[Ornithology • 2018] Athene blewitti • The Critically Endangered Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti is nested within the Currently Recognized Athene Clade: A Century-old Debate Addressed

Athene blewitti  (Hume, 1873)

in Koparde, Mehta, Reddy, et al., 2018.

 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192359 

Abstract

Range-restricted species generally have specific niche requirements and may often have unique evolutionary histories. Unfortunately, many of these species severely lack basic research, resulting in poor conservation strategies. The phylogenetic relationship of the Critically Endangered Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti has been the subject of a century-old debate. The current classifications based on non-phylogenetic comparisons of morphology place the small owls of Asia into three genera, namely, Athene, Glaucidium, and Heteroglaux. Based on morphological and anatomical data, H. blewitti has been alternatively hypothesized to belong within Athene, Glaucidium, or its own monotypic genus Heteroglaux. To test these competing hypotheses, we sequenced six loci (~4300 bp data) and performed phylogenetic analyses of owlets. Mitochondrial and nuclear trees were not congruent in their placement of H. blewitti. However, both mitochondrial and nuclear combined datasets showed strong statistical support with high maximum likelihood bootstrap (>/ = 90) and Bayesian posterior probability values (>/ = 0.98) for H. blewitti being nested in the currently recognized Athene group, but not sister to Indian A. brama. The divergence of H. blewitti from its sister taxa was between 4.3 and 5.7 Ma coinciding with a period of drastic climatic changes in the Indian subcontinent. This study presented the first genetic analysis of H. blewitti, a Critically Endangered species, and addressed the long debate on the relationships of the Athene-Heteroglaux-Glaucidium complex. We recommend further studies with more data and complete taxon sampling to understand the biogeography of Indian Athene species.

Athene (Heteroglaux) blewitti, Athene brama & Glaucidium radiatum

Fig 1. Co-distributed Indian owlets show plumage similarity, however can be identified based on size and markings on the chest and forehead.
Presence of white spots and brown bars in case of Athene brama and Glaucidium radiatum respectively are identification keys.

Photo credits: color banded H. blewitti individual by Prachi Mehta,
A. brama and G. radiatum by Pankaj Koparde.

Distribution of few Palearctic and Oriental owlets as per Birdlife International (2015).
H. blewitti is the only range-restricted, rare owlet among Indian owlets.

Pankaj Koparde, Prachi Mehta, Sushma Reddy, Uma Ramakrishnan, Shomita Mukherjee and V. V. Robin. 2018. The Critically Endangered Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti is nested within the Currently Recognized Athene clade: A Century-old Debate Addressed.  PLoS ONE. 13(2): e0192359. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192359

ResearchGate.net/publication/322942356_Heteroglaux_blewitti_nested_within_Athene_clade

facebook.com/PankajKoparde/posts/1630318547059062

[Botany • 2018] Amomum riwatchii • A New Species (Zingiberaceae) from northeastern India

Amomum riwatchii M.Sabu & Hareesh

in Hareesh & Sabu, 2018.

  DOI: 10.1080/23818107.2018.1437073 

Abstract

Amomum riwatchii, a new species of Zingiberaceae from northeastern India is described and illustrated. It is similar to A. carnosum, but differs from the latter in having non-stoloniferous rhizome, oblong lanceolate lamina, 5−6 mm long ligule with entire apex, broadly ovate or orbicular dark red thick outer bract, calyx lobes with cuspidate or horned apex, oblong labellum with entire apex and non-winged capsule.

Keywords: Amomum, Arunachal Pradesh, India, new species, Zingiberales

Vadakkoot Sankaran Hareesh and Mamiyil Sabu. 2018. Amomum riwatchii (Zingiberaceae): A New Species from northeastern India. Botany Letters.  DOI: 10.1080/23818107.2018.1437073

facebook.com/HareeshVadakkoot/posts/1476638612448318 

[Ichthyology • 2018] Larval Swimming Capacities Affect Genetic Differentiation and Range Size in Demersal Marine Fishes

The swimming capacities of pelagic larvae affects gene flow and range size in demersal marine fishes.

in Nanninga & Manica, 2018.  DOI:  10.3354/meps12515 

Photo: Frank Baensch 

ABSTRACT

 Dispersal is a fundamental process governing the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of any given species. Due to inherent challenges associated with measuring dispersal directly, identifying proxies for dispersal capacity has long been an active field of research across ecosystems. In marine systems, pelagic larval duration (PLD) has been one of the most widely used indicators of interspecific dispersal potential. The validity of this proxy, however, relies mostly on the assumption of entirely passive dispersal, a notion that has been challenged by findings of strong larval behavioural capabilities. Here, we assessed the effect of larval swimming capacities measured as mean critical swimming speed (U-crit) on emergent species-level properties related to dispersal potential, population genetic structure and global range size, in demersal marine fishes. In a meta-analytic framework, we tested the relative importance of U-crit versus other intrinsic (PLD, egg type, adult body size) and extrinsic (genetic marker type, study scale) predictors of isolation-by-distance slope, global FST and range size. U-crit showed stronger relationships with all emergent response variables than PLD and was consistently the most important predictor in multi-model inference. Our findings indicate that larval swimming capacities could serve as a powerful indicator of a species’ long-distance dispersal potential.

