[Mammalogy • 2017] Tarsius spectrumgurskyae & T. supriatnai • Two New Tarsier Species (Tarsiidae, Primates) and the Biogeography of Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tarsius supriatnai 

 Shekelle, Groves, Maryanto & Mittermeier, 2017 

Abstract

 We name two new tarsier species from the northern peninsula of Sulawesi. In doing so, we examine the biogeography of Sulawesi and remove the implausibly disjunct distribution of Tarsius tarsier. This brings tarsier taxonomy into better accordance with the known geological history of Sulawesi and with the known regions of biological endemism on Sulawesi and the surrounding island chains that harbor portions of the Sulawesi biota. The union of these two data sets, geological and biological, became a predictive model of biogeography, and was dubbed the Hybrid Biogeographic Hypothesis for Sulawesi. By naming these species, which were already believed to be taxonomically distinct, tarsier taxonomy better concords with that hypothesis and recent genetic studies. Our findings bring greater clarity to the conservation crisis facing the region. 

Keywords: Biodiversity, bioacoustics, cryptic species, duet call, Manado form, Gorontalo form, Libuo form, taxonomy

Tarsius spectrumgurskyae sp. nov.

Type locality: Manado, North Sulawesi 

Diagnosis: As with many species of Eastern Tarsier, the clearest field diagnosis of living specimens is from a spectrogram of its duet call or through playback tests (Figs. 2 and 3). As there is no known case of sympatry among extant tarsiers, the best diagnosis of museum and other deceased specimens is by provenance, or genetic analysis, although some diagnostic morphological characters are indicated.

Etymology: Gursky’s spectral tarsier. This species is named in honor of Dr. Sharon Gursky, who has dedicated most of her professional life to studying the behavioral ecology of this species. Most of her work on this species was published using a taxonomy that is now superseded, in which her population was classified as Tarsius spectrum. Ongoing reclassification, therefore, created an unfortunate disconnect between the species name used in her publications, and the most up-to-date taxonomic revision. Thus, by naming this species Tarsius spectrumgurskyae, it forever links the names Tarsius and spectrum with the population of animals that she studied. 

Local Name: Tangkasi, Wusing 

 Jatna’s tarsier Tarsius supriatnai n. sp. (left) and  Gursky’s spectral tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae n. sp.  (right). 

Illustrations by Stephen D. Nash.  

Jatna’s tarsier Tarsius supriatnai n. sp. 

photo by R. Mittermeier

Tarsius supriatnai sp. nov.

Type locality: Bumbulan, Gorontalo. 

Diagnosis: See above for T. spectrumgurskyae, duet call and provenance are absolutely diagnostic. Genetics diagnose a T. spectrumgurskyae – T. supriatnai clade from all others and are hypothesized to be themselves distinct. Driller et al. (2015) estimated a divergence date of 0.3 mya for the separation of the two. 

Morphology: Tarsius supriatnai is very similar morphologically to T. spectrumgurskyae n. sp. (see under that species), differing in the generally larger bare spot at the base of the ear, the less shortened hindfoot, the very long tail, and longer middle finger. 

Etymology: Jatna’s tarsier. This species is named in honor of Dr. Jatna Supriatna, who has dedicated most of his professional life to the conservation of Indonesian biodiversity, and has sponsored much of the foreign collaborative work done on tarsiers.

 Local Name: Mimito 

Distribution: On the northern peninsula from the Isthmus of Gorontalo westward at least as far as Sejoli, and probably as far as Ogatemuku (see Driller et al. 2015), but not as far as Tinombo (Fig. 1). 

Myron Shekelle, Colin P. Groves, Ibnu Maryanto and Russell A. Mittermeier. 2017. Two New Tarsier Species (Tarsiidae, Primates) and the Biogeography of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Primate Conservation. (31): Published electronically prior to print.  

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/1200343/27541166/1493324743810/PC31_Shekelle_et_al_Two_new_tarsiers.pdf

http://www.conservation.org/NewsRoom/pressreleases/Pages/Conservation-International-Scientists-Announce-Discovery-of-Two-New-Species-of-Tarsiers-in-Indonesia-.aspx

Two new species of tarsier, rumored to be inspiration for Yoda, announced on Star Wars Day https://news.mongabay.com/2017/05/two-new-species-of-tarsier-rumored-to-be-inspiration-for-yoda-announced-on-star-wars-day/ @mongabay

[Herpetology • 2017] Molecular, Morphological and Acoustic Assessment of the Genus Ophryophryne (Anura, Megophryidae) from Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with Description of A New Species, Ophryophryne elfina

