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Tuesday, June 7th, 2022
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 2:00a | [Botany • 2022] Primula longipilosa (Primulaceae) • A New Species from Yunnan, China
Abstract Primula longipilosa from SW Yunnan, China, is described as a species new to science and illustrated. The systematic placement of this new species is also discussed based on an nrITS molecular tree. It is morphologically most similar to P. mollis, but differs from the latter in its racemose inflorescence, green calyx tube, pink to pink rose corolla, stamens at 1/3 length above the base of the corolla tube and applanate globose capsule. Keywords: Morphological characteristics, nrITS, phylogenetic analysis, Primula mollis 
  Primula longipilosa Ze H. Wang & H. Peng, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Primula longipilosa is most similar to P. mollis in the long soft multicellular hairs all over the plant, the shape of their leaves and corolla. But it differs from the latter mainly in its racemose inflorescence, green calyx tube, pink to pink rose corolla, stamens of the pin flowers at 1/3 length above the base of corolla tube, and applanate globose capsule. The main morphological differences between P. longipilosa and P. mollis are summarized in Table 1. Distribution and habitat: Primula longipilosa is currently encountered and seen growing on the moist mountain slopes along the valley forest margin near the new Aiguo Village, Gengma County, Yunnan Province, China. Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the impressive long spreading white soft multicellular hairs on the whole plant. Vernacular name: Simplified Chinese: 长毛报春; Chinese Pinyin: Chángmáo Bàochūn. Ze-Huan Wang, Yi Wang, Li Chen, Hua Peng, Zhi-Kun Wu and Guang Guo. 2022. Primula longipilosa (Primulaceae), A New Species from Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys. 194: 15-22. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.194.81335 | ||||||
| 1:42p | [Herpetology • 2022] Stumpffia lynnae • An unexpected New Red-bellied Stumpffia (Anura: Microhylidae) from forest fragments in central Madagascar highlights remaining Cryptic Diversity
Abstract The Madagascan endemic subfamily Cophylinae in the family Microhylidae, is an example of a taxonomic group for which much is still to be discovered. Indeed, the cophyline frogs present a large portion of Madagascar’s cryptic and microendemic amphibian diversity, yet they remain understudied. A new red-bellied species of the microhylid frog genus Stumpffia is described from the central plateau of Madagascar. Visual encounter surveys in Ambohitantely and Anjozorobe in 2019 and 2020 identified this previously unknown Stumpffia species, which closely resembles Stumpffia kibomena known from Andasibe in the east. Stumpffia lynnae sp. nov. adds another species to the red-bellied species complex, differing from S. kibomena by genetic differentiation in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene (3.6–3.9%) and distinct nuclear RAG1 haplotypes, as well as strongly by its advertisement call. The new species is known from across Ambohitantely Special Reserve and Anjozorobe Angavo protected area, but is known only from one complete specimen and eight individual tissue samples. Based on the rarity of the species, the small number of locations in which it has been found, and its disappearing forest habitat, its IUCN Red List classification is suggested as “Endangered”. This species is the first Stumpffia described from Madagascar’s central plateau, highlighting the importance of conserving the remnant forest fragments in this area and the ongoing need to survey and protect this threatened habitat type. Keywords: Amphibian, cophyline, DNA barcoding, phylogeny, taxonomy
 
Stumpffia lynnae sp. nov. Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Stumpffia based on its morphological and genetic affinities. Within the genus, it is distinguished by the unique combination of the following characters: (1) SVL 15.5–22.2 mm (adults in life), (2) limited digital reduction on the hands and feet such that first finger is reduced; other fingers not reduced and first toe is slightly reduced; other toes not reduced, (3) bright red to orange colouration confined to the ventral surfaces of the legs, posterior abdomen, and ventral arms, (4) absence of red markings on the lower jaw, and advertisement call with (5) inter-call intervals of 3498–5581 ms, (6) call/note duration 163–184 ms, (7) dominant frequency 2027–2044 Hz, and (8) distinct genetic divergence in the mitochondrial and nuclear genome to other known species. .... Etymology: This species name is a matronym honouring Lynne Mullin, to whom we are pleased to dedicate this attractively colourful species in recognition of the unconditional support she has provided to the first author. The origin of Lynn/e is from Celtic language, with the meaning waterfall, pond, and lake. Given the popular waterfall in the centre of