[Ichthyology • 2016] The Glyptothorax of Sundaland: A Revisionary Study (Teleostei: Sisoridae)

Glyptothorax platypogonides 

 (Bleeker, 1855)

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4188.1.1

Abstract  

The species of Glyptothorax of Sundaic Southeast Asia (Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and Java) are revised in this study. A total of 17 species are recognized, of which six (G. amnestus, G. decussatus, G. famelicus, G. keluk, G. pictus and G. stibaros) are described as new here. A lectotype is designated for G. platypogon. The Sundaic Glyptothorax species are diagnosed by combinations of color pattern, morphometry (with particular regard to the eye, head, body depth, and caudal peduncle), dorsal-spine and thoracic adhesive apparatus morphology.

Keywords: Pisces, Teleostei, Sisoridae

 Heok Hee Ng and Maurice Kottelat. 2016. The Glyptothorax of Sundaland: A Revisionary Study (Teleostei: Sisoridae). Zootaxa.   4188(1); 1–92.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4188.1.1

  

[PaleoMammalogy • 2016] Skeletal Anatomy of the North American Pangolin Patriomanis americana (Mammalia, Pholidota) from the Latest Eocene of Wyoming (USA)

Life reconstruction of Patriomanis americana foraging for termites in the treetops. The tree is from the genus Carya, which, according to Prothero (1994), was present in this part of Wyoming during the Chadronian North American Land Mammal Age (latest Eocene). 

Illustration by Julia Morgan Scott for Smithsonian Institution.  opensi.si.edu  

 Patriomanis americana is the only pangolin (Mammalia, Pholidota), living or extinct, known from the Western Hemisphere. It derives from latest Eocene (Chadronian North American Land Mammal Age) deposits from central Wyoming and western Montana. Since its initial description more than 40 years ago based on a partial skeleton, several nearly complete skeletons have been discovered, together including nearly every bone in the skeleton. This taxon is thus not only the most completely preserved fossil pangolin but is also among the best preserved of any Eocene mammal taxon. In the present study we have prepared a detailed, bone-by-bone description of the osteology of Patriomanis, comparing it with other well-known fossil pangolin skeletons (Eomanis, Euromanis, Cryptomanis, and Necromanis), as well as representatives of the three extant pangolins genera (Manis, Smutsia, Phataginus). We provide a catalog of all known Patriomanis specimens and their provenance and an extensive series of measurement tables incorporating the comparative taxa. We analyze the alpha-level taxonomy of the genus, concluding that all specimens should be kept in a single species, Patriomanis americana, based on currently available fossil material. We summarize the taxonomic and phylogenetic position of Patriomanis and discuss its implications for the biogeographic history of the order Pholidota. We analyze the paleobiology of Patriomanis, concluding that it was likely a myrmecophagous, arboreal animal with a prehensile tail. Last, we discuss its paleoecology, suggesting that its late appearance in the Eocene record, during a time of global cooling, may imply that earlier pangolins are waiting to be discovered in the Eocene record of Asia and North America. 

KEY WORDS: Eocene, fossils, morphology, osteology, pangolins, Patriomanis, Pholidota, skeleton, skull.

Timothy J. Gaudin, Robert J. Emry and Jeremy Morris. 2016. Skeletal Anatomy of the North American Pangolin Patriomanis americana (Mammalia, Pholidota) from the Latest Eocene of Wyoming (USA). Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology. 98; 1-102.

http://opensi.si.edu/index.php/smithsonian/catalog/book/98

Paleo Profile: North America's Pangolin https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/laelaps/paleo-profile-north-america-s-pangolin

 

[Paleontology • 2017] Kaikaifilu hervei • A New Large Mosasaur (Squamata, Mosasauridae) from the upper Maastrichtian of Antarctica

Kaikaifilu hervei 

Otero, Soto-Acuña, Rubilar-Rogers & Gutstein, 2017  

DOI:  10.1016/j.cretres.2016.11.002 

Highlights

• A new mosasaur from Antarctica.

• The second skull known in the continent.

• A new genus and species of a large austral mosasaur.

Abstract

We present a large, fragmentary skull and the humerus of a mosasaur (Squamata, Mosasauroidea) recovered from upper Maastrichtian beds of the López de Bertodano Formation in Marambio (=Seymour) Island, Antarctica. The material belongs to a large, adult individual with marked heterodonty as well as unusual humeral features. Different phylogenetic analyses returned the studied specimen within the Tylosaurinae, while the unique features of the skull and humerus allow distinguish it from the unique Antarctic known tylosaurine species, Taniwhasaurus antarcticus (Novas et al., 2002), as well as from other known Late Cretaceous mosasaurids from the Southern Hemisphere, thus, justifying the erection of a new taxon, Kaikaifilu hervei gen. et. sp. nov. The different dental types documented in the specimen studied have been previously recorded through isolated teeth from the same locality and were subsequently referred to several genera. This new find and its importance to comprehend the previously known fragmentary records strongly suggests that the diversity of Antarctic mosasaurids could be more reduced than previously interpreted, including taxa which are different to the genera and species from the Northern Hemisphere. The new material represents the youngest occurrence of tylosaurines in Antarctica.

