[Ichthyology • 2015] Schistura sirindhornae | ปลาค้อสมเด็จพระเทพ • A New Species of Highland Loach (Ostariophysi: Nemacheilidae) from the upper Chao Phraya River basin, northern Thailand

Crown Scaly Stream Loach | ปลาค้อสมเด็จพระเทพ
Schistura sirindhornae Suvarnaraksha, 2015

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3962.1.8

Abstract

Schistura sirindhornae, a new species of nemacheilid, is described from the Nan River basin in northern Thailand. It is distinguished from all other species of Schistura in having overlapping scales on the entire body similar to scales of balitorids, transparent scales on the belly and thorax, a lateral-line canal that is similar to that of most cyprinids and balitorids in being present across the entire lateral-line surface of the scale instead of being represented only by a pore. It also has a unique color pattern of irregular brown bars on the back and side of the faint yellow-orange body, a bright triangular orange mark on the occiput, an orange crown-shaped mark between the eyes, an uninterrupted black mark along the base of the dorsal fin, a crescent-shaped bar on the base of the caudal fin, and bright iridescent orange areas on the upper and lower extremities of the caudal-fin base. Schistura sirindhornae is known only from the upper Nan River drainage, Nan Province, Thailand.

Key words: Nan River basin, conservation, fish diversity, freshwater fish, stream ecology

FIGURE 8. A) Type locality of Schistura sirindhornae: Huay Nampan, upper Nan River basin, Ban Khun Koon, Moo 2, Tumbon Phuka, Pua District, Nan Province, B) deforested area with a maize plantation and dry stream bed adjacent to type locality .

Suvarnaraksha, 2015 || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3962.1.8

Ecology, food and reproductive biology. Schistura sirindhornae lives in upland areas on the bottoms of cool, clear, flowing streams with pools and forest canopy. Schistura sirindhornae has been collected from 721-1,155 m above sea level in steep streams in Huay Nampan and tributaries of the Nan River basin. The Huay Nampan was about 2–4 m wide (Fig. 8A) and 0.2–0.5 m deep at the time of sampling (start of the hot-dry season); water volume might be much higher during the rainy season. This species was observed only in shaded areas and was absent from light-exposed open areas and lowlands. Substrate consisted mainly of stones, bedrock, and some sand and gravel in small pools. The upper stream bank was covered by large native trees with more than 90% canopy cover. At the time of sampling, the water was clear, and the temperature was 18.4°C (air temperature 22.5°C), conductivity 2.6 S · m−1, and pH 6.5. Other species of fishes collected with S. sirindhornae were S. menanensis (Nemacheilidae) and Oreoglanis suraswadii (Sisoridae). Gut dissections indicated that S. sirindhornae feeds mainly on aquatic insect larvae.

Distribution. Schistura sirindhornae is known only from the tributaries of the upper Nan River basin, in Pua and Borkluea districts, Nan Province, Thailand. The type locality is a small creek with a very steep slope, in Huay Nampan, Ban Khunkoon, Moo 2, Tumbon Phukha, Pua District, Nan Province (Figs. 8A and 9). Collection localities are in the upper-most tributaries near Xayaboury Province of the People’s Democratic Republic of Lao. 

Etymology. The species epithet honors Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her 60th birthday anniversary, her biodiversity conservation projects including a Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiation of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG), several projects in education and protein source security for rural communities, and many projects located in Nan Province, the type locality of this species.

Apinun Suvarnaraksha. 2015. A New Species of Highland Loach, Schistura sirindhornae, from the upper Chao Phraya River basin, Thailand (Pisces: Ostariophysi: Nemacheilidae).
Zootaxa. 3962(1): 158–170. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3962.1.8

http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2015/f/zt03962p170.pdf

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CA2BA507-C82F-43F8-80F7-186998B8E228

facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1121118701248265 

[Herpetology • 2015] Cyrtodactylus rosichonariefi • A New Swamp-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Bunguran Island (Great Natuna), Indonesia

Cyrtodactylus rosichonariefi

Awal, Grismer & Wood, 2015

Abstract

Cyrtodactylus rosichonariefi sp. nov. is the second newly described species of Bent-toed gecko from Bunguran Island (Great Natuna), Indonesia. This species occurs in the Sekunyam Forest and is differentiated from all other species of the C. semenanjungensis species group of the Thai-Malay Peninsula by having the following unique combination of characteristics: intermediate size (SVL of adult male holotype 54.6 mm); enlarged femoral scales, femoral pores, no precloacal groove, enlarged precloacal scales, no precloacal pores; subcaudals not enlarged; and dorsal pattern blotched but lacking paired, dark, semilunar-shaped blotches on upper nape. The new species is the sister species of C. majulah Grismer, Wood & Lim.

