[Invertebrate • 2025] Coecobrya microphthalma • The Thermal Tolerance of Springtails in a Tropical Cave, with the Description of a New Coecobrya Species (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from Thailand

 Coecobrya microphthalma Manee & Jantarit,
 

in Manee, Deharveng, D’Haese, Nilsai, Shimano et Jantarit, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3390/insects16010080   

Abstract

A new species of Collembola in the genus Coecobrya, C. microphthalma sp. nov., is described from a cave environment in Saraburi province, central Thailand. The new species is the second described species of the boneti-group found in the country. It is most similar to C. chompon Nilsai, Lima & Jantarit, 2022, which is also described from a Thai cave. However, the new species is morphologically different from C. chompon in having orange dot pigmentation on its body and a combination of other morphological characteristics such as the number of sublobal hairs on the maxillary outer lobe and the number of medio-sublateral mac on Th. II, Abd. I, Abd. III and Abd. IV and the anterior face of the ventral tube. The morphological comparison of all known boneti species and a key to the world species of Coecobrya of the boneti-group are given. Coecobrya microphthalma sp. nov. was successfully cultured in the laboratory. The thermal tolerance of the new species was studied and tested with seven different temperature experiments (27 °C as a control, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 °C). The results showed that C. microphthalma sp. nov. cannot survive at a temperature higher than 32 °C after exposure to the experimental heat for 7 and 14 consecutive days. At 27, 30 and 32 °C, C. microphthalma sp. nov. remained alive and produced eggs, but the duration of egg production and number of egg-laying days significantly declined when the temperature increased (p < 0.001). An interesting aspect of their reproduction concerns temperature. At 32 °C (5 °C above the control temperature), the F1 generation survived, was active and was able to molt to the adult stage. However, specimens were unable to produce the next generation of offspring. For postembryonic development, C. microphthalma sp. nov. required six molts to reach the adult stage. The development rate (from egg to adult) varied and differed significantly between the tested temperatures (p < 0.001). An increase in temperature from the control temperature significantly accelerated the developmental rate from egg to juvenile instars to adult with a statistical significance (p < 0.01). This study is the first attempt that provide information on the impact of increasing temperature on the population dynamics, reproductive capacity and life history of a subterranean tropical Collembola.

Keywords: breeding experiment; cave species; global warming; life history traits; thermal tolerance; taxonomy

 Coecobrya microphthalma sp. nov. 
(A) habitus under microscope; (B) habitus under SEM; (C) head and black eyepatch under slide; (D) head and eye (arrow) under SEM; (E) enlargement of eye under SEM.

Scale bar: (A,B)= 500 μm, (D) = 100 μm, (E) = 10 μm ((A,C): microscope images; (B,D,E): SEM images).

Taxonomy

Class Collembola Lubbock, 1870

Order Entomobryomorpha Börner, 1913

Family Entomobryidae Tömösváry, 1882

Subfamily Entomobryinae Schäffer, 1896

Genus Coecobrya Yosii, 1956

Coecobrya microphthalma sp. nov. Manee and Jantarit, 2025

Remarks. Coecobrya microphthalma sp. nov. belongs to the boneti-group characterized by the presence of eyes. The new species has 1+1 small eyes like six other species of the same group (C. boneti (Denis, 1948), C. sanmingensis Xu and Zhang, 2015, C. indonesiensis (Chen and Deharveng, 1997), C. tukmeas Zhang, Deharveng and Chen, 2009, C. oculata Zhang, Bedos and Deharveng, 2016 and C. chompon). Among Thai cave species, Coecobrya microphthalma sp. nov. is most similar to C. chompon in having relatively long antennae, labial chaetae as mrel1l2, presence of long smooth straight chaetae on antennae, 3 medio-medial mac on Th. II, 3 central mac on Abd. II, 1 central mac and ...

Etymology. Coecobrya microphthalma sp. nov. is derived from the Latin meaning “having small eyes”.

  Nongnapat Manee, Louis Deharveng, Cyrille A. D’Haese, Areeruk Nilsai, Satoshi Shimano and Sopark Jantarit. 2025. The Thermal Tolerance of Springtails in a Tropical Cave, with the Description of a New Coecobrya Species (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from Thailand. Insects. 16(1), 80. DOI: doi.org/10.3390/insects16010080  

(This article belongs to the Section Other Arthropods and General Topics)

