[PaleoMammalogy • 2025] Taotienimravus songi • A New ecomorph of Nimravidae, and the early Macrocarnivorous Niche Exploration in Carnivora

 

 Taotienimravus songi

 Jiangzuo, Lyras, Grohe, Werdelin, Niu, Huang, Li, Jiang, Fu, Wan, Liu, Wang & Deng, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.1686 

 Artwork by Yuefeng Song.

 

Abstract

Here, we describe a new ecomorph of Nimravidae, Taotienimravus songi gen. et sp. nov., from the middle Oligocene of eastern Asia. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the new species is closely related to Nimravus and Dinaelurus, and it represents a non-sabertooth ecomorph form with initial bone-cracking adaptation—a unique form among Nimravidae. An increase in body size among Nimravidae appears to have coincided with the demise of Oxyaenidae, another carnivorous clade in the Palaeogene. The initial emergence of macrocarnivorous adaptation of Carnivora by a felid-like ecomorph probably reflects competition dynamics. Nimravidae successfully occupied several ecological niches that were not exploited by Felidae, probably owing to the lack of competition within Carnivora during much of their evolutionary history. Our study underscores the role of both abiotic and biotic factors in shaping niche availability for these animals, emphasizing the need for discussions on niche change and evolution to be grounded in these considerations.

Keywords: eastern Asia, Oligocene, Taotienimravus, niche, sabertooth

  Life reconstruction of Taotienimravus songi gen. et sp. nov. in Chinese painting style.

 Artwork by Yuefeng Song.

 Mammalia Linnaeus 1758 

Carnivora Bowdich 1821 

Nimravidae Cope 1880 

Nimravinae Cope 1880 

Taotienimravus songi gen. et sp. nov. 

 

 Etymology: the generic name prefix Taotie is a fierce beast in ancient Chinese legend, referring to the large and robust dentition of the animal; the species name is in honour of the collector of the fossil specimen, Yuefeng Song, who donated the specimen to Yingliang Stone Natural History Museum and made it available for scientific research.

 Distribution and age: so far only known from the Qingshuiying Formation, Ningxia, northern China, late Early or early Late Oligocene, representing one of the youngest members of the subfamily Nimravinae. 

Qigao Jiangzuo; Georgios Lyras; Camille Grohe; Lars Werdelin ; Kecheng Niu; Dongting Huang; Shijie Li; Hao Jiang; Jiao Fu; Yang Wan; Jinyi Liu; Shi-Qi Wang and Tao Deng. 2025. A New ecomorph of Nimravidae, and the early Macrocarnivorous Niche Exploration in Carnivora. Proc Biol Sci. 292 (2059): 20251686. DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.1686 [26 Nov 2025]

[Herpetology • 2025] Adhaerobufo wokomungensis • A New Species of Adhaerobufo (Anura: Bufonidae) from the Wokomung Massif, Guyana, confirms A Key synapomorphy in its sister Genus Rhaebo

 

Adhaerobufo wokomungensis

Kok & Means, 2025

 

 DOI: doi.org/10.25225/jvb.25085

 

Abstract  

A new species of toad in the genus Adhaerobufo is described from the Wokomung Massif in the Pantepui region of Guyana, South America. The new species is morphologically similar to – and has previously been confused with – A. nasicus but is unique among Adhaerobufo in lacking a bright, conspicuous white stripe or white spots on the lower lip in adults in life, in lacking visible preorbital and pretympanic crests and in having tubercles between Fingers I-III in males and a small projecting prepollex in both sexes. An updated distribution map for A. nasicus is provided. The colour of parotoid macrogland secretions in Adhaerobufo is reported as a new diagnostic character to distinguish the genus from Rhaebo, its sister taxon.

KEYWORDS: Pantepui, parotoid macrogland secretions, systematics, taxonomy

Adhaerobufo wokomungensis sp. nov.  

Adhaerobufo nasicus (in part) Dias et al. 2024: 14

 

Etymology: Named after the type locality, the Wokomung Massif in west-central Guyana; adjective in the nominative case.

Definition and diagnosis: A bufonid of the genus Adhaerobufo as diagnosed based on 1) molecular phylogenetic evidence (Dias et al. 2024; Fig. 5), 2) white parotoid macrogland secretions (see Discussion and Fig. 1), and 3) suctorial tadpole (Dias et al. 2024). Adhaerobufo wokomungensis sp. nov. is characterised by the following morphological characters, the combination of which distinguishes it from the only two known congeners (A. ceratophrys and A. nasicus): 1) medium-sized toad with a robust body and a SVL of 41.6-45.3 mm in males (n = 2), 60.9 mm in the only known female, 2) snout pointed in dorsal view, round in lateral view, head slightly wider than long, 3) tympanum indistinct, 4) outer edge of the eyelid with rounded dermal projection, 5) low canthal crest, loreal region concave, 6) underlip lacking a bright, conspicuous white stripe or white spots in live adults, 7) preorbital, pretympanic and parietal crests absent, low supraorbital, low postorbital, low supratympanic crests present, 8) nostrils oval, directed posterolaterally, below the canthus rostralis, 9) single enlarged rictal tubercle absent, 10) choanae medium-sized, ovoid, ... 

