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Thursday, March 14th, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||||
| 10:12a | [Herpetology • 2024] Myrrophis dakkrongensis • A New Species of Mud Snake (Serpentes: Homalopsidae: Myrrophis) from southern Vietnam
Abstract Homalopsid snakes of the genus Myrrophis include only two species distributed in southern China and northern Vietnam. Here, we describe a third species from southern Vietnam based on morphological data and nucleotide sequences from the mitochondrial gene cyt b. Myrrophis dakkrongensis sp. nov. is diagnosed by the following morphological characters: Medium-sized mud snake (largest total length 452 mm); internasal single and distinctly separated from loreals; dorsal scales smooth, in 23 rows at midbody, reduced to 19 or 20 rows before vent; ventrals 133–138; subcaudals 34–42, paired; cloacal plate divided; supralabials 8, fourth entering orbit; second pair of chin-shields small and oblique; maxillary teeth 17 or 18; gland-like tubercles present in the cloacal region; hemipenis short, forked and spinose, reaching 7th subcaudal; dorsum dark brown to black; and a white or yellow to orange lateroventral stripe present. The new species differs from its congeners by an uncorrected p distance in cyt b sequences of at least 10.5%. Key words: Dak Nong Province, Gyiophis, hemipenis, Mekong River, mitochondrial DNA, Myanophis, Myrrophis bennettii, Myrrophis chinensis, Myrrophis dakkrongensis
Myrrophis dakkrongensis sp. nov. Diagnosis: Myrrophis dakkrongensis sp. nov. is distinguished from all of its congeners by the unique combination of the following morphological characters: medium-sized mud snake (largest TL 452 mm in adult female); internasal single and not in contact with loreals; dorsal scale rows 23-23-19 or 23-23-20, smooth; tail short (TaL/TL ratio 0.15–0.16 in males and 0.14 in female); ventrals 134–138 in males and 133 in female; subcaudals 39–42 in males and 34 in female; 8 supralabials, fourth entering orbit; second pair of chin-shield small, oblique, and in contact with two infralabials; 17 or 18 maxillary teeth; hemipenis short, forked and spinose, reaching 7th subcaudal; cloacal plate divided; gland-like tubercles present in the cloacal region; dorsum dark brown to black; and white or yellow to orange lateroventral stripe present. Etymology: The specific epithet dakkrongensis is a toponym derived from the Dak Krong River system where the new species was discovered. We recommend “Dak Krong mud snake” and “Rắn bồng đắk krông” as the common English and Vietnamese names of the new species, respectively. Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Manh Van Le, Amy Lathrop, Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo, Robert W. Murphy and Jing Che. 2024. A New Species of Mud Snake (Squamata: Homalopsidae: Myrrophis) from southern Vietnam. Vertebrate Zoology. 74: 221-233. DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e116992 | ||||||||
| 10:12a | [Crustacea • 2024] Avatar nishidai & Kokeshioides surugaensis • Two New Genera and Species of the Parasitic Copepod Family Chondracanthidae Milne Edwards, 1840 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) from Deep-Sea Fishes Off Suruga Bay, Japan Abstract Purpose: The present paper describes two new genera and species of the parasitic copepod family Chondracanthidae Milne Edwards, 1840 based on specimens collected from two species of deep-sea fishes at a depth of 212 m off Suruga Bay, Japan. Avatar nishidai gen. et sp. nov. is described from the host fish Chaunax abei Le Danois, 1978 (Chaunacidae). Kokeshioides surugaensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from the host fish Setarches longimanus (Alcock, 1894) (Setarchidae). Methods: Fresh specimens of chondracanthids were collected from the buccal cavity of two species of deep-sea fishes (fish hosts were frozen), Chaunax abei Le Danois, 1978 (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae) and Setarches longimanus (Alcock, 1894) (Perciformes: Setarchidae), caught at a depth of 212 m in Suruga Bay, Japan (34° 37′48.87″ N, 138° 43′2.958″ E). Both the species are described and illustrated based on ovigerous females. Results: The genus Avatar gen. nov. can readily be distinguished from all other chondracanthid genera by the following combination of features: cephalothorax slightly wider than long with anterior pair of large and posterior pair of small lateral lobes, and two pairs of ventro-lateral processes; the very posteriormost part of the first pedigerous somite contributes to the neck; cylindrical trunk with