[Mammalogy • 2018] Phylogenetic Analysis of the Tree-kangaroos (Dendrolagus) Reveals Multiple Divergent Lineages within New Guinea

Lumholtz's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzii), one of two species found in the wet tropics of north-east Queensland, Australia.  (Photo: N. Chaffer).

in Eldridge,  Potter, Helgen, et al. 2018.

  DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.05.030 

hermonslade.org.au

Highlights

• DNA sequence data obtained from 14 of the 17 tree-kangaroo subspecies.

• Paraphyletic long-footed and monophyletic short-footed groups were identified.

• Six major genetic lineages were present, one in Australia and five in New Guinea.

• Episodes of diversification occurred during the late Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene.

• Species-level divergences within current taxa necessitate taxonomic adjustments.

Abstract

Amongst the Australasian kangaroos and wallabies (Macropodidae) one anomalous genus, the tree-kangaroos, Dendrolagus, has secondarily returned to arboreality. Modern tree-kangaroos are confined to the wet tropical forests of north Queensland, Australia (2 species) and New Guinea (8 species). Due to their behavior, distribution and habitat most species are poorly known and our understanding of the evolutionary history and systematics of the genus is limited and controversial. We obtained tissue samples from 36 individual Dendrolagus including representatives from 14 of the 17 currently recognised or proposed subspecies and generated DNA sequence data from 3 mitochondrial (3116 bp) and 5 nuclear (4097 bp) loci. Phylogenetic analysis of these multi-locus data resolved long-standing questions regarding inter-relationships within Dendrolagus. The presence of a paraphyletic ancestral long-footed and derived monophyletic short-footed group was confirmed. Six major lineages were identified: one in Australia (D. lumholtzi, D. bennettianus) and five in New Guinea (D. inustus, D. ursinus, a Goodfellow’s group, D. mbaiso and a Doria’s group). Two major episodes of diversification within Dendrolagus were identified: the first during the late Miocene/early Pliocene associated with orogenic processes in New Guinea and the second mostly during the early Pleistocene associated with the intensification of climatic cycling. All sampled subspecies showed high levels of genetic divergence and currently recognized species within both the Doria’s and Goodfellow’s groups were paraphyletic indicating that adjustments to current taxonomy are warranted.

Keywords: Marsupialia; evolution; biogeography; ancestral state; morphology

Lumholtz's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzii), one of two species found in the wet tropics of north-east Queensland, Australia.

(Photo: N. Chaffer).

http://www.hermonslade.org.au/projects/HSF_10_8/hsf_10_8.html

....

Thus we recommend the recognition of 13 previously described taxa as species within Dendrolagus, two in Australia (lumholtzi, bennettianus) and 11 in New Guinea (inustus, ursinus, mbaiso, dorianus, notatus, stellarum, scottae, spadix, matschiei, pulcherrimus, goodfellowi). However, further changes to Dendrolagus taxonomy may occur as the result of ongoing studies and the addition of currently unsampled taxa. In the future we aim to utilize museum specimens to increase sample number and geographic coverage, as well as utilizing genomic approaches (e.g. Bi et al., 2013; Mason et al., 2011;  Rowe et al., 2011) to increase the data available to resolve relationships and elucidate evolutionary history.

Mark D.B. Eldridge, Sally Potter, Kristofer M. Helgen, Martua H. Sinaga, Ken P. Aplin, Tim F. Flannery and Rebecca N. Johnson. 2018.  Phylogenetic Analysis of the Tree-kangaroos (Dendrolagus) Reveals Multiple Divergent Lineages within New Guinea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.05.030

Conservation genetics of tree-kangaroos

 hermonslade.org.au/projects/HSF_10_8/hsf_10_8.html

   

[Ichthyology • 2018] Dario neela • A New Species of Badid Fish (Percomorpha: Badidae) from the Western Ghats of India

Dario neela

Britz, Anoop & Dahanukar, 2018

   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4429.1.6 

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Abstract

Dario neela, is described from a small tributary stream of the Kabini River in northern Kerala, India. It can be distinguished from congeners by the male colouration in life, which shows wide rims of iridescent blue in all median fins and the pelvic fin. It is further distinguished from all species of Dario, except D. urops by the number of abdominal vertebrae (14 vs. 11–13), and from all Dario species except D. urops and D. huli by the presence of a conspicuous black blotch on the caudal-fin base. Dario neela is distinguished from D. urops by the absence of the horizontal suborbital stripe and presence of a series of up to eight black bars on the body; and from D. huli by 27–28 vertebrae and 27 scales in a lateral row and the absence of teeth from hypobranchial 3. Dario neela is genetically divergent from both Western Ghats congeners in the mitochondrial CO1 gene, showing an uncorrected p-distance of 5.9% with D. urops and 13.1% to D. huli.

