[Botany • 2013] Vanda perplexa • A New Species (Orchidaceae) from the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia

Summary 

Vanda perplexa, a new species of orchid from the Lesser Sunda Islands is described and discussed.

Key Words. Blume, Indonesia, orchid, Rumphius, section Deltoglossa, Vanda furva.

Vanda perplexa Motes & D. L. Roberts sp. nov. 

RECOGNITION. Affinity to Vanda limbata Blume but lacking a white margin to the petals and sepals, lip rectangular 12 – 14 mm wide (vs lip narrowly pandurate to 10 mm wide), column cylindrical (vs distinct thickening at base), inflorescence erect and compact (vs long and lax).

DISTRIBUTION. Indonesia: Rinac, Komodo National Park; Bima on Sumbawa, western Nusa Tenggara.

ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet perplexa refers to the confusion the identity this taxon has created over the past 300 years.

M. Motes and D. L. Roberts. 2013. Vanda perplexa (Orchidaceae): A New Species from the Lesser Sunda Islands.  KEW BULLETIN. 68(2); 337-340. DOI  10.1007/S12225-013-9445-1

New orchid identified from Komodo http://phy.so/289636778 via @physorg_com

[Herpetology • 2012] Excidobates condor • A New Species of Poison Dart Frog of the Genus Excidobates (Dendrobatoidea: Dendrobatidae) from the Cordillera del Cóndor, eastern Andes, Ecuador

 Excidobates condor 

 Almendáriz, Ron, & Brito, 2012

 DOI: 10.1590/S0031-10492012021200001.

ABSTRACT

The genus Excidobates comprises two species, E. captivus and E. mysteriosus, distributed in the Río Marañón basin in Peru. Herpetofaunal assessments in the eastern Andean montane forest in Province of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, resulted in the discovery of a new species of the genus, which we describe as Excidobates condor sp. nov. We provide information on habitat, natural history, and distribution, as well as describe its tadpoles. The species is known from three localities separated by 18 km (straight line distance) that generate a polygon of 7 km2. A phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genes 12S and 16S rRNA suggests the new species is closely related to Excidobates mysteriosus and E. captivus, and is distinguished by color pattern and the texture of the skin of the dorsum. With the addition of the new species to Excidobates, none of the morphological characters diagnostic of the genus is synapomorphic. Thus, Excidobates is supported by genetic characters only. Additionally we analyze the morphological affinities between adults and larvae Andinobates abditus with members of the genus Excidobates.

Key Words: New species; Dendrobatidae; Excidobates condor; Andinobates; Ecuador; phylogeny; ecological information.

Ana Almendáriz C.; Santiago R. Ron and Jorge Brito M. 2012. A New Species of Poison Dart Frog of the Genus Excidobates (Dendrobatoidea: Dendrobatidae) from the Cordillera del Cóndor, eastern Andes, Ecuador.  [Una especie nueva de rana venenosa de altura del género Excidobates (Dendrobatoidea: Dendrobatidae) de la Cordillera del Cóndor]. Pap. Avulsos Zool. 52(32); 387-399. DOI: 10.1590/S0031-10492012021200001.

http://zoologia.puce.edu.ec/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=81557&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

RESUMEN: El género Excidobates está conformado por dos especies, E. captivus y E. mysteriosus, distribuidas en la cuenca del Río Marañón en Perú. Evaluaciones de la herpetofauna del bosque montano oriental de los Andes de la provincia de Zamora Chinchipe en Ecuador, resultaron en el descubrimiento de una nueva especie del género, la misma que describimos como Excidobates condor sp. nov. Proveemos información sobre su hábitat, distribución y describimos sus renacuajos. La especie se conoce de tres localidades separadas por 18 km en línea recta y genera un polígono de 7 km2. Un análisis filogenético basado en los genes mitocondriales 12S y 16S rRNA sugiere que la especie nueva está cercanamente relacionada con Excidobates mysteriosus y E. captivus, de las cuales se diferencia por su patrón de coloración y la textura de la piel del dorso. Con la inclusión de la nueva especie en Excidobates ninguno de los caracteres morfológicos diagnósticos del género resulta sinapomórfico. Por lo tanto, Excidobates queda soportado solamente por caracteres genéticos. Adicionalmente se analiza las afinidades morfológicas entre los adultos y larvas de Andinobates abditus con los miembros del género Excidobates.

Palabras-Clave: Especie nueva; Dendrobatidae; Excidobates condor; Andinobates; Ecuador; filogenia; información ecológica.

Excidobates condor, nueva especie de ranita venenosa de la Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador! Pueden descargar el artículo aquí: http://bit.ly/Syntkc. Nueva especie descrita por los herpetólogos ecuatorianos Ana Almendáriz (EPN), Santiago Ron (QCAZ) y Jorge Brito (EPN)

 facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152169343705445

[Herpetology • 2008] Excidobates captivus • Spotted Poison Frogs: Rediscovery of A Lost Species and A New Genus (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from northwestern Peru

Excidobates captivus from type locality, mouth of the Río Santiago, Departamento Amazonas, Peru.

Twomey & Brown, 2008. DOI: 10.1655/07-009.1 dendrobates.org

The Santiago poison frog, Adelphobates captivus, a species not seen in life since 1929, was recently rediscovered on an expedition to its type locality in northwestern Peru. The colors of this species, previously unknown, consist of a black dorsum with bright red-orange spots and yellow spots ventrally. We provide amendments to the original description as well as the first accounts of tadpole morphology, vocalization, and natural history. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis suggests Adelphobates captivus and a species originally described as Dendrobates mysteriosus are sister species that form a monophyletic clade sister to Ranitomeya. We propose to clarify the taxonomic status of D. mysteriosus incertae sedis by erecting a new genus, Excidobates, to include mysteriosus and its sister taxon captivus. Members of this genus are distinguished from Ranitomeya by 11 site substitutions in their rrnS and rrnL sequences, well-developed first fingers, and pale spots on the ventral surfaces of the thighs.

