[Herpetology • 2018] Cyrtodactylus leegrismeri Chan & Norhayati, 2010 (Sauria: Gekkonidae): A First Country Record for Thailand

Cyrtodactylus leegrismeri  Chan & Norhayati, 2010

in Nurngsomsri, Chuaynkern, Duengkae, et al., 2018. 
 rdo.psu.ac.th/sjstweb 

Abstract

A new country record of the Bent-toed Gecko, Cyrtodactylus leegrismeri Chan and Norhayati, 2010 for Thailand was reported based on three specimens collected from Kra Island, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province (southern Thailand). Previously, the species’ known distribution was from islands in the Gulf of Thailand ranging from Malaysia to Vietnam. The present work reports an additional locality which lies between the northern-most and southern-most ranges of its distribution and is approximately 550 kilometers away from the type locality (Tenggol Island Resort, Pulau Tenggol, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia).

Keywords: Cyrtodactylus condorensis species complex, new record, Kra Island, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Gulf of Thailand.

Figure 2 Living specimens of Cyrtodactylus leegrismeri from Pulau Tenggol of Malaysia (A, LSUDPC 5136; Photograph: L.L. Grismer) compared with specimens from Kra Island of Thailand (B, THNHM 26272, C, THNHM 26270, D, THNHM 26271; Photographs: Y. Chuaynkern). Photographs were taken ex situ.

Pechrkawin Nurngsomsri, Chantip Chuaynkern, Prateep Duengkae, Wachara Sanguansombat, L. Lee Grimser and Yodchaiy Chuaynkern. 2018. Cyrtodactylus leegrismeri Chan and Norhayati, 2010 (Sauria: Gekkonidae): A First Country Record for Thailand. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology. rdo.psu.ac.th/sjstweb/Ar-Press/2018Aug/49.pdf

ตุ๊กกายเกาะกระ, ตุ๊กแกป่าเกาะกระ

    

[PaleoIchthyology • 2018] Bluefieldius mercerensis • A New Lower Actinopterygian Fish from the Upper Mississippian Bluefield Formation of West Virginia, USA

Bluefieldius mercerensis  Mickle​, 2018

 DOI:  10.7717/peerj.5533 

Abstract

The Upper Mississippian Bluefield Formation of the Mauch Chunk Group in southeastern West Virginia is known for its preservation of a variety of invertebrate taxa and early tetrapod trackways, but no lower actinopterygian remains have been formally described from these Carboniferous rocks. Here, the first lower actinopterygian fish is described from the Bluefield Formation of West Virginia. This fish is represented by a nearly complete articulated specimen with a three-dimensional snout and an unobstructed view of the gular and branchiostegal region. This new taxon is defined by a unique set of characters, which include features of the snout, circumorbital series, cheek, and operculo-gular region. These features make this fish different and distinct from previously described Carboniferous fishes. Some of the morphological features of note include the presence of a distinct lacrimal, premaxillary, ventral rostral and dorsal rostral bones, a narrow infraorbital ventral to the orbit, and a large crescent shaped infraorbital that contacts a single dermosphenotic. There is an anteriorly inclined hatchet-shaped preoperculum and six small suborbital bones anterior to the expanded region of this bone that filling the space between the preoperculum, dermosphenotic, and infraorbital. Posterior to the preoperculum, there is a single wedge-shaped dermohyal and a series of three rectangular anteopercular bones. The anteopercular bones extend halfway down the anterior border of the rectangular operculum. A median gular, two pairs of lateral gulars, and at least eight branchiostegal rays are present. The heterocercal caudal fin is deeply cleft and inequilobate. The scales have pectinated posterior margins and bear diagonal ridges of ganoine. The description of this new taxon represents the first actinopterygian and the first vertebrate body fossil described from the Bluefield Formation and the second actinopterygian taxon described from the Mauch Chunk Group in West Virginia.

Figure 3: Photographs of the type specimen of Bluefieldius mercerensis n. gen. n. sp., KUVP 15584.
 (A) Lateral view of head. Specimen is shadowed with magnesium oxide. (B) Entire specimen in lateral view.

Scale bars equal 5 mm. 

Photographs were taken by K Mickle.

Figure 5: Full body illustration of Bluefieldius mercerensis n. gen. n. sp. based on the type specimen KUVP 155843. Dark grey infilling represents areas of disturbance and uncertainty.

Abbreviations: A, anal fin; C, cleithrum; Cl, clavicle; Ff +Tvp, fringing fulcra and tips of procurrent rays; Op, operculum; P, propterygium; P1, pectoral fin; P2, pelvic fins; Sop, suboperculum; Vbf, ventral basal fulcrum; Vsc, ventral scutes. 

Remaining cranial features identified in Fig. 4. Dotted lines are areas scale rows have been reconstructed. Scale bar equals 5 mm.

Figure 7: The caudal fin of the type specimen of Bluefieldius mercerensis n. gen. n. sp. (A) Photograph of KUVP 155843 shadowed with magnesium oxide. (B) illustration of KUVP 155843 detailing scutes, procurrent fin rays, last principal fin ray, and segmentation and bifurcation of principal fins rays.

