[Paleontology • 2023] Podocnemis tatacoensis • A New Fossil Turtle Ends the Controversy on the Occurrence of the extant Genus Podocnemis Wagler, 1830 (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) at the Miocene Fauna of La Venta, Colombia

Podocnemis tatacoensis 

Cadena & Vanegas, 2023

 sciencepress.MNHN.fr/en/periodiques/Geodiversitas

digital painting by Juan Giraldo Pepper 

 facebook.com/JuanGiraldoPepper1

The estimate divergence time for extant taxa based on molecules usually exceed the age of their oldest fossil evidence; a situation that turtles do not scape. An extant genus with this situation, and thus having a controversial oldest record is Podocnemis Wagler, 1830. Here we present a new fossil turtle that constitutes a new species for this genus and represents its oldest so far known record, from the Miocene (Serravallian) of La Tatacoa Desert, Colombia. The new taxon named Podocnemis tatacoensis n. sp. shares with all extant members of Podocnemis a nuchal bone wider than long; lateral musk foramina at the hyoplastron-peripherals (except P. sextuberculata Cornalia, 1849), pectoral scales do not contact mesoplastra, but do contact entoplastron and epiplastra. We explored the phylogenetic position of P. tatacoensis n. sp. finding support for its inclusion as part of Podocnemis clade, particularly in a clade composed by the extant P. unifilis Troschel, 1848, suggesting a potential closer relationship of the new fossil taxon with this taxon.

KEYWORDS: Podocnemididae, Podocnemis, Colombia, Neogene, Turtles, new species

Podocnemis tatacoensis n. sp.

Edwin-Alberto CADENA and Rubén Dario VANEGAS. 2023. A New Fossil Turtle Ends the Controversy on the Occurrence of the extant Genus Podocnemis Wagler, 1830 at the Miocene Fauna of La Venta, Colombia.   GEODIVERSITAS. 45(3); 127-138. sciencepress.MNHN.fr/en/periodiques/Geodiversitas/45/3

[This article is a part of the thematic issue Neotropical palaeontology: the Miocene La Venta biome]

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[Herpetology • 2023] Centrolene zarza • A New Glassfrog Species of the Genus Centrolene (Anura: Centrolenidae) from Cordillera del Cóndor, southern Ecuador

 Centrolene zarza  

Székely, Córdova-Díaz, Hualpa-Vega, Hualpa-Vega & Székely, 2023

 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1149.96134

Abstract

Based on an integrative taxonomical approach, using molecular, morphological, and bioacoustics data, a new species of glassfrog of the genus Centrolene is described from Refugio de Vida Silvestre El Zarza, southern Ecuador. Centrolene zarza sp. nov. is a medium sized species, easily distinguished from all other glassfrogs by its unique combination of characters, such as a shagreen dorsum with elevated warts corresponding to white spots, an evident tympanum, half or more than half of the upper parietal peritoneum covered by iridophores, iridophores absent on all visceral peritonea, including the pericardium, a lobed liver lacking iridophores, males with small projecting humeral spines, the outer edges of forearms and tarsus with a row of enameled warts that often continue into the external edges of Finger IV and/or Toe V, and white or yellowish white iris with thick black reticulations. The new species is closely related to a currently undescribed species and superficially resembles C. condor, C. pipilata, C. solitaria, C. altitudinalis, and C. daidalea. The tadpole and advertisement and courtship calls are described, and the threats to the species survival, mainly represented by habitat loss and contamination due to mining activities, are briefly discussed.

Keywords: Amphibians, DNA, phylogenetics, tadpoles, tropical Andes, vocalizations

Holotype of Centrolene zarza sp. nov. (MUTPL 932, adult female), SVL 25.5 mm, in life
A lateral view B dorsolateral view C ventral view.

Morphological variation of Centrolene zarza sp. nov. in live specimens
A, B female, paratype (MUTPL 1051) C, D male, paratype (MUTPL 933) E, F male, paratype (MUTPL 1022).

Class Amphibia Blainville, 1816

Order Anura Duméril, 1805

Superfamily Centrolenoidea Taylor, 1951

Family Centrolenidae Taylor, 1951

Subfamily Centroleninae Taylor, 1951

Genus Centrolene Jiménez de la Espada, 1872

 Centrolene zarza sp. nov.