Keywords: Dendrobatidae, Dendrobatoidea, Excidobates captivus comb. nov, Excidobates gen. nov, E. mysteriosus comb. nov, Peru, Poison frogs, Systematics, Taxonomy

Excidobates captivus (Myers, 1982) 

Photo by E. Twomey: dendrobates.org/captivus.html

Evan Twomey and Jason L. Brown. 2008. Spotted Poison Frogs: Rediscovery of A Lost Species and A New Genus (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from northwestern Peru.

 Herpetologica. 64(1); 121-137. DOI: 10.1655/07-009.1

http://www.dendrobates.org/articles/Twomey&Brown2008_Rediscovery%20of%20Dendrobates%20captivus.pdf

ResearchGate.net/publication/253695674_Spotted_poison_frogs_Rediscovery_of_a_lost_species_and_a_new_genus_Anura_Dendrobatidae_from_Northwestern_Peru

[PaleoIchthyology • 2016] Meemannia eos • The Oldest Actinopterygian Highlights the Cryptic Early History of the Hyperdiverse Ray-Finned Fishes

Meemannia eos 

Life restoration by Brian Choo english.ivpp.cas.cn

Highlights

• Once considered a lobe-fin, Meemannia is the oldest ray-finned fish

• MicroCT reveals ray-fin characters including lateral cranial and spiracular canals

• Meemannia revises hypotheses of bone histology in the ancestor of bony fishes

• “Cosmine”-like tissues are also present in the ray-fin Cheirolepis

Summary

Osteichthyans comprise two divisions, each containing over 32,000 living species: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fishes and tetrapods) and Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes). Recent discoveries from China highlight the morphological disparity of early sarcopterygians and extend their origin into the late Silurian. By contrast, the oldest unambiguous actinopterygians are roughly 30 million years younger, leaving a long temporal gap populated by fragments and rare body fossils of controversial phylogenetic placement. Here we reinvestigate the enigmatic osteichthyan Meemannia from the Early Devonian (∼415 million years ago) of China, previously identified as an exceptionally primitive lobe-finned fish. Meemannia combines “cosmine”-like tissues taken as evidence of sarcopterygian affinity with actinopterygian-like skull roof and braincase geometry, including endoskeletal enclosure of the spiracle and a lateral cranial canal. We report comparable histological structures in undoubted ray-finned fishes and conclude that they are general osteichthyan features. Phylogenetic analysis places Meemannia as an early-diverging ray-finned fish, resolving it as the sister lineage of Cheirolepis plus all younger actinopterygians. This brings the first appearance of ray-fins more in line with that of lobe-fins and fills a conspicuous faunal gap in the otherwise diverse late Silurian-earliest Devonian vertebrate faunas of the South China Block.

Fig.1 Cranial anatomy of Meemannia eos based on High-Resolution Computed Tomography.
A Dorsal view; B Ventral view; C Endocast in dorsal view; D Endocast of Mimipiscis in dorsal view

(Image by LU Jing).

Fig.3 Summary phylogeny, simplified from the strict consensus tree, and the evolution of key Actinopterygian features

(Image by LU Jing).

Jing Lu, Sam Giles, Matt Friedman, Jan L. den Blaauwen and Min Zhucor. 2016. The Oldest Actinopterygian Highlights the Cryptic Early History of the Hyperdiverse Ray-Finned Fishes. Current Biology. DOI:  10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.045 

Oldest Actinopterygian from China Provides New Evidence for the Origin of Ray-Finned Fishes

http://english.ivpp.cas.cn/rh/rp/201605/t20160518_163188.html

Min Zhu, Xiaobo Yu, Wei Wang, Wenjin Zhao and Liantao Jia. 2006. A primitive fish provides key characters bearing on deep osteichthyan phylogeny. Nature. 441, 77-80. DOI: 10.1038/nature04563

1st Min Zhu, W. Wang and Xiaobo Yu. 2010. Meemannia eos, a basal sarcopterygian fish from the Lower Devonian of China –expanded description and significance. in D.K. Elliott, J.G. Maisey, X.-B. Yu, D.-S. Miao (Eds.), Morphology, Phylogeny and Paleobiogeography of Fossil Fishes, Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil; 199–214. 

ResearchGate.net/publication/225038586_Meemannia_eos_a_basal_sarcopterygian_fish_from_the_Lower_Devonian_of_China_-expanded_description_and_significance

[Invertebrate • 2016] Tritetrabdella longiducta • A New Species of Tritetrabdella (Hirudinida: Hirudiniformes: Haemadipsidae) from northern Indochina

 Tritetrabdella longiducta 

Nakano, Jeratthitikul, Nguyen & Panha, 2016

Abstract

 A new species of the terrestrial haemadipsid genus Tritetrabdella, Tritetrabdella longiducta, from northern Indochina is described. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the combination of triannulate somite VII, uniannulate somite XXV, three lobes of respiratory auricles in somites XXV–XXVII, 57 friction rays on caudal sucker, male gonopore (in somite XI b5/b6) and female gonopore (in somite XII b5) positions and slightly folded vaginal sac. Phylogenetic analyses using nuclear 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA, in addition to mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I markers, confirmed that the new species forms a unique lineage among the known congeners. A key to all the species of Tritetrabdella is provided.

Key words. Hirudinida, Haemadipsidae, Tritetrabdella, phylogenetic analyses, Thailand, Vietnam

Distribution. Known only from the type locality and Ta Co, Son La Province in northern Vietnam (Fig. 1). The elevations of the localities were more than 700 m above sea level. The individual from Doi Phuka was found on soil around a decayed banana tree containing very high moisture.