Keywords: new species, Cyrtodactylus rosichonariefi sp. nov., Sekunyam Forest, Bunguran Island, Indonesia

Riyanto, Awal, L. L. Grismer & JR. Perry L. Wood. 2015. Cyrtodactylus rosichonariefi sp. nov. (Squamata: Gekkonidae), A New Swamp-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko from Bunguran Island (Great Natuna), Indonesia. Zootaxa. 3964(1): 114–124. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3964.1.8

ResearchGate.net/publication/277329062_Cyrtodactylus_rosichonariefi_sp._nov._(Squamata_Gekkonidae)_a_new_swamp-dwelling_bent-toed_gecko_from_Bunguran_Island_(Great_Natuna)_Indonesia

PerryLeeWoodJr.com/2015/05/29/a-new-cyrtodactylus-from-indonesia/
PerryLeeWoodJr.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/cyrt-rosichonariefi.pdf

[Herpetology • 2015] Undiagnosed Cryptic Diversity in Small, Microendemic Frogs (Leptolalax) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Fig 3. Images in life of frogs in the Leptolalax applebyi group.
(A) Leptolalax applebyi (= molecular lineage 1; Kon Tum Province, Vietnam), (B) Leptolalax melicus (= molecular lineage 2; Ratanikiri Province, Cambodia), (C) Leptolalax sp. (= molecular lineage 3; Gia Lai Province, Vietnam), (D) L. bidoupensis (= molecular lineage 4; Lam Dong Province, Vietnam), (E) Leptolalax sp. (= molecular lineage 5; Lam Dong Province, Vietnam), (F) Leptolalax sp. (= molecular lineage 6; Binh Thuan Province; photo: Pedro Peloso), (G) Leptolalax sp. (= molecular lineage 7; Dak Lak Province, Vietnam), (H) Leptolalax sp. (= molecular lineage 8; Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam), (I) Leptolalax sp. (= molecular lineage 9; Dak Nong Province, Vietnam).

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128382

Abstract

A major obstacle in prioritizing species or habitats for conservation is the degree of unrecognized diversity hidden within complexes of morphologically similar, “cryptic” species. Given that amphibians are one of the most threatened groups of organisms on the planet, our inability to diagnose their true diversity is likely to have significant conservation consequences. This is particularly true in areas undergoing rapid deforestation, such as Southeast Asia. The Southeast Asian genus Leptolalax is a group of small-bodied, morphologically conserved frogs that inhabit the forest-floor. We examined a particularly small-bodied and morphologically conserved subset, the Leptolalax applebyi group, using a combination of molecular, morphometric, and acoustic data to identify previously unknown diversity within. In order to predict the geographic distribution of the group, estimate the effects of habitat loss and assess the degree of habitat protection, we used our locality data to perform ecological niche modelling using MaxEnt. Molecular (mtDNA and nuDNA), acoustic and subtle morphometric differences revealed a significant underestimation of diversity in the L. applebyi group; at least two-thirds of the diversity may be unrecognised. Patterns of diversification and microendemism in the group appear driven by limited dispersal, likely due to their small body size, with several lineages restricted to watershed basins. The L. applebyi group is predicted to have historically occurred over a large area of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, a considerable portion of which has already been deforested. Less than a quarter of the remaining forest predicted to be suitable for the group falls within current protected areas. The predicted distribution of the L. applebyi group extends into unsurveyed watershed basins, each potentially containing unsampled diversity, some of which may have already been lost due to deforestation. Current estimates of amphibian diversity based on morphology alone are misleading, and accurate alpha taxonomy is essential to accurately prioritize conservation efforts.

Fig 1. Map showing the localities where specimens in the Leptolalax applebyi group were collected.
Colours of localities assigned based on the nine molecular lineages. Paler areas are higher elevation. Dark grey lines show country boundaries, pale grey lines show watershed boundaries and blue lines show rivers.

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128382

Jodi J. L. Rowley, Dao T. A. Tran, Greta J. Frankham, Anthony H. Dekker, Duong T. T. Le, Truong Q. Nguyen, Vinh Q. Dau and Huy D. Hoang. 2015. Undiagnosed Cryptic Diversity in Small, Microendemic Frogs (Leptolalax) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
PLoS ONE. DOI:  10.1371/journal.pone.0128382

[Herpetology • 2015] Patterns of Reproductive-Mode Evolution in Old World Tree Frogs (Anura, Rhacophoridae)

life-history characteristics: blue – fully aquatic development (AB); red – terrestrial, gel-encapsulated eggs laid over water with initial phases of larval development in the egg and later stages in the water (GN); yellow – terrestrial eggs in foam nest over water with later stages of larval development in the water (FN); green – fully terrestrial development (DD)
Figure 1. — B. The proportionate number of all known rhacophorid species characterized by AB (10 spp.), GN (54 spp), FN (134 spp.) and DD (189 spp.); (i) Buergeria sp. eggs in water; (ii) Gracixalus lumarius eggs above a tree hole; (iii) Gracixalus quangi tadpoles on leaf overhanging water; (iv–vii) Raorchestes resplendens embryonic stages and fully developed metamorphs; (viii) Rhacophorus lateralis and (ix) Rhacophorus malabaricus foam nests (FN).

DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12121

The Old World tree frogs (Anura: Rhacophoridae), with 387 species, display a remarkable diversity of reproductive modes – aquatic breeding, terrestrial gel nesting, terrestrial foam nesting and terrestrial direct development. The evolution of these modes has until now remained poorly studied in the context of recent phylogenies for the clade. Here, we use newly obtained DNA sequences from three nuclear and two mitochondrial gene fragments, together with previously published sequence data, to generate a well-resolved phylogeny from which we determine major patterns of reproductive-mode evolution. We show that basal rhacophorids have fully aquatic eggs and larvae. Bayesian ancestral-state reconstructions suggest that terrestrial gel-encapsulated eggs, with early stages of larval development completed within the egg outside of water, are an intermediate stage in the evolution of terrestrial direct development and foam nesting. The ancestral forms of almost all currently recognized genera (except the fully aquatic basal forms) have a high likelihood of being terrestrial gel nesters. Direct development and foam nesting each appear to have evolved at least twice within Rhacophoridae, suggesting that reproductive modes are labile and may arise multiple times independently. Evolution from a fully aquatic reproductive mode to more terrestrial modes (direct development and foam nesting) occurs through intermediate gel nesting ancestral forms. This suggests that gel nesting is not only a possible transitional state for the evolution of terrestriality, but also that it is a versatile reproductive mode that may give rise to other terrestrial reproductive modes. Evolution of foam nesting may have enabled rhacophorids to lay a larger number of eggs in more open and drier habitats, where protection from desiccation is important. Terrestrial direct development allows frogs to lay eggs independent of bodies of water, in a diversity of humid habitats, and may represent a key innovation that facilitated the evolution of nearly half of all known rhacophorid species.

Figure 1. —A. 50% majority-rule consensus tree from the Bayesian analysis. Major developmental modes of Rhacophoridae indicating Bayesian ancestral-trait reconstruction probabilities for the following life-history characteristics: blue – fully aquatic development (AB); red – terrestrial, gel-encapsulated eggs laid over water with initial phases of larval development in the egg and later stages in the water (GN); yellow – terrestrial eggs in foam nest over water with later stages of larval development in the water (FN); green – fully terrestrial development (DD). The basal life-history strategy for rhacophorids was AB; GN arose multiple times, subsequently giving rise to FN twice and DD two or three times.
—B. The proportionate number of all known rhacophorid species characterized by AB (10 spp.), GN (54 spp), FN (134 spp.) and DD (189 spp.); (i) Buergeria sp. eggs in water; (ii) Gracixalus lumarius eggs above a tree hole; (iii) Gracixalus quangi tadpoles on leaf overhanging water; (iv–vii) Raorchestes resplendens embryonic stages and fully developed metamorphs; (viii) Rhacophorus lateralis and (ix) Rhacophorus malabaricus foam nests (FN).
—C–E. Worldwide distribution of AB, GN, FN and DD. FN is the most widespread, whereas AB is the least.

DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12121

Madhava Meegaskumbura, Gayani Senevirathne, S. D. Biju, Sonali Garg, Suyama Meegaskumbura, Rohan Pethiyagoda, James Hanken and Christopher J. Schneider. 2015. Patterns of Reproductive-Mode Evolution in Old World Tree Frogs (Anura, Rhacophoridae).
Zoological Scripta. DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12121

 ResearchGate.net/publication/277405664_Patterns_of_reproductive-mode_evolution_in_Old_World_tree_frogs_(Anura_Rhacophoridae)

ResearchGate.net/publication/277144659_DNA_barcoding_and_the_identification_of_tree_frogs_(Amphibia_Anura_Rhacophoridae)

[Crustacea • 2015] Macrobrachium phongnhaense • A New Species of Troglobitic Freshwater Prawn of the genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam

Macrobrachium phongnhaense

Tu & Cuong, 2015
DOI: 10.15625/0866-7160/v36n3.5969

ABSTRACT

Macrobrachium phongnhaense sp. n. is a new species of troglobitic shrimp discovered in some caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh province, Vietnam.

Habitat: This species lives in streams and standing water in the caves. These caves can be very long, about 4-5 km, such as Va Cave. They are completely without light and water in the cave is mainly from infiltration. Substrate can be silt, muddy or sandy mud.

Distribution: Found only in a few caves (Va, 35, Son Doong) in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh province, Vietnam.

Etymology: Shrimp named for location where first obtained in caves in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Remarked: The new species is characterized by a transparent body, highly degenerated eyes, smooth and slender second pereiodpods, elongated telson and unarmed preanal region. Morphological comparisons with allied troglobitic congeners are given in table 1.

Do Van Tu and Nguyen Tong Cuong. 2015. A New Species of Troglobitic Freshwater Prawn of the genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam.

Tap Chi Sinh Hoc (Vietnam Journal of Biology)  36(3); 301-308.

