[Herpetology • 2024] Micryletta thongphaphumensis • Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Micryletta (Amphibia: Microhylidae), with Description of A New Species from Thailand

 Micryletta thongphaphumensis Cao, Suwannapoom, Kilunda, Wu & Che,

in Cao, Suwannapoom, Kilunda, Gao, Wu, Wu et Che, 2024.

Thong Pha Phum Paddy Frog  | อึ่งจิ๋วทองผาภูมิ  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.129398

Abstract

The genus Micryletta is widely distributed in South China and Southeast Asia. Although significant progress has been made in the diversity and taxonomy of this genus over the past few years, the distribution range and taxonomy of some species still remain controversial, especially in M. inornata sensu lato. Consequently, limitations at national borders have resulted in a lack of comparative research on species from different countries. To resolve the classification dispute, assess species diversity, and determine the distribution range of Micryletta, a series of specimens were collected from the Yunnan Province of China and Thailand during herpetological surveys from 2009 to 2020. Subsequent analyses based on morphological and molecular data revealed a distinct and previously unknown lineage from western Thailand, which we formally describe as a new species. Furthermore, our study confirms that M. ‘inornata’, previously known from Mengla, Yunnan, was actually M. menglienica, and further extends its distribution range to Thailand and Laos. In addition, our findings extend the latitudinal distribution of M. inornata and M. subaraji northward into southern Thailand. Notably, this study brings the total number of known species in the genus Micryletta from 13 to 14, with the count rising from three to six species in Thailand and from one to three in Laos. Our study further confirms that species diversity within the genus Micryletta is underestimated and emphasizes the important role that international collaborations play in taxonomy. Intensifying field surveys in other regions (e.g., Myanmar, Vietnam, and Guangxi of China) will be extremely necessary in the future to clarify any taxonomic questions and reevaluate the distribution range of these species.

Key Words: Distribution range, diversity, Micryletta, M. inornata sensu lato, new species

Adult male holotype (KIZ 024670) of Micryletta thongphaphumensis sp. nov. in life.
A. Dorsal view; B. Lateral view of left side; C. Lateral view of right side.

Photos by Jing Che.

Micryletta thongphaphumensis Cao, Suwannapoom, Kilunda, Wu & Che, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Micryletta thongphaphumensis sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Micryletta based on the following combination of morphological traits: small body size; absence of vomerine teeth; tympanum small and externally visible; subarticular tubercles on fingers and toes prominent; three well-developed metacarpal tubercles; absence of webbing between fingers and toes (Dubois 1987; Fei et al. 2009). The new species differs from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: medium-sized within the genus (SVL 21.3–25.6 mm in males, n = 5; 24.4–29.7 mm in females, n = 4; Table 3); snout truncate in dorsal view; tympanum distinct; supratympanic fold absent; a black streak extending from tip of the snout to crotch; upper lip white; tibiotarsal articulation adpressed limb reaching level of tympanum; lack of webbing between fingers and toes; relative finger lengths: I < II < IV < III; relative toe lengths: I < II < V < III < IV; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; ventral skin of body and limbs smooth; brown marbling patterns on dorsal limbs; dorsal orange-brown with black spots (Fig. 4).

...

 

Etymology: The specific name is a Latinized toponymic adjective in neuter gender derived from ‘‘Thong Pha Phum’’ in reference to the type locality Thong Pha Phum District in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.

Suggested common name: We propose “Thong Pha Phum Paddy Frog” as the common English name.

 

expand article infoYu-Yang Cao, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Wei Gao, Chun-Lian Wu, Yun-He Wu and Jing Che. 2024. Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Micryletta (Amphibia, Microhylidae), with Description of A New Species from Thailand. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100(4): 1361-1373. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.129398

[Herpetology • 2024] Tylototriton soimalai • A New Species of the Genus Tylototriton (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Tak Province, northwestern Thailand

 Tylototriton soimalai  

Pomchote, Peerachidacho, Khonsue, Sapewisut, Hernandez, Phalaraksh, Siriput & Nishikawa, 2024 

กะท่างน้ำดอยสอยมาลัย  || DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.116624 

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Abstract

A new species of the crocodile newt genus Tylototriton from Doi Soi Malai located at Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary, Tak Province, northwestern Thailand is described based on molecular and morphological evidence, and named as Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. The new species is the seventh recorded species of the genus Tylototriton reported in Thailand. It differs morphologically from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: head longer than wide; snout blunt or truncate; sagittal ridge on head narrow, short and distinct; dorsolateral bony ridges on head pronounced and rough; parotoids distinct; vertebral ridge prominent, wide and not segmented; 14–16 distinct, rounded and isolated rib nodules but posterior nodules connected; tips of fore- and hind limbs overlapping when adpressed along the body. The body background color is black, while the color markings are orange. Molecular analysis indicated that Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. is a distinct lineage and sister to T. uyenoi with a 4.1% genetic sequence divergence based on the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene. The new species is currently restricted to the hill evergreen forests of Doi Soi Malai. The implementation of a strategic plan is recommended to protect both the species and its habitat from anthropogenic activities.

