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Saturday, July 2nd, 2022
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 2:45a | [Herpetology • 2022] Occidozyga obscura & O. lingnanica • Taxonomic Clarifications on the Floating Frogs (Anura: Dicroglossidae: Occidozyga sensu lato) in southeastern China
Abstract The recognition for the floating frogs’ genus Occidozyga is in controversy for decades, and the species diversity of these frogs has recently been considered to be underestimated. In southeastern China, two floating frog species are currently recorded, namely Occidozyga lima and Occidozyga martensii. However, their current taxonomic statuses are unresolved after a series of recent taxonomic revisions. In this work, we perform morphological examinations and phylogenetic analyses on these two recorded floating frogs from southeastern China, to clarify their current taxonomic placements. The population previously recorded as Occidozyga lima should be re-assigned to the nomenclature Occidozyga obscura comb. nov., and the population previously recorded as Occidozyga martensii should be an undescribed species which is erected as Occidozyga lingnanica sp. nov. in this work. Keywords: Diversity, Generic recognition, Occidozyga lingnanica sp. nov., Occidozyga obscura comb. nov., Phrynoglossus 
Occidozyga obscura (Gray, 1831), comb. nov. Diagnosis: (1) Body stocky, size small, SVL 24.2–27.5 mm in adult males (n=7) and 31.5–32.2 mm in adult females (n=3); (2) snout short triangular shaped; (3) nostrils located dorsally; (4) eye orientation vertically; (5) loreal region oblique, not concave or convex; (6) interorbital space narrower than internarial distance; (7) tongue narrow and slender, unnotched, pointed distally, lingual papilla absent; (8) vomerine ridge and vomerine teeth absent; (9) supratympanic fold distinct, raised, and granulated, curved on the temporal region; (10) tympanum hidden, edge invisible; (11) fingers with rudimentary webs, toes with full webs; (12) heels not meeting, tibio-tarsal articulation reaching between the posterior and anterior of the eye. Etymology: The specific name obscura means ‘obscure’ in Latin. Common name: “Chinese floating frog” in English / “中国浮蛙 (zhōng guó fú wā)” in Chinese.
Occidozyga lingnanica Lyu & Wang, sp. nov. Ooeidozyga laevis martensi — Pope 1931; Liu & Hu 1961 Occidozyga martensii — Fei et al. 1990; Zhao & Adler 1993; Li et al. 2011 Phrynoglossus martensii — Fei et al. 2009, 2010, 2012 Diagnosis: (1) Body stocky, size small, SVL 19.9–22.1 mm in males (n=8) and 26.8–28.8 mm in females (n=3); (2) snout short triangular shaped; (3) nostrils located laterally; (4) eye orientation laterally; (5) canthus rostralis visible, rounded; (6) loreal region vertical, not concave/convex; (7) tongue wide and swollen, unnotched, rounded distally, lingual papilla absent; (8) vomerine ridge and vomerine teeth absent; (9) supratympanic fold distinct and raised, slightly curved on the temporal region; (10) tympanum hidden, edge invisible; (11) relative finger lengths II=I<IV<III, relative toe lengths I<II<V<III<IV; (12) fingers without webs, toes with two third webs; (13) heels not meeting, tibio-tarsal articulation reaching at the posterior margin of supratympanic fold; (14) tarsal fold absent. Etymology: The specific name lingnanica refers to the lingnan region, a geographic area covering Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan in southeastern China, where this new frog species occurs in. This specific name is also dedicated to the former Lingnan University (1888–1952) that was incorporated into Sun Yat-sen University after 1953. Common name: “Lingnan floating frog” in English / “岭南浮蛙 (lǐng nán fú wā)” in Chinese. Ecology: This frog inhabits natural or artificial ponds and paddy fields in hilly regions. Males call in the water surface or waterside grass from dusk to dawn. The breeding season is from May to August (this study; Fei et al. 2009). In southeastern China, Occidozyga lingnanica sp. nov. shares a similar environment to that of Occidozyga obscura comb. nov., but prefers to hilly regions compared with the latter in plain areas. Distribution: Occidozyga lingnanica sp. nov. can be recognized from multiple localities in Guangdong and Hainan of southeastern China based on the phylogenetic result in this work (Figs 1, 2). The records of O. martensi from Yunnan, southwestern China require further clarifications with morphological examinations (see Discussion). Zhi-Tong Lyu, Jian Wang, Zhao-Chi Zeng, Lin Luo, Yan-Wu Zhang, Chun-Peng Guo, Jin-Long Ren, Shuo Qi, Yun-Ming Mo and Ying-Yong Wang. 2022. Taxonomic Clarifications on the Floating Frogs (Anura: Dicroglossidae: Occidozyga sensu lato) in southeastern China. Vertebrate Zoology. 72: 495-512. DOI 10.3897/vz.72.e80019 | ||||||
| 3:00a | [Botany • 2022] Melastoma lawrenceliaoi • Studies on Philippine Melastoma (Melastomataceae)—The rarely collected M. laevifolium group
Abstract Members of the Melastoma laevifolium group in the Philippines which include the poorly known M. culionense from Culion Island and the new species M. lawrenceliaoi sp. nov. from Tawi-Tawi Island are herein taxonomically reassessed and described, respectively. Having the holotype missing/lost, M. culionense is herein lectotypified. Melastoma lawrenceliaoi is closely related to M. laevifolium from Borneo but differs by having flattened and furrowed young twigs, shorter leaves, midrib and longitudinal veins with slightly curved lanceolate scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long on the lower leaf surface, solitary flowers, shorter and grass green bracteoles, hypanthium sparsely covered with neatly appressed linear scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long, longer hypanthium lobes, ovate petals and shorter greyish anthers on the longer stamens. Taxonomic notes on M. laevifolium is herein provided too. Keywords: Culion Island, lectotype, Melastomataceae, Tawi-Tawi Island, taxonomy