 Abbreviations: Ff + Lpr, fringing fulcra on ventral margin of last principal fin ray; Lpr, last principal fin ray; Tvp, tips of ventral procurrent rays; Vbf, ventral basal fulcrum; Vsc, ventral scutes. Black and grey arrows signify the area where fringing fulcra (black arrows) are inserted between tips of ventral procurrent rays (grey arrows). Dashed lines represent extent of lepidotrichia that are not well enough preserved to detail segmentation and reconstructed dorsal body margin. 

Scale bars equal 5 mm. The photograph was taken by K Mickle.

Systematic paleontology

OSTEICHTHYES Huxley, 1880

ACTINOPTERYGII Cope, 1871

Bluefieldius n. gen.

Type and only Species. Bluefieldius mercerensis n. gen. n. sp

Etymology. After the Bluefield Formation where the specimen was recovered from.

Bluefieldius mercerensis n. gen. n. sp. 

 Etymology. mercerensis in reference to Mercer County, West Virginia where the specimen was recovered.

Diagnosis. Based on the unique combination of the following characters: Absence of complex bones in the snout and the presence of distinct and separate lacrimal, premaxillary, and dorsal and ventral rostral bones; narrow rectangular infraorbital ventral to the orbit; large crescent shaped infraorbital posterior and posteroventral to the orbit that contacts a single Y-shaped dermosphenotic dorsally; six small rectangular suborbital bones arranged in two distinct rows; wedge-shaped dermohyal posterior to a hatchet-shaped preoperculum; a row of three rectangular, ganoine-bearing anteopercular bones that extend down half the depth of the operculum; rectangular anteriorly inclined operculum with a diagonal ventral margin, suboperculum that is taller posteriorly than anteriorly and shorter in height but wider in length than the operculum; maxilla with a deep posterior plate, a rounded posteroventral process, and a narrow anterior arm that extends to the anteroventral margin of the orbit; a single median gular, two pairs of lateral gulars, a series of at least eight branchiostegal rays; inequilobate and deeply cleft heterocercal caudal fin with an elongated caudal peduncle; anteriorly placed and mid-body scales with pectinated posterior margins and diagonal ridges of ganoine.

Conclusions: 

A new lower actinopterygian genus and species is described from the Upper Carboniferous Bluefield Formation of West Virginia. This new genus is represented by a well preserved articulated specimen which represents the first vertebrate body fossil from the Bluefield Formation and the first described actinopterygian. Bluefieldius mercerensis n. gen. n. sp. is defined by a unique set of cranial characteristics including morphological characters of the snout, the circumorbital series, suborbital bones, and anteopercular bones. The combination of these specific characteristics separate B. mercerensis n. gen. n. sp. from previously described lower actinopterygian fishes and warrant the description of a new taxon.

Lower actinopterygian fishes are characterized by a great deal of anatomic and taxonomic diversity that is not well understood. We have neither a stable classification scheme nor strongly supported hypotheses of relationships for lower actinopterygian fishes. This lack of understanding has been attributed to the need for more well-preserved fishes to be described or redescribed and a better understanding of morphological characters among lower actinopterygians (Cloutier & Arratia, 2004; Mickle, 2015; Mickle, 2017). Taxonomic work provides opportunities to uncover new morphological characters or to see characters in different light and can lead to reassessments of morphological characters. These taxa and characters are the raw material for phylogenetic analyses and more well described taxa and characters will bring stronger hypotheses of relationships for these important fishes.

Kathryn E. Mickle​. 2018. A New Lower Actinopterygian Fish from the Upper Mississippian Bluefield Formation of West Virginia, USA. PeerJ. 6:e5533.  DOI:  10.7717/peerj.5533

[Entomology • 2018] Damselflies of the Genus Argia (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Ecuador with Descriptions of Five New Species

Argia tennesseni  Garrison & von Ellenrieder, 2018

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4470.1.1

Abstract 

A total of 31 species of Argia are reported as present in Ecuador, of which two, A. huanacina Förster and A. jocosa Hagen, constitute first records for the country, and five are new to science and are described here: Argia acridens n. sp. (Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Manabí Prov., 79 km west of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 260 m, 7 May 1975, Paul J. Spangler et al. leg., in USNM), Argia cuspidata n. sp. (Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Prov.: 19 km east of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 740 m, 7 May 1975, A. Langley & J. Cohen leg., in USNM), Argia philipi n. sp. (Holotype ♂: BOLIVIA, Cochabamba Dept., Chapare Prov.: stream 5 km south of Villa Tunari, noon, 350 m, 4 November 2001, Jerrell J. Daigle leg., in FSCA), Argia selysi n. sp. (Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Napo Prov.: Jatun Yacu, Napo River watershed, 700 m, 18 April 1935, William Clarke-Macintyre leg., in UMMZ) and Argia tennesseni n. sp. (Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Orellana Prov.: stream 8.5 km east of Loreto, 360 m, 14 September 1997, Kenneth J. Tennessen leg., in FSCA). The new species are illustrated and diagnosed from their congeners and their known distribution areas are mapped. To aid in identification, illustrations needed for diagnosis and / or distribution maps of closely related species are also provided, including: A. adamsi Calvert, A. difficilis Selys, A. dives Förster, A. huanacina Förster, A. fulgida Navás, A. infrequentula Fraser, A. jocosa Hagen in Selys, A. joergenseni Ris, A. limitata Navás, A. medullaris Selys, A. orichalcea Hagen in Selys and A. ulmeca Calvert. Argia columbiana Navás and A. rectangula Navás are treated as subjective junior synonyms of Argia medullaris Selys. A key to the eight known metallic red Argia species from South America is provided. 