Key words: Conservation, crocodile newt, morphology, phylogeny, Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov.

The male holotype of Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. (CUMZ-A-8253) observed at the type locality.

The two larvae of  Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. in life.

 Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov.

 (Thai name: Ka Tang Nam Doi Soi Malai - กะท่างน้ำดอยสอยมาลัย) 

(English name: Doi Soi Malai Crocodile Newt)

Diagnosis: Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Tylototriton by having a combination of dorsal granules present, dorsolateral bony ridges on head present, knob-like warts or rib nodules on dorsolateral body present, and quadrate spine absent. Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) medium-sized, adult SVL 66.3–66.5 mm in males; (2) skin rough with fine granules; (3) head longer than wide; (4) snout blunt or truncate in dorsal view, and extending beyond the lower jaw in lateral view; (5) sagittal ridge on head narrow, short, and distinct; (6) dorsolateral bony ridges on head pronounced, with rough surface, posterior ends weakly or hardly ...

Etymology: The specific epithet soimalai refers to Doi Soi Malai, Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary, the type locality of the new species; it is a noun in apposition, thus invariable.

Current distribution of the genus Tylototriton in Thailand.
Tylototriton verrucosus (pale blue); T. anguliceps (green); 
T. uyenoi (red); T. cf. uyenoi (red outlined with dark red); 
T. soimalai sp. nov. (tan); T. phukhaensis (black); and T. panhai (dark blue).

NP = National Park and WS = Wildlife Sanctuary.

 The map is modified from https://www.mitrearth.org.

  

 Porrawee Pomchote, Parada Peerachidacho, Wichase Khonsue, Pitak Sapewisut, Axel Hernandez, Chitchol Phalaraksh, Parunchai Siriput and Kanto Nishikawa. 2024. The Seventh Species of the Newt Genus Tylototriton in Thailand: A New Species (Urodela, Salamandridae) from Tak Province, northwestern Thailand.  ZooKeys. 1215: 185-208. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1215.116624  

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[Herpetology • 2024] Four in One: An Integrative Taxonomic Revision of the Microhyla berdmorei complex (Anura: Microhylidae) illustrates the tremendous Amphibian Diversity of Southeast Asia: Microhyla malcolmi, M. sundaica & M. peninsularis

[A] Microhyla berdmorei (Blyth, 1856); [B] M. malcolmi Cochran, 1927, 
[C] Microhyla sundaica sp. nov.; [D] M. peninsularis sp. nov. 

 Trofimets, Dufresnes, Pawangkhanant, Bragin, Gorin, Hasan, Lalremsanga, Muin, Le, Nguyen, Suwannapoom & Poyarkov, 2024 

 DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e127937

Photographs by: A. M. Bragin, N. A. Poyarkov, A. T. Aful, P. Pawangkhanant & M. A. Muin.

Abstract

Berdmore’s narrow-mouthed frog, Microhyla berdmorei (Blyth, 1856), is the largest member of the genus Microhyla and is distributed all over Southeast Asia, from Northeast India and southern China to Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. Here we demonstrate that M. berdmorei represents a complex of four species that are morphologically, acoustically, and genetically distinct from each other, and we implement taxonomic revisions. Phylogenetic analyses of three mitochondrial DNA (hereafter mtDNA, including COI, 12S, and 16S rRNA; 3119 bp) and one nuclear (BDNF; 716 bp) gene sequences are corroborated by phylogenomic analyses of 2700 ddRAD-seq loci (387,270 bp). All support that the M. berdmorei complex, which originates from the early Miocene (ca. 19.7 mya), consists of two clades that we date to the late Miocene (ca. 7.5 mya). The first clade, which regroups populations of large-sized individuals, is distributed in Indo-Burma and includes a lineage from Northeast India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (M. berdmorei sensu stricto) and a lineage from West Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam (for which we propose to resurrect the species M. malcolmi Cochran, 1927). The second clade, which regroups populations of small-sized individuals, occurs in Sundaland and also includes two lineages for which we provide taxonomic descriptions on species rank. The first new species is widely distributed from Peninsular Malaysia to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra (described herein as M. sundaica sp. nov.), while the second one is restricted to the Malay Peninsula and occurs in extreme southern Thailand and adjacent Malaysia (M. peninsularis sp. nov.). We further provide evidence for the synonymy of Callula natatrix Cope, 1867 with M. berdmorei sensu stricto, and M. fowleri Taylor, 1934 with M. malcolmi. Our study illustrates the high diversity of Southeast Asian amphibians, especially in the genus Microhyla, which presently totals 54 species.

