[Botany • 2021] Friesodielsia brevistipitata, F. khaoluangensis, F. songkhlaensis, et al. (Annonaceae) • New Species and New Records for the Climber Genus Friesodielsia in the Flora of Thailand

A–C. ส่าเหล้า Friesodielsia brevistipitata Leerat. 
D. บุหงาเขาหลวง F. khaoluangensis Leerat. & Aongyong.
 E–F. บุหงาแต่งงาน F. longipetala Leerat. & Chalermglin.
G–H. บุหงาสาวิตรี F. macrosepala Leerat. & Aongyong.
  I–J. บุหงาเซิงพะงัน F. phanganensis Leerat. 
K–L. บุหงาเซิงสงขลา F. songkhlaensis Leerat. 

in Leeratiwong, Chalermglin, ... et Johnson, 2021. 

DOI:  10.20531/tfb.2021.49.2.09

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Abstract

Six new species of Friesodielsia (Annonaceae) are described and illustrated, seven species are documented for Thailand for the first time, and Oxymitra fornicata var. glabra is raised to species rank as Friesodielsia andamanica. These additions bring the species diversity of Friesodielsia in Thailand to 16 species. A key to the Thai species is provided.

Keywords: Plant diversity, Southeast Asia, taxonomy

Photographs of new Friesodielsia species.
A–C. Friesodielsia brevistipitata Leerat. A. leaf base showing marginal glands. B. flower. C. monocarps. D. flower of F. khaoluangensis Leerat. & Aongyong. E–F. F. longipetala Leerat. & Chalermglin. E. flowers, F. monocarps.
G–H. F. macrosepala Leerat. & Aongyong. G. flowers. H. monocarps. I–J. F. phanganensis Leerat. I. flower. J. monocarps. K–L. F. songkhlaensis Leerat. K. flowers. L. monocarps.

Photographs by C. Leeratiwong (A–C, E–F, I &K–L), K. Aongyong (G & H) and P. Khiriwong (J).

Friesodielsia brevistipitata Leerat., sp. nov.

Friesodielsia brevistipitata is most similar to F. desmoides (Craib) Steenis and F. songkhlaensis Leerat. It differs from F. desmoides in having appressed rather than erect hairs on the abaxial leaf surface, sepals 5–10 mm versus 4–5 mm long, outer petals 35–60 mm versus (19–)27–31 mm long and obtuse versus acute at the apex, and monocarp stipes 3–5 mm versus 7–10.5 mm long. From F.   songkhlaensis it may be distinguished by the shorter sepals that are rounded to an obtuse or slightly acute apex and again by the short monocarp stipes.

Etymology.— Named for the short stipes of the monocarps, among the shortest in the entire genus.

Vernacular.— Sa lao (ส่าเหล้า)(Krabi).

Friesodielsia khaoluangensis Leerat. & Aongyong, sp. nov.

Friesodielsia khaoluangensis resembles F. alpina (J.Sinclair) Steenis and F. borneensis (Miq.) Steenis in its narrow flowers and narrow leaves. From F. alpina it differs in the twigs and leaves appressed-pubescent rather than glabrous, larger leaves (13–22 × 3.8–7.5 cm versus 8.5–13 × 3–4 cm) but with only 9–12 secondary veins per side versus 12–14 per side, the pedicels ca 10 mm long versus 25–27 mm long, and the outer petals linear-lanceolate, 23–25 mm long, and appressed-pubescent versus lanceolate, ca 15 mm long, and glabrous. From F. borneensis it differs in the leaves not glaucous abaxially and with petioles 8–17 mm long instead of glaucous abaxially with petioles 4.5–8 mm long, the pedicellar bract lanceolate rather than linear, and petals 23–25 mm long rather than 52–59 mm long.

Etymology.— The species is named for the type locality.

Vernacular.— Bu nga khao luang (บุหงาเขาหลวง) (General), 

sao yut (สาวหยุด) (Nakhon Si Thammarat).

Friesodielsia  longipetala Leerat. & Chalermglin, sp. nov.

Friesodielsia longipetala is distinguished from F.  phanganensis  and F.  songkhlaensis  by its sub-coriaceous to coriaceous leaves, outer petals (50–)80–140 mm long, inner petals (11–)15–25 mm long, generally longer pedicels (up to 12 mm long), and monocarps only sparsely pubescent.

Etymology.— Named for the greater length of both the outer and inner petals compared with those of its congeners.

Vernacular.— Bu nga taeng ngan (บุหงาแต่งงาน)(General), 

sao yut (สาวหยุด)(Satun).

Friesodielsia  macrosepala Leerat. & Aongyong, sp. nov.

Friesodielsia macrosepala is similar to F. unonifolia but differs in having twigs covered by persistent mixed spreading and appressed hairs, sepals (7–)11–17 × (5–)9–11 mm, and outer petals 50–80 × 11–22 (–32) mm, with a length:width ratio ofca 4:1. Friesodielsia unonifolia, in contrast, has twigs initially covered with appressed hairs but soon glabrate, sepals 7–9 × 5.5–7 mm long, and outer petals 18–35 (–40) × 9.5–12 mm with a length:width ratio of ca 2.5:1.

Etymology.— The sepals are among the largest in the entire genus. 

Vernacular.— Bu nga sawitri (บุหงาสาวิตรี)(Nakhon Si Thammarat), 

sao yut (สาวหยุด)(Nakhon Si Thammarat)

Friesodielsia phanganensis Leerat., sp. nov.

