[PaleoIchthyology • 2024] Miaojiaaspis dichotomus • A New Genus of galeaspids (Eugaleaspiformes: Tujiaaspidae) from the early Silurian Chongqing Lagerstätte, China

 

Miaojiaaspis dichotomus 

Chen, Li, Zhou, Shan, Y.-A. Zhu, Wang, Wei & M. Zhu, 2024

 https://www.vertpala.ac.cn/EN/10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.240820 

 

The early Silurian Chongqing Lagerstätte (middle Telychian) yields exceptionally preserved articulated jawless and jawed fishes. Here, we describe a new eugaleaspiform (Galeaspida, jawless stem-Gnathostomata), Miaojiaaspis dichotomus gen. et sp. nov., from the Chongqing Lagerstätte in Xiushan, Chongqing, China. The new form resembles Tujiaaspis vividus in the short medial dorsal canal, and the presence of the branching ends of the lateral transverse canal. They differ in that T. vividus has highly developed subordinate branches of the sensory canals that form a reticulate sensory canal system, and the median dorsal opening is more elongated. Our phylogenetic analysis recovers M. dichotomus and T. vividus as a monophyletic clade (Tujiaaspidae fam. nov.), which is supported by two synapomorphies: the short medial dorsal canal, and the branching ends of the lateral transverse canal. Tujiaaspidae forms a trichotomy with Shuyuidae and a clade comprising Anjiaspis, Sinogaleaspidae, Yongdongaspidae, and the ‘eugaleaspid cluster’. The sensory canal patterns in galeaspids are compared to show the transformation sequence of the sensory canal system in Eugaleaspiformes.

Photographs (A, C) and interpretative drawings (B, D) of Miaojiaaspis dichotomus gen. et sp. nov. from Xiushan, Chongqing
A, B. an incomplete internal mold of the headshield with the trunk articulated, CIGMR V0125a; C, D. an incomplete external mold of the headshield with the trunk articulated, holotype, CIGMR V0125b

Subclass Galeaspida Tarlo, 1967

Order Eugaleaspiformes (Liu, 1965) Liu, 1980

Family Tujiaaspidae fam. nov.

Type genus Tujiaaspis Gai et al., 2022.

Referred genus Miaojiaaspis gen. nov.

Differential diagnosis Tujiaaspidae differs from other families of Eugaleaspiformes in the short medial dorsal canal, and the branching ends of the lateral transverse canal.

Remarks Our phylogenetic analysis shows that M. dichotomus and T. vividus form a monophyletic clade supported by two synapomorphies.

Genus Miaojiaaspis gen. nov.

Type species Miaojiaaspis dichotomus sp. nov.

Etymology From Miaojia, Pinyin for the Miao People, a minority ethnic group in China, which is one of the two main autonomous minority ethnic groups in Xiushan County, Chongqing, and aspis (Gr.), shield.

Differential diagnosis M. dichotomus differs from T. vividus in a more subtriangular headshield, no highly developed subordinate branches of sensory canals and a shorter median dorsal opening.

Miaojiaaspis dichotomus sp. nov.

Holotype An incomplete headshield with the trunk articulated, CIGMR V0125a, b (Figs. 2–3).

Referred specimens 8 complete headshields, CIGMR V0126–V0129, IVPP V28714–V28717 (Fig. 4).

Etymology From dichotomus (Latin), referring to the dichotomous ends of the lateral transverse canals.

Diagnosis Small-sized eugaleaspiform fish with a subtriangular headshield. Spine-shaped cornual and inner cornual processes caudo-laterally or caudally oriented. Longitudinal oval-like median dorsal opening. Pineal opening positioned behind the posterior margin of the orbits. Funnel-shaped supraorbital canals. Short medial dorsal canal. 

 

CHEN Yang, LI Qiang, ZHOU Zheng-Da, SHAN Xian-Ren, ZHU You-An, WANG Qian, WEI Guang-Biao, ZHU Min. 2024. A New Genus of galeaspids (jawless stem-Gnathostomata) from the early Silurian Chongqing Lagerstätte, China. Vertebrata Palasiatica. 62(4); 245-261.  DOI: 10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.240820 

 https://www.vertpala.ac.cn/EN/10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.240820 

[Herpetology • 2024] Cyrtodactylus belanegara • Another New Bent-Toed Gecko of the Cyrtodactylus marmoratus Group (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from West Java, Indonesia

 

Cyrtodactylus belanegara

Riyanto, Hikmah, Amarasinghe, Abinawanto & Hamidy, 2024

  

DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-24-00023 

http://www.thasun.info

ABSTRACT 

We describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus from Sentul, a suburb of Bogor City, West Java, Indonesia that belongs to the C. marmoratus species group. The new species is the fourth Cyrtodactylus reported from Java. It is small (SVL 46.3–53.8 mm) and nocturnal. A combination of the following characteristics distinguishes the new species from all other congeners: supralabials 11–13; infralabials 9–11; tubercles on the dorsal surface of upper arm absent; tubercles on ventrolateral body folds present; longitudinal dorsal tubercle rows 18–20; paravertebral tubercles 27–34; ventral scale rows 37–40 at midbody; grooved precloacal depression in males; enlarged precloacofemoral scales present, containing 12 or 13 precloacal pores and 2–4 femoral pores; separated by 5–7 normal scales; subdigital lamellae on fourth toe 18–23; and enlarged transverse median subcaudals absent. The new species is genetically divergent from the other two Javan congeners of the C. marmoratus group—C. marmoratus and C. semiadii—with genetic divergences (p-distances) of 21.3–22.3% in the mitochondrial ND2 gene.

Cyrtodactylus belanegara sp. nov. 

Etymology: The specific epithet is a compound noun in apposition and refers to belanegara (in the Indonesian language), composed with the adjective ‘‘bela’’ (= defending) and the noun ‘‘negara’’ (= country). The name refers to the mission of the Indonesia Defense University, where the new species has been found.

English name: Defending Bent-toad Gecko

Indonesian (local) name: Cecak Jarilengkung belanegara

 

Awal Riyanto; Isna A. Hikmah; A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe; A. Abinawanto and Amir Hamidy. 2024. Another New Bent-Toed Gecko of the Cyrtodactylus marmoratus Group (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from West Java, Indonesia. Herpetologica. 80(4); 358–367. DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-24-00023  

http://www.thasun.info/Discoveries/31-iCyrtodactylus-belanegarai.html

 

[Herpetology • 2024] Platyceps gallagheri, P. hajarensis & R. masirae • Three New Cliff Racer Species (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Sultanate of Oman and Zoogeographic Traits of its Herpetofauna

Platyceps hajarensis

Schätti, Tillack, Stutz & Kucharzewski, 2024

DOI: doi.org/10.35929/RSZ.0132  

 Abstract 

This study investigates the distribution and geographic variation of East Arabian taxa of the Platyceps rhodorachis complex. Platyceps hajarensis sp. nov. from the Eastern Oman Mountains and their periphery deviates in morphological characters from P. r. rhodorachis (Jan, 1863) distributed beyond the Gulf (Iran) and P. gallagheri sp. nov. of the Ras Musandam area. Cliff racers from Masirah Island and central Al-Wusta (P. masirae sp. nov.) considerably differ vis-à-vis polymorphic P. hajarensis and Dhofar populations with as yet unresolved taxonomic status. Morphologically, the latter are most similar to East Yemen cliff racers. The distribution of the new Omani taxa is compared to geographic patterns observed among the regional terrestrial herpetofauna. Ranges of certain southern Arabian reptiles and the systematics of P. variabilis (Boulenger, 1905) are briefly reviewed.

KEYWORDS: Platyceps spp. nov., Dhofar, Hajar, Masirah, Musandam, Endemism, systematics, P. variabilis

Platyceps gallagheri sp. nov.

Gallagher's Cliff Racer

Diagnosis: Ventrals 243-245, subcaudals ≥141 (n=1, extreme tail tip possibly missing), sum ≥386 (1); a single subocular (presubocular or postsubocular absent); neck transversely patterned; 19-19-13 dsr, first transverse reduction level lateral or paravertebral; 18 maxillary teeth.

Etymology: The species name honours Michael Desmond Gallagher (1921-2014), the collector of the holotype and an unlocated Khasab specimen, for his invaluable impact on the investigation of reptiles in the Sultanate of Oman and the support he offered to this project.

Platyceps hajarensis sp. nov. (♂ holotype, MHNG 2664.71) from Fanjah, Ad-Dakhiliyah, Sultanate of Oman.

Platyceps hajarensis sp. nov.

Hajar Cliff Racer

Diagnosis: Ventrals usually 226-235 (as few as at least 222 along Gulf of Oman), subcaudals 126-140, sum usually 354.5-374 (as few as 349); usually a single subocular (presubocular uncommon, postsubocular absent); barred or banded at least on neck (zipper-shaped or chequered behind), or unmarked throughout; 19-19-13 dsr (19-19-11 in some ♂♂), first transverse reduction level variable; usually 17-18 (16, rarely 19) maxillary teeth.

