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Wednesday, February 28th, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||||||||
| 12:14a | [Botany • 2024] Medinilla campana, M. flammea, M. purpureoviridis & M. rangkong (Melastomataceae) • Four New Species from Borneo
Abstract Four new species of Medinilla from Borneo, M. campana, M. flammea, M. purpureoviridis and M. rangkong are described and illustrated based on morphological characteristics. Medinilla campana most resembles M. rubicunda but differs from it by having campanulate hypanthium that thickens significantly towards the distal end (vs. cupuliform and not thickened) and the anther has an underdeveloped, obtuse dorsal spur (vs. well-developed, beak-like dorsal spur). Medinilla flammea is similar to M. rubicunda, but differs in having erect to suberect habit (vs. spreading), the inner pair of lateral veins in the lamina diverges from the midrib above the base (vs. veins diverged from the base) and orange to vermilion petals (vs. white). Medinilla purpureoviridis is somewhat similar to M. laxiflora, but it can easily be distinguished from the latter by its 4-merous flowers (vs. 5-merous) and the cymose branching of approximately 3 times (vs. 5 to 9 times). In addition, the hypanthium is distally thickened (vs. not thickened in M. laxiflora). Medinilla rangkong most resembles M. sessiliflora, but differs in its cordate leaf base (vs. acute), the lateral two veins diverging from the base (vs. departing about 5 mm from the base of midvein), and the hypanthium with four minutely apiculate teeth (vs. with four conspicuous, triangular calyx lobes). biodiversity, endemism, Malay Archipelago, taxonomy, Eudicots.  Medinilla campana (風鈴野牡丹藤), M. flammea (焰橘牡丹藤), M. purpureoviridis (紫青野牡丹藤), M. rangkong (犀鳥野牡丹藤) Che-Wei LIN. 2024. Medinilla campana, M. flammea, M. purpureoviridis and M. rangkong (Melastomataceae), Four New Species from Borneo. Phytotaxa. 637(1); 27-44. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.637.1.2  | ||||||||||||
| 3:32a | [Botany • 2021] Medinilla malabrigoi (Melastomataceae) • A New Species from forests over limestone in Samar Island, Philippines
Abstract A new species of Medinilla, M. malabrigoi, from forests over limestone in Samar Island, Philippines is described and illustrated. It differs from the species of the M. polillensis alliance, herein defined, which includes M. polillensis s.l. and M. peltata, in its erect shrubby habit; sessile, narrowly lanceolate, 3-plinerved leaf with cordate to subcordate base; umbellate inflorescence; and flared, reflexed calyx at anthesis. Morphological and distributional comparisons with the most similar congeners are provided, as well as information on habitat and conservation status. Likewise, a taxonomic key to the Medinilla of Samar Island is herein devised. Keywords: Medinilla polillensis alliance, Melastomataceae, Samar Island, Philippines, Eudicots  Medinilla malabrigoi Z.D.Meneses, Adorador & Quakenbush Jiro T. Adorador, Zhereeleen D. Meneses-Adorador and J. Peter Quakenbush. 2021. Medinilla malabrigoi (Melastomataceae), A New Species from forests over limestone in Samar Island, Philippines. Phytotaxa. 483(2); 95–105. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.483.2.2  | ||||||||||||
| 3:57a | [Botany • 2023] Artemisia kargilensis (Asteraceae) • A New Species from Ladakh (Trans-Himalaya), India
Abstract A new species, Artemisia kargilensis, is described here from Ladakh (Trans-Himalaya), India. The new species can be distinguished from its allied congeners Artemisia salsoloides Willd. and A. saposhnikovii Krasch. ex Poljakov in having leaves sessile, leaf rachis winged, leaf segments linear to linear-lanceolate, capitula globose and upright, pedicel 2–5 mm long, bracteole linear, margins flat, apices acuminate, involucre 3-seriate, outermost phyllary ovate, innermost phyllary broadly obovate, number of marginal female florets 8–18, number of disc florets 16–28, and achenes obovoid. Keywords: Artemisia, Asteraceae, biodiversity, flora, Himalaya, taxonomy
