[Herpetology • 2020] Cnemaspis ranganaensis • A New Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India

November 26, 2020, 7:03 pm

≫ Next: [Mammalogy • 2020] Back to Life and to Taxonomy: New Record and Reassessment of Myotis bucharensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

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Cnemaspis ranganaensis   Sayyed & Sulakhe, 2020  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.1.5

Abstract
A new species belonging to the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 is described from the Rangana Fort mountain range of the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India. A preliminary 16S rRNA phylogeny of Indian Cnemaspis is provided and the phylogenetic position of the new species is established within the goaensis clade. The new species, Cnemaspis ranganaensis sp. nov. can easily be distinguished from all Indian congeners by having 3 or 4 spine-like tubercles on the flanks, conical tubercles absent on flank, dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous, presence of precloacal and femoral pores in males, 8 or 9 poreless scales between femoral and precloacal pores; gular scales flat, smooth; 93–101 paravertebral scales, 59–63 mid-dorsal scales; 93–101 longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca, 30–31 scales across belly; ventral scales smooth, imbricate; tail with small, granular, keeled, pointed, subimbricate scales intermixed with enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls; scales on ventral side of tail imbricate, smooth, with three rows of large, slightly elongated median subcaudals. The new species is closely related to C. goaensis, from which it differs by a genetic divergence of 1.9-3.0%. Molecular phylogenetic reconstruction supports the distinctiveness of the new species.

Keywords: Reptilia, arboreal species, Cnemaspis ranganaensis sp. nov., gecko, systematics

Cnemaspis ranganaensis sp. nov.

Amit Sayyed and Shauri Sulakhe. 2020. A New Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India. Zootaxa. 4885(1); 83–98. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.1.5

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[Mammalogy • 2020] Back to Life and to Taxonomy: New Record and Reassessment of Myotis bucharensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

November 26, 2020, 8:13 pm

≫ Next: [Crustacea • 2020] Species of the Maera-clade (Amphipoda: Maeridae) collected from Japan. Part 4: Addenda to Genera Maera Leach, 1814 and Quadrimaera Krapp-Schickel & Ruffo, 2000, with Revised Keys to Japanese Species of the Clade

≪ Previous: [Herpetology • 2020] Cnemaspis ranganaensis • A New Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India

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Myotis bucharensis Kuzyakin, 1950  in Kazakov, Artyushin, Khabilov, et al., 2020.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4878.1.5

Abstract

Myotis bucharensis is one of the least studied Palaearctic bat species, known from only three localities in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and not reported since 1965. In autumn 2019, a male Myotis captured in Zerafshan river basin in Tajikistan was later identified as M. bucharensis based on tail and tibia proportions and strongly displacement of posterior small premolars. The identification was then confirmed by morphometric analyses supporting that M. bucharensis is specifically different but represents a part of the Myotis frater complex. Analyses of one mitochondrial (cyt b) and one nuclear gene (RAG2) were performed for the first time for M. bucharensis. According to these genetic results, this form is indeed a member of the «daubentonii» clade, which includes all known frater-like Myotis, and most likely represents a sister species to M. longicaudatus. Record of the alive specimen M.bucharensis has valuable implication for bat conservation in Tajikistan.

Keywords: Mouse-eared bats, new record, morphometry, taxonomy, Central Asia, Tajikistan, mtDNA

Myotis bucharensis Kuzyakin, 1950

Denis V. Kazakov, Ilya V. Artyushin, Tolibjon K. Khabilov, Dilbar E. Tadzhibaeva and Sergei V. Kruskop. 2020. Back to Life and to Taxonomy: New Record and Reassessment of Myotis bucharensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Zootaxa. 4878(1); 129–144. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4878.1.5

[Crustacea • 2020] Species of the Maera-clade (Amphipoda: Maeridae) collected from Japan. Part 4: Addenda to Genera Maera Leach, 1814 and Quadrimaera Krapp-Schickel & Ruffo, 2000, with Revised Keys to Japanese Species of the Clade

November 27, 2020, 12:03 am

≫ Next: [Herpetology • 2020] Kinosternon cora • A New Species of Mud Turtle of Genus Kinosternon (Testudines: Kinosternidae) from the Pacific Coastal Plain of Northwestern Mexico

≪ Previous: [Mammalogy • 2020] Back to Life and to Taxonomy: New Record and Reassessment of Myotis bucharensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

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Maera denticoxa Ariyama, Kodama & Tomikawa, 2020  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.3.2

Abstract

Two new species of Maera Leach, 1814 and Quadrimaera Krapp-Schickel & Ruffo, 2000 included in the Maera-clade are described from Japan. Maera denticoxa sp. nov. was collected from Iwate and Hokkaido Prefectures and can be distinguished from its congeners by the small notches on the posteroventral margins of coxae 1–6. Quadrimaera angulata sp. nov. from north of Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture is characterized by the distal tooth on the mandibular palp article 1, the rounded palm of the female gnathopod 2, and the angular posterodistal margin of the pereopod 7 basis. Keys to Japanese species of the Maera-clade are provided. In total, seventeen species included in the clade occur in Japan.

Keywords: Crustacea, Taxonomy, Iwate, Hokkaido, Tanegashima Island, new species, key

Maera denticoxa sp. nov.

Hiroyuki Ariyama, Masafumi Kodama and Ko Tomikawa. 2020. Species of the Maera-clade collected from Japan. Part 4: Addenda to Genera Maera Leach, 1814 and Quadrimaera Krapp-Schickel & Ruffo, 2000, with Revised Keys to Japanese Species of the Clade (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Maeridae). Zootaxa. 4885(3); 336–352. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.3.2

[Herpetology • 2020] Kinosternon cora • A New Species of Mud Turtle of Genus Kinosternon (Testudines: Kinosternidae) from the Pacific Coastal Plain of Northwestern Mexico

November 27, 2020, 12:42 am

≫ Next: [Ichthyology • 2020] Indoreonectes telanganaensis • A New Species of Loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Godavari Basin of India

≪ Previous: [Crustacea • 2020] Species of the Maera-clade (Amphipoda: Maeridae) collected from Japan. Part 4: Addenda to Genera Maera Leach, 1814 and Quadrimaera Krapp-Schickel & Ruffo, 2000, with Revised Keys to Japanese Species of the Clade

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Kinosternon cora  Loc-Barragán, Reyes-Velasco, Woolrich-Piña, Grünwald, Anaya, Rangel-Mendoza & López-Luna, 2020  Cora Mud Turtle, Casquito cora, Chacuanita cora  || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.4.3

Abstract

We describe a new species of mud turtle of the genus Kinosternon from the Pacific Coastal Plain of the Mexican states Sinaloa and Nayarit. The new species shares morphological characters with the recently described Kinosternon vogti, which are unique to these two turtles and separate them from the other species of the genus. The new species differs from K. vogti by skin coloration, size, and the scutellation of both carapace and plastron. We also present a molecular phylogeny of the family Kinosternidae based on two mitochondrial and four nuclear loci. Our results show that the new species is most closely related to K. vogti, and together they form the sister group to the K. hirtipes and K. integrum species groups of Kinosternon.

Keywords: Reptilia; freshwater turtle sp. nov.; endemic; Sinaloa; Nayarit; Pacific Coastal Plain

Head patterns of Kinosternon cora sp. nov.  A: Female holotype, MZFC-HE 35627, B: Male paratype, MZFC-HE 35629.  Unscaled images.  Photo by M. A. López-Luna.

 

Kinosternon cora sp. nov. 