KEY WORDS: Larval dispersal · Critical swimming speed · Connectivity · Genetic structure · Isolation-by-distance · Range size

Gerrit B. Nanninga and Andrea Manica. 2018. Larval Swimming Capacities Affect Genetic Differentiation and Range Size in Demersal Marine Fishes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser. 589;1-12.  DOI:  10.3354/meps12515 

 twitter.com/TrevorABranch/status/967115273894440961

 twitter.com/GerritNanninga/status/967159290065666048

[Herpetology • 2018] Siamophryne troglodytes | อึ่งถ้ำตะนาวศรี • A Striking New Genus and Species of Cave-dwelling Frog (Anura: Microhylidae: Asterophryinae) from Thailand

Siamophryne troglodytes

Suwannapoom, Sumontha, Tunprasert, Ruangsuwan, Pawangkhanant, Korost & Poyarkov, 2018

Tenasserim Cave Frog  • อึ่งถ้ำตะนาวศรี   |   DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4422 

Abstract

We report on a discovery of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov., a new troglophilous genus and species of microhylid frog from a limestone cave in the tropical forests of western Thailand. To assess its phylogenetic relationships we studied the 12S rRNA–16S rRNA mtDNA fragment with final alignment comprising up to 2,591 bp for 56 microhylid species. Morphological characterization of the new genus is based on examination of external morphology and analysis of osteological characteristics using microCT-scanning. Phylogenetic analyses place the new genus into the mainly Australasian subfamily Asterophryinae as a sister taxon to the genus Gastrophrynoides, the only member of the subfamily known from Sundaland. The new genus markedly differs from all other Asterophryinae members by a number of diagnostic morphological characters and demonstrates significant mtDNA sequence divergence. We provide a preliminary description of a tadpole of the new genus. Thus, it represents the only asterophryine taxon with documented free-living larval stage and troglophilous life style. Our work demonstrates that S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. represents an old lineage of the initial radiation of Asterophryinae which took place in the mainland Southeast Asia. Our results strongly support the “out of Indo-Eurasia” biogeographic scenario for this group of frogs. To date, the new frog is only known from a single limestone cave system in Sai Yok District of Kanchanaburi Province of Thailand; its habitat is affected by illegal bat guano mining and other human activities. As such, S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. is likely to be at high risk of habitat loss. Considering high ecological specialization and a small known range of the new taxon, we propose a IUCN Red List status of endangered for it.

Keywords: Kanchanaburi Province, Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov., Tadpole, Troglophilous life style, Tenasserim, Sundaland, mtDNA, Biogeography, microCT-scanning

Taxonomy

Based upon the results of phylogenetic analyses of 12S rRNA–16S rRNA mtDNA fragment sequences, the Microhylidae frog from Kanchanaburi Province represents a previously unknown highly divergent mtDNA lineage, clearly distinct from all other members of Microhylidae for which comparable genetic data were available. This lineage falls into the Australasian subfamily Asterophryinae and with high values of node support is reconstructed as a sister group to the genus Gastrophrynoides that inhabits Borneo and the Peninsular Malaysia. Subsequent analyses of osteology and external morphology (see below) clearly indicate that the recently discovered population of Microhylidae Gen. sp. from Kanchanaburi Province represents a new previously undescribed genus and species which we describe herein as:

Amphibia Linnaeus, 1758

Anura Fischer von Waldheim, 1813

Microhylidae Günther, 1858

Asterophryinae Günther, 1858

Figure 5: Male paratype of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. (ZMMU A-5818) in life in dorsolateral aspect. Photo by N. A. Poyarkov.

Siamophryne Gen. nov.

