[Herpetology • 2019] Astrobatrachus kurichiyana • A New Ancient Lineage of Frog (Anura: Nyctibatrachidae: Astrobatrachinae subfam. nov.) endemic to the Western Ghats of Peninsular India

Astrobatrachus kurichiyana

Vijayakumar, Pyron, Dinesh, Torsekar, Srikanthan, Swamy, Stanley, Blackburn & Shanker, 2019

Starry Dwarf Frog  || DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6457 

Abstract 

The Western Ghats (WG) is an escarpment on the west coast of Peninsular India, housing one of the richest assemblages of frogs in the world, with three endemic families. Here, we report the discovery of a new ancient lineage from a high-elevation massif in the Wayanad Plateau of the southern WG. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the lineage belongs to Natatanura and clusters with Nyctibatrachidae, a family endemic to the WG/Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot. Based on geographic distribution, unique morphological traits, deep genetic divergence, and phylogenetic position that distinguishes the lineage from the two nyctibatrachid subfamilies Nyctibatrachinae Blommers-Schlösser, 1993 and Lankanectinae Dubois & Ohler, 2001, we erect a new subfamily Astrobatrachinae subfam. nov. (endemic to the WG, Peninsular India), and describe a new genus Astrobatrachus gen. nov. and species, Astrobatrachus kurichiyana sp. nov. The discovery of this species adds to the list of deeply divergent and monotypic or depauperate lineages with narrow geographic ranges in the southern massifs of the WG. The southern regions of the WG have long been considered geographic and climatic refugia, and this new relict lineage underscores their evolutionary significance. The small range of this species exclusively outside protected areas highlights the significance of reserve forest tracts in the WG in housing evolutionary novelty. This reinforces the need for intensive sampling to uncover new lineages and advance our understanding of the historical biogeography of this ancient landmass.

  

   

Figure 3: Live images of Astrobatrachus kurichiyana.
Profile (A), close-up of head (B), ventral (C), dorsal (D), side-profile (E).
(A and B; reference collection CESF 1567), K.P. Dinesh (C, D and E; ZSI/WRC/A/2131) 

Photo: S.P. Vijayakumar. 

Amphibia Linnaeus, 1758

Anura Fischer von Waldheim, 1813

Ranoidea Batsch, 1796

Natatanura Frost et al., 2006

Nyctibatrachidae Blommers-Schlosser, 1993

Astrobatrachinae subfam. nov. 

Type genus.—Astrobatrachus gen. nov.

Etymology of the generic nomen.— From the Greek astro- for ‘star,’ referring to the starry spots, more prominent on the lateral sides of the body, and batrachus meaning ‘frog’. As per the nomenclatural act the gender of genus is ‘male.’

Type species.— Astrobatrachus kurichiyana sp. nov. 

Diagnosis.— This diagnosis applies to the subfamily, genus, and species. The following combination of characters can be used to diagnose this lineage from its close relatives Nyctibatrachus and Lankanectes: small to medium size (∼ 20–27 mm SVL); soft skin without ridged or wrinkled folds; fingers and toe tips with discs that are triangular in shape (Figs. 3 and 4) without circummarginal groove; upper jaws having distinct teeth; distinct and angular canthus rostralis; distinct tympanum with a prominent supra-tympanic ridge (Fig. 3); tongue lacking median papilla; short hind and fore-limbs; oblong subarticular tubercles on the fingers and toes that sometimes nearly coalesce (e.g., pedal digit III in Figs. 3 and 4); interdigital webbing on foot does not attain most proximal subarticular tubercle; absence of femoral glands; absence of nuptial pads in males; widely spaced nasal bones; a vomer separated into an anterior portion adjacent to the choana and a posterior dentigerous vomer fused to a neopalatine; omosternum not bifurcating posteriorly; a single narrow sternal element; lacking a large dorsal crest on the ilium; bluish-white spots (Figs. 3 and 4), more prominent and scattered along the lateral sides of jaws, eyelids, belly, forearms and hind limbs, and on the throat; oval-shaped pupil; orange coloration of ventral sides of belly, forelimbs and hind limbs; elliptical pupil (Fig. 3). The lineage is diagnosed easily in the field from species of Nyctibatrachus that occur sympatrically.

Figure 2: Phylogenetic position of Astrobatrachus kurichiyana nested within Natatanura in the clade Nyctibatrachidae.

Photo: S. P. Vijayakumar. 

Figure 1: Geographical range (A) of the three genera, Nyctibatrachus (Nyctibatrachinae), Lankanectes (Lankanectinae) and the new genus Astrobatrachus (Astrobatrachinae subfam. nov.).

Inset maps show the type locality (B) and the narrow range (C) of Astrobatrachus kurichiyana gen et. sp. nov. Photo: S. P. Vijayakumar.

    

 Figure 7: Type locality of Astrobatrachus kurichiyana. Most individuals were sighted in the montane forests except for a single individual in the grassland.
 Locality: Kurichiyarmala, Wayanad Plateau. Photo taken: June 2010.

Photo: S.P. Vijayakumar.