Simple Summary: A new species of Collembola, Coecobrya microphthalma sp. nov., is described from a cave in Saraburi province, central Thailand. This species is the second boneti-group member found in the country. It closely resembles C. chompon Nilsai, Lima & Jantarit, 2022 but differs in having orange body dots and distinct morphological traits, such as the number of sublobal hairs and mac on various body segments. A comparison of all boneti-group species globally and a key to their identification are provided. Coecobrya microphthalma sp. nov. was cultured in the laboratory, and its thermal tolerance was tested at seven different temperatures (27 °C as control, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 °C). The results showed that it cannot survive above 32 °C after 7 and 14 days of exposure. At 27, 30, and 32 °C, the species remained alive and produced eggs, though egg-laying duration and number of days decreased with higher temperatures. At 32 °C, the F1 generation survived and molted to adulthood, but no further offspring were produced. Development from egg to adult required six molts, with development rates increasing with higher temperatures. This study is the first attempt to examine how temperature affects the population dynamics, reproductive capacity, and life history of a subterranean tropical Collembola.

[Entomology • 2024] Glyphodes nurfitriae & G. ahsanae • Two New Species in the Genus Glyphodes Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) from Indonesia

 

[C, D]  Glyphodes nurfitriae Sutrisno, 
[E, F]  Glyphodes ahsanae Sutrisno,  

in Watung, Darmawan, Narakusumo, Nugroho, Encilia, Qodri, Peggie, Ubaidillah et Sutrisno, 2024

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5403.4.5

Researchgate.net/publication/377627030

Abstract

Two new species of Glyphodes Guenée, 1854 from Indonesia are proposed as new to science, namely G. nurfitriae sp. nov. and G. ahsanae sp. nov. The total number of recorded Glyphodes for Indonesia is 48 at present. Images of adults and genitalia are provided for both new species.

Agrioglypta, Chabulina, diversity, genitalia, moth, morphology, Papua, Sulawesi

 (A) Glyphodes stolalis ♂ (MZB. Lepi. 715), (B) G. stolalis ♀ (MZB. Lepi. 716),
(C) G. nurfitriae sp. nov. ♂ (holotype; MZB. Lepi. 687.01) (D) G. nurfitriae sp. nov. ♀ (paratype; MZB. Lepi. 678.01)
(E) G. ahsanae sp. nov. ♂ (holotype; MZB. Lepi. 682.01), (F) G. ahsanae sp. nov. ♀ (paratype; MZB. Lepi. 713.01).

Abbreviations, amb= antemedial band, ap= apex, bb= basal band, mb= medial band, pmb= postmedial band. Arrows indicate diagnostic characters.

Glyphodes nurfitriae Sutrisno sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific name nurfitriae is derived from the name of the first daughter, Nur Fitria, of the senior author, Hari Sutrisno. This name is dedicated to her support during our preparing of this manuscript. A noun in the genitive case.

Distribution. Kwerba, Mt. Foja, Papua only (Indonesia).

Glyphodes ahsanae sp. nov. 
(E) ♂ (holotype; MZB. Lepi. 682.01), (F) ♀ (paratype; MZB. Lepi. 713.01).

Glyphodes ahsanae Sutrisno sp. nov. 

Etymology. The specific name ahsanae is derived from the name of the 2nd daughter, Annisa Ahsan,  of  the senior author, Hari Sutrisno. This name is dedicated to her support during the preparation of this manuscript. A noun in the genitive case.

Distribution. West Java, Southeast Sulawesi and North Sulawesi in Indonesia.

Jackson F. WATUNG, Darmawan DARMAWAN, Awit SUWITO, Raden Pramesa NARAKUSUMO, Hari NUGROHO, Encilia ENCILIA, Agmal QODRI, Djunijanti PEGGIE, Rosichon UBAIDILLAH and Hari SUTRISNO. 2024. Description of Two New Species in the Genus Glyphodes Guenée from Indonesia (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Spilomelinae).  Zootaxa. 5403(4); 469-478. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5403.4.5

  facebook.com/61564449850014/posts/122113551338481661

Researchgate.net/publication/377627030_two_new_species_of_Glyphodes_Indonesia

[Paleontology • 2025] Tameryraptor markgrafi • Re-evaluation of the Bahariya Formation carcharodontosaurid (Theropoda: Carcharodontosauridae) and its implications for allosauroid phylogeny

Tameryraptor markgrafi

Kellermann, Cuesta & Rauhut, 2025

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311096

Life reconstruction by Joschua Knüppe.