Adhaerobufo wokomungensis sp. nov. in life.
A) Holotype (IRSNB4223, male, 45.3 mm snout-vent length), B) paratypes in situ, in amplexus (IRSNB4224, male, and IRSNB4225, female),
C) uncollected male, D) white parotoid macrogland secretions produced by the same specimen as illustrated in C. Photos D.B. Means.

Underlip condition in live Adhaerobufo nasicus (A – bright white; IRSNB15678), Adhaerobufo wokomungensis sp. nov. (B – unmarked; holotype, IRSNB4223) and Adhaerobufo ceratophrys (C – bright white; QCAZ55426). Note also the condition of the dermal projection on the outer edge of the eyelid and of the preorbital and pretympanic crests.

Photos P.J.R. Kok (A), D.B. Means (B), and courtesy Diego Quirola-BIOWEB,  https://bioweb.bio (C). Images not at scale.

Philippe J.R. Kok, D. Bruce Means. 2025. A New Species of Adhaerobufo (Amphibia, Bufonidae) from the Wokomung Massif, Guyana, confirms A Key synapomorphy in its sister Genus Rhaebo. Journal of Vertebrate Biology. 74 (25085), 25085.1-10. DOI: doi.org/10.25225/jvb.25085 (11 November 2025)

[Ornithology • 2025] Ptilorrhoa urrissia • A New Species of Jewel-babbler (Passeriformes: Cinclosomatidae: Ptilorrhoa) from the Southern Fold Mountains of Papua New Guinea

Ptilorrhoa urrissia

Woxvold, Gamui, Legra, Yama, Koane & Tulai, 2025

Hooded Jewel-babbler  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.1111/ibi.70016

Abstract

Based on distinctive morphological and vocal characters we describe a new species of jewel-babbler (genus Ptilorrhoa) from the forested karst of the Southern Fold Mountains in Papua New Guinea. The description is based on camera trap data and is presented in accordance with ICZN Declaration 45. The new species is currently known only from the type locality at the top of Iagifu Ridge (1335–1400 m above sea level), a limestone anticline isolated from the main body of New Guinea's central cordillera, where it is uncommon. Given the importance of competitive exclusion in determining Ptilorrhoa distributions, and the near ubiquitous occurrence of congeners, we speculate that Iagifu Ridge may support part of a highly fragmented population that occupies isolated low mountains that do not support Ptilorrhoa leucosticta of higher elevations. Potentially suitable sites may be restricted to the area between Mt Bosavi and Mt Karimui in southern Papua New Guinea.

Keywords: camera trap, ICZN Declaration 45, New Guinea, taxonomy

Camera trap images of the holotype and two paratype Ptilorrhoa urrissia, taken during a 3-month sampling period in a high-density array covering 0.5 ha (see Methods). The holotype (a–c, marked ‘h’ in (a)) and one paratype (a and d, marked ‘p’ in (a)), putative adult female and juvenile with female-type plumage, respectively, were photographed together on 1 January 2020; the images shown are part of a sequence of 20 photographs taken over a period of 87 s. The putative adult male paratype (e) was photographed less than 40 m away on 8 March 2020.

Other Ptilorrhoa urrissia images (a–e), at least some of which may represent the holotype and paratypes. (a, b) Putative adult male and female, respectively, photographed in a single sequence (27 s apart) on 8 February 2020. (c) Male photographed on 15 January 2020. (d) Video still of male delivering the call shown in Figure 6a,b.
(e) Male (background) and probable juvenile with female-type plumage photographed on 1 January 2020, less than 40 m distance from and 2 h before the holotype sequence shown in Figure 3a–d.
(f) Female Ptilorrhoa castanonota shown for size comparison; images (e) and (f) were taken on the same camera 56 min apart.

Ptilorrhoa urrissia, sp. nov.

Hooded Jewel-babbler

Diagnosis: Table 1 compares in detail the morphological features of adult P. urrissia with those of its congeners – P. geislerorum and the locally occurring subspecies of P. caerulescens, P. castanonota and P. leucosticta. Figure 5 shows examples of the compared taxa.

Etymology: The name ‘urrissia’ is a noun in apposition. ‘Uri urrissia’ (= ‘mount urrissia’) is the Namo Me (also known as Fasu) language name applied to Iagifu Ridge by the local Fasol clan landowners.

 

Ptilorrhoa urrissia habitat on Iagifu Ridge. (Iain Woxvold.)

Iain A. Woxvold, Banak G. Gamui, Leo Legra, Samson Yama, Bonny Koane and Salape Tulai. 2025. A New Species of Jewel-babbler (Cinclosomatidae: Ptilorrhoa) from the Southern Fold Mountains of Papua New Guinea. Ibis. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/ibi.70016 [26 November 2025] 

[PaleoOrnithology • 2025] Chromeornis funkyi • A new small-bodied longipterygid (Aves: Enantiornithes) from the Aptian Jiufotang Formation preserving unusual gastroliths

 

Chromeornis funkyi

O’Connor, Wang, Clark, Kuo, Davila, Wang, Zheng & Zhou, 2025 

 

DOI: doi.org/10.26879/1589 

Artwork: Sunny Dror

 

