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Sunday, March 6th, 2022
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| 4:04a | [Herpetology • 2022] Philoria knowlesi • A New Species of Philoria (Anura: Limnodynastidae) from the uplands of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area of eastern Australia
Abstract The six species of mountain frogs (Philoria: Limnodynastidae: Anura) are endemic to south-eastern Australia. Five species occur in headwater systems in mountainous north-eastern New South Wales (NSW) and south-eastern Queensland (Qld), centred on the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. A previous molecular genetic analysis identified divergent genetic lineages in the central and western McPherson Ranges region of Qld and NSW, but sampling was inadequate to test the species status of these lineages. With more comprehensive geographic sampling and examination of the nuclear genome using SNP analysis, we show that an undescribed species, P. knowlesi sp. nov., occurs in the central and western McPherson Ranges (Levers Plateau and Mount Barney complex). The new species is not phylogenetically closely related to P. loveridgei in the nuclear data but is related to one of two divergent lineages within P. loveridgei in the mtDNA data. We postulate that the discordance between the nuclear and mtDNA outcomes is due to ancient introgression of the mtDNA genome from P. loveridgei into the new species. Male advertisement calls and multivariate morphological analyses do not reliably distinguish P. knowlesi sp. nov. from any of the Philoria species in northeast NSW and southeast Qld. The genetic comparisons also enable us to define further the distributions of P. loveridgei and P. kundagungan. Samples from the Lamington Plateau, Springbrook Plateau, Wollumbin (Mt Warning National Park), and the Nightcap Range, are all P. loveridgei, and its distribution is now defined as the eastern McPherson Ranges and Tweed caldera. Philoria kundagungan is distributed from the Mistake Mountains in south-eastern Qld to the Tooloom Scrub on the Koreelah Range, southwest of Woodenbong, in NSW, with two subpopulations identified by SNP analysis. We therefore assessed the IUCN threat category of P. loveridgei and P. kundagungan and undertook new assessments for each of its two subpopulations and for the new taxon P. knowlesi sp. nov., using IUCN Red List criteria. Philoria loveridgei, P. kundagungan (entire range and northern subpopulation separately) and P. knowlesi sp. nov. each meet criteria for “Endangered” (EN B2(a)(b)[i, iii]). The southern subpopulation of P. kundagungan, in the Koreelah Range, meets criteria for “Critically Endangered” (CE B2(a)(b)[i, iii]). These taxa are all highly threatened due to the small number of known locations, the restricted nature of their breeding habitat, and direct and indirect threats from climate change, and the potential impact of the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis. Feral pigs are an emerging threat, with significant impacts now observed in Philoria breeding habitat in the Mistake Mountains. Keywords: Amphibia, Philoria, mountain frog, upland rainforest, molecular genetics  Philoria knowlesi Michael J. Mahony, Harry B. Hines, Terry Bertozzi, Stephen V. Mahony, David A. Newell, John M. Clarke and Stephen C. Donnellan. 2022. A New Species of Philoria (Anura: Limnodynastidae) from the uplands of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area of eastern Australia. Zootaxa. 5104(2); 209-241. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5104.2.3  | ||||||
| 4:04a | [Botany • 2022] Maxillaria anacatalinaportillae (Orchidaceae: Maxillariinae) • A New Remarkable Species from Ecuador
