[Botany • 2018] Phlegmariurus vanuatuensis (Huperzioideae, Lycopodiaceae) • A New Species from Vanuatu, Re-circumscription of P. nummulariifolius and New Combinations in Phlegmariurus

(D, E, F) Phlegmariurus vanuatuensis A.R.Field

(C) Phlegmariurus nummulariifolius (Blume) Ching

 in Field, 2018

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.109.29359 

Abstract

Phlegmariurus vanuatuensis A.R.Field is described as a new species for plants endemic to the islands of Vanuatu that were previously identified with P. nummulariifolius (Blume) Ching. The Vanuatuan species differs from the widespread Asian-Oceanian species in several characteristics, most notably its acutely divergent leaf arrangement and thicker less branched fertile spikes. Phlegmariurus nummulariifolius is here re-circumscribed as plants occurring in Asia and into Oceania as far east as the Solomon Islands, being replaced eastwards by P. vanuatuensis. In addition, new nomenclatural combinations are made for Phlegmariurus australis, a species from Polynesia and for Phlegmariurus copelandianus, a species from Malesia.

Keywords: Phlegmariurus, Lycopodiaceae, Vanuatu, Oceania

Figure 1. Phlegmariurus vanuatuensis  ARF1140: A habit, leaf arrangement and fertile spikes B close up of sterile leaf arrangement showing subopposite decussate leaf arrangement and ovate-oval leaves C close up of fertile spike showing scale like sporophylls and a sporangium.

Scale bar: 10 cm (A); 1 cm (B, C). Illustration by A.R.Field. 

Figure 2. Phlegmariurus nummulariifolius ARF0002: A basal region of shoot showing branching pattern and leaf arrangement B medial region of shoot showing adpressed leaf arrangement in facial and lateral view C distal region of shoot showing abrupt transition to sporophylls and filiform fertile spikes.

Phlegmariurus vanuatuensis ARF1140
D basal region of shoot showing branching pattern and leaf arrangement E medial region of shoot showing divergent leaf arrangement in facial and lateral view F distal region of shoot showing gradual transition to sporophylls and funiform-filiform fertile spikes. 

Photos by A.R.Field

Phlegmariurus vanuatuensis A.R.Field, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Phlegmariurus vanuatuensis is similar to Phlegmariurus nummulariifolius but differs in having acutely spreading non-flattened sterile leaves (compared with adpressed and imbricate leaves flattened in on plane in P. nummulariifolius), thicker pale green-brown stem bases 3.5–5.5 mm diameter in P. vanuatuensis (compared to thinner dark black-brown stem bases 1.5–3.5 mm diameter in P. nummulariifolius) and a gradual transition to thicker less ramified fertile spikes 2–5.5 mm diameter in P. vanuatuensis (compared to an abrupt transition to slender ramified fertile spikes 1–2.5 mm in P. nummulariifolius).

Distribution, habitat and ecology: Endemic to Vanuatu where it occurs as an uncommon epiphyte on the bark of tree trunks and branches in the canopy to subcanopy of mature trees in lowland to montane primary tropical rainforest.

Etymology: Named for the origin of this species in Vanuatu. Vanuatu is a composition of the Austronesian words ‘Vanua’ meaning home or land and ‘Tu’ meaning stand.

 Ashley Raymond Field. 2018. Phlegmariurus vanuatuensis (Huperzioideae, Lycopodiaceae) A New Species from Vanuatu, Re-circumscription of P. nummulariifolius and New Combinations in Phlegmariurus. PhytoKeys. 109: 53-66. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.109.29359

[Cephalopoda • 2006] Wunderpus photogenicus • A New Octopus (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Shallow Waters of the Indo-Malayan Archipelago

Wunderpus photogenicus  

 Hochberg, Norman & Finn, 2006 

Abstract 

Wunderpus photogenicus n. gen. and n. sp. is a spectacular long-armed species that occurs on soft sediment habitats in shallow waters (typically less than 20 m deep) in Indo-Malayan waters. It is characterized by small eyes on elongate stalks, a long, conical papilla over each eye and a dramatic and fixed color pattern of white bars and spots over a brown-red background. The distribution of the species is centered in the Indo-Malayan Archipelago and extends from Vanuatu to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Malaysia, north to the Philippines. Animals typically emerge at dusk and dawn to forage in the twilight, primarily catching small crustaceans and fishes by flaring the arms and webs over patches of sand or coral rubble to trap enclosed (and typically buried) prey. The species also extends its arms into holes to probe for potential prey. The distinctive color pattern of this species is most pronounced when the octopus is disturbed or threatened by real or perceived attackers. It appears to be a warning display and may represent one of two scenarios: either 1) it warns that the octopus is directly toxic or venomous by nature or; 2) it represents impersonations of toxic or venomous creatures with similar color patterns which cooccur in the same habitat. The new genus and species is compared with, and distinguished from, other long-armed octopuses.

Key words: Wunderpus, octopus, Octopodidae, Cephalopoda, Indo-Malayan Archipelago, taxonomy

FIGURE 4. Wunderpus photogenicus n. sp. Photographs of live animals:
B. Female from Philippines stretched out on substrate; photographed in Steinhart Aquarium (23 mm ML, CASIZ 081006; Photo: D. Chivers);
C. Foraging animal showing suppressed color pattern; in situ photograph, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia (Photo: M.D. Norman);
D. Foraging animal showing flared web of speculative pounce posture; in situ photograph, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia (Photo: D. Nielsen-Tackett).

Wunderpus photogenicus n. gen. and n. sp.

Etymology: Wunderpus: from the German ‘wünder’ meaning “marvel or wonder”. Specific name in recognition of the considerable photographic interest in this spectacular species in the media in recent years.

