[Ecology • 2024] A Biogeographical Appraisal of the threatened South East Africa Montane Archipelago Ecoregion

 

Location and extent of the South East Africa Montane Archipelago (SEAMA) 

Examples of SEAMA endemics. (a) Rhinolophus mabuensis (AM), (b) Chamaetylas choloensis (JB), (c) Nothophryne inagoensis (WC), (d) Atheris mabuensis (WRB), (e) Epamera malaikae (TCEC), f) Rhampholeon maspictus (JB), (g) Nadzikambia baylissi (WRB), (h) Maritonautes namuliensis (JB), (i) Euphorbia mlanjeana (ID), (j) Widdringtonia whytei (JB), (k) Encephalartos gratus (JB).

in Bayliss, Bittencourt-Silva, Branch, Bruessow, Collins, Congdon, Conradie, ... et Platts, 2024.

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54671-z

Abstract

Recent biological surveys of ancient inselbergs in southern Malawi and northern Mozambique have led to the discovery and description of many species new to science, and overlapping centres of endemism across multiple taxa. Combining these endemic taxa with data on geology and climate, we propose the ‘South East Africa Montane Archipelago’ (SEAMA) as a distinct ecoregion of global biological importance. The ecoregion encompasses 30 granitic inselbergs reaching > 1000 m above sea level, hosting the largest (Mt Mabu) and smallest (Mt Lico) mid-elevation rainforests in southern Africa, as well as biologically unique montane grasslands. Endemic taxa include 127 plants, 45 vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and 45 invertebrate species (butterflies, freshwater crabs), and two endemic genera of plants and reptiles. Existing dated phylogenies of endemic animal lineages suggests this endemism arose from divergence events coinciding with repeated isolation of these mountains from the pan-African forests, together with the mountains’ great age and relative climatic stability. Since 2000, the SEAMA has lost 18% of its primary humid forest cover (up to 43% in some sites)—one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa. Urgently rectifying this situation, while addressing the resource needs of local communities, is a global priority for biodiversity conservation.

Location and extent of the South East Africa Montane Archipelago (SEAMA) showing core sites in red, and an outline boundary of the convex hull of the ecoregion (created using QGIS version 3.28.12 LTR https://qgis.org/en/site/).

Examples of SEAMA endemics. (a) Rhinolophus mabuensis (AM), (b) Chamaetylas choloensis (JB), (c) Nothophryne inagoensis (WC), (d) Atheris mabuensis (WRB), (e) Epamera malaikae (TCEC), f) Rhampholeon maspictus (JB), (g) Nadzikambia baylissi (WRB), (h) Maritonautes namuliensis (JB), (i) Euphorbia mlanjeana (ID), (j) Widdringtonia whytei (JB), (k) Encephalartos gratus (JB).

  

 

Julian Bayliss, Gabriela B. Bittencourt-Silva, William R. Branch, Carl Bruessow, Steve Collins, T. Colin E. Congdon, Werner Conradie, Michael Curran, Savel R. Daniels, Iain Darbyshire, Harith Farooq, Lincoln Fishpool, Geoffrey Grantham, Zacharia Magombo, Hermenegildo Matimele, Ara Monadjem, Jose Monteiro, Jo Osborne, Justin Saunders, Paul Smith, Claire N. Spottiswoode, Peter J. Taylor, Jonathan Timberlake, Krystal A. Tolley, Érica Tovela and Philip J. Platts. 2024. A Biogeographical Appraisal of the threatened South East Africa Montane Archipelago Ecoregion. Scientific Reports. 14, 5971. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54671-z

  news.mongabay.com/2024/03/new-ecoregion-proposed-for-southern-africas-threatened-sky-islands

  news.mongabay.com/2018/10/secrets-revealed-scientists-explore-unique-isolated-forest-in-mozambique

Subjects: Adaptive radiation, Biodiversity, Biogeography, Climate and Earth system modelling, Conservation biology, Ecological modelling, Ecology, Ecosystem ecology, Ecosystem services, Evolution, Forest ecology, Palaeoecology, Speciation, Taxonomy, Tropical ecology, Zoology

