[Botany • 2014] Allium akirense • A new Allium (section Molium) species (Amaryllidaceae) from Israel

Allium akirense 

 N.Friesen & Fragman 

 DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.173.2.4

  

Abstract

As part of the phylogenetic revision of the Eurasian representatives of the subgenus Amerallium we have discovered a new Allium species (section Molium) in Israel, related to A. qasyunense. It is described here as Allium akirense, based on living plants and recent herbarium specimens. Independence of the new species is confirmed by morphological and ecological features, and also by molecular ones. To learn more about the phylogenetic relationships within a group of closely related species of section Molium, we used maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of combined nuclear (ITS—internal transcribed and ETS—external transcribed spacers of rRNA genes) and chloroplast (rpl32–trnL intergenic spacer) dataset of 7 taxa. Discussion on geographic distribution, conservation status and habitat is provided, as well as an identification key including the closest related species.

Keywords: Allium, Allium akirense, Molium, plant taxonomy, ITS, ETS, rpl32–trnL

Allium akirense N.Friesen & Fragman, sp. nov.

From the closely related Allium qasyunense it differs in white-pinkish perigone, smaller only 3–5 mm long flowers, smaller capsules, included (to equal) stamens, and in a completely different habitat.

Allium (sect. Molium) akirense (A–B. photos O. Hochberg).
D. Sandstone hill near Kibbutz Giv’at-Brenner with A. akirense (photo N. Friesen). 

  

Etymology:— The plant is named akirense after the Hebrew Biblical name “Ekron” and the Arabic name “Akir”, both relate to the hills and villages where the species is found. 

Distribution:— Allium akirense was found in 8 neighbouring sites in the southern Coastal Plain of Israel around Kibbutz Giv’at Brenner (Fig. 2). Since the coastal plain of Israel is densely settled, we cannot know the historical full range of the species. We believe it could have been growing in more sites that are now urban.

 Nikolai Friesen and Ori Fragman-Sapir. 2014. A new Allium species from section Molium from Israel: A. akirense (Amaryllidaceae).

  Phytotaxa. 173(2);  140–148. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.173.2.4

     

[Ichthyology • 2016] Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura • A New Species of Gymnogeophagus Miranda Ribeiro (Teleostei: Cichliformes) from Uruguay

Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura 

Loureiro, Zarucki, Malabarba & González-Bergonzoni, 2016 

DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-20150082

ABSTRACT

We describe a new species of a substrate-brooding Gymnogeophagus , based on coloration characters. The new species can be distinguished from the remaining substrate-brooding species in the genus by the unique pigmentation of the dorsal fin which consists of light blue, diagonal stripes over a red background in the spiny section and a combination of round, elliptic, and elongated bright blue spots over a red background in the soft section. It can be further distinguished from all other species of Gymnogeophagus by the following combination of characters: a discontinuous bright blue band above the upper lateral line in the humeral area, light blue roundish spots over a red to orange background on the anal fin, and conspicuous bright blue horizontal bands on body. The new species inhabits a wide range of freshwater habitats in the lower rio Uruguay basin, Rio de la Plata coastal drainages and Atlantic Ocean coastal drainages in Uruguay.

Keywords: Cichlidae; Gymnogeophagus meridionalis; Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus; Substrate brooding; Systematics

Fig. 2: Non-type live specimens of (A) Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura from rio Santa Lucía basin, Canelones Department, Uruguay,
(B) G. rhabdotus and (C) G. meridionalis. (B) and (C) both from rio Negro basin, Tacuarembó Department, Uruguay. 

Sexual dimorphism. There is no evident sexual dimorphism except from slight differences in size. In the breeding season males are usually larger than females (10%-50% larger).

Geographic distribution. Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura is distributed from the rio Arapey (in the middle rio Uruguay basin) to all tributaries of the lower rio Uruguay basin and in the eastern coastal drainages of the Río de la Plata estuary and Atlantic Ocean in Uruguay (Fig. 6).

Ecological notes. Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura has been found in a large variety of habitats including shallow lakes, floodplain lakes, rivers, and streams, mainly associated with cobble, sandy or muddy substrates. Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura is an omnivore, feeding on zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and periphyton (to a lesser extent), reducing greatly its feeding activity during autumn and winter when water temperature decreases, as described in a low-impacted lowland stream in Florida Department by González-Bergonzoni et al. (2016, named therein as "Gymnogeophagus sp.") and in a eutrophic shallow lake of Montevideo by Yafe et al. (2002, named therein as G. rhabdotus). Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura has been observed to brood on the substrate and exhibits substantial parental care, including aggressive territorial behavior in both males and females during the reproductive season, from November to January.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the G. E. Hudson novel "La Tierra Purpúrea" (as it is known in the Spanish translation), in which the main character makes a trip through the same region where the new species occurs. A noun in apposition.