Abstract Neotropical genus Maxillaria Ruiz & Pav. belongs to one of the most diverse and species-rich groups of orchids. Several of its representatives are popular, horticultural plants with large and showy flowers, often nicely fragranced. It is not uncommon that some distinctly colored individuals are introduced to the commercial market under names of similar, more or less related species, as informal varieties or color forms, largely causing confusion. While investigating the diversity of Maxillaria in Ecuador, we have encountered plants that were commercially referred to as M. sanderiana xanthina. In the course of conducted morphological and micromorphological analyses, we concluded that it is a new, separate species and hereby, we describe it as M. anacatalinaportillae. Keywords: Ecuador, Neotropics, orchids, phylogeny, pseudopollen, SEM 
Maxillaria anacatalinaportillae Szlach. & Lipińska, sp. nov. Diagnosis: M. anacatalinaportillae appears to be similar to M. grandis, M. sanderiana and M. wojii. The new entity can be easily separated from M. grandis Rchb.f. by having flat margins of petals, which are gently angled (vs undulate and strongly recurved petals), longer lip callus extending beyond the middle of the lip (vs lip callus not reaching lip middle point) and form of lip middle lobe, which is broadly cordate or triangular when spread, with fold down margins (vs lip middle lobe oblong-elliptic, with undulate and planar margins). The lip middle lobe of M. sanderiana has strongly undulated and planar margins, and petals are shorter than dorsal sepal (vs equal in length in our new species). Maxillaria wojii can be easily distinguished from all other species mentioned above by unique lip callus, consisting of the main part flanked by pair of subsidiary calli. Lip callus of M. anacatalinaportillae is very massive flanked by narrow wings on each side. Ecology and distribution: Grows as an epiphyte in cloud rainforest at altitude of 1700 m asl, known only from the type location. Eponymy: Name dedicated to Ana Catalina Portilla Schröder – daughter of Alex Portilla, finder of the new entity. Monika M. Lipińska, Natalia Olędrzyńska, Alex Portilla, Dorota Łuszczek, Aidar A. Sumbembayev and Dariusz L. Szlachetko. 2022. Maxillaria anacatalinaportillae (Orchidaceae, Maxillariinae), A New Remarkable Species from Ecuador. PhytoKeys. 190: 15-33. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.190.77918 | ||||||
| 5:31a | [Botany • 2022] Allium parhamii (Amaryllidaceae: Allioideae) • A New Species from Central Kopet Dagh Mountains, NE Iran
Abstract Allium parhamii is described and illustrated as a new species from the Kopet Dagh mountain range, North Khorassan province in Iran. Based on morphological features, the new species belongs to A. sect. Asteroprason. It differs from the closely related species A. monophyllum in several floral and leaf characters as well as the micromorphological characters of seed coat and karyotype. The new species is illustrated and Red-Listed as critically endangered and notes on habitats and distribution are provided. Keywords: Asteroprason, conservation, endemism, karyology, micromorphology, new species, taxonomy
 Allium parhamii Memariani, sp. nov. Similar to Allium monophyllum in shape and color of flowers, but distinguished from it by its dense and many-flowered inflorescence, usually 2 leaves with much wider blades, and larger habit, capsules, and seeds. Eponymy:—The specific epithet of the new species is commemorated to the late Saied Parham, an Iranian nature conservationist in North Khorassan province who was killed by the poachers on December, 1st 2010 when he was on his official duties in Sarani Protected Area. The type locality of Allium parhamii (Sivak Mount) is located at the southeastern borders of Sarani Protected Area which has been protected since 1973. The area is a part of the Kopet Dagh Biosphere Reserve which was designated as one of the UNESCO worldwide inscribed areas in the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) in 2018.
