[PaleoIchthyology • 2026] New Data on the sarcopterygian Koharalepis jarviki (Tetrapodomorpha: Canowindridae) from the Late Devonian of Antarctica, revealed via Synchrotron and Neutron Tomography

 

Koharalepis jarviki Young & Ritchie, 1992  
3D rendering of Koharalepis jarviki (AMF 54325) from neutron tomographic data.

  in Mensforth, Long, Bevitt et Clement, 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2026.1765271

Artwork: Thomas Turner

Abstract

Introduction: The ‘osteolepiforms’ are an extinct order of lobe-finned fishes that had a cosmopolitan distribution, which are often considered for their proximity to the vertebrate water-to-land transition. The canowindrids are an East Gondwanan clade of tetrapodomorph fishes that exhibit a high level of endemism. However, due to the rarity of canowindrid material and their taphonomy, there is only a single representative preserved wholly in 3D and thus suitable for investigation via modern non-invasive tomography.

Methods: Here we present an updated description of the holotype of Koharalepis jarviki, a canowindrid collected from the Late Devonian Aztec Siltstone formation in Mt Crean, Antarctica, elucidated via a combination of synchrotron and neutron tomography.

Results and discussion: New elements of the braincase, palate, mandible and axial skeleton are revealed for the first time, and previously reported anatomy including the dermal skull and position of the orbits are confirmed. A partial braincase and endocast has been reconstructed, enabling rare insight into the neural anatomy of Koharalepis. Phylogenetic analysis confirms Koharalepis as a member of the Canowindridae with Harajicadectes zhumini recovered as sister taxon. The canowindrids occupy a region of the phylogenetic tree with ‘osteolepidid’ taxa and megalichthyids, crownward of rhizodonts but below tristichopterids and elpistostegalids. This work provides greater support for the taxonomic characters and phylogenetic position of the enigmatic canowindrid family, and the 3D preservation of this material has enabled us to infer some behavioural and ecological insight.

Keywords: 3D modelling, canowindrid, Devonian, endocast, neutron tomography, phylogenetic analysis, Sarcopterygii, tetrapodomorph

3D rendering of Koharalepis jarviki (AMF 54325) from neutron tomographic data in (A) dorsal view, (B) ventral view, (C) anterior view, (D) left lateral view and (E) posterior view.

Et, extra temporal; Ju, jugal; L.Ex, lateral extrascapular; M.Ex, median extrascapular; Op, operculum; Par, parietal; Po, postorbital; PP, postparietal; Sclm, supracleithrum; Sq, squamosal.

Life reconstruction of the Devonian tetrapodomorph fish Koharalepis jarviki.

Artwork: Thomas Turner/Flinders University

 Koharalepis jarviki Young & Ritchie, 1992

Corinne L. Mensforth, John A. Long, Joseph J. Bevitt and Alice M. Clement. 2026. New Data on the sarcopterygian Koharalepis jarviki (Tetrapodomorpha; Canowindridae) from the Late Devonian of Antarctica, revealed via Synchrotron and Neutron Tomography. Front. Ecol. Evol. (14); DOI: doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2026.1765271 [16 April 2026]

[Arachnida • 2026] Theridion himalayana • On the Discovery of A New polymorphic Happy-Face Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae) from the Western Himalayas, India, with notes on its natural history

Theridion himalayana Priyadarshini & Tripathy, 

in Tripathy et Priyadarshini, 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.10.174338 

Abstract

A new species of Theridion is reported here from Uttarakhand, India which resembles and exhibits polymorphism like the Happy-face spiders reported from the Hawaiian Islands, Theridion grallator. The species is polymorphic in both sexes and exhibits patterns of a smiling face with dots in colours of red, black and white arranged differently. 32 different morphs of the species have been reported here which have been collected from three different locations in the northwestern state of India, Uttarakhand. This Theridion species also builds webs to hang upside down like the other polymorphic spiders T. californicum and T. grallator. The phylogenetic position of the species is also reported here which was compared against some of the Asian and Neotropical species across the world using the COI marker. A genetic variation of around 8.5% is observed from the Hawaiian Happy-face spider which indicates a separately evolved species in Asia where several morphs have been found. Despite moderate overall divergence, T. himalayana appears to be phylogenetically isolated from both its Palearctic and Nearctic congeners. This supports its distinctiveness within the genus and raises broader questions about lineage dispersal, parallel evolution of colour polymorphism and independent evolution of species in montane forests. A dichotomous key to the Theridion species described form India is also presented here.

