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Monday, October 18th, 2021
| Time | Event | ||||||||
| 1:51a | [Herpetology • 2021] Ichthyophis benjii • A New Striped Species of Ichthyophis Fitzinger, 1826 (Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae) from Mizoram, northeast India
Abstract A new species of striped Ichthyophis is described from Mizoram State of northeast India. For its distinguishing features, Ichthyophis benjii sp. nov. has narrow (W/S >5) irregular faint lateral yellow stripes extending immediately from corner of the mouth to the level of the posterior vent, not contacting the disc, barely or not visible on the collars ventrally, patchy in the trunk region; known to attain lengths greater than 400 mm, 26 < L/W < 30; head V-shaped, short (L/H > 24); TAs (tentacular apertures) more than twice as far from nares as from eyes (TN/TE > 2); C2 (second collar) noticeably longer than C1 (frst collar). It differs from all other striped congeners, except for I. tricolor and I. multicolor, in having an indistinct pale yellowish lateral stripe that is bordered by a darker ventrolateral longitudinal stripe immediately above the pale venter on each side. It differs from I. tricolor and I. multicolor in having more AGs (annular grooves) 388–422 counted dorsally; and in having 118–124 vertebrae vs. < 120 (I. tricolor) or > 125 (I. multicolor). An analysis of mitochondrial 16s rRNA shows Ichthyophis benjii sp. nov. to be a sister taxon to I. multicolor with an uncorrected p-distance of 0.055. At present, due to the lack of data on the population status and range of distribution, we propose the species be considered as Data Defcient (DD) under the IUCN Red List criteria. Keywords. 16s rRNA, caecilian, conservation, Data Defcient, Ichthyophis benjii sp. nov., Indo-Burma
Ichthyophis benjii sp. nov. Diagnosis. Ichthyophis with narrow (W/S > 5) irregular faint lateral yellow stripes extending from immediately behind CMs to the level of the posterior of vent, not contacting the disc, barely or not visible on the collars ventrally, patchy in the trunk region; known to attain lengths greater than 400 mm, 26 < L/W < 30; head more V-shaped than U-shaped in dorsal view, short (L/H > 24); TAs more than twice as far from nares as from eyes (TN/TE > 2); without distinctive moustache-like stripes between snout tip and TAs; and C2 noticeably longer than C1. Ichthyophis benjii sp. nov. differs from all other striped congeners in having a markedly less prominent pale yellowish lateral stripe, bordered by a darker ventrolateral longitudinal stripe immediately above the pale venter on each side. It can be differentiated from I. tricolor and I. multicolor in having much higher AGs of 385–422 and 383–423 counted dorsally and ventrally, respectively. Etymology. The species epithet “benjii” is dedicated in memory of Benjamin Lalremsanga (1988–2020, nephew of Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga) who used to actively assist the author(s) in their herpetofaunal surveys. Suggested English common name: Benji’s Caecilian
Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Jayaditya Purkayastha, Lal Biakzuala, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai, Lal Muansanga and Gospel Zothanmawia Hmar. 2021. A New Striped Species of Ichthyophis Fitzinger, 1826 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae) from Mizoram, northeast India. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 15(2) [Taxonomy Section]: 198–209 (e288). | ||||||||
| 6:09a | [Herpetology • 2021] Micryletta melanops • A New Species of Micryletta (Anura: Microhylidae) from the Langbian Plateau in southern Vietnam
We report a new species of the genus Micryletta from the montane evergreen forest in the Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Lam Dong Province, Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, based on molecular and morphological evidence. The new species is diagnosed by a combination of the following morphological characters: body size small (snout-vent length (SVL) 22.4 mm, single female); iris uniform black; snout nearly truncate in dorsal view, slightly rounded in profile; tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching level of eye; dorsal surface smooth; supratympanic fold present, prominent; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; tips of toes very