[Ichthyology • 2021] Oxynoemacheilus fatsaensis • A New nemacheilid loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Elekçi Stream in Northern Anatolia

 Oxynoemacheilus fatsaensis Saygun, Ağdamar & Özuluğ, 

  

in Saygun, Ağdamar et Özuluğ, 2021.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.07.011

Abstract

We report a new species, Oxynoemacheilus fatsaensis, from the Elekçi Stream, a small stream that flows to the Black Sea in Northern Turkey. It is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in the Black Sea, Upper Euphrates, and Kura-Aras River basins by having a suborbital groove in males, an axillary lobe at the pelvic-fin base, no dorsal adipose crest on the caudal peduncle, a deeply emarginate caudal fin, small inner and outer rostral barbels, and mottled flank pattern. Molecular data suggest that the new species is separated by a minimum p-distance of 3.3% from O. banarescui in the mitochondrial DNA COI barcode region.

 Oxynoemacheilus fatsaensis Saygun, Ağdamar & Özuluğ sp. nov

Etymology: The species is named for its type locality, the Fatsa district in the Ordu Province. An adjective.

Serkan Saygun, Sevan Ağdamar and Müfit Özuluğ. 2021. Oxynoemacheilus fatsaensis, A New nemacheilid loach from the Elekçi Stream in Northern Anatolia (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). Zoologischer Anzeiger. 294; 39-49. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.07.011

  facebook.com/fishoftheworld/photos/4422402821113814

 Researchgate.net/publication/353382390_Oxynoemacheilus_fatsaensis_a_new_nemacheilid_loach_from_the_Elekci_Stream_in_Northern_Anatolia

[Ichthyology • 2023] Karstsinnectes gen. nov. • Phylogenetic Relationships of Nemacheilidae Cavefish (Heminoemacheilus, Oreonectes, Yunnanilus, Paranemachilus, and Troglonectes) revealed by Analysis of Mitochondrial Genome and Seven Nuclear Genes

 

(Oreonectes I) = Karstsinnectes Zhou, Luo, Wang, Zhou & Xiao gen. nov.,

in Luo, Yang, Wu, Wang, J.-J. Zhou, Deng, Xiao et J. Zhou, 2023.

DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.266 

 Researchgate.net/publication/369917076

Cave loaches within the family Nemacheilidae are among the most diverse group of cavefish in southwestern China. Although certain species have been included in previous phylogenetic studies, the intergeneric and interspecific relationships of Chinese cave loaches in Nemacheilidae remain poorly investigated due to insufficient sampling. In this study, a total of 45 samples from 37 recognized species and two unidentified species of cave loaches were collected, accounting for 87.5% of the eight recognized genera of cave loaches within the family Nemacheilidae in China. The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) and seven nuclear genes were sequenced, and the phylogenetic tree of Chinese cave loaches was reconstructed. Both Bayesian inference and maximum-likelihood analyses resolved the phylogenetic relationships at the generic and species levels, suggesting the effectiveness of this multilocus marker system in determining phylogenetic relationships in Chinese cave loaches. Phylogenetic analysis not only confirmed previous taxonomic hypotheses based on morphological data but also provided new insights into the relationships of many cave loaches at the genus and species levels as well as suggestions for the current taxonomy of cave loaches within the family Nemacheilidae.

The karst regions of southwestern China are considered the center of Chinese cavefish biodiversity, boasting the most concentrated distribution of cavefish in the world. However, many cavefish species in the region remain poorly known and highly threatened (IUCN, 2022). Nemacheilidae, which contains approximately 22 genera and 269 species, constitutes one of the largest and most diverse families, second only to Cyprinidae in terms of diversity (Zhang et al., 2020). These cave loaches, which include both stygophilic and stygobitic species, are restricted in their distribution to the karst regions of southwestern China and exhibit highly specialized morphologies (Lan et al., 2013; Li, 2018). This has led to inadequately resolved taxonomies and enigmatic phylogenetic relationships among cave groups. The presence of both subterranean and surface-dwelling phenotypes among these genera, as well as the influence of convergent evolution, make it challenging to distinguish them based on morphological characteristics alone. The classification of Chinese cave loaches has been the subject of debate, ...

