[Herpetology • 2024] Hemidactylus gubanensis & H. huluul • Two New Species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the coastal areas of northern Somaliland

Hemidactylus gubanensis 

Mazuch, Janák, Velenská, Nistri, Elmi & Šmíd, 2024

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2024.2376119 

 Researchgate.net/publication/383304075 

Abstract

The taxonomy of many Hemidactylus geckos from the Horn of Africa has recently been evaluated. However, the lack of fresh material for some species and also regions has led to the misidentification of some taxa and an underestimation of the true diversity in others. In this study we analyse new material of Hemidactylus collected from poorly known coastal areas of northern Somaliland. Our results support the existence of two yet undescribed species within the arid clade. One of the new species is small-sized and closely related to H. afarensis from the Afar Triangle in Ethiopia, and together with two other species (H. foudaii, H. sinaitus) forms the monophyletic group for which we propose here the name sinaitus species group. The other new species is medium to large-sized, known from only one locality, and belongs to the macropholis species group, where it is a sister species of H. macropholis. Both new endemic species from the northern coastal hyper-arid plains highlight the role of northern Somaliland as an important biodiversity hotspot. Furthermore, our results show pronounced genetic diversity within H. macropholis, and imply possible existence of cryptic taxa within the species. Hemidactylus arnoldi and H. tropidolepis have, for the first time, been sequenced and placed in a phylogenetic context in this study. Our results confirm that H. tropidolepis is nested within the African radiation and is most closely related to H. funaiolii. Hemidactylus arnoldi clustered within the Arabian radiation of Hemidactylus and it was recovered as a sister lineage to all other species of the radiation.

Keywords: Gekkota, Horn of Africa, lizards, morphology, reptiles, Somalia, taxonomy

 Hemidactylus gubanensis sp. nov.

Hemidactylus huluul sp. nov.

 

Tomáš Mazuch, Vojtěch Janák, Doubravka Velenská, Annamaria Nistri, Hassan Sh Abdirahman Elmi and Jiří Šmíd. 2024. Two New Species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the coastal areas of northern Somaliland. African Zoology. 59(2); 77-100 [22 Aug 2024]

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2024.2376119 

Researchgate.net/publication/383304075_Two_new_species_of_Hemidactylus_from_the_coastal_areas_of_northern_Somaliland

[Mammalogy • 2025] Crocidura stanleyi • Integrative Taxonomic Revision of endemic Dwarf Shrews Genus Crocidura (Soricidae) from the Ethiopian Highlands

 

Crocidura stanleyi

Craig, Bryjová, Bryja, Meheretu, Lavrenchenko & Peterhans, 2025

  

DOI: doi.org/10.25225/jvb.25060  

 Researchgate.net/publication/394761621

 Abstract  

The biodiversity of the Ethiopian Highlands features a significant level of endemism. Among its diverse fauna, the genus Crocidura (Soricidae), with many cryptic species, remains poorly documented, particularly for species of minute size. This study describes a newly discovered minute shrew – one of the smallest mammals worldwide – and addresses the taxonomy of the so-called ‘Afromontane clade’ of Crocidura in Ethiopia. We combined extensive field sampling of recent and historical specimens with advanced genetic analyses (genome skimming, Illumina sequencing, and cytb phylogenetics) and morphological examination (external and craniodental) to delineate the new species and address taxonomic affinities among other minute Crocidura from Ethiopia. One of our newly collected forms represents a distinct genetic lineage, corresponding with unique physical characteristics such as tail length and cranial features. Its discovery highlights the rich, yet still incompletely understood, mammalian diversity in the Ethiopian Highlands and underscores the importance of integrating morphological and molecular data in taxonomic studies.

 KEYWORDS: cryptic species, minute shrews, biodiversity, taxonomy, museomics, Morphometrics

Crocidura stanleyi, sp. nov.

Evan W. Craig, Anna Bryjová, Josef Bryja, Yonas Meheretu, Leonid A. Lavrenchenko and Julian C. Kerbis Peterhans. 2025. Integrative Taxonomic Revision of endemic Dwarf Shrews from the Ethiopian Highlands. Journal of Vertebrate Biology. 74 (25060), 25060.1-18. DOI: doi.org/10.25225/jvb.25060 (20 August 2025) 

 Researchgate.net/publication/394761621_Integrative_taxonomic_revision_of_endemic_Crocidura_from_the_Ethiopian_Highlands

[Botany • 2025] Boswellia hesperia (Burseraceae) • A New Species from Socotra

Boswellia hesperia Thulin, M.H.Weber & Rzepecky, 

in Thulin, Weber, Mubarak et Rzepecky, 2025.

 DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04728

Researchgate.net/publication/389133907

Abstract

The new species Boswellia hesperia Thulin, M.H.Weber and Rzepecky is described, illustrated and mapped. It is a dwarf tree, restricted to westernmost Socotra (Yemen), growing on limestone rocks, in which the usually prostrate stems tend to fill out holes and crevices. It differs from B. nana Hepper, another dwarf tree endemic to Socotra but restricted to the easternmost parts of the island, by having leaves densely pubescent with whitish hairs beneath and by its smaller flowers and fruits.

Keywords: dwarf tree, frankincense, taxonomy, Yemen

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov. from mountain ridge above Neet, 5–6 km from the coast, Socotra, 18 May 2021.
(A) plant filling out crevice in limestone rock, leafless, showing reddish white flowers and fruits, (B) leafless plant with flowers and fruits. Photographs by Alain Rzepecky.

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov. from the type locality above Neet in Socotra, 30 Apr. 2023.
(A) plant showing upper surfaces of leaves and 5- or 4-merous flowers with reddish white petals, (B) flowers, showing calyx and outside of petals, and undersides of leaves with dense indumentum of crisped whitish hairs, (C) plant showing 3-locular fruit. Photographs by Michael Weber.

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov. from above Neet, Socotra, 17 May 2024.
 (A) plant showing flower and 4-locular fruits, (B) plant showing 4-merous flowers with cream or whitish petals, (C) plant showing 3-merous flower with whitish petals. Photographs by Michael Weber.

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov.
(A) flower, top view, (B) detail of petal margin, (C) flower, side view, (D) fruit, (E) pyrene, ventral view, (F) pyrene, dorsal view, (G) leaf from short shoot, upper side, (H) leaf from short shoot, lower side, (I) leaf from long shoot, upper side, (J) portion of plant with leaves, (K) long shoot, (L) seedling, showing lobed cotyledons. Drawing by Alain Rzepecky.

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov., plant filling out hole in limestone rock, showing leaves and reddish flowers; above Neet, Socotra, 31 Oct. 2007. Photograph by Lisa Banfield.

Boswellia hesperia Thulin, M.H.Weber and Rzepecky, sp. nov.  

A dwarf tree similar to Boswellia nana Hepper, but differing by having leaves densely pubescent with ± crisped whitish hairs (versus glabrous or subglabrous) beneath, smaller flowers with petals 3–4 mm (versus 4.5–5.5 mm) long and smaller fruits (5–7 mm versus ca 10 mm long).

Etymology: The epithet ‘hesperia' (Latin, western) refers to the distribution of this species that is restricted to the westernmost part of Socotra.

Mats Thulin, Michael Weber, Sami Ali Mohammed Mubarak and Alain Rzepecky. 2025. Boswellia hesperia sp. nov. (Burseraceae) from Socotra. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04728

 Researchgate.net/publication/389133907_Boswellia_hesperia_sp_nov_from_Socotra

[Herpetology • 2023] Psammophis cornusafricae • Diversity of Sand Snakes (Serpentes: Psammophiidae: Psammophis) in the Horn of Africa, with the Description of A New Species from Somalia