Diagnosis: A medium-sized (19 mm < SVL < 30 mm) member of the Australasian subfamily Asterophryinae (family Microhylidae), with the following combination of morphological attributes: (1) both maxillae and dentaries eleutherognathine, no maxillary teeth; (2) vertebral column procoelous with eight presacral vertebrae (PSV) lacking neural crests; (3) no sagittal crest on cranium; (4) frontoparietals conjoined, connected by long suture; (5) nasals wide, calcified, but not contacting each other medially; (6) vomeropalatines small, not expanded, vomerine spikes absent; (7) cultriform process of parasphenoid comparatively narrow; (8) clavicles present as slender tiny bones, lying on the procoracoid cartilage not reaching scapula or the midline; (9) omosternum absent; (10) sternum large, anterior portion consists of calcified cartilage, xiphisternum cartilaginous; (11) weak dorsal crest present on urostyle, absent on ilium; (12) terminal phalanges large T-shaped; (13) all fingers and toe discs with terminal grooves; (14) subarticular tubercles weak, discernible only at digit basis; (15) toe webbing absent; (16) tympanum distinct; (17) two transverse smooth palatal folds; (18) pupil round; (19) snout rounded, equal to EL; (20) development with a larval stage, tadpole with peculiar dorso-ventrally compressed morphology.

Type species. Siamophryne troglodytes sp. nov.

Other included species. None are known at present.

Distribution: To date, S. troglodytes sp. nov. is only known from a small cave system in a karst region of Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, northern Tenasserim Region, western Thailand (see below the description of the species) (see Fig. 1).

Etymology: The generic nomen Siamophryne is derived from “Siam”—the old name of present-day Thailand; referring to the range of the new genus, which to date is only known from western Thailand; and the Greek noun “phryne” (φρÚνη; feminine gender), meaning “toad” in English; this root is often used in the generic names in Asterophryinae microhylid frogs. Gender of the new genus is feminine.

Figure 10: Breeding habitat of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. at the type locality—Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, northern Tenasserim Region, western Thailand.  (A) Entrance to the limestone cave where the frogs were recorded; (B) female in situ sitting on the limestone wall of the cave; (C) male in situ sitting in a water-filled crevice; (D) female in situ on the wall of the cave (photos by M. Sumontha);  

  

Figure 10: Breeding habitat of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. at the type locality—Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, northern Tenasserim Region, western Thailand.
 (A) Entrance to the limestone cave where the frogs were recorded; (B) female in situ sitting on the limestone wall of the cave; (C) male in situ sitting in a water-filled crevice; (D) female in situ on the wall of the cave (photos by M. Sumontha); (E, F) tadpole in situ in a water-filled crevice (photos by T. Ruangsuwan).

Figure 8: Tadpole of  Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. in life (AUP-00509; Gosner stage 36).
 (A) In dorsal and (B) in ventral aspects. Scale bar equals to 5 mm. Photos by N. A. Poyarkov. Tadpole of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. in preservative (AUP-00509; Gosner stage 36). 

Figure 9: Tadpole of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. in preservative (AUP-00509; Gosner stage 36). (A) In lateral, (B) in dorsal, and (C) in ventral views. Scale bar equals to 5 mm. Photos by T. Ruangsuwan.

Figure 10: Breeding habitat of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. at the type locality—Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, northern Tenasserim Region, western Thailand.
  (C) male in situ sitting in a water-filled crevice; (D) female in situ on the wall of the cave (photos by M. Sumontha); (E, F) tadpole in situ in a water-filled crevice (photos by T. Ruangsuwan).

Siamophryne troglodytes sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific name “troglodytes” is a Latin adjective in the nominative singular meaning “cave-dweller”, derived from the Greek “τρωγλoδύτης”, with “trogle” meaning “hole, mouse-hole” and “dyein” meaning “go in, dive in”; referring to the troglophilous biology of the new species, which was recorded only in a limestone karst cave system.

Suggested common names: We recommend the following common names for the new species: “Tenasserim Cave Frog” (English); “อึ่งถ้ำตะนาวศรี - Eung Tham Tenasserim” (Thai).

Natural history notes:  

Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. has a troglophilous life style and to date is only known from a small limestone cave system in western Thailand. All specimens were collected within a narrow area inside a limestone cave located on elevation 440 m a.s.l. in a polydominant tropical forest in Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand (Fig. 10A). The cave was examined twice on the 1st of August and the 27th of October, 2016. In both cases, adult specimens of S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. were only recorded inside the cave, at a distance of more than 25 m from the entrance, sitting on walls of the cave (Figs. 10B and 10D) or hiding inside small caverns in limestone (Fig. 10C) or under flat stones. Despite the thorough search, no animals were recorded near the cave entrance or in the forest close to the cave. Animals were active from 23:00 to 24:00, when the air temperature inside the cave was 28 °C in August and 26 °C in October, in both cases with 100% humidity. No calling activity was recorded during both surveys. Diet and enemies of the new frog are unknown.