Habits and habitat: The new species is nocturnal and found below decayed leaf litter within montane forests in the vicinity of water. One individual was caught moving in a grassland adjoining the forest tract (Fig. 7). On the forest floor, where most individuals were sampled, they hid under leaf litter when disturbed. Because individuals were secretive and difficult to spot, sampling involved an intensive search of the forest floor. Individuals were found to be shy of torch light and upon disturbance, made quick hopping movements to hide. No individuals were found exposed during the night during either rainy or non-rainy periods. As a general observation, most sympatric anurans in the region usually emerge in the dark and call during the rain or post rain seasons. Leaf-litter dwelling and habitat distinguishes A. kurichiyana from many species of Nyctibatrachus that are torrential frogs and prefer to live in water or next to perennial streams (Biju et al., 2011). While its terrestrial habits are somewhat similar to some small-bodied Nyctibatrachus species (see Garg et al., 2017), the new lineage differs strongly from the two Lankanectes species which are aquatic (Senevirathne et al., 2018).

Distribution: All known populations of this species occur in Kurichiyarmala on the Wayanad Plateau, in the WG Escarpment (Fig. 1). The geographical range of Nyctibatrachinae, widespread across the WG, overlaps with Astrobatrachinae (Fig. 1). However, both lineages have a disjunct distribution with respect to Lankanectinae, which is restricted to the mountains of Sri Lanka (Fig. 1). The new species occurs in syntopy and in broad sympatry with Nyctibatrachus grandis, N. minimus, N. vrijeuni, and N. kempholeyensis.

Etymology: From ‘Kurichiyana,’ a local tribal community residing near the type locality and currently known geographic range of the species. Species epithet is treated as a noun in apposition to the generic name. We suggest the common English name of the Starry Dwarf Frog.

Seenapuram Palaniswamy Vijayakumar, Robert Alexander Pyron, K. P. Dinesh, Varun R. Torsekar, Achyuthan N. Srikanthan, Priyanka Swamy, Edward L. Stanley, David C. Blackburn and Kartik Shanker. 2019. A New Ancient Lineage of Frog (Anura: Nyctibatrachidae: Astrobatrachinae subfam. nov.) endemic to the Western Ghats of Peninsular India.  PeerJ. 7:e6457.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6457

Meet India's starry dwarf frog, lone member of newly discovered ancient lineage.  https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/meet-indias-starry-dwarf-frog/

[Herpetology • 2019] Fejervarya marathi • A New Species of Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915 (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the northern Western Ghats Parts of Maharashtra, India

 Fejervarya marathi 

Phuge, Dinesh, Andhale, Bhakare & Pandit, 2019

Marathi Fejervarya Frog  ||  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4544.2.5 

  facebook.com/SamadhanPhuge 

Abstract
In the recent past the systematic position and taxonomy of genus Fejervarya, Bolkay is undergoing changes in its systematic position due to fairly good amount of phylogenetic resolution, cryptic morphological characters and lack of systematic sampling for phylogenetic studies across the range of distribution. In our sampling in the northern Western Ghats, we encountered a new lineage sister to the phylogenetic cluster which comprises the 'Rufescens complex'. This new lineage is described here as new species Fejervarya marathi sp. nov. based on distinctness in a combination of morphological characters, genetic distance and geography. The problems in morphological groupings for the Fejervarya frogs of the Western Ghats in the recent studies are discussed with the sub-clade composition based on geography in the phylogenetic tree.

Keywords: Amphibia, Cryptic species, Fejervarya, Marathi, northern Western Ghats

Fejervarya marathi sp. nov., amplecting pair. 

  facebook.com/SamadhanPhuge 

Fejervarya marathi sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the indigenous language "Marathi" which is one of the predominant language used in the northern Western Ghats. The species epithet is treated as noun in apposition to the generic name. Suggested common name 'Marathi Fejervarya frog'.


Samadhan Phuge, K.P. Dinesh, Ramnath Andhale, Kalyani Bhakare and Radhakrishna Pandit. 2019. A New Species of Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915 (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the northern Western Ghats Parts of Maharashtra, India. Zootaxa. 4544(2); 251–268. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4544.2.5  
 facebook.com/SamadhanPhuge/posts/2005419489513885

[Ichthyology • 2018] Ancistrus shuar • Species of Ancistrus (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from Ecuador, with the Description of A New Species from the Amazon River Basin

Ancistrus shuar

Provenzano R. & Barriga-Salazar, 2018

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4527.2.4ption

Abstract

To elucidate the species of the genus Ancistrus that inhabit freshwater systems of Ecuador, cataloged lots of the Fish Collection, Museo de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (MEPN), in Quito, were analyzed. Four species were identified: Ancistrus alga (Cope, 1872), A. malacops (Cope, 1872), A. clementinae Rendahl, 1937, and a new species that herein is described. Ancistrus clementinae inhabits aquatic systems of the Pacific slope, mostly in the Guayas River drainage. The other three species live in freshwater systems that drain to the Amazon River Basin. Ancistrus alga inhabit the northern and central portions of eastern Ecuador. Ancistrus malacops has a broad distribution from north to south, but is absent from the Santiago River. Both species occasionally live in sympatry. The new species is restricted to the Santiago River, in Morona-Santiago province. Each species has unique external morphological features and/or a coloration pattern that allow unambiguous identification, at least of males. This paper provides a description of the new species, and a re-description and images of the other three.

