Species New to Science

Dichocarpum hagiangense L.K Phan & V.T. Pham

in Nguyen, Trinh, ... et Pham, 2020.

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9874

Abstract

Dichocarpum hagiangense from Ha Giang province, northern Vietnam is described and illustrated. Diagnostic features of the new species are a short rhizomatous stem, (2–)3-foliolate or simple leaves, and pink-purple flowers. The described species is distinct from closely allied D. trifoliolatum in having longer sepals, shape and obcordate apex of petal limbs, shorter flower stem, number and tooth shape of basal leaves; it differs from D. basilare and D. carinatum in having stem leaf, retuse apex and longer of central leaflet, number and (2–)3-foliated (or simple) of leaf. With the support of molecular data, the new species was clearly distinguished from other species in the Dichocarpum group by eight autapomorphic characters in nrITS sequence. A key to all species of Dichocarpum is provided. We suggest the IUCN conservation status of D. hagiangense to be “Critically Endangered”. A newest checklist of the family Ranunculaceae in Vietnam is updated.

Figure 1: Distribution map of Dichocarpum species in Vietnam.
(A) Southeast Asia, Vietnam and collection point in black; (B) Northern Vietnam, Ha Giang and Lao Cai provinces in grey; (C) Detail of Ha Giang and Lao Cai provinces, the collection and recorded points in black.

Figure 3: Dichocarpum hagiangense L.K. Phan & V.T. Pham.
(A) Flattened flowering specimen. (B) Scaly rhizomes. (C) 3-foliolate leaves adaxial (lower) and abaxial (upper) views. (D) 2-foliolate leaf adaxial view. (E) Single leaves abaxial view. (F, G) Stem leaves. (B) Bract. (I) Inflorescences. (J) Flower frontal view. (K) Flower side view. (L) Flower behind view. (M) Sepals frontal view. (N) Petals. (O) Stamens. (P) Follicles. (Q) Seeds.

Scale bars: A = 5 cm; B, C, D, E = 2 cm; F, G, H, M, Q = 0, 5 cm; I, J, K, L, P = 1 cm; N, O = 0, 2 cm.

Figure 4: Dichocarpum hagiangense L.K. Phan & V.T. Pham in its natural habitat.
(A) Rocky cliff at the limestone forest. (B) Plant with inflorescence. (C) Flower.

Dichocarpum hagiangense L.K Phan & V.T. Pham, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. According molecular characters new species belong to sect. Dichocarpum, subsect. Dichocarpum. Dichocarpum hagiangense is morphologically most similar to D. trifoliolatum, but differs in having longer sepals, shape and obcordate apex of petal limbs, shorter flower stem, number and tooth shape of basal leaves. However, D. hagiangense differs from D. basilare and D. carinatum in having stem leaf, retuse apex and longer of central leaflet, number and (2–)3-foliated (or simple) of leaf.

Habitat and ecology. The new species grows in disturbed primary evergreen forest on a limestone mountain at elevations of 1297 m, as a lithophytic herb on large wet mossy boulders and cliffs on steep slopes (Fig. 4).

Distribution and Conservation status.Dichocarpum hagiangense was only recorded from one small population in Ha Giang province of Vietnam (Fig. 1). The existing population is facing the risk of extinction in the wild, since the area where this species is found does not belong to any protected forest. The habitat is highly disturbed by the local people for cardamom and Lysimachia foenum-graecum cultivations, collecting timber, firewood and non-timber forest products. The species is very rare and only known from one population of less than 50 mature individuals, in a habitat that is seriously threatened. According to IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee (2019) criteria B1ab(ii) + B2ab(ii), with EOO (Extent of Occurrence) = 0 km2 and AOO (Area of Occupancy) = 4.000 km2, this species should be classified as “critically endangered” (CR).

Etymology. The species epithet ‘hagiangense’ refers to Ha Giang province, the only site where the species is currently known.

Minh Ty Nguyen, Ngoc Bon Trinh, Thanh Thi Viet Tran, Tran Duc Thanh, Long Ke Phan and Van The Pham. 2020. Dichocarpum hagiangense—A New Species and An updated Checklist of Ranunculaceae in Vietnam. PeerJ. 8:e9874. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9874

Potamonautes licoensis

Daniels, Bittencourt-Silva, Muianga & Bayliss, 2020.

DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.716

Abstract

Patterns and processes of cladogenesis among taxa living on the Mozambique ‘sky islands’ remain poorly studied. During the present study, we report on a new freshwater crab species from Mount Lico, an inselberg and ‘sky island’ in the Zambezia Province of Mozambique. Phylogenetic analyses using three mitochondrial DNA sequence loci (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and COI) were used to determine the evolutionary placement of the freshwater crab specimens from Mount Lico. The freshwater crab specimens from Mount Lico were retrieved sister to Potamonautes choloensis. The new species, Potamonautes licoensis sp. nov., is described and compared with other southern African freshwater crab species. Divergence time estimations for the Mozambican freshwater crab species suggest a Miocene / Plio–Pleistocene diversification. Some endemic ‘sky island’ species form an early branching and are sister to other predominantly East African species, while other ‘sky island’ species are more recently derived and nested within a predominantly southern African clade. The present study presents the description of the fourth endemic freshwater crab species from Mozambique and suggests that the species diversity in the country is likely highly underrepresented, reiterating the call for renewed systematic surveys. An argument for the conservation of these mountainous ‘sky islands’ is presented.

Keywords: alpha taxonomy; species diversity; novel lineages; sky island; conservation

Infraorder Brachyura Latreille, 1802

Superfamily Potamoidea Ortmann, 1896

Family Potamonautidae Bott, 1970

Subfamily Potamonautinae Bott, 1970

Genus Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838

Fig. 2. Potamonautes licoensis sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (CL = 17.55 mm) (SAM C-A091399). A. Entire animal, dorsal aspect. B. Entire animal, ventral aspect. C. Cephalothorax, frontal aspect. Scale bar = 10 mm.

Fig. 5. A. Primary rainforest habitat where Potamonautes licoensis sp. nov. occurs. B. Live colour of P. licoensis sp. nov upon collection. Photographs by J. Bayliss.

Potamonautes licoensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis Carapace: highly flat (CH/CL = 0.44) (Table 1); postfrontal crest well-defined, complete, lateral ends meeting anterolateral margins; epigastric crests faint, median sulcus between crests short, not forked posteriorly; exorbital, epibranchial teeth reduced to granules; anterolateral carapace margin with small tooth epibranchial (Figs 2A–C, 5A). Third maxilliped: ischium with distinct vertical sulcus (Fig. 3C); s3/s4 complete, V-shaped, deep, midpoint almost meeting anterior margin of sterno-pleonal cavity; margins of s4 low, not raised (Fig. 2B). Cheliped: dactylus (moveable finger) slim, highly arched, enclosing oval interspace, with three larger teeth interspersed by smaller teeth along length; propodus (fixed finger) with four larger teeth interspersed by smaller teeth along length (Fig. 2A–C); carpus inner margin distal tooth large, pointed, proximal tooth reduced to granules (Fig. 3A); medial inferior margin of merus lined with series of small granules terminating distally at small, low distal meral tooth, lateral inferior margin smooth. G1 terminal article: ⅓rd length of subterminal segment; first third straight in line with longitudinal axis of subterminal segment, middle part directed outward at 45°, widened by raised rounded ventral lobe, tip curving sharply upward (Fig. 3A–B).

