[Ornithology • 2026] Ducula tawitawi • A New Species of Imperial Pigeon (Aves: Columbidae: Ducula) from Tawi-Tawi, Philippines

 

Ducula tawitawi 

Halley, 2026

Tawi-Tawi Imperial Pigeon | DOI: doi.org/10.25226/bboc.v146i3.2026.a7

 Abstract 

Only three specimens of the Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula poliocephala (G. R. Gray) are available from the isolated population on Tawi-Tawi Island, in the Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, and all have white (vs. brown) throats—a character shared with the closely related White-bellied Imperial Pigeon D. forsteni (Bonaparte). Two adults collected on Tawi-Tawi by the Menage Expedition, in 1891, are preserved in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. They bear archival labels with a nomen nudum (albigularis) indicating that the collectors initially considered them to be undescribed—because of the white throats—yet did not publish a description. A third white-throated specimen, collected in 1971 and preserved in the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, Wilmington, confirms the morphological distinctiveness of the Tawi-Tawi population. Audio recordings from the 1990s further reveal that the Tawi-Tawi population is vocally distinct from D. poliocephala and D. forsteni. Based on its unique morphology and voice, I describe the ‘Tawi-Tawi Imperial Pigeon’ as a new species. It is endemic to the shrinking forests of Tawi-Tawi and faces an imminent risk of extinction.

Historic specimens of the ‘Tawi-Tawi Imperial Pigeon’Ducula tawitawi sp. nov .collected by Bourns and Worcester at Tataan (modern Tarawaken) during the Menage Expedition and held at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC: (top left) USNM 314700, 21 October 1891; (bottom left) USNM 314701, 19 October 1891; the pale greenish-grey stains on the chins of these specimens were evidently caused by post-mortem fat migration (Matthew R. Halley; reproduced courtesy of the Bird Division, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC)

Ducula tawitawi sp. nov.
(left) Three views of DMNH 14999 and (right) its label and entry in the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, Wilmington, ledger; the specimen was identified (apparently by duPont, see text) as ‘Ducula poliocephala nobilis’ when it was catalogued in 1972 (Matthew R. Halley)

Ducula tawitawi sp. nov.

Tawi-Tawi Imperial Pigeon

Diagnosis.—D. tawitawi has the pink belly of D. poliocephala (unlike D. forsteni) but the white throat of D. forsteni (unlike D. poliocephala). Its courtship or advertising song has a unique acoustic structure consisting of a low-amplitude buzz or ‘rattle’ followed by more notes (5–8) compressed into a shorter time interval, resulting in a higher tempo, than D. poliocephala and D. forsteni.

Geographic variation in throat colour in the Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula [poliocephala] complex, as demonstrated by adult males held in the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, Wilmington:
(A) DMNH 4501: Samar, May 1970; (B) DMNH 66314: Sibuyan, June 1973; (C) DMNH 1701: Mindanao, June 1961; (D) DMNH 14999: Tawi-Tawi, December 1971; (E) DMNH 10576: Mindoro, March 1971; (F) DMNH 66318: Marinduque, April 1972; (G) DMNH 3501: Luzon, March 1969 (Matthew R. Halley)

Matthew R. Halley. 2026. A New Species of Imperial Pigeon (Columbidae: Ducula) from Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. 146(3); 295-310 DOI: doi.org/10.25226/bboc.v146i3.2026.a7 (2 September 2026)

[Entomology • 2026] Tipula jingkei • A New crane fly Species of Subgenus Pterelachisus (Diptera: Tipulidae) from North China

 

 Tipula (Pterelachisus) jingkei

Gao & Yang, 2026

 

荆轲普大蚊  |  DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2026.06.006

Highlights: 

• A new crane fly species, Tipula (Pterelachisus) jingkei sp. nov., is described from Beijing, China.

• The species is diagnosed by a distinctive V-shaped white marking in the wing and unique male genitalia.

• Detailed descriptions and illustrations of male and female terminalia are provided.

• This study represents the first record of the subgenus Pterelachisus from Beijing.

ABSTRACT

A new species of crane fly, Tipula (Pterelachisus) jingkei sp. nov., is described from Beijing, China. The new species is distinguished from related species by the characteristic wing pattern and the structure of the male hypopygium, particularly the nearly truncate caudal margin of tergite 9 bearing two spinous median extensions and a small median spur. Illustrations and detailed morphological descriptions of the adult are provided. This species represents the first record of the subgenus Pterelachisus from Beijing and expands the known diversity of the group in northern China.

 

Keywords: Crane flies, Nematocera, Tipulinae, Taxonomy, Beijing

 Tipula (Pterelachisus) jingkei sp. nov.
 (A) thorax of the male, lateral view; (B) thorax of the male, dorsal view; (C) thorax of the female, dorsal view; (D) wing of the male; (E) habitus of the male adult, lateral view; (F) habitus of the female adult, lateral view; (G) thorax of the female, lateral view.

Order Diptera Linnaeus, 1758

Family Tipulidae Latreille, 1802

Subfamily Tipulinae Latreille, 1802

Genus Tipula Linnaeus, 1758

Subgenus Pterelachisus Rondani, 1842

 Tipula (Pterelachisus) jingkei sp. nov.

