[Entomology • 2017] Eurypeza aurora • A New Species of Eurypeza Lacroix, 2006 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Tanyproctini) from Kenya

Eurypeza aurora  Sehnal, 2017 

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4337.2.9 

The Afrotropical genus Eurypeza Lacroix, 2006 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Tanyproctini) was established for one species, Eurypeza evansi Lacroix, 2006, from Somalia. The genus belongs to the first group of Afrotropical Tanyproctini sensu Lacroix (2007), and is characterized by protarsomeres 1–4 and mesotarsomeres 1–4 broadened and ventrally macrosetaceous, protarsomere 5 and mesotarsomere 5 simple, and labrum transverse and shallowly bilobed. The genus Eurypeza differs from other genera of Lacroix’s (2007) first group by club with five antennomeres, antennomere 3 and 4 of equal length, labial palpi with three palpomeres, clypeus broadly rounded, protibia bidentate with proximal tooth well developed, and metatibial carina incomplete (for details, see also Lacroix 2006, 2007).

....

FIGURES 1: Eurypeza aurora new species, holotype, male.
A–B, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C–D, protibia, dorsal and ventral views; E–F, aedeagus, dorsal and lateral views; G–H, head, dorsal and ventral views.

Scale = 1 mm.

Eurypeza aurora Sehnal, new species 

Type locality. Kenya, Nairobi Region, Salama.

Differential diagnosis: Eurypeza aurora new species is the second representative of the genus Eurypeza. From the only previously described species, E. evansi, it can be differentiated using the following characters: uniformly matte black color, clypeus and frons densely covered with stiff macrosetae, antennal shaft the same length as club, aedeagus morphology (Figs. 1C–D). 

Etymology: Named after the Morning star (= Aurora in Latin), for the moment of realization that the specimen studied was a new species. This name should be treated as a noun in apposition.

 Richard Sehnal. 2017. A New Species of Eurypeza Lacroix, 2006 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Tanyproctini) from Kenya. Zootaxa. 4337(2); 294–296.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4337.2.9

    

[Botany • 2017] Pilea victoriae • A New Striking Species from the Mural Flora (Urticaceae) of Western Ghats, India

Pilea victoriae  V. Suresh & Sojan

DOI:  10.21474/IJAR01/5224

A new species of Pilea Lindley. from Palakkad gap region of Western Ghats of Kerala is described and illustrated as Pilea victoriae sp. nov. IUCN status, distribution, phenology, phenetic relationships, plastid genome variation and its affinities are discussed.

Keywords: New species, Pilea, Palakkad, Urticaceae, Western Ghats.

Taxonomy

Pilea victoriae V. Suresh & Sojan sp.nov. 

  Diagnosis: Pilea victoriae V. Suresh & Sojan sp. nov. closely resembling P. microphylla but differs and easily distinguished by its erect stem with basal branching, 2–2.5 mm long ovate stipule, orbicular leaf blade of equal or sub-equal size at each node and pistillate inflorescence bearing 3–22 flowers. (Table 1). 

Etymology: The species is named after Government ‘Victoria’ College, Palakkad, Kerala, India in recognition of its more than 125 years of service to the education sector of the state. 

Distribution, ecology & Biotic association: So far P. victoriae sp. nov. is collected from three different localities of two districts viz. Victoria College Campus, Malampuzha and Nemmara regions of Palakkad district and Perinthalmanna region of Malappuram district, Kerala. Good populations were observed in these areas in an altitudinal gradient 100–200 m. But each population is restricted to a particular area of the collection localities.

