[Crustacea • 2017] Kani maranjandun • A New Genus and New Species of A Fully Arboreal Crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from the Western Ghats, India, with Notes on the Ecology of Arboreal Crabs

Kani maranjandun 

Kumar,  Raj & Ng, 2017

DOI:  10.1093/jcbiol/rux012 

Abstract

A new genus and new species of tree crab is described from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in Kerala, southern India. Kani maranjandun gen., n. sp., is substantially different from all congeners in a suite of characters, notably the diagnostic carapace and male abdominal structure, as well as the conspicuously elongated ambulatory legs. The species is wholly arboreal, living in tree-hollows or the canopy.

Keywords: freshwater crabs, Kerala, new taxa, systematics

SYSTEMATICS 

Superfamily Gecarcinucoidea Rathbun, 1904 

Family Gecarcinucidae Rathbun, 1904

Kani n. gen. 

Etymology: The genus is named after the people of the Kanikkaran (also known as Kani) tribe in Kerala, who helped in the collection of tree crab from near their hamlet. India’s Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, southern Western Ghats is home to the largest population of this ancient Indian tribe. The gender of the genus name is neuter

  Kani maranjandu n. gen., n. sp. in its natural habitat.
Paratype male (40.5 × 30.0 mm) (DABFUK). Kerala, India. 

Kani maranjandu n. gen., n. sp. 

Etymology: The species name is derived from the Malayalam word mara for “tree” and njandu for “crab”. The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Ecology: Kani maranjandu n. gen., n. sp. is the first tree-climbing crab reported from India. Morphological features such as distinctly long legs with hooked dactyli are clearly arboreal adaptations. The type series was collected from the tree hollows of a Bedda nut tree, Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (Combretaceae).  ....

When approached by members of the Kani tribe, the crabs climb up the trunk of Cinnamomum verum, the tribesmen then cut a series of holes in trees to climb up after them.

Appukuttannair Biju Kumar,  Smrithy Raj and Peter K. L. Ng. 2017. Description of A New Genus and New Species of A Fully Arboreal Crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from the Western Ghats, India, with Notes on the Ecology of Arboreal Crabs. J. Crustacean Biol. rux012. DOI:  10.1093/jcbiol/rux012 

 researchgate.net/profile/Biju_Kumar3/contributions

New Spider-Like, Tree-Climbing Crab Species Found  on.NatGeo.com/2oNQvs6  @NatGeo
New species of tree living crab found in Western Ghats  eurekalert.org/e/7lyX via @EurekAlert

New species of tree living crab found in Western Ghats  sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170403091310.htm 

New species of tree living crab found in Western Ghats  phy.so/410432941 @physorg_com

  

[Herpetology • 2017] Mountain Colonisation, Miniaturisation and Ecological Evolution in A Radiation of Direct-developing New Guinea Frogs (Choerophryne, Microhylidae)

(A) Choerophryne alpestris upper montane moss fields, Central Cordillera, terrestrial;(D) Choerophryne proboscidea hill forest forest, northern lowlands, scansorial.

Photographs: S Richards (A, D) DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3077 

Abstract

Aims

Mountain ranges in the tropics are characterised by high levels of localised endemism, often-aberrant evolutionary trajectories, and some of the world’s most diverse regional biotas. Here we investigate the evolution of montane endemism, ecology and body size in a clade of direct-developing frogs (Choerophryne, Microhylidae) from New Guinea.

Methods

Phylogenetic relationships were estimated from a mitochondrial molecular dataset using Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches. Ancestral state reconstruction was used to infer the evolution of elevational distribution, ecology (indexed by male calling height), and body size, and phylogenetically corrected regression was employed to examine the relationships between these three traits.

Results

We obtained strong support for a monophyletic lineage comprising the majority of taxa sampled. Within this clade we identified one subclade that appears to have diversified primarily in montane habitats of the Central Cordillera (>1,000 m a.s.l.), with subsequent dispersal to isolated North Papuan Mountains. A second subclade (characterised by moderately to very elongated snouts) appears to have diversified primarily in hill forests (<1,000 m a.s.l.), with inferred independent upwards colonisations of isolated montane habitats, especially in isolated North Papuan Mountains. We found no clear relationship between extremely small body size (adult SVL less than 15 mm) and elevation, but a stronger relationship with ecology—smaller species tend to be more terrestrial.