  

Karstsinnectes Zhou, Luo, Wang, Zhou & Xiao, gen. nov.

Type species: Oreonectes anophthalmus Zheng, 1981.

Diagnosis: (1) body naked, scaleless, and body color pattern absent; (2) eyes absent; (3) lips with furrows but no papillae; (4) anterior and posterior nostrils slightly separated, anterior nostril tube long, without elongated short barbel-like tip; (5) without longitudinal stripe; (6) dorsal fin with 7 branched rays, dorsal-fin origin slight posterior to ventral-fin origin; (7) caudal fin forked or rounded, caudal peduncle with adipose crests; (8) cheeks scaleless; (9) lateral line and cephalic lateral-line canals present; (10) bony capsule of swim bladder open posteriorly.

Etymology: The genus name Karstsinnectes is a combination of words. Karst is an English word meaning an area of water-eroded limestone; sin is an abbreviation of the Greek word Sino, refers to Chinese; nectes, a Greek word meaning swimmer. We suggest its English common name “Chinese Karst Loach Genus” and Chinese common name “Zhōng Huá Kā Qiū Shǔ (中华喀鳅属)”.

Distribution: Currently, this genus includes four species, i.e., Karstsinnectes acridorsalis (Lan, 2013) comb. nov., Karstsinnectes anophthalmus (Zheng, 1981) comb. nov., Karstsinnectes hyalinus (Lan, Yang & Chen,1996) comb. nov., and Karstsinnectes parvus (Zhu & Zhu, 2014) comb. nov., all of which distributed in the Hongshuihe, Zuojiang, and Youjiang river basins in Guangxi, China.

Tao Luo, Qin Yang, Li Wu, Ya-Li Wang, Jia-Jun Zhou, Huai-Qing Deng, Ning Xiao, Jiang Zhou. 2023. Phylogenetic Relationships of Nemacheilidae Cavefish (Heminoemacheilus, Oreonectes, Yunnanilus, Paranemachilus, and Troglonectes) revealed by Analysis of Mitochondrial Genome and Seven Nuclear Genes. Zoological Research. 44(4): 693-697. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.266 

 Researchgate.net/publication/369917076_Phylogenetic_relationships_of_Nemacheilidae_cavefish

[Botany • 2024] Primulina hoangmongii (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from northern Vietnam

 Primulina hoangmongii K.S. Nguyen, Aver. & C.W. Lin, 

in Nguyen, Averyanov et Lin, 2024.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.645.2.7

  facebook.com/Darthvaderiana

 

Abstract

Primulina hoangmongii, a new species from Yen Bai Province of northern Vietnam, is described and illustrated. It is similar to P. albicalyx in its robust rhizome, rosette leaves, and yellow flowers. However, P. hoangmongii is clearly distinguished by its linear to narrowly-lanceolate bracts, 8–12 × 2–3 mm (vs. narrowly ovate to ovate, 18–25 × 9–14 mm), green calyx (vs. white), rich yellow corolla (vs. pale yellowish), base of the upper lip flat, thin and rich pure yellow (vs. swelling between lobes, yellow-brownish), and a ligulate, entire stigma (vs. deltoid, 2-lobed). The conservation status of P. hoangmongii is preliminarily assessed according to IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered (CR).

plant diversity, endemism, plants of limestone karst, plant taxonomy, Eudicots

Primulina hoangmongii

 

Khang Sinh Nguyen, Leonid V. Averyanov and Che Wei Lin. 2024. Primulina hoangmongii (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from northern Vietnam.  Phytotaxa. 645(2); 179-185. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.645.2.7

  facebook.com/Darthvaderiana/posts/10225241642771693

  

[Botany • 2024] Impatiens neo-uncinata (Balsaminaceae) • A New Species from southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India

 

Impatiens neo-uncinata V.S.A.Kumar & Sindhu Arya, 

in Sindhu et Kumar, 2024. 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.1.1 

 facebook.com: Arya Rajasekhar S 

 Abstract

A new species, Impatiens neo-uncinata, belonging to section Scorpioidae is described and illustrated from Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in the southern Western Ghats. It is morphologically similar to Impatiens unicinata, but can easily be distinguished in having milky white distal lobe of keel petal, deltoid shape of standard petals and 1–2 seeded capsules. Furthermore, the SEM analysis of pollen and seed also delineate the taxa. Impatiens neo-uncinatais assessed here as Endangered based on the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List.