 Cora Mud Turtle, Casquito cora, Chacuanita cora  

Diagnosis—A small Kinosternon, the largest known specimen is a female (CL=107.7 mm). This species is unique among Kinosternon of western Mexico, except K. vogti, of which it is a sister species, by possessing a very reduced and weakly kinetic plastron; a narrow bridge; and a proportionally wide carapace. We describe the diagnostic characteristics of Kinosternon cora with the species present on the Mexican Pacific versant (Table 2).

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Further observations of Kinosternon cora sp. nov.  Series of photographs above: Adult male observed near Rosamorada, Municipo de Rosamorada, Nayarit. Photos by J. A. Loc-Barragán. Series of photographs below: Juvenile female observed near Chilapa, Municipio de Rosamorada, Nayarit. Photos by Jorge Larios Luquín.

Male paratype of Kinosternon cora sp. nov. MZFC-HE 35629. Dorsal and ventral view. Black line represents 50 mm.  Photo by M. A. López-Luna.

Known distribution of Kinosternon cora sp. nov. in Sinaloa and Nayarit. Yellow star represents the type locality, yellow dots represent additional records. Red dots represent the records of the sister species Kinosternon vogti.

Aerial photograph (above) of the type locality of Kinosternon cora. A small temporary lake with affluent streams, surrounded by secondary vegetation (below), and invasive eucalyptus plantations originally planted for forest management.

Geographic distribution and habitat— Kinosternon cora inhabits low elevations from 10–30 m asl on the Pacific Coastal Plain adjacent to the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The predominant type of vegetation is tropical deciduous forest, with trees of 15–25 m in height. Along riparian areas tropical semi-deciduous forest is present, with Enterolobium sp., Ficus sp. and Taxodium mucronatum trees, which may reach a height of 30 m or more. Many trees and shrubs carry epiphytes and parasites. Eucalyptus crops have been planted in a large area near the type locality of Kinosternon cora (Fig. 7).

Etymology— The specific epithet is derived from the name “Cora”, the Native-Mexican ethnic group that is most widespread in Nayarit. The ethnic Cora population is concentrated in the municipalities of El Nayar, Acaponeta, Rosamorada and Ruiz, all of which are in Nayarit, the state where this new species was first discovered in 1962.

Jesús A. Loc-Barragán, Jacobo Reyes-Velasco, Guillermo A. Woolrich-Piña, Christoph I. Grünwald, Myriam Venegas de Anaya, Judith A. Rangel-Mendoza and Marco A. López-Luna. 2020. A New Species of Mud Turtle of Genus Kinosternon (Testudines: Kinosternidae) from the Pacific Coastal Plain of Northwestern Mexico. Zootaxa. 4885(4); 509–529. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.4.3

RESUMEN: Describimos una nueva especie de tortuga casquito del género Kinosternon de la Llanura Costera del Pacifico Mexicano en los estados de Sinaloa y Nayarit. La nueva especie comparte caracteres morfológicos con Kinosternon vogti, separandolas de las otras especies del género. Las diferencias entre la nueva especie y K. vogti incluyen la coloración, tamaño, y proporciones en los escudos del caparazón y el plastrón. También presentamos una filogenia molecular de la familia Kinosternidae basada en dos genes mitocondriales y cuatro nucleares. Nuestros resultados muestran que la nueva especie está más emparentada con K. vogti, y juntos estas especies forman el grupo hermano de los grupos de especies K. hirtipes y K. integrum. 

Palabras claves:Reptilia; Tortuga de agua dulce sp. nov.; endémica; Sinaloa; Nayarit; Llanura Costera del Pacífico

[Ichthyology • 2020] Indoreonectes telanganaensis • A New Species of Loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Godavari Basin of India

November 29, 2020, 12:54 am

≫ Next: [Entomology • 2020] New Species and New Record of Cavernicolous Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichini and Platynini) from Sichuan Province, China

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Indoreonectes telanganaensis Prasad, C. Srinivasulu, A. Srinivasulu, Anoop & Dahanukar, 2020 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4878.2.7  facebook.com/kpanatheist

Abstract

A new species of hill-stream loach, Indoreonectes telanganaensis, is described from a seasonal tributary of the Godavari River at Maisamma Loddi, within the Kawal Tiger Reserve, Telangana State, India. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters including caudal peduncle as long as deep; eye large, its diameter about one-fifth head length; pectoral fin as long as head; nasal barbel reaching the middle of the eye; dorsal-fin origin on vertical through pelvic-fin origin; and bars on the lateral side of the body well defined and wide. We also provide multivariate morphometric, and DNA analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence to support the distinction of the new species.

Keywords: Telangana loach, hillstream loach, molecular phylogeny, Telangana State, Pisces

Kante Krishna Prasad, Chelmala Srinivasulu, Aditya Srinivasulu, V. K. Anoop and Neelesh Dahanukar. 2020. Indoreonectes telanganaensis, A New Species of Loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Godavari Basin of India. Zootaxa. 4878(2); 335–348. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4878.2.7

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[Entomology • 2020] New Species and New Record of Cavernicolous Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichini and Platynini) from Sichuan Province, China

November 29, 2020, 1:08 am

≫ Next: [Entomology • 2020] The New World Ant Parasitoid Genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae)

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Jujiroa deliciola Uéno & Kishimoto, 2001 in Tian & He, 2020. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4881.3.7

Abstract

Two new species of cave-adapted ground beetles are described and illustrated from Sichuan Province, southwestern China: Jujiroa zhouchaoi sp. nov. from the calcareous conglomerate cave Shenxian Dong in Mt. Zhaogong (Dujiangyan, Chengdu) and Pterostichus (Huaius) hanwang sp. nov. from the limestone cave Hanwang Dong (Chaotian, Guangyuan). A new locality for Jujiroa deliciola Uéno and Kishimoto, 2001 is given. Keys to species of the genus Jujiroa Uéno, 1952 and the subgenus Huaius Tian and Huang, 2019 (in Tian et al. 2019) are also provided.

Keywords: new species, carabids, subterranean, Coleoptera

 Jujiroa deliciola Uéno and Kishimoto, 2001

  Mingyi Tian and Li He. 2020. New Species and New Record of Cavernicolous Ground Beetles from Sichuan Province, China (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichini and Platynini). Zootaxa.  4881(3); 545–558. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4881.3.7

[Entomology • 2020] The New World Ant Parasitoid Genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae)

November 29, 2020, 6:57 pm

≫ Next: [Botany • 2020] Acianthera villahermosae (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) • A New Species of Acianthera from the Cordillera Central of Colombia

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Orasema sp.  in Baker & Heraty, 2020.   DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4888.1.1

Abstract

A key is provided to 16 recognized species groups, plus several species not assigned to species group, of Orasema Cameron (Eucharitidae), a widespread New World genus of myrmicine ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) parasitoids ranging from northern Argentina to southern Canada. Eight of the species groups are revised, of which five are newly established; keys are given to the species of each treated group, 22 species are newly described, and detailed life histories of several well-documented species are discussed. Revised are the Orasema coloradensis group (four species: O. coloradensis Wheeler,O. iridescens n. sp., O. scaura n. sp., and O. violacea Ashmead), the Orasema bakeri group (six species: O. bablyi n. sp., O. bakeri Gahan, O. dubitata n. sp., O. polymyrmex n. sp., O. taii Chien & Heraty, and O. texana Gahan), the Orasema tolteca group (two species:O. castilloae n. sp. and O. tolteca Mann), the Orasema sixaolae group (newly established, with four species:O. brachycephala n. sp., O. nebula n. sp., O. sixaolae Wheeler & Wheeler, andO. tinalandia n. sp.), the Orasema acuminata group (newly established, with two species:O. acuminata n. sp. and O. cerulea n. sp.), the Orasema peraltai group (newly established, with two species:O. chrysozona n. sp. andO. peraltai n. sp.), the Orasema johnsonigroup (newly established, with two species:O. johnsoni n. sp. and O. spyrogaster n. sp.), and the Orasema heacoxi group (newly established, with two species:O. heacoxi n. sp. and O. masonicki n. sp.). Newly described or treated species not placed to species group are O. brasiliensis (Bréthes), O. cirrhocnemis n. sp., O. monstrosa n. sp., O. mutata n. sp., O. psarops n. sp., andO. roppai n. sp. Species concepts and relationships are based on morphology and a recently published molecular phylogeny.

