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Wednesday, January 26th, 2022
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| 1:20a | [Herpetology • 2021] Cyrtodactylus stellatus • A New Insular Species of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Group (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) from Tarutao Island, southern Thailand revealed by Morphological and Genetic Evidence
Abstract The bent-toed geckos of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus group are widely distributed along the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Although taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of this species group have been continuously conducted, only some populations from Thailand have been included, resulting in hidden diversity within this group. In this study, we used morphological and molecular data to clarify the taxonomic status and describe a new population from Tarutao Island, Satun Province, southern Thailand. Cyrtodactylus stellatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: body size; tuberculation; number of dark body bands, ventral scales, and femoroprecloacal pores in males; presence of precloacal pores in females; and scattered pattern on dorsum. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial ND2 gene recovered the new species as the sister species to C. astrum, with an uncorrected pairwise divergence of 9.78–12.37%. Cyrtodactylus stellatus sp. nov. is currently only known from Tarutao Island, Thailand. The discovery of this species suggests that the diversity within the C. pulchellus group remains underestimated and future exploration of unsurveyed areas are needed to further the understanding of this group and its geographic range. Keywords: Cyrtodactylus astrum, Cyrtodactylus stellatus sp. nov., karst, morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy
   
Cyrtodactylus stellatus sp. nov. Stellar Bent-toed Gecko Diagnosis: Cyrtodactylus stellatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of the C. pulchellus group by the combination of the following characters: (1) SVL 86.3–95.9 mm in adult males, 86.6–96.1 mm in adult females; (2) 12–15 supralabial and 10–13 infralabial scales; (3) weak tuberculation on body; (4) no tubercles on ventral surfaces of forelimbs, gular region, or in ventrolateral body folds; (5) 32–47 paravertebral tubercles; (6) 19–23 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; (7) 32–40 rows of ventral scales; (8) 20–23 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; (9) 24–29 femoroprecloacal pores in adult males; (10) precloacal pores present in adult females; (11) deep precloacal groove in males; (12) dorsum bearing a scattered pattern of white tubercles; (13) four dark dorsal body bands; (14) 10–12 dark caudal bands on original tail; (15) white caudal bands in adults heavily infused with dark pigmentation; and (16) posterior portion of tail in hatchlings and juveniles white.
  Distribution: Cyrtodactylus stellatus sp. nov. is currently known only from Tarutao Island, Satun Province, Thailand (Figs 1, 12A). Natural history: All specimens of C. stellatus sp. nov. were collected from a karst forest at night (1950–2100 h) with temperatures between 27.1–32.2 °C and relative humidity between 71.4–93.0%. The specimens were found on karst walls, within karst crevices and on nearby karst boulders. Some specimens occurred on tree trunks or vines near the karst formations (Fig. 12). The holotype was found on a karst wall approximately 1 m above the ground within karst forest. Eight specimens (ZMKU R 00900, ZMKU R 00906, ZMKU R 00908, ZMKU R 00911–00912, ZMKU R 00913, and ZMKU R 00915–00916) were found on karst walls from 0.5–3.0 m above the ground. ZMKU R 00907, ZMKU R 00910, and ZMKU R 00914 were found in karst crevices. Three specimens (ZMKU R 00901, ZMKU R 00903, and ZMKU R 00909) were found on karst boulders. Four specimens (ZMKU R 00899, ZMKU R 00902, ZMKU R 00904, and ZMKU R 00917) were perched on vegetation near karst walls or karst boulders. Two gravid females (ZMKU R 00899–00900) were collected in November 2017 and contained two eggs (externally visible). The juvenile was found on a vine in May 2019. Cyrtodactylus stellatus sp. nov. appears to be nocturnal and sympatric with two other gekkonids, Gehyra mutilata Wiegmann, 1834 and the diurnal species Cnemaspis tarutaoensis Ampai et al., 2019. Etymology: The specific epithet stellatus is Latin word, meaning starry or starred, and refers to scattered pattern of light-colored tubercles on dorsum and limbs. The name corresponds with the sister taxon C. astrum that shared similar diagnostic character (scattered light-colored tubercles pattern on dorsum). Korkhwan Termprayoon, Attapol Rujirawan, Natee Ampai, Perry L. Wood Jr and Anchalee Aowphol. 