Ophryophryne elfina 

Poyarkov, Duong, Orlov, Gogoleva, Vassilieva, Nguyen, Nguyen, Nguyen, Che & Mahony, 2017

adult male of Ophryophryne elfina sp. n. in calling position in Hon Ba N.R., Khanh Hoa Prov., Vietnam, 1510 m a.s.l.,

 photo by L.T. Nguyen. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.672.10624 

Abstract

Asian Mountain Toads (Ophryophryne) are a poorly known genus of mostly small-sized anurans from southeastern China and Indochina. To shed light on the systematics within this group, the most comprehensive mitochondrial DNA phylogeny for the genus to date is presented, and the taxonomy and biogeography of this group is discussed. Complimented with extensive morphological data (including associated statistical analyses), molecular data indicates that the Langbian Plateau, in the southern Annamite Mountains, Vietnam, is one of the diversity centres of this genus where three often sympatric species of Ophryophryne are found, O. gerti, O. synoria and an undescribed species. To help resolve outstanding taxonomic confusion evident in literature (reviewed herein), an expanded redescription of O. gerti is provided based on the examination of type material, and the distributions of both O. gerti and O. synoria are considerably revised based on new locality records. We provide the first descriptions of male mating calls for all three species, permitting a detailed bioacoustics comparison of the species. We describe the new species from highlands of the northern and eastern Langbian Plateau, and distinguish it from its congeners by a combination of morphological, molecular and acoustic characters. The new species represents one of the smallest known members of the genus Ophryophryne. At present, the new species is known from montane evergreen forest between 700–2200 m a.s.l. We suggest the species should be considered Data Deficient following IUCN’s Red List categories.

Keywords: 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, advertisement call, amphibian, biodiversity, Da Lat Plateau, frog, Indochina, southeast Asia, taxonomy, Truong Son

  

Figure 13. Comparison of the head coloration in life of three Ophryophryne species from the Langbian Plateau: A Ophryophryne synoria, Bu Gia Map N.P., Binh Phuoc Prov., Vietnam B Ophryophryne gerti, Chu Yang Sin N.P., Dak Lak Prov., Vietnam C Ophryophryne elfina sp. n., Hon Giao Mt., Bidoup–Nui Ba N.P., Lam Dong Prov.
 Photos by N.A. Poyarkov and N.L. Orlov.

Figure 6. Ophryophryne species of the Langbian Plateau (Vietnam):
A Ophryophryne gerti, female, Chu Yang Sin N.P., Dak Lak Prov., 1000 m a.s.l. B O. gerti, male, Chu Yang Sin N.P., Dak Lak Prov., 1000 m a.s.l. C O. gerti, male, Bidoup–Nui Ba N.P., Lam Dong Prov., 1550 m a.s.l. D O. synoria, female, Bu Gia Map N.P., Binh Phuoc Prov., 400 m a.s.l. E O. synoria, male, Chu Yang Sin Mt., Chu Yang Sin N.P., Dak Lak Prov., 1000 m a.s.l. F O. synoria, male, Bidoup–Nui Ba N.P., Lam Dong Prov., 1550 m a.s.l. G Ophryophryne elfina sp. n., male, Chu Yang Sin Mt., Chu Yang Sin N.P., Dak Lak Prov., 2000 m a.s.l. H Ophryophryne elfina sp. n., male, Hon Giao Mt., Bidoup–Nui Ba N.P., Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa provincial border, 2000 m a.s.l.

Photos by N.A. Poyarkov and N.L. Orlov. 

• Taxonomic remarks on Ophryophryne gerti Ohler, 2003

Redescription of the holotype: Mature male (SVL 35.7 mm), habitus slender (Fig. 7A, B). Specimen in good state of preservation; two incisions are present on trunk, one longitudinally orientated on mid-abdomen, another longitudinally oriented on upper flank on right side; liver and testes observable through incisions, testes enlarged; jaw is dislocated on right allowing visual access to buccal cavity.  .....

Vernacular name: English: “Gerti’s Mountain Toad”; Vietnamese: “Cóc Núi Got” (Nguyen et al. 2009), “Cóc Núi Goti” (Nguyen et al. 2014).