Key Words: Happy-face spider, polymorphism, dichotomous key, Phylogeny, Theridiidae, Uttarakhand, India

Theridion himalayana Priyadarshini & Tripathy, sp. nov.

  

Diagnosis. Theridion himalayana sp. nov. can be readily distinguished from other Indian congeners by the unique configuration of the copulatory ducts (CD) and fertilisation ducts (FD). In T. himalayana sp. nov., the CD is elongate, strongly curved, and prominently protruding forward, with both ducts running almost parallel before terminating downward. The CD which is longer than the spermathecae exhibits a distinctive sew-hook–like appearance, which is not observed in any other examined species. The fertilisation ducts are short, narrow, and directed upwards, diverging away from each other to form a V-shaped orientation. The FD arises below the spermatheca, with each duct directed opposite to the CD. This configuration clearly separates T. himalayana sp. nov. from T. odisha, which has a S-shaped, coiled CD that terminates in oval loops and FD inclined towards each other; T. bengalensis, where CD is short, slender, and directed away from each other, while FD appears tapering distally and directed away from spermatheca; T. melanostictum, characterized by extremely long, highly coiled CD and downward-directed, sickle-shaped FD; T. zonulatum, which possesses short, uncoiled CD and looped FD directed upwards.

...

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘himalayana’ is assigned to species owing to the locality from which it was first found as an ode to the mighty Himalayan Mountain range that holds a wealth of biodiversity.

Suggested common name. Himalayan Happy-Face Spider.

 Ashirwad Tripathy and Devi Priyadarshini. 2026. On the Discovery of A New polymorphic Happy-Face Spider (Araneae, Theridiidae) from the Western Himalayas, India, with notes on its natural history. Evolutionary Systematics. 10(1): 63-84. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.10.174338 [24 Apr 2026]

[Botany • 2026] Begonia hanhhoae (Begoniaceae, sect. Jackia) • A New Species from the South Central Coast region, Vietnam

 

Begonia hanhhoae  C.W.Lin, V.C.Nguyen, Vuong & Aver.,

in Tran, V. C. Nguyen, T. H. Nguyen, Averyanov, Truong, Q. B. Nguyen, V. K. Nguyen et Lin, 2026.

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.752.3.5 

 facebook.com/Darthvaderiana

 

Abstract 

Begonia hanhhoae, a new species from Khanh Hoa Province, Ninh Hoa District, South Central Coast region, Vietnam, is described and illustrated. It resembles B. aspersa from northern Vietnam but differs in having broadly ovate to suborbicular leaves (vs. reniform) with a slightly waxy adaxial surface (vs. velvety), inflorescence with up to 13 flowers (vs. up to 5), actinomorphic androecium (vs. zygomorphic), and pistillate flowers that are subsessile or borne on very short pedicels up to 1.5 mm long (vs. 4–12 mm). According to the IUCN criteria, it has been tentatively assessed as Endangered (EN).

biodiversity, plant conservation, endemism, Indochina, Khanh Hoa Province, taxonomy, Eudicots

THI THUY NHAN TRAN, VAN CANH NGUYEN, THI HOA NGUYEN, LEONID V. AVERYANOV, BA VUONG TRUONG, QUOC BAO NGUYEN, VAN KHUONG NGUYEN and CHE WEI LIN. 2026. Begonia hanhhoae (Sect. Jackia), A New Species of Begoniaceae from the South Central Coast region, Vietnam. Phytotaxa. 752(3); 228-234. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.752.3.5 [2026-04-23]

 facebook.com/Darthvaderiana/posts/10232689178635435

[Botany • 2026] Afzelia corallina (Fabaceae: Detarioideae) • A New micro-endemic Tree from Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Afzelia corallina  A.Bianchi, S.Orsenigo & Baldesi, 

in Bianchi, Baldesi, Calzoni, Delledonne, Focaia, Luke, Khamis, Tomasi et Orsenigo, 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.273.186903

Abstract

Afzelia corallina A.Bianchi, S.Orsenigo & Baldesi (Fabaceae: Detarioideae) is described from the coral rag forests of the Tondooni Peninsula in the Ngezi–Vumawimbi Forest Reserve on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Morphologically distinct from all known members of the genus, this large, emergent tree shows the closest affinities to Afzelia quanzensis but differs in several vegetative and floral characters, including its falcate leaflets, highly branched terminal inflorescences, petal colour, the colour of stamens, and the number of extra staminodes. The species is currently known only from a restricted coastal limestone habitat, indicating a micro-endemic distribution. An updated diagnostic key to East African Afzelia species is provided. This discovery highlights the botanical uniqueness and conservation importance of Pemba’s remaining forest ecosystems.