Friesodielsia phanganensis is distinguished from F. longipetala by the chartaceous leaves, oblanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate outer petals 50–70 mm long, inner petals 11–15 mm long, and monocarps densely pubescent with shorter stipes 3–5 mm long. 

Etymology.— The species is named for the type locality.

Vernacular.— Bu nga soeang phangan (บุหงาเซิงพะงัน)(General).

Friesodielsia songkhlaensis Leerat., sp. nov.

Friesodielsia songkhlaensis is distinguished from F. longipetala by the chartaceous leaves, pedicels 3–5 mm long with the bract exceeding the pedicel inlength, sepals tapering to a blunt-acuminate apex, outerpetals 6–12 mm wide, inner petals 8–10 mm long, and more densely pubescent monocarps.

Etymology.— Named for the Thai province in which it occurs.

Vernacular.— Bu nga soeng songkhla (บุหงาเซิงสงขลา)(General).

A–B. Friesodielsia affinis (Hook.f. & Thomson) D.Das. A. flowers. B. monocarps.
 C. immature fruit of F. glabra (Ridl.) D.M.Johnson.
D–E. F. calycina (King) Steenis. D. open flower and bud. E. monocarps.
F. flower of F. discolor (Craib) D.Das.
G–H. F. glauca (Hook.f. & Thomson) Steenis. G. flower. H. monocarps.
I–J. F. kingii (J.Sinclair) Steenis. I. flower. J. monocarps.
 K. flower of F. latifolia (Hook.f. & Thomson) Steenis.
 L. flower of F. unonifolia (A.DC.) Steenis.

Photographs by C. Leeratiwong (A–C, E, H & K), A. Baka (D, G, I & J), P. Chalermglin (F) and A. Rungrueng (L).

Friesodielsia species newly reported for the Flora of Thailand.

รายงานพบใหม่ในประเทศไทย

1. Friesodielsia affinis (Hook.f. & Thomson) D.Das (เครือเหนียว)

2. Friesodielsia calycina (King) Steenis (บุหงาดาริกา)

3. Friesodielsia filipes (Hook.f. & Thomson) Steenis (บุหงาก้านดอกยาว)

4. Friesodielsia glauca (Hook.f. & Thomson) Steenis (บุหงานวลแป้ง)

5. Friesodielsia kingii (J.Sinclair) Steenis (บุหงากลีบใหญ่)

6. Friesodielsia latifolia (Hook.f. & Thomson) Steenis (บุหงาใบกว้าง)

7. Friesodielsia unonifolia (A.DC.) Steenis (บุหงากลีบหนา)

ปรับปรุงชื่อ ตามข้อมูลทางอนุกรมวิธาน 

*Friesodielsia glabra (Ridl.) D.M.Johnson (บุหงาตะรุเตา)

 

Charan Leeratiwong, Piya Chalermglin, Jiratthi Satthaporn, Kithisak Aongyong and David M Johnson. 2021. New Species and New Records for the Climber Genus Friesodielsia (Annonaceae) in the Flora of Thailand. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 49(2); 212-230.  DOI:  10.20531/tfb.2021.49.2.09

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ชนิดใหม่ในประเทศไทย

1. Friesodielsia brevistipitata Leerat., sp. nov. (ส่าเหล้า)

2. Friesodielsia khaoluangensis Leerat. & Aongyong, sp. nov. (บุหงาเขาหลวง)

3. Friesodielsia longipetala Leerat. & Chalermglin, sp. nov. (บุหงาแต่งงาน)

4. Friesodielsia macrosepala Leerat. & Aongyong, sp. nov. (บุหงาสาวิตรี)

5. Friesodielsia phanganensis Leerat., sp. nov. (บุหงาเซิงพะงัน)

6. Friesodielsia songkhlaensis Leerat., sp. nov. (บุหงาเซิงสงขลา)

[Herpetology • 2021] Assa wollumbin • A New Hip-pocket Frog (Anura: Myobatrachidae: Assa) from mid-eastern Australia

 

 Assa wollumbin  

Mahony, Hines, Mahony, Moses, Catalano, Myers & Donnellan, 2021

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5057.4.1

 twitter.com/SVMahony 

 

Abstract

The hip-pocket frog (Assa darlingtoni), a small terrestrial myobatrachid frog found in mid-eastern Australia, has a highly derived, unusual, reproductive mode involving a unique form of male parental care. Males have subcutaneous pouches that open near the hip, and the developing tadpoles are carried in these pouches to post metamorphosis. It is found on several isolated mountain ranges in closed forest habitats, associated with high rainfall and temperate or sub-tropical climates. We established genetic relationships among specimens sampled across the range using phylogenetic analyses of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the nuclear genome and mitochondrial ND2 gene nucleotide sequences. These analyses uncovered two lineages that are genetically distinct in both nDNA and mtDNA analyses and that have low levels of divergence in male advertisement calls and are morphologically cryptic. Our data support separate species status for each lineage, based on the molecular genetic data. The first, which we name as a new species, Assa wollumbin sp. nov., is restricted to a single mountain, Wollumbin (= Mount Warning), the eroded cone of an ancient shield volcano—the Tweed Volcano. The second, the nominal species A. darlingtoni, has a wider distribution in five geographically disjunct subpopulations along 430 km of the Great Dividing Range in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. The distributions of the two species closely approach within 15 km of each other on the central plug and rim of the caldera of the Tweed Volcano. Assa wollumbin sp. nov. meets the conservation criteria for Critically Endangered [A3(e), B2(a,b)]. When all subpopulations of A. darlingtoni are combined the conservation assessment is Endangered [A3(e), B2(a,b)]. Because of the fragmented nature of the distribution of A. darlingtoni, combined with the genetic evidence of concordant sub-structuring, we also conducted a conservation assessment on the five subpopulations. Two were assessed as Critically Endangered (D’Aguilar Range and Conondale/Blackall Ranges), and the remainder as Endangered (Dorrigo Plateau, McPherson Ranges, and Gibraltar Ranges/Washpool).