Common English name: Zarza Glassfrog 

Common Spanish name: Rana de cristal del Zarza

Diagnosis: We assign this species to Centrolene based on phylogenetic evidence (Fig. 1) and on the general morphological similarity to other members of the genus (presence of humeral spines in males, liver divided into lobes and the hepatic peritoneum lacking an iridophore layer, and green bones in life). Centrolene zarza has the following combination of characters: (1) dentigerous processes of vomers ovoid, in transverse row between the choanae, separated medially by distance slightly lower than the width of processes; each process bearing 3–5 teeth; (2) snout rounded in dorsal view, sloping in profile; nostrils slightly elevated, producing depression in the internarial area; canthus rostralis not evident in dorsal view, rounded in cross section; (3) tympanic annulus and tympanic membrane evident but with coloration similar to that of surrounding skin; tympanum large, its diameter ~ 46% of eye diameter; weak supratympanic fold present, slightly concealing the upper margin of the tympanum; (4) dorsal skin shagreen with elevated, and some enameled, warts corresponding to white spots; (5) ventral skin coarsely areolate; ventral surfaces of thighs below vent with a pair of large, round, flat tubercles, flat tubercles (subcloacal warts); cloacal region bordered ventrally by many enameled, white, warts; (6) half or more than half of the upper parietal peritoneum covered by iridophores (condition P3); iridophores absent on all visceral peritonea, including the pericardium (condition V0); (7) liver lobed, lacking iridophores (condition H0); (8) adult males with small projecting humeral spines, round vocal slits and large subgular vocal sac; (9) webbing absent between Fingers I and II, basal between II and III, moderate between outer fingers: III2+–2IV; (10) webbing between toes moderate: I1-– -2II1-–2III1-–2IV2–1+V; (11) outer edge of forearms and tarsus with row of enameled warts that often continue into the external edges of Finger IV and/or Toe V; fingers and toes with broad lateral fringes; (12) unpigmented Type I nuptial pads present in males; concealed prepollex; (13) Finger I shorter than Finger II; (14) diameter of eye ~ 2× wider than disc on Finger III; (15) in life, dorsum light green with many white or whitish, elevated, spots and flecks of various sizes; bones green; (16) in preservative, dorsal surfaces greyish with white spots; (17) in life, iris white or yellowish white with thick and thin black reticulations; rounded points on the upper and lower side of the iris and no circumpupillary ring; (18) fingers and toes yellowish, usually lacking melanophores from the dorsal surfaces, except for Finger IV and Toes IV and V; (19) males call from the upper surfaces of leaves; advertisement call consisting of a high pitched, pulsed, single note, with every call/note featuring three clearly distinguishable pulses and a mean dominant frequency of 5309.8 Hz; courtship call composed by multi-noted, pulsed calls of usually five notes/call and a mean dominant frequency of 5127.4 Hz; (20) fighting behavior unknown; (21) egg clutches attached to the upper side of leaves; clutch size of 13–33 embryos (n = 2); probably without parental care; (22) tadpoles with elongated, oval-depressed body; sinistral spiracle; vent tube situated medially, caudal and with dextral opening; tail 2.4× the length of the body; labial tooth row formula 0/2(1) in Gosner 26 but without tooth rows in Gosner 31; mostly pinkish coloration; (23) medium body size (sensu Guayasamin et al. 2020), SVL 25.5–27.0 mm in adult females (n = 2) and 23.2–26.2 mm in adult males (24.1 ± 1.21, n = 5).

Etymology: The specific name zarza is a noun in apposition and refers to the species’ type locality: Refugio de Vida Silvestre El Zarza. This relatively small wildlife refuge conserves an impressive biodiversity with countless species of plants and birds, more than 50 species of amphibians and reptiles and several emblematic mammals, like the Amazonian tapir, jaguar, oncilla or the spectacled bear. It is surrounded by active mining concessions and thus fulfills an important role as a conservation island for the region, with an urgent need to expand connectivity between the reserve and neighboring conservation areas.

Egg-clutches of Centrolene zarza sp. nov. collected from the type locality (MUTPL-T22)
A the egg-clutches attached to a leaf (10 June 2021) B hatchlings (sensu McDiarmid and Altig 1999) in stage Gosner 20 (10 June 2021) C hatchlings in stage Gosner 22 (13 June 2021).

