[Ichthyology • 2025] Sinocyclocheilus changlensis • A New eyeless Cavefish Species of the Genus Sinocyclocheilus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Guangxi, China

 

Sinocyclocheilus changlensis Liu, Mao & Yang, 

in Liu, Mao, Sudasinghe, Zhou, Chen, Yang & Meegaskumbura, 2025 

Changle Golden-line Barb | 长乐金线鲃  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72370

ABSTRACT

The extensive limestone landscapes of southwestern China form one of the world's largest karst regions, providing ideal conditions for cavefish evolution. Within this region, Sinocyclocheilus, the most speciose cavefish genus globally, comprises 84 species adapted to dark environments. Despite the many species, the region is still poorly explored, with new species currently being added to the total. Here, using integrative taxonomic methods involving morphological and molecular analyses, we describe Sinocyclocheilus changlensis, a new troglobitic species discovered in a cave in central Guangxi, China. This species is characterized by the absence of eyes, an unpigmented and complete scaled body, and a forked, horn-like structure at the dorsal posterior edge of the head. Morphologically, S. changlensis differs from its congeners by having pelvic-fin rays that do not reach the anus when extended, 42–46 lateral line scales, and a posterior operculum margin reaching the base of the pectoral fin at vertical. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial markers (cytb and ND4), genetic distances, and geometric morphometric analysis further confirmed S. changlensis as a distinct species. The description of this new species contributes to the understanding of cave-dwelling fish diversity in China and underscores the importance of further exploration of stygomorphic species across this poorly explored karstic landscape.

Keywords: blindness, cavefish, Hongshui River, landmarks, molecular systematics, morphology, Sinocyclocheilus, stygomorphic

Sinocyclocheilus changlensis, GXU2020000041, HOLOTYPE, 137.8 mm SL.
(a) Lateral view of preserved specimen; (b) dorsal view of head in preserved specimen; (c) live specimen.

Sinocyclocheilus changlensis Liu, Mao & Yang, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Sinocyclocheilus changlensis can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: eye absent (eyeless); pelvic-fin rays tip not reaching the anus when pelvic-fin rays are extended backward; having a forked horn-like structure at the dorsal posterior edge of the head; albinotic body without pigmentation; lateral line scales 42–46; posterior margin of operculum close to the base of pectoral-fin origin; a distinct hump in the predorsal profile; rostral barbel not reaching the depression after eye degeneration; maxillary barbel not reaching the posterior margin of preoperculum; pharyngeal teeth pattern 1,3,4–3,3,1; vertebrae 4 + 35–36; 11 outer rakers on the first gill arch.

Yewei Liu, Tingru Mao, Hiranya Sudasinghe, Jiajun Zhou, Rongjiao Chen, Jian Yang, Madhava Meegaskumbura. 2025. Description of A New Eyeless Cavefish Species Using Integrative Taxonomic Methods—Sinocyclocheilus changlensis (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), From Guangxi, China. Ecology and Evolution.15(11); e72370.  DOI: doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72370 [19 November 2025]

 

[Crustacea • 2025] Caridina brevilineata, C. fontinalis, C. hepingensis, C. qiongzhongensis, ... • Integrative Taxonomy reveals the Caridina clinata Cai, Nguyen & Ng, 1999 Species Complex (Decapoda: Atyidae), with Descriptions of Eight New Species from Hainan Island, China

Caridina clinata Cai, Nguyen & Ng, 1999,
 Caridina wenchangensis sp. nov., C. qiongzhongensis sp. nov., C. huangi sp. nov., C. hepingensis sp. nov., C. fontinalis sp. nov., C. tunchengensis sp. nov., C. brevilineata sp. nov., & C. caii sp. nov.

in Hou, J. Zhang, B. Chen, Y. Zhang, W. Chen et Guo, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.172207