Conservation status. Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura is relatively frequent and abundant in the rio Negro, the middle and lower rio Uruguay basin, and in the oriental coastal drainages of Río de la Plata estuary and Atlantic Ocean in Uruguay. No specific threats were detected, and the species can be categorized as Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN criteria (International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 2011).

Marcelo Loureiro, Matías Zarucki, Luiz R. Malabarba and Iván González-Bergonzoni. 2016.  A New Species of Gymnogeophagus Miranda Ribeiro from Uruguay (Teleostei: Cichliformes).
Neotropical Ichthyology. 14(1); e150082.  DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-20150082

RESUMEN: Describimos una nueva especie de Gymnogeophagus con incubación de sustrato, en base a caracteres cromáticos. La nueva especie puede ser diferenciada de las restantes especies del género por la exclusiva pigmentación de la aleta dorsal, la que consiste de bandas oblicuas de color celeste sobre fondo rojo en la porción espinosa y una combinación de manchas redondas, elípticas, o alargadas azul brillantes sobre fondo rojo en la porción blanda. Además puede ser distinguida de las otras especies de Gymnogeophagus por la siguiente combinación de caracteres: banda horizontal azul iridiscente situada por encima de la línea lateral superior discontinua en la región humeral, manchas azules brillantes redondeadas sobre fondo rojo anaranjado en la aleta anal, bandas horizontales azul brillante en el cuerpo conspicuas. La nueva especie habita una amplia gama de hábitats de agua dulce en el sector inferior de la cuenca del río Uruguay, los drenajes costeros del Río de la Plata y drenajes costeros del Océano Atlántico en Uruguay.

[Ichthyology • 2016] Engraulicypris spp. • Phylogeographic, Morphometric and Taxonomic Re-evaluation of the River Sardine, Mesobola brevianalis (Boulenger, 1908) (Cyprinidae, Chedrini)

Engraulicypris gariepinus Barnard, 1943
Engraulicypris howesi  Riddin, Bills & Villet, 2016
Engraulicypris ngalala  Riddin, Bills & Villet, 2016

   DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.641.10434  

Abstract

The river sardine, Mesobola brevianalis (Boulenger, 1908), is the type species of Mesobola Howes, 1984. Standard phylogenetic analyses of partial sequences of the cytochrome oxidase I gene of individuals from populations across southern Africa that are currently identified as M. brevianalis showed that these populations represent four genetically distinct allopatric lineages. Furthermore, Engraulicypris sardella (Günther, 1868), the type species of Engraulicypris Günther, 1894, was convincingly nested amongst these clades. These findings support synonymisation of Engraulicypris and Mesobola syn. n.; restoration of Engraulicypris gariepinus (Barnard, 1943), stat. rev. for the lower Orange River population; description of two new species, Engraulicypris ngalala sp. n. and Engraulicypris howesi sp. n. from the Rovuma and Kunene river systems, respectively; affirmation of the synonymy of Engraulicypris brevianalis (Boulenger, 1908), comb. n. sensu stricto and Engraulicypris whitei van der Horst, 1934; and restoration of Engraulicypris bredoi Poll, 1945, stat. rev. and Engraulicypris spinifer Bailey & Matthes, 1971, stat. rev. from Mesobola. Discriminant function analysis of a truss network of five traditional morphometric measurements and 21 morphometric measurements that characterised the shape of the fishes was used to seek morphological markers for the genetically distinct populations. Only E. gariepinus was morphometrically distinctive, but live colouration differed between the lineages. Detailed taxonomic descriptions and an identification key for the species are provided.

Keywords: Phylogeography, morphometrics, nomenclature, Mesobola, Engraulicypris, new species, new combinations, new synonym

Engraulicypris 

Etymology: Engraulicypris alludes to the anchovy-like form (eggraulis, -eos [eggraulis, -eos]; Greek) of these relatives of the carp (kyprinos [kyprinos]; Greek).

Distribution: Southern and Eastern Africa.

• Engraulicypris brevianalis (Boulenger, 1908), comb. n.

• Engraulicypris gariepinus Barnard, 1943, stat. rev.

Etymology: ‘Gariepinus’ refers to the Gariep, a San name for the Orange River that means ‘Great water’.