Etymology: The species' scientific name refers to its distribution centre in the Hajar Range.

General aspect of Platyceps masirae sp. nov. (Masirah Island) in life. Courtesy of Roberto Sindaco.

Platyceps masirae sp. nov.

Masirah Cliff Racer

Diagnosis: Ventrals 203-209, subcaudals 110 (MCZ paratype) and 115-124, sum 317 (ibid.) and 318-333; regular subocular present, presubocular (40% of bilateral counts in insular sample) and postsubocular (50%, ibid.) common; dorsum barred or with two mid-dorsal rows of marks; 19-19-13 or 19-19-11/13 (♂♂) dsr, first reduction lateral; 17-18 maxillary teeth.

Etymology: The species' scientific name alludes to the origin of its type series, Masirah Island (Sultanate of Oman) in the Arabian Sea.

Platyceps forma inquirenda

Diagnosis: Ventrals 215-233, subcaudals 119-135, sum 335-361; usually a single subocular (presubocular uncommon, unilateral postsubocular exceptional); chequered or with transverse pattern on forebody, or unmarked throughout; 19-19-13 dsr (occasionally 19-19-11 in ♂♂) and first reduction usually paravertebral; 15-16 maxillary teeth in Dhofar (up to 17 in Yemen).

Beat Schätti, Frank Tillack, Andrea Stutz and Christoph Kucharzewski. 2024. Three New Cliff Racer Species from the Sultanate of Oman (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubrinae) and Zoogeographic Traits of its Herpetofauna. Revue suisse de Zoologie. 131(2); 451-486. DOI: doi.org/10.35929/RSZ.0132  

[PaleoOrnithology • 2023] Anachronornis anhimops • Basal Anseriformes from the Early Paleogene of North America and Europe

 Anachronornis anhimops 

Houde, Dickson & Camarena, 2023 

   

 DOI:  10.3390/d15020233  

Abstract

We describe nearly complete skeletons of basal Anseriformes from the Latest Paleocene to the early Eocene of North America and Europe. Collectively, these birds appear to be representative of anseriforms near the divergence of Anhimae and Anseres, but their exact positions relative to these clades remains uncertain. A new family, Anachronornithidae nov. fam., is erected on the basis of one of these, Anachronornis anhimops nov. gen., nov. gen. et sp., to which the others cannot be confidently assigned. The new fossils augment a growing collection of early Pan-Anseriformes, which in their diversity do not paint an unambiguous picture of phylogeny or character state evolution on the path to or within crown-Anseriformes. Anachronornis nov. gen. is similar in some aspects of both cranial and postcranial anatomy to other well-represented early Paleogene Anseriformes and members of Anseres, such as Presbyornis Wetmore, 1926. However, it exhibits a more landfowl-like bill, like that of Anhimae and unlike the spatulate bill of Anseres. Additional specimens of similar basal Anseriformes of uncertain affinities from the early Eocene of North America and Europe further complicate interpretation of character state polarity due to the mosaicism of primitive and derived characters they exhibit.  

Keywords: Anseriformes; Anseres; Anhimidae; Anachronornithidae; Presbyornis; Anatalavis; Nettapterornis; Anachronornis; Danielsavis

 

  Holotype of Anachronornis anhimops nov. gen. et sp. (USNM 496700):
skull, ventral (A), dorsal (B), right lateral (C), right lateral in matrix (D), caudal (E); mandible with heavy gauge wire glued to medial side of right dentary, right lateral (F), dorsal (G), oblique caudomedial aspect of right side (K), right caudal (O); quadrates, left lateral (H), right lateral (I), left medial (L), right medial (M); basihyal (Q), costal fragment with uncinate process (R), left palatine (S), right thoracic vertebrae (T). Quadrate (USNM 496701; Anseriformes fam. incertae sedis): right lateral (J), right medial (N).
Holotype of Danielsavis nazensis nov. gen. et sp. (NMS.Z.2021.40.1): right caudal mandible (P).

All but (D,P) are coated with ammonium hydroxide. Scale bar 1 cm.

 Class Aves Linnaeus, 1758

Order Anseriformes Wagler, 1831

Family Anachronornithidae nov. fam. Houde, Dickson, and Camarena

 

Included genus Anachronornis nov. gen.

Diagnosis: Anachronornithidae nov. fam. is distinguished from all known Anhimidae and Anseres by a lack of unambiguous synapomorphies diagnosing those respective clades and in many respects is intermediate between the two.

