[PaleoIchthyology • 2016] Venusichthys comptus • A Middle Triassic Stem-Neopterygian Fish from China shows Remarkable Secondary Sexual Characteristics

 Venusichthys comptus 

Xu & Zhao, 2016

DOI: 10.1007/s11434-016-1007-0 

Abstract

Secondary sexual characteristics are features that appear at sexual maturity and distinguish the two sexes of a species. They are readily observed and studied in living animals, but the phenomenon is rather more difficult to identify in fossil taxa. Here we report a new sexually dimorphic stem-neopterygian fish, Venusichthys comptus gen. et sp. nov., based on 30 exceptionally well-preserved specimens from the Middle Triassic (Pelsonian, Anisian) Luoping Lagerstätte of eastern Yunnan, China. The discovery represents the oldest known secondary sexual characteristics in Neopterygii. These characteristics, including pointed tubercles on cranial bones, scales and fins, and hook-like contact organ anterior to the anal fin, have three inferred primary functions: maintenance of body contact between the sexes during prespawning behavior or spawning; stimulation of the females during breeding; and defense of nests and territories. Lacking a specialized anal fin in the presumed males, Venusichthys would likely have a different reproductive strategy from peltopleurids and other potentially viviparous stem-neopterygians. Moreover, Venusichthys shows a unique character combination distinguished from any other stem-neopterygian families and consequently represents a new family of this clade. As such, the new finding provides an important addition for understanding the behavior, reproduction, and early diversification of Neopterygii.

Keywords: Sexual dimorphism; Breeding tubercles; Venusichthyidae; Neopterygii; Actinopterygii

Systematic paleontology

Neopterygii Regan, 1923

Venusichthyidae fam. nov.

    Venusichthys comptus gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology: The genus epithet is from Latin venus, meaning goddess of love, and ichthys, meaning fish. The species epithet is from Latin comptus, meaning ornamental.

Holotype: A nearly complete skeleton of presumed female deposited at the collection of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences. V20010. Standard length is 31 mm.

Referred specimens: IVPP V20011–20034, 20055–20058; ZMNH (Zhejiang Museum of Natural History, Hangzhou, China) M1695.

Type locality and horizon: Luoping, Yunnan, China; second (upper) member of Guanling Formation, Pelsonian, Anisian, Middle Triassic.

Diagnosis: A new stem-neopterygian diagnosed by the following combination of features: presence of pointed anterior process of rostral; absence of supraorbitals; quadratomandibular articulation slightly anterior to middle line of orbit; maxilla notably longer than lower jaw; presence of tubercles and contact organ in presumed males; two preopercular elements on each side; two pairs of branchiostegal rays; anterior lateral line scales six times deeper than wide; dorsal fin larger than anal fin; 24 principal caudal fin rays; and squamation formula of D14/P7, A13, C31/T37.

Guang-Hui Xu and Li-Jun Zhao. 2016. A Middle Triassic Stem-Neopterygian Fish from China shows Remarkable Secondary Sexual Characteristics. Science Bulletin. 61(4); 338-344. DOI: 10.1007/s11434-016-1007-0

摘要: 第二性征是动物在性成熟所表现的、可以用来分辨物种性别的特征。第二性征比较容易在现生物种中观察到,但是它们很难在化石中识别。根据采集于云南罗平中三叠世安尼期海相地层的三十块鱼化石,本文报道了基干新鳍鱼的一个新属种:多饰维纳斯鱼 (Venusichthys comptus)。维纳斯鱼具有明显的性双型:成年雄鱼具有第二性征,包括雄鱼头部、鳞片和鳍条上的尖突,以及臀鳍前面钩状的接触器。这些第二性征可能用于增进雌、雄鱼体产卵前或产卵中的身体接触,刺激雌鱼排卵,以及保护巢穴和领地。维纳斯鱼不具有肋鳞鱼类或其它卵胎生鱼类那样特化的臀鳍,它的生殖方式可能不是卵胎生的。维纳斯鱼代表了新鳍鱼类第二性征的最早记录,它的发现为了解新鳍鱼类的行为、繁殖方式和早期分异提供了重要信息。

Neopterygian Fish with Secondary Sexual Characteristics Found from Middle Triassic of China

http://english.cas.cn/newsroom/research_news/201601/t20160127_159235.shtml

http://phys.org/news/2016-02-neopterygian-fish-secondary-sexual-characteristics.html

[Paleontology • 2016] Fukuivenator paradoxus • A Bizarre Theropod from the Early Cretaceous of Japan Highlighting Mosaic Evolution among Coelurosaurians

Fukuivenator paradoxus

Azuma, Xu, Shibata, Kawabe, Miyata & Imai, 2016

Figure 1: Skeletal silhouette of FPDM-V8461 and the stratigraphic section of the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation in the Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry.