Abstract

Integrative analyses revealed that Caridina clinata Cai, Nguyen & Ng, 1999 represents a species complex comprising nine sibling species distributed across Hainan Island (China) and Vietnam. Among these, C. clinata sensu stricto (the nominal species itself) occurs in both regions, C. haivanensis is endemic to Vietnam, and the seven newly described species are endemic to Hainan Island. Evidence showed that the C. clinata population reported by Cai (2014) from Wuzhishan was actually a new species, herein described as C. caii sp. nov. This study documents nine Caridina species from Hainan Island, including eight new species and one newly recorded species. The new species are: C. wenchangensis sp. nov., C. qiongzhongensis sp. nov., C. huangi sp. nov., C. hepingensis sp. nov., C. fontinalis sp. nov., C. tunchengensis sp. nov., C. brevilineata sp. nov., and C. caii sp. nov. Additionally, Caridina clinata is recorded for the first time from Ledong, Hainan, and is redescribed herein. For each species, we provide comprehensive morphological descriptions, illustrations, taxonomic notes, habitat parameters, and IUCN threat assessments. Furthermore, we clarify the phylogenetic relationships between the newly discovered species and their congeners.

Key Words: 16S, COI, Hainan Island, Integrative taxonomy, morphology, new species

Collection sites of Hainan Island and live colouration of 9 Caridina species.
Caridina clinata Cai, Nguyen & Ng, 1999, Caridina wenchangensis sp. nov., C. qiongzhongensis sp. nov., C. huangi sp. nov., C. hepingensis sp. nov., C. fontinalis sp. nov., C. tunchengensis sp. nov., C. brevilineata sp. nov., and C. caii sp. nov.

Caridina wenchangensis sp. nov., C. qiongzhongensis sp. nov., 

C. huangi sp. nov., C. hepingensis sp. nov., 

C. fontinalis sp. nov., C. tunchengensis sp. nov., 

C. brevilineata sp. nov., and C. caii sp. nov.

Habitats of Caridina species on Hainan Island.
A. C. clinata Cai et al., 1999; B. C. caii sp. nov.; C. C. wenchangensis sp. nov.; D. C. qiongzhongensis sp. nov.;
E. C. huangi sp. nov.; F. C. hepingensis sp. nov.; H. C. tunchengensis sp. nov.; I. C. brevilineata sp. nov.

 Junjie Hou, Jiping Zhang, Bing Chen, Yixuan Zhang, Wenjian Chen, Zhaoliang Guo. 2025. Integrative Taxonomy reveals the Caridina clinata Cai, Nguyen & Ng, 1999 Species Complex (Crustacea, Decapoda, Atyidae), with Descriptions of Eight New Species from Hainan Island, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(4): 2295-2336. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.172207

[Herpetology • 2025] Dryadobates gen. nov., Dryadobates bokermanni, D. lutzi ... • Museomics and the Systematics of the Atlantic Forest Nurse Frogs (Dendrobatoidea: Aromobatidae: Allobatinae)

 

Dryadobates lutzi

Dryadobates bokermanni

Grant, Lyra, Hofreiter, Preick, Barlow, Verdade & Rodrigues, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.1206/0003-0090.472.1.1 

 

Abstract

For four decades after 1967, four species of nurse frogs were recognized in the Atlantic Forest, namely Allobates alagoanus (Bokermann, 1967), A. capixaba (Bokermann, 1967), A. carioca (Bokermann, 1967), and A. olfersioides (A. Lutz, 1925), but in 2007 they were synonymized due to a lack of morphological differences. Although growing evidence from DNA and bioacoustics suggests that multiple species of nurse frogs inhabit the Atlantic Forest, their taxonomy has not been updated because populations at the four type localities had all vanished by the 1990s, making it impossible to collect tissues for DNA analysis and other data (e.g., vocalizations) from topotypic material. To overcome the lack of modern tissues, we employed museomics to obtain historical DNA from topotypic material of the four nominal species, which we analyzed together with data from extant populations from throughout the Atlantic Forest and Atlantic Forest enclaves within the Caatinga. We found that the Atlantic Forest nurse frogs comprise a well-supported clade of no fewer than 12 species that arrived in the Atlantic Forest via a single invasion from the Guiana Shield. We propose Dryadobates, gen. nov., for this clade, which is the sister group of all other allobatines. We consider the four nominal species to be valid, redescribe them as D. alagoanus, comb. nov., D. capixaba, comb. nov., D. carioca, comb. nov., and D. olfersioides, comb. nov., describe two sister species (D. bokermanni, sp. nov., and D. lutzi, sp. nov.) from southern Bahia, and summarize available information for the remaining six undescribed species. The type series of D. olfersioides comprises two species, so we designate a lectotype to clarify the application of the name. Dryadobates alagoanus is extant and broadly distributed, but D. capixaba, D. carioca, and D. olfersioides are presumed extinct, representing 50% of the nominal species of Dryadobates. These results provide a clear and consequential example of the essential role museomics and taxonomy play in understanding diversity loss and setting conservation priorities.