Natural history. The hosts are not known because the specimens examined were collected free-living, but are presumed to include amphibians (Lai & Chen, 2010). The Vietnamese individual was collected when it was climbing the third author; therefore, mammals may also be hosts of T. longiducta.

Etymology. The specific name is a compound adjective derived from the Latin words, longus (long), and ductus (duct), referring to the fact that the common oviduct of this species nearly equals the length of its vaginal duct, a diagnostic character of the species.

Takafumi Nakano, Ekgachai Jeratthitikul, Tao Thien Nguyen and Somsak Panha. 2016. A New Species of Tritetrabdella (Hirudinida: Hirudiniformes: Haemadipsidae) from northern Indochina. RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 64: 105–116

http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/images/data/raffles_bulletin_of_zoology/vol64/64rbz105-116.pdf

[Invertebrate • 2013] Tritetrabdella kinabaluensis • Genetics and Morphology of the Genus Tritetrabdella (Hirudinea, Haemadipsidae) from the Mountainous Rain Forests of Sabah, Borneo, Reveal A New Species with Two New Subspecies

Tritetrabdella kinabaluensis  Kappes, 2013

repository.naturalis.nl 

Abstract 

Blood-feeding terrestrial leeches of the family Haemadipsidae are a notorious part of the invertebrate diversity in Asian and Australian rain forests. All hitherto published records of terrestrial leeches of Borneo belong to the genus Haemadipsa. Here, a second, poorly known haemadipsid genus is reported from Mount Kinabalu and Crocker Range National Park. The individuals were barcoded and compared to sequences available in GenBank. The results show that the genus Tritetrabdella has representatives in the Indochinese and the Sundaic bioregions. All six specimens from Borneo are from a single new Tritetrabdella lineage, Tritetrabdella kinabaluensis spec. nov. Within the Bornean lineage, two groups differing 4-5% in the COI barcoding sequence were identified. Because 1) it is probable that haemadipsid COI is subjected to base pair substitution rates of 2.5% per Ma, 2) COI protein sequences were the same within the Bornean material, 3) color can change as a response to the environment, 4) the lineages inhabit different altitudes in separate areas and 5) only six individuals were found, a conservative approach was taken and the groups were tentatively given subspecies status: T. k. kinabaluensis ssp. nov. and T. k. inobongensis ssp. nov. The ecology and the conservation status of the Bornean Tritetrabdella warrant urgent assessment because the genus Tritetrabdella is considered as mainly feeding on amphibians and probably small mammals, and thus can be predicted to be sensitive to climatic fluctuations, forest disturbances and fragmentation, and amphibian decline.

Key words: Annelida, Clitellata, ecological specialization, genetic distance, parasite, phylogeny, speciation, tropical mountains

Fig. 3. Color variation in Tritetrabdella kinabaluensis spec. nov. from the three locations:
a) and b) T. k. inobongensis ssp. nov. from Inobong substation; c) T. k. kinabaluensis ssp. nov. (SP13398) from Gunung Alab; d) T. k. kinabaluensis ssp. nov. (SP13306) from Kinabalu Park Headquarters; e) ventro-lateral closeup of the head region (SP13398, ethanol-preserved); f) comparison of ethanol-preserved individuals (from left to right: SP13398, SP13306, and SP13383; lateral incisions are from tissue removal for DNA extraction). The yellowish color in the preserved SP13306 occurred during ethanol preservation.

Systematics

Phylum: Annelida

Class: Clitellata

Subclass: Hirudinea

Order: Arhynchobdellida

Suborder: Hirudiniformes

Family: Haemadipsidae Blanchard, 1893

Genus: Tritetrabdella Moore, 1937

Tritetrabdella kinabaluensis spec. nov. (Figs 1-7)

The type of the new species is proposed to be the same as that of its nominal subspecies Tritetrabdella kinabaluensis kinabaluensis ssp. nov., namely, Sabah Parks collection number SP13398.

Tritetrabdella kinabaluensis kinabaluensis ssp. nov. 

Etymology. Named after the sacred mountain, Mount Kinabalu, in Crocker Range, Sabah, Borneo.

 Diagnosis. Dorsum of unstressed individuals creamy-white with three darker, brownish stripes with black border, one median stripe located dorsally, the other two stripes supramarginally on each side (Fig. 3d). Brownish stripes somewhat variable in coloration (Fig. 3): middle field dark brown to median brown, bordered by rather broad blackish lines, loops form ‘bubbles’ or circles which reach the lateral stripes (Fig. 3), lateral

Etymology. Named after the sacred mountain, Mount Kinabalu, in Crocker Range, Sabah, Borneo.

Distribution. So far, only known from two locations, namely Gunung Alab in Crocker Range National Park and Mount Kinabalu Park Headquarters, in Sabah, Borneo, at altitudes between 1500 and 1900 m.a.s.l.

Ecology. So far, only known from cold and moist mossy temperate rain forests on acidic soils, one at an often cloud-covered mountain top. Its host(s) are unknown, but the two specimens somehow were attracted to man.


Tritetrabdella kinabaluensis inobongensis ssp. nov.

Etymology. Named as coming from the Inobong substation in Crocker Range, Sabah, Borneo, where the specimens were collected.

Distribution. So far, only known from the type locality in Crocker Range.

Ecology. So far, only known to occur in low altitude dipterocarp forests. Its host(s) are unknown, but the specimens seemed to be attracted by man.


