[Botany • 2022] Victoria boliviana (Nymphaeaceae) • Revised Species Delimitation in the Giant Water Lily Genus Victoria confirms A New Species and Has Implications for Its Conservation

  Victoria boliviana Magdalena & L. T. Sm.,

in Smith, Magdalena, Przelomska, ... et Monro, 2022.  

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.883151 

twitter.com/palmsmithy 

 KEW.org 

Reliably documenting plant diversity is necessary to protect and sustainably benefit from it. At the heart of this documentation lie species concepts and the practical methods used to delimit taxa. Here, we apply a total-evidence, iterative methodology to delimit and document species in the South American genus Victoria (Nymphaeaceae). The systematics of Victoria has thus far been poorly characterized due to difficulty in attributing species identities to biological collections. This research gap stems from an absence of type material and biological collections, also the confused diagnosis of V. cruziana. With the goal of improving systematic knowledge of the genus, we compiled information from historical records, horticulture and geography and assembled a morphological dataset using citizen science and specimens from herbaria and living collections. Finally, we generated genomic data from a subset of these specimens. Morphological and geographical observations suggest four putative species, three of which are supported by nuclear population genomic and plastid phylogenomic inferences. We propose these three confirmed entities as robust species, where two correspond to the currently recognized V. amazonica and V. cruziana, the third being new to science, which we describe, diagnose and name here as V. boliviana Magdalena and L. T. Sm. Importantly, we identify new morphological and molecular characters which serve to distinguish the species and underpin their delimitations. Our study demonstrates how combining different types of character data into a heuristic, total-evidence approach can enhance the reliability with which biological diversity of morphologically challenging groups can be identified, documented and further studied.

Keywords: Victoria, heuristic species concept, morphology, population genomics, Victorian era, Mamoré River, molecular diagnosis of species, divergence times

 Victoria boliviana sp. nov.  
(A) habit, (B) abaxial leaf, (C) leaf rim profiles, (D) bud, whole and LS, (E) flower prickles, (F) first night flower, (G) second night flower, (H) carpellary appendages and tepal, staminode attachments; (I) ovule, whole and LS, (J) stamens, (K) seed.

(All from material cultivated at RBG Kew). Illustration: Lucy T. Smith.

  Victoria boliviana sp. nov. 

(A) bud whole, (B) bud L. S., (C) bud from above, (D) first night flower, (E) first night flower L. S., (F) second night flower, (G) second night flower L.S., (H) habit, and (I) seed. 

(A–G) (LTS), (I) (CM) cultivated RBG Kew, H (CM) Beni, Bolivia.

Victoria boliviana Magdalena and L. T. Sm., sp. nov. 

Type: Bolivia, Beni Department, Provincia Ballivían, subiendo el Río Yacuma desde Puerto Espíritu, laguna en conexíon al Río Yacuma, unos 20 m al N, 29 Mar. 1988, S. G. Beck 15173 (holotype: LPB; isotype: K (K000798309). 

Vernacular names: Reina Victoria, Victoria regia.

Most similar to V. cruziana Orb., from which it can be distinguished by the lower rim of the floating leaf, convex apex of the flower bud, length of the upper part of the carpellary appendages exceeding that of the lower part and the larger seeds. The V. boliviana plastid genome differs from that of other Victoria species by a 14 bp insertion between plastid genes ndhC and trnV in the large single copy region (LSC), a 5 bp deletion between trnK and rps16, a 7 bp deletion adjacent to trnC in the LSC and a 42b p deletion in the CDS of gene ycf1, within the SSC. Finally, a 4 bp transversion unique to V. boliviana sp. nov. was found in the LSC.

Wild populations of (A) Victoria amazonica (Peru, Loreto),
 (B)  Victoria boliviana sp. nov. (Bolivia, Beni) and
(C) V. cruziana (Argentina, Chaco).

(Photo Credits: (A) Laurel Allen, iNaturalist ID 821386. (B) Carlos Magdalena. (C) Fernanda Alarcón, iNaturalist ID. 19516477).

