[Testudology • 2011] Rafetus vietnamensis Le, Le, Tran, Phan, Phan, Tran, Pham, Nguyen, Nong, Phan, Dinh, Truong and Ha, 2010 — Another Invalid Name for an Invalid Species of SoftShell Turtle (Reptilia: Testudines: Trionychidae)

Ontogenetic Changes in head pattern of Rafetus swinhoei 

Abstract

The description of Rafetus vietnamensis Le et al., 2010 is reviewed. As the name was based on the same type material as Rafetus leloii Ha, 2000, we declare R. vietnamensis an objective synonym of R. leloii. Simultaneously, no characteristics presented by Le et al. distinguish their R. vietnamensis from Rafetus swinhoei (Gray, 1873), which confirms our view that they constitute the same biological entity.

Balázs Farkas, Minh Le, Truong Quang Nguyen. 2011. Rafetus vietnamensis Le, Le, Tran, Phan, Phan, Tran, Pham, Nguyen, Nong, Phan, Dinh, Truong and Ha, 2010 — Another Invalid Name for an Invalid Species of SoftShell Turtle (Reptilia: Testudines: Trionychidae). Russian Journal of Herpetology. 18(1):65-72.

http://www.folium.ru/rjh/index.php/rjh/article/view/823

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256306820_Rafetus_vietnamensis_LE_LE_TRAN_PHAN_PHAN_TRAN_PHAM_NGUYEN_NONG_PHAN_DINH_TRUONG_AND_HA_2010__ANOTHER_INVALID_NAME_FOR_AN_INVALID_SPECIES_OF_SOFTSHELL_TURTLE_(REPTILIATESTUDINES_TRIONYCHIDAE)

Le T. B., Le Q. H., Tran M. L., Phan T. H., Phan M. T.,Tran T. T. H, Pham T. T., Nguyen D. T., Nong V. H.,Phan V. C., Dinh D. K., Truong N. H., and Ha D. D. 2010. Comparative morphological and DNA analysis of specimens of giant freshwater soft-shelled turtle in Viet-nam related to Hoan Kiem turtle, Tap chi Cong nghe Sinhhoc. (J. Biotechnol.), 8 (3A), 949 – 954.

http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Articles/Le_etal_2010.pdf

[Testudology • 2013] One Extinct Turtle Species Less: Pelusios seychellensis Is Not Extinct, It Never Existed

Pelusios castaneus | hatchling, Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast

Figure 1. Distribution of Pelusios seychellensis (arrow) and P. castaneus. Introduced population of P. castaneus on Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles) not shown. Inset: P. castaneus (hatchling, Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast). 

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057116

Abstract

Pelusios seychellensis is thought to be a freshwater turtle species endemic to the island of Mahé, Seychelles. There are only three museum specimens from the late 19th century known. The species has been never found again, despite intensive searches on Mahé. Therefore, P. seychellensis has been declared as “Extinct” by the IUCN and is the sole putatively extinct freshwater turtle species. Using DNA sequences of three mitochondrial genes of the historical type specimen and phylogenetic analyses including all other species of the genus, we provide evidence that the description of P. seychellensis was erroneously based on a widely distributed West African species, P. castaneus. Consequently, we synonymize the two species and delete P. seychellensis from the list of extinct chelonian species and from the faunal list of the Seychelles.

Figure 2. Dorsal (left) and ventral aspect (right) of the lectotype of Pelusios seychellensis.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057116

One Extinct Turtle Less: Turtle Species in the Seychelles Never Existed

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130404072916.htm

 — The turtle species Pelusios seychellensis regarded hitherto as extinct never existed. Scientists at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Dresden discovered this based on genetic evidence. The relevant study was published today in the journal PLOS ONE.

Turtles are the vertebrates under the greatest threat. Among the approximately 320 turtle species, the species confined to islands have been especially hard hit -- humans have caused the extinction of a whole number of species. One of them -- or at least it was thought so -- is the Seychelles mud turtle Pelusios seychellensis. Just three specimens were collected at the end of the 19th century; they are still kept at the Natural History Museum in Vienna and the Zoological Museum in Hamburg.