 

Paul Székely, María Córdova-Díaz, Daniel Hualpa-Vega, Santiago Hualpa-Vega and Diana Székely. 2023. A New Glassfrog Species of the Genus Centrolene (Amphibia, Anura, Centrolenidae) from Cordillera del Cóndor, southern Ecuador. ZooKeys. 1149: 53-84. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1149.96134

Resumen: Se describe una nueva especie de rana de cristal del género Centrolene, del Refugio de Vida Silvestre El Zarza, sur del Ecuador, basada en un enfoque de taxonomía integrativa, utilizando datos moleculares, morfológicos y bioacústicos. La especie Centrolene zarza sp. nov. es de tamaño mediano, que se distingue fácilmente de todas las demás ranas de cristal por su combinación única de caracteres tales como dorso de piel rugosa con verrugas elevadas que corresponden a manchas blancas, tímpano evidente, la mitad o más del peritoneo parietal superior cubierto por iridóforos, iridóforos ausentes en todos los peritoneos viscerales, incluido el pericardio, hígado lobulado sin iridóforos, machos con pequeñas espinas humerales salientes, borde externo de los antebrazos y el tarso con hilera de verrugas esmaltadas que a menudo continúan en los bordes externos del Dedo IV y/o del Dedo V del pie, e iris blanco o blanco amarillento con reticulaciones negras gruesas. La nueva especie está estrechamente relacionada con una especie no descrita y se parece superficialmente a C. condor, C. pipilata, C. solitaria, C. altitudinalis o C. daidalea. Se describen renacuajos, cantos de aviso y cortejo, y se discuten brevemente las amenazas para su supervivencia, representadas por la pérdida de hábitat y la contaminación debido a las actividades mineras.

Palabras claves: ADN, Andes tropicales, Anfibios, filogenética, renacuajos, vocalizaciones

  

[Herpetology • 2023] Diploderma danbaense, D. jiulongense, etc. • Four New Species of the Genus Diploderma Hallowell, 1861 (Squamata: Agamidae) from China

Diploderma danbaense,

D. donglangense, 

D. jiulongense,

D. tachengense

 Liu, Hou, Ananjeva & Rao, 2023

DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.1148.97706

Abstract

Four new species of Diploderma are described from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, southwestern China, based on an integrative taxonomic approach, combining morphological and genetic data. The first new species from Danba County, Sichuan Province, is morphologically most similar and phylogenetically closely related to D. flaviceps, but it can be diagnosed from the latter by having a relatively much shorter tail and by a genetic distance of 4.4% in the ND2 gene; the second new species from Muli County, Sichuan Province, is phylogenetically closely related to D. daochengense, D. yongshengense, and D. yulongense, but it can be diagnosed from the latter three species by having a pale yellow gular spot and by genetic distances of 5.6–6.7% in the ND2 gene; the third new species from Jiulong County, Sichuan Province, is morphologically most similar and phylogenetically closely related to D. angustelinea, but it can be diagnosed from the latter by having a relatively much longer tail and by a genetic distance of 2.8% in the ND2 gene; and the last new species from Weixi County, Yunnan Province, is phylogenetically closely related to D. aorun, but it can be diagnosed from the latter by having a pale yellow gular spot and by a genetic distance of 2.9% in the ND2 gene. Our work brings the number of species within the genus Diploderma to 46.

Keywords: Hengduan Mountain Region, ND2, Sichuan, systematic, taxonomy, Yunnan

Holotype (KIZ2022048) of Diploderma danbaense sp. nov. in life 

A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view D close-up view of the dorsolateral side of the head E close-up view of the ventral side of the head F close-up view of the oral cavity.

Holotype (KIZ2022057) of Diploderma donglangense sp. nov. in life 

A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view D close-up view of the dorsolateral side of the head E close-up view of the ventral side of the head F close-up view of the oral cavity.

Holotype (KIZ2022086) of Diploderma jiulongense sp. nov. in life 

A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view D close-up view of the dorsolateral side of the head E close-up view of the ventral side of the head F close-up view of the oral cavity.

Holotype (KIZ2022028) of Diploderma tachengense sp. nov. in life 

A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view D close-up view of the dorsolateral side of the head E close-up view of the ventral side of the head F close-up view of the oral cavity.

 

 Diploderma danbaense sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to Danba County, where the new species was discovered.

Diagnosis: Diploderma danbaense sp. nov. can be diagnosed from congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: (1) body size large, SVL 68.7–77.0 mm in adult males, 76.6 in adult female; (2) tail short, TAL/SVL 1.61–1.78 in adult males, 1.55 in adult female; (3) head relatively long, HW/HL 0.66–0.75 in adult males, 0.63 in adult female; (4) limbs moderately long, FLL/SVL 0.41–0.47 in adult males, 0.44 in adult female, HLL/SVL 0.66–0.70 in adult males, 0.65 in adult female; (5) MD 48–58; (6) F4S 16–20, T4S 21–26; (7) tympanum concealed; (8) nuchal and dorsal crests discontinuous, scales of nuchal and dorsal crests enlarged, strongly erected skin fold under nuchal crest and moderately erected skin fold under dorsal crest in males in life, weakly erected skin fold under nuchal crest and no skin fold under dorsal crest in females in life; (9) distinct transverse gular fold present; (10) ventral scales of head heterogeneous in size, anterior and middle ones larger, posterior and side ones smaller, all strongly keeled; (11) ventral scales of body strongly keeled; (12) gular spot absent in both sexes; (13) dorsolateral stripes distinct in males, strongly jagged, pale yellow in life; (14) a series of dark, hollow, approximately rhomboid patterns between dorsolateral stripes on dorsum; (15) a distinct wide black stripe on shoulder fold region on each side; (16) stripes around eye absent or very indistinct; (17) oral cavity, inner lips, and tongue pale flesh colour in life.