Key words: Afzelieae, Detarioideae, new species, Ngezi, taxonomy, Vumawimbi

Afzelia corallina. a. Flower close-up showing two rudimentary subulate petals; b. Single flower; c. Inflorescence. Pictures by: Andrea Bianchi.

Afzelia corallina A.Bianchi, S.Orsenigo & Baldesi sp. nov.

Diagnosis. This species is similar to Afzelia quanzensis but can be distinguished by paniculate inflorescence (vs. racemose or one-forked inflorescence), number of flowers per inflorescence (up to 150 vs. 4–12), colour of the large petal (white and red, with a white median stripe vs. entirely green outside and red inside, occasionally mottled with white or greenish-white), the shape of small petals (subulate vs. clavate), the colour of stamen and staminodes that are crimson red in A. corallina and green, often with a red base, in A. quanzensis. Moreover, A. corallina shows a bigger style (40–50 mm vs 25 mm) and ovary (7 × 2.2–2.7 vs. 3.5 × 1.5 mm) compared to A. quanzensis. Finally, pods are thinly woody and 1–4 seeded (vs. thickly woody and 5–13 seeded in A. quanzensis), and seeds have much smaller aril (4–5 vs. 8–13 mm long) (Table 1).

 

Etymology. The epithet corallina (from the Latin ‘corallium’, coral) refers to this species’ habit of growing on coral rag, a rubbly limestone composed of ancient coral reef material. Furthermore, the colourful and dense inflorescence may resemble a coral head, as does the red marking on the large petal.

 Andrea Bianchi, Giacomo Baldesi, Daniela Calzoni, Massimo Delledonne, Riccardo Focaia, Quentin Luke, Khamis A. Khamis, Laura Tomasi and Simone Orsenigo. 2026. Afzelia corallina (Fabaceae), A New micro-endemic Tree from Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. PhytoKeys. 273: 55-69. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.273.186903 [9 Apr 2026]

  

[Ichthyology • 2026] Tympanopleura personata • A New Species of inseminating Catfish of the Genus Tympanopleura (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) from the Ituxi River, Amazon River Basin, northern Brazil, revealed by integrative taxonomy

Tympanopleura personata

 Ribeiro, Silva-Oliveira, Magalhães, Gama & Py-Daniel, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70445 

Abstract

A new species of the genus Tympanopleura is described from the Iquiri River, a tributary of the Ituxi River, a right-bank tributary to the Purus River, Amazon River, northern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from all its congeners by a combination of features, such as the presence of an intensely pigmented square-shaped blotch on the supraoccipital, a semicircular dark blotch above each eye and an inconspicuous vertical bar on the caudal-fin base (except Tympanopleura piperata), and by a combination of meristic and morphometric character states. Preliminary molecular analyses demonstrate genetic distance values of 2.4% of cytochrome oxidase, subunit I, divergence between the new species and T. piperata and 8.0%–13.0% between the new species and the other congeners. The new species shows several reproductive adaptations to copulation and internal insemination. Considering the period during which prenuptial and nuptial specimens were available, we can presume that its reproductive period occurs when the water level increases. In addition, an identification key for the species of Tympanopleura is provided.

Tympanopleura personata in life, in dorsal (a) lateral, (b) ventral views and (c) dorsal views, UFOPA-I 1374, 84.0, mm LS, paratype, Iquiri River, Lábrea, Amazonas, Brazil.