Keywords: Marine reptiles; Mosasaurs; Upper Cretaceous; Marambio Island; Antarctic Peninsula

 Systematic paleontology

Squamata Oppel, 1811

Mosasauridae Gervais, 1853

Russellosaurina Polcyn and Bell, 2005

Tylosaurinae Williston, 1897

Kaikaifilu gen. nov.

Tylosaurinae indet.: In Otero, 2012.

Tylosaurinae gen. et sp. nov.: Otero et al., 2015

Type species: as for the only known species within the genus, Kaikaifilu hervei sp. nov., below.

Derivation of name. From the Mapudungun language of the ancient people of southern South America. From the Mapuche cosmology, Kai-Kai filú is the almighty giant reptile owner of the seas, rival of Treng-Treng filú, both creators of the lands through their continuous fight that causes the earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and all the events that molded the earth where we live (pronunciation: Khai-khai feelóo).

Kaikaifilu hervei sp. nov.

Holotype. SGO.PV.6509. Fragmentary skull preserved in several blocks, including part of the maxillae and the premaxillar, frontal, prefrontals, part of the parietal, partial cast of the braincase, cast of the right orbit, a portion of the right pterygoid, a partial cast of the meckellian canal of one dentary, near 30 isolated teeth, fragments of the mandible, and the proximal part of the left humerus.

Type Locality. Marambio Island, Antarctica, about 1500 m south from the López de Bertodano Bay.

Horizon and Age. López de Bertodano Formation, Klb9 sensu Macellari (1988), Manumiella bertodano Interval Zone ( Bowman et al., 2012) and Pachydiscus riccardi Zone ( Olivero, 2012), upper Maastrichtian.

Derivation of the name. Honoring Dr. Francisco Hervé, Chilean geologist, for their major contribution to the knowledge of the geology of Chile and Antarctic Peninsula.

Diagnosis. Specimen with the following unique combination of characters: Presence of a prominent lateral process anterior to the orbits, conformed by the posterior end of the prefrontal and the anterior end of the postorbitofrontal; well-marked heterodonty including both faceted and non-faceted functional teeth with very soft striations; articular head of the humerus very thick dorsoventrally; K. hervei differs from other mosasaurids from the WBP in the following features: it differs from Tylosaurus (‘Leiodon’) haumuriensis and from the genus Taniwhasaurus (Ta. antarcticus, Ta. oweni and Ta. mikasaensis) by possessing a well-marked heterodonty, condition absent in the two latter genera; it also differs from these taxa on the frontal midline forming an internarial process which is absent in Ta. mikasaensis (premaxillar extends far beyond external naris) and seems to be absent in Ta. antarcticus; K. hervei differs from Moanasaurus mangahouangae in the outline of the frontal which is axially shorter in the latter and without anterolateral concave margins; K. hervei also differs from Rikisaurus tehoensis in having a frontal contacting the pineal foramen, and by the possession of a preorbital constriction of the rostrum. Unique known specimen here referred to K. hervei comprises the largest known skull of a mosasauroid from the Southern Hemisphere.

Conclusions

SGO.PV.6509 comprises a fragmentary skull and fragmentary humerus of a single specimen recovered from upper Maastrichtian levels (lower Klb9 unit) of the López de Bertodano Formation in Marambio Island, Antarctica. This is here identified as a large mosasaurid with prominent anterorbital processes, an axially elongated and triangular frontal that extends between the external naris, a well-marked heterodonty and a dorsoventrally massive humerus. Morphological features of SGO.PV.6509 differ from all known mosasaurids from the Southern Hemisphere and especially from the better known austral tylosaurine, Taniwhasaurus antarticus. Thus, a new genus and species, Kaikaifilu hervei, is proposed here. This new skull from the upper Mastrichtian of Antarctica represents the best evidence on the presence of very large tylosaurines on high latitudes (65°) of the Southern Hemisphere prior to the K/Pg boundary. Previous to this research, this clade remained poorly documented in high latitudes. The marked heterodonty of SGO.PV.6509 suggest that several taxa previously reported from the Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica and based on isolated teeth, should be reviewed under the new evidence, since most of them appear to match with the different dental types of the specimen here described.

