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Wednesday, March 1st, 2023
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 3:24a | [Botany • 2022] Paraphlomis nana (Lamiaceae) • A New Species from Chongqing, China
Abstract Most species of Paraphlomis are distributed in the south of the Yangtze River in China. In this study, a new species, Paraphlomis nana, from northeast Chongqing in the north of the Yangtze River is described and illustrated. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses based on two nuclear ribosomal DNA regions (ITS and ETS) and three plastid DNA markers (rpl32-trnL, rps16, and trnL-trnF) were carried out to explore the phylogenetic position of the new species within Paraphlomis. Though the nuclear and plastid trees reveal incongruent placements of P. nana in Paraphlomis, which may be caused by chloroplast capture, a close relationship between the new species and P. albiflora is supported by molecular phylogenetic, morphological, and geographic evidence. However, the two species can be clearly distinguished from each other by the plant height and lamina and calyx morphology. Keywords: Chloroplast capture, Matsumurella, Paraphlomideae, the Yangtze River
 Paraphlomis nana Y.P. Chen, C. Xiong & C.L. Xiang sp. nov. Diagnosis: Paraphlomis nana is morphologically most similar to P. albiflora, but differs by its 1–5 cm tall (vs. 30–60 cm tall) plants, ovate laminae (vs. ovate to broadly ovate) with obtuse apices (vs. acute), and ca. 3 mm long calyx teeth (vs. ca. 1 mm long) with bristle-like-acuminate apices (vs. acute). Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the dwarf plants of the new species compared with that of most species of Paraphlomis. Common name (assigned here): Ai Sheng Jia Cao Su (矮生假糙苏; Chinese name). Distribution and habitat: The new species has only been found in two localities in northeast Chongqing, China (Figure 5). It usually grows on moist cliffs or at streamsides in valleys of evergreen broad-leaved forests at altitudes of 1000–1300 m. Yaping Chen, Chi Xiong, Houlin Zhou, Feng Chen and Chunlei Xiang. 2022. Paraphlomis nana (Lamiaceae), A New Species from Chongqing, China. Turkish Journal of Botany. 46(2); 7. DOI: 10.55730/1300-008X.2680 | ||||||
| 9:34a | [Herpetology • 2022] Tantilla carolina • Out of the Past: A New Species of Tantilla of the calamarina Group (Squamata: Colubridae) from southeastern coastal Guerrero, Mexico, with Comments on Relationships among Members of the Group
Abstract A new species of Tantilla in the calamarina group from southeastern coastal Guerrero, Mexico is described. This new species is part of a clade that contains T. calamarina, T. cascadae, T. ceboruca, T. coronadoi, T. deppei, T. sertula, and T. vermiformis. All of these species are endemic to Mexico, except for T. vermiformis, which is found along the Pacific coastal plain from El Salvador to northwestern Costa Rica. Members of this group of Tantilla show varying adaptations to fossoriality, which might reflect their phylogenetic relationships. Keywords. calamarina group, centipede snake, fossoriality, phylogenetics, Reptilia, taxonomy
Tantilla carolina, new species Suggested common name. Carolina’s Little Snake. Diagnosis. Tantilla carolina is a member of the T. calamarina group (Table 1). This species differs from Tantilla calamarina by the presence of more ventrals in females (156 versus [hereinafter = vs.] 118–140), more total segmental scales (194 vs. 146–179), a normallysized preocular scale in contact with the postnasal scale (vs. a preocular with a tendency toward a decrease in size to complete the loss of the scale), two postocular scales (vs. one), seven supralabials (vs. usually six), a uniform dorsal head color followed by two pale postparietal spots (vs. a head pattern consisting of a spatulate dark anterior extension of the middorsal dark stripe flanked by prominent pale narrow longitudinal markings confluent with the pale postparietal spots), and a body pattern involving a dark lateral stripe that does not extend to the end of the body (vs. a dark brown lateral stripe on rows 3 and 4 extending the length of the body). ... Etymology. We are privileged to name this small snake in honor of the Hungarian Freedom Fighter Karolina Laszló (Fig. 4), in recognition of her dedication to the maintenance of human rights for all peoples in the face of totalitarianism, beginning with the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. As a young woman, Karolina was forced to join the exodus of her country people, in the company of her new husband, a soldier, Ede Károly Fucskó, who bravely defied the Hungarian dictatorship, communism, and the invading Soviet army. Ede Károly Udvarhelyi was adopted at an early age, when his mother remarried and thus kept the surname Fucskó. As the couple roamed through several European countries, in search of a refuge from the terror of oppressive political regimes, they escaped to England before seeking asylum in Australia. Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, the family of five later travelled back to Hungary, residing there for several years before escaping again to Vienna, Austria, then travelling to Italy, and from there they journeyed to South Africa. There, they dared to oppose the policy of apartheid but eventually, under duress, had to flee as interracial tensions escalated into further hostilities and reprisals. Finally, the family found relative solace in the democratic land of Australia, where life remained challenging in such a strangely beautiful land. During this long trek to find a life of freedom, Karolina and Ede were accompanied by their three children, John Edward, Stephen Charles, and a coauthor of this paper, Lydia Allison Fucsko. Therefore, in Karolina’s honor, we named this snake Tantilla carolina sp. nov., with a reference to the meaning of the name Carolina in Spanish as “the prettiest woman of the town,” an apt descriptor for this truly lovely, indomitable, and spirited lady whose humanitarian efforts continue to inspire future generations. Ricardo Palacios-Aguilar, Lydia Allison Fucsko, Víctor H. Jiménez-Arcos, Larry David Wilson and Vicente Mata-Silva. 2022. Out of the Past: A New Species of Tantilla of the calamarina Group (Squamata: Colubridae) from southeastern coastal Guerrero, Mexico, with Comments on Relationships among Members of the Group. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. 16(2); 120-132.  Resumen.— Describimos una nueva especie de Tantilla del grupo calamarina de la costa sureste de Guerrero, México. Esta nueva especie forma parte de un clado que contiene a T. calamarina, T. cascadae, T. ceboruca, T. coronadoi, T. deppei, T. sertula y T. vermiformis. Todas estas especies son endémicas de México, excepto T. vermiformis, que se encuentra a lo largo de la planicie costera del Pacífico desde El Salvador hasta el noroeste de Costa Rica. Los miembros de este grupo de Tantilla muestran diversas adaptaciones a la fosorialidad, lo que podría reflejar sus relaciones filogenéticas. Palabras claves. Culebra ciempiés, fosorialidad, grupo calamarina, relaciones filogenéticas, Reptilia, taxonomía | ||||||
| 10:53a | [Herpetology • 2023] Leptobrachella korifi & L. sinorensis • Two New Species of Leptobrachella (Anura: Megophryidae) from Northern Thailand
Abstract Phylogenetic analyses using mtDNA gene sequences revealed the presence of two genetic clades in the genus Leptobrachella (former Leptolalax) from northern Thailand. One formed a clade including L. ventripunctata and L. aerea, while another included L. bourrreti and L. laoi. The first clade contained L. cf. minima from Doi Suthep, while the second clade contained L. murphyi and two undescribed species, one from Doi Inthanon, at a high altitude of 2,300 m asl, and another from Mae Hong Son, at Myanmar border. These form a clade, that is sister to L. murphyi. Morphologically, the first species is generally similar to L. murphyi, while the second species resembles L. cf. minima. However, they are clearly distinguished from those described species by great genetic differences, and we describe them as L. korifi sp. nov. and L. sinorensis sp. nov., respectively. KEYWORDS: Lalos, Leptobrachella korifi sp. nov, Leptobrachella sinorensis sp. nov, Leptolalax, MtDNA phylogeny, Thailand Leptobrachella korifi sp. nov. Diagnosis: A small-sized form of the genus Leptobrachella; adult female 22.7 mm in SVL (n=1); ventral side dusty; tibiotarsal articulation reaching anterior corner of eye; pectoral gland very large; lateral fringe on toes weak. Etymology: The specific epithet, korifi, is from the Greek “koreefee,” meaning summit, in reference to the high elevation of the habitat [Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai Province] of the new species.