 

Lucy T. Smith, Carlos Magdalena, Natalia A. S. Przelomska, Oscar A. Pérez-Escobar, Darío G. Melgar-Gómez, Stephan Beck, Raquel Negrão, Sahr Mian, Ilia J. Leitch, Steven Dodsworth, Olivier Maurin, Gaston Ribero-Guardia, César D. Salazar, Gloria Gutierrez-Sibauty, Alexandre Antonelli and Alexandre K. Monro. 2022.  Revised Species Delimitation in the Giant Water Lily Genus Victoria (Nymphaeaceae) Confirms A New Species and Has Implications for Its Conservation. Frontiers in Plant Science. 13:883151. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.883151

 twitter.com/palmsmithy/status/1543872695103897600

www.Kew.org/about-us/press-media/new-giant-waterlily

   

[Ichthyology • 2022] Chaetostoma orientale • A New Species of Chaetostoma (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) expands the Distribution of Rubbernose Plecos Eastward into the Lower Amazon Basin of Brazil.

Chaetostoma orientale 

Meza-Vargas, Calegari, Lujan, Ballen, Oyakawa, Sousa, Rapp Py-Daniel & Reis. 2022

DOI: 10.1643/i2021068 

 twitter.com/IchsAndHerps

photos by Mark Sabaj. facebook.com: Mark Henry Sabaj 

Abstract

A new species of the rubbernose pleco genus Chaetostoma is described from the Maicuru and Seiko Rivers, a northern tributary of the lower Amazon River and a tributary of the lower Xingu River, respectively, both in Pará State, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed from all congeners, except members of the Chaetostoma anale species group, by having an enlarged second unbranched anal-fin ray with posterior paired dermal flaps. Additionally, the new species is distinguished from its only other currently recognized congeners from rivers draining the Guiana Shield (C. jegui and C. vasquezi) by having a smaller opercle and a supraoccipital excrescence undeveloped, comprising a simple skin area present in juveniles and absent in adults. A revised multi-locus phylogeny for the species of Chaetostoma is presented, and the Chaetostoma anale species group is discussed and rearranged.

 

 Chaetostoma orientale, holotype, MCP 54585, male, 132.4 mm SL.
 Brazil, Pará, Monte Alegre, Maicuru River.

Live coloration of Chaetostoma orientale from the Seiko River, shortly after capture. ANSP 199686,

photo by Mark Sabaj.  facebook.com: Mark Henry Sabaj 

Chaetostoma orientale, new species 

 

Etymology.— The new species is named Chaetostoma orientale, from the Latin orient-, oriens, orientalis, meaning eastern, from the east, of or belonging to the east, in reference to its easternmost distribution among species of the genus. An adjective in neuter form in agreement with genus gender.

Seiko River, tributary to Jarauçu River, itself a tributary to Xingu River, ca. 3.3 km west of Medicilândia on Trans-Amazon road, ....

 Photo by Mark Sabaj.  facebook.com: Mark Henry Sabaj 

 

Vanessa Meza-Vargas, Bárbara B. Calegari, Nathan K. Lujan, Gustavo A. Ballen, Osvaldo T. Oyakawa, Leandro M. Sousa, Lúcia Rapp Py-Daniel and Roberto E. Reis. 2022. A New Species of Chaetostoma (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) Expands the Distribution of Rubbernose Plecos Eastward into the Lower Amazon Basin of Brazil. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 110(2); 364-377. DOI: 10.1643/i2021068 (29 June 2022)

 twitter.com/IchsAndHerps/status/1542135934858182658

 facebook.com/MarkSPerez71/posts/10160106202003466

Uma nova espécie de Chaetostoma é descrita dos rios Maicuru, um afluente norte do baixo rio Amazonas, e Seiko, um afluente do baixo rio Xingu, ambos no estado do Pará, Brasil. A nova espécie é diagnosticada de todos os seus congêneres, exceto membros do grupo Chaetostoma anale, por apresentar o segundo raio não ramificado da nadadeira anal aumentado e com abas dérmicas posteriores. Além disso, a nova espécie se distingue dos únicos outros congêneres atualmente reconhecidos do Escudo das Guianas (C. jegui e C. vasquezi) por ter o opérculo menor e a protuberância supraoccipital não desenvolvida, composta por uma área de pele simples em juvenis e ausente em adultos. Uma filogenia multilocus revisada para as espécies de Chaetostoma é apresentada e o grupo Chaetostoma anale é discutido e reorganizado.

