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Thursday, October 3rd, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 12:12a | [Botany • 2024] Euphorbia zhongiana (Euphorbiaceae, subgenus Esula) • A New Species from Danxia Landform Areas in Zhejiang Province, Eastern China
Abstract Euphorbia zhongiana (Euphorbiaceae), from Zhejiang Province, eastern China, is described and illustrated as a new species. It is morphologically similar to E. fauriei, however, differs in its winter green habit, whole plant being glabrous; cyathophylls 2, broadly ovate, yellow-greenish; involucre 2.5–3.0 × 2.5–3.0 mm; the surface of ovary usually smooth, rare sparsely microtuberous; styles connate at middle towards base; apex slightly 2–lobed; capsules smooth without tuberculate or conical verrucae, rare sparsely and inconspicuously rugose; seed coat with reticulate wrinkle. Euphorbia zhongiana, new species, morphological characters, phylogenetics analysis, Eastern China, Eudicots Jun-Ping LI, Pan XU, Feng CHEN, Jin-Bao PU, Wen-Yuan XIE, Jun-Feng WANG, Jian-Sheng WANG, Hua-Min ZHU, Zheng-Hai CHEN and Wei-Qing LIANG. 2024. Euphorbia zhongiana (Euphorbia section Helioscopia, subgenus Esula, Euphorbiaceae), A New Species from Danxia Landform Areas in Zhejiang Province, Eastern China. Phytotaxa. 665(2); 96-108. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.665.2.2 | ||||||
| 2:36a | [Herpetology • 2024] Oreolalax adelphos • A New Oreolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from the Hoang Lien Range, northwest Vietnam
Abstract The megophryid genus Oreolalax is comprised of 19 species, most of which are endemic to China. A single species, Oreolalax sterlingae, is the only member of the genus known from Vietnam. During fieldwork on Mount Po Ma Lung in the Hoang Lien Range of northwest Vietnam, we encountered individuals of both Oreolalax sterlingae and another, morphologically divergent species of Oreolalax. Analyses of morphological and molecular data reveal that these individuals represent a previously undescribed species of Oreolalax which we describe as new to science. The new species, Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov., is sister to Oreolalax xiangchengensis and can be diagnosed from all other congeneric species by the combination of the following characters: (1) SVL of adult male 38.0 mm, N=1; adult female 46.2 mm, N=1; (2) narrow supratympanic fold; (3) no visible tympanum; (4) head longer than wide; (5) vocal sac absent; (6) absence of subarticular tubercles on hands; (7) basal interdigital webbing on hind feet; (8) ventral surface mottled with grey and creamy white; (9) dorsal surface of head and body covered in rounded, evenly spaced and similar sized tubercles; (10) presence of dark bars on limbs; (11) greyish white and creamy white spots on the flanks, and (12) a bicoloured iris. Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov. is only known from a single site of high elevation bamboo forest, where it is sympatric with Oreolalax sterlingae. Both Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov. and O. sterlingae are almost certain to occur in neighbouring Jinping County in Yunnan Province, China. The new species of Oreolalax likely qualifies for being assessed as Data Deficient in accordance with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categories and criteria. Amphibian, China, Leptobrachiinae, Po Ma Lung, taxonomy  Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov. Luan Thanh Nguyen, Benjamin Tapley, Daniel Kane, Tuyet-Dzung Thi Tran, Jiaxin Cui and Rowley J. L. Rowley. 2024. A New Oreolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from the Hoang Lien Range, northwest Vietnam. Zootaxa. 5514(6); 501-524. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5514.6.1 | ||||||
| 3:09a | [Herpetology • 2024] Noblella arutam • A New Species of Frog of the Genus Noblella Barbour, 1930 (Amphibia: Strabomantidae) from the Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador
Abstract We describe a new species of leaflitter frog of the genus Noblella from southern Ecuador, province of Zamora Chinchipe. The new species is diagnosed from all its congeners by having one or two tubercles on the upper eyelids; distal phalanges strongly T-shaped; phalangeal formula on hands 2-2-3-3; phalangeal formula on feet 2-2-3-4-3; heel with a small subconical tubercle; disc on all toes with papillae; dorsum brown or brown with gray, with V-shaped inverted or scattered irregular darker marks. We include a detailed description of its osteology and a study of its phylogenetic relationships. Finally, we evaluate its conservation status and discuss the threats that are currently impacting at the type locality.