 Keywords: Pisces, taxonomy, freshwater fishes, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot

FIGURE 2. Dario neela; India: Kerala;  holotype, male [BNHS FWF 612], 31.2 mm SL, slightly oblique lateral view. 

Dario neela, new species

Etymology. The species name neela is derived from the Malayalam word mnoe, ‘Nīla’, for blue and alludes to the striking iridescent blue colour of males. A noun in apposition.

....

Ralf Britz, V. K. Anoop and Neelesh Dahanukar. 2018. Dario neela, A New Species of Badid Fish from the Western Ghats of India (Teleostei: Percomorpha: Badidae). Zootaxa. 4429(1); 141–148.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4429.1.6

 facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1649950258452779

    

[Ichthyology • 2018] Plectranthias ahiahiata • A New Species of Perchlet (Serranidae, Anthiadinae) from A Mesophotic Ecosystem at Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Plectranthias ahiahiata

Shepherd, Phelps, Pinheiro, Pérez-Matus & Rocha, 2018

DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.762.24618 

Abstract

A new species of the perchlet genus Plectranthias is herein described from a single specimen found at Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the South Pacific. Plectranthias ahiahiata sp. n. was collected at a depth of 83 m in a mesophotic coral ecosystem at Rapa Nui. The main difference between Plectranthias ahiahiata and other members of the genus is higher fin-ray counts (X, 18 dorsal; 18 pectoral) and its distinctive coloration. Compared to the three other known eastern South Pacific species, P. ahiahiata has more dorsal-fin rays, more pectoral-fin rays, fewer tubed lateral-line scales, fewer gill rakers, a longer head relative to SL, a very short first dorsal spine relative to SL, and a short third anal spine relative to SL. Plectranthias ahiahiata is distinguished from western Pacific species, by having more dorsal- and pectoral-fin rays. The closest relative based on genetic divergence (with 12.3% uncorrected divergence in the mitochondrial COI gene) is Plectranthias winniensis, a widely distributed species, suggesting important links between Rapa Nui and western Pacific islands. This new species adds to the high endemism of the Rapa Nui ichthyofauna, and is further evidence of the importance of mesophotic reefs as unique communities.

Keywords: endemism, ichthyology, reef fish, South Pacific, taxonomy

Figure 1. Plectranthias ahiahiata sp. n., holotype shortly after death, 39.95 mm SL

(photograph: Luiz A. Rocha).

Plectranthias ahiahiata sp. n.

  Sunset perchlet

Type locality: Hanga Piko, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

  

Diagnosis: Plectranthias ahiahiata differs from all of its congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal rays X, 18; pectoral rays 18; longest dorsal spine the fourth; LL continuous and complete with 31 tubed scales; circumpeduncular scales 16; head length 43.3% SL; first dorsal spine 4.5% SL; third anal spine 13.7% SL; gill rakers 6+11; and in coloration: overall orange-red in color, with predominantly yellow snout, dorsal, pelvic and anal fins, a brilliant red spot outlined in white on the caudal peduncle, and four white spots on each side, following the contour of the lateral line.

Etymology: Plectranthias ahiahiata is given a Rapa Nui name; the phrase ahiahi-ata means “the last moments of light before nightfall.” The species was given this name because the colors of the fish remind us of the beautiful Rapa Nui sunsets. To be treated as a noun in apposition.

Distribution and habitat: Plectranthias ahiahiata is currently only known to occur at Rapa Nui (Easter Island). This fish was collected with hand nets at a depth of 83 m in a rocky patch reef surrounded by a large sandy area, and transported to the surface alive in a perforated plastic jar.

