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Sunday, August 4th, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||||||
| 2:42a | [Botany • 2024] Tragopogon pashtunianus (Asteraceae: Cichoreae) • A New Species from northern Balochistan, Pakistan
Abstract A new species Tragopogon is described and illustrated from Northern Balochistan, Pakistan. The new species, here described and illustrated, is found in area west of Zhob city along the Afghanistan border. It comes closest to T. leucanthus, but differs from it, beside other characters, in its narrower leaves, number of phyllaries and a shorter cypsela beak. We have amended the key to Tragopogon in the Flora Pakistan (Fasc. 222, IV) to include the new species.  Tragopogon pashtunianus N.Khan, A.Sultan & T.Khan sp. nov. Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan, Tahir Khan and Kamran Ishaq. 2024. A New Species of Tragopogon (Cichoreae: Asteraceae) from northern Balochistan, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 57(1): DOI: DO: doi.org/10.30848/PJB2025-1(12) | ||||||||||
| 5:33a | [Botany • 2023] Stylochaeton glaucophyllum & S. sekhukhuniense (Araceae: Aroideae) • Two New Species from South Africa
Abstract We are describing here Stylochaeton glaucophyllum and S. sekhukhuniense, two new species from northeastern South Africa. Both species have a restricted distribution and are endemic to the Sekhukhuneland Centre of Plant Endemism, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa. The new species occur sympatrically with S. natalense, but never with one another. Stylochaeton glaucophyllum prefers norite and pyroxenite hills and mountains, whereas S. sekhukhuniense is associated with similar rock types in low-lying rocky areas. Both new species have the base of the spadix and infructescence partly below-ground and are mainly associated with open savannah. Stylochaeton glaucophyllum can be distinguished from S. sekhukhuniense in having greenish blue leaves with linear lobes while S. sekhukhuniense has green leaves with elliptic lobes. The leaves of S. glaucophyllum are longer (112–332 mm) than those of S. sekhukhuniense (44–180 mm). The petiolar sheath of S. sekhukhuniense extends into two slender, curling ligulae which are absent in S. glaucophyllum. Also included here is a key to the seven currently accepted species of Stylochaeton in southern Africa (South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Mozambique). Key words: bushveld arum, endangered, geocarpy, Sekhukhuneland Centre of Endemism, serpentine, Stylochaetoneae,
taxonomy, ultramafic soil, Zamioculcadoideae  Stylochaeton glaucophyllum Struwig, S.J.Siebert & A.E.van Wyk, sp. nov. In habit approaching forms of S. borumense with sagittate leaf blades, but differs in the spadix having male and female flowers contiguous and the filaments not thickened (vs. male and female flowers separated by a zone of few to 10 sterile flowers and filaments thickened towards apex). Morphologically most similar to S. sekhukhuniense, differing in having a glabrous petiole (vs. scattered trichomes on petiole immediate distal to petiolar sheath); petiolar sheath not ligulate (vs. distinctly ligulate); leaf blade long, 112–332 mm (vs. shorter, 44–180 mm) with basal and apical lobes linear (vs. elliptic), greenish blue (vs. green); spadix protruding somewhat from spathe-tube (vs. entirely enclosed by spathe-tube). Etymology:—The specific epithet is a compound word derived from the Greek glaucos = greenish blue or seagreen, dull green, passing into greyish blue + phyllon = leaf (Stearn 1992). It refers to the greenish blue color of the leaves. The generic name is treated as neuter, as this is how it was originally published (Nicolson & Mayo 1984). The local vernacular name in English for S. natalense (Fig. 1) is “bushveld arum” and in Afrikaans bosveldvarkoor. As English and Afrikaans names for the new species we propose “blue bushveld arum” and bloubosveldvarkoor, respectively.
