Friday, May 31, 2019

[Herpetology • 2019] Redescription of Leposternon octostegum (Duméril, 1851), with An Identification Key for Brazilian Leposternon species (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae), Remarks on Meristic Methodology, and A Proposal for Pholidosis Nomenclature


Leposternon octostegum (Duméril, 1851)

in Barros-Filho, Freitas, Silva, et al., 2019. 

ABSTRACT
The amphisbaenian Leposternon octostegum (Duméril, 1851) is redescribed based on newly collected material from the state of Bahia, Brazil. Species validity was confirmed, and comparisons made to other Leposternon species and to the scarce literature available on Leposternon octostegum taxonomy. Aspects of meristic annuli methodology are reviewed, and nomenclatural adjustments for some scales are proposed. To place this information in its taxonomic context, a species identification key for the Brazilian species of the genus Leposternon is provided.  The present redescription contributes to a better understanding of Amphisbaenia taxonomy, thus also enabling the design of more adequate conservation and management strategies for the species belonging to this group.

Keywords: Amphisbaenia, Bahia, Brazil, Leposternon octostegum, meristic methodology, pholidosis nomenclature, taxonomy



Image 23. Leposternon octostegum. Coloration. (A) Live coloration of newly captured specimen from Aterro Metropolitano Centro, near Salvador City, State of Bahia, Brazil; without scale; (B) MNHN 7055 holotype and (C) MNHN 2007.0023, color in preservative. (D) ZUFRJ 1714, (E) ZUFRJ 1715 and (F) ZUFRJ 1716 from Municipality of Camaçari, Arembepe County, color in preservative. Scale bars = 5mm. 

Leposternon octostegum (Duméril)
Amphisbaena octostega (Duméril)
Lepidosternon octostegum Duméril, 1851, p. 150–151. 
Terra typica: “Brésil”. Holotype: MNHN 7055.

Diagnosis: A species of Leposternon with an enlarged, polygonal azygous shield atop the head, which, however, does not exclude the discrete prefrontals, oculars and first temporals shields of the dorsal cephalic area posterior to the rostronasal; one large supralabial and one large infralabial shield on each side of mouth; a large mental shield (postmental shield absent, probably fused with the mental shield); 353–382 ventral, postpectoral half-annuli.

Definition: A slender, medium-sized (388mm maximum adult total length) form of Leposternon, with an enlarged, polygonal azygous shield atop the head; in dorsal view, the rostronasal, the prefrontals, the oculars, the first temporals and a small pair of occipitals are also clearly discernible; one large supralabial and one large infralabial; mental and postmental shields, probably fused; three pairs of enlarged shields along the midline, with left and right asymmetries: the anterior pair forms a rough stretched pentagon pointing backwards, the second pair has irregular polygons tending to a medial suture in an “X” disposition and the posterior pair showing polygonal transversely elongated shields, larger caudad than rostrad; 353–382 ventral, 357–397 dorsal postpectoral half-annuli; 24–33 dorsal half-annuli scales; 23–29 ventral half-annuli scales; 12–15 caudal annuli; a short, cylindrical and round ending tail; 121–142 precloacal vertebrae; absent precloacal pores and autotomy.  Living specimens have a pale grizzled background coloration, with none or inconspicuous sparse, diminute and irregularly distributed dorsal brownish pigments, more concentrated in the second half of the body (Image 23A).  Alcohol preserved specimens display a more pale brown (beige) brownish or whitish background coloration, and the pigments are more subtle. The sample from Municipality of Camaçari exhibited a different coloration, with marked brownish blotches or dorsal pigment dots evident along most of the body and in the tail.