Psammophis cornusafricae

Šmíd, Fernández, Elmi & Mazuch, 2023

 DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.101943

Abstract

The biological diversity of the Horn of Africa is one of the least studied in the world. Yet the Horn supports rich communities of species that are mostly endemic to the region. Here we study the diversity of Sand Snakes (Psammophis) in East Africa, their phylogeny and systematics. Previous studies have unveiled several cryptic and potentially undescribed species of Psammophis that occur in the Horn and their taxonomic status has remained unclear to this day. We used sequence data from two mitochondrial and one nuclear genes to reconstruct the phylogeny of the genus, in which we included newly obtained samples of six different Psammophis species from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt. Our aim was to assess the status of some of the undescribed species, examine the level of intraspecific genetic variation within individual species, improve our understanding of the species distributions, and contribute to the taxonomy of the genus. Our results confirm the existence of two undescribed species, one in eastern Somalia, which we formally describe as new, and one in southern Ethiopia that we refer to as Psammophis cf. sudanensis in accordance with previous studies. Further, we provide first genetic data for the nominotypical subspecies of P. punctulatus and confirm the species status for its subspecies P. trivirgatus. In addition, we provide new genetic data for P. tanganicus from Ethiopia and Somalia, and range extension records for P. rukwae from Eritrea and Ethiopia and for P. aegyptius from Somalia. Our findings contribute considerably to our understanding of the diversity and distribution of Psammophis in East Africa.

Key Words: East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, phylogeny, Reptilia, sand racers, Serpentes

Psammophis cornusafricae sp. nov. in life (specimen NMP-P6V 76373, sample JIR510), with a close-up of the head in the upper left corner, and the habitat at the locality where the specimen was found (8.5 km S of Yuffleh, Somaliland) at the bottom.

   

Psammophis cornusafricae sp. nov.

Diagnosis: A Psammophis species sister to P. tanganicus, with the following combination of morphological characters: 11 infralabials; 9 supralabials, three of which are in contact with the eye; nostril pierced between two equal sized nasals; 15 anterior dorsals; 14–15 midbody dorsals; 11 posterior dorsals; 146–158 ventrals; 95–100 subcaudals. Body brown, grey or beige with only a faintly visible pale vertebral stripe but with well pronounced dorsolateral orange stripes on each side of the body. Tail with only a slight trace of or completely lacking any dark vertebral stripe; the posterior half of the tail uniformly pale yellow. Venter white to yellowish with a conspicuous stipple of irregular dark smears. Head dorsally with a symmetrical pattern of brown markings outlined by black margins which contrast with the grey or beige background coloration. Labials white with dark margins forming a black lip. Dark brown temporal stripe outlined by black blotches and stretching from the eye to the posterior end of the head.

 English name: African Horn Sand Snake Somali name: Subxaanyo [pronounced Subhanyo]; a term in the Somali language that refers to all Psammophis species that occur in the region. All Subxaanyo are believed to be harmless and friendly by the locals and are an important part of their folklore

Etymology: The species epithet indicates the geographic origin of the species and translates as “The Sand Snake of the Africa’s Horn”. It is a noun in the genitive case that is derived from the Latin words for horn (cornu-us) and Africa (Africa-ae).

 

Jiří Šmíd, Sergio Matilla Fernández, Hassan Sh Abdirahman Elmi and Tomáš Mazuch. 2023. Diversity of Sand Snakes (Psammophiidae, Psammophis) in the Horn of Africa, with the Description of A New Species from Somalia. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 99(2): 345-361. DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.101943

[Herpetology • 2021] Agama wachirae • A New Species of the Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896 Complex (Squamata: Agamidae) from northern Kenya

 Agama wachirae 

Malonza, Spawls, Finch & Bauer, 2021

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4920.4.5 

facebook.com/StephenSpawls

Abstract

Kenya has a high diversity of agamid lizards and the arid northern frontier area has the highest species richness. Among the Kenyan agama species, Agama lionotus has the widest distribution, occurring from sea level to inland areas in both dry and moist savanna as well as desert areas. This species mostly prefers rocky areas, both in granitic/metamorphic and volcanic rocks, although it also makes use of tree crevices as well as man-made structures. Recently in Marsabit, northern Kenya, a small-sized agama species, distinct from A. lionotus, was collected within a rocky lava desert area. This new species is characterized by its small size (mean SVL ~83 mm) as compared to typical A. lionotus (mean SVL ~120 mm). Past studies have shown the value of adult male throat coloration for the identification of species within the A. lionotus complex. Herein we also highlight female dorsal color pattern, which is a key character for distinguishing the new species from others in the group, including the similar A. hulbertorum. As in A. lionotus, displaying adult males have an orange to yellow head, a vertebral stripe, a bluish body coloration and an annulated white/blue tail. But the most diagnostic character is the coloration of females and non-displaying males, which exhibit a series of regular pairs of dark spots along the vertebrae as far posterior as the tail base. In addition, females have a pair of elongated orange or yellow marks on the shoulders and another on the dorsolateral margins of the abdomen. This study shows that more cryptic species in the Agama lionotus complex may still await discovery. The new species was found inhabiting dark desert lava rocks but should additionally be present in suitably similar sites in the northern frontier area. This underscores the need to re-examine populations of Agama lionotus from different microhabitats in this country.