ABSTRACT

The Longipterygidae are a diverse group of small to medium sized enantiornithine birds with elongate rostra and distally restricted dentition known from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Lagerstätten. The largest taxon, Longipteryx, is known from dozens of specimens but comparatively little is known about small-bodied taxa, sometimes resolved in a subclade, the Longirostravinae. Here we describe a small longipterygid representing a new taxon, Chromeornis funkyi gen. et sp. nov., with a combination of features present in longirostravines and Longipteryx. Cladistic analysis indicates the new species is a member of the Longipteryginae, more closely related to Longipteryx than other longipterygids. The specimen preserves extensive soft tissue including traces of the eyes, skin, and feathers, as well as an unusual mass of gastroliths preserved appressed against the left lateral margin of the cervical vertebrae. Computed-tomography based comparison with the in situ gastric mill preserved in the sympatric ornithuromorphs Archaeorhynchus and Iteravis strongly suggests these gastroliths are not gizzard stones. The absence of a gastric mill in enantiornithines is consistent with pectoral girdle morphology that indicates limited flight capabilities in Early Cretaceous species suggesting ground take off, a necessity of collecting stones, was energetically costly compared to ornithuromorphs. Increases in body mass due to a large gastric mill may have further impeded volant locomotion resulting in a low cost-benefit tradeoff such that this structure was unlikely to evolve during early enantiornithine evolution.

 Keywords: Longipterygidae; new genus; new species; Jehol Biota; regurgitalite; gastrolith; Aves; Avialae.

Class AVES Linnaeus 1758

Clade ORNITHOTHORACES Chiappe 1995

Clade ENANTIORNITHES Walker 1981

Family LONGIPTERYGIDAE Zhang et al. 2000

Chromeornis funkyi gen. et sp. nov.

  

Etymology. Funky Chromeo bird, in honor of the Chromeo Funklordz P-Thugg and Dave 1, who like many birds, make beautiful music. Pronounced crow-me-OR-niss funk-e e.

Diagnosis. A small (estimated 33.5 g) longipterygid (rostrum ~60% of the skull or greater, distally restricted dentition, premaxillary corpus with elongate imperforate rostral end with parallel dorsal and ventral margins, robust pygostyle longer than tarsometatarsus, coracoid with straight lateral margin, humerus with narrow deltopectoral crest) enantiornithine (cranially forked pygostyle with ventrolateral processes, Y-shaped furcula with dorsally excavated rami, proximal humerus with small convex humeral head separated from the dorsal and ventral tubercles by concavities, minor metacarpal projecting farther distally than the major metacarpal, metatarsal IV reduced) distinguishable by the unique combination of the following characters: dentary straight; sternum with slightly splayed lateral trabeculae with asymmetrical fan-shaped distal expansions and short, straight intermediate trabeculae; hand shorter than humerus; alular digit short with small claw; second phalanx of major digit half the length of first phalanx; femur straight.

 Photographs of the counter slab of Chromeornis funkyi gen. et sp. nov. STM7-156.

 Scale bars equal one centimeter.

preserved with over 800 tiny rocks in its throat (visible as the gray mass next to the left of its neck bones). 

Close-up of the mass of rocks in the throat of Chromeornis (the rocks are the gray mass just to the left of the neck bones).  

An illustration showing Chromeornis funkyi gen. et sp. nov.  in life.

Artwork: Sunny Dror

  

Jingmai O’Connor, Xiaoli Wang, Alexander Clark, Pei-Chen Kuo, Ryan Davila, Yan Wang, Xiaoting Zheng, and Zhonghe Zhou. 2025. A new small-bodied longipterygid (Aves: Enantiornithes) from the Aptian Jiufotang Formation preserving unusual gastroliths. Palaeontologia Electronica. 28(3):a56. DOI: doi.org/10.26879/1589 

palaeo-electronica.org/content/2025/5712-longipterygid-enantiornithine-chromeornis

https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/current-in-press-articles/5713-longipterygid-enantiornithine-chromeornis

[Ichthyology • 2025] Gambusia nobilis, G. pyrros & G. echelleorum • A Total Evidence Approach justifies Taxonomic Splitting of the Endangered Pecos gambusia (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae: Gambusia) into Three Species

 Gambusia nobilis (Baird & Girard 1853)

Gambusia pyrros 
Gambusia echelleorum 

 Portnoy, Bretzing-Tungate, Fields, Bean, Smith, Dolan, Blanchard & Conway, 2025 

DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.251025

Abstract

Gambusia nobilis is a federally endangered species found across a fragmented distribution within the Pecos River Drainage of Texas and New Mexico, USA. Drought, human water usage, and potential hybridization and competition with introduced congeners threaten species persistence. Therefore, a population genomics study was conducted to provide critical information for conservation planning. Unsupervised clustering suggested hierarchical structure, with a primary K = 3, and deep divergences were detected among samples grouped into the Leon Creek watershed, the Toyah Creek watershed, and water bodies within the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge (F’ST = 0.55–0.76 for putatively neutral data). Phylogenetic analyses showed three distinct clades corresponding to these groups, with divergence times estimated to be in the last 50 000 years. Complimentary morphological analyses detected differences among the three groups, including features of male colour pattern, and the number of caudal-fin rays in both sexes. Taken as a whole, the results indicate that the endangered G. nobilis comprises three species (two of which are named herein as G. pyrros n. sp. and G. echelleorum n. sp.), rather than one, and the study highlights the daunting yet critical task of documenting species diversity during a period of unprecedented diversity loss.