[Botany • 2022] Tillandsia ertonii & T. nathanii (Bromeliaceae: Tillandsioideae) • Two New Species from Brazil

  

Tillandsia ertonii  E.H.Souza & Leme,
Tillandsia nathanii E.H.Souza & Leme,

in de Souza, Cavalcante, França, Aona, Souza et Leme, 2022. 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.560.1.7 

 Researchgate.net/publication/363068578

  

Abstract

The authors describe, discuss, and illustrate two new species of Tillandsia from a granitic outcrop in the municipality of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro state, and from an inselberg located in the municipality of Belo Jardim, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The species are endemic with a restricted area of distribution, being considered critically endangered (CR) mainly due to habitat fragmentation and illegal extractivism, specifically for regional and international trade. We also present the phenology, a distribution map of the species, and compare them with morphologically similar taxa.

Key-words: Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, illegal trade, Tillandsia burle-maxii, T. mantiqueirae, Monocots

A–C: Inselberg where Tillandsia ertonii was found in Belo Jardim, Pernambuco, Brazil. A: Habitat, a steep face of granitic outcrop. B: Collecting the species showing the difficulty. C: Natural population showing the clumps of the species.
D: Overview of the granitic outcrop where Tillandsia nathanii was found in Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. E: Close up of a few plants on the granite. F: Acollected plant of the species.

 Photos: A–C: E. M. Almeida; D–E: N. M. G. David.

Tillandsia ertonii E.H.Souza & Leme, sp. nov.

Tillandsia nathanii E.H.Souza & Leme, sp. nov.

Everton Hilo de Souza, Brayan P. Cavalcante, Rivã Ribeiro Do N. França, Lidyanne Y. S. Aona, Fernanda V. D. Souza and Elton M. C. Leme. 2022. Two New Species of Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae: Tillandsioideae) from Brazil. Phytotaxa. 560(1); 93-1030. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.560.1.7

  Researchgate.net/publication/363068578_Two_New_Species_of_Tillandsia_from_Brazil

   

[Mammalogy • 2016] Taxonomic Review of the New World Tamarins (Primates: Callitrichidae); Saguinus spp. & Leontocebus spp.

Figure 1. Leontocebus spp.  | The white-mouthed tamarin or nigricollis group.

Illustrations by Stephen D. Nash. [Conservation International.]  DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12386

Abstract
Twelve generic names have been ascribed to the New World tamarins but all are currently placed in just one: Saguinus Hoffmannsegg, 1807. Based on geographical distributions, morphology, and pelage patterns and coloration, they have been divided into six species groups: (1) nigricollis, (2) mystax, (3) midas, (4) inustus, (5) bicolor and (6) oedipus. Molecular phylogenetic studies have validated five of these groups; each are distinct clades. Saguinus inustus is embedded in the mystax group. Genetic studies show that tamarins are sister to all other callitrichids, diverging 15−13 Ma. The small-bodied nigricollis group diverged from the remaining, larger tamarins 11−8 Ma, and the mystax group diverged 7−6 Ma; these radiations are older than those of the marmosets (Callithrix, Cebuella, Mico), which began to diversify 6−5 Ma. The oedipus group diverged from the midas and bicolor groups 5−4 Ma. We review recent taxonomic changes and summarize the history of the generic names. Taking into account the Late Miocene divergence time (11−8 Ma) between the large- and small-bodied tamarin lineages, the small size of the nigricollis group species when compared with other tamarins, and the sympatry of the nigricollis group species with the larger mystax group species, we argue that the nigricollis group be recognized as a distinct genus: Leontocebus Wagner, 1839.

Keywords: Leontocebus; marmosets; phylogenetics; Platyrrhini; Saguinus

Figure 2. Saguinus spp. | The moustached tamarin or mystax group.

Illustrations by Stephen D. Nash. [Conservation International.]
 DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12386

Figure 3.  Saguinus spp. | The Midas tamarin or midas group, 
the Brazilian bare-faced tamarin or bicolor group, and
the Colombian and Panamanian bare-face tamarin or oedipus group.