 DOI: 10.1038/srep20478

Abstract

Our understanding of coelurosaurian evolution, particularly of bird origins, has been greatly improved, mainly due to numerous recently discovered fossils worldwide. Nearly all these discoveries are referable to the previously known coelurosaurian subgroups. Here, we report a new theropod, Fukuivenator paradoxus, gen. et sp. nov., based on a nearly complete specimen from the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation of the Tetori Group, Fukui, Japan. While Fukuivenator possesses a large number of morphological features unknown in any other theropod, it has a combination of primitive and derived features seen in different theropod subgroups, notably dromaeosaurid dinosaurs. Computed-tomography data indicate that Fukuivenator possesses inner ears whose morphology is intermediate between those of birds and non-avian dinosaurs. Our phylogenetic analysis recovers Fukuivenator as a basally branching maniraptoran theropod, yet is unable to refer it to any known coelurosaurian subgroups. The discovery of Fukuivenator considerably increases the morphological disparity of coelurosaurian dinosaurs and highlights the high levels of homoplasy in coelurosaurian evolution.

Systematic palaeontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842

Theropoda Marsh, 1881

Maniraptora Gauthier, 1986

Fukuivenator paradoxus gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology: “Fukui” refers to Fukui Prefecture in the central Japan, where the specimen was recovered; “venator”, a Latin word for hunter; the species name refers to the surprising combination of characters in this theropod dinosaur.

Figure 2: Cranial skeletal morphology of FPDM-V8461.
 (a) Partial right premaxilla in lateral view. (b) Partial left maxilla in lateral view. (c) Partial left lacrimal in lateral view. (d) Right frontal in dorsal view. (e) Right postorbital in lateral view. (f) Left squamosal in lateral view. (g) Partial right dentary in lateral view.

Scale bar = 10 mm. Abbreviations: aofe, antorbital fenestra; en, external naris; mxfe; maxillary fenestra, prfe; premaxillary fenestra.   DOI: 10.1038/srep20478

Figure 1: Skeletal silhouette of FPDM-V8461 and the stratigraphic section of the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation in the Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry.

DOI: 10.1038/srep20478

Holotype: FPDM-V8461 (Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum), a disarticulated but closely associated skeleton found within a 50 by 50 cm area, preserved elements include: incomplete right premaxilla with two isolated premaxillary teeth, left maxilla with one isolated and four intact teeth, left lacrimal, right jugal, right postorbital, left squamosal, both frontals, braincase, possible left ectopterygoid, left pterygoid, right palatine, posterior part of right dentary with two intact dentary teeth, eight cervical vertebrae, 10 dorsal vertebrae, five sacral vertebrae, and 30 caudal vertebrae, several cervical ribs, dorsal ribs, gastralia and chevrons, nearly complete scapulas and coracoids, most of both forelimbs, portions of both pubes, partial left ischium, and nearly complete hindlimbs (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: Skeletal silhouette of FPDM-V8461 and the stratigraphic section of the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation in the Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry.
Skeletal silhouette shows preserved bones in dark grey and missing bones in light grey. Positions of notable fossils including FPDM-V8461 are shown in the stratigraphic section.

 Scale bar = 50 mm. Abbreviations: cl, claystone; sl, siltstone; vfs, very fine sandstone; fs, fine sandstone; ms, medium sandstone; cs, coarse sandstone.   DOI: 10.1038/srep20478

Type locality and horizon: FPDM-V8461 was found in the Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, which is on the Sugiyama River in the northern part of the city of Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan (36° 7′ 17.9″ N, 136° 32′ 41.4″ E) (see Supplementary Figs. S1 for quarry maps, and S2 for a field photograph). The quarry is locally referred to the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation (Akaiwa Subgroup, Tetori Group). The age of the Kitadani Formation could be assigned to the Barremian to the Aptian on the basis of occurrences of the freshwater mollusk Nippononaia ryosekiana17 and charophytes18, and radioisotopic dates obtained from related sedimentary units (127–115 Ma?)19.