Keywords: Advertisement call, biodiversity, ddRAD-seq, Indochina, molecular phylogeny, morphology, mtDNA, narrow-mouthed frogs, new species, Sundaland

Members of the Microhyla berdmorei species complex in life.
А M. berdmorei sensu stricto, MZMU A-8005 and MZMU A-8003 (a couple showing cephalic amplexus) from Aizawl, Mizoram State, India; B M. malcolmi, ZMMU A-7973 from Than To, Yala Province, Thailand;
C M. sundaica sp. nov., ZMMU A-8011 (holotype) from environs of Sungai Tua Recreational Forest, Selangor State, Malaysia; D M. peninsularis sp. nov., ZMMU A-8016 (holotype) from Lam Plok Waterfall, Trang Province, Thailand. 

Photographs by: A. M. Bragin (A), N. A. Poyarkov (B), A. T. Aful (C), P. Pawangkhanant (D).

Microhyla berdmorei species complex

Microhyla berdmorei (Blyth, 1856)

Common name: Berdmore’s narrow-mouthed frog 

Etymology: The species name “­berdmorei” was given in honor of Captain Major Thomas Matthew Berdmore (1811–1859), a British officer and naturalist who was stationed in Myanmar during the mid-19th century. M. T. M. Berdmore was famous for the collection of numerous animal specimens, including this particular species of frog. 

Recommended common names: “Berdmore’s narrow-mouthed frog” (English); “Nhái bầu Béc-mơ” (Vietnamese); “uzkorot Berdmora” (узкорот Бердмора, Russian); “Changpîng” (Mizo; literally meaning “spindle frog”); “Eung mae nao Pama” (อึ่งแม่หนาวพม่า, Thai).

Microhyla malcolmi Cochran, 1927

Suggested common name: Malcolm’s narrow-mouthed frog.

Etymology: The species was named after Dr. Malcolm Arthur Smith (1875–1958), a famous British herpetologist and physician, who collected many specimens in the early 20th century across Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. 

Recommended common names: “Malcolm’s narrow-mouthed frog” (English); “Nhái bầu Mao-com” (Vietnamese); “uzkorot Malkolma” (узкорот Малькольма, Russian); “Eung mae nao” (อึ่งแม่หนาว, Thai).

Natural habitat of Microhyla sundaica sp. nov. at the type locality in Sungai Tua, Selangor State, Peninsular Malaysia (A), and in Gunung Jerai Mt., Kedah State, Peninsular Malaysia (B);
calling males of M. sundaica sp. nov. from Sedim, Kedah State, Peninsular Malaysia in situ (C, D) (not collected).

Photographs by M. A. Muin.

Microhyla sundaica sp. nov. 

Suggested common name: Sundaic narrow-mouthed frog.

Etymology: The species epithet “sundaica” is a latinized adjective in nominative singular, adjusted to the feminine gender of the genus name “Microhyla”, and is given in reference to the distribution of the new species, which inhabits the three major landmasses of the Sundaland, or Sundaic Region, namely: Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. “Sundaica” is the Latin name for Sundaland. 

Recommended common names: “Sundaic narrow-mouthed frog” (English); “Nhái bầu Sunda” (Vietnamese); “Zondskiy uzkorot” (Зондский узкорот, Russian); “Eung mae nao Malayu” (อึ่งแม่หนาวมลายู, Thai); “Katak mulut sempit Sunda” (Malay).

Microhyla peninsularis sp. nov.

Suggested common name: Peninsular narrow-mouthed frog.

Etymology: The species epithet “peninsularis” is a Latin adjective in nominative singular, meaning “peninsular”, and is given in reference to the distribution of the new species, which is presently only known from the southern part of the Thai-Malay Peninsula in Trang Province of Thailand and Terengganu State of Malaysia. 