Key words: Damselfly, Neotropics, Ecuador, keys, diagnoses, distribution maps

 Argia acridens n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Manabí Prov., 79 km west of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, approximately 0°20' S, 79°46' W, 260 m, 7 May 1975, Paul J. Spangler et al. leg., in USNM), 

Argia cuspidata n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Prov.: 19 km east of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, approximately 0°18'49'' S, 79°1'44'' W, 740 m, 7 May 1975, A. Langley & J. Cohen leg., in USNM), 

Argia philipi n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: BOLIVIA, Cochabamba Dept., Chapare Prov.: stream 5 km south of Villa Tunari, noon, 16°59'49" S, 65°24'28" W, 350 m, 4 November 2001, Jerrell J. Daigle leg., in FSCA), 

Argia selysi n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Napo Prov.: Jatun Yacu, Napo River watershed, approximately 1°1' S, 77°50' W, 700 m, 18 April 1935, William Clarke-Macintyre leg., in UMMZ) 

Male of Argia tennesseni at a small forest stream about 12 km NE of Loreto in Ecuador, Orellana Province, photographed by Kenneth J. Tennessen on 26 October 2013.

 'This forest was being cut down, and the little streams that back then held up to 10 species of Argia, may no longer be a suitable habitat for some of these species that require forest shade and bank protection'

(Kenneth J. Tennessen pers. comm.).  

Argia tennesseni Garrison & von Ellenrieder, n. sp. 

(Holotype ♂: ECUADOR, Orellana Prov.: stream 8.5 km east of Loreto, 0°37' 6" S, 77°17' 42" W, 360 m, 14 September 1997, Kenneth J. Tennessen leg., in FSCA).

Etymology. Named tennesseni (Latinized name) in honor of our friend and colleague Kenneth J. Tennessen who first brought this interesting species to our attention.

 Rosser W. Garrison and Natalia von Ellenrieder. 2018. Damselflies of the Genus Argia (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Ecuador with Descriptions of Five New Species. Zootaxa. 4470(1); 1–69.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4470.1.1

Resumen: Treinta y una especies de Argia son registradas de Ecuador, de las cuales dos, A. huanacina Förster y A. jocosa Hagen, constituyen nuevos registros para el país, y cinco son nuevas para la ciencia y son descriptas aquí: Argia acridens n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Manabí, 79 km al oeste de Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 0°20' S, 79°46' O, 260 m, 7 Mayo 1975, Paul J. Spangler et al. leg., en USNM), Argia cuspidata n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: 19 km al este de Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 0°18'49'' S, 79°1'44'' O, 740 m, 7 Mayo 1975, A. Langley & J. Cohen leg., en USNM), A. philipi n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: BOLIVIA, Dept. Cochabamba, Prov. Chapare: arroyo 5 km al sur de Villa Tunari, mediodía, 16°59'49" S, 65°24'28" O, 350 m, 4 Noviembre 2001, Jerrell J. Daigle leg., en FSCA), Argia selysi n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Napo: Jatun Yacu, Cuenca del Río Napo, 1°1' S, 77°50' O, 700 m, 18 Abril 1935, William Clarke-Macintyre leg., en UMMZ) y A. tennesseni n. sp. (Holotipo ♂: ECUADOR, Prov. Orellana: arroyo 8.5 km al este de Loreto, 0°37' 6" S, 77°17' 42" O, 360 m, 14 Septiembre 1997, Kenneth J. Tennessen leg., en FSCA). Las nuevas especies son ilustradas y diagnosticadas de sus congéneres, y sus áreas de distribución conocidas son mapeadas. Para ayudar en su identificación, se proveen también ilustraciones y /o mapas de distribución de especies relacionadas, incluyendo a: A. adamsi Calvert, A. difficilis Selys, A. dives Förster, A. huanacina Förster, A. fulgida Navás, A. infrequentula Fraser, A. jocosa Hagen en Selys, A. joergenseni Ris, A. limitata Navás, A. medullaris Selys, A. orichalcea Hagen en Selys y A. ulmeca Calvert. Argia columbiana Navás y A. rectangula Navás son tratadas como sinónimos junior subjetivos de Argia medullaris Selys. Se proporciona una clave para las ocho especies conocidas metálicas rojas de Argia de América del Sur. 

Palabras clave: Libélulas, Neotrópico, claves, diagnosis, mapas de distribución

[Herpetology • 2018] Gerrhonotus mccoyi • A New Species of Gerrhonotus (Squamata: Anguidae) from the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin, Coahuila, Mexico

Gerrhonotus mccoyi 

García-Vázquez, Contreras-Arquieta, Trujano-Ortega & Nieto-Montes de Oca, 2018

DOI: 10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-17-00013  

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ABSTRACT

 A new species of Gerrhonotus, previously confused with G. infernalis, is described from the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin, Coahuila, Mexico. The new species is known from the type locality only and is characterized by the following combination of characters: a cantholoreal scale usually present, a dark mark extending anteriorly from the lower temporal scales through the lower border of the orbit to the preocular or cantholoreal scales, keeled dorsal scales, dorsal body pattern usually composed of cross-bands mostly interrupted or barely discernible on middorsum, usually indiscernible vertical dark bars on the lateral fold (few, faint bars occasionally present), and black flecks scattered on the venter. The new species is geographically closest to G. lugoi and G. infernalis but morphologically most similar to G. infernalis. 