 

Keywords: Dendrobatidae, Mata Atlântica, Classification, Frogs, Genetics, Dryadobates, Museomics.

Dryadobates bokermanni, sp. nov., adult in life.
Adult male holotype (MZUSP 160849, 16.7 mm SVL): A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.
C, adult female topoparatype (MZUSP 160848, 17.8 mm SVL), ventral view. Photographs: T.G.

Dryadobates lutzi, sp. nov., adult male paratypes in life.
 A, dorsal view (MZUSP 160544, 14.7 mm SVL; photograph: M.T.R.);
B, ventral view (MZUESC 20074, 15.5 mm SVL; photograph: Omar Rojas Padilla).

Dryadobates gen. nov.

Dryadobates bokermanni sp. nov.

Dryadobates lutzi sp. nov.

Dryadobates olfersioides comb. nov.

Dryadobates alagoanus , D. capixaba , D. carioca (removed from the synonymy of Dryadobates olfersioides)

Dryadobates alagoanus adult male in life (an individual in the series CHUFPE 1817–1823):
A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

Photographs: Marcos Dubeux.

 

Taran Grant, Mariana L. Lyra, Michael Hofreiter, Michaela Preick, Axel Barlow, Vanessa K. Verdade, Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues. 2025. Museomics and the Systematics of the Atlantic Forest Nurse Frogs (Dendrobatoidea: Aromobatidae: Allobatinae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 2025(472); 1-76. DOI: doi.org/10.1206/0003-0090.472.1.1  [6 May 2025]

https://hdl.handle.net/2246/7504

[Crustacea • 2025] Macrobrachium debaratae • Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of A New Species of the Genus Macrobrachium (Caridea: Palaemonidae) from Songkhram River, Northeast Thailand

Macrobrachium debaratae Siriwut, 

in Siriwut, Chaowvieng, Jeratthitikul, Chanabun, Panha et Sutcharit, 2025. 

Tropical Natural History. Suppl. 8; 

https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/TNH 

Abstract

The recognized diversity of Macrobrachium prawns in Thailand has increased recently due to taxono-mic investigation using integrative approaches, i.e. from morphology and DNA barcoding. The freshwater habitats in northeast Thailand such as riparian wetland ecosystems provide diverse ecological conditions that promote adaptive diversification among organisms. The varying condition of the freshwater bodies can support the existence of cryptic species among the aquatic animal fauna, including in prawns of the genus Macrobrachium. Several Macrobrachium species have previously been reported in association with the vast network of tributaries that form the Mekong River basin. Newly described species and unidentified morphospecies have particularly been reported from this area in previous systematic studies, which indicates that the current known diversity of the aquatic fauna is likely to be largely incomplete. In this study, a new species of the genus Macrobrachium from the Songkhram River, one of the Mekong tributaries, is described and named as Macrobrachium debaratae Siriwut, sp. nov. This new species contains several distinct morphological characters from its congeneric and co-existing species group, such as the rostral teeth formula, the size and the shape of second pereiopods, and the tooth present on the cutting edge of the fingers of the chelae of the second pereiopods. Genetic distance analysis among the known Macrobrachium species supported this morphological classification as a new species with an interspecific COI divergence of 13%. The COI phylogenetic tree indicated that M. debaratae Siriwut, sp. nov. was monophyletic and was placed close to M. sirindhorn, a member within the M. pilimanus species group. This study highlights the need for a detailed morphological inspection to examine the variability in the taxonomic characters of Macrobrachium, particularly in the M. pilimanus species group found in mainland Southeast Asia tributaries. Further taxonomic review based on intensive sampling is required to provide a more adequate understanding of the diversity of Macrobrachium in the Mekong basin.