Sojan Jose, Suresh V., Hareesh V.S., Robi A.J., Resmy P.S., Dinesh Raj R., Asha V.V., Prakashkumar R. and Madhusoodanan P.V. 2017. Pilea victoriae (Urticaceae), A New Striking Species from the Mural Flora of Western Ghats, India.  International Journal of Advanced Research 5(8); 1636–1641. DOI:  10.21474/IJAR01/5224

ResearchGate.net/publication/319677614_Pilea_victoriae_Urticaceae_a_new_striking_species_from_the_mural_flora_of_Western_Ghats_India

 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilea_victoriae

The name says it all - Pilea victoriae thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/the-name-says-it-all-pilea-victoriae/article19654456.ece

[Botany • 2017] Orchidantha micrantha & O. megalantha • Two New Orchidantha Species (Lowiaceae) from Borne

Orchidantha megalantha 

 Škorničk. & A.D.Poulsen

 DOI:  10.3767/blumea.2017.62.02.08

Abstract

Two new Orchidantha species discovered in Sarawak, Orchidantha micrantha and O. megalantha, are described and illustrated. They may well represent the species with the smallest and the largest flowers currently known in the genus and certainly from Borneo. With its small flowers, O. micrantha is similar to O. borneensis to which it is compared. The large-flowered O. megalantha is compared to the morphologically closest species, O. holttumii, from nearby Brunei. The conservation status of both new species is assessed and a key is provided to all Bornean species.

Keywords: Kubah National Park; Kuching; Malaysia; Matang; Mulu National Park; Orchidantha borneensis; Orchidantha holttumii; Sarawak; Zingiberales; vulnerable

Orchidantha micrantha only known from Kubah NP, Sarawak, Borneo (Poulsen & Leong-Škorničková, 2017. Blumea. 62: 157). The flower is the SMALLEST of all species of Lowiaceae. Like its big sister, O. megalantha, its smell may attract pollinating dung beetles.

 twitter.com/AxelGinger 

  Orchidantha micrantha Škorničk. & A.D.Poulsen, sp. nov.

 Etymology. The epithet refers to the small flowers relative to other species of the genus.

Orchidantha megalantha from Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo. We described it recently in the journal Blumea. The flower is the largest of the family Lowiaceae and its putrid smell may attract dung beetles to pollinate it.

 twitter.com/AxelGinger 

  Orchidantha megalantha Škorničk. & A.D.Poulsen, sp. nov.

 Etymology. The epithet refers to the large flowers relative to other species of the genus.

  A.D. Poulsen and J. Leong-Škorničková. 2017. Two New Orchidantha Species (Lowiaceae) from Borneo.  Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants.   62; 157–162. DOI:  10.3767/blumea.2017.62.02.08

  twitter.com/AxelGinger/status/920420545312772101

 twitter.com/AxelGinger/status/922041459624370176

[Crustacea • 2017] Salangathelphusa peractio • A New Species of Lowland Freshwater Crab (Brachyura, Gecarcinucidae) from Pulau Langkawi, Peninsular Malaysia

Salangathelphusa peractio  Ng, 2017

 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.711.20621 

Abstract

A new species of lowland freshwater crab of the family Gecarcinucidae, Salangathelphusa peractio, is described from Langkawi, an island off the northwestern coast of peninsular Malaysia. Salangathelphusa peractio sp. n. can be separated from S. brevicarinata (Hilgendorf, 1882) in having a proportionately broader external orbital tooth, a distinctly concave posterolateral margin, and the terminal segment of the male first gonopod is not distinctly bent laterally outwards; and from S. anophrys (Kemp, 1923) by its more quadrate carapace and the terminal segment of the male first gonopod possessing a relatively longer and less curved distal part. This is sixth wholly freshwater brachyuran species known from the island.

Keywords: Gecarcinucidae, Langkawi Island, Malaysia, new species, Salangathelphusa, taxonomy

Figure 5. Salangathelphusa peractio sp. n., colour in life.
 A–D male (22.4 × 17.7 mm) (ZRC 2017.210) E male (21.9 × 17.3 mm) (ZRC 2017.210), Langkawi. 

Systematics

Family Gecarcinucidae Rathbun, 1904

Genus Salangathelphusa Bott, 1968

Type species: Parathelphusa salangensis Ortmann, 1893, by original designation.