Illustrations by Stephen D. Nash. [Conservation International.]
 DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12386

The tamarins are very largely Amazonian, extending outside of the basin only into the Guianas (midas group) and northern Colombia and Panama (oedipus group).

Nigricollis group – south of the ríos Caquetá, Caguán and Orteguaza, south through Ecuador and Peru, east of the Andes, to about 16°S in Bolivia, and east to the Rio Ji-Paraná in the state of Rondônia, Brazil.

Mystax/inustus group – south of the Rio Solimões-Amazonas, east of the Río Ucayali, extending east to the Rio Madeira, east and south to the ríos Urubamba and Inuya in Peru, and as far as the southern bank of the Río Muyumanu in Bolivia, with inustus between the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões, extending west into Colombia.

Midas/bicolor groups – Guiana Shield, east of the rios Negro and Branco and the Essequibo River in Guyana, north of the Rio Amazonas, and east of the Rio Xingu, south of the Rio Amazonas.

Oedipus group – northern Colombia, basins of the ríos Cauca and Magdalena, and Panama.

Anthony B. Rylands, Eckhard W. Heymann, Jessica Lynch Alfaro, Janet C. Buckner, Christian Roos, Christian Matauschek, Jean P. Boubli, Ricardo Sampaio and Russell A. Mittermeier. 2016. Taxonomic Review of the New World Tamarins (Primates: Callitrichidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. [Early View]. DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12386

http://socgen.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Rylands-et-al-Review-of-tamarin-taxonomy-J-Zool-Linn-Soc-2016.pdf

http://socgen.ucla.edu/2016/02/2016-jessica-lynch-alfaro-et-al-taxonomic-review-of-the-new-world-tamarins-primates-callitrichidae/

Ricardo Sampaio, Fábio Röhe, Gabriela Pinho, José de Sousa e Silva-Júnior, Izeni Pires Farias and Anthony B. Rylands. 2015. Re-description and Assessment of the Taxonomic Status of Saguinus fuscicollis cruzlimai Hershkovitz, 1966 (Primates, Callitrichinae). Primates. 56(2); 131-144.  DOI: 10.1007/s10329-015-0458-2

http://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/CCC/2015-Callitrichids-EAZA-Best-Practice-Guidelines-Approved.pdf

[Mammalogy • 2014] A Taxonomic Revision of the Saki Monkeys Pithecia Desmarest, 1804

Sub-adult male White-faced Saki Pithecia pithecia Photo: Russell A. Mittermeier, Conservation International | IUCN.org

Abstract

For more than 200 years, the taxonomy of Pithecia has been floating on the misunderstanding of a few species, in particular P. pithecia and P. monachus. In this revision, historical names and descriptions are addressed and original type material is examined. For every museum specimen, all location, collection, and museum data were recorded, and photographs and measurements of each skin, skull, mount, or fluid specimen were taken. The revision is based on work conducted in 36 museums in 28 cities from 17 countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Japan, resulting in the examination of 876 skins (including mounts and fluids), 690 skulls, and hundreds of photographs taken by the author and by colleagues in the field of living captive and wild sakis of all species, and through internet searches. Per this revision, there are 16 species of Pithecia: five currently recognized, three reinstated, three elevated from subspecies level, and five newly described.

Key Words: Pithecia, saki, taxonomy, revision, new species, P. pithecia, P. monachus

Male Buffy Saki Pithecia albicans

Photo: Russell A. Mittermeier, Conservation International

Classification

Equatorial saki, Pithecia aequatorialis (Hershkovitz, 1987) 

White-footed saki or Buffy saki, Pithecia albicans (Gray, 1860)

Cazuza's saki, Pithecia cazuzai Marsh, 2014 

Golden-faced saki, Pithecia chrysocephala (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1850) 

Hairy saki, Pithecia hirsuta (Spix, 1823) 

Burnished saki, Pithecia inusta (Spix, 1823) 

