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Monday, November 21st, 2022
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 2:43a | [Mollusca • 2022] Quantula doma • A New Species of the Genus Quantula Baker, 1941 (Eupulmonata: Dyakiidae) from north-eastern Thailand
Abstract The land snail genus Quantula Baker, 1941 from the southern part of north-eastern Thailand was studied. The results of studies on shell morphology, reproductive anatomy, and molecular phylogeny reveal the distinctions between two species—Quantula weinkauffiana (Crosse & Fischer, 1863) and Quantula doma, new species. According to shell morphology and genitalia, Q. weinkauffiana from Khao Phanom Sawai, Surin Province, has a depressed shell with a whorl descending in front, short gametolytic sac that is connected to the middle part of the amatorial organ, and amatorial organ duct shorter than amatorial organ, whereas Q. doma, new species from Khao Sala in Surin, Pha Nam Yoi in Roi Et, and Phu Jor Kor in Mukdahan Provinces has a dome-shaped to depressed conic shell, last whorl not descending in front, and amatorial organ duct longer than amatorial organ. Both species are also phylogenetically separated from each other by mitochondrial DNA phylogeny and COI sequence divergences. Key words. inner wall of genitalia, phylogenetics, Quantula striata, Quantula weinkauffiana, Quantula godwinausteni
 Quantula doma, new species Diagnosis. Last whorl angular with peripheral keel, not descending in front. Amatorial organ duct longer than amatorial organ. Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word ‘domus’ meaning roof, referring to the fact that its shell shape is similar to a hemispherical roof. Kanchanog Deeprom, Chanidaporn Tumpeesuwan and Sakboworn Tumpeesuwan. 2022. A New Species of the Genus Quantula Baker, 1941 (Eupulmonata: Dyakiidae) from the southern part of north-eastern Thailand. RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 70; 519–533. | ||||||
| 2:44a | [Invertebrate • 2022] Acanthaster benziei • A New Species of Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star (Valvatida: Acanthasteridae) from the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Abstract A new species of crown-of-thorns sea star (CoTS), Acanthaster benziei sp. nov., is described based on four specimens collected from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast where it inhabits coral reefs. Species delimitation from congeners in the species complex, i.e., Acanthaster planci, Acanthaster mauritiensis and Acanthaster cf. solaris, is primarily based on distinct and diagnostic mitochondrial DNA sequence regions. Species separation of Acanthaster benziei is additionally justified due to diagnostic morphological characters: fewer arms; narrower and thinner spines; fanned spine tips in primary and latero-oral spines; a wider tip or tapering shape in circumoral spines; and rhombus-shaped oral pedicellariae. Key words: Acanthasteridae, Acanthaster, morphology, taxonomy, Red Sea, coral reefs
Acanthaster benziei sp. nov. Wörheide & Kaltenbacher in Wörheide, Kaltenbacher, Cowan & Haszprunar 2022 Differential diagnosis. Acanthaster benziei sp. nov. can clearly be distinguished by diagnostic mutations in the partial COI gene sequences analysed, all material examined fall within the deeply divergent monophyletic group of CoTS from the Red Sea (see Fig. 3). There is full agreement with initial results that proposed species distinction of the Red Sea clade based on COI data alone (Vogler et al. 2008), recently corroborated by nuclear genome analyses (Yuasa et al. 2021). The molecular-based species distinction of A. benziei sp. nov. is also substantially supported by diagnostic morphological characters. Acanthaster benziei has fewer arms than congenericsea stars of comparable size from the other geographic regions/species. Our reported range between 11 and 14 arms in the type series (Tab. 3) is consistent with values previously reported for other individuals from the Red Sea (mean of 13 arms [Campbell and Ormond 1970]; maximum of 13–14 arms [Haszprunar et al. 2017]). By contrast, the number of arms reported for sea stars from India (= A. planci) was 15 (Linnaeus 1758) and for A. mauritiensis 13–16 (de Loriol 1885), with a maximum of 23 arms reported for A. planci, A. mauritiensis and the Pacific species A. cf. solaris (Haszprunar et al. 2017) (see Supp. Tab. 1). Etymology. The species name pays tribute to Professor John Benzie, who has decisively promoted research on CoTS, with numerous publications and his own collection. He was among the first scientists to genetically analyse Acanthaster spp. and his collection was the basis of the work of Vogler et al. (2008), which represents a milestone in the species identification of these sea stars. Distribution and habitat. So far known Acanthaster benziei is restricted to the Red Sea, where it inhabits coral reefs, predominantly the outer reef surfaces where it mostly hides in crevices during the day and feeds nocturnally. Gert Wörheide, Emilie Kaltenbacher, Zara-Louise Cowan and Gerhard Haszprunar. 2022. A New Species of Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star, Acanthaster benziei sp. nov. (Valvatida: Acanthasteridae), from the Red Sea. Zootaxa. 5209(3); 379-393. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5209.3.7 | ||||||
| 7:40a | [Ichthyology • 2022] Galeus friedrichi • A New Sawtail Catshark (Carcharhiniformes: Pentanchidae) from the Philippines
A new species of sawtail catshark, Galeus friedrichi n. sp., is described from the Philippines. The new species is separable from other western Pacific Galeus species by the absence of saddle or blotch markings, a large size, >50 cm TL, 40 monospondylous vertebrae, and 83 precaudal vertebrae. All regional Galeus, other than Galeus sauteri, can be distinguished by having a marking pattern made up of a series of dark to light saddle or blotch patterns beneath the dorsal fins and on the caudal fin. Galeus sauteri can be separated from G. friedrichi n. sp. by its relatively small adult size, <50 cm TL, and fewer precaudal vertebrae (73–76 vs. 83). The two other large regional species, G. longirostris and G. nipponensis are presently known only from Japan and Taiwan. The new species is the third Galeus species, after G. sauteri and G. schultzi, documented from the Philippines. Key words: taxonomy, ichthyology, Chondrichthyes, elasmobranch, western Pacific Ocean.