Etymology: Named for Mount Lico, from where the species was first collected.

Type locality: Mount Lico, Zambezia Province, Mozambique.

Habitat: Primary rain forest streams on top of Mount Lico, Zambezia Province, Mozambique. Frequently found under small stones in first order streams (Fig. 5A).

Distribution: Known from Mount Lico, Zambezia Province, Mozambique. More recently, the species has also been collected from Mount Nallume (Daniels pers. obs.).

Savel R. Daniels, Gabriela B. Bittencourt-Silva, Vanessa Muianga and Julian Bayliss. 2020. Phylogenetics of the Freshwater Crab (Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838) Fauna from ‘Sky Islands’ in Mozambique with the Description of A New Species (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae). European Journal of Taxonomy. 716; 1–23. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.716

Atelopus moropukaqumir

Herrera-Alva, Díaz, Castillo, Rodolfo & Catenazzi, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4853.3.4

twitter.com/biodiversitario

Abstract
We describe a new harlequin frog (genus Atelopus) from the cloud forest near Anchihuay (Anco District, Ayacucho Department) from 2000 to 2150 m elevation in southern Peru, representing the first record for the genus in the Department of Ayacucho. The new species has a maximum snout-vent length of 21.5 mm in females and 21.6 mm in males, and resembles A. erythropus in general appearance, small size, and dorsal coloration. The new species can be distinguished from A. erythropus by its unique pattern of ventral coloration, dorsal skin texture, and snout shape. We detected the presence of the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in individuals of the new species. This pathogen is threatening the survival of harlequin frogs throughout the Neotropics. In addition to chytridiomycosis, habitat loss further threatens the single locality where the new species is known to occur.

Keywords: Amphibia, Andes, Ayacucho, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, chytridiomycosis, harlequin frog

Atelopus moropukaqumir

Valia Herrera-Alva, Vladimir Díaz, Ernesto Castillo, César Rodolfo and Alessandro Catenazzi. 2020. A New Species of Atelopus (Anura: Bufonidae) from southern Peru. Zootaxa. 4853(3); 404–420. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4853.3.4

twitter.com/biodiversitario/status/1308578434310959106

Rasbora marinae

Tan & Kottelat, 2020

RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 68

Abstract

Rasbora marinae, new species, is described from Brunei Darussalam and northern Sarawak, Borneo. It shares with R. cephalotaenia the colour pattern of a mid-lateral stripe from tip of snout to end of median caudal-fin rays and rows of black spots on the flank, including two rows along edges of the mid-lateral stripe; it differs from R. cephalotaenia in retaining the mid-lateral stripe in adults, and in the absence of a conspicuous black blotch at the middle of the caudal-fin base.

Key words. Southeast Asia, biodiversity, taxonomy, Cypriniformes, peat swamps

Fig. 1. Rasbora marinae, ca. 60 mm SL; Sarawak: Tatau; freshly caught specimen; not preserved.

Fig. 2. Rasbora marinae, Brunei.
A, ZRC 51189, holotype, 97.1 mm SL;
B, ZRC 51190, paratype, 36.5 mm SL.

Fig. 3. Rasbora cephalotaenia, colouration of freshly caught specimens.
A, Kahayan basin, clear water stream, ca. 50 mm SL;
B, Sebangau basin, black water stream, ca. 60 mm SL.

Fig. 6. Distribution of Rasbora cephalotaenia (squares) and Rasbora marinae (circles) in Borneo and Belitung Island. Hollow symbols represent type localities.

Rasbora marinae, new species

Diagnosis. Rasbora marinae is differentiated from congeners by the following combination of characters: a mid-lateral black or dark brown stripe from the tip of the snout to the end of the median caudal-fin rays; rows of black spots on the flank, including two rows along the edges of the midlateral stripe; lateral line complete, with 30–31 + 1–2 scales; 12 circumpeduncular scale rows. Rasbora marinae is very similar to R. cephalotaenia from which it differs in retaining the mid-lateral stripe in adults (vs. stripe disappearing with increasing size, leaving only the 2 rows of black spots along its edges), and the absence of a conspicuous black blotch at the middle of the caudal-fin base (vs. presence).

Distribution. Rasbora marinae is currently found in Belait and Tutong Districts, Brunei Darussalam; and in Sarawak, north of Tatau basin including Lambir Hills, to Baram basin (see map in Fig. 6; Zakaria-Ismail, 1984; Parenti & Meisner, 1995; Sulaiman & Shahdan, 2003; Tan & Lim, 2007; unpublished data).

Etymology. This species is named for Marina Wong (Brunei Museum, retired) in appreciation of her contributions to the knowledge of the natural history of Southeast Asia and her generous help in organising fieldwork in Brunei for the first author and team.

Tan Heok Hui and Maurice Kottelat. 2020. Rasbora marinae, A New Species of Cyprinid Fish from northwestern Borneo (Teleostei: Danionidae). RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 68: 750–758. DOI: 10.26107/RBZ-2020-0086

Hysterangium bonobo M.E. Sm. & T.F. Elliott

in Elliott, Georgiev, Lokasola & Smith, 2020.

DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2020.1790234

ABSTRACT

Many animals have been shown to eat fungi and most truffle-like fungi depend on animals for spore dispersal via mycophagy. Although these interactions are widespread, they are understudied in many habitats. In this study, we show that bonobos (Pan paniscus) forage and feed on an undescribed truffle species in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Based on morphological and molecular assessment of collections, we show that the species eaten by bonobos is a previously undescribed taxon described here as Hysterangium bonobo. This species is known in the local Bantu language (Bongando) as simbokilo and is used for baiting traps to catch several species of small mammals. Our findings highlight the need for further research into mycophagy and systematics of sequestrate fungi in Africa.

KEYWORDS: African fungi, Hysterangiales, Phallomycetidae, primate mycophagy, truffle taxonomy, 1 new taxon

the holotype collection of Hysterangium bonobo collected in a bonobo foraging site after bonobos had recently been feeding.
Broken fruiting body revealing brown gleba and columella at the center.

Hysterangium bonobo M.E. Sm. & T.F. Elliott, sp. nov.

Etymology: bonobo, in reference to the common name of the primate Pan paniscus, which digs and eats this fungus.

