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Sunday, February 5th, 2023
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| 8:00a | [Botany • 2022] Out of the Balkans and Anatolia to the Western Alps? Surprising Phylogenetic Implications for Two Endemic Alyssum (Brassicaceae) Species: A. cognense sp. nov. and A. rossetii
Abstract The European Alps show a high degree of endemism associated mainly with the location of glacial refugia and environmental heterogeneity. Several Alpine endemics have evolved in the genus Alyssum. Here we study perennial Alyssum populations in the Western Alps, mainly distributed in the Aosta Valley region, which hosts high species diversity, although endemics are rare. We addressed the recently described stenoendemic A. rossetii and taxonomically uncertain populations usually attributed to A. montanum s.s. to clarify their phylogenetic position and morphological differentiation. The latter entity has been shown to be distinct from A. montanum s.s. and is described as a new species, Alyssum cognense, phylogenetically placed in the A. montanum–A. repens species complex. Both morphological and genetic patterns revealed that its closest relative occurs in the central Balkans. We present detailed ecological characteristics and morphological differentiation of A. cognense sp. nov. from its relatives and geographically closest species and speculate on its biogeographic origin. Genetic patterns (reduced diversity and nestedness) suggest long-distance dispersal from the central Balkan Peninsula. The second studied species, A. rossetii, is phylogenetically distant and belongs to the mainly Asian Alyssum section Gamosepalum lineage, which includes few representatives in southern and eastern Europe. The phylogenetically closest species of A. rossetii are Anatolian endemics, so this extreme disjunction remains puzzling. The present study illustrates the need for in-depth taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, even in well-explored Alpine regions, and also shows that the processes underlying the evolution of endemics can be complex and poorly understood. 
Alyssum cognense Španiel, K.Kaplan, Juillerat & Bäumler sp. nov. Stanislav Španiel, Philippe Juillerat, Klaus Kaplan, Maurizio Bovio, Beat Bäumler, Mathieu Perret, Lenka Mártonfiová and Judita Zozomová-Lihová. 2022. Out of the Balkans and Anatolia to the Western Alps? Surprising Phylogenetic Implications for Two Endemic Alyssum (Brassicaceae) Species: A. cognense sp. nov. and A. rossetii. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. boac041. DOI: 10.1093/botlinnean/boac041  | ||||||
| 8:09a | [Botany • 2023] Helicia danlagunzadii (Proteaceae) • A New Species from the Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape, Palawan, Philippines
A new species, Helicia danlagunzadii, from the mossy forest of the Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape (MMPL) in southern Palawan, Philippines is described and illustrated. The new species is distinct from the other known species of Helicia in the Philippines because of its ramiflorous flowering, very short inflorescences (less than 4 cm), and yellow color. Helicia danlagunzadii is the sixth species of the genus recorded in the Philippines. Following the assessment criteria of IUCN, the species is assessed as Critically Endangered. Keywords: critically endangered, endemic, Malesian Flora, ramiflorous, short flower
   Helicia danlagunzadii Malabrigo, Eduarte, A.G. Umali, A.B.Tobias & Navidad sp. nov. Diagnosis – Helicia danlagunzadii sp. nov can be easily distinguished from other Helicia by its very short inflorescences (2.5–3.5 cm) that are almost completely hidden among its leaves. Helicia species in the Philippines and in other countries – particularly in Malaysia, New Guinea, and Australia – have longer inflorescences ranging from 4–32 cm (Chung 1998; Foreman 1995, 1998; Weston 1995). Among the 114 accepted Helicia species, only H. microneura and H. microphylla have inflorescence shorter than 7 cm. However, the new species differs from H. microneura with its much smaller leaves with entire venation (toothed on the upper part of the leaf on H. microneura), slightly