Conclusions

Orogeny and climatic oscillations have interacted to generate high montane biodiversity in New Guinea via both localised diversification within montane habitats (centric endemism) and periodic dispersal across lowland regions (eccentric endemism). The correlation between extreme miniaturisation and terrestrial habits reflects a general trend in frogs, suggesting that ecological or physiological constraints limit niche usage by miniaturised frogs, even in extremely wet environments such as tropical mountains.

Figure 2: Representative species of Choerophryne. (A) Choerophryne alpestris upper montane moss fields, Central Cordillera, terrestrial; (B) Choerophryne spA7 hill forest, southern foothills, scansorial; (C) Choerophryne spB1 lower montane forest, Foja Mountains, terrestrial; (D) Choerophryne proboscidea hill forest forest, northern lowlands, scansorial.

Photographs: S Richards (A, B, D) and T Laman (C). 

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3077

Conclusions

Our new phylogeny and ecophenotypic data for the microhylid frog genus Choerophryne indicates that montane areas have been colonised via a complex suite of biogeographic processes, especially upslope colonisation and speciation in presumably novel highland habitats and dispersal between montane islands, and that the relative importance of these processes has differed across even closely related lineages. Choerophryne also shows a correlation between extremely small size and utilisation of terrestrial habitats, mirroring a global pattern that suggests that, in frogs, ecological or physiological constraints largely limit extremely miniaturised taxa to terrestrial microhabitats in tropical areas.

Paul M. Oliver, Amy Iannella, Stephen J. Richards and Michael S.Y. Lee. 2017. Mountain Colonisation, Miniaturisation and Ecological Evolution in A Radiation of Direct-developing New Guinea Frogs (Choerophryne, Microhylidae). PeerJ. 5:e3077. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3077

[Ichthyology • 2016] Leptobotia micra • A New Species of Loach (Teleostei: Botiidae) from Guilin, southern China

Leptobotia micra Bohlen & Šlechtová, 2017

FIGURE 2. Leptobotia micra, PR China: Guangxi prov.; upper River Li; a)‒c) holotype, SNHM 10308, male, 45.6 mm SL, d)‒e) paratype ZRC 55399, female, 45.8 mm SL.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4250.1.7 

Abstract

Leptobotia micra, new species, is described from the upper Li River (Pearl River basin) around Guilin in Guangxi province, southern China. The new species is evidently the smallest species of Leptobotia, with females of 45‒46 mm SL bearing oocytes. It can be distinguished from all other species of Leptobotia by a combination of the following characters: no dark bars or dorsal saddles on body, a row of white dots along dorsal midline, 4+34 vertebrae, a predorsal distance of 58.1‒59.0% SL, eye diameter 1.8‒2.0 % SL, pelvic fins not reaching anus, an emarginated caudal fin (length of median rays 1.3‒1.4 times in length of lower lobe) and the anus positioned distinctly closer to anal-fin origin than to pelvic-fin base.

Keywords: Pisces, Cypriniformes, Cobitoidea, taxonomy, Pearl River basin, River Li

Etymology. From micros, greek for ‘small’. The name refers to the fact that the species is the smallest known species of the genus, with females as small as 45 mm SL developing oocytes. An adjective.

Jörg Bohlen and Vendula Šlechtová. 2017. Leptobotia micra, A New Species of Loach (Teleostei: Botiidae) from Guilin, southern China. Zootaxa. 4250(1); 90–100.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4250.1.7

[Ichthyology • 2017] The First European Cave Fish: Barbatula Cave Loach from southern Germany

Figure 1: Cave loaches [Barbatula sp.] adapted to life in constant darkness are of recent origin but genetically divergent from surface populations residing in the same drainage.
  (A) Two cave loaches in their natural habitat. (B) Adult male loach with typical adaptations to living in caves: reduced eyes, enlarged barbels and pale body coloration. (C) Typical epigean loach from the surface population in the Danube.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.048 cell.com/current-biology  

