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Monday, April 18th, 2022
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| 2:17a | [PaleoEntomology • 2022] New Species of belytine and diapriine Wasps (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from Eocene Baltic Amber
ABSTRACT The fossil diversity of Diapriidae in Baltic amber, dated Upper Eocene, has been poorly investigated. However, some studies suggest that this family was already diversified at this time. This is supported by our present study of the Baltic amber collection of the Natural History Museum of Denmark, from which we describe and figure ten new species belonging to the subfamilies Belytinae: Belyta knudhoejgaardi sp. nov., Cinetus breviscapus sp. nov., Cinetus elongatus sp. nov., Pantoclis globosa sp. nov., Pantolyta augustinusii sp. nov., Pantolyta chemyrevae sp. nov., Pantolyta similis sp. nov.; and Diapriinae: Basalys villumi sp. nov., Doliopria baltica sp. nov. and Spilomicrus succinalis sp. nov. The diversity of extant genera observed leads us to propose an origin in the early Cenozoic for these taxa. The fossil record of the Diapriidae in Baltic amber is also summarized. Keywords: Belytinae, Diapriinae, fossil record, Bartonian–Priabonian, Cenozoic
Manuel Brazidec and Lars Vilhelmsen. 2022. New Species of belytine and diapriine wasps (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from Eocene Baltic Amber. European Journal of Taxonomy. 813(1); 57–86. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.813.1733 | ||||||||
| 2:35a | [PaleoMammalogy • 2022] Concealed Weapons: A Revised Reconstruction of the Facial Anatomy and Life Appearance of the Sabre-toothed Cat Homotherium latidens (Felidae, Machairodontinae)
Highlights: • Previous interpretations have shown sabre-toothed felids with exposed upper canines. • Our study combining fossils and extant specimens reveals a different life appearance. • In Homotherium the upper canines had been covered in life when the mouth was closed. • Smilodon would show visible upper canines when the mouth was closed. Abstract Homotherium is one of the sabre-toothed felid genera with a more extensive overlap in space and time with species of our own genus Homo, who must have been familiar with the animal, but now we only have its fossil remains to infer its life appearance. A revised reconstruction of the soft tissue and life appearance of Homotherium latidens is proposed here on the basis of new observations on the anatomy of extant carnivorans and a re-evaluation of the fairly preserved skull and mandible from the classical Late Pliocene site of Perrier (France). This fossil specimen provides some of the best information available about the morphology of the skull and mandible. Like other large early specimens of Homotherium, it has enormous upper canines relative to skull size and high-crowned enough to protrude beyond the lips in the living animal. On the other hand, observations of facial expressions in living big cats and dissected specimens show that, contrary to previous conclusions, the soft tissue around the mouth and the lower lip in particular can cover the upper canines of large felids, even when those are considerably high-crowned. Such observations lead us to propose a revised hypothesis about the life appearance of Homotherium and other sabre-toothed carnivorans, where the upper canines may have been covered in life when the mouth was completely closed. Keywords: Plio-Pleistocene transition, Paleoclimatology, Global, Data analysis, Paleobiology, Anatomy, Felidae
Mauricio Antón, Gema Siliceo, Juan F. Pastor and Manuel J. Salesa. 2022. Concealed Weapons: A Revised Reconstruction of the Facial Anatomy and Life Appearance of the Sabre-toothed Cat Homotherium latidens (Felidae, Machairodontinae). Quaternary Science Reviews. 284, 107471. DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107471 | ||||||||
| 2:41a | [Entomology • 2022] Pyrops buomvoi • The Lanternfly Genus Pyrops in Vietnam: A New Species from Central Vietnam, Taxonomic Changes, Checklist, Identification Key (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae)
