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Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||||
| 2:04a | [Herpetology • 2022] Achalinus ningshanensis • A New Species of the Genus Achalinus (Serpentes: Xenodermidae) from Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China
Abstract A new species of odd-scaled snake in the genus Achalinus is described from Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China, based on seven female specimens. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) dorsum iridescent and uniformly dark brown in preservative, longitudinal vertebral line absent; (2) light brown beneath; (3) dotted black streak in the middle of the subcaudals absent; (4) tail length relatively short, TaL/ToL 12–16%, in females; (5) fewer subcaudals, 41–46 in females; (6) dorsal scales 23 rows throughout, strongly keeled; the outer-most rows on both sides are also keeled and slightly enlarged; (7) one loreal; (8) internasal not fused to prefrontal; (9) suture between internasals is similar in size when compared to the suture between prefrontals; (10) preocular and postocular absent; (11) 6 supralabials; (12) 5 infralabials, the first 3 (rarely 2) touching the first pair of chin shields; (13) 3 pairs of chin shields. A phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1), showed that this new species forms a monophyletic group with strong support. In addition, the uncorrected p-distances between the new species and other known congeners ranged from 3.4% to 13.0%. The recognition of the new species increases the number of described Achalinus species to 21. Reptilia, Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov., Ningshan County, morphology, molecular phylogeny, taxonomy
Achalinus ningshanensis Yang, Huang, Jiang, Burbrink and Huang, 2022 Ningshan odd-scaled Snake Níng Shǎn Jǐ Shé Zhǐ Míng Yà Zhǒng (宁陕脊蛇指名亚种) Yang, D.C.; Huang, R.Y.; Jiang, K.; Burbrink, F.T.; Gong, Y.A.; Yu, J.; Zhang, Y.; Huang, T.Q.; Huang, S. 2022. A New Species of the Genus Achalinus (Squamata: Xenodermidae) from Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China. Zootaxa.5190(1); 127–140. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5190.1.5 Yuhao Xu, Shun Ma, Bo Cai, Diancheng Yang, Tianyou Zhang,Tianxuan Gu,Fengcheng Zhu,Song Huang and Lifang Peng. 2024. Taxonomic Revision of Ningshan Odd-Scaled Snake, Achalinus ningshanensis (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with Description of a New Subspecies from Western China. Animals. 14(23); 3425. DOI: doi.org/10.3390/ani14233425 | ||||||||
| 7:07a | [PaleoIchthyology • 2022] Langlieria smalingi • Second Species of Langlieria (Sarcopterygii: Tristichopteridae) from the Upper Devonian Catskill Formation of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., and A New Phylogenetic Consideration of Tristichopteridae
Abstract A new species of Langlieria is described from the Upper Devonian (Frasnian) Irish Valley Member of the Catskill Formation. The type material was collected from a road cut exposure on the north side of the westbound lanes of Pennsylvania Route 322 west of Port Matilda, Centre County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The new species of Langlieria, the second from the Catskill Formation, is represented by high quality cranial material including parietal and postparietal shields, cheek, principal gular, and lower jaw; fin material; and body scales. The new species is the fourth tristichopterid to be described from the Catskill Formation (after Hyneria lindae, Langlieria radiatus, and Eusthenodon bourdoni) and the first from the Irish Valley Member. It is also the first species of Langlieria with a known record in the Frasnian. Sedimentological and stratigraphic data suggest that the discovery site represents a distal, tide-dominated location within the Catskill Delta system with a greater marine influence than has been reconstructed for the previously described Catskill Formation tristichopterids. A new phylogenetic analysis of Tristichopteridae is presented that is the first to include the new species of Langlieria described here and E. bourdoni from the Cogan House Exit Ramp locality (Famennian, Duncannon Member) along U.S. Route 15/Interstate 99. The 50% majority-rule consensus tree from the analysis supports a highly-nested clade of tristichopterids that includes all of the considered species from the Famennian, with the exception of Heddleichthys dalgleisiensis, and additionally includes the Frasnian Langlieria species that is described here.    