Summary

Subterranean biodiversity in Europe is spectacularly rich, with the Western Balkans being home to about 400 cave species, representing the highest number of species per area worldwide. Nonetheless, cave fishes, which are the most commonly found vertebrates in underground habitats, have not been described from Europe so far. Here, we report the first European record of a cave fish population, a loach of the genus Barbatula, found in the Danube–Aach system, an underground karst water system in Southern Germany. The fish exhibit traits typically observed in organisms adapted to subterranean life including reduced eyes and pale body coloration. The newly discovered population also represents globally the northernmost cave fish found so far. The geological history of the region implies that the Danube–Aach system was colonized post-glacially. A recent origin of the cave fish is supported by genetic analyses, because the subterranean population shares COI gene haplotypes with adjacent surface stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) populations. Nonetheless, population genetic analyses based on microsatellites indicated that cave fish are genetically isolated from populations in surface habitats and exhibit reduced genetic variability. Hence, the newly discovered European cave loaches do not represent individuals displaced from surface populations, but they follow a unique evolutionary trajectory towards cave life.

Figure 1: Cave loaches [Barbatula sp.] adapted to life in constant darkness are of recent origin but genetically divergent from surface populations residing in the same drainage.  
 (A) Two cave loaches in their natural habitat. (B) Adult male loach with typical adaptations to living in caves: reduced eyes, enlarged barbels and pale body coloration. (C) Typical epigean loach from the surface population in the Danube.  

Figure 1 Cave loaches adapted to life in constant darkness are of recent origin but genetically divergent from surface populations residing in the same drainage.
(A) Two cave loaches in their natural habitat. (B) Adult male loach with typical adaptations to living in caves: reduced eyes, enlarged barbels and pale body coloration. (C) Typical epigean loach from the surface population in the Danube. (D) Neighbour-joining tree of Cytochrome oxidase subunit1 (COI) sequences for European stone loaches. European loaches form three clusters comprising sequences from Rhine, Danube and Elbe drainages. Loaches from the Danube–Aach cave system (AC, highlighted in orange) share haplotypes with individuals from the southern lineage sampled in the upper Rhine and Danube drainage, individuals from GenBank identified by their accession numbers. Numbers at major nodes indicate bootstrap values (>50%, 1000 replicates). (E) Graphical representation of an analysis of genetic population structure. Inferred genomic ancestry in three genetic clusters (y-axis) is depicted by red, green and blue colors for all individuals (x-axis). With prior information on the sample location of individuals, three clearly distinct genetic clusters separate cave loaches from both surface populations upstream (Danube) and downstream (Radolfzeller Aach) in the same drainage. Without prior information on the sample location of individuals, cave fish are grouped with the upstream but clearly separated from the downstream loach population.

  Jasminca Behrmann-Godel, Arne W. Nolte, Joachim Kreiselmaier, Roland Berka and Jörg Freyhof. 2017. The First European Cave Fish. Current Biology. 27(7); R257–R258. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.048

http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(17)30219-1

First ever cavefish discovered in Europe evolved super-fast
www.newscientist.com/article/2126523-first-ever-cavefish-discovered-in-europe-evolved-super-fast

   

[Ichthyology • 2016] Channa pomanensis • A New Species of Snakehead (Teleostei: Channidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India

Channa pomanensis 

Gurumayum & Tamang, 2016

discoveryjournals.com/Species

ABSTRACT 

This paper describes a new species of Channa from the Poma River (Brahmaputra River basin) in Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. The new species can be differentiated from its congeners occurring in Eastern Himalayan region in India and northern and southern Rakhine State, Myanmar in having the following combination of characters: 7 oblique bands on body, generally extending to lateral line; a thin preorbital streak; black to brown and broad to thin postorbital streak confluence with brown to dusky cross band running across the occipital region; light brown spots (somewhat elongate) scattered along the flank, mostly below lateral line (more distinct in live); presence of two cycloid scales on either underside of lower jaw; absence of numerous large black spots on postorbital region of head and opercle; transverse scale rows above lateral line 4½–5½; transverse scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin 7½–8½; pelvic fins present; lateral line scales 47–51; dorsal-fin rays 36–38; anal-fin rays 25–26; total vertebrae 42–45; and predorsal scales 7–8. 

Key words: snakehead, new species, taxonomy, Poma River, Brahmaputra basin.

