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Monday, April 8th, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 2:50a | [Botany • 2024] Lilium liangiae (Liliaceae) • A New Species in the Genus Lilium that reveals parallel evolution within morphology
The former genus Nomocharis, which has been merged as a clade within the genus Lilium (Liliaceae), represents one of the most complicated and unclear groups included in the latter. Research on members of the Nomocharis clade has been quite limited due to the sampling difficulties caused by its selective environmental preferences. In this study, we propose a new species within this clade, Lilium liangiae, as a further bridge connecting the former genus Nomocharis with other members of the genus Lilium. We conducted morphological clustering, phylogenetic, and comparative genomics analyses of nuclear internal spacers and the newly generated complete chloroplast genome, in conjunction with previously published sequences, and performed ancestral state reconstruction to clarify the evolutionary pattern of important traits in Lilium. The clustering results of 38 morphological traits indicated that the new species is allied to Nomocharis, further increasing the morphological polymorphism in the latter. The phylogenetic results and morphological clustering both supported L. liangiae belonging to the subclade Ecristata in Nomocharis, its closest affinity being Lilium gongshanense. Inconsistencies in phylogenetic relationships were detected between nuclear and plastid datasets, possibly due to ancient hybridization and ongoing introgression. Comparative genomics revealed the conservation and similarity of their chloroplast genomes, with variations observed in the expansion and contraction of the IR regions. A/T and palindromic repeat sequences were the most abundant. Seven highly variable regions (Pi≥0.015) were identified as potential molecular markers based on the chloroplast genomes of 47 species within Lilium. Both nuclear and plastid genes exhibited very low variability within the Nomocharis clade, contrasting with their highly variable morphological appearance. The ancestral state reconstruction analysis suggests that the campanulate flower form, as in L. liangiae, arose at least three times within the genus Lilium, revealing parallel evolution in the latter. Overall, this study adds important genetic and morphological evidence for understanding the phylogenetic relationships and parallel evolution patterns of species within the genus Lilium.
Lilium liangiae Y. M. Yuan et Y. D. Gao sp. nov. At first glance, the new species bears a slight resemblance to Lilium mackliniae in terms of perianth morphology. Both have bell-shaped nodding flowers with petals curving upward at the end, and the petal edges transition from white to a deeper pink toward the center. Nonetheless, they significantly differ in overall plant morphology and leaf shape, with L. liangiae being shorter and smaller, typically bearing only one flower.  Yumei Yuan and Yundong Gao. 2024. Lilium liangiae, A New Species in the Genus Lilium (Liliaceae) that reveals parallel evolution within morphology. Front. Plant Sci. 15. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1371237 | ||||||
| 2:50a | [Botany • 2023] Indigofera gariepensis, I. tanquana, etc. (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae: Indigofereae) • Four New Species from the Greater Cape Floristic Region
Highlights: • Four species new to science are described. • Detailed photographic plates and distribution maps are included. • Conservation assessments are provided for all four species. Abstract Four new Indigofera species are described from the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR). Indigofera barkeri is a new annual from the Richtersveld, with small flowers, 3.5–4.0 mm long, pinnately trifoliolate leaves and laterally flattened seeds. Indigofera dodii is endemic to the area around Cape Town, growing on granite and shaly slopes. It has apically congested racemes, flowers 6.0–6.5 mm long, digitately trifoliolate leaves, fruit with a hispid indumentum and tuberculate seed testas. Indigofera gariepensis, endemic to dry riverbeds in the eastern Richtersveld, is recognized by its alternate, silky-velutinous leaflets and calyx lobes ± equal in length to its 5.5–6.5 mm long magenta flowers. Indigofera tanquana is known from only two collections and is endemic to the western Tanqua