Salangathelphusa peractio sp. n.

Diagnosis: Carapace subquadrate, broader than long (Fig. 1); external orbital tooth broadly triangular, outer margin twice length of inner margin (Fig. 1); all ambulatory legs relatively short, merus not elongate (Fig. 1A); male pleonal somite 6 subquadrate, lateral margins gently sinuous, distal margin slightly shorter than proximal margin (Fig. 2C); posterolateral margin concave (Fig. 1); G1 with stout subterminal segment, terminal segment with tip directed upwards towards buccal cavity (Fig. 3A–E).

Etymology: The species name is derived from the Latin word “peractio” which means “ending of a story”. It alludes to the discovery of the present freshwater species, arguably the last one the author will describe from Langkawi, ending his 30-year history with the island. Gender feminine.

 Peter K. L. Ng. 2017. Salangathelphusa peractio, A New Species of Lowland Freshwater Crab from Pulau Langkawi, Peninsular Malaysia (Crustacea, Brachyura, Gecarcinucidae). ZooKeys. 711; 53-65.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.711.20621

[Invertebrate • 2017] Chiridota impatiens • A New Species of Chiridota (Holothuroidea: Apodida: Chiridotidae) from Japan, and First Record of C. rigida from Japan

Chiridota impatiens

Yamana & Tanaka, 2017

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4341.2.4 

Abstract

A new apodid sea cucumber, Chiridota impatiens sp. nov., is described from the intertidal zone of Okinawa, Japan, and C. rigida Semper, 1867 is also described from the intertidal zone of Wakayama, as new to Japan. C. impatiens sp. nov. is approximately 60–70 mm, with 12 tentacles and 4–7 pairs of digits per tentacle, red or reddish brown in living specimens. The tentacles contain curved rod ossicles, with spinous processes and many branches in C. rigida, however, in C. impatiens sp. nov., the curved rod ossicles are crescent-shaped, sometimes distally, with spinous processes and rarely a few branches on the circumference. In both species, the body wall contains flattened rod ossicles, mostly present along the longitudinal muscle and mesentery, curved rod ossicles primarily in the body wall, and wheel ossicles only in the wheel-papillae. In C. rigida, the contents of the wheel-papillae form a hemispherical sack-shaped structures, in which the teeth-side of the wheel ossicles mostly faces towards the outside of the body. In C. impatiens sp. nov., the contents of the wheel-papillae form a cord-shaped structure (present in both preserved and living specimens), in which the teeth-side of the wheel ossicles faces various directions, and that can be induced to break through the skin of the papillae if stimulated in living specimens.

Keywords:  Echinodermata, Apodida, Chiridotidae, Chiridota impatiens sp. nov., Chiridota rigida, Holothuroidea, Japan

Yusuke Yamana and Hayato Tanaka. 2017. A New Species of Chiridota (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Apodida: Chiridotidae) from Japan, and First record of C. rigida from Japan. Zootaxa. 4341(2); 243–257. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4341.2.4

  

[Mammalogy • 2017] Systematics and Taxonomy of Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) in Central Europe and the Balkans

Pipistrellus kuhlii lepidus  Blyth, 1845

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4306.1.2 

Abstract

We examined selected external characteristics and measurements of Pipistrellus k. kuhlii and P. k. lepidus representatives from the Balkans and Central Europe, whose ranges have rapidly expanded over the past few decades. We also sequenced and analysed two mitochondrial (16S and COI genes) and one nuclear (RAG2) markers of these two bat morphotypes to determine haplotype diversity and distribution patterns with a wider geographic perspective. We found that bats of the two taxa differed markedly with regard to the overall body coloration, size (P. k. lepidus is larger than P. k. kuhlii), extent and shape of the pale wing margin, and penis coloration, a finding which seems to be of diagnostic value, similarly to other Pipistrellus species. No polymorphism in RAG2 marker was found, but in both mtDNA markers we detected different haplotypes characteristic for both taxa, corresponding to morphological and morphometric patterns established in this study. Our genetic analysis results confirmed a clear division into two phylogenetic lineages and may indicate their allopatric speciation and a very recent simultaneous expansion to the Balkans and Central Europe from the Mediterranean region (P. kuhlii/deserti) and south-west Asia across eastern Europe (P. k. lepidus). We also show that P. k. lepidus distribution is wider than previously reported, and that the ranges of P. k. lepidus and P. k. kuhlii have already contacted in Central Europe.