weakly dilated into small discs; finger webbing absent, toe webbing rudimentary; dorsal surfaces of head and body orange-red with small irregularly shaped dark-brown patches; dorsal surface of limbs pale dark brown with small reddish speckles; body flanks dark brown anteriorly fading to grayish brown posteriorly with brown spots in groin area; lateral sides of head immaculate blackish brown without white patches; coloration of ventral surfaces immaculate dark gray. The new species is divergent from all other congeners in 16S rRNA gene sequences (2.6%–5.8%). Following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, we propose the new species be listed as Data Deficient (DD).     Micryletta melanops sp. nov. Chresonymy: Micryletta cf. inornata — Poyarkov [Paiarkov] & Vassilieva (2011): 186–187, 211, Fig. 5.26. Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Micryletta Dubois, 1987 based on the following morphological attributes: body size small; vomerine teeth absent; tympanum small, rounded, externally visible; subarticular tubercles on fingers and toes very prominent; three well-developed metacarpal tubercles; distinct supernumerary palmar and metatarsal tubercles posterior to base of digits; first finger not reduced; webbing on fingers absent and on toes rudimentary (Alhadi et al., 2019; Das et al., 2019; Dubois, 1987; Munir et al., 2020; Poyarkov et al., 2018; Yang & Poyarkov, 2021). Micryletta melanops sp. nov. is distinguished from all congeners based on a combination of the following morphological characters: body size small (SVL 22.4 mm, single female); iris uniform black; snout truncate in dorsal view, nearly truncate in profile; tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching eye level; dorsal surface smooth; supratympanic fold present, prominent; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; tips of toes weakly dilated into small discs; finger webbing absent, toe webbing rudimentary between toes II–III and III–IV; coloration of dorsal surfaces on head and body orange-red with small irregularly shaped brown patches; dorsal surface of limbs pale dark brown with small reddish speckles; flanks dark brown anteriorly, fading to grayish brown posteriorly with brown spots in groin area; lateral sides of head blackish brown, lacking white patches; coloration of ventral surfaces immaculate dark gray; tadpoles with distinct yellow blotches across tail and fin. Etymology: Specific epithet “melanops” is an adjective in the nominative case derived from the Ancient Greek “melanos” for “black” and “ops” for “eye” and is given in reference to the characteristic uniform black iris coloration found in the new species. We recommend “Black-eyed Paddy Frog” for the common English name and “Nhái bầu mắt đen” for the common Vietnamese name of the new species.
Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Tan Van Nguyen, Jian-Huan Yang and Vladislav A. Gorin. 2021. A New Species of Micryletta (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from the Langbian Plateau in southern Vietnam. Zoological Research. 42(6); 726-733. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.228  | ||||||||
| 3:02p | [Botany • 2021] Saurauia abbreviata (Actinidiaceae) • You ‘Sau’ Me! A New Species and A Rediscovery in the Genus Saurauia from Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao Island, Philippines
Abstract A new species and a rediscovery in the genus Saurauia (Actinidiaceae) from Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao island, Philippines are presented here. The new species, Saurauia abbreviata, closely resembles Saurauia lanaensis Merr. but can be differentiated by having longer petioles, uniformly setose adaxial leaf surface, longer and wider leaves, more lateral veins, 3 styles, and a 3(–4)-locular ovary. This discovery raises the current number of recognized Saurauia in the Philippines to 57 following an 87-year gap in the taxonomic study of this genus in the country. S. longipedicellata Merr. is also rediscovered after almost a century. A lectotype is here assigned for this name selected among the syntypes. Photographs, ecological notes, and an amended description are also provided to aid taxonomic identification. Keywords: Actinidia, Actinidiaceae, endemism, Philippines, taxonomy