Diagnosis: A relatively small theropod with the following unique features: 1. unusually large external naris (slightly smaller than antorbital fenestra in dorsoventral height); 2. large premaxillary fenestra subequal in size to maxillary fenestra; 3. large oval lacrimal pneumatic recess posterodorsal to the maxillary fenestra on antorbital fossa medial wall; 4. lacrimal with a distinct groove on lateral surface of anterior process and a ridge on lateral surface of descending process; 5. postorbital frontal process with T-shaped-cross section and laterally-flanged squamosal process; 6. an elongate tubercle on posterior surface of basal tuber of the basicranial region; 7. highly heterodont dentition featuring robust unserrated teeth including small spatulate anterior teeth, large and posteriorly curved middle teeth, and small and nearly symmetrical posterior teeth; 8. cervical vertebrae with a complex lamina system surrounding the neural canal resulting in deep and wide grooves for interspinous ligaments and additional deep sockets; 9. anterior cervical vertebrae with interprezygapophyseal, postzygadiapophyseal, prezygadiapohyseal, and interpostzygapophyseal laminae connecting to each other to form an extensive platform; 10. anterior and middle cervical vertebrae with transversely bifid neural spines; 11. dorsal, sacral, and anterior caudal vertebrae with strongly laterally curved hyposphene and centropostzygapophyseal laminae that, together with the postzygapophyseal facet, form a socket-like structure for receiving the prezygapophysis; 12. dorsoventrally bifurcated sacral ribs; 13. caudal zygapophyseal facets expanded to be substantially wider than the zygapophyseal processes; and 14. middle caudal vertebrae with transversely and distally bifid prezygapophyses.

 Yoichi Azuma, Xing Xu, Masateru Shibata, Soichiro Kawabe, Kazunori Miyata and Takuya Imai. 2016.  A Bizarre Theropod from the Early Cretaceous of Japan Highlighting Mosaic Evolution among Coelurosaurians. Scientific Reports.  6(20478); DOI: 10.1038/srep20478

[Herpetology • 2016] Varanus semotus • A New Blue-tailed Monitor Lizard (Squamata, Varanus) of the Varanus indicus group from Mussau Island, Papua New Guinea

Varanus semotus 

Weijola, Donnellan & Lindqvist, 2016

A an adult in its habitat at the outskirts of Nai (photos by VW), and C a juvenile (photo by Quetzal Dwyer).

 DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.568.6872

Abstract

We describe a new species of Varanus from Mussau Island, north-east of New Guinea. The new species is a member of the Varanus indicus species group and is distinguished from all other members by both morphological and molecular genetic characters. It is the third species of Varanus reported from the Bismarck Archipelago and the first record of a yellow tongued member of the Varanus indicus species group from a remote oceanic island. The herpetofauna of Mussau Island has not been well studied but the discovery of this new species is in accordance with recent findings indicating that the island may harbor several unknown endemic vertebrates. The distribution of the closely related Varanus finschi is also discussed in the light of recent fieldwork and a review of old records.

Keywords: Melanesia, Bismarck Archipelago, St. Matthias islands, Varanidae, Varanus doreanus, Varanus finschi, Varanus yuwonoi, mitochondrial phylogeny, biogeography, taxonomy

Figure 3. A–C Images of live Varanus semotus at Nai on Mussau Island.
A an adult in its habitat at the outskirts of Nai B an adult basking on the trunk of a palm tree (photos by VW), and C a juvenile (photo by Quetzal Dwyer).

 DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.568.6872

Etymology: The specific epithet semotus is Latin for distant or remote and refers to the isolated occurrence on Mussau, separated by several hundred kilometers from its closest relatives. The term is employed as a masculine adjective.

