[Entomology • 2018] Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Oodera Westwood, 1874 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae, Cleonyminae), with Description of Ten New Species

Head (frontal)
 a Oodera ahoma (Mani & Kaul) b O. circularicollis sp. n. c O. felix sp. n.
d O. fidelis sp. n. e O. florea sp. n. f O. formosa (Giraud)
a O. gracilis Westwood b O. heikewernerae sp. n. c O. hoggarensis Hedqvist 

in Werner & Peters, 2018.

  [Scale bars: 1 mm.]   DOI:  10.3897/jhr.63.12754 

Abstract

The world species of Oodera Westwood, 1874 (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae: Cleonyminae: Ooderini) are revised. We examined 115 specimens of this rarely collected genus and based on morphological characters assign 110 specimens to 20 recognised species, of which the following ten are described as new: Oodera circularicollis sp. n. (Morocco), O. felix sp. n. (Central African Republic), O. fidelis sp. n. (Vietnam), O. florea sp. n. (Thailand), O. heikewernerae sp. n. (Botswana and South Africa), O. leibnizi sp. n. (Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and Phillippines), O. mkomaziensis sp. n. (Tanzania), O. namibiensis sp. n. (Namibia), O. niehuisorum sp. n. (Egypt and Israel), and O. srilankiensis sp. n. (Sri Lanka). Oodera monstrum Nikol’skaya, 1952, syn. n., is synonymised under O. formosa (Giraud, 1863). Five specimens could not be assigned to species and are treated as Oodera sp. Redescriptions are provided for all previously described valid species. Oodera albopilosa Crosby, 1909 is excluded from Oodera and transferred to Eupelmus Dalman, 1820 (Eupelmidae) as E. albopilosa (Crosby, 1909) n. comb. Oodera rufimana Westwood, 1874 and O. obscura Westwood, 1874 are treated as nomina dubia because we were unable to locate type specimens and the original descriptions are not sufficiently informative to clarify the taxonomic status of these names. Several specimens from North America are identified as introduced specimens of the European species O. formosa. We provide images and diagnostic characters for all 20 included species and an identification key to species.

Keywords: Taxonomy, parasitoid wasps, identification key, new species

Figure 5. Head (frontal) I a Oodera ahoma (Mani & Kaul) (imaged specimen: OAh01, holotype) b O. circularicollis sp. n. (OCi01, holotype) c O. felix sp. n. (OFe01, holotype)
d O. fidelis sp. n. (OFi01, holotype) e O. florea sp. n. (OFl01, holotype) f O. formosa (Giraud) (OFo03).

Figure 6. Head (frontal) II a O. gracilis Westwood (imaged specimen: OGr01) b O. heikewernerae sp. n. (OHe01, holotype) c O. hoggarensis Hedqvist (OHo02, paratype)
d O. leibnizi sp. n. (OLe03, paratype) e O. longicollis (Cameron) (OLo01) f O. madegassa Bouček (OMad01, holotype).

Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 17. Geographic distribution of the genus Oodera. Countries from which Oodera was recorded are highlighted in dark grey. Stars indicate record localities. Record localities of O. pumilae Yang and O. regiae Yang are not exact but placed in the centre of the respective Chinese province from which the species was recorded.

 Jennifer Werner and Ralph S. Peters. 2018. Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Oodera Westwood, 1874 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae, Cleonyminae), with Description of Ten New Species. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 63: 73-123.  DOI:  10.3897/jhr.63.12754

[Arachnida • 2018] Charinus kakum • A New Species of Charinus (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from Ghana, with Notes on West African Whip Spiders

Charinus kakum  Harms, 2018

DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.2.24505 

Abstract

The fauna of whip spiders (Amblypygi) in Western Africa is poorly known but probably diverse. Here, I describe the new species Charinus kakum sp. n. based on female morphology, and accompanied by DNA sequence data. The species is small and differs from other African species of Charinus in the low number of pseudosegments on leg IV, female genital features, spination patterns of the pedipalp, and small body size. It was collected from wet tropical rainforest in Kakum National Park, Ghana and is only the fourth species of Charinus to be recorded from the highly diverse Western African biodiversity hotspot. With a total body length of not even 6 mm it is also one of the smallest whip spiders in the world.

Key Words: Amblypygid, Arachnida, Kakum National Park, new species, taxonomy

Figure 2. Female holotype of Charinus kakum sp. n.: A, habitus dorsal; B, genital operculum in ventral view. Arrow indicates the position of the ventral sac covers; C, opisthosoma in dorsal view; D, eggs carried by the female (removed from the genital operculum for imaging).