Saurauia abbreviata K.R.Mazo, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Saurauia abbreviata closely resembles Saurauia lanaensis Merr. by having densely setose branchlets, abaxially setose leaves, small, axillary, cymose inflorescence; setaceous sepals; short sepals and petals. How-ever, the new species can be differentiated by having longer petioles (1.5–4.0 cm vs. 1.0–1.5 cm), uniformly setose adaxial leaf surface (vs. glabrous), longer and wider leaves (20–42 cm long × 9.5–17 cm wide vs. 11–20 cm long × 3.0–6.0 cm wide), more lateral veins (14–25 pairs vs. 10–12 pairs). In terms of floral characters, S. lanaensis has slightly larger petals and sepals vs. S. abbreviata. Notably, the older inflorescences in S. abbreviata forms a slightly thick woody rachis from which new flowers emerge after the senescence of the older ones—a characteristic not known to occur in S. lanaensis. Etymology: The specific epithet abbreviata is derived from the Latin word “ brevis” (short) in reference to the very short or shortened inflorescences and flower dimensions of the new species—character combinations which are very rarely observed among Philippine Saurauia species.   Saurauia longipedicellata Merr., Philipp. J. Sci. 20, 1922: 407 Kean Roe F. Mazo, Jayson A. Mansibang, Lowell G. Aribal and Maverick N. Tamayo. 2021. You ‘Sau’ Me! A New Species and A Rediscovery in the Genus Saurauia (Actinidiaceae) from Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao Island, Philippines. Webbia: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography. 76(2); 203-212. DOI: 10.36253/jopt-10712   Abstrak. Usa ka bag-ong species ug nadiskobrehan pag-usab sa genus nga Saurauia (Actinidiaceae) gikan sa Zamboanga Peninsula, isla sa Mindanao, Philippines ang gipresentar dinhi. Ang bag-ong species, Saurauia abbreviata, nahisama pag-ayo sa Saurauia lanaensis Merr. apan ang bag-ong species adunay labi ka taas nga mga petioles, uniformly setose ang ilalom nga dahon, mas taas ug mas lapad nga dahon, labi pang mga lateral veins, 3 styles, ug 3(–4)-locular nga obaryo. Ang nadiskobrehan nagdugang sa kadaghanon sa mga giila nga Saurauia sa Pilipinas ngadto sa 57 human sa 87 ka tuig nga gintang sa taxonomic nga pagtuon sa kini nga genus sa nasud. Ang Saurauia longipedicellata Merr. nadiskobrehan usab pagkahuman sa hapit usa ka gatus ka tuig. Ang tipipikasyon gihimo dinhi aron mapalig-og ang ngalan. Mga litrato, mga notang ekolohikal, ug giusab nga hulagway alang sa maong species makita usab dinhi.  | ||||||||
| 3:12p | [Botany • 2021] Dichaea andina (Orchidaceae: Zygopetalinae) • A New Species of Dichaea from the Andes of Colombia
Abstract A new species of Dichaea sect. Dichaea from the Andean forests in Colombia is described and illustrated based on living material. Dichaea andina is compared with the morphologically similar D. lagotis and D. pendula, from which it can be distinguished by a number of vegetative and floral and features. Dichaea andina differs from D. lagotis in the broadly anchoriform lip, the hypochile transversely subrounded and the epichile transversely narrowly elliptic, briefly apiculate. Similarly, it differs from D. pendula in the caespitose habit, the leaves without cross-venation, and the inflorescence straight produced below the foliage, among other features. Ecological information for the new species is also provided. Keywords: Andes Mountain Range, Cloud Andean forests, Colombia, Cymbidieae, ITS, Section Dichaea, Taxonomy, Monocots
Dichaea andina Alomía & Sambin, sp. nov. Dichaea andina differs from D. lagotis Reichenbach (1876: 112) in the broadly anchoriform lip (vs. sagittate), with the hypochile transversely subrounded (vs. subquadrate) and the epichile transversely narrowly elliptic, briefly apiculate (vs. oblong acute). It differs from D. pendula (Aublet 1775: 819) Cogniaux (1903: 182) in the caespitose plants (vs. plants not caespitose), the leaves without cross-venation (vs. with cross-venation), and the inflorescence straight, produced under the foliage (vs. geniculated, above the foliage). Etymology:— The specific epithet is designated for two purposes: first, to honor the Andean forests (Andes mountain range) and second, in recognition of the Universidad de Los Andes, for the academic and institutional support it provided to the first author during her doctoral studies. Yasmin A. Alomía, Aurelien Sambin, J. Tupac Otero and Pablo R. Stevenson. 2021. A New Species of Dichaea (Orchidaceae: Zygopetalinae) from the Andes of Colombia. Phytotaxa. 521(1); 39-47. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.521.1.4  | ||||||||