José Duarte de Barros-Filho, Marco Antonio de Freitas, Thais Figueiredo Santos Silva, Mariana Fiuza de Castro Loguercio and Maria Celeste Costa Valverde. 2019. Redescription of Leposternon octostegum (Duméril, 1851), with An Identification Key for Brazilian Leposternon species, Remarks on Meristic Methodology, and A Proposal for Pholidosis Nomenclature (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae).  Journal of Threatened Taxa. 11(1); 13058-13086.  DOI: 10.11609/jott.3597.11.1.13058-13086

[Herpetology • 2019] Acanthosaura phongdienensis • A New Species of Acanthosaura Gray 1831 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from central Vietnam


 Acanthosaura phongdienensis 
Nguyen, Jin, Vo, Nguyen, Zhou, Che, Murphy & Zhang, 2019


Abstract
Herein, we describe the new agamid species Acanthosaura phongdienensis sp. nov. from central Vietnam based on morphological and genetic data. Males of the new medium-sized species have a snout-vent length of up to 77.4 mm and females up to 64.7 mm. In both genders, the tail is longer than the snout-vent length. A spine occurs on each side of the neck, the rostral scute is entire, and the nuchal and dorsal crests are continuous. A postorbital spine is about half as long as the diameter of the eye-ball, and small lateral scales intermix with large, keeled scales whose tips point backwards and upwards. The new species differs genetically from the closely related species A. brachypoda, A. coronata, and A. lepidogaster by uncorrected p-distances of 13.6%, 21.7%, and 12.8%, respectively. This is the 13th species of Acanthosaura and the eighth species in the genus from Vietnam.

Keywords: Reptilia, Agamid, Acanthosaura lepidogaster, Phong Dien, COI




Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Jie-Qiong Jin, Ba Dinh Vo, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Wei-Wei Zhou, Jing Che, Robert W. Murphy and Ya-Ping Zhang. 2019. A New Species of Acanthosaura Gray 1831 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from central Vietnam. Zootaxa. 4612(4); 555–565.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4612.4.7

[Paleontology • 2019] Ufudocyclops mukanelai • A New Kannemeyeriiform Dicynodont from Subzone C of the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone, Triassic of South Africa, with Implications for Biostratigraphic Correlation with other African Triassic Faunas


Ufudocyclops mukanelai
Kammerer, Viglietti, Hancox, Butler & Choiniere, 2019

ABSTRACT
A new taxon of kannemeyeriiform dicynodont, Ufudocyclops mukanelai, is described based on a well-preserved skull from Subzone C of the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone, which are the youngest strata (probably Middle Triassic) of the Beaufort Group (uppermost Burgersdorp Formation) in South Africa. Ufudocyclops mukanelai is diagnosed by its autapomorphic intertemporal morphology: the intertemporal bar in this taxon is ‘X’-shaped—broad anteriorly and posteriorly but distinctly ‘pinched’ at mid-length and bears a deep, triangular depression immediately behind the enormous pineal foramen. The new kannemeyeriiform can also be diagnosed by the presence of a laterally expanded jugal plate beneath the orbit, and highly discrete, ovoid nasal bosses separated by a broad, unornamented median portion of the premaxilla and the nasals. Two partial dicynodont skulls from this subzone, previously identified as specimens of the otherwise Tanzanian taxon Angonisaurus, are also referable to U. mukanelai. Removal of these specimens from the hypodigm of Angonisaurus eliminates a crucial point of correlation between Cynognathus Subzone C and the Manda Beds of Tanzania and suggests that Subzone C preserves a distinct, endemic fauna, not just a southern extension of the better-known Middle–Late Triassic tetrapod faunas from Tanzania and Zambia. Inclusion of Ufudocyclops in a phylogenetic analysis of anomodonts recovers it as an early stahleckeriid, the first record of this clade from the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone.

FIGURE 4. Ufudocyclops mukanelai, gen. et sp. nov., BP/1/8208, holotype, photograph and interpretive drawing in right lateral view. Gray indicates matrix; dotted lines indicate missing bone.

 Abbreviations: af, fossa for M. adductor mandibulae externus lateralis; cp, caniniform process of maxilla; fo, fenestra ovalis; fr, frontal; j, jugal; la, lacrimal; mx, maxilla; na, nasal; pa, parietal; pmx, premaxilla; po, postorbital; pr?, prootic; prf, prefrontal; pt, pterygoid; q, quadrate; smx, septomaxilla; sq, squamosal. Scale bar equals 5 cm.