Langlieria smalingi Jason P. Downs and Edward B. Daeschler. 2022. Second Species of Langlieria (Tristichopteridae, Sarcopterygii) from the Upper Devonian Catskill Formation of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., and A New Phylogenetic Consideration of Tristichopteridae. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 167(1); 241-260. DOI: 10.1635/053.167.0115 NEW SPECIES OF ANCIENT FISH DISCOVERED ALONG PENNSYLVANIA ROADSIDE | ||||||||
| 3:05p | [Ichthyology • 2024] Pseudacanthicus nyktos • A New Species of Pseudacanthicus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Xingu, Amazon, Brazil
Abstract The genus Pseudacanthicus encompasses eight recognized species so far: P. histrix, P. serratus, P. spinosus, P. fordii, P. leopardus, P. pitanga, P. pirarara, P. major. Only P. pirarara has been formally described from the rio Xingu basin. To address this gap in taxonomic knowledge of the region, a new species of the Pseudacanthicus is described here, aimed at enhancing our understanding of the genus within the rio Xingu basin and contributing to conservation efforts. The new species is primarily found downstream the impact zone of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant. It can be promptly diagnosed from congeners by the color pattern of the body dark brown to black with light gray vermicular spots on the dorsal and ventral surfaces, and fins; lower maximum number of teeth in premaxilla and dentary; and other osteological characters. It’s worth noting that the ichthyofauna of the Amazonian drainages lacks comprehensive taxonomic and biological information regarding Pseudacanthicus. In this context, unchecked anthropogenic activities are leading to changes in the ecosystem, often resulting in the extinction of species even before they are scientifically addressed. Keywords: Acanthicus clade; Amazon basin; Ancistrini; Conservation; Taxonomy
Pseudacanthicus nyktos, new species Diagnosis: Pseudacanthicus nyktos differs from all congeners by a dark brown to black body with light gray vermicular spots on the dorsal and ventral surfaces, and fins (vs. body with dark gray to dark brown background with black dots or spots and fins with intense orange to red color in P. leopardus, P. pitanga and P. pirarara; body and fins with dark gray background color and white dots or spots in P. serratus and P. fordii, more conspicuous in ventral region; body with a gray color and black dots or spots in P. histrix and P. spinosus; and body with a dark brown color without spots or dots; with white transverse bars on the dorsal and caudal fins ... Etymology: The specific epithet nyktos derives from Greek meaning “night”, in allusion to the dark color of the specimens in comparison with other species of the genus and also to the deep locations where they can be found, where there is no light. An adjective.
Maria Letícia Batista Galvão Lopes, Leandro Melo de Sousa and Carine Cavalcante Chamon. 2024. New Species of Pseudacanthicus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Xingu, Amazon, Brazil. Neotrop. ichthyol. 22(3) • 2024 • DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2024-0033 www.scielo.br/j/ni/a/XHfLffzyJxq445HxZs4 | ||||||||
| 3:08p | [Botany • 2024] Rhododendron tyaihyonii & R. kantoense • Unraveling Enigmatic Disjunctions: Population Genetic Analysis Points to Independent Origins of Rare Rhododendrons in the Rhododendron keiskei complex (Ericaceae)