prominent midrib above, and shorter petiole (midrib flat above with 2–3 mm petiole length on H. microneura). Similarly, the new species differs from H. microphylla by its slightly prominent midrib above (midrib impressed above in H. microphylla), ramiflorous inflorescences (axillary in H. microphylla), and shorter perianth (perianth 14–17 mm in H. microphylla). Of the Helicia species in the Philippines, H. danlagunzadii sp. nov. is closely allied to H. loranthoides Presl, with their relatively similar leaf shape and perianth length. However, H. danlagunzadii has smaller leaves and shorter, glabrous flowers, where pubescence was observed to be only present in the pedicels, as opposed to the completely pubescent flowers of H. loranthoides. These combined characters distinguish H. danlagunzadii sp. nov as a new species. For better distinction of Helicia species in the Philippines, a dichotomous key is provided below, whereas the comparison of morphological and ecological characteristics are presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Etymology – The species epithet danlagunzadii is a commemorative name in honor of the great Filipino systematist and ecologist, Dr. Daniel A. Lagunzad, who served as the first author’s mentor. Dr. Lagunzad worked as a Professor at the Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines Diliman. His passion and interest in native plants inspired many of his students to pursue the very challenging field of taxonomy. He was the best doctor to cure plant blindness among his students. Pastor L. Malabrigo Jr., Arthur Glenn A. Umali, Gerald T. Eduarte, John Ryan L. Navidad and Adriane B. Tobias. 2023. Helicia danlagunzadii (Proteaceae), A New Species from the Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape, Palawan, Philippines. Philippine Journal of Science. 152 (2): 581-589. https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/image | ||||||
| 8:19a | [Ichthyology • 2022] Kyonemichthys rumengani (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) is Sister Taxon to the Pipefish Genus Urocampus: Genetic and Morphological Evidence
Abstract A single female specimen (25.6 mm in standard length) of the thread-like Indo-Pacific pygmy syngnathid Kyonemichthys rumengani Gomon, 2007 was collected from fringing reef at eight meters depth from Okinawa Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago of southern Japan. It represents the first specimen of this species to be housed in a museum fish collection in Japan, where for the first time it is available for molecular analysis. We assessed the morphological hypothesis that previously suggested Kyonemichthys Gomon, 2007 is allied with the Indo-Pacific pygmy pipehorse genera Acentronura Kaup, 1853 and Idiotropiscis Whitley, 1947 based on similar characteristics of the head angled slightly ventrally from the abdominal axis, dermal appendages, and flexible tail lacking a caudal fin. However, Kyonemichthys differs from these genera in having a dorsal-fin origin on the tail versus the trunk, a characteristic shared by two Indo-Pacific pipefish genera: the morphologically similar Urocampus Günther, 1870 and the distinct worm-like Siokunichthys Herald, 1953. We therefore investigated the evolutionary relationships of K. rumengani within Syngnathidae based on the genetic divergence of the mitochondrial CO1 gene (uncorrected p-distances) and a phylogenetic hypothesis generated from the analysis of three partial mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, and CO1). Genetic analyses demonstrated that Kyonemichthys and Urocampus are closely related and form a strongly supported clade that excludes the phylogenetically distant Acentronura, Idiotropiscis, and Siokunichthys. Furthermore, morphological comparisons of K. rumengani with members of Urocampus revealed numerous synapomorphies distinct from the pygmy pipehorses, including meristic characters, trunk and tail ridge configurations, placement of dorsal fin on the tail, and shape of the prehensile tail. Therefore, based on the genetic and morphological characteristics, we suggest that Kyonemichthys is sister to Urocampus and is allied with pipefishes rather than with pygmy pipehorses. In addition, the Japanese standard name “Hari-youji” was proposed for K. rumengani. Keywords: marine fish, pygmy pipehorse, CO1, phylogeny, taxonomy, Indo-Pacific