Keywords: Amphibia, Assa darlingtoni, Anura, Myobatrachidae, mtDNA, single nucleotide polymorphisms, nuclear genome, phylogenetic analysis, conservation status 

 

Michael J. Mahony, Harry B. Hines, Stephen V. Mahony, Bede Moses, Sarah R. Catalano, Steven Myers and Stephen C. Donnellan. 2021. A New Hip-pocket Frog from mid-eastern Australia (Anura: Myobatrachidae: Assa). Zootaxa. 5057(4); 451-486. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5057.4.1

 twitter.com/SVMahony/status/1452796410147966985

[Botany • 2021] Bretschneidera sinensis • Akaniaceae, A New Family Record for Laos

  Bretschneidera sinensis Hemsl.

 Lanorsavanh, Lamxay,  Mattapha, et al., 2021.

ດອກພວງບົວຈອມວອຍ || DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2021.49.2.10

Abstract

A collection from Phou Chom Voy Provincial Protected Area, Bolikhamxai, represents the first records for the family Akaniaceae as well as the genus Bretschneidera and the species Bretschneidera sinensis in Laos. Here we report the new and extended distributional range. A detailed description and photographs are provided for easy identification.

Keywords: Brassicales, Bretschneideraceae, extended distribution, Indo-China

Bretschneidera sinensis Hemsl.:
A. Leafy twig with inflorescences; B. Bark; C. Flowers; D. Corolla with 5 lobes (dissected). E. Calyx (corolla lobes removed) showing inside of calyx, attachment of ovary and stamens (above) and outside of calyx with minute lobes (below). F. Stamens.

 Scale bars: 1 cm. All from SL2157 by S. Lanorsavanh.

Bretschneidera Hemsl.

Bretschneidera sinensis Hemsl.

Tree 10–25 m tall. Bark grey-brown, young twigs with lenticels and leaf scars. Leaves imparipinnate, with 8–31 leaflets; venation pinnate; stipules present, caducous; leaflets opposite or lower ones alternate, margin entire. Inflorescence racemose, terminal. Flowers zygomorphic. Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, imbricate, free, adnate at middle to upper part of calyx tube, upper petal hood-like, covering stamens and style. Stamens 8 (4+4). Disk present. Ovary3-locular, hairy; ovules pendulous; style apically bent abruptly downward. 

A monospecific genus; Bretschneidera sinensis; previously known from India, S China, Taiwan, N Thailand and N Vietnam, it is now also known for Laos.

Ecology & Phenology.— In Laos collected near a stream in evergreen forest at ca 1,100 m alt. Flowering in March.

Vernacular.— ດອກພວງບົວຈອມວອຍ (Dok phuang boua chom voy).

 

Soulivanh Lanorsavanh, Vichith Lamxay, Sawai Mattapha, Keooudone Souvannakhoummane, Khamfa Chanthavongsa and Somchanh Bounphanmy. 2021. Akaniaceae, A New Family Record for Laos. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 49(2); 231-235. DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2021.49.2.10

[Mollusca • 2021] Namkongnaia inkhavilayi & N. lemeslei • Molecular Phylogeny reveals A New Genus of Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) from the Mekong River Basin

Namkongnaia inkhavilayi gen. et sp. nov. 
Namkongnaia lemeslei (Morelet, 1875)

Jeratthitikul, Sutcharit, Ngor & Prasankok, 2021

DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.775.1553

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ABSTRACT

A new genus of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) is described from the Mekong River Basin as Namkongnaia gen. nov. The validity of the new genus is supported by its unique conchological characteristics, namely the lack of hinge dentition and elongated shells, together with its evolutionary distinctiveness as estimated by multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (mitochondrial COI and 16S, and nuclear 28S genes). The new genus includes two lineages with deep divergence, shown by 5.10% uncorrected COI p-distance. One lineage is a type species described herein as Namkongnaia inkhavilayi gen. et sp. nov. The other is a recognized species under the name ‘Pilsbryoconcha lemeslei (Morelet, 1875)’. Molecular phylogenetic analysis further shows that the new genus belongs to the tribe Pseudodontini, and evolutionarily is closely related to the genus Monodontina Conrad, 1853. However, its conchology is similar to the genus Pilsbryoconcha Simpson, 1900. Time-calibrated phylogeny suggests that the main radiation events of the tribe Pseudodontini occurred during the Late Cretaceous to the Eocene, with the divergence between the new genus and Monodontina placed in the Miocene. The discovery of new freshwater mussel taxa in this study highlights the importance of the Mekong River Basin as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots for freshwater fauna.

Keywords: Indochina, freshwater mussels, multi-locus phylogeny, new taxa, time-calibrated phylogeny

Family Unionidae Rafinesque, 1820

Subfamily Gonideinae Ortmann, 1916

Tribe Pseudodontini Frierson, 1927

Subtribe Pilsbryoconchina Bolotov et al., 2017

Genus Namkongnaia gen. nov.