Figure 3: A, Channa pomanensis, ZSI/APRC P-1066, holotype, 111.6 mm SL; India, Arunachal Pradesh, showing live coloration. B, Channa gachua, ZSI/APRC P-1437, 95.6 mm SL; India: Assam: Sonitpur district: Boroi River at Boroighat (Brahmaputra basin) 

Figure 1: Channa pomanensis, ZSI/APRC P-1066, holotype, 111.6 mm SL; India, Arunachal Pradesh,
showing: A. dorsal view; B. lateral view; C. ventral view. 

Distribution:– At present only known from the Poma River (Brahmaputra basin) about 12 km towards west to Itanagar, Papum Pare district, Arunachal Pradesh. 

Etymology:– The new species is named after the Poma River from where the species was collected, Papum Pare district, Arunachal Pradesh. 

Shantabala Devi Gurumayum and Lakpa Tamang. 2016. Channa pomanensis, A New Species of Snakehead (Teleostei: Channidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. Species. 17(57); 175-186

http://discoveryjournals.com/Species/current_issue/v17/n57/A2.pdf

[Paleontology • 2017] Shuangbaisaurus anlongbaoensis • A New Crested Theropod Dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of Yunnan Province, China

Shuangbaisaurus anlongbaoensis 

Wang, You, Pan & Wang, 2017 

IVPP.ac.cn

　　

Abstract

A new crested theropod, Shuangbaisaurus anlongbaoensis gen. et sp. nov., is reported. The new taxon is recovered from the Lower Jurassic Fengjiahe Formation of Shuangbai County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and is represented by a partial cranium. Shuangbaisaurus is unique in possessing parasagittal crests along the orbital dorsal rims. It is also distinguishable from the other two lager-bodied parasagittal crested Early Jurassic theropods (Dilophosaurus and Sinosaurus) by a unique combination of features, such as higher than long premaxillary body, elevated ventral edge of the premaxilla, and small upper temporal fenestra. Comparative morphological study indicates that “Dilophosaurus” sinensis could potentially be assigned to Sinosaurus, but probably not to the type species. The discovery of Shuangbaisaurus will help elucidate the evolution of basal theropods, especially the role of various bony cranial ornamentations had played in the differentiation of early theropods.

Key words:   Chuxiong; Early Jurassic; crest; dinosaur; theropod

Fig. 2 Cranium of Shuangbaisaurus anlongbaoensis (CPM C2140ZA245) in right lateral view. 

Dinosauria Owen, 1842 

Saurischia Seeley, 1887 

Theropoda Marsh, 1881

 Shuangbaisaurus gen. nov. 

Etymology “Shuangbai” is the Chinese name of the county where the holotype was recovered, and this county was first established in West Han Dynasty (AD 109). “Sauros” is Greek for lizard.

Type species Shuangbaisaurus anlongbaoensis sp. nov. 

Diagnosis As for type and only known species (see below). 

Shuangbaisaurus anlongbaoensis gen. et sp. nov. 

Etymology “Anlongbao” is the Chinese name of the town where the holotype was recovered, and it literally means dragon-placing fort. 

Holotype CPM C2140ZA245, a partial skull with lower jaw. Type locality and horizon Liuna Village, Anlongbao Town, Shuangbai County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The specimen was from the dark purple muddy siltstones in the lower part of the Lower Jurassic Fengjiahe Formation.

 Diagnosis Basal theropod distinguished by having parasagittal crests at least along orbital dorsal rims. Shuangbaisaurus also possesses a unique combination of features, including elevated ventral edge of the premaxilla (also present in Dilophosaurus and LFGT LDM-L10 of Sinosaurus), higher than long premaxillary body (also present in LFGT LDM-L10 of Sinosaurus, but longer than high in Dilophosaurus and KMV 8701 of Sinosaurus), and small upper temporal fenestra with its diameter shorter than the transverse width of the parietals in between and about half the length of the skull table posterior to the orbit

 WANG Guo-Fu, YOU Hai-Lu, PAN Shi-Gang and WANG Tao. 2017. A New Crested Theropod Dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of Yunnan Province, China.
 VERTEBRATA PALASIATICA. www.IVPP.ac.cn/cbw/gjzdwxb/pressonline/201703/t20170329_4765824.html

[Ichthyology • 2017] Hoplomyzon cardosoi • A New Species of Hoplomyzon (Siluriformes: Aspredinidae) from Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela: Osteological Description Using High-resolution Computed Microtomography of A Miniature Species

Hoplomyzon cardosoi Carvalho, Reis & Friel, 2017

Fig. 1 Hoplomyzon cardosoi, holotype, MCNG 375, 18.5 mm SL, Caño La Raya, Zulia, Venezuela.  Dorsal, left side lateral and ventral views.

DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-20160143 

ABSTRACT

A new miniature species of banjo catfish of the genus Hoplomyzon is described from the Lake Maracaibo Basin in Venezuela. The new species is distinguished from all its congeners by the straight anterior margin of the mesethmoid (vs. a medial notch); a smooth and straight ventral surface of the premaxilla (vs. presence of bony knobs on the ventral surface of premaxilla); absence of teeth on dentary (vs. teeth present on dentary); configuration of ventral vertebral processes anterior to anal fin, which are composed of single processes anterior to anal-fin pterygiophore (vs. paired process); presence of several filamentous barbel-like structures on the ventral surface of head of adults (vs. small papillous structures in the ventral surface of head of adults); and 8 anal-fin rays (vs. 6 or 7). An extensive osteological description is made of the holotype using high-resolution x-ray computed microtomography (HRXCT).

Keywords: Endemism; Ernstichthys intonsus; Miniaturization; Synapomorphy; Taxonomy

Distribution and habitat. Known from three tributaries, which drain southwestern portions of Lake Maracaibo Basin in Zulia State, Venezuela. The Caño raya at type locality is a medium size stream (~12m wide) with mostly slow flowing white waters running over sand intercalated with riffles of fast flowing waters over pebbles; little marginal and floating vegetation.

Etymology. Hoplomyzon cardosoi is named in honor and memory of a dear colleague who prematurely passed away, Alexandre Rodrigues Cardoso, for his humbleness, positive attitude, and dedicated friendship, and furthermore for his contributions to the taxonomy of Neotropical fishes, including the family Aspredinidae.

Tiago P. Carvalho, Roberto E. Reis and John P. Friel. 2017.  A New Species of Hoplomyzon (Siluriformes: Aspredinidae) from Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela: Osteological Description Using High-resolution Computed Microtomography of A Miniature Species.   Neotropical Ichthyology. 15(1);  DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-20160143 

[Herpetology • 2017] On the Validity of Pareas macularius Theobald, 1868 (Squamata: Pareidae) As A Species Distinct from Pareas margaritophorus (Jan in Bocourt, 1866)

Pareas macularius Theobald, 1868

FIGURE 3. An adult specimen of the keeled-scaled type of the spotted snail-eater from evergreen forest in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi Province, western Central Thailand.

Photograph: Ton Smits.

Abstract

 The genus Pareas Wagler, 1830, consists of about fifteen species of small snail-eating snakes distributed in China, South and Southeast Asia. Until recently, two Pareas-species ornamented with characteristic bicolored spots were recognized, P. margaritophorus (Jan in Bocourt, 1866) and Pareas macularius Theobald, 1868. However, P. macularius was synonymized with P. margaritophorus by Huang (2004), reducing the speciosity of the bicolored-spotted snail-eaters to a single species. This claim was tested by examining more than 60 fresh road-killed specimens of bicolored-spotted snail-eaters from northern Thailand. They were either completely smooth-scaled, or had rows of weakly keeled dorsals. The smooth-scaled specimens differed significantly from the keeled-scaled in a number of characters. The holotype of P. margaritophorus corresponded closely to the smooth-scaled specimens, whereas the holotype of Pareas macularius corresponded to the keeled-scaled ones. It was, thus, shown that P. macularius is a valid species and the synonymization as claimed by Huang (2004) was refuted. P. macularius is distinguished from P. margaritophorus by having the 7–13 most median rows of dorsal scales feebly keeled at midbody, by the form and color of the nuchal collar, its larger size, the larger number of ventral shields, and the high incidence of an intense black blotch on the last, largest supralabial. A preliminary distribution map for the two species is provided. 