ABSTRACT A new species of the genus Pyrops Spinola, 1839 (Fulgoridae), Pyrops buomvoi sp. nov., is described from Ca Na, Ninh Thuan Province in Central Vietnam. It is attributed to the candelaria group and compared with the other species of the genus. Pyrops lathburii (Kirby, 1818) is proposed as a senior synonym of P. astarte (Distant, 1914), transferred back to the candelaria group from the pyrrhorhynchus group, and recorded from Laos for the first time. The candelaria and pyrorhynchus groups are defined and commented on. Intraspecific variation in the colour of the hind wings is recorded for the first time in Pyrops condorinus (Lallemand, 1960). A checklist of the 12 Vietnamese species of Pyrops and an illustrated key which can also be used for Laos, Cambodia and Southern Continental China, are given. Pyrops buomvoi sp. nov. is the first new species of Pyrops discovered in Indochina for more than 50 years. Intraspecific colour variation in the species of Pyrops is briefly discussed. Keywords: planthopper, Fulgoroidea, instraspecific variation, Indochina
Checklist of the Vietnamese species of Pyrops Spinola, 1839 Pyrops atroalbus (Distant, 1918) Pyrops buomvoi sp. nov. Pyrops candelaria (Linné, 1758) Pyrops clavatus (Westwood, 1839) Pyrops coelestinus (Stål, 1863) Pyrops condorinus (Lallemand, 1960) Pyrops ducalis (Stål, 1863) Pyrops itoi (Satô & Nagai, 1994) Pyrops lathburii (Kirby, 1818) Pyrops spinolae (Westwood, 1842) Pyrops viridirostris (Westwood, 1848) Pyrops vitalisius (Distant, 1918)
Class Insecta Linnaeus, 1758 Order Hemiptera Linnaeus, 1758 Suborder Auchenorrhyncha Duméril, 1806 Infraorder Fulgoromorpha Evans, 1946 Superfamily Fulgoroidea Latreille, 1807 Family Fulgoridae Latreille, 1807 Subfamily Aphaeninae Blanchard, 1847 Tribe Pyropsini Urban & Cryan, 2009 Genus Pyrops Spinola, 1839 Pyrops buomvoi sp. nov. Diagnosis: The species can be separated from all other species of Pyrops by the following combination of characters:(1) posterior wings milky white with apex and area along sutural margin black brown, with brown area paler and narrower towards basosutural angle (Fig. 1B);(2) cephalic process elongate and very slender, moderately curved dorsad (Fig. 1C–G);(3) head yellow with dorsum and sides of cephalic process reddish (Fig. 1);(4) tegmina with 3 irregular yellow bands on basal half, the two more distal ones formed from rows of elongate markings (Fig. 1B). Etymology: The species epithet buomvoi is a Vietnamese name for the species of the genus Pyrops, with ʻ[con] buomʼ meaning ʻbutterflyʼ and ʻ[con] voiʼ meaning ʻelephantʼ. The name literally means ʻbutterfly-elephantʼ and is used as a name in apposition. Jérôme Constant and Hong Thai Pham. 2022. The Lanternfly Genus Pyrops in Vietnam: A New Species from Central Vietnam, Taxonomic Changes, Checklist, Identification Key (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae). European Journal of Taxonomy. 813(1), 123–154. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.813.1741 | ||||||||
| 3:34a | [Botany • 2022] Vaccinium bangliangense (Ericaceae, sect. Conchophyllum) • A New Species from A Limestone Areas in Guangxi, China
Abstract Vaccinium bangliangense, a new species from limestone areas in Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically most similar to V. pseudotonkinense and V. sciaphilum in having small and dense obovate leaf blades with a retuse apex, hairy young branches and calyx and campanulate corollas, but can be distinguished from them by the distance of basal gland from petiole, the length of peduncle, pedicle and filaments, the indumentum of calyx tube and corolla and the existence of apical glands on calyx lobes. A table to distinguish the new species from other morphologically similar Vaccinium species, as well as colour plates of comparison of key characters, is also provided. Keywords: limestone flora, morphology, new species, south-western Guangxi, Vaccinium   