Galeus friedrichi, n. sp. Philippines Sawtail Catshark Diagnosis. A large slender Galeus species distinguished from all regional congeners by a combination of an absence of saddle or blotch patterns on body and caudal fin (except G. sauteri); large size, exceeding 50 cm TL (except G. longirostris and G. nipponensis); a higher count of monospondylous vertebrae (40) (except G. longirostris and G. nipponensis); and 83 precaudal vertebrae. Distribution. Known only from the type specimens caught off off Sikayab-Bukana, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines at a depth of 550 m. Etymology. The new species is named in honor of Jürgen Friedrich, a European philanthropist and co-founder of the JAF Foundation (Switzerland), in recognition of his commitment to marine conservation, research, and advocacy. David A. Ebert and Jessica J. Jang. 2022. Galeus friedrichi (Carcharhiniformes: Pentanchidae), A New Sawtail Catshark from the Philippines. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 39, 45–53. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7320085 https://zenodo.org/record/7320085 | ||||||
| 8:05a | [Ichthyology • 2022] Harttia canastra • A New Species of Harttia (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio São Francisco Basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Abstract The genus Harttia belongs to the subfamily Loricariinae and has to date 27 described species, distributed in the drainages of Guiana Shield, Amazon and southeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of: canal plate present; abdominal plates absent; trapezoid preanal plates; males with elongated and conspicuous odontodes on the first pectoral-fin ray and on the lateral region of the head, close to the canal plate; and dorsal-fin spinelet present. An identification key for the species of the rio São Francisco basin and a comparison between the new taxon and all other species of the genus are presented. Keywords: Brazilian Crystalline Shield; Brazilian Plateau; Identification key; Streams; Waterfalls.
Harttia canastra, new species Diagnosis. The naked abdomen between pectoral- and pelvic-fin girdles readily discriminates Harttia canastra from Harttia absaberi Oyakawa, Fichberg & Langeani, 2013, H. dissidens Rapp Py-Daniel & Oliveira, 2001, H. duriventris Rapp Py-Daniel & Oliveira, 2001, H. fluminensis, H. fowleri (Pellegrin, 1908), H. longipinna, H. panara Oyakawa, Fichberg & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2018, H. punctata Rapp Py-Daniel & Oliveira, 2001, H. rhombocephala, H. rondoni Oyakawa, Fichberg & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2018, H. surinamensis Boeseman, 1971, H. trombetensis Rapp Py-Daniel & Oliveira, 2001, H. tuna, and H. villasboas Oyakawa, Fichberg & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2018 (vs. abdomen partially or completely covered by plates; Figs. 3B,C). Harttia canastra can be distinguished from H. carvalhoi Miranda Ribeiro, 1939, H. garavelloi Oyakawa, 1993, H. intermontana Oliveira & Oyakawa, 2019, H. kronei Miranda Ribeiro, 1908, H. leiopleura, and H. novalimensis by having preanal plates (vs. preanal plates absent; Figs. 3A,D,E). Furthermore, Harttia canastra can be distinguished from H. torrenticola by having two to four large trapezoidal preanal plates and dorsal-fin spinelet present (vs. two to four circular preanal plates and dorsal-fin spinelet absent; Fig. 3F). It differs from Harttia gracilis Oyakawa, 1993 in that its lower and upper caudal rays are of same size (vs. upper ray slightly longer than the lower one). Harttia canastra can be distinguished from H. guianensis Rapp Py-Daniel & Oliveira, 2001, H. loricariformis Steindachner, 1877, and H. uatumensis Rapp Py-Daniel & Oliveira, 2001 by the presence of the dorsal-fin spinelet and by the hypertrophy of odontodes in the lateral region of the head, close to the canal plate, and in the unbranched pectoral fin ray in adult males (vs. absence of the dorsal-fin spinelet and males without hypertrophied odontodes). Distinguished from Harttia depressa by body depth 40.0–66.7% and head depth 35.7–52.6% of HL (vs. extremely depressed body and head, respectively 27.0–33.3% and 31.2–35.7% of HL). It differs from H. merevari by having anterior region of head more rounded, darker coloration and adult males with hypertrophied odontodes (vs. anterior region of head more triangular, light or dark yellow with many