Differential diagnosis: The new genus is distinguished from other genera in Pseudodontini by having a narrow, elongated, and less inflated shell. It is also represented as a distinct clade in multi-locus phylogenetic analyses.

Description: Shell Medium-sized, thin, narrow and elongated, rather compressed, very in equilateral; anteriorly round; posteriorly round or somewhat pointed; umbonal area not elevated and usually eroded. Ligament very narrow. Hinge without dentition, posterior end of the hinge structure with V-shaped fossette. Anterior adductor muscle scar shallow, ovate, and fused with pedal retractor muscle scars; posterior adductor muscle scar very shallow. Excurrent aperture smooth, shorter than incurrent; incurrent with 1-2 rows of conical papillae. Gills elongated and slightly ribbed; anterior margin of inner gills slightly longer and wider than outer gills.

Etymology: The generic name “Namkongnaia” is from the word “Namkong”, a name for the Mekong River used by Thai and Lao peoples, and Greek word “naiad” meaning freshwater mussels. The name of this genus thus means “freshwater mussels from Mekong River”.

Distribution: Mekong River and its tributaries in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand (Fig. 3; Brandt 1974; Ng et al. 2020). The distribution range may include the Mae Klong River Basin in Thailand (Brandt 1974), although the taxonomic status of the specimens recorded in Brandt (1974) needs to be confirmed.

Map showing distribution localities of Namkongnaia gen. nov. Boundaries of river basins follow Abell et al. (2008).

Namkongnaia inkhavilayi gen. et sp. nov.

Pilsbryoconcha lemeslei – Brandt 1974: 263, pl. 18 fig. 22 (in part, only records from “Nang Rong (Prov. Burirum)”, Thailand) [non Anodonta lemeslei Morelet, 1875].

Etymology: This new species is dedicated to our colleague and distinguished malacologist, Dr Khamla Inkhavilay, from the National University of Laos

Namkongnaia lemeslei (Morelet, 1875) gen. et comb. nov.

Distribution: This species is restricted to Tonle Sap Lake and its tributaries in Cambodia. Its distribution probably reaches the headwater of Tonle Sap basin in eastern Thailand (Brandt 1974).

Habitat: This species was recorded in mud substrate in still sections of rivers or in lentic habitat, i.e., ponds and lakes (Morelet 1875; Morlet 1889; Brandt 1974).

Distribution: This new species appears to occur in the Lower Mekong watershed. In Laos, it was recorded from several locations near Vientiane, Kammoune, and Champasak Provinces. In Thailand, it is known from the Songkram and Mun river basins in the northeast region (Brandt 1974).

 

Ekgachai Jeratthitikul, Chirasak Sutcharit, Peng Bun Ngor and Pongpun Prasankok. 2021. Molecular Phylogeny reveals A New Genus of Freshwater Mussels from the Mekong River Basin (Bivalvia: Unionidae). European Journal of Taxonomy. 775(1), 119-142. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.775.1553

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[Herpetology • 2021] Molecular Species Delimitation of Shrub Frogs of the Genus Pseudophilautus (Anura, Rhacophoridae)

Ellepola, Herath, Manamendra-Arachchi, et al., 2021.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258594

Abstract

Sri Lanka is an amphibian hotspot of global significance. Its anuran fauna is dominated by the shrub frogs of the genus Pseudophilautus. Except for one small clade of four species in Peninsular India, these cool-wet adapted frogs, numbering some 59 extant species, are distributed mainly across the montane and lowland rain forests of the island. With species described primarily by morphological means, the diversification has never yet been subjected to a molecular species delimitation analysis, a procedure now routinely applied in taxonomy. Here we test the species boundaries of Pseudophilautus in the context of the phylogenetic species concept (PSC). We use all the putative species for which credible molecular data are available (nDNA–Rag-1; mt-DNA– 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA) to build a well resolved phylogeny, which is subjected to species delimitation analyses. The ABGD, bPTP, mPTP and bGMYC species delimitation methods applied to the 16S rRNA frog barcoding gene (for all species), 12S rRNA and Rag-1 nDNA grouped P. procax and P. abundus; P. hallidayi and P. fergusonianus; P. reticulatus and P. pappilosus; P. pleurotaenia and P. hoipolloi; P. hoffmani and P. asankai; P. silvaticus and P. limbus; P. dilmah and P. hankeni; P. fulvus and P. silus.. Surprisingly, all analyses recovered 14 unidentified potential new species as well. The geophylogeny affirms a distribution across the island’s aseasonal ‘wet zone’ and its three principal hill ranges, suggestive of allopatric speciation playing a dominant role, especially between mountain masses. Among the species that are merged by the delimitation analyses, a pattern leading towards a model of parapatric speciation emerges–ongoing speciation in the presence of gene flow. This delimitation analysis reinforces the species hypotheses, paving the way to a reasonable understanding of Sri Lankan Pseudophilautus, enabling both deeper analyses and conservation efforts of this remarkable diversification.  