  Tympanopleura personata, new species

Diagnosis: Tympanopleura personata is distinguished from all congeners by having a unique colouration of the head, consisting of the combination of an intensely pigmented square-shaped blotch on the supraoccipital and a semicircular dark blotch above each eye (Figure 2; Walsh et al., 2015: Figure 1e). It also differs from all congeners, except T. piperata, by the caudal-fin pigmentation, consisting of a patch of scattered melanophores forming an inconspicuous vertical bar on the caudal-fin base, most visible in live or freshly preserved specimens (Figure 2). Tympanopleura personata differs from T. piperata by having a longer caudal peduncle (11.1%–13.8% LS vs. 7.6%–10.5% LS) and a smaller distance between the insertion of the last dorsal-fin ray and adipose-fin origin (41.9%–45.6% LS vs. 45.9%–55.4% LS). Additionally, T. personata can be distinguished from T. atronasus, T. cryptica, T. brevis, T. piperata and T. rondoni by having more anal-fin rays (36–40, mode 39 vs. 23–30, mode 27 in T. atronasus; 23–30, mode 29 in T. cryptica; 31–36, mode 33 in T. brevis; 31–38, mode 35 in T. piperata; and 28–37, mode 31 in T. rondoni) and few total gill rakers (17–20, mode 19 vs. 20–24, mode 23 in T. brevis; 21–26, mode 22 in T. cryptica; 19–25, mode 23 in T. longipinna; and 24–33, mode 29–30 in T. rondoni).

Etymology: The specific epithet personata is derived from the Latin personatus, meaning masked, in reference to the dorsal pigmentation of the head. It is treated as a noun in apposition. Gender is feminine.

Frank Raynner V. Ribeiro, Cárlison Silva-Oliveira, Valdenor Magalhães, Lucas Gama and Lúcia H. Rapp Py-Daniel. 2026. A New Species of inseminating Catfish of the Genus Tympanopleura (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) from the Ituxi River, Amazon River Basin, northern Brazil, revealed by integrative taxonomy. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70445 [13 April 2026]

[Arachnida • 2026] Androctonus tinzaouatinensis • A New scorpion Species (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from In Guezzam Province, Algeria

Androctonus tinzaouatinensis 

Yağmur, Benali, Derradj & Bikada, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2026.2642870 

facebook.com: Lotfi Derradj

 ABSTRACT

A new scorpion species, Androctonus tinzaouatinensis sp. n. is described and illustrated from the hyperarid Saharan regions of the Tin Zaouatine District, In Guezzam Province and Timiaouine District, Bordj Badji Mokhtar Province, southern Algeria. This new species represents the first record of the genus Androctonus from the Timiaouine and Tin Zaouatine areas. It is compared with congeners from Algeria and Niger, notably A. ajjer Ythier, Sadine, Alioua & Lourenço, A. amoreuxi (Audouin), and A. eburneus (Pallary).

 

KEYWORDS: Morphology, taxonomy, Tin Zaouatine, Sahara, endemic

Androctonus tinzaouatinensis sp. n. 

 

Ersen Aydın Yağmur, Noureddine Benali, Lotfi Derradj and Manna Bikada. 2026. Androctonus tinzaouatinensis A New scorpion Species from In Guezzam Province, Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Journal of Natural History. 60(17-20); 1033-1047. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2026.2642870 [21 Apr 2026]

  facebook.com/loufigg/posts/26922273914042828

[Paleontology • 2026] The early Origin of Iguanodontia: new insights into the Macroevolution, Diversity and Biogeography of the clade

in  Rotatori, Chiarenza, Fanti et Moreno-Azanza. 2026.

 DOI: doi.org/10.1111/pala.70057

Artwork by Davide Bonadonna

 

Abstract

Iguanodontia (Dinosauria, Ornithischia) is a speciose group of herbivorous dinosaurs that include the famous genus Iguanodon, one of foundational members of the clade Dinosauria. Despite their very long history of research, several aspects of their systematic relationships and their evolutionary history remain somewhat nebulous. There is currently a lack of consensus between different phylogenetic matrices due mainly to: (1) undersampling of postcranial characters; and (2) the absence of several key taxa. We assembled a data matrix from pre-existing datasets, integrating our observations on several overlooked species (mainly from Europe) and extensively sampling cranial and postcranial characters, thereby creating one of the most complete datasets for iguanodontian dinosaurs to date. We performed a series of phylogenetic analyses, employing maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference, and an historical biogeographic analysis. Overall congruent topologies between the two methods recovered, for the first time, a new clade of high-sailed styracosternans here named Ouranosauria. We ran different Bayesian inference analyses, employing morphoclock and fossilized birth–death models. Some of the tip-dated analyses, indicated an Early to Middle Jurassic origin of Iguanodontia during a palaeoclimatically (hyperthermal) and palaeogeographically (continental fragmentation) dynamic context. According to this scenario, the Iguanodontian major radiation could be tracked back to the Pliensbachian–Toarcian, pre-dating by 16 million years the first ichnological evidence attributed to this clade. Furthermore, the diversification of all the major clades occurred by the Late Jurassic, then experienced local extinction events in different areas during the Early Cretaceous. Prior to the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition, iguanodontians spread globally.