Key words: Alligator lizards; Cryptic species; Gerrhonotinae; Taxonomy

FIG. 1.— Gerrhonotus mccoyi sp. nov. holotype (MZFC 29654). 

Head scales in dorsal (top), left lateral (middle; intentionally mirrored), and ventral (bottom) views. 

Scale bars = 3 mm.

FIG. 2.— Gerrhonotus mccoyi sp. nov. in life. 

(A) Male (paratype, MZFC 29668). (B) Female, not collected. 

Photographs by UOG-V and P. Heimes, respectively.

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Gerrhonotus mccoyi sp. nov.  

Gerrhonotus infernalis Baird 1859: Good (1994), in part.

Etymology.— The species epithet is a noun in the genitive case and a patronym for the late Clarence Jack McCoy in recognition of his many and significant contributions to the knowledge of the amphibians and reptiles from the Cuatro Cienegas Basin.

FIG. 1.— Gerrhonotus mccoyi sp. nov. holotype (MZFC 29654). Head scales in dorsal (top), left lateral (middle; intentionally mirrored), and ventral (bottom) views. Scale bars = 3 mm.

FIG. 2.— Gerrhonotus mccoyi sp. nov. in life. (A) Male (paratype, MZFC 29668). (B) Female, not collected. Photographs by UOG-V and P. Heimes, respectively.

Uri Omar García-Vázquez, Arturo Contreras-Arquieta, Marysol Trujano-Ortega and Adrián Nieto-Montes de Oca. 2018. A New Species of Gerrhonotus (Squamata: Anguidae) from the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin, Coahuila, Mexico. Herpetologica. 74(3); 269–278.  DOI: 10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-17-00013  

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Resumen: Se describe una especie nueva de Gerrhonotus, previamente confundida con G. infernalis, de la Cuenca de Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México. La especie nueva se conoce sólo de la localidad tipo y se caracteriza por la siguiente combinación de caracteres: escama cantoloreal usualmente presente, una marca oscura que se extiende anteriormente desde las escamas temporales inferiores a través del borde inferior de la órbita hasta la escama preocular o cantoloreal, escamas dorsales aquilladas, patrón de coloración dorsal del cuerpo usualmente compuesto de bandas transversales típicamente interrumpidas o apenas visibles en la parte media del dorso, barras oscuras verticales en el pliegue lateral usualmente no discernibles (algunas barras tenues ocasionalmente presentes), y manchas negras pequeñas dispersas en el vientre. La especie nueva es geográficamente más cercana a G. lugoi y G. infernalis, pero morfológicamente más similar a G. infernalis.

[Herpetology • 2018] Leptobrachium tenasserimense • A New Species of Leptobrachium (Anura, Megophryidae) from western Thailand

Leptobrachium tenasserimense 

Pawangkhanant, Poyarkov, Duong, Naiduangchan & Suwannapoom​, 2018

  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5584 

Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Leptobrachium from the Khao Laem Mountain, Suan Phung District, Ratchaburi Province, Tenasserim Region, western Thailand, based on molecular and morphological evidences. The new species, Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov., can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) adult SVL of 41.4–58.8 mm in males and 54.7–58.6 mm in females; (2) rounded finger and toe tips; (3) relative finger lengths: II<IV<I<III; relative toe lengths: I<II<V<III<IV; (4) toe webbing thick and well developed; (5) inner metatarsal tubercle small; (6) iris bicolored, black ventrally and turquoise dorsally, with light blue sclera; (7) dorsum brown to grey with distinct darker markings edged with brown; (8) belly and limbs ventrally whitish with contrasting confluent black reticulations; (9) tympanum mostly free of dark marking; (10) narrow dark canthal stripe present; (11) lateral row of dark spots absent; (12) limbs dorsally with distinct dark bars; tibia with four to five dark transverse bars; (13) dense dark reticulation or large dark blotch at groin continuing to ventral and posterior sides of thighs; (14) femoral gland in shape of large white blotch; (15) males with single vocal sac, mature males lack lip spinules. Our study provides further evidence for a hidden biodiversity of montane areas of Tenasserim Region on the border of Thailand and Myanmar.

Figure 5: Color variation of Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov. in life.
 (A) Natural habitat at the type locality in Khao Laem Mountain, Suan Phung District, Ratchaburi Province; (B) and (C) dorsolateral views of adult male (not collected) in situ; (D) ventral view of adult male (not collected) in situ.

Photos (A–D) by Parinya Pawangkhanant.

Figure 1: Map of Thailand and adjacent parts of Indochina, showing distribution of Leptobrachium smithi species group members (clade L1). Yellow, L. smithi; red, L. rakhinense; blue, Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov. Star denotes type locality of the respective species.