Three tadpoles (one of which was collected) were observed during the survey on the 1st of August, 2016, in a small water-filled cavity in the limestone on the floor of the cave, ca. 10 m from the cave entrance (Figs. 10E and 10F). The cavity was filled with water, the average depth was 4–5 cm; mosquito larvae (Chironomidae) were also observed in the same water body. Four other tadpoles (not collected) were discovered in another similar water-filled cavity inside the cave (30 m from the cave entrance).

The cave system where S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. was discovered is inhabited by several species of bats which produce significant amount of guano that accumulates on the cave floor. According to a local guide, the locals mine this guano and that affects the ecosystem of the cave.

Distribution: As for the genus. At present, S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. is known from a single limestone karst cave in Sai Yok District of Kanchanaburi Province in western Thailand. To date, numerous surveys in the nearby karst massifs have not yielded discoveries of additional populations of the new species. However, further fieldwork in Kanchanaburi Province of Thailand and the adjacent parts of Tanintharyi Division of Myanmar are required.

Conclusion: 

Siamophryne troglodytes, a new genus and species of microhylid frogs from western Thailand, belongs to the subfamily Asterophryinae, which is most diverse in Australasia. Siamophryne and its sister genus Gastrophrynoides are the only two asterophryine lineages found in the areas derived from the Eurasian landmass. Our work demonstrates that S. troglodytes represents an old lineage of the initial radiation of Asterophryinae which took place in the mainland Southeast Asia. Our results strongly support the “out of Indo-Eurasia” biogeographic scenario for this group of frogs. To date, the new frog is the only known asterophryine with a free-living tadpole and troglophilous life style. Further studies might reveal new members of Asterophryinae in the mainland Southeast Asia.

 Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Montri Sumontha, Jitthep Tunprasert, Thiti Ruangsuwan, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Dmitriy V. Korost and Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2018. A Striking New Genus and Species of Cave-dwelling Frog (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae: Asterophryinae) from Thailand.  PeerJ. 6:e4422.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4422

facebook.com/NickPoyarkov/posts/10213639975708042

facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2108963302464152

facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208857092224346
facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10215493508671583

           

[Ichthyology • 2018] Resurrection of the Sixgill Shark Hexanchus vitulus Springer & Waller, 1969 (Hexanchiformes, Hexanchidae), with Comments on Its Distribution in the northwest Atlantic Ocean

Hexanchus vitulus Springer & Waller, 1969

in Daly-Engel, Baremore, Grubbs, et al., 2018. 

  DOI: 10.1007/s12526-018-0849-x 

facebook.com/SharkReferences

Abstract 

The sixgill sharks of the genus Hexanchus (Hexanchiformes, Hexanchidae) are large, rarely encountered deep-sea sharks, thought to comprise just two species: the bluntnose sixgill Hexanchus griseus (Bonaterre, 1788) and the bigeye sixgill Hexanchus nakamurai (Teng, 1962). Their distribution is putatively worldwide in tropical and temperate waters, but many verified records for these species are lacking, and misidentification is common. Taxonomic uncertainty has long surrounded H. nakamurai in particular, with debate as to whether individuals from the Atlantic constitute a separate species. Using 1,310 base pairs of two mitochondrial genes, COI and ND2, we confirm that bigeye sixgill sharks from the Atlantic Ocean (Belize, Gulf of Mexico, and Bahamas) diverge from those in the Pacific and Indian Oceans (Japan, La Reunion, and Madagascar) with 7.037% sequence divergence. This difference is similar to the genetic distance between both Atlantic and Indo-Pacific bigeye sixgill sharks and the bluntnose sixgill shark (7.965% and 8.200%, respectively), and between the entire genus Hexanchus and its sister genus Heptranchias (8.308%). Such variation far exceeds previous measures of species-level genetic divergence in elasmobranchs, even among slowly-evolving deep-water taxa. Given the high degree of morphological similarity within Hexanchus, and the fact that cryptic diversity is common even among frequently observed shark species, we conclude that these results support the resurrection of the name Hexanchus vitulus Springer and Waller, 1969 for bigeye sixgill sharks in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. We propose the common name “Atlantic sixgill shark” for H. vitulus, and provide new locality records from Belize, as well as comments on its overall distribution.