Despite an intensive search for this species, which was declared as "extinct" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), no further specimens have been found since those in the 19th century. "Consequently, it was assumed the species had been exterminated," says Professor Uwe Fritz, director of the Museum of Zoology at the Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden. The Dresden biologist states quite clearly that this is not true. "We have examined the DNA of the original specimen from the museum in Vienna and discovered that these turtles are not a separate species."

The genetic analyses have shown that this supposed Seychellois species is in reality another species, Pelusios castaneus, that is widespread in West Africa. "The species Pelusios seychellensis has therefore never existed," adds Fritz. "In fact, for a long time researchers were amazed that the supposed Seychelles turtles looked so deceptively similar to the West African turtles. But due to the great geographic distance, it was thought this had to be a different species, which is why the assumed Seychelles turtles were also described as a new species in 1906."

The West African mud turtle Pelusios castaneus acquired an “extinct Doppelganger” from the Seychelles due to a scientific error.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130404072916.htm

Citation: Stuckas H, Gemel R, Fritz U. 2013. One Extinct Turtle Species Less: Pelusios seychellensis Is Not Extinct, It Never Existed. PLoS ONE 8(4): e57116. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057116

[Herpetology • 2010] Gekko ulikovskii Darevsky & Orlov, 1994: a junior synonym of Gekko badenii Szczerbak & Nekrasova, 1994

In Vietnam, a total of seven species of Gekko are currently recognized: G. badenii,  G. chinensis,  G. gecko,  G. grossmanni,  G. palmatus,  G. scientiadventura, and  G. ulikovskii (Rösler et al. 2004; Nguyen et al. 2009). Both Gekko badenii and G. ulikovskii were simultaneously described in 1994 based on the type series collected from Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh Province and “Gilai-Con Tum Province” (now Kon Tum Province) near the border with Laos and Cambodia, respectively (Darevsky & Orlov 1994; Szczerbak & Nekrasova 1994).

....

Nguyen, Q.T., Schmitz, A. & Böhme, W. 2010. Gekko ulikovskii Darevsky & Orlov, 1994: a junior synonym of Gekko badenii Szczerbak & Nekrasova, 1994. Bonn Zoological Bulletin. 57, 15–17.

http://www.zfmk.de/BZB/Band_57/BzB_57_1_Nguyen.pdf

[Paleontology • 1995 / Invalid] Chatterjeea elegans • Late Triassic (Carnian-Norian) Tetrapods from the Southwestern United States

Chatterjeea elegans Long & Murry, 1995 

http://reptileevolution.com/shuvosaurus.htm

Long R and Murry P 1995. Late Triassic (Carnian-Norian) Tetrapods from the Southwestern United States. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 4. Pp. 153-163.

[Ornithology • 2008] Phylogeny of Laniarius: molecular data reveal L. liberatus synonymous with L. erlangeri and "plumage coloration" as unreliable morphological characters for defining species and species groups

Somali Boubou, Laniarius erlangeri 

– includes the "Bulo Burti Boubou" ("Laniarius liberatus")

Abstract

Laniarius is one of the larger genera within the avian bush-shrike radiation, the family Malaconotidae. Fairly homogenous by size and shape but highly variable by colours, these have been classified mainly on basis of plumage colours. In the present study, which is the first taxon-dense analysis of the genus Laniarius based on molecular sequence data (nuclear BRM15 intron-15, and mitochondrial ND2 and ATPase6 genes), we investigate interrelationships between 16 species and 34 subspecies of Laniarius. Altogether 2094 bp were aligned and subjected to maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. Results strongly support the monophyly of Laniarius, and place it close to Chlorophoneus, but without outlining a precise sister-group. In a generally well-resolved phylogeny of Laniarius, L. leucorhynchus and L. atrococcineus constitute deep branches and the remaining species form five clades which are not concordant with previously defined superspecies. The black and white boubous belong to two different clades. L. aethiopicus appears polyphyletic and our results support the resurrection of Laniarius major, Laniarius erlangeri and Laniarius sublacteus. We also find that L. liberatus, described in 1991 based on the only known live individual, is identified as an unusual colour morph from L. erlangeri. The black boubous are not monophyletic; L. funebris and L. leucorhynchus appear as isolated species whereas L. poensis and L. fuelleborni are sister-taxa. We recovered the polyphyly of crimson boubous and new hypotheses on their relationships have been generated. Overall, the variation in pigments and patterns does not follow phylogenetic lineages. The plumage coloration could be thoroughly subject to modification and it could not reflect exactly colour plumages of the parents. From then on, the plumage coloration appears as an unreliable morphological character for defining species and species groups.