荆轲普大蚊

Diagnosis. Generally yellow to reddish brown with white pollen. Nasus distinct and cylindrical. Prescutum and presutural scutum reddish-brown pruinose with four brownish stripes. Wing generally yellowish brown, with a clearly defined white pattern. The main pattern includes V-shaped white markings centered on cell dm, near Rs and CuP. Hypopygium with sternite 8 without a tuft or group of sparse long setae.

Etymology. The species is named after Jing Ke, a famous assassin in Chinese history, whose hometown was located in northern China; the name is treated as a noun in apposition.

  

Yuetian Gao and Ding Yang. 2026. A New crane fly Species of Subgenus Pterelachisus (Diptera: Tipulidae) from North China. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. In Press. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2026.06.006 [25 July 2026] 

[Arachnida • 2021] Loxosceles coheni & L. turanensis • ‘Burning Violin’: The Medically Important Spider Genus Loxosceles (Araneae: Sicariidae) in Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, with Two New Species

Loxosceles coheni

Zamani, Mirshamsi & Marusik, 2021

DOI: doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa257 

  facebook.com/AZamni

 

Abstract

The taxonomic status of the medically important spider genus Loxosceles Heineken et Lowe, 1832 (Sicariidae) in Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan is revised. Two species are described as new to science: Loxosceles coheni sp. n. (♂♀, southwestern Iran) and Loxosceles turanensis sp. n. (♂♀, southern Turkmenistan and eastern Iran). Additionally, Loxosceles alicea Gertsch, 1967 syn. n. (♀, Peru) is synonymized with Loxosceles rufescens (Dufour, 1820). The local distribution of all treated species is mapped (including several new records), and reported cases of loxoscelism from this region are briefly reviewed.

Keywords: Central Asia, loxoscelism, Peru, recluse spiders, violin spiders

Taxonomy

Family Sicariidae Keyserling, 1880

Genus Loxosceles Heineken et Lowe, 1832

Type species. Scytodes rufescens Dufour, 1820, 

by subsequent designation of Bonnet (1957).

Loxosceles coheni sp. n.

Etymology. The new species is named in honor of Leonard Norman Cohen (21 September 1934 to 7 November 2016), a Canadian singer, songwriter, poet, novelist, and the most favorite artist of the first author, because his music kept him working during the long, cold, and dark winters of Finland.

Loxosceles turanensis sp. n.

  

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to Turan, a term of Iranian origin referring to a historical region in Central Asia and northeastern Iran, in which the currently known range of the new species is located.

Loxosceles persica Ribera et Zamani, 2017

Loxosceles rufescens (Dufour, 1820)

Alireza Zamani, Omid Mirshamsi and Yuri M Marusik. 2021. ‘Burning Violin’: The Medically Important Spider Genus Loxosceles (Araneae: Sicariidae) in Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, with Two New Species. Journal of Medical Entomology. 58(2); 666–675. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa257

  facebook.com/AZamni/posts/10217225792468659

New Species of Recluse Spider Named for Leonard Cohen

 entomologytoday.org/2021/01/08/new-species-recluse-spider-named-for-leonard-cohen

[Botany • 2021] Camellia proensis (Theaceae) • A New Species from Southern Vietnam

Camellia proensis  V.D.Luong, Doudkin & V.H.Quach,

in Hoi, Dung, Doudkin, Averyanov, Thinh, Lieu et  Truong, 2021.

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.479.1.12

Abstract

A new species of the genus Camellia L. (Theaceae) from Southern Vietnam is described and illustrated under the name Camellia proensis. Morphological differences between C. proensis and closely related species in the genus Camellia L. (sect. Piquetia) were identified. C. proensis is easily distinguishable from C. honbaensis, C. piquetiana and C. longii by the yellow flowers; from C. dalatensis by the glabrous twigs and leaves; from C. dongnaiensis by light yellow flowers; from C. sonthaiensis by mature fruit flat-globose, 4.0–5.5 cm tall and 8.5–10.0 cm wide. Ecological environment and distribution were also provided for this new species. The images and type specimens of this species were processed and stored in Vietnam (holotype, isotypes, DLU).

Keywords: Camellia proensis, Lam Dong, taxonomy, Theaceae, Vietnam, Magnoliids

Camellia proensis.
A. Leaf. B. Venation of leaf (adaxial surface). C. Venation of leaf (abaxial surface). D. Flower bud. E, F. Flower. G. Sepals. H. Petals. I. Stamens. K. Styles and gynoecium. L. Fruit. M. Seed.

Drwaing by Luong Van Dung.

Camellia proensis.
A, B. Young twig. C, E. Flowering shoot and arrangement of petals. D. Open flower. F, G. Fruits. H. Seeds.

Photos by Quach Van Hoi.

Camellia proensis V.D.Luong, Doudkin & V.H.Quach, sp. nov.  