Keywords: Hymenoptera, Oraseminae, Chalcidoidea, Myrmicinae

  

Austin J. Baker and John M. Heraty. 2020. The New World Ant Parasitoid Genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae). Zootaxa. 4888(1); 1-84. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4888.1.1

[Botany • 2020] Acianthera villahermosae (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) • A New Species of Acianthera from the Cordillera Central of Colombia

November 29, 2020, 8:58 pm

≫ Next: [Botany • 2021] Etlingera dostseiana (Zingiberaceae) • A New Species from Mindanao, Philippines

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Acianthera villahermosae Sierra-Ariza, Rinc.-González & Karremans in Rincón-González, Sierra-Ariza & Karremans, 2020.  DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.474.1.10   facebook.com/AlexSierraAriza

Acianthera Scheidweiler (1842: 292), a genus historically placed under the synonymy of Pleurothallis Brown (1813: 211), was reinstated by Pridgeon & Chase (2001) and redefined on the basis of molecular studies by Pridgeon et al. (2001). Additional DNA-based phylogenetic reconstructions, using broader sets of Acianthera species, resulted in further refinements in the circumscription of genus (Chiron et al. 2012, Karremans & Rincón-González 2015, Karremans et al. 2016).

 

Milton Rincón-González, Mario Alexei Sierra-Ariza and Adam P. Karremans. 2020. A New Species of Acianthera (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) from the Cordillera Central of Colombia. Phytotaxa. 474(1); 93–98. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.474.1.10

Acianthera nikoleae; Acianthera testifolia; Apoda-prorepentia; taxonomy; Tolima; Villahermosa; Monocots

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[Botany • 2021] Etlingera dostseiana (Zingiberaceae) • A New Species from Mindanao, Philippines

November 30, 2020, 7:55 pm

≫ Next: [Herpetology • 2020] Evolution of Habitat Preference in 243 Species of Bent‐toed Geckos (Genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827) with A Discussion of Karst Habitat Conservation

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Etlingera dostseiana Naive, Demayo & Alejandro  in Naive, Demayo & Alejandro, 2021.  facebook.com/arciinaive  facebook.com/philippinefloweringplants

Recent fieldwork on the island of Mindanao, Philippines resulted in the discovery of a species — Etlingera dostseiana Naive, Demayo & Alejandro (Zingiberaceae) — described here as new to science. It is unique among the Philippine Etlingera due to having an ovoid spike, papery bracts when fruiting, and stilt roots. A detailed description, photographs, phenology and habitat ecology of this endemic Etlingera species are provided. A total of 17 species of Etlingera are now known the Philippines, 11 of them endemic.

    

    

Naive M.A.K., Demayo C.G. and Alejandro G.J.D. 2021: Etlingera dostseiana (Zingiberaceae), A New Species from Mindanao, Philippines. Ann. Bot. Fennici. 58: 33–36.

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Researchgate.net/publication/346414118_Etlingera_dostseiana_a_new_species_from_Mindanao_Philippines

    

[Herpetology • 2020] Evolution of Habitat Preference in 243 Species of Bent‐toed Geckos (Genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827) with A Discussion of Karst Habitat Conservation

November 30, 2020, 11:02 pm

≫ Next: [PaleoEntomology • 2020] The Damselfly Palaeofauna (Insecta, Odonata, Zygoptera) from the Eocene of Wyoming and Colorado, USA

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Representative species of the ecotypes associated with the habitat preferences delineated in this study.  (b) Cyrtodactylus solomonensis, (c) C. linnwayensis,  (d) C. nigriocularis, (e) C. srilekhae, (f) C. elok,  (g) C. tiomanensis, (h) C. pantiensis, and (i) C. seribuatensis.  in Grismer, Wood, Le, et al., 2020. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6961    PerryLeeWoodJr.com  Photos: a., c., f., g., h., i., L. Lee Grismer; b. Scott Travers; d. Nickolay A. Poyarkov; and e. Ishan Agarwal

Abstract

Understanding the processes that underpin adaptive evolutionary shifts within major taxonomic groups has long been a research directive among many evolutionary biologists. Such phenomena are best studied in large monophyletic groups that occupy a broad range of habitats where repeated exposure to novel ecological opportunities has happened independently over time in different lineages. The gekkonid genus Cyrtodactylus is just such a lineage with approximately 300 species that range from South Asia to Melanesia and occupy a vast array of habitats. Ancestral state reconstructions using a stochastic character mapping analysis of nine different habitat preferences were employed across a phylogeny composed of 76% of the known species of Cyrtodactylus. This was done in order to ascertain which habitat preference is the ancestral condition and from that condition, the transition frequency to more derived habitat preferences. The results indicate that a general habitat preference is the ancestral condition for Cyrtodactylus and the frequency of transitioning from a general habitat preference to anything more specialized occurs approximately four times more often than the reverse. Species showing extreme morphological and/or ecological specializations generally do not give rise to species bearing other habitat preferences. The evolution of different habitat preferences is generally restricted to clades that tend to occur in specific geographic regions. The largest radiations in the genus occur in rocky habitats (granite and karst), indicating that the transition from a general habitat preference to a granite or karst‐dwelling life style may be ecologically uncomplicated. Two large, unrelated clades of karst‐associated species are centered in northern Indochina and the largest clade of granite‐associated species occurs on the Thai‐Malay Peninsula. Smaller, independent radiations of clades bearing other habitat preferences occur throughout the tree and across the broad distribution of the genus. With the exception of a general habitat preference, the data show that karst‐associated species far out‐number all others (29.6% vs. 0.4%–10.2%, respectively) and the common reference to karstic regions as “imperiled arcs of biodiversity” is not only misleading but potentially dangerous. Karstic regions are not simply refugia harboring the remnants of local biodiversity but are foci of speciation that continue to generate the most speciose, independent, radiations across the genus. Unfortunately, karstic landscapes are some of the most imperiled and least protected habitats on the planet and these data continue to underscore the urgent need for their conservation.