• Engraulicypris howesi Riddin, Bills & Villet, sp. n.

Etymology: This species is named in honour of Gordon John Howes (1938-2013), whose studies of the osteology of the Danioninae (Howes 1980, 1984) laid the foundations of their modern classification. The epithet is a genitive noun.

Distribution: Namibia, Angola: Cunene River system.

Type locality: Olushandja Dam at channel outlet (17°25’53’’S 14°38’36’’E), Kunene River System, Namibia.

Biology: Very little is known of the biology of this species. Individuals appear to favour turbid, rocky, river regions where they can gather in pockets of recirculating currents. The holotype and some paratypes were collected in the shallow, turbid Olushandja Dam in the Namibian upper reaches of the system. They feed on drifting invertebrate larvae and adults and plankton.

Engraulicypris ngalala Riddin, Villet & Bills, sp. n.

Etymology: In the Cyao language spoken in the Niassa region of northern Mozambique, the name ‘ngalala’ denotes any, small, compressed, silvery fish, including Mesobola and species of Brycinus Valenciennes, 1850 and Hemigrammopetersius Pellegrin, 1926. The epithet is treated as a nominative singular noun in apposition.

Distribution: Mozambique, Malawi: Rovuma River system and Lake Chiuta.

Type locality: Lucheringo River below rapids at Singa hunting camp (11°48'56"S 36°13'15"E), Mozambique.

Biology: This species is found in ecological conditions very similar to those characteristic of E. gariepinus (Bills 2004). It favours big rivers, gathering in slack, turbid and shallow regions with sandy, rocky or muddy substrates. In Lake Chiuta specimens were caught in reed beds along the margins. The Lake Chiuta and Rovuma River stocks may differ ecologically because Lake Chiuta offers a lacustrine pelagic and benthic prey community (copepods, etc.) that is not found in the Rovuma River channel, where fish would predominantly have access to invertebrate drift.

 Megan A. Riddin, I. Roger Bills and Martin H. Villet. 2016. Phylogeographic, Morphometric and Taxonomic Re-evaluation of the River Sardine, Mesobola brevianalis (Boulenger, 1908) (Teleostei, Cyprinidae, Chedrini). ZooKeys. 641; 121-150. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.641.10434

[PaleoIchthyology • 2017] Dwykaselachus oosthuizeni • A Symmoriiform Chondrichthyan Braincase and the Origin of Chimaeroid Fishes

Reconstruction of Dwykaselachus oosthuizeni, a type of symmoriid shark now known to be an early chimaera.

Illustration: Kristen Tietjen    DOI: 10.1038/nature20806

Chimaeroid fishes (Holocephali) are one of the four principal divisions of modern gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates). Despite only 47 described living species, chimaeroids are the focus of resurgent interest as potential archives of genomic data and for the unique perspective they provide on chondrichthyan and gnathostome ancestral conditions. Chimaeroids are also noteworthy for their highly derived body plan. However, like other living groups with distinctive anatomies, fossils have been of limited use in unravelling their evolutionary origin, as the earliest recognized examples already exhibit many of the specializations present in modern forms. Here we report the results of a computed tomography analysis of Dwykaselachus, an enigmatic chondrichthyan braincase from the ~280 million year old Karoo sediments of South Africa. Externally, the braincase is that of a symmoriid shark and is by far the most complete uncrushed example yet discovered. Internally, the morphology exhibits otherwise characteristically chimaeroid specializations, including the otic labyrinth arrangement and the brain space configuration relative to exceptionally large orbits. These results have important implications for our view of modern chondrichthyan origins, add robust structure to the phylogeny of early crown group gnathostomes, reveal preconditions that suggest an initial morpho-functional basis for the derived chimaeroid cranium, and shed new light on the chondrichthyan response to the extinction at the end of the Devonian period.

......

Michael I. Coates, Robert W. Gess, John A. Finarelli, Katharine E. Criswell and Kristen Tietjen. 2017. A Symmoriiform Chondrichthyan Braincase and the Origin of Chimaeroid Fishes.  Nature. DOI: 10.1038/nature20806

  

280 million-year-old fossil reveals origins of chimaeroid fishes http://phy.so/402728253 via @physorg_com

Origins of Elusive 'Ghost Shark' Revealed https://shar.es/1DOoHR via @LiveScience

Dwykaselachus oosthuizeni  Oelofsen, 1986

[Herpetology • 2016] Oedipina berlini • A New Species of Salamander (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Oedipina) from the central Caribbean Foothills of Costa Rica

