the English common name as “Chentang cascade frog”, and the Chinese common name as “chén táng tuān wā” ( 陈塘湍蛙). 

Distribution: Currently, this species is only known from Chentang Town, Dinggyê County, Tibet, China, presumably also distributed in Nepal.

 Ecology and habitat: All the specimens were caught at night, living in high-altitude (3270 m a.s.l.) streams within moist forest and grassland habitats (Figure 7). The frog is hidden underwater during the day. When disturbed, it jumped into the water immediately.


Shuo Qi, Zhengyan Zhou, Zhitong Lyu, Yuyan Lu, Han Wan, Mian Hou, Keji Guo and Pipeng Li. 2019. Description of A New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from Tibet, China. Asian Herpetological Research. 10(4); 219-229. DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.190016
ahr-journal.com/en/oa/darticle.aspx?type=view&id=20190402
Researchgate.net/publication/338158873_a_New_Species_of_Amolops_from_Tibet_China
ice99.com/coupe/891201.html


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[Herpetology • 2020] Oligodon rostralis • A New Species of Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 (Squamata: Colubridae) from the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with Additional Information on Oligodon annamensis Leviton, 1953

January 6, 2020, 7:42 pm
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Oligodon rostralis
Nguyen​, Tran, Nguyen, Neang, Yushchenko & Poyarkov, 2020


Abstract 
We describe a new species of Oligodon from the highlands of the Langbian Plateau, southern Truong Son Mountains, Vietnam, based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The new species, Oligodon rostralis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the following morphological characters: medium size in adults (male TL = 582 mm); small and broad head with long protruding snout; dorsal scale row formula 15-15-13; 167 ventrals, 47 subcaudals; single preocular, single postocular; loreal and presubocular absent; six supralabials, third and fourth entering orbit; six infralabials, anterior four contacting first pair of chin shields; internasals separate from prefrontals; nasal divided; single anterior and two posterior temporals; cloacal plate undivided; hemipenes short, bilobed, bifurcating in anterior one third of their length, extending to 8th subcaudal, lacking spines and papillae, with a prominent transverse flounces and distal calyces; six maxillary teeth, the posterior three enlarged; dorsal pattern consisting of 14+4 large dark-brown blotches and a bright-orange vertebral stripe on tail and dorsum; and ventral surfaces in life cream laterally with dark quadrangular spots; dark temporal streak present, edged with white. We also provide additional information on O. annamensis, including a morphological dataset of all specimens known from natural history collections and confirmation of an earlier record of O. annamensis from Cambodia. We also provide the first record of O. annamensis for Dak Lak Province. Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA genes (3,131 bp of 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and cyt b) suggest sister relationships of Oligodonrostralis sp. nov. and O. annamensis and place them in one clade with the O. cyclurus and O. taeniatus species groups, which is concordant with previous studies on the phylogenetic relationships of Oligodon. Our study demonstrates high level of herpetofaunal diversity and endemism of Langbian Plateau and further supports the importance of this area for conservation herpetofaunal diversity in Indochina.


Figure 4: Drawings (A, C, E) and photos (B, D, F) showing head scalation of the holotype Oligodon rostralis sp. nov. in preservative (SIEZC 20201, male). (A, B) Dorsal view; (C, D) lateral view; (E, F) ventral view. Scale bar equals 5 mm. Drawings and photos by Linh Hoang Nguyen.



 Oligodon rostralis sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The new species is assigned to the genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 on the basis of its phylogenetic position and the following morphological attributes: posterior maxillary teeth enlarged and compressed; head short, barely distinct from neck; eye well-developed with round pupil; rostral enlarged; body cylindrical with smooth scales; ventrals rounded; subcaudals paired. Oligodon rostralis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: medium size in adults (male TL = 582 mm); head small and broad with long largely protruding snout; 15 dorsal scale rows at neck and midbody and 13 rows before vent; ventrals 167, subcaudals 47 in male; single preocular, single postocular; loreal and presubocular absent; six supralabials, third and fourth entering orbit; six infralabials, anterior four contacting chin shields; internasals separate from prefrontals; nasal divided; single anterior and two posterior temporals; cloacal plate undivided; comparatively short hemipenis, forked in anterior one third of their length, extending to 8th subcaudal, lacking spines and papillae, bearing prominent transverse flounces and distal calyces; six maxillary teeth, the posterior three being enlarged; dark temporal streak present, edged with white; 14+4 large dark-brown dorsal blotches; bright-orange vertebral stripe on tail and dorsum; and ventral surfaces in life cream with quadrangular spots.

Figure 6: Holotype of Oligodon rostralis sp. nov. in life in situ (SIEZC 20201, male) in dorsal (A) and in frontal (B) views. Photos by Linh Hoang Nguyen.

Figure 7: Natural habitat of Oligodon rostralis sp. nov. at the type locality in pine forest dominated by Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon in Bidoup–Nui Ba NP, Lam Dong Province, Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam. (A) Live ventral coloration of Oligodon rostralis sp. nov. (SIEZC 20201, male); (B) general view of the macrohabitat (elevation 1,622 m a.s.l.). Photos by Linh Hoang Nguyen.

  


Figure 1: Known distribution of Oligodon annamensis Leviton, 1953 (red) and Oligodon rostralis sp. nov.  (yellow) in Indochina. Star and dot in the center of icon denotes type locality. Localities: (1) Bidoup-Nui Ba NP, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (type locality of Oligodon rostralis sp. nov.); (2) Bao Loc (formerly “Blao, Haut Donai”), Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (type locality of O. annamensis); (3) Chu Yang Sin NP, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam; (4) Phnom Samkos WS, Pursat Province, Cambodia.