Keywords: ancestral state reconstruction, Asia, ecology, Gekkonidae, limestone, phylogeny, stochastic character mapping

Representative species of the ecotypes associated with the habitat preferences delineated in this study. (a) Cyrtodactylus mombergi, (b) C. solomonensis, (c) C. linnwayensis, (d) C. nigriocularis, (e) C. srilekhae, (f) C. elok, (g) C. tiomanensis, (h)C. pantiensis, and (i)C. seribuatensis. Photos: a., c., f., g., h., i., L. Lee Grismer; b. Scott Travers; d. Nickolay A. Poyarkov; and e. Ishan Agarwal

 

L. Lee Grismer, Perry L. Wood Jr., Minh Duc Le, Evan S. H. Quah and Jesse L. Grismer. 2020. Evolution of Habitat Preference in 243 Species of Bent‐toed Geckos (Genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827) with A Discussion of Karst Habitat Conservation. Ecology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6961

 PerryLeeWoodJr.com/2020/11/23/evolution-of-habitat-preference-in-243-species-of-bent-toed 

[PaleoEntomology • 2020] The Damselfly Palaeofauna (Insecta, Odonata, Zygoptera) from the Eocene of Wyoming and Colorado, USA

December 1, 2020, 2:24 am

≫ Next: [Ichthyology • 2020] Riddle on the Riffle: Miocene Diversification and Biogeography of Endemic Mountain Loaches (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae: Bhavania) in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot

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Zacallites cockerelli Bechly, Garrouste, Aase, et al., 2020 DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1346    twitter.com/ThePalAss

Abstract

A new family, five new genera, and nine new species of fossil damselflies (Insecta, Odonata, Zygoptera, Calopterygida) from the USA are described, seven from the Eocene Fossil Lake deposits and one from Lake Uinta deposits, both from the Green River Formation, and an additional specimen from the Wind River Formation of Wyoming and Colorado. Namely, Carlea eocenica gen. et sp. nov. (in Carleidae fam. nov.), Labandeiraia riveri sp. nov., Labandeiraia browni sp. nov., Eodysphaea magnifica gen. et sp. nov., Litheuphaea sp. cf. coloradensis Petrulevičius et al., 2007, Zacallites cockerelli sp. nov., Dysagrion integrum sp. nov., Tenebragrion shermani gen. et sp. nov., Tynskysagrion brookeae gen. et sp. nov., and Oreodysagrion tenebris gen. et sp. nov. Epallagoidea and Amphipterygoidea are most common while Calopterygoidea, Coenagrionoidae and Lestoidea damselflies are less diverse. Genera of zygopteran Dysagrionidae are known from Europe and North America, further supporting the hypothesis of Palaeogene terrestrial interchange. Representatives of Epallagoidea and Amphipterygoidea in the Green River Formation confirm that warm conditions occurred at the time of deposition.

Keywords: Zygoptera, Calopterygoidea, Epallagoidea, Amphipterygoidea, damselfly, Green River Formation

Family ZACALLITIDAE Cockerell, 1928

Genus ZACALLITES Cockerell, 1928

Type species: Zacallites balli Cockerell, 1928.

Other species: Zacallites cockerelli sp. nov.

Günter Bechly, Romain Garrouste, Arvid Aase, Jered A. Karr, Lance Grande and André Nel. 2020. The Damselfly Palaeofauna from the Eocene of Wyoming and Colorado, USA (Insecta, Odonata, Zygoptera). Papers in Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1346  

 twitter.com/ThePalAss/status/1333505186241900544

[Ichthyology • 2020] Riddle on the Riffle: Miocene Diversification and Biogeography of Endemic Mountain Loaches (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae: Bhavania) in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot

December 1, 2020, 2:52 am

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Bhavania australis  (Jerdon, 1849) The mountain loach, Bhavania australis is a ‘cryptic species complex’ endemic to the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot in India. in Sidharthan, Raghavan, Anoop, et al., 2020.  DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13972    twitter.com/JBiogeography   Photo: Beta Mahatvaraj  twitter.com/LabRajeev

 

Abstract

Aim: The Western Ghats Hotspot in peninsular India harbours remarkable diversity and endemism of freshwater fish. However, the ichthyofauna's evolutionary histories and biogeography are poorly known. Here, we investigate (a) the diversity, evolutionary history and biogeography of endemic mountain loaches and (b) the potential influence of the physiography of hill ranges, geological barriers and river systems on the diversification and cladogenesis of loaches, in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot.

Location: Southern Western Ghats mountain ranges (8–13°N latitudes), Western Ghats‐Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot.

Taxa: Mountain loaches Bhavania annandalei and B. australis (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae).

Methods: We carried out a multigene phylogenetic analysis with mitochondrial and nuclear markers using Bhavania specimens collected throughout the genus' range. The Automated Barcode Gap Analysis, Poisson Tree Process and Generalized Mixed Yule‐Coalescent Model were used to delimit species. A Bayesian chronogram was constructed to estimate the time elapsed since the most recent common ancestor of the distinct lineages of Bhavania. Ancestral ranges of distinct lineages of Bhavania were reconstructed using the dispersal–extinction–cladogenesis model.

Results: 

Phylogenetic analysis of combined mitochondrial and nuclear data, as well species delimitation using the Poisson Tree Process and Generalized Mixed Yule‐Coalescent Model analyses supported eight distinct lineages, which included the narrowly distributed B. annandalei and widely distributed B. australis. The Barcode Gap Analysis, however, supported only seven lineages. Bayesian divergence time dating suggests that the genus originated early in the Neogene and diversified in the Miocene. Ancestral state reconstruction indicated Bhavania diversifed as a result of sympatric, subset and vicariant speciation with five dispersal and one vicariant events across biogeographic barriers and river systems.

Main conclusions: 

Bhavania australis is a ‘species complex’. Miocene‐associated climatic changes including intensification of the south‐west monsoon likely triggered dispersal and range expansion; subsequent aridification would have led to drying up of riverine connections, formation of land barriers and fragmentation of streams, resulting in cladogenesis. Our results also provide preliminary evidence that Cauvery, one of the largest east flowing rivers of Western Ghats, facilitates an east‐west pathway for dispersal and diversification of endemic lineages of the region.

Keywords: Bhavania, biogeographical barriers, cryptic species, dispersal vicariance

in Sidharthan, Raghavan, Anoop, et al., 2020.  DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13972    twitter.com/JBiogeography

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Our multi‐locus phylogeny and divergence time dating suggest that the endemic WG mountain loach genus Bhavania originated in the early Neogene, and diversified/radiated into cryptic lineages in the Miocene. Facilitated by Miocene‐associated climatic changes including intensification of the monsoonal rains, Bhavania dispersed across the WG, expanding their range. Cladogenesis events were subsequently triggered by aridification and drying up of riverine connections, formation of land barriers and fragmentation of streams. Our results also provide the first evidence for Cauvery, one of the largest east flowing rivers of Western Ghats, facilitating an east–west pathway for dispersal and diversification of endemic lineages of the region. As a next step, a comprehensive family‐wide phylogeny of balitorid loaches including the endemic lineages of the WG, would certainly help improving our understanding of their current‐day diversity and distribution patterns, as well as the larger‐scale evolutionary and biogeographical history of hillstream freshwater fishes in the Indian Subcontinent, Indo‐China and the Sunda Islands.

 Arya Sidharthan, Rajeev Raghavan, Vasudevan Komalavally Anoop, Siby Philip and Neelesh Dahanukar. 2020. Riddle on the Riffle: Miocene Diversification and Biogeography of Endemic Mountain Loaches in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot. Journal of Biogeography. 47(12); 2741-2754. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13972  

 twitter.com/JBiogeography/status/1314680473864429568  

 twitter.com/LabRajeev/status/1314746977343610881

         

        

[Paleontology • 2020] Erythrovenator jacuiensis • A New Theropod Dinosaur from A Peculiar Late Triassic Assemblage of southern Brazil

December 2, 2020, 1:05 am

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Erythrovenator jacuiensis  Müller, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsames.2020.103026 Illustration: Márcio L. Castro.  twitter.com/MarcioLCastro

Highlights: 

• A new theropod dinosaur from the Late Triassic of Brazil is described.