FIGURE 10. Ufudocyclops and Angonisaurus compared.
A, B, holotype of Ufudocyclops mukanelai (BP/1/8208) in A, dorsal and B, right lateral views.
C, D, holotype of Angonisaurus cruickshanki (NHMUK PV R9732) in C, dorsal and D, left lateral views; D is mirrored for comparative purposes. Scale bars equal 5 cm.


SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY

 SYNAPSIDA Osborn, 1903 
THERAPSIDA Broom, 1905 
ANOMODONTIA Owen, 1860 

DICYNODONTIA Owen, 1860 
KANNEMEYERIIFORMES Maisch, 2001 
STAHLECKERIIDAE Lehman, 1961 

UFUDOCYCLOPS MUKANELAI, gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology— From the Xhosa ufudo, meaning tortoise (in reference to the toothless, tortoise-like beak), and the Ancient Greek cyclops, a one-eyed mythological giant (in reference to the enormous opening for the pineal eye on the dorsal midline of the skull). Species named in honor of Mr. Pepson Mukanela, in recognition of his many years working in the preparatory laboratory of the Evolutionary Studies Institute (and its predecessor, the Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research) and in particular his skillful preparation of BP/1/8208.


Christian F. Kammerer, Pia A. Viglietti, P. John Hancox, Richard J. Butler and Jonah N. Choiniere. 2019. A New Kannemeyeriiform Dicynodont (Ufudocyclops mukanelai, gen. et sp. nov.) from Subzone C of the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone, Triassic of South Africa, with Implications for Biostratigraphic Correlation with other African Triassic Faunas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2019.1596921 

[Botany • 2019] Ficus pongumphaii (Moraceae) ไทรผ่องอำไพ • A New Species from Thailand, Compared with the Ambiguous Species F. talbotii


 Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew

in Chantarasuwan, Sungkaew, Pruesapan, Baas & van Welzen, 2019. 
ไทรผ่องอำไพ  || DOI:  10.3767/blumea.2019.64.02.02 

Abstract
A deciduous shrub previously included in Ficus talbotii for many years, is now regarded as a new species, Ficus pongumphaii. It is morphologically distinct from F. talbotii with as typical characters the densely brown pubescent to tomentose or villous on leafy twig; the elliptic, suborbicular to obovate leaf blades that are brown tomentellous on the upper surface and brown floccose tomentose to villous underneath; the pedunculate figs are obovate, brown floccose or villous outside and have internal hairs. The leaf anatomy shows a multiple epidermis on both surfaces; enlarged lithocysts on both sides of the lamina, which are more abundant adaxially and with very few abaxially. The species, endemic to Thailand, is named after the great Thai dendrologist, Associate Professor Somnuek Pongumphai.

Keywords: Ficus; Moraceae; leaf anatomy; new species

Fig. 1  Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew.
 a. Twig with leaves and figs; b. figs; c. fig in longitudinal section; d. staminate flower; e. stamen; f. sessile pistillate flower; g. pedicelled pistillate flower (B. Chantarasuwan 180910-4, THNHM).
— Drawing: Pajaree Inthachup, 2015.

Fig. 2 Photos of live  Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew.
a. Habit in natural habitat; b–d. twigs with leaves and figs; e. fig; f. fig in longitudinal section. — Photos by Bhanumas Chantarasuwan.



Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew, sp. nov.

Shrub, at least up to 3 m high. Leafy twig brown pubescent to tomentose to villous. Leaf lamina elliptic to suborbicular to obovate, upper surface whitish or brown tomentellous, lower surface brown floccose tomentose to villous. Fig pedunculate, basal bracts persistent, strigose. Receptacle obovate, brown floccose or villous. Synconial internal hairs present. Epidermis multi-layers. Enlarged lithocysts abundant adaxially and only few abaxially.


