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Sunday, July 10th, 2022
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| 2:13a | [Ornithology • 2022] Cryptic Species in A Colorful Genus: Integrative Taxonomy of the Bush Robins (Aves, Muscicapidae, Tarsiger) suggests Two overlooked Species
Highlights: • DNA and acoustic samples of all 11 subspecies of the six currently recognized bush robin species (Tarsiger spp.) • An integrative taxonomic approach combining multilocus phylogenetic and acoustic analysis, as well as morphological differentiation. • A coalescent-based species delimitation method suggests recognition of two further species, Gansu Bluetail T. albocoeruleus and Taiwan Bush Robin T. formosanus. Abstract Several cryptic avian species have been validated by recent integrative taxonomic efforts in the Sino-Himalayan mountains, indicating that avian diversity in this global biodiversity hotspot may be underestimated. In the present study, we investigated species limits in the genus Tarsiger, the bush robins, a group of montane forest specialists with high species richness in the Sino-Himalayan region. Based on comprehensive sampling of all 11 subspecies of the six currently recognized species, we applied an integrative taxonomic approach by combining multilocus, acoustic, plumage and morphometric analyses. Our results reveal that the isolated north-central Chinese populations of Tarsiger cyanurus, described as the subspecies albocoeruleus but usually considered invalid, is distinctive in genetics and vocalisation, but only marginally differentiated in morphology. We also found the Taiwan endemic T. indicus formosanus to be distinctive in genetics, song and morphology from T. i. indicus and T. i. yunnanensis of the Sino-Himalayan mountains. Moreover, Bayesian species delimitation using BPP suggests that both albocoeruleus and formosanus merit full species status. We propose their treatment as ‘Qilian Bluetail’ T. albocoeruleus and ‘Taiwan Bush Robin’ T. formosanus, respectively. Keywords: Passerines, bioacoustics, multilocus phylogeny, morphometrics, disjunct distribution, Sino-Himalayas 
 Chentao Wei, George Sangster, Urban Olsson, Pamela C. Rasmussen, ... and Yang Liu. 2022. Cryptic Species in A Colorful Genus: Integrative Taxonomy of the Bush Robins (Aves, Muscicapidae, Tarsiger) suggests Two overlooked Species. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 107580, In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107580 | ||||||
| 6:18a | [Cnidaria • 2021] Tubastraea megacorallita • A New Species of the Sun Coral Genus Tubastraea (Hexacorallia: Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) from Hong Kong
Abstract Tubastraea, commonly known as sun coral, is a genus of brightly coloured azooxanthellate corals in the family Dendrophylliidae. The diversity of this genus is low, with only seven recognized species. Herein, we describe Tubastraea megacorallita sp. nov. from Hong Kong based on morphological and molecular analyses. This new species exhibits several characteristics of the genus including being colonial, having a rough texture of corallum and no epitheca. It can be distinguished from its congenerics by bigger corallites, and the Pourtalès plan arrangement of its septa. The rDNA gene sequences (consisting of ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, 18S and 28S) showed 2.45–5.18% divergence from those of its closest relatives, T. coccinea and T. micranthus. Keywords: Coelenterata, scleractinian coral, azooxanthellate, ahermatypic coral, dendrophylliid, South China Sea
 Tubastraea megacorallita sp. nov. Sam King Fung Yiu, Sheena Suet-Wah Chung and Jianwen Qiu. 2021. A New Species of the Sun Coral Genus Tubastraea (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) from Hong Kong. Zootaxa. 5047(1); 1-16. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5047.1.1 research.hkbu.edu.hk/news/hkbu-biologist | ||||||
| 7:36a | [Botany • 2022] Pseudobombax furadense (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae) • A New Species from the Caatingas Domain, Brazil
Abstract A new species of Pseudobombax (Bombacoideae, Malvaceae) is described from the Furados, Caatingas Domain, Brazil. The new species is morphologically similar to Pseudobombax simplicifolium but differs by the obovate, elliptic, depressed obovate or orbicular leaflets, the presence of branched trichomes on terminal branches, leaf primordia, petioles, adaxial and abaxial surfaces of leaflets, pedicel, bracteoles, and outer surface of the calyx, lepidote ovary, and the subglobose to ovoid, and spotted seeds. Keywords: Brazilian flora, Furados, seasonally dry tropical forests, limestone outcrops, limestone slabs, Eudicots
 Pseudobombax furadense Gianasi & Santos, sp. nov. Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to its microhabitat of occurrence, characterized by limestone slabs, commonly known as Furados. Fernanda Moreira Gianasi and Rubens Manoel dos Santos. 2022. Pseudobombax furadense (Bombacoideae, Malvaceae), A New Species from the Caatingas Domain, Brazil. Phytotaxa. 544(1); 71-80. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.544.1.6 portaldoagronegocio.com.br/florestal/cu Researchgate.net/publication/360227093_Pseudobombax_furadense_a_new_species_from_the_Caatingas_Domain_ | ||||||
