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Wednesday, January 10th, 2024
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| 2:56a | [Herpetology • 2024] Leptobrachella dushanensis • A New Asian Leaf Litter Toad of the Genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura: Megophryidae) from southern Guizhou Province, China
Abstract Background: The Asian leaf litter toads of the genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura, Megophryidae) inhabit the forest floor and rocky streams in hilly evergreen forests and are widely distributed from southern China, west to north-eastern India and Myanmar, through mainland Indochina to Peninsular Malaysia and the Island of Borneo. New information: A new species of the Asian leaf litter toad genus Leptobrachella from Guizhou Province, China is described. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI genes and nuclear RAG1 gene sequences indicated that the new species is genetically divergent from its congeners. The new species could be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) body of medium size in males (SVL 31.9 – 32.9 mm); (2) distinct black spots present on flanks; (3) toes rudimentarily webbed, with wide lateral fringes; (4) skin on dorsum shagreened with fine tiny granules and short ridges; (5) heels overlapped when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; (6) tibia-tarsal articulation reaching interior corner of the eye. Keywords: Taxonomy, molecular phylogenetic analyses, morphology, new species
Leptobrachella dushanensis Li, Li, Cheng, Liu, Wei, Wang sp. nov. Diagnosis: Leptobrachella dushanensis sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Leptobrachella, based on molecular data and the following morphological characters: medium size, rounded finger tips, the presence of two elevated inner palmar tubercle not continuous to the thumb, presence of macroglands on body (including supra-axillary, pectoral and femoral glands), vomerine teeth absent, tubercles on eyelids and anterior tip of snout with vertical white bar (Dubois 1983; Fei et al. 2009). Leptobrachella dushanensis sp. nov. could be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: body of medium size in males (SVL 31.9 – 32.9 mm); distinct black spots present on flanks; toes rudimentarily webbed, with wide lateral fringes; skin on dorsum shagreened with fine tiny granules and short ridges; heels overlapped when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; tibia-tarsal articulation reaching interior corner of the eye.
Etymology: This specific name “Dushan” refers to the distribution of this species in Dushan County, Guizhou Province, China. We suggest its English common name “Dushan leaf litter toad” and Chinese name “Dushan Zhang Tu Chan (独山掌突蟾)”. Distribution: Leptobrachella dushanensis sp. nov. was only found in Dushan County, Guizhou Province, China. Elevations recorded range from 1000 m to 1200 m. Shize Li, Wei Li, Yanlin Cheng, Jing Liu, Gang Wei and Bin Wang. 2024. Description of A New Asian Leaf Litter Toad of the Genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura, Megophryidae) from southern Guizhou Province, China. Biodiversity Data Journal. 12: e113427. DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e113427  | ||||||||
| 1:45p | [Herpetology • 2023] Petracola amazonensis & P. shurugojalcapi • Two New Species of gymnophthalmid lizards of the Genus Petracola (Gymnophthalmidae: Cercosaurinae) from the Andes of northeastern Peru, and their phylogenetic relationships
Abstract The small and semi-fossorial lizards of the genus Petracola are distributed in the Andes from central to northern Peru, on both sides of the dry valley of the Marañon River. Very little is known about the taxonomy of Petracola, but it is presumed that this genus harbors a higher number of species than is currently known. Here, we used a Maximum Likelihood (ML) molecular phylogenetic analysis using concatenated fragments of four mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, cyt-b, and ND4) and one nuclear gene (c-mos), and the revision of museum specimens, to determine the species diversity of populations of Petracola on both sides of the Marañon River. Our results show that Petracola is a monophyletic genus composed of three independent lineages. The frst lineage includes two undescribed species from the right side of the Marañon River, which we describe herein. The second lineage corresponds to P. ventrimaculatus, and the third lineage includes P. waka which contains undescribed species. Among the two new species from the right side of the Marañon River, P. amazonensis can be identifed by having only the frst superciliary expanded to the dorsal surface, two pairs of genials in contact, absence of a loreal scale, venter orange with black spots forming a transverse band, absence of precloacal pores, and a maximum SVL of 43.0 mm in females; whereas P. shurugojalcapi can be identifed by having two genials in contact, absence of a loreal scale, two discontinuous superciliaries, black venter, dorsum dark brown or black with some cream spots, and an absence of precloacal pores. The two new species increase the diversity of this genus to seven species, four of which inhabit the right side of the dry valley of the Marañon River. However, like other genera of gymnophthalmid Andean lizards, the diversity of Petracola is still underestimated. Keywords. Andean lizard, Cercosaurini, dry valley, endemic species, northern Andes, Marañon River, semi-fossoriality
Petracola amazonensis sp. nov. Etymology. The specifc epithet, amazonensis, is an adjective in reference to the type locality in the Department of Amazonas, northern Peru.