Keywords: Mammalia, allopatric speciation, bats, biogeography, diagnostic features, P. k. lepidus

FIGURE 1. General appearance and coloration of Pipistrellus kuhlii lepidus, Przemyśl, Poland (A, D); light (typical) individual of P. k. kuhlii, Divjakë, Albania (B); and dark individual of P. k. kuhlii, Michalovce, Slovakia (C, E)

(photos: K. Sachanowicz). 

FIGURE 3A. Broadened and diffused pale wing margin of Pipistrellus kuhlii lepidus, Przemyśl, Poland

(photo: K. Sachanowicz).

Konrad Sachanowicz, Michał Piskorski and Anna Tereba. 2017. Systematics and Taxonomy of Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) in Central Europe and the Balkans.
 Zootaxa. 4306(1); 53–66. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4306.1.2
ResearchGate.net/publication/319129555_Systematics_and_taxonomy_of_Pipistrellus_kuhlii_Kuhl_1817_in_Central_Europe_and_the_Balkans

zenodo.org/record/843175

Barti, L. 2010. First Record of Pipistrellus kuhlii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Transylvania and A Morphological Approach to the Lepidus Taxon. Acta Siculica. 155-168. sznm.ro/acta2010/155_168_barti.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2017] Pseudanthias tequila • A New Species of Anthiadine Serranid from the Ogasawara and Mariana Islands

Pseudanthias tequila 

Gill, Tea & Senou, 2017

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4341.1.5 

Abstract

Pseudanthias tequila is described on the basis of two specimens from the Ogasawara Islands. It also is recorded from the Mariana Islands on the basis of colour photographs. The species belongs to a complex that includes P. randalli (Lubbock & Allen), P. pulcherrimus Heemstra & Randall, P. flavicauda Randall & Pyle, P. oumati Williams, Delrieu-Trottin & Planes, and a potentially new species from the Line Islands. Species within the complex are distinguished on the basis of male live colouration, morphometric details and gill-raker and scale counts. Colour photos of all five species are provided.

Keywords:  Pisces, taxonomy, ichthyology, Japan, Micronesia

Male Pseudanthias tequila: A) from Ototo-jima, Chichi-jima Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Japan (KPM-NR 179391A, photo by O. Morishita); B) from Tinian, Mariana Islands (photo by N. Tsuji)
FIGURE 6. Group of Pseudanthias tequila n. sp., Tinian, Mariana Islands, Micronesia. Photo by N. Tsuji.

Pseudanthias tequila new species 

New standard Japanese name: Bonin-hanadai

English common name: Cave anthias

Pseudanthias randalli (non Lubbock & Allen, 1978); Myers & Shephard, 1980: 316 (Blue Hole, Orote Peninsula, Guam).

Pseudanthias sp.; Myers, 1988: 140 (Guam).

Pseudanthias sp. 3; Michael, 1998: 576 (colour photo; Guam).

Pseudanthias sp. B; Myers 1999: 109, pl. 35 G (colour photo; Guam).

Pseudanthias flavicauda [non Randall & Pyle, 2001]; Myers & Donaldson, 2003: 616 (list, Marianas Islands).

Pseudanthias cf randalli; Kuiter, 2004: 61, unnumbered colour figs A and B (colour photos; Palau, Saipan and Guam).