Todd F. Elliott, Alexander V. Georgiev, Albert Lotana Lokasola and Matthew E. Smith. 2020. Hysterangium bonobo: A Newly Described Truffle Species that is eaten by Bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mycologia. DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2020.1790234

Scientists identify new species of crystal-encrusted truffle, thanks to bonobos

phys.org/news/2020-09-scientists-species-crystal-encrusted-truffle-bonobos.html

Nomorhamphus aenigma

Kobayashi, Masengi & Yamahira, 2020

DOI: 10.1643/CI-19-313

twitter.com/agoblind

www.u-ryukyu.ac.jp

Abstract

A new viviparous halfbeak, Nomorhamphus aenigma, new species, from the upper stream of the Cerekang River in central Sulawesi, Indonesia is described. The new species is distinguished from all other zenarchopterids by the complete absence of elongate lower jaws. Although secondary loss of elongate jaws is also known from several hemiramphids, N. aenigma, new species, is clearly different from them by having no elongate jaws throughout ontogeny.

Fig. 2 Photographs of Nomorhamphus aenigma, new species, immediately after fixation.
(A) MZB 25100, holotype (male, 34.7 mm SL),
(B) MZB 25103, paratype (female, 37.8 mm SL),
(C) NSMT-P 136106, paratype (female, 43.0 mm SL).

Nomorhamphus aenigma, new species

Diagnosis.—Nomorhamphus aenigma is distinguished from all other congeners by the absence of any elongation of the lower jaw throughout ontogeny. Nomorhamphus aenigma is also distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of the short and expanded teeth on gill rakers, 22–23 precaudal and 16–17 caudal vertebrae, 13–14 anal-fin rays, 12 segments in the male first anal-fin ray, and distal tips of the male second and third anal-fin rays having no contact with each other.

Fig. 4 Type locality of Nomorhamphus aenigma, Cerekang River, approximately 600 m downstream from Laroeha Village, Luwu Timur District, Regency of Wasuponda, Sulawesi Selatan. Photo taken 3 September 2019.

Distribution and habitat.—Nomorhamphus aenigma is known from the main stream of Cerekang River in Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia (Fig. 1). The river belongs to the Malili River basin. The holotype was collected from a locality near Laroeha Village. The type locality (2°27′39.7″S, 121°04′03.0″E) is approximately 10 m in width and 1.5 m in depth, partially shaded by forest canopy, and has mud and gravel as substrates (Fig. 4). Nomorhamphus rex (Fig. 7), Oreochromis niloticus, Oryzias dopingdopingensis, Osteochilus vittatus, Redigobius penango, and Telmatherina sp. co-occurred.

Etymology.—The specific name “aenigma,” from ancient Greek noun for “riddle,” refers to the riddle raised by this species: “why are the mandibles of most halfbeaks long?”

Fig. 7 Photographs of Nomorhamphus rex immediately after fixation.
Upper: NSMT-P 136117 (male, 35.5 mm SL),
lower: NSMT-P 136116 (female, 47.6 mm SL).

Hirozumi Kobayashi, Kawilarang W. A. Masengi and Kazunori Yamahira. 2020. A New “Beakless” Halfbeak of the Genus Nomorhamphus from Sulawesi (Teleostei: Zenarchopteridae). Copeia 108(3), 522-531. DOI: 10.1643/CI-19-313

twitter.com/agoblind/status/1308641453120188416

www.u-ryukyu.ac.jp/news/16406

Herpetoreas pealii (Sclater, 1891)

in Das, Gower & Deepak, 2020.

DOI: 10.26049/VZ70-3-2020-04

facebook.com: Dhritiman Mukherjee

We report the rediscovery of the keelback snake Hebius pealii after 129 years from Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India. We designate a lectotype for the species, and provide the first description of a female, of colour in life, and aspects of its natural history. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial (1071 bp cytb, 508 bp 16s) and two nuclear (560 bp bdnf, 579 bp cmos) genes provides strong evidence for Hebius pealii being nested within the genus Herpetoreas instead of Hebius. We transfer this species to the genus Herpetoreas.

Key words: Eastern Himalaya, Herpetoreas, Herpetoreas platyceps, Natricinae, phylogeny, snakes.

First photographs in life of Herpetoreas pealii (WII-ADR547).
animal in its natural habitat (photo by Dhritiman Mukherjee)

First photographs in life of Herpetoreas pealii (WII-ADR547).
full body profile (photo by Abhijit Das).

Herpetoreas pealii comb. nov.

Tropidonotus pealii – Sclater (1891a: 241); Sclater (1891b:41); Boulenger (1893: 214)

Natrix pealii – Wall (1923: 600)

Natrix peali [sic] – Smith (1943: 291)

Amphiesma peali [sic] – Malnate (1960: 50 & 52); Sharma (2007: 206 & 210)

Amphiesma pealii – Das et al. (1998:151); Das (2003: 473); Whitaker & Captain (2004: 25); Ahmed et al. (2009: 19); Das (2010: 42 &73); Purkayastha (2013: 59); Wallach et al. (2014: 32)

Hebius pealii – Das & Das (2017: 168); Das et al. (2019: 125); Purkayastha & David (2019: 86)

Common name. Assam keelback (Uetz, 2020),

Peal’s Keelback (Whitaker & Captain, 2004; Das & Das, 2017),

Bark Brown Keelback (Sharma, 2007)

Diagnosis. A member of Herpetoreas that differs from other species of the genus in having fewer ventrals (136 and 142) than H. sieboldii (180), H. platyceps (174–217), H. xenura (158–165), and H. burbrinki (172). Herpetoreas pealii also has fewer subcaudals (69 and 77) than H. platyceps (86–107), H. xenura (82–105), and H. burbrinki (96). Herpetoreas pealii further differs from H. platyceps and H. sieboldii: in having nine (versus eight) supralabials and from H. sieboldii and H. platyceps in having laterally darkly blotched (verses immaculate) ventrals. Herpetoreas pealii differs from H. xenura in having paired (versus unpaired) subcaudals.

Abhijit Das, David J. Gower and V. Deepak. 2020. Lost and Found: Rediscovery and Systematics of the Northeast Indian Snake Hebius pealii (Sclater, 1891). Vertebrate Zoology. 70(3): 305-318. DOI: 10.26049/VZ70-3-2020-04

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Platylestes kirani

Emiliyamma, Palot & Charesh, 2020

DOI: 10.11609/jott.5209.12.13.16854-16860

ABSTRACT

The genus Platylestes Selys, 1862 is known from India, by only one species, P. platystylus from eastern India, West Bengal, and recently from Kerala. Here, we describe a new species Platylestes kirani from the coastal tracts of the northern part of Kerala, southern India. The new species differs from all other known species of the genus by its unique coloration, distinct marking on synthorax, and the shape of anal appendages.

Keywords:Platylestes kirani sp. nov., P. platystylus, southern India, wetland

photos: K.G. Emiliyamma & C. Charesh.

Comparison of adult specimens of Platylestes kirani sp. nov. and P. platystylus:
a—Platylestes platystylus - male | b—Platylestes platystylus - female
c— Platylestes kirani sp. nov. - male | d— Platylestes kirani sp. nov. - female.

Platylestes kirani sp. nov.

