[Botany • 2020] Kaempferia minuta & K. pardi • Two New Species of Kaempferia (Zingiberaceae) from Thailand

(A–C)  เปราะน้อย Kaempferia minuta Jenjitt. & K. Larsen; 

 (D–G) เปราะเสือแต้ม Kaempferia pardi K. Larsen & Jenjitt. 

in Jenjittikul & Larsen, 2020. 

 Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 64(1) thesiamsociety.org 

 facebook.com/PlantScienceMUSC

 Photographs by Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul.

 

ABSTRACT

 Two new species of Kaempferia section Kaempferia, K. minuta Jenjitt. & K. Larsen and K. pardi K. Larsen & Jenjitt. are described and illustrated. 

Keywords: Kaempferia minuta, Kaempferia pardi, new taxa, taxonomy

(A–C) Kaempferia minuta Jenjitt. & K. Larsen: A, Habit; B, Plant in side view; C, Flower.
 (D–G) Kaempferia pardi K. Larsen & Jenjitt.: D–F, Habit; G, Flower.

Photographs by Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul.

  Kaempferia minuta, a new species from Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand

(photograph by Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul)

Kaempferia minuta Jenjitt. & K. Larsen, sp. nov.

Diagnosis.—Similar to Kaempferia attapeuensis Picheans. & Koonterm in its flower, but distinct in its orbicular to suborbicular laminae (vs. oblong-elliptic to ovate laminae in K. attapeuensis). 

Distribution.—Thailand (Eastern: Ubon Ratchathani Province) and Laos

Etymology.—The specific epithet “minuta” refers to the tiny size.

Vernacular name.—Proh noi (เปราะน้อย), Proh laolek (เปราะลาวเล็ก) 

(A–C) Kaempferia minuta Jenjitt. & K. Larsen: A, Habit; B, Plant in side view; C, Flower.
(D–G) Kaempferia pardi K. Larsen & Jenjitt.: D–F, Habit; G, Flower.

Photographs by Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul.

Kaempferia pardi K. Larsen & Jenjitt., sp. nov. 

Diagnosis.—Similar to Kaempferia koratensis Picheans. in leaf shape, but differs in having larger laminae with numerous dark spots on upper surfaces (vs. dark green, sometimes with white variegated pattern in K. koratensis), a larger flower, white with two dull purple blotches at the sinus (vs. white with a pale yellow patch at the base of labellum in K. koratensis) and strikingly larger anther thecae. 

Distribution.—Endemic to Thailand. This species is currently only known in Phetchabun, Lopburi, Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan provinces.

Etymology.—The specific epithet “pardi” refers to leopard-like spotted pattern on its upper surface of leaves.

Vernacular name.—Proh sua tam (เปราะเสือแต้ม) 

Thaya Jenjittikul and Kai Larsen. 2020. Two New Species of Kaempferia (Zingiberaceae) from Thailand. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 64(1): 17–23.

 thesiamsociety.org/NHBSS_publications/vol-64-no-1-2020/

 facebook.com/PlantScienceMUSC/posts/3645977672106407

[Herpetology • 2022] Lycodon ankardaya & L. truongi • Two New Syntopic Species of Wolf Snakes Genus Lycodon (H. Boie in Fitzinger, 1826) (Squamata: Colubridae) from An imperiled Ecosystem in the Song Giang River Valley of southern Vietnam

Lycodon ankardaya

Lycodon truongi  

Nguyen, Duong, Wood & Grismer, 2022. 

DOI: 10.3897/vz.72.e82201

Abstract

An integrative taxonomic analysis of species in the colubrid genus Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826 recovered two new syntopic species of the L. rufozonatus complex from the imperiled Song Giang River valley in Khan Hoa Province, of Southern Vietnam. Although L. truongi sp. nov. and L. anakradaya sp. nov. are syntopic, they are not particularly closely related and can be differentiated from each other and all other species in the L. rufozonatus complex on the basis of meristics, morphometrics, color pattern, and uncorrected pairwise genetic distance based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b. The discovery of these two new range-restricted species and a previously described range-restricted gekkonid in the genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1828 from the same valley, underscores the necessity of continued field work in the Song Giang River valley so as to catalog the unrealized herpetological diversity in this area and establish research-based conservation programs.