Artemisia kargilensis L. Ali, A. A. Khuroo & A. H. Ganie, sp. nov. INDIA. Ladakh, Kargil district, Suru valley, ... Artemisia kargilensis is most similar in morphological with A. salsoloides but differs in having habit 40–70 cm tall, leaf sessile (vs. subsessile), leaf rachis winged (vs. wingless), linear to linear-lanceolate (vs. linear to linear-oblong), marginal female florets 8–18, disc florets 16–28 (vs. marginal female florets 15–20, disc florets 10–14), capitula globose, upright (vs. oblong, upright to nodding), pedicel 2–5 mm long (vs. sessile to shortly pedicellate), bracteole linear, 2–6 mm long, margins flat (vs. oblong, 2–4 mm long, margins recurved), involucre 3-seriate (vs. 4-seriate), outermost phyllary ovate (vs. linear-oblong), innermost phyllary broadly obovoid (vs. ovoid to narrowly obovoid), and achenes obovoid (vs. oblong). In addition, the new species also varies in habitat elevational range of 2,300–3,200 m a.s.l. (vs. 2800– 3900 m a.s.l) (Fig. 4, Table 1). Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the study area, i.e., Kargil, where from the taxon is described for the first time. Liyaqat ALI, Anzar Ahmad KHUROO, Aijaz Hassan GANIE and Tajamul ISLAM. 2023. Artemisia kargilensis (Asteraceae), A New Species from Ladakh (Trans-Himalaya), India. Korean J. Pl. Taxon. 53(4); 294-300. DOI: 10.11110/kjpt.2023.53.4.294 | ||||||||||||
| 5:46a | [Herpetology • 2024] Zhangixalus yunnanensis • A New Species of Zhangixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Yunnan, China
Abstract We described herein Zhangixalus yunnanensis sp. nov., a new treefrog species from central and western Yunnan, China, which had previously been confused with Z. nigropunctatus, based on morphological and molecular evidence. Our phylogenetic analyses revealed that the new species is sister to the clade of Z. nigropunctatus and Z. melanoleucus with strong support (100% and 73% for BI and ML, respectively). Our morphological analysis suggested that Z. yunnanensis sp. nov. is distinctly different from all known congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: black blotches on body flank and hind-limb, medium body size (SVL31.3–36.0 mm in males and 47.6–48.6 mm in females), head wider than long, iris yellowish-brown, dorsum uniformly green, vocal sac external, throat black, webbing greyish and fingers webbed one third and toes webbed half. Additionally, we revealed that the specimens ROM 38011 (Sa Pa, Vietnam) and VNMN 4099 (Son La, Vietnam) are neither Z. dorsoviridis nor Z. nigropunctatus, but probably represent one or two cryptic species of Zhangixalus pending further morphological and molecular data. Including the new species described herein, the genus Zhangixalus currently comprises 42 species, 30 of which are distributed in China with 11 species known from Yunnan. Amongst different zoogeographic regions in Yunnan, south-eastern Yunnan has the highest diversity of Zhangixalus, followed by western Yunnan and southern Yunnan. More studies are required to clarify the species diversity of this genus based on multiple lines of evidence (e.g. morphological and molecular data). Key Words: cryptic species, treefrog, Zhangixalus, Zhangixalus nigropunctatus
Zhangixalus yunnanensis sp. nov. Diagnosis: The new treefrog species is assigned to Zhangixalus by the presence of intercalary cartilage between terminal and penultimate phalanges of digits, Y-shaped distal end of terminal phalanx, tips of digits expanded into large discs bearing circum-marginal grooves, and vomerine teeth present, dermal folds along limbs not significant, tarsal projections absent, green dorsa colouration and medium body size (Jiang et al. 2019). Phylogenetically, the new species is nested within the genus Zhangixalus with strong support (100% for BI and 73% for ML). ... Etymology: The species epithet is named for Yunnan, China, where the species was collected. We suggest the English common name “Yunnan tree frog” and the Chinese common name “Yún Nán Shù Wā (云南树蛙)”. Yuanqiang Pan, Mian Hou, Guohua Yu, Shuo Liu. 2024. A New Species of Zhangixalus (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Yunnan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(1): 183-197. DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.113850  | ||||||||||||