Diagnosis: This species can be easily distinguished from all other species of Platylestes, by its unique coloration, distinct black marking on its synthorax and shape of anal appendages. This species is characterized from P. platystylus and P. heterostylus by its broad black band on synthorax and apple green coloration.

The new species, Platylestes kirani sp. nov. is differentiated from its close relative, P. platystylus by the following set of characters (Images 12 & 13):

1. Dorsum of synthorax with a broad black marking, its inner side straight, while its outer side crenulated expanded structure at three points (in P. platystylus, dorsum of synthorax without stripe, and with many black spots)

2. Synthorax apple green (P. platystylus: pale khaki brown)

3. Apex of superior anal appendages blunt and rounded, meeting each other (P. platystylus: apex is conical, not meeting each other, pointing downwards)

4. The colour of pterostigma is much darker than P. platystylus.

Etymology: The species is named after the late C.G. Kiran, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the odonatology of Kerala. He co-authored the first Odonata book in Malayalam (local language) and popularized odontology among the nature enthusiasts of the region. He passed away in 2017, at an early age of 40 years. The species name kirani is used as a noun in the genitive case.

K.G. Emiliyamma, Muhamed Jafer Palot and C. Charesh. 2020. A New Species of Platylestes Selys (Odonata: Zygoptera: Lestidae) from the coastal area of Kannur District, Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 12(13); 16854-16860. DOI: 10.11609/jott.5209.12.13.16854-16860

Pseudanthias timanoa

Victor, Teitelbaum & Randall, 2020

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4050419

oceansciencefoundation.org

Abstract

A new fairy basslet, Pseudanthias timanoa n. sp., is described from 21 specimens, 50.0-79.1 mm SL, collected recently from New Caledonia, in the southwestern corner of the tropical Pacific Ocean. The new species is typically found on deep coral-reef slopes, at depths of 50-100 m. One of many slender, brightly colored fairy basslets found throughout the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, P. timanoa is part of the Pseudanthias lori species complex. It is distinguished from its congeners by the live color pattern, which is bright reddish pink with a series of 7 red-orange bars along the upper body followed by a deeper-red rectangular saddle on the caudal peduncle. Mature males develop a greatly elongated third dorsal-fin spine, up to about 1.5 times head length and long, trailing caudal-fin filaments. The sequence of the mtDNA barcode marker COI for the new species is 10.3% divergent (p-distance) from the nearest relative in the Barcode of Life Database, P. lori, from the Coral Sea and Philippines. The new species appears in the aquarium trade as the Sunrise Anthias. With this discovery, there are now 16 species of Pseudanthias documented from New Caledonia.

Key words: taxonomy, ichthyology, coral-reef fishes, DNA barcoding, goldies, Sunrise Anthias.

Pseudanthias timanoa, fresh paratype, male, 55.1 mm SL, SIO 20-17, from aquarium trade with caudal filaments eroded, collected from Dukati Reef, New Caledonia.

photo: Benjamin C. Victor

Pseudanthias timanoa, Victor, Teitelbaum & Randall

Sunrise Anthias

Pseudanthias timanoa with incorrect authorship “Randall, 2014”, a nomen nudum until the present description, Laboute & Grandperrin 2016: 217, fig. a single photograph (without any description in the text, and based on no description, publication, or collected specimen).

Diagnosis. A species of Pseudanthias with dorsal-fin elements X,15 or 16 (most 16), third spine greatly elongated in mature males, up to about 1.5 times head length, 2.2 in SL, up to three times length of next spines; anal-fin elements III,7; pectoral-fin rays 18 or 19 (most 19); caudal fin deeply lunate with filamentous tips in mature males (eroded away in aquarium specimens), maximum caudal concavity 3.1 in SL in intact paratype; body elongate, body depth 3.4 (3.2–4.0) in SL; head and body reddish pink with 7 red-orange bars along upper body followed by a deeper-red, saddle-like rectangle on caudal peduncle.

Pseudanthias timanoa (top) New Caledonia (Richard Bajol);
Pseudanthias lori (middle) Cenderawasih Bay, W. Papua Province, Indonesia;
Pseudanthias flavoguttatus (bottom) Tanimbar Islands, E. Banda Sea, Indonesia (both Gerald Allen).

Figure 6. Pseudanthias timanoa, school underwater at 74 m, New Caledonia (Pierre Laboute).

Figure 7. Pseudanthias timanoa, two males and a female (at upper right), with a P. lori at lower left foreground and a P. flavicauda at lower right, about 90 m, New Caledonia (Patrick Plantard).

Etymology. The new species is named timanoa, a euphonious amalgamation of the second author’s three children’s names: Timothée, Maëlle, and Noa. The specific epithet is treated as a noun in apposition.

Benjamin C. Victor, Antoine Teitelbaum and John E. Randall. 2020. Pseudanthias timanoa, A New Fairy Basslet from New Caledonia, South Pacific (Teleostei: Serranidae: Anthiadinae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 36, 6-15. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4050419

oceansciencefoundation.org/josf36b.html

Rhaphicetus valenciae

Lambert, Muizon, Urbina & Bianucci, 2020

DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2020.1805520

naturalsciences.be

Abstract

The modern sperm whales Kogia and Physeter (superfamily Physeteroidea) represent highly disparate, relict members of a group of odontocetes that peaked in diversity during the middle to late Miocene. Based on a highly informative specimen (including the cranium with ear bones, mandibles, teeth and some postcranial elements) from the lower Miocene (early Burdigalian, 19–18 Ma) of the Chilcatay Formation (Pisco Basin, Peru), we describe here a new genus and species of physeteroid, Rhaphicetus valenciae gen. et sp. nov. The latter is one of the geologically oldest physeteroids. This medium-sized species (estimated body length between 4.7 and 5.7 m) differs from all other physeteroids by the following, probably autapomorphic, features: a narrow, cylindrical rostrum comprising nearly 75% of the condylobasal length; the two main dorsal infraorbital foramina located posterior to the antorbital notch; an upper tooth count of at least 36 teeth per quadrant; and anterior-most upper alveoli filled by thick bony pads. Our phylogenetic analysis recovers R. valenciae as one of the earliest branching stem physeteroids. The highly unusual filling of the anterior upper alveoli by bony pads is interpreted as part of a mechanism leading to the loss of apical and subapical upper teeth. By comparison with other odontocetes displaying some degree of anterior reduction of the dentition, this condition may have corresponded to the rostrum being anteriorly longer than the mandible. The elongated rostrum with a circular cross-section, the long temporal fossa, and the high number of slender, pointed upper and lower teeth all suggest that R. valenciae used its dentition to grasp relatively small prey, possibly via rapid movements of the head. On the one hand, this new Peruvian record increases our knowledge of the morphological disparity of sperm whales during the Miocene. On the other hand, it may provide clues to the ancestral morphotype for all physeteroids.