 Rodrigo A. Otero, Sergio Soto-Acuña, David Rubilar-Rogers and Carolina S. Gutstein. 2017. Kaikaifilu hervei gen. et sp. nov., A New Large Mosasaur (Squamata, Mosasauridae) from the upper Maastrichtian of Antarctica. Cretaceous Research. In Press.  DOI:  10.1016/j.cretres.2016.11.002

[Ichthyology • 2016] Badis pancharatnaensis • A New Percoid Fish Species (Teleostei: Badidae) from Brahmaputra River drainage, Assam, India

Badis pancharatnaensis 

Basumatary, Choudhury, Baishya, Sarma & Vishwanath, 2016 

Abstract

Badis pancharatnaensis, a new percomorph, is described from the Brahmaputra River drainage of Assam, India. It is distinguished from its congeners by having the following combination of characters: a conspicuous black blotch on the superficial part of cleithrum; pointed soft dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins, the 2nd soft ray of pelvic-fin reaching slightly beyond the vent; 13 ‒ 14 pectoral-fin rays; circumpeduncular scales 14 ‒ 17; body depth 28.2 ‒ 33.8% of SL; interorbital distance 7.1 ‒ 9.4% of SL; and 28 number of vertebrae.

Key words:  Badidae, Badis, taxonomy, new species, River Brahmaputra, Assam.

 Fig. 2. Colouration in life of Badis pancharatnaensis sp. nov.

Fig. 4. Map showing type locality of Badis pancharatnaensis sp. nov.

Fig. 5. Hasila Beel, type locality of Badis pancharatnaensis sp. nov. showing habitat. 

Diagnosis: Badis pancharatnaensis sp. nov. is distinct from all its congeners in having a combination of characters: presence of dark brownish black bars on sides; a series of dark blotches along middle of dorsal-fin; a prominent black blotch on the superficial part of cleithrum; elongate median caudal blotch with a posterior bar surrounding the caudal-fin base; pointed pelvic-fin reaching beyond vent in both the sexes; pointed soft dorsal and anal-fin; 28.2 ‒ 33.8% SL body depth; 7.1 ‒ 9.4% SL interorbital distance; 14 ‒ 17 circumpeduncular scales; 31 ‒ 33 lateral scale rows; 6 ‒ 8 number of gill rakers; and 28 (15+13) number of vertebrae

Distribution and habitat. Presently the species is known from Hasila Beel – a riverine wetland of Brahmaputra drainage at Goalpara district, Assam, India (Fig. 4). The type locality is a low lying wetland having dense macrophytic vegetation well connected with the River Brahmaputra and often flooded by the river water; that shows high degree of rise and fall of water level depending on seasonal climatic variations (Fig. 5).

The associated fish fauna caught along with the species were Amblypharyngodon mola, Anabas testudineus, Channa gachua, Lepidocephalichthys guntea, Mastacembelus armatus, Macrognathus pancalus, Puntius sophore and Trichogaster fasciata which commonly occur in the region. 

 Etymology. The species is named after the historical place called ‘Pancharatna’ in Goalpara district of Assam, India.

Sudem Basumatary, Hrishikesh Choudhury, Ratul A. Baishya, Dandadhar Sarma and Waikhom Vishwanath. 2016. Badis pancharatnaensis, A New Percoid Fish Species from Brahmaputra River drainage, Assam, India (Teleostei: Badidae).Vertebrate Zoology. 66(2); 151-156.
 http://www.senckenberg.de/files/content/forschung/publikationen/vertebratezoology/vz66-2/05_vertebrate_zoology_66-2_basumatary-sarma_151-156.pdf

[Herpetology • 2014] Agama hulbertorum • A New Cryptic Species of the Agama lionotus complex from south of the Ngong Hills in Kenya

 Agama hulbertorum Wagner, 2014 

Abstract

East Africa, especially if including the Horn of Africa, is a centre of diversity for African Agamid lizards and harbours the endemic lineage of the Agama lionotus complex, which currently comprises nine species. Species of the complex are mainly characterized by their throat pattern in adult males, which can be used for species identification. Among them, Agama lionotus and Agama dodomae show a very distinct colouration of a blue body and a white/blue annulated tail – a colour pattern that is otherwise only known from the southern African Agama kirkii. Within the complex, Agama lionotus is the most widely distributed taxon, ranging from Ethiopia to northern Tanzania and being replaced by Agama dodomae farther south in Tanzania. Other taxa of the complex are more restricted in their distribution. In this study, specimens from a larger area south of the Ngong Hills are examined and compared with other members of the complex, because they show an overall similarity to Agama lionotus, but are distinctly smaller. Examining the morphological (62 characters) and genetical (16S, ND4, CMOS) data indicates that these specimens represent a new species. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses support the new taxon as not closely related to Agama lionotus itself, but as a member of the complex. The new species is especially characterized by its small size. Adult males have a vertebral stripe, a blue body colouration and an annulated white/blue tail. Further typical characters are the low number of scale rows around midbody, the pear-shaped and keeled

nasal scale, the minute nuchal crest, and the feebly keeled vertebral scales, followed by dorsal and lateral keeled scales. The results of this study improve our understanding of the diversity of agamid lizards in East Africa and support the value of adult male throat coloration for the identification of species within the Agama lionotus complex.

Key words. Agamidae, Agama, Agama dodomae, new species, East Africa, Tanzania.