 Bart Shepherd, Tyler Phelps, Hudson T. Pinheiro, Alejandro Pérez-Matus and Luiz A. Rocha. 2018. Plectranthias ahiahiata, A New Species of Perchlet from A Mesophotic Ecosystem at Rapa Nui (Easter Island) (Teleostei, Serranidae, Anthiadinae). ZooKeys. 762: 105-116. DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.762.24618

[Entomology • 2018] A Molecular Phylogeny of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with A Review of Tribe and Subfamily Classification

FIGURE 1. Superfamily Cicadoidea. Left to right, and top to bottom (all in Family Cicadidae except Tettigarcta):

Magicicada septendecim L. (17-year cicada)—Cicadettinae, USA, photo C. Simon; Psithyristria grandis Lee & Hill—Cicadinae, Philippines; Kikihia muta (Fab.)—Cicadettinae, New Zealand;

 Tettigarcta crinita Distant—Tettigarctinae (Tettigarctidae), Australia, photo C. Simon; Lembeja vitticollis (Ashton)—Cicadettinae, Australia; Odopoea insignifera Berg—Cicadinae, Argentina;

Quintilia wealei (Distant)—Tettigomyiinae n. stat., South Africa; Stagira sp.—Tettigomyiinae n. stat., South Africa; Okanagana rubrovenosa Davis—Tibicininae, USA.

Images not at matching scale. Photos by K. Hill and D. Marshall unless specified.

Marshall, Moulds, Hill, et al., 2018.

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4424.1.1

Abstract

A molecular phylogeny and a review of family-group classification are presented for 137 species (ca. 125 genera) of the insect family Cicadidae, the true cicadas, plus two species of hairy cicadas (Tettigarctidae) and two outgroup species from Cercopidae. Five genes, two of them mitochondrial, comprise the 4992 base-pair molecular dataset. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic results are shown, including analyses to address potential base composition bias. Tettigarcta is confirmed as the sister-clade of the Cicadidae and support is found for three subfamilies identified in an earlier morphological cladistic analysis. A set of paraphyletic deep-level clades formed by African genera are together named as Tettigomyiinae n. stat. Taxonomic reassignments of genera and tribes are made where morphological examination confirms incorrect placements suggested by the molecular tree, and 11 new tribes are defined (Arenopsaltriini n. tribe, Durangonini n. tribe, Katoini n. tribe, Lacetasini n. tribe, Macrotristriini n. tribe, Malagasiini n. tribe, Nelcyndanini n. tribe, Pagiphorini n. tribe, Pictilini n. tribe, Psaltodini n. tribe, and Selymbriini n. tribe). Tribe Tacuini n. syn. is synonymized with Cryptotympanini, and Tryellina n. syn. is synonymized with an expanded Tribe Lamotialnini. Tribe Hyantiini n. syn. is synonymized with Fidicinini. Tribe Sinosenini is transferred to Cicadinae from Cicadettinae, Cicadatrini is moved to Cicadettinae from Cicadinae, and Ydiellini and Tettigomyiini are transferred to Tettigomyiinae n. stat. from Cicadettinae. While the subfamily Cicadinae, historically defined by the presence of timbal covers, is weakly supported in the molecular tree, high taxonomic rank is not supported for several earlier clades based on unique morphology associated with sound production.

Keywords: Coleoptera, systematics, taxonomy, morphology, nuclear DNA, mtDNA, combined data analysis, Auchenorrhyncha, Hemiptera, Cicadoidea, biogeography

FIGURE 1. Superfamily Cicadoidea. Left to right, and top to bottom (all in Family Cicadidae except Tettigarcta):

Magicicada septendecim L. (17-year cicada)—Cicadettinae, USA, photo C. Simon; Psithyristria grandis Lee & Hill—Cicadinae, Philippines; Kikihia muta (Fab.)—Cicadettinae, New Zealand;

  Tettigarcta crinita Distant—Tettigarctinae (Tettigarctidae), Australia, photo C. Simon;  Lembeja vitticollis (Ashton)—Cicadettinae, Australia; Odopoea insignifera Berg—Cicadinae, Argentina;

Quintilia wealei (Distant)—Tettigomyiinae n. stat., South Africa; Stagira sp.—Tettigomyiinae n. stat., South Africa; Okanagana rubrovenosa Davis—Tibicininae, USA.

Images not at matching scale. Photos by K. Hill and D. Marshall unless specified.