[Herpetology • 2022] Oligodon teyniei • A New Species of the Genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae) from southern Laos

Oligodon teyniei 

David, Hauser & Vogel, 2022

DOI: 10.47605/tapro.v11i1.273

 facebook.com/AlexandreTeynie

Abstract

A new species of the genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826, is described based on two specimens originating from Champasak Province in southern Lao PDR. This species differs from congeners occurring in the Indochinese Region by possessing 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody, an unforked hemipenis, an entire cloacal plate, a relatively low number of ventral plates (150–159), and a dorsal pattern made of 29–30 pale (cream in life or pale yellowish-brown in preservative) crossbands on the body that are narrowly edged with blackish-brown. We compare the new species with other species of the Indochinese Peninsula and China that also have 15 dorsal scale rows, especially O. inornatus (Boulenger, 1914) and O. kampucheaensis Neang, Grismer & Daltry, 2012. Finally, we provide an updated list of the Oligodon species of Laos and an identification key to these species.

Key words: Distribution, Indochinese Region, Kukri, Oligodon inornatus, Southeast Asia, taxonomy

 

Oligodon teyniei sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific nomen is the Latin genitive noun of the last name of Alexandre Teynié, a French herpetologist, to whom we are glad to dedicate this new species for his immense contribution to the herpetology of Laos since 2003. We suggest the following common names: Teynié’s Kukri Snake (English), Oligodon de Teynié (French) and Teynié’s Kukri Natter (German). 

Patrick David, Sjon Hauser and Gernot Vogel. 2022. A New Species of the Genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 (Reptilia: Colubridae) from southern Laos. TAPROBANICA. 11(1); 12–24. DOI: 10.47605/tapro.v11i1.273

Researchgate.net/publication/360811790_A_NEW_SPECIES_OF_THE_GENUS_Oligodon_FROM_SOUTHERN_LAOS

 facebook.com/AlexandreTeynie/posts/5313532142046789

[PaleoMammalogy • 2022] Earliest Giant Panda False Thumb suggests Conflicting Demands for Locomotion and Feeding

Ailurarctos from Shuitangba.
 The grasping function of its false thumb (shown in the right individual) has reached to the level of modern pandas, whereas the radial sesamoid may have protruded slightly more than its modern counterpart during walking (seen in the left individual).

in Wang, Su, Jablonski, ... et Deng, 2022.

 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13402-y

 Art by Mauricio Antón.   facebook.com/MauricioAnton3

Abstract

Of the many peculiarities that enable the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a member of the order Carnivora, to adapt to life as a dedicated bamboo feeder, its extra “thumb” is arguably the most celebrated yet enigmatic. In addition to the normal five digits in the hands of most mammals, the giant panda has a greatly enlarged wrist bone, the radial sesamoid, that acts as a sixth digit, an opposable “thumb” for manipulating bamboo. We report the earliest enlarged radial sesamoid, already a functional opposable “thumb,” in the ancestral panda Ailurarctos from the late Miocene site of Shuitangba in Yunnan Province, China. However, since the late Miocene, the “thumb” has not enlarged further because it must be balanced with the constraints of weight bearing while walking in a plantigrade posture. This morphological adaptation in panda evolution thus reflects a dual function of the radial sesamoid for both bamboo manipulation and weight distribution. The latter constraint could be the main reason why the panda’s false thumb never evolved into a full digit. This crude “thumb” suggests that the origin of the panda’s dedicated bamboo diet goes back to as early as 6–7 Ma.