Agama hulbertorum sp. n. 

Diagnosis: A small Agama of the A. lionotus complex. It can be identified by the following combination of characters: nasal scale pear-shaped, keeled and tubular; nasal scale in contact with the first canthus scale; nuchal crest minute, consisting of few, indistinctly raised scales; ear opening surrounded by five tufts of spiny scales, with two additional tufts on the neck; vertebral scales feebly keeled, dorsal and lateral scales keeled, ventral and gular scales smooth; dorsal and lateral caudal scales keeled, ventral caudal scales smooth; and males with one discontinuous row of precloacal pores. Males in nuptial colouration exhibit a red throat, without any pattern, a vertebral stripe, and a narrowly annulated blue and white colour pattern on the tail.

Etymology: This species is named in honour of Andrea and Felix Hulbert, in recognition of their contributions to the captive breeding of African reptiles and, of course, our glorious friendship

Ecology: A rupicolous lizard with individuals inhabiting rocky outcrops or solitary larger stones and rocks in an arid landscape with Acacia shrub vegetation. It is diurnal and lives in harem groups of one dominant male and several females and juveniles (A. Burmann, pers. com. 2006). Specimens at the Ngong Hills were active around noon at temperatures of about 27°C and a humidity of 60% (Burmann 2006).

Philipp Wagner. 2014. A New Cryptic Species of the Agama lionotus complex from south of the Ngong Hills in Kenya. SALAMANDRA. 50(4); 187–200.

[Fungi • 2016] Acervus stipitatus & A. globulosus • Two Novel Acervus Species extend their Distribution within Yunnan, China

Acervus globulosus 

Ekanayaka, Zhao, Jones, Pu & Hyde, 2016

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.283.1.5 

   

Abstract

Acervus is a small genus in Pyronemataceae. Most of the species in this genus have been recorded from China. In the present study, two species of Acervus from Yunnan Province, in southwestern China, were investigated by using morphology and DNA sequence data. This paper introduces two new species, Acervus stipitatus and Acervus globulosus, with morphological descriptions, and compares them with morphologically similar taxa. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses inferred from 28S, TEF1 and RPB2 sequence data strongly support the lineages for taxa of Acervus, corresponding to morphological features. We also provide a summarized comparison of the important morphological characteristics of Acervus species.

Keywords: apothecia, discomycetes, inoperculate, phylogeny, taxonomy, Fungi

 Anusha H. Ekanayaka, Qi Zhao, Gareth E. B. Jones, En-Da Pu and Kevin D. Hyde. 2016. Two Novel Acervus Species extend their Distribution within Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa. 283(1); 74-83. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.283.1.5

    

[Herpetology • 2016] Bolitoglossa aurae • A Beautiful New Yellow Salamander, Genus Bolitoglossa (Caudata: Plethodontidae), from the northeastern Slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica

Bolitoglossa aurae  

Kubicki & Arias, 2016

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4184.2.5  

Abstract

A new yellow salamander belonging to the genus Bolitoglossa, subgenus Eladinea, is described from a premontane rainforest in the vicinity of Moravia de Chirripó, on the northeastern slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica at an elevation of ca. 1300 m. This new taxon is distinguished from its congeners by its chromatic and morphological characteristics, and by differentiation in DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome b genes. 

Keywords: Amphibia, Central America, Bolitoglossa aurae sp. nov., Bolitoglossa robinsoni clade, caudate, Eladinea, 16S rRNA, cytochrome b

Bolitoglossa aurae sp. nov.

Aura’s golden salamander

Generic Placement. Assigned to the genus Bolitoglossa due to having fewer than 14 costal grooves and lacking a sublingual fold, and to the subgenus Eladinea based the molecular evidence presented herein. 

Etymology. The name “aurae” is in dedication to Aura Reyes, the wife of BK, who co-discovered the holotype and has supported and encouraged BK’s research and conservation efforts with the amphibians of Costa Rica for many years, this in addition to her own contributions to increase the knowledge of Costa Rica’s amphibians made possible through dedicating her time to accompanying BK on numerous field trips, many of which consisted of enduring prolonged periods of cold conditions while being soaking wet within the cloud forests of Costa Rica to search for elusive anuran and caudate species. The name also alludes to the Latin aureus, meaning golden, for the yellow coloration the holotype possessed in life.

Distribution. Bolitoglossa aurae is known only from a single site within the Tropical Premontane Rain Forest life zone (Holdridge 1967) along the mid-elevation slopes of northeastern Cordillera de Talamanca, in the vicinity of Moravia de Chirripó, ca.1300 m (Fig. 1).