 Common Name “Wunderpus”.

Distribution: Wunderpus photogenicus n. sp. is known from shallow waters of the tropical Indo-Malayan Archipelago from Indonesia and the Philippines, east to Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (Fig. 6). Reports from underwater photographers and data from collected specimens indicate a depth range from 0.5 to at least 20 m.

FIGURE 4. Wunderpus photogenicus n. sp. Photographs of live animals:
 A. Alarm display of female from Vanuatu; aquarium photograph (27 mm ML, SBMNH 369471; Photo: A. Kerstitch); B. Female from Philippines stretched out on substrate; photographed in Steinhart Aquarium (23 mm ML, CASIZ 081006; Photo: D. Chivers);  

F.G. Hochberg, Mark D. Norman and Julian K. Finn. 2006. Wunderpus photogenicus n. gen. and sp., A New Octopus from the Shallow Waters of the Indo-Malayan Archipelago (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae). Molluscan Research. 26(3); 128–140. 

http://www.mapress.com/mr/content/v26/2006f/n3p140.pdf

Why Do Octopuses Remind Us So Much of Ourselves?
 http://on.natgeo.com/2dmRVDu @NatGeo

[Herpetology • 2006] Laticauda frontalis (de Vis, 1905) and Laticauda saintgironsi n. sp. from Vanuatu and New Caledonia (Serpentes: Elapidae: Laticaudinae) — A New Lineage of Sea Kraits?

Laticauda saintgironsi 

Cogger & Heatwole, 2006

 photo: twitter.com/bungarus666 

ABSTRACT 

The sea krait Laticauda colubrina is the most widespread member of its genus, extending from the Bay of Bengal through much of Asia and the Indo-Malayan Archipelago to New Guinea and many islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Unconfirmed records of the species may extend the range to the western coast of Central America. The species is subject to marked geographic variation in a number of morphological and meristic characters that have to date defied finer taxonomic resolution. Two members of this complex previously subsumed under the specific name colubrina are here formally elevated to full species status. One species — Laticauda saintgironsi n.sp. — consists of those populations of L. colubrina s.l. found around the coast and in the coastal waters of the main island of New Caledonia. The second species — Laticauda frontalis (de Vis, 1905) — is a dwarf species found in sympatry and syntopy with Laticauda colubrina in Vanuatu and the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia.

  

 Harold G. Cogger and Harold F. Heatwole. 2006. Laticauda frontalis (de Vis, 1905) and Laticauda saintgironsi n.sp. from Vanuatu and New Caledonia (Serpentes: Elapidae: Laticaudinae) — A New Lineage of Sea Kraits?

Records of the Australian Museum. 58: 245–256.

http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/3712/1/3712_Cogger_%26_Heatwole_2006.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2007] Akihito vanuatu • A New Genus and New Species of Freshwater Goby (Sicydiinae) from the South Pacific

Akihito vanuatu

Watson, Keith & Marquet, 2007

Based on characteristics of fin osteology, subfamily Sicydiinae is divided into two tribes. Sicydiini Gill, 1860 is defined as having a broad based pelvic disc, fused to belly between all 5 rays and Sicyopini, new tribe, is defined as having a short based pelvic disc, fused to belly between fifth rays only. Akihito n. gen., Sicyopini, is described based onmaterial collected in freshwater streams in the island nation of Vanuatu. Akihito n. gen. is differentiated from all other genera in Sicydiinae by a combination of characteristics that include male with only conical and caniniform premaxillary and dentary teeth, female with few caniniform and numerous tricuspid premaxillary teeth and fine horizontal teeth in dentary; tongue free; large broad epural; male with midline scales much greater in height than length; and pelvic disc fused to belly between fifth rays only. Akihito vanuatu n. sp. is characterized by dorsal fins VI-I,10, spines 4, 5 and 6 filamentous in male and not in female; anal fin I,10; pectoral fin usually 16 (15-17); scales in lateral series: male 14-18, female 24-32; predorsal scales: male zero, female 0-2; belly: male naked and female with few cycloid scales close to anus; cephalic sensory pores usually A, B, C, D, F, H, N and O, pores K and L and associated posterior oculoscapular canal not usually present, all pores paired except pore D which is singular.

Key words. - Gobioidei - Sicydiinae - Akihito vanuatu - PSE - Vanuatu - New genus - New species - Freshwater.

Akihito n. gen.

Type species: Akihito vanuatu ♂ Watson, Keith & Marquet, 2007.  

Etymology: Akihito: Named for Japanese Emperor Akihito for his many contributions to goby systematics and phylogenetic research. 

Ecology: Akihito vanuatu is found in swift clear streams with rocky bottom. The stream near “Pauls conservation” in Ambae island is not perennial. In July 2002, when a part of the specimen were caught, there was no running water in the river and the species was found in small or large pools grooved in the main rock. This absence of running water during a part of the year involve a real adaptation of the species life cycle. Indeed, all larvae of Sicydiins need to go to the sea to complete their development and then, after few weeks spent in the sea, they need to recolonize rivers for growth and reproduction (Keith, 2003). In this particular case of no perennial stream, the new species needs to use heavy rains to migrate to the sea or to the river. The site where the mature specimens where found is situated at an altitude of 300 m. Feeding habits have not been studied in depth but the few specimens examined seemed to feed on aquatic insects and crustacean.

Distribution: currently known only from the island nation of Vanuatu.

Watson, R.E., P. Keith, & G. Marquet 2007: Akihito vanuatu, A New Genus and New Species of Freshwater Goby (Sicydiinae) from the South Pacific. Cybium. 31(3): 341-349.

http://sfi.mnhn.fr/cybium/numeros/2007/313/06.Watson%20448.pdf