Affinity:—Camellia proensisis morphologically similar to C. sonthaiensis in glabrous young branches and leaves; sepals 5, hairy on the outside; petal light yellow, hairy on the outside, from which it is distinguished by the size of mature fruit, 3.0–3.5 cm in diameter, 1.5–2.0 cm deep (C. sonthaiensis), 4.0–5.5 cm tall, 8.5–10.0 cm wide (C. proensis). 

 Etymology:—The species is named after the location where the authors first found this plant. Pro is the name of Pro commune, Don Duong District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam.

Quach Van Hoi, Luong Van Dung, Roman V. Doudkin, Leonid V. Averyanov, Bui Bao Thinh, Nguyen Thi Lieu and Luu Hong Truong. 2021. Camellia proensis (Theaceae, sect. Piquetia), A New Species from Southern Vietnam. Phytotaxa. 479(1); 137–141. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.479.1.12

[PaleoIchthyology • 2026] Nazaria limnica • A New deep bodied ray-finned fish (Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii) from the Permian Pedra do Fogo Formation (Northeastern Brazil) and its phylogenetic and paleogeographic affinities

Nazaria limnica

Richter, Cisneros, Kammerer, Pardo, Marsicano, Fröbisch, Smith & Angielczyk, 2026

 DOI: doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2026.2697805  

Artwork by Juan C. Cisneros & Martha Richter

 bsky.app/profile/cisneros.bsky.social

ABSTRACT

A deep bodied ray-finned fish is reported from Cisuralian lacustrine deposits of the Parnaíba Basin. Its ecological niche and systematic affinities are discussed, considering the paleogeographic distribution of selected Permo-Carboniferous deep bodied fishes from several separate sedimentary successions of western Gondwana. The occurrence of deep bodied fishes in the Parnaíba Basin mirrors the presence of a similarly shaped but less derived and distantly related taxon, Paranaichthys longianalis from the late Permian of the Paraná Basin of southern Brazil. The new taxon’s unique combination of characters includes an elongated pectoral fin; posteriorly inclined suspensorium; deep flank scales ornamented with fine vertical striae, tiny mandibular teeth and palatal crushing dental plates. It shares with Guildayichthys and Discoserra two preopercular bones, a supraorbital, and marginal teeth on the lower jaw. Phylogenetic analyses were performed based on two datasets. Dataset 1 included 53 characters coded for 26 deep bodied and fusiform fish fossils from Brazil, North America, China, South Africa, and Australia, with results indicating that is most closely related to the North American order Guildayichthyformes, known from marine rocks of Pennsylvanian age. Dataset 2 included 119 taxa coded for 293 characters. The two analyses place the new taxon as the sister group of a clade comprised of Blourugia and Paranaichthys. However, the results of the study of both datasets show a high degree of uncertainty about the interrelationships between the new taxon and other deep bodied Paleozoic fish species.

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY

OSTEICHTHYES Huxley, 1880

ACTINOPTERYGII Cope, 1887

NAZARIA, gen. nov.

 

Etymology—Named after the municipality of Nazária in the State of Piauí, where the fossils were collected.

NAZARIA LIMNICA, gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology—Derives from the Greek epithet limne (‘lake’) a reference to the lacustrine paleoenvironment where the fishes lived.

Nazaria limnica, MAP PV1029 (holotype).
A, part; B, counterpart (reversed). The caudal and anal fins are not preserved in the holotype.

Abbreviations: vrs, ventral ridge scales.

Nazaria limnica, MAP PV1029 (holotype).
A, skull and anterior part of the trunk (dorsal crest not figured here); B, identification of skull bones as preserved in A and, augmented drawing of one of the anteriormost trunk scales, showing its vertical ornamental ridges and dorsal of the peg-and-socket articulation system. The hatched lines indicate uncertain bone boundaries.

Abbreviations: An, angular; a.In, anterior infraorbital; br, branchiostegal rays; Cl, cleithrum; Cla, clavicle; De, dentary; Dro, dorsal rostral; Dsp, dermosphenotic; Ent?, impression of an entopterygoid?; Ex, extrascapulars; Fr, frontal; Ju, jugal; mt, mandibular teeth; Mx, maxilla; Na, nasal; Op, operculum; Pa, parietal; Pmx-ant, premaxilla-antorbital; Pop1, preoperculum 1; Pop2, preoperculum 2; Psp, post-spiracular; Sco, scapulocoracoid; So, suborbitals; Sop, suboperculum; St, supratemporal; Su, supraorbital; Vo, vomer; VRo, ventral rostral.

 Nazaria limnica, MAP PV1029 (holotype).
A, detail of the mouth and surrounding region; B, details of the dentition.

 Abbreviations: maxt?, possible maxillary crushing teeth; mt, mandibular marginal teeth; Mx, maxilla; Vo, vomer (vomerine tooth plate).

Tentative reconstruction of the skull pattern and anteriormost flank scales of Nazaria limnica, based on MAP PV1029 (holotype), after rearrangement of some taphonomically dislocated bones (jugal, lachrymal and ventral preopercular). Short, dotted lines represent inferred bone limits (preoperculum, suboperculum, and ventral limit of the suprachleithrum). The inset features the skull sensorial line pattern.