 Figure 3. Female holotype of Charinus kakum sp. n.: A, details of habitus in dorsal view; B, details of habitus in ventral view; C, carapace in dorsal view; D, prosomal sternites in ventral view.

Charinidae Quintero, 1986

Charinus Simon, 1892

Type species: Phrynus australianus L. Koch, 1867, by original designation.

Taxonomic remarks: Weygoldt (2000a) defined Charinus based on the armature of the pedipalp: with three large dorsal spines on the tibia of which the first one is the largest and the others decrease proximally in length; spine 1 sometimes followed distally by one to three spinelets, pedipalp basitarsus with two spines of which the distal spine is largest. Charinus also differs from the closely related Sarax in lacking ventral sac covers (Rahmadi and Kojima 2010). The genus currently includes more than 70 species (Vasconcelos and Ferreira 2017) but is in need of revision (Weygoldt 2000a, b). Nonetheless, the new species aligns well with the current genus diagnosis and is placed here until such revision has been carried out.

Charinus kakum sp. n.

Diagnosis: Charinus kakum sp. n. differs from the cave-inhabiting species C. milloti Fage, 1939 and C. fagei Weygoldt, 1972 in low number of tibial segments on leg IV (5 in C. millotei and C. fagei vs. 3 in C. kakum), trichobothria patterns of leg IV (compare with Weygoldt 1972, 2000a), small body size (prosoma length 2.6 in C. kakum), and shorter legs; from the island species C. africanus Hansen 1921 through the female genital operculum which has a steep ventral flexure at about two third of its length in C. africanus (Weygoldt 1972; Miranda et al. 2016b) but is uniform in C. kakum, and body size (ca. 8.0–8.5 mm in C. africanus and 5.8 in C. kakum; Hansen 1921).

....

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Kakum National Park in Ghana.

Distribution: Only known from the type locality by a single female individual. The wider distribution remains unknown and unfortunately no other specimens could be collected, despite targeted searches in the vicinity of the type locality.

 Danilo Harms. 2018. A New Species of Charinus (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from Ghana, with Notes on West African Whip Spiders.  Evolutionary Systematics. 2: 45-53.  DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.2.24505

  

[Ichthyology • 2018] Corydoras benattii • From the Inside Out: A New Species of Armoured Catfish Corydoras (Siluriformes, Callichthyidae) with the Description of Poorly‐explored Character Sources

Corydoras benattii  Espindola, Tencatt, Pupo, Villa-Verde & Britto, 2018

 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13602

Photo by  Hans Evers

Abstract  

A new species of the armoured catfish genus Corydoras is described from the Xingu–Tapajos ecoregion, Brazilian Amazon. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by having the following combination of features: short mesethmoid, with anterior tip poorly developed, smaller than 50% of bone length; posterior margin of pectoral spine with serrations directed towards spine tip or perpendicularly oriented; infraorbital 2 only in contact with sphenotic; ventral laminar expansion of infraorbital 1 poorly or moderately developed; flank midline covered by small dark brown or black saddles with similar size to remaining markings on body; relatively larger, scarcer and more sparsely distributed dark brown or black spots on body; absence of stripe on flank midline; caudal fin with conspicuous dark brown or black spots along its entire surface; slender body; and strongly narrow frontals. A more comprehensive description of poorly‐explored internal character sources, such as the gross morphology of the brain, Weberian apparatus and swimbladder capsule elements is presented.

Keywords: Brazilian Amazon, Corydoradinae, Corydoras sp. C22, gross brain morphology, taxonomy, Xingu–Tapajos ecoregion

Figure 1: Corydoras benattii sp. nov. in (a) aquarium and (b) natural habitat, uncatalogued specimens, both near Altamira, lower Rio Xingu Basin. 

Figure 2: Corydoras benattii sp. nov., MZUSP 121671, holotype, 25·4 mm standard length, Brazil, Mato Grosso, Canarana–Gaúcha do Norte, Rio Culuene, tributary to Rio Xingu Basin.

Corydoras benattii, sp. nov.