Karoo. It is easily recognized by its broad old grey stems, spinescent branches, simple grey-canescent leaves that aggregate on woody brachyblasts and reddish-magenta flowers. Detailed morphological descriptions are presented with composite photographic plates for each species. Notes on ecology, detailed diagnoses comparing with closely related species, a distribution map and an IUCN red list conservation assessment for each species is also provided. Keywords: Conservation, Desert, Fynbos, GCFR, Leguminosae, Namibia, Richtersveld, South Africa, Taxonomy  Indigofera barkeri Du Preez & Schrire sp. nov. Indigofera dodii Du Preez & Schrire sp. nov. Indigofera gariepensis Du Preez & Schrire sp. nov. Indigofera tanquana Du Preez & Schrire sp. nov. B. du Preez, B.D. Schrire, L.L. Dreyer, C.H. Stirton, S.B.M. Chimphango and A.M. Muasya. 2023. Four New Indigofera (Fabaceae: Indigofereae) Species from the Greater Cape Floristic Region. South African Journal of Botany. 162; 680-687. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2023.10.003 | ||||||
| 8:39a | [Botany • 2020] Sonerila calcicola (Melastomataceae: Sonerileae) • A New Karst dwelling Species from Northern Thailand
Summary Sonerila calcicola J.Wai & J.M.Hu, a new species discovered from the limestone karst area of Tak province, Northern Thailand is here described and illustrated. Photographs, illustration, distribution map and comparison with the morphologically similar species, S. parishii Stapf, are also provided. Sonerila calcicola differs from S. parishii in having stout, succulent stems with a denser indumentum, creamy or yellowish white anthers, smaller hypanthium and ovary. This new species is confined to limestone substrate. Key Words: Limestone flora, new taxon, Sonerileae, taxonomy
Sonerila calcicola J.Wai & J.M.Hu sp. nov. ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet ‘calcicola’ refers to the fact that this novelty appears to be restricted to limestone substrates. Jarearnsak Sae Wai and Jer-Ming Hu. 2020. Sonerila calcicola (Melastomataceae), A New Karst dwelling Species from Northern Thailand. Kew Bulletin. 75: 43. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-020-09901-8 | ||||||
| 8:59a | [Crustacea • 2018] Helice epicure • A New Species of Varunid Mud Crab (Brachyura: Decapoda: Grapsoidea: Varunidae) from the Ryukyus, Japan
Helice epicure, a new species of varunid crab, is described from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The new species in the genus Helice De Haan, 1833 can be distinguished from its congeners by morphological differences in the chelae and suborbital crenulation. The morphological differences between the new species and a sister clade (the H. latimera complex, including H. latimera Parisi, 1918, H. tientsinensis Rathbun, 1931 and H. formosensis Rathbun, 1931) are supported by mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) divergences. However, the phylogenetic relationship within the H. latimera complex is unresolved for the time being. Key words: Helice epicure, H. formosensis, New species, Varunidae, Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I.
 Helice epicure, sp. nov. Etymology: The species name ‘epicure’ is used here as a Latin noun, derived from ‘epikouros’, a noun in Greek for ‘food lover’ or a person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink; this alludes to the late Professor Michael Türkay, a food connoisseur, who strongly believed in eating well and working hard. ‘Epikouros’ in Latin is ‘Epicurus’, also the name of a famous ancient Greek philosopher, whose insistence that nothing should be believed except that which was tested through direct observation and logical deduction made him a key figure in the development of science and scientific methodology. Distribution: The new species is found in central to southern Ryukyus, including the islands of Amami-Ohshima, Okinawa, Kumejima, Ishigaki and Iriomote. Authors who recorded Helice from the Ryukyu Islands are almost certainly referring to the new species instead (Table 1), although we were not able to examine their material. Our sampling covered most of the Ryukyu Islands (from Amami to Iriomote), and all the specimens belong to the new species. Paratypes are designated to the specimens collected from Yaeyama Islands (including the islands of Ishigaki and Iriomote), as the other main localities, including the islands of Okinawa and Amami, are located relatively far from the type locality (> 300 km). Ngan Kee Ng, Tohru Naruse and Hsi-Te Shih. 2018. Helice epicure, A New Species of Varunid Mud Crab (Brachyura, Decapoda, Grapsoidea) from the Ryukyus, Japan. Zool Stud. 57:15. doi:10.6620/ZS.2018.57-15 http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/5 | ||||||