Keywords: Pisces, catfishes, Neotropical freshwater Fishes, taxonomy, systematics, South America

FIGURE 4. Ancistrus shuar, MECN-DP-1637, 96.5 mm SL, male, paratype when alive.

Photo: Jorge Brito  

Ancistrus shuar new species

Etymology. Dedicated to ancient and brave Shuar, indigenous group that live in the Morona-Santiago province. It is considered a noun in apposition. 

Francisco Provenzano R. and Ramiro Barriga-Salazar. 2018. Species of Ancistrus (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from Ecuador, with the Description of A New Species from the Amazon River Basin. Zootaxa. 4527(2); 211–238. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4527.2.4

Resumen: Para dilucidar las especies del género Ancistrus que habitan los sistemas de agua dulce del Ecuador, se analizaron los lotes catalogados de la Colección de Peces, Museo de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (MEPN), en Quito. Se identificaron cuatro especies: Ancistrus alga (Cope, 1872), A. malacops (Cope, 1872), A. clementinae Rendahl, 1937, y una nueva especie que aquí se describe. Ancistrus clementinae habita en sistemas acuáticos de la vertiente del Pacífico, principalmente en el drenaje del río Guayas. Las otras tres especies viven en sistemas de agua dulce que drenan a la cuenca del río Amazonas. Ancistrus alga habita la zona norte y central del oriente de Ecuador. Ancistrus malacops tiene una amplia distribución de norte a sur, pero está ausente del río Santiago. Ambas especies ocasionalmente viven en simpatría. La nueva especie está restringida al río Santiago, en la provincia de Morona-Santiago. Cada una de las especies posee características morfológicas externas y/o un patrón de coloración que permiten su identificación sin ambigüedades, al menos en los ejemplares machos. En este trabajo se presenta la descripción de la nueva especie y la re-descripción y figuras de las otras tres.

 Palabras clave: Corronchos, Peces dulceacuícolas Neotropicales, Taxonomía, Sistemática, Sur América

[Ichthyology • 2018] Moenkhausia goya • A New Species (Characiformes: Characidae) from the upper rio Tocantins Basin, Central Brazil

Moenkhausia goya 

Carvalho Deprá, Azevedo-Santos, Vitorino, Dagosta, Marinho & Benine, 2018

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4514.1.7 

Abstract

A new species of Moenkhausia is described from the upper rio Tocantins basin, States of Goiás and Tocantins, Brazil. Moenkhausia goya, new species, can be distinguished from its congeners by the shape of the humeral blotch in combination with a uniform dark pigmentation covering the interradial membranes of the dorsal and anal fins. Among congeners, the new species is most similar to M. britskii Azevedo-Santos & Benine, M. grandisquamis (Müller & Troschel) and M. xinguensis Steindachner by presenting a deep body, a large, round humeral blotch and fins without discrete patches of dark pigmentation (i.e., without well-defined blotches or stripes). With the description of M. goya, the number of species endemic to the upper rio Tocantins basin (considered upstream from the mouth of the rio Paranã) is raised to 51. Of these, some are widespread in the upper rio Tocantins basin, while others seem to be restricted to one of its sub-basins.

Keywords: Pisces, Cerrado, Moenkhausia xinguensis, State of Goiás, Taxonomy

FIGURE 3. Live coloration of Moenkhausia goya, LBP 23679, 47.8 mm SL,
Brazil, Goiás, Pirenópolis, rio das Almas basin.

Moenkhausia goya, new species 

Etymology. Moenkhausia goya is named after the Goyá, a South American ethnic group that lived in the central region of Brazil, which resisted to the encroachment of their territories until the 19th century. They also originated the name of the state of Goiás, where most of the distribution of the new species lies.

Gabriel de Carvalho Deprá, Valter M. Azevedo-Santos, Oscar Barroso Júnior Vitorino, Fernando Cesar Paiva Dagosta, Manoela Maria Ferreira Marinho and Ricardo C. Benine. 2018. Moenkhausia goya (Characiformes: Characidae): A New Species from the upper rio Tocantins Basin, Central Brazil. Zootaxa. 4514(1); 87–96.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4514.1.7

Resumo: Uma nova espécie de Moenkhausia é descrita da bacia do alto rio Tocantins, Estados de Goiás e Tocantins, Brasil. Moenkhausia goya, espécie nova, pode ser distinguida de suas congêneres pela forma da mancha umeral em combinação com uma pigmentação escura uniforme recobrindo as membranas inter-radiais das nadadeiras dorsal e anal. Entre as congêneres, a nova espécie é mais similar a M. britskii Azevedo-Santos & Benine, M. grandisquamis (Müller & Troschel) e M. xinguensis Steindachner por ter um corpo alto, uma mancha umeral grande e redonda e nadadeiras sem áreas de pigmentação escura discretas (i.e., sem manchas ou listras bem definidas). Com a descrição de M. goya, o número de espécies endêmicas à bacia do alto rio Tocantins (considerada à montante da barra do rio Paranã) sobe para 51. Destas, algumas estão amplamente distribuídas na bacia do alto rio Tocantins, enquanto outras parecem estar restritas a uma de suas subbacias.