DOI: 10.15625/0866-7160/v36n3.5969

BiodiVN.com/2015/05/mot-loai-tom-nuoc-ngot-moi-cho-khoa-hoc.html

[Botany • 2015] Chayamaritia, A New Genus (Gesneriaceae: Didymocarpoideae) from Southeast Asia

Fig. 3: Chayamaritia banksiae D.J.Middleton. b Close-up of flower showing strongly imbricate sepals; c Close-up of corolla throat and stigma. ม่วงน้ำเงิน, Chayamaritia smitinandii (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton. d Fruiting population of Middleton et al. 5632. e Flowering plant of Middleton et al. 5652.

Scale bars in c, d = 1 cm | DOI: 10.1007/s00606-015-1213-2

Abstract 
Based on a phylogenetic analysis of Asian Gesneriaceae with the most comprehensive coverage at the genus level to date, the new genus Chayamaritia is established and described in subfamily Didymocarpoideae, tribe Trichosporeae, subtribe Didymocarpinae. It contains two species, of which one, Chayamaritia smitinandii (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton, was formerly placed in the genera Chirita and Henckelia. The other, Chayamaritia banksiae D.J.Middleton, is newly described. The exclusion of Chayamaritia smitinandii from Henckelia further clarifies the taxonomic and biogeographic limits of Henckelia following its considerable recircumscription during the recent remodelling and synonymisation of Chirita.

Keywords: Biogeography,  Chayamaritia, Gesneriaceae,  New genus,  Molecular phylogeny, Southeast Asia

Fig. 3: Chayamaritia banksiae D.J.Middleton. b Close-up of flower showing strongly imbricate sepals; c Close-up of corolla throat and stigma.
Chayamaritia smitinandii (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton. d Fruiting population of Middleton et al. 5632. e Flowering plant of Middleton et al. 5652.

Scale bars in c, d = 1 cm | DOI: 10.1007/s00606-015-1213-2

Chayamaritia D.J.Middleton & Mich.Möller, gen. nov.

— TYPE: Chayamaritia smitinandii (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton.

Diagnosis: Similar to both Henckelia and Primulina in the tubular corollas, two fertile stamens and chiritoid stigma but differing from both in the combination of thickened rhizomatous prostrate stem, the alternately arranged leaves and the imbricate sepals.

Distribution: Central and eastern Thailand, Laos.

Etymology: The genus is named in honour of Dr Kongkanda Chayamarit of the Forest Herbarium in Bangkok. She has been a tireless advocate of research on the Thai flora and has been instrumental in the increase in publication rate of the Flora of Thailand series in recent years. She has done this through finding sources of funding for field work and family accounts and through ensuring that authors of accounts do not forget their promises! Currently only known from two species, one of them newly described here.

Key to the species in Chayamaritia
1. Calyx lobes 7–15 mm wide; corolla tube whitish ventrally, lobe margins dentate; leaves 1.5–1.9 times as long as wide, base rounded to subcordate …………… C. banksiae.
1. Calyx lobes 0.9–4.2 mm wide; corolla tube purple ventrally, lobe margins more or less entire; leaves 1.8–5.6 times as long as wide, base cuneate to attenuate or rarely rounded …………… C. smitinandii.

Fig. 3: Chayamaritia banksiae D.J.Middleton. a Whole plant in cultivation at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; b Close-up of flower showing strongly imbricate sepals; c Close-up of corolla throat and stigma. Chayamaritia smitinandii (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton. d Fruiting population of Middleton et al. 5632. e Flowering plant of Middleton et al. 5652. 

Scale bars in c, d = 1 cm | DOI: 10.1007/s00606-015-1213-2

Chayamaritia banksiae D.J.Middleton, sp. nov.

— TYPE: Laos, Khammouan, Nam On catchment, Phou Ak escarpment, Nakai Nam Theun NBCA, 936 m a. s. l.

Distribution: Endemic to Laos (Khammouan Province). Habitat: Growing on sides of boulders in evergreen forest.

Etymology: Named after the botanical illustrator Claire Banks.

Proposed IUCN conservation assessment: Data Deficient. Chayamaritia banksiae is only known from one collection, and its complete distribution is unknown. The type specimen was collected from a cultivated plant with known provenance in Nakai Nam Theun National Biodiversity Conservation Area in Khammouan Province in Laos. Although the collection locality is not particularly far from the populations of Chayamaritia smitinandii in northeastern Thailand, the two species are easily distinguished, most obviously in leaf and sepal shapes as noted in the key and diagnosis.

Chayamaritia smitinandii (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton, comb. nov.

—TYPE: Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khao Yai National Park, 6 Oct 1962, T. Smitinand 7491 (Holotype BKF) (Figs. 3c, d, 4) 

: Chirita smitinandii B.L.Burtt in Thai Forest Bull., Bot. 29: 89. 2001
: Henckelia smitinandii (B.L.Burtt) D.J.Middleton & Mich.Möller, Taxon. 60: 776. 2011.