Rio Tapajós saki or Gray's bald-faced saki, Pithecia irrorata (Gray, 1842) 

Isabel's saki, Pithecia isabela Marsh, 2014 

Monk saki, Pithecia monachus (É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812) 

Miller's saki, Pithecia milleri (J. A. Allen, 1914) 

Mittermeier's Tapajós saki, Pithecia mittermeieri Marsh, 2014 

Napo saki, Pithecia napensis (Lönnberg, 1938) 

White-faced saki, Pithecia pithecia (Linnaeus 1766) 

Pissinatti’s bald-faced saki, Pithecia pissinattii Marsh, 2014 

Rylands' bald-faced saki, Pithecia rylandsi Marsh, 2014 

Vanzolini's bald-faced saki, Pithecia vanzolinii (Hershkovitz, 1987) 

  

Mittermeier's Tapajos Saki Pithecia mittermeieri :: Ryland's Bold-faced Saki Pithecia rylandsi

Illustration: Stephen Nash, Conservation International 

Cazuza's saki, Pithecia cazuzai Marsh, 2014

Isabel's saki, Pithecia isabela Marsh, 2014

 Laura K. Marsh. 2014. A Taxonomic Revision of the Saki Monkeys, Pithecia Desmarest, 1804. Neotropical Primates. 21(1); 1-163.

http://www.primate-sg.org/storage/pdf/NP_special_issue_lores_part1_1-82.pdf

Study describes five new species of Amazonian Saki Monkey

A major taxonomic revision of the saki monkeys (genus Pithecia) has revealed the existence of five new saki species.

http://iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/?18280/Study-describes-five-new-species-of-Amazonian-Saki-Monkey

Resumen

Por más de 200 años, la taxonomía de Pithecia ha estado flotando en la confusión de unas pocas especies, en particular P. pithecia y P. monachus. En esta revisión, los nombres históricos y descripciones son abordadas y el material tipo original es examinado. Para cada espécimen de museo, todos los datos de localidad, colección y museo fueron registrados, y fotografías y medidas de cada piel, cráneo, montaje, o especímenes conservados en fluido fueron tomadas. La revisión está basada en trabajo llevado a cabo en 36 museos en 28 ciudades de 17 países en Norte América, Sur América, Europa, y Japón, resultando en la examinación de 876 pieles (incluyendo montajes y fluidos), 690 cráneos, y cientos de fotografías tomadas por la autora y por colegas en el campo, de individuos vivos en cautiverio o estado silvestre de todas las especies de Pithecia, y mediante búsquedas en internet. Con base en esta revisión, hay 16 especies de Pithecia: cinco actualmente conocidas, tres reclasificadas, tres elevadas del nivel de subespecie y cinco nuevas descritas. 

Palabras Clave: Pithecia, saki, taxonomía, revisión, nueva especie, P. pithecia, P. monachus

[Mammalogy • 2006] The Recently Described Highland Mangabey, Lophocebus kipunji (Cercopithecoidea, Cercopithecinae): Current Knowledge and Conservation Assessment

 The Highland Mangabey, Lophocebus kipunji. 

Drawing by Stephen D. Nash.

Abstract

The highland mangabey (Lophocebus kipunji), described and named in 2005, is the first monkey to be discovered in Africa since 1984. This species, endemic to Tanzania, was independently discovered by two research groups, one working in Ndundulu Forest in the Udzungwa Mountains, the other ~350 km to the southwest in the Rungwe-Livingstone Forest in the Southern Highlands. Lophocebus kipunji is an arboreal omnivore with a morphology and vocal repertoire distinct from other mangabeys (Lophocebus spp. and Cercocebus spp.). Although few data are available, studies of its molecular biology, ecology, behavior, and conservation status are underway. Lophocebus kipunji is Critically Endangered as a result of hunting and loss of habitat, which have produced small and fragmented populations. Efforts to improve the conservation status of both Ndundulu Forest and Rungwe-Livingstone Forest are ongoing, as well as augmentation of community-based conservation programs with expanded law enforcement. Research, long-term monitoring, effective law enforcement, and additional conservation projects are all essential to the long-term survival of L. kipunji.

