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Thursday, April 2nd, 2020
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 3:16a | [Herpetology • 2020] Bufo (Anaxyrus) nevadensis & B. (A.) monfontanus • Two New Cryptic Endemic Toads of Bufo Discovered in Central Nevada, Western United States (Bufonidae: Bufo [Anaxyrus])
Abstract We describe two new cryptic species of Bufo within the subgenus Anaxyrus discovered in Central Nevada of the western United States. Our analyses revealed that these two localized endemic toads are genetically divergent and morphologically distinct, yet were concealed under the range of the broadly distributed western toad (Bufo boreas), which occurs throughout Nevada. The newly discovered species are close in geographic proximity to each other (albeit, in different hydrological basins) but have evolved unique morphological characters that are distinct from each other and distinctive from all allied taxa within the B. boreas species complex. The delimiting of these two rare toads emphasizes the link between taxonomic crypsis and inadequate conservation as these newly described species are vulnerable to extinction due to severely restricted geographic ranges, unknown population sizes, and dependency on rare, fragile wetland habitat, which is a limited resource within Nevada, the primary state that makes up the arid Great Basin. These two endemics join the Great Basin B. boreas species complex as imperiled new members, and our study demonstrates that our knowledge of anuran diversity is incomplete and that new discoveries can still be made, even in unlikely settings.
 
Bufo (Anaxyrus) nevadensis, new species Railroad Valley Toad Diagnosis.—Bufo (Anaxyrus) nevadensis is a member of the Great Basin B. boreas species complex (Blair, 1972), but traditionally has been identified as B. boreas due to its occurrence within the Western Toad's geographic range, yet is distinct from B. boreas by a combination of morphological characters (Figs. 2, 6, Tables 1, 4), genetic evidence (Figs. 3, 4, Table 5), and restricted geographic distribution (Fig. 5B). Bufo nevadensis is distinguished from B. boreas due to its small adult body size (SVL is approximately 2 cm smaller than B. boreas; Tables 1, 4); significantly, but modestly longer head with a relatively shorter snout; well-separated, perceptibly short and narrow parotoid glands; significantly, but comparatively long legs, large hind feet (Fig. 6B); and distinctive mottling of venter (Fig. 6B, D). ... Etymology.—The species name is a derivative from the state of Nevada (U.S.A) where this rare toad occurs and pays homage to the unique biodiversity found in the desert landscape of its home state. Bufo (Anaxyrus) monfontanus, new species Hot Creek Toad Diagnosis.—Bufo (Anaxyrus) monfontanus occurs within the range of B. boreas but is distinct from the Western Toad by a combination of diagnostic morphological characters (Figs. 2, 7, Tables 1, 4), genetic evidence (Fig. 3, Table 5), and restricted geographic distribution (Fig. 5B). Bufo monfontanus is distinguishable from B. boreas by having a small adult body size (SVL is 2 cm smaller than B. boreas; Tables 1, 5); significantly, but modestly shorter head; perceptibly large, parotoid glands; significantly, but comparatively shorter legs with small hind feet; and weakly warted body (Fig. 7A). ... Etymology.—The species name monfontanus (from the Latin “mons” for mountain and Latin “fons,” a spring or fountain) is descriptive of the high-elevation spring habitat where this toad occurs and pays tribute to the nature of the rare spring habitat and the biodiversity relying on this important resource within the Nevada. Michelle R. Gordon, Eric T. Simandle, Franziska C. Sandmeier and C. Richard Tracy. 2020. Two New Cryptic Endemic Toads of Bufo Discovered in Central Nevada, Western United States (Amphibia: Bufonidae: Bufo [Anaxyrus]). Copeia. 108(1); 166-183. DOI: 10.1643/CH-18-086   | ||||||
| 3:50a | [Herpetology • 2020] Emydocephalus orarius • A New Species of Turtle-headed Sea Snake (Emydocephalus: Elapidae) endemic to Western Australia