Keywords: Colubrid, conservation, integrative taxonomy, Khanh Hoa Province, Southeast Asia

Holotype of Lycodon truongi sp. nov. SIEZC 20249
 from the Song Giang River Valley Khanh Trung Commune, Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam.
A Dorsal view of head. B Gular region. C Lateral view of head. D Dorsal view of body. E Ventral view of body.

Photographs by Anh The Nguyen.

Lycodon truongi sp. nov. 

Suggested common name: Truong’s wolf snake 

— Rắn khuyết Trường.

Diagnosis: Lycodon truongi sp. nov. is separated from all other species of the L. rufozonatus complex by having the combination of a maximum SVL length of 700 mm; tail length 195 mm; 17–17–15 dorsal scale rows; 14 maxillary teeth; eight supralabials with the third–fifth contacting the eye; nine infralabials; one preocular; two postoculars; an elongate loreal not contacting the eye; two anterior temporals; two posterior temporals; 200 ventral scales; 91 paired subcaudal scales; a divided precloacal plate; 15 keeled vertebral scale rows from midbody to vent; uniform dark-brown to black adult head pattern; no wide light-colored nuchal-occipital collar in the adult; black dorsal ground color; 19 narrow white body bands; 13 white caudal bands; white dorsal bands on ventrolateral section of body as opposed to a reticulated pattern; anterior one-half of venter white, and posterior of venter bearing white and broken black bands. These characters are scored across all species of the L. rufozonatus complex in Table 2.

Etymology: The specific epithet “truongi” is a patronym honoring Professor Dr. Quang Truong Nguyen for his long-standing extensive contributions to the herpetology of Vietnam and his broad international collaborations.

A. Holotype of Lycodon ankardaya sp. nov. SIEZC 20247.
B Holotype of Lycodon truongi sp. nov. SIEZC 20248.
C Paratype of Lycodon ankardaya sp. nov. SIEZC 20248.

Photographs by Anh The Nguyen.

Lycodon anakradaya sp. nov. 

Suggested common name: Rhade wolf snake 

– Rắn khuyết Ê đê.

Diagnosis: Lycodon anakradaya sp. nov. is separated from all other species in the L. rufozonatus complex by having the combination of a maximum SVL length of 790 mm; TaL 190 mm; 17 or 18–17–15 dorsal scale rows; 12 maxillary teeth; eight supralabials with the 3rd–5th contacting the eye; nine or 10 infralabials; one preocular; two postoculars; an elongate loreal not contacting the eye; two anterior temporals; three posterior temporals; 223–232 ventral scales; 87 paired subcaudal scales; a divided precloacal plate; five keeled vertebral scale rows from midbody to vent; uniform dark-brown to black adult head pattern; no wide light-colored nuchal-occipital collar; dark-brown/black dorsal ground color; 12 wide, orangish body bands; 5–7 orangish caudal bands; orangish dorsal bands on ventrolateral section of body as opposed to a reticulated pattern; and anterior one-half of venter orangish grading into a dark-brown posteriorly. These characters are scored across all species of the L. rufozonatus complex in Table 2.

Etymology: The specific epithet “anakradaya” is given in a reference to the Ede people (“Anak Radaya” in Ede language), an Austronesian ethnic group living in the upland forested areas of southern Vietnam including those that surround the Song Giang River valley.

Anh The Nguyen, Tang Van Duong, Perry L. Wood Jr. and L. Lee Grismer. 2022. Two New Syntopic Species of Wolf Snakes (genus Lycodon H. Boie in Fitzinger, 1826) from an imperiled Eecosystem in the Song Giang River Valley of southern Vietnam (Squamata: Colubridae). Vertebrate Zoology. 72: 371-384. DOI: 10.3897/vz.72.e82201

[Herpetology • 2022] Pristimantis symptosus • Rediscovery, Redescription and Identity of Pristimantis nebulosus (Henle, 1992), and Description of A New Terrestrial-breeding Frog (Anura: Strabomantidae) from Montane Rainforests of central Peru