Key Words: Highland mangabey, Lophocebus kipunji, Tanzania, conservation, Udzungwas, Southern Highlands

Carolyn L. Ehardt and Thomas M. Butynski. 2006. The Recently Described Highland Mangabey, Lophocebus kipunji (Cercopithecoidea, Cercopithecinae): Current Knowledge and Conservation Assessment. Primate Conservation. (21): 81 –87

http://www.primate-sg.org/storage/PDF/PC21.kipunji.pdf

[Mammalogy • 2007] The Endemic Uganda Mangabey, Lophocebus ugandae, and Other Members of the Lophocebus albigena-Group

Abstract

 Revising the grey-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus albigena group) in the light of the Phylogenetic Species Concept reveals more taxonomic diversity than was formerly suspected. The three subspecies recognized by Groves (1978) are diagnosably distinct, and are here upgraded to species rank. Most significantly, the mangabeys of Uganda, not recognized as distinct at all in the 1978 revision, are now shown to constitute a fourth species, Lophocebus ugandae (Matschie, 1912), which is apparently confined to Uganda, and as such probably Uganda’s only endemic primate

Key Words: Mangabey,  Lophocebus albigena, Lophocebus osmani,  Lophocebus johnstoni,  Lophocebus ugandae, Uganda endemicity

 Groves, Colin. 2007. The Endemic Uganda Mangabey, Lophocebus ugandae, and Other Members of the albigena-Group (Lophocebus). Primate Conservation. 22.

http://arts.anu.edu.au/grovco/Uganda%20mangabey.pdf

Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2008–2010

http://www.primate-sg.org/T25full07.htm

http://www.primate-sg.org/PDF/PC24_top%2025_v4.pdf

Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2004–2006

25 Most Endangered Primates Named

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/10/photogalleries/primate-pictures/index.html

Roloway Guenon (Ctte d'Ivoire, Ghana)

Cross River Gorilla (Nigeria, Cameroon)

Western Purple-Faced Langur (Sri Lanka)

Horton Plains Slender Loris (Sri Lanka)

Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2004–2006

http://dx.doi.org/10.1896/0898-6207.20.1.1

[Mammalogy • 2010] Callicebus caquetensis | Caquetá titi • a New and Critically Endangered Titi Monkey (Primates: Platyrrhini) from Southern Caquetá, Colombia (Colombian Amazon)

Holotype of Callicebus caquetensis. Young female

The new species of titi monkey: the Caquetá titi (Callicebus caquetensis), discovered in the Colombian Amazon. Photo by: Javier Garcia.

Abstract

We describe a new species of titi monkey Callicebus (Primates: Platyrrhini) from the Department of Caquetá, Colombia, that belongs to the Callicebus cupreus group. Diagnostic characteristics: it is similar in fur color to C. ornatus and C. discolor, but has no white band on the forehead as in C. ornatus and C. discolor, and the hands and feet are not white as they are in C. ornatus. The karyotype of this species is 2n=46, and very similar to that published for C. cupreus. Comparing it to neighboring species, it is more similar cytologically to C. discolor than to C. ornatus. It should be classified as Critically Endangered (CR) due to the severe fragmentation of its habitat and very small population.

Key words: Platyrrhini, Pitheciidae, Callicebus caquetensis, new species, primate, Colombia. 

Figure 3c. Adult Callicebus caquetensis temporarily captured.

Photo by: Javier Garcia.

Figure 5. Four titi monkeys of southern Colombia, Amazonian Ecuador, and northern Peru. Callicebus ornatus, Callicebus discolor, Callicebus cupreus, and the new species described here, Callicebus caquetensis. Illustrations © Stephen D. Nash/Conservation International

Figure 3e. Holotype of Callicebus caquetensis. Young female.

Map of the area where a new species of titi monkey was found in Colombia by Drs Thomas Defler, Marta Bueno and Javier García with support from Conservation International. Illustration by Thomas Defler.