— Type: B. Chantarasuwan 180910-4 (holo THNHM; iso L), Thailand, Lop Buri, Thawung, Wat Khao Samorkhorn, 18 Sept. 2010.

Distribution & Habitat — A species seemingly endemic to Thailand, occurring on limestone hills at a 30–600 m elevation.

  


Bhanumas Chantarasuwan, Sarawood Sungkaew, Kanchana Pruesapan,  Pieter Baas and P.C. van Welzen. 2019. Ficus pongumphaii (Moraceae), A New Species from Thailand, Compared with the Ambiguous Species F. talbotii. Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. DOI:  10.3767/blumea.2019.64.02.02  

     

[Entomology • 2019] Ceriagrion chromothorax • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) from Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, India


Ceriagrion chromothorax 
 Joshi & Sawant, 2019


ABSTRACT
Ceriagrion chromothorax sp. nov. is described from Western Ghats, India, based on six males and one female collected from Sindhudurg District of Maharashtra. 

 Keywords: Damselfly, Devgad, new species, Sindhudurg Marsh Dart, taxonomy, Western Ghats

Ceriagrion chromothorax sp. nov.:
 (a) & (b) holotype male (NCBS-BB921) in situ | (c) male from Wada Village (not collected), 18.viii.2018.© Dattaprasad Sawant. 


Males of: (a) Ceriagrion chromothorax sp. nov. | (b) C. coromandelianum | (c) C. indochinense. 

Ceriagrion chromothorax sp. nov.
 Common name: Sindhudurg Marsh Dart.

Ceriagrion chromothorax sp. nov. is similar to C. coromandelianum, and C. indochinense, the latter has not been recorded from India but could possibly occur in the northeast. The above three species share the character of yellow or olivaceous thoracic and abdominal coloration, but they differ with respect to the shape of their anal appendages, structure of prothorax and mesostigmal plate. Ceriagrion fallax, occurs in northern India but not in western India, it is similar to the three above-mentioned in terms of the yellow abdominal coloration, but is readily distinguishable using the following characters: a) S7–10 extensively black, b) shape of posterior lobe of prothorax and mesostigmal plates, and c) shape of anal appendages.
....

Etymology: The name ‘chromothorax’ is given for the bright yellow (=chromothoracic coloration.


Shantanu Joshi and Dattaprasad Sawant. 2019. Ceriagrion chromothorax sp. nov. (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) from Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 11(7); 13875–13885 DOI: 10.11609/jott.4753.11.7.13875-13885

[Botany • 2019] Microlicia colombiana (Melastomataceae) • A New Species of Microlicia: First Record of the Genus for Colombia


Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero

in Mendoza-Cifuentes, Ariza, Granados & Romero, 2019. 

Abstract
Microlicia (Melastomataceae) is a Neotropical genus nearly restricted to southeastern Brazil, and the Guiana Shield in Venezuela, with a few species in some places in the Andes of Bolivia and Peru. A new species of Microlicia endemic to the mountains of eastern Andes of Colombia is described and illustrated. Its affinities with other morphologically similar species from Venezuela are also documented. This novelty is the first record of the genus for Colombia and the northern Andes. It is argued that this disjunct distribution of the genus is attributable to the phenomenon of long-distance seed dispersal by wind.

Keywords: Northeastern Andes, endemism, long-distance seed dispersal, northern Andes, sub-páramo


Figure 3. Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero. A Habit B Flowering branch C Sub-páramo habitat at the type locality D, E Sandy soils and substrate of the type locality (all photos by David Granados).

Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Related to Microlicia benthamiana Triana but differs in having larger internodes, strigose nodes, linear to obovate leaf blades, trichomes between sepals, petals and pedoconective of antesepalous stamens shorter. Also related to Microlicia guanayana Wurdack but differs in having non-strigose adaxial foliar surfaces, 3-nerved leaf blades, hypanthia 10-ribbed, petals < 8.5 mm long and with a rounded setose apex, and stamens with smaller dimensions.