Petracola shurugojalcapi sp. nov. Etymology. The specifc epithet, shurugojalcapi, treated as a noun in apposition, is a combination of two local words: “shurugo” the local name for a gymnophthalmid lizard and “jalcapi” that means “from Jalca” in the Quechua language. The specific name was proposed by the inhabitants of La Jalca Grande. Luis Mamani, Víctor J. Vargas, Juan C. Chaparro, Alessandro Catenazzi. 2023. Two New Species of gymnophthalmid lizards of the Genus Petracola (Squamata: Cercosaurinae) from the Andes of northeastern Peru, and their phylogenetic relationships. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 17(1&2) [Taxonomic Section]: 161-173 | ||||||||
| 2:08p | [Entomology • 2022] Anacaena angatbuhay & A. auxilium • Two New Species of Anacaena Thomson, 1859 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) from Northern Luzon, Philippines
Abstract Two species of Anacaena Thomson, 1859, A. angatbuhay sp. nov. and A. auxilium sp. nov., are described from Northern Luzon, Philippines. The new species can be distinguished through colour, body shape, surface puncturation and characteristic aedeagi. Descriptions are provided and complemented with habitus photographs and drawings of the aedeagi. Data on genus distribution in the Philippines are reviewed and an updated Philippine checklist is provided. Keywords: Biodiversity assessment, high altitude, species inventory, taxonomy
 Family Hydrophilidae Latreille, 1802 Genus Anacaena Thomson, 1859 Anacaena angatbuhay sp. nov. Etymology: The species epithet alludes to the Angat Buhay (literal translation: lifting lives) anti-poverty flagship programme of Her Excellency Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo, the 14th Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines who concluded her term this year. It is in honour of the exemplary service of her office, with emphasis on engaging with local communities, uplifting the marginalised and heeding the needs of the health care sector, especially in the time of the pandemic. The term is used as a noun in apposition. Anacaena auxilium sp. nov. Etymology: The species epithet ‘auxilium’ is Latin for ‘help’. The new species is dedicated to the Mary Help of Christians Seminary system to which the first author expresses gratitude for constant inspiration. Additionally, ‘help’ alludes to the vulnerable state of freshwater biodiversity in the tropics. Enrico Gerard S. Sanchez, Emmanuel D. Delocado and Hendrik Freitag. 2022. Two New Species of Anacaena Thomson, 1859 (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae) from Northern Luzon, Philippines. ZooKeys. 1112: 11-25. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1112.85752  | ||||||||
| 3:45p | [Paleontology • 2024] Varanosuchus sakonnakhonensis • New Cretaceous neosuchians (Crocodylomorpha) from Thailand bridge the evolutionary history of atoposaurids and paralligatorids
Abstract The origin of modern crocodylians is rooted in the Cretaceous, but their evolutionary history is obscure because the relationships of outgroups and transitional forms are poorly resolved. Here, we describe a new form, Varanosuchus sakonnakhonensis gen. nov., sp. nov., from the Early Cretaceous of Thailand that fills an evolutionary gap between Paralligatoridae and Atoposauridae, two derived neosuchian lineages with previously unsettled phylogenetic relationships. Three individuals, including a complete skull and associated postcranial remains, allow for a detailed description and phylogenetic analysis. The new taxon is distinguished from all other crocodylomorphs by an association of features, including a narrow altirostral morphology, a dorsal part of the postorbital with an anterolaterally facing edge, a depression on the posterolateral surface of the maxilla, and fully pterygoid-bound choanae. A phylogenetic analysis confirms the monophyly and taxonomic content of Atoposauridae and Paralligatoridae, and we underline the difficulty in reaching a robust definition of Eusuchia. Furthermore, we put forward further arguments related to the putative terrestrial ecology with semi-aquatic affinities of atoposaurids based on their altirostral snout morphology and osteoderm ornamentation. Atoposauridae, CT scan, Neosuchia, Phu Sung, Sao Khua, Thailand  Varanosuchus sakonnakhonensis gen. nov., sp. nov.   Yohan Pochat-Cottilloux, Komsorn Lauprasert, Phornphen Chanthasit, Sita Manitkoon, Jérôme Adrien, Joël Lachambre, Romain Amiot and Jeremy E Martin. 2024. New Cretaceous neosuchians (Crocodylomorpha) from Thailand bridge the evolutionary history of atoposaurids and paralligatorids. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. zlad195. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad195 วาราโนซูคัส สกลนครเอนซิส ???????? จระเข้ทรงเหี้ย จระเข้ดึกดำบรรพ์ชนิดใหม่ชนิดที่ 12 ของประเทศไทย จากหมวดหินเสาขัว ต้นยุคครีเทเชียส จ.สกลนคร  | ||||||||