Pseudanthias cf flavicauda; Kuiter & Debelius, 2006: 298 (colour photo; Micronesia).

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters distinguishes Pseudanthias tequila from congeners: dorsal rays X,16; anal rays III,7; pectoral rays 18; third dorsal spine prolonged in males; third segmented anal-fin ray longest; lateral-line scales 46–47; no auxiliary scales on body; interopercle and subopercle with distinct serrations in adults; males in life with upper body beneath anterior part of dorsal fin purple to pink with orange-red stripe, dorsal fin greenish yellow anteriorly, posteriorly red with blue basal area, anterior part of anal fin red, and pelvic fins bright yellow.

Habitat and distribution. Pseudanthias tequila is described on the basis of two specimens from Ototo-jima, Chichi-jima Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Japan. We also record it from Guam, Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands on the basis of photographs (Figure 7). Kuiter’s (2004) photograph of an individual of “Pseudanthias cf randalli”, stated to be from Palau, is referable to P. tequila. However, R.F. Myers (pers. comm.) advised us that the photograph, by Hiroyuki Kimura, is actually from Saipan. Other photographs from Palau are referrable to the closely related P. randalli (Lubbock & Allen, 1978). The original description of P. randalli also included paratypes from Palau. Pseudanthias tequila appears to be mostly found in caves on reef slopes in 40–60 m, earning it the popular name of “cave anthias”. In Saipan and Tinian, however, it occurs in the open on reef slopes dominated by Halimeda and Caulerpa algae (Figures 4B & 6).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the alcoholic beverage tequila sunrise, alluding to the vibrant life colours of the males of the species. To be treated as a noun in apposition.

 Anthony C. Gill, Yi-Kai Tea and Hiroshi Senou. 2017. Pseudanthias tequila, A New Species of Anthiadine Serranid from the Ogasawara and Mariana Islands. Zootaxa. 4341(1); 67–76. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4341.1.5

[Mammalogy • 2017] Rediscovery of The Type Series of The Sacred Shrew, Sorex religiosus I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1826 (Mammalia: Soricidae), with Additional Notes on Mummified Shrews of Ancient Egypt

  Crocidura religiosa   (I. Geoffroy-Saint Hilaire, 1826)

Illustration: P.J. Smit.

 Woodman, Koch & Hutterer, 2017.  

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4341.1.1 

Abstract

In 1826, Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire described the Sacred Shrew, Sorex religiosus [= Crocidura religiosa] from a series of 22 embalmed individuals that comprised a portion of the Italian archeologist Joseph Passalacqua’s collection of Egyptian antiquities from an ancient necropolis near Thebes, central Egypt. Living members of the species were not discovered until the beginning of the 20th century and are currently restricted to the Nile Delta region, well north of the type locality. In 1968, the type series of S. religiosus was reported lost, and in 1978, a neotype was designated from among a small collection of modern specimens in the Natural History Museum, London. Our investigations have revealed, however, that the type series is still extant. Most of the specimens used by I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire to describe S. religiosus still form part of the Passalacqua Collection in the Ägyptisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. We summarize the taxonomic history of S. religiosus, review the history of the Passalacqua collection, and explain why the type series was thought to have been lost. We designate an appropriate lectotype from among the original syntypes of S. religiosus in the Ägyptisches Museum. Our examination of the shrew mummies in the Passalacqua collection also yielded a species previously unrecorded from either ancient or modern Egypt: Crocidura pasha Dollman, 1915. Its presence increases the number of soricid species embalmed in ancient Egypt to seven and provides additional evidence for a more diverse Egyptian shrew fauna in the archeological past. Finally, we provide details that will assist in better understanding the variety of mummification procedures used to preserve animals in ancient Egypt.

Keywords: Mammalia, ancient Egyptian history, animal mummy, Crocidura olivieri, Crocidura pasha, Crocidura religiosa, embalming practices, taxonomy

FIGURE 6. Crocidura religiosa, as seen by the Victorian artist P.J. Smit. Detail from plate 23 in Anderson & de Winton (1902).

