[Botany • 2023] Begonia stilpnophylla (Begoniaceae) • A New Species from Indonesia and Timor-Leste

 Begonia stilpnophylla D.C.Thomas & Ardi, 

in Thomas, Ardi, Santana, Pinto, Wei, Martins et Conaboy, 2023.

 journals.rbge.org.uk/EJB

 Researchgate.net/publication/371731614

Abstract

A new rhizomatous, lithophytic species of Begonia (Begoniaceae – Begonia sect. Jackia) is described from material collected from limestone areas in the Indonesian and Timor-Leste parts of the island of Timor, Lesser Sunda Isles. Photographs, a provisional conservation status assessment of the new species, and an identification key to species of Begonia sect. Jackia in the Lesser Sunda Isles are provided.

 

Keywords: Endemism, Limestone karst

 Begonia stilpnophylla D.C.Thomas & Ardi, sp. nov.
A, Habit; B, leaf, abaxial surface; C, leaf, adaxial surface; D, rhizome and stipules; E, leaf margin with reflexed teeth; F, dichasial-cymose inflorescence; G, female flower, side view; H, female flower, front view; I, male flower, front view; J, stamens; K, fruit; L, ovary, cross-section; M, seed. Scale bars: B, C and F, 10 cm; D, 2 cm; E, G and K, 1 cm; H, 5 mm; I, 12 mm; J, 1 mm; L, 3 mm; M, 300 μm. All photographs of D. C. Thomas 3494, taken by D. C. Thomas.

Begonia stilpnophylla D.C.Thomas & Ardi, sp. nov. 

[Section Jackia]

This species is morphologically similar to Begonia pseudomuricata Girm. from Bali but differs by its more strongly compressed rhizome internodes (2–5 mm vs c.10 mm long),glabrous petioles (vs sparsely to moderately densely hairy), smaller tepals of the male flowers (outer 10–11 × 8–9 mm, inner 12–14 × 6 mm vs outer 12–15 × 11–12 mm, inner15–19 × 7 mm) and female flowers (outer 7–8 × 7–8 mm, inner 5 × 2–4 mm vs outer10–11 × 9–10 mm, inner 9–10 × 3–4 mm).

Habitat and ecology. In crevices and on ledges on limestone cliffs, cave entrances and limestone boulders, in semi-shade, from 250 to 1300 m elevation.

Etymology. Greek, stilpnos (‘sparkling’, ‘glittering’) and -phyllos (‘-leafed’) – a reference to the way light reflects from the lower leaf surface.

 

 D.C. Thomas, W.H. Ardi, F. Santana, P. Pinto, F. Loke Wei, N.B. Martins and N. Conaboy. 2023. A New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Edinburgh Journal of Botany.DOI: 10.24823/EJB.2023.1973

 journals.rbge.org.uk/EJB/article/view/1973

  Researchgate.net/publication/371731614_A_NEW_SPECIES_OF_BEGONIA_FROM_INDONESIA_AND_TIMOR-LESTE

[Herpetology • 2023] Indotyphlops laca • “Anteaters” under the Airport: A Slender New Species of Blindsnake, Genus Indotyphlops (Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae: Asiatyphlopinae), from Timor-Leste

Indotyphlops laca 

O'Shea, Wallach, Hsiao & Kaiser, 2023

.  DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2022-0097

  Researchgate.net/publication/371019470

 

Abstract

We describe a slender immature female blindsnake from the main airport in Dili, Timor-Leste, as a new species of Indotyphlops, adding a third species to the country's known blindsnake fauna of Sundatyphlops polygrammicus (Schlegel, 1839) and Virgotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803). The new species has the following combination of characteristics: small size (snout–vent length = 119 mm), slender body (relative body thickness 71), T-V supralabial imbrication pattern, relative rostral width 0.36, 434 middorsal scales, relative tail length 1.7%, absence of enlarged occipital scales, and apical spine absent. The snake was found in an ant nest under several flat rocks near the fuel depot of Nicolau Lobato International Airport, and this habitat and the discovery in a busy location with heavy human impacts indicate that the species is likely a primarily subterranean myrmeco- or termitophage.