Diagnosis: Varanus semotus sp. n. is distinguished from all other species of Varanus by a combination of the following characters. (1) Tongue white/pinkish to pale yellow (white in preservative) occasionally with small patches of dark pigmentation, the yellow pigment concentrated along the mid-dorsal line and the dorsal surface of the tines (Fig. 2). (2) Gular region marbled in black and cream-white. (3) The tail of adult individuals is indistinctly banded on the distal half, with a varying degree of turquoise to bluish pigmentation on the distal 2/3. (4) Juveniles are black with white spots on the head, yellow and orange spots on the dorsum, and have well defined cream colored to pale greenish tail bands (Fig. 3C). (5) The number of dorsal scales, XY, ranges from 149 to 153. (6) The number of midbody scale rows, S, ranges from 152 to 161. (7) The dorsum is black with single- and clustered groups of dispersed yellow/orange scales. (8) There are several complete rows of paryphasmata across the asulcal side of the hemipenis below the lobes. (9) Geographical distribution restricted to Mussau Island.

Distribution: Varanus semotus is known so far only from Mussau, an island of 414 sq.km in the northern Bismarck Sea (Fig. 5). According to some of the locals on Mussau, monitors are absent from Emirau, the second largest island of the St. Matthias group, but this needs confirmation from fieldwork. It is also unknown whether this species occurs on the other two nearby islands Emananus and Eloaua.

Natural history: A total of 16 observations were made during fieldwork on Mussau, all of them along the coast near the village of Nai at the SE corner of the island. Searches in the secondary growth forest of the interior of the island and in the mangrove forests near Palakau did not produce any observations. The relatively dry coastal vegetation near Nai comprises a mixture of coconut palms, pandanus and other trees and shrubs able to persist in the karst, limestone and salt spray affected area (Fig. 6). In this vegetation type monitors appeared to be relatively common. Just south of the village there is a freshwater spring with a small area of Sago palms which was also a popular site for monitors. The lizards were usually spotted either as they were foraging on the ground and quickly fled up in trees, or while they were basking on the trunks of palms or other trees. The specimens collected as vouchers were noosed from trees with a long pole. As is typical of the closely related V. doreanus, V. finschi and V. yuwonoi the specimens were exceedingly aggressive and inclined to bite when captured and handled. Stomach content analysis of the three ZMUT specimens revealed a total of five reptile eggs (3,2,0) and one small skink. All stomachs contained the remains of crabs. Philipp et al. (2007) recorded a bird as the stomach content of ZMUC 4272.

Conservation. The field observations indicate that V. semotus doesn’t occur, or possibly only at low densities, in the highly degraded secondary forest/bush of large parts of the interior of the island. It is likely that the species occurred throughout Mussau prior to the large scale logging activities of the past three decades (Venter and Arihafa 2015). Thus the species is now mostly restricted to the coastal strip of a relatively small isolated island. Possible threats to the future survival of this species would be the introduction of cane toads which were widely established in the PNG islands during WW2 (Zug et al. 1975). According to unconfirmed accounts by locals they already occur on Emirau Island which also according to local inhabitants on Mussau lack monitor lizards. Varanus semotus is the only large-sized terrestrial generalist predator and scavenger on the island, and may well fill an important ecological function, making it of particular conservation concern. The new species is unusual inasmuch as it fills a role normally occupied by Mangrove monitors on isolated Pacific islands and it can well be considered a biogeographical oddity.

 Valter Weijola, Stephen Donnellan and Christer Lindqvist. 2016. A New Blue-tailed Monitor Lizard (Reptilia, Squamata, Varanus) of the Varanus indicus group from Mussau Island, Papua New Guinea. ZooKeys. 568: 129-154. DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.568.6872

[Botany • 2016] Impatiens guiqingensis • A New Species (Balsaminaceae) from Gansu, China

Impatiens guiqingensis

S. X. Yu 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.247.3.6 

Abstract

Impatiens guiqingensis S. X. Yu (Balsaminaceae), a new species from Gansu Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is superficially similar to I. dicentra in having 1–2 flowered racemose inflorescences, lateral sepals with dentate margin, top of lower and upper petals of lateral united petals with bristle appendages, but differs from the latter by yellow flower, lower sepal without spur and dorsal petal with unapparent crest. Moreover, the occurrence of the new species is also different from the related one.