Abbreviations: An, angular; a.In, anterior infraorbital; app, anterior process of parasphenoid; asp, posterior ascending process of parasphenoid; br, branchiostegal rays; Cl, cleithrum; Cla, clavicle; Dro, dorsal rostral; Dsp, dermosphenotic; Ent?, impression of an entopterygoid?; Ex, extrascapulars; Fr, frontal; Ju, jugal; Mx, maxilla; Na, nasal; Op, operculum; P1, pectoral fin; Pa, parietal; Par, parasphenoid; Pmx-ant, premaxilla-antorbital; Pop1, preoperculum 1; Pop2, preoperculum 2; Psp, post-spiracular; Sco, scapulocoracoid; So, suborbitals; Sop, suboperculum; sr, sclerotic ring; St, supratemporal; Su, supraorbital; Vo, vomer; Vro, ventral rostral.

Life reconstruction of Nazaria limnica, based on a composite rendering of characters observed on either the holotype, the paratype or both.

Art by Juan C. Cisneros based on Martha Richter reconstruction.

 

Martha Richter, Juan C. Cisneros, Christian F. Kammerer, Jason D. Pardo, Claudia A. Marsicano, Jörg Fröbisch, Roger M. H. Smith and Kenneth D. Angielczyk. 2026. A New deep bodied ray-finned fish (Osteichthyes/Actinopterygii) from the Permian Pedra do Fogo Formation (Northeastern Brazil) and its phylogenetic and paleogeographic affinities. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. e2697805. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2026.2697805 [26 Aug 2026]

 bsky.app/profile/cisneros.bsky.social/post/3mtzp3mskp225

 bsky.app/profile/jdpardo.bsky.social/post/3mtyrzy7tw225

[Botany • 2024] Curcuma roseobracteata (Zingiberaceae) • A New Species from Thailand

   

 Curcuma roseobracteata  P. Saensouk, Saensouk, Maknoi & Boonma, 

in P. Saensouk, S. Saensouk, Maknoi, Nguyen et Boonma, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d250807

Researchgate.net/publication/383849598

Abstract  

Curcuma roseobracteata P. Saensouk, Saensouk, Maknoi & Boonma sp. nov., a newly identified species within the Curcuma subgenus Curcuma of the Zingiberaceae family, has been found in the northern and southwestern floristic regions of Thailand, distributed in Mae Hong Son, Tak, and Kanchanaburi Provinces. This new species shares similarities with C. rubrobracteata Škorni?ková, M. Sabu & Prasanthkumar, and C. suraponii Boonma, but differentiated by its lemon yellow rhizome; leaves base broadly cuneate to rounded, or cordate, abaxial surface with scattered hairs; thyrse oblong ovoid; fertile bracts obovate, rose pink with a pale green base; coma bracts inconspicuous, with 1-4 in number; bracteoles apex rounded with short mucronate; filament c. 3 × 6 mm; anther c. 8.5 × 3.5 mm; epigynous glands c. 4.5 mm long; ovary 2.5-3 × 2.5 mm. The new taxon is formally described here, detailing its morphological characteristics, vernacular name, ecology, phenology, and distribution, which includes updates on the presence of C. suraponii, previously recorded only in Tak Province, but now also observed in Mae Hong Son Province. The study includes an IUCN conservation assessment based on recent collections and presents a revised taxonomic key to differentiate the new species from its relatives. 

Curcuma roseobracteata P. Saensouk, Saensouk, Maknoi & Boonma sp. nov. 

Piyaporn SAENSOUK, Surapon SAENSOUK, Charun MAKNOI, Danh Duc NGUYEN and Thawatphong BOONMA. 2024. Curcuma roseobracteata sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae), A New Species from Thailand and Distribution Notes on C. suraponii Boonma. Biodiversitas 25: 3368-3375. DOI: doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d250807 

Researchgate.net/publication/383849598_Curcuma_roseobracteata_sp_nov_a_new_species_from_Thailand

ว่านงูเห่าชมพู (𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙢𝙖 𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙖 P.Saensouk, Saensouk, Maknoi & Boonma) พืชสกุลขมิ้นชนิดใหม่จากจังหวัดแม่ฮ่องสอน ตาก และกาญจนบุรี ตีพิมพ์ในวารสารระดับนานาชาติ Biodiversitas 25(8): 3368-3375. DOI: doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d250807

[Herpetology • 2026] Acanthosaura aurantiogularis • A New Species of the Genus Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (Lacertilia: Agamidae) from the China-Myanmar Border Region in southwestern Yunnan Province, China

Acanthosaura aurantiogularis Wang, Lu & Che, 

in Wang, Lu, Zhao, Shi, Wan, Zhu, Jin et Che, 2026

橙喉棘蜥 | Orange-throated Pricklenape  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1290.195408

Abstract

Using an integrative dataset of both mitochondrial DNA and morphological data, we describe a new species of the genus Acanthosaura from the China-Myanmar border region in Menglian County, Pu’er, Yunnan Province, China. The new species, Acanthosaura aurantiogularis sp. nov., is sister to A. tongbiguanensis, and it can be readily diagnosed from all recognized congeners by its bright orange gular coloration in the male, flesh colored oral cavity, moderate post-orbital spines and occipital spines, five or six well-developed nuchal crest scales, and a distinct dorsal coloration. We recommend further comprehensive phylogenetic studies of the genus and highlighted the understudied agamid diversity in northeastern Myanmar.