TYPE: COLOMBIA. Boyacá: Municipio de Pisba, vereda Miraflores, Sabana de Nubacá, 2389 m elev., ..., 19 Nov 2018 (fl, fr), H. Mendoza & D. Granados 22014 (holotype: FMB!; isotypes: COL!, CUVC!, HUA!, FMB!, CUVC!, UDBC!).

Figure 2. Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero. A Floral bud B Lateral view of the calyx and hypanthium in open flower C Petal D Antepetalous stamen E Top view of ventral appendage of the connective F Lateral view of ventral appendage of the connective G Polysporangiate anther H Antesepalous stamen I Top view of ventral appendage of the connective J Anther K Gynoecium L Longitudinal section of the ovary M Horizontal section of the ovary N Capsule covered by hypanthium O Open capsule P Seeds (A–P from H. Mendoza & D. Granados 22014 (FMB). All photos by Humberto Mendoza-Cifuentes).

Figure 1. Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero.
 A Node at basal portion of a branch B Node with spherical golden glands at the distal part of a branch C Leaves, adaxial (left) and abaxial (right) surfaces D Leaf adaxial surface, with detail of indumentum E Leaf abaxial surface, with detail of indumentum (A–E from H. Mendoza & D. Granados 22014 (FMB). All photos by Humberto Mendoza-Cifuentes). 

Habitat and distribution: Microlicia colombiana is endemic to northeastern Andes of Colombia towards the Orinoquian flank. This species is only known from the type locality in the department of Boyacá near the southern border of Pisba National Natural Park, and a nearby second locality in the department of Casanare, between 2000 to 2400 m elevation (Figure 4A). It grows in open areas of sub-páramo vegetation on white sandy soil covered with sphagnum (Figure 3).

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the restricted occurrence of the new species to Colombia and for being the first record of the genus in this country.

    


 Humberto Mendoza-Cifuentes, William Ariza, David E. Granados and Rosana Romero. 2019. A New Species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae): First Record of the Genus for Colombia. PhytoKeys. 122: 87-96.  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.122.34171


[Botany • 2019] Limonium dagmarae (Plumbaginaceae) • A New Species from Namaqualand coast, South Africa


Limonium dagmarae Mucina

in Mucina & Hammer, 2019. 

Abstract 
A new species of Limonium from Namaqualand coast, South Africa is here described and named Limonium dagmarae. Shared morphological characters with related South African species place the new species within Limonium sect. Circinaria. Evidence is presented to segregate the new species from relatives based on discrete morphological and environmental characters. The holotype of the L. dagmarae is preserved at NBG. 

Key words: AfrolimonLimonium sect. Circinaria, species nova, strandveld, Succulent Karoo

FIGURE 1. Drawing (original) of Limonium dagmarae (voucher L. Mucina 250901/25M2, Doringbaai):
1. Stem with flowering branches and leaves (leaf scars are visible in the lower part of the stem), 2. side branch showing post-anthesis calyces, 3. outer supportive bract (supporting the flower), 4. dorsal view of the middle supportive bract, 5. side view of the middle supportive bract, 6. inner (most conspicuous) supportive bract, 7. side view of the calyx tube, 8. shape of the top calyx lobes (calyx rim), 9.top-down view of the calyx, 10. corolla with anthers, 11. corolla petal with anther basally attached, 12. anther, 13. stigma, 14. detail of the stigma. The size of the branch (picture 1. serves as the scale; the branch is c. 30 cm long). Artist: Angela Beaumont.

FIGURE 2. Limonium dagmarae in situ (the southernmost population of the species, origin of the voucher L. Mucina 250901/25M2).
A: overall habit (semiglobose-shaped low shrub); B: view of a branch that finished flowering not long ago (the papery calyces are still light pink and brownish ribs prominent; also showing the sparse leafing of the branch; C: fully developed flower, flanked by several calyces which perigone already withered and several buds prepared to flower. D: habitat of L. dagmarae – loamy-sandy strandveld scrub, with associated succulent shrubs (Aizoaceae and Euphorbia decussata E.Mey. and E. mauritanica L.). All photos L. Mucina.