| 9:10a | [Botany • 2023] Oxytropis mandokhailii (Fabaceae) • A New Species from Zhob, Pakistan
Abstract A new species Oxytropis mandokhailii (Fabaceae) from Zhob distict of Pakistan is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by basally fused unequal stipules, heteromorphic leaves and very long stems. Key to Oxytropis species in Flora of Pakistan is amended to reflect the diagnostic characters of O. mandokhailii. Oxytropis mandokhailii N. Khan, A. Sultan et M. Rashid sp. nov. Diagnosis: The new species has affinities to Oxytropis margacea by its narrow leaflets, basally connate stipules and inflorescence longer than leaves, but differs by its heteromorphic, longer leaves. Oxytropis margacea has 3-5 cm long leaves while O. mandokhailii has 6-14 cm long leaves. The new species also has longer stems (20-110cm) while O. margacea has 15-20 cm long stems. Calyxin O. mandokhailii is black and white appressed pubescent, while calyx has white minute appressed hairs in O. margacea. The new species also has affinities to Oxytropis cabulica by its peduncle longer than leaves andcalyx with black and white appressed hairs, but differs by its connate stipules opposed to free stipules in O. cabulica, linear to lanceolate leaflets, longer stem up to110 cm long, versus oblong to elliptic leaflets and stem upto 30 cm long in O. cabulica. The new species also differs by its stipitate, unilocular, black and white pubescent legume opposed to subsessile partially bilocular, black pubescent legume in O. cabulica. Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan, Mahrine Rashid and Kamran Ishaq. 2023. Oxytropis mandokhailii (Fabaceae), A New Species from Zhob, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 55(1); DOI: 10.30848/PJB2023-1(26) | ||||||
| 2:30p | [Crustacea • 2024] Mycetomorpha abyssalis • A New parasitic Barnacle (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala: Mycetomorpha) from the Abyssal Zone in the northwestern Pacific
Abstract I describe the parasitic barnacle Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov. from the crangonid shrimp Sclerocrangon zenkevitchi collected from 3893–3890 m depth off the eastern coast of Iwate, Japan, northwestern Pacific. This is the first Mycetomorpha rhizocephalan from the abyssal zone and the third species in Mycetomorpha. Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov. differs from its congeners M. vancouverensis and M. albatrossi in (1) triangular shield lacking, (2) stalk one-quarter of length from posterior end of externa, (3) mantle opening clearly anterior to stalk, (4) different host genus, and (5) depth range much deeper. I determined partial sequences for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rRNA genes and nuclear 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes from M. abyssalis sp. nov. for future DNA barcoding and phylogeny. Kimura 2-parameter distances between M. abyssalis sp. nov. and M. vancouverensis were 21.2% (16S), 0.6% (18S), and 1.5% (28S). Key Words: Caridea, deep sea, integrative taxonomy, mesoparasite, parasite, turbo taxonomy
Family Mycetomorphidae Høeg & Rybakov, 1992 Genus Mycetomorpha Potts, 1912 Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov. New Japanese name: メイフノミノフクロムシ (Meifu-no-mino-fukuromushi) Etymology: The specific name abyssalis (Latin: abyssal) is an adjective referring to the collection of this species from an abyssal depth. Type host: Sclerocrangon zenkevitchi Birshtein & Vinogradov, 1953 (Decapoda: Caridea: Crangonidae). Keiichi Kakui. 2024. A New parasitic Barnacle (Crustacea, Cirripedia, Rhizocephala, Mycetomorpha) from the Abyssal Zone in the northwestern Pacific. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100(2): 385-390. DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.120887 | ||||||
| 2:31p | [Herpetology • 2024] Amolops yangi • A New Species of the Genus Amolops (Amphibia: Ranidae) and the first national record of Amolops vitreus from China