2022. A New Insular Species of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus Group (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) from Tarutao Island, southern Thailand revealed by Morphological and Genetic Evidence. ZooKeys. 1070: 101-134. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1070.73659 Natee Ampai, Attapol Rujirawan, Perry L. Wood Jr, Bryan L. Stuart and Anchalee Aowphol. 2019. Morphological and Molecular Analyses reveal Two New Insular Species of Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Satun Province, southern Thailand. ZooKeys. 858: 127-161. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.858.34297 L. L. Grismer, Perry L. Wood, Jr., Evan S. H. Quah, Shahrul Anuar, MohD. A. Muin, Montri Sumontha, Norhayati Ahmad, Aaron M. Bauer, Sansareeya Wangkulangkul, Jesse L. Grismer and Olivier S. G. Pauwels. 2012. A Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Thai-Malay Peninsula Bent-toed Geckos of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae): combined morphological and molecular analyses with Descriptions of Seven New Species. Zootaxa. 3520: 1-55. Researchgate.net/publication/234032436  | ||||||||||
| 3:21a | [Ichthyology • 2021] Squatina mapama • A New Cryptic Species of Angel Shark (Elasmobranchii: Squatiniformes: Squatinidae) from the southwestern Caribbean Sea
Integrating both morphological and genetic data, we describe Squatina mapama, a new species of the angel shark genus Squatina, found on the upper continental slope off the Caribbean coast of Panamá. Distinguishing characters of S. mapama include a wider pectoral and pelvic span; a shorter head length; a narrower mouth; short fringed nasal flaps and barbels; a few large denticles on top of the head; a single dorsal midline row of slightly enlarged denticles from the level of the posterior insertion of the pelvic fin to the first dorsal fin and continuing past the first dorsal fin to the second dorsal-fin origin; and the presence of smaller scattered spots in males, which, in combination, allow separation of this new species from the closely related and sympatric species Squatina david. The new species can be distinguished from all other currently recognized Squatina species by meristic and morphometric measures, as well as by sequence differences in the mtDNA COI marker. Phylogenetic analysis shows Squatina mapama n. sp. to be a basal member of a small clade of western Atlantic Squatina species that includes Squatina occulta, Squatina guggenheim, and S. david, which likely evolved in the late Oligocene or Miocene period. We also report a western range extension of S. david from Colombia to the western Caribbean coast of Panamá. Key words: taxonomy, ichthyology, fishes, Atlantic Ocean, Panama, phylogenetics, clades, DNA barcodes
Squatina mapama, n. sp. Small-crested Angelshark; angelote de cresta pequeña Diagnosis. A Squatina species with a combination of: a single row of slightly enlarged dermal denticles along dorsal midline extending between level just anterior of posterior insertion of pelvic fins and anterior base of first dorsal fin and continuing rearwards along dorsal ridge of tail between first and second dorsal fins; a few large denticles on top of head; nasal flap squared with a fine fringe on ventral edge; two short lateral barbels bluntly rounded also with a fine fringed margin; males with a dorsal color pattern of small, scattered, dark spots distributed over a uniform light-brown background; pectoral-fin span 52.0–58.1% TL; pelvic-fin span 30.7–31.0 % TL; pre-pectoral-fin length 19.4–19.8% TL; trunk width 18.1–19.5% TL; head