Recommended common names: “Peninsular narrow-mouthed frog” (English); “Nhái bầu bán đảo Mã Lai” (Vietnamese); “Malayskiy uzkorot” (Малайский узкорот, Russian); “Eung mae nao pak sun” (อึ่งแม่หนาวปากสั้น, Thai); “Katak mulut sempit semenanjung” (Malay).

 Alexei V. Trofimets, Christophe Dufresnes, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Andrey M. Bragin, Vladislav A. Gorin, Mahmudul Hasan, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Mohd Abdul Muin, Dac Xuan Le, Tan Van Nguyen, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom and Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2024. Four in One: An Integrative Taxonomic Revision of the Microhyla berdmorei complex (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) illustrates the tremendous Amphibian Diversity of Southeast Asia. Vertebrate Zoology .74: 595-641. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/vz.74.e127937

[Ornithology • 2024] Museum Specimens, Photographs, and Sightings of White-eyed River Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae)

White-eyed River Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae  Thonglongya, 1968

in Bond & Berryman, 2024.

DOI: 10.25226/bboc.v144i2.2024.a9

Abstract

White-eyed River Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae was described in 1968 and there have been no confirmed sightings since the 1970s. It is known only from Bueng Boraphet in central Thailand. Here, we compile the most comprehensive summary of museum specimens, photographic records (including two previously unpublished images) and sightings for this poorly known species. Specimens are held mainly in the Thailand Natural History Museum near Bangkok, with others at the Natural History Museum (Tring), American Museum of Natural History (New York) and National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC). At least three other mounts exist, all in Thailand, some of which may be composites from captive birds collected in the early 1970s. Photographs unearthed at Tring, and in unpublished reports, show birds that differ from the four previously known images and may represent individuals that are now museum specimens. With no confirmed sightings for more than 40 years, despite reasonable search effort (especially increasing citizen science data), it is very likely that White-eyed River Martin is now extinct.

Photographs of the White-eyed River Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae caught in November 1968 published by Tobias (2000) and deposited in the Macaulay Library, Cornell University; the bird is presumably an adult given the presence of tail-streamers and is believed to be THNHM B-07481 (H. E. McClure, © BirdLife International)

  

Photographs of White-eyed River Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae taken in the field in February 1968; it is now NHMUK 1968.68.1; the prints were sent by K. Thonglongya to NHMUK in April 1968 and Fig. 17 was also reproduced for an article in the newspaper Khaosod on 27 May 1992 about the species' discovery (Photographer unknown)

(left). Immature male White-eyed River Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae, paratype USNM 533542, collected on 28 January 1968, alongside the removed left central rectrix from USNM 510428 (adult, unknown sex; see Fig. 7) (© C. Milensky)

 

Alexander L. Bond and Alex J. Berryman. 2024. Museum Specimens, Photographs, and Sightings of White-eyed River Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. 144(2):162-182. DOI: 10.25226/bboc.v144i2.2024.a9

[Herpetology • 2020] Micryletta dissimulans • A New Species of Micryletta (Anura: Microhylidae) from southern Thailand

 Micryletta dissimulans 

Suwannapoom, Nguyen, Pawangkhanant, Gorin, Chomdej, Che & Poyarkov, 2020

 zoores.ac.cn/article/doi/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.139 

 facebook.com/NickPoyarkov 

Camouflaged Paddy Frog | อึ่งจิ๋วลายพราง  ||  Researchgate.net/publication/343597445

Abstract

We report on a new species, Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov., from the lowland forests of southern Thailand, which is described based on molecular and morphological evidence. The new species is characterized by a combination of the following characters: small body size (20.3–22.4 mm in males, 24.4–26.7 mm in females); slender body habitus; head longer than wide; snout rounded in dorsal and lateral view; eye length equal to snout length; tibiotarsal articulation reaching to tympanum; dorsal surface slightly granulated to shagreened; supratympanic fold indistinct, ventrally edged in black with large black spot behind eye; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; dorsum reddish-brown with merging irregular-shaped brown blotches edged in beige, no black spots on dorsum; body flanks brown with large black spots edged in whitish mottling, two large black blotches in axillary and inguinal areas on each side; lateral sides of head black, with white patches on lips absent, whitish mottling on tympanum and axillary region; ventral surface pinkish to bluish-gray, translucent, laterally with dark-brown marbled pattern, medially immaculate; throat in males dark-gray with sparse white mottling laterally; iris copper-orange. The new species is divergent from all other congeners in 16S rRNA gene sequences (5.0%–7.4%). To date, Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov. is only known from a single locality in Saba Yoi District, Songkhla Province, Thailand, at an elevation of 120 m a.s.l., but is also expected to occur in neighboring parts of Malaysia. We suggest Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov. be considered as a Data Deficient (DD) species following the IUCN’s Red List categories (IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee, 2019).