• It is one of the oldest known theropods worldwide.

• This sheds light on some of the earliest theropod features.

• The new theropod comes from a peculiar fauna dominated by traversodontid cynodonts.

• The new theropod represents the first carnivorous dinosaur from this assemblage.

Abstract

The early evolution of theropod dinosaurs is poorly understood. Whereas sauropodomorphs are well-known from the oldest dinosaur bearing outcrops, the record of theropods is fragmentary and ambiguous. The Triassic deposits from Brazil yielded some of the oldest dinosaurs worldwide. These dinosaurs came from two distinct Assemblage Zones (AZ): the Hyperodapedon AZ (Carnian) and the Riograndia AZ (early Norian). Here, a specimen previously assigned to cf. Dinosauromorpha is reassessed. CAPPA/UFSM 0157 comes from an enigmatic assemblage with predominance of the traversodotind cynodont Siriusgnathus. This assemblage has been tentatively assigned to the Riograndia AZ. However, the absence of index fossils still hampers a reliable assignation. The specimen, which comprises a proximal portion of a left femur, belongs to a new theropod taxon erected here as Erythrovenator jacuiensis gen. et sp. nov. The new dinosaur differs from all other known Triassic dinosaurs based on the absence of a raised dorsolateral trochanter of the femur. Erythrovenator jacuiensis gen. et sp. nov. is regarded as a theropod on the basis of the pyramidal shape of the anterior trochanter in anterior view. The results of a phylogenetic analysis corroborate this assignation. Therefore, the new dinosaur represents one of the oldest theropod dinosaurs worldwide, shedding lights on some of the earliest theropod features. Finally, the new specimen also represents the first carnivorous dinosaur from the assemblage dominated by the traversodontid cynodont Siriusgnathus, increasing our knowledge of the faunal content of this enigmatic assemblage.

Keywords: Archosauria, Candelária sequence, Carnian, Dinosauromorpha, Norian, Theropoda, Saurischia, South America

Photographs, 3D scans, and line drawings of Erythrovenator jacuiensis gen. et sp. nov. (CAPPA/UFSM 0157), from the Niemeyer Site, Agudo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Carnian–early Norian, Late Triassic.  Proximal portion of the left femur in (A) anterior, (B) lateral, (C) proximal, (D) medial, and (E) posterior views. Abbreviations: alt, anterolateral tuber; amt, anteromedial tuber; ar, anterior ridge; as, anterior scar; at, anterior trochanter; ce, concave emargination; faa, facies articularis antitrochanterica; gt, greater trochanter; pmt, posteromedial tuber; ps, posterior scar; s, scar; slcf, sulcus for ligamentum capitis femoris.  CoelhopreCambriano.blogspot.com

 Systematic Paleontology 

Dinosauriformes Novas, 1992 

Dinosauria Owen, 1842 

Theropoda Marsh, 1881 

Erythrovenator gen. nov. 

 Etymology. ‘Erythro’ comes from the Greek erythrós, meaning “red” or “reddish”, referring to the red color of the holotype fossil; ‘venator’ is the Latin word for hunter. 

Erythrovenator jacuiensis sp. nov. 

 Etymology. The species name ‘jacuiensis’ is in reference to ‘Rio Jacuí’, a river that runs in Agudo. 

 Rodrigo T. Müller. 2020. A New Theropod Dinosaur from A Peculiar Late Triassic Assemblage of southern Brazil. Journal of South American Earth Sciences. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsames.2020.103026

  twitter.com/MarcioLCastro/status/1333430627199291392

   CoelhopreCambriano.blogspot.com/2020/11/paleontologo-identifica-possivel.html

    

    

 

[Paleontology • 2020] Description and Etiology of Paleopathological Lesions in the Type Specimen of Parasaurolophus walkeri (Dinosauria: Hadrosauridae), with proposed Reconstructions of the Nuchal Ligament

December 2, 2020, 7:41 pm

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Parasaurolophus walkeri Parks, 1922 Paleoart reconstruction of a plausible scenario explaining the fossilized injuries in the thorax of ROM 768. In a violent rain and windstorm, a large tree (Platanaceae) falls on an adult Parasaurolophus walkeri, while the group is escaping. The tree falls vertically on the back of the animal, hitting the rib cage and the neural spines of the anterior dorsal vertebrae. in Bertozzo, Manucci, Dempsey, et al., 2020.  DOI: 10.1111/joa.13363   twitter.com/Paleofolk/sta Artwork by Marzio Mereggia.

Abstract

Paleopathology, or the study of ancient injuries and diseases, can enable the ecology and life history of extinct taxa to be deciphered. Large‐bodied ornithopods are the dinosaurs with the highest frequencies of paleopathology reported to‐date. Among these, the crested hadrosaurid Parasaurolophus walkeri is one of the most famous, largely due to its dramatic elongated and tubular nasal crest. The holotype of Parasaurolophus walkeri at the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada, displays several paleopathologies that have not been discussed in detail previously: a dental lesion in the left maxilla, perhaps related to periodontal disease; callus formation associated with fractures in three dorsal ribs; a discoidal overgrowth above dorsal neural spines six and seven; a cranially oriented spine in dorsal seven, that merges distally with spine six; a V‐shaped gap between dorsal spines seven and eight; and a ventral projection of the pubic process of the ilium which covers, and is fused with, the lateral side of the iliac process of the pubis. These lesions suggest that the animal suffered from one or more traumatic events, with the main one causing a suite of injuries to the anterior aspect of the thorax. The presence of several lesions in a single individual is a rare observation and, in comparison with a substantial database of hadrosaur paleopathological lesions, has the potential to reveal new information about the biology and behavior of these ornithopods. The precise etiology of the iliac abnormality is still unclear, although it is thought to have been an indirect consequence of the anterior trauma. The discoidal overgrowth above the two neural spines also seems to be secondary to the severe trauma inflicted on the ribs and dorsal spines, and probably represents post‐traumatic ossification of the base of the nuchal ligament. The existence of this structure has previously been considered in hadrosaurs and dinosaurs more generally through comparison of origin and insertion sites in modern diapsids (Rhea americana, Alligator mississippiensis, Iguana iguana), but its presence, structure, and origin‐attachment sites are still debated. The V‐shaped gap is hypothesized as representing the point between the stresses of the nuchal ligament, pulling the anterior neural spines forward, and the ossified tendons pulling the posterior neural spines backward. Different reconstructions of the morphology of the structure based on the pathological conditions affecting the neural spines of ROM 768 are proposed. Finally, we review the history of reconstructions for Parasaurolophus walkeri showing how erroneous misconceptions have been perpetuated over time or have led to the development of new hypotheses, including the wide neck model supported in the current research.

Keywords: Alberta, Cretaceous, nuchal ligament, Ornithopoda, trauma

(a) The type specimen ofParasaurolophus walkeri(ROM 768) exhibited at the ROM in the opisthotonic “death pose” position as it was found in 1920; (b) simplified skeletal drawing of ROM 768, in which the red circles indicate the positions of the paleopathological lesions: (a) dental disease, (b) V‐shaped gap of neural spines (“saddle”) and discoidal overgrowth, (c) fractures of the ribs, and (d) irregular overgrowth of the pubic peduncle of the ilium

Paleoart reconstruction of a plausible scenario explaining the fossilized injuries in the thorax of ROM 768. In a violent rain and windstorm, a large tree (Platanaceae) falls on an adult Parasaurolophus walkeri, while the group is escaping. The tree falls vertically on the back of the animal, hitting the rib cage and the neural spines of the anterior dorsal vertebrae. Artwork by Marzio Mereggia.