Delimitation summary results.
Molecular phylogenetic relationships of Pseudophilautus, based on Bayesian inference of the concatenated data set of the 16S rRNA + 12S rRNA + Rag1 (2189bp) loci. Asterisks (*) above nodes represent ≥ 95% Bayesian posterior probabilities. The scale bar represents number of changes per site. Recovered species delimitation based on overall significance of results for molecular species delimitation methods (ABGD, bPTP, mPTP and bGMYC) using 16S rRNA, 12S rRNA, Rag-1 nDNA loci and the concatenated data set are shown as black rectangles on the right. Six major clades of Pseudophilautus, A-F, are shaded in different colours on the phylogeny. Images of frogs indicate species suggestive of synonymyzation based on recovered species delimitations. Rectangles indicated by * in similar colours represent species pairs that were recovered as close relatives or recovered in different clades based on their relative position on the concatenated tree.

 

Gajaba Ellepola, Jayampathi Herath, Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi, Nayana Wijayathilaka, Gayani Senevirathne, Rohan Pethiyagoda and Madhava Meegaskumbura. 2021. Molecular Species Delimitation of Shrub Frogs of the Genus Pseudophilautus (Anura, Rhacophoridae). PLoS ONE. 16(10): e0258594. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258594

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[Herpetology • 2021] Molecular Phylogenetics and Taxonomic Reassessment of the Widespread Agamid Lizard Calotes versicolor (Daudin, 1802) (Squamata, Agamidae) Across South Asia

Calotes vultuosus (Harlan, 1825), 
Calotes farooqi Auffenberg & Rehman, 1993

in Gowande, Pal, Jablonski, ... et Shanker, 2021. 

DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e62787

Abstract

The genus Calotes Cuvier, 1817 (Agamidae: Draconinae) is highly diverse, with species occurring in South and Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Most species of the subfamily except C. versicolor have narrow geographic distributions. Calotes versicolor is distributed from western Iran in the west to south China and Indonesia in the east and has been introduced to parts of Africa and North America. The species has had a complicated taxonomic history; multiple species and subspecies related to C. versicolor were described from India and adjoining regions, which were synonymized in subsequent revisions. However, a study of Burmese C. versicolor yielded two new species, C. htunwini and C. irawadi, indicating that C. versicolor is a species complex. Such integrative taxonomic studies have not been carried out in India, the supposed type locality of C. versicolor. Hence, we studied C. versicolor sensu lato from the Indian subcontinent and generated sequences of mitochondrial 16S and COI fragments from tissues sampled from multiple localities in the region, including the type localities of its synonyms. Phylogenetic analyses revealed four well-supported, deeply-divergent lineages, supported by morphological data. These lineages represent (i) C. versicolor sensu stricto, from South India and parts of the east coast, (ii) C. irawadi sensu lato from northeast India and Southeast Asia, (iii) a synonym from the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains which we resurrect here, and (iv) a subspecies from Pakistan which we elevate to species level. We provide re-descriptions for the resurrected or elevated species, and a diagnostic key to the species of the C. versicolor complex. The study shows that C. versicolor sensu stricto is endemic to parts of southern and eastern India, and not widely distributed, though it may have been introduced to other parts of the world.

Key words: 16S, COI, distribution, mtDNA, phylogenetics, species complex, species delimitation, systematics

A map of south and Southeast Asia representing the localities from which morphological and/or primary or secondary genetic data were collected. Red circles indicate the localities from which C. versicolor sensu stricto (Clade1) originate, yellow samples indicate those of C. irawadi sensu lato (Clade2), blue circles represent the localities of C. vultuosus comb. nov. (Clade3), green circles indicate Clade4, with C. farooqi stat. nov. (77, 83, 85, 86) and C. aff. farooqi (78, 79). A single sequence of Calotes irawadi from Huanan Province, China (locality 73) is not marked on the map, since it was very distant to all other localities, as also those whose precise localities were unknown. Triangles indicate type localities of the respective species. See supplementary Table S1 for details on molecular and/or morphological vouchers used, and their respective localities.

Calotes versicolor (Daudin, 1802)

Etymology: The specific epithet is an adjective in Latin referring to variable or to turn (versi, derived from versare) and color (color) of the species in life.

Distribution: The species appears to be endemic to India, occurring largely on the Southern Granulite Terrain and the eastern coast of India. The species was found in the Southern Western Ghats, the south-west coast of India, the southern Eastern Ghats, the eastern coast of India till Mahanadi basin in the north, and in the low-elevation areas of Peninsular India between the Eastern and the Western Ghats during this study. The species also has been introduced to the Maldives (Figs 1–3).

Calotes htunwini Zug and Vindum, 2007

Taxonomic comments: 

We did not include this species in our analyses; however, the species is distinct from members of the C. versicolor group due to the horizontal orientation of the scale rows of the neck and the supra-axillary region. The species occurs throughout the lower elevations of Myanmar’s Central Dry Zone (Zug et al. 2007).

Calotes irawadi Zug, Brown, Schulte and Vindum, 2007

Taxonomic comments:  

The species can be diagnosed by its posteriorad or vertical orientation of the scale rows of the neck and the supra-axillary region, this separates the species from C. htunwini; detailed comparisons with C. versicolor, the species resurrected and elevated in this communication are provided in the diagnoses and comparisons sections of those species. The species was thought to have a narrower distribution in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar, in comparison to C. htunwini (Zug et al. 2007). It was subsequently reported from the northeast Indian states of Assam and Tripura (Das et al. 2009, Anonymous 2020), and has recently been reported from Western Yunnan, China (Liu et al. 2021). Our samples from northeast Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura belonged to Clade2 (Fig. 2), thus confirming the occurrence of the species in northeast India.

 

An uncollected male of Calotes vultuosus comb. nov., from Burdwan, West Bengal, India, in life.

Photograph by Ayan Mondal.

