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Sunday, October 27th, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||||
| 12:49a | [Entomology • 2024] Parahirrius gen. nov., Guentheracris gen. nov. & Zvierckia gen. nov. • Revision of the polyphyletic Genus Hirrius Bolívar, 1887 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae), with Descriptions of Three New Genera and insights into antennal sensilla morphol
Abstract Discotettiginae were recently synonymized with Scelimeninae, but the polyphyletic genus Hirrius Bolívar, 1887, with five species endemic to the Philippines and Sulawesi, remained an unsolved issue. Besides similarly widened subapical antennomeres, head and pronotum, other traits suggest that Hirrius members belong to different subfamilies. The genus is now split into four genera, with four new species. Hirrius (Tetrigidae: incertae sedis) now includes three species, one of which is new, all endemic to Mindanao, the Philippines: H. punctatus (Stål 1877), H. mindanaensis (Günther, 1938), and H. ruber Skejo, Patano et Kasalo sp. nov. A lectotype is designated for H. punctatus, because the type series was found to contain two different species belonging to two different genera. Three new genera are described. Genus Parahirrius Skejo, Patano et Kasalo gen. nov. (Tetrigidae: incertae sedis) consists of P. parvus Skejo, Patano et Kasalo sp. nov. and P. amorosus Skejo, Patano et Kasalo sp. nov., both endemic to Mindanao. Genus Zvierckia Skejo, Tumbrinck et Pushkar gen. nov. (Scelimeninae: Discotettigini) includes Z. montana (Günther, 1937), comb. nov., Z. sarasinorum (Günther, 1937), comb nov., and Z. storozhenkoi Skejo et Tumbrinck sp. nov., all endemic to Sulawesi. Genus Guentheracris Skejo, Tumbrinck et Pushkar gen. nov. (Tetrigidae: “Asian Metrodorinae”) includes G. scrobiculata (Günther, 1937), comb. nov. from Sulawesi. Subapical antennomeres of Zvierckia storozhenkoi sp. nov. and Phaesticus mellerborgi (Stål, 1855) were scanned for the first time and compared to Discotettix belzebuth (Serville, 1838). Zvierckia gen. nov. and Discotettix Costa, 1864, both Scelimeninae: Discotettigini members, share many features of the antennal morphology, such as many basiconic sensilla on the antennal margins giving the ridge a saw-like impression. On the other hand, antennae of Phaesticus Uvarov, 1940 contain many elongated placoid sensilla, which are fully absent in the subapical widened segments of Zvierckia gen. nov. and Discotettix. Orthoptera, Scelimeninae, Metrodorinae, taxonomy, new taxa, new combinations, morphology, antennae, coeloconic field, basiconic sensilla, cuticular plates, elongated placoid sensilla          Josip Skejo, Martin Husemann, Romeo Patano Jr., Josef Tumbrinck, Taras I. Pushkar, Marko Pavlović, Alma Mohagan, Jan-Henrik Pamin and Niko Kasalo. 2024. Revision of the polyphyletic Genus Hirrius Bolívar, 1887 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae), with Descriptions of Three New Genera and insights into antennal sensilla morphology. Zootaxa. 5524(1); 1-61. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5524.1.1 facebook.com/100002189976563/posts/8434711626611753 x.com/KasaloNiko/status/1848408021120037046  | ||||||||
| 2:21p | [Botany • 2024] Begonia tamoiana (Begoniaceae) • A New Species from Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil
Abstract Begonia tamoiana is a new species endemic to Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, a biome rich in endemism and species diversity, and it is described and illustrated herein. Begonia tamoiana is morphologically similar to B. magdalenensis but differs in having abaxial leaf blades with simple trichomes throughout (vs. 2-branched trichomes throughout) and ovate wings capsule (vs. triangular). A description, ecological comments, illustrations, color photographs, and a provisional IUCN conservation assessment of this species are provided. Begonia tamoiana is preliminarily classified as Vulnerable (VU) due to its very small populations and restricted distribution. Atlantic Coastal Forest, conservation, endemism, taxonomy, Eudicots   Begonia tamoiana Eliane de Lima Jacques, Peter W. Moonlight and Alfredo José dos Santos Jr. 2024. Begonia tamoiana (Begoniaceae), A New Species from Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Phytotaxa. 669(2); 159-164. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.669.2.8  | ||||||||