 Vaccinium bangliangense Y.S. Huang & Y.H. Tong, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Vaccinium bangliangense Y.S. Huang & Y.H. Tong belongs to V. section Conchophyllum Sleumer (1941) and is morphologically similar to V. pseudotonkinense Sleumer and V. sciaphilum C.Y. Wu in having small and dense obovate leaf blades with a retuse apex, hairy young branches and calyx and campanulate corollas, but can be distinguished from the former by basal glands on leaf blade margin at 0.3–0.8 mm (vs. 2.6–4 mm, Fig. 3C) distance from petiole, inflorescence with very short peduncle or up to 5 mm long (vs. very short, Fig. 2E), calyx lobes with ciliolate margin and a gland at apex (vs. with ciliate and glandular margin and without a gland at apex, Fig. 3D) and, from the latter, by inflorescence with very short peduncle or up to 5 mm long (vs. very short, Fig. 2G), longer (5–7 mm vs. ca. 3 mm) and glabrous (vs. densely pubescent, Fig. 2G) pedicel, glabrous or sparsely villous (vs. densely hispid) calyx tube, glabrous or sparsely pubescent (vs. densely hispid, Fig. 3F) calyx lobes with a gland at apex (vs. without a gland at apex, Fig. 2I) and densely villous (vs. glabrous) filaments. A detailed morphological comparison amongst the three species is summarised in Table 1. Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Bangliang Gibbon National Nature Reserve of Guangxi, China. The Chinese name is given as “ 邦亮越橘 (pinyin: bāng liàng yuè jú)”. Yu-Song Huang, Shi-Yue Nong, Xing-Kang Li, Gao Xie and Yi-Hua Tong. 2022. Vaccinium bangliangense, A New Species of Ericaceae from Limestone Areas in Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys. 194: 23-31. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.194.81018   | ||||||||
| 4:20a | [Ichthyology • 2022] Parascorpaena poseidon • A New Species of Parascorpaena Bleeker, 1876 (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) from Taiwan
A new species of scorpionfish, Poseidon’s scorpionfish Parascorpaena poseidon, is described on the basis of ten specimens collected from southwestern Taiwanese waters ranging from Penghu to Chufongbi, Pingtung. The morphological and molecular analyses reveal the new species is clearly separated from the two similar species, P. aurita and P. mossambica. Parascorpaena poseidon is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: three equal-sized suborbital spines without ridge; supraocular tentacle absent or very short; pectoral-fin rays 15–16 (usually 16); pored lateral-line scales 22–26 (usually 22–23); longitudinal scale rows 43–47; pre-dorsal-fin scale rows 2–3 (usually 3); 10–12 scale rows between 6th dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line; 10–12 scale rows between the last dorsalfin spine base and lateral line; total gill rakers 15–16, gill rakers on hypobranchial 2–3; ratio of 11th and 12th dorsal-fin spine 60%–81% (mean 73%); blackish spots randomly distributed on all fins; absence of a distinct black blotch on spinous dorsal fin in male; body size relatively large. Key words: Cycloid scales, DNA barcoding, Lacrimal spine, Rocky reefs, Supraocular tentacle.
Parascorpaena poseidon Chou and Liao sp. nov. Common name: Poseidon’s scorpionfish Diagnosis: Parascorpaena poseidon sp. nov. can be distinguished from other congeners by a combination of characters: three equally-sized suborbital spines without ridge (Fig. 4); supraocular tentacle absent or very short; pectoral-fin rays 15–16 (usually 16) (Table 1); pored lateral-line scales 22–26 (usually 22–23); longitudinal scale rows 43–47; pre-dorsal-fin scale rows 2–3 (usually 3); 10–12 scale rows between 6th dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line; 10–12 scale rows between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line; total gill rakers 15–16, gill rakers on hypobranchial 2–3; ratio of 11th and 12th dorsal-fin spine 60%–81% (mean 73%) (Fig. 5); blackish spots randomly scattered on all fins (Figs. 1, 2); spinous dorsal fin without a distinct black blotch in male; body size relatively large, largest recorded specimen 127.0 mm SL. 