 Locality information abbreviations: Distr., District; Div., Division; F.P., Forest Park; Isl., Island; N.P., National Park; Prov., Province; Res., Reserve; St., State; Twn., Township; W.F., waterfall; W.S., Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Leptobrachium rakhinensis Wogan, 2012: 1-Nyaung Gwo, Padaung Twn., Pyi Distr., Bago Div., Myanmar (Wogan, 2012); 2-Rakhine Yoma W.S., Gwa Twn., Rakhine St., Myanmar (type locality) (Wogan, 2012); 3-Khoko Gwe, Rakhine Yoma W.S., Gwa Twn., Rakhine St., Myanmar (type locality) (Wogan, 2012).
Leptobrachium smithi Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999: 4-Ma Gawe Res., Kalaw Twn., Taunggyi Dist., Shan St., Myanmar (Wogan, 2012); 5-Phasua W.F., Mae Hong Son Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999); 6-Doi Chiang Dao Mt., Chiang Mai Prov., Thailand; 7-Doi Suthep Mt., Chiang Mai Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999) ; 8-Doi Inthanon Mt., Chiang Mai Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999); 9-Mae Yom N.P., Phrae Prov., Thailand (C Suwannapoom, 2018, unpublished data); 10-Tambol Auan, Amphoe Pua, Nan Prov., Thailand (FMNH 270740); 11-Houay Deng, Xaignabouli, Sayaboury Prov., Laos (Brown et al., 2009); 12-Houey Thao, Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Prov., Laos (Ohler et al., 2011); 13-Ban Sop Khao, Ban Keng Koung, Ban Van Thong, Luang Prabang Prov., Laos (Ohler et al., 2011); 14-Kyaik Hti Yo W.S., Kyaihto Twn., Mon St., Myanmar (Wogan, 2012; Matsui et al., 2010); 15-Taksinmaharat N.P., Tak Prov., Thailand (P Pawangkhanant, 2018, unpublished data); 16-Thung Salaeng Luang N.P., Phetchabun Prov., Thailand (Grosjean et al., 2015); 17-Phu Luang N.P., Loei Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999; Matsui et al., 2010); 18-Nam Nao N.P., Chaiyaphum Prov., Thailand (P Pawangkhanant, 2018, unpublished data); 19-Huai Kha Khaeng W.S., Uthai Thani Prov., Thailand (Niyomwan, Srisom & Pawangkhanant, 2016); 20-Sangkhla Buri Distr., Kanchanaburi Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999); 21-Erawan and Pilok Distr., Kanchanaburi Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999); 22-Kaeng Krachan, Phetchaburi Prov., Thailand (Matsui et al., 2010); 23-Pa Lao U, Phetchaburi Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999); 24-Tanintharyi N.R., Yebyu Twn., Dawei Distr., Tanintharyi Div., Myanmar (Wogan, 2012); 25-Khlong Saen, Surat Thani Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999); 26-Namtok Raman F.P.; Phang Nga Prov., Thailand (Ohler et al., 2011; Grosjean et al., 2015); 27-Phuket Isl., Phang Nga Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999); 28-Khao Luang N.P., Nakhon Si Thammarat Prov., Thailand (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999); 29-Kaochong, Trang Prov., Thailand (type locality) (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999; Matsui et al., 2010); 30-Tha Le Ban National Park, Satun Prov., Thailand (P Pawangkhanant, 2018, unpublished data); 31-Langkawi Isl., Perlis, Malaysia (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999; Matsui et al., 2010; Grismer et al., 2006).
Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov.:32-Pilok Distr., Kanchanaburi Prov., Thailand (Matsui et al., 2010); 33-Khao Laem, Suan Phung Distr., Ratchaburi Prov., Thailand (type locality; sympatric with L. smithi) (this work).

Figure 2: Phylogenetic BI tree of Leptobrachium reconstructed on the base of 2,494 bp (partial 12S rRNA- tRNAval-16S rRNA sequences). Values on the branches correspond to BI PP/ML BS, respectively; black, grey and white circles correspond to well-supported, moderately supported and non-supported nodes, respectively. Color marking of species in L. smithi species group corresponds to Fig. 1. For specimen and locality information see Table 1. Photo by Nikolay A. Poyarkov.

Figure 3: Male holotype of Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov. (AUP-00362) after preservation.
 (A) Ventral view; (B) dorsal view; (C) volar view of left hand; (D) palmar view of right foot.

Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant.

Figure 4: Female paratype of Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov. (ZMMU A-5918) in life.
 (A) Ventral view; (B) dorsal view; (C) lateral view of head; (D) volar view of left hand; (E) palmar view of left foot.

Photos by Nikolay A. Poyarkov.

Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov.

Chresonymy: “Leptobrachium sp. 4”—Matsui et al., 2010: 263.

Etymology. The specific name is a Latinized toponymic adjective in neutral gender derived from “Tenasserim”—a historical name of the region in the northern part of the Malayan Peninsula in southern Indochina, and for the mountain chain known as “Tenasserim Hills”, where the new species occurs.