Pristimantis symptosus

Köhler, Castillo-Urbina, Aguilar-Puntriano, Vences & Glaw, 2022

DOI: 10.3897/zse.98.84963

Abstract

The taxonomic status of the strabomantid frog species Pristimantis nebulosus (Henle, 1992), originating from the southern Cordillera Azul in central Peru, is investigated based on examination of the holotype and its comparison with freshly collected topotypic material. Following current standards, we provide a redescription of the holotype. It is in a rather poor state and exhibits certain damages and preservation artifacts, conditions that have hampered an allocation of this nominal taxon to any known living population of Pristimantis in the past. Our detailed specimen-to-specimen comparison provided morphological evidence for the conspecifity of the holotype and freshly collected topotypes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on the mitochondrial 16S gene fragment places P. nebulosus in the P. conspicillatus species group, being closely related to P. bipunctatus and an undescribed candidate species from the Cordillera de Carpish. From both, P. nebulosus differs by considerable divergence in the 16S gene (p-distance 4.1–6.2%). Based on the specimens available, we provide an updated diagnosis for P. nebulosus, compare it to other species in the P. conspicillatus group and describe its advertisement call. In addition, we describe and name the closely related candidate species from the Cordillera de Carpish. It is sister to P. bipunctatus and P. nebulosus, but differs from both mainly by its tuberculate dorsal skin (versus shagreen) and divergence in the 16S gene (3.3–4.1%). We briefly discuss cryptic species diversity in the P. conspicillatus and P. danae species groups and provide justification for the description of a singleton species.

Key Words: Amphibia, bioacoustics, Cordillera Azul, Cordillera de Carpish, molecular genetics, morphology, Pristimantis conspicillatus species group, systematics, taxonomy

Topotypic Pristimantis nebulosus in life:
Adult male (MUSM 40299) in a. dorsolateral, b. ventral, c. dorsal, and d. frontolateral views;
 adult male (MUSM 40298) in e. dorsolateral, f. ventral, and g. frontal views;
h. Juvenile (MUSM 40326) in dorsolateral view (inset photo showing ventral view of same individual).

Not to scale.

 Pristimantis nebulosus (Henle, 1992)

Distribution: So far, P. nebulosus is only known from its type locality in the southern Cordillera Azul, at the border of the Departamentos Huánuco and Ucayali. However, it is very likely that the species occupies a wider range, at least along the same elevational corridor within the Cordillera Azul. Possibly, there are additional records of this species represented by unidentified or misidentified specimens in scientific collections.

Male holotype of Pristimantis symptosus sp. nov. (MUSM 40256, FGZC 6207) from the Cordillera de Carpish, 2360 m a.s.l., in life:

 a. Dorsolateral view of left body side; b. Dorsolateral view of right body side; c. Ventral view. Note tuberculate skin on dorsum, flanks and forearm.

View of the forest along the road 18A close to the type locality of Pristimantis symptosus sp. nov. in the Cordillera de Carpish, Departamento Huánuco, Peru, at approximately 2450 m a.s.l.
Photo taken on 4 November 2019.

 Pristimantis symptosus sp. nov. 

 

Diagnosis: A medium-sized species of the Pristimantis conspicillatus species group (based on molecular relationships and morphological similarity), with 27.6 mm SVL in adult male, characterised by: (1) skin on dorsum tuberculate, with a pair of enlarged scapular warts; flanks tuberculate; throat smooth, venter weakly areolate; discoidal fold conspicuous; dorsolateral folds distinct, but low; dorsal folds absent; three prominent postrictal conical tubercles present; upper eyelid lacking tubercles and granules; posterior surfaces of thighs smooth; (2) tympanic membrane and annulus distinct, slightly higher than long, their length less than half of eye diameter; supratympanic fold long, prominent, almost straight, not covering upper tympanum or annulus; (3) head longer than wide; snout subacuminate in dorsal view, bluntly rounded in lateral profile; canthus rostralis straight in dorsal view, sharp in profile; (4) cranial crests absent; (5) dentigerous process of vomers prominent, elongate, oblique, situated posteromedial to choanae; (6) males with vocal slits, single subgular vocal sac, and nuptial asperities on dorsal surface of thenar tubercle; (7) hands with long and slender fingers, first finger equal in length to second; subarticular tubercles subconical, prominent; supernumerary tubercles absent; palmar tubercle bifid, flat; thenar tubercle prominent, elongated; terminal discs of inner two fingers enlarged and round, those of external fingers enlarged, ovate, about twice the width of digit proximal to disc; circumferential grooves conspicuous, ungual flap very slightly indented; lateral fringes on fingers absent; basal webbing between fingers absent; (8) ulnar tubercles absent; (9) tubercles on heel and tarsus absent, tarsal fold absent; (10) inner metatarsal tubercle ovate, prominent; outer metatarsal tubercle round, flat; supernumerary tubercles absent; (11) toes long and slender (FootL 54% SVL); narrow lateral fringes weakly expressed, trace of basal toe webbing present; toe V reaching distal level of penultimate subarticular tubercle of toe IV; toe V slightly longer than toe III; tips of toes rounded to slightly ovate, enlarged; circumferential grooves conspicuous; (12) in life, dorsal colouration brown to tan with dark brown chevrons and flecks on dorsum; dark brown bars on dorsal surfaces of arms and legs; dark brown interorbital bar; a pair of black spots, surrounding prominent conical scapular warts: broad black supratympanic stripe; black canthal stripe; belly cream; throat densely mottled with dark brown; ventral surfaces of thighs and shanks orange tan; posterior surface of thighs orange-brown with irregular cream spotting; plantar and palmar surfaces yellowish-brown, densely covered with dark brown mottling; iris copper, with black reticulation; posterior iris periphery pale blue; bones white; (13) advertisement call consisting of a single pulsed note of 132–186 ms duration, emitted at regular succession (see below).