Keywords: Reptilia, Agama lionotus complex, Agamidae, cryptic species, rock outcrops, Marsabit

 Agama wachirae 

Marsabit Rock Agama

Patrick K. Malonza, Stephen Spawls, Brian Finch and Aaron M. Bauer. 2021. A New of Species of the Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896 Complex (Squamata: Agamidae) from northern Kenya. Zootaxa. 4920(4); 543–553. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4920.4.5

 facebook.com/groups/662521540444058/permalink/4125453327484178

 

[Mammalogy • 2020] Galegeeska revoilii • New Records of A Lost Species and A Geographic Range Expansion for Sengis in the Horn of Africa (Macroscelididae: Macroscelidinae)

Galegeeska revoilii  (Hüet, 1881)

in Heritage, Rayaleh, Awaleh & Rathbun​, 2020. 

 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9652

Abstract 

The Somali Sengi or Somali Elephant-shrew (‘Elephantulus’ revoilii, Macroscelidea, Mammalia) has been considered a “lost species” and is primarily known from about 39 museum specimens, with no new vouchered occurrence records since the early 1970s. The scientific literature contains no data concerning living Somali Sengi individuals and the species’ current Data Deficient conservation status is attributable to an absence of modern information. Almost everything that has been published about the species is derived from anatomical examinations of historic specimens, gleaned from museum collection notes, or inferred from the known habits and ecology of other sengi taxa. Here we report new evidence that the Somali Sengi is currently extant. These data include voucher specimens, georeferenced occurrence localities, body measurements, habitat parameters, and DNA sequences. While the species is historically documented as endemic to Somalia, these new records are from the neighboring Republic of Djibouti and thus expand the Somali Sengi’s known range in the Horn of Africa. Furthermore, Djiboutian locality data near international borders suggests that the Somali Sengi is also a current inhabitant of both Somalia and Ethiopia. Criteria that inform conservation status assessments (e.g., suitable habitat contiguity and occurrence in wildlife protected areas) can be positively characterized in Djibouti and therefore bode well for the survival of the Somali Sengi species. New data also inform previously undocumented substrate and sheltering affiliations. DNA analyses indicate that the Somali Sengi is a descendant of the Macroscelidini lineage and therefore reveal that the species’ referral to the genus Elephantulus is incompatible with sengi phylogeny. This taxonomic issue is resolved by recognizing a new genus replacement and recombinant binomial that redesignates the Somali Sengi as Galegeeska revoilii (gen. nov., nov. comb.). An analysis of ancestral biogeography suggests that the Somali Sengi has inhabited the Horn of Africa for more than 5.4 million years—and the recognition of the species’ phylogenetic ancestry appends the already remarkable biogeographic story of the Macroscelidini tribe.

 

Figure 1: Somali Sengi photograph at the Assamo locality in Djibouti. As is observed in other sengi species, Somali Sengis have some variation in pelage colors. These differences seem to correspond to the color variation of substrates between occurrence localities. At the Assamo site, in the extreme southeastern corner of Djibouti, sengi habitats are comprised of rocks with more rusty coloration than elsewhere in the country. Compared to other Djiboutian sites, sengis from Assamo have dorsal pelage hairs with more pronounced reds. CAS MAM 32728 photograph by Steven Heritage.

Figure 4: Somali Sengi habitat photographs from four localities in Djibouti. The Somali Sengi has been hypothesized as a rupicolous (petrophilic) species based on the collection coordinates of historic museum specimens which generally occur within the montane ecosystems of northern Somalia. However, whether or not the species is an obligate rock-dweller has not been documented. In Djibouti, all evidence of Somali Sengis are from habitats with rocky substrates and relatively sparse vegetation where the predominant sheltering potential is among boulders. A rupicolous characterization of the Somali Sengi is valid, at least in Djibouti. (A) Arta Region, Djalelo Protected Area, Hansane Hill (east side). (B) Tadjoura Region, Goda Mountain, Day Forest Village (south hill). (C) Ali Sabieh Region, Assamo Decan Camp (south ridge base). (D) Arta Region, Arta Town, Oú Est Mon Camarade Hill (south side). See Table 1 for site coordinates and altitudes. Photographs by Galen Rathbun and Steven Heritage.