Keywords: Dinosauria, phylogenetics, Jurassic, Cretaceous, systematics, Iguanodontia

Filippo Maria Rotatori, Alfio Alessandro Chiarenza, Federico Fanti and Miguel Moreno-Azanza. 2026. The early Origin of Iguanodontia: new insights into the Macroevolution, Diversity and Biogeography of the clade. Palaeontology. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/pala.70057 [22 April 2026] 

[Herpetology • 2026] Limnonectes motijheel • A New mud-nesting Fanged Frog (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Arunachal Pradesh with notes on L. longchuanensis from India

Limnonectes motijheel 

Boruah, Rajiv, Dutta & Das, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.3.8

facebook.com: Bitupan BORUAH

 

Abstract

A new species of Limnonectes is described from Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India, based on differences in morphological characters and mitochondrial gene 16S rRNA. The genetic divergence of the new species with its congeners of the L. limborgi complex is 2.4–6.8% in the 16S rRNA gene. The new species can be easily differentiated from its congeners by adult snout-vent length range 23.3–35.9 mm, internarial distance greater than inter-upper eyelid width and upper eyelid width, an inverted “V” shaped dermal fold on dorsum, discontinuous dorsolateral folds on dorsum, dark-brown concave line on inter-upper eyelid space. Additionally, the new species exhibits a unique nesting behaviour, constructing mud nest under leaf litter. This study also formally reports L. longchuanensis from India. With the description of this new species and the report of L. longchuanensis, the number of species of the genus currently known from India increases to six.

Amphibia, Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, Namdapha Tiger Reserve, northeast India, taxonomy, phylogenetics

Limnonectes motijheel sp. nov.

 

BITUPAN BORUAH, N. V. RAJIV, SOURAV DUTTA and ABHIJIT DAS. 2026. A New mud-nesting Fanged Frog (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Arunachal Pradesh with notes on L. longchuanensis from India.  Zootaxa. 5796(3); 551-571.3 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.3.8 [2026-04-22]

https://www.facebook.com/bitupan.wild.92/posts/26598769686474352

[Paleontology • 2022] Earliest Octopuses were Giant Top Predators in Cretaceous Oceans

the Late Cretaceous finned octopus species Nanaimoteuthis sp. 

in Ikegam, Mutterlose, Sugiura, Takeda, Derin, ...et Iba, 2026.  

DOI: doi.org/10.1126/science.aea6285 

Artwork by Yohei Utsuki. 

Abstract

Top predators drive changes in ecosystem structure. For the last ~370 million years, large-sized vertebrates have dominated the apex of the marine food chain, while invertebrates have served as smaller prey. Here we describe invertebrate top predators from this “age of vertebrates,” the earliest finned octopuses (Cirrata) from Late Cretaceous sediments (~100 to 72 million years ago), as identified based on huge, exceptionally well-preserved fossil jaws and their wear. This extensive wear suggests dynamic crushing of hard skeletons. Asymmetric wear patterns further indicate lateralized behavior, suggesting advanced intelligence. With a calculated total length of ~7 to 19 meters, these octopuses may represent the largest invertebrates thus described, rivaling contemporaneous giant marine reptiles. Our findings show that powerful jaws, and the loss of superficial skeletons, convergently transformed cephalopods and marine vertebrates into huge, intelligent predators.