| 4:03p | [Ichthyology • 2024] Microphysogobio punctatus • Redescription of Microphysogobio tungtingensis (Nichols, 1926) with the Description of A New Species of the Genus (Cypriniformes: Gobionidae) from southern China
Abstract Although Microphysogobio tungtingensis (Nichols, 1926) has been treated valid since it was described, its morphology remains vague, especially when comparing it with another similar species, M. elongatus (Yao & Yang, 1977). In this study, the types of both species were examined and also compared with several lots of specimens from a wide geographical range: there is no significant difference in morphology between them. Additionally, molecular evidence supported by mitochondrial gene sequence also showed low genetic distance in between. Thus, it is suggested that M. elongatus is a junior synonym of M. tungtingensis. While revising these two species, a new species, Microphysogobio punctatus sp. nov., was discovered that has a similar distribution with them both. However, it can be distinguished from its congeners by having a globular or oval shaped posterior air-bladder chamber which length 58.6%–82.8% of eye diameter; a narrow upper jaw cutting edge which less than half mouth width; a slender caudal peduncle with depth 34.6%–48.5% of length; and a six-branched-ray anal fin. This new species also has numerous small black spots on all fins which is also unique. The new species is morphologically and molecularly close to M. bicolor (Nichols, 1930). Key words: East Asia, freshwater fish, Gobionidae, morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy 
Microphysogobio punctatus sp. nov. Diagnosis: This new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: Posterior chamber of air-bladder small, globular or oval shaped, length 15.8%–26.4% of head length, and 58.6%–82.8% of eye diameter; upper jaw cutting-edge narrow, width less than half mouth width; caudal peduncle slender, depth 34.6%–48.5% of length; lateral-line scales 37–40 (mode 38, mean 39); circumpeduncular scales 12; branched anal-fin rays 6; midventral region of body scaleless only before pectoral-fin base end; all fins with numerous small black spots. Etymology: The new species name punctatus is derived from the Latin punctum, meaning spot. The name refers to the numerous black spots on its scales and fin rays. Suggested Chinese name for this species is “斑点小鳔鮈”. Zhi-Xian Sun, Wen-Qiao Tang, Ya-Hui Zhao. 2024. Redescription of Microphysogobio tungtingensis (Nichols, 1926) with the Description of A New Species of the Genus (Cypriniformes, Gobionidae) from southern China. ZooKeys. 1214: 161-186. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1214.127061  | ||||||||
| 4:03p | [Botany • 2024] Petrocodon paradelphinius (Gesneriaceae) • A New dazzling Species from the Limestone Area of Guangxi, China
Abstract Petrocodon paradelphinius F.Wen & W.C.Chou, a new species of Gesneriaceae from the limestone area of Guangxi, Southwest China, is described and illustrated here. This new species morphologically resembles P. fangianus (Y.G.Wei) J.M.Li & Yin Z.Wang, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by having peduncles and pedicels puberulent, corolla outside sparsely puberulent, shorter tube 18–20 mm long, orifice from throat to the interior smooth, without protuberances, and lacks nectar guides. The conservation status of P. paradelphinius can be assessed provisionally as Critically Endangered [CR B2b(ii, v) + C2(a, i)]. Keyword: Flora of Guangxi, Limestone flora, Lithophilous, new taxon, Petrocodon fangianus, Taxonomy
Petrocodon paradelphinius F.Wen & W.C.Chou, sp. nov. 飛燕石山苣苔 Diagnosis: Morphologically, Petrocodon paradelphinius F.Wen & W.C.Chou resembles P. fangianus (Y.G.Wei) J.M.Li & Yin Z.Wang in leaf blade coriaceous and shape elliptic to oblong, differs from the latter in peduncles and pedicels puberulent (vs. peduncles and pedicels puberulent and glandu-puberulent in P. fangianus, the order same as follows); corolla outside sparsely puberulent (vs. sparsely glandular puberulent), tube curved, 18–20 mm long (vs. straight, ca. 26 mm long), orifice from throat to the interior smooth, without protuberances, and lacks nectar guides (vs. orifice with two oblong, brown, glandular puberulous below the middle lobes of