Keywords: Thai-Malay Peninsula, Indochina, Kangar-Pattani line, Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov, Micryletta sumatrana, Micryletta steinegeri, Micryletta lineata, Biodiversity, Taxonomy, mtDNA

      

A: Distribution of the genus Micryletta (grey shading) and location of examined populations. For locality info see Supplementary Table S1. A dot in the center of icon denotes the type locality of a species; empty circle denotes locality not included in molecular analysis; star denotes the type locality of Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov. in Saba Yoi District, Songkhla Province, southern Thailand.
C: Holotype of  Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov. (AUP01690), adult male, in life in dorsolateral view. D: Same specimen in ventral view.

Photos by N.A. Poyarkov, P. Pawangkhanant, J.H. Yang and Eki Aprilia Resdiyanti Devung.

B: Phylogenetic BI tree of Micryletta reconstructed on the base of 569 bp of partial 16S rRNA sequences. Values on the branches correspond to BI PP/ML BS, respectively; black and white circles correspond to well-supported and moderately supported nodes, respectively. 

Photos by N.A. Poyarkov, P. Pawangkhanant, J.H. Yang and Eki Aprilia Resdiyanti Devung.

Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Micryletta Dubois, 1987 based on the following morphological attributes: body size small; vomerine teeth absent; tympanum small, rounded, externally visible; subarticular tubercles on fingers and toes very prominent; three well-developed metacarpal tubercles; distinct supernumerary palmar and metatarsal tubercles posterior to base of digits; first finger not reduced; and webbing on fingers and toes absent (Alhadi et al., 2019; Das et al., 2019; Dubois, 1987; ...

Etymology: The specific epithet “dissimulans” is a Latin adjective in the nominative case, feminine gender, derived from the Latin verb “dissimulo” meaning “to hide” or “to conceal”, and is given in reference to the iconic “Frog Skin” camouflage pattern, resembling the characteristic mottled and disruptive dorsal pattern of the new species. The name is also given in reference to the new species being concealed for a long time until its recent discovery. We recommend “Camouflaged Paddy Frog” as the common English name and “Eung Jiew Lay Prang” (อึ่งจิ๋วลายพราง) as the common Thai name of the new species.

  

Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Tan Van Nguyen, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Vladislav Gorin, Siriwadee Chomdej, Jing Che, Nikolay Poyarkov. 2020. A New Species of Micryletta (Amphibia: Microhylidae) from southern Thailand. Zoological Research. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.139

 zoores.ac.cn/article/doi/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.139 facebook.com/NickPoyarkov/posts/10220703091801530  Researchgate.net/publication/343597445_A_new_species_of_Micryletta_from_southern_Thailand

 

[Cubozoa • 2023] Gershwinia thailandensis • A New Genus and Species of Box Jellyfish (Carybdeida: Carukiidae) from Thai Waters

 Gershwinia thailandensis Wutthituntisil, Xiao & Aungtonya,   

in Wutthituntisil, Xiao, Aungtonya, Pattharakowit, Detsri, Rungraung, Thongbai, Kootsomboon et Zhang, 2023.

 www.dmcr.go.th/detailLib/7790 

 twitter.com/NttnnW 

ABSTRACT

 Specimens of a species of box jellyfish were collected from the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand. The specimens were characterized by having cuboid bell shape, no gastric phacellae; pedalial bends volcano-shaped, broad pedalial canal where it joints flattened tentacle; inner keel greatly rounded. The frown-shaped rhopaliar niche ostium and presence of rhopaliar horns suggest the most appropriate placement is as a member of the family Carukiidae (Irukandji family), but additionally it is distinct from the currently described genera. Molecular analyses contextualizing these specimens with exemplars of other genera in this family is consistent with evidence from morphological traits suggesting that the lineage is distinct. Here, we present measurements and descriptions of the morphological features, photographs, and phylogenetic relationships of this new genus and species, Gershwinia thailandensis Wutthituntisil, Xiao and Aungtonya. 

Key words: morphological study, molecular analysis, Andaman Sea, Gulf of Thailand

The type specimens of Gershwinia thailandensis Wutthituntisil, Xiao and Aungtonya gen. et sp. nov.;
 Holotype: A. PMBC 21325. Paratype: B. PMBC 30177, C. PMBC 30175,
D. PMBC 30176, E. PMBC 30174, F. PMBC 21326.