Keywords: Impatiens, Balsaminaceae, new species, taxonomy, Eudicots

Hui Guo, Caiming Zhang, Lin-Jing Zhang and Sheng-Xiang Yu. 2016. Impatiens guiqingensis (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from Gansu, China. Phytotaxa.  247(3) 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.247.3.6

http://www.mapress.com/j/pt/article/view/phytotaxa.247.3.6

[Herpetology • 2016] Allobates bacurau • A New Species of Nurse-Frog (Aromobatidae, Allobates) from the Madeira River Basin with A Small Geographic Range

Allobates bacurau 

 Simões, 2016 || zootaxa.4083.4.3 

Abstract

I describe the seventh species of nurse-frog (Allobates) from the Madeira River basin in Brazilian Amazonia. The new species is distinguished from similar congeneric species by its small body size (snout-to-vent length ranging between 14.0–14.7 mm in adult males and between 14.7–14.9 mm in adult females), by the absence of dark brown regular shapes (e.g. hourglass, “X” or polygon-like marks) on the dorsum, by the absence of transverse dark bars on the dorsal surface of the thigh, and by the light gray to white ventral surfaces, light to dark gray only on throat in live male and female specimens. Males have a distinctive advertisement call characterized by the emission of long (7–11 s) trills of short notes (0.04 s in average) with dominant frequency at 5.9–6.3 kHz and emission rate ranging between 6.7–8.7 notes/s. DNA barcode analyses based on a fragment of the 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene provides additional support to the recognition of the new taxon, which is probably distributed on the east riverbank of the Madeira River, in the interfluve between the Aripuanã and Ji-Paraná rivers.

Keywords: Amphibia, Advertisement calls, Amazonia, Dendrobatoidea, endemism, mtDNA

Pedro Ivo Simões. 2016. A New Species of Nurse-Frog (Aromobatidae, Allobates) from the Madeira River Basin with A Small Geographic Range. Zootaxa. 4083(4);  

http://mapress.com/j/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4083.4.3

ResearchGate.net/publication/295675129_A_new_species_of_nurse-frog_Aromobatidae_Allobates_from_the_Madeira_River_basin_with_a_small_geographic_range

[Herpetology • 2008] Eutropis tammanna • A New Species of Eutropis (Squamata: Scincidae) from Sri Lanka

Eutropis tammanna

  Das, De Silva & Austin, 2008 

Abstract

A new species of lygosomine scincid lizard of the genus Eutropis is described from the dry and intermediate zones of the lowlands (0–190 m asl) of Sri Lanka. Eutropis tammanna sp. nov. is compared with congeners from Sri Lanka and those from southern Peninsular India, and is diagnosable by molecular data and by the following combination of morphological characters: body size small, up to 52.3 mm; transparent window-like disk absent on lower eyelids; prefrontals in broad contact; a single pair of nuchals; postnasal absent; ear opening larger than adjacent scales; dorsal scales with 6–7 keels; midbody scale rows 28–29; paravertebral scale rows 37–40; ventral scales 41–48; lamellae under fourth toe 15– 16; dark labial bars present in both sexes, which are more distinct in males; dark postocular stripe absent; males brown on dorsum, with dark flanks speckled with cream; females similar to males, the pattern less contrasting, lacking paired series of black markings, pale vertebral stripes or dark longitudinal stripes on dorsum. In addition, the rostral, labials, and gular region of presumed breeding males are bright flame scarlet.

 Key words: Eutropis tammanna sp. n., Scincidae, systematics, morphology, Sri Lanka, Bayesian, ND2, DNA, SH test

Indraneil Das, Anslem De Silva and Christopher C. Austin. 2008. A New Species of Eutropis (Squamata: Scincidae) from Sri Lanka. Zootaxa. 1700: 35–52.

http://www.museum.lsu.edu/Austin/PDFs%20Austin/29.%20Eutropis%20Sri%20Lanka%202008.pdf

[Herpetology • 2007] Eutropis grandis • A New Species of Large Eutropis (Scincidae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia

Eutropis grandis

Howard, Gillespie, Riyanto & Iskandar, 2007 

 DOI:  10.1670/233-05.1 

Abstract

A new species of Eutropis (Sauria: Scincidae) is described from the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, distinguished from all congeneric species, with the exception of Eutropis longicaudis, by its large size and low number of midbody scale rows. It has two primary temporal scales, whereas E. longicaudis from Borneo has only one. This new species is diurnal, partially arboreal, and inhabits rain forest from below 100 m to at least 600 m elevation.