Oedipina berlini  Kubicki, 2016

  CRAmphibian.com

   facebook.com/CRAMphibian/photos/810110505793604

Abstract 

 I describe a new salamander of the genus Oedipina, subgenus Oedopinola, from two sites in Premontane Rainforest along the foothills of the central Caribbean region of Costa Rica, at elevations from 540 to 850 m. The type locality lies within the Guayacán Rainforest Reserve, a private reserve owned and operated by the Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center, located approximately 2 km north of Guayacán de Siquirres, in the province of Limón. The new taxon is distinguished from its congeners based on phenotypic and molecular (16S and cyt b) characteristics. Additionally, I describe and illustrate a standardized method for taking morphological measurements on bolitoglossine salamanders.

Key Words: Amphibia, Central America, Guayacán, morphometrics, Oedopinola

With the discovery of a new species of Oedipina from the foothills along the Caribbean versant of Costa Rica, the number of species of salamanders in the country has risen to 51. When compared to other countries, this diversity of salamanders places Costa Rica 5th among all countries on the planet, behind the United States (1st), Mexico (2nd), China (3rd), and Guatemala (4th). When considering countries with an area greater than 5,000 sq.km. , the highest diversity density of salamanders is found in the small country of Costa Rica, with one species/1,000 sq.km.

photo: Brian Kubicki   CRAmphibian.com 

facebook.com/CRAMphibian/photos/810110505793604

Etymology: The specific epithet is a patronym honoring Mr. Erick Berlin, a naturalist native to the United States but living in Costa Rica since 1972, and who has a deep passion for the conservation of nature in the central Caribbean region of Costa Rica, especially along the northeastern slopes of Volcán Turrialba. Erick has been a close friend for many years, and during this time has supported and encouraged my research and conservation efforts with Costa Rican amphibians. I am extremely grateful for his friendship and encouragement. 

Habitat and natural history observations: Oedipina berlini has been found within leaf litter in young secondary to old-growth forest with varying topography. This species is known from five individuals, so a detailed accounting of its natural history cannot be presented here.

Brian Kubicki. 2016. A New Species of Salamander (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Oedipina) from the central Caribbean Foothills of Costa Rica.  Mesoamerican Herpetology. 3: 819–840.

https://crarc5.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/2016_kubicki_oedipina_berlini.pdf

https://cramphibian.com/2016/12/31/a-new-species-of-salamander-from-the-c-r-a-r-c-reserve/

 facebook.com/cramphibian/photos/810110505793604

Resumen: Describo una nueva salamandra perteneciente al género Oedipina, subgénero Oedopinola, de dos sitios de Bosque Premontano Lluvioso en las zonas montañosas del Caribe central de Costa Rica, entre los 540 a 850 m de altura. La localidad tipo se encuentra dentro de la Reserva del Bosque Lluvioso de Guayacán (Guayacán Rainforest Reserve), una reserva privada que pertenece y es operada por el Centro de Investigacíon de Anfibios de Costa Rica (Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center), ubicada aproximadamente a 2 km al norte de Guayacán de Siquirres, en la provincia de Limón. Este nuevo taxón se distingue de sus congéneres basándose en características fenotípicas y moleculares (16S y cyt b). Además, describo e ilustro un método estandarizado para tomar medidas morfológicas en las salamandras bolitoglossinas.

Palabras Claves: Amphibia, Centroamérica, Guayacán, morfometría, Oedopinola

[Arachnida • 2017] Allocosa marindia • On the Taxonomy of southern South American Species of the Wolf Spider Genus Allocosa (Araneae: Lycosidae: Allocosinae)

Allocosa marindia  Simó, Lise, Pompozzi & Laborda, 2017

Living specimen of Allocosa marindia sp. nov. from Playa Pascual, San José, Uruguay.

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4216.3.4 

Abstract

Three species of the genus Allocosa Banks, 1900 from southern South America are redescribed: Allocosa alticeps (Mello-Leitão, 1944), A. brasiliensis (Petrunkevitch, 1910) and A. senex (Mello-Leitão, 1945). The female of A. senex is described for the first time and the species is revalidated. A new species, Allocosa marindia sp. nov. from southern Uruguay and southern Brazil is described. The new species is distinguished by the flattened terminal apophysis of the male bulb and the conspicuous pointed projections on the posterior margin of the female epigynum. The species inhabits in sandy estuarine and oceanic coasts with psammophile vegetation.

Keywords: Araneae, Neotropical, wolf spiders, redescription, new species

Allocosa marindia

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality, where, for a long time, several studies on Uruguayan wolf spiders have been developed.