Scale bar indicates 3 cm. Tentacle missing in all type specimens.

SYSTEMATICS 

Family Carukiidae Bentlage, Cartwright, Yanagihara, Lewis, Richards, and Collins, 2010 

Genus Gershwinia Wutthituntisil, Xiao and Aungtonya gen. nov. 

Type species. Gershwinia thailandensis Wutthituntisil, Xiao and Aungtonya n. sp., designated herein. Gender: neuter. 

Diagnosis. Carukiidae with a ratio of bell height and diagonal exumbrella width as 1:1, pedalial canal bend volcano-shaped; broad pedalial canal at the joint of flatten tentacle; inner keel rounded; no gastric phacellae. 

Etymology: The name is dedicated to Dr. Lisa-Ann Gershwin, in honor of her many contributions to medusozoan taxonomy. A search of the World Register of Marine Species has her down as the taxonomic author of 43 accepted species within Medusozoa. She recognized this new genus when she was lecturing in the WESTPAC Training Workshop on the Identification of Box Jellyfish in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand, held at Phuket Marine Biological Center, Phuket, Thailand, on June 13–17, 2016.

 Gershwinia thailandensis Wutthituntisil, Xiao and Aungtonya n. sp.

 

Nattanon Wutthituntisil, Jie Xiao, Charatsee Aungtonya, Jirapath Pattharakowit, Usawadee Detsri, Purinat Rungraung, Natnaphat Thongbai, Pichai Kootsomboon and Xuelei Zhang. 2023. Gershwinia thailandensis Wutthituntisil, Xiao and Aungtonya: A New Genus and Species of Box Jellyfish (Cubozoa: Carybdeida: Carukiidae) from Thai Waters. Phuket mar. biol. Cent. Res. Bull. 80: 1–19 (2023) DOI: 10.14456/pmbcrb.2023.1  www.dmcr.go.th/detailLib/7790

  twitter.com/NttnnW/status/1714046540694860098

[Diplopoda • 2012] Sphaerobelum truncatum • A New Species of the Giant Pill-millipede Genus Sphaerobelum Verhoeff, 1924 (Sphaerotheriida: Zephroniidae) from northern Thailand, with An Extensive Description and Molecular Characters

Sphaerobelum truncatum   Wongthamwanich, 

in Wongthamwanich, Panha, Sierwald, Wesener et Thirakhupt, 2012.

 ResearchGate.net/publication/258242225

Abstract

As a first step towards an inventory of the giant pill-millipedes in Thailand, a new species of the genus Sphaerobelum Verhoeff, 1924, Sphaerobelum truncatum n. sp. is described from Nan Province, northern Thailand. A determination key is presented for all five known Sphaerobelum species. Clear morphological differences between S. truncatum n. sp. and the other four Sphaerobelum species were found on the anterior telopods. For the first time in Sphaerobelum, the partial mitochondrial COI gene was sequenced for S. truncatum n. sp. and compared with distance, maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods to those of species from other giant pill-millipede genera. Sphaerobelum truncatum n. sp. was found to differ from all other analyzed giant pill-millipedes, including species of Zephronia Gray, 1832, by 22–30%, including numerous amino acid changes, supporting the separate status of Sphaerobelum among other giant pill-millipede genera. Maximum likelihood and parsimony analyses support the placement of Sphaerobelum in the Zephroniidae. Figures of all relevant structures of Sphaerobelum truncatum n. sp. are provided to allow the use of these characters in future descriptions of species of the family Zephroniidae.

Key words: giant pill-millipede, new species, arthropod, taxonomy, Thailand 

Taxonomy

Family Zephroniidae Gray, 1843

Subfamily Zephroniinae Gray, 1843

Tribe Zephroniini Jeekel, 2001

Comment. We follow Jeekel’s (2001) classification of Zephroniidae. No phylogenetic analysis of the family Zephroniidae was ever undertaken, so any subfamilial or tribal affiliations of Sphaerobelum would be premature.

Genus Sphaerobelum Verhoeff, 1924

 

Type species. Sphaerobelum clavigerum Verhoeff, 1924

Other species included. S. hirsutum Verhoeff, 1924; S. bicorne Attems, 1938; S. separatum Attems, 1953, S. truncatum n. sp.