 Diploderma donglangense sp. nov.

 

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to Donglang Township, where the new species was discovered.

Diagnosis: Diploderma donglangense sp. nov. can be diagnosed from congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: (1) body size relatively small, SVL 44.9–52.8 mm in adult males, 47.2–56.4 in adult females; (2) tail relatively short, TAL/SVL 1.76–1.87 in adult males, 1.59–1.89 in adult females; (3) limbs moderately long, FLL/SVL 0.46–0.47 in adult males, 0.44–0.50 in adult females, HLL/SVL 0.73–0.75 in adult males, 0.70–0.78 in adult females; (4) head moderately long, HW/HL 0.69–0.71 in adult males, 0.71–0.73 in adult females; (5) MD 37–43; (6) F4S 13–17, T4S 19–24; (7) tympanum concealed; (8) nuchal and dorsal crest scales feebly developed, no skin fold under nuchal and dorsal crests; (9) distinct transverse gular fold present; (10) ventral scales of head homogeneous in size, keeled; (11) ventral scales of body strongly keeled; (12) gular spot present in males, present or absent in females, pale yellow in life; (13) dorsolateral stripes distinct in males, moderately jagged, creamy yellow in life; (14) radial stripes around eye indistinct; (15) oral cavity, inner lips, and tongue pale pink in life.

 Diploderma jiulongense sp. nov.

 

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to Jiulong County, where the new species was discovered.

Diagnosis: Diploderma jiulongense sp. nov. can be diagnosed from congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: (1) body size moderate, SVL 44.5–51.4 mm in adult males, 61.7–64.4 in adult females; (2) tail very long, TAL/SVL 2.57–2.71 in adult males, 2.33–2.44 in adult females; (3) limbs very long, FLL/SVL 0.50–0.53 in adult males, 0.46–0.47 in adult females, HLL/SVL 0.86–0.94 in adult males, 0.79–0.82 in adult females; (4) head moderately long, HW/HL 0.68–0.73 in adult males, 0.71–0.72 in adult females; (5) MD 36–40; (6) F4S 16–19, T4S 23–27; (7) tympanum concealed; (8) nuchal and dorsal crests continuous, feebly developed, no skin fold under nuchal and dorsal crests; (9) distinct transverse gular fold present; (10) ventral scales of head heterogeneous in size, ones on centre of gular pouch largest, all strongly keeled; (11) ventral scales of body strongly keeled; (12) gular spot present in males, indistinct or absent in females, pale yellow in life; (13) dorsolateral stripes distinct in males, narrow and smooth edged, bright yellow in life; (14) no radial stripes around eye; (15) oral cavity and inner lips pinkish white, tongue pale flesh colour in life.

 Diploderma tachengense sp. nov.

 

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to Tacheng Town, where the new species was discovered.

Diagnosis: Diploderma tachengense sp. nov. can be diagnosed from congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: (1) body size moderate, SVL 55.2–55.7 mm in adult males, 65.4 mm in adult female; (2) tail moderately long, TAL/SVL 1.88–1.89 in adult males, 1.56 in adult female; (3) limbs moderately long, FLL/SVL 0.45–0.47 in adult males, 0.46 in adult female, HLL/SVL 0.76–0.78 in adult males, 0.70 in adult female; (4) head relatively robust, HW/HL 0.73–0.80 in adult males, 0.74 in adult female; (5) MD 38–44; (6) F4S 15–19, T4S 20–24; (7) tympanum concealed; (8) nuchal and dorsal crests continuous, feebly developed, no skin fold under nuchal and dorsal crests; (9) distinct transverse gular fold present; (10) ventral scales of head homogeneous, feebly keeled; (11) ventral scales of body strongly keeled; (12) gular spot present in both sexes, pale yellow in life; (13) dorsolateral stripes distinct in males, strongly jagged, pale yellow in life; (14) radial stripes around eye relatively distinct; (15) oral cavity and inner lips pinkish white, tongue pink in life.