| 4:36p | [Botany • 2021] Curcuma aruna & C. pitukii • Two New Species of Curcuma L. (Zingiberaceae) from northern Thailand
Abstract Curcuma aruna and C. pitukii, two new species from northern Thailand, are described, illustrated, and photographed. They are endemic to Sukhothai and Lampang Provinces, northern Thailand, and the morphological characteristics of two new species are compared with their closest species, C. flaviflora, C. eburnea, and C. pierreana. Two new species, C. aruna and C. pitukii are assignable to Curcuma subgenus Ecomata. C. aruna is recognized by leaves ovate with thin chartaceous, fertile bracts 6–12, it’s glabrous on nearly all parts of the plant, flowers yellow and labellum yellow with 2 darker yellow bands in the center. C. pitukii is recognized by bracts 20–40 with purplish white to purple, corolla lobes purplish white to pale purple, staminodes white, and labellum white with an embossed yellow path along the midrib from base to apex. A detailed description, distribution, ecology, etymology, preliminary conservation status, and photographs of two new species are provided. A key to 20 species of Curcuma subgenus Ecomata in Thailand is presented. Keywords: Curcuma flaviflora, C. eburnea, C. pierreana, Lampang, subgenus Ecomata, Sukhothai, taxonomy, Zingiberales 
Curcuma aruna Maknoi & Saensouk, sp. nov. subgenus Ecomata This species is similar to C. flaviflora in early flowering habits, short peduncle, no coma and yellow flowers. The leaves of C. aruna are ovate and glabrous on both surfaces, instead of leaves elliptic to oblanceolate and pubescent on both surfaces in C. flaviflora. The length of the corolla tube of C. aruna is shorter than in C. flaviflora (2.3–2.8 cm long in C. aruna vs 3.8–4.2 cm in C. flaviflora). The staminodes of C. aruna are obovate, whilst those of C. flaviflora are ovate to elliptic. The staminodes of C. aruna are larger than those of C. flaviflora (2.2–2.6 × 1.4–1.6 cm in C. aruna vs 2.0 × 1.2 cm in C. flaviflora). Etymology: The specific epithet of the new species is “aruna”, which means “dawn” in Thai, refer to flower color resemble the color of the dawn and name of God of the Dawn in Thai mythology. The name of the type locality province “Sukhothai” means the dawn of happiness also. Vernacular name: Krachiao Arun - กระเจียวอรุณ (Krachiao in Thai means Curcuma and arun means dawn in Thai).
 Curcuma pitukii Maknoi, Saensouk, Rakarcha & Thammar., sp. nov. subgenus Ecomata Curcuma pitukii is most similar to Curcuma eburnea Škorničk., Suksathan & Soonthornk. by its terminal inflorescence, the number of bracts, without coma bracts, and small filiform anther spurs. The leaves of C. pitukii are densely puberulent on the adaxial surface, but the leaves of C. eburnea are glabrous on the adaxial surface. C. pitukii has purplish white to purple bracts, whilst C. eburnea has cream-white or pale greenish bracts. The length of the calyx of C. pitukii is longer than in C. eburnea (14–18 mm long in C. pitukii vs 8–10 mm long in C. eburnea). The length of the corolla tube of C. pitukii is shorter than in C. eburnea (2.2–3 cm long in C. pitukii vs 3.5 cm long in C. eburnea). The corolla lobes of C. pitukii are purplish white to pale purple and sparsely puberulent at the apex, but in C. eburnea they are pure white and glabrous. The length of the filament of C. pitukii is longer than in C. eburnea (5–8 mm long in C. pitukii vs 2 mm long in C. eburnea). The length of the anther of C. pitukii is shorter than in C. eburnea (2.5–4 mm long in C. pitukii vs 8–9 mm long in C. eburnea). Etymology: The specific epithet “pitukii” is named in honor of “Mr. Pituk Punyajun”, a supporter and backup plant taxonomists in Thailand for over 25 years and who first found the plant. Vernacular: Cho Muang Pituk - ช่อม่วงพิทักษ์ (Cho in Thai name means inflorescence, Muang means purple, and Pituk is the first name of Mr.Pituk Punyajun). Charun Maknoi, Surapon Saensouk, Piyaporn Saensouk, Sarayut Rakarcha and Woranart Thammarong. 2021. Two New Species of Curcuma L. (Zingiberaceae) from Thailand. Biodiversitas. 22; 3910-3921. DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d220937  |
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