Heike Kappes. 2013. Genetics and Morphology of the Genus Tritetrabdella (Hirudinea, Haemadipsidae) from the Mountainous Rain Forests of Sabah, Borneo, Reveal A New Species with Two New Subspecies. Contributions to Zoology. 82(4) 185-197.

http://repository.naturalis.nl/document/508181

[Entomology • 2016] Cyana angkorensis • A Review of the Genus Cyana Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) from Cambodia, with Description of New Species

Cyana angkorensis  

Bayarsaikhan & Bae, 2016    DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4114.4.5

Abstract

Genus Cyana Walker, 1854, with 17 species in Cambodia, is reviewed. Among them, Cyana angkorensis Bayarsaikhan & Bae, sp. n. is described as new to science and 7 species are newly recorded from Cambodia. A key to the Cambodian species of the genus Cyana with illustrations of adults and genitalia is presented.

Keywords: Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini, Cyana, new species, Cambodia

Ulziijargal Bayarsaikhan and Yang-Seop Bae. 2016. A Review of the Genus Cyana Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) from Cambodia, with Description of New Species. Zootaxa.  4114(4)  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4114.4.5

[Botany • 2016] Begonia khaophanomensis | ส้มกุ้งเขาพนม • A New Species and A New Record in Begonia sect. Platycentrum (Begoniaceae) from Thailand

ส้มกุ้งเขาพนม |  Begonia khaophanomensis 

Phutthai & M.Hughes SBG.org.sg

ABSTRACT

 Begonia khaophanomensis Phutthai & M.Hughes is described from a collection made on granitic rock in Krabi Province in Peninsular Thailand. It is endemic to the type locality of Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, and is assessed as Least Concern using the IUCN criteria. Begonia macrotoma Irmsch. is noted as a new record for Thailand from collections in Chiangmai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Nayok provinces; the species is also found in China, Myanmar, NE India, Nepal and Vietnam. Both species belong to Begonia sect. Platycentrum. A key to the species of Begonia sect. Platycentrum in Thailand is provided.

Keywords. Begonia khaophanomensis, Begonia macrotoma, China, Myanmar, NE India, Nepal, Peninsular Thailand, Vietnam

Begonia khaophanomensis Phutthai & M.Hughes, sp. nov. § Platycentrum

Begonia khaophanomensis is similar to B. palmata in habit and leaf shape, but differs in having leaves occurring in opposite pairs at the apex of the plant (not alternate), with white short stiff hairs on the petioles and leaves (not brown sericeous), and a white ovary with white short stiff hairs (not pinkish green and subglabrous). 

– TYPE: Thailand, Krabi, Khao Phanom District, Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, on rock along trail in lower montane forest, 19 June 2006, Williams, K., Pooma, R., Poopath, M., Chamchamroon, V. & Seasin, S. 1943 (holotype E; isotypes BKF). (Fig. 1, 2)

Distribution. Endemic to Peninsular Thailand (known from only the type locality). 

Habitat and ecology. On granitic rock crevices by streams in hill evergreen forest and seasonally dry evergreen forest at c. 1200 m. Flowering and fruiting June to October.

Notes. The opposite leaves and stiff hairs indicate an alliance to Begonia areolata Miq. from Sumatra and Java which differs in having leaves which are minutely bullate and with red hairs, and in having petals which are elongate-elliptic in the male flowers (not broadly elliptic). The specific epithet refers to the district in which the type material was collected, Khao Phanom.

T. Phutthai and M. Hughes. 2016. A New Species and A New Record in Begonia sect. Platycentrum (Begoniaceae) from Thailand. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore. 68(1): 99–107.  https://www.sbg.org.sg/images/4_4_Research_Gardens_Bulletin/4_4_68_1_pdf_Vol_68_Part_1_2016/4_4_68_1_99_y2016_V68P1_GBS_pg99.pdf

ส้มกุ้งเขาพนม Begonia khaophanomensis Phutthai & M.Hughes จากการศึกษาตัวอย่างในหอพรรณไม้ทั้งในและต่างประเทศ พบแห่งเดียวในโลกที่ เขาพนมเบญจา จังหวัดกระบี่

นักวิจัย"ม.มหิดล" พบพืช 6 ชนิดใหม่ของโลก
http://www.dailynews.co.th/regional/368491

[Herpetology • 2016] Chilabothrus argentum • Discovery of A Remarkable New Boa from the Conception Island Bank, Bahamas

Chilabothrus argentum 

 Reynolds, Puente-Rolón, Geneva, Aviles-Rodriguez & Herrmann. 2016
DOI: 10.3099/brvo-549-00-1-19.1 

Abstract

The Bahamas Archipelago is currently known to support three of the 11 recognized species of West Indian boas (genus Chilabothrus) on the Little Bahama Bank, Great Bahama Bank, and four of the southern Bahamas banks. Here we report the discovery of a new species occurring on the Conception Island Bank, located 25 km ENE of Long Island and the Great Bahamas Bank. We describe Chilabothrus argentum sp. nov. (Conception Bank Silver Boa) on the basis of morphometric and genetic data obtained from six individuals. This new boa has a greatly reduced coloration relative to other Bahamian boas, is highly arboreal, and is 3.3% (pairwise) divergent from other West Indian boas in a mitochondrially encoded protein. We estimated a mitochondrial coalescent time of 2.7 million years for this species, and phylogenetic analysis suggests that it is sister to the C. strigilatus/C. striatus/C. exsul clade. The existence of this new boa provides greater resolution of the historical biogeography of the West Indian boas in the Bahamas Archipelago, further supporting multiple colonization of this region from Hispaniola as well as speciation and divergence events dating to the late Pliocene/early Pleistocene. We additionally discuss conservation implications and concerns for this new boa, which we have assessed as being critically endangered on the basis of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List criteria and hence find it to be one of the most endangered boid snakes globally.

Keywords: Boidae, Caribbean, Chilabothrus, mtDNA, phylogenetics, systematics

The Conception Bank silver boa (Chilabothrus argentum) is named for its color and the fact it was first found on a silver palm tree.