Palavras-chave: Cerrado, Estado de Goiás, Moenkhausia xinguensis, Taxonomia

[Ichthyology • 2018] Histiophryne narungga • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: A New Species of the Frogfish Genus Histiophryne Gill (Lophiiformes: Antennariidae: Histiophryninae) from Western and South Australia, with A Revised Key to Congeners

Histiophryne narungga 

Arnold & Pietsch, 2018

DOI:   10.1643/CI-18-112 

Photo: Scott W. Michael  twitter.com/ASIHCopeia

An undescribed species of the frogfish genus Histiophryne, of the teleost order Lophiiformes, family Antennariidae, is described on the basis of 60 specimens collected from shallow inshore waters of Western and South Australia. Previously confused with its morphologically similar congener H. cryptacanthus, it differs from the latter and from all other members of the genus in having the following combination of features: illicium tiny but easily discernible without aid of a microscope; esca present, a small tuft of filaments, easily distinguished from illicium; skin covered with tiny dermal spinules, especially on head, cutaneous filaments and appendages absent; dorsal-fin rays 15–16; pectoral-fin rays 9 (rarely 8); vertebrae 22–23; head, body, and fins typically off white, sometimes peppered with numerous small, close-set ocelli. Genetic divergence from its congeners in the nuclear recombination activation gene-2 (RAG2) and cytochrome oxidase-I (COI) genes is at least 8.9%. The new species is diagnosed, described, and compared with its congeners. A revised key to the species of the genus is also provided.

Fig. 2. Histiophryne narungga, new species, uncollected specimen, Edithburgh, South Australia.

Photo: Scott W. Michael

Histiophryne narungga, new species

New Nharangga name: Nharangga Warrga Guuya 

New English name: Narungga Frogfish

Etymology.— The specific epithet narungga honors a tribe of Indigenous Australians, the Narungga (otherwise known as the Narangga), whose traditional lands are located throughout Yorke Peninsula, from near Port Wakefield in the east to Port Broughton in the west, and all the way down to the southern tip of the Peninsula (Sutton, 1899; Tindale, 1936).

Rachel J. Arnold and Theodore W. Pietsch. 2018. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: A New Species of the Frogfish Genus Histiophryne Gill (Lophiiformes: Antennariidae: Histiophryninae) from Western and South Australia, with A Revised Key to Congeners. Copeia. 106(4); 622-631. DOI:   10.1643/CI-18-112    twitter.com/ASIHCopeia/status/1057667167439802369

[Entomology • 2018] The Neotropical Species of Clistopyga (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae). Part II: the Clistopyga isayae species group, with the Description of Seven New Species

Clistopyga crassicaudata 

Palacio, Bordera, Sääksjärvi & Díaz, 2018

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4442.1.5  

Abstract

The New World Clistopyga isayae species group is revised. Seven species are described as new: Clistopyga crassicaudata sp. nov., C. isayae sp. nov., C. kalima sp. nov., C. nigriventris sp. nov., C. panchei sp. nov., C. splendida sp. nov. and C. taironae sp. nov. An illustrated identification key to all species of the group is provided. The Clistopyga isayae species group is composed entirely of previously undescribed species mainly from Andean forests of tropical South America.

 Keywords: Hymenoptera, South America, taxonomy, parasitoid wasps, new species, key, Amazonia, Andes, spiders

Clistopyga crassicaudata sp. nov., ♀ holotype.

A new wasp species unknown to science differs from other parasitoid wasps due to its massive stinger. The new species named Clistopyga crassicaudata was discovered in the western Amazonia.

photo: Kari Kaunisto

Clistopyga crassicaudata Sääksjärvi, Bordera & Palacio sp. nov. 

Etymology. The specific name refers to the distinctly thickened ovipositor apex.


Clistopyga isayae Díaz, Bordera & Palacio sp. nov. 

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Mérida Isaya, wife of Francisco Díaz, coauthor of this paper.


Clistopyga kalima Palacio sp. nov. 

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the Precolombine indigenous tribe of Kalimas, who lived in the territory that today is the type locality, Valle del Cauca (Colombia).


Clistopyga nigriventris Palacio sp. nov. 

Etymology. The specific name refers to the entirely black tergites of metasoma that distinguish this species from all the other members of the isayae species-group.


Clistopyga panchei Palacio sp. nov.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of the Precolombine indigenous tribe of Panches, who lived in the territory that today is the type locality, Cundinamarca (Colombia).


Clistopyga splendida Palacio & Bordera sp. nov. 

Etymology. The specific name refers to the beautiful colour patterns of this species.


Clistopyga taironae Palacio, Bordera & Díaz sp. nov. 

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the Precolombine indigenous tribe of Taironas, who lived in the territory that today is the type locality, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Magdalena (Colombia).