Keywords: Burdigalian, dental reduction, functional morphology, palaeobiology, phylogeny, stem Physeteroidea

Reconstruction of the skull of Rhaphicetus valenciae MUSM 2543 (holotype) in right lateral view. Stippled lines for main reconstructed bony parts; dark grey shading for a hypothetical reconstruction of the soft tissue outline of the head, including an anteriorly short spermaceti organ. The anterior tip of the mandibles being missing, the anterior extent of the lower jaw remains unknown.

Cranium of Rhaphicetus valenciae MUSM 2543 (holotype) in dorsal view and ventral view.

Cranium of Rhaphicetus valenciae MUSM 2543 (holotype)
in ventral view and right lateral view.

Systematic palaeontology

Order Cetacea Brisson, 1762

Pelagiceti Uhen, 2008

Neoceti Fordyce & Muizon, 2001

Suborder Odontoceti Flower, 1867b

Superfamily Physeteroidea Gray, 1821

Genus Rhaphicetus gen. nov.

Type species. Rhaphicetus valenciae sp. nov.

Derivation of name. From the ancient Greek rhaphis, needle, and from the Latin cetus, whale: the whale with a needle-shaped rostrum.

Rhaphicetus valenciae sp. nov.

Derivation of name. valenciae, honouring Dr Niels Valencia Marciano Chacón, a biologist at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos studying plant ecology and the director of the MUSM, for his constant support for the palaeontological activities at that institution, including many fruitful palaeontological expeditions in the Pisco Basin.

Olivier Lambert, Christian de Muizon, Mario Urbina and Giovanni Bianucci. 2020. A New Longirostrine Sperm Whale (Cetacea, Physeteroidea) from the lower Miocene of the Pisco Basin (southern coast of Peru). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 18(20); 1707-1742. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2020.1805520

18 Million Year Old Sperm Whale With 'Needle-Shaped' Snout

naturalsciences.be/en/news/item/19293

twitter.com/RBINSmuseum/status/1308311917488992261

twitter.com/CoastalPaleo/status/1308052807564644353

Neorhaphidophora siamensis sp. nov., male (46) and female (47);
Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensis ssp. nov., male (48);
Minirhaphidophora (Condylophora) ophioglossa subgen. et. sp. nov., female (51);
Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti sp. nov., male (49) and female (50);

in Dawwrueng, Gorochov, Tanomtong & Suwannapoom, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4853.2.5

facebook.com/PattarawichDawwrueng

Abstract

A new subgenus, three new species and a new subspecies of the rhaphidophorines are described from Thailand: Minirhaphidophora (Condylophora) ophioglossa subgen. et sp. nov., Neorhaphidophora siamensis sp. nov., Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti sp. nov., and Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensis ssp. nov. Keys to all known species with regard to the genera Neorhaphidophora and Minirhaphidophora, as well as a key to the Thai species of the genus Eurhaphidophora, are provided.

Keywords: Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae, taxonomy, Thailand, new taxa

In-situ: Neorhaphidophora siamensissp. nov., male (46) and female (47);
Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensisssp. nov., male (48).

Genus Neorhaphidophora Gorochov, 1999

Neorhaphidophora siamensis Dawwrueng, Gorochov et Suwannapoom sp. nov.

Etymology The new species is named after “Siam” (the old name of Thailand).

Genus Eurhaphidophora Gorochov, 1999

Thai species of Eurhaphidophora

Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti sp. nov.

Eurhaphidophora bispina Gorochov, 2010

Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensis ssp. nov.

Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensis Dawwrueng, Gorochov et Suwannapoom ssp. nov.

Etymology The new species is named after the location from where it was collected, Doi Tung Development Project Area.

Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov et Suwannapoom sp. nov.

Etymology The new species is named after Mr. Parinya Pawangkhanant, a young Thai herpetologist who assisted in collecting specimens during fieldwork.

In-situ: Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti sp. nov., male (49) and female (50);
Minirhaphidophora (Condylophora) ophioglossa subgen. et. sp. nov., female (51).

Genus Minirhaphidophora Gorochov, 2002

Subgenus Condylophora Dawwrueng, Gorochov et Suwannapoom subgen. nov.

Type species Minirhaphidophora (Condylophora) ophioglossa sp. nov.

Etymology The new subgeneric name originated from the Latinized Greek word “condylus” (tubercle) and the generic name “Rhaphidophora”. This is because the male of this subgenus has a pair of characteristic tubercles on its tenth abdominal tergite.

Minirhaphidophora (Condylophora) ophioglossa Dawwrueng, Gorochov et Suwannapoom sp. nov.

Etymology The name of the new species originates from the Latinized Greek words “ophis” (snake) and “glossa” (tongue). This is because the apical part of the male epiproct in this species is more or less similar to a snake’s tongue in shape.

Pattarawich Dawwrueng, Andrei V. Gorochov, Alongklod Tanomtong and Chatmongkon Suwannapoom. 2020. Contribution to the Knowledge of Rhaphidophorinae (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Rhaphidophoridae) from Thailand: Three Genera Neorhaphidophora, Eurhaphidophora and Minirhaphidophora. Zootaxa. 4853(2); 235–253. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4853.2.5

facebook.com/PattarawichDawwrueng/posts/3273023256098176

Ipomoea vespertilia D. Santos, G. C. Delgado-Junior & Buril

in Santos, Delgado Junior, ... et Buril, 2019.

DOI: 10.1007/s12228-018-09565-6

Researchgate.net/publication/331568490

Abstract

A new and endangered species, endemic to dry forests of the Caatinga Domain in Northeast Brazil is described and illustrated. Ipomoea vespertilia has been misidentified in herbaria as I. marcellia, to which it appears to be closely related. However, it differs consistently from that species in multiple morphological characters and the timing of anthesis.

Keywords: Anthesis, biodiversity, Brazilian flora, cytotaxonomy, integrative taxonomy

Ipomoea vespertilia D. Santos, G. C. Delgado-Junior & Burila.
A. Habit. B. Representative leaf (adaxial surface). C. Flower bud. D. Flower with tubular corolla. E. Outer sepal. F. Inner sepal. G. Corolla and representative stamens. H. Ovary. I. Pistil. J. Fruit. K. Seed. (Drawn from the holotype.).

Ipomoea vespertilia D. Santos, G. C. Delgado-Junior & Buril.
A. Corolla, lateral view. B. Corolla, interplicae area and inserted stamens. C. Inflorescence.

Ipomoea vespertilia D. Santos, G. C. Delgado-Junior & Buril, sp. nov.

Etymology.—The specific epithet “vespertilia” is a reference to the main floral visitors, bats (Phyllostomidae).