Keywords: Chihuahua desert, genetic drift, taxonomy, Poeciliidae, species delimitation

Subjects:biology, evolution, genomics, taxonomy and systematics

Distribution and relationships of the Gambusia nobilis species complex.
  (a) Map showing distribution of G. nobilis, G. pyrros n. sp. and G. echelleorum n.sp. within Chihuahuan desert ecoregion of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. (b) Closer view of area surrounded by dashed rectangle (b) in (a), showing location of G. echelleorum samples from Bitter Lake watershed in New Mexio, type locality indicated by black asterisk (*). (c) Closer view of area surrounded by dashed rectangle (c) in (a), showing location of G. nobilis samples from Leon Creek watershed and G. pyrros samples from Toyah Creek watershed in Texas, type localities indicated by black asterisk (*).
(d) Clade equivalent to the Gambusia nobilis species complex from the Maximum Likelihood phylogram based on 5989 loci showing relationships of G. nobilis, G. pyrros and G. echelleorum, numbers above branches represent bootstrap values (full topology available in electronic supplementary material, figure S7). (e) Discriminant analysis of principal components using the unsupervised clustering algorithm, K-means (= 3), using 3502 single nucleotide polymorphism-containing loci and 212 individuals (G. nobilis, n = 63; G. pyrros, n = 79; G. echelleorum, n = 70). Basemap in (a) created with SimpleMappr. Satellite images in (b) and (c) obtained from Google Earth.

Male individuals of the three members of the Gambusia nobilis species complex photographed in life against different background and in different views (lateral and dorsal) to document variation in colour pattern.
(a) Left side, lateral view, against light grey background: (i) G. nobilis (TCWC 21102.01); (ii, iii) G. pyrros (TCWC 21103.02, paratypes); (iv) G. echelleorum (TCWC 21104.01, holotype); (v-vii) G. echelleorum (TCWC 21105.01, paratypes). (b) Left side, lateral view, against dark grey background: (i, ii) G. nobilis (TCWC 21102.01); (iii) G. pyrros (TCWC 21103.02, paratype); (iv) G. echelleorum (TCWC 21104.01, holotype); (v) G. echelleorum (TCWC 21105.01, paratype). (c) Dorsal view (background variable): (i, ii) G. nobilis (TCWC 21102.01); (iii, iv) G. pyrros (TCWC 21103.02, paratypes); (v) G. echelleorum (TCWC 21104.01, holotype); (vi) G. echelleorum (TCWC 21105.01, paratype

 Gambusia nobilis (Baird & Girard 1853)

  Gambusia pyrros new species

Diagnosis: A member of the Gambusia nobilis species group (sensu Rauchenberger [1989]) most similar to G. nobilis and G. echelleorum. The characters distinguishing G. pyrros from G. nobilis are listed in the diagnosis of the latter. Gambusia pyrros is distinguished from G. echelleorum by the same characters that distinguish G. nobilis from G. echelleorum, plus: body colour of males orange-red or yellow-orange (figures 1d and 2b(ii); electronic supplementary material, figure S8) (versus yellow-grey to light cream; figures 1d and 2b(iii); electronic supplementary material, figure S8), anal fin of male orange-red at base in life (figure 2d(ii)) (versus orange; figure 2d(iii)), a higher modal number of total caudal-fin rays (29–32, mode 31 versus 25–29, mode 27; figure 2e), a higher modal number of branched caudal-fin rays (12–15, mode 14 versus 9–14, mode 12).

Etymology: From the Greek pyrros, meaning flame-coloured, a reference to the bright yellow, orange and red colours of the median fins of males in life. A noun in apposition. Proposed common name: flame gambusia.

  Gambusia echelleorum new species

Diagnosis: A member of the Gambusia nobilis species group (sensu Rauchenberger [1989]) most similar to G. nobilis and G. pyrros. The characters distinguishing G. echelleorum from G. nobilis and G. pyrros are listed in the diagnoses provided for the latter two.

Etymology: Named for Alice and Anthony Echelle in honour of their work on Gambusia nobilis. A noun in the genitive. Proposed common name: New Mexico Gambusia.

David S. Portnoy; Robert J. Bretzing-Tungate; Andrew T. Fields; Megan G. Bean; Ryan K. Smith; Elizabeth P. Dolan; Rose Blanchard and Kevin W. Conway. 2025. A Total Evidence Approach justifies Taxonomic Splitting of the Endangered Pecos gambusia into Three Species. R Soc Open Sci. (2025) 12 (11): 251025. DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.251025 [26 Nov 2025]

 

[Botany • 2025] Balanophora xinfeniae (Orobanchaceae) • A New Species from Xizang, China

Balanophora xinfeniae C.L. Fu, M. Li & B. Xu, 

in Fu, Zhou, Liao, Zhang, Xu et Li, 2025. 

信芬蛇菰 | DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.266.147400

 

Abstract

Balanophora xinfeniae C.L.Fu, M.Li & B.Xu, a new species discovered in Xizang, China, is described and illustrated here. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons strongly support B. xinfeniae as a new species within the genus Balanophora. The most distinctive characteristic of the new species is its dioecious sexual system, with male flowers having a 3-lobed perianth, opposite leaves with serrated tips, and yellow scapes. Although it shares morphological similarities with B. henryi, B. xinfeniae can be distinguished by its flat spheroid tubers without stellate lenticels, yellow scape, prominently serrated apical leaf margins, and nearly spherical or ovoid-ellipsoid female inflorescences.