Calotes vultuosus (Harlan, 1825) comb. nov. 

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘vultuosa’ could refer to the grim or frowning look of the species when viewed frontally, which it gets due to the flattened scales of the CanthR and the supercilium. The specific epithet vultuosa is feminine singular and is here changed to the masculine gender vultuosus in agreement with the generic epithet, Calotes, which is masculine in gender.

Distribution: The species appears to be widely distributed, occupying parts of the Dharwar Craton till Brahmagiri, Deccan Volcanic Province, the Central Highlands, the Gangetic Plains, and the Indian Deserts (Fig. 1).

Calotes farooqi Auffenberg and Rehman, 1993, stat. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet is a patronym in genitive singular case, dedicated to Farooq Ahmed, former Director, Zoological Survey Department, Pakistan.

Conclusion: 

An integrated molecular-morphological investigation demonstrates that C. versicolor on the Indian subcontinent is composed of multiple lineages. It is not as widely distributed as was earlier believed, but occurs in southern India and on the east coast, with the possibility of its occurrence on the island of Sri Lanka. The study led to the revalidation of the species C. vultuosus comb. nov., a species potentially endemic to the Deccan Volcanic Province, Central Highlands, arid and semi-arid regions of India and Gangetic Plains, which was under the synonymy of C. versicolor; and the promotion of the subspecies C. versicolor farooqi from Pakistan to species rank, as C. farooqi stat. nov. We further confirm the presence of C. cf. irawadi in northeast India. The taxonomic status of the populations introduced to Maldives was also resolved. Our results lend further support to the argument that many widely distributed species represent species complexes, demanding urgent taxonomic attention.

 Gaurang Gowande, Saunak Pal, Daniel Jablonski, Rafaqat Masroor, Pushkar U. Phansalkar, Princia Dsouza, Aditi Jayarajan and Kartik Shanker. 2021. Molecular Phylogenetics and Taxonomic Reassessment of the Widespread Agamid Lizard Calotes versicolor (Daudin, 1802) (Squamata, Agamidae) Across South Asia. Vertebrate Zoology. 71: 669-696. DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e62787

[Paleontology • 2021] Cretapsara athanata • Crab (Euarthropoda: Eubrachyura) in Amber reveals An Early Colonization of Nonmarine Environments during the Cretaceous

Cretapsara athanata Luque, 

in Luque, Xing, Briggs, ... et McKellar, 2021

  science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj5689

Artwork by Franz Anthony  twitter.com/franzanth 

UAlberta.ca

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Abstract

Amber fossils provide snapshots of the anatomy, biology, and ecology of extinct organisms that are otherwise inaccessible. The best-known fossils in amber are terrestrial arthropods—principally insects—whereas aquatic organisms are rarely represented. Here, we present the first record of true crabs (Brachyura) in amber—from the Cretaceous of Myanmar [~100 to 99 million years (Ma)]. The new fossil preserves large compound eyes, delicate mouthparts, and even gills. This modern-looking crab is nested within crown Eubrachyura, or “higher” true crabs, which includes the majority of brachyuran species living today. The fossil appears to have been trapped in a brackish or freshwater setting near a coastal to fluvio-estuarine environment, bridging the gap between the predicted molecular divergence of nonmarine crabs (~130 Ma) and their younger fossil record (latest Cretaceous and Paleogene, ~75 to 50 Ma) while providing a reliable calibration point for molecular divergence time estimates for higher crown eubrachyurans.

Cretapsara athanata Luque gen. et sp. nov., a modern-looking eubrachyuran crab in Burmese amber.
 (A to D) Holotype LYAM-9. (A) Whole amber sample with crab inclusion in ventral view. (B) Close-up of ventral carapace. (C) Whole amber sample with crab inclusion in dorsal view. (D) Close-up of dorsal carapace. White arrows in (B) and (D) indicate the detached left fifth leg or pereopod.

 Photos by Lida Xing. Figure by Javier Luque.

3D mesh of Cretapsara athanata Luque gen. et sp. nov. holotype LYAM-9.
(A to E) 3D mesh extracted from reconstructed micro-CT data in VGSTUDIO MAX, remeshed in MeshLab, and visualized using Autodesk Maya: (A) dorsal, (B) ventral, (C) right lateral, (D) oblique postero-dorsal, (E) oblique antero-ventral views, showing the claws of equal size and four pairs of slender legs similar in shape and size, with P5 slightly smaller than the other legs. (F and G) Details of the dorsal (F) and ventral (G) carapace, showing details of the large eyes and orbits, small antennae, and a small, acute outer orbital spine [(F) thick arrow], two small anterolateral spines (F, thin arrows), a posterolateral margin bearing at least four small and equidistant tubercles (F, small arrows), straight posterior margin, slender coxae of the pereopods, a typical heterotreme eubrachyuran sternum (G), and a reduced and folded pleon with the first pleonites dorsally exposed. Left fifth pereopod digitally reattached.

 bcg, branchiocardiac groove; ca, carpus; cg, cervical groove; cx, coxa; da, dactylus; ib, ischiobasis; ma, manus or palm of claw; P1, claws or chelipeds; P2 to P5, pereopods or walking legs 2 to 5; po, pollex or fixed finger cheliped propodus; pr, propodus.

 Images by Elizabeth G. Clark. Figure by Javier Luque. 

Systematic paleontology

Euarthropoda Lankester, 1904

Decapoda Latreille, 1802

Brachyura Latreille, 1802

Eubrachyura Saint Laurent, 1980

Cretapsaridae Luque, fam. nov.