Francisco Diego Sousa Santos, Geadelande Carolino Delgado Junior, Mariana Báez, Andrea Pedrosa-Harand, Joel Araújo Queiroz, Zelma Glebya Maciel Quirino, Isabel Cristina Machado and Maria Teresa Buril. 2019. Ipomoea vespertilia (Convolvulaceae), A New Species revealed by Pollinator Observation. Brittonia. 71, 190–195. DOI: 10.1007/s12228-018-09565-6

Researchgate.net/publication/331568490_Ipomoea_vespertilia_a_new_species_revealed_by_pollinator_observation

Resumo: É descrita uma nova espécie ameaçada de extinção e endêmica do domínio da Caatinga, Nordeste do Brasil. Ipomoea vespertilia estava incorretamente identificada nos herbários como I. marcellia, com a qual parece ser proximamente relacionada. No entanto, além de diferenças morfológicas consistentes, é reconhecida por um período de antese distinto.

Alpheus inopinatus Holthuis & Gottlieb, 1958

in Anker, Al-Kandari & Grave, 2020.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4851.1.10

Photograph by A. Anker.

Abstract

The status of the common intertidal snapping shrimp, Alpheus inopinatus Holthuis & Gottlieb, 1958, is discussed based on newly collected material from Kuwait. Alpheus inopinatus was previously confused with morphologically very similar species in the Alpheus lobidens De Haan, 1849 species complex, formerly identified as A. crassimanus Heller, 1862 and herein tentatively referred to as A. cf. lobidens. The material herein examined strongly supports the validity of A. inopinatus based on several morphological characters, as well as differences in the colour pattern, compared to other members of the A. lobidens complex.

Keywords: Crustacea, Alpheus, Alpheidae, snapping shrimp, Indian Ocean, Arabian-Persian Gulf

Alpheus inopinatus Holthuis & Gottlieb, 1958: male from Kuwait,
OUMNH.ZC.2020-01-001 [fcn KUW-011] —lateral view.

Photograph by A. Anker.

Arthur Anker, Manal Al-Kandari and Sammy De Grave. 2020. Taxonomic Notes on Alpheus inopinatus Holthuis & Gottlieb, 1958 and Alpheus cf. lobidens De Haan, 1849 from Kuwait (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Alpheidae). Zootaxa. 4851(1); 189–197. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4851.1.10

Litoria watsoni

Mahony, Moses, Mahony, Lemckert, Donnellan, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4858.2.3

twitter.com/SVMahony

Abstract

Population declines and range contractions among Australian frogs that commenced in the early 1980s continue in some species that were once widespread. The generality of this pattern has been difficult to discern, especially for those species that are encountered rarely because they have restricted periods of calling activity with poorly defined habitat preferences, and are not common. Several lines of evidence indicate that Litoria littlejohni is such a species. This frog was once known from mid-eastern New South Wales to eastern Victoria, and evidence from wildlife atlas databases and targeted searches indicate that it has declined in large portions of its former range, leaving several populations that are isolated, in some cases restricted in distribution, and of small size. We investigated the relationships among populations using mitochondrial ND4 nucleotide sequences and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the nuclear genome. We found that northern and southern populations form two highly divergent genetic groups whose distributions abut at the southern margin of the Sydney Basin Bioregion and these genetic groups also show divergence in morphology and male advertisement calls. Here we describe the populations to the south of the Sydney Basin Bioregion as a new species and provide information on its distribution and ecology. In light of the apparent isolation and small size of known populations of the new species and the consequent restriction of the range of L. littlejohni, we assessed the conservation status of both species.

Keywords: Amphibia, Anura, Pelodryadidae

Litoria watsoni sp. nov.

Michael Mahony, Bede Moses, Stephen V. Mahony, Frank L. Lemckert, Stephen Donnellan. 2020. A New Species of Frog in the Litoria ewingii species group (Anura: Pelodryadidae) from south-eastern Australia. Zootaxa. 4858(2); 201–230. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4858.2.3

twitter.com/SVMahony/status/1311107576793165824

Aenigmachanna gollum

Britz, Anoop, Dahanukar & Raghavan 2019

Aenigmachannidae

Britz, Dahanukar, Anoop, Philip, Clark, Raghavan & Rüber, 2020

Gollum Snakehead Fishes

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73129-6

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Abstract

Pronounced organism-wide morphological stasis in evolution has resulted in taxa with unusually high numbers of primitive characters. These ‘living fossils’ hold a prominent role for our understanding of the diversification of the group in question. Here we provide the first detailed osteological analysis of Aenigmachanna gollum based on high-resolution nano-CT scans and one cleared and stained specimen of this recently described snakehead fish from subterranean waters of Kerala in South India. In addition to a number of derived and unique features, Aenigmachanna has several characters that exhibit putatively primitive conditions not encountered in the family Channidae. Our morphological analysis provides evidence for the phylogenetic position of Aenigmachanna as the sister group to Channidae. Molecular analyses further emphasize the uniqueness of Aenigmachanna and indicate that it is a separate lineage of snakeheads, estimated to have split from its sister group at least 34 or 109 million years ago depending on the fossil calibration employed. This may indicate that Aenigmachanna is a Gondwanan lineage, which has survived break-up of the supercontinent, with India separating from Africa at around 120 mya. The surprising morphological disparity of Aenigmachanna from members of the Channidae lead us to erect a new family of snakehead fishes, Aenigmachannidae, sister group to Channidae, to accommodate these unique snakehead fishes.

Aenigmachanna gollum.
(a) 60.6 mm individual alive (KUFOS 2019.8.226), green arrow marks position of vent; (b) CT scan image of skeleton of 90.2 mm holotype (BNHS FWF 966), green arrow marks position of vent and red arrow the first caudal vertebra; (c) CT scan image of head of holotype, yellow arrows mark postorbital process and posterior tip of greatly elongated maxilla; (d) CT scan image of caudal skeleton of holotype, note absence of Day’s bone and presence of distally bifurcated haemal spine (yellow arrow) on second preural centrum; (e) CT scan image of iodine stained 124.5 mm specimen (KUFOS 2019.8.225) in lateral view, swim bladder is shown in blue above the digestive system (green), note swim bladder ending at level of 8th postanal vertebra.

Head anatomy of a channid (Parachanna, left side) and Aenigmachanna (right side) in comparison. Neurocranium of Parachanna africana, (MTD-F39824, c&s, nasals not removed) 150 mm (a,c,e) and Aenigmachanna gollum, (KUFOS 2019.8.224) 81.8 mm in dorsal (a,b), lateral (c,d) and ventral (e,f) view.

Cleared and stained jaws and hyopalatine arch in lateral view of

(a) Aenigmachanna gollum, (KUFOS 2019.8.226) 60.6 mm,

(b) Parachanna africana, (MTD-F39824) 150 mm

and (c) Channa punctata, (MTD-F39825) 118 mm.

Lateral views of skeleton of the generalized percomorph Lates (a), the anabantoid Ctenopoma (b), the aenigmachannid Aenigmachanna (c) and the channid Parachanna (d).
Green arrow marks position of vent, red arrow position of first caudal vertebra (anterior most vertebra with haemal spine). Note more or less equal separation of vertebral column in Lates (a) and Ctenopoma (b) into abdominal and caudal vertebrae (a,b,d adapted from33) with position of vent and first caudal vertebra close to each other and caudal and postanal region of vertebral column of similar length. Note partial abdominalisation of postanal vertebral column in Aenigmachanna and almost complete abdominalisation in Parachanna.