Etymology. The specific name “rostralis” is a Latin adjective in the nominative singular, masculine gender, derived from Latin words “rostrum” for “snout” or “beak” in reference to protruding snout distinctive for the new species. We suggest the following common names for the new species: “Long-snouted kukri snake” (English), “Răn khiêm mõm dài” (Vietnamese), and “Dlinnorylyi oligodon” (Russian).

Distribution. At present the new species is known only from the type locality in Bidoup–Nui Ba NP, in the eastern part of Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam (see Fig. 1, locality 1). This montane area is characterized by high levels of local endemism (Nazarov et al., 2012; Poyarkov et al., 2014; Poyarkov et al., 2015a; Poyarkov et al., 2015b; Poyarkov et al., 2017; Poyarkov et al., 2019b; Stuart et al., 2011; Rowley et al., 2016); further research is needed to clarify the distribution of the new species.

Habitat and natural history. The type specimen was collected on the steep slope close to the mountain summit (Fig. 7), at late night (23 h). The animal was found on ground in leaf litter on the edge of the mixed-pine forest (dominated by Pinus keysia Royle ex Gordon) and evergreen montane broadleaf forest (dominated with trees of the families Fabaceae, Fagaceae, and few large pine trees of Pinus keysia, with understory consisting mostly of Poaceae –different species of bamboo) (Fig. 7B). In the pine forest, understory is dominated by Fagaceae family while ground is covered mostly by grasses and receives high grazing impact by livestock from the villages nearby. In the type locality the new species was recorded in sympatry with some other species of reptiles, including Cyrtodactylus bidoupimontis Nazarov, Poyarkov, Orlov, Phung, Nguyen, Hoang & Ziegler, Scincella rufocaudata (Darevsky & Nguyen), and Pareas hamptoni (Boulenger).

Figure 10: Specimen of Oligodon annamensis Leviton, 1953 from Chu Yang Sin NP, Dak Lak Province, southern Vietnam, in life (ZMMU R-14304, male). (A) General dorso-lateral view; (B) general ventral view; (C) head in dorsal view; (D) head in ventral view. Photos by Nikolay A. Poyarkov.

Oligodon annamensis Leviton, 1953 

Revised diagnosis. An Oligodon with medium body size in adults (adult male TL up to 412 mm); head small, comparatively narrow, snout not protruding; 13 dorsal scale rows at neck, midbody and before vent; ventrals 146–157, subcaudals 43–46 in males; ventrals 170, subcaudal 30 in female; single preocular, single postocular; loreal and presubocular absent; generally six supralabials, third and fourth entering orbit; six infralabials, anterior three or four contacting the first chin shield; internasals separate from prefrontals; nasal entire; single anterior and one or two posterior temporals; cloacal plate entire; hemipenis deeply bilobed, bearing two long and thin papillae, reaching the 20th subcaudal; 7–8 maxillary teeth; broad dark temporal streak; ground color on dorsum dark brown, 9–10+2–5 light crossbars edged with black on dorsum and tail; vertebral stripe absent; and ventral surfaces in life coral-red to orange with black transverse bars or quadrangular spots.

Distribution. To date O. annamensis is reliably known from two provinces of southern Vietnam (Lam Dong and Dak Lak), where it was recorded in montane forests of Langbian Plateau at elevations around 1,000 m a.s.l., and from similar elevations in montane forests of Phnom Samkos Mt. in the western part of the Cardamoms, Pursat, Cambodia. The record of O. annamensis from Dak Lak Province is a range extension and the first provincial record of this species.

Etymology. The specific name “annamensis” is a Latin adjective derived from “Annam”, the historical name of Truong Son Mountains and central Vietnam. Common name in English: “Leviton’s kukri snake” (English), “Răn khiêm trung bo” (Vietnamese), and “Annamskiy oligodon” (Russian).

Conclusions: 
Here, we present new molecular sequence data and an updated mtDNA genealogy for the genus Oligodon, one of the most species rich groups of Asian snakes. We confirm the presence of four main clades within the genus Oligodon, and for the first time report on the phylogenetic placement of several poorly known Oligodon species, including O. annamensis and O. lacroixi. We analyze all available collection material of O. annamensis from southern Vietnam and Cambodia and confirm the earlier assignation of Cambodian population from Cardamom Mountains to this species based on both morphological and molecular lines of evidence. Finally, we report on a new species of Oligodon from southern Vietnam, known from a single male specimen. Oligodon rostralis sp. nov. is distinct from all other congeners in a number of morphological diagnostic characters and is morphologically and phylogenetically most closely related to O. annamensis, from which it can be easily distinguished in scalation, coloration and mtDNA sequences. We analyze available morphological data on Oligodon species with 15 or 13 dorsal scale rows occurring in the mainland Asia, and discuss phylogenetic relationships among them. We provide further evidence for an unprecedented herpetofaunal diversity and endemism in Langbian Plateau, Southern Vietnam.


Hung Ngoc Nguyen​, Bang Van Tran, Linh Hoang Nguyen, Thy Neang, Platon V. Yushchenko and Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2020. ​A New Species of Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 from the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with Additional Information on Oligodon annamensis Leviton, 1953 (Squamata: Colubridae). PeerJ. 8:e8332. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8332 
 facebook.com/NickPoyarkov/posts/10218706613330816

   

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