An artist reconstruction of Ailurarctos from Shuitangba. The grasping function of its false thumb (shown in the right individual) has reached to the level of modern pandas, whereas the radial sesamoid may have protruded slightly more than its modern counterpart during walking (seen in the left individual).

 Art by Mauricio Antón.

Xiaoming Wang, Denise F. Su, Nina G. Jablonski, Xueping Ji, Jay Kelley, Lawrence J. Flynn and Tao Deng. 2022. Earliest Giant Panda False Thumb suggests Conflicting Demands for Locomotion and Feeding. Scientific Reports. 12, 10538. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13402-y

  facebook.com/MauricioAnton3/posts/10218412316973997

 phys.org/news/2022-06-pandas-gave-bamboo-thumbs-million.html

[Botany • 2020] Cleisostoma hainanense (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) • A New Species from Hainan, China: Evidence from Morphological and DNA Analyses

  Cleisostoma hainanense M.Z.Huang, D.K.Liu & G.S.Yang,

in Huang, Liu, Yin & Yang, 2020. 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.428.3.7 

 Researchgate.net/publication/338583352 

 

Abstract

A new species, Cleisostoma hainanense (Orchidaceae: Epidedroideae: Aeridinae) from Hainan, China, is described and illustrated. Detailed morphological comparisons indicate that C. hainanense is similar to C. paniculatum, but differs in tauren-shaped mid-lobe with truncated tip, conical spur with inconspicuous septum and arch-shaped back wall callus. The molecular study based on nuclear ribosomal ITS and four plastid (atpI-atpH, matK, psbA-trnH, rbcL) regions support that the new species is sister to C. paniculatum.

Keywords: Chinese orchids, Cleisostoma clade, Cleisostoma phylogenetics, Vandeae, Monocots

  Cleisostoma hainanense M.Z.Huang, D.K.Liu & G.S.Yang.
A. Flowering plant. B. Flower (top view). C. Flower (side view). D. Bract. E. Dorsal sepal. F. Lateral sepal. G. Petal. H. Lip (top view). I. A section through lip. J. Back wall callus. K. Anther cap. L. Pollinarium. M. Pollinium and stipe.

Comparison of Cleisostoma hainanense M.Z.Huang, D.K.Liu & G.S.Yang (A, C, E, G, I)
and C. paniculatum (B, D, F, H, J).
A & B. Flower; C & D. Lip (top view); E & F. Lip (front view); G & H. Lip and column (side view); I & J. Habit.

    

Ming-Zhong Huang, Ding-Kun Liu, Jun-Mei Yin and Guang-Sui Yang. 2020. Cleisostoma hainanense, A New Species (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) from Hainan, China: Evidence from Morphological and DNA Analyses. Phytotaxa. 428(3); 263–270. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.428.3.7 [2020-01-14] 

 Researchgate.net/publication/338583352_Cleisostoma_hainanense_a_new_species_from_Hainan_China

 twitter.com/HiHainan/status/1518428698651033600

 facebook.com/HainanTouch/posts/527216952471737

 twitter.com/HainanToday/status/1519294514627633153

 

Two new orchid species discovered in S China’s Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park

 en.people.cn/n3/2022/0424/c90000-10088466.html

[Mammalogy • 2022] Rediscovery of the Critically Endangered Hill's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hilli) and Other New Records of Bat Species in Rwanda

Hill's Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus hilli Aellen, 1973

in Flanders, Frick, Nziza, ... et Webala, 2022.

 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e83546

Abstract

Background: 

For forty years, there has been growing uncertainty about whether Hill's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hilli) still persists in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. Only known from one small area within the National Park, R. hilli is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), based on its extremely small geographic range and presumed low number of mature individuals. Here, we present and describe bat species occurrence data contributed to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) that we collected as part of a long-term collaborative project to rediscover this lost species. This data paper describes the survey methods and findings resulting from cave roost surveys, capture surveys, and acoustic sampling of bat echolocation activity in Nyungwe National Park and surrounding areas in south-western Rwanda from 2013-2020 and their conservation relevance.