 Holotype of Indotyphlops laca sp. nov.  in life, demonstrating its slender body compared with its length. The head of the snake is the lighter coloured region at left.

Indotyphlops laca sp. nov.

Laca's Wormsnake (ENG), 

Ular Kawat Laca (IND), Samea Matan Delek Laca (TET).

diagnosis: Indotyphlops laca (Figs. 3–5) is a small (SVL = 119 mm), slender (relative body thickness 71 or 1.4% of TTL) member of the genus with a T-V SIP, 18 scale rows along the body lacking posterior reduction, 434 middorsal scales, rostral oval with relative rostral width 0.36, semidivided nasal shield, inferior nasal suture contacting second supralabial, eyespot lacking pupil or iris, relative tail length 1.6%, occipital scales not enlarged, and lacking apical spine.

etymology: This species epithet is a patronym, using the name as a noun in apposition. We dedicate this species to Agivedo “Laca” Varela Ribeiro (Fig. 6A), a citizen of Timor-Leste and a native of Raça in Lautém, the country's easternmost municipality. When we floated the idea of naming the species collectively for the Timorese members of our research team, they requested that we honour Laca instead.

 An illustration of the ease with which the holotype of Indotyphlops laca sp. nov. moves through coconut palm bark. This was discovered while trying to set up the specimen for photography in a hotel room, where a brief turn to get the camera allowed the snake to disappear completely!
(A) The entire snake was rarely visible during the photoshoot as it took any opportunity to venture into the pores and tunnels of the bark. (B) The blindsnake is visible at four points (white arrows) as it moves through the inner fibrous bark from left to right. (C) The head and anterior body emerge from the outer layer of bark, but a glimpse of its body (white arrow) is visible in the layer below. (D) The blindsnake is seen taking advantage of one of the slightly larger pores in the bark. (E) The blindsnake emerged, turned around at the sight of a perceived threat, and retreated back into the bark at the same point. (F) Occasionally, only the head would appear in a gap, then it would withdraw, to appear in an entirely different area of the bark seconds later. Unfortunately, we did not measure the diameter of the pores, but from the ease with which this slender snake moved through the coconut palm bark, it is evident that it would be perfectly at home in the galleries and chambers of termite mounds or ant nests.

 

Mark O'Shea, Van Wallach, Emma Hsiao and Hinrich Kaiser. 2023. “Anteaters” under the Airport: A Slender New Species of Blindsnake, Genus Indotyphlops, from Timor-Leste (Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae: Asiatyphlopinae). Canadian Journal of Zoology. DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2022-0097

  Researchgate.net/publication/371019470_a_slender_new_species_of_Indotyphlops_from_Timor-Leste

[Herpetology • 2023] Cyrtodactylus santana • Scratching the Surface: A New Species of Bent-toed Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Timor-Leste of the darmandvillei group marks the potential for future discoveries

Cyrtodactylus santana 

Chan, Grismer, Santana, Pinto, Loke & Conaboy, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1139.96508

Abstract

A new species of limestone-dwelling Bent-toed gecko (genus Cyrtodactylus) is described from Nino Konis Santana National Park in the far-east region of Timor-Leste. Both genetic and morphological data strongly support the evolutionary distinctness of the new species, which we describe herein as Cyrtodactylus santana sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ND2 mitochondrial gene inferred the new species as part of the C. darmandvillei group with close genetic affinities to C. batucolus, C. seribuatensis, C. petani, C. sadleiri, and two undescribed lineages from the Moluccas in Indonesia. The new species represents the first species of Cyrtodactylus identified at the species level from Timor-Leste and fills an important gap in our understanding of the biogeography and evolutionary history of Cyrtodactylus especially in the Wallacean region. Our results strongly suggest that the diversity of Cyrtodactylus in Wallacea is still underestimated and many more unnamed species remain to be described.