 Included genus: Cretapsara Luque, gen. nov., by monotypy.

Diagnosis: As for type genus and species.

Remarks: Cretapsara athanata n. gen. et sp. differs from any known crab family in its combination of plesiomorphic and apomorphic characters. Superficially, it shares some resemblance to some marine eubrachyuran families such as Eogeryonidae, from the Upper Cretaceous of Spain [Eogeryon elegius, Cenomanian (14)] (Fig. 5H) and the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil [Romualdocarcinus salesi, Albian (15)], and Marocarcinidae, from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco [Marocarcinus pasinii, Cenomanian (16)] (Fig. 5E). Cretapsara differs from Eogeryonidae and Marocarcinidae in the presence of a bilobate rostrum and lack of orbital fissures, compared to the bifid and acute rostrum and two well-developed orbital fissures diagnostic of these two families [Marocarcinidae was initially interpreted as having no orbital fissures due to the erroneous interpretation of the eyestalks as part of the orbit (16) but is here recognized as having two orbital fissures and scored as such in our analysis].

Cretapsara athanata Luque, gen. et sp. nov.

 

Etymology: The genus name combines Creta (Latin), for chalk as in Cretaceous, and Apsara, a spirit of the clouds and waters; gender is feminine. The specific epithet is based on athanatos (Greek), immortal, referring to its lifelike preservation. The family name is based on the only known genus, erected herein.

Holotype: Specimen LYAM-9 (Figs. 1 and 2) deposited in the Longyin Amber Museum, Xishan District, Kunming 650228, Yunnan Province, China. Specimen collected by local miners in 2015.

Type locality and horizon: Angbamo site, Tanai Township, Myitkyina District, Kachin Province, Myanmar [~98.8 ± 0.6 Ma; lowermost Cenomanian (17–19)].

Diagnosis: The carapace is subhexagonal, nearly as long as it is wide; the orbitofrontal margin is nearly as wide as the body and bears wide, shallow orbits that lack supraorbital fissures or intraorbital spines. The rostrum is bilobate, short, and wide, measuring about half the width of the orbitofrontal margin. The anterolateral margin is one-third as long as the posterolateral margin, and it bears a small outer orbital spine and two short subtriangular anterolateral spines; the posterolateral margin is straight to slightly convex, and it bears at least four small and equidistant tubercles. The posterior margin is wide, nearly straight, rimmed, and apparently ornamented with a row of small tubercles. The cervical and branchiocardiac grooves are well developed, reach the lateral margins of the body, and are expressed ventrally; the dorsal regions are well developed and delimited by grooves. The buccal cavern is wide, covered by a pair of operculiform mxp3 that lack a V-shaped incision in the occlusal margin. The thoracic sternites 1 to 3 are visible ventrally and are separated from a subtrapezoidal sternite 4 by a shallow groove. Sternites 5 and 6 are similar in shape; sternite 5 is the widest of all, and sternites 6 to 8 reduce in size posteriorly. The sterno-abdominal cavity is shallow, and there is no evidence of a linea media traversing the sternites. The pleon has a small subtriangular telson and, based on the stereomicroscope images and the micro-CT scanning, apparently has six free and unfused pleonites, from which at least the first two are fully visible dorsally; there is no evidence of uropods or uropod remains. The eyes are as large as the orbits; the corneal eye is globular, as wide as it is long, and apparently covered by small hexagonal facets; the eyestalk is short and cylindrical. The antennulae and antennae are reduced. The claws or chelipeds are equal in shape and size, and the four pairs of walking legs are well developed, slender, and similar in size and shape; they lack chelate, subchelate, or flattened distal podomeres (e.g., propodi and dactyli); the podomeres are semicircular in cross section. Excurrent openings are well developed, small, and circular.

Phylogenetic relationships of Cretapsara athanata Luque, gen. et sp. nov. in the crab tree of life. Bayesian majority-rule consensus topology of the post–burn-in sample of trees for key fossil and extant eubrachyuran families, including probability support values indicated at branches. Branches with posterior probability support <75% are collapsed. Thick solid lines represent the ages of the known first and last occurrences of the studied families. Dotted lines and daggers (†) indicate extinct taxa; solid lines indicate living taxa.

Photos: Heikeopsis japonica (A) by T.-Y. Chan; Telamonocarcinus gambalatus (B), M. pasinii (E), and E. elegius (H) by À. Ossó; Archaeochiapasa mardoqueoi (C) by F. Vega; Componocancer robertsi (D) by R. Feldmann and C. Schweitzer; Dilocarcinus septemdentatus (G) and Melothelphusa dardanelosensis (M) by Senckenberg Museum, S. Tränkner, courtesy of C. Magalhães [(M) after (80)]; Cretapsara athanata Luque gen. et sp. nov. (F) herein; C. maenas (I), C. sapidus (K), Geothelphusa olea (O), Sayamia melanodactylus (P), Geosesarma dennerle (R), and C. guanhumi (S) by O. Radosta; G. trispinosus (J) by C. Noever (CC BY 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org); Dinocarcinus velauciensis (L) by N. Robin; Potamonautes kunduno (N) by P. Crabb (CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org); G. cruentata (Q) by A. Anker; and Leptuca oerdesti (T) by Javier Luque. Figure by Javier Luque.