New information: 

We report the discovery of an extant population of Hill's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hilli) in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, 40 years since the last reported observation of the species in 1981. We also report the first record of Lander's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus landeri) in Nyungwe National Park and the first record of the Damara woolly bat (Kerivoula argentata) in Rwanda. The dataset contributed to GBIF and described in this paper includes 278 occurrence records from 10 bat species of five families detected at 71 locations in or near Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. We include a description of the morphological descriptions of R. hilli and present the first acoustic echolocation signatures and phylogenetic information for this species.

Keywords: Afromontane rainforest, Albertine Rift, Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

   

Sketches of noseleaf morphology of Rhinolophus hilli from photographs of the two individuals captured during this study.

Drawings by Fiona Reid.

Rhinolophus hilli Aellen, 1973

Notable records of bat species encountered in Nyungwe National Park.
A, B Rhinolophus hilli, first observation of this species since 1981;
C Rhinolophus landeri, first record of this species in Nyungwe National Park; D Rhinolophus clivosus, congeneric species found in Nyungwe for comparison; E Kerivoula argentata, first record of this species in Rwanda.

Jon Flanders, Winifred F. Frick, Julius Nziza, Olivier Nsengimana, Prince Kaleme, Marie Claire Dusabe, Innocent Ndikubwimana, Innocent Twizeyimana, Sospeter Kibiwot, Pierre Ntihemuka, Tina L Cheng, Richard Muvunyi and Paul Webala. 2022. Rediscovery of the Critically Endangered Hill's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hilli) and Other New Records of Bat Species in Rwanda. Biodiversity Data Journal. 10: e83546. DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e83546

[Botany • 2022] Eugenia paranapanemensis (Myrtaceae) • the Pitanga-amarela, and A Key to Eugenia sect. Eugenia Species from São Paulo State, Brazil

Eugenia paranapanemensis   

in Valdemarin, Camargo, Moreno, ... et Mazine, 2022. 

DOI: 10.1600/036364422X16512564801669 

  facebook.com/PauloHenriqueAraujo31 

 Abstract  

A new species popularly known as pitanga-amarela, Eugenia paranapanemensis, from Seasonal Forest vegetation in the Atlantic Forest of São Paulo state is described. Our analysis, based on morphological data, shows that this species belongs to Eugenia sect. Eugenia. Among the species in the Eugenia sect. Eugenia clade, E. paranapanemensis can be recognized by its height of about 25 m, flowers with a smooth and pubescent hypanthium, brownish to ochraceous trichomes, and fruits that are yellow when ripe, with up to six seeds.

KEYWORDS: Atlantic forest, conservation, ecology, Myrteae, new species, Penelope, Ramphastos, seasonal forest, Tangara

  

 

Karinne S. Valdemarin, Paulo H. S. A. Camargo, Daniele Janina Moreno, Vinicius Castro Souza, Eve Lucas and Fiorella F. Mazine. 2022. Eugenia paranapanemensis (Myrtaceae), the Pitanga-amarela, and A Key to Eugenia sect. Eugenia Species from São Paulo State, Brazil. Systematic Botany 47(2); 498-505. DOI: 10.1600/036364422X16512564801669 (14 June 2022) 

  facebook.com/PauloHenriqueAraujo31/posts/5754914101188673

[Arachnida • 2022] Ameronothrus retweet • Another Mite Species (Acari: Oribatida) discovered via Social Media from Japanese Coasts, exhibiting An Interesting Sexual Dimorphism

Ameronothrus retweet  Pfingstl & Shimano, 

in Pfingstl, Hiruta, ... et Shimano, 2022. 