Kyonemichthys rumengani Gomon, 2007 [New standard Japanese name: Hari-youji] Nozomi Hanahara, Miyako Tanimoto and Naoki Shirakawa. 2022. Kyonemichthys rumengani (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) is Sister Taxon to the Pipefish Genus Urocampus: Genetic and Morphological Evidence. Species Diversity. 27(2); 293-299. DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.27.293 | ||||||
| 8:21a | [Botany • 2023] Tillandsia bernalensis (Bromeliaceae: Tillandsioideae) • A New Species from the State of Querétaro, Mexico
Abstract Tillandsia bernalensis, a new species from the state of Querétaro, Mexico, is described and illustrated. The proposed species is compared to T. parryi, T. suesilliae and T. tonalaensis, taxa with some similarities. Images and a distribution map of the four species are included. Keywords: Endemism, Monocots, Peña de Bernal, Poales, saxicolous
Tillandsia bernalensis Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo, López-Ferr. & L. Hern., sp. nov. The new species is similar to Tillandsia parryi but differs in the width of the leaf blades (6–7 × vs. 3.5–3.7 cm in Tillandsia parryi), in the rachis exposure in mature spikes (not exposed vs. exposed), in the color of the floral bracts (bicolored, vinaceous at the apex, green at the base vs. unicolored, red to orange), in the floral bracts form and keel (obovate to oblong, ecarinate vs. elliptic to narrowly elliptic, carinate at the apex), and in the width of the sepals (1.1–1.3 vs. 0.75–1 cm). Etymology:— Specific epithet refers to the porphyritic monolith Peña de Bernal, on whose cliffs the new species grows. Rodrigo Alejandro Hernández-Cárdenas, Adolfo Espejo-Serna, Ana Rosa López-Ferrari and Luis Hernández-Sandoval. 2023. Tillandsia bernalensis (Tillandsioideae; Bromeliaceae), A New Species from the state of Querétaro, Mexico. Phytotaxa. 583(1); 91–98. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.583.1.9  Resumen: Se describe e ilustra Tillandsia bernalensis, una nueva especie del estado de Querétaro, México. La especie propuesta se compara con T. parryi, T. suesilliae y T. tonalaensis, taxa con algunas similitudes. Se incluyen imágenes y un mapa de distribución de las cuatro especies. Palabrasclave: Endemismo, Monocotiledóneas, Peña de Bernal, Poales, rupícola | ||||||
| 8:21a | [Botany • 2023] Ceropegia eshanensis (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) • A New Species from Yunnan, China
Abstract Ceropegia eshanensis, a new species from Yimen, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The species is presently placed in sect. Chionopegia, morphologically, it is similar to C. driophila and C. exigua, but clearly differs in its densely verrucose lenticellate old stems, leaf blades ovate to elliptic, 4–7 × 3–4.5 cm, glabrous, base broadly cuneate, slightly decurrent, longer peduncles. A comparison table of related species is provided. Keyword: Ceropegia, Ceropegia driophila, Ceropegia exigua, Chionopegia, herbs, morphological, distribution, Eshan   
Ceropegia eshanensis X.D. Ma & J.Y. Shen, sp. nov. 峨山吊燈花 Diagnosis: This species clearly differs from C. driophila and C. exigua by having densely verrucose lenticellate old stems, leaf blades ovate to elliptic, glabrous, base broadly cuneate, slightly decurrent, longer peduncles. Moreover, it also easily distinguished from C. exigua by having longer petioles and interstaminal lobes divided into pairs of triangular teeth at apex. Etymology: This new species is named after the type locality, Eshan County. Distribution and habitat: This new species is currently known only from Fawu Village, Dalongtan Township, Eshan County, Yunnan Province, China, twining around branches in the thickets. Xing-Da Ma, Wen-Guang Wang, Ji-Pu Shi and Jian-Yong Shen. 2023. Ceropegia eshanensis, A New Species of Apocynaceae from Yunnan, China. Taiwania. 68(1); 75-78.   | ||||||
| 8:22a | [Botany • 2023] Paris siamensis (Melanthiaceae) • Revision on the Genus Paris in Thailand, with A New Species from Luang Prabang Range
