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Thursday, February 6th, 2025
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 2:08a | [Herpetology • 2025] Echinosaura embera • A New Species of Hedgehog-lizard of the Genus Echinosaura (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Colombia and Panama with A Reevaluation of the Conservation Status of the Genus
Abstract The gymnophthalmid semi-aquatic lizards of the genus Echinosaura have been subject to taxonomic scrutiny in recent years. Here, we combine previously available and new morphological and phylogenetic evidence to describe a new species formerly known under the name E. palmeri. Our results are consistent with previous phylogenetic hypotheses and recover an overlooked evolutionary lineage which is both morphologically and genetically different from the other ones currently recognized within the genus. This species is diagnosable based on external and hemipenial morphology and is phylogenetically related to E. centralis, E. palmeri, and E. panamensis. The new species inhabits the northern portion of the Pacific region in Colombia and the Darien zone between Colombia and Panama. We also re-evaluate and propose a new IUCN extinction risk categorization for the nine species in the genus, assessing three uncategorized species, removing two species from a threatened category, and including a previously considered Least Concern species into a threatened status. Reptilia, Chocó, morphology, Neotropical, systematics, taxonomy
Juan D. VÁSQUEZ-RESTREPO and Juan M. DAZA. 2025. A New Species of Hedgehog-lizard of the Genus Echinosaura (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Colombia and Panama with A Reevaluation of the Conservation Status of the Genus. Zootaxa. 5583(1); 128-142. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5583.1.7 [2025-01-31] | ||||||
| 6:17a | [Botany • 2023] Cylindrolobus gaoligongensis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Podochileae) • A New Species from Yunnan, China
Abstract A new species of Cylindrolobus (Orchidaceae), C. gaoligongensis from the Gaoligong Mountain, northwestern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to C. arunachalensis and C. gloensis, but can be distinguished from them by having orange to pink and triangular-ovate lip mid-lobe with mucronate apex, front margin of lateral lobes yellow to white and with short glandular hairs gradually transitioning to dense long hairs, two central calli connected to a keel toward mid-lobe in the disk, and three rows of white long hairs at the base of the disk. Additionally, an improved description and illustration of the closely related species C. arunachalensis, is also provided. Keywords: Cylindrolobus, new species, Orchidaceae, southwest China, taxonomy
Ji-Dong Ya, Hong Jiang, Zheng-Jun He, Qin-Chang Liao, Yan-Hui Zhao, Jie Cai, Hong Wang and Zhi Xiong. 2023. Cylindrolobus gaoligongensis sp. nov. (Orchidaceae, Podochileae) from Yunnan, China, and improved description of C. arunachalensis. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: 10.1111/njb.04075 | ||||||
| 10:47a | [PaleoOrnithology • 2025] Vegavis iaai • Cretaceous Antarctic Bird Skull elucidates early Avian Ecological Diversity
Abstract Fossils representing Cretaceous lineages of crown clade birds (Aves) are exceptionally rare but are crucial to elucidating major ecological shifts across early avian divergences. Among the earliest known putative crown birds is Vegavis iaai, a foot-propelled diver from the latest Cretaceous (69.2–68.4 million years ago)6 of Antarctica with controversial phylogenetic affinities. Initially recovered by phylogenetic analyses as a stem anatid (ducks and closely related species), Vegavis has since been recovered as a stem member of Anseriformes (waterfowl), or outside Aves altogether10. Here we report a new, nearly complete skull of Vegavis that provides new insight into its feeding ecology and exhibits morphologies that support placement among waterfowl within crown-group birds. Vegavis has an avian beak (absence of teeth and reduced maxilla) and brain shape (hyperinflated cerebrum and ventrally shifted optic lobes). The temporal fossa is well excavated and expansive, indicating that this bird had hypertrophied jaw musculature. The beak is narrow and pointed, and the mandible lacks retroarticular processes. Together, these features comprise a feeding apparatus unlike that of any other known anseriform but like that of other extant birds that capture prey underwater (for example, grebes and loons). The Cretaceous occurrence of Vegavis, with a feeding ecology unique among known Galloanserae (waterfowl and landfowl), is further indication that the earliest anseriform divergences were marked by evolutionary experiments unrepresented in the extant diversity.
Christopher R. Torres, Julia A. Clarke, Joseph R. Groenke, Matthew C. Lamanna, Ross D. E. MacPhee, Grace M. Musser, Eric M. Roberts and Patrick M. O’Connor. 2025. Cretaceous Antarctic Bird Skull elucidates early Avian Ecological Diversity. Nature. 638; 146–151. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08390-0 | ||||||
| 3:44p | [Herpetology • 2025] Acanthosaura cuongi • A New Species of Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from the Truong Son Mountain Range, Vietnam
Abstract We describe a new species of the genus Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 from the Truong Son Mountain Range, southern Vietnam, based on integrative taxonomic analyses. Acanthosaura cuongi sp. nov. differs from its congeners by a combination of the following diagnostic characteristics: size moderate (snout-vent length: 79.4–104.61 mm); the absence of a diastema between the short nuchal and dorsal crest spines; vertebral crests composed of two rows of enlarged, keeled, pointed scales, arranged in a zipper line; various body coloration with light-green, orange-yellow, and light or purple-gray; black eye patch extending posteriorly to the anterior edge of tympanum. Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses using two mitochondrial genes (COI and Cytb) support the monophyly of Acanthosaura cuongi. Furthermore, the new species differs from the closest lineage consisting of A. coronata Günther, 1861 by having pairwise genetic distances of 11.58–12.11%, and have a maximal intraspecific distance of 0.35%. This is the 21st species of Acanthosaura and the tenth species of the genus reported from Vietnam. Keywords: Agamid lizards, morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy Class Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 Order Squamata Oppel, 1811 Suborder Iguania Cope, 1864 Family Agamidae Gray, 1827 Subfamily Draconinae Fitzinger, 1826 Genus Acanthosaura Gray, 1831
Acanthosaura cuongi sp. nov. Diagnosis: Moderately-sized agamid lizard (SVL 79.40–87.06 mm in males, 85.69–104.61 mm in females); head triangular, relatively long (HL/SVL 0.27–0.31, HW/SVL 0.18–0.21), tail relatively long (TaL/SVL 1.44–1.51 in males and 1.09–1.38 in females), postorbital and occipital spines present; gular pouch undeveloped; 8–10 scales between nasals; four scales bordering mental scale; 10–13 supralabials; 10–13 infralabials; 5–7 scales bordering rostral scale; nuchal crest composed of 7–9 spines relatively high and one spine short; dorsal crest present, undeveloped; double rows of vertebral scales followed the dorsal crest; nuchal and dorsal crests continuous, filled with small spine scales; lateral scales small, intermixed with large, keeled scales, keels directed backward and back-upward; number of subdigital lamellae 14–17 on fourth finger and 19–23 on fourth toe (Table 3); black nuchal collar present; dorsum with black bands; a black patch extending from eye posteriorly to the anterior edge of tympanum. Etymology: The specific epithet is dedicated to the Vietnamese herpetologist Dr Cuong The Pham, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Hanoi, in recognition of his support for field surveys in Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces and his great contributions to herpetological research in Vietnam.
Hai Ngoc Ngo, Linh Tu Hoang Le, Tao Thien Nguyen, Tuan Minh Nguyen, Ngan Thi Nguyen, Tien Quang Phan, Truong Quang Nguyen, Thomas Ziegler and Dang Trong Do. 2025. A New Species of Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from the Truong Son Mountain Range, Vietnam. European Journal of Taxonomy. 976: 108–132. DOI: doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2781 |
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