Corydoras sp. 4. Castilhos & Buckup, 2011: 241 (species list).
Corydoras sp. C22. Evers, 1994: 755, Fig. 2 (species catalogue). Glaser et al., 1996: 92 (photos, species catalogue). Evers & Schäfer, 2004: 11, 12 (photos, species catalogue). Füller & Evers, 2005: 281, 285, 294 (species catalogue).
Corydoras sp. aff. C22. Glaser et al., 1996: 90 (photos, species catalogue).

Geographical distribution: Corydoras benattii occurs in both the Rio Xingu and Rio Tapajós basins, Brazilian Amazon (Fig. 10). In the Rio Xingu basin, it is known in Mato Grosso State from tributaries to the Rio Culuene, a clearwater tributary of the upper Rio Xingu (type locality) and in Pará State from the Rio Fresco sub drainage (Rio Trairão and Igarapé Manguari), middle Rio Xingu and from the lower Rio Xingu basin near Altamira. In the Rio Tapajós basin, it occurs in the Rio Peixoto de Azevedo, a tributary to the Rio Teles Pires, Mato Grosso and from Rio Cururu, a tributary to the Rio São Manuel, Pará.

Habitat notes: Specimens of Corydoras benattii were found in lotic habitats in the Rio Culuene, Rio Xingu basin and Rio Braço Norte, tributary to Rio Peixoto de Azevedo, Rio Tapajós basin (Fig. 11). Both localities have muddy‐brown water with clay and sandy substrata. Most specimens were captured in the small forest streams of black or clearwater, or in marginal ponds.

Etymology: The specific name, benattii, honours the late Laert Benatti for his humanitarian work, providing fresh water from artesian wells to poor communities in Brazil. Case is genitive.

V. C. Espíndola, L. F. C. Tencatt, F. M. Pupo, L. Villa‐Verde and M. R. Britto. 2018. From the Inside Out: A New Species of Armoured Catfish Corydoras with the Description of Poorly‐explored Character Sources (Teleostei, Siluriformes, Callichthyidae). Journal of Fish Biology.   DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13602

 Researchgate.net/publication/324606214_a_new_species_of_armoured_catfish_Corydoras

 facebook.com/LuizTencatt/posts/10213690737920159

    

[Botany • 2018] Saxifraga luoxiaoensis (Saxifragaceae) • A New Species from Hunan and Jiangxi, China

Saxifraga luoxiaoensis W. B. Liao, L. Wang & X. J. Zhang

in Zhang, Liu, Meng, et al., 2018.

DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.350.3.8

Abstract

Saxifraga luoxiaoensis, a new species of the genus Saxifraga sect. Irregulares (Saxifragaceae) from Hunan and Jiangxi, China, is described and illustrated. This new species is most similar to S. daqiaoensis, which can be easily distinguished from the later by its leaf margin 7- or 9-lobed and winged capsule. The systematic position of this species within Saxifraga sect. Irregulares is assessed based on molecular phylogenetic analysis of the chloroplast regions sequences together with morphological comparisons.

Keywords: China, Hunan and Jiangxi, molecular phylogeny, new species, Saxifraga, Eudicots

FIGURE 2. Saxifraga luoxiaoensis W. B. Liao, L. Wang & X. J. Zhang.
A. Habitat; B. adaxial surface of leaves; C. abaxial surface of leaves; D. plants and inflorescence; E. rhizomes and petiole; F. flowers; G. semiannular disc; H. fruits on dry specimen; I. young fruit.

Saxifraga luoxiaoensis W. B. Liao, L. Wang & X. J. Zhang, sp. nov. 

Type:— CHINA. Jiangxi Province, Suichuan County, Daijiapu Town, in wet limestone under of gully, Elev. 1466 m, May 2016, W. Y. Zhao, Q. L. Ding, X. J. Zhang et al., LXP-13-16785 (SYS!).

 Diagnosis:— Saxifraga luoxiaoensis is similar to S. daqiaoensis, S. epiphylla and S. mengtzeana. S. epiphylla differs from the new species chiefly in that it produces a foliar embryo in the sinus of the basal leaf blades. The leaf blades of S. mengtzeana has no foliar embryo, but it has blades glabrous adaxially. S. daqiaoensis differs from the new species in its peltate leaves and leaf margin remotely shallowly dentate or subentire. The most distinctive characters of S. luoxiaoensis is the winged capsule. 

 Distribution and ecology:— The new species Saxifraga luoxiaoensis occurs in the centre of Luoxiao mountain range between Hunan and Jiangxi province, China, and grows on moist rocks nearby valleys, alt. 1200–1900 m. 