R. Graham Reynolds, Alberto R. Puente-Rolón, Anthony J. Geneva, Kevin J. Aviles-Rodriguez and Nicholas C. Herrmann. 2016. Discovery of A Remarkable New Boa from the Conception Island Bank, Bahamas. Breviora. 549; 1-19. DOI: 10.3099/brvo-549-00-1-19.1 

UNC Asheville Biology professor discovers new species of snake
http://mountainx.com/blogwire/unc-asheville-biology-professor-discovers-new-species-of-snake

New Species of Silver Snake Is Extremely Endangered http://on.natgeo.com/1TDuiao via @NatGeo

Reynolds, R. G., M. L. Niemiller, S. B. Hedges, A. Dornburg, A. R. Puente-Rolón, and L. J. Revell. 2013. Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of West Indian boid snakes (Chilabothrus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 68: 461–470.  http://faculty.umb.edu/liam.revell/pdfs/Reynolds_etal_2013.MPE.pdf

[Botany • 2016] Thismia tectipora • A New, Unusual Mitre-Form Species (Thismiaceae) from Tropical Australia

  Thismia tectipora Cowie  

eflora.nt.gov.au FloraBase.dpaw.wa.gov.au

Abstract

  Thismia tectipora (Thismiaceae) a new, unusual mitre-form species from tropical Australia. Nuytsia 27: 85–94 (2016). A new tropical species, Thismia tectipora Cowie from Melville Island in the far north of the Northern Territory, Australia, is described and illustrated. The species is unique in the genus in having a thickened, fleshy, verrucose, cap-like mitre, the rim of which is reflexed to hide the pores in the upper perianth tube. It appears allied to taxa previously placed in Thismia Griff. sect. Sarcosiphon (Blume) Jonker, Geomitra Becc. and Scaphiophora Schltr. Available evidence suggests T. tectipora has a restricted distribution on Melville Island. Threats to the species, and its conservation status, are discussed.

Type: Melville Island [near Paru], Northern Territory ... [precise locality withheld for conservation reasons].

Diagnostic features. Distinguished from all other Thismia species by the thickened, verrucose, caplike mitre, the margin of which is reflexed to hide the three pores at the apex of the perianth tube. The apparent absence of the three outer perianth lobes and single long, slender appendage are also both unusual in Thismia.

Etymology. From the Latin tectus (hidden) and porus (a pore), in reference to the pores in the perianth tube, which are hidden by the mitre cap (Figure 1).

Ian D. Cowie and David T. Liddle. 2016. Thismia tectipora (Thismiaceae) A New, Unusual Mitre-Form Species from Tropical Australia. Nuytsia, The journal of the Western Australian Herbarium. 27: 85–94. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/science/nuytsia/781.pdf

http://eflora.nt.gov.au/factsheet?id=1050385

[Botany • 2016] Boesenbergia siphonantha (Zingiberaceae), A New Record for Thailand and Vietnam with Notes on the Molecular Phylogeny

Fig. 3. Boesenbergia siphonantha (King ex Baker) M.Sabu, Prasanthk. & Škorničk. from Kanchanaburi, Thailand.   A. Plants in situ. B. Flower on a radical inflorescence. C. First day flower.

 From J. Mood & P. Chalermglin M2056. (Photos: J. Mood)  SBG.org.sg

ABSTRACT

 Boesenbergia siphonantha (King ex Baker) M.Sabu, Prasanthk. & Škorničk. (Zingiberaceae) is newly recorded from Thailand and Vietnam. Its nomenclatural history, taxonomy, and molecular phylogeny are discussed. Figures, a comparative table and a watercolour illustration are provided.

Keywords. Andaman Islands, Gastrochilus, Kaempferia

Boesenbergia siphonantha (King ex Baker) M.Sabu, Prasanthk. & Škorničk., Rheedea 14: 55 (2004). – Kaempferia siphonantha King ex Baker in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 222 (1890). 

— TYPE: India, Andaman Islands, 1884, King’s Collector 372 (lectotype CAL [CAL0000000916]; isolectotypes CAL [CAL0000000912, CAL0000000913], K [K000640517]), first step designation by Sabu et al. (2004), second step here. (Figs. 2–6)

Distribution & Ecology. Andaman Islands: Moist, deciduous and inland evergreen forests on humus rich soil, 5–45 m elevation. Thailand: On and around limestone outcrops in deciduous, secondary forest with bamboo, medium to heavy shade at c. 70–800 m elevation. Vietnam: Deciduous Lagerstroemia L. forest on lateritic rocks.

J.D. Mood, H.Đ. Trần, J.F. Veldkamp and L.M. Prince. 2016. Boesenbergia siphonantha (Zingiberaceae), A New Record for Thailand and Vietnam with Notes on the Molecular Phylogeny. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore. 68(1): 125–137. 

https://www.sbg.org.sg/images/4_4_Research_Gardens_Bulletin/4_4_68_1_pdf_Vol_68_Part_1_2016/4_4_68_1_125_y2016_V68P1_GBS_pg125.pdf

[Botany • 2016] The Resurrection of Boesenbergia albosanguinea (Zingiberaceae) with A New Record for Peninsular Thailand

Fig. 5. Species comparison. A. Boesenbergia prainiana (Baker) Schltr. (left), B. albosanguinea (Ridl.) Loes. (right).
B. B. prainiana inflorescence and flower. C. Boesenbergia prainiana, (left), B. albosanguinea (right). D. Pressed and dried flower of B. albosanguinea (M3291). E. Pressed and dried flower of B. prainiana (M3172). F. Pressed and dried flower of B. albosanguinea (holotype).

 (Photos: J. Mood)  SBG.org.sg

ABSTRACT

 Boesenbergia albosanguinea (Ridl.) Loes. (Zingiberaceae) is resurrected from the synonymy of B. prainiana (King ex Baker) Schltr. It is redescribed in detail with comparative tables, figures, and illustrations. This species is a new record for Thailand.