Noblella arutam new species Proposed standard English name. Arutam Leaflitter Frog Proposed standard Spanish name. Rana de Hojarasca de Arutam Definition. Noblella arutam sp. nov. (Figure 4–7) differs from its congeners by the following characteristics: (1) skin of dorsum shagreen, with scattered low tubercles more evident on flanks; skin on venter smooth, discoidal fold present, thoracic fold slightly defined; (2) tympanic annulus and membrane defined and visible externally, supratympanic fold slightly defined; (3) snout subacuminate in dorsal view, rounded in lateral view; (4) upper eyelids bearing one or two inconspicuous tubercles; (5) vomerine teeth absent; (6) vocal slits and external vocal sac present, nuptial pads absent; (7) fingers not expanded distally, finger tips acuminate more evident on Finger III, papilla ... Diagnosis. Noblella arutam sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from all other species currently assigned to Noblella by the following combination of characters: upper eyelids bearing one or two inconspicuous tubercles, distal phalanges strongly T-shaped, phalangeal formula on hands 2-2-3-3, phalangeal formula on feet 2-2-3-4-3, heel with a small subconical tubercle, disc on all toes with papillae, more evident in toes II–IV and dorsum light brown, light brown with gray or dark brown, with V-shaped inverted or scattered irregular darker marks. Similar to the new species, N. naturetrekii and N. personina (Harvey et al., 2013) occur in the eastern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador. Noblella arutam sp. nov. differs from N. naturetrekii (characters in parentheses) by the presence of three ... Etymology. Noblella arutam sp. nov. is named in reference to Arútam, the spiritual entity symbolizing divine power in the world of the Shuar. The Shuar people are native to western Amazonia, spanning Ecuador and Peru. Several Shuar communities reside in the Cordillera del Cóndor and its immediate surroundings, where this new frog species also inhabits. Arútam is believed to dwell in waterfalls, rivers, mountains, rocks, trees, and certain plants and animals (Delgado, 1986; Pellizzaro, 2005). This deep association highlights the profound connection between nature and the Shuar people. Through this name, we pay tribute to the Shuar people living near the type locality of Noblella arutam sp. nov., their ancestral lands and culture, acknowledging their tireless efforts and commitment to nature protection. David Brito-Zapata, Juan D. Chávez-Reyes, Matheo David Pallo-Robles, Julio C. Carrión-Olmedo, Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia and Carolina Reyes-Puig. 2024. A New Species of Frog of the Genus Noblella Barbour, 1930 (Amphibia: Strabomantidae) from the Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador. PeerJ. 12:e17939. DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17939 | ||||||
| 9:43a | [Ichthyology • 2024] Ophisternon berlini • A New Endogean, Dwarf, and Troglomorphic Species of Swamp Eel of the Genus Ophisternon (Synbranchiformes: Synbranchidae) from Costa Rica: Evidence from Comparative Mitogenomic and Anatomical Data
A new highly troglomorphic and diminutive swamp eel inhabiting muddy subsoil in remnants of a tropical rainforest in the Caribbean versant of Costa Rica is described. Comparative anatomical and mitogenomic data support the distinctiveness of the new species and its placement in the genus Ophisternon. The new species is unique among Neotropical congeners in having: 1) a greatly elevated number of precaudal vertebrae, 2) proportionally longer and larger premaxillary, dentary, palatine, and ectopterygoid teeth, 3) palatine and ectopterygoid teeth in a single row, and 4) a small, narrow, and crescent-shaped gill membrane opening. A novel phylogenetic hypothesis of synbranchid relationships proposed herein, derived from comparative mitogenomic data, adds to a body of evidence demonstrating that Ophisternon is not monophyletic (with respect to Synbranchus). This phylogeny, however, strongly supports the monophyly of Neotropical Ophisternon, with the new species resolved as sister to a clade consisting of Ophisternon infernale + Ophisternon aenigmaticum. A pattern of northwestern lineage dispersal and cladogenesis within the Neotropical clade of Ophisternon after its divergence from Synbranchus is inferred from our phylogenetic results and present-day species distributions. Our findings also reinforce the notion that the classification of synbranchid fishes is in dire need of a systematic and comprehensive revision, particularly with respect to the limits and composition of the genera with presence in the Neotropics.