 

David C. Marshall, Max Moulds, Kathy B. R. Hill, Benjamin W. Price, Elizabeth J. Wade, Christopher L. Owen, Geert Goemans, Kiran Marathe, Vivek Sarkar, John R. Cooley, Allen F. Sanborn, Krushnamegh Kunte, Martin H. Villet and Chris Simon. 2018. A Molecular Phylogeny of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with A Review of Tribe and Subfamily classification. Zootaxa. 4424(1);  1–64. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4424.1.1

[Entomology • 2018] Amphicnemis valentini • A New Species of Damselfly (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from the Cardamom Ecoregion in Cambodia and Vietnam

Amphicnemis valentini 

Kosterin & Kompier, 2018 

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4429.2.4 

Abstract
Amphicnemis valentini sp. nov. is described from the Ream Peninsula of Cambodia (holotype: Cambodia, Preah Sihanouk Province, Ream Peninsula, 10.52258 N 103.69556 E, RMNH) and Phú Quốc Island, Kien Giang Province of Vietnam, both in the Cardamom ecoregion. It is similar to A. gracilis Krüger, 1898, which occurs in Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, but differs from it by a long process on the male prothorax.

Keywords: Odonata, damselfly, Zygoptera, Amphicnemis, new species, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indochina, Cardamom ecoregion

Oleg E. Kosterin and Tom Kompier. 2018. Amphicnemis valentini sp. nov. from the Cardamom Ecoregion in Cambodia and Vietnam (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). Zootaxa. 4429(2); 281–294. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4429.2.4

[Botany • 2018] Capparis hinnamnoensis (Capparaceae) • A New Species from the Deciduous Forest of the Hin Nam No National Protected Area, central Laos [Studies on the Genus Capparis L. in Lao PDR. III]

Capparis hinnamnoensis  Souvann. & Fici

in  Souvannakhoummane, Fici, Lanorsavanh & Lamxay, 2018

  DOI:   10.1080/00837792.2018.1470708

 twitter.com/LaoBiodiversity

Abstract

A new species of Capparis, Capparis hinnamnoensis, is described from the Khammouan Province, central Lao PDR. The new species is characterized by the indumentum constituted by stellate, two-armed and simple hairs, and by the terminal racemes bearing trifid bracts and medium-sized flowers. It is so far known from a single locality in the Hin Nam No National Protected Area, where it has been observed in the deciduous forest on Permo-Carboniferous limestone. Its conservation status is assessed.

Key words: Capparis sect. Monostichocalyx, ecology, endemism, Khammouan Province, phenology

 Capparis hinnamnoensis. flowering branch.

(Photo by S. lanorsavanh).

Capparis hinnamnoensis Souvann. & Fici

Diagnosis: A C. assamica Hook. f. & Thomson pilis stellatis, bracteis trifidis, pedicellis longioribus, petalis maioribus, staminibus et gynophoro longioribus differt.

....

Capparis hinnamnoensis. flowering branch.

(Photo by S. lanorsavanh).

 twitter.com/LaoBiodiversity 

Keooudone Souvannakhoummane, Silvio Fici, Soulivanh Lanorsavanh and Vichith Lamxay. 2018. Studies on the Genus Capparis L. (Capparaceae) in Lao PDR. III: A New Species from the Deciduous Forest of the Hin Nam No National Protected Area. Webbia. DOI:   10.1080/00837792.2018.1470708

 researchgate.net/publication/325385907__III_A_new_species_of_Capparis_from_the_deciduous_forest_of_the_Hin_Nam_No_National_Protected_Area_from_Lao_PDR

 twitter.com/LaoBiodiversity/status/1003814968683200512

[Ichthyology • 2018] Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Scorpionfishes, Flatheads, Sea Robins, and Stonefishes (Percomorpha: Scorpaeniformes) and the Evolution of the Lachrymal Saber

  Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Scorpaeniformes and the Evolution of the Lachrymal Saber

in Smith, Everman & Richardson, 2018. 