two pairs of blunt proximal fusiform processes; antennule with small knob terminally; antenna bearing distal endopodal segment; labrum protruding ventrally; two pairs of biramous legs each with 2-segmented rami. Kokeshioides gen. nov. has the following combinations of features that distinguish it from other chondracanthid genera: body flattened, without lateral processes; cephalothorax much wider than long, with paired anterolateral and posterolateral lobes, folded ventrally; the very posteriormost part of the first pedigerous somite contributes to the neck; mandible elongate; legs unique, heavily sclerotized, represented by two pairs of acutely pointed processes. Conclusion: With the addition of two new genera presently reported, the family Chondracanthidae currently includes 52 valid genera. Among the described genera Avatar gen. nov. seems to be very primitive, while Kokeshioides gen. nov. is highly advanced. The deduced evolutionary history of chondracanthid genera is also discussed. Keywords: Avatar, Chondracanthids, Copepoda, Fish parasite, Kokeshioides Taxonomy Order Cyclopoida Burmeister, 1834 Family Chondracanthidae Milne Edwards, 1840 Genus Avatar gen. nov. Etymology: The generic name is derived from a world-famous epic science fiction film, James Cameron’s “Avatar”, in which the dragon-like aerial predator “Mountain Banshee” with two pairs of wings reminds us of the present new taxon with two pairs of lateral processes on the trunk. Gender feminine. Avatar nishidai gen. et sp. nov. Etymology: The specific name of the new species, ‘nishidai’, is dedicated to Mr. Yusuke Nishida (Hiroshima University) who found this enigmatic chondracanthid in the Suruga Bay, Japan. It is a noun in the genitive case. Genus Kokeshioides gen. nov. Etymology: The generic name is derived from a Japanese traditional wooden toy called “Kokeshi” and the Latin suffix -oides meaning “like”. Gender masculine. Kokeshioides surugaensis gen. et sp. nov. Etymology: The specific name is derived from the type locality, Suruga Bay, Japan. It is in the nominative singular, gender masculine. Conclusions: New material collected from two different species of deep-sea fishes of Suruga Bay, Japan were found to be different from all other known chondracanthid genera, and based on the clear morphological features we described two new monotypic genera. Accordingly, we described Avatar nishidai gen. et sp. nov. from Chaunax abei Le Danois, 1978 (Chaunacidae) and Kokeshioides surugaensis gen. et sp. nov. from Setarches longimanus (Alcock, 1894) (Setarchidae). By the description of two new genera in the presently reported study, the family Chondracanthidae currently includes 52 valid genera. Among the described genera Avatar gen. nov. seems to be very primitive, while Kokeshioides gen. nov. is highly advanced. The deduced evolutionary history of chondracanthid genera is also discussed in the present paper. Panakkool Thamban Aneesh, Susumu Ohtsuka, Yusuke Kondo & Ameri Kottarathil Helna. 2024. Two New Genera and Species of the Parasitic Copepod Family Chondracanthidae Milne Edwards, 1840 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) from Deep-Sea Fishes Off Suruga Bay, Japan. Acta Parasitologica. DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00820-3 | ||||||||
| 10:25a | [Ichthyology • 2024] Pareiorhaphis torrenticola • A New Small-Sized Pareiorhaphis (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Manhuaçu River, Doce River Basin, Minas Gerais State, Eastern Brazil
Abstract We report the first record of a species of Pareiorhaphis in the Manhuaçu River basin, an affluent to the right bank of the middle Doce River drainage in eastern Brazil. The description is based on a series of specimens recently collected and also on historical samples. All specimens were obtained from habitats with very strong water current running over flat bedrock. The new species is readily diagnosed from congeners by features related to the distinct morphology of lower lip papillae, unique pattern of plates covering the pectoral girdle between insertions of pectoral fins, and the lack of a maxillary barbel. In addition, the combination of longer snout, smaller orbital diameter, shape of the pectoral-fin spine, low number of dentary teeth, and lack of a dorsal-fin spinelet also distinguishes the new species from all species of Pareiorhaphis. The new species is further compared to Pareiorhaphis nasuta, P. scutula, P. proskynita, and P. vetula, congeners from the Doce River basin, and hypothesized to have traits that represent important adaptations for living in torrential habitats.