Abstract

The first partial skeleton of a carcharodontosaurid theropod was described from the Egyptian Bahariya Oasis by Ernst Stromer in 1931. Stromer referred the specimen to the species Megalosaurus saharicus, originally described on the basis of isolated teeth from slightly older rocks in Algeria, under the new genus name Carcharodontosaurus saharicus. Unfortunately, almost all of the material from the Bahariya Oasis, including the specimen of Carcharodontosaurus was destroyed during World War II. In 1996, a relatively complete carcharodontosaurid cranium was described from similar aged rocks in Morocco and designated the neotype of the species Carcharodontosaurus saharicus in 2007. However, due to the destruction of the original material, comparisons of the neotype to the Egyptian fossils have so far only been done cursorily. A detailed reexamination of the available information on the Egyptian carcharodontosaurid, including a previously undescribed photograph of the exhibited specimen, reveals that it differs from the Moroccan neotype in numerous characters, such as the development of the emargination of the antorbital fossa on the nasals, the presence of a horn-like rugosity on the nasal, the lack of a dorsoventral expansion of the lacrimal contact on the frontals, and the relative enlargement of the cerebrum. The referability of the Egyptian specimen to the Algerian M. saharicus is found to be questionable, and the neotype designation of the Moroccan material for C. saharicus is accepted here under consideration of ICZN Atricle 75, as it both compares more favorably to M. saharicus and originates from a locality closer to the type locality. A new genus and species, Tameryraptor markgrafi gen. et sp. nov., is proposed for the Egyptian taxon. The theropods of the Bahariya Oasis and the Moroccan Kem Kem Group are thus not as closely related as previously thought, and the proposed faunal similarities between these two strata need further examination.

The holotype of Tameryraptor markgrafi (SNSB-BSPG 1922 X46).
Photograph of the mounted specimen at a point prior to April 1944.

Comparison between Tameryraptor markgrafi [SNSB-BSPG 1922 X 46] and SGM-Din 1.
SNSB-BSPG 1922 X 46: (B) nasalia from left lateral, left maxilla from (D) lateral and (F) medial and endocast in (G) dorsal and (H) left lateral view;  
and SGM-Din1: (A) right nasal in lateral view, right maxilla in (C) lateral and (E) medial view and endocast in (I) dorsal and (J) left lateral view;

Sources: (A, C, E, J) [18], (I) modified from [54], (B, D) UAT 678/20/SNSB-BSPG 1922 X 46, (F) [1], (G, H) MB. R. 2056.

Systematic Paleontology

Theropoda Marsh, 1881

Allosauroidea Marsh, 1878

Carcharodontosauriformes new clade, 

comprising Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, Sinraptor dongi and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor

Carcharodontosauridae Stromer, 1931

Tameryraptor gen nov. 

Etymology: Tameryraptor meaning “thief from the beloved land” is a combination of one of the more informal ancient Egyptian names for Egypt, (ta-mery) meaning beloved land [Silver, 2021]; and the latin word for thief, raptor

 

  Tameryraptor markgrafi sp. nov.

Etymology: markgrafi in reference to Richard Markgraf, the Austrian fossil collector who discovered most of the dinosaur remains described by Stromer.

Holotype: SNSB-BSPG 1922 X 46, now destroyed. The specimen included parts of the left and right maxilla, both nasals, parts of the braincase and endocast of the braincase, three cervical vertebrae, an anterior to anterior mid-caudal vertebra and chevron, the proximal part of a dorsal rib, a left ischium, right and left pubis, both femora and a left fibula. In the absence of the actual specimen, the descriptions and figures of Stromer [1, 25] and the photograph UAT 678/20 stand as representatives for the holotype, in accordance with ICZN article 73.1.4.

Horizon and Locality: SNSB-BSPG 1922 X 46 was found two kilometers from Ain Gedid on the Western foot of the Gebel Harra (Fig 1) in basal layers of hardened, gypsum-free marl (Layer p of Stromer’s 1914 profile) of the Bahariya Formation, Cenomanian.

Diagnosis: Tameryraptor markgrafi gen. nov sp. nov. is a carcharodontosaurid theropod characterized by the following unique character combination (autapomorphies marked with a *): antorbital fossa visible on nasals in lateral view; small nasal horn on the medial rim of the nasals*; maxilla with well-developed antorbital ridge; maxillary teeth highly symmetrical anteroposteriorly; prefrontal facet on frontal not expanded; frontals vaulted dorsally*; femur with spike like accessory trochanter; proximal fibula more anteriorly than posteriorly expanded.

Skeletal reconstruction of SNSB-BSPG 1922 X 46. Preserved elements shown in white. Each square is 1 sq.m.

Life reconstruction of Tameryraptor markgrafi.

By Joschua Knüppe.

Maximilian Kellermann, Elena Cuesta and Oliver W. M. Rauhut. 2025. Re-evaluation of the Bahariya Formation carcharodontosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) and its implications for allosauroid phylogeny. PLoS ONE. 20(1): e0311096. DOI: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311096

[Herpetology • 2025] Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh • A New Species of lowland karst-dwelling Slender Gecko Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a karstic archipelago in western Cambodia

 

Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh

in Grismer, Sinovas, Quah, Thi, Chourn, Chhin, Hun, Cobos, Geissler, Ching et Murdoch, 2025. 