Figure 5: Vouchered occurrence localities of the Somali Sengi. World museum collections preserve Somali Sengi individuals from 15 referenceable sites in northern Somalia (n = 35 specimens). The exact site of the holotype specimen (from 1881) is unknown, but Georges Révoil’s documented expedition route in the northern Majeerteen territory indicates that the specimen is from a location to the east of all other records. A minimum convex polygon estimated from these northern Somalia localities is about 88,500 sq km. Inclusion of the new localities from Djibouti increases this area to about 106,000 sq km (polygon in red). See methods for information concerning the Bud Bud site in the eastern branch of Somalia. Base map from Mapswire.com (CC-BY 4.0).

Figure 7: Phylogenetic position of the Somali Sengi. Results from Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of combined nuclear (IRBP, VWF) and mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COX1, CYTB) loci. Clade credibility (=posterior probability) values at tree nodes indicate statistical support for lineage splits given analysis settings. Branch lengths are time-scaled estimates in millions of years (Ma, mega-annum). The Somali Sengi (revoilii) group is unambiguously recovered as a descendant of tribe Macroscelidini and sister to the Petrodromus-Petrosaltator clade. CAS MAM 32728 photograph by Steven Heritage.

Figure 8: Ancestral biogeography model for tribe Macroscelidini. Subset results (Macroscelidini) from the Bayesian ancestral state reconstruction analysis of sengi biogeography. Continuous variable modeling was used to estimate geocoordinates at each lineage split using the time-scaled phylogenetic result and centroid estimates for species ranges. The spatiotemporal estimate for the common ancestor of tribe Macroscelidini is in Central Africa during the late Oligocene (25.5 Ma, 22.2–29.3 HPD). The arrival of the Somali Sengi in the Horn of Africa must postdate the diversification from its sister clade (early Miocene, 20.6 Ma, 16.8–24.6 HPD) and predate the common ancestor of the four revoilii individuals sampled in this study (latest Miocene, 5.4 Ma, 3.1–7.3 HPD). Colors for smoothed distribution polygons were chosen for graphical contrast where species ranges overlap but range colors are otherwise arbitrary. Base map from Mapswire.com (CC-BY 4.0).

Figure 2: Somali Sengi photograph at the Day Forest locality in Djibouti. One extant sengi species (Petrosaltator rozeti) occurs in the Maghreb region but the other nineteen species have ranges restricted to latitudes south of the Sahara (i.e., south of ~13° N). New Somali Sengi records from Djibouti are the northernmost occurrence data for any sub-Saharan macroscelidean taxon and this photographed individual (uncollected) from the Day Forest site documents the northern extent of the Somali Sengi’s known geographic range. This animal was observed sunning itself near a wood pile within the Day Forest Village. Photograph by Houssein Rayaleh.

Galegeeska Heritage & Rayaleh 2020, new genus

 

Type species: Galegeeska revoilii (Hüet, 1881). 

New binomial combination. The genus is currently monotypic.

Species Synonyms: Elephantulus revoilii, Elephantulus revoili, 

Macroscelides revoilii

Holotype: The type specimen, MNHN ZM-MO-1881-11, is located at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France. See Data S5 for hypodigm voucher specimens.

Distribution: The documented geographic range includes Somalia and Djibouti. The species may also occur in other Horn of Africa countries.

Diagnosis and description: See Corbet & Hanks (1968), Hüet (1881), and elsewhere in this manuscript for full details. In brief, the Somali Sengi can be distinguished from all other macroscelidean species by a combination of traits including: the presence of a pale eye ring with a dark post-ocular mark, hair on the lower portion of the rhinarium, a tufted tail, and second upper incisors that are subequal in size to adjacent upper incisors.