KEY WORDS: northern Thailand, Pareas macularius, Pareas margaritophorus, Southeast Asia, taxonomy

Sjon Hauser. 2017. On the Validity of Pareas macularius Theobald, 1868 (Squamata: Pareidae) As A Species Distinct from Pareas margaritophorus (Jan in Bocourt, 1866). Tropical Natural History. 17(1); 147-174. 

http://www.biology.sc.chula.ac.th/TNH/archives/v17_no1/147-174%20SJon6%20edit6.pdf

[Entomology • 2017] Digitonthophagus Balthasar, 1959: Taxonomy, Systematics, and Morphological Phylogeny of the Genus Revealing An African Species Complex (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

FIGURES 7–10.  Digitonthophagus spp., Male dorsal habitus.
 7. Digitonthophagus bonasus, alloreferent (Tamil Nadu State, India); 8. D. uks, holotype;
9. D. sahelicus, holotype; 10. D. catta, alloreferent (Tamil Nadu State, India).

Moretto & Génier, 2017. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4248.1.1 

Abstract

The taxonomy and systematics of the genus Digitonthophagus Balthasar (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Onthophagini) is revised. A detailed study of the male genitalia combined with external morphology suggests that the variability, previously recognized, for D. gazella is hiding a species complex within the Afrotropical region and the Arabian Peninsula. The current study recognizes 16 species; 13 from the Afrotropical region and Arabian Peninsula and three from the eastern portion of the Saharo-Arabian region and the continental Indomalayan region. Species are organized into six species groups based on the results of the morphology-based phylogenetic analysis. The following 12 species are described as new: D. aksumensis Génier new species; D. biflagellatus Génier new species; D. dilatatus Génier new species; D. eucatta Génier new species; D. falciger Génier new species; D. fimator Génier new species; D. namaquensis Génier new species; D. petilus Génier new species; D. sahelicus Moretto new species; D. uks Génier new species; D. ulcerosus Génier new species; and D. viridicollis Génier new species. In order to stabilize nomenclature, lectotypes are designated for Scarabaeus bonasus Fabricius, 1775; Scarabaeus catta Fabricius, 1787, and Onthophagus gazella lusinganus d’Orbigny. A neotype is designated for Scarabaeus dorcas Olivier, 1789 whose status and synonymy need to be altered in order to clarify the status of Scarabaeus gazella auctorum, the widely introduced species with economic importance. A naming scheme is presented for the sclerites of the internal sac. External and male genitalia are illustrated and distribution maps are provided for each species.

Keywords: Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae, Digitonthophagus, Onthophagus, Digitonthophagus gazella, Nomenclature, taxonomy, distribution, Afrotropical region, Indomalayan region, biological control of dung, pasture improvement

Philippe Moretto and François Génier. 2017. Digitonthophagus Balthasar, 1959: Taxonomy, Systematics, and Morphological Phylogeny of the Genus Revealing An African Species Complex (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa.   4248(1); 1-110. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4248.1.1

ResearchGate.net/publication/315709775_Digitonthophagus_Balthasar_1959_taxonomy_systematics_and_morphological_phylogeny_of_the_genus_revealing_an_African_species_complex_Coleoptera_Scarabaeidae_Scarabaeinae

[Herpetology • 2017] Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae • A New Species of the Genus Rhacophorus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Dabie Mountains in East China

Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae 

 Pan, Zhang, Wang, Wu,  Kang, Qian, Li, Zhang, Chen, Rao, Jiang & Zhang, 2017

Anhui Tree Frog |  AHR-journal.com 

Abstract 

A new species of rhacophorid of the genus Rhacophorus is described from the Dabie Mountains of west Anhui, east China. The new species, Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: 1) the ventral surface and front-and-rear of the femur is paler yellowish and decorated with irregular grayish blotching, and without obvious spots on the dorsum of the hand and foot webbing; 2) the outer metatarsal tubercle is small; 3) outer fingers are half-webbed and outer toes two third webbed; 4) the skin on the dorsum is smooth and without compressed warts; 5) the throat, chest and belly are pure paler yellowish; 6) the dorsal part of the fingers and toes are grayish-white; 7) the iris is golden-yellow. In addition, the phylogenetic tree showed that all the individuals of R. zhoukaiyae sp. nov. clustered into one distinct clade which suggested the validity of this species. This results could also be used to the support of species delimitation. Currently, this species is known only from mid-elevation montane evergreen forest in the Dabie Mountains of west Anhui, China.