Abstract The torrent frogs of the genus Amolops represent a great anuran diversification in southern China and Southeast Asia. Previous studies have shown that, the diversity of this genus still remains underestimated. During herpetological surveys from 2021 to 2022, several Amolops specimens were collected from the international border regions of southwestern Yunnan Province, China. Herein, we utilized molecular phylogenetic and morphological data to identify these specimens. Our findings indicate the presence of a separate and previously unknown lineage in the A. viridimaculatus group, which we formally describe as a new species. Furthermore, the specimen from Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve clustered with A. vitreus from the paratype, supporting the morphological diagnosis. Therefore, we describe a new species and a new species record for China. Our study contributes to the species richness of the genus Amolops as well as the diversity of amphibians in China. Notably, our discovery brings the total number of Amolops species to 85 and the total number of torrent frog species known to occur in China to 53. In addition, our study further confirmed that Yunnan and Indochina Peninsula have similar faunal composition, implying that more studies are needed to achieve a complete understanding of the species diversity and distribution pattern. Key words: Amolops yangi sp. nov., Amolops vitreus, new species, new species record, Southwest border of China, Yunnan Province
Amolops yangi Wu, Yu, Lu, Yuan & Che, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Amolops yangi sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Amolops based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 46.3–51.8 mm in males and at least 51.5 mm in female); (2) vomerine teeth developed, on two short oblique between choanae, equal in distance from each other as to choanae; (3) supernumerary tubercles present at the base of each finger; (4) tympanum indistinct; (5) three metacarpal tubercles, inner metacarpal tubercle long, outer metacarpal tubercle relatively small, oval, median one rounded; (6) supratympanic fold indistinct; (7) discontinuous glandular dorsolateral fold from rear of eye to near vent; (8) circummarginal grooves present on tips of outer three fingers, absent on first finger; (9) iris distinctly bicolored, golden-yellow in upper one-fourth and reddish brown in lower three-fourths, black reticulations throughout; (10) rictal gland absent; (11) dorsal surface of the head, back, limbs, fingers, and toes green, interspersed with irregular black spots; (12) dorsal parts of limbs, fingers and toes with black crossbars; (13) vocal sac absent in males; (14) male with orange nuptial pad at the base of first finger. Etymology: The specific epithet “yangi” is a patronymic noun in the genitive singular; derived from the name of Prof. Da-Tong Yang of the Kunming Institute of Zoology, CAS, China. We acknowledge his great contributions to the herpetological research in southwestern China. We suggest the Chinese formal name as “杨氏湍蛙”. Yun-He Wu, Zhong-Bin Yu, Chen-Qi Lu, Yin-Peng Zhang, Wen-Jie Dong, Xiao-Long Liu, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Yun Xiong, Yun-Fang Jiang, Hong Ouyang, Zhong-Xiong Fu, Yun-Biao He, Zhi-Yong Yuan and Jing Che. 2024. A New Species of the Genus Amolops (Amphibia: Ranidae) and the first national record of Amolops vitreus from China. Vertebrate Zoology. 74: 343-357. DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e108013 | ||||||
| 3:00p | [Botany • 2024] Aeschynanthus wangii (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from Yunnan Province, China
Abstract Aeschynanthus wangii Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated here. The new species morphologically resembles A. angustioblongus W.T.Wang and A. stenosepalus J.Anthony, but is significantly different from them by having lanceolate leaves with long caudate apex, brownish yellow corolla with five dark red lines from the middle of corolla tube to the top of the lobes, and calyx lobes slightly fused into calyx tube (2–4 mm) at the base. Keyword: Aeschynanthus angustioblongus, Aeschynanthus stenosepalus, Flora of Yunnan, Taxonomy  
Aeschynanthus wangii Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding, sp. nov. 文采芒毛苣苔 Diagnosis: Aeschynanthus wangii resembles A.
angustioblongus W.T.Wang (in Wang 1975: 64) (Fig. 2B)
in having lanceolate leaves and solitary flower in leaf
axils, and also shares similar characteristics with A.
stenosepalus J.Anthony (in Anthony 1934: 191) (Fig. 2C)
in having lanceolate leaves with long caudate apex.