Key words: Agamid, Burma, cross-border, distribution, Draconinae, Pricklenape, taxonomy

Comparison between males (left column) and females (right column) of Acanthosaura aurantiogularis sp. nov. (top row, A, B) and closely related A. tongbiguanensis (bottom row, C, D) in life.

Photos by Zhuo-Yu Lu and Kai Wang.

Holotype male of Acanthosaura aurantiogularis sp. nov. (KIZ 61664) in life,
showing lateral overview (A), lateral closeup of body and head (B), ventral overview (C), and closeup of oral cavity (D).

Photos by Zhuo-Yu Lu.

Paratype female of Acanthosaura aurantiogularis sp. nov. (KIZ 61665) in life,
showing lateral overview (A), lateral closeup of body and head (B), ventral overview (C), and closeup of oral cavity (D).

Photos by Zhuo-Yu Lu.

 

Acanthosaura aurantiogularis Wang, Lu & Che, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Acanthosaura aurantiogularis sp. nov. can be diagnosed from congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) tail short, TAL 167% SVL in female; (2) length of post-orbital and occipital spines moderate, LOPS 11.0–15.1% HL, LLOC 9.5–15.9% HL; (3) nuchal crest erected, 5 or 6, discontinuous from dorsal crests, TNCL 13.8–18.7% HL; (4) diastema short, composed of 6–8 small scales; (5) dorsal crest erected, anterior most one shorter than nuchal, decreasing in length posteriorly; (6) enlarged middorsal crest scales 41; (7) gular pouch moderately developed, transverse gular fold ...

Etymology. The specific epithet aurantiogularis is a compound Neo-Latin adjective derived from the Latin aurantius, meaning “orange-colored,” and gularis, meaning “the throat”. This nomenclature is a direct descriptor of the lizard’s most striking and diagnostic morphological feature: the vibrant, unmarked orange-yellow gular pouch in males. The suggested Chinese common name is “橙喉棘蜥” (Pinyin: Chéng Hóu Jí Xī), and the suggested English common name is Orange-throated Pricklenape.

 Kai WANG, Zhuo-Yu LU, Gui-Gang ZHAO, Wei SHI, Ru-Wen WAN, Na ZHU, Jie-Qiong JIN and Jing CHE. 2026. A New Species of the Genus Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Agamidae) from the China-Myanmar Border Region in southwestern Yunnan Province, China. ZooKeys. 1290: 319-337.  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1290.195408 [27 Aug 2026]

[Herpetology • 2026] Oreolalax lizipingensis • A New Oreolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from southwest Sichuan, China

 

Oreolalax lizipingensis

Huang, Dai, Hou, Lin, Wang, Yu, Lin & Xie, 2026

栗子坪齿蟾  |  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.183210

Abstract

The genus Oreolalax of the family Megophryidae currently comprises 22 recorded species, the majority of which are endemic to China. During field work in Liziping National Natural Reserve, Shimian County, Sichuan Province, China, we discovered several Oreolalax toads with morphological characteristics different from other Oreolalax species. Based on the analyses of morphological, bioacoustic and molecular data, this newly identified population forms an independent clade nested with Oreolalax lichuanensis, Oreolalax schmidti and Oreolalax pingii, which we describe as a new species. The new species, Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov., can be distinguished from other congeneric species by the combination of the following characters: (1) relatively small body size in Oreolalax, SVL of males 37.6–43.3 mm and females 44.2–52.7 mm; (2) toes with rudimentary webbing; (3) interorbital region with dark triangular spot; (4) the female’s belly, flanks and lower surface of limbs evenly dotted with white spots, absent or inconspicuous in males; (5) dorsum with dark brown and nearly round warts; (6) male with spiny warts along edge of jaw, ventral thighs and abdomen near vent; and (7) breeding season occurring from July to August. Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov. is currently known only from high-elevation streams at 2400–3100 m a.s.l. within the Menghuo Castle where it occurs in sympatry with Oreolalax liangbeiensis.

Key Words: New species, Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov., taxonomy

Photos of the holotype CIB22565 of male Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov. in life
 A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Lateral view; D. Ventral view of hand and; E. Ventral view of foot. The scale bars for panels A, B, and C are uniform and located in the upper right corner.

Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov. assigned to the genus Oreolalax based on its phylogenetic position and the following characters: pupil vertical; vocal sac absent; dorsal surface exhibiting dark-colored and nearly round tubercles; males possessing a pair of chest glands densely covered with black spines (Fei et al. 2009).

The new species differs from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) the body size relatively small, SVL of adult males 40.2 mm (37.6–43.3 mm, n = 5); adult females 47.7 mm (44.2–52.7 mm, n = 3); (2) head length slightly longer than head width; (3) tongue deeply notched posteriorly; (4) supratympanic fold narrow and elongated; (5) tympanum hidden; (6) hand without subarticular and ...