FIGURE 5. X-ray (A) and micro-CT-scans (B-E) of the skull of the lectotype AM 690 of Sorex religiosus I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1826 (GLS 15.3 mm): A, B, lateral views; C, sagittal cross section: D, dorsal view; E, ventral view. See the interactive 3D scan in Fig. S2. 

FIGURE 4. Lectotype ÄM 690 of Sorex religiosus I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1826. A, External view of mummy; B, X-ray of entire specimen. Scale in mm. Photograph courtesy of S. Steiss, Berlin; X-ray image courtesy of C. Schmidt, Berlin.

Crocidura religiosa (I. Geoffroy-Saint Hilaire, 1826)

Diagnosis. Small and greyish-brown Crocidura with paler underparts and limbs. Fur short and silky. Tail thick at base and covered with long bristle-like hairs over most of its length. Head and body length 54 mm, tail 26-40 mm, hindfoot short (8–10 mm s.u., 9–11 mm c.u.). Skull short (GLS 14.4-16.1 mm, Table 1) and slender; braincase flat and dorsal profile straight. Upper toothrow (I1-M3) 5.9-6.8 mm, height of coronoid process (COR) 3.0-3.7 mm. Dentition not specialized. First upper incisor robust, but of medium size (Figs. 3, 5, S2). Upper unicuspid teeth with well-developed cinguli. Upper premolar (P4) with a short parastyle. M1 and M2 with well-separated protocone and hypocone. Upper third molar small. Cutting surface of lower incisor smooth.

Distribution. Today, C. religiosa is confined to the Upper Nile valley and delta (Fig. 1). Its current population status is unknown (Hutterer et al., 2008; Happold, 2013). The most recently reported collection dates from 1988 (Handwerk, 1990). A possible Pleistocene record from Bir Tarfawi indicates the species also may have occurred in southern Egypt at that time, but the identity of the fossil fragments needs to be confirmed (Kowalski et al., 1989; Butler, 1998).

 Vernacular name. We propose to use "Sacred Shrew" as the English common name for this small species. The name coined for it by I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1826: 294–295) is “musaraigne sacrée,” first translated into English by Partington (1837) and subsequently used by Smedley et al. (1845), Reichenbach (1852: "Heilige Spitzmaus"), Fitzinger (1868), Bodenheimer (1960), and Woodman (2015). “Egyptian Pigmy Shrew” has been used by Le Berre, 1990, Wolsan & Hutterer (1998), Wilson & Cole (2000), Hutterer (2005), Aulagnier et al. (2008), and Happold (2013), while Osborn & Helmy (1980), Osborn & Osbornová (1998), and Hoath (2003) used “Dwarf Shrew.”

Neal Woodman, Claudia Koch and Rainer Hutterer. 2017. Rediscovery of The Type Series of The Sacred Shrew, Sorex religiosus I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1826, with Additional Notes on Mummified Shrews of Ancient Egypt (Mammalia: Soricidae).  Zootaxa. 4341(1); 1–24. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4341.1.1

   

[Botany • 2017] Coelogyne magnifica • A New Species (Orchidaceae) from northern Myanmar

Coelogyne magnifica Y.H. Tan, S.S. Zhou & B. Yang

in Yang, Zhou, Liu, Maung, Li, Quan & Tan, 2017

DOI:  10.3897/phytokeys.88.19861 

Abstract

Coelogyne magnifica (Orchidaceae), a new species from Putao, Kachin State, Myanmar, is described and illustrated. It belongs to Coelogyne section Ocellatae Pfitzer & Kraenzl. and it is morphologically similar to Coelogyne corymbosa and C. taronensis, but can be distinguished from these species by its larger flowers, lanceolate sepals and petals, a narrowly ovate lip, which has two bright yellow patches surrounded by shiny brownish red and two fimbriate or erose-lacerate lateral keels on the lip. The major differences between these species are outlined and discussed.