Keywords: Laniarius; Malaconotidae; Phylogeny; BRM15 intron-15; ND2; ATPase6; Maximum-likelihood; Bayesian inferences; Superspecies; Carotenoid; Eumelanin; Morphological character

Nguembock, B., Fjeldså J., Couloux A., Pasquet, E. 2008. Phylogeny of Laniarius: molecular data reveal L. liberatus synonymous with L. erlangeri and "plumage coloration" as unreliable morphological characters for defining species and species groups. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 48(2): 396-407. 

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2008.04.014

Goodbye Bulo Burti boubou (sort of) http://on.natgeo.com/Np6AHW

-----------------------------
A new species of shrike (Laniidae: Laniarius) from Somalia, verified by DNA sequence data from the only known individual

Abstract
A new species of bush-shrike is described on the basis of the only known individual. The bird was captured in a disturbed Acacia thicket near the town of Bulo Burti by the Shabeelle River in central Somalia. Believed to represent a species near extinction, the bird was kept alive, studied in captivity and then released. The type material comprises moulted feathers, blood samples and DNA extracted from feather quills. For comparison, DNA from other bush-shrikes was obtained from old museum skins and three live birds. Comparisons of base sequences from the cyt-b gene of mitochondrial DNA support the judgement that the bird represents a full species and is not a colour morph or hybrid of examined taxa. This procedure confirms that, in situations where collecting is not desirable, tissue from live individuals can be used to define taxa, and for comparisons with DNA from museum specimens of other taxa.

Smith, E. F. G., Arctander, P., Fjelds, J. & Amir, O. G. 1991. A new species of shrike (Laniidae: Laniarius) from Somalia, verified by DNA sequence data from the only known individual. Ibis. 133, 227-235. DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.1991.tb04564.x

[Ornithology • 2006 / Invalid] Scytalopus notorius • a new species of Brazilian tapaculo (Aves: Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae)

FIGURES 9.  From left to right in each figure (all males): paratype of  Scytalopus iraiensis; holotype of S. notorius, new species; topotype of S. speluncae; and holotype of S. novacapitalis; dorsal view. 

Abstract

Scytalopus speluncae was described from a specimen taken at São João del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ménétriés described it as having the throat and the central breast evidently whitish, but since then this name has been rather surprisingly attributed to the uniformly slate gray Mouse-colored Tapaculo of the eastern coastal Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Contrary to previous findings, our analysis of the holotype, two new specimens from the type locality (topotypes) and original description of Scytalopus speluncae indicates that this name must be applied to the pale gray form with rufous-barred thighs that is found in Minas Gerais. This species is apparently very common in São João del Rei. This paper redescribes Scytalopus speluncae, correcting this name application, and describing, as a new species, populations from the Serra do Mar and vicinity, previously misidentified as  S. speluncae. 

Key words: Scytalopus speluncae, new species, Brazil, taxonomy

Map showing the distribution of the Scytalopus speluncae species-group

Raposo, M. A., R. Stopiglia, V. Loskot and G. M. Kirwan. 2006. The correct use of the name Scytalopus speluncae (Ménétriés, 1835), and the description of a new species of Brazilian tapaculo (Aves: Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae). Zootaxa. 1271: 37-56.

http://www.ornitologia.mn.ufrj.br/equipe/marcos_raposo/publicacoes/name_scytalopus.pdf

[Paleontology • 2008 / Invalid] Raeticodactylus filisurensis • A new Triassic pterosaur from Switzerland (Central Austroalpine, Grisons)