Etymology: The new species is named after Poseidon, the Greek god of the Sea. A noun in apposition. In allusion to the three equally-sized suborbital spines without ridge similar to the trident of Poseidon. Distribution and habitat: The new species is currently known only from southwestern Taiwan ranging from Penghu to Chufongbi, Pingtung. This species mainly inhabits rocky reefs that records in depth of 1 m based on the living individual (Fig. 3). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, a new species of the genus Parascorpaena is described based on morphological and molecular approaches. Parascorpaena poseidon sp. nov. can be distinguished from other congeners by the following characters: three equally-sized suborbital spines without ridge; supraocular tentacle absent or very short; pectoral-fin rays usually 16; longitudinal scale rows 43–47; pre-dorsal-fin scale rows usually 3; 10–12 scale rows between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line; blackish spots randomly scattered on all fins; spinous dorsal fin without a distinct black blotch in male; body size relatively large, the largest recorded specimen 127.0 mm SL. This species is currently known from southwestern Taiwan. Tak-Kei Chou and Te-Yu Liao. 2022. A New Species of Parascorpaena Bleeker, 1876 (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) from Taiwan. Zoological Studies. 61: 9. DOI: 10.6620/ZS.2022.61-09 zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/61/61-09.p | ||||||||
| 9:03a | [Paleontology • 2022] Actinimenes koyas • A New Species of the Genus Actinimenes Ďuriš & Horká, 2017 (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep Islands, India
Abstract A new species, Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) was collected at a depth of 1.0-2.0 m from the coral atoll of Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea. The species was associated with the sea anemone, Heteractis magnifica (Quoy and Gaimard, 1833). It is the second representative of the genus Actinimenes Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 described from the Arabian Sea. Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. is closely related to A. ornatellus in terms of morphological traits. Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. is distinguished from Actinimenes ornatellus (Bruce, 1979) by the presence of a biramous outer antennular flagellum with three proximal segments fused, a shorter free ramus consisting of 7 to 8 segments with 12-14 groups of aesthetascs, a fourth thoracic sternite with V-shaped median incision and features of the telson and third maxilliped. The present new species is easily distinguished from the other three described species in the genus Actinimenes by the structural variation in the fourth sternal plate with a median notch. Additionally, a phylogenetic analysis inferred by Maximum Likelihood using the mitochondrial genes COI and 16S rRNA shows a close relationship of Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. with Actinimenes inornatus (Kemp, 1922). Pairwise genetic distances estimated using the COI and 16S data provided divergences between A. koyas sp. nov. and other congeneric species. Keywords: Actinimenes koyas sp. nov.; anemone associated fauna; Arabian Sea; Lakshadweep; morphology; phylogenetic tree SYSTEMATICS Order Decapoda Latreille, 1802 Infraorder Caridea Dana, 1852 Superfamily Palaemonoidea Rafinesque, 1815 Family Palaemonidae Rafinesque, 1815 Genus Actinimenes Ďuriš and Horká, 2017
Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. Etymology. Koyas are an important ethnic community of Lakshadweep. Koyas have made a significant contribution to the development and preservation of the heritage of the society at Lakshadweep. The present species is named “Koyas” to honor the local community at Lakshadweep.