 Etymology:—The specific epithet is derived from Luoxiao mountain range.

Xin-Jian Zhang, Zhong-Cheng Liu, Kai-Kai Meng, Qiao-Ling Ding, Lei Wang and Wen-Bo Liao. 2018. Saxifraga luoxiaoensis (Saxifragaceae), A New Species from Hunan and Jiangxi, China. Phytotaxa. 350(3); 291–296. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.350.3.8

[PaleoMammalogy • 2018] Cifelliodon wahkarmoosuch • Late-surviving Stem Mammal Links the Lowermost Cretaceous of North America and Gondwana

 Cifelliodon wahkarmoosuch 

Huttenlocker, Grossnickle, Kirkland, Schultz  & Luo, 2018

  DOI:  10.1038/s41586-018-0126-y

 Illustration: Jorge A. Gonzalez  nature.com

Abstract

Haramiyida was a successful clade of mammaliaforms, spanning the Late Triassic period to at least the Late Jurassic period, but their fossils are scant outside Eurasia and Cretaceous records are controversial. Here we report, to our knowledge, the first cranium of a large haramiyidan from the basal Cretaceous of North America. This cranium possesses an amalgam of stem mammaliaform plesiomorphies and crown mammalian apomorphies. Moreover, it shows dental traits that are diagnostic of isolated teeth of supposed multituberculate affinities from the Cretaceous of Morocco, which have been assigned to the enigmatic ‘Hahnodontidae’. Exceptional preservation of this specimen also provides insights into the evolution of the ancestral mammalian brain. We demonstrate the haramiyidan affinities of Gondwanan hahnodontid teeth, removing them from multituberculates, and suggest that hahnodontid mammaliaforms had a much wider, possibly Pangaean distribution during the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition.

The new species Cifelliodon wahkarmoosuch is estimated to have weighed 2.5 pounds and probably grew to be about the size of a small hare.

 Illustration: Jorge A. Gonzalez

Mammaliaformes sensu Rowe (1986) 

Haramiyida Hahn, Sigogneau-Russell and Wouters (1989) 

Hahnodontidae Sigogneau-Russell (1991) 

Cifelliodon gen. nov.

Cifelliodon wahkarmoosuch sp. nov.  

Etymology. Cifelli’s tooth (Latin: -odon) of the Yellow Cat (Ute language: yellow, wahkar; cat, moosuch). Genus name honours Richard Cifelli for his contributions to Cretaceous mammal research in the American West.

Holotype. An exceptionally preserved skull, UMNH VP 16771 (Natural History Museum of Utah, Vertebrate Paleontology Collection).

Locality and horizon. The holotype is from the ‘Andrew’s Site’ quarry in the Lower Cretaceous Yellow Cat Member, Cedar Mountain Formation, Grand County, Utah, USA15. Radiometric dating places the age between approximately 139 and 124 million years old.

Diagnosis. Medium-to-large Mesozoic mammaliaform with broad, shallow skull and rostrum and a reduced marginal tooth count; dental formula: I2:C1:PC4; ultimate upper molars with high anterobuccal cusp and low, broad posterolingual cusp connected by a low ridge; septomaxilla absent; incisive foramina enlarged and positioned posteriorly on palate behind the level of the last (posterior) incisor pair; massive pterygoid transverse process that extends far ventral to the palatal surface; attenuated lacrimal anterior process with limited nasolacrimal contact; prominent sagittal crest; extensive occipital exposure of parietal and postparietal; plesiomorphic retention of a tabular bone; differs from Hahnodon in its larger size and higher aspect ratio of the rear molar in occlusal view (slightly more triangular than oval, with posterior apex).

The new species Cifelliodon wahkarmoosuch is estimated to have weighed 2.5 pounds and probably grew to be about the size of a small hare.

 Illustration: Jorge A. Gonzalez 

Adam K. Huttenlocker, David M. Grossnickle, James I. Kirkland, Julia A. Schultz and Zhe-Xi Luo. 2018. Late-surviving Stem Mammal Links the Lowermost Cretaceous of North America and Gondwana. Nature.  DOI:  10.1038/s41586-018-0126-y

A 3D view of early mammals   nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05134-9

 twitter.com/Paleojim/status/999410808424574976

[Entomology • 2018] Microgomphus farrelli • A New Species of Dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera: Gomphidae) Based on Adults of Both Sexes and Larvae from Northern Thailand

Microgomphus farrelli  

Makbun & Fleck, 2018. 