Stylochaeton sekhukhuniense Struwig, S.J.Siebert & A.E.van Wyk, sp. nov. In habit approaching forms of S. borumense with sagittate leaf blades, but differs in the spadix having male and female flowers contiguous and the filaments not thickened (vs. male and female flowers separated by a zone of few to 10 sterile flowers and filaments thickened towards apex). Morphologically most similar to S. glaucophyllum, differing in having scattered trichomes on petiole immediate distal to petiolar sheath (vs. glabrous); petiolar sheath distinctly ligulate (vs. not ligulate); leaf blade short, 44–180 mm (vs. longer, 112–332 mm) with basal and apical lobes elliptic (vs. linear), green (vs. greenish blue); spadix entirely enclosed by spathe-tube (vs. protruding somewhat from spathetube). Etymology:—The specific epithet “sekhukhuniense” refers to “Sekhukhuneland”, the geographical region to which the species is endemic. The region derives its name from that of the 19th century Bapedi king, Sekhukhune I [ca. 1814–1882] (Raper et al. 2014). As English and Afrikaans names for the new species we propose the name “Sekhukhune bushveld arum” and sekhukhunebosveldvarkoor respectively Madeleen Struwig, Precious T. Le Roux, Stefan J. Siebert, Abraham E. van Wyk. 2023. Two New Species of Stylochaeton (Araceae: Aroideae) from South Africa. Phytotaxa. 620(1); 1-17. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.620.1.1 news.nwu.ac.za/researchers-discover-two-n natural-sciences.nwu.ac.za/unit-environm | ||||||||||
| 6:12a | [Botany • 2024] Viola fuscopurpurea (Violaceae) • A New Species from Chongqing, China
Abstract Viola fuscopurpurea (Violaceae), a new species from Karst landform of Chongqing in China, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to V. fukienensis, but can be distinguished by nearly glabrous, shiny, adaxially purple blades (vs pubescent, adaxially green blades), brown seeds with conspicuous tubercles (versus yellow seeds with smooth surface), and hook-like nectaries (versus triangular nectaries), as well as by general habit. Our phylogenetic analysis, based on ITS sequences, confirms that the new species belongs to V. subsect. Rostratae, and is most closely related to V. fukienensis in the phylogeny. Keywords: morphology, phylogeny, sect. Viola, subsect. Rostratae
Viola fuscopurpurea S.R.Yi & Yan S.Huang sp. nov. Diagnosis: A species similar to V. fukienensis W. Becker, but differs in glabrous, shiny, adaxially brownish purple blades (versus pubescens, adaxial green blades), brown seeds with conspicuous tubercles (versus yellow seeds with smooth surface), and hook-like nectaries (versus triangular nectaries). Etymology: The epithet refers to the adaxially brownish purple blades of this species. Jingmin Dai, Si-Rong Yi, Yanshuang Huang, Hong-Jing Zhang and Qiang Fan. 2024. Viola fuscopurpurea (Violaceae), A New Species from Chongqing, China. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04364 | ||||||||||
| 6:37a | [Ichthyology • 2024] Re-description of Xyliphius barbatus (Siluriformes: Aspredinidae), with comments on Osteology and Distribution
Abstract The banjo catfish, Xyliphius barbatus, belongs to the Aspredinidae family and typically inhabits the main channels of medium to large rivers in the La Plata River basin. The mimetic coloration with the substrate and the benthic lifestyle likely contribute to the challenge of sampling this species, resulting in its underrepresentation in museums and ichthyological collections. In fact, the original description of X. barbatus was based solely on two specimens. Consequently, little is known about its osteology, distribution, and phylogenetic relations. In this work, these information gaps are filled and the distributional range for X. barbatus is extended to northwestern Argentina. Key Words: Banjo catfish, fossorial fishes, La Plata River basin, morphology, osteology
Xyliphius barbatus Alonso de Arámburu & Arámburu, 1962 Diagnosis: Xyliphius barbatus is distinguishable from the remaining species of genus by the following combination of characters: (1) seven to 11 retrorse dentations on posterior margin of pectoral-fin spine (vs. six in X. anachoretes and four or five in X. magdalenae); (2) 24 to 30 dendriform papillae on inferior lip (vs. 20–22 in X. magdalenae, 30 in X. sofiae, and 22 to 27 triangular papillae, with only the lateral ones branched in X. kryptos); (3) I,3 or I,4 dorsal-fin rays (vs. I,5 in X. lepturus and X. melanopterus); (4) absence of dorsal pale band from snout tip to caudal-fin origin (vs. presence in X. anachoretes, X. magdalenae and X. melanopterus); (5) absence of a latero-dorsal band following the second row of tubercles on anterior part of body (vs. present in X. magdalenae and X. melanopterus); (6) eyes present and reduced (vs. absent in X. sofiae); (7) five to eight anal-fin rays (vs. nine in X. lepturus). Guillermo E. Terán, Alejandro Méndez-López, Mauricio F. Benitez, Wilson S. Serra, Sergio Bogan and Gastón Aguilera. 2024. Re-description of Xyliphius barbatus (Siluriformes, Aspredinidae), with comments on Osteology and Distribution. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100(3): 1085-1097. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.121396 | ||||||||||