Taxonomy

Aenigmachannidae new family

(Gollum snakehead fishes)

Type genus: Aenigmachanna Britz, Anoop, Dahanukar & Raghavan 2019

Diagnosis: A family of the acanthomorph clade Labyrinthici (Anabantiformes), as evidenced by the shared derived possession of a parasphenoid tooth patch (Fig. 2d,f). Aenigmachannidae are distinguished from all other Labyrinthici by the following autapomorphies: (a) a very long maxilla reaching caudally beyond the anterior margin of the preopercle (Figs. 1b,c, 3a), (b) presence of a prominent postorbital process on the maxilla (Figs. 1c, 3a), (c) the frontal suturing with the parasphenoid forming a complete interorbital septum (Fig. 2f), (d) the unique count of 29–32 abdominal and 29–31 caudal vertebrae (Fig. 1b), (e) a series of five median predorsal bones (supraneurals or rayless pterygiophores) in front of the dorsal fin (f) 83–85 scales in a lateral series, and (g) a high number of 40–44 anal-fin rays (Fig. 1a,b). It differs further from all Anabantoidei and Channidae by the swim bladder being short (Fig. 1e), not reaching the parhypural and by the absence of a suprabranchial cavity and organ (Fig. 2h,j). Aenigmachannidae share with Channidae long nasal tubes (Fig. 1a), cycloid scales, the absence of fin spines in dorsal- and anal-fins (Fig. 1a), an increase in the number of vertebrae, a single posterior swimbladder extension combined with abdominalisation of the anterior ten postanal vertebrae (Fig. 1), and five branchiostegal rays, but differ from them by the autosphenotic being excluded from the skull roof and the frontal broadly sutured only to the pterotic (Fig. 2a–f), prootic and basioccipital forming equal parts of the bulla for the sacculith (Fig. 2b,c), the presence of numerous caudal vertebrae and therefore the lack of an abdominalisation of the posterior vertebral column (Fig. 1b), and by absence of the uncinate process of the metapterygoid (Fig. 3a), absence of Day’s bone (Fig. 1d), and of a body lateral-line canal.

Phylogenetic relationships of Aenigmachannidae (marked in red) based on 46 morphological characters. Shown is the strict consensus tree of two most parsimonious trees (tree length = 64 steps, consistency index (CI) = 0.72, retention index (RI) = 0.89). Numbers at nodes correspond to bootstrap values (1000 replicates). Plesiomorphic character states of Aenigmachanna in relation to Channidae discussed in the text are shown on the tree with corresponding numbers.

Ralf Britz, Neelesh Dahanukar, V. K. Anoop, Siby Philip, Brett Clark, Rajeev Raghavan and Lukas Rüber. 2020. Aenigmachannidae, A New Family of Snakehead Fishes (Teleostei: Channoidei) from subterranean waters of South India. Scientific Reports. 10, 16081. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73129-6

facebook.com/RajeevRaghavan98/posts/10157117629590938

Neue Familie für den Gollum-Schlangenkopffisch

nachrichten.idw-online.de/2020/09/30/neue-familie-fuer-den-gollum-schlangenkopffisch/

Madangella koumacensis

Frolová & Ďuriš, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4845.2.6

Abstract

A second species of the recently established genus Madangella Frolová & Ďuriš is described from New Caledonia. Although the single available specimen lacks both second pereiopods, the new species distinctly differs from the only other representative of the genus, M. altirostris Frolová & Ďuriš, 2018 from Papua New Guinea, and can be easily distinguished from the latter by the more elongate and distally tapering rostrum, two subterminal ventral rostral teeth, the carpus of the first pereiopod being subequal to the merus length, and the sixth pleomere being short and stout, distinctly less than 2 times longer than deep. The examined specimen was confirmed as representative of a species separate from M. altirostris also by molecular comparisons of the 16S rRNA and COI mtDNA gene markers. The genus Madangella thus currently consists of two southwestern Pacific species.

Keywords: Caridea, Crustacea, Indo-West Pacific, taxonomy

Pavlína Frolová and Zdeněk Ďuriš. 2020. Madangella koumacensis, A New Species of Palaemonid Shrimps (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from New Caledonia. Zootaxa. 4845(2); 253–263. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4845.2.6

Hyptia mexicana

Poinar, 2020

DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1818075

ABSTRACT

Three new species of ensign wasps (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae), Evaniella setifera sp. nov., Evaniella dominicana sp. nov., and Semaeomyia hispaniola sp. nov. are described from Dominican amber and Hyptia mexicana sp. nov. is described from Mexican amber. Diagnostic characters are presented and a key to the species of Evaniidae from New World Tertiary amber is provided. These descriptions show new and possibly unique morphological features of ensign wasps that existed during the Tertiary. The location of possible hosts of Evaniella setifera is suggested based on three alate termites (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in the same piece of Dominican amber.

KEYWORDS: Evaniidae, ensign wasp, Dominican amber, Mexican amber, Tertiary

Left lateral view of Evaniella dominicanasp. nov. in Dominican amber.

Scale bar = 1.6 mm.

Order: Hymenoptera Linnaeus, 1758

Suborder: Apocrita Gerstaecker, 1867

Superfamily: Evanioidea Latreille, 1802

Family: Evaniidae Latreille, 1892

Genus: Evaniella Bradley, 1905

Evaniella setifera sp. nov.

Type locality. Amber mine in the northern portion of the Dominican Republic.

Etymology. The species epithet is from the Latin ‘setosus’ = bristly, in reference to the dense coating of microtrichia on the fore wing membrane.

Evaniella dominicana sp. nov.

Type locality. La Búcara amber mine in the northern portion of the Dominican Republic.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the locality of the fossil.

Genus Semaeomyia Bradley, 1908

Semaeomyia hispaniola sp. nov.

Type locality. La Búcara amber mine in the northern portion of the Dominican Republic.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the fossil locality.

Right lateral view of Hyptia mexicana sp. nov. in Mexican amber.

Scale bar = 0.9 mm.

Genus Hyptia Illiger, 1807

Hyptia mexicana sp. nov.

Type locality. Amber mine in the Simojoval area of Chiapas, Mexico.

Etymology. The specific epithet is based on the locality of the fossil.