Kubicki, Brian and Erick Arias. 2016. A Beautiful New Yellow Salamander, Genus Bolitoglossa (Caudata: Plethodontidae), from the northeastern Slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica. Zootaxa. 4184(2); 329–346.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4184.2.5

facebook.com/cramphibian/photos/777769139027741

Resumen: Se describe una nueva salamandra amarilla perteneciente al género Bolitoglossa, subgénero Eladinea, del bosque lluvioso premontano en las proximidades de Moravia de Chirripó en la vertiente noreste de la Cordillera de Talamanca en Costa Rica, a una elevación aproximada de 1300 m.s.n.m. Esta nueva especie se diferencia de sus congéneres por sus caracteristicas cromáticas, morfológicas y su diferenciación molecular en los genes mitocondriales 16S rARN y citocromo b. 

Palabras clave: América Central, Amphibia, Bolitoglossa aurae sp. nov., caudado, clado Bolitoglossa robinsoni, Eladinea, 16S rARN, citocromo b

[Herpetology • 2016] Brachycephalus albolineatus • A New Species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil

Brachycephalus albolineatus   

Bornschein, Ribeiro, Blackburn, Stanley & Pie, 2016

DOI:  10.7717/peerj.2629  

Abstract

A new species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) is described from the Atlantic Forest of northeastern state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Nine specimens (eight adults and a juvenile) were collected from the leaf litter of montane forests 790–835 m above sea level (a.s.l.). The new species is a member of the pernix group by its bufoniform shape and the absence of dermal co-ossification and is distinguished from all its congeners by a combination of its general coloration (dorsal region of head, dorsum, legs, arms, and flanks light, brownish green to dark, olive green, with darker region in the middle of the dorsum and a white line along the vertebral column in most specimens) and by its smooth dorsum. The geographical distribution of the new species is highly reduced (extent of occurrence estimated as 25.04 ha, or possibly 34.37 ha). In addition, its habitat has experienced some level of degradation, raising concerns about the future conservation of the species. Preliminary density estimates suggest one calling individual every 3–4 m2 at 815–835 m a.s.l. and every 100 m2 at 790 m a.s.l. Together with the recently described Brachycephalus boticario and B. fuscolineatus, the new species is among the southernmost species of Brachycephalus known to date.

Figure 1: Holotype of Brachycephalus albolineatus in life.

DOI:  10.7717/peerj.2629   

Diagnosis. Brachycephalus albolineatus is a member of the genus Brachycephalus based on diagnostic morphological traits, including phalangeal reduction, an arciferal pectoral girdle in which the ossified procoracoid and epicoracoid cartilages are fused to the clavicle, coracoid, and scapula, a suprascapula expanded with a prominent cleithrum, and the absence of a sternum (modified from Kaplan (2002), Izecksohn (1971), Ford & Cannatella (1993), Ribeiro et al. (2005), Alves et al. (2006) and Da Silva, Campos & Sebben (2007); Fig. 5). Brachycephalus albolineatus is a member of the pernix group, as defined by Ribeiro et al. (2015), by having a bufoniform body and lacking dermal co-ossification. Within Brachycephalus, B. albolineatus is distinguished from all of the species in the genus by the following combination of characters: (1) body bufoniform; (2) absence of dermal co-ossification; (3) adult size SVL 9.9–11.4 mm; (4) dorsum smooth (Fig. 1); (5) fusion of the last presacral (VIII) and sacral vertebrae; (6) general color (in life) of the dorsal region of head, dorsum, legs, arms and flanks light, brownish green to dark, olive green, always with a dark green region along the middle of the dorsum and a white line along the vertebral column in most specimens.

Figure 3: Variation in dorsal coloration among paratypes of Brachycephalus albolineatus. (A), MHNCI 10295; (B), MHNCI 10299.
Figure 5: Juvenile of Brachycephalus albolineatus (MHNCI 10293). (A) dorsal view; (B) ventral view; (C) general view next to the tip of a pencil, for scale.

DOI:  10.7717/peerj.2629   

Figure 3: Variation in dorsal coloration among paratypes of Brachycephalus albolineatus.
 (A), MHNCI 10295; (B), MHNCI 10299; (C), MHNCI 10297; (D), MHNCI 10298; (E), MHNCI 10300; (F), MHNCI 10296. Notice a line of protruding glands on the dorsolateral region of body (although the degree of conspicuousness of this line varied among individuals). Also, the white line on the middle of the dorsum is completely absent in specimen “F”.

DOI:  10.7717/peerj.2629  

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Latin albus (“white”) and lineatus (“of a line”), in reference to the characteristic white stripe across the dorsum of the new species, present in most specimens.

Distribution. Brachycephalus albolineatus is known only from the type locality, being found in altitudes between 790–835 m a.s.l. Given the dense sampling of other potential locations with climatic and vegetation conditions similar to the type locality (Fig. 7), it likely that B. albolineatus has a microendemic distribution, as found in other species of the pernix group (Bornschein et al., 2016). For instance, we searched for the new species on a mountain named Pedra Branca just 4.8 km from the type locality (26°32′52″S, 49°05′11″W) on the border of the municipalities of Jaraguá do Sul and Massaranduba, Santa Catarina, on 6 March 2016. In this mountain, we worked from 700 m a.s.l. up to the top, at 730 m a.s.l., and we did not find the new species.  ....