Keywords: Biogeography, Gekkota, lizards, phylogenetics, systematics, taxonomy, Wallacea

Live images of Cyrtodactylus santana sp. nov. paratype female (ZRC 2.7679) (top),
C. batucolus from Pulau Besar, Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia (middle), and C. seribuatensis from Pulau Mentigi, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia (lower).

Live images of Cyrtodactylus santana sp. nov. paratype female (ZRC 2.7679) 

Cyrtodactylus santana sp. nov.

 (Nino Konis Santana Bent-toed Gecko)

Diagnosis: The new species is a distinct evolutionary lineage that is closely related to C. batucolus, C. seribuatensis, C. petani, and C. sadleiri. It can be differentiated from other congeners by the following combination of characters: strong dorsal tuberculation present, 23–27 paravertebral tubercles, 15–19 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe, 42–48 ventral scales across midbody, deep precloacal groove absent, enlarged femoral and precloacal scales present, distinct blotches on top of the head absent, dorsal bands faint, whitish, lightly counter-shaded with dark brown.

Etymology: Nino Konis Santana was a freedom fighter who led the Falintil militia against the Indonesian occupation of Timor-Leste. He was not only a fearless leader of the armed wing of the Resistance but also played a key role in peace initiatives, earning him a reputation as a peacemaker, diplomat, and statesman. The Nino Konis Santana National Park was named in honor of this national hero who was born in the suco (village in Tetum) of Tutuala, located within the boundaries of the park. The specific epithet santana is used as a noun in apposition referring to Nino Konis Santana National Park, which is the type locality of the new species.

Kin Onn Chan, L. Lee Grismer, Fernando Santana, Pedro Pinto, Frances W. Loke and Nathan Conaboy. 2023. Scratching the Surface: A New Species of Bent-toed Gecko (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Cyrtodactylus) from Timor-Leste of the darmandvillei group marks the potential for future discoveries. ZooKeys. 1139: 107-126. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1139.96508

[Invertebrate • 2020] Syllidae (Annelida) from East Timor and the Philippines (Pacific Ocean), with the Description of Three New Species of Syllis Savigny in Lamarck, 1818

Syllis maganda Martínez & San Martín, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4834.2.5

photo: Alexander Semenov.   

Abstract

East Timor is an island located to the south of the Indonesian Archipelago and to the north of Australia, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is included in the Coral Triangle and houses an amazing quantity of marine biodiversity. However, only two species of Syllidae (Annelida) have been reported up to now: Trypanosyllis migueli and T. devae. Based on a small collection from the Australian Museum, we have identified nine genera and 17 species: Brevicirrosyllis mariae, Opisthodonta morena, Sphaerosyllis densopapillata, Branchiosyllis australis, B. exilis, B. maculata, B. verruculosa, Haplosyllis djiboutiensis, Opisthosyllis brunnea, Syllis alternata, S. broomensis, S. corallicola, S. erikae, S. gerlachi, S. hyalina, S. setoensis and Trypanosyllis luzonensis. This is the first record of S. gerlachi outside the Indian Ocean, and B. mariae, O. morena, S. densopapillata, H. djiboutiensis, S. corallicola and S. erikae have not been previously reported in tropical Asia. A specimen of Parahaplosyllis sp. could not be identified due to its poor condition. Three species belonging to Syllis are herein described as new: Syllis cambuk n. sp. has a large size body, with anterior segments much wider and shorter than posterior ones, long whip-shaped dorsal cirri and bidentate midbody and posterior chaetae, with both teeth equal in size and shape; Syllis hampirmenyatu n. sp. has three chaetae per posterior parapodium, with short and wide blades appearing to be fused with shafts, but still clearly distinguishable from each other, bidentate, with proximal tooth clearly smaller and thinner than distal one; and Syllis maganda n. sp. is easily recognizable because of its spectacular orange and blue colouration, only observable in living specimens, with broad transverse red stripes on the dorsum forming a distinctive pattern and red spots on the cirri and prostomium observable in both living and fixed specimens. Additionally, Philippine samples from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales of Madrid have been examined corresponding to S. maganda n. sp. A Philippine specimen of S. maganda n. sp. had a small unidentified specimen of Haplosyllis attached to a posterior dorsal cirrus, which is the first documented case of such an interaction between two species of Syllidae. This provisionally called Haplosyllis sp. is characterized by its simple chaetae with short spur and two very long, distinct curved teeth, very close to each other. A regenerated prostomium and a stolon were also found in other Philippine specimens of S. maganda n. sp.