  

S. D. Howard, G. R. Gillespie, A. Riyanto and D. T. Iskandar. 2007. A New Species of Large Eutropis (Scincidae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Journal of Herpetology. 41(4):604-610.  DOI:  10.1670/233-05.1

  researchgate.net/publication/250071314_A_New_Species_of_Large_Eutropis_Scincidae_from_Sulawesi_Indonesia

[Botany • 2015] Rhododendron xiaoxueshanense • A New Species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) from Shangri-La, NW Yunnan, China

 FIGURE 1. Rhododendron xiaoxueshanense R.l. Liao and Y.P. Ma (A, B, C, D) and R. trichostomum Franch. (E, F, G, H ).
— A. & E. Habitat.— B. & F. Inflorescences and leaves.— C. & G. Flowers.

Abstract

Rhododendron Linnaeus (1753: 392) exhibits great diversity and roughly 1,025 species are prized in the temperate parts of the world for their horticultural value (Chamberlain et al. 1996). There are approximately 680 species in six subgenera in China, of which more than 400 are endemic (Fang & Min 1995). However, the number of Rhododendron species known is increasing, with many new species being described after the publishing of Flora of China (Fang et al. 2005, Chen et al. 2012, Mao et al. 2013, Ma et al. 2015, Mao & Bhaumik 2015).

Xiaoxueshan Mountain lies in the Northeast of Shangri-la, NW Yunnan, China. In 1995, one of our co-authors Mr. Jens Neilsen visited Xiaoxueshan Mountain and noticed an unknown Rhododendron species growing on steep cliff close to the main road. This species is similar to R. trichostomum Franchet (1895: 396), but differs in leaf, inflorescence and fruit characters (Fig. 1). However, no detailed observation was carried out and no specimens were collected at that time. In June 2013, a field investigation was conducted, aiming to examine and fully describe this new species during its flowering period, and its status as a distinct new species was confirmed.

......

FIGURE 1. Rhododendron xiaoxueshanense (A, B, C, D) and R. trichostomum (E, F, G, H ). — A. & E. Habitat.— B. & F. Inflorescences and leaves.— C. & G. Flowers.— D. & H. Fruits.

Taxonomic treatment

Rhododendron xiaoxueshanense R.l. Liao and Y.P. Ma, sp. nov. ( Fig. 2)

Rhododendron xiaoxueshanense resembles R. trichostomum, but differs from the latter in having elliptic leaves in maturity, much longer pedicels  (4.57±0.16  mm  vs.  1.77±0.07  mm)  but  a  shorter  calyx  (2.67±0.08  mm  vs.  5.76±0.08  mm),  a  white  corolla  and  a  2–6 flowered inflorescence (Table 1).

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Xiaoxuehsan Mountain, Shangri-La county. ca. 3500 m, 99°45′09.44′′E, 28°22′10.95′′N, June 2013, R.L. Liao& Y.P. Ma, SL1306002 (holotype: KUN!; isotype: KUN!)

Distribution  and  ecology:— To  date, Rhododendron  xiaoxueshanense  is  known  only  from  the  type  locality  at Xiaoxueshan Mountain (99°45′09.44′′E, 28°22′10.95′′N), in Shangri-La county, NW Yunnan, China (Fig. 3). The plants have been found on rocks and cliff ledges at elevation of ca. 3500m (Fig. 1a).

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the site (Xiaoxueshan Mountain) where the new species was discovered and collected.

Rongli Liao, Dan Xue, Jens Neilsen, Jihua Wang and Yongpeng Ma. 2015. A New Species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) from Shangri-La, NW Yunnan, China.  Phytotaxa. 238(3): 293–297. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.238.3.10

researchgate.net/publication/285143749_A_new_species_of_Rhododendron_Ericaceae_from_Shangri-La_NW_Yunnan_China

[Herpetology • 2016] Mabuya parviterrae • A New Species of Skink from the Guadeloupe Archipelago (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuya)

Mabuya parviterrae   

  Hedges, Lorvelec, Barré, Berchel, Combot, Vidal & Pavis, 2016 

Petite Terre Skink | Scinque de la Petite Terre

Abstract

A new species of lizard of the genus Mabuya is described from a small island in the Guadeloupe Archipelago: Terre de Bas, Îles de la Petite Terre. Mabuya parviterrae sp. nov. is allied with the other four species of Mabuya from Gua-deloupe. However, it differs in scalation, coloration, and (where available) DNA sequence. Of the nine named spe-cies in the genus, only M. dominicana (from Dominica), M. desiradae (from La Désirade), and M. parviterrae sp. nov. have escaped decimation and possible extinction by the Small Indian Mongoose, Urva auropunctata. The latter two species of skinks are critically endangered, being threatened by the Black Rat (Rattus rattus) and degraded habitat that has not recovered from early land use. The Petite Terre Skink probably has one of the smallest distributions of a vertebrate species. The species consists of approximately 50 individuals living primarily in a dry stone wall of less than 500 square meters in extent. 