Limonium dagmarae Mucina sp. nov.  

Distribution:— Endemic to the Namaqualand coast, between Doringbaai, Western Cape and Kleinzee, Northern Cape Province (Fig. 3).

Etymology:— Named in honour of Dagmar Mucina, the life partner and wife of the first author, in recognition of her indispensable support and her shared passion for the flora of Namaqualand.


Ladislav Mucina and Timothy A. Hammer. 2019. Limonium dagmarae (Plumbaginaceae), A New Species from Namaqualand coast, South Africa. Phytotaxa. 403(2); 71–85. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.403.2.1

Thursday, May 30, 2019

[Ichthyology • 2019] Rhyacoschistura larreci • A New Genus and Species of Loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from Laos and Redescription of R. suber


 Rhyacoschistura larreci 
Kottelat, 2019


Abstract
Rhyacoschistura, new genus, belongs to a group of genera (Physoschistura, Mustura, Pteronemacheilus, Petruichthys) characterised by the modified branched pectoral-fin rays of males, with a very thick first ray, usually without membranes between some of the branches and/or rays, and anterior rays and/or membranes covered by small tubercles at maturity. Rhyacoschistura is distinguished from them by the combination of: presence of a suborbital flap; emarginate caudal fin; lower lip with a wide median interruption and connected to isthmus by a frenum; body depth about equal from behind head to caudal-fin base. Rhyacoschistura larreci, new species, is described from the Mekong drainage in Xayaburi Province, Laos. It is distinguished by details of the morphology of the pelvic fin, and its colour pattern (flank with numerous narrow slanted bars, very irregularly organised and shaped, more or less connected, or sometimes covering the whole flank). Schistura suber, from Nam Ngum watershed, is redescribed on the basis of adults and placed in Rhyacoschistura.

Keywords: Pisces, Schistura, Mustura, Physoschistura


Figure 4. Rhyacoschistura larreci, MHNG 2727.011, holotype, 57.1 mm SL; Laos: Xayaburi: Nam Houng watershed.
Figure 5. Rhyacoschistura larreci, CMK 28037, paratype, 57.8 mm SL; Laos: Xayaburi: Nam Houng watershed; immediately after fixation.

Rhyacoschistura, new genus 

Type species. Rhyacoschistura larreci, new species. 

Etymology. Rhyacoschistura is derived from the Greek word ῥύαξ, -κος (rhyax, meaning a rushing stream, a torrent) and the genus name Schistura (itself based on σχιστός [schistos; divided] and οὐρά [oura; tail]). In reference to the torrent and hill stream habitat of the species placed in the genus. Gender feminine.

Included species. Rhyacoschistura larreci and Rhyacoschistura suber (Kottelat, 2000).


Rhyacoschistura larreci, new species 

Etymology. Named for LARReC, Living Aquatic Resources Research Center, Vientiane, for its 20th anniversary, and appreciation to several of its staff for 20 years of collaboration in the field. Treated as a masculine noun in genitive, indeclinable. 


Maurice Kottelat. 2019. Rhyacoschistura larreci, A New Genus and Species of Loach from Laos and Redescription of R. suber (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). Zootaxa. 4612(2); 151–170. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4612.2.1

Rhyacoschistura larreci, a new genus and species of loach from Laos and redescription of R. suber (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)  phakhaolao.la/en/publications/rhyacoschistura-larreci-new-genus-and-species-loach-laos-and-redescription-r-suber

[Entomology • 2019] Cornucistela anichtchenkoi • A New Species of Cornucistela Campbell, 1980 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae) from Iran


Cornucistela anichtchenkoi 
Novák & Nabozhenko, 2019


Abstract
A second species of the previously monotypic genus Cornucistela (Cornucistela anichtchenkoi sp. nov.) is described, illustrated and compared with C. serrata Campbell, 1980 (type species). It is a first record of the genus in Iran (South Khorasan Province).