| 5:46a | [Botany • 2024] Calanthe yingjiangensis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) • A New Species from Yunnan, China: evidence from morphological and molecular data
Abstract A new species of Orchidaceae, Calanthe yingjiangensis, is described from Yingjiang (Yunnan, China) based on morphology and molecular phylogenetics. This new species is like C. puberula, but it differs from the latter in its midlob of lip with an elliptic yellow spot near the base of the column and four purple veins, triangular lateral lip lobs that is much smaller than middle lobe and twisted lateral sepals. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on three plastid DNA makers (rbcL, matK and trnL-trnF) and nuclear ribosomal ITS support C. yingjiangensis as sister to C. puberula in Calanthe section Vernae. Calanthe, Epidendroideae, phylogeny, Orchids of Yunnan, Monocots    Calanthe yingjiangensis J.L.Miao & J.W.Zhai, sp. nov. Jiang-Lin Miao, Qiang Wang, Kai-Fan Li, Ma-Mai Yue, Chen Chen, Cui-Yu Liang, Lu Chen, Sha-Sha Wu, Zhong-Jian Liu and Jun-Wen Zhai. 2024. Calanthe yingjiangensis (Epidendroideae; Orchidaceae), A New Species from China: evidence from morphological and molecular data. Phytotaxa. 636(4); 295-300. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.636.4.4 twitter.com/ChinaDaily/status/1760079386127294831 | ||||||||||||
| 2:32p | [Herpetology • 2024] Dibamus deimontis • Another New Species of Dibamus Duméril & Bibron, 1839 (Squamata: Dibamidae) from Nui Chua National Park, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam
Abstract A new species of dibamid lizard, Dibamus deimontis sp. nov., is described based on eight specimens collected from the highlands of Nui Chua Mountain within Nui Chua National Park, Ninh Thuan Province, southern Vietnam. Dibamus deimontis sp. nov. co-occurs with the recently described Dibamus tropcentr, but is recorded at higher elevations (670–700 m a.s.l. vs. 200–280 m a.s.l.), and in a different habitat and microhabitats than the previous species. Our study represents the first report on the near sympatric occurrence of two Dibamus species. The new species can be distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characters: rostral, labial and nasal sutures incomplete; two to three postoculars; three to five scales on the posterior edge of infralabial; 22–25 midbody scale rows; 193–225 ventral scales; 47–55 subcaudal scales; 115 presacral and 27 tail vertebrae (in a single male specimen examined); and maximum snout-vent length 136.2 mm. We suggest this species should be considered as Vulnerable (VU) following the IUCN’s Red List categories. Our study brings the number of species in the genus Dibamus to 26; Dibamus deimontis sp. nov. is the eighth species of Dibamus recorded in Vietnam, and underlines the importance of the country as a local center of reptilian diversity in Southeast Asia. Reptilia, Dibamus deimontis sp. nov., Nui Chua Mountain, Blind Skinks, conservation, Southeast Asia. systematics. morphology. sympatric distribution, endemism
Nui Chua Blind Skink Dibamus deimontis Kliukin, Bragin, Nguyen & Poyarkov, 2024 Nikita S. Kliukin, Andrey M. Bragin, Tan Van Nguyen, Son Xuan Le, Tin Trong Vo Tran, Vladislav A. Gorin, Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2024. Another New Species of Dibamus Duméril & Bibron, 1839 (Squamata: Dibamidae) from Nui Chua National Park, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Zootaxa. 5406(1); 87-104. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5406.1.4 | ||||||||||||
| 2:39p | [Entomology • 2023] Aryalidonta itishreea • A New Genus and Species of Thoradontini (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from Nepal honors the Emperor of Laughter