Natural history: The forest at the type locality constitutes upper montane rainforest at the transition zone to cloud forest, growing on steep slopes (Fig. 10), with trees not exceeding 20 m height (Jiménez and Pacheco 2016). Males were calling from a low position in shrub vegetation along the road during a foggy night and light rain. The holotype was sitting on a leaf approximately 25 cm above the ground. Pristimantis sp. (lacrimosus group) and P. sp. (aff. rhabdocnemus) were found at nearby sites. Nothing else is known.

 

Distribution: Pristimantis symptosus is only known from its type locality and possibly endemic to the Cordillera de Carpish.

Etymology: The specific epithet is a Latinised adjective derived from the Greek σύμπτωση (symptosi) meaning ‘coincidence’. It refers to the fact that we only discovered the new species by coincidence on an unplanned return to the Cordillera de Carpish after forgetting part of our expedition gear there.

 

Jörn Köhler, Ernesto Castillo-Urbina, César Aguilar-Puntriano, Miguel Vences and Frank Glaw. 2022. Rediscovery, Redescription and Identity of Pristimantis nebulosus (Henle, 1992), and Description of A New Terrestrial-breeding Frog from Montane Rainforests of central Peru (Anura, Strabomantidae). Zoosystematics and Evolution. 98(2): 213-232. DOI: 10.3897/zse.98.84963

 

[Botany • 2022] Aster quanzhouensis (Asteraceae) • A New Riparian Species from eastern China

 Aster quanzhouensis M.Tang, G.J.Yan & W.P.Li, 

 in Xiao, Yan, Li & Tang, 2022. 

泉州紫菀  ||  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.195.82411

Abstract

Aster quanzhouensis sp. nov. (Asteraceae) from Fujian, eastern China, is described and illustrated. It grows on rocks in the riparian zone. Morphological, cytological and molecular investigations of A. quanzhouensis were carried out. The morphological data and phylogenetic analysis based on combined ITS, ETS and trnL-F dataset suggest that A. quanzhouensis is a separate species closely related to A. tonglingensis. The new species differs from the latter by the shorter stem length, leaf morphology, colour of phyllaries, number of ray florets, and achene shape. The cytological observation shows that the new species is diploid with a karyotype of 2n = 18.

Keywords: Asteraceae, Aster quanzhouensis, new species, taxonomy

 Aster quanzhouensis M.Tang, G.J.Yan & W.P.Li, sp. nov. 
A habitat B habit C seedling D steam E rosulate leaves F top view of the capitulum G a disk floret (left) and a ray floret (right) H style branches of a disk floret I receptacle J fruits K dorsal view of a capitulum L phyllaries (from outer to inner, left to right).

 Aster quanzhouensis M.Tang, G.J.Yan & W.P.Li, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: Aster quanzhouensis differs from A. tonglingensis by its stems only 21–30 (60) cm (vs. 70–100 cm) long, narrowly lanceolate (vs. lanceolate) rosulate leaves, purplish-red (vs. green) apices of the phyllaries, 9–20 (40) (vs. more than 30) capitula, 7–11 (vs. ca. 15) ray florets, 11–14 × ca. 2 mm (vs. 7–10 × ca. 2 mm) lamina, two-or three-ribbed (vs. 4-ribbed) achenes and flowering period (Sep to early Dec vs. Jul) (Figs 2, 3, Table 1).