• New records and range extension for Ophryophryne synoria Stuart, Sok & Neang, 2006

Distribution and remarks: Stuart et al. (2006) described a large-sized Ophryophryne from O’Rang (also spelled as “O’Reang”) District in eastern Cambodia, close to the Vietnamese border, as O. synoria (Loc. 1, Fig. 1). Subsequently, during field surveys in 2009–2011, the species was reported in southern Vietnam from Bu Gia Map N.P., Binh Phuoc Prov. (Loc. 2, Fig. 1) and Cat Tien N.P. in Dong Nai Prov. (Loc. 3, Fig. 1) based on morphological evidence (Vassilieva et al. 2016). Herein, we confirm the identity of these specimens based on morphological and molecular genetic evidence, and further expand its distribution in southern Vietnam to include medium and low elevation localities in the central and western parts of the Langbian Plateau (Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces between 200 and 1500 m a.s.l.; its presence in Dak Nong Prov. is anticipated). We also identify two mtDNA lineages within O. synoria with a moderate level of sequence divergence (p = 2.6%: Table 2, Fig. 2): Subclade B inhabits mountain areas in Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces and was also recorded for the lowland habitat in Dong Nai Prov. (Locs. 3–4, 6 and 11, Fig. 1) whereas Subclade C is only found in Mondolkiri Prov. of Cambodia and adjacent Binh Phuoc Prov. of Vietnam (Fig. 1, Locs 1–2) and corresponds to O. synoria s. stricto.

Vernacular name: English: “O’Reang Mountain Toad” (this paper); “O’Reang horned frog” (Vassilieva et al. 2016); Vietnamese: “Cóc Núi O-Reng” (Vassilieva et al. 2016).

.....

Figure 14. Ophryophryne elfina sp. n. in situ:
A Two syntopically collected males of Ophryophryne gerti (left) and Ophryophryne elfina sp. n. (right) in Chu Yang Sin N.P., Dak Lak Prov., Vietnam, 1750 m a.s.l., photo by N.L. Orlov B calling adult male of Ophryophryne elfina sp. n. in Nui Chua Mt., Nui Chua N.P., Ninh Thuan Prov., Vietnam, 780 m a.s.l., photo by S.N. Nguyen C adult male of Ophryophryne elfina sp. n. in calling position in Hon Ba N.R., Khanh Hoa Prov., Vietnam, 1510 m a.s.l., photo by L.T. Nguyen. 

• Description of a new species of Ophryophryne

Based upon several lines of evidence, including the analyses of diagnostic morphological characters, acoustic analyses of advertisement calls and phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA sequences for the 12S rRNA–16S rRNA genes, the new species of Ophryophryne from mid to high elevations of the western Langbian Plateau represents a highly divergent mtDNA lineage, clearly distinct from all other Ophryophryne species. These results support our hypothesis that this recently discovered lineage of Ophryophryne represents an undescribed species, described below:

Ophryophryne elfina sp. n.

Etymology: The specific epithet is an adjective (in agreement with the genus name in feminine gender), derived from “elf”, the English spelling of “alfus” in Latin, referring to usually forest-dwelling supernatural mythological creatures in Germanic mythology and folklore; the name is given in reference both to the funny appearance and small size of the new species, as well as to the their endangered habitat, restricted to wet evergreen montane forests at high elevations of the Langbian Plateau; such forests are often called “elfin forests”.

Recommended vernacular name: The recommended common name in English is “Elfin Mountain Toad”. The recommended common name in Vietnamese is “Cóc Núi Tiểu Yêu Tinh”.

Figure 9. Holotype of Ophryophryne elfina sp. n. in life (ZMMU A-5669, male, field number NAP-02658), dorsolateral view. Photos by N.A. Poyarkov. 

Figure 10. Paratypes of Ophryophryne elfina sp. n. in life.
A–D Bidoup Mt., Bidoup–Nui Ba N.P., Lam Dong Prov., 2000 m a.s.l.: A ZMMU A-4788 (field number NAP-01449), male, dorsolateral view B ZMMU A-4788 (field number NAP-01455), female, dorsolateral view C ZMMU A-4788 (field number NAP-01449), male, ventral view D ZMMU A-4788 (field number NAP-01455), female, ventral view
E–F Chu Yang Sin Mt., Chu Yang Sin N.P., Dak Lak Prov., 1800 m a.s.l.: E ZMMU A-5691 (field number ABV-00580), metamorph, dorsolateral view F ZMMU A-5691 (field number ABV-00581), metamorph, dorsolateral view. Photos by N.A. Poyarkov. 

Distribution: Ophryophryne elfina sp. n. is found to be endemic to five provinces in (Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Phu Yen) in the northern and eastern part of the Langbian Plateau and its foothills in southern Vietnam (localities 6–12, Fig. 1). The new species is restricted to wet evergreen montane tropical and elfin forests, receiving high precipitation from the sea. Such wet forests are found only on high elevations in the central parts of the Langbian Plateau (e.g. 1900–2100 m a.s.l. on Bidoup Mt., Lam Dong Prov., Fig. 1, Loc. 6) or peripheral mountains remote from the sea (e.g. 1900–2300 m a.s.l. on Chu Pan Fan and Chu Yang Sin Mts., Dak Lak Prov., Fig. 1, Locs 10 and 11), but on the eastern foothills of the plateau which receive more precipitation, the new species is found at lower elevation (from 950 to 1510 m a.s.l. on Hon Ba Mt., Khanh Hoa Prov., Fig. 1, Loc. 8; 780 m a.s.l. on Nui Chua Mt., Ninh Thuan Prov., Fig. 1, Loc. 9; and 700 m in Phu Yen Prov., Fig. 1, Loc. 12).