Eudicots, Agasthyamala biosphere reserve, Impatiens, Scorpioidae, taxonomy

   

Impatiens neo-uncinata V.S.A.Kumar & Sindhu Arya

Arya Sindhu and Venugopalan Nair Saradhamma Anil Kumar. 2024. Impatiens neo-uncinata (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India.  Phytotaxa. 644(1); 1-9. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.1.1

  facebook.com/AryaSindu33/posts/7271537509632189

   

[Botany • 2020] Gonolobus naturalistae (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae: Gonolobeae) • A New Species from México

  

Gonolobus naturalistae  M.G.Chávez, Pío-León & L.O.Alvarado, 

 

in Alvarado-Cárdenas, Chávez-Hernández et León, 2020.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.472.3.3 

 facebook.com/groups/158363150851416

  Researchgate.net/publication/346541537

Abstract

A new species of Gonolobus from northwestern Mexico with green and barbate corollas is described here. Gonolobus naturalistae is morphologically similar to G. barbatus, G. pectinatus, and G. sororius but differs in corolla and corona morphology and distribution. Descriptions, illustrations, morphological comparisons, and geographic distribution maps of these species, as well as their conservation status, are provided. This discovery highlights Mexico as a center of diversity for the genus, with around 40 species recorded, and highlights its endemism, with 48.7% of the species occurring in the country.

Keywords: Chihuahua, Endemism, iNaturalist, Sinaloa, Eudicots

Gonolobus naturalistae

Leonardo O. Alvarado-Cárdenas, María G. Chávez-Hernández and Juan F. Pío León. 2020. Gonolobus naturalistae (Apocynaceae; Asclepiadoideae; Gonolobeae; Gonolobinae), A New Species from México. Phytotaxa. 472(3); 249–258. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.472.3.3

  facebook.com/groups/158363150851416/permalink/3693583620662667

  Researchgate.net/publication/346541537_Gonolobus_naturalistae_a_New_Species_From_Mexico

   

 

Les presentamos a Gonolobus naturalistae, especie recién descrita. Originalmente se pensó endémica de Sinaloa, pero se encontró una colecta de Chihuahua que originalmente había sido identificada como barbatus. La colecta Tipo quedó para el municipio de Elota, Sinaloa, entre la selva baja del pie de montaña y la planicie costera del Pacífico. 

El epíteto específico es un tributo a las amistades y nuevas colaboraciones que se logran mediante la plataforma Naturalista Mx, el cual fue el medio por el que los autores del presente se pusieron en contacto. 

[Crustacea • 2021] Potamalpheops kisi • A New Species of the Genus Potamalpheops (Decapoda: Alpheidae) from the intertidal Mangrove Swamps of South Vietnam

Potamalpheops kisi 

Marin, 2021

DOI: 10.15298/arthsel.30.2.05  

Researchgate.net/publication/352777352

ABSTRACT

A new, possibly, infaunal species of the genus Potamalpheops Powell, 1979 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae), Potamalpheops kisi sp.n., is described from the intertidal mangrove swamps of the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, South Vietnam. The new species clearly belongs the “P. monodi” species group, but can be easily separated from related species (P. pininsulae Bruce et Illife, 1992, P. tigger Yeo et P.K.L. Ng, 1997 and P. johnsoni Anker, 2003) by the length and shape of rostrum, the length and proportions of carpus and palm of pereiopods I and II, as well as some other minor morphological features. All individuals of the new species were pumped out of burrows in anoxic swamp mud, while no individuals were collected using a hand net during extensive sampling in the same habitats, suggesting that the new species inhabits in a burrow system. No evidence of relationship to any host species is available, since individuals of the new species were collected from different burrows and never with syntopic larger burrowing animals. Observations in situ at nighttime revealed that individuals of Potamalpheops kisi sp.n. freely move inside burrows located above the water level, similar to other mangrove semi-terrestrial shrimp Merguia oligodon, which possibly allows surviving in anoxic conditions of swamp soils; such behavior is described for the genus Potamalpheops for the first time.