Musculoskeletal representation of the nuchal ligament inParasaurolophus walkeri, based on the paleopathological lesions evident in ROM 768, with both long (first row) and short (second row) extension of the lamellar parts. (a,b) the nuchal ligament originates on dorsal six, and attaches to the axis; (c,d) it attaches to the axis while originating on dorsal seven; (e,f) the nuchal ligament originates on dorsal six, and attaches to the occipital region, while in (g,h), it originates from dorsal seven attaching to the occipital region; (i), skeletal reconstruction of P. walkeri by Marco Auditore, with the neck depth based on 7e

“Evolution” of the restorations of Parasaurolophus through history, starting from top left. The drawings of each “morphology” represent the general overview of the taxon as understood at that time, together with the external features usually depicted. (a) Knight‐influenced: tripodal stance, lizard like anatomy with a large neck frill; (b) crest used as muscular attachment; (c) the aquatic Parasaurolophus: the crest is reconstructed as functionally related to aquatic behavior (e.g. air store, water trap or snorkel) for feeding on soft sub‐aqueous vegetation; (d) Pre‐Dinosaur Renaissance influence: tripodal stance, bulkier anatomy, usually terrestrial, but aquatic depictions still prosper; (e) Post‐Dinosaur Renaissance influence: skeletal proportions and overall posture more consistently correct, overly pronated forelimbs, slender anatomy, neck frill and “saddle” variably present; (f) Contemporary reconstructions: bulkier anatomy, thicker neck increasingly common, correctly configured forelimbs and pectoral girdles increasingly common, neck frill and “saddle” generally absent, larger rhamphotheca, speculative soft tissue increasingly common. The years within brackets refer to the year of the published image by the illustrator

Filippo Bertozzo, Fabio Manucci, Matthew Dempsey, Darren H. Tanke, David C. Evans, Alastair Ruffell and Eileen Murphy. 2020. Description and Etiology of Paleopathological Lesions in the Type Specimen of Parasaurolophus walkeri (Dinosauria: Hadrosauridae), with proposed Reconstructions of the Nuchal Ligament. Journal of Anatomy.  DOI: 10.1111/joa.13363

  twitter.com/Paleofolk/status/1334086458269949952

[Botany • 2020] Six New Species of Argostemma Wall. (Rubiaceae) from Laos

December 3, 2020, 2:16 am

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Argostemma vientianense Lanors. & Chantar., Argostemma longisepalum Lanors. & Chantar.,   Argostemma svengsuksae Lanors., Chantar. & Souvann. &  Argostemma lamxayanum Lanors. & Chantar. in Lanorsavanh, Chantaranothai & Souvannakhoummane, 2020. ສະກຸນດາວຫີນ  DOI: 10.1111/njb.02714  phakhaolao.la    KKU.ac.th

Abstract

Argostemma Wall. is a large genus of herbaceous plants in the tribe Argostemmateae (Rubiaceae–Rubioideae), mainly distributed in Southeast Asia and its taxonomy is far from completely known. Eight species of Argostemma were previously reported from Laos, but we here add six more species (Argostemma lamxayanum, A. lobbioides, A. longisepalum, A. paksongense, A. svengsuksae and A.vientianense) which are all new to science. The new species were found in limestone habitats in southern and central Laos. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, photographs and a key to all the known species in Laos are provided.

Argostemma lamxayanum sp. nov. (A) habitat and habit, (B) habit, (C) inflorescence  Photos by S. Lanorsavanh.

Argostemma lamxayanum Lanors. & Chantar., sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet is to honor Associate Prof. Vichith Lamxay, Dept of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, National Univ. of Laos, who encouraged the first author to intensively study the Lao Flora.

Argostemma lobbioides Lanors., Chantar. & Souvann., sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet lobbioides refers to its morphological similarity to A. lobbii.

Argostemma longisepalum Lanors. & Chantar., sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the long sepal.

Argostemma paksongense Lanors. & Chantar., sp. nov. 

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the Paksong district where the species grows.

Argostemma svengsuksae Lanors., Chantar. & Souvann., sp. nov.

Etymology: The taxon is named after emeritus Associate Prof. Bouakhaykhone Svengsuksa, Dept of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, National Univ. of Laos, who directed the first author to study the flowering plants for the Lao Flora.

Argostemma vientianense Lanors. & Chantar., sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the Vientiane province, the collection locality.

 

Soulivanh Lanorsavanh, Pranom Chantaranothai and Keooudone Souvannakhoummane. 2020. Six New Species of Argostemma Wall. (Rubiaceae) from Laos. Nordic Journal of Botany. 38(10); DOI: 10.1111/njb.02714

 phakhaolao.la/en/news/six-new-species-argostemma-wall-rubiaceae-laos

 facebook.com/Phakhaolaoplatform/posts/658489141536663

 twitter.com/NordicJBotany/status/1330526766356697088

           

 ພົບ 6 ພືດຊະນິດໃໝ່ໃນປະເທດລາວ ຕະກຸນດອກເຂັມ ສະກຸນດາວຫີນ Argostemma Wall. (Rubiaceae) 

✨ ຕີພິມລ່າສຸດໃນ Nordic Journal of Botany ວັນທີ 13/10/2020 

ຊົມເຊີຍ Soulivanh Lanorsavanh ນັກຄົ້ນຄວ້າຄະນະວິທະຍາສາດທຳມະຊາດ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລແຫ່ງຊາດລາວ,  Keooudonia Souvanakhoummanianum ຜູ້ຈັດການຂໍ້ມູນພາເຂົ້າລາວ/ນັກຄົ້ນຄວ້າກ່ຽວກັບພືດສາດ ,​ ແລະ  Pranom Chantaranothai ນັກຄົ້ນຄວ້າ ຄະນະວິທະຍາສາດທຳມະຊາດ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລຂອນແກ່ນ ປະເທດໄທ

พบพืชชนิดใหม่ของโลก อีก 6 ชนิด! โดยนักวิจัยคณะวิทย์ฯ มข. ร่วมกับอาจารย์ ม.แห่งชาติลาว และสถาบันวิจัยการเกษตรและป่าไม้แห่งชาติลาว

th.kku.ac.th/40906/

      

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[Herpetology • 2020] Uma thurmanae • A New Cryptic Species of Fringe-toed Lizards (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) from southwestern Arizona with A Revised Taxonomy of the Uma notata Species Complex

December 3, 2020, 11:24 pm

≫ Next: [Crustacea • 2020] Cancellus heatherae • A New Species of the Hermit Crab Genus Cancellus H. Milne Edwards, 1836 (Decapoda: Diogenidae) from A Mesophotic Deep Bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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Uma thurmanae Derycke, Gottscho, Mulcahy & de Queiroz, 2020 Mohawk Dunes Fringe-toed Lizard  ||  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4778.1.3   twitter.com/NMNH

Abstract

Fringe-toed lizards (Uma) are among the most specialized lizards in North America, adapted to insular windblown sand habitats in the hyper-arid southwestern deserts, with allopatric distributions, subtle morphological variation, and an unstable taxonomic history. We analyzed a morphological dataset of 40 characters for 65 specimens and a molecular dataset of 2,286 bases from three mitochondrial loci for 92 individuals and interpreted these data alongside published analyses of multi-locus genetic data with the goal of revising the taxonomy of the Uma notata (Baird 1858) species complex. We confirmed that fringe-toed lizards from the Mohawk Dunes in southwestern Arizona (U. sp.) constitute a cryptic species sister to the rest of the complex that can be diagnosed with DNA barcoding and geography, so we describe and name this species Uma thurmanae sp. nov. We also confirmed the evolutionary distinctiveness of U. inornata (Cope 1895), an endangered species endemic to Coachella Valley in southern California. We designate a lectotype for the taxon U. “rufopunctata”, but we put its name in quotation marks to reflect its uncertain taxonomic status with respect to its neighboring species U.cowlesi and U. notata.