Distribution. Southern Uruguay and coastal Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 

Taxonomy

Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833

Allocosinae Dondale, 1986

Allocosa Banks, 1900. 

Type species by monotypy, A. funerea (Hentz, 1844)

• Allocosa marindia sp. nov. 

• Allocosa brasiliensis (Petrunkevitch, 1910)

• Allocosa senex (Mello-Leitão, 1945) revalidated  

• Allocosa alticeps (Mello-Leitão, 1944)  

Miguel Simó, Arno A. Lise, Gabriel Pompozzi and Álvaro Laborda. 2017. On the Taxonomy of southern South American Species of the Wolf Spider Genus Allocosa (Araneae: Lycosidae: Allocosinae). Zootaxa. 4216(3); 261–278. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4216.3.4

[Entomology • 2017] Zopherisca analis • The Mythic Species Issus analis Brullé, 1833 (Hemiptera, Fulgoroidea, Issidae): Still An Enigmatic Taxon

Zopherisca analis  (Brullé, 1833)

FIGURE 2. Zopherisca analis (Brullé), specimen from the Puton Collection in MNHN, dorsal view.

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4216.2.6 

Abstract

One Issidae specimen stored in Paris museum historical collections is reported as holotype of Issus analis Brullé, 1833. From the original description, which is confirmed by study of this specimen, the species is moved to the genus Zopherisca Emeljanov, 2001 under a new combination Zopherisca analis (Brullé, 1833), comb. n. Date of description is discussed and modified from 1832 to 1833 accordingly. Unfortunately being a female as type specimen, the species remains quite enigmatic until some molecular analsysis could be undertaken on this old material.

Keywords: Hemiptera, taxonomy, new combination, Issidae, Zopherisca, Greece

 Vladimir M. Gnezdilov and Thierry Bourgoin. 2017. The Mythic Species Issus analis Brullé, 1833 (Hemiptera, Fulgoroidea, Issidae): Still An Enigmatic Taxon. 

Zootaxa. 4216(2); 197–200. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4216.2.6

[Botany • 2017] Taxonomic Revision of the Opuntia humifusa complex (Opuntieae: Cactaceae) of the eastern United States

flower of  Opuntia macrorhiza s.s.

photo: L.C. Majure 

DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.290.1.1

Abstract

The Humifusa clade represents a recent radiation that originated in the late Pliocene or early Pleistocene and consists of about 10 species widely distributed in North America from northern Mexico north to Ontario, Canada, and south to the Florida Keys. This clade likely originated in the edaphically subxeric regions of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, and from there it later spread to the southeastern United States and ultimately produced a small radiation in the eastern United States. Hybridization among evolutionarily divergent diploid species of the southeastern (SE) and southwestern (SW) United States subclades led to the origin of many polyploid taxa, which today occupy about 75% of the distribution of the clade. Here we present a taxonomic revision of the SE subclade of the Humifusa clade and polyploid derivatives that commonly occur in the eastern United States (i.e., the O. humifusa complex). We recognize eight taxa: Opuntia abjecta, O. austrina, O. cespitosa, O. drummondii, O. humifusa, O. mesacantha subsp. mesacantha, O. mesacantha subsp. lata, and O. nemoralis, as well as the interclade allopolyploid, Opuntia ochrocentra, derived, in part, from a member of the O. humifusa complex. Diagnostic keys, descriptions, original photos, and distribution maps are provided for each taxon. Neotypes are designated for the names O. austrina (NY) and O. youngii (USF), and O. drummondii and O. tracyi are lectotypified from an illustration in Maund & Henslow and a specimen at NY, respectively.

Keywords: cacti, hybridization, morphology, polyploidy, prickly pears, taxonomy, Eudicots

1. Opuntia abjecta Small ex Britton & Rose (1923: 257) (Fig. 4).
Type:— UNITED STATES. Florida. ...

 2. Opuntia ochrocentra Small ex Britton & Rose (1923: 262) (Fig. 6).
Type:— UNITED STATES. Florida. ...

3. Opuntia austrina Small (1903: 816)

≡ Opuntia compressa (Salisbury 1796: 348) Macbride (1922: 41) var. austrina (Small) Benson (1969: 125) 

≡ Opuntia humifusa (Rafinesque 1820: 15) Rafinesque (1830: 2) var. austrina (Small) Dress (1975: 164) (Figs. 7–8). 

Neotype (designated here):—UNITED STATES. Florida. ...