KEY WORDS: Biodiversity, intertidal mangrove swamps, burrows, South Vietnam, Indo-West Pacific.

Ivan N. Marin. 2021. A New Species of the Genus Potamalpheops (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae) from the intertidal Mangrove Swamps of South Vietnam.  Arthropoda Selecta. 30(2); 179-191. DOI: 10.15298/arthsel.30.2.05

  Researchgate.net/publication/352777352_A_new_species_of_the_genus_Potamalpheops_from_South_Vietnam

[Herpetology • 2020] Eutropis caraga, E. lapulapu, E. sibalom, etc. • Taxonomic Revision of Philippine Sun Skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Eutropis), and Descriptions of Eight New Species

(A-B) Eutropis caraga, 
(C) E. borealis, (D) E. palauensis and 
(E–F) E. islamaliit  

Barley, Diesmos, Siler, Martinez & Brown, 2020

 DOI: 10.1655/HERPMONOGRAPHS-D-19-00009.1

Photos by Rafe M. Brown except (D) by Thibaud Aronson.

  facebook.com/CameronSilerLab

  CameronSiler.com

Abstract 

Species descriptions of reptiles historically have relied exclusively on the use of morphological data; however, these external, phenotypic data do not always co-vary with lineage divergence. Consequently, it has become increasingly clear that species diversity has been underestimated in many evolutionary radiations. With the use of an integrative approach, we examined the genetic and morphological diversity present in a nearly endemic Philippine radiation of Eutropis. Results demonstrated that current taxonomy does not reflect evolutionary history and that in many cases, morphological divergence has become decoupled from genetic divergence. As a consequence, species diversity is significantly underestimated. Here, we rectify the major taxonomic problems present in Philippine Eutropis by providing formal descriptions for eight new species. Three of the four new species in the E. multicarinata species complex are sympatric with (and have long been confused with) previously described subspecies (which we also elevate to full species here). The fourth species is endemic to the Caroline Islands, clearly derived from a long-distance dispersal event from the Philippines. The new species in the E. indeprensa species complex are allopatrically or parapatrically distributed across the archipelago. In contrast to the last review of Philippine Eutropis, which suggested the endemic radiation was composed of five species (one of which was composed of two subspecies), we demonstrate that this group includes at least 14 distinct evolutionary lineages, with potential for additional diversity to be discovered pending further study.

KEYWORDS: Cryptic species diversity, Eutropis borealis comb. nov., Eutropis caraga sp. nov., Eutropis cuprea sp. nov., Eutropis gubataas sp. nov., Eutropis islamaliit sp. nov., Eutropis lapulapu sp. nov., Eutropis multicarinata comb. nov., Eutropis palauensis sp. nov., Eutropis sahulinghangganan sp. nov., Eutropis sibalom sp. nov., Island archipelagos, lizard, Mabuya, morphology, Southeast Asia

Photos of species in the Eutropis multicarinata complex:
E. caraga from (A) Mount Lumot and (B) the Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao Island,
(C) E. borealis from the Visayan Islands (Siquijor Island), (D) E. palauensis (Ngarchelong, Palau),
and E. islamaliit from Lubang Island (E–F, KU 304013, an adult female, SVL = 79 mm).

Photos by Rafe M. Brown except (D) by Thibaud Aronson.

  facebook.com/CameronSilerLab

  CameronSiler.com

Eutropis borealis comb. nov., 

Eutropis caraga sp. nov., 

Eutropis cuprea sp. nov., 

Eutropis gubataas sp. nov., 

Eutropis islamaliit sp. nov., 

Eutropis lapulapu sp. nov., 

Eutropis multicarinata comb. nov., 

Eutropis palauensis sp. nov., 

Eutropis sahulinghangganan sp. nov., 

Eutropis sibalom sp. nov.