Key words: Balanophora xinfeniae, China, holoparasitic plants, phylogeny, taxonomy

Line illustration of Balanophora xinfeniae C.L. Fu, M. Li & B. Xu.
 A. Male individual; B. Male flower; C. Female individual; D. Female flowers surrounding one claviform body.
Drawn by Zi-Heng Yu based on YLZB11691-A and YLZB11691-B specimens stored in CDBI.

Balanophora xinfeniae C.L. Fu, M. Li & B. Xu.
 A, B. Habitats (both male and female; arrows point to female individuals); C. Female individual (upper) and male individual (lower); D. Male individual; E. Female individual; F. Leaves and scape; G. Leaves; H. Tuber; I. Male inflorescence; J. Female inflorescence; K. Female flower and claviform body.

Photos by Meng Li and Chen-Long Fu.

Morphology of Balanophora xinfeniae (A–C), B. henryi (D–F),
B. involucrata (G–I), and B. flava (J–M).
A, D, G, J, K. Male and female individuals; B, E, H, L. Leaves; C, F, I, M. Tubers.

Photos by Meng Li and Wei-Hua Liao.

 Balanophora xinfeniae C.L.Fu, M.Li & B.Xu, sp. nov.

  

Diagnosis. Balanophora xinfeniae is morphologically similar to B. henryi, but the two species can be distinguished by several features. The tuber branching shape of B. xinfeniae is characterized as flat spheroid or subglobose, whereas that of B. henryi is irregularly spherical or oblate. The scapes of B. xinfeniae are yellow, in contrast to the red or red-to-yellow scapes of B. henryi. In B. xinfeniae, the apical margins of the leaves are prominently serrate, whereas those of B. henryi are entire. The female inflorescence of B. xinfeniae is nearly spherical or ovoid-ellipsoid, while that of B. henryi is broadly ovoid. The flowering period of B. xinfeniae is from April to May, compared to September to November for B. henryi (Table 2; Fig. 2).

Etymology. The species epithet xinfeniae honors Prof. Xin-Fen Gao (former curator of the CDBI Herbarium), a distinguished botanist who made significant contributions to the taxonomy of seed plants, lycopods, and pteridophytes.

Vernacular name. Chinese Mandarin: Xìn fēn shé gū (信芬蛇菰).

Chen-Long Fu, Jia-Ning Zhou, Wei-Hua Liao, Tong Zhang, Bo Xu and Meng Li. 2025. Balanophora xinfeniae (Balanophoraceae), A New Species from Xizang, China. PhytoKeys. 266: 241-252. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.266.147400 [19 Nov 2025]

[Botany • 2025] Rubus tianmuensis (Rosaceae) • A New Species from southeastern Anhui Province, China

Rubus tianmuensis K. Zhang & Yong F. Yin, 

in Yin, Yi et Zhang, 2025. 

天目悬钩子 | DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.732.2.6

 

Abstract

Rubus tianmuensis, a newly discovered species belonging to the genus Rubus and Rosaceae family, is native to the Tianmu Mountains in southeastern Anhui Province. Genetically, it is related closely to R. chingii; however, several key morphological features position R. tianmuensis apart from R. chingii. Morphological analysis indicated that R. tianmuensis is characterized by persistently pedate leaves (vegetative and reproductive) with differentiated terminal leaflets on distinct petiolules, a trait consistently observed in both wild populations and cultivated specimens under under standard growth conditions. Additionally, the pedicels exhibit dense pubescence comprising short glandular trichomes and recurved prickles. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences confirmed the distinctiveness of this new species from R. chingii.

Rubus tianmuensis, Flora of China, Rosaceae, Rubus, Eudicots

Rubus tianmuensis K. Zhang & Yong F. Yin.
 A. Flowering branch (showing the flowering leaf shape). B. Vegetative branch (showing leaf shape during the vegetative period). C. Upper part of the pedicel (showing the glandular and pubescent hairs). D. Lower part of the pedicel (showing the prickle). E. Stipules of flowering branches. F. Flower.

Drawn by LiMing Zhang.

Rubus tianmuensis K. Zhang & Yong F. Yin.
A. Habitat. B. Leaf shape. C. Flowering branch. D. Flower. E. Upper part of the pedicel (showing the glandular and pubescent hairs). F. Fruit branch. G. Fruit. H. Seed. I. Stipules on flowering branches. J. Vegetative plant. K. Vegetative branch (showing leaf shape during the vegetative period). L. Local close-up of a leaf on the vegetative branch (showing the petiolule).

Rubus tianmuensis K. Zhang & Yong F. Yin, sp. nov.

 (天目悬钩子)  

 Type:—CHINA. Anhui Province: Jixi County, Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve, at the edge of the hillside forest, 30°__N, 118°__E, alt. 778m, March, 28, 2019, K. Zhang & Yong F. Yin, R190328001 (holotype, ACM! ACM1903280011; isotype, ACM! ACM1903280012). 