George Poinar. 2020. Ensign wasps (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae) in Dominican and Mexican Amber. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology. DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1818075

Salute the venerable ensign wasp, killing cockroaches for 25 million years

today.oregonstate.edu/news/salute-venerable-ensign-wasp-killing-cockroaches-25-million-years

Scorpaena vesperalis

Wibowo & Motomura, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4852.5.2

twitter.com/kadai_museum

Abstract

A taxonomic review of the Scorpaena papillosa species complex, defined here as having 10 dorsal-fin soft rays, coronal spines, and two upwardly directed spines on the lacrimal bone, resulted in the recognition of two species and two subspecies, Scorpaena papillosa (Schneider & Forster, 1801) including two subspecies, i.e., S. papillosa papillosa (New Zealand) and S. papillosa ergastulorum Richardson, 1842a (southeastern Australia), and Scorpaena vesperalis n. sp. (southwestern Australia). Scorpaena p. papillosa and S. p. ergastulorum, are redescribed, with designation of a neotype for S. p. papillosa. Scorpaena vesperalis n. sp., described from coastal waters off southwestern Western Australia on the basis of 57 specimens, is characterized as follows: pectoral-fin rays 14–16; longitudinal scale rows 37–41; body depth 32.3–39.5 % of SL; upper-jaw length 19.6–22.5 % of SL; maxilla depth 5.7–7.3 % of SL; postorbital length 18.2–21.3 % of SL; least distance between interorbital ridges 1.4–2.7 % of SL; 1st anal-fin spine length 7.2–10.0 % of SL; anterior lacrimal spine simple, without additional small spinous points on its posterior margin; a single united pore behind the lower jaw symphysial knob; relatively large supraocular tentacle; all fins of preserved specimens usually uniformly whitish to translucent; and small body size (maximum recorded length 67.6 mm SL). The new species is likely endemic to southwestern Australia. Morphological ontogenetic changes in the relative lengths of some body proportions in the three taxa are also discussed.

Keywords: Pisces, scorpionfish, taxonomy, morphology, distribution, subspecies

Fresh specimens of Scorpaena vesperalis n. sp. WAM P. 28521-003, holotype, 58.7 mm SL

(Photo by Western Australian Museum - WAM)

Scorpaena vesperalis n. sp.

Dwarf Red Scorpionfish

Etymology. The species name from the Latin vesperalis, meaning west, is derived from the type locality of the species (Western Australia), which is also the westernmost occurrence of the S. papillosa complex.

Distribution. Distributed off southwestern Australia, ranging from Southern Group, Houtman Abrolhos (28°S) to the Albany coast (35°S) (Fig. 4). Specimens examined in this study were collected mainly from shallow rocky reefs at depths between 0–37 m (a single specimen had been collected from 188 m).

Kunto Wibowo and Hiroyuki Motomura. 2020. Review of the Scorpaena papillosa Species Complex (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) with Description of A New Species from southwestern Australia. Zootaxa. 4852(5); 527–546. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4852.5.2

twitter.com/kadai_museum/status/1307257445060804610

Abortelphusa namdaphaensis

Mitra, 2020

DOI: 10.1163/15685403-bja10027

Abstract

A new genus and species of gecarcinucid crab are described here from the Namdapha Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh, India; Abortelphusa namdaphaensis gen. et sp. nov. is morphologically distinct from other related genera, like Phricotelphusa Alcock, 1909, Globitelphusa Alcock, 1909, Liotelphusa Alcock, 1909, and in having a discrete suite of characters, i.e., carapace squarish, surface randomly pitted, a wide frontal margin ca. 0.5 times the total carapace width; epigastric cristae rugose, post orbital cristae indiscernible; third maxilliped exopod lacking a flagellum; male pleon narrowly triangular, sixth pleonal somite trapezoidal; terminal segment of male first gonopod subcylindrical, outwardly bent, tip not truncated. The relationship of this new genus and species with other gecarcinucid genera from India is discussed.

Keywords: Taxonomy; Gecarcinucidae; new genus; new species; Namdapha Tiger Reserve; India

Abortelphusa namdaphaensis gen. et sp. nov.

Santanu Mitra. 2020. Abortelphusa namdaphaensis, A New Genus and New Species of Freshwater Crab (Decapoda, Brachyura, Gecarcinucidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Crustaceana. 93(7); 803–817. DOI: 10.1163/15685403-bja10027

newsfile-online.com/2020/09/23/hold-those-pincers-arunachal-has-a-new-crab-genus

Morphological diversity in Oreophrynella.

A, Oreophrynella huberi, male, 18.3 mm (O. huberi species group), terrestrial. B, Oreophrynella seegobini, male, 20.0 mm (O. weiassipuensis species group), terrestrial. C, Oreophrynella macconnelli, male, 22.7 mm (O. macconnelli species group), arboreal. D, Oreophrynella nigra, female, 22.5 mm (O. quelchii species group), terrestrial.

in Kok, van der Velden, Means, et al., 2020.

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz172

twitter.com/ZoolJLinnSoc

Abstract

The only study of the osteology of the toad genus Oreophrynella dates back to 1971 and was based on a single species. Here, we use high-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography to analyse the osteology of all nine described Oreophrynella species, which are compared with representatives of other bufonid lineages. Oreophrynella is unique among bufonids in having opposable digits. Osteological synapomorphies confirmed for the genus are as follows: presence of parietal fontanelles and exposed frontoparietal fontanelle, absence of quadratojugal, five presacral vertebrae, distally enlarged terminal phalanges and urostyle greatly expanded into flanges. Ancestral character reconstruction indicates that arboreal habits in some Oreophrynella species are likely to have evolved after the evolution of opposable digits. Opposable digits, in combination with an extension of the interdigital integument and the relative length/orientation of the digits, are likely to be adaptations to facilitate life on rocky tepui summits and an exaptation to arboreality. Cranial simplification in Oreophrynella, in the form of cranial fontanelles and absence of the quadratojugal, is possibly driven by a reduction of developmental costs, increase in flexibility and reduction of body weight. Cranial simplification combined with the shortening of the vertebral column and the shift towards a partly firmisternal girdle might be adaptations to the peculiar tumbling behaviour displayed by Oreophrynella.

Keywords: Amphibia, ancestral reconstruction, Guianas, heterodactyly, high-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography, Pantepui

Visual summary of the phylogenetic relationships of the main bufonid genera examined osteologically in this study.
A, dorsal view of cranium of ‘atelopodid’ genera + Nannophryne on a pruned version (red branch leads to derived bufonid genera) of the Bayesian tree of Kok et al. (2018).
B, dorsal view of cranium of ‘atelopodid’ genera for which molecular phylogenetic relationships remain unknown. Images are not to scale.

Morphological diversity in Oreophrynella.
A, Oreophrynella huberi, male, 18.3 mm (O. huberi species group), terrestrial.
B, Oreophrynella seegobini, male, 20.0 mm (O. weiassipuensis species group), terrestrial.
C, Oreophrynella macconnelli, male, 22.7 mm (O. macconnelli species group), arboreal.
D, Oreophrynella nigra, female, 22.5 mm (O. quelchii species group), terrestrial.

Philippe J. R. Kok, Milan A. J. van der Velden, D. Bruce Means, Sebastian Ratz, Iván Josipovic, Matthieu Boone and Roy W. McDiarmid. 2020. Coping with the Extremes: Comparative Osteology of the Tepui-associated Toad Oreophrynella and Its Bearing on the Evolution of Osteological Novelties in the Genus. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 190(1); 114–139. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz172

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