Keywords: Annelida, Coral Triangle, Timor-Leste, taxonomy, Polychaeta, ectosymbiosis, anterior regeneration

 

Syllis maganda Martínez & San Martín, 2020

María José Martínez and Guillermo San Martín. 2020. Syllidae (Annelida) from East Timor and the Philippines (Pacific Ocean), with the Description of Three New Species of Syllis Savigny in Lamarck, 1818. Zootaxa. 4834(2); 231–263. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4834.2.5

twitter.com/WPolyDb/status/1296328959123001344

 behance.net/gallery/15109599/Worms-Renaissance

[Arachnida • 2019] Sarax timorensis • Amblypygids of Timor-Leste: First Records of the Order from the Country with the Description of A Remarkable New Species of Sarax (Amblypygi, Charinidae)

Sarax timorensis 

 Miranda & Reboleira, 2019

 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.820.30139 

twitter.com/SReboleira

Abstract

The whip spider genus Sarax Simon, 1892 is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia and part of the Indo-Malayan region. The genus is recorded from several Indonesian islands, but no species are known from inside the area that comprises the biogeographical region of Wallacea, despite being recorded from both sides of the area. An expedition to survey the biology of caves in Timor-Leste (formerly East-Timor) discovered populations of amblypygids living underground and including a remarkable new species of Sarax, S. timorensis sp. n., the first Amblypygi known from the island of Timor. The new species is here described bears the unique character state of two pairs of lateral eyes, instead of three or none as in all other living species of Amblypygi, and expands the biogeographic range of the genus. New records of amblypygids are given for two caves in Timor-Leste. A detailed description and a discussion of its distribution and the species characters are also provided.

Keywords: cave, tailless whip scorpions, troglobiont, Wallacea

Figure 1. Details of Sarax timorensis sp. n. A Dorsal habitus B Frontal process and eyes C Sternum D Dorsal view of pedipalp E Ventral view of pedipalp. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Taxonomy

Charinidae Quintero, 1986

Sarax Simon, 1892

Sarax timorensis sp. n.

Type material: Holotype: Timor-Leste: Lautém district, Puropoko Cave, 8.543832N 127.066215E, 6–12.ix.2016, A.S.P.S. Reboleira leg. (male, NHMD). Female unknown.

Diagnosis: Sarax timorensis sp. n. can be recognized by the large size (body total length 12.82 mm), presence of only two pairs of lateral eyes, eight frontal setae, cheliceral claw with six teeth, two spines on dorsal pedipalp tarsus, male gonopod with sclerotization on the base of fistula, dorsal lobe and lateral lobe II, basitibia IV with four pseudoarticles and distitibia IV with six trichobothria on the frontal and caudal series. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the presence of only two pairs of lateral eyes, a unique character state known only from a few fossil species (Kronocharon longicalcaris Wunderlich, 2015 and Paracharonopsis cambayensis Engel & Grimaldi, 2014). Sarax timorensis sp. n. differs from the fossil species by the size (new species much larger) and the number of spines on the pedipalp. Female unknown.

Figure 2. Details of carapace and pedipalp of Sarax timorensis sp. n. A Dorsal view of carapace B Detail of the left pair of eyes C Detail of the right pair of eyes D Detail of the spines on right dorsal tarsus E Details of spines on left dorsal tarsus. Scale bar: 1 mm (A, D, E); 0.5mm (B, C).

Habitat: The new species was found in a cave on the border of the Ira Lalaro Lake, a huge closed karst depression in the Eastern part of the Timor Island (Freire et al. 2017; O’Connor et al. 2017). The atmospheric temperature in the cave is 32 °C. The cave has a stream with a high density of leeches in its substrate and harbors a large colony of Chiroptera. Some snakes were also observed hunting the bats in its narrow galleries. The high content in bat guano gives rise to high densities of cockroaches which are very active along the cave.