 DOI: 10.1643/CG-17-669  

 twitter.com/FishPhylogeny

We report on the discovery of a remarkable defensive specialization in stonefishes that was identified during a phylogenetic study of scorpionfishes and their relatives. This newly described innovation, the lachrymal saber, involves modifications to the circumorbitals, maxilla, adductor mandibulae, and associated tendons. At its core, the lachrymal saber is an elongation of an anterior spine (or spines) on the ventral surface of the lachrymal that stonefishes are capable of rotating from the standard ventral position to a locked lateral position. The locking mechanism minimally includes a bony spur on the inner surface of the lachrymal and a ridged bony protuberance on the anterolateral end of the maxilla. A modified and highly subdivided adductor mandibulae appears to control the movement of the lachrymal saber by rotating the maxilla while it is engaged with the spur on the medial side of the lachrymal. This maxillary rotation results in a subsequent rotation of the lachrymal that we hypothesize reduces predation on stonefishes. This specialization was included in our phylogenetic analysis of scorpaenoid fishes. This study expands upon the previous higher-level taxonomic sampling reported in earlier evolutionary studies of scorpaenoid fishes and, unlike previous analyses, explicitly combines molecular and morphological data with an expanded taxonomic sampling to mitigate the conflict between these competing datasets. The resulting phylogeny based on a combination of 113 morphological and 5,280 molecular characters for 63 species is used to produce a revised taxonomy of flatheads, scorpionfishes, sea robins, and stonefishes. Our results do not support the monophyly of the traditional Scorpaeniformes, Scorpaenoidei, Scorpaenoidea, Platycephaloidea, Bembridae, Scorpaenidae, Sebastidae, Serranidae, Tetrarogidae, or Triglidae. Our monophyletic taxonomy recognizes nine monophyletic families: Bembridae, Congiopodidae, Hoplichthyidae, Neosebastidae, Platycephalidae, Plectrogeniidae, Scorpaenidae, Synanceiidae, and Triglidae. The taxonomic composition of the Congiopodidae, Hoplichthyidae, Neosebastidae, and Platycephalidae are unchanged. The Bembridae is expanded to include the recently described Parabembridae, while Bembradium is moved to the Plectrogeniidae. The Scorpaenidae is expanded to include the traditional Sebastidae and Setarchidae. The Triglidae is expanded to include the Peristediidae. Finally, a revised Synanceiidae, diagnosed by the lachrymal saber, is expanded to include the Apistidae, Aploactinidae, Eschmeyeridae, Gnathanacanthidae, Pataecidae, Perryenidae, and Tetrarogidae. Based on these results, we recommend treating all of these traditional scorpaenoid clades as families in an expanded Scorpaeniformes that includes a restricted Scorpaenoidei that includes all traditional scorpaenoid families except the Congiopodidae. The resulting phylogeny is then used to explore aspects of scorpaenoid evolution.

Lateral view of a cleared-and-stained specimen of the synanceiid Paracentropogon.
 Images highlight the (A) resting position of the lachrymal saber (arrow) along the side of the waspfish's cheek and the (B) locked-out position where the lachrymal saber extends laterally from the specimen. The rotation of both the first and second circumorbital are visible in the lower image.

photos: William Leo Smith

 laboratoryequipment.com

Composite dorsal images of various specimens of Paracentropogon highlighting the morphology of the components of the lachrymal saber.

 Illustration by Clara Richardson.

X-ray of a whiskered prowfish (Neopataecus waterhousii).
 Cleared and stained specimen of a warty prowfish (Aetapcus maculatus) for comparison to the X-ray

photos: William Leo Smith 

W. Leo Smith, Elizabeth Everman and Clara Richardson. 2018. Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Flatheads, Scorpionfishes, Sea Robins, and Stonefishes (Percomorpha: Scorpaeniformes) and the Evolution of the Lachrymal Saber. Copeia. 106(1); 94-119.  DOI: 10.1643/CG-17-669

Discovery of Switchblade-like Defensive System Redraws Family Tree of Stonefishes

 laboratoryequipment.com/news/2018/04/discovery-switchblade-defensive-system-redraws-family-tree-stonefishes

 phys.org/news/2018-04-discovery-switchblade-like-defensive-redraws-family.html via @physorg_com

 twitter.com/FishPhylogeny/status/1003692380736884737

[Arachnida • 2018] Vaejovis islaserrano • A New Sky Island Species of Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae) from Sonora, Mexico

Vaejovis islaserrano

 Barrales-Alcalá, Francke, Van Devender & Contreras-Félix, 2018

 DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.760.22714 

Abstract

Vaejovis islaserrano sp. n. is described from the Sierras Elenita and La Mariquita, Municipio de Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. This species belongs to the “vorhiesi” group of the genus Vaejovis and inhabits pine-oak forests in northern Mexico. This species is compared to its most similar species. This new species presents an interesting morphological difference from the rest of the species in the species-group: the absence of a subaculear tubercle or spine.

Keywords: Diversity, pine-oak forests, scorpions, Speciation

Figure 1. Habitus of Vaejovis islaserrano sp. n.
a, b Habitus of the Holotype male;   c, d Paratype female

a, c dorsal view b, d ventral view. Scale bars: 5 mm.

  Vaejovis islaserrano sp. n., a Life female dorsal habitus

Family Vaejovidae Thorell, 1879

Genus Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836

Vaejovis islaserrano sp. n. 