Keywords: Systematics, Mitochondrial DNA, Phylogenetics, Speciation, Elasmobranchs 

An adult Atlantic sixgill shark swims in the waters off Belize.

photo: Ivy Baremore/Maralliance

Toby S. Daly-Engel, Ivy E. Baremore, R. Dean Grubbs, Simon J. B. Gulak, Rachel T. Graham and Michael P. Enzenauer. 2018. Resurrection of the Sixgill Shark Hexanchus vitulus Springer & Waller, 1969 (Hexanchiformes, Hexanchidae), with comments on its distribution in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. Marine Biodiversity.  DOI: 10.1007/s12526-018-0849-x

New species of shark discovered through genetic testing phy.so/438254250 via @physorg_com

facebook.com/SharkReferences/photos/1718179378202159

[Ichthyology • 2018] Taxonomic Revision of the Cis-Andean Species of Mylossoma Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903 (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae)

Mylossoma albiscopum  

in Mateussi, Oliveira & Pavanelli, 2018.

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4387.2.3 

Abstract

A revision of the cis-Andean species of Mylossoma is presented. Four species were recognized: M. albiscopum and M. aureum from the rio Amazonas and rio Orinoco basins; M. duriventre, from the rio Paraguai, lower rio Paraná and rio Uruguai basins; and M. unimaculatum, an endemic species from the Tocantins-Araguaia system. Both Mylossoma albiscopum and M. unimaculatum were removed from the synonymy of Mylossoma duriventre, which had its occurrence range restricted to the La Plata basin. The recognition of these four valid species corroborates the results of a previous DNA barcode study. Redescriptions of each species, and an identification key for the genus are provided.

Keywords: Pisces, biodiversity, freshwater fishes, systematics, taxonomy

Nadayca T. B. Mateussi, Claudio Oliveira and Carla S. Pavanelli. 2018. Taxonomic Revision of the Cis-Andean Species of Mylossoma Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903 (Teleostei: Characiformes: Serrasalmidae).  Zootaxa. 4387(2); 275–309. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4387.2.3

[Herpetology • 2018] Skin Gland Concentrations Adapted to Different Evolutionary Pressures in the Head and Posterior Regions of the Caecilian Siphonops annulatus

Siphonops annulatus (Mikan, 1920)

in Jared, Mailho-Fontana, Marques-Porto, et al., 2018.

 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22005-5 

Abstract

Amphibian skin is rich in mucous glands and poison glands, secreting substances important for gas exchange and playing a fundamental role in chemical defense against predators and microorganisms. In the caecilian Siphonops annulatus (Mikan, 1920) we observed a concentration of enlarged mucous glands in the head region. In the posterior region of the body a similar concentration is made up of enlarged poison glands. These accumulations of glands structurally resemble the macroglands previously reported in anurans and salamanders. The skin glands in these regions are each surrounded by collagen walls forming a honeycomb-like structure. The collagen network in the head region firmly attaches to tiny pits in the bones of the skull. The two extremities of the body produce different secretions, containing exclusive molecules. Considering the fossorial lifestyle of caecilians, it seems evident that the secretions of the head and caudal region serve different functions. The anterior macrogland of mucous glands, rich in mucous/lipid secretion, in conjunction with the funnel-shaped head, may act to lubricate the body and penetrate the soil, thus facilitating locomotion underground. The blunt posterior end bearing an internalized macrogland of poison glands in the dermis may act in chemical defense and/or by blocking invasion of tunnels.

A limbless amphibian, known as Caecilian, Siphonops annulatus, widely distributed in Brazil. Scientists from Utah State University in the United States and Brazil’s Butantan Institute report skin gland concentrations adapted to different evolutionary pressures in the head and posterior regions of the amphibian.

photo: Carlos Jared, Butantan Institute 

Carlos Jared, Pedro Luiz Mailho-Fontana, Rafael Marques-Porto, Juliana Mozer Sciani, Daniel Carvalho Pimenta, Edmund D. Brodie Jr. and Marta Maria Antoniazzi. 2018. Skin Gland Concentrations Adapted to Different Evolutionary Pressures in the Head and Posterior Regions of the Caecilian Siphonops annulatus. Scientific Reports. 8, Article number: 3576.  DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22005-5

 facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1634328703311054

Playing both ends: Amphibian adapted to varied evolutionary pressures  phy.so/438499863 via @physorg_com

[Paleontology • 2018] Trachemys haugrudi • A New Slider Turtle (Testudines: Emydidae: Deirochelyinae) from the late Hemphillian (late Miocene/early Pliocene) of eastern Tennessee and the Evolution of the Deirochelyines