Khpoh Slender Gecko  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5569.2.3 

 

Abstract

A new species of gekkonid lizard is described from Phnom Khpoh, an isolated karstic hill within an extensive karstic archipelago in Battambang Province, western Cambodia. Phylogenetic analysis using a 1041 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial gene ND2 recovered Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh sp. nov. as the sister species of H. pardalis, found 335 km to the west in southern Thailand. Analyses of meristic, morphometric, and categorical characters of morphology and color pattern differentiated H. khpoh sp. nov. from both the morphologically distinct H. pardalis and the very similar Hemiphyllodactylus sp. from Phnom Kulen, approximately 130 km to the northeast in Siem Reap Province. The statistical morphological analyses and comparisons also showed that H. khpoh sp. nov. is well-differentiated from the recently described H. bokor and H. samkos from the nearby Cardamom Mountains as well from species in clade 6—a recently designated lineage from China, Laos, and Vietnam to which H. khpoh sp. nov. + H. pardalis compose the sister lineage. The discovery of H. khpoh sp. nov. highlights the rich but understudied biodiversity of karstic landscapes, emphasizing the need for continued research in the extensive unexplored karstic archipelago of western Cambodia. This region is poised to reveal unparalleled gekkonid diversity, comparable to that observed in the similarly sized karstic archipelago of the Salween Basin in southern Myanmar. Although karstic landscapes are proving to be some of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet, less than 1% of them are afforded any formal protection.

Reptilia, conservation, Gekkota, genetics, integrative taxonomy, limestone, phylogeny, Southeast Asia

Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh sp. nov.

L. Lee GRISMER, Pablo SINOVAS, Evan S. H. QUAH, Sothearen THI, Phyroum CHOURN, Sophea CHHIN, Seiha HUN, Anthony COBOS, Peter GEISSLER, Christian CHING and Matthew L. MURDOCH. 2025. A New Species of lowland karst-dwelling Slender Gecko Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a karstic archipelago in western Cambodia.  Zootaxa. 5569(2); 253-281. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5569.2.3 

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/geckos-found-southeast-asia-karst

[Herpetology • 2024] Adenomera cantitata • Unexplored Urban Diversity: A New Species of Adenomera (Anura: Leptodactylidae) Related to Adenomera ajurauna from the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern and Southern Brazil

Adenomera cantitata

Cassini, Carvalho, Taucce, Haddad & Solé, 2024 

DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-22-00022 

 Abstract  

The Atlantic Forest is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot because of the high species richness and the remaining natural areas comprising less than 30% relative to its primary vegetation. Even though many anuran species from this biome are ecologically restricted to pristine ecosystems, there are some examples of new species discovered from anthropized areas. Adenomera represents a widespread and abundant frog genus in Atlantic Forest ecosystems, with species occurring in areas with varying degrees of human disturbance. In this paper, we name and describe a new species of Adenomera endemic to the Atlantic Forest typically found in human-altered ecosystems, such as urban and rural sites. The new species was recovered as belonging to the Adenomera marmorata clade, and sister to A. ajurauna. These two species have allopatric distributions in southeastern and southern Brazil, with a single known sympatric occurrence. They display different calls and occupy distinct habitats. The newly described species of Adenomera is an additional case of new species discovered from urban sites in the Atlantic Forest hotspot.

KEYWORDS: Anthropized ecosystems, biodiversity hotspot, cryptic species, species delimitation, sympatry

Adenomera cantitata

Carla S. Cassini, Thiago R. Carvalho, Pedro P. G. Taucce, Célio F. B. Haddad and Mirco Solé. 2024. Unexplored Urban Diversity: A New Species of Adenomera (Anura, Leptodactylidae) Related to Adenomera ajurauna from the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern and Southern Brazil. Herpetologica. 80(3); 275-290. DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-22-00022 

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A Mata Atlântica é reconhecida como um hotspot de biodiversidade devido à sua alta riqueza de espécies e pelas áreas remanescentes compreenderem menos de 30% de sua vegetação original. Embora muitas espécies de anuros desse bioma estejam ecologicamente restritas a áreas pristinas, há exemplos de novas espécies sendo descobertas em ecossistemas antropizados. O gênero Adenomera é um grupo de anuros abundante e amplamente distribuído nos ecossistemas da Mata Atlântica, com a ocorrência de espécies em áreas com diferentes graus de perturbação humana. Neste artigo, nomeamos e descrevemos uma nova espécie de Adenomera endêmica da Mata Atlântica tipicamente encontrada em ecossistemas antropizados, como áreas urbanas e rurais. A nova espécie é recuperada dentro do clado de A. marmorata, como espécie irmã de A. ajurauna. Essas duas espécies têm distribuições alopátricas no sudeste brasileiro, com apenas uma ocorrência simpátrica conhecida. Essas espécies se distinguem por características do canto e pelo uso de diferentes habitats. A espécie de Adenomera descrita aqui é mais um caso de uma nova espécie descoberta em áreas urbanas no hotspot da Mata Atlântica.