.....

 Nikolay A. Poyarkov Jr., Tang Van Duong, Nikolai L. Orlov, Svetlana S. Gogoleva, Anna B. Vassilieva, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Vu Dang Hoang Nguyen, Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Jing Che and Stephen Mahony. 2017. Molecular, Morphological and Acoustic Assessment of the Genus Ophryophryne (Anura, Megophryidae) from Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with Description of A New Species. ZooKeys. 672: 49-120.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.672.10624

 ResearchGate.net/publication/316658061_Molecular_morphological_and_acoustic_assessment_of_the_genus_Ophryophryne_Anura_Megophryidae_from_Langbian_Plateau_southern_Vietnam_with_description_of_a_new_species

[Botany • 2017] Gastrodia nipponicoides & G. okinawensis • Two New Species of Gastrodia (Gastrodieae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Gastrodia okinawensis  Suetsugu

 DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.302.3.4 || Kobe-U.ac.jp

Abstract

Two new mycoheterotrophic orchids, Gastrodia nipponicoides and G. okinawensis, are described and illustrated from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The outline floral shape of Gastrodia nipponicoides indicates a close affinity to G. nipponica, but it is easily distinguished from G. nipponica by several characteristics such as a shorter perianth tube, lack of rostellum and fewer ridges on its lip. Gastrodia okinawensis is similar to G. takeshimensis but is distinguished by having chasmogamous flowers, paler perianth tube and longer column.

Keywords: Gastrodia, Japanese orchids, mycoheterotrophy, Ryukyu Islands, Monocots

FIGURE 1. Gastrodia nipponicoides from the type locality. A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, side view. C. Flower, from front view. 

FIGURE 3. Gastrodia okinawaensis from the type locality. A. Flowering plants. B. Flower, side view. C. Flower, front view. 

  Kenji Suetsugu. 2017. Two New Species of Gastrodia (Gastrodieae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan.  Phytotaxa. 302(3); 251-258.  DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.302.3.4

ResearchGate.net/publication/316056852_Two_new_species_of_Gastrodia_Gastrodieae_Epidendroideae_Orchidaceae_from_Okinawa_Island_Ryukyu_Islands_Japan

Two new species of orchids discovered in Okinawa https://eurekalert.org/e/7mjg via @KobeU_Global @EurekAlert

http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/research_at_kobe_en/NEWS/news/2017_04_07_01.html

[Botany • 2017] Bulbophyllum putaoensis • A New Species (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae; Malaxideae) from Kachin State, Myanmar

Bulbophyllum putaoensis Q. Liu

 DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.305.1.9

The orchid flora of Myanmar is highly diverse but as yet poorly known in the continental Asia, which is largely a result of periods of past instability and political isolation of the country. Also the remoteness of many orchid-rich areas and the difficulties of investigation in rugged terrain have also played a role (Ormerod & Kumar, 2003; Kurzweil & Lwin, 2014). According to recent estimates about 800 orchid species are distributed in Myanmar (Kurzweil & Lwin, 2014), which were probably underestimated. Many new distribution records and new species have been published in the last few years (Ormerod, 2002, 2006, 2012; Ormerod & Kumar, 2003, 2008; Ormerod & Wood, 2010; Nyunt, 2006; Kurzweil et al., 2010; Kurzweil & Lwin, 2012a,b; Tanaka et al. 2011).

.....

FIGURE 1. Bulbophyllum putaoensis. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence. C. Front view of flower. D. Dissected flower. E. Lip. F. anther cap G. Front view of column. H. Pollinarium.

Photographed by Q. Liu. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.305.1.9

Bulbophyllum putaoensis Q. Liu, sp. nov. 

Type: Myanmar. Kachin State. Putao County: Wasadam village, Epiphytic on the trunk of mountain rain forest, 830 m, 3 May, 2016, Q. Liu 330 (holotype, HITBC!). 

Diagnosis: Bulbophyllum putaoensis is similar to B. umbellatum Lindley and B. chyrmangensis, but can be distinguished from them by having obliquely triangular column stelids; oblong anther cap and significant viscidium of pollinarium.