Etymology: The specific epithet is regarding the distribution of the species in the highlands of the Sonoran desert and it is composed by the words in Spanish “isla” in reference of island and “sierra” as in mountain range, being the adjective “serrano” and together they compose the name islaserrano, which is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Vaejovis islaserrano sp. n. belongs to the “vorhiesi” group due to the presence of the following characters: the presence of a sclerotized mating plug in the spermatophore; trichobothria ib – it on the base of the fixed finger of the pedipalp chela; the absence of setae on the prolateral and retrolateral sides on the first pair of legs. This is a relatively small scorpion, with adult total length ranging from 18 mm to 24 mm (Table 1). Sternite V with a noticeable whitish oval spot on the posterior fifth, also present on sternite VII. Vesicle of the telson, elongated more than twice longer than wide (L/W: 2.44), and thin, almost as wide as deep (W/D: 1.12). LAS present on both sides of the aculeus. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight, without scalloping.

....

Figure 9. A Life female dorsal habitus in sight b type locality of Vaejovis islaserrano sp. n., showing the mixed pine-oak vegetation where it lives.

Distribution: This species is known from a few localities in the higher elevations of the Sierra La Mariquita and Sierra La Elenita in Sonora, Mexico at 1911–2422 m. This currently represents the southwestern-most record for the “vorhiesi” group of the genus Vaejovis (Fig. 8).

 Natural history: (Fig. 9). The specimens of V. islaserrano sp. n., were collected in August 2013 and September 2016. This species inhabits rocky slopes in pine-oak forest. (Fig. 9b). It was observed active on a cold rainy night, foraging in pine needle litter and living sympatric with Paravaejovis spinigerus (Wood, 1863), which inhabits open, rocky outcrops in the same areas.

 Diego A. Barrales-Alcalá, Oscar F. Francke, Tom R. Van Devender and Gerardo A. Contreras-Félix. 2018.  A New Sky Island Species of Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 from Sonora, Mexico (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). ZooKeys. 760: 37-53.  DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.760.22714

Resumen: Se describe Vaejovis islaserrano sp. n. de las Sierras Elenita y La Mariquita, en el Municipio de Cananea, Sonora, México. Esta especie pertenece al grupo “vorhiesi” dentro del género Vaejovis y que habita en los bosques de pino y encino del norte de México. Se le compara con las especies más similares morfológicamente. Esta nueva especie presenta una característica morfológica interesante para las especies del grupo: la ausencia de un tubérculo o espina subaculear.

[Herpetology • 2018] Acontias albigularis & A. wakkerstroomensis • Two New Species of Acontias (Scincidae: Acontinae) from the Mpumalanga Highveld Escarpment of South Africa

Acontias albigularis & A. wakkerstroomensis

Conradie, Busschau & Edwards, 2018

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4429.1.3 

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Abstract 

The African genus of fossorial legless lizards (Acontias Cuvier) currently comprises 26 species and subspecies. In a recent study on the two disjunct populations of Acontias breviceps Essex, the presence of cryptic species was discovered. Here, we increase the sampling size and describe these disjunct populations from the Mpumalanga Escarpment of South Africa as new species. The new species differ from congeners based on a combination of factors, including the number of midbody, ventral, and subcaudal scale counts, ventral pigmentation, allopatric distributions, and genetic divergences. The new species are genetically distant from nominal A. breviceps, with which it shares overall pigmentation and scalation. The new description adds to the growing number of Mpumalanga escarpment endemic reptiles, and highlights the area as a biodiversity hotspot. The use of vertebral counts as a distinguishing character between species is briefly discussed.

Keywords: Reptilia, biodiversity hotspot, conservation, cryptic species, montane grassland

Acontias albigularis - White-throated Legless Skink

Acontias wakkerstroomensis - Wakkerstroom Legless Skink

Werner Conradie, Theo Busschau and Shelley Edwards. 2018. Two New Species of Acontias (Acontinae, Scincidae) from the Mpumalanga Highveld escarpment of South Africa. Zootaxa. 4429(1); 89–106.   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4429.1.3  

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[Botany • 2018] Idimanthus amorphophalloides • A New Aroid Genus (Araceae-Caladieae) from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

 Idimanthus amorphophalloides E.G. Gonç.

in Gonçalves, 2018

 DOI:  10.11646/hytotaxa.351.1.8 

Abstract

The monotypic genus Idimanthus (Araceae-Caladieae), represented by the species Idimanthus amorphophalloides, is here described and illustrated. It differs from all Caladieae by its connective ending in a rostrate beak turned downward, but the combination of cormous geophytic stem, copious endosperm, densely arranged fertile flowers and sterile flowers densely arranged in an apical appendix did not match any other genera in the tribe. It was collected in a marble outcrop in Northern Rio de Janeiro state, in the county of Italva, nearby the city of Cardoso Moreira as an understory herb. The aspect of leafless inflorescences with a long apical staminoidal area appearing directly from the soil is remarkably peculiar for Southeastern Brazilian aroids.