 

Keywords: Macrobrachium, Thailand, Songkhram River, New species, COI barcode

Morphological characteristics and chromatophore pattern variation in Macrobrachium debaratae sp. nov.
 A, B, D, E.Colouration and morphology of male specimens. C.Colouration and morphology of female specimen. Scale bar indicates 5 mm.

Macrobrachium debaratae Siriwut, sp. nov. 

Etymology.–The specific name “debaratae”derives from “Debaratana”, which means the insignia gem of goddess.The name is given in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as a token of recognition. Her Royal Highness has been devoted to supporting and kindly participating in several pioneer projects studying Thai biodiversity and conservation led by government and private sectors.

Habitat of Macrobrachium debaratae sp. nov.  
A. Location of type locality. B.Aquatic plant (Potamogeton crispus L.) found dominantly in type locality. C, D. Habitat characteristics of middle Songkhram River.

Warut Siriwut, Apisara Chaowvieng, Ekgachai Jeratthitikul, Ratmanee Chanabun, Somsak Panha and Chirasak Sutcharit. 2025. Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of A New Species, Macrobrachium debaratae sp. nov. (Caridea, Palaemonidae) from Songkhram River, Northeast Thailand. Tropical Natural History. Suppl. 8;  493-511. 

https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tnh/article/view/268420

[Herpetology • 2025] Dryadobates erythropus • A recently extinct New Species of Dryadobates (Anura: Aromobatidae) from South Brazil: Species Description and Implications for the historical distribution and Recent Extinction History of the Clade

 

Dryadobates erythropus Grant & Pinheiro, 2025
Dryadobates bokermanni Grant et al., 2025, from southern Bahia, Brazil 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5693.4.9 

photos: Taran Grant/IB-USP

 

Abstract

We describe a new species of Dryadobates on the basis of a single adult male collected in 1963 in Tarumã, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Although the specimen is badly desiccated and extremely fragile, it can be readily assigned to Dendrobatoidea on the basis of its posterodorsally concealed tympanum, phalangeal swelling on finger IV, and tarsal keel. The new species shares with other species of Dryadobates the same morphology of finger discs II, IV, and V, absence of a metatarsal fold, presence of a complete pale oblique lateral stripe, absence of a pale dorsolateral stripe, presence of basal webbing between toes III–IV (absent between all other toes), presence of pale paracloacal marks, and small size. It is diagnosed from all nominal congeners by possessing a conspicuous pale oblique lateral stripe that is discrete and well defined along its entire length (i.e., not anteriorly indistinct). The type locality lies ca. 550 km south of the nearest congener in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, suggesting the existence of additional Dryadobates populations between these localities. However, despite extensive surveys in suitable habitats at multiple localities in São Paulo and Paraná over the past 50 years, no other specimens of Dryadobates have been collected. Further, the region of the type locality—once characterized by forests, streams, and expansive fields and wetlands—has been transformed into a highly developed residential and commercial area lacking suitable habitat for Dryadobates, leading us to presume this species to be extinct. With the current species, Dryadobates now comprises seven described species, four of which disappeared within a 15–20-year window between the mid-1960s and mid-1980s. The drivers of these recent extinctions remain unclear, underscoring the urgent need to gather data on the natural history, distribution, and population status of extant Dryadobates species to inform effective conservation strategies.

Amphibia, Dendrobatoidea, Neotropics, Nurse frogs, Rocket frogs, Systematics, Taxonomy

 

Despite being quite dried out, the only known specimen of Dryadobates erythropus allowed it to be identified as a new species to science. 

photo: Taran Grant/IB-USP

Dryadobates erythropus sp. nov. 

 

Etymology. Like the specific epithets alagoanus, capixaba, and carioca, erythropus refers to inhabitants of the region of the type locality. Specifically, it is derived from the Greek erythros (red) and pous (foot), Latinized as pus, from the Portuguese term pé-vermelho (red-foot), a colloquial nickname for people in rural areas of Paraná, originating from the farmers who often worked barefoot on the characteristic red soil of the northern part of the state. 