Anachronornis nov. gen. Houde, Dickson, and Camarena

 

Etymology: From the Greek ἀναχρονισμός, out of time, and ὄρνις, bird, alluding to the unexpectedly late occurrence of what may be, or may be close to, the most recent common ancestor of the two crown-anseriform lineages, Anhimae and Anseres.

Type and only known species: Anachronornis anhimops nov. gen. et sp.

Occurrence: Late Paleocene of North America.

Diagnosis: As for the family, by monotypy. (Full account of all putative apomorphies by dataset in Supplemental Materials and Supplementary Appendices A3, B2, C2, D2, F3, G6 and G7).

Anachronornis anhimops nov. gen. et sp. Houde, Dickson, and Camarena

Etymology: From the generic name Anhima, a screamer, and ops (Greek, face, countenance, appearance of the face). The name is intended to refer to the screamer-like bill and appearance of the head, particularly like that of Anhima in which the supraorbital region may be somewhat narrower than in Chauna.

 Peter Houde, Meig Dickson and Dakota Camarena. 2023. Basal Anseriformes from the Early Paleogene of North America and Europe. Diversity. 15(2); 233. DOI:  10.3390/d15020233  

 

  

[Arachnida • 2024] Tityus achilles • Biomechanics of Venom Delivery in South America’s First Toxungen-spraying Scorpion

 

Tityus (Tityus) achilles Laborieux, 2024 

DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae161 

  x.com/LeoLaborieux 

  Researchgate.net/publication/387130480

 

Abstract

Venom is a metabolically expensive secretion used sparingly in a variety of ecological contexts, most notably predation and defence. Accordingly, few animals employ their toxins from a distance, and venom-squirting behaviour is only known from select taxa. In scorpions, species belonging to two genera are known to spray venom when threatened, and previous work in Parabuthus transvaalicus shows that venom delivery depends on perceived levels of threat. Here, I describe Tityus (Tityus) achilles sp. nov., a new species of buthid scorpion from Cundinamarca, Colombia. Remarkably, this species is capable of venom spraying, a first for both the genus and the South American continent. Using frame-by-frame video analysis and ballistic equations, I show that T. (Tityus) achilles sp. nov. employs not one, but two types of airborne defences with dramatic differences in reach and venom expenditure. Further, the new species uses an unusually large reserve of prevenom-like secretion for spraying, as opposed to the costly venom used by other spraying scorpions. In light of these key specializations, I propose that toxungen spraying convergently evolved in response to different selection pressures, laying the groundwork for future investigation.

behaviour, Colombia, evolutionary biology, new species, taxonomy, toxin, toxungen, venom spitting

 Léo Laborieux. 2024. Biomechanics of Venom Delivery in South America’s First Toxungen-spraying Scorpion. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 202(4) zlae161. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae161  

  x.com/LeoLaborieux/status/1869037910496083987

  Researchgate.net/publication/387130480_Biomechanics_of_venom_delivery_in_South_America's_first_toxungen-spraying_scorpion

[Herpetology • 2024] Hylarana nigroverrucosa • Two Distinct Ranid Frog Lineages (Anura: Hylarana) from Halmahera, Northern Moluccas, with the Description of a New Species

 Hylarana nigroverrucosa 

 Wiradarma, Amarasinghe, Farajallah, Widayati, Fouquet, Riyanto, Mulyadi, Trilaksono, Arida & Hamidy, 2024

Black-warty frog  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-23-00062 

 facebook.com/AAThasun  http://www.thasun.info

 Abstract  

We revise the systematics of the ranid frogs of the genus Hylarana occurring on Halmahera Island, Northern Moluccas of eastern Indonesia based on molecular and morphological data. Our results show that two distinct species each being nested within two distinct clades (hereafter papua clade and celebensis clade) exist on the island. One corresponds to H. moluccana (celebensis clade) and the other one to an unnamed species (papua clade) that we describe herein. The new species is genetically distinct from all congeners of the papua clade by p distances ranging from 6.9% to 11.5% on the 16S rRNA gene. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from all congeners by having the following combination of characteristics: A large species with adult males reaching a maximum snout-to-vent length (SVL) 67.3 mm; vomerine teeth in two oblique rows with narrow interodontophore distance; snout rounded dorsally; dorsum with few scattered cone-shaped tubercles that are black with white tips; distinct skin folds (ridges) on the dorsal side of the thigh coinciding with dark brown cross bars; a marbled pattern on the ventral side of thigh and yellowish groin. Here we provide a redescription for H. moluccana based on its lectotype from Ternate. We also provide new occurrence records for H. daemeli, H. volkerjane, and H. arfaki from the western part of mainland Papua. Furthermore, we demonstrated that H. celebensis harbors multiple mtDNA lineages suggestive of cryptic diversity within the celebensis clade. The occurrence of two distinct species from Halmahera calls for further research on the biogeographic history of Hylarana in Northern Moluccas.