Distribution: Thailand (Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Buengkan and Nakhon Phanom Provinces). Habitat: In evergreen and submontane forest in deep shade at 150–1200 m altitude.

Etymology: Named after the Thai botanist Tem Smitinand (1920–1995) who was also a maternal uncle of Kongkanda Chayamarit after whom the genus is named.

Proposed IUCN conservation assessment: Vulnerable VU B1 ab(iii). This species has an Extent of Occurrence of less than 20,000 sq.km., and the northeastern populations are widely separated from the central populations by the predominant agricultural landscape of northeastern Thailand. In addition, the known populations can be subject to disturbance by the high visitor numbers found in the areas where this species is found in Khao Yai National Park.

David J. Middleton, Kanae Nishii, Carmen Puglisi, Laura L. Forrest and Michael Möller. 2015. Chayamaritia (Gesneriaceae: Didymocarpoideae), A New Genus from Southeast Asia. 

Plant Syst Evol. DOI: 10.1007/s00606-015-1213-2

[PaleoBotany • 2015] Euanthus panii • A Perfect Flower from the Jurassic of China

Flower, enclosed ovule and tetrasporangiate anther are three major characters distinguishing angiosperms from other seed plants. Morphologically, typical flowers are characterised by an organisation with gynoecium and androecium surrounded by corolla and calyx. Theoretically, flowers are derived from their counterparts in ancient ancestral gymnosperms. However, as for when, how and from which groups, there is no consensus among botanists yet. Although angiosperm-like pollen and angiosperms have been claimed in the Triassic and Jurassic, typical flowers with the aforesaid three key characters are still missing in the pre-Cretaceous age, making many interpretations of flower evolution tentative. Thus searching for flower in the pre-Cretaceous has been a tantalising task for palaeobotanists for a long time. Here, we report a typical flower, Euanthus panii gen. et sp. nov., from the Middle –Late Jurassic of Liaoning, China. Euanthus has sepals, petals, androecium with tetrasporangiate dithecate anthers and gynoecium with enclosed ovules, organised just like in perfect flowers of extant angiosperms. The discovery of Euanthus implies that typical angiosperm flowers have already been in place in the Jurassic, and provides a new insight unavailable otherwise for the evolution of flowers. 

Keywords: flower; angiosperm; Jurassic; China; Liaoning

Figure 8. Sketch, details of micropyle and reconstruction of Euanthus panii gen. et sp. nov.
(a) Sketch of the specimen shown in Figure 4(a). (b) Sketch of the micropyle, nucellus (N), and integument (blue) shown in Figure 7(j). (c) Reconstruction of Euanthus panii gen. et sp. nov.

Figure 4. Euanthus panii gen. et sp. nov. and its details. Stereomicroscopy.
 (a, b) The flower in two facing parts, with sepals (S) and petals (P) radiating from the receptacle. The black arrows mark the distal of the style, and the blue arrow in (b) marks the stamen shown in Figure 6 (d),(e),(h). Holotype: PB21685, PB21684. Bar ¼ 5 mm. (c) A sepal (S) is almost structureless between the two arrows, implying that it is attached to the receptacle (O) with its whole base. Enlarged from (a). Bar ¼ 1 mm. (d) Pentamerous receptacle with ovarian cavity (O) in its centre. Note the corners (arrows) of about 1108. Bar ¼ 0.5 mm. (e) Basal portion of the flower after degagement. Note spatial relationship among the ovary (O), style base, a possible filament stub (arrow), sepals (S) and petal (P). Refer to Figure 7(f). Bar ¼ 1 mm.

Type species: Euanthus panii gen. et sp. nov. 

Etymology: Euanthus, for real flower in Latin. 

Horizon: the Jiulongshan Formation. 

Locality: Sanjiaocheng Village, Huloudao City, Liaoning, China

Figure 8. Sketch, details of micropyle and reconstruction of Euanthus panii gen. et sp. nov. (a) Sketch of the specimen shown in Figure 4(a). (b) Sketch of the micropyle, nucellus (N), and integument (blue) shown in Figure 7(j). (c) Reconstruction of Euanthus panii gen. et sp. nov.

Conclusion 

Euanthus from the Middle–Late Jurassic of Liaoning, China is a perfect flower typical of angiosperms, prompting a rethinking on the origin and history of flowers and angiosperms. If Euanthus were really related to eudicots, it would be intriguing to search for typical eudicot leaves in the Jurassic strata. The presence of a full-fledged flower such as Euanthus in the Jurassic is apparently out of the expectations of any currently accepted evolutionary theories, implying either that these theories are flawed, and/or the history of angiosperms is much longer than previously assumed.