Trachemys haugrudi  Jasinski, 2018

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4338 

Artwork by Mary P. Williams

Abstract

Trachemys (Testudines: Emydidae) represents one of the most well-known turtle genera today. The evolution of Trachemys, while being heavily documented with fossil representatives, is not well understood. Numerous fossils from the late Hemphillian Gray Fossil Site (GFS) in northeastern Tennessee help to elucidate its evolution. The fossil Trachemys at the GFS represent a new species. The new taxon, Trachemys haugrudi, is described, and currently represents the most thoroughly described fossil emydid species known. A phylogenetic analysis, including 31 species, focusing on the subfamily Deirochelyinae is performed that includes the new fossil species, along with numerous other modern and fossil deirochelyine species, representing the first phylogenetic analysis published that includes several fossil deirochelyines. The phylogenetic analysis, utilizing morphological evidence, provides monophyletic clades of all modern deirochelyines, including Chrysemys, Deirochelys, Pseudemys, Malaclemys, Graptemys, and Trachemys. A strict consensus tree finds the recently described fossil species Graptemys kerneri to be part of a clade of Graptemys + Malaclemys. Three fossil taxa, including one previously referred to Pseudemys (Pseudemys caelata) and two to Deirochelys (Deirochelys carri and Deirochelys floridana) are found to form a clade with modern Deirochelys reticularia reticularia, with D. floridana sister to the other members of the clade. Chrysemys is found to be part of a basal polytomy with Deirochelys in relation to other deirochelyine taxa. Two fossil taxa previously referred to Chrysemys (Chrysemys timida and Chrysemys williamsi) form a paraphyly with the modern Chrysemys picta picta and Deirochelys, and may be referable to distinct genera. Additionally, fossil taxa previously attributed to Trachemys (Trachemys hillii, Trachemys idahoensis, Trachemys inflata, and Trachemys platymarginata) and T. haugrudi are found to form a clade separate from clades of northern and southern Trachemys species, potentially suggesting a distinct lineage of Trachemys with no modern survivors. Hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships mostly agree between the present study and previous ones, although the inclusion of fossil taxa provides further clues to the evolution of parts of the Deirochelyinae. The inclusion of more fossil taxa and characters may help resolve the placement of some taxa, and further elucidate the evolution of these New World turtles.

Figure 7: Trachemys haugrudi, paratype skull (ETMNH–3562) in dorsal view. (A) Dorsal portion in dorsal view; (B) ventral portion in dorsal view; (C) reconstruction of skull in dorsal view. Area shaded gray is not preserved and has been reconstructed. Dotted lines represent sutures that were not clear in the specimen. Skull has been reconstructed in the slightly deformed state the specimen is in in real life.

 cs, crista supraoccipitalis; den, dentary; ?ex, ?exoccipital; fr, frontal; ?ju, ?jugal; mx, maxilla; ?op, ?opisthotic; pa, parietal; pf, prefrontal; pm, premaxilla; po, postorbital; ?pr, prootic; ?qj, ?quadratojugal; ?qu, ?quadrate; so, supraoccipital; ?sq, ?squamosal. Scale bars are 1 cm. 

Figure 3: Trachemys haugrudi, holotype shell (ETMNH–8549). (A) Dorsal view of carapace; (B) line drawing of carapace in dorsal view, with bones outlined in black and scutes outlined in gray; and (C) with scutes outlined in black and bones outlined in gray. Missing portions are shaded in gray. Scale bar is 10 cm.

Figure 4: Trachemys haugrudi, holotype shell (ETMNH–8549). (A) Ventral view of plastron; (B) line drawing of plastron in dorsal view, with bones outlined in black and scutes outlined in gray; and (C) with scutes outlined in black and bones outlined in gray. Scale bar is 10 cm.

Systematic Paleontology

Class Reptilia Laurenti, 1768

Order Testudines Linnaeus, 1758

Suborder Cryptodira Cope, 1868

Superfamily Testudinoidea sensu Gaffney & Meylan, 1988

Family Emydidae Bell, 1825

Trachemys Agassiz, 1857

Trachemys haugrudi n. sp.

Type horizon and age: Late Miocene–early Pliocene (late Hemphillian LMA, 7.0–4.5 Ma). This range means the fossil locality, and T. haugrudi, lies somewhere within Hh3–Hh4 (see Tedford et al., 2004 for discussion of substages).

Etymology: The specific name honors Shawn Haugrud, preparator at the GFS who spent countless hours working on many of the specimens cited within and who helped piece this ancient turtle back together.