Distribution and Habitat: This new species was only found in the Kachin State, Myanmar. Epiphytic on the tree in tropical mountain rain forest, which associates tree species including Altingia excels (Altingiaceae), Knema linifolia (Myristicaceae), Elaeocarpus varunua (Elaeocarpaceae), Goniothalamus sp (Annonaceae), Beilschmiedia sp (Lauraceae). 

 Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Putao.

Qiang Liu, Shi-Shun Zhou, Ren Li, Ming-Xia Zhang, Myint Zyaw, Shwe Lone and Rui-Chang Quan. 2017.  Bulbophyllum putaoensis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae; Malaxideae), A New Species from Kachin State, Myanmar. Phytotaxa.  305(1);57–60. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.305.1.9

[Herpetology • 2017] Reinstatement of Varanus douarrha Lesson, 1830 As A Valid Species with Comments on the Zoogeography of Monitor Lizards (Squamata : Varanidae) in the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea

Varanus douarrha Lesson, 1830 

Weijola, Kraus, Vahtera, Lindqvist & Donnellan, 2017 

Reinstatement of Varanus douarrha as a valid species ....  DOI: 10.1071/ZO16038 

Abstract

The distribution and taxonomy of varanid lizards occurring in the Bismarck Archipelago is revised on the basis of field surveys, examination of museum vouchers and molecular phylogenetic analyses. A total of four species is recorded: Varanus indicus and Varanus finschi on New Britain and some of its offshore islands, Varanus douarrha on New Ireland, Lavongai and Djaul, and Varanus semotus on Mussau Island. V. douarrha, previously mistaken for both V. indicus and V. finschi, is shown to be the only species represented on New Ireland and is here resurrected as a valid taxon based on an integrated approach combining morphological and molecular evidence. Phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial genes suggest that V. indicus is a relatively recent immigrant to the Bismarck Islands, whereas V. douarrha, V. finschi and V. semotus have significantly longer histories in the island group. Together with the recently described V. semotus the revalidation of V. douarrha doubles the number of species known to occur in the Bismarck region and highlights an important component of both local and regional endemism.

 Keywords: endemism, neotype, New Ireland, taxonomy, Varanus indicus, Varanus finschi.

Etymology: According to Lesson, the specific name douarrha was the local word for this species in Port Praslin. During fieldwork on New Ireland in 2012 VW interviewed a native speaker of the Siar-Lak language, which is what is spoken at Port Praslin. According to this local informant, the Siar-Lak word for ‘monitor’ is ‘kailam’. The word for the emerald tree skink, Lamprolepis smaragdina, is ‘dawar’, and it is possible that the words for these different species were confused by Lesson or that the application of local names has changed since his visit. Given current orthography for Siar-Lak (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siar-Lak_language), it is clear that Lesson’s name was intended as a translitteration into French of the Siar-Lak name as he heard it.Words in Siar-Lak have the accent placed on the final syllable; hence, the name should be pronounced ‘dwah-rah’.

Valter Weijola, Fred Kraus, Varpu Vahtera, Christer Lindqvist and Stephen C. Donnellan. 2017. Reinstatement of Varanus douarrha Lesson, 1830 As A Valid Species with Comments on the Zoogeography of Monitor Lizards (Squamata : Varanidae) in the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. Australian Journal of Zoology.  DOI: 10.1071/ZO16038

  Long lost monitor lizard 're-discovered' on Papua New Guinean island http://phy.so/412940372 @physorg_com

[Paleontology • 2017] Jianianhualong tengi • Mosaic Evolution in An Asymmetrically Feathered Troodontid Dinosaur with Transitional Features

Jianianhualong tengi  

Xu, Currie, Pittman, Xing, Meng, Lü, Hu & Yu, 2017 

 Life reconstruction by Julius T. Csotonyi | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14972

Abstract
Asymmetrical feathers have been associated with flight capability but are also found in species that do not fly, and their appearance was a major event in feather evolution. Among non-avialan theropods, they are only known in microraptorine dromaeosaurids. Here we report a new troodontid, Jianianhualong tengi gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group of China, that has anatomical features that are transitional between long-armed basal troodontids and derived short-armed ones, shedding new light on troodontid character evolution. It indicates that troodontid feathering is similar to Archaeopteryx in having large arm and leg feathers as well as frond-like tail feathering, confirming that these feathering characteristics were widely present among basal paravians. Most significantly, the taxon has the earliest known asymmetrical troodontid feathers, suggesting that feather asymmetry was ancestral to Paraves. This taxon also displays a mosaic distribution of characters like Sinusonasus, another troodontid with transitional anatomical features.