Ambohitantely Special Reserve where this species was first found, this name seems appropriate. The name has further relevance to this beautiful red-bellied frog with the Spanish meaning of the feminine name ‘pretty’. The species epithet is defined as a genitive noun with the ‘e’ removed for easier pronunciation. Distribution: While just eight individuals were recorded, the six at Ambohitantely were distributed across four fragments (three in addition to the core forest block) including a very small (3.5 ha) fragment at the southern end of the reserve (Fig. 1). This suggests that they are widely distributed across the protected area. Surveys in the two forest fragments at Ankafobe did not detect the species, but this is not surprising given the size of the fragments and the reduced diversity at Ankafobe compared to Ambohitantely (Mullin et al. 2021). However, it cannot be ruled out that this species may exist in relict forest fragments in the area surrounding Ambohitantely Special Reserve, and between Ambohitantely and Anjozorobe. This species’ elevational range (1432–1586 m) is greater than S. kibomena’s range at Andasibe (900–950 m). Katherine E. Mullin, Manoa G. Rakotomanga, Jeff Dawson, Frank Glaw, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Pablo Orozco-terWengel and Mark D. Scherz. 2022. An unexpected New Red-bellied Stumpffia (Microhylidae) from forest fragments in central Madagascar highlights remaining Cryptic Diversity. ZooKeys. 1104: 1-28. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1104.82396  | ||||||
| 2:09p | [Herpetology • 2022] Ctenotus kutjupa • A New Lizard Species (Scincidae: Ctenotus) highlights persistent Knowledge Gaps on the Biodiversity of Australia’s central Deserts
Abstract Australia harbors the most diverse lizard assemblages on Earth, yet the biodiversity of its vast arid zone remains incompletely characterized. Recent sampling of remote regions has revealed new species with unique phenotypes and unclear evolutionary affinities. Here, we describe a new species of scincid lizard that appears to be widely distributed across the Great Victoria Desert and adjacent regions. The new species was previously overlooked among specimens of the wide-ranging desert taxon Ctenotus schomburgkii but is distinguished from it by coloration and scalation characters. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial and genome-wide nuclear loci confirmed that the new species is highly divergent from C. schomburgkii, with which it appears to be sympatric across much of its range. In addition to the new species, our survey of genetic variation within C. schomburgkii as currently recognized revealed three additional lineages that approach one another in southern and northwestern Australia, and which may also represent distinct species. These results suggest that our knowledge of the extraordinary biodiversity of arid Australia remains incomplete, with implications for the conservation and management of this unique fauna. The targeted collection of voucher specimens in undersampled regions, coupled with population genetic screening of lineage diversity, will be crucial for characterizing species boundaries and understanding the composition of Australia’s vertebrate communities. Keywords: cryptic species, population genetics, phylogeography, arid zone, Ctenotus schomburgkii
Ctenotus kutjupa sp. nov. Hutchinson, Prates & Rabosky Diagnosis: A small species of Ctenotus characterized by the unique combination of sharp-edged and spinose subdigital lamellae, a pre-subocular scale between the lower preocular and the subocular supralabial, and prefrontal and nasal head shields usually in medial contact (Fig. 3b). The color pattern typically includes seven narrow dark dorsal stripes, including a vertebral stripe that becomes more prominent on the (unbroken) tail and runs almost the full length of the tail in most individuals (Fig. 3a). The new species is further characterized by the combination of a dark upper lateral zone with a single series of large pale spots with an ascending series of black and whitish blotches that curve dorsally behind the eye (Fig. 4a–b, e).
 Etymology: The word kutjupa, meaning “the other one” or “another one” in its noun form, makes reference to the discovery of the new species among collections of C. schomburgkii. We use this word, shared by several Western Desert languages (e.g., Maralinga Tjarutja, Yankunytjatjara, Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjarra), to acknowledge that this lizard belongs to the country where these languages are spoken. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition to the genus. Ivan Prates, Mark N. Hutchinson, Joel A. Huey, Mia J. Hillyer and Daniel L. Rabosky. 2022. A New Lizard Species (Scincidae: Ctenotus) highlights persistent Knowledge Gaps on the Biodiversity of Australia’s central Deserts. Bulletin of the Society of Systematic Biologists. 1(2):8720. DOI: 10.18061/bssb.v1i2.8720 |
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