Anthony J. Barley, Arvin C. Diesmos, Cameron D. Siler, Christopher M. Martinez and Rafe M. Brown. 2020. Taxonomic Revision of Philippine Sun Skinks (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae: Eutropis), and Descriptions of Eight New Species. Herpetological Monographs. 34(1); 39-70. DOI: 10.1655/HERPMONOGRAPHS-D-19-00009.1

  CameronSiler.com/8-eutropis-skinks

  facebook.com/CameronSilerLab/posts/2727523670815031

 facebook.com/KierPitogo14/posts/3267245656627918

[Entomology • 2023] Anisandrus montanus, A. phithakpa, A. uniseriatus, etc. • New Species and newly recorded species of Anisandrus Ferrari, 1867 ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from Thailand

Anisandrus phithakpa 
Anisandrus uniseriatus 

Sittichaya, Smith & Beaver, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1182.105449 

 Researchgate.net/publication/374848764

Abstract

Five new species, Anisandrus montanus sp. nov., A. phithakpa sp. nov., A. tanaosi sp. nov., A. triton sp. nov., and A. uniseriatus sp. nov. are described from Thailand. Anisandrus carinensis (Eggers, 1923) is reported from Thailand for the first time and A. apicalis is removed from the Thai fauna. With the inclusion of the species described and recorded here, the diversity of Anisandrus is increased to 40 species, of which 11 occur in Thailand. A synoptic list and a key to the Anisandrus of Thailand are presented.

Key words: Key, new records, Oriental region, Thai fauna

Anisandrus montanus sp. nov. holotype female A dorsal view B postero-lateral view C lateral view D frons E declivital face.
Anisandrus phithakpa sp. nov. holotype female A dorsal view B postero-lateral view C lateral view D frons E antenna.

Anisandrus montanus sp. nov. holotype female
Anisandrus phithakpa sp. nov. holotype female
Anisandrus uniseriatus sp. nov. holotype female A dorsal view B lateral view C postero-lateral view D frons E venter and antennae F declivital face.

 Wisut Sittichaya, Sarah M. Smith and Roger A. Beaver. 2023. New Species and newly recorded species of Anisandrus Ferrari, 1867 ambrosia beetles from Thailand (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Xyleborini). ZooKeys. 1182: 289-306. 10.3897/zookeys.1182.105449

  Researchgate.net/publication/374848764_New_species_of_Anisandrus_from_Thailand

[Entomology • 2024] Panolcus filirostris • A second species of the Genus Panolcus Gerstaecker 1860 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Cryptorhynchini) from French Guiana and Suriname with Taxonomic Changes in Cryptorhynchini

Panolcus filirostris

Anderson. 2024

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5437.1.2

 

Abstract

A second species of the genus Panolcus Gerstaecker, 1860 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Cryptorhynchini) from French Guiana and Suriname is described and compared with Panolcus scolopax Gerstaecker, 1860. Diagnostic characters and images are provided to facilitate identification. Adults were collected in a fruit of Duguetia surinamensis R.E. Fr. (Annonaceae). The genus Panolcus is transferred from Aedemonina (Cryptorhynchini) to Cryptorhynchina (Cryptorhynchini). The type species of Thrasyomus Pascoe, 1880 is here designated as Thrasyomus tumens Pascoe, 1880 and the species Thrasyomus uniformis Champion, 1905 is transferred from the genus Thrasyomus to Eubulus Kirsch, 1869 as Eubulus uniformis (Champion, 1905), new combination.

Coleoptera, biodiversity, species discovery, weevils

female Panolcus filirostris, ventral.

 7–12. Panolcus male habitus and aedeagus images.
7, Panolcus filirostris habitus, lateral; 8, Panolcus filirostris habitus, dorsal; 9, Panolcus filirostris habitus, ventral; 10, Panolcus filirostris aedeagus, dorsal view; 11, Panolcus filirostris aedeagus, lateral view; 12, Panolcus scolopax aedeagus, dorsal view.