Leptobrachella sinorensis sp. nov. Diagnosis: A medium-sized form, adult males 26.6–27.1 mm in SVL (n=3); tibiotarsal articulation reaching center of eye; pectoral gland indistinct; ventral side of head and body creamy white. Etymology: The specific epithet, sinorensis, is from the Greek “seenoro,” meaning border, in reference to the type locality [Mae Hong Son Province], which lies near the Myanmar border of Thailand. Masafumi Matsui, Somsak Panha and Koshiro Eto. 2023. Two New Species of Leptobrachella from Northern Thailand (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae). Current Herpetology. 42(1); 83-97. DOI: 10.5358/hsj.42.83 | ||||||
| 4:31p | [Herpetology • 2023] Raorchestes malipoensis • A New Species of Bush Frog (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from southeastern Yunnan, China
Abstract In this study, based on morphological and molecular data, a new bush frog species is described from Yunnan, China. Eleven samples of Raorchestes malipoensis sp. nov. were collected from Malipo County, southeastern Yunnan. This species can be distinguished from other congeners by a combination of 13 morphological characters. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene indicate that these individuals form a monophyletic group, and genetic divergence between this clade and its closest relatives is higher than 3.1%, which is comparable to the divergence between recognized Raorchestes species. The discovery of this new species suggests that additional extensive surveys in the southeastern Yunnan would yield more amphibian lineages yet unknown to science. Keywords: Kurixalus gryllus, Raorchestes gryllus, Raorchestes malipoensis sp. nov., taxonomy
Raorchestes malipoensis sp. nov. “Pseudophilautus gryllus” (Li et al. 2009). “Raorchestes gryllus” (Biju et al. 2010). Diagnosis: The genus Raorchestes is a group of small frogs, diagnosed primarily on the basis of an adult snout-vent length between 15 and 45 mm; vomerine teeth absent; large gular pouch transparent while calling; nocturnally active; direct development without free-swimming tadpoles in all species for which the development is known (Biju et al. 2010). Although the mode of development in the new species remains unknown, R. malipoensis sp. nov. is placed in the genus Raorchestes due to the combination of following characters: small body size, vomerine teeth absent, single translucent external subgular vocal sac present, and tips of all fingers and toes expanded into discs with circum-marginal grooves. The new species is distinguished from geographically and molecularly relevant congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) very small body size (males SVL 14.6–17.7 mm, n = 7; females SVL 18.3–19.3 mm, n = 4); (2) head wider than long; (3) tympanum small, supratympanic fold distinct; (4) tips of all fingers and toes yellow; (5) webbing formula (I 2 – 2 II 2 – 2 III 2 – 3 IV 3 – 2 V); (6) inner and outer metacarpal tubercle indistinct; (7) heels not meeting when limbs held at right angles to body; (8) tibiotarsal articulation reaching anterior border of eye when hindlimb is stretched alongside of body; (9) iris golden brown; (10) nuptial pad small and milky white; (11) inner metatarsal tubercle rounded, outer metatarsal tubercle absent; (12) fingers and toes having lateral dermal fringe; and (13) interorbital distance larger than eye horizontal diameter. Etymology: The specific epithet is named for the type locality, Malipo County, Yunnan Province, China. We suggest “Malipo Bush Frog” as its English common name, and “Ma Li Po Guan Shu Wa (麻栗坡灌树蛙)” as its Chinese common name. Distribution: Currently known from the type locality, Malipo County (Fig. 1), Yunnan Province, China and Pac Ban, Tuyen Quang, in north of Vietnam. Junkai Huang, Xiao Long Liu, Lingyun Du, Justin M. Bernstein, Shuo Liu, Yun Yang, Guohua Yu and Zhengjun Wu. 2023. A New Species of Bush Frog (Anura, Rhacophoridae, Raorchestes) from southeastern Yunnan, China. ZooKeys. 1151: 47-65. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1151.95616  |
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