corolla); significant short style ca. 1.5 mm long (vs. ca. 26.5 mm long), and filaments adnate to corolla tube ca. 7 mm above the base (vs. adnate to corolla tube ca. 19 mm above the base). Etymology: The specific epithet 'paradelphinius' of this new species is composed of two parts. The prefix 'para-' is derived from the Greek 'παρά' (para), meaning 'beside, similar, or alike,' and it is often used to indicate that two plants have similar but not identical characteristics in plant nomenclature. The latter part '-delphinius' is derived from the genus, Delphinium Linn., and has been modified to a masculine form following the pattern of the genus, Petrocodon. This epithet indicates that the new species' slender corolla tube resembles the elongated spur of flowers in Delphinium. Additionally, the new species' spreading, larger corolla lobes, and bluish-purple hues make it reminiscent of flowers in Delphinium, hence the name 'paradelphinius'. Fang Wen and Wei-Chuen Chou. 2024. A New dazzling Species of Gesneriaceae, Petrocodon paradelphinius, from the Limestone Area of Guangxi, China. Taiwania. 69(4); 491-496. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2024.69.491 taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2028 | ||||||||
| 4:04p | [Herpetology • 2024] Gehyra corona • A New insular Species of Gehyra (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea closely related to Gehyra oceanica
Abstract The wide-ranging gecko Gehyra oceanica occupies numerous islands across much of the Pacific Ocean basin. Previous work has identified six divergent genetic lineages within lizards assigned to this species. During an expedition to islands off of northern New Guinea we collected lizards of this complex on Crown Island that differ from all other known Gehyra in being sexually dimorphic in colour pattern. We find this population to also be genetically divergent to the other lineages previously identified, as we do with another lineage of populations from nearby islands. Given the unique colour pattern of the Crown Island population, combined with its divergent range of precloacal-femoral pores in males and its phylogenetic uniqueness from other members of this complex, we describe this population as a new species, Gehyra corona sp. nov. currently known only from Crown Island, Papua New Guinea. The discovery of this new species and an additional divergent genetic lineage from within the G. oceanica complex highlights the need for further taxonomic revision of that species complex. It seems likely that the new species we identify will prove endemic to Crown Island, but additional islands from around the Bismarck Sea need survey to establish its full range. Given the undisturbed habitat on most of Crown Island and the low human population there, we suggest that this species’ IUCN Red List conservation status be Least Concern. Key words: Bismarck Volcanic Arc, Crown Island, dichromatism, endemism, gecko, sexual dimorphism, species complex
Gehyra corona sp. nov. Diagnosis: An intermediately sized (adult female SVL 75–88 mm, adult male 79–95 mm) species of Gehyra having entirely undivided subterminal lamellae on all toes; 16–19 T4 lamellae; 12–15 T1 lamellae; extensive webbing between all toes; 27–32 precloacal-femoral pores in a continuous row in males; small and subequal subcaudal scales; rounded tail lacking serrations; lateral, antecubital, and popliteal skin folds absent or weakly developed; and colour pattern sexually dimorphic, with males boldly maculated with dark brown dorsally (Fig. 3A) and females grey irregularly suffused with brown and with whitish or pale-grey dots on neck and head (Fig. 3B). Etymology: The species name is the Latin noun for ‘crown’, named for the sole island from which this species is named.
Ecology: The type series was collected active at night in disturbed low-elevation forest near (but not on) the coast (Fig. 6). All animals came from tree trunks, including on Pandanus (presumably P. tectorius) and Cocos nucifera. Fred Kraus, Varpu Vahtera and Valter Weijola. 2024. A New insular Species of Gehyra (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea closely related to Gehyra oceanica. Systematics and Biodiversity. 22(1); 2404829. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2024.2404829  |
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