Photos: Heikeopsis japonica (A) by T.-Y. Chan; Telamonocarcinus gambalatus (B), M. pasinii (E), and E. elegius (H) by À. Ossó; Archaeochiapasa mardoqueoi (C) by F. Vega; Componocancer robertsi (D) by R. Feldmann and C. Schweitzer; Dilocarcinus septemdentatus (G) and Melothelphusa dardanelosensis (M) by Senckenberg Museum, S. Tränkner, courtesy of C. Magalhães [(M) after (80)]; Cretapsara athanata Luque gen. et sp. nov. (F) herein; Carcinus maenas (I), Carcinus sapidus (K), Geothelphusa olea (O), Sayamia melanodactylus (P), Geosesarma dennerle (R), and Cardisoma guanhumi (S) by O. Radosta; Geryon trispinosus (J) by C. Noever (CC BY 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org); Dinocarcinus velauciensis (L) by N. Robin; Potamonautes kunduno (N) by P. Crabb (CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org); G. cruentata (Q) by A. Anker; and Leptuca oerdesti (T) by Javier Luque. Figure by Javier Luque.

   

 

Javier Luque, Lida Xing, Derek E. G. Briggs, Elizabeth G. Clark, Alex Duque, Junbo Hui, Huijuan Mai and Ryan C. McKellar. 2021. Crab in Amber reveals An Early Colonization of Nonmarine Environments during the Cretaceous. Science Advances. Vol 7(43); DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj5689

  science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj5689

twitter.com/JaviPaleobio/status/1450917496358309893

  twitter.com/franzanth/status/1451069105553825793

 UAlberta.ca/folio/2021/10/100-million-year-old-crab-trapped-in-amber-helps-fill-in-evolutionary-gap.html

    

[Ichthyology • 2021] New Records and Redescription of Labracinus atrofasciatus (Herre, 1933) (Teleostei: Pseudochromidae)

Labracinus atrofasciatus (Herre, 1933)

in Gill, Sorgon, Brun & Tea, 2021.

RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 69 

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Photographs by V. Brun.

Abstract

 The pseudochromid Labracinus atrofasciatus (Herre, 1933) is redescribed based on examination of the holotype from Culion, Calamian Islands, and three newly acquired non-type specimens from a fish landing site in Barangay Sandoval, Municipality of Taytay, northern Palawan, Philippines. Prior to this, the species was known only from the holotype; from a photograph of a putative female taken in Lajo Island, Busuanga, Calamian Islands; and from observations at Lajo Island and Tangat Island, Calamian Islands. The new specimens from Macuao Island appear to be males, and their live colouration is reported here for the first time. We also briefly comment on the restricted distribution of other pseudochromids and coral-reef fishes in the Palawan region of the Philippines.

 Key words. dottyback, Philippines, endemic, Palawan, Calamian Islands, Culion, Taytay

Freshly dead Labracinus atrofasciatus specimens from Macuao Island, northern Palawan, Philippines.
A, PNM 15645, 146.5 mm SL; B, PNM 15646, 142.0 mm SL; C, AMS I.49470-001, 134.4 mm SL.

Photographs by V. Brun (A) and K. E. S. Sorgon (B, C).

Two specimens of Labracinus atrofasciatus (approximately 150 and 190 mm TL) amongst catch of other reef fishes at a fish landing site in Barangay Sandoval, Municipality of Taytay, northern Palawan, Philippines. Specimens not retained.

Photograph by V. Brun.

Labracinus atrofasciatus (Herre, 1933) 

Black-barred dottyback

Diagnosis. Labracinus atrofasciatus differs from congeners in having a series of narrow, dark blue to black oblique bars on the body. It also differs in having relatively high numbers of horizontal scale rows above the anal-fin origin (24–27 + 1 + 4–5 = 30–33), pseudobranch filaments (22–24), and circumpeduncular scales (30–32).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘atrum’, black, and ‘fascia’, band, in reference to the striking markings on the body of this species. Labracinus atrofasciatus is known locally as ‘akot’ in Cuyonon, a language spoken mostly in Cuyo Islands and coastal areas of Palawan in the Philippines, where it shares the local name with the congeneric L. cyclophthalmus. 

Habitat and distribution. We extend the known distribution of L. atrofasciatus from Culion in the Calamian Islands southward to Taytay, Palawan (Fig. 4A). ...

Map of the Philippines, showing distribution records for selected species of pseudochromids endemic to the Calamian Islands and Palawan regions.
A, Labracinus atrofasciatus, photograph of PNM 15645; B, Pseudochromis colei, photograph of aquarium specimen (not retained);
C, P. eichleri, photograph of AMS I.45651-001 (paratype); D, Manonichthys scintilla, photograph of USNM 382744 (paratype).

Photographs by V. Brun (A), Y. K. Tea (B), G. R. Allen (C), and J. T. Williams (D).

A, putative female of Labracinus atrofasciatus, in situ photograph taken in Lajo Island, Palawan, Philippines;
B, holotype of L. atrofasciatus, CAS-SU 25518, 105.5 mm SL holotype (image adapted from Gill, 2004). Note the posterior dorsal-fin spot and faint vertical bars in both specimens.

Photographs by G. R. Allen & M. V. Erdmann (A) and P. Crabb (B).

Anthony C. Gill, Kent Elson S. Sorgon, Victor Brun and Yi-Kai Tea. 2021. New Records and Redescription of Labracinus atrofasciatus (Herre, 1933) (Teleostei: Pseudochromidae). RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 69; 438–447.  

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