| 1:53p | [Herpetology • 2021] Tropidophorus guangxiensis hongjiangensis • Neotype Designation and Redescription of Tropidophorus guangxiensis Wen, 1992 (Sauria: Scincidae), with Description of A New Subspecies from central South China
The genus Tropidophorus consists of small semi-aquatic lizards that dwell in lowland forest steams (Barbour, 1921; Bauer & Jackman, 2008). Here, we designate the neotype and re-describe T. guangxiensis Wen, 1992 based on newly collected topotypic specimens. We also describe a new subspecies from Xuefeng Mountain, Hongjiang County, Hunan Province, central South China. Based on two mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), the phylogenetic position of T. guangxiensis is allocated for the first time. Additionally, our data strongly support that the new subspecies is phylogenetically closely related to T. g. guangxiensis. We also present a morphological identification key for known species and subspecies of Tropidophorus in China. Tropidophorus guangxiensis guangxiensis Wen, 1992 Chresonymy: Tropidophorus guangxiensis: Wen YT, 1992, Asiatic Herpetological Research, Berkeley, 4: 18–22. Type locality: Damingshan, Wuming Xian (county), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, 1 240 m a.s.l. Diagnosis: Upper head scales strongly striated; supranasal absent; frontonasals 2, joined, longer than wide; prefrontals 2, joined or separated by small scale; interparietal single and small, without small transparent spot; parietals separated by interparietal, posterolateral border surrounded by 5–6 scales on each side; nuchal scales absent; supraciliaries 8, supraciliary row complete along length of lateral edge of supraoculars; loreals 2; presuboculars 1, upper anterior and lower posterior margin slightly convex, and terminal pointed; supralabials 8; infralabials 6–7; shallow groove on loreal-labial border, from posterior corner of nasal across subocular obliquely downward to end of sixth supralabial; midbody scales in 28–29 rows; paravertebral scales 45–50, not widened; ventral scales 50–53; midbody ventral scales 27–29; ventral scales of neck keeled; scale rows at tenth subcaudal 11–13; lamellae under fourth toe 17–18; scales of limbs keeled above and below; supralabials and infralabials black, each scale with white spot center; chin and throat grayish white with black marble; ventral of neck gray, each scale white in middle forming longitudinal white stripes; venter yellowish white; underside of tail white, subcaudals darkened on both sides, forming longitudinal white stripes. Distribution and ecology: Tropidophorus guangxiensis guangxiensis is currently known only from the Daming Mountain National Nature Reserve (type locality) and Mulun Nature Reserve in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China (Figure 1A; Supplementary Table S6). Individuals were found beneath withered branches and fallen leaves in roadside ditches under evergreen broadleaf forest at 1 240–1 280 m a.s.l. (Supplementary Figure S4). These skinks are known to be active in late August, but their diet and reproductive biology remain unknown. This subspecies is sympatric with Gonyosoma frenatum (Gray, 1853), Pareas boulengeri (Angel, 1920), and Takydromus sp.  
Tropidophorus guangxiensis hongjiangensis ssp. nov. Guo & Deng Chresonymy: Tropidophorus guangxiensis: Guo KJ, Mi XQ and Deng XJ, 2010, Chinese Journal of Zoology, 45(1):159–162; Mi XQ, Xiong JW, Shu Y, Huang Z, Guo KJ, Huang Y, et al. 2012. Hunan Forestry Science & Technology, 39(4), 50–53. Etymology: This new subspecies is named after its type locality in “Hongjiang County.” Diagnosis: Loreals 2; infralabials 6; supralabials 8; paravertebral scales 45–47; parietals separated; supraciliaries 6–8; supraciliary row complete; upper anterior and lower posterior margin of presuboculars slightly concave, terminal blunt and rounded; scales on upper head and dorsal body striated or keeled; ventral scales smooth; midbody scale rows 30–33; lamellae under fourth toe 16–19; throat and ventral of neck black; ventral limbs brown, darker than ventral body; middle and posterior ventral tail black. Distribution: Tropidophorus guangxiensis hongjiangensis ssp. nov. is currently known only from the Xuefeng Mountain National Forest Park in Hongjiang County, Hunan Province, China (Figure 1A; Supplementary Table S6). Natural history: Tropidophorus guangxiensis hongjiangensis ssp. nov. is a semi-aquatic, leaf-litter specialist inhabiting the forest floor of subtropical evergreen broadleaf and mixed forests. Specimens were collected in the late afternoon and evening (1600–2200 h) from under withered branches and fallen leaves in roadside ditches (Supplementary Figure S5), or near rocky forest streams. The diet of the new subspecies remains unknown. The gravid female holotype carried four eggs on 5 June 2016. This subspecies is sympatric with Plestiodon elegans (Boulenger, 1887), Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839), Pareas stanleyi (Boulenger, 1914), and Takydromus intermedius Stejneger, 1924. Ke-Ji Guo, Fu Shu, Nan-Fei Wu, Shun-De Chen, Mian Hou, Sheng-Chao Shi and Xue-Jian Deng. 2021. Neotype Designation and Redescription of Tropidophorus guangxiensis Wen, 1992 (Squamata: Sauria: Scincidae), with Description of A New Subspecies from central South China. Zoological Research. 42(5); 606-613. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.363 |
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