Keywords: Reptilia, Dunes, Mitochondrial DNA, Morphology, Phylogeny, Sonoran Desert, Systematics

Uma thurmanae  An individual in its natural habitat, the Mohawk Dunes.  Photograph by A. Gottscho.

Uma thurmanae sp. nov. 

Mohawk Dunes Fringe-toed Lizards

Etymology. The specific name thurmanae honors Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970), an American actress and pop icon, for her philanthropic contributions and outreach promoting wildlife conservation and human rights

 Elizabeth G. Derycke, Andrew D. Gottscho, Daniel G. Mulcahy and Kevin de Queiroz. 2020. A New Cryptic Species of Fringe-toed Lizards from southwestern Arizona with A Revised Taxonomy of the Uma notata Species Complex (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Zootaxa. 4778(1); 67–100. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4778.1.3

  twitter.com/NMNH/status/1288496057593339905

twitter.com/prmelosampaio/status/1325327120898412545

[Crustacea • 2020] Cancellus heatherae • A New Species of the Hermit Crab Genus Cancellus H. Milne Edwards, 1836 (Decapoda: Diogenidae) from A Mesophotic Deep Bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

December 5, 2020, 12:42 am

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Cancellus heatherae   Felder & Lemaitre, 2020 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4890.4.10

Abstract

Recent sampling on mesophotic deep banks in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico has produced a previously undescribed hermit crab assignable to the genus Cancellus H. Milne Edwards, 1836. Members of the genus are most often found to occupy cavities of eroded coral, siliceous sponges, porous calcareous rock fragments, algal concretions, or worm tubes as shelters. The present specimen was found loose as by-catch in a dredged rhodolith sample taken for algal life history studies. In situ, it likely occupied a cavity within one of the collected calcareous rhodoliths or small sponges in the by-catch. While our description is based on a single female specimen, the holotype is fully mature and intact, and it was solidly frozen in seawater until its coloration could be photographically documented and tissues extracted for sequencing. In comparison to the three other known western Atlantic species, the frontal rim of the carapace shield in the new species is continuous between the blunt lateral teeth as in C. ornatus Benedict, 1901 and C. viridis Mayo, 1873, and thus distinct from the subdivided front found in C. spongicola Benedict, 1901. The rim itself is somewhat flattened as in C. ornatus rather than inflated as in C. viridis. However, each of the ocular scales bears a pair of spines at the tip, as in C. viridis. The lower palms of the chelipeds, while distinctly rugose, do not have a separated patch of stridulating ridges comparable to those reported for C. spongicola. The yellow-orange to deep-orange pigmentation of the color pattern differs from fresh coloration in both C. ornatus and C. viridis, but that of C. spongicola is unknown for other than preserved specimens. Description of the single available specimen is in this case justified by the low likelihood for timely acquiring of additional samples from the type locality or adjacent habitats, most of which are deep banks warranting protection under pending habitat management changes. Our diagnosis includes GenBank accession numbers for COI sequences to facilitate future molecular phylogenetic comparisons.

Keywords: Crustacea, new species, Anomura, Cancellus, mesophotic, Gulf of Mexico

FIGURE 3. Cancellus heatherae n. sp., female holotype, sl 4.0 mm (USNM 1618800 = ULLZ 18309), northwestern Gulf of Mexico: A, habitus, dorsal; B, habitus, right side; C, habitus, ventral; D, sixth tergite and telson, dorsal.  Cancellus viridis Mayo, 1973, female, sl 2.2 mm (USNM 1544358 = ULLZ 8947), southeastern Gulf of Mexico: E, in carcinoecium, front; F, habitus, dorsal.  Cancellus ornatus Benedict, 1901, female, sl 6.9 mm (USNM 1539291 = ULLZ 2089), northeastern Gulf of Mexico: G, front; H, habitus, dorsal.

Taxonomy 

Family Diogenidae 

Genus Cancellus H. Milne Edwards, 1836 

Cancellus heatherae n. sp.

Diagnosis. Cephalothoracic shield width not exceeding length; rostrum well developed, angular, produced anteriorly beyond blunt anterolateral projections; narrow flattened frontal rim continuous across front between anterolateral projections, crossing rostrum without disjuncture; dorsal surface with angular depression on either side of shield posterior to rim behind each ocular peduncle. Median calcified plate of cardiac region subrectangular, slightly longer than wide. Ocular acicles armed with 2 spinules distally. Antennal acicle extending anteriorly less than onehalf length of ocular peduncle. Cheliped and second pereopod distal segments adapted to form operculum when withdrawn into habitat opening, outer surfaces of carpus and propodus with concave opercular depression. Cheliped propodus (palm) with opercular depression limited mesially by crest of 7 or 8 marginally denticulate lobes. Second pereopod propodus with opercular depression limited laterally by crest of 5 marginally denticulate lobes. Pleon elongate, with lightly sclerotized transverse tergites dorsally, 4 minute biramous pleopods on left side, depressed longitudinal groove along left side; sixth pleonite greatest width exceeding three-fourths greatest length, anterior lobes to either side of median incision each armed by 7 or 8 strong spines. Uropods and telson symmetrical; telson subovoid, anteriorly with subtriangular median dorsal prominence, posterior margin entire, unarmed except for setae. Color pattern of orange to yellow-orange dominating most dorsal surfaces and superior surfaces of anterior appendages, darker blotches and spots of deeper orange to reddish brown. A diagnostic COI gene sequence available under GenBank accession number MT800937. 

Etymology. This species name “heatherae” is chosen to honor Heather Bracken-Grissom for her extensive contributions to molecular phylogenetic studies of decapod crustaceans, including works focused on hermit crabs and other anomurans populating Gulf of Mexico waters. Her laboratory also generously made available the gene sequences here reported in our diagnosis.

Habitat. The sole specimen was found among rhodoliths and other calcareous rubble on a mesophotic offshore bank at 95 m depth. 

Distribution. The species is known only from the type locality off Louisiana in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, western Atlantic Ocean. 

