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Monday, December 2nd, 2024
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| 4:02a | [Herpetology • 2024] Ophisops venustus • Notes on the Ophisops beddomei complex (Squamata: Lacertidae) with the description of a new allied cryptic species from western India
Abstract The lacertid Ophisops beddomei was considered to be widely distributed in the northern and central Western Ghats, and some parts of western India. Recent studies, however, provide evidence of it being a species complex that harbours several morphologically cryptic species. In an attempt to resolve this species complex, we provide a re-description of O. beddomei sensu stricto based on type specimens and fresh material from near the type locality. Additionally, we describe a new species based on a series of 15 specimens from the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in western India. The new species is allied to O. beddomei and can be diagnosed from all its congeners by the following suite of characters: a small-sized Ophisops (adult, SVL up to 36 mm); upper eyelid movable; supranasal fused with nasal; two frontonasals; prefrontals not in contact; enlarged tympanic scale present; 46–53 dorsal scales; 28–31 scales at mid-body; 19–21 lamellae underneath the fourth toe; six chin shields; 15–19 scales between symphysis of chin shields and ventral plates; large mental scale, extending beyond first supralabial; 8–11 femoral pores on either side interrupted by 0–1 poreless scales in males and 3–4 poreless scales in females; and subtle colour pattern differences. Molecular data for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene further supports the distinctiveness of the new species and shows an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 8% from O. beddomei sensu stricto. These are among the only lacertids that inhabit high-elevation plateaus and deciduous forests in the Western Ghats and surrounding hill ranges. The findings also indicate that many other similar habitats may harbour as yet undescribed endemic taxa. Key words : Endemic, hill ranges, Lacerta, plateau, Snake-eyed lizard, taxonomy   Ophisops venustus sp. nov. Etymology. The specific epithet ‘venustus’ is a Latin first/second-declension adjective in the nominative singular given in masculine, which means ‘charming / elegant / beautiful’ refers to its elegant body colouration in life. Suggested English name is charming lacerta or charming snake-eye.  Harshil Patel, Raju Vyas, Tejas Thackeray, Saunak Pal & Zeeshan A. Mirza. 2024. NOTES ON THE Ophisops beddomei COMPLEX (SQUAMATA: LACERTIDAE) WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW ALLIED CRYPTIC SPECIES FROM WESTERN INDIA. TAPROBANICA. 13(2); 69–81. www.taprobanica.org/Archives/Volume-9-14-2 | ||||||||||
| 8:26a | [Botany • 2018] Scaphosepalum tarantula (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) • A New Species from Ecuador
Abstract A new species, Scaphosepalum tarantula, is described. It is recognized by the medium-sized plants with grey-green leaves suffused with red-brown to purple stains at the petioles; densely fimbriated, red-brown to sanguine flowers, spiky tails of the lateral sepals and a dark sanguine, wingless lip. It is here compared to Scaphosepalum fimbriatum with which it shares similarities. Keywords: new species, Pichincha, Scaphosepalum fimbriatum, sympatric species
Scaphosepalum tarantula Baquero & Hirtz, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Species similar to Scaphosepalum fimbriatum, from which it differs by triangular osmophores of the lateral sepals instead of quadrilateral osmophores; the pandurate, dark sanguine lip, with a rhomboid epichile instead of an elliptical-subpandurate, three-lobed, purple lip; and the rhomboid petals versus the subquadrate, oblique petals of S. fimbriatum. Eponymy: Named for the large, hairy spiders of which this orchid flower is reminiscent because of the spiky tails of the sepals and dark color.