| 8:29a | [Botany • 2023] Morindopsis ashihoi (Rubiaceae: Octotropideae) • A New Species from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Summary During the most recent floristic surveys in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an interesting species of Rubiaceae was collected with features allied to representatives of the tribe Octotropideae. Initial identification showed that our material is characterised by having an inflorescence that is subtended by large boat-shaped floral bracts, a character that is unique to the genus Morindopsis. Interestingly, the genus is currently represented only by M. capillaris and after meticulous observation of our material and careful comparison with available herbarium sheets and the protologue, we found that our taxon showed a great disparity in various vegetative and reproductive features with M. capillaris. Thus we describe and illustrate a new species here — Morindopsis ashihoi, the second known species for the genus and a new record for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Key Words: Asia, endemic, Ixoroideae, taxonomy
 Morindopsis ashihoi M.C.Naik, L.J.Singh & Arriola sp. nov. Mudavath Chennakesavulu Naik, Lal Ji Singh, Sally Dawson and Axel Arriola. 2023. Morindopsis ashihoi (Octotropideae; Rubiaceae), A New Species from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Kew Bulletin. 78; 375–380. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12225-023-10097-w | ||||||||||
| 8:46a | [Paleontology • 2024] Shishania aculeata • A Cambrian spiny stem mollusk and the deep homology of lophotrochozoan scleritomes
Abstract Mollusks encompass enormous disparity, including familiar clams and snails alongside less familiar aculiferans (chitons and vermiform aplacophorans) with complex multicomponent skeletons. Paleozoic fossils trace crown mollusks to forms exhibiting a combination of biomineralized shells and sclerites (e.g., scales, spines, and spicules). We describe a shell-less, Cambrian stem mollusk, Shishania aculeata gen. et sp. nov., with conical, hollow chitinous sclerites and a smooth girdle, broad foot, and mantle cavity. The sclerites have a microstructure of narrow canals consistent with the impressions of chaetal microvilli found in annelids and brachiopods. Shishania sclerites provide a morphological stepping stone between typical chaetae (chitinous bristles) and the external organic part of aculiferan sclerites that encloses a mineralized body. This discovery reinforces a common origin of lophotrochozoan chaetae and the biomineralized aculiferan sclerites, suggesting that the mollusk ancestor was densely covered with hollow chitinous chaetae.
Shishania aculeata gen. et sp. nov. Guangxu Zhang, Luke A. Parry, Jakob Vinther and Xiaoya Ma. 2024. A Cambrian spiny stem mollusk and the deep homology of lophotrochozoan scleritomes. Science. 385(6708); 528-532 Half a billion-year-old spiny slug reveals the origins of molluscs x.com/OxUniEarthSci/status/1819281981483 Editor’s summary: Mollusca is one of the most diverse extant phyla, with forms varying widely from bivalves such as clams to snaily gastropods and highly complex cephalopods such as octopuses. Zhang et al. describe a new fossil, Shishania aculeata, from the Cambrian Period that displays basal molluscan traits, such as a foot and mantle, as well as traits that are more characteristic of other members of their superphylum, Lophotrochozoa. The authors place this taxon as a stem mollusk covered in sclerites, suggesting that it was intermediate in form between members of Lophotrochozoa and the soon to develop and diversify crown mollusks. —Sacha Vignieri | ||||||||||
| 11:00a | [Ornithology • 2024] Oceanites barrosi • Resolving the Conflictive Phylogenetic Relationships of Oceanites (Procellariiformes: Oceanitidae) with the Description of A New Species