Taran GRANT and Paulo Durães Pereira PINHEIRO. 2025. A recently extinct New Species of Dryadobates (Anura: Aromobatidae) from South Brazil: Species Description and Implications for the historical distribution and Recent Extinction History of the Clade. Zootaxa. 5693(4); 583-595. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5693.4.9 [2025-09-19]

[Herpetology • 2025] Raorchestes magnus, R. monolithus, R. nasuta, R. orientalis ... • Revision of Bush Frogs, Raorchestes and Philautus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the northeast Indian Biodiversity Hotspot with Description of Thirteen New Species

Raorchestes nasuta, R. monolithus, R. orientalis,
R. khonoma, R. arunachalensis, R. magnus, ...

 Boruah, Deepak & Das, 2025 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/vz.75.e148133 

 facebook.com: Bitupan Boruah 

Abstract

Bush frogs currently in the genera Raorchestes and Philautus are poorly documented from northeast India when compared to the Western Ghats of southwestern India. They are morphologically cryptic, but variable in their acoustic repertoire and genetic divergence. We present a long-overdue revision of the bush frogs of northeast India by sampling 81 localities in eight Indian States (including nine type localities of known species) and by comparing historical (especially, type) material. Using an integrative approach that combines levels of divergence in mitochondrial DNA, a nuclear-encoded gene and comparing morphological and bioacoustic data, we demonstrate the existence of 13 new species, which are formally described here. In addition, based on the evidence from molecular and morphological data we synonymise four previously described species from this region. We resolve the taxonomic identities of three other frog species found in northeast India. After extensive survey across northeast India, we did not find a single specimen of the genus Philautus. The only species in this genus with ambiguous generic identity is P. dubius which requires further taxonomic investigation.

Keywords: Bioacoustics, cryptic species, Indo-Burma, Indochina, morphology, phylogeny, redescription, taxonomy 

Raorchestes orientalis sp. nov.

Raorchestes mawsynramensis sp. nov.

Raorchestes boulengeri sp. nov.

Raorchestes barakensis sp. nov.

Raorchestes narpuhensis sp. nov.

Raorchestes lawngtlaiensis sp. nov.

Raorchestes nasuta sp. nov.

Raorchestes dibangensis sp. nov.

Raorchestes monolithus sp. nov.

Raorchestes khonoma sp. nov.

Raorchestes eaglenestensis sp. nov.

Raorchestes arunachalensis sp. nov.

Raorchestes magnus sp. nov.

Raorchestes cinerascens  comb. nov., 

Raorchestes tytthus  comb. nov.,

 Liurana kempii  comb. nov., 

Nasutixalus microdiscus comb. nov.

 Bitupan Boruah, V. Deepak and Abhijit Das. 2025. Revision of Bush Frogs, Raorchestes and Philautus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the northeast Indian Biodiversity Hotspot with Description of Thirteen New Species. Vertebrate Zoology. 75: 517-625. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/vz.75.e148133 

 facebook.com/BitupanWild92/posts/25117149374636398

[Invertebrate • 2025] Lepidonella sirindhornae • A New Collembola Species (Entomobryidae: Paronellinae) from Southern Thailand

Lepidonella sirindhornae Nilsai & Jantarit,

in Nilsai, Engchuan et Jantarit. 2025. 

 Tropical Natural History. Suppl. 8;  

 https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/TNH 

Abstract

The genus Lepidonella is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, South Asia, Papua New Guinea, the Melanesian region, Australia, Africa, and the Americas. To date, only a single species of the genus has been formally recorded from Thailand. However, numerous undescribed species, particularly from southern Thailand, have been reported, indicating a greater diversity than currently recognized. This study presents the first formal description of a Lepidonella species from a cave habitat in the country. Lepidonella sirindhornae Nilsai & Jantarit, sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Tham Phraya Bangsa in Satun Province. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a unique combination of morphological characters, including labial chaetotaxy formula (M1m2rEL1L2), elongation of antennal length (3.5–5.1 antenna: head ratio), presence of 6+6 eyes and a distinctive number of chaetae on both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the ventral tube. Additionally, this study provides a distribution map of the genus Lepidonella found in Thailand, underscoring the diversity of cave-dwelling species in the region and the need for further taxonomic investigation.