Raeticodactylus filisurensis Stecher, 2008

Abstract

A new basal non-pterodactyloid pterosaur, Raeticodactylus filisurensis gen. et sp. nov., is reported. It has been discovered in shallow marine sediments from the Upper Triassic of the lowest Kössen beds (late Norian/early Rhaetian boundary) in the central Austroalpine of Canton Grisons (Switzerland). The disarticulated specimen is comprised of an almost complete skull and a partial postcranial skeleton. A high and thin bony, sagittal cranial crest characterizes the anterodorsal region of the skull. The large mandible, with an additional keel-like expansion at the front, partly matches the enlarged sagittal cranial crest. A direct and close relationship to Austriadactylus cristatus, the only known Triassic pterosaur with a bony cranial crest so far, cannot be established. The teeth of the premaxilla are monocuspid and exhibit very strongly bowed enamel wrinkles on the lingual side whereas the enamel is smooth on the labial side. These monocuspid teeth are large and fang-like. The numerous smaller teeth of the maxilla show three, four and five cusps. These are very similar to the teeth of the Triassic pterosaur Eudimorphodon ranzii. The humerus shows a thinner construction than that seen in other Triassic pterosaurs. The femur is quite unusual with a caput femoris perpendicular to the shaft. The bones of the extremities are almost twice as long as the ones from the largest Triassic specimen E. ranzii (MCSNB 2888). The newly described pterosaur is an adult, with a wingspan of approximately 135 cm. A morphofunctional analysis suggests that R. filisurensis was a highly specialized piscivore and possibly a skim-feeder.

http://archosaurian.deviantart.com/art/Raeticodactylus-filisurensis-82571040

Stecher, Rico 200). A new Triassic pterosaur from Switzerland (Central Austroalpine, Grisons), Raeticodactylus filisurensis gen. et sp. nov. Swiss Journal of Geosciences. 101: 185. DOI:10.1007/s00015-008-1252-6.  

http://www.palaeocritti.com/by-group/pterosauria/raeticodactylus

http://dinosauria.ucoz.com/news/2008-08-04-49

http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/2008/04/08/a-new-heterodont-pterosaur/

[Paleontology • 2007 / Invalid] Zhuchengosaurus maximus Synonym of Shantungosaurus giganteus Hu, 1973 | saurolophine hadrosaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Wangshi Formation of the Shandong Peninsula in China

Shantungosaurus giganteus Hu, 1973

Synonym: Zhuchengosaurus maximus Zhao et al., 2007

Shantungosaurus, meaning "Shandong Lizard", is a genus of saurolophine hadrosaurid dinosaurs found in the Late Cretaceous Wangshi Formation of the Shandong Peninsula in China.

Discovery and species

First described in 1973, Shantungosaurus is known from over five incomplete skeletons. Chinese scientist Xing Xu and his colleagues indicate that Shantungosaurus is very similar to and shares many unique characters with Edmontosaurus, forming a Asian node of Edmontosaurus–Shantungosaurus clade, based on the new materials recovered in Shandong. Remains of several individuals, including skull bones, limb bones, and vertebrae, were found in Shandong, China. These specimens were classified in the new genus and species Zhuchengosaurus maximus in 2007. However, further study showed that the supposedly distinct features of Zhuchengosaurus were simply a result of different growth stages.

Zhao, X.; Li, D.; Han, G.; Hao, H.; Liu, F.; Li, L.; and Fang, X. 2007. Zhuchengosaurus maximus from Shandong Province. Acta Geoscientia Sinica. 28 (2): 111–122. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shantungosaurus

http://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=dh1178921&logNo=120144205256

[Herpetology • 2001] Ansonia anotis • A new species of toad of the genus Ansonia (Anura: Bufonidae) from Borneo

Abstract

A  new  species of  bufonid  frog  of  the genus Ansonia  is  described  from Sabah, northern Borneo.  The new species is distinguished  from  others in the genus by absence of a tympanum. The tadpole assigned to this  species is  also distinguished  from  other  known  larvae  of Ansonia  by  its  possession of  a distinct  abdominal  sucker behind  the oral disc and by  the absence of  an upper jaw  sheath. This  species is the twelfth  Ansonia  known  from  Borneo.