Keywords:  Rhacophorus;  Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae sp. nov.;  phylogeny;  Rhacophoridae;  Dabie Mountains

Figure 3: Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae sp. nov.
(A) Dorsolateral view and (B) Ventral view of the live adult male holotype AHU-RhaDb-150420-01;
(C) Dorsolateral view and (D) Dorsal view of the live adult female paratypes AHU-RhaDb-150418-03. 

Etymology: The new species is named after Professor Kaiya ZHOU (School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China). The suggested English name is the Anhui Tree Frog.

Distribution: This species is currently only distributed in the Dabie Mountains area in Jinzhai County, Anhui Province, China. Currently, the natural habitats of this species are the freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, ponds, and irrigated land.

Tao PAN, Yanan ZHANG, Hui WANG, Jun WU,  Xing KANG, Lifu QIAN, Kai LI, Yu ZHANG, Jinyun CHEN, Dingqi RAO, Jianping JIANG and Baowei ZHANG. 2017. A New Species of the Genus Rhacophorus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Dabie Mountains in East China. Asian Herpetological Research. 2017(1); 1-13. 

http://www.AHR-journal.com/en/oa/DArticle.aspx?type=view&id=20170101

[Invertebrate • 2017] Pygmarrhopalites dbari & P. kovali • Two New Troglobiont Pygmarrhopalites Species of the principalis group (Collembola: Arrhopalitidae) from the West Caucasus

Pygmarrhopalites kovali  

Vargovitsh, 2017

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4250.1.2 

Abstract

Springtails of the principalis-group of the genus Pygmarrhopalites from the W Caucasian caves in Abkhazia are described: Pygmarrhopalites dbari sp. nov. from Psyrtskha Cave in Novy Afon and Pygmarrhopalites kovali sp. nov. from caves of Tsebelda Karst Massif. They differ from epigean relatives mainly by troglomorphies: reduced pigmentation, elongated appendages and modified foot complex. These new species as well as a great portion of endemic Caucasian speleofauna have highly restricted distribution and require protection. A new record of Arrhopalites abchasicus Vargovitsh, 2013 in Novoafonskaya Cave is added.

Keywords: Collembola, springtails, Symphypleona, taxonomy, new record, troglomorphic, Caucasus Mountains, Abkhazia

Pygmarrhopalites kovali, habitus of mounted male. 

Robert S. Vargovitsh. 2017. Two New Troglobiont Pygmarrhopalites Species of the principalis group (Collembola: Arrhopalitidae) from the West Caucasus. Zootaxa. 4250(1); 23-42.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4250.1.2

[Ichthyology • 2017] Eigenmannia sayona • A New Species of the Eigenmannia trilineata Species Group (Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae) from the río Orinoco Basin, Venezuela

  Eigenmannia sayona

Peixoto & Waltz, 2017
DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-20150199 

Abstract

A new species of the Eigenmannia trilineata species group is described from the río Orinoco basin, Venezuela. The new species is distinguished from congeners by a unique set of characters including an ossified basibranchial 1; 198-217 anal-fin rays; suborbital depth, 21.3-26.1% HL; length of anterodorsal process of maxilla equal to the width of the posterior nostril; premaxilla with 17 teeth distributed in three rows; hyaline pectoral and anal fins; and number of scale series above lateral line, 9-10. It raises the number of species allocated to the Eigenmannia trilineata species group to 13 and the number of species within the genus to 18.

Keywords: Biodiversity; Electric-fishes; Taxonomy; Tuvira.

Fig. 1 Holotype of Eigenmannia sayona, new species, MZUSP 96497, 131.8 mm LEA, Venezuela, Bolivar, Cedeño, río Orinoco, río Parguaza, near the community of Puente Parhueña. a. Lateral view of head and body; b. Lateral view of head. 

Etymology. The specific epithet “sayona” is assigned to the new species in reference to “La Sayona”, a spirit of philanderous vengeance in Venezuelan lore. A noun in apposition.

Geographic distribution. Eigenmannia sayona is known from río Orinoco basin, from río Parguaza, río Apure, and Laguna de Castilleros, Venezuela.

Luiz A. W. Peixoto and Brandon T. Waltz. 2017. A New Species of the Eigenmannia trilineata (Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae) Species Group from the río Orinoco Basin, Venezuela. Neotropical Ichthyology. 15(1); e150199. DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-20150199.