DOI: 10.1080/01647954.2022.2074538 

ABSTRACT

The recent discovery of the oribatid mite Ameronothrus twitter via a social media platform resulted in a considerable media response and raised the awareness of the public for these tiny organisms. As a direct consequence, another new marine associated ameronothroid species was now discovered via the same social media service. Moreover, the record of this new species, Ameronothrus retweet sp. n., represents the first report of an ameronothroid taxon from the Sea of Japan coast, indicating that this coastline was successfully colonized by these organisms and that further species could be present there. Ameronothrus retweet sp. n. shows an extraordinary sexual dimorphism with females having relatively shorter legs and a strongly folded notogastral integument. Based on morphological characteristics, it is suggested that the new species is closest related to Ameronothrus lineatus and Ameronothrus nigrofemoratus. A molecular genetic investigation of selected ameronothroid taxa, using the 18S rRNA gene, shows that all Ameronothrus species are closely related and represent a distinct monophyletic genus. In a larger phylogenetic context, the Fortuyniidae and Selenoribatidae are given as sister taxa with a monophyletic origin, whereas certain members of Ameronothridae are placed in paraphyletic positions, supporting theories of an independent origin of the marine associated lifestyle in ameronothroid mites.

 

KEYWORDS: Littoral, Honshu island, cool temperate zone, Ameronothridae, Twitter

  Photographs of male (upper row) and female (lower row) Ameronothrus retweet sp. n.
specimens in dorsal (left side) and ventral view (right side).

Family Ameronothridae Vitzthum, 1942

Genus Ameronothrus Berlese, 1896

Type species – Eremaeus lineatus Thorell, 1871

Ameronothrus retweet Pfingstl and Shimano sp. nov.

[New Japanese name: Iwado-hamabe-dani]

Differential diagnosis: The colour is dark brown, nearly black. Body length is 641–859 µm. In centrodorsal notogastral cuticle with dense granulation, lateral parts are covered with larger granules. Prodorsal lamellar keels are converging. Short clavate sensilli are present. Interlamellar and exobothridial setae are absent. Labiogenal articulation is complete. One pair of adanal setae located posteriorly of anal orifice. Remarkable sexual dimorphism is present, females with strongly folded gastronotic integument and considerably shorter epimeral, genital, and aggenital setae. Male spermatopositor conspicuously elongated, female ovipositor very short. Primilateral setae pl on tarsus I are present. Dorsal companion seta d on genu I, II, and III and all tibiae are present. Tarsal distal setae end with a small nodule. Juveniles is unknown.

Etymology: The specific name ‘retweet’ is given as noun in apposition. “Retweet” is used as both a verb and noun on the social media application Twitter (twitter Inc.) and means repost or forward a message. The present work does not represent a direct act of retweeting in a strict sense, but the species was discovered by a post as a response to the message about the discovery of A. twitter.

Tobias Pfingstl, Shimpei F. Hiruta, Iris Bardel-Kahr, Yuito Obae and Satoshi Shimano. 2022. Another Mite Species discovered via Social Media - Ameronothrus retweet sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida) from Japanese Coasts, exhibiting An Interesting Sexual Dimorphism. International Journal of Acarology. 48(4-5); 348-358. DOI: 10.1080/01647954.2022.2074538 

[Botany • 2022] Melastoma lawrenceliaoi • Studies on Philippine Melastoma (Melastomataceae)—The rarely collected M. laevifolium group

 Melastoma lawrenceliaoi Tahil, 

inTahil, 2022. 

 HUH.harvard.edu

 facebook.com: Kady Tahil

Abstract

 Members of the Melastoma laevifolium group in the Philippines which include the poorly known M. culionense from Culion Island and the new species M. lawrenceliaoi sp. nov. from Tawi-Tawi Island are herein taxonomically reassessed and described, respectively. Having the holotype missing/lost, M. culionense is herein lectotypified. Melastoma lawrenceliaoi is closely related to M. laevifolium from Borneo but differs by having flattened and furrowed young twigs, shorter leaves, midrib and longitudinal veins with slightly curved lanceolate scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long on the lower leaf surface, solitary flowers, shorter and grass green bracteoles, hypanthium sparsely covered with neatly appressed linear scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long, longer hypanthium lobes, ovate petals and shorter greyish anthers on the longer stamens. Taxonomic notes on M. laevifolium is herein provided too.