Keywords: cave, Entomobryoidea, Isthmus of Kra, new species, taxonomy

Areeruk Nilsai, Ronnaphon Engchuan and Sopark Jantarit. 2025. The Lepidonella sirindhornae sp. nov. , A New Collembola species from Southern Thailand.  Tropical Natural History. Suppl. 8;  449-459. 

https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tnh/article/view/267503  [2025-11-17]

[Paleontology • 2025] Shakiremys colombiana • Mosaic Morphology in Podocnemididae (Pleurodira) revealed by A New turtle from the Middle Miocene La Venta Biome, Colombia

 

 Shakiremys colombiana  

 Cadena, Leal-Amaya, A. Vanegas-Vanegas, R. D. Vanegas-Vanegas & Guevara-Serrano, 2025

  

DOI: doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70051 

 x.com/ThePalAss

Illustration by Juan Giraldo

Abstract

A new genus and species of podocnemidid turtle, Shakiremys colombiana, is described here from the Middle Miocene La Venta Biome, located in south-central Colombia. The new taxon is represented by two specimens: one consisting of a complete skull and articulated shell, and the other of an articulated shell only. Shakiremys colombiana is distinguished from other podocnemidids by the following combination of features: intermediate roofing of the temporal emargination; a jugal retracted from the orbital margin; a flatter, more rectangular carapace outline; peripherals 2 with a short, protruding anteromedial margin; vertebral scute 1 narrower than the others and not reaching peripherals 1; the gular scute reaching the pectorals and completely separating the humerals; and anterior plastral lobe margin almost straight. It also has an additional mosaic of characteristics found in Podocnemidinae, Erymnochelyinae and Peltocephalinae. A phylogenetic analysis recovered Sh. colombiana as the basalmost member of a large clade that includes both Erymnochelyinae and Peltocephalinae. Additionally, computed tomography was used to reconstruct and compare the neuroanatomical features of Sh. colombiana with other podocnemidids. The mosaic traits observed in Sh. colombiana are interpreted as advantageous for a broader dietary and ecological spectrum, potentially including an omnivorous diet, and the ability to thrive in various aquatic environments, ranging from blackwater to whitewater habitats. This ecological versatility may have offered a competitive advantage for Sh. colombiana within the diverse palaeoecosystem of La Venta, where multiple podocnemidid and chelid turtle species coexisted.

Keywords: turtle, pleurodire, Miocene, South America, La Victoria Formation

SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY

TESTUDINES Batsch 1788 sensu Joyce et al. 2020 

PLEURODIRA Cope 1864 sensu Joyce et al. 2020 

PELOMEDUSOIDES Broin 1988 sensu Joyce et al. 2021 

PAN-PODOCNEMIDIDAE Joyce et al. 2004 sensu Joyce et al. 2021 

PODOCNEMIDIDAE Cope 1868 sensu Joyce et al. 2021 

Genus Shakiremys nov.

 

Derivation of name: In honour of Shakira, a Colombian singer who has inspired generations with her music and dance; music that has accompanied the first author's fieldwork for decades. Shakira also serves as an example of uniqueness, much like the fossil turtle described herein.

Shakiremys colombiana sp. nov.

 

Derivation of name: From Colombia, the country where the species was discovered.

Holotype: VPPLT-1730, complete skull (Figs 2, 3A−C, 4A−B) and articulated shell (carapace and plastron) (Figs 5, 6), belonging to a single individual (Fig. 1D).

 

Palaeoartist's reconstruction of the podocnemidid Shakiremys colombiana gen. et sp. nov. and the fluvial ecosystem.

Illustration by Juan Giraldo.

 

Edwin-Alberto Cadena, David E. Leal-Amaya, Andrés Vanegas-Vanegas, Rubén D. Vanegas-Vanegas, Lino J. E. Guevara-Serrano. 2025. Mosaic Morphology in Podocnemididae revealed by A New turtle from the Middle Miocene La Venta Biome, Colombia. Papers in Palaeontology. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70051 [17 November 2025]

 x.com/ThePalAss/status/1990896493893402792 

[Herpetology • 2025] Gekko tesselatus • A New Rock-dwelling Gekko (Subgenus Japonigekko) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from from northwestern Sichuan Province, China

 

Gekko tesselatus Xu, Ma, Cai, Qi, Matsukoji, Poyarkov, Sun, Jiang & Peng, 

in Xu, Ma, Cai, Qi, Matsukoji, Poyarkov, Sun, Weng, Gu, Tian, Zhang, Jiang et Peng, 2025. 