Defler, Thomas R.; Bueno, Marta; Garcia, Javier 2010. Callicebus caquetensis: A New and Critically Endangered Titi Monkey from Southern Caquetá, Colombia. Primate Conservation.

http://www.primate-sg.org/PDF/PC25_Defler_C%20caquetensis_FINAL

Stunning monkey discovered in the Colombian Amazon http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0811-hance_caquetatiti.html  

Callicebus caquetensis: A New Species of Titi Monkey Discovered http://wp.me/p2983-bw 

[Mammalogy • 2012] Odd-Nosed Monkey Phylogeny • Evolutionary History of the Odd-Nosed Monkeys and the Phylogenetic Position of the Newly Described Myanmar Snub-Nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri

Figure 1. Idealized distribution map of the ten odd-nosed monkey species in South-east Asia.

Hatched and blue lines indicate country borders and major rivers, and the Hengduan Mountain range as presumed center of origin is depicted as dashed circle. Abbreviations used in the figure: Rro = R. roxellana, Rbi = R. bieti, Rst = R. strykeri, Rbr = R. brelichi, Rav = R. avunculus, Pne = P. nemaeus, Pci = P. cinerea, Pni = P. nigripes, Sco = S. concolor, and Nla = N. larvatus, CN = China, KH = Cambodia, LA = Laos, MM = Myanmar, VN = Vietnam. A and B refer to the distribution of main haplogroups of R. bieti and P. cinerea, respectively. Illustrations by Stephen Nash, Conservation International.

Abstract  

Odd-nosed monkeys represent one of the two major groups of Asian colobines. Our knowledge about this primate group is still limited as it is highlighted by the recent discovery of a new species in Northern Myanmar. Although a common origin of the group is now widely accepted, the phylogenetic relationships among its genera and species, and the biogeographic processes leading to their current distribution are largely unknown. To address these issues, we have analyzed complete mitochondrial genomes and 12 nuclear loci, including one X chromosomal, six Y chromosomal and five autosomal loci, from all ten odd-nosed monkey species. The gene tree topologies and divergence age estimates derived from different markers were highly similar, but differed in placing various species or haplogroups within the genera Rhinopithecus and Pygathrix. Based on our data, Rhinopithecus represent the most basal lineage, and Nasalis and Simias form closely related sister taxa, suggesting a Northern origin of odd-nosed monkeys and a later invasion into Indochina and Sundaland. According to our divergence age estimates, the lineages leading to the genera Rhinopithecus, Pygathrix and Nasalis+Simias originated in the late Miocene, while differentiation events within these genera and also the split between Nasalis and Simias occurred in the Pleistocene. Observed gene tree discordances between mitochondrial and nuclear datasets, and paraphylies in the mitochondrial dataset for some species of the genera Rhinopithecus and Pygathrix suggest secondary gene flow after the taxa initially diverged. Most likely such events were triggered by dramatic changes in geology and climate within the region. Overall, our study provides the most comprehensive view on odd-nosed monkey evolution and emphasizes that data from differentially inherited markers are crucial to better understand evolutionary relationships and to trace secondary gene flow.

Asian primate evolution livened up by an odd-nosed monkey | @EarthTimes 

http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/asian-primate-evolution-odd-nosed-monkey/1992/

Genetic study sheds light on evolution and may help prevent extinction of the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey

http://www.fauna-flora.org/news/genetic-study-myanmar-snub-nosed-monkey/

Liedigk R, Yang M, Jablonski NG, Momberg F, Geissmann T, et al. (2012) Evolutionary History of the Odd-Nosed Monkeys and the Phylogenetic Position of the Newly Described Myanmar Snub-Nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri. PLoS ONE. 7(5): e37418. DOI :10.1371/journal.pone.0037418

[Herpetology • 2012] Lygosoma veunsaiensis • A new species of the genus Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Scincidae) from northeastern Cambodia, with an updated identification key to the genus Lygosoma in mainland Southeast Asia

Abstract 

We describe a new species of the genus Lygosoma from northeastern Cambodia based on a single voucher specimen collected from Veun Sai Proposed Protected Forest, Veun Sai District, Ratanakiri Province. Lygosoma veunsaiensis sp. nov. is differentiated from all congeners occurring in mainland Southeast Asia by the combination of the following characters:  outer ear opening absent; supranasals distinct and separated from each other by frontonasal; supranasals not fused with  nasals; midbody scales in 22 rows; fontoparietals paired; five supralabials; a light stripe present on outer edge of the dorsum; and a dark dorsolateral stripe present, from behind the eye to the tail. A key to the Southeast Asian mainland species of Lygoma is provided.