 Mature fruit of Duguetia surinamensis R.E. Fr. (Annonaceae) from which Panolcus filirostris specimens were collected (photograph by G. Bittencourt-Silva) 

Panolcus filirostris Anderson, new species 

Diagnosis:  Body  length  10.8–11.0  mm  in  females,  9.5–9.8  mm  in  males,  width  5.0–5.5  mm  in  females,  4.8–5.0 mm in males. Rostrum in female about twice as long as elytra, apex of rostrum reaching far beyond apex of elytra (by almost length of elytra) when in repose, of male, reaching to level of posterior margin of mesocoxae. Pronotum very strongly tubulate anteriorly in female, less so in male. Femora and tibiae proportionally slenderer in both sexes (although slightly less so in male), profemora about 4 x as long as width at base, protibiae about 7–8 x as long as maximum width. Protarsus with tarsomere 1 longer than tarsomeres 2–5 in female, shorter than tarsomeres 2–5 in male. Aedeagus with lateral margins subparallel, each with acute angle (but no tooth) at point of constriction.

Robert S. Anderson. 2024. A second species of the Genus Panolcus Gerstaecker 1860 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Cryptorhynchini) from French Guiana and Suriname with Taxonomic Changes in Cryptorhynchini.  Zootaxa. 5437(1); 15-20. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5437.1.2

[Herpetology • 2024] Oligodon speleoserpens • A New Species of Karst-associated Kukri Snake (Squamata: Colubridae: Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826) from southern Thailand

Oligodon speleoserpens  

Pawangkhanant, Poyarkov, Ward-Smith, Grassby-Lewis, Sumontha, Kliukin, Idiiatullina, Trofimets, Suwannapoom & Lee, 2024  

 

Cave Kukri Snake | งูปี่แก้วควนหิน  ||  DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e112132

Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant, and Harry Ward–Smith. 

 facebook.com/HarryWardSmith

Abstract

We describe a new species of kukri snake (Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826) from the limestone karst formations of Satun and Trang Provinces in southern Thailand. Phylogenetic analyses based on three mitochondrial DNA fragments (12S–16S ribosomal rRNA and cytochrome b) recover the new species within the Oligodon cinereus species complex, where it forms a deeply divergent yet poorly supported clade sister to Oligodon saiyok Sumontha et al., 2017 and another unnamed lineage currently referred to Oligodon cinereus (Günther, 1864) from southwest Myanmar. Morphologically, the new species is distinguished from all other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: ventral scales 189–193 with distinct lateral keeling; subcaudal scales 47–54, paired; anterior dorsal scale rows 17–19, with the reduction from 19 to 17 rows occurring above the 28th–30th ventral scale when present; maxillary teeth 8, blade-like and laterally compressed; dorsum olive–gray, plain; ventral surface white anteriorly, dark gray posteriorly; underside of tail dark gray, smeared with white. We briefly discuss the natural history and conservation status of this new species and provide observations of other kukri snakes inhabiting limestone karst habitats. Our study also incorporates genetic samples of four recently described Oligodon endemic to Thailand, all of which are recovered in the O. cinereus species complex. In agreement with previous studies, we demonstrate that species-level diversity within the O. cinereus species complex is underestimated, and additional sampling is necessary to revise this taxonomically challenging clade.

Keywords: Biodiversity, molecular phylogenetics, Serpentes, Southeast Asia, systematics, taxonomy, Thai–Malay Peninsula

 

Photographs of the holotype of Oligodon speleoserpens sp. nov. (ZMMU Re-17696, adult male) (a) dorsal and (b) ventral views in life. Photographs taken by Parinya Pawangkhanant.

Photographs of the holotype of Oligodon speleoserpens sp. nov. (ZMMU Re-17696, adult male)
(a) right lateral, (b) dorsal and (c) ventral views of the head in life; (d) partially everted hemipenes.
 Photographs by Parinya Pawangkhanant (a–c), and Mali Naiduangchan (d).

Oligodon speleoserpens sp. nov.