Etymology: In the Somali language, the word geeska ([gey·skah], /'gāskä/) means corner or horn—as in Geeska Afrika (=Horn of Africa). This root is chosen to indicate that the species has a broader geographic range than was previously recognized. From the Ancient Greek, galê translates to weasel (Beekes, 2009) and has been widely used as a general descriptor for small mammal taxa (e.g., Galeopterus, Petrogale, Microgale). In Somali, gal (variants: gala, galay, gale) can refer to one who enters or inhabits. A direct translation of Galegeeska is “weasel of the horn”, but a Somali speaker’s interpretation could be “inhabitant of the horn”. The root gale is also chosen to honor Galen B. Rathbun (1944–2019), who devoted more than four decades of scientific inquiry to sengi biology and who hiked the Djiboutian hillsides in search of this species.

The genus-level taxonomic hierarchy for extant sengis is as follows:

Class: Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758

Supercohort: Afrotheria Stanhope et al., 1998

Order: Macroscelidea Butler, 1956

Family: Macroscelididae Bonaparte, 1838

Subfamily: Rhynchocyoninae Gill, 1872

Genus: Rhynchocyon Peters, 1847

Subfamily: Macroscelidinae Bonaparte, 1838

Tribe: Elephantulini Dumbacher, Carlen & Rathbun, 2016

Genus: Elephantulus Thomas & Schwann, 1906

Tribe: Macroscelidini Bonaparte, 1838

Genus: Macroscelides A. Smith, 1829

Genus: Petrodromus Peters, 1846

Genus: Petrosaltator Dumbacher, Carlen & Rathbun, 2016

Genus: Galegeeska Heritage & Rayaleh, 2020, new genus

Conclusion: 

These new records confirm the Somali Sengi as an extant taxon and reveal a broader geographic distribution than was previously documented. Further, the species’ conservation status can now be reconsidered using modern evidence which we have discussed as positively informing assessment criteria. New data also characterizes habitat use (including substrate and sheltering affiliations)—a species attribute that has been hypothesized but never formally reported. DNA from voucher specimens have yielded a robust phylogenetic estimate that newly identifies the Somali Sengi as a descendant of the Macroscelidini lineage. The former taxonomic referral to the genus Elephantulus (and tribe Elephantulini) has been revised and the Somali Sengi species-group is now recognized as Galegeeska revoilii. Future fieldwork in the Horn of Africa should aim to further document extent of occurrence, to monitor population trends, and to study the behavioral ecology and life history of the species.

 

Steven Heritage, Houssein Rayaleh, Djama G. Awaleh and Galen B. Rathbun​. 2020. New Records of A Lost Species and A Geographic Range Expansion for Sengis in the Horn of Africa.  PeerJ. 8:e9652. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9652

[Botany • 2019] Boswellia occulta (Burseraceae) • A New Species of Frankincense Tree from Somalia (Somaliland)

Boswellia occulta Thulin, DeCarlo & S.P.Johnson

in Thulin, DeCarlo & Johnson, 2019.

  DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.394.3.3

Abstract

The new species Boswellia occulta is described from a small area in the Ceel Afweyn District of Somaliland (northwestern Somalia), where it is locally of considerable socio-economic importance. Although used for frankincense production by many generations of local harvesters, it has been unknown to science until now. Apart from the recently collected type material, it is also known from a sterile and hitherto misunderstood collection made in 1945. The simple-leaved Boswellia occulta is morphologically compared with B. sacra and B. frereana, the two major frankincense-producing species in the region, both with imparipinnate leaves, and it appears to be most closely related to B. sacra. The new species is the only simple-leaved species of Boswellia known outside Socotra.

Keywords: Boswellia, frankincense, taxonomy, Somaliland, Eudicots

FIGURE 1. Holotype of Boswellia occulta, with field label and still unmounted.

 Photograph: Stephen P. Johnson.

FIGURE 2. Boswellia occulta, from the type locality
A. Tree, in leaf; B. Tree, showing swollen disk-shaped base when growing on rock; C. Branches, showing foliage; D. Trunk with incisions, showing resin oozing out.

Photographs: Ahmed Mohamed Dhunkaal.

Boswellia occulta Thulin, DeCarlo & S.P.Johnson sp. nov.

Boswellia occulta differs from B. frereana by its flowers with white (vs reddish or greenish red) petals and tubular (vs flattened) disk, and fruits with 4–5 [vs (5–)6(–8)] locules; and from B. sacra by its glabrous (vs ± densely pubescent) leaves with mostly strongly undulate-sinuate (vs crenate to subentire) margins, and unwinged pyrenes (vs pyrenes often more or less surrounded by a persistent wing); and from both B. frereana and B. sacra by its simple (vs imparipinnate) leaves.