Keywords: Caribbean, island, lizard, phylogeny, Reptilia, Scincomorpha, systematics.  

Mabuya parviterrae sp. nov.

Petite Terre Skink (Scinque de la Petite Terre, French)

(Figs. 3A–F, 4A–C, 5, 6B–D)

Mabuya mabouya mabouya—Lorvelec et al. 2000: 37 (part, Îles de la Petite Terre).

Mabuya mabouya—Breuil 2002: 267 (part, Îles de la Petite Terre).

Mabuya mabouya—Lorvelec et al. 2007: 141 (part, Îles de la Petite Terre).

Mabuya mabouya—Lorvelec 2011: 1 (part, Îles de la Petite Terre).

Mabuya desiradae—Hedges & Conn 2012: 97 (part, Îles de la Petite Terre).

Mabuya cf. desiradae—Lorvelec et al. 2012: 11 (part, Îles de la Petite Terre)

Mabuya desiradae—Hedges 2014: 327 (part, Îles de la Petite Terre).

Mabuya desiradae—Angin & Gomès 2015: 1 (part, Îles de la Petite Terre).

Holotype. MNHN-RA-2015.0059, an adult female, collected by Nicolas Barré on a dry stone wall near the middle of Terre de Bas, Îles de la Petite Terre, Guadeloupe (16.1714, -61.1207, 5 m), on 22 April 2015. Additional specimen tag SBH 274765. 

   Distribution. The Îles de la Petite Terre (Fig. 1B) is a micro-archipelago composed of two islets: Terre de Bas (1.17 km²; 1.11 km² without its four lagoons) and Terre de Haut (0.32 km²). The species is known only from Terre de Bas. Despite searches, it has not yet been found on nearby Terre de Haut. 

     Etymology. The species name (parviterrae) means ‘small land’ in Latin and is a feminine genitive singular noun, referring to the distribution of the species on Îles de la Petite Terre. 

S. Blair Hedges, Olivier Lorvelec, Nicolas Barré, Joël Berchel, Marion Diard Combot, Nicolas Vidal and Claudie Pavis. 2016. A New Species of Skink from the Guadeloupe Archipelago (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuya). Caribbean Herpetology. 53:1–14.

ResearchGate.net/publication/295072981_A_new_species_of_skink_from_the_Guadeloupe_archipelago_Squamata_Mabuyidae_Mabuya

[Botany • 2015] Impatiens gadellae & I. nurae • Two New Species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from North of Lao PDR

Fig 4: 'Tien Nang Si' Impatiens nurae Souvann. & Suksathan, 
A. habit; B. show purple on lower surface leave; C. flower top view; D. flower lateral view. E. flower front view;

Photos by K. Souvannakhoummane; 

Abstract

    Impatiens gadellae Souvann. & Suksathan, Impatiens nurae Souvann. & Suksathan, two new species from North Lao PDR, are described and illustrated with conservation statuses propose.

 Keyword:  Impatiens, Balsaminaceae, Taxonomical, Limestone flora, Lao PDR.

Fig 2: 'Tien Hin Pha' Impatiens gadellae Souvann. & Suksathan,  A. plant; B. Capsule fruits;

C. flower front view; D. flower lateral view; 

E-F: Impatiens parishii Hook.f, E. flower front view; F. flower lateral view;
G-H: Impatiens kerriae Craib, G. flower front view & H. flower lateral view.

Photos by K. Souvannakhoummane, A-F, Photos by K. Phoutthavong, G & H.