KEYWORDS: Halmahera, Hylarana, Northern Moluccas, Papurana, Ranidae

 

 Hylarana nigroverrucosa

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘‘nigroverrucosa’’ is a Latin compound adjective (nigro + verrucosa) ..., which refers to ‘‘black warty’’ on the dorsum, a distinct distinguish character of the species.


Huda Wiradarma, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Achmad Farajallah, Kanthi A. Widayati, Antoine Fouquet, Awal Riyanto, M. Mulyadi, Wahyu Trilaksono, Evy A. Arida and Amir Hamidy. 2024. Two Distinct Ranid Frog Lineages (Anura: Hylarana) from Halmahera, Northern Moluccas, with the Description of a New Species. Herpetologica. 80(3); 291-303. DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-23-00062
  facebook.com/AAThasun/posts/1087514499606216
http://www.thasun.info/Discoveries/30-iHylarana-nigroverrucosai.html

[Ichthyology • 2024] Telmatochromis salzburgeri • Morphological Diversity of the Genus Telmatochromis from the Lake Tanganyika Drainage with the Description of A New riverine Species and the Generic Reassignment of the Malagarasi River lamprologine

Telmatochromis salzburgeri

 Indermaur, Schedel & Ronco, 2024  

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.16042  

Abstract

The lamprologine cichlid genus Telmatochromis was long considered primarily lacustrine and endemic to Lake Tanganyika until an undescribed Telmatochromis species was reported from the Lufubu River (Lake Tanganyika drainage, Zambia). A phylogenomic study in 2021 confirmed the association of Telmatochromis sp. “lufubu” with Telmatochromis along with another riverine species, Neolamprologus devosi (Malagarasi drainage, Tanzania). Here, we quantify the morphological diversity of the genus Telmatochromis and the two associated riverine species using a multivariate dataset combining geometric and classical morphometrics, as well as meristics. We identify three distinct morphological clusters: the “Telmatochromis vittatus complex” with highly elongated bodies and short heads, the “Telmatochromis temporalis complex” with deeper bodies, and the two riverine species with intermediate body elongation and large heads. Further, we formally describe the species endemic to the lower Lufubu River as Telmatochromis salzburgeri sp. nov. and reassign N. devosi to Telmatochromis. Telmatochromis devosi comb. nov. differs from all congeners by the absence of bi- and tricuspid teeth in the inner tooth rows of the oral dentition. T. salzburgeri sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Telmatochromis species by a prominent orange stripe along the base of the dorsal fin and from T. devosi comb. nov. by the relatively smaller size of the lower pharyngeal jaw. Both riverine species differ from all lacustrine Telmatochromis by a lower number of dorsal-fin spines. Additionally, the riverine species can be distinguished from the T. vittatus complex by having larger heads and longer oral jaws, and from the T. temporalis complex by their lower relative body depth. With the inclusion of new riverine members, the genus Telmatochromis is revealed to be more morphologically and ecologically diverse than previously recognized.

Keywords: Africa, Cichlidae, Great Lakes, ichthyofauna, Lufubu River

 

Image series of Telmatochromis salzburgeri sp. nov. 
 (a) Underwater pictures of T. salzburgeri sp. nov. (from top to bottom): a dark specimen, a light specimen, a juvenile, and together with the riverine haplochromine Orthochromis indermauri (images by A.I. and F.D.B.S.).
(b) Photograph of a paratype (NMB-6478, ex. UNIBAS-IC-USH1) in light colouration (top image) and the dark holotype (NHB-6475, ex. UNIBAS-IC-USG9), both taken at the field site from living individuals. The lower two images show the preserved holotype and its X-ray radiograph (images by A.I., F.D.B.S., and Aurelia Wolf).
 (c) Images of the lower pharyngeal jaw of a paratype (ZSM-PIS-044282-DRC-3147) based on a computed tomography (CT) scan (images by F.R.).

Overview of the lamprologine cichlid genus Telmatochromis from Lake Tanganyika and the two riverine taxa: Neolamprologus devosi and Telmatochromis sp. “lufubu”.

 Telmatochromis devosi comb. nov.

reassign Neolamprologus devosi to Telmatochromis.

Telmatochromis salzburgeri sp. nov. 