Keywords: Coleoptera, taxonomy, darkling beetles, comb-clawed beetles, Palaearctic Region, Iran


Cornucistela anichtchenkoi sp. nov.


Vladimír Novák and Maxim Yu. Nabozhenko. 2019. A New Species of Cornucistela Campbell, 1980 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae: Gonoderina) from Iran. Zootaxa. 4612(2); 267–274. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4612.2.9

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

[Botany • 2019] Fordiophyton jinpingense (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) • A New Species of Fordiophyton from Yunnan, China


Fordiophyton jinpingense J.H.Dai & Z.Y.Yu

in Dai, Zhou, Yu, et al., 2019. 

Abstract
Fordiophyton jinpingense (Melastomataceae; Sonerileae), a species occurring in south-eastern Yunnan, China, is described as new, based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses, based on nrITS sequence data, showed that, except F. breviscapum, all species sampled in Fordiophyton formed a strongly supported clade in which two geographical lineages were recovered. The generic placement of F. jinpingense is well supported by phylogenetic analyses and a character combination of 4-merous flowers, distinctly dimorphic stamens and the connectives basally not calcarate. Molecular divergence and morphological evidence indicate that F. jinpingense is well separated from other members of the genus, thus justifying its recognition as a distinct species. Fordiophyton jinpingense is phylogenetically closest to F. repens, but differs markedly from the latter in stem morphology (short, obtusely 4-sided vs. long, 4-angular), habit (erect vs. creeping), leaf size (6–16.5 × 4.5–13 cm vs. 4–7.5 × 4–6.5 cm) and flower number per inflorescence (5–13 vs. 3–6).

Keywords: Fordiophyton, Melastomataceae, taxonomy, phylogeny




 Figure 3. Detail of inflorescence, flower, stamens, ovary and fruit of Fordiophyton jinpingense, all from Y. Liu 728 (SYS, A).
A Mature inflorescence B side view of a flower C top view of a flower D longitudinal section of a flower showing dimorphic stamens and ovary crown E anther morphology in detail F transection of ovary at young fruit stage, showing the very short-stalked, nearly sessile placenta G young fruit showing the crown not exserted from hypanthium. Scale bars: 5 mm (D–F).

Figure 2. Fordiophyton jinpingense, all from Y. Liu 728 (SYS, A).
A Habitat B a flowering individual C adaxial leaf surface D abaxial leaf surface E petiole villous with multiseriate hairs F young inflorescence G young inflorescence dissected showing the position and morphology of bracts. Scale bar: 2 cm (G).

 Holotype of Fordiophyton jinpingenseY. Liu 728 (A) collected from Ma-an-di, Jinping County, Yunnan, China.

Fordiophyton jinpingense J.H.Dai & Z.Y.Yu, sp. nov.
Type: CHINA. Yunnan: Jinping County, Ma-an-di town, 900–1900 m alt., damp but well drained places in forest, 10 Mar 2019, Ying Liu 728 (holotype: A; isotype: SYS).

Diagnosis: Differs from Fordiophyton repens in having slightly obtusely 4-sided short stem (vs. 4-angular, long and creeping), mature leaves 6–16.5 × 4.5–13 cm (vs. 4–7.5 × 4–6.5 cm) sparsely and shallowly dentate leaf margin with each tooth having a caducous terminal seta (vs. densely denticulate, persistent) and inflorescence 5–13-flowered (vs. 3–6-flowered).


Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from Jinping County, the type locality of Fordiophyton jinpingense.

Distribution: Fordiophyton jinpingense is currently known only from Jinping County, south-eastern Yunnan, China (Fig. 7). It occurs in dense or open forests, often in damp, shaded, but well drained places, such as on steep slopes, at 900–1900 m alt.