Diagnosis. A member of the genus Leptobrachium on the basis of head width being larger than tibia length; skin dorsally with a network of ridges; oval and large axillary glands present; extremities of digits rounded; breeding males lacking spines on fingers and breast; and bicolored iris (Yang, Wang & Chan, 2016). The new species can be distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of morphological characteristics: (1) medium-sized species, with adult SVL of 41.4–58.8 mm in males and 54.7–58.6 mm in females; (2) rounded finger and toe tips; (3) relative finger lengths: II<IV<I<III; relative toe lengths: I<II<V<III<IV; (4) toe webbing thick and well developed; (5) inner metatarsal tubercle comparatively small; (6) iris bicolored, black ventrally and turquoise dorsally, with light blue sclera; (7) dorsum brown to grey with distinct darker markings edged with dark-brown, dark head markings usually distinct; (8) belly and limbs ventrally whitish with dense contrasting confluent black blotches and reticulations; (9) tympanum free of dark marking or dark coloration covering only the uppermost one-third of tympanum; (10) dark canthal stripe present, narrow, not covering loreal region; (11) ventro-lateral row of dark spots or blotches absent; (12) limbs, including fingers and toes, dorsally with distinct dark bars; tibia with four to five dark transverse bars; (13) dense dark reticulations or large dark blotches at groin continuing to ventral and posterior sides of thighs; (14) femoral gland in shape of large white rounded blotch; (15) males with single vocal sac, mature males lack lip spinules.

Figure 5: Color variation of Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov. in life.
(A) Natural habitat at the type locality in Khao Laem Mountain, Suan Phung District, Ratchaburi Province; (B) and (C) dorsolateral views of adult male (not collected) in situ; (D) ventral view of adult male (not collected) in situ; (E) male paratype ZMMU A-5919; (F) female paratype ZMMU A-5918; (G) amplexus in situ.

 Photos (A–D) by Parinya Pawangkhanant; (E–G) by Nikolay A. Poyarkov.

Figure 5: Color variation of Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov. in life.  (E) male paratype ZMMU A-5919; (F) female paratype ZMMU A-5918; (G) amplexus in situ. 

Photos (E–G) by Nikolay A. Poyarkov.

Distribution. Currently known only from two localities in the northern part of Tenasserim: from the type locality in Suan Phung District, Ratchaburi Province (this work), and from Pilok District in Kanchanaburi Province (Matsui et al., 2010) (see Fig. 1). Occurrence in Phetchaburi Province of Thailand and in the adjacent parts of Tanintharyi Division of Myanmar is strongly anticipated.

Ecology and Natural history. Specimens of the new species were recorded along a slow-flowing stream in a montane tropical forest on Khao Laem Mountain at elevations from 700 to 1000 m a.s.l. (see Fig. 5A). The multi-species codominant (polydominant) tropical forest at the type locality had dense vegetation with tangles of the giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper (Schult.) Backer). Frogs were observed in leaf litter or under tree roots; males were calling during our field observations in August, September and November 2017. Amplexus was recorded in November 2017 (see Fig. 5G).

Herpetofauna species recorded sympatrically with the new species at the type locality include: Leptobrachium smithi, Xenophrys cf. major (Boulenger), Leptobrachella melanoleuca (Matsui), Leptobrachella fuliginosa (Matsui), Amolops panhai Matsui & Nabhitabhata, Alcalus tasanae (Smith), Limnonectes jarujini Matsui, Panha, Khonsue & Kuraishi, Limnonectes doriae (Boulenger), Limnonectes macrognathus (Boulenger), Microhyla berdmorei (Blyth), Acanthosaura crucigera Boulenger, Pseudoxenodon macrops (Blyth), Trimeresurus popeiorum Smith, and Rhabdophis chrysargos (Schlegel). At the type locality of the new species in Khao Laem Mountain L. smithi was recorded in the same biotopes as Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov. at elevations around 800 to 1,200 m a.s.l. and the two species shared same streams for reproduction and the breeding season of two species seem to overlap. Additional studies are required to elucidate reproductive biology and ecology of two sympatric Leptobrachium species of Khao Laem Mountain.

Conclusions: 

Our new discovery of Leptobrachium tenasserimense sp. nov. indicates that the montane forests of northern Tenasserim Region on the border of Thailand and Myanmar contain herpetofaunal diversity that is still unrecognized. This comparatively narrow area is known for an exceptionally high number of endemic species of amphibians and reptiles discovered by recent herpetofaunal surveys (Mulcahy et al., 2018), including a new genus and species of microhylid frogs (Suwannapoom et al., 2018), two new species of megophryid frogs (Matsui, 2006), two new species of bufonid frogs (Wilkinson, Sellas & Vindum, 2012; Matsui, Khonsue & Panha, 2018), five endemic gecko species and two endemic species of snakes (see Sumontha et al., 2017). Possible reasons behind such exceptional herpetofaunal endemism are yet unclear; recent studies indicate that the northern part of Tenasserim Region played a key role in the faunal exchange between Sundaland and the mainland Indochina during the Cenozoic (see Chen et al., 2018 for discussion). Our study provides further evidence for the hidden biodiversity of the Tenasserim Region, and suggests that its herpetofauna is still clearly underestimated. Further field surveys are required for facilitating herpetological exploration and elaboration of measured conservation of this hidden diversity.

Parinya Pawangkhanant, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Tang Van Duong, Mali Naiduangchan and Chatmongkon Suwannapoom​. 2018. A New Species of Leptobrachium (Anura, Megophryidae) from western Thailand. PeerJ. 6:e5584.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5584

[Mammalogy • 2018] Talpa martinorum • News from the Balkan refugium: Thrace has An Endemic Mole Species (Mammalia: Talpidae)

 Talpa martinorum

Kryštufek, Nedyalkov, Astrin & Hutterer, 2018

 Bonn zoological Bulletin. 67(1)

Abstract

 We utilized 1084 bp sequences of the cytochrome b gene to assess the taxonomic status of small blind moles from eastern Thrace in Bulgaria and European Turkey. So far, these moles were classified either as Talpa caeca or as T. levantis. Our study showed them to be genetically closer to T. europaea, T. aquitania, and T. occidentalis, albeit not being part of any of these species. We describe them as a new species, Talpa martinorum. n. sp. The new species differs from T. europaea, another mole occupying Thrace, by having a sealed palpebral fissure and a 1st upper molar with no parastyle, and by being smaller. The contemporary distribution range of T. martinorum n. sp. is small and restricted to the Black Sea coast between Burgas (Bulgaria) and Istanbul (Turkey). The species name is an eponym to the married couple Vladimir and Evgeniya Martino, two early students of Balkan mammals.