= Telmatochromis sp. “lufubu”

Differential diagnosis: Adult individuals of T. salzburgeri sp. nov. are distinguished from all other members of the genus Telmatochromis by the presence of a prominent orange stripe along the base of the dorsal fin, extending into the dorsal fin and over the dorsum (see Figure 5a,b). Additionally, T. salzburgeri sp. nov. differs from members of the T. vittatus complex (i.e., T. bifrenatus, T. brichardi, T. vittatus, and allies such as Telmatochromis sp. “longola”) and T. brachygnathus by having a larger head (26.96–30.08 vs. 20.4–26.65 HL%SL) and longer jaws (29.18–40.68 vs. ...

Etymology: The species is named in honor of our friend, colleague, and mentor Prof. Dr. Walter Salzburger for his contributions in advancing the field of evolutionary biology and, in particular, cichlid research in Lake Tanganyika. He has supported several projects and numerous field expeditions of all the authors with great enthusiasm, which led, among many other things, to the description of T. salzburgeri sp. nov.

 

Adrian Indermaur, Frederic D. B. Schedel, Fabrizia Ronco. 2024. Morphological Diversity of the Genus Telmatochromis from the Lake Tanganyika Drainage with the Description of A New riverine Species and the Generic Reassignment of the Malagarasi River lamprologine. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.16042  

[Herpetology • 2025] Diplolaemus vulcanus • A straightforward workflow to explore species diversity using the Patagonian lizards of the Diplolaemus genus (Iguania: Leiosauridae) as a study case, with the description of a new species

Diplolaemus vulcanus

Vrdoljak, Sánchez, González-Marín, Morando & Avila, 2025 

DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108274  

Highlights: 

• A comprehensive workflow for taxonomic and systematic research, aiding species delimitation.

• Utilizing genetic, geometric, and linear morphometric data to assess evolutionary independence within the Diplolaemus clade.

• Evaluation of various taxonomic scenarios through grouping lineages into species.

• Description of a new species from the Auca Mauida and Tromen volcanic fields, Argentina.

Abstract

Disputes over species descriptions, stemming from conceptual disparities and arbitrary species boundaries, are among the primary challenges of modern taxonomy. In this study, we introduce a straightforward workflow, grounded in evolutionary theory, designed to tackle these challenges. We exemplified this approach using Patagonian lizards from the Diplolaemus clade. This workflow involves assigning specimens to putative evolutionary lineages, conducting primary species delimitations, constructing a species tree, comparing lineages for evolutionary independence, and using post-hoc analyses to separate well-supported from ambiguous lineages. This approach aims to establish a reliable foundation for exploring the taxonomic and evolutionary diversity of challenging groups. Applying this workflow to the Diplolaemus clade, we used various analytical methods on genetic (mitochondrial and nuclear markers) and phenotypic data (meristic, linear, and geometric morphometrics). We identified ten lineages with varying degrees of evolutionary independence in a clade where only four species had been described. Among the newly identified lineages, two exhibited low support for evolutionary independence, three showed strong support but had non-conclusive information, and one was recognized and described as a new species. In summary, our hierarchical workflow not only facilitated comprehensive comparisons but also enabled us to draw robust conclusions.

 

Keywords: Diplolaemus clade, Evolutionary independence, Species delimitation, Taxonomic workflow

  Dorsal and ventral view of Diplolaemus vulcanus holotype (LJAMM 13405).

Diplolaemus vulcanus  sp. nov. 

Etymology: vulcanus is a Latin word for Vulcan, God of fire, in reference to the volcanic environments in which most of the specimens were found; all localities where the new species was collected are volcanic lava fields.

Juan Vrdoljak, Kevin Imanol Sánchez, Andrea González-Marín, Mariana Morando and Luciano Javier Avila. 2025. A straightforward workflow to explore species diversity using the Patagonian lizards of the Diplolaemus genus (Iguania: Leiosauridae) as a study case, with the description of a new species. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 204, 108274. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108274  

 

  

[Botany • 2024] An Overview of Astrocaryum (Arecaceae: Bactridinae) Types from Brazil described by João Barbosa Rodrigues

 

Astrocaryum described byJoão Barbosa Rodrigues

in Lima, Amorim et Almeida, 2024.  