Huge lower jaws of fossil octopuses and of an extant giant squid. (A and B) The largest lower jaws of the Late Cretaceous finned octopus species Nanaimoteuthis jeletzkyi [(A) NMNS DS00042 3LmvTpM] and N. haggarti [(B) KMNH IvP 902001]. Both specimens show extensive loss of jaw material caused by wear.
(C) A lower jaw of the extant giant squid Architeuthis dux (NSMT-Mo 85956), a species having the largest jaw among modern cephalopods.
(A) is a digital fossil jaw visualized as a 3D model; (B) is an exceptionally well-preserved nondigital fossil jaw; and (C) is a modern jaw dissected from a carcass of ~10 m total body length. Solid lines indicate the extension of striation on the outer surface of the hood and broken lines show the estimated outline of the rostrum without wear. The hood and lateral walls lost by weathering, shown as shadowed areas, are reconstructed based on the holotype and specimens in fig. S4. (A) and (C) are exhibited in a mirrored position. Scale bar, 20 mm.

A sketch of the giant octopus.

artwork by Yohei Utsuki. 

 

Shin Ikegam, Jörg Mutterlose, Kanta Sugiura, Yusuke Takeda, Mehmet Oguz Derin, Aya Kubota, Kazuki Tainaka, Takahiro Harada, Harufumi Nishida and Yasuhiro Iba. 2026. Earliest Octopuses were Giant Top Predators in Cretaceous Oceans. Science. 392; 6796: 406-410. DOI: doi.org/10.1126/science.aea6285 [23 Apr 2026] 

Editor’s summary: The Kraken, the giant cephalopod of legend, was feared by sailors for centuries. Later interpretations suggested that it may have been based on sightings of the giant squid, which can be 10 meters long. Although they lived far too early to have been the source of the legend, Ikegami et al. describe fossil octopods from the late Cretaceous that truly would have fit the description of the monster, reaching up to 19 meters in length. Wear patterns on their jaws suggest that these octopods preyed upon the large reptiles present at the time, including plesiosaurs and mosasaurs. The authors interpret asymmetry in these wear patterns as an indication of corresponding asymmetry in behavior, suggesting complex brain development and, potentially, high intelligence. —Sacha Vignieri

[Botany • 2026] Echeveria zoquitlanensis (Crassulaceae) • A New microendemic Species from Oaxaca, Mexico

Echeveria zoquitlanensis J. Aragón-Parada & P. Carrillo,

in Aragón-Parada et Carrillo-Reyes. 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.17129/botsci.3802  

 facebook.com/JuvenalAragonParada

Abstract

Background: Echeveria (Crassulaceae) is an American genus distributed from Mexico to South America. The genus has 132 species recorded in Mexico, where the state of Oaxaca with 56 species has the greatest richness of the genus. The exploration of the high mountains of Santa María Zoquitlán led us to discover a population of Echeveria that differed from previously known species.

Questions: Does the Echeveria population from the high areas of the municipality of Santa María Zoquitlán, Oaxaca represent a new species? 

Methods: Morphological comparison with the closely related taxa E. islasiae, E. longissima, E. longissima subsp. brachyantha, and E. longissima var. aztatlensis. Evaluation of conservation status based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

Results: We described and illustrated Echeveria zoquitlanensis from Santa María Zoquitlán, Oaxaca, Mexico as a new species. Due their long corollas and styles, the new species were placed in the series Longistylae, mapped its distribution, and determined its conservation status category as critically endangered (CR B1; B2). It differs from the other members of the series by its very long (up to 3.7 cm) crimson red homochromatic flowers, and pale pink to red pistils.

Conclusions: Echeveria zoquitlanensis is the species with the largest flowers within the genus. Exploration carried out in isolated areas in Oaxaca favor the discovery of additional new species that would increase the large diversity of the state.

Keywords: endemism, New species, Sierra Madre del Sur, Zoquitlán, Saxifragales

Echeveria zoquitlanensis J. Aragón-Parada & P. Carrillo, sp. nov.

 

Juvenal Aragón-Parada and Pablo Carrillo-Reyes. 2026. Echeveria zoquitlanensis (Crassulaceae), A New microendemic Species from Oaxaca, Mexico.  Botanical Sciences. 104(2); 601-610. DOI: doi.org/10.17129/botsci.3802 [2026-04-01]

 facebook.com/JuvenalAragonParada/posts/10242202083289028

[Botany • 2026] Rhododendron luohanbaense (Ericaceae, subgen. Hymenanthes) • A New Species from northeast Yunnan, China

 

Rhododendron luohanbaense Y.L.Zhao & D.T.Liu, 

 in Zhao, Gu, Liao, Zhang, Li, Xie, Wang, Ma, Mao et Liu, 2026. 