Figure 1: Jianianhualong tengi holotype DLXH 1218.
 (a) Photograph and (b) line drawing of the specimen. Scale bar, 50 cm.

 cav, caudal vertebrae; cv, cervical vertebrae; dv, dorsal vertebrae; fu, furcula; lfe, left femur; lh, left humerus; li, left ilium; lis, left ischium; lm, left manus; lp left pes; lpu, left pubis; lr, left radius; lu, left ulna; md, mandible; rc, right coracoid; rfe, right femur; rfi, right fibula; rh, right humerus; ri, right ilium; rm, right manus; rr, right radius; rs, right scapula; rt, right tibiotarsus; ru, right ulna; sk, skull; ss, synsacrum. 

Figure 7: Life reconstruction of Jianianhualong tengi based on the holotype DLXH 1218.

by Julius T. Csotonyi 

Systematic palaeontology 

Theropoda Marsh, 188121
Coelurosauria Huene, 192022

Maniraptora Gauthier, 198623
Troodontidae Gilmore, 192424

Jianianhualong tengi gen. et sp. nov.

 Etymology. ‘Jianianhua’, the Chinese company that supported this study; ‘long’, the Chinese Pinyin for dragon. The specific name honors Ms Fangfang Teng, who secured the specimen for study.

 Holotype. DLXH 1218, a nearly complete skeleton with associated feathers (Fig. 1) housed at the Dalian Xinghai Museum.


Locality and horizon. Baicai Gou, Yixian County, western Liaoning, China; Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation.

 Diagnosis. A troodontid distinguishable from other taxa in possessing the following apomorphic features (*indicates autapomorphic feature): maxillary rostral ramus triangular in outline and relatively high dorsoventrally*; maxillary ascending process extending posterodorsally at a high angle (an angle of ∼45° to maxillary ventral margin)*; lacrimal with a long descending process sub-equal in length to anterior process; a prominent ridge along anterior edge of the lateral surface of the lacrimal descending process; a distinct fossa on the dorsal surface of the surangular close to its posterior end; axial neural spine with a convex dorsal margin, transversely thickened anterior margin, and posterodorsal portion expanding strongly posteriorly; long manual phalanx II-1 (slightly shorter than metacarpal III) with prominent proximoventral heel, large groove along the medial surface of more than proximal half of manual phalanx II-1*; highly elongated manual III-2 (slightly longer than metacarpal III)*; robust ungual phalanges (medial ungual proximal depth/ungual length ratio >0.5); ilium with slightly concave dorsal margin in lateral view*; small medial lamina along ischial obturator process dorsal margin; metatarsal IV without prominent ventral flange*.

Figure 2: Cranium of Jianianhualong tengi holotype DLXH 1218.
 (a) Photograph and (b) line drawing of the skull and mandible. Scale bar, 2 cm.

ax, axis; fg, groove with foramina; fo, fossa; imf, internal mandibular fenestra; la, left angular; ld, left dentary; lect, left ectopterygoid; lex, left exoccipital; lf; left frontal; lhy, left hyoid bone; lj, left jugal; lla, left lacrimal; lm, left maxilla; lmf, left maxillary fenestra; ln, left nasal; lp, left parietal; lpt?, left pterygoid?; lpa, left prearticular; lpo, left postorbital; lpsaf, left posterior surangular foramen; lsa, left surangular; lsp?, left splenial?; lso, left supraoccipital; lsq, left squamosal; mc, Meckelian canal; ra, right angular; rart, right articular; rd, right dentary; rf, right frontal; rhy, right hyoid bone; rm?, right maxilla?; rn; right nasal; rp, right parietal; rpa, right prearticular; rq?, right quadrate?; rsa; right surangular; rso, right supraoccipital; rsp; right splenial; rsq, right squamosal. 

Xing Xu, Philip Currie, Michael Pittman, Lida Xing, Qingjin Meng, Junchang Lü, Dongyu Hu and Congyu Yu. 2017. Mosaic Evolution in An Asymmetrically Feathered Troodontid Dinosaur with Transitional Features.
  Nature Communications. 8, Article number: 14972.  DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14972

New Birdlike Dinosaur Had Modern Feathers on.natgeo.com/2p20KoN  @NatGeo

  

[PaleoOrnithology • 2017] An Ichthyornis-like bird from the earliest Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of European Russia

An Ichthyornis-like bird from the earliest Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of European Russia. 