Keywords: Kachin state, section Ocellatae, key, plant taxonomy, IUCN, Hponkan Razi

Coelogyne magnifica Y.H. Tan, S.S. Zhou & B. Yang, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Coelogyne magnifica is similar to C. corymbosa and C. taronensis, but can be distinguished from these two species by its larger flowers (tepals 4.0–4.9 cm long), broadly lanceolate sepals and petals, narrowly ovate lip, which has two bright yellow patches surrounded by shiny brownish red and two fimbriate or erose-lacerate keels on the lip.

  

Figure 2. Coelogyne magnifica Y.H. Tan, S.S. Zhou & B. Yang sp. nov.
A–D Habit E Anther cap (abaxial view) F Anther cap (adaxial view) G Tepals H Column (adaxial view) I Column (abaxial view) J Column (lateral view) K Lip (adaxial view, showing the two lateral keels and two patches) L Lip (abaxial view) M Pollinia.

Photographed by Y.H. Tan, Q. Liu & X.L. Zeng.

Etymology: The species epithet refers to its large attractive flowers.

Distribution and habitat: Coelogyne magnifica is currently known only from the type locality of Putao, Kachin State, northern Myanmar. It is a predominantly epiphytic species that grows on moss-covered branches and tree trunks and sometimes also on rocks, in humid montane forests, at an elevation 2400–2500 m a.s.l.

Bin Yang, Shi-Shun Zhou, Qiang Liu, Kyaw Win Maung, Ren Li, Rui-Chang Quan and Yun-Hong Tan. 2017. Coelogyne magnifica (Orchidaceae), A New Species from northern Myanmar. PhytoKeys. 88: 109-117.  DOI:  10.3897/phytokeys.88.19861

  

[Herpetology • 2017] Cyrtodactylus sonlaensis • A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) and the First Record of C. otai from Son La Province, Vietnam

Cyrtodactylus sonlaensis

Nguyen, Pham, Ziegler, Ngo & Le, 2017

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4341.1.2 

Abstract

We describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus on the basis of four specimens collected from the limestone karst forest of Phu Yen District, Son La Province, Vietnam. Cyrtodactylus sonlaensis sp. nov. is distinguished from the remaining Indochinese bent-toed geckos by a combination of the following characters: maximum SVL of 83.2 mm; dorsal tubercles in 13–15 irregular rows; ventral scales in 34–42 rows; ventrolateral folds prominent without interspersed tubercles; enlarged femoral scales 15–17 on each thigh; femoral pores 14–15 on each thigh in males, absent in females; precloacal pores 8, in a continuous row in males, absent in females; postcloacal tubercles 2 or 3; lamellae under toe IV 18–21; dorsal head with dark brown markings, in oval and arched shapes; nuchal loop discontinuous; dorsum with five brown bands between limb insertions, third and fourth bands discontinuous; subcaudal scales distinctly enlarged. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species is nested in a clade consisting of C. huongsonensis and C. soni from northern Vietnam and C. cf. pulchellus from Malaysia based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. In addition, we record Cyrtodactylus otai Nguyen, Le, Pham, Ngo, Hoang, Pham & Ziegler for the first time from Son La Province based on specimens collected from Van Ho District.

Keywords: Reptilia, Cyrtodactylus sonlaensis sp. nov., C. otai, molecular phylogeny, new record, taxonomy, Phu Yen, Van Ho

Truong Quang Nguyen , Anh Vam Pham , Thomas Ziegler, Hanh Thi Ngo and Minh Duc Le. 2017. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) and the First Record of C. otai from Son La Province, Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 4341(1); 25–40. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4341.1.2
ResearchGate.net/publication/320708742_A_new_species_of_Cyrtodactylus_Squamata_Gekkonidae_and_the_first_record_of_C_otai_from_Son_La_Province_Vietnam