Diagnosis: O. speleoserpens sp. nov. is referred to the genus Oligodon based on the presence of enlarged blade-shaped maxillary teeth without a diastema, an elongate and subcylindrical body, and the presence of a large inflated rostral scale that blocks the internasal scales from contacting anteriorly (Wall 1923; Smith 1943; David et al. 2023). It is distinguished from all other Oligodon by the following combination of morphological characters: 1) head oblong-shaped with a truncated snout and slightly inflated rostral scale; 2) 8 maxillary teeth, with the posterior three teeth enlarged and blade-like; 3) dorsal scales in 19–17–15 rows (17–17–15 rows in one specimen); 4) reduction from 19 dorsal scale rows to 17 dorsal scale rows occurring at the 28th–30th ventral scale; 5) reduction from 17 dorsal scale rows to 15 dorsal scale rows occurring at the 100th–113th ventral scale; 6) cloacal plate entire; 7) 189–193 ventral scales (189–190 in male; 193 in female), distinctly keeled; 8) 47–54 paired subcaudal scales (47–54 in male; 48 in female); 9) 238–244 total body scales; 10) relative tail length 0.136–0.139 and subcaudal ratio 0.198–0.221; 11) 8 supralabials on either side of the head, with the fourth and fifth scales in contact with the orbit; 12) 9 infralabials on either side of the head with the first four scales in contact with the first pair of chin shields; 13) one loreal and one presubocular present; 14) 1+2 temporal scales; 15) dorsal color pattern uniform gray or grayish–brown without any markings or reticulations; 16) anterior half of ventral surface white with gray–brown irregularly shaped spots, posterior half immaculate dark gray, underside of tail splashed with white markings; 17) hemipenis bilobed with broad, awn-shaped lobes, simple sulcus spermaticus and smooth calyces.

Photographs (a) of the holotype of Oligodon speleoserpens sp. nov. (ZMMU Re-17696, adult male) in life; (b) habitat at the type locality, Tham Le Stegodon cave, Satun Province, Thailand; (c) paratype of Oligodon speleoserpens sp. nov. (ZMMU Re-17697, adult female) in life from Tham Khao Ting cave, Trang Province, Thailand; and (d) uncollected adult male specimen of Oligodon speleoserpens sp. nov. from the same locality as the paratype.

Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant (a, b), Nikolay A. Poyarkov (c), and Harry Ward–Smith (d).

Etymology: The species epithet “speleoserpens” is a compound name combining the Latinzed Greek noun “spēlēum”, meaning “cave” and the Latin noun “serpens [= serpentis]”, the present active participle of “serpō” meaning “to crawl or creep”, often used in reference to snakes. This roughly translates to “cave crawler” or “cave serpent”, an allusion to both the type locality and the discovery of the paratype. We recommend the English common name “Cave Kukri Snake” and the Thai common name “งูปี่แก้วควนหิน” (Ngu Pi Kaew Kuan Hin) for this species.

Parinya Pawangkhanant, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Harry Ward-Smith, Rupert Grassby-Lewis, Montri Sumontha, Nikita S. Kliukin, Sabira S. Idiiatullina, Alexei V. Trofimets, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom and Justin L. Lee. 2024. A New Species of Karst-associated Kukri Snake (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae: Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826) from southern Thailand. Vertebrate Zoology. 74: 359-379. DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e112132

 facebook.com/HarryWardSmith/posts/10232696954107521

[Crustacea • 2024] Indochinamon datii • A New Species of the Genus Indochinamon Yeo & Ng, 2007 (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamidae) and a new country record from Northern Vietnam

Indochinamon datii 

Dang, Hoang & Do, 2024

    

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5437.4.8

Abstract

A new species of freshwater crab, Indochinamon datii n. sp. is described from Xuan Son National Park, Phu Tho Province, Northern Vietnam. The new species external morphology is most similar to I. kimboiense (Dang, 1967) and I. bavi Naruse, Nguyen & Yeo, 2011. However, it can be distinguished from the other species by characters of the carapace, telson and male first gonopod. Indochinamon malipoense Zhang & Sun in Zhang, Pan, Hao & Sun, 2020 is also recorded for the first time in Vietnam.

Crustacea, Xuan Son National Park, Phu Tho Province, new record, taxonomy, Potamiscinae, Indochinamon malipoense, Indochinamon ahkense, karsts

 Indochinamon datii n. sp.

Khai Dang, Anh Tram Hoang and Cuong Do. 2024. A New Species of the Genus Indochinamon Yeo & Ng, 2007 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamidae) and a new country record from Northern Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 5437(4); 560-570. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5437.4.8

[Herpetology • 2021] Trimeresurus guoi • A New Species of Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 (Squamata: Viperidae) from Southwestern China, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar

Trimeresurus guoi Chen, Shi, Vogel & Ding, 

in Chen, Shi, Gao, Vogel, Song, Li Ding et Dai, 2021.