Farshid Memariani, Maryam Behroozian and Mohammad Reza Joharchi. 2022. Allium parhamii (Amaryllidaceae, Allioideae), A New Species from Central Kopet Dagh Mountains, NE Iran. Phytotaxa. 538(1); 45-54. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.538.1.4 | ||||||
| 5:31a | [Herpetology • 2022] Euphlyctis jaladhara • A New Species of Euphlyctis (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the western coastal plains of Peninsular India
Abstract The aquatic frog genus ‘Euphlyctis’ is now considered under two separate genera- Euphlyctis Fitzinger and Phrynoderma Fitzinger, with four valid species in each genus, respectively. The current distribution range of the genus Phrynoderma is restricted to peninsular India and Bangladesh, with a probability of availability in Sri Lanka. The genus Euphlyctis has a wide range of distribution from the Arabian Peninsula and the South Asian countries, with a few historical descriptions treated as junior synonyms of the species Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis in India. A new species of skittering frog, Euphlyctis jaladhara sp. nov. is described here from the surroundings of the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary of Kerala, India, which has a predominant distribution in the western coastal plains of peninsular India and some parts of the Western Ghats. The new species has distinct morphological characters and a high genetic distance that distinguishes it from the sympatric species. Discussions are made concerning the validity of the species E. ghoshi and E. kalasgramensis. Keywords: Amphibia, Coastal plains, Euphlyctis, India, skittering frog, Western Ghats 
Euphlyctis jaladhara sp. nov. Etymology: The new species epithet is derived from the Sanskrit word Jaladhârâ (jala = water + adhâra = reservoir), meaning ‘deposit of water’. The new species is treated as a symbol of freshwater resources, as this frog is seen floating on the surface of freshwater ponds / streams during both day and night time. The species epithet is treated as a noun in apposition to the generic name. Suggested common name: ‘Jaladhara Skittering Frog’. K.P. Dinesh, B.H. Channakeshavamurthy, P. Deepak, A. Shabnam, Avrajjal Ghosh and Kaushik Deuti. 2022. Discovery of A New Species of Euphlyctis (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the western coastal plains of Peninsular India. Zootaxa. 5100(3); 419-434. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5100.3.6   | ||||||
| 5:39a | [Botany • 2022] Meriania bicentenaria, M. escalerensis, M. juanjil, M. sumatika, etc. (Melastomataceae) • Nine New Species and A New Country Record for Meriania from Peru
Abstract Nine new species of Meriania are described and illustrated and M. zunacensis, originally described from Ecuador, is recorded for the first time for Peru from Andean forests in the Amazonas Department. The new species are M. bicentenaria and M. vasquezii from Pasco, M. bongarana, M. callosa and M. juanjil from Amazonas, M. hirsuta from Piura, M. megaphylla from La Libertad, M. sumatika from Cusco and M. escalerensis from the Loreto-San Martín border. Following IUCN criteria, M. megaphylla is categorized as Data Deficient (DD) as it is only known from one collection made in 1914, M. bicentenaria and M. sumatika are categorized as Endangered (EN) and the remaining new species are categorized as Critically Endangered (CR). With these discoveries, N Peru (Departments of Amazonas, Cajamarca and Piura) harbours the highest number of Meriania species in the country. Also, Peru now has a total of 34 species of Meriania and is the country with the second highest diversity for the genus. KEYWORDS: Amazonas, Andean forests, Andean tepuis, Cusco, La Libertad, Melastomataceae, Meriania, Merianieae, Neotropics, new species, Pasco, Peru, Piura, taxonomy
Meriania bicentenaria Rob. Fern., R. Rojas & Michelang., sp. nov. Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of roughened to dendritic trichomes evenly covering the abaxial surface of leaves, calyces with rounded lobes and without dorsal projections, campanulate, deep pink corollas, strongly dimorphic stamens, stamen connectives with acuminate to falcate, descending dorsobasal appendages and antipetalous stamens with inflated connectives. Distribution and ecology — Meriania bicentenaria is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in the Department of Pasco, between 2200 and 2550 m. Populations of this species usually occur in pristine forests and seldom in disturbed forests. Etymology — The specific epithet commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Independence of Peru (1821–2021). Meriania bongarana Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov. Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of ferruginous indumentum evenly covering the abaxial surface of leaves, calyx lobes with claw-shaped dorsal projections (1.5–2.5 mm long), campanulate, pink-orange corollas, isomorphic stamens, stamen connectives prolonged below the thecae and with a slightly crown-shaped descending dorsobasal appendage. Distribution and ecology — Meriania bongarana is a Peruvian endemic known from a single locality in the Abra Patricia Conservation Area in the Department of Amazonas, on moderate slopes at 2320 m. At this locality, M. bongarana occurs in undisturbed forests. Etymology — The specific epithet refers to Bongará province (Department of Amazonas) in N Peru.