Diagnosis:—Rubus tianmuensis differs from R. chingii in several key morphological features. R. chingii has simple, palmately lobed leaves with five deep lobes, whereas the new species has compound, pedately divided leaves, with the terminal leaflet having a distinct petiolule. Additionally, the leaves of R. chingii are either hairy only along the veins or nearly glabrous on both sides, whereas the new species’ leaves are slightly pubescent on both sides. The stipules of R. chingii are linear lanceolate, whereas the stipules of the flowering branches in the new species are lanceolate, wider than those of R. chingii, and distinctly hairy. Furthermore, R. chingii has glabrous pedicels, whereas the pedicels of the new species are covered with distinct hairs, short glandular hairs, and hooked spines. These distinguishing features clearly delineate the two species.

Etymology:—Species name is derived from the mountain Tianmu where Rubus tianmuensis was discovered (天 目悬钩子).

Yongfei YIN, Shanyong YI and Ke ZHANG. 2025. Rubus tianmuensis (Rosaceae), A New Species from southeastern Anhui Province, China. Phytotaxa. 732(2); 193-202. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.732.2.6 [2025-12-04] 

[Paleontology • 2025] Falciscaris mumakiana • A New giant nektobenthic radiodont benthivore (Radiodonta: Hurdiidae) from the Early Ordovician Fezouata Biota in Morocco

 

Falciscaris mumakiana 

Potin, Claisse, Trébaol, Gueriau, Wu, Pates & Daley, 2025

 DOI: doi.org/10.4202/app.01278.2025 

 Researchgate.net/publication/398154837

Artwork by Alexis Trébaol

The Fezouata Shale Formation is an Early Ordovician Lagerstätte that preserved exceptionally detailed records of complex marine ecosystems, making it crucial for understanding the early evolution of animal life. It has yielded the youngest known community of radiodonts to date. This group is particularly well known from the Cambrian, with iconic representatives such as Anomalocaris, which are emblematic of the Cambrian explosion. Here we describe a new radiodont from the Fezouata Biota, Falciscaris mumakiana gen. et sp. nov. based on seven specimens of isolated frontal appendages. These appendages bear long endites with large and robust auxiliary spines, suggesting they were adapted for foraging through sediment in search of prey. The appendages of F. mumakiana gen. et sp. nov. can be relatively large compared to the majority of radiodont appendages, with endites reaching up to 11.4 cm in length, suggesting a total body size exceeding one meter for this Ordovician radiodont. In contrast, smaller specimens can be up to 10 times smaller, indicating ontogenetic stages during which the frontal appendage morphology changes little. Following the “Ordovician Plankton Revolution”, the proliferation of planktonic resources and enhanced pelagic-benthic coupling during this period likely allowed for the rise of giant suspension-feeding radiodonts, such as the Aegirocassisinae and F. mumakiana gen. et sp. nov., the new giant benthivore. In term of taxonomic diversity, benthivores radiodonts remain a minor component of radiodont diversity in the Fezouata Biota compared to the more dominant suspension feeders.

Key words: Panarthropoda, Radiodonta, Hurdiidae, gigantism, benthivores, feeding evolution, Fezouata Shale, Early Ordovician.

Superphylum Panarthropoda Nielsen, 1995 

Order Radiodonta Collins, 1996 

Family Hurdiidae Lerosey-Aubril & Pates, 2018

Hurdiid radiodont Falciscaris mumakiana gen. et sp. nov. frontal appendage, 
from the Fezouata Shale Formation, Lower Ordovician, Morocco.
YPM IP 516782a/b, holotype and paratypes 

 Genus Falciscaris nov.

Etymology: From Latin falx (genitive falcis), scythe, in recognition of the strongly curved shape of the endites tips; and Latinised Greek caris, crab, commonly used in arthropod taxonomy.

Falciscaris mumakiana sp. nov.  

 Etymology: Mûmak (plural mûmakil) is a fantasy elephant-like animal from the Tolkien universe Lord of the Rings. They are described as giant animals and are depicted in the third part of the movie trilogy as having 4 long curved tusks equipped with spines, looking like the curved and spiny endite of Falciscaris mumakiana gen. et sp. nov. 

Diagnosis.—Hurdiidae frontal appendage with at least seven podomeres: one proximal, five intermediate and one distal. Proximal podomeres rectangular, taller than long. At least six laminiform endites are present, long ones on five intermediate podomeres and a shorter one distally. Intermediate endites over twice the height of podomeres, all ending in a strongly curved, hook-like tip. Each endite bears dorsally curved auxiliary spines in at least three sizes, alternating such that spines of the same size are never adjacent.

Artistic life reconstruction of the hurdiid radiodont Falciscaris mumakiana gen. et sp. nov. 
Apart from the frontal appendages, the reconstruction is based on other related hurdiids.

by Alexis Trébaol

Gaëtan J.-M. Potin, Pénélope Claisse, Alexis Trébaol, Pierre Gueriau, Yu Wu, Stephen Pates, and Allison C. Daley. 2025. A New giant nektobenthic radiodont benthivore from the Early Ordovician Fezouata Biota in Morocco. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 70(4). 709-722. DOI: doi.org/10.4202/app.01278.2025 

 Researchgate.net/publication/398154837_A_new_giant_nektobenthic_radiodont_benthivore_from_the_Early_Ordovician_Fezouata_Biota_in_Morocco

[Botany • 2025] Angiopteris guangdongensis (Marattiaceae) • A New Species From Guangdong, China

 

Angiopteris guangdongensis Wufeng Chen and Y.H. Yan,  

in W.-F. Chen, Sun, L.-J. Chen, Shu, Liang, Zheng et Yan, 2025.  