 Jin-Hong Dai, Qiu-Jie Zhou, Zhi-Yong Yu, Ren-Chao Zhou and Ying Liu. 2019. A New Species of Fordiophyton (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) from Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys. 122: 15-28. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.122.35260

[Botany • 2019] Tamarix humboldtiana (Tamaricaceae) • A New Species of Tamarix from Hormozgan Province, S Iran, supported by Morphology and Molecular Phylogenetics


Tamarix humboldtiana  Akhani, Borsch & N. Samadi 

in Akhani, Samadi, Noormohammadi & Borsch. 2019.

Abstract
The genus Tamarix (Tamaricaceae) is a lineage of shrubs and trees with leaves reduced to scales and numerous species adapted to moist and often saline soils in arid and semi-arid climates. Extensive morphological variation and hybridization complicate species delimitation and identification. Based on both morphological and DNA sequence characters, Tamarix humboldtiana Akhani, Borsch & N. Samadi is described as a new species from S Iran. Phylogenetic analysis of plastid rpl16 intron and trnG-trnS spacer sequences depicts a sister group relationship of its unique plastid haplotype to T. tetrandra, whereas nuclear ITS sequence data show close affinities to T. kotschyi. The new species differs from T. kotschyi by distinctly pedicellate, 5-merous flowers and vaginate-amplexicaul leaves. The stem and foliar anatomy and the epidermal micromorphology provide additional characters differentiating the new species from T. kotschyi. The gametic chromosome number of n = 12 reflects that of most of other species of the genus. Tamarix humboldtiana is a rare species living at freshwater riversides in S Iran and is according to current knowledge critically endangered.

KEYWORDS: Caryophyllales, endemic species, Flora of Iran, molecular diagnosis, phylogenetics, reticulate evolution, species concept, Tamaricaceae, Tamarix




Fig. 1. Tamarix humboldtiana.
– A: habit and habitat along Minab river; plants grow on the river side and many of them are damaged by flooding; B: part of inflorescence with young flowers; C: part of inflorescence, showing whitish petals and reddish ovary and anthers.
 – All photographs taken at the type locality on 21 Feb 2013 by H. Akhani.  

Fig. 2. Details of leaf, inflorescence and flower parts of Tamarix humboldtiana.
– A: part of leafy young branch showing vaginate leaves; B: raceme, note long pedicels; C: calyx outside (left), calyx inside (centre), ovary and stigma (right); D: petals; E: staminal disk, showing 5 peridiscal filaments attached to synlophic disk.
– Scale bars: A–E = 1 mm.

Tamarix humboldtiana Akhani, Borsch & N. Samadi, sp. nov. 

Morphological diagnosis — Based on molecular phylogenetic data, Tamarix humboldtiana is closely related to T. kotschyi and T. tetrandra. It differs from both species by its pentamerous flowers. It differs further from T. kotschyi by its clearly pedicellate (vs ± sessile) flowers. Anatomically, T. humboldtiana differs from T. kotschyi by the absence of ingrowing papillae that overarch the stomatal pores.

Molecular diagnosis — Rpl16 intron, positions in the sequence of the type specimen, upstream of the large 3′ exon: nucleotide character states “C” in pos. 135, “G” in pos. 195, “C” in pos. 323, “G” in pos. 896. TrnGtrnS spacer, positions in the sequence of the type specimen, downstream of the trnG exon: nucleotide character state “T” in pos. 550.
....

Eponymy — The epithet “humboldtiana” commemorates the great German phytogeographer Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) whose 250th birthday is in the year of publication of this species. The name was also inspired by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation having supported a research internship on diversity and phylogeny of the genus Tamarix.


Hossein Akhani, Nafiseh Samadi, Alireza Noormohammadi and Thomas Borsch. 2019. A New Species of Tamarix (Tamaricaceae) from Hormozgan Province, S Iran, supported by Morphology and Molecular Phylogenetics. Willdenowia. 49(1);127-139. DOI: 10.3372/wi.49.49113