Meriania callosa Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov. Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of nodes with interpetiolar flaps (0.5–3 mm long), glabrous hypanthia and calyces, calyces with callose dorsal projections, spreading, deep pink corollas, isomorphic stamens, stamen connectives with two appendages, one triangular descending dorsobasal appendage and the other dorsal appendage a mere hump, and spheroid mature ovaries. Distribution and ecology — Meriania callosa is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in the Districts of Mariscal Benavides and Yambrasbamba (Amazonas, Peru), between 1880 and 1970 m, on moderately to strongly sloping terrain. Common tree species at this locality “CP Santa Rosa” (Fernandez-Hilario & al. 2055, 2056) include Alzatea verticillata Ruiz & Pav. (Alzateaceae), Cecropia angustifolia Trécul (Urticaceae), Ficus mutisii Dugand (Moraceae), Graffenrieda emarginata Triana (Melastomataceae), M. penningtonii Rob. Fern. & al. (Melastomataceae) and Ladenbergia riveroana Standl. (Rubiaceae). Etymology — The specific epithet refers to the presence of callose dorsal projections on the calyx of this species. Meriania escalerensis Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov. Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of ferruginous indumentum, calyptrate calyces with circumscissile dehiscence, spreading, deep pink corollas, isomorphic stamens, and stamen connectives with two appendages, one triangular descending dorsobasal appendage and the other blunt ascending dorsal appendage. Distribution and ecology — Meriania escalerensis is probably endemic to elfin forests on high-elevation summits of the Cordillera Escalera (Loreto-San Martín border), on a sandstone substrate above 1950 m. The Cordillera Escalera is one of the “sub-Andean cordilleras” (Andean Tepuis sensu Neill & al. 2014) to the east of the E Andes. Common tree and shrub genera in the area include Clusia L. (Clusiaceae), Weinmannia L. (Cunoniaceae), Ocotea Aubl. and Persea Mill. (Lauraceae), Cybianthus Mart. (Primulaceae) and Palicourea Aubl. and Psychotria L. (Rubiaceae) (Neill & al. 2014). Etymology — The specific epithet refers to the type locality “Cordillera Escalera”. Meriania hirsuta Rob. Fern., Paredes-Burneo & Michelang., sp. nov. Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of branches and leaves with hirsute indumentum (elongate fluted trichomes up to 4 mm long), campanulate, deep red corollas, slightly dimorphic stamens, stamen connectives with one dorsobasal appendage that is almost perpendicular to the thecae and antisepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded dorsobasal appendages. Distribution and ecology — Meriania hirsuta is known only from two localities, about 5 km away from each other, between 2150 and 3035 m. This plant inhabits the montane forests of the E slopes of the Andes, at the northernmost limit of the Yungas (Comunidad Andina 2009), in the headwaters of the Samaniego river, which is part of the Chinchipe river basin. So far, this is a species endemic to Peru, found only in the Piura department (even though the paratype label records it for the Ayabaca province, it rather belongs to the Huancabamba province). Also, this species occurs in the core of the Amotape-Huancabamba zone, which is home of many other endemic species of Melastomataceae (Bussmann & Paniagua 2012; Bussmann & Paniagua 2013; Burke & al. 2017; Paredes-Burneo & al. 2018; Michelangeli & Paredes-Burneo 2019; Fernandez-Hilario & al. 2021a). Etymology — The specific epithet refers to the indumentum of this species. Meriania juanjil Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang. Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of elliptic leaf blades (10.8–12.7 × 2.7–3 cm) with moderately puberulent indumentum on the abaxial surfaces, 3-nerved venation, subcalyptrate calyces with small conic dorsal projections (0.5 mm long) and irregular dehiscence, campanulate, pink-orange corollas and isomorphic stamens. Distribution and ecology — Meriania juanjil is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in Bongará province in the Department of Amazonas, on moderately sloping terrain at 2200–2300 m. Etymology — The specific epithet “juanjil” refers to the name applied by local people in Bongará to the Melastomataceae. Because the epithet is a noun in apposition, it retains its own termination irrespective of the gender of the generic name (see Turland & al. 2018: Art. 23.5). Meriania megaphylla Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov. Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of 4-winged and quadrangular branches, interpetiolar flaps (5–8 mm long), large leaf blades (21–29.4 × 14.8–22 cm), spreading, reddish purple corollas, isomorphic stamens, and stamen connectives with two appendages, one a triangular descending dorsobasal appendage and the other a blunt ascending dorsal appendage. Distribution and ecology — Meriania megaphylla is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in the Pataz province (Department of La Libertad), between 2000 and 2100 m. The vegetation of this region is part of the relict montane forests from the W slopes of the Andes in NW Peru (see Weigend & al. 2005). Etymology — The specific epithet refers to the unusually large leaves of this species. Meriania sumatika Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov. Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of 10-costate hypanthia (ridges up to 4.5 mm high in fruit), spreading, reddish purple corollas, large petals (46–55 mm long), dimorphic stamens, stamen connectives with two appendages, one a descending dorsobasal appendage and the other a blunt ascending dorsal appendage, and antisepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded dorsobasal appendages. Distribution and ecology — Meriania sumatika is endemic to high-elevation montane forests within the Machu Picchu National Sanctuary (Urubamba province) and in the Santa Ana district (La Convención province) in the Department of Cusco, between 1800 and 2900 m. Individuals of this new species have been previously recorded by Alfaro & al. (2018), as M. tomentosa, in “Wiñaywayna” and growing with Aniba coto (Rusby) Kosterm. (Lauraceae), Gordonia fruticosa (Schrad.) H. Keng (Theaceae), Hieronyma oblonga (Tul.) Müll. Arg. (Phyllanthaceae), Meliosma peytonii A. H. Gentry (Sabiaceae) and Myrcia fallax (Rich.) DC. (Myrtaceae). Etymology — The specific epithet comes from the Quechua “sumaq” (= beautiful) and “tika” (= flower), referring to large showy flowers of this species. Because “tika” is a noun in apposition, the epithet retains its own termination irrespective of the gender of the generic name (see Turland & al. 2018: Art. 23.5). Meriania vasquezii Rob. Fern., R. Villanueva & Michelang., sp. nov. Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of leaf blades with dense villose indumentum on the abaxial surfaces, inflorescences with flowers in regular dichasia at the ends of branchlets, subcalyptrate calyx with small dorsal projections (c. 3 mm long) and irregular dehiscence, campanulate, deep pink corollas, dimorphic stamens and antisepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded descending dorsobasal appendages. Distribution and ecology — Meriania vasquezii is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in the Oxapampa province in the Department of Pasco, on moderate slopes at 2244 m. Etymology — It is an honour to dedicate this species to Rodolfo Vásquez, researcher at the Estación Biológica del Jardín Botánico de Missouri, who for over 30 years has made an incredible contribution to the knowledge of the flora of Peru. He wrote Flórula de las reservas biológicas de Iquitos, Perú (Vásquez 1997) and led the publication of Flora del Río Cenepa, Amazonas Perú (Vásquez & al. 2010a, 2010b). Robin Fernandez-Hilario, Rocío del Pilar Rojas Gonzáles, Rosa Villanueva-Espinoza, Leticia Lajo, Akira A. Wong Sato, Diego Paredes-Burneo, Luis Pillaca-Huacre, Fabián A. Michelangeli and Renato Goldenberg. 2022. Nine New Species and A New Country Record for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia. 52(1); 39-74. DOI: 10.3372/wi.52.52103 | ||||||