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4422.3.10

 facebook.com/NoppadonMakbun • ThaiOdonata.blogspot.com

Abstract

The new gomphid species, Microgomphus farrelli sp. nov., is described and illustrated on the basis of male and female adult specimens and larvae collected from Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son province, Northern Thailand. It is compared with other species of the genus. Based on the larvae this species is most closely related to Microgomphus svihleri (Asahina, 1970), comb. nov., which is the senior and valid synonym of Microgomphus thailandicus Asahina, 1981, syn. nov.

Keywords: Odonata, dragonfly, Anisoptera, Gomphidae, Microgomphus, new species, Thailand

  Noppadon Makbun and Günther Fleck. 2018. Description of Microgomphus farrelli sp. nov. (Odonata: Anisoptera: Gomphidae) Based on Adults of Both Sexes and Larvae from Northern Thailand. Zootaxa. 4422(3); 442–450. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4422.3.10

 facebook.com/NoppadonMakbun/posts/2462622937088529

 thaiodonata.blogspot.com/2011/02/microgomphus-thailandica.html

[Ichthyology • 2018] Pseudolithoxus kinja • Biogeography and Species Delimitation of the Rheophilic Suckermouth Catfish Genus Pseudolithoxus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), with the Description of A New Species from the Brazilian Amazon

Pseudolithoxus kinja

 Bifi, de Oliveira, Rapp Py-Daniel & Collins, 2018 

in Collins, Bifi, de Oliveira, Ribeiro, Lujan, Rapp Py-Daniel & Hrbek, 2018

DOI:  10.1080/14772000.2018.1468362  

Abstract

The rapids-dwelling suckermouth catfish genus Pseudolithoxus was previously only known from the Guiana-Shield-draining Orinoco and Casiquiare river systems of Colombia and Venezuela, but new records have expanded this range considerably further into the Amazon basin of Brazil, and include occurrences from rivers draining the northern Brazilian Shield. These highly disjunct records are now placed in an evolutionary and phylogeographic context using a dated species tree constructed from mitochondrial (Cytb) and nuclear (RAG1) gene sequence data. Due to mito-nuclear discordance, we also delimit the putative species using statistical coalescent models and a range of additional metrics. We infer that at least two species of Pseudolithoxus are present in the Amazon basin: P. nicoi, previously only recorded from the río Casiquiare, but now also reported from the upper rio Negro, and a new species, which we describe herein from south-draining Guiana Shield and north-draining Brazilian Shield. Our data reject a simple model of Miocene vicariance in the group following uplift of the Uaupés Arch separating the Orinoco and Amazon systems, and instead suggest more complex dispersal scenarios through palaeo-connections in the Pliocene and also via the contemporary rio Negro and rio Madeira in the late Pleistocene.

Key words: aquatic, biodiversity, ichthyology, Neotropics, phylogeny, rio Negro, taxonomy

Figure 1. Pseudolithoxus kinja, holotype, 148.0 mm SL, INPA 3220; adult male in alcohol, rio Uatum~a, Amazonas, Brazil.

Pseudolithoxus kinja sp. nov. 

Bifi, de Oliveira, Rapp Py-Daniel & Collins

....

ETYMOLOGY: ‘Kinja’, meaning the ‘true people’, is how the Waimiri-Atroari indigenous people refer to themselves. The Kinja people inhabit areas surrounding the rio Uatum~a and part of the rio Negro in the states of Amazonas and Roraima, Brazil. The ethnic term ‘Waimiri-Atroari’ was adopted in the beginning of the 20th century. The epithet ‘kinja’ pays homage to this brave people who survived three attempts of genocide in the last century, and survive and thrive today in their protected area. Treated as a noun in apposition.

Rupert A. Collins, Alessandro G. Bifi, Renildo R. de Oliveira, Emanuell D. Ribeiro, Nathan K. Lujan, Lúcia H. Rapp Py-Daniel and Tomas Hrbek. 2018. Biogeography and Species Delimitation of the Rheophilic Suckermouth Catfish Genus Pseudolithoxus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), with the Description of A New Species from the Brazilian Amazon.   Systematics and Biodiversity. DOI:  10.1080/14772000.2018.1468362 

 twitter.com/boopsboops/status/999286995758272512

 twitter.com/DrNathanLujan/status/999355846839726080

[Entomology • 2018] Drepanosticta adenani • A New Species (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Drepanosticta adenani  Dow & Reels, 2018

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4379.3.6

twitter.com/Naturalis_Sci 

Abstract

Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov. (holotype ♂, from a tributary of Sungai Jela, Nanga Segerak area, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sri Aman Division, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, 18 vii 2016, deposited in the Natural History Museum, London) is described from both sexes.