Etymology. The specific epithet “liziping” of the new species refers to the type locality of the species, Liziping National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. 

We suggest the common name as “Liziping toothed toad”, and the Chinese name as “Li Zi Ping Chi Chan (栗子坪齿蟾)”.

The amplexus, egg mass, and breeding habitat of Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov.
A. Amplexus in July; B. Pile-shaped gelatinous egg mass; C, D. Breeding habitat.

 Si Ning Huang, Qin Long Dai, Yin Meng Hou, Yi Heng Lin, Yuan Fei Wang, Hao Qi Yu, Xiu Qin Lin and Feng Xie. 2026. A New Oreolalax (Anura, Megophryidae) from southwest Sichuan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 102(5): 1107-1125. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.183210 [2 Sep 2026]

[Entomology • 2025] Lyriothemis abrahami • A New Species of Lyriothemis Brauer, 1868 (Odonata: Libellulidae) from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India

 

Lyriothemis abrahami  Sadasivan, Jose, Nair & Palot, 

in Sadasivan, Jose, Palot, Sudheer, Augustine, Kochunarayanan, Nair et George, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.33307/entomon.v50i2.1470  

Researchgate.net/publication/393568494

Abstract

A new species of phytotelma-breeding dragonfly, Lyriothemis abrahami sp. nov., is described from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. The new taxon was previously misidentified as L. flava Oguma, 1915 (= L. tricolor Ris, 1916). In contrast to L. flava, the new species is sexually dimorphic, with males easily identified based on the characteristic shape of the hamules. Females are identified by their jet black and yellow colour with triangular yellow streaks on the dorsum of the abdomen and the distinct triangular shape of the vulvar lamina. Photographs of mature adults, tenerals, hamules, illustrations of vesica seminalis, vulvar lamina, and a key to Lyriothemis of the Indian subcontinent are provided.

KEY WORDS: Anisoptera, new taxon, taxonomy, dragonfly, phytotelmata, Kerala

Lyriothemis abrahami sp. nov. Holotype TORG # 1053.
A–lateral view of the holotype; B–close-up of head; C–lateral view of segment 2; D–dorsal view of head, prothorax and synthorax; E–lateral view of head, prothorax, and synthorax; F–dorsal view of abdomen; G–lateral view of abdomen; H–dorsal view of S8–10, and anal appendages; I–lateral view of S8–10, and anal appendages. © Kalesh Sadasivan

Lyriothemis abrahami sp. nov. in life.
A–mature male from Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary © Kalesh Sadasivan; B–lateral view of a teneral male © Jebine Jose; C–dorsal view of a teneral male © Jebine Jose; D–lateral view of a teneral female © Jebine Jose; E–dorsal view of a teneral female © Jebine Jose; F–female ovipositing in a phytotelma © Jebine Jose. (B–E, reared from the larvae collected in Pooyamkutty, Ernakulam District, Kerala)

Lyriothemis abrahami Sadasivan, Jose, Nair & Palot, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Males of Lyriothemis abrahami sp. nov. are identified by the combination of the following characters: two short oval paradorsal streaks on the mesepisternum not extending halfway up the thorax towards the alar sinus; anterolateral yellow thoracic band as broad as or narrower than the black area just posterior to it; in anteroventral view hamule trapezoid, higher than wide; hamular inferolateral angle right-angled and well-defined, medial border with a distinct insinuation at the junction of its inferior and middle third, inferior border straight. The elongated shape of the hamule is a distinct characteristic of the new taxon. Sexual dimorphism is strongly exhibited in L. abrahami sp. nov., with the females identified by their jet-black and yellow colour with characteristic triangular yellow streaks on the dorsum of the abdomen and the distinct triangular shape of the vulvar lamina. The new species is endemic to the Western Ghats of Peninsular India, south of Coorg, and its distribution does not overlap with the range of L. flava, as far as it is known.

Etymology. The species is named after Dr. Abraham Samuel, a pioneer of odonatology from Kerala, for his contributions to the field and his constant encouragement to the authors. The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case.

Kalesh Sadasivan, Jebine Jose, Muhamed Jafer Palot, Shanas Sudheer, Toms Augustine, Baiju Kochunarayanan, Vinayan Padmanabhan Nair and Maya George. 2025. A New Species of Lyriothemis Brauer, 1868 (Odonata, Libellulidae) from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India.  ENTOMON. 50(2); 203-214. DOI: doi.org/10.33307/entomon.v50i2.1470 [2025-06-30]

 Researchgate.net/publication/393568494_A_new_species_of_Lyriothemis_from_the_Western_Ghats_of_Peninsular_India

[Mollusca • 2025] Songkhlanaia songkhramensis • An integrative approach to A Revision of the freshwater mussel Genus Songkhlanaia (Bivalvia: Unionidae), with the Description of A New Species

 Songkhlanaia songkhramensis sp. nov.