Keywords. Boesenbergia prainiana, Langkawi Islands, limestone, Malaysia, Penang

Boesenbergia albosanguinea (Ridl.) Loes. in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed.
2, 15a: 566 (1930). – Gastrochilus albosanguinea Ridl., J. Straits Branch Roy. Asiat.
Soc. 32: 109 (1899) (“albo-sanguinea”).

Type: Specimens from a plant cultivated at Penang Botanical Gardens, Sep 1894, “Wooldridge” [but more likely Curtis] s.n. (holotype K! [K000255404]). (Fig. 1-3, 5–7; Tab. 1, 2).

Boesenbergia prainiana auct. non (Baker) Schltr.: Holttum, Gard. Bull Singapore. 13: 111 (1950). 

Distribution. Malaysia: Langkawi, Pulau Langgun; Thailand: Satun Province.

Ecology. Found on limestone outcrops in shaded habitats in close proximity to the sea.

Phenology. Observations in Satun Province and Langkawi indicate that flowering normally occurs from July to mid-October. Flowers open in the morning and close the following day.

Etymology. Named for the white and blood-red colour of the labellum.

Notes. This species as it appears in Satun Province is upright to slightly decumbent with thick, multiple stems in a clump, quite similar to the vegetative habit of Boesenbergia trangensis and B. plicata. The leaves are also plicate, but tend to be slightly smaller in size with a rounded leaf base. When fertile, it is easily identified by the very symmetrical, lanceolate inflorescence that is narrow at the base, wider in the centre and slowly tapered to the apex. The bracts are symmetrical and tightly overlap on both sides of the rachis. The leaf sheath margins and lower bracts are reddish which gives the appearance of a broad, red streak on the stem and partially up the centre of the inflorescence. The inflorescence protrudes for about half its length out of the leaf sheaths and maintains a mostly vertical stance. The flowers are pure white with a light red, narrowed, maculate pattern in the throat, and a lip lightly streaked with dark red especially on the apex margin. Ridley’s comment on the narrow opening for pollination is due to the large, overlapping lateral staminodes which cover roughly two-thirds of the labellum length, forming a tube. In the Langkawi populations, the plants tend to be generally less robust, shorter in height with narrower, shorter leaves. The leaf sheaths are red but the colour does not extend onto the rachis. The inflorescences are more cylindrical, less flattened with slightly longer, narrower bracts which sometimes deflex slightly away from the rachis on some plants. Flower shape and colour are nearly identical to the Thai populations, albeit slightly smaller.

Conclusions

It is concluded that Boesenbergia albosanguinea is distinct from B. prainiana. The Langkawi collections by Curtis labelled as Boesenbergia albosanguinea are confirmed, as are those from Satun Province, the latter constituting a new record for Thailand.

The disparity of Wooldridge’s type locality in the mountains of Perak as compared with the documented coastal collections in Langkawi and Satun Province cannot be explained by any known historical references such as accession books or associated Wooldridge memorabilia (pers. com. Singapore Botanic Gardens Library). The facts remain that Boesenbergia albosanguinea has never again been recorded from the Thaiping Hills and, ecologically, it is unlikely that species otherwise only known from coastal limestone sites would also be found in a distinctly different, mountainous environment. Therefore, the only logical explanation for this inconsistency is that the plant at Penang used for the holotype, protologue and illustration was not the same plant Wooldridge collected. More likely it was one of Curtis’s plants collected from Langkawi between 1890 and 1893.

J.D. Mood, A.G. Hussain and J.F. Veldkamp. 2016. The Resurrection of Boesenbergia albosanguinea (Zingiberaceae) with A New Record for Peninsular Thailand.
Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore. 68(1): 109–124.

https://www.sbg.org.sg/images/4_4_Research_Gardens_Bulletin/4_4_68_1_pdf_Vol_68_Part_1_2016/4_4_68_1_109_y2016_V68P1_GBS_pg109.pdf

[Paleontology • 2016] Sclerocormus parviceps • A Large Aberrant Stem Ichthyosauriform Indicating Early Rise and Demise of Ichthyosauromorphs in the Wake of the End-Permian Extinction

Sclerocormus parviceps 

Jiang, Motani, Huang, Tintori, Hu, Rieppel, Fraser, Ji, Kelley, Fu & Zhang, 2016

DOI:  10.1038/srep26232

Abstract

Contrary to the fast radiation of most metazoans after the end-Permian mass extinction, it is believed that early marine reptiles evolved slowly during the same time interval. However, emerging discoveries of Early Triassic marine reptiles are questioning this traditional view. Here we present an aberrant basal ichthyosauriform with a hitherto unknown body design that suggests a fast radiation of early marine reptiles. The new species is larger than coeval marine reptiles and has an extremely small head and a long tail without a fluke. Its heavily-built body bears flattened and overlapping gastral elements reminiscent of hupehsuchians. A phylogenetic analysis places the new species at the base of ichthyosauriforms, as the sister taxon of Cartorhynchus with which it shares a short snout with rostrally extended nasals. It now appears that ichthyosauriforms evolved rapidly within the first one million years of their evolution, in the Spathian (Early Triassic), and their true diversity has yet to be fully uncovered. Early ichthyosauromorphs quickly became extinct near the Early-Middle Triassic boundary, during the last large environmental perturbation after the end-Permian extinction involving redox fluctuations, sea level changes and volcanism. Marine reptile faunas shifted from ichthyosauromorph-dominated to sauropterygian-dominated composition after the perturbation.

Systematc Paleontology

Reptilia Laurenti, 1768.

Diapsida Osborn, 1903.

Ichthyosauromorpha Motani et al., 2015.

Ichthyosauriformes Motani et al., 2015.

Nasorostra nov.

