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Tuesday, March 13th, 2018
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| 3:01a | [Botany • 2018] Rhizanthella johnstonii • Flowering in Darkness: A New Species of Subterranean Orchid Rhizanthella (Orchidaceae; Orchidoideae; Diurideae) from Western Australia
Few plants are so cryptic as the underground orchids, Rhizanthella Rogers (1928: 1), of Australia. Unlike the species on the eastern seaboard of Australia, the Western Australian species spend their entire life cycle, including flowering, below the soil surface (only rarely with the tips of the bracts showing), making them unique among orchids and indeed, among flowering plants generally (Brown et al. 2013). Discovery in 1928 of the first underground orchid in Western Australia was an international sensation where the plant was described as ‘a remarkable subterranean orchid’ (Wilson 1929). The new taxon described in this paper resolves the enigmatic, disjunct distribution of Rhizanthella in Western Australia, where there was thought to be a central and southern node of a single species, R. gardneri Rogers (1928: 1). ....
Rhizanthella johnstonii K.W.Dixon & Christenh., sp. nov. Etymology:—We name this species in recognition of Lionel Johnston, who has worked tirelessly and without reward on the many field trips to resolve the distributional status of this new taxon. His unwavering support of orchid conservation and his life-long support of KWD’s programme of orchid research is also acknowledged with the publication of this new taxon. Kingsley W. Dixon and Maarten J.M. Christenhusz. 2018. Flowering in Darkness: A New Species of Subterranean Orchid Rhizanthella (Orchidaceae; Orchidoideae; Diurideae) from Western Australia. Phytotaxa. 334(1); 75–79. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.334.1.12 | ||||
| 9:02a | [Ichthyology • 2018] Schistura kottelati • A New Species of Loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park in central Vietnam
Abstract Schistura kottelati, new species, is described from the Hung Dang Valley (Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park) in central Vietnam. It is distinguished from all other species of Schistura known from Vietnam and adjacent areas in Laos by a unique combination of characters, including features of lateral line and body pigmentation, counts of fin rays, and barbel and body measurements. Key words. cypriniformes, taxonomy, morphology, Southeast Asia, karstic area Schistura kottelati, new species Diagnosis. Schistura kottelati differs from the other species of genus Schistura known from Vietnam and adjacent areas in Laos by the unique combination of the following characters: lateral line very short, with 5–14 pores; pelvic fin with 1 unbranched and 8 branched rays; a long maxillary barbel (reaching vertical through nape) and inner rostral barbel (reaching vertical through anterior margin of eye); body without obvious markings; caudal fin deeply forked (length of median ray 1.5–1.7 times in length of upper slobe); no external sexual dimorphism; caudal peduncle slender (its length 8.0–11.6% SL); a large eye (eye diameter 4.7–6.2% SL); and wide interorbital region (interorbital width 9.1–11.7% SL). Etymology. The species is named for Maurice Kottelat, in appreciation for his research on Eurasian freshwater fishes, among others those of Vietnam. A noun in genitive. Ho Anh Tuan, Hoang Ngoc Thao and Ngo Xuan Quang. 2018. Schistura kottelati, A New Species of Loach from the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park in central Vietnam (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 66; 142–148. |
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