罗汉坝杜鹃  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.273.182747

Abstract

Rhododendron luohanbaense, a new species of Ericaceae, is described from Zhaotong City in northeastern Yunnan Province, China. Morphologically, it is most similar to both R. pachytrichum and R. maculiferum and can be classified into the subgen. Hymenanthes sect. Pontica subsect. Maculifera. However, it can be easily distinguished by markedly smaller and narrower leaves with acuminate apex, abaxial midribs densely covered with woolly indumentum, yellowish-green corollas speckled with green or purple dots, inflorescences bearing up to 7 flowers, flowers with ovary densely pilose, capsule densely brown setose. Phylogenomic evidence, based on a coalescent-based species tree reconstructed from 5358 single-copy nuclear orthologous genes, also supports recognition of the new taxon.

Key words: Ericaceae, new taxon, nuclear orthologous genes, phylogeny

Rhododendron luohanbaense Y.L.Zhao & D.T.Liu, sp. nov.
 A. Leaf; B. Leaf, abaxial midrib; C. Flowering branch; D. Dissection of flower; E. Ovary; F. Opened capsule; G. Habitat; H. Stem.

Rhododendron luohanbaense (A, D, G, J), R. pachytrichum (B, E, H, K) and R. maculiferum (C, F, I, L).
A–C. Leafy branches; D–F. Abaxial midrib of leaves; G–I. Flowering branch; J–L. Capsule.

Rhododendron luohanbaense Y.L.Zhao & D.T.Liu, sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the Luohanba, the subzone of the Yunnan Wumengshan National Nature Reserve where the holotype was collected; Chinese mandarin: luó hàn bà dù juān (罗汉坝杜鹃).

 Yong-Li Zhao, Chao-Shan Gu, Zheng-Hang Liao, Jing-Li Zhang, Wei Li, Zhu-Fang Xie, Fei Wang, Yong-Peng Ma, Xing-Xing Mao and De-Tuan Liu. 2026. Rhododendron luohanbaense (Ericaceae), A New Species from northeast Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys 273: 299-308. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.273.182747 [23 Apr 2026]

[Crustacea • 2026] Nephropsis perexigua • A New Species of Nephropsis Wood-Mason, 1872 (Decapoda: Astacidea: Nephropidae) [the World’s Smallest Clawed Lobster]

Nephropsis perexigua

Chan & Chang, 2026

 DOI: doi.org/10.1093/jcbiol/ruag015 

Abstract

Several small specimens of a clawed lobster recently collected off the island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies and originally reported as Nephropsis aculeata Smith, 1881 are found to represent a species new to science. The new species, N. perexigua sp. nov., can be readily separated from N. aculeata by the absence of a dorsal median carina in the abdomen. Nephropsis perexigua sp. nov. actually closely resembles N. pygmaea Chang, Chan & Kumar, 2020 from the West Pacific, but differs in the abdomen being smooth. The shape of the posteromesial plate on the coxa of the pereiopod III is also distinctly different among males of N. perexiguasp. nov., N. aculeata, and N. pygmaea. The large sequence divergence in the barcoding gene COI supports the distinct specific status of the new species. With the carapace length of the largest specimen being 12.1 mm and the smallest ovigerous female only 10.0 mm, N. perexiguasp. nov. is the world’s smallest clawed lobster so far known. An updated key to the species of Nephropsis Wood-Mason, 1872 is provided.

Nephropsis perexigua sp. nov.

Tin-Yam Chan and Su-Ching Chang. 2026. Description of the World’s Smallest Clawed Lobster, A New Species of Nephropsis Wood-Mason, 1872 (Decapoda: Astacidea: Nephropidae). Journal of Crustacean Biology. 46(2); ruag015. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/jcbiol/ruag015 [10 April 2026 ]

 

[Botany • 2026] Melanoseris pendryi (Asteraceae) • A New Species from Sikkim Himalaya, India

 

Melanoseris pendryi  D. Maity & Khuroo,
 

in Maity, Khuroo, Halder, Saha, Jha et Pradhan. 2026. 