Etymology: The species is named after its type locality, Quanzhou city, Fujian province, China.

Vernacular name: quán zhōu zĭ wăn (Chinese pronunciation); 

泉州紫菀 (Chinese name).

Distribution and habitat: Aster quanzhouensis is known from Dehua and Yongchun counties, Quanzhou city, Fujian province, China. The new species grows on rocks in riparian habitats at an altitude of ca. 500 m a.s.l.

 Jia-Wei Xiao, Guo-Jiao Yan, Wei-Ping Li and Ming Tang. 2022. Aster quanzhouensis (Asteraceae), A New Riparian Species from eastern China. PhytoKeys. 195: 93-106. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.195.82411

   

[Entomology • 2022] New Insights into the Genetic Diversity of the Balkan Bush-crickets of the Poecilimon ornatus Group (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

A Poecilimon pseudornatus, B P. gracilioides, C P. a. affinis,
D P. a. hajlensis, E P. gracilis, F P. nobilis,
G P. rumijae, H P. hoelzeli, I P. ornatus.

in Kociński, Chobanov & Grzywacz, 2022. 

DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e82447

Photos: Dragan Chobanov.

Abstract

The Balkan Peninsula is treated as a hotspot of biodiversity with over 40% of European bush-crickets occurring there. Poecilimon Fischer, 1853 is one of the largest Palaearctic orthopteran genera containing several species groups. One of them is the Poecilimon ornatus group (Schmidt, 1850) with 13 species and 5 subspecies. Among the group, the Poecilimon affinis complex is designated as consisting of P. pseudornatus Ingrisch & Pavićević, 2010, P. nonveilleri Ingrisch & Pavićević, 2010, and five subspecies of P. affinis (Frivaldszky, 1868). The aim of this study is to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among taxa of the P. ornatus group and to elucidate the position of taxa related to the P. affinis complex. Molecular phylogeny supported the monophyly of the P. ornatus group and showed that their ancestor probably originated in the southern Balkans. The underlying processes are thought to be six dispersals and five vicariance events linked to geological events and climate changes in the Pleistocene. The species delimitation analysis showed mostly nine hypothetical species among the group.

Keywords: biogeography, evolution, phylogeny, Poecilimon affinis complex, taxonomy

A Poecilimon pseudornatus, B P. gracilioides, C P. a. affinis, D P. a. hajlensis, E P. gracilis, F P. nobilis, G P. rumijae, H P. hoelzeli, I P. ornatus. 

Photos: Dragan Chobanov.

Bayesian inference tree from a dataset including COI, ND2, CR, and ITS1 sequences of the Poecilimon ornatus group. Bayesian (BI) and Maximum likelihood (ML) topologies were consistent, so only one tree is shown. I – the first clade, II – the second clade, III – the third clade. The right panel shows groupings from different species delimitation approaches, as follows: bPTP ML – the Poisson Tree Processes; ASAP – Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning; GMYC – maximum-likelihood approach based on the general mixed Yule-coalescent model; ABGD – Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery. The last grouping is based on localities of the taxa studied (NM – North Macedonia, MN – Montenegro, SR – Serbia, BG – Bulgaria, AL – Albania, GR – Greece). Scale bar: number of substitutions per nucleotide position.

A Poecilimon pseudornatus, B P. gracilioides, C P. a. affinis,
D P. a. hajlensis, E P. gracilis, F P. nobilis,
G P. rumijae, H P. hoelzeli, I P. ornatus.

Photos: Dragan Chobanov.