Abstract We describe a new species of turtle-headed sea snake Emydocephalus orarius sp. nov. (Elapidae) from Western Australia’s Coral Coast, Pilbara and Kimberley regions. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial markers places the new species as the sister lineage to the two currently recognised species in Emydocephalus: E. annulatus from the Timor Sea reefs and Coral Sea, and E. ijimae from the Ryukyu Islands. Analysis of nuclear SNP data from the new species and E. annulatus from Australia and New Caledonia provides additional independent evidence of their evolutionary distinctiveness. The new taxon is usually morphologically diagnosable from its congeners using a combination of scalation and colour pattern characters, and appears to reach greater total lengths (>1 m in the new species versus typically ~80 cm in E. annulatus/E. ijimae). The new species is known largely from soft-bottomed trawl grounds, unlike E. annulatus and E.ijimae which usually inhabit coral reefs. The discovery of this new species brings the number of sea snake species endemic to Western Australia to six. Keywords: Reptilia, Hydrophiinae, marine,mitochondrial, RADseq, Australia, systematics  Emydocephalus orarius James H. Nankivell, Claire Goiran, Mathew Hourston, Richard Shine, Arne R. Rasmussen, Vicki A. Thomson and Kate L. Sanders. 2020. A New Species of Turtle-headed Sea Snake (Emydocephalus: Elapidae) endemic to Western Australia. Zootaxa. 4758(1); 141–156. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4758.1.6 | ||||||
| 7:25a | [Botany • 2020] Helicteres pegueroi (Malvaceae: Helicteroideae) • A New Species from the Dry Forests of the Dominican Republic
Abstract A new species of Helicteres from the Dominican Republic is described and illustrated; increasing the number of species occurring in the Caribbean to five. The new species, Helicteres pegueroi, can be distinguished from H. jamaicensis and H. semitriloba by its habit and calyx and corolla colour, i.e. it is a shrub with red calyces and corollas; its pseudoactinomorphic flower due to a slight curvature at the base of the androgynophore; and its densely woolly, globose fruit. An artificial, dichotomous key is provided to distinguish the new species from the other species of the Caribbean region and Mexico. Keywords: Barahona, Helicteroideae, Hispaniola, Malvales, Sierra Martín García
Helicteres pegueroi Mart.Gord. & Clase sp. nov. Frutex calycibus et corollis rubris, calyx nectario parietali completo et undulatus, corolla exserta, inflorescentia cincinnus biflorus, flores pedicellis nectariis patelliformibus, androgynophoro parce curvato ad basim, fructibus globosis dense lanatis. Etymology:—The name of the new species honors the Dominican botanist Brigido Peguero, who is the head of the Botany department at the National botanical garden of Dominican Republic (Jardín Botánico Nacional “Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso”), and part of the editorial board of the journal Moscosoa. Professor Peguero has dedicated his academic life to the study of the Hispaniolan flora from different perspectives, such as: economic botany, ecology and taxonomy. Together with other botanists he has collected over 15, 000 specimens in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico. Distribution, habitat and phenology:— The new species is found in the Sierra Martín García, in the province of Barahona, from where it seems to be endemic. It is only known from dry forests at 600 m of elevation, sharing habitat with the following species: Bursera simaruba (L.) Sargent (1890: 260), Exostema caribaeum (Jacq.) Roemer & Schultes (1819: 19) and Guaiacum sanctum Linnaeus (1753: 382). Flowers from August to November. Martha Martínez-Gordillo, Teodoro Clase and Itzi Fragoso-Martínez. 2020. Helicteres pegueroi (Malvaceae: Helicteroideae): A New Species from the Dry Forests of the Dominican Republic. Phytotaxa. 438(1); 1–5. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.438.1.1 Resumen: Una nueva especie del género Helicteres de República Dominicana es descrita e ilustrada; aumentando el número de especies distribuidas en el Caribe a cinco. La nueva especie, H. pegueroi, se distingue de H. jamaicensis y H. semitriloba por ser un arbusto con flores de cáliz y corola rojos; la flor es pseudoactinomórfica, debido a una ligera curvatura en la base del androginóforo y, la presencia de fruto densamente lanoso, globoso. Se proporciona una clave dicotómica para distinguir al nuevo taxón de las otras especies de la región del Caribe y México. | ||||||
| 7:29a | [Botany • 2020] Peliosanthes ligniradicis (Asparagaceae) • A New Species from Arunachal Pradesh, NE India
Abstract A new species of Peliosanthes named Peliosanthes ligniradicis from Arunachal Pradesh, NE India, is described and illustrated here. It somewhat resembles P. subspicata described from NE India, but is distinguishable by the thicker, stilt-like, semi-woody roots, somewhat elongate (sub) moniliform stem, ovate-oblong or oblong perianth segments, and basally hexagonal and apically 6-crenate. Keywords: Convallariaceae, Eastern Himalaya, Nolinoideae, Ophiopogoneae, South Asia, taxonomy, Monocots  Peliosanthes ligniradicis Momang Taram, Dipankar Borah and Noriyuki Tanaka. 2020. Peliosanthes ligniradicis, A New Species (Asparagaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, NE India. Phytotaxa. 438(1); 43–48 DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.438.1.5 |
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