Keywords: Odonata, Zygoptera, Platystictidae, Drepanosticta, adenani, Borneo, Sarawak, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, new species

FIGURES 1–2. Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov.:
(1) Holotype male, head dorsal-frontal view; (2) paratype female (SAR16_PST12), head dorsal-frontal view. 

FIGURES 6–11. Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov., synthorax in lateral view:
(6) holotype male; (7) paratype female (SAR16_PST12). Markings of terminal abdominal segments:
(8) holotype male, lateral view; (9) paratype female (SAR16_PST12), lateral view;
(10) holotype male, dorsal view; (11) paratype female (SAR16_PST12), dorsal view. 

Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov.

Etymology. The species epithet adenani, a noun in the genitive case, is a dedication to the late Tan Sri Adenan bin Satem (27 January 1944–11 January 2017), Chief Minister of Sarawak from 2014–2017, in recognition of his support for biodiversity research and conservation in Sarawak, and for starting the Research for Intensified Management of Bio-rich Areas (RIMBA) project, which includes LEWS.  

Rory A. Dow and Graham T. Reels. 2018. Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov., from the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarawak (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae). Zootaxa. 4379(3); 429–435.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4379.3.6

 researchgate.net/publication/323201539_Drepanosticta_adenani_from_Lanjak_Entimau_Sarawak

 twitter.com/Naturalis_Sci/status/973153590129909760

[Herpetology • 2018] Anomaloglossus meansi • A New Pantepui Species of the Anomaloglossus beebei Group (Anura, Aromobatidae)

Anomaloglossus meansi 

Kok, Nicolaï, Lathrop & MacCulloch, 2018

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.759.24742 

Abstract

Recent extinctions and drastic population declines have been documented in the Guiana Shield endemic frog genus Anomaloglossus, hence the importance to resolve its alpha-taxonomy. Based on molecular phylogenies, the literature has long reported the occurrence of an undescribed species in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana in the Pantepui region. We here describe this new taxon and demonstrate that in addition to divergence at the molecular level the new species differs from congeners by a unique combination of morphological characters, notably a small size (maximum SVL in males 18.86 mm, maximum SVL in females 21.26 mm), Finger I = Finger II when fingers adpressed, Finger III swollen in breeding males, fringes on fingers absent, toes basally webbed but lacking fringes, in life presence of a thin dorsolateral stripe from tip of snout to tip of urostyle, and a black throat in preserved males (immaculate cream in females). Virtually nothing is known about the ecology of the new species. We suggest the new species to be considered as Data Deficient according to IUCN standards.

Keywords: Aromobatidae, diversity, Guiana Shield, Guyana, Pakaraima Mountains

Anomaloglossus meansi sp. n. in life.
 A female paratype ROM 43332, dorsal view B female paratype ROM 43329, dorsolateral view C male paratype CPI 11000, dorsolateral view. Photographs (A, B) by AL; photograph (C) courtesy D. Bruce Means. 

Anomaloglossus meansi sp. n.

Anomaloglossus sp. Ayanganna Grant et al. 2006: 120–121, 2017: S66.

Anomaloglossus cf. praderioi Kok 2010: 66.

Anomaloglossus sp. B Kok et al. 2012: supplementary information.

