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Tuesday, June 18th, 2019
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| 6:04a | [Botany • 2019] Cynanchum brevipedunculatum (Apocynaceae) • A New Species from Yunnan, China
Abstract Cynanchum brevipedunculatum (Apocynaceae), a new species from Menghai, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is compared with two morphologically similar species, Cynanchum decipiens and C. longipedunculatum. Cynanchum brevipedunculatum differs from the preceeding species in having much bigger leaves, adaxially sparsely strigillose, abaxially glabrous or sparsely strigillose on veins, shorter peduncle and the very distinctive bowl-shaped corona. A comprehensive morphological description of C. brevipedunculatum is provided, together with photographs, and a conservation assessment for this rare vine species. Keyword: Apocynaceae, Asclepiadeae, China, Cynanchum brevipedunculatum, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
  Cynanchum brevipedunculatum J. Y. Shen, sp. nov. 短梗豹藥藤 Type: CHINA, Yunnan, Menghai, Bada, Hesong village, roadside, climbing on the tree, 21°50′N, 100°7′E, alt. 1905 m, 18 Nov. 2018, Shen Jian-Yong 1352 (holotype: HITBC; isotype: HIB, TAI). Diagnosis: C. brevipedunculatum can be distinguished from its closest morphological matches C. decipiens and C. longipedunculatum, by several morphological features (Table 1), C. brevipedunculatum has bigger (compared to 5–8 × 2–4 cm in C. decipiens and ca. 5.6 × 2.3 cm in C. longipedunculatum) leaves (12–20 × 6–11 cm), adaxially sparsely strigillose and abaxially glabrous or sparsely strigillose on the veins, and with a shorter (compared to 4–10 cm in C. decipiens and 6–9 cm in C. longipedunculatum) peduncle (1.8–2.2 cm). Distribution & habitat: Currently known only from the type locality and found growing beside the road, not in a protected area, at ca. 1900 m high elevation. Etymology: The peduncle of this species is short (1.8– 2.2 cm), thus the specific epithet “brevipedunculatum” was chosen. Chinese name is “短梗豹藥藤” (duǎn gěng bào yào téng), which means the plant is poisonous and has short peduncle. Jian-Yong Shen, Xing-Da Ma, Wen-Guang Wang and Ji-Pu Shi. 2019. Cynanchum brevipedunculatum, A New Species of Apocynaceae from Yunnan, China. Taiwania. 64(3); 217-220. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2019.64.217 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7:50a | [Ichthyology • 2019] Mollisquama mississippiensis • A New Western North Atlantic Ocean Kitefin Shark (Squaliformes: Dalatiidae) from the Gulf of Mexico
Abstract A new species of kitefin shark (Squaliformes; Dalatiidae) is described from the Gulf of Mexico (Western North Atlantic Ocean) based on five diagnostic features not seen on the only other known Mollisquama specimen, the holotype of Mollisquama parini Dolganov which was captured in the Eastern South Pacific Ocean. The new species, Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov., is distinguished from its congener by a putative pit organ located ventrally just posterior of the lower jaw margin center, photophores irregularly distributed along many areas of the body, 16 distinct ventral-abdominal photophore aggregations, and two differences associated with the dentition. Other potential distinguishing features are 10 fewer vertebrae than Mollisquama parini and six morphometric proportional differences that exceeded +/- 20% from the holotype. Keywords: Pisces, Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov., bioluminescent shark, putative pit organ, synchrotron scans
Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov. American Pocket Shark Diagnosis. Differs from the only other described species of Mollisquama, M. parini (Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, ZIL-45988), in having a putative pit organ centrally placed just posterior to the lower jaw margin, photophores irregularly distributed along many areas of the body, a series of 16 ventral-abdominal photophore aggregations, upper teeth without a labial-surface ridge (M. parini has a labial-surface ridge), and lower teeth with a weak or absent basal sulcus (M. parini has a deep basal sulcus). The distinguishing external features the pit organ and photophore aggregations were clearly discernable when the new species was captured (Grace et al. 2015) and after preservation. These features were not reported as present on M. parini. .... Etymology: The Latin specific epithet is in recognition of the vast North American Mississippi River Basin (Fig. 7); a biologically and geographically rich region that nurtures Gulf of Mexico fauna and unites diverse cultures. The proposed common name is the American Pocket Shark in recognition of the extraordinary Americas of the Western Hemisphere. Conclusion: Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov. is distinguished from M. parini by five features that cannot be accounted for by ontogeny or sexual dimorphism. Additionally, there are 10 fewer vertebrae than M. parini and six morphometric proportional differences that vary from the holotype by +/- 20% that are not affected by ontogenetic allometry for distal features that is often characteristic of squaloid sharks; the vertebral count and morphometric differences are potential distinguishing features. Mollisquama mississippiensis sp. nov. and M. parini were collected from different habitats that are influenced by differing oceanographic conditions–M. parini from an area of the Pacific Ocean known for its isolation and high degree of endemism (Parin et al. 1997). The accession of M. mississippiensis sp. nov. has led to important dalatiid-characterization advances including a considerable range extension for the genus Mollisquama, the first report of a putative pit organ set on a neuromast from a squaliform shark, detailed imagery of the highly specialized pocket gland and confirmation of its bioluminescent properties, a new report of photophores for a dalatiid, and the broadest degree of dalatiid character transformations (eight) based on phylogenetic analysis and character optimization (Denton et al. 2018; two dental, two chondrocranial, three jaw, one muscular). Mark A. Grace, Michael H. Doosey, John S. S. Denton, Gavin J. P. Naylor, Henry L. Jr. Bart and John G. Maisey. 2019. A New Western North Atlantic Ocean Kitefin Shark (Squaliformes: Dalatiidae) from the Gulf of Mexico. Zootaxa. 4619(1); 109–120. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4619.1.4  | ||||||||||||||||