| 5:49a | [Diplopoda • 2022] Sphaerobelum meridionalis, Zephronia chrysomallos & Z. erawani • New Thai Giant Pill-millipede Species (Sphaerotheriida, Zephroniidae), with New Genetic Barcoding Data
Abstract Three new species of giant pill-millipedes, Sphaerobelum meridionalis Bhansali & Wesener sp. nov., Zephronia chrysomallos Bhansali & Wesener sp. nov. and Zephronia erawani Bhansali & Wesener sp. nov. are described based on museum samples from Thailand. All three species are described in an integrative manner, combining light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, CT scans and genetic barcoding. Genetic barcoding was successfully conducted for all holotypes of the new species. In addition, genetic barcoding data of four recently described Thai Zephronia species, Zephronia lannaensis Likhitrakarn & Golovatch, 2021 in Likhitrakarn et al. 2021, Z. phrain Likhitrakarn & Golovatch, 2021, Z. panhai Srisonchai et al. 2021 and Z. golovatchi Srisonchai et al. 2021, together with new locality records, were added to the dataset. Our dataset includes all published sequences of the family Zephroniidae, including all but one (Z. enghoffi Srisonchai et al., 2021) of the described species from Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. All new species are genetically distant from other Zephroniidae from Thailand and surrounding countries showing uncorrected p-distances of >10 %. S. meridionalis sp. nov. is genetically and morphologically close to a recently described aberrant Sphaerobelum, S. aesculus Rosenmejer & Wesener, 2021, as well as an unspecified specimen from Malaysia, and might represent a genus different from Sphaerobelum Verhoeff, 1924. Both new Zephronia species are geographically, morphologically and genetically close to Z. panhai, but differ from the latter by >10% p-distance in the COI gene and numerous morphological characters. Virtual cybertypes of the holotype of Zephronia erawani sp. nov. and of a paratype of Z. chrysomallos sp. nov. were created and made publicly accessible. Keywords: Myriapoda, Cybertypes, CT Scan, DNA Barcoding, biodiversity, soil fauna
Sphaerobelum meridionalis Bhansali & Wesener, new species Derivatio nominis. meridionalis, Latin for southern, adjective used as noun. Noun in apposition. Distribution: Only known from the area ... in the very south of Thailand (Fig. 2A). Zephronia chrysomallos Bhansali & Wesener, new species Derivatio nominis. chrysomallos, Greek, meaning Golden Wool, and also the flying sheep ram Chrysomallos from Greek mythology, which was sacrificed to Zeus in order to obtain the famous Golden Fleece. Noun in apposition. Zephronia erawani Bhansali &Wesener, new species Derivatio nominis. Named after the type locality, the Erawan waterfalls. Erawan is a mythological elephant, similar to the Hindi Airavata. Noun in apposition. Sneha Bhansali and Thomas Wesener. 2022. New Thai Giant Pill-millipede Species, with New Genetic Barcoding Data (Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida, Zephroniidae). Zootaxa. 5105(3); 357-380. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5105.3.2 | ||||||
| 5:52a | [Botany • 2021] Glycosmis albicarpa (Rutaceae: Clauseneae) • A New Species from southern Western Ghats, India
Abstract A new species, Glycosmis albicarpa Sujana & Vadhyar from Kanyakumari wildlife sanctuary of southern Western Ghats, India is described and illustrated. It differs from all other species of Glycosmis by its short and broadly lanceolate leaves, short (3–5 mm long) peduncles, clawed petals and broadly ovoid white fruits. The description is complemented with color photographs, micromorphology of pollen and seed under SEM. Keywords: endemic, Kanyakumari wildlife sanctuary, micromorphology, pollen, SEM  Kanjiraparambil Arjunan Sujana and Rakesh G. Vadhyar. 2022. Glycosmis albicarpa (Rutaceae: Clauseneae), A New Species from southern Western Ghats, India. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: 10.1111/njb.03501 |
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