[Ichthyology • 2017] Taxonomic Study of the Genus Niwaella (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) from East China, with Description of Four New Species

Niwaella brevipinna, N. fimbriata, N. nigrolinea & N. qujiangensis 

Chen & Chen, 2017 

in Chen, He, Chen & Chen ||  zootax.com.cn 

Abstract 

 Four loaches, Niwaella brevipinna Chen & Chen, sp. nov., N. fimbriata Chen & Chen, sp. nov., N. nigrolinea Chen & Chen, sp. nov. and N. qujiangensis Chen & Chen, sp. nov., are described based on specimens collected from Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces, East China. The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 28 individuals of seven species from seven locations collected from Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces were amplified and analyzed. Morphological and molecular data showed that N. fimbriata Chen & Chen, sp. nov. and N. nigrolinea Chen & Chen, sp. nov., N. brevipinna Chen & Chen, sp. nov. and N. laterimaculata (Yan & Zheng), N. qujiangensis Chen & Chen, sp. nov. and N. longibarba Chen & Chen are closely related. The seven Chinese Niwaella species, N. brevipinna Chen & Chen, sp. nov., N. fimbriata Chen & Chen, sp. nov., N. laterimaculata, N. longibarba, N. nigrolinea Chen & Chen, sp. nov., N. qujiangensis Chen & Chen, sp. nov., and N. xinjiangensis are clearly distinguished by the combination of the color patter, mental lobes, suborbital spine, caudal peduncle, body shape, and subdorsal scales.

Yongxia Chen, Dekui He, Hao Chen and Yifeng Chen. 2017. Taxonomic Study of the Genus Niwaella (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) from East China, with Description of Four New Species.  Zoological Systematics. 42(4); 490–507.  zootax.com.cn/EN/abstract/abstract190.shtml

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[Arachnida • 2017] Taxonomic Revision of the Andean Harvestman Genus Rhaucus Simon, 1879 (Opiliones, Cosmetidae)

Rhaucus florezi  García & Kury, 2017

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4338.3.1 

Abstract

The Andean genus Rhaucus Simon 1879 is revised. Five valid species are recognized, including Rhaucus florezi sp. nov. The following nomenclatural acts are proposed. At genus level: Megarhaucus Mello-Leitão, 1941, Neorhaucus Pickard-Cambridge, 1905 and Pararhaucus Pickard-Cambridge, 1905 are considered junior subjective synonyms of Rhaucus. At species level: Neorhaucus aurolineatus Pickard-Cambridge, 1905 is considered a junior subjective synonym of Rhaucus vulneratus Simon, 1879; Rhaucus (Rhaucus) tristis Sørensen, 1932, Rhaucus (Rhaucus) muticus Sørensen, 1932 and Pararhaucus obscurus Pickard-Cambridge, 1905 are considered junior subjective synonyms of Rhaucus quinquelineatus Simon, 1879 (the latter combination is restored from current combination Flirtea quinquelineata); Flirtea paucimaculata Roewer, 1963, Rhaucus (Rhaucus) geographicus Sørensen, 1932, Metarhaucus reticulatus Roewer, 1912 and Metarhaucus fuscus Pickard-Cambridge, 1905 are considered junior subjective synonyms of Erginus serripes Simon, 1879 (that is here combined as Rhaucus serripes comb. rest.). Megarhaucus robustus Mello-Leitão, 1941 is newly combined as Rhaucus robustus (Mello-Leitão, 1941) comb. nov. Distribution maps of the species are provided. The new term multicapitate apophysis (mca) is introduced here for a special type of apophysis on coxa IV of males.

Keywords: Opiliones, Laniatores, Gonyleptoidea, Colombia, taxonomy, Andes

 Andrés F. García and Adriano B. Kury. 2017. Taxonomic Revision of the Andean Harvestman Genus Rhaucus Simon, 1879 (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cosmetidae). Zootaxa. 4338(3);  401–440. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4338.3.1