length 16.5–17.5% TL; spiracle length 2.2–2.3% TL; eye-to-spiracle length 2.2–5.0 % TL; mouth width 10.5–12.1% TL; nostril width 1.6–2.3% TL; snout-to-pectoral distance 19.4–19.8%; spiracle width 2.2–2.3% TL; pectoral-fin inner margins 17.5–18.3%. Etymology. The specific epithet mapama refers to the acronym MAPAMA, the Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, which is the Spanish governmental organization that operates the R/V Miguel Oliver. This name recognizes the support of MAPAMA for the research cruises to Central and South America that facilitated the capture of this angelshark, and other new species of deepwater fishes on both sides of the Central American isthmus (Vázquez et al. 2015, Concha et al. 2016, Robertson et al. 2017). Suggested common name of Small-crested Angelshark or angelote de cresta pequeña is in reference to the short and narrow median line of small dermal denticles Douglas J. Long, David A. Ebert, Jose Tavera, Arturo Acero P. and Ross Robertson. 2021. Squatina mapama n. sp., A New Cryptic Species of Angel Shark (Elasmobranchii: Squatinidae) from the southwestern Caribbean Sea Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 38, 113-130. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5806693 | ||||||||||
| 10:35a | [Herpetology • 2020] Acanthosaura prasina • A New Species of Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (Squamata: Agamidae) from Central Highlands, Vietnam
Abstract Herein, we describe a new agamid species of the genus Acanthosaura from Central Highlands of Vietnam: Gia Lai Province, Kon Chu Rang NR, and Kon Tum Province: Kon Plông and Ngoc Linh Mountain based on morphological and molecular data. Acanthosaura prasina sp. nov. is distinguished from all congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters. Acanthosaura prasina sp. nov. differs from A. capra, A. murphyi, and A. nataliae by the presence of a short spine on each side of the neck and a smaller body size. From the known species of «lepidogaster» complex and A. coronata it differs in the arrangement of dorsal crests with a distinct double row of vertebral scales, from A. brachypoda in a smaller body size, longer tail and limbs, fewer supra- and infralabials and coloration patterns with a white area on lips and shoulders; from A. lepidogaster by lacking a dark marking on the nape and the absence of a distinct diastema; from A. phongdienensis by lacking a dark marking on the nape. We provide a cyt b-based estimation of diversity of the genus Acanthosaura. A. prasina sp. nov. differs from A. phongdiensis, A. coronata, A. lepidogaster, A. armata, A. crucigera, A. nataliae, A. phuketensis, and Acanthosaura sp. SK in p-distances of 15.4, 24.5, 14.7, 14.6, 16.3, 14.6, 15.4, and 24.4%, respectively. The new species currently known from three localities from Central Highlands was recorded from 800 to 1700 m a.s.l. in the evergreen polydominant forests in the mountainous regions of Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces. This is the 16th species of Acanthosaura and the ninth species of the genus from Vietnam. Keywords: Acanthosaura prasina sp. nov.; agamid lizards, taxonomy; morphology; Central Highlands, Vietnam, cyt b  Acanthosaura prasina sp. nov. Natalia Borisovna Ananjeva, Oleg A. Ermakov, Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Tao Thien Nguyen, Robert W. Murphy, Svetlana A. Lukonina and Nikolai L. Orlov. 2020. A New Species of Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (Squamata: Agamidae) from Central Highlands, Vietnam. Russian Journal of Herpetology. 27(4); Researchgate.net/publication/343567373_A NEW SPECIES DISCOVERIES IN THE GREATER MEKONG 2020 | ||||||||||