Diagnosis: Trachemys haugrudi is placed in the Emydidae due to the absence of musk ducts, inframarginals reduced to two, normal hexagonal neurals 2–8 (also occurs in a few batagurids (=geoemydids); e.g., Mauremys), and costal-inguinal buttress confined to C5. It is placed in the Deirochelyinae due to distinct lack of pectoral overlap of the entoplastron and lack of a hingable plastral lobe with ligamentous bridge connection (also present in some emydines). Diagnosed as a member of the genus Trachemys by features discussed by Seidel & Jackson (1990), including the combination of: a posteriorly strongly serrated oval carapace; a vertebral keel; low longitudinal ridges (mainly on pleurals (and costals)); alternating seams of the vertebral and pleural scutes that do not align; ......

Figure 13: Life reconstruction of Trachemys haugrudi during the late Hemphillian at the Gray Fossil Site in eastern Tennessee.
 Several taxa that would have lived alongside T. haugrudi are also shown, including Caudata indeterminate, Tapirus polkensis, cf. Machairodus sp., and Pristinailurus bristoli (Wallace & Wang, 2004; Boardman & Schubert, 2011b; Schubert, 2011; Jasinski, 2013a). Artwork by Mary P. Williams, with permission.  

Steven E. Jasinski. 2018.  A New Slider Turtle (Testudines: Emydidae: Deirochelyinae: Trachemys) from the late Hemphillian (late Miocene/early Pliocene) of eastern Tennessee and the Evolution of the Deirochelyines. PeerJ. 6:e4338.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4338

[Herpetology • 2018] Allobates juami • A New Species of Nurse-frog (Aromobatidae, Allobates) from the Juami River Basin, northwestern Brazilian Amazonia

Allobates juami 

 Simões, Gagliardi-Urrutia, Rojas-Runjaic & Castroviejo-Fisher, 2018

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4387.1.5 

Abstract

We describe a new species of nurse-frog (Aromobatidae, Allobates) from northwestern Brazilian Amazon. Allobates juami sp. nov. is distinguished from similar congeneric species by the combination of the following characters: body-size range (snout-to-vent length 17.5–18.5 mm), lack of dark pigments on ventral surfaces of male specimens, dorsal color pattern (predominantly solid dark brown, but conspicuously light brown over snout and urostyle regions), presence of conspicuous pale dorsolateral and ventrolateral stripes, and presence of a diffuse pale paracloacal mark. The advertisement call of the new species lasts 2.5–5.1 s, contains 60–73 short notes (trills), and is emitted at an average rate of 13 notes per second within trills. Duration of silent intervals between notes ranges between 0.020–0.050 s, and the peak frequency of notes ranges from 4.59 to 5.47 kHz. The new species is currently known only from the type locality at Estação Ecológica Juami-Japurá (~ 87 m a.s.l.).

Keywords: Amphibia, advertisement calls, Amazonia, conservation units, Dendrobatoidea, Japurá River

 Pedro Ivo Simões, Giussepe Gagliardi-Urrutia, Fernando J.M. Rojas-Runjaic and Santiago Castroviejo-Fisher. 2018. A New Species of Nurse-frog (Aromobatidae, Allobates) from the Juami River Basin, northwestern Brazilian Amazonia. Zootaxa.  4387(1); 109–133.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4387.1.5
ResearchGate.net/publication/323400220_A_new_species_of_nurse-frog_Allobates_from_the_Juami_River_basin_Brazilian_Amazonia

[Herpetology • 2018] Tupinambis matipu • A New Species of Tupinambis Daudin, 1802 (Squamata: Teiidae) from Central South America

Tupinambis matipu 

Silva & Ávila-Pires, 2018

  DOI: 10.1670/16-036

photo by R. Hoyer flickr.com/birdernaturalist

Abstract

We describe a new species of Tupinambis from central South America in a transitional region between Amazonia, Cerrado, and Pantanal. The new species differs from its congeners by the number of femoral pores, posterior gulars, and mesoptychial scales and by color pattern. It is partially sympatric with Tupinambis cuzcoensis, Tupinambis longilineus, Tupinambis quadrilineatus, and maybe also with Tupinambis teguixin, but in general terms they tend to substitute one another in space.

 Tupinambis matipu on the River Cristalino bank.

photo by R. Hoyer   flickr.com/birdernaturalist

Tupinambis matipu sp. nov.

Etymology.— The specific epithet, matipu, is a noun in apposition and refers to the indigenous people Matipu, whose village lies at about 125 km west of the type locality, on the southern portion of Parque Indı´gena do Xingu, Mato Grosso state, Brazil. By 2011, they numbered only 149 persons according to the Instituto de Pesquisa Etno-Ambiental do Xingu/Ipeax (Ricardo and Ricardo, 2011).

