[Most Recent Entries] [Calendar View]
Monday, March 2nd, 2020
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 2:21p | [Herpetology • 2020] Panaspis mocamedensis • A Review of the African Snake-eyed Skinks (Scincidae: Panaspis) from Angola, with the Description of A New Species
Abstract The genus Panaspis in Angola is represented by four species, most of them part of taxonomically and nomenclaturally challenging species-complexes. We present a taxonomic revision of the group in the region and describe one new species, Panaspis mocamedensis sp. nov., endemic to the lowland areas of the Namibe province, southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analysis using a combination of mitochondrial (16S, cytb) and nucleares (RAG1, PDC) markers, as well as morphological and meristic data support the recognition of the new species. In addition, these data support the presence of nominotypical Panaspis cabindae, P. wahlbergi and P. maculicollis in Angola. Reexamination of the Angolan population of P. breviceps was based on morphological analysis, as no molecular data from Angola is available for this species. According to our results, this population likely represents the nominotypical form, but due to its complex taxonomic and nomenclatural history and the lack of molecular data, this population needs to be reconsidered when molecular data become available. The description of a new species and revision of the Angolan Panaspis contributes to a better understanding of the true species richness of the Angolan herpetofauna, as well as to understanding the major biogeographic patterns of the region. A key to Angolan Panaspis species is also presented. Keywords: Scincidae, endemism; Panaspis mocamedensis sp. nov.; southwestern Africa; cryptic species; taxonomy  Panaspis mocamedensis sp. nov. Luis M. P. Ceríaco, Matthew P. Heinicke, Kelly L. Parker, Mariana P. Marques and Aaron M. Bauer. 2020. A Review of the African Snake-eyed Skinks (Scincidae: Panaspis) from Angola, with the Description of A New Species. Zootaxa. 4747(1); 77–112. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4747.1.3 | ||||||
| 2:24p | [PaleoOrnithology • 2020] Khinganornis hulunbuirensis • A New Advanced Ornithuromorph Bird from Inner Mongolia documents the northernmost Geographic Distribution of the Jehol Paleornithofauna in China
ABSTRACT We describe a new taxon of advanced ornithuromorph bird, Khinganornis hulunbuirensis gen. et sp. nov., from the previously unreported Pigeon Hill locality of the Lower Cretaceous Longjiang Formation in the northern Greater Khingan Range area of Inner Mongolia, China. A cladistics analysis resolves K. hulunbuirensis as the sister group of a clade formed by Changzuiornis and Iteravis among ornithuromorphs. The osteohistological analysis indicates that K. hulunbuirensis is the first ornithuromorph that maintained an uninterrupted growth during a longer period characterised by slow deposition of low-vascularised and terminal avascular bone tissue. The relatively long hindlimbs and elongate pedal digits with long proximal phalanges suggest a wading and amphibious ecology for the new bird. The discovery of K. hulunbuirensis represents the first occurrence of Jehol birds in the Greater Khingan Range and documents the northernmost known geographic distribution of the celebrated avifauna in China. The new record implies more extended palaeogeographic range for the early diversification of Mesozoic birds on the eastern side of Laurasia. KEYWORDS: Early Cretaceous, Longjiang formation, Jehol Biota, Ornithuromorpha, growth strategy
Systematic palaeontology Class: Aves Linnaeus, 1758 Pygostylia Chiappe, 2002 Ornithothoraces Chiappe, 1995 Ornithuromorpha Chiappe, 2002 Genus: Khinganornis gen. nov. Type species: Khinganornis hulunbuirensis sp. nov. Derivation of name: The genus name is derived from the Greater Khingan Range in northeastern China, referring to the first fossil bird uncovered from the Greater Khingan Range at the time of publication. Khinganornis hulunbuirensis sp. nov. Derivation of name: The species name refers to the fossil site located in Hulunbuir City.  Xuri Wang, Andrea Cau, Martin Kundrát, Luis M. Chiappe, Qiang Ji, Yang Wang, Tao Li and Wenhao Wu. 2020. A New Advanced Ornithuromorph Bird from Inner Mongolia documents the northernmost Geographic Distribution of the Jehol Paleornithofauna in China. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology. DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1731805 | ||||||