Zelenkov, Averianov & Popov, 2017

elementy.ru   Illustration: Andrey Atuchin 

Abstract

Ornithuromorph birds (the clade which includes modern avian radiation) first appeared in the Early Cretaceous in Asia and achieved a great diversity during the latest ages of the Late Cretaceous (Campanian and Maastrichtian). The evolutionary history of orithuromorphs during the first 17 MYAs of the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian to Santonian ages) remains very poorly known, as the fossil record for this time interval is largely restricted to several isolated finds of the classic avian genus Ichthyornis in North America. Here we describe an isolated distal tibiotarsus of an evolutionary advanced bird, morphologically similar to Ichthyornis, from the middle Cenomanian of Saratov Province, European Russia. This is the first documentation of an Ichthyornis-like bird in the Old World. The find further constitutes only the second pre-Campanian record of the Late Cretaceous Ornithuromorpha in Eurasia, the second record of Cenomanian birds in Russia. This discovery shows that Ichthyornis-like birds enjoyed a wide geographical distribution as early as the beginning of the Late Cretaceous. Given that the earliest and the most primitive ornithuromorph birds are known from Asia, the new find supports a Eurasian origin for Ichthyornithidae.

Keywords: Cenomanian; East Europe; Ornithuromorpha; Palaeobiogeography

Systematic paleontology

Aves Linnaeus 1758

Ornithuromorpha Chiappe et al. 1999

Ornithurae Haeckel 1866

?Ichthyornithidae Marsh 1873

Gen. et sp. indet.

Material. Specimen PIN 5554/1, distal fragment of a right tibiotarsus.

Locality and horizon. Site SNB-2a, Nizhnyaya Bannovka, Krasnoarmeisk District, Saratov Province, Russia; Middle Member, Melovatka Formation, middle Cenomanian, lower Upper Cretaceous.

Fig. 2. Specimen PIN 5554/1, distal tibiotarsus of an Ichthyornis-like bird from the middle Cenomanian of European Russia. A, lateral view; B, cranial view; C, medial view; D, caudal view; E, proximal view; F, distal view; G, interpretative drawing of the cranial view.

Abbreviations: cl, condylus lateralis; cm, condylus medialis; conc, concavity; csic, concavities within sulcus intercondylaris; ?dep, depression; em, epicondylus medialis; sic, sulcus intercondylaris; se, sulcus extensorius; tub, tuberosity. 

DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2017.03.011

Conclusions

A partial tibiotarsus from the middle Cenomanian of the Nizhnyaya Bannovka locality in Saratov Province (European Russia) belongs to an evolutionary advanced ornithuromorph bird, similar in size and morphology to the North American Ichthyornis. This is the first reliable documentation of Ichthyornis-like birds in the Old World, because previously referred specimens indeed belong to Enantiornithes. This discovery confirms a wide geographic distribution of Ichthyornis-like birds already in the beginning of the Late Cretaceous and supports the Eurasian origin of Ichthyornithidae. The new specimen is further the first pre-Campanian Late Cretaceous ornithuromorph bird in Eurasian known from postcranial material.

Nikita V. Zelenkov, Alexander O. Averianov and Evgeny V. Popov. 2017. An Ichthyornis-like bird from the earliest Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of European Russia.
 Cretaceous Research. 75; 94–100. DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2017.03.011

Поволжский ихтиорнис • Никита Зеленков • Научная картинка дня на «Элементах» • Палеонтология https://elementy.ru/kartinka_dnya/307/Povolzhskiy_ikhtiornis

[Ichthyology • 2017] Review and Updated Checklist of Freshwater Fishes of Iran: Taxonomy, Distribution and Conservation Status

Fig. 9: Schematic pictures of some freshwater fishes of Iran.