...

Distribution and habitat:— Boswellia occulta is only known from a small area in northwestern Somalia (Somaliland) (Fig. 4), where it is locally common and the dominant tree on west-facing arid hillsides on limestone at 400–500 m elevation. The tree usually grows directly on limestone cliffs and boulders, and then has a more or less swollen disk-shaped base of the trunk (Fig. 2B). More detailed studies of the extent of the range of the species and the numbers and densities of the trees and their regeneration are planned in the near future.

Etymology:— The epithet “occulta” (from Latin “occultus”, hidden) refers to the history of this species that, although used for frankincense production by many generations of local harvesters, has been unknown to science until now.

Vernacular name and uses:— Mohor madow (Somali, fide Glover & Gilliland 719 and Ahmed Mohamed Dhunkaal s.n.); this is the vernacular name generally used also for B. sacra in Somalia. However, the harvesters in the B. occulta area distinguish between B. occulta (“mohor madow”) and B. sacra (“mohor cad”, “mohor dadbeed” or “mohor lab”). Frankincense produced from B. occulta (Fig. 2D) has unique properties (DeCarlo, unpublished research data) and is important in the local economy

Mats Thulin, Anjanette DeCarlo and Stephen P. Johnson. 2019. Boswellia occulta (Burseraceae), A New Species of Frankincense Tree from Somalia (Somaliland). Phytotaxa. 394(3); 219–224.   DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.394.3.3

[Botany • 2019] Aloe sanguinalis (Asphodelaceae) • Dacar Cas/Somali Red Aloe: A New Species of Aloe from Somaliland

Aloe sanguinalis Awale & Barkworth

in Barkworth, Awale & Gelle, 2019.  

 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.117.28226

Abstract

A new species of Aloe (Asphodelaceae) is described from Somaliland. It differs from other species in forming large clumps and in having sap that is initially yellow but quickly turns bright red and then dark red or reddish-brown, paniculate red-flowered inflorescences and uniformly coloured leaves with red teeth. Its recognition raises the number of species known from the combined area of Somaliland and Somalia s.s. from 31 to 36. A map portraying species density of Aloe by country, as that genus is now interpreted, shows that Aloe has its highest density on islands in the Indian Ocean but that, within Africa, the greatest density is in countries along the eastern highlands. The data also reinforce the importance of field botanists in determining a country’s known plant diversity.

Keywords: Asparagales, species density, Africa

Figure 1. Aloe sanguinalis at Alala Adka showing the largest clump in October 2016.

Figure 2. Aloe sanguinalis from Alala Adka, June 2017.
A Whole inflorescence, including peduncle B Sap, showing color after 10–15 minutes C Leaves freshly cut near their base showing color of sap when fresh D Decumbent offset, showing roots from some nodes E Inflorescence branch and flowers from another branch, arranged from top to bottom of the branch F Flower after maturation of style.

Figure 3. Aloe sanguinalis at Lafarug.
A One of the larger clumps, with Awale, in January 2018 B Inflorescence of Aloe sanguinalis at Lafarug, June 2018.

Aloe sanguinalis Awale & Barkworth, sp. nov.

Type: SOMALILAND. Marodi Jeh (Maroodi Jeex), Hargeysa, Alala Adka, 15–20 km west of the town of Da’ar Buduk (Dacar Budhuq). Elevation 950 m, 9.8705N, 44.3761E (WGS84), 24 May 2017, Mary E. Barkworth S17.001, Ahmed Ibrahim Awale, Garrett Billings and Helen Pickering (holotype: HARG).

Diagnosis: Aloe sanguinalis differs from other species of Aloe in its combination of sap that is initially yellow but quickly turns bright red, drying to dark red or brownish-red, strong clump-forming habit, red teeth and paniculate inflorescence of well-spaced glabrous, red flowers.

...

Distribution: Aloe sanguinalis is currently known from only two locations, the type locality near Alala Adka and a more northern locality .... near the village of Lafarug. Larajasse (1897, p. 25), a Catholic missionary based in Berbera from 1888–1903, stated that “da’ar” refers to bile or an “aloe about three feet high, red and orange varieties, broad spiked fleshy leaves, spreading out from the ground; is a favorite food of elephants.” It seems probable, considering the species known from the area, that he was referring to A. sanguinalis. Elephants have not been seen in Somaliland since 1958.