  Luis E. Baquero, Alexander Hirtz and Gabriel Iturralde. 2018. Scaphosepalum tarantula (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), A New Species from Ecuador. Lankesteriana: International Journal on Orchidology. 18(3); 231–237. DOI: doi.org/10.15517/lank.v18i3.35605 https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/lan   | ||||||||||
| 9:05a | [Botany • 2019] Scaphosepalum luannae (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) • A New Species, and S. anchoriferum from north-western Ecuador
Abstract A new species, Scaphosepalum luannae, is described, and new records for Scaphosepalum anchoriferum from Ecuador are presented. Scaphosepalum luannae is superficially similar to S. swertiifolium but its differs in the the dark green leaves, conspicuously nerved at the abaxial side and shiny at the adaxial side, the sub-quadrate petals with a basal lobe at the columnar margin and the lip with a truncate base without lobes with an oblong and flat hypochile. Scaphosepalum luannae and S. anchoriferum were discovered growing sympatrically in a poorly explored cloud forest from north-western Ecuador, near the border with Colombia. Key words: Ecuador; new species; Reserva Dracula; Scaphosepalum anchoriferum
Scaphosepalum luannae Baquero, sp. nov. TYPE: Ecuador. Carchi: between Chical y El Carmen, 0°54’42.5” N 78°12’48.7” W, 1750 m, collected by Luis Baquero on 8th of May 2016, LB 3121 (holotype, QCNE). Diagnosis: Scaphosepalum luannae is similar to S. swertiifolium but it differs in the smaller (7-10 vs. 8-21 cm long), dark green, reflective leaves (vs. light green, non-reflective) conspicuously nerved at the abaxial surface (vs. not conspicuously nerved); the shorter ramicauls (3.5-5.0 vs 4-10 cm long); the well-developed, subquadrate, reflexed osmophores of the lateral sepals (vs. transversely lunate, markedly divergent); the sub-quadrate petals with a callous lobe at the base of the columnar margin (vs. ovate, oblique, ecallose), the lip truncate at the base, elobulate (vs. provided wit minutely auricles); and the flat and oblong hipochile (vs. shallowly concave, more or less oblong in S. swertiifolium) (Fig. 3-4). Eponymy: This species is named in honor of Luanne Lemmer of Washington State, USA. Luanne, her husband Eric Veach, and their two sons, Malcolm and Nigel, are passionate supporters of conservation and have given important help to Rainforest Trust and EcoMinga for the establishment of the Dracula Orchid Reserve, which now protects this species. Luis E. Baquero. 2019. Scaphosepalum luannae, A New Species, and Scaphosepalum anchoriferum (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidianae) from north-western Ecuador. Lankesteriana. 19(3); DOI: doi.org/10.15517/lank.v19i3.39971 | ||||||||||
| 10:04a | [Botany • 2023] Lepanthes carrizosana (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) • A New Species from the Southwestern Andes in Colombia
Abstract A new species of Lepanthes from the southwestern Andes of Colombia is described, illustrated and compared with morphologically similar species. The new species was found in two localities in the municipality of San José del Salado, in the department of Valle del Cauca, where several new species have been found and described in the past several years. KEYWORDS: Colombia, Dagua, Lepanthes, ORCHIDACEAE, San José del Salado, sistemática, Valle del Cauca,
Lepanthes carrizosana Gal.-Tar., Zuluaga & J.S.Moreno, sp. nov. Lepanthes carrizosana is most similar to Lepanthes darioi Luer & R.Escobar. It can be distinguished by having a pubescent, obovate, bilaminate lip with cuneate connectives (vs. narrowly ovate lip and oblong connectives), and a small appendix with a pair of minute apical lobes that come from a slightly short pubescent, concave base (vs. broadly triangular appendix held directly below the stigma). Eponymy: The name of the new species honors Julio Carrizosa Umaña, a scientist, environmentalist and thinker with a great vision of the connection between environmental institutionalism and strategies aimed at sustainable development in Colombia. He was the Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies of the National University of Colombia from 1993 to 1998. He currently coordinates the Natural Parks Committee of the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical, and Natural Sciences. He has been designated a full member of the Colombian Society of Engineers, a full member of the Geographical Society of Colombia, vice president of the Colombian Society of Ecology in 1978, an honorary member of the Cartographic Society of Colombia and the Association of Fisheries Researchers, president of the Environment Committee of the Pan-American Institute of Geography and History between 1973 and 1976, and corresponding member of the Ecuadorian Institute of Natural Resources. Juan Sebastián Moreno, Robinson Galindo-Tarazona, and Alejandro Zuluaga Tróchez. 2023. Lepanthes carrizosana, A New Species of Lepanthes (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from the Southwestern Andes in Colombia. Harvard Papers in Botany. 28(1); 89-92. DOI: doi.org/10.3100/hpib.v28iss1.2023.n11 (30 June 2023) Se describe, ilustra y compara una nueva especie de Lepanthes del suroeste de los Andes occidentales de Colombia con especies morfológicamente similares. La especie nueva fue encontrada en el municipio de San José del Salado en el departamento del Valle del Cauca donde se han encontrado y descrito varias especies nuevas en los últimos años. Colombia, Dagua, Lepanthes, ORCHIDACEAE, San José del Salado, sistemática, Valle del Cauca  | ||||||||||