 广东观音座莲  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72447 

ABSTRACT

In this study, we confirm that the population of Angiopteris from Guangdong Province represents a distinct new species, which we describe as Angiopteris guangdongensis. Morphologically, A. guangdongensis resembles Angiopteris fokiensis but can be distinguished by its arborescent habit (reaching up to 5 m in height), robust scaly stipes, linear-lanceolate pinnules, abaxially scaly slender pinnules, sori with 7–16 sporangia, and a higher basal pinnule aspect ratio. Plastid phylogenomic analyses place A. guangdongensis as a monophyletic lineage sister to A. fokiensis. According to IUCN guidelines, the species is preliminarily assessed as ‘Data Deficient (DD)’. In addition, we report the complete plastid genome of this new species. This discovery not only provides important insights into the evolution and speciation of Angiopteris but also highlights the taxonomic oversimplification within the genus.

Keywords: ferns, Marattiaceae, morphology, phylogeny, plastid genome, taxonomy

Angiopteris guangdongensis Wufeng Chen and Y.H. Yan, sp. nov.
 (A) Habit; (B) pinnule; (C) detail of pinnule; (D) spore; (E) scale on the abaxial surface of the pinnule; (F) scale on the abaxial surface of the pinna rachis.

Angiopteris guangdongensis Wufeng Chen and Y.H. Yan, sp. nov.
(A) Habitat; (B) lamina; (C) pinnae; (D) rhizome and stipe; (E) sporangia.

Photographs by Jin-Gang Liu (A–E).

Angiopteris guangdongensis Wufeng Chen and Y.H. Yan, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Angiopteris guangdongensis is similar to both A. fokiensis (type locality: Fujian Province, China) and A. muralis (type locality: Guangdong Province, China), but it can be distinguished by the following diagnostic characters: (1) arborescent habit, 3–5 m tall (vs. 2–4 m in A. fokiensis and 2–3 m in A. muralis); (2) robust stipes, 9 cm in diameter, densely scaly (vs. 6 cm, sparsely scaly in both species); (3) linear-lanceolate pinnules (vs. lanceolate in A. fokiensis; ovate, lanceolate, acuminate in A. muralis); (4) pinnules densely scaly on the abaxial surface (vs. glabrous in A. fokiensis and sparsely scaly in A. muralis); (5) higher basal pinnule AR (Figures 5-8; Table 2).

Etymology: The specific epithet guangdongensis refers to Guangdong Province, China, the geographical origin of the type specimen. The species shows narrow endemism, being restricted to this region based on current distribution records.

Vernacular name: 广东观音座莲 (guang dong guan yin zuo lian).

 

Wu-Feng Chen, Wei-Yue Sun, Li-Jun Chen, Jiang-Ping Shu, Jun-Jie Liang, Yue-Bing Zheng and Yue-Hong Yan. 2025. Angiopteris guangdongensis (Marattiaceae): A New Species From Guangdong, China. Ecology and Evolution.15(11);  DOI: doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72447 [09 November 2025]

[Botany • 2025] Thismia selangorensis (Thismiaceae) • A New mitriform Species of Thismia sect. Geomitra from Selangor, Malaysia

 

Thismia selangorensis  Siti-Munirah & Gim Siew,  

in Siti-Munirah, Siew, Mat-Tahir et Azhar, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.267.157968 

Abstract

Thismia selangorensis, a distinct mitriform species of the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia, is described herein. It was first discovered in a tree hole on a riverbank in Taman Eko Rimba Sungai Chongkak, Selangor, Malaysia. This new species is superficially similar to members of Thismia section Geomitra in that it has coralliform roots, inner tepals forming a mitre with three appendages on top, and stamens with a prominent dorsal rib. However, T. selangorensis differs from known species of T. sect. Geomitra in several morphological features, including the colour of the flowers, the shape of the mitre, the shape of the inner tepal lobes forming the mitre, and the presence of translucent reticulation on the inner surface of the floral tube. Thismia selangorensis is provisionally classified as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

Key words: Ecopark, endemic, Geomitra, mitre, achlorophyllous plant, Southeast Asian flora, taxonomy

Thismia selangorensis.
 A. Plants with flowers and roots; B. Top view of mitre (inner tepals); C. Side view of inner tepal; D. Ovary, stigma, and style; E. Floral tube with mitre removed and minute triangular outer tepal; F. Longitudinal section of floral tube with three stamens; G. Outer view of three pendulous stamens; H, I. View of inner side of floral tube, upper part (H), lower part (I); J. Bract; K. Leaf. Drawn by Mohammad Aidil Nordin from the spirit material (FRI 79179 & 79180).

Thismia selangorensis.
A. A plant with full flower and coralliform roots; A1. Claviform tip of mitre appendage; B. Outer tepal and filaments; C. Inner tepal forming a mitre; D. Floral tube and mitre; E. Mitre viewed from above; F. Floral tube with ovary and flower bud surrounded by bracts and tepals split on apex; G. Longitudinal section of floral tube, showing inner part (H); H. Inner surface of floral tube; I. Top view of stamens; J. Inner view of a stamen; K. Outer view of a stamen; L. Six stamens viewed from below; M. Stigma. Photos by Siti-Munirah MY and Mohd Faizal; all from FRI 79179 & 79180; images not to scale (see dimensions in description and Fig. 2).