| 10:32p | [Herpetology • 2024] Guibemantis ambakoana, G. rianasoa & G. vakoa • Unexpected Diversity and Co-occurrence of phytotelmic Frogs (Anura: Mantellidae: Guibemantis) around Andasibe, one of the most intensively surveyed Amphibian Hotspots of Madagascar, and
Abstract The area around the Malagasy village of Andasibe, which includes Analamazaotra-Mantadia National Park as well as other protected areas, is characterized by very species-rich and well-studied communities of animals and plants, but new species are still regularly discovered. Three species of phytotelmic frogs of the subgenus Pandanusicola in the genus Guibemantis are known from this area, G. flavobrunneus, G. liber, and G. pulcher. Further Pandanusicola frogs from this area have been provisionally assigned to G. bicalcaratus or G. albolineatus, pending detailed taxonomic review. During preliminary exploration of the ecology of these specialized frogs that live and reproduce in the leaf axils of Pandanus screw pines, we noticed the syntopic presence of two differently colored and differently sized Pandanusicola in Andasibe that could not be unambiguously assigned to any known species. A genetic screening revealed that these correspond to yet two further species in the area. Based on our data, seven species of Pandanusicola occur in Andasibe and nearby forests: (1) G. liber, the only non-phytotelmic species of the subgenus in the region; (2) G. flavobrunneus which is the largest species and characterized by a diagnostic yellowish brown dorsal pattern; (3) G. pulcher, characterized by translucent-green color with purplish brown spotting not observed in any other species in the area; (4) G. methueni, a brownish species usually lacking contrasted dorsolateral bands that differs from the other species in the area by emitting a characteristic trill-like advertisement call series (rather than clicks or chirps) and according to our data is widespread along Madagascar’s east coast; as well as three new species: (5) G. ambakoana sp. nov., a brownish species, typically with contrasted incomplete light dorsolateral bands and with single click-like advertisement calls; (6) G. vakoa sp. nov., a species that is equally brownish but lacks contrasted light dorsolateral bands and that has single click-like advertisement calls of very short duration; and (7) G. rianasoa sp. nov., a species that is smaller sized and has less distinct femoral glands than all the others, and emits a short series of soft chirp-like advertisement calls. All these species are genetically highly distinct, with >5% uncorrected pairwise distances in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, and lack of haplotype sharing in two nuclear-encoded genes. The co-occurrence of seven Pandanusicola frogs in a relatively small geographic area is unprecedented in Madagascar and calls for in-depth studies of a possible differentiation in habitat use and life history. Key words: Amphibia, Anura, Mantellidae, Pandanusicola, Guibemantis rianasoa sp. nov., Guibemantis ambakoana sp.nov., Guibemantis vakoa sp. nov., Pandanus, bioacoustics, phytotelmic breeding, microendemism, sympatry, phylogeny, systematics, taxonomy  Guibemantis rianasoa sp. nov.  Guibemantis ambakoana sp.nov.  Guibemantis vakoa sp. nov. Hugh Gabriel, Laila-Denise Rothe, Jörn Köhler, Sandratra Rakotomanga, Devin Edmonds, Pedro Galán, Frank Glaw, Richard M. Lehtinen, Andolalao Rakotoarison and Miguel Vences. 2024. Unexpected Diversity and Co-occurrence of phytotelmic Frogs (Guibemantis) around Andasibe, one of the most intensively surveyed Amphibian Hotspots of Madagascar, and Descriptions of Three New Species. Zootaxa. 5397(4); 451-485. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5397.4.1 |
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