| 10:41a | [Paleontology • 2021] The Fossil Record and Phylogeny of South American Horned Frogs (Anura, Ceratophryidae) Abstract South American horned frogs (Ceratophryidae), with their large heads, wide gapes and fang-like teeth, are among the most charismatic, best-known and well-studied neobatrachian anurans. The family comprises 12 extant species with hyperossified skulls and has a relatively rich fossil record, particularly in the Pampas, which dates back to the late Miocene. However, several records have been overlooked in recent summaries, and many taxonomic assignments remain indeterminate or are questionable and have yet to be tested within a quantitative phylogenetic framework. Here we provide a complete up-to-date survey of the palaeontological record of Ceratophryidae, including some remarkable new records. We also tested their systematic position through comprehensive phylogenetic analyses based on osteological data, providing several synapomorphies for all relevant nodes. Finally, we discuss these integrated data in relation to divergence time estimates, and propose a set of fossil calibrations that provide hard minimum bounds for crown-group Ceratophryidae and the subclades within it, and illuminate the acquisition of polyploidy within the group. Keywords: Ceratophrys, Lepidobatrachus, Chaco, Pampas, phylogenetics, osteology, calibration point  Anura Fischer, 1813 Neobatrachia Reig, 1958 Nobleobatrachia Frost, Grant, Faivovich, Bain, Haas, Haddad, de Sá, Channing, Wilkinson, Donnellan, Raxworthy, Campbell, Blotto, Moler, Drewes, Nussbaum, Lynch, Green & Wheeler, 2006 Ceratophryidae Tschudi, 1838 Type genus: Ceratophrys Wied-Neuwied, 1824. Chacophrys Reig & Limeses, 1963 Chacophrys pierottii (Vellard, 1948)
Ceratophrys Wied-Neuwied, 1824 Ceratophrys ameghinorum Fernicola, 2001 Ceratophrys aurita (Raddi, 1823) Ceratophrys ornata (T. Bell, 1843) Lepidobatrachus Budgett, 1899 Lepidobatrachus australis Nicoli, 2015 Conclusions: The oldest record of South American horned frogs dates back to the late Miocene and represents total-group Ceratophrys, providing a hard minimum bound for Ceratophryidae. However, other Miocene records are fragmentary or show morphologies not represented among extant species, obscuring their phylogenetic relationships. The known fossil record of Ceratophrys is relatively rich but is restricted mostly to the clade comprising species with a dorsal shield, including Ce. ornata and Ce. aurita. Our phylogenetic analyses consistently recovered the extinct Ce. ameghinorum and its kin, including two putative new forms, as more closely related to Ce. aurita than to any other extant species. The known fossil record of Lepidobatrachus is sparse and likely restricted to the Pliocene, but shows that the total group inhabited regions outside its present day Chacoan distribution. Phylogenetic analyses recovered the Pliocene L. australis and a new form from western Argentina as part of total-group Lepidobatrachus, but lying outside the crown-group. Crown-group Lepidobatrachus and Chacophrys have no known fossil record to date. Extinct taxa that remain valid are mostly from the Pliocene of Buenos Aires Province, whereas almost all of the Quaternary record that can be confidently assigned to species level represents extant taxa. Integration of ploidy data from extant species and fossils in our phylogenetic framework suggests that in Ce. ornata and Ce. aurita octoploidy arose through tetraploidy late in the Quaternary. Raúl Orencio Gómez and Guillermo Fidel Turazzini. 2021. The Fossil Record and Phylogeny of South American Horned Frogs (Anura, Ceratophryidae). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 19(2); 91-130. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2021.1892845 | ||||||||||
| 2:56p | [Herpetology • 2022] Conraua kamancamarai • A New Slippery Frog (Anura: Conrauidae: Conraua Nieden, 1908) from the Fouta Djallon Highlands, west-central Guine
Abstract We describe a new species of the genus Conraua from the Fouta Djallon Highlands in Guinea. The species is recognised as distinct from nominotypical C. alleni, based on morphological evidence and is supported by a recent species delimitation analysis, based on DNA sequence data. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the unique combination of the following characters: medium body size, robust limbs, only one instead of two palmar tubercles, the first finger webbed to below the first subarticular tubercle, presence of a lateral line system, indistinct tympanum, two subarticular tubercles on fingers III and IV, venter in adults white with dark brown spots or dark brown with grey or whitish spots. The new species differs from all congeners by more than 6% in the DNA sequence of mitochondrial ribosomal 16S. We discuss isolation in Pliocene and Pleistocene forest refugia as a potential driver of speciation in the C. alleni complex. We also emphasise the importance of conserving the remaining forest fragments in the Fouta Djallon Region for the preservation of both its unique biodiversity and its valuable water sources for local people. Key Words: Anura, conservation, forest refugia, Upper Guinea forest zone, West Africa 