Edgard Palacio, Santiago Bordera, Ilari E. Sääksjärvi and Francisco Díaz. 2018.  The Neotropical Species of Clistopyga (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae). Part II: the C. isayae species group, with the Description of Seven New Species. Zootaxa. 4442(1); 101–121. DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4442.1.5

 researchgate.net/publication/326127930_The_Neotropical_species_of_Clistopyga_Part_II_the_C_isayae_species_group

twitter.com/UniTurku/status/1014751029672464384

twitter.com/ilarisaaksjarvi/status/1012973133920391168

Santiago Bordera, Ilari Eerikki Sääksjärvi, Carol Castillo, Edgard Palacio and Alejandra González-Moreno. 2016. The Neotropical species of Clistopyga (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae). Part I. The C. chaconi species group, with the description of eleven new species. European Journal of Taxonomy. 206, 1–37. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2016.206

New wasp species with a giant stinger discovered in Amazonia sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180705113933.htm

Turkulaistutkija löysi valtavalla pistimellä varustetun hyönteislajin – suomenkielinen nimi puuttuu  ts.fi/uutiset/paikalliset/4005173/Turkulaistutkija+loysi+valtavalla+pistimella+varustetun+hyonteislajin++suomenkielinen+nimi+puuttuu

[Herpetology • 2018] Boana caiapo • A New Species of the Boana albopunctata Group (Anura: Hylidae) from the Cerrado of Brazil

Boana caiapo

Pinheiro, Cintra, Valdujo, Silva, Martins, Silva & Garcia, 2018

  DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00040.1 

Abstract

We describe a new species of Boana endemic to the Araguaia-Tocantins Basin in the center of the Brazilian Cerrado that was previously confused with species of the B. pulchella group. The new species is tentatively included in the B. albopunctata group on the basis of morphological and bioacoustics traits. The new species is characterized by a rounded head in dorsal view, dorsal color pattern consisting of three longitudinal beige stripes separated by two dark-brown stripes, posterior surfaces of thighs purple with dark-brown spots, and absence of a calcar appendage. Males have a pulsed advertisement call, with the end of the first note possessing an uncountable number of pulses. The new species differs from species of the B. pulchella group by the presence of a slip of the m. depressor mandibulae of scapular origin, presence of anterolateral processes of the hyoid, and curved dentigerous processes of vomers.

Keywords: Amphibia, Bioacoustics, Neotropics, Systematics, Taxonomy

Boana caiapo sp. nov.  Holotype (MZUSP 138987) 

Figure 4. (A) Dorsal and (B) ventral views of the holotype of Boana caiapo sp. nov. (MZUSP 138987). 

Scale bar = 10 mm.

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Boana caiapo sp. nov. 

Hypsiboas aff. leucocheilus—Valdujo et al. (2012).

Etymology The holotype and topotypic paratypes were collected in lakes and backwaters of small rivulets in the Caiapó River Basin. The Caiapó River originates in the municipality of Caiapônia, Goiás, Brazil, and flows into the Araguaia River between the municipalities of Aragarças and Montes Claros de Goiás. Caiapônia was founded between 1940 and 1950, when the Kayapó Indians inhabited the region. Probably both the city and the river have the origin of their names based on the presence of this tribe in the region. Kayapó is a Tupi Guarani term that means man similar to monkey. Like the name of the tribe, it is probably related to some of their rituals, in which men dance using monkey masks. The name “caiapo” is used as a noun in apposition.

Paulo D. P. Pinheiro, Carlos E. D. Cintra, Paula H. Valdujo, Hélder L. R. Silva, Itamar A. Martins, Nelson Jorge da Silva Jr. and Paulo C. A. Garcia. 2018. A New Species of the Boana albopunctata Group (Anura: Hylidae) from the Cerrado of Brazil. South American Journal of Herpetology. 13(2); 170-182. DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00040.1

twitter.com/UFMG/status/1035553920842645506

 twitter.com/ccostah/status/1035519176134348800

Resumo: Descrevemos aqui uma nova espécie de Boana endêmica da Bacia do Araguaia-Tocantins, no Cerrado Central brasileiro, e previamente confundida com espécies do grupo de B. pulchella. A nova espécie é tentativamente incluída no grupo de B. albopunctata com base em caracteres morfológicos e de canto. É caracterizada por ter cabeça arredondada em vista dorsal; padrão de coloração dorsal composto por três faixas longitudinais de cor bege intercaladas por outras duas de tom marrom-escuro; superfície posterior das coxas roxa, com pontos marrom-escuro; apêndice calcâneo ausente. Machos apresentam o canto pulsado, cujos pulsos da porção final da primeira nota são incontáveis. A nova espécie se separa do grupo de B. pulchella pela presença da origem ao nível escapular do m. depressor mandibulae, presença do processo antero-lateral do hióide e processos dentígeros dos vômeres maiores e curvados.

[Herpetology • 2018] Ololygon goya • A New Species of the Ololygon catharinae species group (Anura: Hylidae) from the Cerrado Biome, State of Goiás, Central Brazil

Ololygon goya

Andrade, Santos, Rocha, Pombal & Vaz-Silva, 2018

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4425.2.5 

 instagram.com/SheilaNFBio

Abstract

We describe a new species of Ololygon from the Cerrado biome, Central Brazil. The new species is assigned to the Ololygon catharinae species group based in morphological attributes. Ololygon goya sp. nov. in known only from type locality—Sítio d’Abadia municipality, State of Goiás—and associated with riparian environments connected to seasonal dry forest on the banks of the Corrente river, a tributary of the Paranã river basin. The new species is characterized by the combination of the following characters: medium size (24.4–38.8 mm SVL); snout subovoid in dorsal view; canthus rostralis well defined; males with hypertrophied forearms and nuptial pads; inguinal region and hidden surfaces of thigh with irregular dark brown spots on pale yellowish background. We also describe the external morphology and oral morphology of tadpoles, and the advertisement calls of the new species.