Keywords: Atlantic forest, geophyte, rocky outcrop, Monocots

Figure 2. Idimanthus amorphophalloides. leafy specimens covering the ground in the habitat.

Idimanthus E.G.Gonç. gen. nov.

Eponymy:–– The generic name honors Idimá Gonçalves da Costa, an active plant collector from Rio de Janeiro, which spotted this plant in the wild for the first time and cultivated it.

 Idimanthus amorphophalloides E.G. Gonç., sp. nov.

Etymology:— The specific epithet aludes the resemblance with a miniature specimen of the aroid genus Amorphophallus, mainly because of its peculiar habit of flowering much before any sight of the leaves.

Eduardo G. Gonçalves. 2018. Idimanthus: A New Aroid Genus (Araceae—Caladieae) from Rio de Janeiro State, Brasil. Phytotaxa.  351(1); 88–92. DOI:  10.11646/hytotaxa.351.1.8

[Paleontology • 2018] Megachirella wachtleri • The Origin of Squamates Revealed by A Middle Triassic Lizard from the Italian Alps

Megachirella wachtleri 

Renesto & Posenato, 2003

Simões, Caldwell, Tałanda, et al., 2018

 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0093-3 

Illustration: Davide Bonadonna   nature.com

Abstract

Modern squamates (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians) are the world’s most diverse group of tetrapods along with birds and have a long evolutionary history, with the oldest known fossils dating from the Middle Jurassic period—168 million years ago. The evolutionary origin of squamates is contentious because of several issues: (1) a fossil gap of approximately 70 million years exists between the oldest known fossils and their estimated origin; (2) limited sampling of squamates in reptile phylogenies; and (3) conflicts between morphological and molecular hypotheses regarding the origin of crown squamates. Here we shed light on these problems by using high-resolution microfocus X-ray computed tomography data from the articulated fossil reptile Megachirella wachtleri (Middle Triassic period, Italian Alps). We also present a phylogenetic dataset, combining fossils and extant taxa, and morphological and molecular data. We analysed this dataset under different optimality criteria to assess diapsid reptile relationships and the origins of squamates. Our results re-shape the diapsid phylogeny and present evidence that M. wachtleri is the oldest known stem squamate. Megachirella is 75 million years older than the previously known oldest squamate fossils, partially filling the fossil gap in the origin of lizards, and indicates a more gradual acquisition of squamatan features in diapsid evolution than previously thought. For the first time, to our knowledge, morphological and molecular data are in agreement regarding early squamate evolution, with geckoes—and not iguanians—as the earliest crown clade squamates. Divergence time estimates using relaxed combined morphological and molecular clocks show that lepidosaurs and most other diapsids originated before the Permian/Triassic extinction event, indicating that the Triassic was a period of radiation, not origin, for several diapsid lineages.

A life scene in the Dolomites region, Northern Italy, about 240 million years ago, with Megachirella wachtleri walking through the vegetation.

Illustration: Davide Bonadonna 

  

The cover shows an artist’s impression of the Middle Triassic lizard Megachirella wachtleri. Found in the Italian Alps, the fossilized remains of this creature were first described in 2003. In this issue, Tiago Simões and his colleagues unveil a detailed analysis of the fossil using high-resolution microfocus X-ray computed tomography. The results shed fresh light on the origins of squamates — the group of reptiles that includes lizards and snakes. The team found that M. wachtleri is 75 million years older than other oldest known squamate fossils, thereby partially plugging a gap in the fossil record. Their phylogenetic analysis puts the emergence of geckos ahead of iguanians in the evolution of squamates and shows that the initial diversification of the major reptile lineages occurred before the Permian–Triassic boundary 252 million years ago. nature.com/nature/volumes/557/issues/7707