4. Opuntia cespitosa Rafinesque (1830: 216) (Fig. 9).
Neotype (designated by Majure 2014):—UNITED STATES. Kentucky. ...

5. Opuntia drummondii Graham in Maund & Henslow (1846: 246) (Fig. 10).
Lectotype (designated here):—....

6. Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Rafinesque (1830: 247)

≡ Cactus humifusus Raf. Annals Nat. 15. 1820. 

Neotype (designated by Leuenberger 1993: 426):—UNITED STATES. Pennsylvania. ...


7. Opuntia mesacantha Rafinesque (1830: 216) (Figs. 13,15).
Neotype (designated by Majure 2014: 1):—UNITED STATES. Virginia. ...

7a. Opuntia mesacantha subsp. mesacantha (Fig. 12)
7b. Opuntia mesacantha subsp. lata (Small) Majure, Phytoneuron 106: 1. 2014 (Fig. 15).

≡ Opuntia lata Small (1919: 26). 

Type:— UNITED STATES. Florida. ...

8. Opuntia nemoralis Griffiths (1913: 133) (Fig. 16).
Type:— UNITED STATES. Texas. ...

 Lucas C. Majure, Walter S Judd, Pamela S Soltis and Douglas E Soltis. 2017. Taxonomic Revision of the Opuntia humifusa complex (Opuntieae: Cactaceae) of the eastern United States. Phytotaxa.  290(1); 1–65.  DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.290.1.1

[Herpetology • 2017] Aplastodiscus lutzorum • The First Species of Aplastodiscus (Anura, Hylidae) endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado

Aplastodiscus lutzorum 

Berneck,  Giaretta,  Brandão, Cruz & Haddad, 2017

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.642.10401     

Abstract

The genus Aplastodiscus includes 14 nominal species in four monophyletic groups with occurrence in the Atlantic Forest and Brazilian Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) of South America. A recent study reviewed the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of the genus and suggested a third species for the A. perviridis Group. Herein, on the basis of morphology and advertisement call, we describe this species and test its monophyly. The new species is the only Aplastodiscus with endemic occurrence in the Cerrado Biome. In addition, its geographical distribution and conservation status are discussed.

Keywords: Aplastodiscus lutzorum sp. n., Cophomantinae, new species, integrative taxonomy

  

 Bianca V.M. Berneck, Ariovaldo A. Giaretta, Reuber A. Brandão, Carlos A. G. Cruz and Celio F.B. Haddad. 2016. The First Species of Aplastodiscus endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado (Anura, Hylidae).   ZooKeys. 642: 115-130. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.642.10401

[Entomology • 2016] Onryza pesudomaga • A New Species of Onryza Watson, 1893 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from south China

Onryza pesudomaga

Zhu, Mao & Chen, 2016  

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4216.1.7 

Abstract

A new species, Onryza pesudomaga is described from Zhejiang Province, S. China. The new taxon resembles O. maga which is widely distributed in S. China and Taiwan. Differences and some biological information of the two allied species are given. A key to species of the genus Onryza Watson, 1893 and a distribution map of all the members of this genus are provided.

Keywords: Lepidoptera, skipper, Zhejiang, taxonomy, Onryza pesudomaga, Onryza maga

Males of Onryza pesudomaga in the nature, at Qingliangfeng, Zhejiang Province, China.

Photo by Jian-Qing Zhu, 13 June 2014. 

Jian-Qing Zhu, Wei-Wei Mao and Zhi-Bing Chen. 2016. A New Species of Onryza Watson, 1893 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from China. Zootaxa. 4216(1); DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4216.1.7

[Entomology • 2016] Eulophophyllum lobulatum & E. kirki • The Pink Katydids of Sabah (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae: Eulophophyllum) with Description of Two New Species

Eulophophyllum kirki 

  Ingrisch & Riede, 2016

 Eulophophyllum kirki in habitat from Danum: male (A) and female sitting on red leaves (B, F); [(B) apical view of hind legs and ovipositor]

in  Ingrisch,  Riede & Beccaloni, 2016. DOI:  10.1665/034.025.0205

 Abstract

Two new species of the previously monotypic genus Eulophophyllum Hebard, 1922 are described. All species of the genus known up until now occur in forested areas in Sabah, Borneo. The genus is unique for the strongly widened media field of the tegmen, in which all branches of the media anterior plus radius sector are strongly curved and run anteriorally. There is also a striking color difference between the sexes, with males uniformly green and females pink. The two new species Eulophophyllum lobulatum Ingrisch & Riede sp. n. and Eulophophyllum kirki Ingrisch & Riede sp. n. have large leaf-like expansions of the hind tibiae that are absent in E. thaumasium Hebard, 1922. They differ from each other in the number of main vein branches in the media field of the tegmen. Stridulation of E. lobulatum sp. n. consists of short double-clicks ranging from 6.5 to 8.5 kHz, repeated at longer intervals.