| 10:24a | [Ichthyology • 2024] Chromis abadhah • A New Species of Damselfish (Teleostei, Pomacentridae) from mesophotic coral ecosystems of the Maldives
Abstract A new species of Chromis (Teleostei, Pomacentridae) is described from four specimens collected between 95 and 110 m depth in mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Maldives, Indian Ocean. Chromis abadhah sp. nov. can be distinguished from all of its congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays XIII, 12–13; anal-fin rays II,11–12; pectoral-fin rays 17–18; tubed lateral-line scales 17; gill rakers 7+17–18 = 24–25; pearly white body with a large black marking covering the anterior two-thirds of the anal fin. The closest DNA barcode sequence (5.1% average uncorrected genetic distance on the mitochondrial COI gene), among those available, is Chromis woodsi, a similar mesophotic species known from the coastal western Indian Ocean (Somalia to South Africa). The new species is easily distinguished from C. woodsi by having 13 dorsal spines (versus 14 in C. woodsi), the absence of a black band on the base of the tail (present in C. woodsi), and by the genetic difference. Key words: COI, deep reefs, ichthyology, Indian Ocean, rebreather diving, taxonomy
Chromis abadhah sp. nov. Suggested Maldivian name: Abadhah Chromis Suggested English name: Perpetual Chromis Diagnosis: The following combination of characters distinguishes Chromis abadhah sp. nov. from all of its congeners: dorsal-fin rays XIII, 12–13; anal-fin rays II,11–12; pectoral-fin rays 17–18; tubed lateral-line scales 17; gill rakers 7+17–18 = 24–25; body pearly white; large black marking covering anterior two-thirds of anal fin; small black spot on upper edge of pectoral-fin base; no markings on caudal peduncle. Etymology: The work that led to the discovery of this species was funded by the Rolex Perpetual Planet initiative through a Rolex Award for Enterprises to LAR. To honor this initiative, we name this species “abadhah” (pronounced aa-BAH-duh), which means “perpetual” in Dhivehi, the local language of the Maldives. We also hope that this species and its habitat remain perpetual. To be treated as a noun in apposition. Luiz A. Rocha, Hudson T. Pinheiro, Ahmed Najeeb, Claudia R. Rocha and Bart Shepherd. 2024. Chromis abadhah (Teleostei, Pomacentridae), A New Species of Damselfish from mesophotic coral ecosystems of the Maldives. ZooKeys. 1219: 165-174. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1219.126777 | ||||||||||
| 3:14p | [Botany • 2024] Thismia perlisensis (Thismiaceae) • A New red-annulus Species of Thismia sect. Thismia from Peninsular Malaysia
Abstract A new species, Thismia perlisensis, found during a scientific expedition in the Perlis State Park, is described and illustrated. The new species was discovered in a wetland forest on a limestone foothill. Morphological description, photographic data including habitat, and a key to the species of the Thismia Sect. Thismia Subsect. Brunonithismia recorded from Malaysia are provided. The new species is easily distinguished from the similar species, T. arachnites, T. javanica, T. tentaculata, and T. kenyirensis by the prominent reddish dome-shaped annulus instead of ring-like with rim, deeply trilobed stigma with bifid and subulate lobes, and claviform apices of the inner tepals. Key words: THISMIACEAE, endemism, mycoheterotrophic plants, Perlis state, Peninsular Malaysia, plant diversity, Monocots
Thismia perlisensis Besi & Rusea sp. nov. Type:—MALAYSIA. Peninsular Malaysia: Perlis State, Perlis State Park, ca. 100 m elev., 4 October 2022, E.E. Besi, M.I. Mat Esa, S.H. Tan, D. Sandin & R. Go EDW136 (holotype UPM spirit collection). Diagnosis:—Thismia perlisensis can be easily distinguished from the Thismia arachnites Ridley (1905: 197) and Thismia javanica J.J.Sm. (1910: 32) by the blood-red, dome-shaped annulus (vs. ring-like with rim, orange annulus), prominent trilobed stigma with 1.8 mm long, bifid and subulate lobes (vs. ovate, truncate stigma), and claviform apices of appendages of the inner tepals (vs. subulate apices of appendages of the inner tepals). Etymology:—The specific epithet is named after Perlis State, the type locality of this species. Edward Entalai Besi, Qistina Anis Mad Jabar, Syamil Abd Rahman, Mohd Zulkifly Saad, Ag Shaffie Ag Ahmadni and Rusea Go. 2024. Thismia perlisensis (Thismiaceae), A New red-annulus Thismia Species from Peninsular Malaysia. Phytotaxa. 675(1); 1-10. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.675.1.1 [2024-12-02]  |
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