Abstract Unraveling species boundaries is pivotal for evolutionary biology and conservation endeavors. However, it proves challenging in instances where recent speciation is intertwined with complex demographic histories and natural selection processes. The Rhododendron keiskei complex, an evergreen rhododendron distributed in East Asia, consists of a widespread variety (R. keiskei var. keiskei) and a more restricted R. keiskei var. hypoglaucum. Intriguingly, the latter is exceptionally rare yet displays a disjunction that spans approximately 1100 km. This study aimed to elucidate the evolutionary backgrounds of the enigmatic disjunctions of R. keiskei var. hypoglaucum and to propose species delimitation within the species complex. An integrative approach, combining genomic data (MIG-seq and GBS-derived SNPs) with Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis of leaf microstructures was adopted in this study. Phylogenetic analyses revealed significant divergence among the studied rhododendrons. Genetic demographic analyses favored the population models that assumed non-monophyly of two disjunct populations of R. keiskei var. hypoglaucum indicating their independent origins. Recent gene flow between the widespread R. keiskei var. keiskei and “var. hypoglaucum” populations were limited due to geographic and habitat isolation factors, even in areas where their distributions overlap. Detailed morphological assessments detected distinctions between morphologically similar “var. hypoglaucum” populations based on leaf microstructures and flowering habits. Our study has shown that the apparent disjunctions of rare rhododendrons are more likely attributed to morphological convergence, possibly due to similar environmental selections in unrelated taxa. The finding highlights the importance of an integrative approach for resolving taxonomic challenges in plant species complexes. Keywords: demographic modeling, disjunct distribution, East Asia, endangered species, phylogeny, species delimitation
R. keiskei var. keiskei R. keiskei var. hypoglaucum (R. kantoense nom. & stat. nov.) Rhododendron sp. (R. tyaihyonii sp. nov.; formerly identified as var. hypoglaucum) 
Rhododendron tyaihyonii S.Sakag., H.J.Choi & S.C.Kim, sp. nov. Distribution: SOUTH KOREA. Jeollanam-do, Yeosu-si, Samseon-myeon. Narrowly endemic to Daesambudo Island. Ecology: The plants are found on the northern slope of Daesambudo Island. They inhabit coastal rocky places with the evergreen woody species of Rhaphiolepis indica var. umbellata (Thunb.) H.Ohashi, Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Camellia japonica L, Litsea japonica (Thunb.) Juss. Etymology: The specific epithet, “tyaihyonii”, is named in honor of Chung Tyaihyon (1883–1971), known as the father of plant taxonomy in Korea and the first curator of Sungkyunkwan University Herbarium (Ha Eun Herbarium, SKK). We have a better understanding of Korean flora thanks to his work in the early to mid-1900s. Korean name: Seom-Jin-Dal-Rae. Japanese name: Chosen-Hikage-Tsutsuji. English name: Tyaihyon's rhododendron. Rhododendron kantoense S.Sakag. & Y.Watan., nom. & stat. nov. ≡ Rhododendron keiskei var. hypoglaucum Suto & T.Suzuki in Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Formosa 22: 23. 1932 – Holotype: JAPAN. Kanto District, Tochigi (Shimotsuke), Kanuma, Mt. Ozaku, 1 May 1931, E. Kitamura ST3902 (TAI barcode TAI 119040 [image!] [fl.]; isotype: TNS barcode TNS 55292 [image!]). Note: Rhododendron kantoense is similar to R. tyaihyonii, the differences being: the latter has petiole 4–7 mm long; stomata type anomocytic; inflorescence with 2–6 flowers. Distribution: JAPAN. Kanto, Prefectures of Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama and Tokyo. Endemic to the chert and limestone mountain ridges of Kanto District. Etymology: The specific epithet “kantoense” is derived from the Kanto District, where this species is distributed. Japanese name: Urajiro-Hikage-Tsutsuji. Korean name: Il-bon-Huin-Jin-Dal-Rae. English name: Kanto rhododendron. Shota Sakaguchi, Hee-Joo Choi, Watanabe Yoichi, Daiki Takahashi, Shun K. Hirota, Masayuki Maki, Shoki Murakami, Taichi Harada, Nobuo Kobayashi, Yuji Kurashige, Jun-Ho Song, Hyeok-Jae Choi and Seung-Chul Kim. 2024. Unraveling Enigmatic Disjunctions: Population Genetic Analysis Points to Independent Origins of Rare Rhododendrons in the Rhododendron keiskei complex (Ericaceae). TAXON. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/tax.13288 |
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