[Ichthyology • 2024] Leporinus lignator • New banded Leporinus (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the Madeira River basin, Brazil, and Redescription of L. bleheri, based on integrative taxonomy

Leporinus lignator

Boaretto, Ohara, Souza-Shibatta & Olivan Birindelli, 2024

 Neotrop. ichthyol. 22(4); 

www.scielo.br/j/ni/a/tRpkwnSVH3PndG7cmztzv8C 

Abstract

Leporinus bleheri was described for the Guaporé-Iténez basin, in the border between Bolivia and Brazil. More recently, specimens of a similar-looking banded Leporinus were sampled in distinct rivers in the Madeira basin. Herein, we use an integrative approach combining molecular and morphological data to investigate the taxonomic status of the new samples. Morphometric data were used to perform a Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Both species specimens were cleared and double-stained for osteological description. DNA barcodes were used to investigate the genetic distance between samples and for species delimitation analyses. Molecular markers COI, CytB, 16S, Myh6, RAG1, and RAG2 were applied to estimate the phylogenetic relationships of the two species. Our results show morphological and genetic differences between samples of L. bleheri and the new species. Both species are herein (re)described and illustrated. The new species is distinguished from L. bleheri by having 12 scale rows around the caudal peduncle (vs. 16). The genetic distance between the new species and L. bleheri was of 3.93%, and species delimitation analysis recovered the samples as separated molecular units. The multi-loci analysis corroborated the sister-group relationships between both species, including them within the Leporinus fasciatus group, which was recovered as non monophyletic.

Keywords: Anostomoidea; Amazon; Ostariophysi; Species delimitation analysis; Taxonomy

Leporinus lignator, MZUEL 21727, holotype, 152.96 mm SL
(A), MZUEL 21726, paratype, 117.01 mm SL (B), and holotype in life (C), type-locality
(D), Machado River, Madeira River basin, Brazil.

Leporinus lignator, new species

Diagnosis. Leporinus lignatoris distinguished from all other anostomids except L. affinis, L. altipinnis, L. bleheri, L. desmotes, L. enyae, L. fasciatus, L. jatuncochi, L. pearsoni, L. tigrinus, L. villasboasorum, and L. y-ophorus, by having dark vertical bars encircling the body in adults and nine branched pelvic-fin rays (vs. horizontal bars, dark blotches or dark transversal bars not encircling the body, and eight branched pelvic-fin rays). Leporinus lignator is distinguished from the formers except for L. bleheri and L. tigrinus by having three unicuspid teeth on the premaxillary and four on the dentary (vs. 3/3 or 4/4). Leporinus lignator is distinguished from L. bleheri and L. tigrinus by having 12 scales around the caudal peduncle (vs. 16).

Etymology. The specific epithet, lignator, is allusive to its type-locality, the Machado River, part of the Madeira River basin. In Portuguese, Machado means axe, and Madeira means wood. Lignator is Latin (m.) for a lumberjack who cuts trees into logs, often using axes. A noun in apposition.

Boaretto, Mariana; Pascoal Ohara, Willian; Massaharu Souza-Shibatta, Lenice; Olivan Birindelli, José Luís. 2024. New banded Leporinus (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the Madeira River basin, Brazil, and Redescription of L. bleheri, based on integrative taxonomy. Neotrop. ichthyol. 22(4); https://www.scielo.br/j/ni/a/tRpkwnSVH3PndG7cmztzv8C/ 

[Crustacea • 2025] Bathynomus vaderi • A New Species of supergiant Bathynomus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 (Isopoda: Cirolanidae) from Vietnam, with Notes on the Taxonomy of Bathynomus jamesi

Bathynomus vaderi

 Ng, Sidabalok & Nguyen, 2025 

 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1223.139335 

Abstract

A new supergiant species of Bathynomus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 from Vietnam is described. Bathynomus vaderi sp. nov. is characterised by its wide, rectangular clypeal region with parallel lateral margins, concave distal margin, and narrowly acute apex; the distally narrowing and posteriorly curved coxa of pereopod 7; and the presence of 11 upwardly curved pleotelson spines. The new Bathynomus is the fourth species with upwardly curved pleotelson spines and the second supergiant in the South China Sea. The taxonomy of B. jamesi Kou, Chen & Li, 2017 from the South China Sea is also discussed based on a large series of specimens. Previously reported differences in body form and pleotelson spines, which suggest that there may be two forms or species, are regarded as intraspecific variation for the time being. The contemporary culinary trend and fishing of Bathynomus in Vietnam, which have contributed to this discovery, are also discussed.