Abstract The genus Paris is an important and confusing taxon due to high variation within species, and differences between species are sometimes difficult to delimit. Thus, the status of some taxa has changed over time. To clarify the status of Paris species for plant conservation and effective management of this genus in Thailand, we performed an intensive survey in northern Thailand, studied morphological characteristics, and constructed a molecular phylogenic tree, which we compared to recently published results of this genus. Our results indicate that there are two species in Thailand: P. yunnanensis and a new species, P. siamensis. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and the phylogenetic position of these two species are provided here. Keywords: Paris chinensis; Melanthiaceae; threatened species; cryptic taxa; Paris polyphylla
Paris siamensis Ruchis. Paris siamensis is similar to P. liiana but differs in having petals below sepals (versus petals above sepals), stamen number (2.2–)2.8–3 times petal number (versus stamen number 2 times petal number), and anther length 8–10 mm long (versus anther 15–40 mm long). Distribution. To date, endemic to Nan province, Thailand (may be found in Laos), 1050–1216 m alt. Vernacular name. Tin Hung Doi Siam (ตีนฮุ้งดอยสยาม), Tin Hung Doi (ตีนฮุ้งดอย).   Distributions of the Two Paris Species in Thailand The distributions of the plants showed that this genus is specific to high-altitude habitats. The two species in Thailand were separated by lowland areas along the Nan river. Paris siamensis was found only in Luang Prabang Range, while P. yunnanensis was more widespread and found in the Phi Pan Nam Range, the Thong Chai Range, and the Daen Lao Range, which connects to the Shan plateau where the same species is found and is connected to the populations in China. Saroj Ruchisansakun, Supajit Sraphet, Chatchai Yothawut, Chompunooch Thamanukornsri, Nawarat Suksee, Panida Kongsawadworakul, Nattaya Srisawad, Nicha Thawara, Puangpaka Umpunjun, Supaporn Rodpradit, Winai Sangkaew and Kanokporn Triwitayakorn. 2023. Revision on the Genus Paris in Thailand, with a New Species Paris siamensis. Plants. 12(3), 430. DOI: 10.3390/plants12030430  | ||||||
| 9:44a | [Entomology • 2023] Holaptilon yagmur • The Genus Holaptilon Beier, 1964 (Mantodea: Gonypetidae): Discussion on the poorly known Boxer Mantis Genus, with A New Species
Abstract The boxer mantis genus Holaptilon Beier, 1964 (Mantodea: Gonypetidae: Gonypetinae) is known to include two flightless species with a similar body size and morphology. Type species of the genus, H. pusillulum Beier, 1964, is reported from Israel and Jordan. An interesting species of the genus was recently identified from Iran (H. brevipugilis Kolnegari, 2018). In this research, a new species of Holaptilon yagmur Yılmaz & Sevgili sp. n. is described from Turkey. This new species was collected from Karacadağ (Şanlıurfa), a volcanic mountain in the Southeastern Anatolia region. Its typical habitat is steppic stony areas. It indicates that the species may be cryptic or nocturnal since it was collected from under stones and ground traps. This finding indicates that the genus is more widespread than previously known and may have more species yet to be discovered. The existence of the genus Holaptilon was reported for the first time in Turkey. Meanwhile, while reviewing the praying mantis list of Turkey, we determined that the samples collected from Ağrı, which are given in the Mantodea list of Turkey, were misdiagnosed as Armene robusta Mishchenko, 1956 and actually belong to the genus Holaptilon, and that Turkey currently hosts 20 praying mantis species/subspecies. Keywords: Mantodea, boxer mantid, Gonypetidae, Holaptilon yagmur, new species, Karacadağ, Turkey   Kaan Yilmaz and Hasan Sevgili. 2023. The Genus Holaptilon Beier, 1964: Discussion on the poorly known Boxer Mantis Genus, with A New Species (Mantodea, Gonypetidae). Zootaxa. 5231(4); 427-444. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5231.4.5 facebook.com/mantidi.it/posts/628310429 |
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