Habitat and ecology: The two known locations of Aloe sanguinalis are open plains with sandy soils in which, among other species, Salvadora persica and Indigofera sparteola grow. The Alala Adka location is treeless but there are scattered Vachellia tortilis trees at the Lafarug site.

Etymology: The epithet is derived from sanguineus, Latin for blood, and refers to the colour of the sap which distinguishes it from all other species in the region.

 Mary E. Barkworth, Ahmed Ibrahim Awale and Faisal Jama Gelle. 2019. Dacar Cas/Somali Red Aloe: A New Species of Aloe (Asphodelaceae) from Somaliland.  PhytoKeys. 117: 85-97.  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.117.28226

[Arachnida • 2018] Chinja gen. nov. • A New Genus of Spider (Araneae, Zoropsidae) from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania; Chinja chinja & C. scharffi

 Chinja scharffi

 Polotow & Griswold, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4472.3.7 
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Abstract

The new zoropsid spider genus Chinja Polotow & Griswold is diagnosed and described and the following two new species are described: Chinja chinja sp. nov. and C. scharffi sp. nov. The species were collected in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and appear to be endemic to this region. The genus belongs to the oval-calamistrum clade (OC Clade), which also includes Dionycha and Lycosoidea. Based on the synapomorphies and diagnostic characters of members of the OC Clade, Chinja is considered a member of Zoropsidae, although without a clear subfamily placement due to insufficient data. Males of Chinja can be distinguished from other Zoropsidae by a straight PER, by lacking a tibial crack, by having a male palpal cymbium with a retrobasal process and the male palpal tibia with an RTA and a retromedian cluster of stout setae. Females have a divided cribellum with cribellar spigots evenly arranged, and the epigynum with the median plate broad and laterally procurved into hooks, and the lateral lobes each with a wide tooth. The following set of characters can be also helpful to identify the genus: presence of a third tarsal claw, absence of claw tufts and presence of a cribellum and calamistrum.

Keywords: Araneae, Africa, Eastern Arc Mountain Hotspot, Lycosoidea, OC Clade, new species

TAXONOMY 

ZOROPSIDAE BERTKAU, 1882

 Type genus: Zoropsis Simon, 1878: 327

(Type species by monotypy: Dolomedes spinimanus Dufour, 1820)

Composition. The living Zoropsidae include 26 genera and 180 species (World Spider Catalog 2018). Wunderlich (2017) recognizes four genera and 16 Palaeogene, extinct species from Bitterfeld and Baltic amber. 

Distribution. Worldwide. 

Chinja Polotow & Griswold, new genus 

Etymology. Name is an arbitrary combination of letters and is to be considered feminine in gender. 

Type species. Chinja chinja sp. nov., here designated. 

Composition. Two species: Chinja chinja sp. nov. and C. scharffi sp. nov. 

Natural history. All species have been collected in the leaf litter and on the soil surface of closed-canopy, moist forest. Although the cribellum and calamistrum appear functional, we have no data on the web, if any. 

Distribution. Endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania.

 Chinja chinja sp. nov

Etymology. The species epithet is an arbitrary combination of letters.

Natural history. This species occurs in the leaf litter and on the soil surface of closed-canopy, moist forest. 

Distribution. Eastern Usambara Mountains, Tanzania.

Chinja scharffi sp. nov., holotype male, CASENT9006146, dorsal.

Illustration by Jenny Speckels.

Chinja scharffi sp. nov.

Etymology. The species epithet is a patronym in honor of Nikolaj Scharff, a leader in biodiversity studies and conservation in the Eastern Arc Biotic Hotpot of Tanzania and collector of this and many other endemic Eastern Arc species.

Natural history. This species occurs in the leaf litter and on the soil surface of closed-canopy, moist forest, and is found at low (700 m) to high (1850 m) elevations.

 Distribution. Uzungwa and Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. 

Daniele Polotow and Charles Griswold. 2018. Chinja, A New Genus of Spider from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania (Araneae, Zoropsidae).  Zootaxa. 4472(3); 545–562. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4472.3.7  

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