Keywords: crypsis, tegminal venation, stridulation

Eulophophyllum lobulatum sp. n. female (Kinabalu)

whatsthatbug.com/2012/02/05/unknown-katydid-from-borneo 

Eulophophyllum lobulatum Ingrisch & Riede sp. n.  

Etymology.— Named for the strongly widened dorsal margins of the hind tibiae.

Eulophophyllum kirki sp. n. female (Danum)

photo: Peter Kirk  

Eulophophyllum kirki Ingrisch & Riede sp. n.

Etymology.— Named after the photographer of the holotype, Peter Kirk.

  

Fig. 3. Eulophophyllum species in habitat (A, D, G) and sitting on red leaves (B-C, E-F):
A, Eulophophyllum kirki sp. n. male (Danum); B-F, Eulophophyllum kirki sp. n. female (Danum); G, Eulophophyllum lobulatum sp. n.  female (Kinabalu). – A, C, F, G, lateral view; B, apical view of hind legs and ovipositor; D, oblique lateral view.

Photographs: A, Paul Bertner; B-E, Peter Kirk; F, Mark Eller.  DOI:  10.1665/034.025.0205 

  Sigfrid Ingrisch,   Klaus Riede and George William Beccaloni. 2016. The Pink Katydids of Sabah (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae: Eulophophyllum) with Description of Two New Species. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 25(2); 67-74. DOI:  10.1665/034.025.0205

ResearchGate.net/publication/311866033_The_Pink_Katydids_of_Sabah_Orthoptera_Tettigoniidae_Phaneropterinae_Eulophophyllum_with_Description_of_Two_New_Species

[Ichthyology • 2016] Melanorivulus polychromus • A New Species of Killifish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the rio São José dos Dourados Drainage, middle rio Paraná Basin, southwestern Brazil, with A Redescription of Melanorivulus apiamici

Melanorivulus polychromus

Nielsen, Neves, Ywamoto & de Aguiar Passos,  2016

Abstract

A new species of Melanorivulus is described from the middle rio Paraná basin, São Paulo state, Brazil. Melanorivulus polychromus, new species, is found in a tributary of the left bank of the rio Paraná basin, the rio São José dos Dourados. It differs from all congeners by the combination of a metallic green to light green ground colour in males, with 6-8 oblique red bars forming chevronlike rows, the chevron tips along the midline of the body pointing toward the head, and irregular narrow red lines and incomplete red bars along the lower half of the body. Melanorivulus apiamici, also endemic from the middle rio Paraná basin, is redescribed.

Nielsen, D.T.B., Neves, P.A.B.A., Ywamoto, E.V. and de Aguiar Passos, M. 2016. Melanorivulus polychromus, A New Species of Killifish from the rio São José dos Dourados Drainage, middle rio Paraná Basin, southwestern Brazil, with A Redescription of Melanorivulus apiamici (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology. 22(2); 79-88. 

[Ichthyology • 2016] Micromyzon orinoco • A New Species of the Blind and Miniature Genus Micromyzon Friel and Lundberg, 1996 (Siluriformes: Aspredinidae) from the Orinoco River: Describing Catfish Diversity Using High-Resolution Computed Tomography

Fig. 2. Micromyzon orinoco, paratype, ANSP 198335, 14.8. mm SL,
Río Orinoco, north-side of Isla Fajardo, opposite Palua, 182 nautical miles from sea bouy, Anzoátegui, Venezuela. Dorsal and ventral views.

DOI:   10.1635/053.165.0104

ABSTRACT

A new species of the aspredinid catfish tribe Hoplomyzontini Micromyzon is described from two specimens collected with trawl nets in two localities, at 10 and 18 m depth, in the main channel of the lower Orinoco River in Venezuela almost 40 years ago. The new species is distinguished from its only congener, Micromyzon akamai, by the: straight anterior margin of the mesethmoid; open posterior cranial fontanel; ossified first pectoral-fin radial; single tubular infraorbital bone; infraorbital sensory canal entering neurocranium via the frontal; enclosed foramen for the abductor superficialis muscle in the coracoid; higher vertebral count (33 vs. 28–32); higher anal-fin ray count (10 or 11 vs. 7–9); and some morphometric features. The holotype of the new species was scanned using High-Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography to illustrate, describe, and compare its bony skeleton to other hoplomyzontins.