Etymology: Nasus (Latin nose) and rostrum (Latin beak), referring to the snout with the nasal bone reaching the tip.

Diagnosis: Rostrally elongate nasal reaching snout tip; preorbital and postorbital skull lengths sub-equal; frontal without distinctive posterolateral process; deep posterior mandible with slanting end and low jaw joint; ribcage deepest near shoulder; scapular blade wider distally than proximally.

Sclerocormus parviceps gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology: Genus name from Greek skleros and kormos, ‘stiff trunk’; species name from Latin parvus and caput, ‘small skull’.

Holotype: Anhui Geological Museum AGB6265.

Figure 1: The holotype of Sclerocormus parviceps gen. et sp. nov.
 (a) Whole specimen. (b) Skull. (c) Close-up of gastral basket. (d) Close-up of U-shaped haemal arches. (e) Right forelimb. (f) Shoulder elements. (g) Pelvic girdle and hind limb. (h) Skull elements.

Abbreviations: a, angular; ar, articular; as, astragalus; ca, calcaneum; car, caudal rib; ca.v, caudal vertebra; ce, centralia; cl, clavicle; d, dentary; dc, distal carpal; f, frontal; fe, femur; fi, fibula; he, hemal arch; il, ilium; in, intermedium; is, ischium; j, jugal, l, lacrimal; m, maxilla; mc, metacarpal; mt, metatarsal; n, nasal; p, parietal; pm, premaxilla; po, postorbital; pof, postfrontal; prf, prefrontal; pu, pubis; q, quadrate; sa, surangular; sc, scapula; scl, scleral ossicles; sq, squamosal; sr, sacral rib; st, supratemporal; ti, tibia; u, ulna; ul, ulnare. Scale unit in (a) is 1 cm, other scale bars are 2 cm.
DOI:  10.1038/srep26232

 Diagnosis: Skull very short, occupying 6.25% of total length; tail long, about 58% of total length; body trunk short and deep; preorbital snout constricted and extremely short, about 30% of skull length; orbit large, more than one third of skull length; pineal foramen large, located at fronto-parietal suture; nasal large; ribs flattened, with blunt distal ends; gastralia robust, forming tight ventral basket; dorsal neural spines tall and vertical, with craniad and caudad flanges sandwiching the thickened shaft; caudal neural spines short with rounded top; femur straight, without shaft constriction.

Locality and horizon: From the first level of Majiashan Quarry, Chaohu, Anhui Province, China. Bed 719, about 27 m above the bottom of the Upper Member of the Nanlinghu Formation, within the ammonite Subcolumbites zone, Spathian, Olenekian, Lower Triassic (Fig. 2).

Da-Yong Jiang, Ryosuke Motani, Jian-Dong Huang, Andrea Tintori, Yuan-Chao Hu, Olivier Rieppel, Nicholas C. Fraser, Cheng Ji, Neil P. Kelley, Wan-Lu Fu and Rong Zhang. 2016. A Large Aberrant Stem Ichthyosauriform Indicating Early Rise and Demise of Ichthyosauromorphs in the Wake of the End-Permian Extinction. Scientific Reports. 6; 26232. DOI:  10.1038/srep26232

Ryosuke Motani, Da-Yong Jiang, Guan-Bao Chen, Andrea Tintori, Olivier Rieppel, Cheng Ji and Jian-Dong Huang. 2015. A Basal Ichthyosauriform with A Short Snout from the Lower Triassic of China. Nature. 517, 485–488. DOI: 10.1038/nature13866

Strange sea-dwelling reptile fossil hints at rapid evolution after mass ... http://bit.ly/1TJIby1 via @FieldMuseum @EurekAlertAAAS

Strange sea-dwelling reptile fossil hints at rapid evolution after mass extinction http://phy.so/383197123 via @physorg_com
Early Ichthyosaur Marks Marine Reptile Boom and Bust http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/laelaps/early-ichthyosaur-marks-earth-s-great-reptilian-comeback/

[Ichthyology • 2016] Reconciling More Than 150 Years of Taxonomic Confusion: The True Identity of Moenkhausia lepidura, with A Key to the Species of the M. lepidura group (Characiformes: Characidae)

Abstract

Moenkhausia lepidura (Kner) is redescribed based on the examination of the type and other specimens from several localities of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The species is readly diagnosed from congeners by a combination of a dark blotch on the upper caudal-fin lobe, lower lobe hyaline, and by the arrangement of predorsal scales, in which scales of anterior portion of predorsal area are arranged in pairs, followed by a single median row of scales extending to dorsal-fin origin. The analysis of the type material of Gymnotichthys hildae Fernández-Yépez and Knodus calliurus Ahl demonstrated the former is a junior synonym of Moenkhausia lepidura, whereas the latter should be removed from its synonymy. An identification key to the Moenkhausia lepidura-group is provided.

Keywords: taxonomy, systematics, Knodus calliurus, Neotropical fishes, Pisces, Amazon, Orinoco basins

 Manoela M F Marinho and Francisco Langeani. 2016. Reconciling More Than 150 Years of Taxonomic Confusion: The True Identity of Moenkhausia lepidura, with A Key to the Species of the M. lepidura group (Characiformes: Characidae).
Zootaxa. 4107(3); 338-352. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4107.3.3

ResearchGate.net/publication/301792776_Reconciling_more_than_150_years_of_taxonomic_confusion_the_true_identity_of_Moenkhausia_lepidura_with_a_key_to_the_species_of_the_M_lepidura_group_Characiformes_Characidae

[Paleontology • 2014] Cartorhynchus lenticarpus • A Basal Ichthyosauriform with A Short Snout from the Lower Triassic of China