Marcélia B. Silva Marco A. Ribeiro-Júnior and Teresa C. S. Ávila-Pires. 2018. A New Species of Tupinambis Daudin, 1802 (Squamata: Teiidae) from Central South America. Journal of Herpetology. 52(1); 94-110. DOI: 10.1670/16-036 

 facebook.com/CobraLegal/posts/1570812156287810

facebook.com/MarceliaBasto/posts/1588376221209383

 twitter.com/CCostah/status/966274945528590336

Resumo: Descrevemos uma nova espécie de Tupinambis da região central da América do Sul, em uma área de transição entre Amazônia, Cerrado e Pantanal. A nova espécie difere das congêneres pelo número de poros femorais, escamas gulares posteriores, escamas entre as dobras antegular e gular, e padrão de coloração. É simpátrica com Tupinambis cuzcoensis, T. longilineus, T. quadrilineatus e tavez também com Tupinambis teguixin, mas em termos gerais essas espécies tendem a se substituir geograficamente.

[Herpetology • 2018] Nothophryne baylissi, N. inagoensis, N. ribauensis & N. unilurio • New Species of Mongrel Frogs (Pyxicephalidae: Nothophryne) for northern Mozambique Inselbergs

Nothophryne ribauensis  &  N. baylissi 

Conradie, Bittencourt-Silva, Farooq, Loader, Menegon & Tolley, 2018

  DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1376714  
  DOI: 10.3897/zse.92.9948

ABSTRACT

Nothophryne Poynton, 1963 is a monotypic genus of frog, with the nominal species N. broadleyi found only on Mount Mulanje, in southern Malawi. Recent surveys in northern Mozambique, however, have uncovered at least four new species associated with four inselbergs (Mount Inago, Mount Namuli, Mount Ribáuè and Taratibu Hills). Previous phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial genes suggest that each mountain isolate has an endemic species of Nothophryne. Herein we provide a rediagnosis of the genus and comparative diagnoses of four new species based on new material.

KEYWORDS: Africa, amphibian, inselbergs, Pyxicephalidae, species, taxonomy

Nothophryne broadleyi Poynton, 1963 

Mongrel Frog; Broadley’s Mountain Frog

Nothophryne baylissi sp. nov.

Namuli Mongrel Frog; Namuli Mountain Frog 

Etymology—We name this species in honour of Dr Julian Bayliss who was the first to document this unique species of frog from the slopes of Mount Namuli, during the Kew Gardens-Darwin Initiative expedition to these inselbergs (Timberlake et al. 2009).

Distribution— Currently only known from Mount Namuli in central Mozambique.

 Nothophryne inagoensis sp. nov.

Inago Mogrel Frog; Inago Mountain Frog

Etymology—The new species is named after Mount Inago, where this species is endemic.

Distribution—Currently only known from Mount Inago in central Mozambique. 

Adult Nothophryne ribauensis sp. nov. from Mount Ribáuè.

Nothophryne ribauensis sp. nov. 

 Ribáuè Mongrel Frog; Ribáuè Mountain Frog

Etymology—The new species is named after Mount Ribáuè, from which it is currently only known from both Mount Ribáuè and Mount M’pàluwé section of the massif.

Distribution—Currently only known from Mount Ribáuè in central Mozambique.

 Nothophryne unilurio sp. nov. 

Quirimbas Mongrel Frog; Quirimbas Mountain Frog

Etymology—Named after Lúrio University, Pemba, Mozambique where Harith Farooq is Director of the Natural Sciences Faculty. The composition comprise out of uni for University and lurio for Lúrio

Distribution— Currently only known from low lying inselbergs in north eastern Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique. The type locality is situated ..., in the Quirimbas National Park.

Werner Conradie, Gabriela B. Bittencourt-Silva, Harith M. Farooq, Simon P. Loader, Michele Menegon and Krystal A. Tolley. 2018. New Species of Mongrel Frogs (Pyxicephalidae: Nothophryne) for northern Mozambique Inselbergs. African Journal of Herpetology.  DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1376714 

Researchgate.net/publication/323363936_New_species_of_Mongrel_Frogs_Pyxicephalidae_Nothophryne_for_northern_Mozambique_inselbergs

  

CONRADIE, W., G.B. BITTENCOURT-SILVA, H.M. ENGELBRECHT, S.P. LOADER, M. MENEGON, C. NANVONAMUQUITXO, M. SCOTT, & K.A. TOLLEY. 2016. Exploration into the hidden world of Mozambique’s sky island forests: new discoveries of reptiles and amphibians. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 92(2): 163–180. DOI:  10.3897/zse.92.9948