Pareiorhaphis torrenticola, new species Etymology.—Pareiorhaphis torrenticola, from the Latin torrens, -entis, meaning swift or violent stream, torrent, torrential, and -cola meaning dweller, inhabitant, in allusion to its habit of living in very strong waters. A noun in apposition. Edson H. L. Pereira, Tiago C. Pessali and Roberto E. Reis. 2024. A New Small-Sized Pareiorhaphis (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Manhuaçu River, Doce River Basin, Minas Gerais State, Eastern Brazil. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 112(1); 69-75. DOI: 10.1643/i2023058 Apresentamos o primeiro registro de uma espécie de Pareiorhaphis na bacia do rio Manhuaçu, afluente da margem direita do médio Rio Doce, no leste do Brasil. A descrição baseia-se numa série de espécimes recentemente recolhidos e também em amostras antigas. Ambas as amostras foram obtidas de habitats com correntes de água muito fortes correndo sobre leito rochoso plano e sem pedras soltas. A nova espécie é prontamente diagnosticada de seus congêneres por características relacionadas à morfologia distinta das papilas do lábio inferior, padrão único de placas cobrindo a cintura peitoral entre as inserções das nadadeiras peitorais e a ausência de um barbilhão maxilar. Além disso, a combinação de focinho mais longo, diâmetro orbital menor, forma do espinho da nadadeira peitoral, baixo número de dentes no dentário e ausência de spinelet da nadadeira dorsal também distingue a nova espécie de todas as outras espécies de Pareiorhaphis. A nova espécie é ainda comparada com Pareiorhaphis nasuta, P. scutula, P. proskynita e P. vetula, congêneres da bacia do Rio Doce, e supostamente possui caracteres que representam adaptação importante para viver em habitats torrenciais. | ||||||||
| 3:08p | [Ichthyology • 2023] Muraenichthys hibinoi • A New Muraenichthys Eel (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Bay of Bengal, India, with its molecular characterization
Muraenichthys hibinoi sp. nov. is described herein based on two specimens collected from Shankarpur fishing harbor, West Bengal, India. The new species differs from Muraenichthys gymnopterus, Muraenichthys hattae, Muraenichthys longirostris, and Muraenichthys thompsoni by having less distance between the anus and the origin of the dorsal fin (61.8%–57.37% vs 73.8%–82% of HL). The new species has a close morphological affinity with M. gymnopterus and M. hattae with significant differences from both species. The new species differs from M. gymnopterus by having higher vertebral count, i.e., predorsal vertebrae (40– 41 vs 30), preanal vertebrae (50 vs 43), and total vertebrae (140–141 vs 130). The new species also differs from M. hattae, having fewer total vertebrae (141–142 vs 148–155) and fewer predorsal vertebrae (40–41 vs 48–53). The COI gene sequence of the new species has been generated and submitted to the NCBI database with accession number OP114397. The new species differs from all the available congeneric sequences of Myrophinae group available in NCBI or BOLD with K2P distances of 8.4% to 9.5%. Thus, both the genetic and morphometric data confirm the presence of a new species in Myrophinae from Indian waters.  Muraenichthys hibinoi sp. nov. Anil Mohapatra, Rajesh Kumar Behera, Dipanjan Ray, Smrutirekha Acharya, Swarup Ranjan Mohanty and Subhrendu Sekhar Mishra. 2023. Discovery of A New Muraenichthys Eel (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Bay of Bengal, India, with its molecular characterization. Bulletin of Marine Science. 99(4); 527-537. DOI: 10.5343/bms.2023.0010 | ||||||||
| 3:48p | [Botany • 2023] Oreocharis wuxiensis (Gesneriaceae) • A New lithophilous Species from Northeast Chongqing, China
Abstract A new species of Gesneriaceae, Oreocharis wuxiensis, is described and illustrated from Wuxi County, Chongqing Municipality, China. The new species is morphologically similar to O. giraldii in the leaf blade’s shape and indumentum and the corolla’s shape and color. It can be easily distinguished by the shape of the corolla tube and lobes, the indumentum and pistil length, and the ovary’s size and style. At present, a total of three populations were confirmed in Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve, Wuxi County, with about 500 mature individuals. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, it is provisionally assessed as Vulnerable (VU D1). Keywords: Didymocarpoideae, Flora of Chongqing, Karst, new taxon, Wuxi County, taxonomy, Eudicots    Oreocharis wuxiensis C.Xiong, F.Chen & F.Wen 巫溪马铃苣苔  Chi Xiong, Feng Chen, Jia-Hui Zhang, Hou-Lin Zhou, Chang-Bing Zheng and Fang Wen. 2023. Oreocharis wuxiensis (Gesneriaceae), A New lithophilous Species from Northeast Chongqing, China. Phytotaxa. 594(1); 73-77. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.594.1.5 www.bilibili.com/read/cv23403053 |
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