滇南竹叶青  |  Guo’s green pit viper  ||  งูเขียวหางไหม้ท้องเหลืองตาแดง  ||  www.ahr-journal.com 

Researchgate.net/publication/351088504

 

Abstract:

The pit vipers of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 is one of the largest groups of Asian snakes, distributed from India to China and Indonesia. Recent surveys in Jiangcheng and Simao, Yunnan Province, China resulted in a new species previously allocated to T. albolabris. Combining morphological and molecular data, we describe it as Trimeresurus guoi sp. nov. The new species morphologically differs from T. albolabris in the yellow green ventral color; an indistinct ventrolateral line; the absence of a postocular stripe; the firebrick-red iris; a dark red stripe on dorsal tail; hemipenes with relatively weak sparse papillae, reaching 23rd subcaudal when unextruded. Molecularly, the new species forms a clearly divergent lineage (BPP 1.00/ UFB 100). Uncorrected pairwise distances of mitochondrial gene Cyt b between the new species and other known species of the subgenus Trimeresurus range from 0.052 (T. albolabris) to 0.071 (T. insularis).

Keywords: morphology;  phylogenetics;  taxonomy;  Trimeresurus

Comparison of coloration between Trimeresurus guoi sp. nov. (Left) and T. albolabris (Right).
A and B: Different body pattern (yellow green vs. multicolor) in female;
C and D: Different ventrolateral line (absent vs. present) and postocular stripe (absent vs. present) in male;
E and F: Different ventral (yellow green vs. yellow).
Specimens of T. albolabris compared were colleted from Guanghzou, Guangdong Province, China.

Photographed by Shengchao SHI except B by Liang ZHANG.

Comparison in head scales and coloration between Trimeresurus guoi sp. nov. and T. albolabris.
 Left, doral view of head; right, lateral view of head. A, B, female of T. guoi sp. nov.; C, D, female of T. albolaris;
E, F, male of T. guoi sp. nov.; G, H, male of T. albolaris.
A, C, E and G: Different head shape (more elongated skull in new species) in both genders; B and D: Different iris color (firebrick-red vs. copper) in female; F and H: Different iris color (firebrick-red vs. copper) and postocular stripe (absent vs. present) in male.
Specimens of T. albolabris compared were colleted from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.

Photographed by Shengchao SHI except D by Liang ZHANG.

Trimeresurus guoi sp. nov. Chen, Shi, Vogel, and Ding

Diagnosis. (1) Dorsal body jungle-green with faint transverse dark bands on skin, ventral body yellow green. (2) Lateral head jungle-green above lower margin of eyes, and green yellow below, without postocular stripes. (3) Ventrolateral line of male yellow-green, narrow, only present on outermost row of dorsal scales. (4) Iris firebrick-red in both sexes. (5) First supralabial fused with nasal. (6) Head scales feebly keeled; dorsal scale row 23-21-15 (N = 10), feebly keeled except the outermost rows; ventral scale 154–163 in males (N = 6), 158–160 in females (N = 3); subcaudal scale 58–72 in males (N = 7), 52–59 in females (N = 3). (7) Hemipenes long, reaching 23rd/32nd subcaudals when unextruded/extruded, papillae relatively weak and sparse.

Etymology. The specific name is in honor of Dr. Peng Guo (Sichuan, China), the first researcher on the taxonomy and systematics of the genus Trimeresurus sensu lato through molecular analysis in China. We suggest the following common names as “Guo’s green pit viper” in English and “Diān Nán Zhú Yè Qīng (滇南竹叶青 )” in Chinese.

งูเขียวหางไหม้ท้องเหลืองตาแดง

Zening CHEN,  Shengchao SHI,  Jun GAO, Gernot VOGEL, Zhaobin SONG, Li DING and Rong DAI. 2021. A New Species of Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 (Squamata: Viperidae) from Southwestern China, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. Asian Herpetological Research. 11(4); 1-11.  DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.200084

 www.ahr-journal.com/en/oa/darticle.aspx?type=view&id=AHR-2020-0084

Researchgate.net/publication/351088504_A_New_Species_of_Trimeresurus_from China_Vietnam_Thailand_and_Myanmar