Thismia selangorensis in its natural habitat.
A. Young flower that is not yet fully developed (uncollected plant); B. Mature flower living just beside the roots of a tree buttress (uncollected plant); C. A clump of T. selangorensis at different stages in its natural habitat (FRI 79182); D. A clump of flowers showing a different stage of mitre (FRI 79179 & FRI 79180). Photos by Gim Siew (A–C) and Mohd Faizal (D).

 Thismia selangorensis Siti-Munirah & Gim Siew, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Thismia selangorensis differs from other species of Thismia sect. Geomitra in the following combinations of characteristics: the flower is white to brownish with peach colouration; the distal part of inner tepals is arrow-like with distinct basal lobes, perfectly connate to each other when young, partly splitting on the sutures with age; mitre is wide and resembling a large umbrella, convex and trilobed when viewed from above in younger flowers, flat and irregularly hexalobed in old flowers.

 Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah, Tan Gim Siew, Mohd Faizal Mat-Tahir and Ahmad Azhar. 2025. Thismia selangorensis (Thismiaceae): A New mitriform Fairy Lantern Species from Selangor, Malaysia.  PhytoKeys. 267: 9-21. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.267.157968 [28 Nov 2025]

[Herpetology • 2025] Hemidactylus kalinga • A New Species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Northern Eastern Ghats, Odisha, India

 

 Hemidactylus kalinga

Mohapatra, Ray, Das, Bhupathi, Sarkar, Mohalik, Nair & Dutta, 2025 

Kalinga rock gecko | DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.38.e175753

Abstract

We describe a new species of large-bodied, rock-dwelling gecko of the genus Hemidactylus from the Eastern Ghats of Odisha, India. The new species is genetically distinct, as already indicated in previous studies, and differs from all other congeners in a combination of morphological characters, such as dorsal scalation of small granules intermixed with large, pointed, trihedral tubercles that form 15–19 fairly regularly arranged longitudinal rows at midbody; 9–11 subdigital lamellae below the first and 12–14 below the fourth digit; 22–26 femoral pores separated by five poreless scales in males; and 11–13 supralabials and 9–11 infralabials. The new species is from the Eastern Ghats clade of large-bodied, tuberculated Hemidactylus and can be readily diagnosed morphologically from the two sister species, H. sushilduttai and H. kangerensis, in having characters such as the second postmental distinct and ~70% of the first postmental; the first postmental touching infralabial I and the second postmental touching infralabials I and II; and one post-cloacal spur on each side. The new species is distributed in the northern Eastern Ghats range of Odisha, inhabiting moist and dry deciduous forests and rock boulders and occasionally entering human habitations.

Key Words: Deccan Peninsula, Eastern Highlands, Hemidactylus kangerensis, Hemidactylus sushilduttai, morphology, taxonomy

Live uncollected specimen of Hemidactylus kalinga sp. nov.
A. Juveniles showing variant colouration; B. An individual preying on Gryllotalpa africana.

 Hemidactylus kalinga sp. nov.

Diagnosis. A large-sized and tuberculated Hemidactylus, SVL up to 105.4 mm (n = 6). Dorsal pholidosis heterogeneous, composed of subcircular granular scales intermixed with enlarged, fairly regularly arranged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles in 15–19 longitudinal rows, extending from occiput to tail base, that are heterogeneous in shape and size; enlarged tubercles on the two most medial parasagittal rows smaller, 27–30 tubercles in paravertebral rows; those on dorsolateral aspect of flank largest, gradually decreasing in size downwards, last two rows on flank marginally larger or equal to medial parasagittal rows, weakly keeled. Ventrolateral folds indistinct; about 32–35 scale rows across the belly. Digits with enlarged scansors, lamellae in straight transverse series, all divided except the apical and 1–3 basal lamellae, 9–12 lamellae beneath first digit and 12–14 beneath fourth digit of manus and pes. Males with 22–26 femoral pores on each side separated by five poreless scales. Tail with much enlarged, strongly keeled, conical tubercles forming whorls; median row of subcaudal plates large, covering almost entire portion of the tail; single postcloacal spur of unequal size on each side that are smooth and much smaller than dorsal tubercles at mid-body. Dorsal coloration rusty-brown with four transversely arranged light bands, edged with black or dark brown, between the occiput and sacrum; head lighter than body in life, with a narrow lighted collar edged by dark brown that is continuous with the post-ocular marking.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a toponym for the Kalinga Ghati, the Eastern Ghats hill ranges in the Kandhamal District of Odisha, and the type locality of the species. Furthermore, the present known distribution range of the species is within the historical “Kalinga Kingdom”, comprising present-day south Odisha. The specific name is a noun in apposition to the generic name.

Suggested common English name. Kalinga rock gecko.

 Pratyush P. Mohapatra, Sumidh Ray, Ashis K. Das, Bharath Bhupathi, Vivek Sarkar, Rakesh K. Mohalik, Manoj V. Nair and Sushil K. Dutta. 2025. A New Species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the Northern Eastern Ghats, Odisha, India. Herpetozoa. 38: 365-378. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.38.e175753 [01-12-2025]