Maciej Kociński, Dragan Chobanov and Beata Grzywacz. 2022. New Insights into the Genetic Diversity of the Balkan Bush-crickets of the Poecilimon ornatus Group (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 80: 243-259.  DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e82447

[Crustacea • 2022] Caridina stellata • A New Species of Atyid Shrimp (Decapoda, Caridea, Atyidae) with the Male Description of Caridina cavernicola Liang & Zhou, 1993 from Guangxi, China

 

(A) Caridina stellata 

Guo, Chen, Chen, Cai & Guo. 2022

Caridina cavernicola 

Liang & Zhou, 1993

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1104.81836

Abstract

Caridina stellata sp. nov. is described from streams in Guangxi, south-western China. The new species clearly belongs to “Caridina serrata group” of the genus and shows a morphological similarity with C. cantonensis Yu, 1938, C. serrata Stimpson, 1860 and C. pacbo Do et al. 2020. Caridina stellata is distinguished from congeners, based on differences in its male first pleopod and appendix masculina morphology, along with COI and 16S rRNA molecular evidence. The first pleopod endopod in male is rectangle, about 0.70 × length of exopod, about 3.7–3.9 × as long as proximally wide, inner margin concave, bearing nearly equal spine setae, outer margin bearing nearly equal long and dense spine setae; appendix interna well developed, arising from distal 1/5 of endopod, reaching to end of endopod, with cincinuli distally. The new species displays a unique and brightly coloured pattern and, therefore, can be easily recognised in the field. Liang & Zhou, 1993 described C. cavernicola from the Lenggu Cave, Du’an County, Guangxi. However, the description was based exclusively on two females. We have collected specimens of both sexes near the type locality and describe herein the previously unknown male and present morphological data on females. Data on the habitat, ecology and levels of threat of the two species are provided and suggest that they should be categorised as vulnerable (VU) under the current IUCN Criteria.

Keywords: COI and 16S rRNA, ecology, habitat, levels of threat, new species, south-western China

Habitats and live colouration of Caridina stellata sp. nov. and C. cavernicola
A C. stellata sp. nov. B–D C. cavernicola;
E–H surrounding environment of C. stellata sp. nov. (E) and C. cavernicola (F–H).

Family Atyidae De Haan, 1849

Genus Caridina H. Milne Edwards, 1837

 Caridina stellata sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Rostrum long, straight, slightly sloping downwards, reaching to end of 2nd segment of antennular peduncle, occasionally reaching to end of 3rd segment of antennular peduncle; rostral formula 6-8+7-16/6-13. 1st pereiopod carpus 0.43–0.71 × as long as chela, 1.2–1.4 × as long as high; chela 1.8–2.4 × as long as broad; fingers 0.80–1.1 × as long as palm. 2nd pereiopodcarpus 1.1–1.3 × as long as chela, 4.0–4.8 × as long as high; chela 2.1–2.4 × as long as broad; fingers 1.1–1.4 × as long as palm. 3rd pereiopod propodus 4.0–5.5 × as long as dactylus, with two rows thin spines on the posterior margin, ischium with one spine on the posterior margin. 5th pereiopod propodus 4.2–5.3 × as long as dactylus, with two rows of thin spines on the posterior and lateral margins, dactylus terminating in one claw, with 35–40 spinules on flexor margin. Endopod of male 1st pleopod extending to 0.68 × exopod length, wider proximally, rectangle, about 3.7–3.9 × as long as wide, appendix interna well developed, arising from distal 1/6 of endopod, reaching end of endopod. Appendix masculina of male 2nd pleopod cylindrical, reaching to 0.58 length of endopod, appendix interna reaching to 0.50 length of appendix masculina. Uropodal diaeresis with 17–19 movable spinules. Eggs 0.84–0.89 × 1.27–1.39 mm in diameter.

 

Etymology: Caridina stellata is named after the Latin word stellatus, for dots, alluding to the pigmented pattern of the body.

    

 Guo-Cai Guo, Qing-Hua Chen, Wen-Jian Chen, Chao-Huang Cai and Zhao-Liang Guo. 2022. Caridina stellata, A New Species of Atyid Shrimp (Decapoda, Caridea, Atyidae) with the Male Description of Caridina cavernicola Liang & Zhou, 1993 from Guangxi, China. ZooKeys. 1104: 177-201. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1104.81836

[Botany • 2022] Espeletia saboyana (Asteraceae: Millerieae) • A New Critically Endangered Caulirosula from Cordillera Oriental, Colombia

Espeletia saboyana  

in Ramirez & Mavárez, 2022.  