Abstract The family Oceanitidae, formerly considered a subfamily of Hydrobatidae, includes all the small storm-petrels of the southern hemisphere. The ancestor-descendent relationships and evolutionary history of one of its genera, Oceanites, have been partially studied, yielding contrasting results. We revised the phylogenetic relationships of this group using Bayesian inference (BI) based on new sequence data of the mitochondrial gene Cytb and linear morphological measurements of all species and five subspecies-level taxa in Oceanites, including a new taxon from the Chilean Andes. Our BI results show that the Oceanites genus is monophyletic and composed of four well-supported clades (posterior probability > 0.95): (1) chilensis; (2) exasperatus; (3) gracilis, pincoyae, and barrosi sp. nov.; and (4) oceanicus and galapagoensis. The species O. chilensis is a basal clade within Oceanites. According to our time-calibrated tree, the split between Oceanites and the other genera in Family Oceanitidae is estimated to be ~35.9 Mya, and the oldest divergence within Oceanites (the split between O. chilensis and other Oceanites) was dated to the early Miocene, around c. 21.3 Mya. The most probable geographic origin of Oceanites is the Southern Ocean. The morphological data suggest continuous size variation between Oceanites taxa, ranging from smallest in gracilis to largest in exasperatus. Based on our phylogenetic hypothesis, and morphological analyses, we suggest elevating to species status the taxa galapagoensis, chilensis, and exasperatus, and we describe a new taxon barrosi sp. nov., thus recognizing a total of seven species within the genus Oceanites. Aves, evolution, storm-petrels, systematics, taxonomy
Oceanites barrosi sp. nov. Andean Storm-Petrel golondrina de mar andina (Chilean name) Diagnosis: Typical Oceanites structure with (1) small size (Table S3) with short rounded wings, notably short inner wing, and broadly rounded “hand” compared to Hydrobatidae. Oceanites barrosi sp. nov. wing is, on average, larger than in O. chilensis but smaller than in O. pincoyae. At the same time, its tail and tarsus measurements are smaller than in O. chilensis and larger than in O. pincoyae (Table S3). Noticeably smaller than O. exasperatus and somewhat smaller than O. oceanicus mainly in wing and tail length (Table S3). (2) restricted white tips on the belly, never as extensive as in O. galapagoensis, O. gracilis, or O. pincoyae, but typically not dark-bellied like O. chilensis, O. oceanites, and O. exasperatus. (3) Bold double pale line on underwing due to pale tipping on...  Etymology: The chosen scientific name barrosi refers to Rafael Barros Valenzuela (1890–1972) a Chilean ornithologist who first recorded specimens of Oceanites around the Andean mountains of Aconcagua, Chile. rafael Barros was one of the most prolific ornithologists in Chile during the 20th century, and we name this species in recognition of his work. The holotype specimen was collected by him (lACM 25182) on 7 April 1924. English name: We propose the name Andean Storm-Petrel due to its unique breeding area. Although a nest has not yet been found, the Andean Storm-Petrel is seen going in and out of high elevation areas during the breeding season, and many recently fledged juveniles have been found in elevations above the city of Santiago (Barros 2017).
  Heraldo V. Norambuena, Rodrigo Barros, Álvaro Jaramillo, Fernando Medrano, Chris Gaskin, Tania King, Karen Baird, Cristián E. Hernádez. 2024. Resolving the Conflictive Phylogenetic Relationships of Oceanites (Oceanitidae: Procellariiformes) with the Description of A New Species. Zootaxa. 5486(4); 451-475. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5486.4.1  | ||||||||||
| 3:59p | [Botany • 2018] Utricularia sunilii (Lentibulariaceae) • A striking New Species from southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India
Abstract Utricularia sunilii, a new species of Utricularia Sect. Oligocista from Kerala state of Western Ghats is described here. The new species shows similarities with U. graminifolia in having 3-nerved foliar organs and thickened capsule wall along the margin of dehiscence but differs by deeply 3-lobed lower lip of corolla. Keywords: Nelliyampathy, New taxon, Palakkad, Utricularia, Eudicots    Utricularia sunilii Naveen Kum. & K.M.P.Kumar, sp. nov. Vannaratta Veettil Naveen Kumar, Konickal Mambetta Prabhukumar, Raveendran Jagadeesan, Cheruppoyilath Mana Harinarayanan, Maya C. Nair, Malapati K. Janarthanam and Indira Balachandran. 2018. Utricularia sunilii (Lentibulariaceae), A striking New Species from southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Phytotaxa. 371(2):140. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.371.2.9  |
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