Ophisternon berlini, new species Berlin’s Bloodworm Eel Diagnosis.— Ophisternon berlini is assigned to the genus Ophisternon by having a pectoral girdle connected to the skull by a forked posttemporal joining the supracleithrum at the level of the third vertebra vs. posteriorly displaced to the level of the fifth vertebra with posttemporal reduced to a simple rod and disconnected from the supracleithrum in Synbranchus (Fig. 4) and a branchiostegal membrane opening slit-like vs. small pore-like in Synbranchus (Fig. 5). Ophisternon berlini is unique among its Neotropical congeners in having: 1) an elevated number of precaudal vertebrae: ∼100 vs. ... Etymology.— The specific epithet (a noun in the genitive case) is a patronym honoring Mr. Erick Berlin, a strong supporter of conservation and scientific research of Costa Rican biodiversity, discoverer of the population of swamp eel herein formally described, and owner of La Brisas, a private nature reserve that contains the type locality of the new species. Jairo Arroyave; Arturo Angulo; Adán Fernando Mar-Silva and Melanie L. J. Stiassny. 2024. A New Endogean, Dwarf, and Troglomorphic Species of Swamp Eel of the Genus Ophisternon (Synbranchiformes: Synbranchidae) from Costa Rica: Evidence from Comparative Mitogenomic and Anatomical Data. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 112(3); 375–390. DOI:  | ||||||
| 11:07p | [Ichthyology • 2024] Opsariichthys iridescens • A New Species of Opsariichthys (Cypriniformes: Xenocyprididae) from Southeast China
Abstract Opsariichthys iridescens sp. nov. is described from the Qiantang and Oujiang rivers in Zhejiang Province and a tributary of the Yangtze River adjacent to the Qiantang River. It is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of morphological features: no obvious anterior notch on the tip of the upper lip; 45–52 lateral-line scales; 18–21 pre-dorsal scales; two rows of pharyngeal teeth; a maxillary extending to or slightly beyond the vertical anterior margin of the orbit in adult males; a pectoral fin extending to the pelvic fin in adult males; nuptial tubercles on the cheeks and lower jaw of males, which are usually united basally to form a plate; uniform narrow pale pink cross-bars on trunk and two widening significantly on caudal peduncle. Its validity was also supported by its distinct Cyt b gene sequence divergence from all congeners and its monophyly recovered in a Cyt b gene-based phylogenetic analysis. Key words: Cytochrome b, morphology, opsariichthine, phylogenetic analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), taxonomy Family Xenocyprididae Günther 1868 Genus Opsariichthys Bleeker, 1863
Opsariichthys iridescens Peng, Zhou & Yang, sp. nov. Diagnosis: The new species, Opsariichthys iridescens sp. nov. can be clearly distinguished from its two sympatric congeners in the Qiantang River and nearby geographic regions (Tables 3, 4). It can be distinguished from O. evolans by the following features: (1) lateral-line scales 45–52 (vs 42–45); (2) scales above lateral-line nine or ten (vs 8); (3) pre-dorsal scales 18–21 (vs 15–17); (4) two rows of pharyngeal teeth (vs 3 rows); (5) maxillary extending to or slightly beyond the vertical of anterior margin of orbit in adult male (vs never extending to the vertical of anterior margin of orbit); (6) pectoral fin extending to pelvic fin in adult male (vs extending far beyond origin of ventral fin); (7) almost uniform narrow pale cross-bars on trunk and widening significantly on caudal peduncle (vs gradually widened, Fig. 3E, F); (8) lower jaw with one row of large tubercles usually united basally to form a plate in male (vs 1 row of moderate tubercles well separated). The new species can be clearly distinguished from O. bidens by the following features: (1) absence of distinct anterior notch on upper lip (vs presence of conspicuous anterior notch on upper lip); (2) two rows of pharyngeal teeth (vs 3 rows); (3) maxillary extending to or slightly beyond the vertical of anterior margin of ... Etymology: Iridescens is the Latin form of the word iridescent. Here, it refers to the unique body color, which is brighter than that of any known species in the genus. In this study, we propose the Chinese common name Hóng Cǎi Mǎ Kǒu Yú (虹彩马口鱼).
Xin Peng, Jia-Jun Zhou, Hong-Di Gao and Jin-Quan Yang. 2024. A New Species of Opsariichthys (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Xenocyprididae) from Southeast China. ZooKeys. 1214: 15-34. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1214.127532 |
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