| 2:28p | [Ichthyology • 2020] Unexpected Species Diversity within Sri Lanka’s Snakehead Fishes of the Channa marulius Group (Teleostei: Channidae)
Abstract The taxonomic status of the large snakeheads of the Channa marulius group that occur in Sri Lanka is reviewed and clarified. Two species are recognized from the island, based on both morphological and molecular (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1: cox1) differentiation: C. marulius Hamilton from the northern dry zone and C. ara Deraniyagala from the middle and lower regions of the Mahaweli basin. Channa ara is endemic to Sri Lanka and can be distinguished from its Marulius group congeners, C. marulius, C. aurolineata and C. auroflammea, by having fewer dorsal- and anal-fin rays, fewer lateral-line scales and fewer vertebrae; from C. marulioides by a different adult colour pattern; and from C. pseudomarulius by having more vertebrae. At the cox1 barcoding locus, Channa ara is at least 3.6% genetically different from C. marulius, and at least 8% different from the other described species in the group. Specimens collected from the southwestern wet zone in Sri Lanka are a puzzling third component of the Marulius group’s diversity, uncovered in this study, and identified here as C. cf. ara. Whilst genetically more similar to C. marulius, C. cf. ara possesses fewer dorsal- and anal-fin rays, fewer lateral-line scales and fewer vertebrae and is therefore morphologically more similar to C. ara. Channa ara can be distinguished from C. cf. ara, however, by differences in circumpeduncular scale count, adult colour pattern, and by an uncorrected pairwise genetic distance of 3.7% in cox1 sequences. A neotype is designated for Ophicephalus marulius ara Deraniyagala. Keywords: Pisces, Channa ara, C. pseudomarulius, C. marulius, bullseye snakehead, integrative taxonomy, DNA barcoding, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot   Hiranya Sudasinghe, Eleanor A. S. Adamson, R.H. Tharindu Ranasinghe, Madhava Meegaskumbura, Chiho Ikebe and Ralf Britz. 2020. Unexpected Species Diversity within Sri Lanka’s Snakehead Fishes of the Channa marulius Group (Teleostei: Channidae). Zootaxa. 4747(1); 113–132. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4747.1.4  | ||||||
| 2:40p | [Botany • 2019] Nepenthes cabanae (Nepenthaceae) • A New Species of Pitcher Plant from Central Mindanao, Philippines
Abstract A new endemic species, Nepenthes cabanae, belonging to sect. Insignes is described from the Mt. Pantaron range of central Mindanao. The species is assessed as Critically Endangered. This discovery brings the number of Nepenthes species in this mountain range to eight. Mt. Pantaron is currently not a protected area, but the diversity of Nepenthes taxa suggests concerted efforts should be made to develop a conservation strategy to preserve and protect the area. KEYWORDS: carnivorous plants, Nepenthes, Pantaron range, taxonomy, threatened species 
Nepenthes cabanae Lagunday & V.B. Amoroso, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Leaves unequally decurrent with four longitudinal nerves; lower pitchers subcylindrical, bottom half slightly inflated, top half cylindrical towards the mouth; peristome with short triangular indistinct teeth not projecting beyond peristome margin. Etymology: The specific epithet honors Dr. Veneracion G. Cabana, who funded scientific expeditions in the unexplored areas in central Mindanao, Philippines viz. Mt. Pantaron range and Mt. Tangkulan range.  Conclusion And Recommendation: Explorations in the incompletely surveyed areas of central Mindanao, Philippines led to the discovery of N. cabanae another new species of pitcher plant making the Philippines home to a total of 58 species. This discovery makes the Mt. Pantaron range a home to eight Nepenthes species. Mt. Pantaron is currently not a protected area, and the presence of threatened and endemic species of Nepenthes in the area calls for immediate conservation strategies by the local stakeholders to preserve and protect these plants from illegal poaching. Noel E. Lagunday and Victor B. Amoroso. 2019. Nepenthes cabanae (Caryophyllales, Nepenthaceae), A New Species of Pitcher Plant from Central Mindanao, Philippines. Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology. 13(1); 39-45. DOI: 10.26757/pjsb2019a13005. |
| << Previous Day |
2020/03/02 [Calendar] |
Next Day >> |