Habitats of the new species
A distant view of the type locality of Diploderma danbaense sp. nov. B close view of the type locality of D. danbaense sp. nov.
C distant view of the type locality of Diploderma donglangense sp. nov. D close view of the type locality of D. donglangense sp. nov.
E distant view of the type locality of Diploderma jiulongense sp. nov. F close view of the type locality of D. jiulongense sp. nov.
G distant view of the type locality of Diploderma tachengense sp. nov. H close view of the type locality of D. tachengense sp. nov.

Shuo Liu, Mian Hou, Natalia B. Ananjeva and Dingqi Rao. 2023. Four New Species of the Genus Diploderma Hallowell, 1861 (Squamata, Agamidae) from China. ZooKeys. 1148: 167-207. DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.1148.97706

 

[Botany • 2023] Clinopodium haraverianum (Lamiaceae: Nepetoideae) • A New Species from San Sebastián del Oeste, Jalisco, Mexico

Clinopodium haraverianum J.G.González, Figueroa & Velázquez-R., 

in González-Gallegos, Figueroa & Velázquez-Ríos, 2023. 

DOI: 10.17129/botsci.3214 

 twitter.com/uncinado 

Abstract

Background: The generic boundaries and phylogenetic relationships of Clinopodium are still unstable. There are 15 species recorded in Mexico, which were also treated under the genera Calamintha or Satureja. Recent botanical explorations in western Mexico led to the discovery of an additional species which possesses relatively long corollas, reddish in color, this morphological pattern fits into the species set previously known as Satureja sect. Gardoquia.

Questions: what are the diagnostic morphological characters that support the new species? Which are the species morphologically similar?

Studied species: species of Clinopodium inhabiting in Mexico and those belonging to Satureja sect. Gardoquia.

Study site and dates: San Sebastián del Oeste, Jalisco, Spring 2022.

Methods: Botanical collects, herborization and morphological characterization of the specimens collected. Comparison with specialized literature, herbarium specimens and nomenclatural types online.

Results: The new species Clinopodium haraverianum is distinguished from the other species in the genus by the combination of the following characters: herbaceous habit, stem not branched, leaves progressively reduced in size towards the apex of the stem, calyx strongly bilabiate, corollas with a tube longer than 16 mm and reddish. The most similar species is C. macrostemum, to which it is compared in the diagnosis.

Conclusions: Clinopodium haraverianum is set apart from most of the species of Clinopodium by presenting the characters defining the group Gardoquia, and within this, it differs by the habit and size of floral structures. This species constitutes and addition to the endemic flora of Jalisco and consequently of Mexico.

Keywords: Calamintha, endemism, ornithophilia, subfamily Nepetoideae, Satureja sect. Gardoquia

   

Clinopodium haraverianum J.G.González, Figueroa & Velázquez-R., sp. nov.

Jesús Guadalupe González-Gallegos, Dante S. Figueroa and Perla Velázquez-Ríos. 2023. Clinopodium haraverianum (Lamiaceae: Menthinae), A New Species from San Sebastián del Oeste, Jalisco, Mexico. Botanical Sciences. DOI: 10.17129/botsci.3214

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[PaleoIchthyology • 2023] Systematics and Phylogenetic Interrelationships of the Enigmatic Late Jurassic Shark Protospinax annectans Woodward, 1918 with Comments on the Shark–Ray Sister Group Relationship

Protospinax annectans Woodward, 1918

in Jambura, Villalobos-Segura, Türtscher, Begat, ... et Kriwet, 2023. 

 DOI: 10.3390/d15030311

Abstract

The Late Jurassic elasmobranch Protospinax annectans is often regarded as a key species to our understanding of crown group elasmobranch interrelationships and the evolutionary history of this group. However, since its first description more than 100 years ago, its phylogenetic position within the Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) has proven controversial, and a closer relationship between Protospinax and each of the posited superorders (Batomorphii, Squalomorphii, and Galeomorphii) has been proposed over the time. Here we revise this controversial taxon based on new holomorphic specimens from the Late Jurassic Konservat-Lagerstätte of the Solnhofen Archipelago in Bavaria (Germany) and review its skeletal morphology, systematics, and phylogenetic interrelationships. A data matrix with 224 morphological characters was compiled and analyzed under a molecular backbone constraint. Our results indicate a close relationship between Protospinax, angel sharks (Squatiniformes), and saw sharks (Pristiophoriformes). However, the revision of our morphological data matrix within a molecular framework highlights the lack of morphological characters defining certain groups, especially sharks of the order Squaliformes, hampering the phylogenetic resolution of Protospinax annectans with certainty. Furthermore, the monophyly of modern sharks retrieved by molecular studies is only weakly supported by morphological data, stressing the need for more characters to align morphological and molecular studies in the future.