 Zhong-Jian Liu and Xin Wang. 2015. A Perfect Flower from the Jurassic of China.
Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology.
DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2015.1020423

World's Earliest Flower may Date back 162 mln Years: Study

http://english.cas.cn/newsroom/news/201504/t20150416_146392.shtml

[PaleoAnthropology • 2015] Australopithecus deyiremeda • New Species from Ethiopia further expands Middle Pliocene Hominin Diversity

Australopithecus deyiremeda Haile-Selassie, Gibert, Melillo, Ryan, Alene, Deino, Levin, Scott & Saylor, 2015

doi: 10.1038/nature14448

Middle Pliocene hominin species diversity has been a subject of debate over the past two decades, particularly after the naming of Australopithecus bahrelghazali and Kenyanthropus platyops in addition to the well-known species Australopithecus afarensis. Further analyses continue to support the proposal that several hominin species co-existed during this time period. Here we recognize a new hominin species (Australopithecus deyiremeda sp. nov.) from 3.3–3.5-million-year-old deposits in the Woranso–Mille study area, central Afar, Ethiopia. The new species from Woranso–Mille shows that there were at least two contemporaneous hominin species living in the Afar region of Ethiopia between 3.3 and 3.5 million years ago, and further confirms early hominin taxonomic diversity in eastern Africa during the Middle Pliocene epoch. The morphology of Au. deyiremeda also reinforces concerns related to dentognathic (that is, jaws and teeth) homoplasy in Plio–Pleistocene hominins, and shows that some dentognathic features traditionally associated with Paranthropus and Homo appeared in the fossil record earlier than previously thought.

Figure 1: Australopithecus deyiremeda Holotype BRT-VP-3/1. a, Occlusal view. b, Lateral view. c, Superior view. d, Medial view. e, Anterior view.
Paratype BRT-VP-3/14. f, Occlusal view. g, Right lateral view. h, Basal view.
Paratype WYT-VP-2/10. i, Occlusal view. j, Right lateral view. k, Basal view.
Referred specimen BRT-VP-3/37. l, Occlusal view. m, Buccal view. n, Lingual view. o, Distal view. p, Mesial view.

doi: 10.1038/nature14448

Order Primates Linnaeus, 1758 

Suborder Anthropoidea Mivart, 1864 

Superfamily Hominoidea Gray, 1825 

Genus Australopithecus Dart, 1925 

Australopithecus deyiremeda sp. nov.

Etymology: From the local Afar language terms deyi, meaning close, and remeda, meaning relative; thus referring to the species being a close relative of all later hominins.

Holotype: BRT-VP-3/1 (Fig. 1a–e), a left maxilla with upper second incisor–upper second molar (I2–M2) found by M. Barao on 4 March 2011. The originals of the holotype and paratypes are housed at the Paleoanthropology Laboratory of the National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.

Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Luis Gibert, Stephanie M. Melillo, Timothy M. Ryan, Mulugeta Alene, Alan Deino, Naomi E. Levin, Gary Scott and Beverly Z. Saylor. 2015. New Species from Ethiopia further expands Middle Pliocene Hominin Diversity.
Nature. 521, 483-488; doi: 10.1038/nature14448

New human ancestor discovered near fossil of ‘Lucy’

Australopithecus deyiremeda lived about 3.4 million years ago in northern Ethiopia, around the same time and place as Australopithecus afarensis. .... Nature. doi: 10.1038/nature.2015.17644

Palaeoanthropology: The middle Pliocene gets crowded http://rdcu.be/cXgl

Australopithecus deyiremeda: New Human Ancestor In Ethiopia http://www.science20.com/news_articles/australopithecus_deyiremeda_new_human_ancestor_in_ethiopia-155829 via @science2_0

New species of human ancestor lived alongside 'Lucy' 3.4m years ago
http://dailym.ai/1HLWIpa via @MailOnline

[Paleontology • 2015] Nebulasaurus taito • A New Basal Eusauropod from the Middle Jurassic of Yunnan, China, and Faunal Compositions and Transitions of Asian Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs

Nebulasaurus taito

Xing, Miyashita, Currie, You, Zhang & Dong, 2015

DOI: 10.4202/app.2012.0151

Many sauropod ghost lineages cross the Middle Jurassic, indicating a time interval that requires increased sampling. A wide taxonomic spectrum of sauropodomorphs is known from the Middle Jurassic of China, but the braincase of a new sauropod, named here Nebulasaurus taito gen. et sp. nov., is distinct. Nebulasaurus is sister taxon to Spinophorosaurus from the Middle Jurassic of Africa and represents a clade of basal eusauropods previously unknown from Asia. The revised faunal list indicates dramatic transitions in sauropodomorph faunas from the Jurassic to Cretaceous of Asia; these are consistent with geographic isolation of Asia through the Late Jurassic. Non-sauropod sauropodomorphs, non-mamenchisaurid eusauropods (including basal macronarians), and mamenchisaurids successively replaced previous grades through the Jurassic, and titanosauriforms excluded all other sauropod lineages across the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary.

