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Monday, September 9th, 2024
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| 2:17a | [Herpetology • 2024] Ahaetulla longirostris • A New Long-snouted Vine Snake Species in the Genus Ahaetulla Link, 1807 (Serpentes: Colubridae: Chrysopeleinae) from India
Abstract A new species of long-snouted arboreal snake of the genus Ahaetulla Link, 1807, is described from the Indian states of Bihar and Meghalaya. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using three mitochondrial genes recovered the new species as a member of the A. fusca clade and as a sister the species to A. laudankia. The new species differs from its congeners in bearing an elongate rostral appendage, green or ochre dorsum, orange-brown belly, and moderately keeled vertebral dorsal scale row. This description of a new reptile species highlights the need for systematic documentation of biodiversity in the region. Keywords: Bihar, Himalayas, Meghalaya, phylogeny, taxonomy, synonymy
 Ahaetulla longirostris sp. nov. Diagnosis. A medium sized Ahaetulla with maximum TL 1,275 mm having the combination of a long dermal appendage; 193–207 ventrals, 139–163 subcaudals; dorsal scale reduction from 15 to 13 rows that occurs between 145–147 ventrals; dorsal scales of the vertebral and adjacent row on each side moderately keeled; dorsum bright green or ochre-brown throughout with a yellow hue on the lateral and ventral aspect of the head, a yellowish-white lateral stripe running the entire length of the snake from the neck; and venter bright orangish brown with a pair of pale longitudinal stripes. Etymology. The specific epithet is taken from longus (L.) for long and rostrum (L.) for snout in reference to the very long rostral appendage. Zeeshan A. Mirza, Soham Pattekar, Sourabh Verma, Bryan L. Stuart, Jayaditya Purkayastha, Pratyush P. Mohapatra and Harshil Patel. 2024. A New Long-snouted Vine Snake Species in the Genus Ahaetulla Link, 1807 (Colubridae: Chrysopeleinae) from India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2024.04.017 | ||||||
| 9:45a | [Entomology • 2024] Gasteruption mamburrumurl • A New Species of Gasteruption (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae) with A Host Association from Northern Australia
Abstract Here we describe the distinctive new species Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov. from Leliyn (Edith Falls), Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia and document a host association with the native resin bee, Megachile micrerythrura Cockerell, 1910 (Megachilidae: Apoidea). The common name for the species is the "Mam-Burrumurl wasp".
Taxonomy Gasteruptiidae Ashmead, 1900 Gasteruptiinae Ashmead, 1900 Gasteruption Latreille, 1796 Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov. Diagnosis. Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov. is a distinctive species that is easily distinguished from other described Australian species based on the combination of body colouration; head and metasoma black, mesosoma reddish-brown, metatibia without cream patch, and areolate-rugulose sculpturing on the mesoscutum. Distribution. The species is known only from the holotype locality at Leliyn (Edith falls), Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. Etymology. In collaboration with First Nations elders and custodians of the Country in which this species was discovered, the species epithet mamburrumurl is derived from the Jawoyn language, combining the words mam meaning 'ghost' and burrumurl meaning 'wasp.' This name describes the distinctive floating searching flight pattern exhibited by these wasps. Hence, this species is commonly referred to as the “Mam-Burrumurl wasp”. Ben A. Parslow, Nicholas J. Volpe and Lucyna I. Kania. 2024. A New Species of Gasteruption (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae) with A Host Association from Northern Australia. Australian Journal of Taxonomy. 70: 1–7. DOI: doi.org/10.54102/ajt.byysx www.taxonomyaustralia.org.au/ajt/papers/j |
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