Keywords: phylogenetics; elasmobranch evolution; calibration fossil; molecular backbone constraint; hypnosqualea; Mesozoic; Solnhofen Archipelago; Konservat-Lagerstätte

New fossil skeletal material of Protospinax annectans Woodward, 1918 examined in this study.
 (A) PBP-SOL-8007; (B) MB 14-12-22-1; (C) UMN uncatalogued; (D) JME-SOS 3386; (E,F) FSM 727.

Abbreviations: bp, basal plate; dfs, dorsal fin spine; sne, supraneuralia; vc, vertebral column.

Environmental reconstruction of the Tithonian (Late Jurassic) Solnhofen Archipelago, showing Protospinax annectans in association with the Late Jurassic ray Asterodermus platypterus.

 

 

 Patrick L. Jambura, Eduardo Villalobos-Segura, Julia Türtscher, Arnaud Begat, Manuel Andreas Staggl, Sebastian Stumpf, René Kindlimann, Stefanie Klug, Frederic Lacombat, Burkhard Pohl, John G. Maisey, Gavin J. P. Naylor and Jürgen Kriwet. 2023. Systematics and Phylogenetic Interrelationships of the Enigmatic Late Jurassic Shark Protospinax annectans Woodward, 1918 with Comments on the Shark–Ray Sister Group Relationship. Diversity. 15(3); 311. DOI: 10.3390/d15030311

(the Special Issue: Evolution and Diversity of Fishes in Deep Time)

[Entomology • 2019] Euhampsonia rubricata • A New Moth Species (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) from northeastern India and western Myanmar

 

 [1-4] Euhampsonia rubricata Schintlmeister & Irungbam, 2019

and [5, 8] E. sinjaevi Schintlmeister, 1997 

 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4560.1.12 

 Researchgate.net/publication/331285208

Abstract

A new notodontid species, Euhampsonia rubricata spec. nov., is described from NW India and W Myanmar and compared to its eastern sister species E. sinjaevi Schintlmeister, 1997. The female genitalia of the latter are illustrated for the first time. A full synonymic list of the genus Euhampsonia is provided.

Keywords: Lepidoptera, Notodontidae

Adults of[1-4] Euhampsonia rubricata spec. nov.
and [5-8] E. sinjaevi Schintlmeister, 1997

  Euhampsonia rubricata spec. nov.

Alexander Schintlmeister and Jatishwor Singh Irungbam. 2019. Euhampsonia rubricata spec. nov., A New Moth Species from northeastern India and western Myanmar (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae). Zootaxa. 4560(1); 195–200. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4560.1.12 

 Researchgate.net/publication/331285208_Euhampsonia_rubricata_a_new_moth_species_from_northeastern_India_and_western_Myanmar

[PaleoEntomology • 2022] Alienopterix santonicus • A Metallic Cockroach from the Late Cretaceous Ajkaite Amber (Bakony Mts, western Hungary) documents Alienopteridae within the Mesozoic Laurasia

Alienopterix santonicus  

Szabó, Szabó, Kóbor & Ősi, 2022. 

   DOI: 10.1007/s11756-022-01265-7 

 artwork by Márton Zsoldos  facebook.com: Zsoldos Paleo Art

Abstract

Cockroaches (Blattaria s. str.) were documented from numerous amber localities around the world, representing both extinct and extant families. Alienopteridae is an extinct cockroach family known only from the Cretaceous of Gondwana (Brazil, Botswana, Myanmar amber) and the Cenozoic of North America. Alienopterix santonicus sp. n. from the Late Cretaceous amber of the Ajka Coal Formation (Bakony Mts, western Hungary) extends the rich geographical distribution of the family into Laurasia during the Mesozoic. As a member of the presumably pollinator cohort Alienopteridae, this species could have played an important role in the Ajka Coal ecosystem during the Santonian. The microrectangular structures of the forewing suggest that the new species likely possessed a metallic colouration already known from the group. Combined with the disruptive body pattern this could have served as an advanced camouflage. The microrectangular structures of the forewing were compared to integument microstructures of extant insects with metallic colouration. Various arthropod taxa are already known from ajkaite, and the new discovery further emphasizes the importance of this amber.