DOI: 10.1600/036364422X16516711856571

Abstract

Espeletia saboyana, a new species from Páramo de Saboyá, Boyacá department, Colombia, is described and illustrated. It is a caulescent rosette up to 5 m tall, with whitish-cinereous appearance, sessile leaves with elliptic laminae, cymose capitulescences with aphyllous unbranched portion and 3‐5 capitula, 5‐13 phyllaries, the external ones 17.4‐26.0 mm long, 49‐92 ray florets 13.0‐18.4 mm long, and 162‐347 disc florets 8.2‐12.2 mm long. Espeletia saboyana is similar to E. incana, but with longer laminae, bigger foliar area, and fewer ray floret series. It is also similar to E. murilloi, but with longer ray tubes, ray paleae, disc corollas, disc styles, disc anther appendages, and disc paleae. In addition, E. saboyana is distributed allopatrically in regard to E. incana and E. murilloi. This species is informally proposed to be listed as IUCN Critically Endangered (CR), since it is restricted to a single population with extent of occurrence = 1.83 km2 and area of occupancy = 0.48 km2. Besides, this population is severely fragmented into 40‐50 demes, the largest one covering only 34,000 m2. Most demes are found in humid soils and wetlands submitted to continuous habitat deterioration as water is drained for use in agriculture. Espeletia saboyana is rare or absent in these newly drained areas, which are either colonized by other species that thrive on drier soils or transformed into pastures for cattle grazing. Furthermore, analyses of size class distributions show that recruitment rates of E. saboyana are significantly lower in small demes, which, if not reversed, can further reduce population size in the near future.

Keywords: Andes; Páramo; biological conservation; caulescent rosette; demography; high-elevation; morphometrics; taxonomy

 

María Teresa Becerra Ramirez and Jesús Mavárez. 2022. Espeletia saboyana (Millerieae, Asteraceae), A New Critically Endangered Caulirosula from Cordillera Oriental, Colombia. Systematic Botany. 47(2); 593-606. DOI: 10.1600/036364422X16516711856571

Researchgate.net/publication/361500174_Espeletia_saboyana_a_New_Species_from_Cordillera_Oriental_Colombia

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[Diplopoda • 2022] Glyphiulus sinuatoprocessus, G. scutatus, G. xiniudong, etc. • Revision of the javanicus Species Group of the Millipede Genus Glyphiulus Gervais, 1847 (Spirostreptida: Cambalopsidae), with Descriptions of Five New Species from China

A Glyphiulus sinuatoprocessus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Niubi Yan
B G. scutatus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Bianfu Dong
C G. portaliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Baiyan Dong
D G. xiniudong Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Xiniu Dong 

in Zhao, Guo, Golovatch & Liu, 2022. 

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1108.85156

Abstract

The javanicus-group of Glyphiulus is re-assessed and its Chinese component species are presently divided between the following two newly-circumscribed species groups, i.e. the formosus- and the sinensis-group. The two can be differentiated, based on the diagnostic characters of the first pair of legs in the male. In addition, metatergal crests being complete and the carinotaxy formula on the collum being I–III+P+M are only characteristic of the formosus-group. A molecular phylogeny of the genus, based on DNA sequencing of four gene fragments of four genes, allows for Glyphiulus to be recovered as a monophyletic group, the phylogenetic relationship being ((Clade A, Clade B), Clade C). Molecular evidence is fully congruent with the morphological one. In addition, based on barcoding data, interspecific p-distances between Glyphiulus species amount to 11.2–24.9%, vs. 0–8.2% for intraspecific p-distances. Five new species of Glyphiulus, all cavernicolous, are described from China: G. sinuatoprocessus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov., G. conuliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. (both from Guangdong Province), G. xiniudong Zhao & Liu, sp. nov., G. scutatus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. and G. portaliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. (all three from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region). The known Chinese species of the formosus-group appear to mainly be confined to the South China region.

Keywords: Cave, DNA barcoding, new record, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy

Pictures of live animals
 A Glyphiulus sinuatoprocessus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Niubi Yan B G. scutatus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Bianfu Dong C G. portaliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Baiyan Dong D G. xiniudong Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Xiniu Dong E G. conuliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. from Cave Yanzi Dong.

Yi Zhao, Wan-Ru Guo, Sergei I. Golovatch and Wei-Xin Liu. 2022. Revision of the javanicus Species Group of the Millipede Genus Glyphiulus Gervais, 1847, with Descriptions of Five New Species from China (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Cambalopsidae). ZooKeys. 1108: 89-118.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1108.85156

[Botany • 2022] Gentiana susanneae (Gentianaceae, sect. Frigida) • A New Species from Sichuan, China

Gentiana susanneae  

in Favre, Pringle & Fu, 2022. 