Conraua kamancamarai sp. nov. Diagnosis: The new species resembles other members of the genus Conraua Nieden, 1908. Conraua kamancamarai sp. nov. is an aquatic frog with the following traits: smooth dorsal skin, covered with scattered small, rounded warts on back and longitudinal ridges on dorsal part of hind legs; venter skin smooth; three odontoid projections on lower jaw, one at symphysis and one to each side on dentary; vocal sacs absent; fully webbed feet, i.e. to end of last phalanx of toe. Conraua kamancamarai sp. nov. is closely related to a clade including C. alleni sensu stricto, C. derooi and C. sagyimase (see Blackburn et al. 2020). Genetic distances between the new species and all other Conraua species were higher than 6% in the examined part of the 16S gene. Etymology: This species is dedicated to Kaman Camara, our long-term field assistant and friend, who started working with MOR in 2002 on a survey to the Simandou Range that was organised by Conservation International (Rödel and Bangoura 2004). From 2007 until his recent death, Kaman was a member of our Guinean team, investigating the amphibians of the Nimba Mountains and other Guinean areas. Kaman had outstanding skills in detecting and catching frogs, and, more importantly, an unswerving positive attitude. A day could be completely exhausting and frustrating, but with a simple joke from Kaman all was good again! Kaman was born and lived in a remote village at the western foothills of the Simandou Range. He never received any formal education. Still, he repeatedly rejected other better paying job offers from mining companies, preferring instead to work with his frog team whenever it was possible. Kaman died in June 2020 after a short severe disease. These frogs shall be a permanent memory to an outstanding person! We suggest ‘Kaman Camara’s Slippery Frog’ as the English common name, ‘la grenouille glissante de Kaman Camara’ in French and in the local language Poular: ‘Tôti bhowroundi de Kaman Camara’.
Karla Neira-Salamea, Joseph Doumbia, Annika Hillers, Laura Sandberger-Loua, N’Goran G. Kouamé, Christian Brede, Marvin Schäfer, David C. Blackburn, Michael F. Barej and Mark-Oliver Rödel. 2022. A New Slippery Frog (Amphibia, Conrauidae, Conraua Nieden, 1908) from the Fouta Djallon Highlands, west-central Guinea. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 98(1): 23-42. DOI: 10.3897/zse.98.76692 Resumé: Nous décrivons une nouvelle espèce du genre Conraua des hauts plateaux du Fouta Djallon en Guinée. L'espèce est reconnue comme distincte du C. alleni nominotypique, sur la base de preuves morphologiques et est soutenue par une analyse récente de délimitation des espèces, basée sur des données de séquence d'ADN. La nouvelle espèce se distingue de ses congénères par la combinaison unique des caractères suivants: taille moyenne du corps, membres robustes, un seul tubercule palmaire au lieu de deux, premier doigt palmaire jusqu'en dessous du premier tubercule subarticulaire, présence d'un système de lignes latérales, tympan indistinct, deux tubercules subarticulaires sur les doigts III et IV, ventre blanc avec des taches brun foncé ou brun foncé avec des taches gris ou blanchâtre chez les adultes. La nouvelle espèce diffère de ses congénères avec plus de 6% de sa séquence d'ADN du ribosome mitochondrial 16S. Nous discutons de l'isolement dans les refuges forestiers du Pliocène et du Pléistocène comme facteur potentiel de spéciation dans le complexe C. alleni. Nous soulignons également l'importance de conserver les fragments de forêt restants dans la région du Fouta Djallon pour préserver à la fois sa biodiversité unique et ses sources d'eau précieuses pour les populations locales.  |
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