Keywords: Fossil insect, Santonian, Blattaria, Umenocoleoidea

Order Blattaria, Latreille 1810 

= Blattodea Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882 

(cockroaches without termites, mantodeans and chresmodids)

Superfamily Umenocoleoidea Chen et Tian, 1973

Family Alienopteridae Bai et al., 2016

 = Aethiocarenidae Poinar et Brown, 2017

Type genus: Alienopterus Bai, Beutel, Klass, Wipfler et Zhang in Bai et al. (2016). 

Stratigraphic range: Barremian—Eocene

Geographic range: Gondwana and Laurasia (by the present study)

Subfamily Alienopterixinae Vršanský in Vršanský et al. (2021b)

Genus Alienopterix Mlynský, Vršanský et Wang, in Vršanský et al. (2018)

Type species: Alienopterix ocularis Mlynský, Vršanský et Wang, 2018

Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian—Santonian

Geographic range: North Myanmar amber and Hungarian ajkaite amber (present study)

Alienopterix santonicus sp. n. (SARA AT.10.24.1), holotype.
a Habitus in dorsal view. b Habitus in ventral view. c Head in dorsal view. d Details of antennules.

Scale bars: 0.5 mm (a, b), 0.2 mm (c), 0.1 mm (d)

Alienopterix santonicus sp. n.

Type material. SARA AT.10.24.1. (holotype, ?male).

Type locality. Ajka-Csingervölgy, appr. 1 km SE of the city Ajka (Bakony Mts, Hungary).

Horizon and age. Ajka Coal Formation, unknown shaft of the Ajka-Csingervölgy coal minery; Upper Cretaceous, Santonian (86.3–83.6 Ma).

Etymology. The name santonicus is derived from the Santonian age of the Ajka Coal Formation where the specimen originates from.

Differential diagnosis. Genus Alienopterix currently includes three valid species: A. mlynskyi, A. ocularis and A. smidovae. Alienopterix santonicus sp. n. clearly differs from all known species of the genus based on the combination of the following characters. Unlike in A. santonicus sp. n., epicranial sutures are visible in A. mlynskyi. Antennomeres of A. mlynskyi are less than two times as long as wide, while those of A. santonicus sp. n. are more than two times as long as wide. The species A. ocularis lacks the characteristic secondary structure of the forewing, while forewings of A. santonicus sp. n. are covered with microrectangular structures. Unlike A. santonicus sp. n., A. ocularis has a distinct, campaniform pronotum. Also, antennal segments of A. ocularis are subequal, while those of A. santonicus sp. n. are more than two times as long as wide. Antennal segments of A. smidovae are subequal and rich in short and dense sensillae, while those of A. santonicus sp. n. are more longer than wide and comparatively sparse in sensillae.

...

Artistic reconstruction of Alienopterix santonicus sp. n., with hypothetical greenish-reddish colouration

(artwork by Márton Zsoldos)

  Márton Szabó, Péter Szabó, Péter Kóbor and Attila Ősi. 2022. Alienopterix santonicus sp. n., A Metallic Cockroach from the Late Cretaceous Ajkaite Amber (Bakony Mts, western Hungary) documents Alienopteridae within the Mesozoic Laurasia. Biologia. DOI: 10.1007/s11756-022-01265-7

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[Paleontology • 2023] Colossosuchus techniensis • A Giant Phytosaur (Diapsida: Archosauria) from the Upper Triassic of India with New insights on Phytosaur Migration, Endemism and Extinction

Colossosuchus techniensis

Datta & Ray, 2023 

 

DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1476 

  twitter.com/ThePalAss 

Abstract

A new Mystriosuchinae phytosaur, Colossosuchus techniensis, is described from the Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of India. Colossosuchus is diagnosed by multiple apomorphies, including a strongly downturned terminal rosette (c. 70°), closely spaced mediolateral band-like ornamentation on dorsal surface of the nasal, dorsolaterally oriented supratemporal fenestra, ventrolaterally inclined postorbital–squamosal bars depressed below the skull table, dorsally convex parietal–squamosal bar that descends ventrolaterally below the skull roof, dome-shaped skull in lateral view, prominent neural arch laminae and fossae, three sacral vertebrae, robust proximal end of the tibia, and fibula with high anteroposterior flaring of the distal end. The total body length of the largest individual recovered from the bonebed is estimated to be more than 8 m, suggesting that Colossosuchus is one of the largest phytosaurs known. Phylogenetic analysis nests Colossosuchus and other undescribed specimens from India within Mystriosuchinae. These form a distinct clade and represent the earliest record of endemism among Gondwanan phytosaurs. This clade is recovered as sister taxa to ((Volcanosuchus + Rutiodon) + Leptosuchomorpha), where the depressed supratemporal fenestra first appeared in the phytosaur lineage, a feature previously used to diagnose the derived leptosuchomorphs. Early-diverging phytosaur diversification may have coincided with the final stages of the Carnian Pluvial Event with their possible migratory routes along the circum-Tethyan coastline. The lineage continued to evolve mostly through endemic radiations and experienced an extinction event during early Norian, which marked the disappearance of most of the non-leptosuchomorph taxa. This is attributed to post-CPE aridification, although more study is required.