However, the new species can easily distinguished from
others by its leaves with long caudate apex (vs. obtuse in
A. angustioblongus), absence of peduncle (vs. 2.2–5(–7) cm long in A. stenosepalus), corolla brownish yellow
with five dark red lines from the middle of corolla tube to
the top of the lobes (vs. red, in A. angustioblongus and A.
stenosepalus) and calyx lobes slightly fused into calyx
tube (2–4 mm) at the base (vs. free to bottom, in A.
angustioblongus and A. stenosepalus). Etymology: The specific epithet wangii honors Prof. Wen Tsai Wang (W.T. Wang, 1926–2022), who made significant contributions to the Flora of China. Hong-Bo Ding, Jin-Chao Zhao, Xiao-Dong Zeng, Jian-Wu Li and Yun-Hong Tan. 2024. Aeschynanthus wangii (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Yunnan Province, China. Taiwania. 69(2); 133-137. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2024.69.133 | ||||||
| 3:03p | [Mammalogy • 2024] Spermophilus vorontsovi • Traditional Multilocus Phylogeny fails to fully resolve Palearctic Ground Squirrels Genus Spermophilus (Rodentia: Sciuridae: Marmotini) Relationships but reveals A New Species endemic to West Siberia
Highlights: • The first multi-locus and complete taxon sampling phylogeny of Palaearctic ground squirrels. • Four major clades diverged during the Late Miocene. • The main speciation events took place during the Calabrian stage of the Pleistocene. • A new species from West Siberia is discovered and described. Abstract Previous efforts to reconstruct evolutionary history of Palearctic ground squirrels within the genus Spermophilus have primarily relied on a single mitochondrial marker for phylogenetic data. In this study, we present the first phylogeny with comprehensive taxon sampling of Spermophilus via a conventional multilocus approach utilizing five mitochondrial and five nuclear markers. Through application of the multispecies coalescent model, we constructed a species tree revealing four distinct clades that diverged during the Late Miocene. These clades are 1) S. alaschanicus and S. dauricus from East Asia; 2) S. musicus and S. pygmaeus from East Europe and northwestern Central Asia; 3) the subgenus Colobotis found across Central Asia and its adjacent regions and encompassing S. brevicauda, S. erythrogenys, S. fulvus, S. major, S. pallidicauda, S. ralli, S. relictus, S. selevini, and S. vorontsovi sp. nov.; and 4) a Central/Eastern Europe and Asia Minor clade comprising S. citellus, S. taurensis, S. xanthoprymnus, S. suslicus, and S. odessanus. The latter clade lacked strong support owing to uncertainty of taxonomic placement of S. odessanus and S. suslicus. Resolving relationships within the subgenus Colobotis, which radiated rapidly, remains challenging likely because of incomplete lineage sorting and introgressive hybridization. Most of modern Spermophilus species diversified during the Early–Middle Pleistocene (2.2–1.0 million years ago). We propose a revised taxonomic classification for the genus Spermophilus by recognizing 18 species including a newly identified one (S. vorontsovi sp. nov.), which is found only in a limited area in the southeast of West Siberia. Employing genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping, we substantiated the role of the Ob River as a major barrier ensuring robust isolation of this taxon from S. erythrogenys. Despite its inherent limitations, the traditional multilocus approach remains a valuable tool for resolving relationships and can provide important insights into otherwise poorly understood groups. It is imperative to recognize that additional efforts are needed to definitively determine phylogenetic relationships between certain species of Palearctic ground squirrels. Keywords: Species tree, Riverine barrier, MIG-seq, Marmotini, North Eurasia   Spermophilus vorontsovi  Evgeniy Simonov, Natalia V. Lopatina, Sergey V. Titov, Anastasiya D. Ivanova, Oleg V. Brandler, Vadim L. Surin, Vera A. Matrosova, Alisa E. Dvilis, Nataliya V. Oreshkova, Svetlana Yu. Kapustina, Fedor N. Golenishchev and Oleg A. Ermakov. 2024. Traditional Multilocus Phylogeny fails to fully resolve Palearctic Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus) Relationships but reveals A New Species endemic to West Siberia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 195, 108057. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108057 |
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