Key words: Bufonid  frog,  Ansonia,  Borneo

Inger, R.F., Tan, F.L. and Yambun, P. 2001. A new species of toad of the genus Ansonia (Anura: Bufonidae) from Borneo. Raffles. Bull. Zool. 49: 35–37

Genus Sabahphrynus from http://amphibiaweb.org/

Matsui, M., Yambun, P., and Sudin, A. 2007. 'Taxonomic relationshiops of Ansonia anotis Inger, Tan, and Yambun, 2001, and Pedostibes maculatus (Mocquard, 1890), with a description of a new genus (Amphibia, Bufonidae). Zoological Science, 24, 1159-1166.

http://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2433/85317/1/zsj%252E24%252E1159.pdf

[Paleontology • 2002] Shenzhouraptor sinensis • An Early Cretaceous avialan bird from Western Liaoning, China

Shenzhouraptor sinensis fossil displayed in Hong Kong Science Museum

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/热河鸟 

Abstract

The text describes a new specimen of the Avialae from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Fm. of Liaoning Province, China.  The specimen is edentulous, its forelimb is distinctly longer than its hind limb, the tail is composed of over 20 caudals, the furcula is U-shaped, and flight feathers exceed torso length.  These characters express a genuine ability for flight, such that the new specimen represents a transitional phase between the Dinosauria and Aves and is formally erected as Shenzhouraptor sinensis gen. et sp. nov.

Ji; Ji, Ji; You, Zhang; Zhang, Zhang; Yuan 2003. An Early Cretaceous avialan bird, Shenzhouraptor sinensis from Western Liaoning, China. Acta Geologica Sinica 77 (1): 21–27.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-6724.2003.tb00106.x/abstract

http://www.geosociety.org/geoventures/professionals/2007/Discoverypaper.pdf

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/热河鸟 

[Herpetology • 2010 / Invalid] Microhyla nepenthicola • Old World’s smallest frogs crawl out of miniature pitcher plants on Borneo

Microhyla nepenthicola Das & Haas 2010 [Invalid]

Abstract

A new diminutive species of microhylid f rog (genus Microhyla) is described from the Matang Range, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The new species is an obligate of the pitcher plant, Nepenthes ampullaria, breeding in senescent ormature pitchers, and is Old World’s smallest frog and one of the world's tiniest: adult males range between SVL 10.6–12.8 mm (n = 8). The new species is diagnosable from congeners in showing dorsum with low tubercles that are relatively more distinct on flanks; a weak, broken, mid-vertebral ridge, starting from forehead and continuing alongbody; no dermal fold across forehead; tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus absent; Finger I reduced to a nubproximal to Finger II in males; toe tips weakly dilated; phalanges with longitudinal grooves, forming two scale-like structures; webbing on toe IV basal; toes with narrow dermal fringes; inner and outer metatarsal tubercles present; and dorsum brown with an hour-glass shaped mark on scapular region. Miniaturization and reduced webbing may be theresult of navigation on the slippery zone of pitchers, situated below the peristome.

Key words: Microhyla nepenthicola sp. nov., Microhylidae, Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Borneo

Microhyla nepenthicola — A newly-discovered species of miniature frog sitting on the lip of a pitcher plant.

© Indraneil Das/ Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation

New species of Microhyla from Sarawak: Old World’s smallest frogs crawl out of miniature pitcher plants on Borneo (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae): http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/z02571p052f.pdf

• Photos: Asia's tiniest frog discovered living inside carnivorous plants in Borneo http://t.co/L5drYFw

• Pictures: Pea-Size Frog Found—Among World's Smallest : http://on.natgeo.com/b0L1ua

-----------------------------

11 April 2011 - "the name Microhyla nepenthicola is to be considered as a junior synonym of M. borneensis, and an old report of nepenthiphilous breeding habits of M. borneensis is therefore justified."

— Taxonomic revision of Microhyla borneensis with a new species M. malang (Microhylidae) from Borneo http://bit.ly/i9bpes via @Zootaxa