Abstract Aryal’s Ten Avatar Groundhopper, Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov., named in honor of the late Bhairav Aryal, an iconic Nepali satirist, is a new genus and species of Tetrigidae described as a part of the tribe Thoradontini. The species is native to Nepal, a country with a rich tetrigid fauna in need of taxonomic revisions. This monotypic genus can be easily separated from other Thoradontini genera by its enlarged proximal halves of middle femora, a peculiar lateral lobe morphology (small caudal protrusion in its caudal part and a sharp lateral tip), a triangular, anteriorly narrowing vertex, and by its unique head morphology. The species was observed in its natural habitat. It was found to harbor many color variations that are cryptic in nature. It feeds on detritus, algae, lichen, and moss. Specimens heavily infested by mites were found, as well as those in interaction with wasps (possibly Eulophidae), but the nature of the latter could not be determined. Keywords: Bhairav Aryal, ecology, Eulophidae, Gorkha, groundhopper, Himalayas, Scelimeninae
Family Tetrigidae Rambur, 1838 Tribe Thoradontini Kevan, 1966 Genus Aryalidonta gen. nov. Justification of the tribal assignment and the genus description.— The herein described species shares many similarities with members of Thoradontini, the most notable of which are as follows: (i) the u- or v-shaped carinae of the vertex visible in frontal view, (ii) high-placed frontal costa bifurcation and usually low-placed antennal grooves, (iii) a vertex that is usually triangular and narrowing anteriorly, (iv) eyes adjacent to the anterior margin of the pronotum, (v) bilobate lateral lobes, (vi) wings approximately equally long as the pronotum, and (vii) nodulate surface of the pronotum. Although an overview of the material showed that the tribe requires a thorough revision, we place the new genus and species within it to allow for easier revision in the future. The new species does not fit with the type species of any of the relevant genera and is thus described under its own genus. It is possible that the subsequent revisions will recognize more species that belong in this genus, so it is important that the genus be defined by a well-documented species. Etymology.— Patronymic. The genus is named in honor of the late Bhairav Aryal (Nepali: भैरव अर्याल), an iconic satirist of Nepali literature popularly known as the Emperor of Laughter (Nepali: हाँस्य सम्राट). The second part of the name, -donta, derives from the Greek word “ὀδών”, meaning “tooth,” and is a reference to Bhairav Aryal’s iconic smile. The genus name is of feminine gender. Aryalidonta itishreea sp. nov. Etymology.— The specific epithet is derived from the Nepali word “itishree”, which is the title of one of Bhairav Aryal’s books and translates to “The End”. The name is also a reference to the tragic end of Bhairav Aryal’s life, as well as to his unyielding belief that an end is an invitation to a new beginning. The name is Latinized with the suffix “-a” to form a noun in the nominative case and is feminine in gender. Common name.— Aryal’s Ten Avatar Groundhopper (Nepali: अर्यालको दश औतारी भुइँफड्के). Common name etymology.— Named after one of Bhairav Aryal’s masterpieces, Dash Autar (Nepali: दश औतार; English transl. Ten Avatars). The name symbolically refers to the many color forms observed among individuals of this species. Type locality.— Amaldarchaur, Ghyalchok, Gorkha, Nepal (Nepali: अमलदारचौर, घ्याल्चोक, गोरखा, नेपाल) situated at an altitude of 465 ± 10 m asl (approximate) ...
Madan Subedi and Niko Kasalo. 2023. Aryalidonta itishreea, A New Genus and Species of Thoradontini (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae) from Nepal honors the Emperor of Laughter. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 32(1): 63-80. DOI: 10.3897/jor.32.94918   |
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