Tiago R. Simões, Michael W. Caldwell, Mateusz Tałanda, Massimo Bernardi, Alessandro Palci, Oksana Vernygora, Federico Bernardini, Lucia Mancini and Randall L. Nydam. 2018. The Origin of Squamates Revealed by A Middle Triassic Lizard from the Italian Alps.  Nature. volume 557, pages 706-709. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0093-3

The mother of all lizards found in Italian Alps  phys.org/news/2018-05-mother-lizards-italian-alps.html via @physorg_com

World's oldest lizard fossil forces rethink of reptile family tree theguardian.com/science/2018/may/30/worlds-oldest-lizard-fossil-forces-rethink-of-reptile-family-tree

[Herpetology • 2018] Phasmahyla lisbella • A New Species of Spotted Leaf Frog, Genus Phasmahyla (Anura, Phyllomedusidae) from Southeast Brazil

Phasmahyla lisbella

 Pereira, Rocha, Folly, da Silva​ & Santana,​. 2018

   DOI:  10.7717/peerj.490

Abstract

Based on concordant differences in male advertisement call, tadpole morphology, and absence of haplotype sharing in the barcoding 16S mitochondrial DNA, we describe here a new species of spotted leaf frog of the genus Phasmahyla from Atlantic Forest, State of Rio de Janeiro, Southeast Brazil. The new species is most similar to P. cochranae (type locality) and P. spectabilis (type locality). It differs from these species by the size of the calcar, moderate-sized body (snout-vent length 30.4–34.4 mm in adult eight males), and in the advertisement call. The tadpoles of Phasmahyla lisbella sp. nov. differ from P. exilis, P. spectabilis, P. timbo, P. guttata and P. jandaia because they do not have row of teeth in the anterior part; differ from P. cruzi by the shape of the anterior end of the oral disc. Through genetic data (phylogenetic distance and haplotype genealogy) we diagnosed the new species where the genetic divergences among its congeners is about 3–6% in a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene, which is above the threshold typically characterizing distinct species of anurans. However, the new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species based on an integrative approach (molecular, bioacoustics, larval, and adult morphology).

Figure 3: Phasmahyla lisbella sp. nov. in life from the type locality (ZUFMS-AMP 8803).
(A) Nocturnal and (B) diurnal coloration.

Images: (A) D.J. Santana and (B) by H. Folly.

Phasmahyla lisbella sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: The new species, Phasmahyla lisbella, is characterized by: (1) grainy dorsal skin; (2) calcar well developed and broad at the base; (3) presence of rounded purple patches in hidden areas of the arm, forearm, thigh, tibia, tarsus, and toes; (4) inner parts of legs and flanks orange colored, with numerous round violet blotches in life; (5) reduced laterodorsal glands; (6) Canthus rostralis slightly distinct; (7) eyes large, and the palpebral membranes translucent over their entire area; (8) forearms slender in males; (9) tarsus large, outer margin smooth or slightly crenulated; (10) fingers medium sized; (11) advertisement call composed by one pulsed note with only one pulse; (12) tadpoles with oral disc large and wide, with a deep recess in the dorsal margin and a less sharp recess in the ventral margin; (13) tadpoles with tooth row formula 0/2(1).

Figure 5: Tadpole. (A) Tadpole (stage 37) in lateral view; (B) in dorsal view; (C) in ventral view; (D) oral disc and (E) tadpole (stage 39) in life (ZUFMS-AMP08879).

Images: (A, B, C and E) H. Folly and (D) D.J. Santana.

 Figure 8: Habitat. (A) Habitat where the specimens was found; (B) Melastomataceae leaf; (C) Egg clutch with transparent jelly found on the leaf of the family plant Melastomataceae.

 Images: D.J. Santana.

Distribution: The new species is known only from its type locality (Fazenda Ventania, Área de Proteção Ambiental Ventania, Miracema municipality, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil).

Etymology: The specific name is a noun, honoring Lis Alves Pereira de Oliveira da Rocha and Bella Alves Pereira Custódio da Rocha, nieces of L.C.L. Rocha. Citizens of Miracema, and future representatives for nature conservancy in the region.

Elvis Almeida Pereira, Lucas Custódio Lomba Rocha, Henrique Folly, Hélio Ricardo da Silva​ and Diego José Santana​​. 2018.  A New Species of Spotted Leaf Frog, Genus Phasmahyla (Amphibia, Phyllomedusidae) from Southeast Brazil. PeerJ. 6:e4900.  DOI:  10.7717/peerj.4900