CONCLUSION: A new symbiotic species from the palaemonid shrimp genus Actinimenes is described and illustrated from Lakshadweep, India. Actinimenes koyas sp. nov. was obtained from the magnificent sea anemone Heteractis magnifica (Actiniaria). Sea anemone-associated species of the genus Actinimenes are widely distributed in the tropical regions of the Indo-West Pacific, and A. koyas sp. nov. is reported for the first time from the Arabian Sea. Additionally, molecular information from mitochondrial markers (COI and 16S) are provided and the ML tree suggests that A. koyas sp. nov. is sister to a clade of A. inornatus.  Purushothaman Paramasivam, A. Dhinakaran, T. T. Ajith Kumar and Kuldeep K. Lal. 2022. A New Species of the Genus Actinimenes Ďuriš and Horká, 2017 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep Islands, India. Nauplius. 30. DOI: 10.1590/2358-2936e2022008   | ||||||||
| 9:41a | [Herpetology • 2021] Calamaria nebulosa • A New Species of the Genus Calamaria F. Boie, 1827 (Serpentes: Colubridae) from northern Laos with A revised Diagnosis of Calamaria yunnanensis Chernov, 1962
ABSTRACT I describe a new Calamaria from northern Laos that was previously misidentified as Calamaria yunnanensis Chernov, 1962. This new species is quite similar to C. yunnanensis, but is distinguished by having a considerable pairwise genetic distance in the mitochondrial gene CytB (~20.2%) and the following morphological characters: nine modified maxillary teeth; length of rostral scale visible from above half the length of the prefrontal suture; eye diameter less than eye–mouth distance; preocular scale absent; single postocular scale present, less than eye diameter; 179 ventral scales in female; 21 subcaudal scales in female; subcaudals 10.9% of total body scales on the ventral surface; dorsal scales reducing to six rows above 12th subcaudal anterior to the tail tip, reducing to four rows above the last subcaudal; dorsal ground colour in preservative bluish-grey with five indistinct dark brown longitudinal stripes throughout body; and entire ventral region immaculate yellow in preservative. To clarify the taxonomic status of C. yunnanensis, I provide a revised diagnosis of this species and thoroughly describe a referred specimen sampled for mitochondrial DNA sequence data in past studies. Additional material from south-western China, northern Laos, Thailand and Myanmar is needed to resolve issues in the taxonomy of Calamaria in this region. KEYWORDS: taxonomy, Southeast Asia, biodiversity, systematics, morphology, Squamata, Ophidia, Colubroidea
Calamaria nebulosa sp. nov. Diagnosis: A species of Calamaria distinguished from all other members of the genus from mainland Southeast Asia by having the following combination of morphological characters: (1)rostral scale wider than high; (2) portion of rostral scale visible from above approximately half the length of the prefrontal suture; (3) six scales and shields surrounding the para-parietal scale; (4) absence of a preocular scale; (5) four supralabials, with the second and third touching the eye; (6) five infralabials, the first pair separating the mental scale from the anterior chin shields; (7) 179 ventrals and three gular scales; (8) 22 paired subcaudals;(9) dorsal colour pattern in preservative bluish-grey with five indistinct dark brown longitudinal stripes; (10) ventral surface of tail in preservative uniform yellow, immaculate; and(11) absence of a distinct white nuchal collar posterior to the head. A summary of diagnostic characters and comparisons is given below and in Tables 3–4. Etymology: The species epithet ‘nebulosa’ is the nominative form of the word ‘nebulous’, meaning ‘misty, foggy or cloudy’ in Latin, and is given in the feminine form to match the female genitive declension of the genus name Calamaria. The species name is an allusion to both the type locality of this snake, situated in the mountainous regions of Laos, and the generally clouded appearance of its dorsal ground colour in preservative. I recommend the English common name ‘Clouded reed snake’.