Checkered Gecko | 斑纹壁虎  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.175246 

Abstract

We describe a new rock-dwelling species of the genus Gekko (subgenus Japonigekko) from Heishui County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China, based on both morphological and molecular (1,574 bp from the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and ND2 genes) evidence. Morphologically, Gekko tesselatus sp. nov. is characterized by its moderate body size; two (rarely one) enlarged postmentals; flattened dorsal tubercles extending from the posterior head through the neck to the anterior portion of the tail, arranged in 12–15 rows at midbody; 130–157 ventral scales between the mental and the cloacal slit; 98–106 midbody scale rows; 31–39 ventral scale rows; subdigital lamellae numbering 7–10 on finger I, 9–12 on finger IV, 7–9 on toe I, and 9–12 on toe IV; absence of webbing; 6–8 precloacal pores in males and absence in females; one (rarely two) postcloacal tubercle on each side; and a distinctive dorsal coloration. Phylogenetically, the new species forms a distinct clade within the subgenus Japonigekko, showing uncorrected 16S sequence divergences of at least 8.2% from its closest relative, G. liboensis, and at least 8.9% from all other congeners, as well as ND2 divergences of at least 14.3% from G. fengshanensis and at least 14.9% from other species in the subgenus. The discovery of this new species raises the number of Japonigekko species recorded in China to 26 and in Sichuan Province to seven.

Key Words: Gekko tesselatus sp. nov., molecular phylogeny, morphological characters, taxonomy

Holotype of Gekko tesselatus sp. nov. in life.
A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Dorsal view of head; D. Lateral view of head; E. Ventral view of head.

Photographs by Yuhao Xu.

Coloration of Gekko tesselatus sp. nov. in life.
A. Specimen QHU R2025022, adult female; B. Specimen QHU R2025023, adult male;
C. Specimen QHU R2025024, adult female; D. Specimen QHU R2025025, adult male;
E. Specimen QHU R2025026, subadult male; F. Specimen SYS r003029, adult male.

Photographs by Yuhao Xu.

 Gekko tesselatus Xu, Ma, Cai, Qi, Matsukoji, Poyarkov, Sun, Jiang & Peng, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Gekko tesselatus sp. nov. can be diagnosed from other Japonigekko species by the following unique combination of characters: (1) a moderate body size (SVL reaches up to 64.9 mm in males and 72.9 mm in females); (2) nares in contact with the rostral, internasal 0 or 1; (3) two enlarged postmentals, rarely one; (4) flattened dorsal tubercles present from the posterior head through the neck to the anterior portion of the tail, arranged in 12–15 rows at midbody; (5) 130–157 ventral scales between the mental and the cloacal slit; (6) 98–106 midbody scale rows; (7) 31–39 ventral scale rows; (8) subdigital lamellae 7–10 on finger I, 9–12 on finger IV, 7–9 on toe I, and 9–12 on toe IV; (9) webbing absent; (10) 6–8 precloacal pores in males, absent in females; (11) one postcloacal tubercle on each side, rarely two; (12) in life, the dorsum is predominantly greyish brown, with a series of irregular dark transverse bands that are faintly interrupted medially by a narrow vertebral stripe and laterally fragmented and interconnected, forming an irregular, checkerboard-like reticulated pattern.

Etymology. The specific name “tesselatus” is a Latinized adjective in the nominative singular (masculine gender), derived from “tessella” (a small square tile), and means “reticulated” or “checkerboard-like.” It refers to the characteristic dorsal pattern of the new species, which consists of a series of irregular dark transverse bands that are faintly interrupted medially by a narrow vertebral line and, laterally, are partly fragmented and partly interconnected, forming an irregular, checkerboard-like reticulated pattern across the dorsum. For the common names, we suggest “Checkered Gecko” in English and “Bān Wén Bì Hǔ” (斑纹壁虎) in Chinese.