 Gustavo Silva de Miranda and Ana Sofia P. S. Reboleira. 2019. Amblypygids of Timor-Leste: First Records of the Order from the Country with the Description of A Remarkable New Species of Sarax (Arachnida, Amblypygi, Charinidae). ZooKeys. 820: 1-12. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.820.30139

 twitter.com/SReboleira/status/1089929767183413248

[Ichthyology • 2017] Coelorinchus okamurai • A New Species of the Grenadier Genus Coelorinchus (Gadiformes: Macrouridae) from the Timor Sea, Eastern Indian

Coelorinchus okamurai  

Nakayama & Endo, 2017 

DOI: 10.1007/s10228-017-0585-4 

Abstract

Coelorinchus okamurai sp. nov. is described from five specimens collected in the Timor Sea at a depth of 610–690 m. The new species belongs to the Coelorinchus japonicus group (redefined in this study), and differs from all other congeners in having the following combination of features: snout moderately long, sharply pointed in lateral and dorsal views, length 39–42% of head length; lateral nasal ridge completely supported by nasal bone; light organ short, length less than 1/2 orbit diameter, its anterior margin falling far short of pelvic-fin bases; premaxillary teeth in short, uniformly wide band, with posterior end of the tooth band not reaching lateral corner of mouth; no teeth greatly enlarged; body scales covered with short, reclined, narrowly blade-like spinules in widely divergent rows; buttresses of body scale spinules scarcely developed; occipital scales between parietal ridges armed with divergent rows of long, erect, needle-like spinules; nasal fossa usually naked (a few small scales rarely present anteroventrally); patches of small scales sparsely distributed on ventral surface of head; scales on underside of head armed with 1–3 rows of short, erect, needle-like to knife-like spinules; interdorsal space longer than first dorsal-fin base length; subopercle terminating as a long, slender flap; body dark overall without prominent markings; fins uniformly blackish.

Keywords: Taxonomy, Morphology, Deep-sea fish, Indonesia 

Fig. 1 Coelorinchus okamurai sp. nov. MZB 23338, holotype, 121 mm HL, 457+ mm TL.
a Lateral, b dorsal, and c ventral views of the entire specimen, preserved condition 

Etymology. The specific epithet, okamurai, is named in honor of Dr. Osamu Okamura (Professor Emeritus of Kochi University, deceased), who collected the type specimens of the new species.

Naohide Nakayama and Hiromitsu Endo. 2017. A New Species of the Grenadier Genus Coelorinchus (Actinopterygii: Gadiformes: Macrouridae) from the Timor Sea, Eastern Indian Ocean.
Ichthyological Research. 1–9.  DOI: 10.1007/s10228-017-0585-4

[Ichthyology • 2017] Helcogramma atauroensis • A New Species of Triplefin (Teleostei: Tripterygiidae) from Ataúro Island, Timor-Leste, eastern Indian Ocean

Helcogramma atauroensis 

Fricke & Erdmann, 2017 

OceanScienceFoundation.org

Abstract

A new species of triplefin blenny, Helcogramma atauroensis, from Timor-Leste is described on the basis of eight specimens. The new species is characterized within the H. steinitzi species complex by having 14–15 second dorsal-fin spines, 9–11 third dorsal-fin rays, one symphyseal mandibular pore (total pores 9–11), the nape without scales, 19–23 tubular pored lateral-line scales, the head profile about 70º to horizontal, the first dorsal fin beginning above the preopercle, the anal fin in male red without melanophores, the female with six oblique bars, and a black pelvic fin in males. Revised keys to the H. steinitzi species complex and to all members of the genus in the western Pacific Ocean and Indo-Australian Archipelago are presented.

Ronald Fricke and Mark V. Erdmann. 2017. Helcogramma atauroensis, A New Species of Triplefin from Ataúro Island, Timor-Leste, eastern Indian Ocean (Teleostei: Tripterygiidae).

Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 26; 34–45.  OceanScienceFoundation.org/josf26b.html