Key words: Deep sea, fisheries, morphology, new taxon, taxonomy, seafood

Bathynomus vaderi sp. nov., paratype ♂ (258 mm) (ZVNU 110001), Vietnam, colour in life
A dorsal view B body, ventral view C cephalon, anterior view.

A–D Bathynomus vaderi sp. nov., holotype ♂ (266 mm) (ZRC 2022.0621), Vietnam
E–H B. jamesi Kou, Chen & Li, 2017, ♂ (320 mm) (MNHN IS.2290), Philippines
A, E clypeal region B, F pereon lateral view C, G pleotelson, dorsal view D, H pleotelson, lateral view.

Abbreviations: c6 = coxa of pereopod 6; c7 = coxa of pereopod 7.

Bathynomus vaderi sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Clypeal region with lateral margin parallel, distal margin concave, apex narrowly acute, transversely rectangular (Figs 4C, 5C, 6C, 9A). Coxa of pereopod 7 narrows distally, curved posteriorly (Figs 5D, 6D, E, 9B). Distinct row of setae present between pleotelson spines; 11 upwardly curved pleotelson spines; pleotelson 0.6 as long as wide (Figs 5A, 9D); pleotelson vaulted laterally (Figs 6E, 9C). Appendix masculina slightly shorter than or reaching to end of endopod of pleopod 2 (Fig. 10A).

Etymology: The species named after the most famous Sith Lord in the Star Wars movie series, Darth Vader, whose helmet resembles the head of the new Bathynomus species.

 Peter K. L. Ng, Conni M. Sidabalok and Thanh Son Nguyen. 2025. A New Species of supergiant Bathynomus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) from Vietnam, with Notes on the Taxonomy of Bathynomus jamesi Kou, Chen & Li, 2017. ZooKeys. 1223: 289-310. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1223.139335 

[Botany • 2025] Gymnostachyum mundanthuraiensis (Acanthaceae) • A New Species from the Western Ghats, India

 

Gymnostachyum mundanthuraiensis K.M.P.Kumar & Diksha,  

in Diksha, Satheshkumar, Rana et Prabhukumar. 2025.  

  https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2046

Abstract

A new species of Gymnostachyum Nees (Acanthaceae), G. mundanthuraiensis K.M.P.Kumar & Diksha, sp. nov. from the evergreen forests of Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, southern part of Western Ghats, India is described here.

Keyword: Gymnostachyum latifolium, Gymnostachyum pubescens, Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, south India, Tamil Nadu

Gymnostachyum mundanthuraiensis K.M.P.Kumar & Diksha, sp. nov.
A. Flowering twig; B. Inflorescence; C. Bract; D. Bracteole; E. Bud; F. Flower; G. Calyx; H. Corolla; I. Androecium; J. Anther (insight: anther with glandular hairs); K. Gynoecium; L. Ovary (insight: showing the glandular hairs); M. Capsule: young; N. Capsule: mature; O. Dehisced capsule showing seeds and retinacula; P. Seeds

(Photos: KM Prabhukumar & Diksha Kumari).

Gymnostachyum mundanthuraiensis K.M.P.Kumar & Diksha, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Gymnostachyum mundanthuraiensis sp nov. shows morphological resemblance with G. pubescens by having quadrangular pubescent stem, leaves puberulent on both sides, pubescent bract and bracteoles, stamens held within the corolla lobe, glabrous filament, ovary with glandular hairs and hairy seeds. But is distinct from the G. pubescens by means of lamina with margin entire (vs. serrate to serrulate), purple flower (vs. creamy yellow with blue blotch on the throat), glandular hairy anthers (vs. glabrous) and glabrous style (vs. hairy). More detailed characters are provided in Table 1.

Etymology: The new species is named after its type locality Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India

Kumari Diksha, Chinnappan Satheshkumar, Tikam Singh Rana and Konickal Mambetta Prabhukumar. 2025. Gymnostachyum mundanthuraiensis (Acanthaceae), A New Species from the Western Ghats, India. Taiwania. 70(1); 55-57. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2025.70.55

  https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2046

[Botany • 2024] Dendrobium moniliforme var. hongbinii (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) • A New Variety from Sichuan, China

Dendrobium moniliforme var. hongbinii H.Bin Yang & B.Q.Zheng,

in Zheng, Yang, Wang et Chen, 2024. 