Diagnosis. Males of Sphaerobelum species can be distinguished from all other giant pill-millipede genera in the world by the distally swollen process of the second joint of the posterior telopod. 

Sphaerobelum truncatum n. sp., Digital photographs,
A: paratype in habitat; B: paratype, living specimen volvated; C: paratype, ventral view, arrow points to locking carina of anal shield; D: eye field and Tömösváry organ. 

A-C: Photographs not to scale. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Sphaerobelum truncatum Wongthamwanich, n. sp.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latin adjective, meaning terminating abruptly, and refers to the truncated state of the lateral end of the third podomere on the anterior telopods (Fig. 11C).

   Nattarin Wongthamwanich, Somsak Panha, Petra Sierwald, Thomas Wesener and Kumthorn Thirakhupt. 2012. A New Species of the Giant Pill-millipede Genus Sphaerobelum Verhoeff, 1924 from northern Thailand, with An Extensive Description and Molecular Characters (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Zephroniidae). Zootaxa. 3220; 29–43.

 mapress.com/zootaxa/2012/f/zt03220p043.pdf

ResearchGate.net/publication/258242225_A_new_species_of_Sphaerobelum_from_northern_Thailand

[Herpetology • 2020] Microhyla tetrix • A New Species of miniaturised Narrow-mouth Frog of the Genus Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Anura: Microhylidae) from northern Tenasserim, Thailand

  

Microhyla tetrix  

Poyarkov, Pawangkhanant, Gorin, Juthong & Suwannapoom, 2020

อึ่งจิ๋วตะนาวศรี | Tenasserim Narrow-mouth Frog  ||  DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1804005 

 Researchgate.net/publication/345392982

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ABSTRACT

An integrative taxonomic analysis recovered the new miniaturised species Microhyla tetrix sp. nov. of the M. superciliaris group as the sister species to M. superciliaris. The new species inhabits low-elevation to mid-elevation evergreen tropical forests of Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Krabi provinces of south-western Thailand. Additionally, our analysis supports the occurrence of M. superciliaris in Songkhla Province of southern Thailand. Our results underscore the important role of the Isthmus of Kra – a well-known biogeographic region of cladogenic turnover – in differentiation of the M. superciliaris species group. The description of Microhyla tetrix sp. nov. and the record of M. superciliaris brings the total number of species of Microhyla in Thailand to nine. Our work underlines the physiographic complexity of the Thai–Malay Peninsula and the need for intensified field surveys and integrative taxonomic studies for further exploration of its poorly understood herpetofauna.

 

Keywords: Thai–Malay Peninsula, Indochina, Kangar–Pattani line, Isthmus of Kra,  Microhyla tetrix sp. nov,  Microhyla superciliaris , biodiversity, taxonomy, mtDNA

 Distribution of Microhyla superciliaris species group in Thai-Malay Peninsula. A star denotes a type locality; a dot in the centre of an icon denotes populations included in phylogenetic analyses.
Localities: Microhyla tetrix sp. nov.: THAILAND: (1) Suan Phueng Dist., Ratchaburi Prov. (this study); (2) Khao Kra Puk Mt., Phetchaburi Prov. (this study); (3) Kui Buri NP, Prachuap Khiri Khan Prov. (Taksintum et al. 2009, 2010); (4) 'Klong Bang Lai, Patiyu', now Pathio Dist., Chumphon Prov. (Smith 1916); (5) Wat Tham Sanook, Chumphon Prov. (this study); (6) Khao Sok Dist., Surat Thani Prov. (this study); (7) Phanom Dist., Surat Thani Prov. (this study); (8) Klong Sok Dist., Surat Thani Prov. (this study, type locality); (9) Ao Nang, Krabi Prov. (this study);
Microhyla superciliaris: THAILAND: (10) Saba Yoi, Songkhla Prov. (this study); MALAYSIA: (11) Tasik Pedu Lake; Kedah (Manthey and Denzer 2014; Manthey et al. 2016); (12) Sedim, Kedah (Manthey et al. 2016); (13) Lenggong, Perak (Manthey et al. 2016); (14) Lata Belantan, Terengganu (Manthey et al. 2016); (15) Sekayu, Terengganu (Manthey et al. 2016); (16) Kuala Tahan, Pahang (Manthey et al. 2016); (17) Temerloh, Pahang (Matsui et al. 2011); (18) Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur (Parker 1928); (19) Forest Research Institute of Malaysia office, Selangor (Manthey et al. 2016); (20) Kenaboi, Negeri Sembilan (Matsui et al. 2011); (21) Gunung Belumut, Johor (Manthey et al. 2016); (22) Gunung Panti, Johor (Manthey et al. 2016).