Calamaria yunnanensis Chernov, 1962 Etymology: The species epithet ‘yunnanensis’ is a reference to the type locality situated in Yunnan Province, China. I recommend the English common name ‘Yunnan reed snake’. Justin L. Lee. 2021. Description of A New Species of Southeast Asian Reed Snake from northern Laos (Squamata: Colubridae: Genus Calamaria F. Boie, 1827) with A revised Diagnosis of Calamaria yunnanensis Chernov, 1962. Journal of Natural History. 55(9-10); 531-560. DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.1909165  | ||||||||
| 9:53a | [Botany • 2019] Bolbitis lianhuachihensis (Dryopteridaceae) • A New Species from Taiwan
Abstract A new species of Bolbitis, B. lianhuachihensis sp. nov., was found in central Taiwan. It most resembles B. virens var. compacta and B. hainanensis. A phylogenetic tree of Taiwanese and other Asian species of Bolbitis species supports the recognition of the new species. Morphologically, the combination of anastomosing venation and fewer sterile pinnae are critical characters to discriminate B. lianhuachihensis from other Taiwanese Bolbitis species. Bolbitis lianhuachihensis can be further distinguished from B. virens var. compacta and B. hainanensis by having lanceolate sterile pinnae and absent or fewer free veinlets in small areoles of sterile pinnae. The morphological descriptions, illustration, ecology and distribution of the new species are presented. A key to all Taiwanese Bolbitis is also provided. Keywords: Ferns, Taiwan, taxonomy, venation
 Bolbitis lianhuachihensis Y.S.Chao, Y.F.Huang, & H.Y.Liu, sp. nov. Bolbitis virens var. compacta auct. non Hennipman: Knapp, Ferns Fern Allies Taiwan: 440. 2011. Bolbitis lianhuachihensis morphologically resembles B. virens var. compacta and B. hainanensis, from which it is distinguished in having lanceolate sterile pinnae and no free veinlets in areoles of sterile fronds. Etymology: The specific epithet ‘lianhuachihensis’ refers to the type locality [Lienhuachih, Nantou County]. Common name (assigned here): Lian Hua Chih Shih Jyue (蓮華池實蕨; Chinese name).   Yi-Shan Chao, Yu-Fang Huang, Shi-Yong Dong, Yao-Moan Huang and Ho-Yih Liu. 2019. Bolbitis lianhuachihensis (Dryopteridaceae), A New Species from Taiwan. PhytoKeys. 131: 69-81. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.131.36548 | ||||||||
| 4:02p | [Herpetology • 2021] Cophixalus brevidigitus, C. pusillus & C. melanogenys • Three New Tiny Species of the Microhylid Frog Genus Cophixalus Boettger, 1892 (Anura, Microhylidae) from central Papua New Guinea
Abstract We describe three new species of frogs in the asterophryine microhylid genus Cophixalus from New Guinea's central cordillera. All three are characterized by their very small size (adult body length < 18 mm), reduced first fingers, narrow ridges on the dorsum, and having terminal discs on the fingers smaller than or the same size as those on the toes. They were found on the forest floor or on low vegetation in montane rainforest, where males called at night during or after heavy rain. Each of the new species is known only from one or two locations within a small area of central Papua New Guinea, although the extent of suitable habitat in the region suggests that their distributions may be broader. This study brings to 51 the number of described Cophixalus species known from the New Guinea region, but numerous additional undescribed forms reside in museum collections awaiting formal description, and others undoubtedly await discovery in their natural habitats. Keywords: Amphibia, central cordillera, Hela Province, new species, Southern Highlands Province
Cophixalus brevidigitus, new species Etymology.— Brevis is a Latin adjective meaning “short”; digitus is a singular masculine Latin substantive and means “finger” or “toe”. The specific epithet “brevidigitus” is a compound masculine substantive in apposition and refers to the very short first finger of the new species. Cophixalus pusillus, new species Etymology.— The specific epithet pusillus is a nominative Latin masculine adjective meaning “tiny” and refers to the very small body size of this new species. Cophixalus melanogenys, new species Etymology.— The specific epithet melanogenys is a single-ending Latinized Greek compound substantive in apposition combining melanus, meaning “black”, and genys (from gena), meaning “cheek”. Rainer Günther and Stephen Richards. 2021. Three New Tiny Species of the Microhylid Frog Genus Cophixalus Boettger, 1892 from central Papua New Guinea. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 134(1); 339-362. DOI: 10.2988/0006-324X-134.339 |
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