Key words: taxonomy, L. veunsaiensis sp. nov., Veun Sai Proposed Protected Forest, Ratanakiri Province, Indochina

PETER GEISSLER (Germany), TIMO HARTMANN (Germany) & THY NEANG (Combodia).

2012. A new species of the genus Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Scincidae) from northeastern Cambodia, with an updated identification key to the genus Lygosoma in mainland Southeast Asia 

http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/list/2012/3190.html

http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2012/f/z03190p068f.pdf

Iridescent Lizard Discovered in Northeastern Cambodia http://blog.conservation.org/2012/02/iridescent-lizard-discovered-in-northeastern-cambodia/

http://lg-media.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-iridescent-lizard-species-found-in.html

[Herpetology • 2012] Notes on A Rare Bornean Bufonid Ansonia latidisca Inger, 1966 || Borneo Rainbow Toad or Sambas Stream Toad reappearing in Borneo after 87 years

  Body in lateral view of adult female Borneo Rainbow Toad, or Sambas Stream Toad Ansonia latidisca; approximately 51 mm. in length 

photo: Indraneil Das 

Sambas Stream Toad | Ansonia latidisca Inger, 1966


Abstract
On the basis of three female specimens collected recently, some aspects of a little known Bornean bufonid, Ansonia latidisca, are reported. On the mitochondrial phylogenetic tree, the species is basal to the group consisting of some Bornean species, and most Peninsular Malaysian and Thailand species, which is sister to the other group consisting of the remaining Bornean species, several Philippine species, and one Peninsular species. This relationship indicates that the the genus Ansonia has originated within Borneo. Superficial similarity of the species with Sabahphrynus maculatus is thought be the result of convergence in adaptation to an arboreal life.

Keywords: Ansonia, Borneo, Phylogeny, Rare species, Sabahphrynus

Type locality: "Mount Damus, Sambas, Kalimantan", Indonesia (Borneo).

Holotype: RMNH 10677.

Head in lateral view of adult female Borneo Rainbow Toad, also referred to as Sambas Stream Toad (Ansonia latidisca) © Indraneil Das

View of summit of Gunung Penrissen, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo - type locality of Ansonia latidisca.

photo: Indraneil Das 

Not seen since the 1950s this species was endemic to Borneo. Known as the Sambas Stream toad (Ansonia latidisca), researchers believe logging may have destroyed their water habitat.

Illustration by: Fieldiana Zoology.

Reproduced in Inger (1966)

Conservation.org - Ansonia_latidisca

Masafumi Matsui, Kanto Nishikawa, Siew Teck Yeo and Koshiro Eto. 2012. Notes on A Rare Bornean Bufonid Ansonia latidisca Inger, 1966, with Special Reference to its Phylogenetic Position. Current Herpetology. 31(2); 87-96. DOI: 10.5358/hsj.31.87

http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=ce7f628f-64f7-4ded-ae6c-1370d9a532b3%40sessionmgr4005&vid=0&hid=4105&preview=false

“Lost” Amphibian Stages Amazing Reappearing Act in Borneo after Eluding Scientists for 87 years: Conservation.org/Lost_amphibian_Amazing_Reappearing

Lost Rainbow Toad Found After 87 Years | Wired | http://bit.ly/qGiC6X

Rarest of the rarest: top 10 lost amphibians: Guardian.co.uk/gallery/2010/aug/09/wildlife-conservation

Photos: world's top ten 'lost frogs' news.Mongabay.com/hance-lostfrogs-topten