 Keywords: Anophthalmic, Miniaturization, Neotropical, River Channels, Taxonomy

Tiago P. Carvalho, John G. Lundberg, Jonathan N. Baskin, John P. Friel and Roberto E. Reis. 2016. A New Species of the Blind and Miniature Genus Micromyzon Friel and Lundberg, 1996 (Siluriformes: Aspredinidae) from the Orinoco River: Describing Catfish Diversity Using High-Resolution Computed Tomography. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 165(1); 37-53. DOI:   10.1635/053.165.0104

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RESUMEN: Una nueva especie de Hoplomyzontini Micromyzon se describe a partir de dos muestras colectadas con redes de arrastre en dos localidades, entre 10 y 18 metros de profundidad, en el canal principal de la parte baja del Río Orinoco, en Venezuela hace casi 40 años. La nueva especie se diagnostica de su único congénere, Micromyzon akamai, por la margen anterior recta del mesetemoide; parte posterior de la fontanela craneal abierta; el primer radial de la aleta pectoral osificado, un solo hueso infraorbital tubular; el canal sensorial infraorbital entra al neurocráneo a través del frontal; un foramen cerrado para el musculo abductor superficialis en el e coracoide; mayor número de vértebras (33 vs. 28–32) y del número de radios anales (10 o 11 vs. 7–9); además de algunas características morfométricas. El holotipo de la nueva especie fue escaneado en alta resolución utilizando Tomografía Computarizada de Radio-X de Alta Resolución, y se describe su osteología y se compara con otros Hoplomyzontini.

[Herpetology • 2016] Redescription of Cyrtodactylus fumosus (Müller, 1895) (Squamata: Gekkonidae), with A Revised Identification Key to the Bent-toed Geckos of Sulawesi

Fig. 1. Dorsal views of the known specimens of Cyrtodactylus fumosus:
(A) NMB-REPT 2662 (holotype, adult female); (B) NMBREPT 2663 (subadult male); (C) BMNH 1895.2.27.7 (adult female); (D) BMNH 1896.12.9.3 (adult male). Photographs by Sven Mecke. BMNH 1895.2.27.7 is also figured (in dorsal view) in Boulenger (1897: Plate VII, Fig. 2).

 Mecke, Hartmann, Mader, et al. 2016. DOI: 10.13128/Acta_Herpetol-17874

Abstract

The binominal Cyrtodactylus fumosus has frequently been used for populations of bent-toed geckos occurring on some Indonesian islands, including Java, Bali, Sulawesi, and Halmahera. Unfortunately, incorrect usage of this name for different geographic lineages has resulted in confusion about the true identity of C. fumosus. Examination of the type specimen and additional specimens from Rurukan and Mount Masarang, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, revealed that this population is distinct from other forms heretofore called ‘fumosus’ by a combination of unique morphological characters. In order to stabilize the taxonomy of C. fumosus sensu stricto, and to prevent further confusion, we provide a comprehensive redescription of this species, whose distribution we herein restrict to North Sulawesi. Cyrtodactylus fumosus is one of the most distinctive species among the six bent-toed geckos recorded from Sulawesi, and it differs from Sulawesi congeners by the presence of (1) precloacofemoral scales, including three pore-bearing scales on each thigh, separated from 10 or 11 pore-bearing scales in the precloacal region by 9-11 interscales in males, (2) a precloacal groove in adult males, (3) flat dorsal tubercles in 4-7 irregularly arranged longitudinal rows at midbody, and (4) a distinct lateral fold lacking tubercles. We also provide a revised identification key to the bent-toed gecko species of Sulawesi.

Keywords. Cyrtodactylus fumosus, Cyrtodactylus marmoratus, Lacertilia, bent-toed geckos, reptiles, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, morphology.

Sven Mecke, Lukas Hartmann, Felix Mader, Max Kieckbusch and Hinrich Kaiser. 2016. Redescription of Cyrtodactylus fumosus (Müller, 1895) (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae), with A Revised Identification Key to the Bent-toed Geckos of Sulawesi.
Acta Herpetologica. 11(2); 151-160. DOI: 10.13128/Acta_Herpetol-17874
ResearchGate.net/publication/311983402_Redescription_of_Cyrtodactylus_fumosus_Muller_1895_Reptilia_Squamata_Gekkonidae_with_a_revised_identification_key_to_the_bent-_toed_geckos_of_Sulawesi

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