Keywords: Amphibia, Scinaxinae, Ololygon goya sp. nov., Advertisement call, Tadpoles

FIGURE 3. Color patterns in live of specimens of  Ololygon goya from the type locality at municipality of Sítio d'Abadia, State of Goiás, Brazil.
Males (A and B), Females (C and D). Specimens not collected.

Photos by E. P. Victor-Junior.

 Ololygon goya sp. nov. 

Etymology. Goyá is a Tupi indigenous name, here used as a noun in apposition, being a corruption of guayá (composed by guay + yá) meaning similar people (Sampaio 1901). The name evokes the morphological similarity of the new species with the Ololygon skaios. The State of Goiás received its name due to the legendary population of natives called goyá, who lived in this region (Siqueira & David 2014).


 Sheila Pereira de Andrade, Danusy Lopes Santos, Cezar Filho Rocha, José P Pombal and Wilian Vaz-Silva. 2018. A New Species of the Ololygon catharinae species group (Anura: Hylidae) from the Cerrado biome, State of Goiás, Central Brazil. Zootaxa. 4425(2);  283–303.
DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4425.2.5
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researchgate.net/publication/325433679_A_new_species_of_the_Ololygon_catharinae_species_group_from_the_Cerrado_biome_State_of_Goias_Central_Brazil

[Entomology • 2018] A Molecular Phylogeny of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with A Review of Tribe and Subfamily Classification

FIGURE 1. Superfamily Cicadoidea. Left to right, and top to bottom (all in Family Cicadidae except Tettigarcta):

Magicicada septendecim L. (17-year cicada)—Cicadettinae, USA, photo C. Simon; Psithyristria grandis Lee & Hill—Cicadinae, Philippines; Kikihia muta (Fab.)—Cicadettinae, New Zealand;

 Tettigarcta crinita Distant—Tettigarctinae (Tettigarctidae), Australia, photo C. Simon; Lembeja vitticollis (Ashton)—Cicadettinae, Australia; Odopoea insignifera Berg—Cicadinae, Argentina;

Quintilia wealei (Distant)—Tettigomyiinae n. stat., South Africa; Stagira sp.—Tettigomyiinae n. stat., South Africa; Okanagana rubrovenosa Davis—Tibicininae, USA.

Images not at matching scale. Photos by K. Hill and D. Marshall unless specified.

Marshall, Moulds, Hill, et al., 2018.

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4424.1.1

Abstract

A molecular phylogeny and a review of family-group classification are presented for 137 species (ca. 125 genera) of the insect family Cicadidae, the true cicadas, plus two species of hairy cicadas (Tettigarctidae) and two outgroup species from Cercopidae. Five genes, two of them mitochondrial, comprise the 4992 base-pair molecular dataset. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic results are shown, including analyses to address potential base composition bias. Tettigarcta is confirmed as the sister-clade of the Cicadidae and support is found for three subfamilies identified in an earlier morphological cladistic analysis. A set of paraphyletic deep-level clades formed by African genera are together named as Tettigomyiinae n. stat. Taxonomic reassignments of genera and tribes are made where morphological examination confirms incorrect placements suggested by the molecular tree, and 11 new tribes are defined (Arenopsaltriini n. tribe, Durangonini n. tribe, Katoini n. tribe, Lacetasini n. tribe, Macrotristriini n. tribe, Malagasiini n. tribe, Nelcyndanini n. tribe, Pagiphorini n. tribe, Pictilini n. tribe, Psaltodini n. tribe, and Selymbriini n. tribe). Tribe Tacuini n. syn. is synonymized with Cryptotympanini, and Tryellina n. syn. is synonymized with an expanded Tribe Lamotialnini. Tribe Hyantiini n. syn. is synonymized with Fidicinini. Tribe Sinosenini is transferred to Cicadinae from Cicadettinae, Cicadatrini is moved to Cicadettinae from Cicadinae, and Ydiellini and Tettigomyiini are transferred to Tettigomyiinae n. stat. from Cicadettinae. While the subfamily Cicadinae, historically defined by the presence of timbal covers, is weakly supported in the molecular tree, high taxonomic rank is not supported for several earlier clades based on unique morphology associated with sound production.