Figure 8: General view of the vegetation in the type locality (at 830 m above sea level). 

Ecology. Brachycephalus albolineatus lives on the leaf litter of the forest floor of montane forests (Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana; with a canopy between 10–18 m in height; Fig. 8). While we disturbed the litter while searching for specimens, some individuals were seen moving further down, with some specimens being detected in the soil between roots. It was raining on 25 October 2012 we heard no calling activity; we only collected one individual by randomly searching the leaf litter. On 5 and 6 February 2016, the species showed high calling activity on the upper limit of their occurrence (830 m a.s.l.), becoming gradually scarcer downward. We estimate about one calling individual in each 3–4 m2 at 815–835 m a.s.l. and every 100 m2 at 790 m a.s.l., respectively in the highest and lowest altitudinal limits of records of the species. On 05 and 06 February 2016, we verified that the species became silent after the sunset (at least for 30 min, when we left the site), and on 6 March 2016 we did not hear any individual calling at night (we arrived at the site 30 min after sunset and waited for 20 min).

Marcos R. Bornschein, Luiz F. Ribeiro, David C. Blackburn, Edward L. Stanley and Marcio R. Pie​. 2016. A New Species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil.  PeerJ. 4:e2629. DOI:  10.7717/peerj.2629

  

[Herpetology • 2016] Fritziana tonimi • A New Polymorphic Species of Egg-Brooding Frog of the Genus Fritziana (Anura: Hemiphractidae) from southeastern Brazil

Fritziana tonimi 

Walker, Gasparini & Haddad, 2016

SALAMANDRA. 52(3); 221–229.

Abstract 

We describe a new species of egg-brooding frog of the genus Fritziana from the Atlantic Forest in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The new species was historically considered to represent Fritziana goeldii, but is diagnosed by having small snout–vent length for the genus, snout tip mucronate, limbs striped, distal subarticular tubercles simple and round on all fingers and toes, open dorsal pouch in females carrying eggs, and tadpoles deposited in bromeliads. It is also the first species of the genus to exhibit two distinct dorsal patterns: 1) a triangle covering the entire dorsum or 2) an interorbital triangle with a short “V” beginning at its apex. New molecular data is provided and used for comparing the new species with topotypes of three other species of the genus.

Key words. Amphibia, Atlantic Forest, Fritziana goeldii, polymorphism, DNA analysis.

Figure 3. Holotype of Fritziana tonimi sp. n. (female CFBH 24809, from the Município de Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo state, Brazil) in life, with eggs in an open dorsal pouch. Note the reduced pouch that is formed by small lateral folds that cover the egg clutch laterally, and the red mites.  

Geographical distribution: Fritziana tonimi sp. n. occurs at the type locality, Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi, Município de Santa Teresa, in Município de Domingos Martins, and in the Área de Proteção Ambiental do Goiapaba Açu, Município de Fundão, all in the Atlantic Forest of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil (Fig. 5). 

Etymology: The specific epithet tonimi pays homage to Antônio de Pádua Almeida (Tonim) for his contributions to the knowledge and conservation of the herpetofauna of the state of Espírito Santo.

Marina Walker, João Luiz Gasparini and Célio F. B. Haddad. 2016. A New Polymorphic Species of Egg-Brooding Frog of the Genus Fritziana from southeastern Brazil (Anura: Hemiphractidae). SALAMANDRA. 52(3); 221–229.  

  

Resumo. Descrevemos uma nova espécie de perereca-marsupial para o gênero Fritziana, que ocorre na Mata Atlântica no estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. A nova espécie foi historicamente identificada como Fritziana goeldii, mas é diagnosticada por possuir comprimento rostro–cloacal pequeno para o gênero, extremidade do focinho mucronada, membros listrados, tubérculos subarticulares distais simples e redondos em todos os dedos e artelhos, bolsa dorsal aberta em fêmeas carregando ovos e girinos depositados em bromélias. A nova espécie é também a primeira do gênero a apresentar dois padrões de desenhos dorsais distintos: 1) um triângulo cobrindo todo o dorso ou 2) um triangulo interorbital com um “V” curto começando a partir do seu ápice. Novos dados moleculares são usados para comparar a nova espécie com topótipos de três espécies do gênero.

Palavras-Chave. Amphibia, Mata Atlântica, Fritziana goeldii, polimorfismo, análises de DNA.

[Arachnida • 2016] Edwardsya, A New Genus of Jumping Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae: Freyina) from South America

Edwardsya simoni 

Taczanowski, 1871 

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4184.1.7

Abstract

Edwardsya gen. nov. is proposed to include the type species Attus simoni Taczanowski, 1871 from lower Amazon River, and E. igapo sp. nov. from upper Amazon River, both known only from Brazil. The male of Edwardsya simoni comb. nov. is redescribed and the correct female is described for the first time. Both sexes of the second species are described and illustrated. A modified endite apophysis is described, and a stimulatory role in copulation is proposed for it.