spots and males without hypertrophied odontodes). Finally, in relation to the other species of the rio São Francisco basin, H. canastra is distinguished from H. longipinna by the absence of plates in the abdominal region between pectoral- and pelvic-fin girdles and by the equivalent anal-fin length both in males and females (respectively 11.7–18.2% and 11.7–18.7% of SL; vs. partially covered abdomen and anal-fin length longer in males than in females (respectively 20.0–25.0% and 13.9–16.1% of SL; Fig. 3B); from H. leiopleura and H. novalimensis for presenting preanal plates (vs. preanal plates absent; Figs. 3D,E); and from H. torrenticola by having two large preanal trapezoidal plates (vs. two to four circular minute preanal plates; Fig. 3F) and the dorsal-fin spinelet (vs. dorsal-fin spinelet absent). Etymology. The name “canastra” refers to the Serra da Canastra, a mountain range located in the center-south of the state of Minas Gerais, which houses the headwaters of the rio São Francisco, where most of the specimens were collected. A noun in apposition. Laís Caldas, Arieli Matheus Cherobim and Francisco Langeani. 2022. A New Species of Harttia from the rio São Francisco basin (Siluriformes: Loricariidae). Neotrop. ichthyol. 20(4); DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2022-0051 Resumo: O gênero Harttia pertence à subfamília Loricariinae e possui 27 espécies descritas, distribuídas nas drenagens do Escudo das Guianas, Amazônica e do sudeste brasileiro. A nova espécie distingue-se das congêneres pela combinação de: placa do canal presente; placas abdominais ausentes; placas pré-anais trapezóides; machos com odontódeos alongados e conspícuos no primeiro raio da nadadeira peitoral e na região lateral da cabeça, próximo a placa do canal; e spinelet da nadadeira dorsal presente. Apresenta-se uma chave de identificação para as espécies da bacia do rio São Francisco e a comparação com todas as demais espécies do gênero. Palavras-chave: Cachoeiras; Chave de identificação; Escudo Cristalino Brasileiro; Planalto Brasileiro; Riachos | ||||||
| 12:33p | [Herpetology • 2022] Cyrtodactylus ngopensis • Morphological and Molecular Phylogenetic Data reveal Another New Species of Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus Gray: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Mizoram, India
ABSTRACT A new species of Cyrtodactylus is described herein on the basis of morphological and phylogenetic evidence inferred from the mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydride dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene from Mizoram, Northeast India. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by an adult snout-vent length of 62.6–68.6 mm; 10–11 supralabials; 9–11 infralabials; dorsal tubercles rounded, conical to weakly keeled and in 19–20 longitudinal rows; 32–36 paravertebral tubercles between the level of axilla and groin; 32–39 mid-ventral scale rows across the ventral region; 6 precloacal pores in males and 0–6 precloacal pits in females; 14–18 subdigital lamellae under toe IV; no single row of transversely enlarged subcaudal scales; indistinct pattern of alternating dark brown blotches on the dorsum of the body. Morphologically and genetically, the new species is recovered as the sister species to C. aaronbaueri, but is genetically distinct by an uncorrected p-distance of 0.099–0.1, and morphologically in the number of precloacal pores, mid-ventral scale rows, paravertebral tubercles on the trunk, dorsal tubercle rows, dorsal spot, and subdigital lamellae on pes. KEYWORDS: Cyrtodactylus, morphology, new species, Northeast India, phylogeny, taxonomy 
Cyrtodactylus ngopensis sp. nov. Etymology: The species epithet is derived from the township of Ngopa in Champhai district of Mizoram State, from which the type specimens were collected. Suggested common name: Ngopa bent-toed gecko Sanath Chandra Bohra, Hmar Tlawmte Zonunsanga, Madhurima Das, Jayaditya Purkayastha, Lal Biakzuala and Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsangae. 2022. Morphological and Molecular Phylogenetic Data reveal Another New Species of Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus Gray: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Mizoram, India. Journal of Natural History. 56(41-44); 1585-1608. DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2119178   |
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