Keywords: Coleoptera, systematics, taxonomy, morphology, nuclear DNA, mtDNA, combined data analysis, Auchenorrhyncha, Hemiptera, Cicadoidea, biogeography

FIGURE 1. Superfamily Cicadoidea. Left to right, and top to bottom (all in Family Cicadidae except Tettigarcta):

Magicicada septendecim L. (17-year cicada)—Cicadettinae, USA, photo C. Simon; Psithyristria grandis Lee & Hill—Cicadinae, Philippines; Kikihia muta (Fab.)—Cicadettinae, New Zealand;

  Tettigarcta crinita Distant—Tettigarctinae (Tettigarctidae), Australia, photo C. Simon;  Lembeja vitticollis (Ashton)—Cicadettinae, Australia; Odopoea insignifera Berg—Cicadinae, Argentina;

Quintilia wealei (Distant)—Tettigomyiinae n. stat., South Africa; Stagira sp.—Tettigomyiinae n. stat., South Africa; Okanagana rubrovenosa Davis—Tibicininae, USA.

Images not at matching scale. Photos by K. Hill and D. Marshall unless specified.

 

David C. Marshall, Max Moulds, Kathy B. R. Hill, Benjamin W. Price, Elizabeth J. Wade, Christopher L. Owen, Geert Goemans, Kiran Marathe, Vivek Sarkar, John R. Cooley, Allen F. Sanborn, Krushnamegh Kunte, Martin H. Villet and Chris Simon. 2018. A Molecular Phylogeny of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with A Review of Tribe and Subfamily classification. Zootaxa. 4424(1);  1–64. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4424.1.1

[Ichthyology • 2018] Pseudolithoxus kinja • Biogeography and Species Delimitation of the Rheophilic Suckermouth Catfish Genus Pseudolithoxus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), with the Description of A New Species from the Brazilian Amazon

Pseudolithoxus kinja

 Bifi, de Oliveira, Rapp Py-Daniel & Collins, 2018 

in Collins, Bifi, de Oliveira, Ribeiro, Lujan, Rapp Py-Daniel & Hrbek, 2018

DOI:  10.1080/14772000.2018.1468362  

Abstract

The rapids-dwelling suckermouth catfish genus Pseudolithoxus was previously only known from the Guiana-Shield-draining Orinoco and Casiquiare river systems of Colombia and Venezuela, but new records have expanded this range considerably further into the Amazon basin of Brazil, and include occurrences from rivers draining the northern Brazilian Shield. These highly disjunct records are now placed in an evolutionary and phylogeographic context using a dated species tree constructed from mitochondrial (Cytb) and nuclear (RAG1) gene sequence data. Due to mito-nuclear discordance, we also delimit the putative species using statistical coalescent models and a range of additional metrics. We infer that at least two species of Pseudolithoxus are present in the Amazon basin: P. nicoi, previously only recorded from the río Casiquiare, but now also reported from the upper rio Negro, and a new species, which we describe herein from south-draining Guiana Shield and north-draining Brazilian Shield. Our data reject a simple model of Miocene vicariance in the group following uplift of the Uaupés Arch separating the Orinoco and Amazon systems, and instead suggest more complex dispersal scenarios through palaeo-connections in the Pliocene and also via the contemporary rio Negro and rio Madeira in the late Pleistocene.

Key words: aquatic, biodiversity, ichthyology, Neotropics, phylogeny, rio Negro, taxonomy

Figure 1. Pseudolithoxus kinja, holotype, 148.0 mm SL, INPA 3220; adult male in alcohol, rio Uatum~a, Amazonas, Brazil.

Pseudolithoxus kinja sp. nov. 

Bifi, de Oliveira, Rapp Py-Daniel & Collins

....

ETYMOLOGY: ‘Kinja’, meaning the ‘true people’, is how the Waimiri-Atroari indigenous people refer to themselves. The Kinja people inhabit areas surrounding the rio Uatum~a and part of the rio Negro in the states of Amazonas and Roraima, Brazil. The ethnic term ‘Waimiri-Atroari’ was adopted in the beginning of the 20th century. The epithet ‘kinja’ pays homage to this brave people who survived three attempts of genocide in the last century, and survive and thrive today in their protected area. Treated as a noun in apposition.

Rupert A. Collins, Alessandro G. Bifi, Renildo R. de Oliveira, Emanuell D. Ribeiro, Nathan K. Lujan, Lúcia H. Rapp Py-Daniel and Tomas Hrbek. 2018. Biogeography and Species Delimitation of the Rheophilic Suckermouth Catfish Genus Pseudolithoxus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), with the Description of A New Species from the Brazilian Amazon.   Systematics and Biodiversity. DOI:  10.1080/14772000.2018.1468362 

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[Ichthyology • 2018] Austrolebias wichi • An Endangered New Species of Seasonal Killifish of the Genus Austrolebias (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei) from the Bermejo River Basin in the Western Chacoan Region, northwestern Argentina

Austrolebias wichi

 Alonso, Terán, Calviño, García, Cardoso & García, 2018

 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196261 

  

Abstract

Austrolebias wichi, new species, is herein described from seasonal ponds of the Bermejo river basin in the Western Chacoan district in northwestern Argentina. This species was found in a single pond, a paleochannel of the Bermejo River, which is seriously disturbed by soybean plantations surrounding it. Despite intensive sampling in the area, this species was only registered in this pond where it was relatively scarce. Therefore, we consider this species as critically endangered. This species is the sister species of A. patriciae in our phylogenetic analyses and is similar, in a general external aspect, to A. varzeae and A. carvalhoi. It can be distinguished among the species of Austrolebias by its unique color pattern in males. Additionally, from A. varzeae by presenting a supraorbital band equal or longer than the infraorbital band (vs. shorter) and from A. patriciae by the convex dorsal profile of head (vs. concave). Further diagnostic characters and additional comments on its ecology and reproduction are provided.