Keooudone Souvannakhoummane and Piyakaset Suksathan. 2015. Two New Species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from North of Lao PDR. Taiwania. 60(4): 175 - 180. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2015.60.175

http://tai2.ntu.edu.tw/taiwania/pdf/tai.2015.60.175.pdf

[Botany • 2015] Impatiens tianlinensis • A New Species (Balsaminaceae) from Guangxi, China

Impatiens tianlinensis 

S. X. Yu & L. J. Zhang

  DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.227.3.4

Abstract

Impatiens tianlinensis S. X. Yu & L. J. Zhang, a new species of the Balsaminaceae from Cenwang Laoshan Mountain, Tianlin County, Guangxi Region, is described and illustrated. This species closely resembles I. apalophylla and I. clavigera var. auriculata in having racemose inflorescences, 4 lateral sepals, hammer-shaped capsules and ellipsoid seeds, but differs in having sessile glanduliferous petioles, few-flowered inflorescences, incurved spur, yellow lower sepal without reddish patches, yellowish petals and lower sepal, and acuminate dorsal petal apex. The molecular data, from nuclear ribosomal and plastid genes, as well as pollen characters also support that the species is new to science.

Keywords: Balsaminaceae, molecular data, new species, phylogeny, pollen character, China, Eudicots

Taxonomy

Impatiens tianlinensis S. X. Yu & L. J. Zhang, sp. nov. (Figs. 1–2)

This species is similar to I. apalophylla Hook. f. (1908: 243) and I. clavigera var. auriculata in having racemose inflorescences, 4 lateral sepals, hammer-shaped capsules and ellipsoid seeds, but differs in sessile glanduliferous petioles, few-flowered inflorescences, incurved spur, yellow lower sepal without reddish patches, yellowish petals and lower sepal, and acuminate dorsal petal apex.

Type:— CHINA . Guangxi: Tianlin county, Cenwang Laoshan Mountain, in a valley near the river, 24°24’04.7” N, 106°23’09.5” E, ca. 1260 m, 9 Oct 2007, S. X. Yu 3731 (holotype PE!, isotype IBK!).

 Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting from September to November.

Ecology:— This new species grows in a valley at an elevation of 1100–1300 m. s. m., in a disturbed forest. The population is apparently small.

Distribution:— Except the type locality, I. tianlinensis is also known from Lingyun, Fengshan, Leye and Nandan of Guangxi.

Etymology:— The specific epithet ‘tianlinensis’ refers to the type locality

Lei Zeng, Yan-nan Liu, Rajib Gogoi, Lin-jing Zhang and Sheng-xiang Yu. 2015. Impatiens tianlinensis (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa. 227(3): 253–260. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.227.3.4

http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/content/2015/f/pt00227p260.pdf

[Botany • 2013] Three New Species of Impatiens L. from China and Vietnam: Preparation of Flowers and Morphology of Pollen and Seeds

Fig . 1. Habitat and habit photographs of the three new Impatiens species.
A. and B. Impatiens aconitoides ( Y. M. Shui and W. H. Chen 32393 ). C. and D. I. purpureifolia ( Y. M. Shui, W. H. Chen and J. S. Sheng 30583 ). E. and F. I. rugata (E. from C. I Peng et al. 17528 , F. from Z. G. Yang 2009–01 ).

 F. was photographed by Z. G. Yang, and all the others photographed by Y. M. Shui  DOI: 10.1600/036364411X569615

Abstract

The genus Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) is one of the most difficult genera for making effective herbarium specimens because of its tender and complicated flowers. The preparation of flowers is always one of the most important steps in the collections of Impatiens. The present paper demonstrates a method to prepare flowering specimens of Impatiens in the field. Examples include three new species collected from the Sino-Vietnamese border, viz. Impatiens aconitoides, I. purpureifolia, and I. rugata . The related species I. laojunshanensis, I. apalophylla, and I. clavigera are also sampled using the same preparation method. As to the three new species, their pollen grains and seeds were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Impatiens aconitoides has 4-colpate pollen grains and ovoid seeds with protrusivetype of seed coat, whereas I. purpureifolia and I. rugata have 3-colpate grains and ellipsoidal seeds with reticulate-typed seed coat. Such an integrated approach to include detailed floral characters as well as pollen and seed characters is proposed when new taxa of Impatiens are described.

Keywords: Flower structure, Impatiens aconitoides, I. purpureifolia, I. rugata, pollen, seed

 Yu-Min Shui, Steven Janssens, Su-Hua Huang, Wen-Hong Chen and Zhi-Guo Yang. 2011. Three New Species of Impatiens L. from China and Vietnam: Preparation of Flowers and Morphology of Pollen and Seeds. Systematic Botany. 36(2):428-439. DOI: 10.1600/036364411X569615