Susanne’s Gentian  ||  DOI: 10.1600/036364422X16512564801579

 twitter.com/AdrienFavre1 

 

Abstract 

The region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau hosts a remarkable biodiversity, including a plethora of endemics. There, the process of documenting biodiversity is still ongoing, and recently, an unusual plant of Gentiana section Frigida was discovered at Cuopu Lakes (Sichuan, China). Although Flora of China identified these specimens as G. algida based upon unmistakable traits (e.g. corolla colour and length, sessile flowers), it was obvious that the Sichuanese plants strongly differed morphologically from G. algida specimens from Siberia and North America. In order to clarify their relationships, we used an integrative approach, investigating not only morphological traits, but also phylogenetic relationships (based upon plastome and rDNA-cistron), as well as chloroplast structure. Whereas the rDNA-cistron phylogeny was poorly resolved, the plastome phylogeny was well supported in both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses. Our findings indicate that the samples of G. algida from Cuopu Lakes are morphologically and genetically distinct from those collected elsewhere, supporting the recognition of a new species, G. susanneae. The new species differs from G. purdomii (another similar species) by having sessile flowers, and from G. algida by being a generally much taller plant with more and longer flowers, and by having a smaller calyx. Gentiana susanneae clusters with other species from the region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from which it differs morphologically, and is only distantly related to the G. algida/G. frigida clade, which stems from a dispersal event out of Tibet. Based upon these solid lines of evidence, G. susanneae is described and illustrated (drawings and photographs). In addition, a conservation assessment and an identification key modified from Flora of China are provided.

Keywords: Biogeography; Gentiana sect. Frigida; Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Gentiana susanneae 

 

   Adrien Favre, James S. Pringle and Peng-Cheng Fu. 2022. Phylogenetics Support the Description of A New Sichuanese Species, Susanne’s Gentian, Gentiana susanneae (Gentianaceae). Systematic Botany. 47(2); 506-513. DOI: 10.1600/036364422X16512564801579

 twitter.com/AdrienFavre1/status/1541655122039783424

[Arachnida • 2022] Raveniola yangren • A New Troglobiontic Spider (Araneae, Nemesiidae) from Hunan, China

Raveniola yangren Lin & Li, 

in Lin, Yan & Li, 2022. 

 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e85946

Abstract

Background: 

Troglomorphism is rare known in Mygalomorphae. Only three troglomorphic mygalomorphs have been recorded in China: Raveniola beelzebub Lin & Li, 2020, R. lamia Yu & Zhang, 2021 and Sinopesa gollum Lin & Li, 2021.

New information: 

A new troglobiontic species of the genus Raveniola is described from China: R. yangren sp. n. (female) from Hunan. Photos and morphological description of the new species are given. This new species has elongated appendages and degenerated eyes in order to adapt to the cave environment. It can be distinguished by the stubby, unbranched spermathecae from other Raveniola.

Keywords: Asia, diagnosis, taxonomy, type

Raveniola yangren sp. n., holotype female.
A habitus, dorsal, B same, ventral, C labium and sternum, D spinnerets, E ocular area, F leg I. Arrow shows scopula on tibia.

Raveniola yangren sp. n., live.
 A paratype, B holotype, in situ.

Raveniola yangren Lin & Li, 2022, sp. n.

Diagnosis: The females of Raveniola yangren sp. n. resemble R. beelzebub Lin & Li, 2020 and R. lamia Yu & Zhang, 2021 by total reduction of eyes and the pale colouration (Fig. 2A, B and E). However, the new species can be distinguished by the spermathecae unbranched (vs. branched in R. beelzebub, other Raveniola spp. from China, see Fig. 3C) and the ratio of the length of spermathecae to the width is almost 2:1 (Fig. 3A and B) (vs. 8:1 in R. lamia, see Fig. 3C-6).

Etymology: The species is named after Yangren, a blind god who had hands with eyes in the palm in place of his normal eyes in Chinese traditional culture; noun in apposition.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality (China, Hunan).

Biology: Habitat under stones in the cave.

 Ye-Jie Lin, Xunyou Yan and Shuqiang Li. 2022. Raveniola yangren sp. n., A New Troglobiontic Spider from Hunan, China (Araneae, Nemesiidae). Biodiversity Data Journal. 10: e85946. DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e85946