 DOI: doi.org/10.5735/085.063.0112

bsky.app/profile/anbf.bsky.social

 

Abstract

Melanoseris pendryi D. Maity & Khuroo (Asteraceae) is described as a new species from the Sikkim Himalaya, India. It shares some characters, such as overall habit, capitulum size and hairy involucres, with M. lessertiana and M. qinghaica. However, among other features, M. pendryi is distinguished from them by having long ciliate hairs on the ventral surface of the lavender ligules. The paper provides a detailed taxonomic description, illustrations, photographs of diagnostic features and other details to facilitate identification.

Melanoseris pendryi (photographed near Thombu on 22 September 2025).
 A: Habitat. — B: Habit. — C: Capitulum. — D: Ligules. — E: Colourless ligule (part). — F: Outer involucral bract (ventral face). — G: Inner involucral bract (ventral face). — H: Floret. — I: Anther tube. — J: Immature cypsela. — K: Mature cypsela. — L: Cypsela body surface.

Debabrata Maity, Anzar Ahmad Khuroo, Arup K. Halder, Suparna Saha, Bhavesh K. Jha and Durga K. Pradhan. 2026. Melanoseris pendryi (Asteraceae), a New Species from Sikkim Himalaya, India. Annales Botanici Fennici. 63(1):73-78. DOI: doi.org/10.5735/085.063.0112 [20 April 2026]

https://bsky.app/profile/anbf.bsky.social/post/3mk5p37iwuc2k

[Paleontology • 2026] Phosphatotitan khouribgaensis • A Titanosaurian Sauropod with South American Affinities (Lognkosauria: Argentinosauridae) from the Late Maastrichtian of Morocco and Evidence for Dinosaur Endemism in Africa

 

Phosphatotitan khouribgaensis

Longrich, Pérez-Moreno, Díez Díaz, Pereda-Suberbiola, Bardet & Jalil, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.3390/d18050241

Artwork by Andrey Atuchin facebook.com/AndreyAtuchin

Abstract

The latest Cretaceous saw the final diversification of dinosaurs before the K/Pg extinction. Discussions of end-Cretaceous dinosaur diversity have focused on well-sampled faunas from Laurasia; far less is known about dinosaurian faunas of the Southern Hemisphere, especially Africa. The late Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco provide a rare window into African dinosaur diversity. Abelisaurids, lambeosaurines, and titanosaurian sauropods are known. However, no diagnostic titanosaur remains have been recovered, leaving the affinities of these sauropods unclear. We describe Phosphatotitan khouribgaensis gen. et sp. nov., a new titanosaur from the Maastrichtian of Sidi Chennane, Khouribga Province. Phosphatotitan is represented by dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, and the pelvis. The new species differs from titanosaurs described from the Cretaceous of Africa and Europe but resembles South American Lognkosauria, and especially Patagotitan, in having short dorsal and caudal centra, expanded dorsal and caudal neural spines, and a broad pubis. Its small size relative to other Lognkosauria (3.5–4 tonnes) suggests a lineage selected for small size. The close relationships of Morocco’s titanosaurs and abelisaurids to South American species may reflect a wide distribution of these clades prior to the opening of the South Atlantic and the separation of Africa and South America ~100 Ma, while a complex pattern of oceanic dispersal may explain the presence of distinct saltasauroid lineages worldwide. The latest Cretaceous Gondwanan dinosaur faunas were highly endemic due to a combination of continental fragmentation, extinction, and dispersal, creating high endemism in southern continents and within Africa, suggesting that Maastrichtian dinosaur diversity is underestimated.

Keywords: Dinosauria; Sauropoda; Titanosauria; Argentinosauria; Upper Cretaceous; biogeography; Gondwana

Phosphatotitan khouribgaensis gen. et sp. nov.

 Nicholas R. Longrich, Agustín Pérez-Moreno, Verónica Díez Díaz, Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola, Nathalie Bardet and Nour-Eddine Jalil. 2026. A Titanosaurian Sauropod with South American Affinities (Lognkosauria: Argentinosauridae) from the Late Maastrichtian of Morocco and Evidence for Dinosaur Endemism in Africa. Diversity. 18(5); 241. DOI: doi.org/10.3390/d18050241 [22 April 2026]

 facebook.com/AndreyAtuchin/posts/26756211193972997