Jeratthitikul, Sutcharit & Prasankok, 2025

S. tamodienica, Songkhla Lake Basin, Thailand; 
 S. moreleti, Tonle Sap Basin, Thailand  

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1224.140549  

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Abstract

Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as Indochina, is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot for freshwater mussels, hosting a significant number of species and exhibiting high levels of endemism. Recently, the monotypic genus Songkhlanaia was described from the Songkhla Lake Basin in southern Thailand. In this study, two additional lineages are revealed, S. moreleti comb. nov. and S. songkhramensis sp. nov., from the Mekong Basin through an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The multi-locus phylogenetic inference supported the monophyly of the genus and further elucidated the sister relationship between S. moreleti and the new species, and with S. tamodienica positioned as a basal lineage. Pairwise uncorrected COI p-distances among these three species also supported the species validity and ranged from 4.2% to 8.24%. Notably, S. songkhramensis sp. nov. and S. moreleti exhibit similarities in shell morphology; however, the new species can be differentiated by more robust pseudocardinal teeth. Both species are distinguishable from S. tamodienica by their approximately twice larger size, more inflated shells, and more prominent, roughened, irregular growth lines on the shell surface. Furthermore, based on the current data, these three species are recognized as endemic and are restricted to disjunct biogeographic areas in Indochina: S. tamodienica in the Songkhla Lake Basin in southern Thailand, S. moreleti in the Tonle Sap and Lower Mekong basins, and S. songkhramensis sp. nov. in the Songkhram Basin and its nearby tributaries of the Middle Mekong Basin.

Key words: Freshwater mussels, Indochina, Mekong Basin, multi-locus phylogeny, new taxa, Pseudodontini, taxonomic revision, Thailand

Family Unionidae Rafinesque, 1820

Subfamily Gonideinae Ortmann, 1916

Tribe Pseudodontini Frierson, 1927

Subtribe Pseudodontina Frierson, 1927

Genus Songkhlanaia Konopleva, Lheknim, Sriwoon, Kondakov, Vikhrev & Bolotov, 2023

Songkhlanaia Konopleva et al., 2023: 13, 14. Bolotov et al. 2023: 12.

Type species: Songkhlanaia tamodienica Konopleva, Lheknim, Sriwoon, Kondakov, Vikhrev & Bolotov in Konopleva et al. 2023 (by original designation).

Species included: Songkhlanaia currently consists of three species: S. tamodienica (type species), S. moreleti comb. nov., and S. songkhramensis sp. nov.

Shells of Songkhlanaia songkhramensis sp. nov. 
A holotype MUMNH-UNI3024 and B paratype MUMNH-UNI3023 from Prahang River, Songkhram Basin, Thailand C specimen MUMNH-UNI0925 from Songkhram River, Songkhram Basin, Thailand.

Pseudocardinal teeth, left valve on the left-hand side, and right valve on the right-hand side
A S. tamodienica, topotype MUMNH-UNI2956 from Tamot Stream, Songkhla Lake Basin, Thailand B S. moreleti, specimen MUMNH-UNI0301 from Phrom Hot Stream, Tonle Sap Basin, Thailand C S. songkhramensis sp. nov., holotype MUMNH-UNI3024 from Prahang River, Songkhram Basin, Thailand. Scale bars: 10 mm.

 Ekgachai Jeratthitikul, Chirasak Sutcharit and Pongpun Prasankok. 2025. An integrative approach to A Revision of the freshwater mussel Genus Songkhlanaia (Bivalvia, Unionidae), with the Description of A New Species. ZooKeys. 1224: 187-209. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1224.140549

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[Botany • 2026] Gaultheria watsonii (Ericaceae) • A New Species from Sikim Himalaya

 

Gaultheria watsonii D.Maity, A.K.Halder and S.Saha,

in Maity, Halder, Saha, Panda, Jha et Pradhan, 2026.

 DOI: doi.org/10.24823/ejb.2026.3606

Abstract

A new species of Gaultheria L. (Ericaceae) from the Sikkim Himalaya, Gaultheria watsonii, is described and illustrated. This species is  morphologically most similar to Gaultheria heteromera in terms of habit, especially in its procumbent branchlets and tetramerous flowers. However, it can be readily distinguished from all other known species of the genus, including Gaultheria heteromera, by its unique combination of morphological characters, namely prostrate habit with procumbent branchlets, adaxially smooth and smaller leaf blades with strongly acute and mucronulate apices, pseudoterminal 2- to 4-flowered racemes, longer rachis, shorter pedicel, 4-merous flowers, and ovary sparsely white hispidulous with conspicuously 8- to 10-lobed discs. Based on its limited geographical distribution and the continuing decline in habitat quality, the conservation status of the new species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iii)] according to the IUCN Red List criteria.

Keywords: Critically Endangered (CR), Gaultheria series Leucothoides (Airy Shaw) D. J. Middleton, Himalaya, IUCN

Gaultheria watsonii D.Maity, A.K.Halder and S.Saha, sp. nov.
 A, Habit and habitat; B, inflorescence; C, flower.

Photographs: A. K. Halder.

Gaultheria watsonii D.Maity, A.K.Halder and S.Saha, sp. nov.