  Keywords: Culion Island, lectotype, Melastomataceae, Tawi-Tawi Island, taxonomy

Fresh specimen of Melastoma lawrenceliaoi Tahil.
A, Leafy branch with flower; B, Anterior view of flower; C, Flower showing linear bract (arrow); D, Posterior view of flower; E, Lateral view of hypanthium; F, Hypanthium with artificially removed hypanthium lobes showing stamens.

 Photographs by A. Tahil based on A. Tahil 397.

Melastoma lawrenceliaoi Tahil, sp. nov. 

 A species closely similar to M. laevifolium Merr. by the production of lanceolate leaves, funnel shaped hypanthium and linear hypanthium lobes but is readily distinguishable by having flattened and furrowed young twigs (vs. terete), shorter leaves (7–9 cm vs. 5.5–13.6 cm long), midrib and longitudinal veins with slightly curved lanceolate scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long on the lower leaf surface (vs. ovate scales up to 0.5 mm long), solitary flowers (vs. 1–3 in a cyme), shorter (13–15 mm vs. 18–22 mm long) and grass green bracts (vs. reddish), hypanthium sparsely covered with neatly appressed linear scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long (vs. ovate or triangular scales up to 0.5 mm long), longer hypanthium lobes (20–25 mm vs. 16–17 mm long), ovate petals (vs. broadly obovate) and shorter (9–10 mm vs. 12–13 mm long) greyish anthers (vs. pink anthers) on the longer stamens.

Eponymy: This handsome species is named after Phycologist Dr. Lawrence M. Liao, Professor at the Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, in honor for his significant contributions to the marine botany of the Philippines. 

Distribution and ecology: Melastoma lawrenceliaoi is presently only known from Mt. Gaha, a small forested limestone mountain which occupies a total area of less than 30 km². The forest of Mt. Gaha is ca. 1000 ha area of secondary forest over limestone at ca. 600–700 m. This new species grows on limestone structures along with Paraboea sp. Epiphytes such as Hoya and Dischidia spp. were observed growing on this species. Bees were also observed visiting the flowers of this species.

Arkady A. Tahil. 2022. Studies on Philippine Melastoma (Melastomataceae)—The rarely collected M. laevifolium group. Harvard Papers in Botany. 27(1); 117–124. DOI: 10.3100/hpib.v27iss1.2022.n16

  HUH.harvard.edu/pdf-downloads

 facebook.com/100005732231733/posts/1920078988193157

[Herpetology • 2022] Occidozyga obscura & O. lingnanica • Taxonomic Clarifications on the Floating Frogs (Anura: Dicroglossidae: Occidozyga sensu lato) in southeastern China

 Occidozyga obscura (Gray, 1831)

in Lyu, Wang, Zeng, ... et Wang, 2022. 

DOI 10.3897/vz.72.e80019  

Abstract

The recognition for the floating frogs’ genus Occidozyga is in controversy for decades, and the species diversity of these frogs has recently been considered to be underestimated. In southeastern China, two floating frog species are currently recorded, namely Occidozyga lima and Occidozyga martensii. However, their current taxonomic statuses are unresolved after a series of recent taxonomic revisions. In this work, we perform morphological examinations and phylogenetic analyses on these two recorded floating frogs from southeastern China, to clarify their current taxonomic placements. The population previously recorded as Occidozyga lima should be re-assigned to the nomenclature Occidozyga obscura comb. nov., and the population previously recorded as Occidozyga martensii should be an undescribed species which is erected as Occidozyga lingnanica sp. nov. in this work.

Keywords: Diversity, Generic recognition, Occidozyga lingnanica sp. nov., Occidozyga obscura comb. nov., Phrynoglossus

Morphological features of Occidozyga obscura comb. nov. in life
 A–D dorsolateral view, ventral view, left hand, and right foot of SYS a008122
E dorsolateral view of SYS a008123 F dorsolateral view of an uncaptured individual in situ from Shimentai Nature Reserve.