Diagnosis: The following characteristics pertain to preserved specimens unless otherwise noted. A medium-sized Anomaloglossus differing from other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: (1) mean SVL in males 18.53 mm (18.15–18.86 mm, n = 3), mean SVL in females 19.15 mm (17.66–21.26, n = 5); (2) skin on dorsum shagreened, venter smooth; (3) tympanic annulus visible anteroventrally; (4) Fingers I and II subequal in length, FI = FII when fingers adpressed; (5) tip of Finger IV not surpassing the base of the distal subarticular tubercle on Finger III when fingers adpressed; (6) distal subarticular tubercle on Finger III and IV present; (7) Finger III swollen in males (conspicuous pre- and postaxial swelling in breeding males); (8) fringes on fingers absent; (9) toes basally webbed, fringes on toes absent; (10) tarsal keel well defined, slightly tubercle-like and weakly curved at proximal end; (11) black arm gland absent, glandular supracarpal pad present in both sexes (larger and more glandular in males); (12) cloacal tubercles absent; (13) pale paracloacal mark present; (14) in life, thin dorsolateral stripe present, from tip of snout to tip of urostyle (not visible, or only barely distinguishable in preservative); (15) ventrolateral stripe absent, but presence of irregular white blotches on the lower flank; (16) oblique lateral stripe absent; (17) sexual dichromatism in throat colour pattern: throat heavily pigmented with melanophores in males (dark brown to black in life), immaculate cream in females (yellowish-orange in life); (18) sexual dichromatism in ventral colour pattern: belly pigmented with melanophores in males, immaculate cream in females; (19) in life, iris metallic reddish bronze with fine dark brown reticulation; (20) large intestine extensively pigmented; (21) testes cream, unpigmented; (22) mature oocytes partly pigmented; (23) median lingual process small, longer than wide, tapered; (24) maxillary teeth present, small.

Figure 4. Anomaloglossus meansi sp. n. in life.
A female paratype ROM 43332, dorsal view B female paratype ROM 43329, dorsolateral view C male paratype CPI 11000, dorsolateral view.

Photographs (A, B) by AL; photograph (C) courtesy D. Bruce Means. 

Figure 5. Habitat of Anomaloglossus meansi sp. n. on the Wokomung Massif
A photograph (looking NE) of the highest part of the massif; the plateau in the centre of the photo is the tallest part of the entire Wokomung Massif
B cloud forest at about 1385 m elevation, habitat of Anomaloglossus meansi sp. n.

Photographs courtesy D. Bruce Means.

Distribution and natural history: The only localities documented for the new species are depicted in Figure 2. Specimens were collected in cloud forest (Figure 5), on the ground or low vegetation. Most were collected after nightfall, although one adult and one juvenile were collected during daylight. Specimens were collected on mountain flanks, not summits; at 1490 m on Ayanganna, and at 1234 m, 1371 m and 1411 m on Wokomung. The majority of specimens (eight) were collected at 1234 m on Wokomung. Fewer were collected at higher elevations; only one each at 1490 m on Ayanganna, 1371 m and 1411 m on Wokomung. This may have been because of habitat differences; high-canopy open forest at lower elevation and dense, low-canopy vegetation at higher elevations.

Etymology: It is a great pleasure to name this new species after our friend and colleague D. Bruce Means, indefatigable explorer of the “islands in the sky”, and who collected one specimen of the new species and contributed with photographs and data. Thanks to his extensive fieldwork, Bruce Means greatly contributed to our understanding of the distribution, ecology, and taxonomy of Pantepui amphibians and reptiles. The specific epithet should be treated as a noun in the genitive case.

 Philippe J.R. Kok, Michaël P.J. Nicolaï, Amy Lathrop and Ross D. MacCulloch. 2018.  Anomaloglossus meansi sp. n., A New Pantepui Species of the Anomaloglossus beebei Group (Anura, Aromobatidae). ZooKeys. 759: 99-116.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.759.24742

   

[Herpetology • 2018] Atractus atlas • A Giant on the Ground: Another Large-bodied Atractus (Serpentes: Colubridae: Dipsadinae) from Ecuadorian Andes, with Comments on the Dietary Specializations of the Goo-eaters Snakes

Atractus atlas

Passos, Scanferla, Melo-Sampaio, Brito & Almendariz, 2018

 ‘Atlas Ground Snake  -  Culebra Tierrera del Atlas’ 
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201820170976 

   

ABSTRACT

Body-size is significantly correlated with the number of vertebrae (pleomerism) in multiple vertebrate lineages, indicating that somitogenesis process is an important factor dictating evolutionary change associated to phyletic allometry and, consequently, species fitness and diversification. However, the role of the evolution of extreme body sizes (dwarfism and gigantism) remains elusive in snakes, mainly with respect to postnatal ontogeny in dietary preferences associated with evolution of gigantism in many lineages. We described herein a new species in the highly diversified and species-rich genus Atractus on the basis of four specimens from the southeastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. The new species is morphologically similar and apparently closely related to two other allopatric giant congeners (A. gigas and A. touzeti), from which it can be distinguished by their distinct dorsal and ventral coloration, the number of supralabial and infralabial scales, the number of maxillary teeth, and relative width of the head. In addition, we discuss on the ontogenetic trajectories hypotheses and dietary specializations related to evolution of gigantism in the goo-eaters genus Atractus.