 Darryl L. Felder and Rafael Lemaitre. 2020. A New Species of the Hermit Crab Genus Cancellus H. Milne Edwards, 1836 from A Mesophotic Deep Bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (Crustacea: Decapoda: Diogenidae). Zootaxa. 4890(4); 589–598. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4890.4.10

[Mollusca • 2021] Molecular Phylogeny of the Limacoid Snail Family Dyakiidae in Southeast Asia, with the Description of A New Genus and Species

December 6, 2020, 7:02 pm

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≪ Previous: [Crustacea • 2020] Cancellus heatherae • A New Species of the Hermit Crab Genus Cancellus H. Milne Edwards, 1836 (Decapoda: Diogenidae) from A Mesophotic Deep Bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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in Jirapatrasilp, Tongkerd, Jeratthitikul, ... et Panha. 2020.  DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa129    facebook.com: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University

Abstract

Members of the terrestrial snail family Dyakiidae from Southeast Asia show a distinct geographical distribution pattern and possess different degrees of complexity in their amatorial organ gland. This study is the first molecular phylogeny of ten of the 12 genera in this family, performed to provide insights into the origin of Dyakiidae and the evolution of their shells and amatorial organ gland structure. A new genus and new species, Pseudoquantula lenticularis Jirapatrasilp & Panha gen. & sp. nov., was uncovered based on its distinct morphological characters and molecular divergence. All other genera were retrieved as monophyletic except for Dyakia. Mainland Southeast Asia was inferred to be the ancestral range of the Dyakiidae, and the lineages then dispersed to and diversified in Borneo. Cladistic analysis showed that all 14 morphological characters used in this study were homoplastic. These results disagree with the previous amatorial organ transformation series, in which neither Pseudoplecta nor Quantula was ancestral to the other genera. The enigmatic genus Pseudoplecta, which lacks an amatorial organ gland, exhibited secondary loss.

biogeography, cladistic analysis, homoplasy, molecular systematics, phylogenetics, plesiomorphy, Southeast Asia

Pseudoquantula lenticularis Jirapatrasilp & Panha

 

Parin Jirapatrasilp, Piyoros Tongkerd, Ekgachai Jeratthitikul, Thor-Seng Liew, Arthit Pholyotha, Chirasak Sutcharit and Somsak Panha. 2021. Molecular Phylogeny of the Limacoid Snail Family Dyakiidae in Southeast Asia, with the Description of A New Genus and Species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. zlaa129. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa129  

facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2882041782076063&id=1567645530182368

[Entomology • 2020] New and Unusual Host records for North American and South American Spider Wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae)

December 6, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: [Invertebrate • 2020] Wataloricus japonicus • A New Genus and Species of Loricifera (Nanaloricida: Pliciloricidae) from the Deep Waters of Japan

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Sphictostethus gravesii   in Kurczewski, West, Waichert, et al., 2020.    DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4891.1.1

Abstract

New and unusual host records for 133 species and subspecies of Pompilidae predominantly from the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America are presented in modified taxonomic order. First-time species host records are given for Calopompilus Ashmead, Pepsis Fabricius, Hemipepsis Dahlbom, Priocnessus Banks, Entypus Dahlbom, Pompilocalus Roig-Alsina, Sphictostethus Kohl, Auplopus Spinola, Ageniella Banks, Eragenia Banks, Aporus Spinola, Poecilopompilus Ashmead, Tachypompilus Ashmead, Anoplius Dufour, Priochilus (Fabricius) and Notocyphus Smith. New host spider families are introduced for Calopompilus, Pepsis, Hemipepsis, Priocnessus, Entypus, Cryptocheilus Panzer, Priocnemis Schiødte, Auplopus, Ageniella, Eragenia, Aporus, Tachypompilus, Anoplius, Priochilus and Notocyphus. Eight host spider families are reported from the Western Hemisphere for the first time: Halonoproctidae (Notocyphus dorsalis dorsalis Cresson); Dipluridae (Pepsis pretiosa Dahlbom, P. montezuma Smith, P. infuscate Spinola, P. atripennis Fabricius, P. martini Vardy, Priocnessus vancei Waichert and Pitts); Nemesiidae (Pepsis pallidolimbata Lucas, P. viridis Lepeletier, P. spp., Pompilocalus hirticeps (Guérin), Sphictostethus gravesii (Haliday), S. striatulus Roig-Alsina, Priocnemis oregona Banks); Barychelidae (Eragenia sp.); Paratropididae (Pepsis stella Montet); Trechaleidae (Hemipepsis toussainti (Banks), Entypus unifasciatus cressoni (Banks), Tachypompilus ferrugineus (Say), Tachypompilus unicolor cerinus Evans, Priochilus gloriosum (Cresson); Desidae (Ageniella accepta (Cresson), Sphictostethus isodontus Roig-Alsina) and Selenopidae (Priochilus scrupulum (Fox), Tachypompilus erubescens (Taschenberg) or xanthopterus (Rohwer)). The first known host records for the rare South American pompilid genera Chirodamus (Lycosidae: Lycosa sp.) and Herbstellus (Nemesiidae: Diplothelopsis cf bonariensis Mello-Leitão) are presented.

Keywords: Hymenoptera, Pompilidae, Araneae, Neotropics, Nearctic, parasitoid, predatoid

 Frank E. Kurczewski, Rick C. West, Cecilia Waichert, Kelly C. Kissane, Darrell Ubick and James P. Pitts. 2020. New and Unusual Host records for North American and South American Spider Wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae). Zootaxa. 4891(1); 1-112. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4891.1.1

[Invertebrate • 2020] Wataloricus japonicus • A New Genus and Species of Loricifera (Nanaloricida: Pliciloricidae) from the Deep Waters of Japan

December 7, 2020, 7:25 pm

≫ Next: [Entomology • 2020] Metopia sputnik • Integrative Taxonomy of Australian Metopia (Sarcophagidae: Miltogramminae) Reveals A New Species and Challenges Traditional Phylogeny

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Wataloricus japonicus Fujimoto, Yamasaki, Kimura, Ohtsuka & Kristensen, 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s12526-020-01130-3   tohoku.ac.jp

Abstract

In this paper, we describe Wataloricus japonicus gen. et sp. nov. (phylum Loricifera), based on specimens collected during surveys of Japanese waters in the Northwest Pacific conducted onboard the TR/Vs TOYOSHIO MARU and SEISUI MARU. This new loriciferan is placed in the family Pliciloricidae based on the morphology of the adult lorica and Higgins larval internal armature, setae, and toes. It is readily distinguished from other pliciloricid genera by the following combination of characters: adult with a long rigid mouth tube bearing an umbrella-like membrane that extrudes from the mouth opening; a double organ consisting of two untransformed separate spinoscalids; 15 single trichoscalids; and approximately 46 longitudinal folds in the lorica and anal field; and Higgins larva with clavoscalids characterized by ventral swelling and spine-like tip; short unsegmented spinoscalids of the second scalid row; indistinct collar, heavily wrinkled thorax; two pairs of anterior setae; two pairs of posterior setae; and slender toes with sub-terminal swelling. The new genus described herein appears to be synonymous with a previously reported undescribed genus sensu Heiner and Neuhaus (2007) from the Galapagos Spreading Centre, thereby indicating that the geographical distribution of the new genus may at least span the entire Pacific region.

Keywords: Deep sea, Meiofauna, Northwest Pacific, Sea of Kumano, Systematics, Yaku-Shin-Sone bank

Phylum Loricifera Kristensen, 1983 

Order Nanaloricida Kristensen, 1983 

Family Pliciloricidae Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 

Genus Wataloricus gen. nov.

Etymology. The genus name (masculine gender) derives from Wata, an old Japanese word for sea, and loricus, an originally feminine Latin noun (lorica), meaning corset. It also expresses our surprise in finding this taxon: Wat-a-loricus(What a loriciferan)!

 Wataloricus japonicus gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. The species name refers to the country of origin.

Shinta Fujimoto, Hiroshi Yamasaki, Taeko Kimura, Susumu Ohtsuka and Reinhardt Møbjerg Kristensen. 2020. A New Genus and Species of Loricifera (Nanaloricida: Pliciloricidae) from the Deep Waters of Japan. Marine Biodiversity. 50: 103.  DOI: 10.1007/s12526-020-01130-3

  tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/new_species_rare_loricifera.html

  eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/tu-ans112420.php