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.675.3.1 

 Researchgate.net/publication/386414830

 

Abstract

João Barbosa Rodrigues, a renowned Brazilian botanist, spent years intensively studying Orchidaceae and Arecaceae and oversaw two important institutions in Brazil: the Museu Botânico do Amazonas and the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. However, when it comes to his taxonomic studies, there are controversies about the existence of specimens mentioned in the protologues of his new species. For example, for the palm genus Astrocaryum, several issues have arisen regarding identifying and designating nomenclatural types of the species he described. Different researchers presumed that the entire collection of types was destroyed after the Museu Botânico do Amazonas closed and due to natural disasters, that affected his collections in city of Rio de Janeiro. Thus, in this study we investigated the names of Astrocaryum described by Barbosa Rodrigues. We conducted a comprehensive investigation of Barbosa Rodrigues’ works to determine the origin and current location of the possible nomenclatural types associated with the Astrocaryum species he described. Additionally, we reviewed the designations proposed by Jan Wessels Boer and Sidney Glassman for these species in the previous century. Based on our thorough search, we confirmed the absence of the specimens mentioned in the protologues of these species. Furthermore, we substantiated the typifications made by Wessels Boer and Glassman, which were based on illustrations by Barbosa Rodrigues. Our findings confirm the assignment of six lectotypes and twelve neotypes for Astrocaryum based on the Shenzhen Code.

illustrations, lectotype, Museu Botânico do Amazonas, neotype, palms, Monocots

Gustavo Pereira LIMA, Gabriela AMORIM, Eduardo Bezerra de ALMEIDA Jr. 2024. An Overview of Astrocaryum (Bactridinae, Arecaceae) Types from Brazil described by João Barbosa Rodrigues.  Phytotaxa. 675(3); 191-216. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.675.3.1

  Researchgate.net/publication/386414830_An_overview_of_Astrocaryum_types_from_Brazil_described_by_Barb.Rodr

[Arachnida • 2024] Cyclosa xingqing, Guizygiella huahai, Songaraneus jiekou, Wangaraneus yequ, Yinaraneus anhao, ... • Description of Six New Genera and Twenty Species of the Orb-weaver Spider Family Araneidae (Araneae: Araneoidea) from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China

 

 Cyclosa xingqing sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype; D–J: Male holotype
  Guizygiella huahai sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype; D–F: Male holotype
 Poltys waipo sp. nov. A–F, J–M: Female paratype; G–I: Male holotype

 Tangaraneus geqian sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype; D–K: Male holotype
 Songaraneus jiekou sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype; D–J: Male holotype
 Yinaraneus anhao sp. nov. A–D, J–M: Male holotype; E–I: Female paratype

Mi, Wang & Li, 2024  

DOI: doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2097-3772.2024.023  

 Researchgate.net/publication/387419529

Abstract

Six new genera, Pengaraneus gen. nov., Songaraneus gen. nov., Tangaraneus gen. nov., Wangaraneus gen. nov., Yinaraneus gen. nov. and Zhuaraneus gen. nov., and twenty species, including sixteen new, of the family Araneidae from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, south-west China are described: Cyclosa anjing sp. nov. (♂♀), C. daodai sp. nov. (♂♀), C. longquan sp. nov. (♂♀), C. xingqing sp. nov. (♂♀), Gasteracantha diadesmia Thorell, 1887 (♂♀), Guizygiella huahai sp. nov. (♂♀), Neoscona jinghongensis Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990 (♂♀), N. piaoyi sp. nov. (♂♀), N. wuding sp. nov. (♂♀), Pengaraneus qingtian sp. nov. (♂♀), Poltys waipo sp. nov. (♂♀), Songaraneus jiekou sp. nov. (♂♀), S. tuihou sp. nov. (♂♀), Talthybia depressa Thorell, 1898 (♂♀), Tangaraneus geqian sp. nov. (♂♀), Wangaraneus yequ sp. nov. (♂♀), W. zioni (Mi, Li & Pham, 2023) (♂♀) comb. nov., Yinaraneus anhao sp. nov. (♂♀), Y. caihong sp. nov. (♂♀), Zhuaraneus daoxiang sp. nov. (♂♀). Wangaraneus zioni is newly recorded in China. Mature males of the monotypic genus Talthybia Thorell, 1898 (for the type species T. depressa) and Gasteracantha diadesmia, W. zioni, N. jinghongensis are described for the first time. Four new synonyms are proposed, Neoscona nautica (L. Koch, 1875)=Neoscona polyspinipes Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990 syn. nov., Neoscona nautica (L. Koch, 1875)=Neoscona flavescens Zhang & Zhang, 2011 syn. nov., Neoscona vigilans (Blackwall, 1865)=Neoscona xiquanensis Barrion, Barrion-Dupo & Heong, 2013 syn. nov, and Songaraneus ejusmodi (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906)=Araneus qianshan Zhu, Zhang & Gao, 1998 syn. nov. Six new combinations are proposed, Songaraneus ejusmodi (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906) comb. nov., S. perpolita (Thorell, 1893) comb. nov., Wangaraneus ryani (Mi, Li & Pham, 2023) comb. nov., W. zioni (Mi, Li & Pham, 2023) comb. nov., Zhuaraneus ethani (Mi, Li & Pham, 2023) comb. nov. and Z. eugenei (Mi, Li & Pham, 2023) comb. nov.