Keywords: archosaur, Gondwana, India, Upper Triassic, phytosaur, phylogeny

Colossosuchus techniensis

Debajit Datta and Sanghamitra Ray. 2023.  A Giant Phytosaur (Diapsida, Archosauria) from the Upper Triassic of India with New insights on Phytosaur Migration, Endemism and Extinction. Papers in Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1476 

  twitter.com/ThePalAss/status/1627998660435877890

[Botany • 2022] Madhuca kanchanaburiensis (Sapotaceae) • A New Species from Thailand

  Madhuca kanchanaburiensis Chantar., Kunasit & Kladwong, 

in Chantaranothai, Kunasit & Kladwong, 2022.

มะซางกาญจน์  ||  DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.574.2.6

  sc.KKU.ac.th

Abstract

A new species of Madhuca from Thailand, M. kanchanaburiensis is described and illustrated. The species appears most similar to M. malaccensis and M. punctata, but differs in having conspicuous secondary veins toward the leaf margin, woolly filaments and longer corolla. The vernacular name and conservational status of this endemic species are also provided.

Keywords: endemic, Sapotoideae, Kanchanaburi, Eudicots

มะซางกาญจน์ 

Madhuca kanchanaburiensis Chantar., Kunasit & Kladwong

Pranom Chantaranothai, Pongsakorn Kunasit and Pornchai Kladwong. 2022. Madhuca kanchanaburiensis (Sapotaceae), A New Species from Thailand. Phytotaxa. 574(2); 173-178. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.574.2.6

นักวิจัยคณะวิทยาศาสตร์ มข. ค้นพบพืชชนิดใหม่ของโลก

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https://sc.KKU.ac.th/sciweb/4569.html

[Crustacea • 2023] Caridina clandestina • An Unusual New Freshwater Shrimp (Decapoda: Atyidae) from the remote high elevation Napu Valley of Sulawesi, Indonesia

 

Caridina clandestina

Klotz, von Rintelen, Annawaty, Wowor & von Rintelen, 2023 

 RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 71; 

Abstract

 Caridina clandestina, new species, a riverine, endemic freshwater shrimp is described from the upper reaches of Lariang River watershed at Napu Valley in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The species is distinct in showing dimorphic chelae on the first and second pereiopods related to different feeding strategies (scraping vs. filter feeding) but related to neither sex nor age. Morphologically, this new species is similar to C. longidigita Cai & Wowor, 2007 and both morphologically and molecularly closely related to the C. pareparensis species group. However, the unusual dimorphic trophic morphology, the morphology of male sexual appendages, and genetic results (mtDNA) place the new species within the western Sulawesi clade of Caridina and distinguish the new species from all known congeners. 

Key words. Atyidae, integrative taxonomy, endemic, freshwater stream, island biodiversity, dimorphism, trophic morphology, citizen science

Caridina clandestina, new species
 B, colouration of living specimen; C, specimen with chelae adapted for filter feeding. 

Caridina clandestina, new species 

 

Distribution. Endemic to Sulawesi, and only known from the upper reaches of the Lariang River watershed in the Napu Valley of Central Sulawesi (Figs. 1, 4A). 

Etymology. The new species name clandestina (Latin, nominative feminine singular for ‘clandestinus’, meaning secret, concealed) was proposed by Martin Rümmler, Berlin, Germany. His suggestion was picked as being most suitable for this unusual species, among almost 100 other suggestions given by radio listeners (see Introduction). The name refers to its previously well-hidden occurrence in a double sense – occurring only in a small remote area and thus not collected until 2005, and the two existing morphs of this species that were only recently discovered.

 Common name. Secret Sulawesi Shrimp.

A, Lariang River, natural habitat of Caridina clandestina, new species 

Werner Klotz, Thomas von Rintelen, Annawaty Annawaty, Daisy Wowor and Kristina von Rintelen. 2023. Caridina clandestina, new species, An Unusual New Freshwater Shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) from the remote high elevation Napu Valley of Sulawesi, Indonesia. RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 71; 12–25. DOI: 10.26107/RBZ-2023-0002