 杨洪斌石斛  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.678.1.5 

Abstract

A new variety of Orchidaceae, Dendrobium moniliforme var. hongbinii, collected from Sichuan Province, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological characteristics and molecular biological analysis. It belongs to Dendrobium and is similar to D. moniliforme, from which it differs by the length of mentum is more than half of the bud, the angle is obtuse, calyx sac ends acuminate, the petals and mid-lobe are subelliptic, the ratio of mid-lobe to the labellum is 1/3. Molecular biological analysis based on nuclear markers (ITS) and plastid markers (trnL intron) indicates that D. moniliforme var. hongbinii is a variety of D. moniliforme.

Chinese orchid flora, Dendrobium, morphology, phylogeny, Monocots

Dendrobium moniliforme var. hongbinii H.Bin Yang & B.Q.Zheng

 杨洪斌石斛(yáng hóng bīn shí hú) 

Bao-Qiang ZHENG, Hong-Bin YANG, Qun WANG and Xing-Liang CHEN. 2024. Dendrobium moniliforme var. hongbinii (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae), A New Variety from Sichuan, China.  Phytotaxa. 678(1); 55-64. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.678.1.5 

A team of Chinese researchers have identified a new species of Dendrobium, a genus of orchids known locally as shihu, in Ya'an, Sichuan province. The discovery was published recently in the botanical journal Phytotaxa.

 

[Arachnida • 2025] Atrax robustus, A. montanus & A. christenseni • The World’s Most Venomous Spider is A Species Complex: Systematics of the Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Mygalomorphae: Atracidae)

 

Atrax christenseni Dupérré & Smith

in Loria, Frank, Dupérré, Smith, Jones, Buzatto & Harms, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02332-0 

australian.museum

Abstract

The Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 is an iconic Australian species and considered among the most dangerously venomous spiders for humans. Originally described in 1877 from a single specimen collected in “New Holland”, this spider has a complex taxonomic history. The most recent morphological revision of funnel-web spiders (Atracidae) lists this species as both widespread and common in the Sydney Basin bioregion and beyond, roughly 250 km from the Newcastle area south to the Illawarra, and extending inland across the Blue Mountains. Morphological variability and venom diversity in this species appear to be unusually high, raising questions about species concepts and diversity in these spiders. In this study, we use a combination of molecular phylogenetics, divergence time analyses and morphology to establish the Sydney funnel-web spider as a complex of three species. The “real” Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus is relatively widespread in the Sydney metropolitan region. A second species, Atrax montanus (Rainbow, 1914), which is revalidated here, overlaps but mainly occurs further south and west, and a third larger species, Atrax christenseni sp. nov., is found in a small area surrounding Newcastle to the north. The revised taxonomy for funnel-web spiders may have practical implications for antivenom production and biochemical studies on spider venoms. Although no human fatalities have occurred since the development of antivenom in the 1980s, antivenom for Sydney funnel-web spiders might be optimized by considering biological differentiation at the species level.

Keywords: Antivenoms, Biodiversity, Biogeography, Mygalomorph spiders, Systematics, Taxonomy

Habitat of Atrax O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 species.
A. Atrax montanus (Rainbow, 1914), forest habitat in Blue Mountains. B. Atrax christenseni sp. nov., near Newcastle, burrow under rock.
C, D. Atrax robustus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877, burrow under rock (C), and female with spiderlings (D).

Photo credit: (A) H. Smith/Australian Museum, Sydney; (B, C) D. Harms; (D) B. Jones

Infraorder Mygalomorphae Pocock, 1892.

Family Atracidae Hogg, 1901.

Genus Atrax O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877.

Atrax robustus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877

Atrax montanus (Rainbow, 1914), status revised

Atrax christenseni Dupérré & Smith sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Adult males are distinguished from all species by their extremely long embolus (12x longer than wide) and widely open embolus tip (Figs. 5C and 17G and H), while shorter in A. robustus (6.5x longer than wide), A. montanus (8x longer than wide) and A. sutherlandi (3.8x longer than wide) (see ...

Etymology. The specific epithet was chosen in honour of Kane Christensen, whose contributions in collecting spiders were vital to the description of this species.

Distribution. This species is distributed north of Sydney with all records situated in a 25 km radius around Newcastle (Fig. 3). Exact locations are hidden to protect this species, which occurs across a restricted area and may be endangered by collecting.

Conclusions: 

Antivenom and biomedical research on medically important species ultimately relies on sound taxonomic concepts for the species in question. Here we show that the iconic Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus sensu Gray, 2010 is a complex of three species (A. robustus sensu stricto, A. montanus and A. christenseni) that differ phylogenetically and morphologically. Targeted venom analyses of these species might follow, but the findings of past biochemical studies should be re-evaluated in light of a modern taxonomic framework. Antivenom seems to be effective for all Atrax species but antivenom specificity to the “real” Sydney funnel-web spider might benefit from acknowledging interspecific boundaries, intraspecific genetic variation, and from considering the distributional range of this species and its congeners. Conservation measures may be warranted to preserve genetic diversity in Atrax spp. lineages.