Keywords: Arachnida, Diagnosis, Morphology, New species, Taxonomy

Figure  10.  Cyclosa xingqing sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45092; D–J: Male holotype
Figure  16.  Guizygiella huahai sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45105; D–F: Male holotype
Figure  30.  Poltys waipo sp. nov. A–F, J–M: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45156; G–I: Male holotype

Figure  43.  Tangaraneus geqian sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45168; D–K: Male holotype
Figure  33.  Songaraneus jiekou sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45056; D–J: Male holotype
Figure  52.  Yinaraneus anhao sp. nov. A–D, J–M: Male holotype; E–I: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45172

Figure  13.  Gasteracantha diadesmia Thorell, 1887. A, B: Female IZCAS-Ar45099; C–I: Male IZCAS-Ar45098
Figure  16.  Guizygiella huahai sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45105; D–F: Male holotype
Figure  30.  Poltys waipo sp. nov. A–F, J–M: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45156; G–I: Male holotype

Figure  33.  Songaraneus jiekou sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45056; D–J: Male holotype
Figure  40.  Talthybia depressa Thorell, 1898. A–C: Female IZCAS-Ar45164; D–L: Male IZCAS-Ar45162

Figure  43.  Tangaraneus geqian sp. nov. A–C: Female paratype IZCAS-Ar45168; D–K: Male holotype

 

Xiao-Qi Mi, Cheng Wang and Shu-Qiang Li. 2024. Description of Six New Genera and Twenty Species of the Orb-weaver Spider Family Araneidae (Araneae, Araneoidea) from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China. Zoological Research: Diversity and Conservation. 1(4): 290-341. DOI: doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2097-3772.2024.023 

  Researchgate.net/publication/387419529_Six_new_genera_and_twenty_species_of_Araneidae_from_Xishuangbanna

20 new spider species described, 16 were named after songs by #JayChou, such as C. xingqing sp. nov., C. longquan sp. nov., and Pengaraneus qingtian sp. nov.

https://phys.org/news/2025-01-tune-chinese-scientist-spider-species.html 

[Herpetology • 2024] Rediscovery and Revision of the Diagnostic Characters of Opisthotropis daovantieni (Squamata: Natricidae) from southern Vietnam, with notes on its hemipenial morphology and defensive behavior

  

Opisthotropis daovantieni Orlov, Darevsky & Murphy, 1998

in Gao, Zhang, V. Nguyen, Jiang, T. Nguyen, Li et Ren, 2024. 

 DOI: doi.org/10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2024.0048 

Photographs by Jia-Tang Li.

Abstract

The Tien’s Mountain Stream Snake, Opisthotropis daovantieni Orlov, Darevsky, and Murphy, 1998, has been represented solely by its type series, with no additional specimens reported in the past two decades. As a result, limited data exist and O. daovantieni remains one of the least studied members of its genus. Based on a re-examination of the type series, analysis of newly collected topotypic specimens, and a review of museum collections, this study provides an updated and comprehensive morphological characterization of O. daovantieni including detailed descriptions of hemipenial morphology, revised diagnostic characters, phylogenetic positioning, and ecological insights. Based on morphological comparisons with congeners, we also define the informal Opisthotropis spenceri group to facilitate future taxonomic work. In addition, this study documents a previously unreported defensive behavior involving tail-poking, observed in the field and thus far unique within the genus Opisthotropis.

Keywords: diagnostic characters, hemipenis, Opisthotropis spenceri group, sulcus spermaticus, tail-poking behavior

Photographs of Opisthotropis daovantieni (CIB 109024) in life.
 (A) General view of body, (B) lateral head view, and (C) ventral view of body.

Photographs by Jia-Tang Li.

Habitat of Opisthotropis daovantieni in Vietnam.
(A) Macrohabitat, and (B) microhabitat.

Photographs by Jia-Tang Li.

 

Zong-Yuan Gao, Yong Zhang, Vu Nguyen, Ke Jiang, Tao Nguyen, Jia-Tang Li and Jin-Long Ren. 2024. Rediscovery and Revision of the Diagnostic Characters of Opisthotropis daovantieni Orlov, Darevsky, and Murphy, 1998 (Squamata: Natricidae) from southern Vietnam, with notes on its hemipenial morphology and defensive behavior. Asian Herpetological Research. DOI: doi.org/10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2024.0048