Cartorhynchus lenticarpus 

Motani, Jiang, Chen, Tintori, Rieppel, Ji & Huang, 2014

DOI: 10.1038/nature13866 paleoArt by Vitaliy Melnik  malvit.deviantart.com 

Abstract

 The incompleteness of the fossil record obscures the origin of many of the more derived clades of vertebrates. One such group is the Ichthyopterygia, a clade of obligatory marine reptiles that appeared in the Early Triassic epoch, without any known intermediates. Here we describe a basal ichthyosauriform from the upper Lower Triassic (about 248 million years ago) of China, whose primitive skeleton indicates possible amphibious habits. It is smaller than ichthyopterygians and had unusually large flippers that probably allowed limited terrestrial locomotion. It also retained characteristics of terrestrial diapsid reptiles, including a short snout and body trunk. Unlike more derived ichthyosauriforms, it was probably a suction feeder. The new species supports the sister-group relationships between ichthyosauriforms and Hupehsuchia, the two forming the Ichthyosauromorpha. Basal ichthyosauromorphs are known exclusively from south China, suggesting that the clade originated in the region, which formed a warm and humid tropical archipelago in the Early Triassic. The oldest unequivocal record of a sauropterygian is also from the same stratigraphic unit of the region.


Reptilia Laurenti, 1768
Diapsida Osborn, 1903

Ichthyosauromorpha nov.

Diagnosis. The last common ancestor of Ichthyosaurus communis and Hupehsuchus nanchangensis, and all its descendants. Anterior flanges on humerus and radius present; ulna distal width equal to or greater than proximal width; forelimb longer than or almost equal to hindlimb; manus length at least about three-quarters the length of the stylopodium and zeugopodium combined; fibula extending further post-axially than femur; transverse process of neural arch extremely short or absent.

Ichthyosauriformes nov.

Diagnosis. All ichthyosauromorphs more closely related to Ichthyosaurus communis than Hupehsuchus nanchangensis. Nasal extending anteriorly, well beyond external naris; scleral ring large, filling orbit; snout constricted in dorsal view; converging digits with limited interdigital space.


Cartorhynchus lenticarpus gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. καρτοσ (Greek), meaning shortened; ρηψνχηοσ (Greek), meaning snout; lentus (Latin), meaning flexible; carpus (Latin), meaning wrist. Named after truncated snout and cartilaginous wrist.

Holotype. Anhui Geological Museum AGB6257.

Locality and horizon. From the second level of Majiashan Quarry (31° 37′ 26″ N, 117° 49′ 19″ E), near downtown Chaohu, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China (Fig. 1a). Bed 633, about 13 m above the bottom of the Upper Member of the Nanlinghu Formation (Fig. 1b), within the ammonite Subcolumbites zone, Spathian, Olenekian, Lower Triassic (Fig. 1b).

Figure 2: The holotype of Cartorhynchus lenticarpus gen. et sp. nov.
a, Whole specimen. b, Close-up of ribs. c, Ribs of Chaohusaurus (AGM CH-628-16) for comparison. d, Skull and shoulder elements. e, Skull of a newborn Chaohusaurus20 drawn to the same scale as d for comparison. f, Right forelimb. g, Right hindlimb.

a, angular; as, astragalus; ca, calcaneum; cbi, first ceratobranchial; cl, clavicle; d, dentary; f, frontal; Fe, femur; Fi, fibula; H, humerus; i, intermedium; icl, interclavicle; j, jugal; l, lacrimal; m, maxilla; n, nasal; op, opisthotic; p, parietal; pm, prefrontal; po, postorbital; prf, prefrontal; ptf, postfrontal; q, quadrate; qj, quadratojugal; R, radius; r, radiale; sa, surangular; sc, scapula; scl, scleral ossicles; sp, splenial; sq, squamosal; st, supratemporal; Ti, tibia; U, ulna; u, ulnare; i–v (in g), metapodials. Scale bars, 1 cm.  DOI: 10.1038/nature13866 

Diagnosis. Autapomorphies are: snout only half as long as the rest of the skull; very large hyoid; forelimb strongly curved posteriorly; anteriorly curved hindlimb; ribs robust, with proximal intercostal space narrower than ribs; scapula wider distally than proximally; autopodium with broadly spaced tiny ossifications; only three manual digits ossified; gastralia without median element. Other features: mandible deep; trunk shorter than in ichthyopterygians by at least five vertebrae; pineal foramen very large; interclavicle cruciform; parapophyses confluent with anterior vertebral margin.

Cartorhynchus is the smallest ichthyosauriform to date. The preserved length of the specimen is 21.4 cm (Fig. 2a). Total body length is estimated to be about 40 cm, assuming tail proportions of basal ichthyopterygians. Of the 31 pre-sacral vertebrae, 5 seem to be cervical. Ichthyopterygians typically have an elongated body with 40–80 pre-sacral vertebrae, except for Chaohusaurus, which has about 36 (Fig. 3a). The pre-sacral vertebral count of extant terrestrial reptiles with well-developed limbs ranges from 16 to 36, with 24 being the norm10. Cartorhynchus is within this terrestrial range (Fig. 3a).

Ryosuke Motani, Da-Yong Jiang, Guan-Bao Chen, Andrea Tintori, Olivier Rieppel, Cheng Ji and Jian-Dong Huang. 2014. A Basal Ichthyosauriform with A Short Snout from the Lower Triassic of China. Nature. 517, 485–488. DOI: 10.1038/nature13866

Short-snouted, suction-feeding ‘proto-ichthyosaur’ sheds light on fish-lizard beginnings | Tetrapod Zoology, Scientific American Blog Network http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/2014/11/12/cartorhynchus-and-fish-lizard-beginnings/

Ichthyosaur Origins Revealed  http://www.scilogs.com/blogozoic/ichthyosaur-origins-revealed/

http://stygimolochspinifer.deviantart.com/art/Cartorhynchus-493009026