Stephanie F. Loria, Svea-Celina Frank, Nadine Dupérré, Helen M. Smith, Braxton Jones, Bruno A. Buzatto and Danilo Harms. 2025. The World’s Most Venomous Spider is A Species Complex: Systematics of the Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Atracidae: Atrax robustus). BMC Ecology and Evolution. 25: 7.  DOI: doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02332-0 

 

Newcastle Funnel-web Spider, Atrax christenseni

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/spiders/newcastle-funnel-web-spider-atrax-christenseni/

[Herpetology • 2025] Urkuphryne merinoi, Phyllonastes macuma, P. ecuadorensis, etc. • Systematics of Minute strabomantid Frogs allocated to the Genus Noblella (Anura: Strabomantidae) with Description of A New Genus, Seven New Species, and insights into historical Biogeography

 

  Urkuphryne merinoi,  

Phyllonastes cerrogolondrinas, P. macuma, P. ecuadorensis, 

 in Ortega, Cisneros-Heredia, Camper, Romero-Carvajal, Negrete et Ron, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae162  

facebook.com/JhaelOrtega

 

Abstract

Noblella is a genus of 17 recognized nominal species of ground-dwelling, direct-developing frogs. It consists of two clades that do not form a monophyletic group: a northern clade from northern Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil and a southern clade from southern Peru and Bolivia. Herein, we present a systematic review of Noblella with emphasis on the northern clade, including a new phylogeny based on DNA sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes. We also describe the osteology of five species from the northern clade using X-ray computed tomography. Based on our results, we resurrect the genus Phyllonastes for species of the northern clade (i.e. eight described species plus six new species described herein) and restrict the genus Noblella to the southern clade. We describe a new genus of Holoadeninae, sister to Phyllonastes: Urkuphryne gen. nov., from northern Ecuador. The new genus is distinguished by unique morphological characteristics that are diagnostic of different genera in Strabomantidae. We describe seven new species diagnosable based on morphology. Phyllonastes has five morphological synapomorphies, including the absence of vomerine teeth. Phyllonastes originated in the Pacific basin, Chocó region, ~21 Mya.

Urkuphryne merinoi 

Phyllonastes cerrogolondrinas

Phyllonastes macuma

Phyllonastes ecuadorensis

...

Jhael A. Ortega, Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia, Jeffrey D. Camper, Andrés Romero-Carvajal, Leonardo Negrete and Santiago R. Ron. 2025. Systematics of Minute strabomantid Frogs allocated to the Genus Noblella (Amphibia: Anura) with Description of A New Genus, Seven New Species, and insights into historical Biogeography. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 203(10; zlae162, DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae162

  facebook.com/JhaelOrtega/posts/10234516035671735

 x.com/santiak/status/1878888353724240014

[Botany • 2024] Lepidaploa nakajimae (Asteraceae: Vernonieae) • A New neglected Species from Maciço do Urucum range, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

 Lepidaploa nakajimae A.M.Teles, 

in Teles, Mendonça, Silva et Pivari, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.636.4.3  

comunica.UFU.br

 

Abstract

A new species of Lepidaploa (Vernonieae, Compositae) is here described as L. nakajimae, an endemic species of Maciço do Urucum range, Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. This new species differs from the closely related L. scintillans basically in its leaf width 1.0–2.2 cm (vs. 0.1–0.3 cm), sessile capitula (vs. short pedunculate), florets 40–42 (vs. 10–12), and anthers 2.0 mm long (vs. 3.6–4.3 mm long). Illustrations, comments, distribution map, and conservation status are provided for the new species.

Asteraceae, Cerrado, Lepidaploinae, Eudicots

 Lepidaploa nakajimae A.M.Teles, sp. nov. 

Aristônio Magalhães TELES, Cláudia Barbieri F. MENDONÇA, Rosilene Rodrigues SILVA and Marco Otávio Dias PIVARI. 2024. Lepidaploa nakajimae (Vernonieae, Compositae), A New neglected Species from Maciço do Urucum range, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Phytotaxa. 636(4); 287-294. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.636.4.3  

 Professor da UFU recebe homenagem no nome de nova espécie de planta

Pertencente ao gênero Lepidaploa, da família das margaridas, espécie foi descoberta em Corumbá (MS)

https://comunica.UFU.br/noticias/2024/03/professor-da-ufu-recebe-homenagem-no-nome-de-nova-especie-de-planta