Habitat and field observations of Gekko tesselatus sp. nov.
 A. Macrohabitat of the new species in Se’ergu Town, Heishui County, Sichuan, China; B. Microhabitat of the new species; C. Gekko tesselatus sp. nov. in life, in situ; D. The sympatric Lycodon multizonatus.

 Photographs by Yuhao Xu (A–C) and Tianxuan Gu (D).

Comparison of Gekko tesselatus sp. nov. and four closely related species in life, in situ.
A. Gekko tesselatus sp. nov., unvouchered adult male individual from Se’ergu, Heishui, Sichuan, China; B. Gekko tesselatus sp. nov., unvouchered juvenile individual from Se’ergu, Heishui, Sichuan, China;
C. G. liboensis, unvouchered individual from Libo, Guizhou, China; D. G. fengshanensis, NHMG 202408007, adult male from Fengshan, Guangxi, China;
E. G. kwangsiensis, unvouchered adult female individual from Nanning, Guangxi, China; F. G. paucituberculatus, unvouchered individual from Baise, Guangxi, China.

Photographs by YHX (A, B), Dan-Yang Zhou (C, F), reproduced from Huang et al. (2025) (D), and Yang (2015) (E).

 Yuhao Xu, Shun Ma, Bo Cai, Shuo Qi, Tomoya Matsukoji, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Fanyue Sun, Shiyang Weng, Tianxuan Gu, Kaidi Tian, Di Zhang, Jianping Jiang and Lifang Peng. 2025. A New Rock-dwelling Gecko of the Subgenus Japonigekko (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Gekko) from northwestern Sichuan Province, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(4): 2221-2242. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.175246 

[Botany • 2025] Primulina marmorata (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from northern Guangxi, China

 

Primulina marmorata  F. Wen, W. C. Chou & Y. G. Wei,

in Zhang, Chou, Wang, Yi-Gang Wei et Wen, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.05016

Abstract

Primulina marmorata, a new species of Gesneriaceae from the limestone areas of Siding Town, Rong'an County, liuzhou City, Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated here. It morphologically resembles P. yungfuensis in leaf blades. Still, it can be easily distinguished from the latter by noting a combination of characteristics, especially in its obviously larger bracts. We found only one population, about 10 000 mature individuals, at the type locality. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (Ver. 3.1), the new species is tentatively designated as ‘Critically Endangered' (CR).

Keywords: Flora of Guangxi, Gesneriaceae, new taxon, Primulina marmorata, taxonomy

Primulina marmorata sp. nov. (A) Habit, (B) adaxial side of leaves, (C) abaxial side of leaves, (D) inflorescence, (E) calyx, (F) pistil with calyx, (G) adaxial side of bracts, (H) front view of a flower showing the internal structure, (I) top view of a flower, (J) abaxial side of bracts, (K) opened corolla, (L) lateral view of a flower. Photographs by Fang Wen.

Primulina marmorata F. Wen, W. C. Chou & Y. G. Wei sp. nov. 

A species resembling Primulina yungfuensis (Fig. 3A2–F2) in shape and texture of leaf blades, but easily distinguished by its bracts broadly lanceolate, with strigose pubescence and apex acute (versus narrowly ovate to elliptic, villous indumentum and obtuse apex), 39–60 × 26–33 mm (versus 7–12 × 5–7 mm); blade margin entire and apex obtuse to round (versus crenate to repand and apex acute to rounded); calyx lobes lanceolate, ca 7 × 3 mm (versus lanceolate-linear to narrowly triangular, 5.5–7 × 1.2–2.2 mm); corolla tube tubular (versus funnel-shaped to narrowly funnel-shaped). Detailed morphological comparisons with Primulina yungfuensis are provided in Table 1.

Primulina marmorata sp. nov., demonstrating its extremely high ornamental value (Photographs by Wei-Chuen Chou). (A)–(F) variations in leaf upper surface coloration and texture, (D)–(H) different corolla shapes, colors, patches, and spots. Photographs by Fang Wen.

Shu-Shan Zhang, Wei-Chuen Chou, Qi-Jun Wang, Yi-Gang Wei, Fang Wen. 2025. Primulina marmorata (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from northern Guangxi, China. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.05016 [14 November 2025]