Colours of localities correspond to those used in Figure 2. Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant. Dashed lines indicate the Isthmus of Kra and the Kangar-Pattani line biogeographic borders (given following Baltzer et al. 2008).

 Bayesian inference tree of Microhyla derived from the analysis of 2428 bp of alignment including 12S rRNA, tRNA Val and 16S rRNA gene fragments. For voucher specimen information and GenBank accession numbers see Supplementary Table S2. Red and green colour denotes Microhyla tetrix sp. nov. and Microhyla superciliaris, respectively (see Figure 1); grey denotes M. superciliaris group members. Microhyla species occurring on the Thai-Malay Peninsula are underlined. Numbers at tree nodes correspond to posterior probability and bootstrap support values, respectively. Outgroup taxa not shown. Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant.

      

 Dorsolateral view of holotype of Microhyla tetrix sp. nov. in situ 
(AUP 00603, a female from Klong Sok Dist., Surat Thani Prov.).

Photo by Parinya Pawangkhanant.

    

  Variation in colouration of  Microhyla tetrix sp. nov. (in situ).
 (a) Adult female from Ao Nang Dist., Krabi Prov. (not collected); (b) paratype AUP 00601, female from Klong Sok Dist., Surat Thani Prov.;
 (c) paratype AUP 00605, male from Klong Sok Dist., Surat Thani Prov.; (d) adult female from Wat Tham Sanook, Chumphon Prov. (not collected);
(e) paratype ZMMU A6033, female from Klong Sok Dist., Surat Thani Prov.; (f) paratype ZMMU A6035, male from Khao Kra Puk Mt., Phetchaburi Prov.

Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant.

Figure 6. Morphological details of the male paratype of  Microhyla tetrix sp. nov. (ZMMU A6034), male, in preservative.
 (a) Volar view of the left hand; (b) plantar view of the right foot.

Drawings by Valentina D. Kretova.

 Microhyla tetrix sp. nov. 

Diagnosis. The new species is allocated to the genus Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 based on the following combination of characters diagnostic for this genus (Parker 1934; Inger1989; Poyarkov et al. 2014, 2019): small body size; comparatively narrow head; eyes small with circular pupil; lack of small spine-like projection of skin at heel and elbow; maxillary and vomerine teeth absent; snout less than twice diameter of eye; tongue obovate, entire and free posteriorly; fingers without webbing; toes with basal webbing; palmar tubercles distinct; prominent inner and outer metatarsal tubercles on foot; supratympanic fold present; tympanum hidden under skin.

...

Etymology. The specific name ‘tetrix’ is a Latin noun given in apposition derived from the Ancient Greek word ‘tettix’ (τεττιξ), meaning a grasshopper or cicada. The name is given in reference to the advertisement call of the new species, remarkably resembling a call of orthopterans, especially that of ground-hoppers of the family Tetrigidae. The recommended common name in English is ‘Tenasserim narrow-mouth frog’. The recommended common name in Thai is ‘Eung Jiew Tenasserim’ (อึ่งจิ๋วตะนาวศรี). 

Spawning site of Microhyla tetrix sp. nov. at the type locality, showing a breeding male of Kaloula latidisca (in the middle) and Micryletta cf. lineata (bottom right) surrounded by numerous calling males and pairs in amplexus of the new species.

Photo by Christian Hübner.

 Natural habitats of Microhyla in Thai-Malay Peninsula.
 (a) Breeding habitat of Microhyla tetrix sp. nov. at Klong Sok Dist., Surat Thani Prov., Thailand (type locality);
 (b, c) natural habitat of Microhyla superciliaris at Saba Yoi, Songkhla Prov., Thailand.

 Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant (a-c) 

 Microhyla superciliaris Parker from Saba Yoi, Songkhla Prov., Thailand, showing characteristic dorsal colouration and presence of an enlarged superciliary tubercle.
(a) Adult male; (b) adult female (not collected).

 Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant and Watinee Juthong.

Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Vladislav A. Gorin, Watinee Juthong and Chatmongkon Suwannapoom. 2020. A New Species of miniaturised Narrow-mouth Frog of the Genus Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from northern Tenasserim, Thailand. Journal of Natural History. 54(23-24); 1525-1558. DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1804005  

Researchgate.net/publication/345392982_A_new_species_of_Microhyla_from_northern_Tenasserim_Thailand

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