Key words. Balkans, cytochrome b, cryptic species, species delimitation, Talpa martinorum n. sp. N

Fig. 3. Head (a) in lateral view, tip of nose (b) in dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views, and ventral side of tail in  Talpa martinorum n. sp. Note that the palpebral fissure is covered by transparent skin (a). Museum vouchers PMS 25631 (a), ZFMK 2017.1152 (b) and ZFMK 2017.1151 (c). Not to scale.

Talpa martinorum n. sp. 

Diagnosis. A member of the subgenus Talpa. Medium-sized species with palpebral fissure sealed by a transparent skin (Fig. 3a). First upper molar (M1 ) lacks parastyle (Fig. 6a); the mesostyle is indistinctly bifurcate (Fig. 6a). Pairwise interspecific p-distances (> 9%) are within the range observed between other species of moles (e.g., within Talpa, interspecific distances average ca. 12%).

Etymology. Talpa martinorum n. sp. is an eponym to Vladimir Emmanuilovich Martino (Владимир Эммануилович Мартино, 1888–1961) and Evgeniya Veniaminovna Martino (Евгения Вениаминовнa Мартино, 1894–1979) née Stepanova (Степановa), ethnic Russians who in 1920 escaped the October Revolution by emigrating to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia since 1929). In politically insecure and frequently violent Eastern Europe of the 20th century, the Martinos were refugees for more than three decades. In 1949 they moved to Bulgaria and in 1955 returned to Russia (at that time still Soviet Union). Inspired by G. S. Miller’s (1912) “Catalogue of the Mammals of Western Europe” they initiated mammal research in south-eastern Europe and named, among others, two Balkan endemics: Dinaromys bogdanovi (V. Martino & E. Martino, 1922) (Martino & Martino 1922: 413) and Talpa stankovici V. Martino & E. Martino, 1931 (Martino & Martino 1931: 53) (Fig. 8). While Vladimir had a degree in Biology from the University in Novorossiysk (1913), Evgeniya had no formal academic education. Despite this, she attained competency in mammalogy and successfully collaborated with her spouse, both in the field and cabinet. Although they published several joint papers (as V. and E. Martino), the contribution by Evgeniya is mainly ignored and she is nearly anonymous today (cf. Beolens et al. 2009). At least nine subspecific names for mammals with the epithet martinoi (see Appendix 3) were proposed by mammalogists between 1935 and 1971, and all are eponyms to Vladimir Martino. With the name martinorum n. sp. we stress the equal share by Evgeniya in the tandem “V. et E. Martino” and correct the injustice done to her contribution in the past decades. Along with Dorothea Bate (1878–1951) and Gabriele Neuhäuser (1911–1998) Evgeniya was one of the early women who studied the taxonomy of Palaearctic mammals already between the two great wars. In addition to their publications, a renowned legacy of Vladimir and Evgeniya Martino is their meticulously prepared and carefully labelled mammal collection, deposited primarily in the Natural History Museum London and the Zoological Institute and Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. For biographies of Vladimir Martino, see Mezentsev (1961), Paspalev (1962), Pusanov (1962), Zimmermann (1962), Gus’kov (1965), Taranenko (1999), and Boreiko (2001).

Boris Kryštufek, Nedko Nedyalkov, Jonas J. Astrin and Rainer Hutterer. 2018. News from the Balkan refugium: Thrace has An Endemic Mole Species (Mammalia: Talpidae).  Bonn zoological Bulletin. 67(1); 41–57. 

ZoologicalBulletin.de/BzB_Volumes/Volume_67_1/041_057_BzB67_1_krystufek_et_al.pdf

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[Herpetology • 2018] Eleutherodactylus geitonos • A New Frog of the Eleutherodactylus abbotti Species Group (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from Hispaniola, with Bioacoustic and Taxonomic Comments on Other Species

Eleutherodactylus geitonos 

Díaz, Incháustegui, Marte, Köhler, Cádiz & Rodríguez, 2018

 NovitatesCaribaea.do 

ABSTRACT 

A new species of frog, Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov., is described from the southeastern slope of the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic. The new frog is closely related to E. haitianus and both species share a small size. They differ in some morphological proportions and other external features, coloration, advertisement calls and DNA sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. Morphological and bioacoustic comparisons with other species in the E. abbotti species group are also provided. Our preliminary genetic data suggest that the taxonomic status of E. neodreptus (a synonym of E. audanti) and E. melatrigonum need to be re-evaluated.

Keywords: Amphibia, taxonomy, West Indies, Dominican Republic, subgenus Eleutherodactylus, Terrarana.

Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov.