Keywords: Araneae, Amazon, ground dweller, igapó, várzea

 Gustavo R. S. Ruiz and Abel Bustamante. 2016. Edwardsya, A New Genus of Jumping Spiders from South America (Araneae: Salticidae: Freyina). Zootaxa. 4184(1); 117–129. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4184.1.7

[Herpetology • 2017] Phylogeographic Structure Across One of the Largest Intact Tropical Savannahs: Molecular and Morphological Analysis of Australia’s Iconic Frilled Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii

Highlights

• Genetic data from five loci show three shallow genetic clades within frilled lizards.

• Clades are broadly consistent with clinal variation in frill color.

• Data from 279 specimens shows only subtle morphological differentiation between clades.

• Biogeographic patterns are consistent with other taxa in the Australian monsoon tropics.

• Extremely low divergences suggest recent gene flow between, and extensive gene flow within, clades.

Abstract

The spectacular threat display of the savannah specialist Australo-Papuan frilled lizards has made them one of the world’s most iconic reptiles. They are increasingly used as a model system for research in evolutionary biology and ecology but little is known of their population structure. Their distribution across northern Australia and southern New Guinea also provides an opportunity to examine biogeographic patterns as they relate to the large-scale movement of savannah habitat during the Plio/Pleistocene and the associated increase in aridity. We generated sequence data for one mitochondrial and four nuclear DNA loci (5052 base pairs) for 83 frilled lizards sampled throughout their range. We also quantified body proportion variation for 279 individuals. Phylogenetic analyses based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian species-tree methods revealed three shallow clades that replace each other across the monsoon tropics. We found the expected pattern of male biased sexual size dimorphism in both maximum body size and head size but there was no sexual dimorphism in overall body shape or in frill size, relative to head size, supporting the hypothesis that the frill is used primarily as a threat display rather than a sexual display. The genetic clades are broadly consistent with known clinal variation in frill color that gradually shifts from west to east (red, orange, yellow/white) but otherwise show little morphological differentiation in body proportion measures. The biogeographic breaks between clades occur at the Carpentaria Gap and the lowlands surrounding the Ord River, and our ecological niche modeling predicts lower habitat suitability for Chlamydosaurus kingii in these regions. While this biogeographic pattern is consistent with numerous other taxonomic groups in northern Australia, the overall low genetic diversity in frilled lizards across the entire monsoon tropics and southern New Guinea contrasts starkly to patterns seen in other terrestrial vertebrates. Extremely low intra-clade genetic diversity over vast geographic areas is indicative of recent gene flow that would likely have been facilitated by widespread savannah during interglacials, or alternatively may reflect population bottlenecks induced by extreme aridity during Pleistocene glacials. The shallow divergence between Australian and New Guinean samples is consistent with recent connectivity between Australia and New Guinea that would have been possible via a savannah corridor across the Torres Strait. Based on our molecular and morphological data, we do not support taxonomic recognition of any of the frilled lizard clades and instead consider C. kingii a single species with shallow phylogeographic structure and clinal variation in frill color.

 Keywords:  Monsoon tropics; Phylogeography; Trans-Fly; Torres Strait; Carpentarian Gap; Ord River

Mitzy Pepper, David G. Hamilton, Thomas Merkling, Nina Svedin, Bori Cser, Renee A. Catullo, Sarah R. Pryke and J. Scott Keogh. 2017. Phylogeographic Structure Across One of the Largest Intact Tropical Savannahs: Molecular and Morphological Analysis of Australia’s Iconic Frilled Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 106;  217-227. DOI:  10.1016/j.ympev.2016.09.002

ResearchGate.net/publication/308495349_Phylogeographic_structure_across_one_of_the_largest_intact_tropical_savannahs_Molecular_and_morphological_analysis_of_Australias_iconic_frilled_lizard_Chlamydosaurus_kingii

[Entomology • 2016] Taxonomy and Molecular Phylogeny of the Platystictidae (Insecta: Odonata) of Sri Lanka

Ceylonosticta anami  (Bedjani, 2010) 