| 3:17p | [Herpetology • 2019] On the Road to Mandalay: Contribution to the Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Anura: Microhylidae) Fauna of Myanmar with Description of Two New Species; Microhyla fodiens & M. irrawaddy
Abstract We present a morphological and molecular assessment of the Microhyla fauna of Myanmar based on new collections from central (Magway Division) and northern (Kachin State) parts of the country. In total, six species of Microhyla are documented, including M. berdmorei, M. heymonsi, M. butleri, M. mukhlesuri and two new species described from the semi-arid savanna-like plains of the middle part of the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) River Valley. We used a 2 481-bp long 12S rRNA–16S rRNA fragment of mtDNA to hypothesize genealogical relationships within Microhyla. We applied an integrative taxonomic approach combining molecular, morphological, and acoustic lines of evidence to evaluate the taxonomic status of Myanmar Microhyla. We demonstrated that the newly discovered populations of Microhyla sp. from the Magway Division represent two yet undescribed species. These two new sympatric species are assigned to the M. achatina species group, with both adapted to the seasonally dry environments of the Irrawaddy Valley. Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. is a stout-bodied species with a remarkably enlarged shovel-like outer metatarsal tubercle used for burrowing and is highly divergent from other known congeners (P-distance≥8.8%). Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. is a small-bodied slender frog reconstructed as a sister species to M. kodial from southern India (P-distance=5.3%); however, it clearly differs from the latter both in external morphology and advertisement call parameters. Microhyla mukhlesuri is reported from Myanmar for the first time. We further discuss the morphological diagnostics and biogeography of Microhyla species recorded in Myanmar. Key words: Narrow-mouth frogs, Burma, Indochina, Magway, Kachin, Biodiversity, Taxonomy, mtDNA, Morphology, Acoustics, Advertisement call
Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. Chresonymy: Microhyla rubra – (?) Parker, 1934, p. 145 (B. M. 87.2.26.24, coll. from“Moulmein, Burma”by W. Theobald). Microhyla rubra – Wogan et al., 2008, p. 84–86; Peloso et al., 2016, p. 5, 23. Microhyla sp. B – Mulcahy et al., 2018, p. 99, 116–117. Diagnosis: Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following morphological attributes: (1) males with medium body size, SVL 20.8 – 29.12 mm in two adult individuals, body habitus stout; (2) head flattened, triangular, much wider than long, snout rounded in dorsal and bluntly rounded in lateral views, notably protruding above lower jaw in ventral aspect; canthus rostralis rounded, indistinct; (3) skin on dorsum and flanks feebly granular with numerous small round tubercles, ventral surfaces smooth; (4) dorsolateral skinfold presents as row of large tubercles ventrally underlined with black stripe; (5) mid-vertebral skin ridge and dorsomedial stripe absent; (6) supratympanic fold almost indistinct; (7) finger I well developed, notably less than one-half length of finger II; (8) finger and toe tips lacking disks and median longitudinal grooves; (9) two large palmar tubercles (inner palmar tubercle ovoid, slightly elongated; outer palmar tubercle almost rounded); (10) two very prominent metatarsal tubercles (inner metatarsal tubercle large, beanshaped, outer metatarsal tubercle greatly enlarged, shovelshaped); (11) limbs short, tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb not reaching eye level; (12) toe webbing basal, reaching proximal tubercles; webbing formula: I 1–2 II 1¾–3 III 2¾–3¾ IV 4 – 2¾ V; (13) superciliary tubercles absent; (14) dorsum beige-brown with“teddy-bear-shaped”dark-brown marking running from interorbital to sacral region; two large dark-black inguinal spots continuing on dorsal surfaces of thighs; posterior surfaces of thighs and cloacal region with regular black stripes; chin and throat marbled with gray, chest and belly whitish, limbs ventrally pink. Interspecific genetic Pdistances in 16S rRNA gene fragment between new species and congeners vary from 9.1% to 12.4%. .... Distribution: Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality in Kan Pauk, Yesagyo Township, Magway Division, Myanmar (Figure 1). The species was recorded at an elevation of 230 m a.s.l. The actual distribution of the new species is unknown, but it is likely to be found in other arid areas of the Irrawaddy River Valley in the region of the Irrawaddy and Chindwin interfluve; discovery of new localities in Magway, Sagaing, and Mandalay divisions is anticipated. The record of“Microhyla rubra”from“Moulmein, Burma”(now Mawlamyine) by Parker (1934) based on W. Theobald’s collection comes from Mon State in southern Myanmar—a region with a much milder tropical monsoon climate—might refer to a different species. The taxonomic status of this record requires clarification by further studies. Etymology: The specific name“fodiens”is a Latin adjective in the nominative singular derived from“fodio”— Latin verb meaning“to dig”or“to burrow”referring to the distinctive enlarged shovel-shaped outer metatarsal tubercle of the new species, suggesting that it is a good burrower, which may serve as an adaptation to the dry climate of the Irrawaddy River Valley in central Myanmar. The recommended common name in English is “Burrowing narrow-mouth frog”. The recommended common name in Burmese is“Twin Aoung Thaephar”.
  Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. ChresonymyMicrohyla sp. A – (?) Mulcahy et al., 2018, p. 99, 116–117. Diagnosis: Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. is distinguished by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) small adult body size: males SVL 12.3–17.1 mm, females SVL 16.7 – 20.9 mm, body habitus very slender; (2) head small, triangular, wider than long, snout acuminate with rounded tip in dorsal view and rounded in lateral view, slightly protruding above lower jaw in ventral aspect; canthus rostralis indistinct; (3) skin on dorsum and flanks granular with irregularly scattered numerous large and small round tubercles, ventral surfaces completely smooth; (4) dorsolateral skinfold and dark lateral band absent; (5) mid-vertebral skin ridge and dorsomedial stripe absent; (6) supratympanic fold distinct; (7) finger I well developed, slightly longer than onehalf length of finger II; (8) tips of fingers II–IV and toes II–V weakly dilated, not forming conspicuous disks; peripheral grooves ventrally present on tips of fingers II–IV and toes II– IV; fingers and toes lacking dorsal median grooves or distal notches; (9) two small palmar tubercles (inner palmar tubercle rounded, prominent; outer palmar tubercle smaller and less distinct than inner, rounded, flattened); (10) two small metatarsal tubercles (inner metatarsal tubercle elongated, ovoid, flattened; outer metatarsal tubercle small, rounded, prominent); (11) limbs comparatively short, tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching eye level; (12) toe webbing completely reduced; webbing formula: I 2–3 II 2–3 III 3 – 4½ IV 4½ – 2¾ V; (13) superciliary tubercles absent; (14) dorsum yellowish-brown with dark-brown contrasting“teddybear”- shaped marking running from interorbital to sacral region; larger tubercles on dorsum orange to red; body flanks grayish with darker mottling not clearly separated from dorsum coloration; dorsal surfaces of thighs and shanks with two to three dark crossbars; chin and throat with grayish mottling (blackish in males), body and limbs ventrally cream to whitish at belly. Interspecific genetic P-distances in the 16S rRNA gene fragment between the new species and other currently recognized species of Microhyla vary from 5.7% to 12.9%. ... Distribution: Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. is at present known from two closely located areas in Pakokku District of Magway Division, central Myanmar: i.e., suburbs of Pakokku city on the bank of the Irrawaddy River (the type locality) and in the vicinity of Kan Pauk village, Yesagyo Township (ca. 30 km north of type locality) (Figure 1). The species was recorded from elevations of 60 to 220 m a.s.l.. A genealogically closely related population of Microhyla (herein indicated as Microhyla sp. 2, see Table 1) was recorded from the vicinity of Chatthin in Sagaing Division of northern Myanmar by Mulcahy et al. (2018). Considering the notable genetic divergence between Sagaing and Magway populations (P=2.0%), further research is needed to clarify whether Microhyla sp. 2 is conspecific with Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. The actual distribution of the new species is unknown and discoveries of new localities within the middle part of the Irrawaddy River Valley are anticipated. Etymology: The new species name“irrawaddy”is given as a noun in apposition in reference to the Irrawaddy (or, officially, Ayeyarwady) River – the greatest water basin in Myanmar and western Indochina, and the cradle of Burmese civilization. The new species is known to occur in dry areas of the central part of the Irrawaddy Valley in the Magway Division, but likely has a wider distribution in the dry zone of central Myanmar. The recommended common name in English is“Irrawaddy narrow-mouth frog”. The recommended common name in Burmese is “Myanmar Thaephar”.   Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Jr., Vladislav A. Gorin, Than Zaw, Valentina D. Kretova, Svetlana S. Gogoleva, Parinya Pawangkhanant and Jing Che. 2019. On the Road to Mandalay: Contribution to the Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) Fauna of Myanmar with Description of Two New Species. Zoological Research. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2019.044  |
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