Key words: Atractus gigas; Atractus touzeti; dietary shift; goo-eater snakes; macrostomy; postnatal ontogeny

Figure 1: General view in life of the holotype of Atractus atlas sp. nov. (MEPN 14203). SVL 820 mm, CL 106 mm + N (amputated tail).

Atractus atlas sp. nov. 

Atractus sp. ̶ Almendáriz, Simmons, Brito y Vaca-Guerrero. 2014.

 Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 8(1): 60.

Diagnosis: Atractus atlas can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) smooth dorsal scale rows 17/17/17; (2) postoculars two; (3) loreal moderately long, contacting second to fourth supralabials; (4) temporal formula usually 1+2; (5) supralabials eight, fourth and fifth contacting eye; (6) infralabials eight, first four contacting chinshields; (7) maxillary teeth eight; (8) gular scale rows usually four; (9) preventrals usually four; (10) ventrals 158–169 in females; (11) subcaudals 28– 33 in females; (12) in preservative, dorsum yellow ocher with a series of alternating black bands (2–3 scales long), connected or not to the opposite band on the vertebral region; (13) ventral surface of body mostly pale buff scattered with conspicuous black marks (blotches, spots and dots); (14) maximum body size moderate in females 820 mm SVL; (15) tail size moderately long in females (12.2–15.0% SVL); (16) midbody diameter in females 18.0–21.4 mm.

....

Etymology: The Latinized specific epithet “atlas” (Άτλας) represents a Titan from the Greek mythology that was condemned by Zeus to support the entire world (or the heaven in some variations of the ancient legend) forever on their shoulders as punishment for attacking the Mount Olympus. The legend is also related to excess of obligations and duties or the huge efforts to complete certain difficult tasks. We employed herein this name alluding to the large body-size of the new species (it is among the five species of the genus that reach the largest body-size; see Passos et al. 2010a), as well as in reference to the tremendous endeavor for attaining the real diversity of Atractus, not only for discovering undescribed species, but also for recognition of a lot of synonymies in the old and even recent literature, or frequent species misidentifications in collections and public repositories (see Passos et al. 2017). We propose the vernacular name of Atractus atlas to be ‘Atlas Ground Snake’ in English and ‘Culebra Tierrera del Atlas’ in Spanish.

Distribution and natural history: Southeastern portions of Ecuadorian Andes, from Zúñac in the province of Morona Santiago, south to Paquisha, Guayzimi Alto and Reserva Biológica Cerro Plateado in the province of Zamora-Chinchipe. Atractus atlas occurs in Mountain rainforest at 1800–2100 m asl (Fig. 5). 

The holotype (MEPN 14203) was found resting under leaf litter locally called “bamba” at 10:46 am during thermoregulatory activity with direct incidence of sunlight. The vegetation covering the type-locality is composed by a type of cloud forest denominated “Western Mountain Forest”. This forest formation usually remains cloudy in the early hours of the morning, afternoons, or even all day long, depending on the season, and is comprised by trees of 15–20 m covered with bryophytes, bromeliads and abundant moss. The plant layer sits on a plateau of sandstone, and grows on a substrate of very acid sand soil poor in nutrients. 

The paratype (DHMECN 12361) is a roadkill found in the early hours of the morning dead on the Macas–Riobamba road. The vegetal formation in this locality is characterized as a premontane evergreen forest of the southern portion of Cordillera Oriental of the Ecuadorian Andes (Ministerio del Ambiente 2013), in which the trees have abundant orchids and bromeliads and the tree canopy reaches 30 m where the dominant trees species are romerillo (Prumnopitys montana), cedro (Cedrela montana) and royal palm (Dictyocaryum lamarckianum).

Figure 7: General view of an uncollected specimen of Atractus sp. eating an earthworm in the field at Parque Nacional Sangay (1785 m asl), province of Morona Santiago, Ecuador. This specimen had about 750 mm of total length. Black arrow indicates the quadrate-mandibular joint displaced backward during swallowing process. Photo by Hérnan Orellana.

Paulo Passos, Agustín Scanferla, Paulo R. Melo-Sampaio, Jorge Brito and Aan Almendariz. 2018. A Giant on the Ground: Another Large-bodied Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadinae) from Ecuadorian Andes, with Comments on the Dietary Specializations of the Goo-eaters Snakes. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc. - Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences).  DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201820170976

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