Diagnosis. A small species (maximum SVL in males 12.8 mm, in females 15.8 mm) of the Eleutherodactylus abbotti species group of the E. auriculatus species series (sensu Hedges et al., 2008; confirmed by Padial et al., 2014) as supported by morphological and genetic data (Figs. 1-3). It requires the closest comparison with E. haitianus but also with E. audanti and related species (E. melatrigonum, E. notidodes, and E. parabates; see Discussion).

From those species, E. geitonos sp. nov. differs in lacking a pectoral fold and by having a small vocal sac that is not distinctively folded when deflated. Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov. and E. haitianus are both very small frogs and the former, on average, has an even smaller size than the latter (see Table I). The new species has more distinctive digital discs than E. haitianus(third finger disc 3.1–4.0% of SVL, x̅=3.4%, vs. 1.8–2.9%, x̅=2.4%, in E. haitianus); a relatively longer snout (15–17% of SVL, vs. 12–15% in E. haitianus), and a pair of incomplete dorsolateral folds (vs. dorsolateral rows of tubercles in E. haitianus, with very prominent ones at the suprascapular level). Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov. lacks the pattern of dark spots that E. haitianus typically has on belly and throat, and yellow coloration is more extended to ventral surfaces of males than in the latter species (Fig. 2). Advertisement calls of E. geitonos sp. nov.are long trains of notes like in E. haitianus (Fig. 6), but in the latter species’ call, the introductory note is long, somewhat frequency modulated, while a distinctive call introductory note is not present in E. geitonos sp. nov. From E. audanti and closely related taxa, the new species also differs in being much smaller (see Table I); in E. audanti toe V is longer than toe III, but in the new species these toes are of similar size or III>V. Eleutherodactylus parabates is also a larger species (up to 24 mm SVL; Schwartz and Henderson, 1991) with stocky body and advertisement calls consisting of long whistles.

Figure 1. Related frogs of the Eleutherodactylus abbotti species group.
Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov. (A-C) pattern variation in paratypes MNHNSD 23.3456 (A), 23.3440 (B), and 23.3444 (C).
Eleutherodactylus haitianus (D-F), pattern variation in MNHNSD 23.3474 (D), 23.3473 (E), 23.3465 (F), surroundings of La Pirámide, Valle Nuevo, La Vega, Cordillera Central.
Eleutherodactylus audanti (G-L), pattern variation in MNHNSD 23.2579 (G) and 23.2577 (H), Loma del Toro, Sierra de Bahoruco; MNHNSD 23.2515 (I), MNHNSD 23.2496 (J), MNHNSD 23.2512 (K) and 23.2511 (L), Zapoten, Sierra de Bahoruco.
Eleutherodactylus melatrigonum (M), MNHNSD 23.3459, ~6 km S of Constanza (old road), La Vega, Cordillera Central. Eleutherodactylus notidodes (N), road to Pinos del Edén, Sierra de Neiba. Eleutherodactylus audanti (neodreptus?), MNHNSD 23.2568, Cachote, Bahoruco. Photos: Luis M. Díaz.

Distribution. The new species is only known from the type locality (Fig. 7). However, frogs with similar call patterns and habitats have been recorded at Rancho Arriba (Sierra de Ocoa; San José de Ocoa Province), El Valle de Dios (Parque Nacional Loma La Humeadora; San Cristobal Province), and Los Guayuyos (near Parque Nacional Luis Quin; Peravia Province). Additional surveys will confirm the geographic distribution of the new species in those potential localities and nearby areas.

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the ancient Greek γείτων, geitȏn, meaning a neighbor, in allusion to the proximity of the type locality to the city of Santo Domingo.

Figure 2. Ventral views of Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov. (A-B), paratopotypes MNHNSD 23.3454 (A) and MNHNSD 23.3453 (B);
 E. haitianus (C-E), MNHNSD 23.3474 (C), 23.3473 (D), and 23.3465 (E), surroundings of La Pirámide, Valle Nuevo, La Vega; 
E. melatrigonum (F), MNHNSD 23.3459, ~6 km S of Constanza (old road), La Vega, Cordillera Central. 

Photos: Luis M. Díaz.

Luis M. Díaz, Sixto J. Incháustegui, Cristian Marte, Gunther Köhler,Antonio Cádiz and Marcos Rodríguez. 2018. A New Frog of the Eleutherodactylus abbotti Species Group (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from Hispaniola, with Bioacoustic and Taxonomic Comments on Other Species [Nueva rana del grupo de especies Eleutherodactylus abbotti (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) de la Hispaniola, con comentarios bioacústicos y taxonómicos de otras especies]. NOVITATES CARIBAEA. 12: 25-42. 

NovitatesCaribaea.do/index.php/novitates/article/view/81

Resumen: Se describe una especie nueva de rana, Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov., de la ladera sureste de la Cordillera Central, República Dominicana. Esta especie está cercanamente emparentada con E. haitianus, con la cual comparte una talla pequeña. Ambas especies se diferencian en algunas características y proporciones morfológicas, llamadas de anuncio, coloración y las secuencias del gen 16S ARNr. Son abordadas las comparaciones morfológicas y bioacústicas con otras especies del grupo E. abbotti. La filogenia obtenida a partir de datos genéticos preliminares sugieren que el estatus taxonómico de E. neodreptus (sinónimo de E. audanti) y E. melatrigonum requiere ser reevaluado.