Melastoma lawrenceliaoi Tahil, sp. nov. A species closely similar to M. laevifolium Merr. by the production of lanceolate leaves, funnel shaped hypanthium and linear hypanthium lobes but is readily distinguishable by having flattened and furrowed young twigs (vs. terete), shorter leaves (7–9 cm vs. 5.5–13.6 cm long), midrib and longitudinal veins with slightly curved lanceolate scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long on the lower leaf surface (vs. ovate scales up to 0.5 mm long), solitary flowers (vs. 1–3 in a cyme), shorter (13–15 mm vs. 18–22 mm long) and grass green bracts (vs. reddish), hypanthium sparsely covered with neatly appressed linear scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long (vs. ovate or triangular scales up to 0.5 mm long), longer hypanthium lobes (20–25 mm vs. 16–17 mm long), ovate petals (vs. broadly obovate) and shorter (9–10 mm vs. 12–13 mm long) greyish anthers (vs. pink anthers) on the longer stamens. Eponymy: This handsome species is named after Phycologist Dr. Lawrence M. Liao, Professor at the Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, in honor for his significant contributions to the marine botany of the Philippines. Distribution and ecology: Melastoma lawrenceliaoi is presently only known from Mt. Gaha, a small forested limestone mountain which occupies a total area of less than 30 km². The forest of Mt. Gaha is ca. 1000 ha area of secondary forest over limestone at ca. 600–700 m. This new species grows on limestone structures along with Paraboea sp. Epiphytes such as Hoya and Dischidia spp. were observed growing on this species. Bees were also observed visiting the flowers of this species. Arkady A. Tahil. 2022. Studies on Philippine Melastoma (Melastomataceae)—The rarely collected M. laevifolium group. Harvard Papers in Botany. 27(1); 117–124. DOI: 10.3100/hpib.v27iss1.2022.n16 | ||||||
| 9:19a | [Arachnida • 2022] Ameronothrus retweet • Another Mite Species (Acari: Oribatida) discovered via Social Media from Japanese Coasts, exhibiting An Interesting Sexual Dimorphism
ABSTRACT The recent discovery of the oribatid mite Ameronothrus twitter via a social media platform resulted in a considerable media response and raised the awareness of the public for these tiny organisms. As a direct consequence, another new marine associated ameronothroid species was now discovered via the same social media service. Moreover, the record of this new species, Ameronothrus retweet sp. n., represents the first report of an ameronothroid taxon from the Sea of Japan coast, indicating that this coastline was successfully colonized by these organisms and that further species could be present there. Ameronothrus retweet sp. n. shows an extraordinary sexual dimorphism with females having relatively shorter legs and a strongly folded notogastral integument. Based on morphological characteristics, it is suggested that the new species is closest related to Ameronothrus lineatus and Ameronothrus nigrofemoratus. A molecular genetic investigation of selected ameronothroid taxa, using the 18S rRNA gene, shows that all Ameronothrus species are closely related and represent a distinct monophyletic genus. In a larger phylogenetic context, the Fortuyniidae and Selenoribatidae are given as sister taxa with a monophyletic origin, whereas certain members of Ameronothridae are placed in paraphyletic positions, supporting theories of an independent origin of the marine associated lifestyle in ameronothroid mites. KEYWORDS: Littoral, Honshu island, cool temperate zone, Ameronothridae, Twitter
 Family Ameronothridae Vitzthum, 1942 Genus Ameronothrus Berlese, 1896 Type species – Eremaeus lineatus Thorell, 1871 Ameronothrus retweet Pfingstl and Shimano sp. nov. [New Japanese name: Iwado-hamabe-dani] Differential diagnosis: The colour is dark brown, nearly black. Body length is 641–859 µm. In centrodorsal notogastral cuticle with dense granulation, lateral parts are covered with larger granules. Prodorsal lamellar keels are converging. Short clavate sensilli are present. Interlamellar and exobothridial setae are absent. Labiogenal articulation is complete. One pair of adanal setae located posteriorly of anal orifice. Remarkable sexual dimorphism is present, females with strongly folded gastronotic integument and considerably shorter epimeral, genital, and aggenital setae. Male spermatopositor conspicuously elongated, female ovipositor very short. Primilateral setae pl on tarsus I are present. Dorsal companion seta d on genu I, II, and III and all tibiae are present. Tarsal distal setae end with a small nodule. Juveniles is unknown. Etymology: The specific name ‘retweet’ is given as noun in apposition. “Retweet” is used as both a verb and noun on the social media application Twitter (twitter Inc.) and means repost or forward a message. The present work does not represent a direct act of retweeting in a strict sense, but the species was discovered by a post as a response to the message about the discovery of A. twitter. Tobias Pfingstl, Shimpei F. Hiruta, Iris Bardel-Kahr, Yuito Obae and Satoshi Shimano. 2022. Another Mite Species discovered via Social Media - Ameronothrus retweet sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida) from Japanese Coasts, exhibiting An Interesting Sexual Dimorphism. International Journal of Acarology. 48(4-5); 348-358. DOI: 10.1080/01647954.2022.2074538 |
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