The new species is most similar to Gaultheria heteromera, from which it differs by having smaller leaf blades (4–10 × 3–5 mm vs 8–25(–30) × 5–14 mm), strongly acute leaf apex (vs obtuse), smaller petioles (0.5–0.75 mm vs 1–3 mm), pseudoterminal racemes (vs pseudoterminal and axillary), longer rachis (5–15 mm vs 3–6(–10) mm), shorter pedicel (1–1.75 mm vs 3–6 mm), bract and bracteoles with margins densely ciliolate (vs eciliolate), 8 stamens (vs 8 or 9), and ovary with conspicuous shallowly lobed disc (vs disc absent). In Gaultheria heteromera the veins on the adaxial surface of leaves are distinctly impressed, forming prominent reticulations, whereas in the new species although sometimes the midvein is slightly depressed adaxially, the secondary and tertiary veins are not impressed and thus the upper surface appears smooth. Moreover, in Gaultheria watsonii the ovary is sparsely white-hispidulous, whereas in G. heteromera the ovary is densely hispidulous.

D. Maity, A. K. Halder, S. Saha, S. Panda, B. K. Jha and D. K. Pradhan. 2026. GAULTHERIA WATSONII (ERICACEAE): A New Species from Sikim HIMALAYA. EDINBURGH JOURNAL OF BOTANY. 83, 3606. DOI: doi.org/10.24823/ejb.2026.3606 [2026-08-24]

[Botany • 2026] Typhonium boonmae • A New Species from central Thailand [Studies on Typhonium (Araceae: Areae) of Thailand VI]

 Typhonium boonmae K.Z.Hein, P.Saensouk & Saensouk,

in P. Saensouk, S. Saensouk, Hein, Rakarcha et Chanthavongsa, 2026.

DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.05154

Abstract

A species new to science, Typhonium boonmae K.Z.Hein, P.Saensouk and Saensouk, is described and illustrated from Saraburi and Lop Buri Provinces, central Thailand. A detailed description, color plates, comparisons with similar taxa, phenology, distribution, ecology, and a preliminary conservation status assessment are provided.

Keywords: colluvial deposit, Indochina, pedatisect leaf blade, Typhonium bognerianum, Typhonium watanabei

Typhonium boonmae sp. nov. 
(A) Excavated flowering individuals, (B) leaf blade of mature leaf (left showing adaxial surface, right showing abaxial surface), (C) leaf blade of first seasonal leaf (left showing adaxial surface, right showing abaxial surface), (D) leaf blade of juvenile leaf (left showing adaxial surface, right showing abaxial surface), (E) inflorescence at pistillate anthesis (left showing front view, middle showing back view, right showing side view), (F) spadix at pistillate anthesis (nearside of spathe artificially removed), (G) detail of spadix showing pistillate zone, sterile interstice, and staminate zone (nearside of spathe artificially removed).

Scale bars: (A) = 5 cm, (B), (C), (E), and (F) = 2 cm, (D) = 1 cm, (G) = 5 mm. 

Photos by T. Boonma and K. Z. Hein.

Typhonium boonmae K.Z.Hein, P.Saensouk & Saensouk sp. nov.  

Diagnosis: A species similar to T. bognerianum J.Murata and Sookch. (Hetterscheid et al. 2001) (Fig. 3A) and T. watanabei J.Murata, Sookch. and Hett. (Murata et al. 2002) (Fig. 3C) in having pedatisect leaf blades with five to seven narrowly linear lobes and similar inflorescence morphology. Typhonium boonmae differs from T. bognerianum by having a stigma narrower than the ovary (versus stigma wider than the ovary), staminodes arranged in a single whorl accompanied by an upper incomplete whorl (versus staminodes arranged in 6–7 whorls), and a sessile appendix (versus stipitate appendix). Typhonium boonmae differs from T. watanabei by having filiform staminodes with acute apices (versus clavate-fusiform staminodes with obtuse or rounded apices), a staminate zone diameter equal to the diameter of the appendix at its base (versus appendix base wider than staminate zone), and a pale yellow to pinkish-orange appendix (versus blackish-grey appendix).

Typhonium boonmae sp. nov. (A) Mature flowering individuals in a clump in situ, (B) inflorescences in situ, left one at post-staminate anthesis and right one at pistillate anthesis.

Photos by T. Boonma and K. Z. Hein.

Details of spadices of Typhonium species with pedatisect leaf blades having narrowly linear lobes (spathe artificially removed).
(A) T. bognerianum, (B) T. boonmae sp. nov., (C) T. watanabei, (D) T. vietnamense, (E) T. lineare, (F) T. pallescens, (G) T. edule.

Photos by K. Z. Hein ((A), (B), (C), (F) and (G), Nguyen Van Canh (D), and Vuong Ba Truong (E)).

Piyaporn Saensouk, Surapon Saensouk, Khant Zaw Hein, Sarayut Rakarcha and Khamfa Chanthavongsa. 2026. Studies on Typhonium (Araceae – Areae) of Thailand VI: Typhonium boonmae sp. nov. from central Thailand. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.05154 [31 August 2026]