Occidozyga obscura (Gray, 1831), comb. nov.

Diagnosis: (1) Body stocky, size small, SVL 24.2–27.5 mm in adult males (n=7) and 31.5–32.2 mm in adult females (n=3); (2) snout short triangular shaped; (3) nostrils located dorsally; (4) eye orientation vertically; (5) loreal region oblique, not concave or convex; (6) interorbital space narrower than internarial distance; (7) tongue narrow and slender, unnotched, pointed distally, lingual papilla absent; (8) vomerine ridge and vomerine teeth absent; (9) supratympanic fold distinct, raised, and granulated, curved on the temporal region; (10) tympanum hidden, edge invisible; (11) fingers with rudimentary webs, toes with full webs; (12) heels not meeting, tibio-tarsal articulation reaching between the posterior and anterior of the eye.

Etymology: The specific name obscura means ‘obscure’ in Latin.

Common name: “Chinese floating frog” in English / “中国浮蛙 (zhōng guó fú wā)” in Chinese.

Morphological features of the adult male holotype SYS a008846 of Occidozyga lingnanica sp. nov. in life.
A dorsolateral view B ventral view C left hand D right foot
E dorsal view of right hand showing the nuptial pad F calling in situ showing the subgular vocal sac.

Occidozyga lingnanica Lyu & Wang, sp. nov. 

Ooeidozyga laevis martensi — Pope 1931; Liu & Hu 1961

Occidozyga martensii — Fei et al. 1990; Zhao & Adler 1993; Li et al. 2011

Phrynoglossus martensii — Fei et al. 2009, 2010, 2012

Diagnosis: (1) Body stocky, size small, SVL 19.9–22.1 mm in males (n=8) and 26.8–28.8 mm in females (n=3); (2) snout short triangular shaped; (3) nostrils located laterally; (4) eye orientation laterally; (5) canthus rostralis visible, rounded; (6) loreal region vertical, not concave/convex; (7) tongue wide and swollen, unnotched, rounded distally, lingual papilla absent; (8) vomerine ridge and vomerine teeth absent; (9) supratympanic fold distinct and raised, slightly curved on the temporal region; (10) tympanum hidden, edge invisible; (11) relative finger lengths II=I<IV<III, relative toe lengths I<II<V<III<IV; (12) fingers without webs, toes with two third webs; (13) heels not meeting, tibio-tarsal articulation reaching at the posterior margin of supratympanic fold; (14) tarsal fold absent.

 

Etymology: The specific name lingnanica refers to the lingnan region, a geographic area covering Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan in southeastern China, where this new frog species occurs in. This specific name is also dedicated to the former Lingnan University (1888–1952) that was incorporated into Sun Yat-sen University after 1953.

Common name: “Lingnan floating frog” in English / “岭南浮蛙 (lǐng nán fú wā)” in Chinese.

Ecology: This frog inhabits natural or artificial ponds and paddy fields in hilly regions. Males call in the water surface or waterside grass from dusk to dawn. The breeding season is from May to August (this study; Fei et al. 2009). In southeastern China, Occidozyga lingnanica sp. nov. shares a similar environment to that of Occidozyga obscura comb. nov., but prefers to hilly regions compared with the latter in plain areas.

Distribution: Occidozyga lingnanica sp. nov. can be recognized from multiple localities in Guangdong and Hainan of southeastern China based on the phylogenetic result in this work (Figs 1, 2). The records of O. martensi from Yunnan, southwestern China require further clarifications with morphological examinations (see Discussion).

 Zhi-Tong Lyu, Jian Wang, Zhao-Chi Zeng, Lin Luo, Yan-Wu Zhang, Chun-Peng Guo, Jin-Long Ren, Shuo Qi, Yun-Ming Mo and Ying-Yong Wang. 2022. Taxonomic Clarifications on the Floating Frogs (Anura: Dicroglossidae: Occidozyga sensu lato) in southeastern China. Vertebrate Zoology. 72: 495-512. DOI 10.3897/vz.72.e80019