Fig 1. Live pictures of males in left lateral view.
(A-B) Austrolebias wichi sp. nov. (C) Austrolebias varzeae, picture by Matheus Volcan;
D) Austrolebias patriciae from type locality, not preserved, picture by Daniel W. Fromm. 

Fig 2. Live pictures of females in left lateral view.
(A) Austrolebias wichi sp. nov. (B) Austrolebias varzeae, picture by Matheus Volcan;
(C) Austrolebias patriciae from type locality, not preserved, picture by Daniel W. Fromm.

Austrolebias wichi, new species

Diagnosis: Distinguished from all other congeners except from Austrolebias patriciae by a supraorbital bar longer or equal than infraorbital bar (vs. always shorter than infraorbital bar). Austrolebias wichi can be distinguished from Austrolebias patriciae by head dorsal profile on lateral view concave (vs. convex), the absence of filamentous rays markedly overpassing the interradial membrane distal margin of dorsal and anal fin in adult males (vs. present), by presenting small numerous whitish dots on unpaired fins in males (vs. fewer and bigger), infraorbital and supraorbital bands thinner than pupil and pointed distal portion (vs. equal or wider than pupil and rounded distal portion), dorsal-fin origin posterior to anal fin origin in females (vs. anterior) (Fig 1).

Female colour pattern similar to A. patriciae, with grey pinkish background having irregular grey blotches and some dark blue blotches over the caudal peduncle and body flank and differing from A. varzeae, which presents an orange background with minute black and grey relatively rounded, irregular blotches (Fig 2), and from A. araucarianus which presents a yellowish brown pale flank, with vertically elongated dark grey to black spots, often forming short narrow bars [Costa, 2014].

Fig 1. Live pictures of males in left lateral view. (A-B) Austrolebias wichi sp. nov. (C) Austrolebias varzeae, picture by Matheus Volcan; D) Austrolebias patriciae from type locality, not preserved, picture by Daniel W. Fromm.

 Fig 2. Live pictures of females in left lateral view. (A) Austrolebias wichi sp. nov. (B) Austrolebias varzeae, picture by Matheus Volcan; (C) Austrolebias patriciae from type locality, not preserved, picture by Daniel W. Fromm.

Etymology: The name wichi is a reference to the occurrence of the new species in the Western Chacoan region where the Wichí indigenous people inhabits in several settlements very close to the type locality.

Ecology: The ponds in the region have marked dry and wet seasons; the rains are concentrated during the summer, with about 75% of the total rains concentrated from December to March, and almost no rains from May to September [Arias, 1996] (Table 2). This determines that the seasonal ponds present water approximately from December to April, depending on the pond and the variability among years, (pers. obs.) (Fig 6).

The seasonal aquatic environment where the new species was collected is part of a long paleochannel which is interrupted by a road. Despite intensive sampling efforts in this area and in the Western Chacoan region we were only able to collect this species in the portion of the paleochannel immediately next to the road. Physicochemical parameters measured on January 2006 where pH 6,9 and a conductivity of 70 μsiemens/cm. This environment generally presents abundant aquatic vegetation. Other syntopic killifish species are: Papiliolebias bitteri (Costa 1989) and Trigonectes aplocheiloides Huber, 1995, which are the most abundant species, followed in abundance by Austrolebias vandenbergi (Huber, 1995) and A. wichi, which is very scarce in this environment, and some years we could not even collect a single specimen of this species while there were other annual fishes in the pond. Also, very few Neofundulus paraguayensis (Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903) were collected in this pond. Nearby, a couple of hundred of metres from this environment there is another pond where we collected Austrolebias monstrosus (Huber, 1995) but this species was not found syntopically with A. wichi. There are many seasonal ponds in this area where annual fish are very abundant; nevertheless, the only place where we found A. wichi is the type locality. The only noticeable difference between this environment and other seasonal ponds in the area may be that this is a very profound (about 1 meter depth) and big environment.

From mid autumn, winter, and spring the pond is completely dry and the top layer of substrate, which consist of slime with some vegetal rests, is very dry (Fig 7). The presence of domestic cattle in this area is evident in the bottom of the dry pond and the impact of this alteration in the bottom structure over the killifish populations is unknown.

Fig 6. Type locality of Austrolebias wichi sp. nov. (A) January 2006. (B) January 2014. (C) April 2017. (D) August 2012. 

Fig 7. Detail of the bottom of the pond where Austrolebias wichi n. sp. is found. August 2012. Picture courtesy of Marcos Mirande.

Felipe Alonso, Guillermo Enrique Terán, Pablo Calviño, Ignacio García, Yamila Cardoso and Graciela García. 2018.   An Endangered New Species of Seasonal Killifish of the Genus Austrolebias (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei) from the Bermejo River Basin in the Western Chacoan Region. PLoS ONE. 13(5): e0196261.  DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196261