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4182.1.1

Abstract

The 22 Sri Lankan representatives of the family Platystictidae, all endemic to the island and belonging to the distinct endemic subfamily Platystictinae, are revised, and a new reconstruction of the phylogeny based on molecular characters is provided. Five new species are described: Ceylonosticta venusta sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Rambodde Falls, at the tunnel; Nuwara Eliya District, Central Province; N7.0489, E80.6961; 12-vii-2012; to be deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Colombo, Sri Lanka), Ceylonosticta inferioreducta sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Norton Bridge, stream on the B43 road 1.5km WNW of Norton Bridge; Nuwara Eliya District, Central Province; N6.9171, E80.5075; 28-vii-2009; to be deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Colombo, Sri Lanka), Ceylonosticta mirifica sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Uwella, primary forest on the road Uwella-Ratnapura, 11.5km NW of Balangoda; Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province; N6.6968, E80.6059; 16-vii-2012; to be deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Colombo, Sri Lanka), Platysticta secreta sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Hasalaka; Kandy District, Central Province; N7.3535, E80.9509; 31-v-1975; deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA) and Platysticta serendibica sp. nov. (holotype ♂: Kanneliya; Galle District, Southern Province; N6.2291, E80.3834; 8 & 9-vi-1975; deposited at National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA). Additionally, a determination key, figures showing morphological details and coloration in life, as well as distribution maps for all species are presented. Based on molecular analysis of 21 taxa, the phylogeny of Platystictinae is presented and discussed from the zoogeographical and paleogeographical point of view. Sri Lankan species, traditionally placed in the genera Platysticta Selys and Drepanosticta Laidlaw / Ceylonosticta Fraser, separated into distinct clades within the subfamily as presently defined, but the monophyletic nature of the Platystictinae and its Sri Lankan endemicity is confirmed. For the South Indian species, formerly known as Platysticta deccanensis, morphological and molecular analyses demonstrated that it does not belong to the Sri Lankan clade and a new genus Indosticta gen. nov. is erected to accommodate it.

Keywords: Odonata, Zygoptera, Platystictidae, Platystictinae, new species, new genus, Ceylonosticta, Platysticta, Indosticta, Sri Lanka, India

M. Bedjanič, K. Conniff, R.A. Dow, F. R. Stokvis,  R. Verovnik and J Van Tol. 2016. Taxonomy and Molecular Phylogeny of the Platystictidae of Sri Lanka (Insecta: Odonata). 
Zootaxa. 4182(1); 1–80. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4182.1.1

[Ichthyology • 2016] Molecular Phylogeny and Patterns of Diversification in Syngnathid Fishes (Syngnathidae)

Highlights

• Expanded taxonomic and genetic sampling reveals new patterns of syngnathid evolution.

• Molecular patterns suggest convergence in traditional morphological characters.

• Complex brood pouches, prehensile tails, and pygmy morphology evolved multiple times.

• Biogeographic patterns reveal multiple drivers of evolutionary diversification.

• Two subfamilies are formally recognized and further taxonomic revisions are required.

Abstract

The family Syngnathidae is a large and diverse clade of morphologically unique bony fishes, with 57 genera and 300 described species of seahorses, pipefishes, pipehorses, and seadragons. They primarily inhabit shallow coastal waters in temperate and tropical oceans, and are characterized by a fused jaw, male brooding, and extraordinary crypsis. Phylogenetic relationships within the Syngnathidae remain poorly resolved due to lack of generic taxon sampling, few diagnostic morphological characters, and limited molecular data. The phylogenetic placement of the threatened, commercially exploited seahorses remains a topic of intense interest, with conflicting topologies based on morphology and predominantly mitochondrial genetic data. In this study, we integrate eight nuclear and mitochondrial markers and 17 morphological characters to investigate the phylogenetic structure of the family Syngnathidae at the generic level. We include 91 syngnathid species representing 48 of the 57 recognized genera, all major ocean basins, and a broad array of temperate and tropical habitats including rocky and coral reefs, sand and silt, mangroves, seagrass beds, estuaries, and rivers. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of 5160 bp from eight loci produced high congruence among alternate topologies, defining well-supported and sometimes novel clades. We present a hypothesis that confirms a deep phylogenetic split between lineages with trunk- or tail-brood pouch placement, and provides significant new insights into the morphological evolution and biogeography of this highly derived fish clade. Based on the fundamental division between lineages - the tail brooding “Urophori” and the trunk brooding “Gastrophori” - we propose a revision of Syngnathidae classification into only two subfamilies: the Nerophinae and the Syngnathinae. We find support for distinct principal clades within the trunk-brooders and tail-brooders, the latter of which include seahorses, seadragons, independent lineages of pipehorses, and clades that originated in Southern Australia and the Western Atlantic. We suggest the seahorse genus Hippocampus is of Indo-Pacific origin and its sister clade is an unexpected grouping of several morphologically disparate Indo-Pacific genera, including the Pacific pygmy pipehorses. Taxonomic revision is required for multiple genera, particularly to reflect deep evolutionary splits in nominal lineages from the Atlantic versus the Indo-Pacific.

Keywords: Syngnathidae; seahorse; pipefish; DNA; morphological evolution; Australia

Healy Hamilton, Norah Saarman, Graham Short, Anna B. Sellas, Beth Moore, Tinya Hoang, Christopher L. Grace, Martin Gomon, Karen Crow and W. Brian Simison. 2016.  Molecular Phylogeny and Patterns of Diversification in Syngnathid Fishes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press.   DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.10.003