Key words: Dinosauria, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Jurassic, China

Nebulasaurus taito | 太東雲龍
Nebulasaurus is an genus of basal eusauropod dinosaur known from the early Middle Jurassic of Yunnan Province, China. This discovery is significant paleontologically because it represents a clade of basal eusauropods previously unknown from Asia. The only fossil material recovered was a braincase, which was in a good state of preservation.

illustration: Cheung Chung Tat

Fig. 1. Geographical information on the locality of Nebulasaurus.
A. Map of China showing Yunnan Province (shaded black). B. Map of Yunnan Province showing the locality indicated by a silhouette of a sauropod.

Systematic palaeontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842

Sauropoda Marsh, 1878

Eusauropoda Upchurch, 1995

Genus Nebulasaurus nov.

Type species: Nebulasaurus taito sp. nov.

Included species: Type species only.

Etymology: From Latin nebulae, misty cloud, after the alpine province of Yunnan (= southern cloudy province, Chinese); and from Greek sauros, lizard.

Diagnosis.—As for the type and only species.

Nebulasaurus taito sp. nov.

Etymology: In honor of the Taito Corporation of Japan, which funded the field project in and near the type locality. 

Holotype: LDRC-v.d.1, a braincase (Figs. 2, 3A, B).

Type horizon: Zhanghe Formation, lower Middle Jurassic, Aalenian/Bajocian (Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Yunnan Province 1990).

Type locality: The locality is in Xiabanjing, Jiangyi Rural Area, Yuanmou County of Yunnan Province, China (Fig. 1B). Information regarding precise location of the locality is protected by the local authority and available through LDRC on request.

Xing, L., Miyashita, T., Currie, P.J., You, H., Zhang, J., and Dong, Z. 2015. A New Basal Eusauropod from the Middle Jurassic of Yunnan, China, and Faunal Compositions and Transitions of Asian Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs.
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 60 (1): 145–154. DOI: 10.4202/app.2012.0151

http://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app60/app20120151.pdf

[Botany • 2015] Six New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Limestone Areas in northern Vietnam

Abstract

Background:

Species of Begonia are richly represented in limestone karst areas across the Sino-Vietnamese border. More than one hundred species were known, many of which were documented recently. 

 Results: 

In continuation of our systematic studies of Asian Begonia, we report six species of Begonia that are unknown to science, namely B. caobangensis [sect. Platycentrum], B. circularis, B. melanobullata, B. langsonensis, B.locii and B. montaniformis [sect. Coelocentrum] from Northern Vietnam. Diagnostic features that separate them from morphologically allied species are provided. Somatic chromosome numbers were determined, which supports their placement in the respective sections. Foliar SEM microphotographs were taken and described.

Conclusion:

A careful study of the literature, herbarium specimens and living plants, both in the wild and in cultivation in the experimental greenhouse, supports the recognition of the six new species, which are described and illustrated.

Keywords: Begonia caobangensis; Begonia circularis; Begonia melanobullata; Begonia langsonensis; Begonia locii; Begonia montaniformis; Limestone; New species; sect. Coelocentrum; sect. Platycentrum; Vietnam 

Ching-I Peng, Che-Wei Lin, Hsun-An Yang, Yoshiko Kono and Hieu Quang Nguyen. 2015. Six New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Limestone Areas in Northern Vietnam. Botanical Studies. 56:9; 1-23. doi:10.1186/s40529-015-0089-3

http://www.as-botanicalstudies.com/content/pdf/s40529-015-0089-3.pdf

http://www.biodivn.com/2015/05/sau-loai-thu-hai-duong-begonia-moi-cho-khoa-hoc.html

[Botany • 2012] Begonia bella • A New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Peninsular Thailand

 Begonia bella Phutthai (sect. Parvibegonia) 
A, habit and habitat; B, tuber with fibrous roots; C, leaf adaxial surface; D, trichomes on adaxial leaf surface; E, inflorescence; F, staminate flower; G, pistillate flower; H, young fruit with persistent stigma.

ABSTRACT

A new species from Thailand, Begonia bella Phutthai (Begoniaceae), is described and illustrated. It belongs in Begonia sect. Parvibegonia and is a narrow endemic in Phangnga province. Its IUCN category is considered to be ‘Vulnerable’.

Keywords: Begonia; new species; Thailand

Distribution. Peninsular Thailand, Phangnga, Namtok Ra Man Forest Park.

Habitat and ecology. In granite rock crevices or on damp streamside soils in seasonally dry evergreen forest. Flowering May to November; fruiting November to January.

 T. Phutthai, M. Hughes and K. Sridith. 2012. A New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Peninsular Thailand. Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 69(2): 287–292. DOI: 10.1017/S0960428612000078

http://www.rbge.org.uk/assets/files/science/6.1_Tropical/EJB69_287_292.pdf

facebook.com/ThaiBotSoc/photos584598908223450

facebook.com/novataxa/photos/399847263401971

[Botany • 2015] Goniothalamus flagellistylus Tagane & V. S. Dang • A New Species (Annonaceae) from Mt. Hon Ba, south Vietnam

Goniothalamus flagellistylus Tagane & V. S. Dang
(a) Leafy branch, (b) portion of abaxial leaf surface, (c) flowers on main trunk, (d) vertical section of flowers, (e) apertures between inner petals, (f–g) mature fruit on older blanch.