IJIchthyol.org 

Abstract

This checklist aims to reviews and summarize the results of the systematic and zoogeographical research on the Iranian inland ichthyofauna that has been carried out for more than 200 years. Since the work of J.J. Heckel (1846-1849), the number of valid species has increased significantly and the systematic status of many of the species has changed, and reorganization and updating of the published information has become essential. Here we take the opportunity to provide a new and updated checklist of freshwater fishes of Iran based on literature and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history and new fish collections. This article lists 288 species in 107 genera, 28 families, 22 orders and 3 classes reported from different Iranian basins. However, presence of 23 reported species in Iranian waters needs confirmation by specimens. The most diverse order is Cypriniformes (171 species, 59.40%), followed by Gobiiformes (42 species, 14.60%), Cyprinodontiformes (17 species, 5.90%), and Clupeiformes (11 species, 3.82%). Eighty-eight endemic species (30.56%) in 7 families and 26 exotic species (9.03%) in 9 families are listed here. Among 288 reported species, 163 (56.6%) species are Not Evaluated (NE), 93 (32.3%) Least Concern (LC), 11 (3.8%) Vulnerable (VU), 8 (2.8%) Data Deficient (DD), 7 (2.4%) Critically Endangered (CR), 3 (1%) Near Threatened (NT), 1 (0.3%) is Endangered (EN) and 1 (0.3%) Extinct in the Wild (EW) of the red list of IUCN. The only reason for this high number of not listed and least concern species in the IUCN Red List is lack of information about the species at national and global levels. This shows the necessity of reconsideration of global categories and application of the IUCN Red List criteria at the national level. Considering the number of endemic fishes (88, 30.56%) in Iran, the first step should be preparing an endemic national assessment for inclusion on the IUCN Red List. Over the last ten years, some native and exotic fishes have been translocated or introduced into natural water bodies. Aquaculture, sport fishing, control of malaria, ornamental purposes, research activities, demonstration in national fairs and accidental introduction are the main reasons for these introductions. Here, we report presence of the Alligator gar, Atractosteus spatula, as an introduced predatory fish from Marivan Lake which seems to have been released from an aquarium. In this checklist, additional, problematic species are also listed, the English/common name of each species is provided, the etymology of each genus is given, the conservation status of each species is given and the bibliographic list of most of published literature on the systematics of inland fishes is mentioned. The provided information will be necessary for the development of competent and pragmatic management plans and effective conservation policies.

Keywords: Fish diversity, Endemic species, Exotic species, Ichthyogeography, Ecoregion.

Hamid Reza ESMAEILI, Hamidreza MEHRABAN, Keivan ABBASI, Yazdan KEIVANY and Brian W COAD. 2017. Review and Updated Checklist of Freshwater Fishes of Iran: Taxonomy, Distribution and Conservation Status. Iranian Journal of Ichthyology. 4 (Suppl. 1); 1–114. 

http://www.ijichthyol.org/index.php/iji/article/view/220/167 

[Herpetology • 2017] Brachycephalus darkside • The Dark Side of Pumpkin Toadlet: A New Species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from Serra do Brigadeiro, southeastern Brazil

Brachycephalus darkside

 Guimarães, Luz, Rocha & Feio, 2017 

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4258.4.2 

Abstract

Brachycephalus is a frog genus endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and characterized by the bright yellow-orange aposematic colors and the high degree of miniaturization. Herein, we describe a new species of Brachycephalus from Serra do Brigadeiro, Municipality of Ervália, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Specimens were collected at high altitudes (i.e., 1266–1498 m above sea level) amidst the leaf litter. The new species is characterized by the presence of black connective tissue covering all dorsal muscles, body completely yellow-orange in life, presence of skull and post-cranial plates, large size (SVL of adults: 14.8–18.5 mm), bufoniform body, absence of metacarpal and metatarsal tubercles, and presence of harmonics in its advertisement call.

Keywords: Amphibia, Brachycephalus darkside sp. nov., Atlantic Rainforest, osteology, histology, bioacoustics, natural history

 Brachycephalus darkside sp. nov. female in life.

Etymology. The epithet "darkside" is a noun in apposition, derivative of the English language. It refers to the dark side of the body of Brachycephalus darkside sp. nov., which corresponds to the dark tissue surrounding the dorsal musculature, creating a dark background to the bright yellow-orange dorsum (Fig. 4). It is also a reference to the album "The Dark Side of the Moon" by the British rock band Pink Floyd.

Natural history. Specimens of Brachycephalus sp. nov. were found amidst leaf litter of “Trilha do Cruzeiro”, at the habitat Floresta Estacional Semidecidual Montana, between 1266 and 1498 m a.s.l. We observed active individuals from October to December, between 12h and 19h. Males were found calling exposed over leafs or beneath them, and females walking through the leaf litter. During the dry months (from July until September), individuals of Brachycephalus sp. nov. were found hidden deep into the layers of leaf litter, buried and within roots underground (Fig. 5). The new species is abundant in the area where it occur and reproduce syntopicaly with species of the genus Ischnocnema.

Distribution. Brachycephalus sp. nov. is known from municipalities of Ervália and Miradouro, both at Serra do Brigadeiro, north portion of Mantiqueira mountain range, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil (Fig. 6). Considering the distances between locations, vegetation and altitude range (1266–1498 m a.s.l.), it is likely that this new species can be found in more locations within the Serra do Brigadeiro mountain range. 

 Carla da Silva Guimarães, Sofia Luz, Pedro Carvalho Rocha and Renato Neves Feio. 2017. The Dark Side of Pumpkin Toadlet: A New Species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from Serra do Brigadeiro, southeastern Brazil.
  Zootaxa. 4258(4); 327–344.   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4258.4.2

http://www.locus.ufv.br/bitstream/handle/123456789/8175/texto%20completo.pdf?sequence=1