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.50.4427

Abstract

A new species, Goniothalamus flagellistylus Tagane & V. S. Dang, sp. nov. from Hon Ba Nature Reserve in Khanh Hoa Province, South Vietnam is described and illustrated. This species is most similar to Goniothalamus tortilipetalus M.R.Hend., but distinct in having 308–336 stamens (vs. ca. 170–260) and ca.120 carpels (vs. ca. 50–100) per flower, and Stigma and pseudostyles ca.8.5 mm (vs. 4–4.5 mm) long.

Keywords: Annonaceae, Goniothalamus, Hon Ba Nature Reserve, Vietnam

Introduction

The genus Goniothalamus (Blume) Hook. f. & Thomson, with more than 130 species (Nakkhuntod et al. 2009, Tang et al. 2013), is one of the largest genera in the Annonaceae family. The species is characterized by mostly solitary, axillary and pendent flowers, two whorls of petals with inner petals smaller than the outer ones, the inner petals connivent and forming a distinctive dome over the stamens and carpels acting as a pollination chamber and stamens having apical connectives. Most species of Goniothalamus are distributed in lowland evergreen rain forests in Southeast Asia, extending from India to Australia, also in New Caledonia (Jessup 1986, Mat-Salleh 2001, Saunders 2002, Saunders 2003, Kundu 2006, Saunders and Munzinger 2007, Saunders and Chalermglin 2008, Turner and Saunders 2008). In Vietnam, the following 19 species of Goniothalamus are recorded: G. chartaceus H.L.Li, G. chinensis Merr. & Chun, G. donnaiensis Finet & Gagnep., G. elegans Ast, G. expansus Craib, G. gabriacianus (Baill.) Ast (Synonym, Goniothalamus saigonensis Pierre ex Finet & Gagnep.), G. gracilipes Bân, G. laoticus (Finet & Gagnep.) Bân, G. macrocalyx Bân, G. multiovulatus Ast, G. ninhianus Bân, G. takhtajanii Bân, G. tamirensis Pierre ex Finet & Gagnep., G. tenuifolius King, G. touranensis Ast, G. undulatus Ridl., G. vietnamensis Bân, G. wightii Hook.f. & Thomson and G. yunnanensis W.T.Wang (Finet and Gagnepain 1907, Hô 1999, Bân 2000).

During the botanical survey of Hon Ba Nature Reserve in South Vietnam, we encountered an undescribed species of Goniothalamus in Mt. Hon Ba at 400 m elevation. We here describe and illustrate this new species, Goniothalamus flagellistylus Tagane & V. S. Dang, sp. nov.

......

Figure 1. Goniothalamus flagellistylus sp. nov.
(a) Leafy branch, (b) portion of abaxial leaf surface, (c) flowers on main trunk, (d) vertical section of flowers, (e) apertures between inner petals, (f–g) mature fruit on older blanch, (h) holotype, (i) pedicel and sepals on old branch, (j) adaxial side of inner petal, (k) stamen, (l) carpel. (h–l) From Tagane et al. 1497.

Scale bars (i, j) = 1 cm, (k, l) = 1 mm. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.50.4427

Etymology: The specific epithet is in reference to its flexuous styles which is too long to insert straight in the pollination chamber that formed by the inner petals.

Shuichiro Tagane, Son Van Dang, Tetsukazu Yahara, Hironori Toyama and Hop Tran. 2015. Goniothalamus flagellistylus Tagane & V. S. Dang (Annonaceae), A New Species from Mt. Hon Ba, Vietnam. PhytoKeys. 50: 1-8. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.50.4427

BiodiVN.com/2015/05/loai-giac-de-moi-cho-khoa-hoc-tu-hon-ba-Goniothalamus-flagellistylus.html

[Botany • 2014] Balanophora coralliformis • A New Species (Balanophoraceae) from Mt. Mingan, Luzon, Philippines

 Balanophora coralliformis Barcelona, Tandang & Pelser

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.170.4.7

ABSTRACT 

Balanophora coralliformis Barcelona, Tandang & Pelser is described as a new species of Balanophoraceae. It is unique in its coral-like appearance due to the repeated branching of elongated, above-ground tubers and their coarse texture. It most closely resembles B. papuana in details of the staminate inflorescence and is sympatric with this species at its only known site in the montane forest of Mt. Mingan, bordering Aurora and Nueva Ecija provinces, Luzon, Philippines. 

Keywords: Balanophora; Philippines; taxonomy; new species

  

Pieter B Pelser, D.N. Tandang and Julie F Barcelona. 2014. Balanophora coralliformis (Balanophoraceae), A New Species from Mt. Mingan, Luzon, Philippines.
Phytotaxa. 170(4):291-295. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.170.4.7

ResearchGate.net/publication/262805616_Balanophora_coralliformis_(Balanophoraceae)_a_new_species_from_Mt._Mingan_Luzon_Philippines