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Saturday, February 15th, 2025
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| 2:03a | [Herpetology • 2025] Epipedobates currulao (Anura: Dendrobatidae) • Honoring the Afro-Colombian Musical Culture with the Naming of A Frog from the Pacific Rainforests
Abstract The number of amphibian species described yearly shows no signs of slowing down, especially in tropical regions, implying that the biodiversity of amphibians remains woefully underestimated. A new species of poison frog is described from the Pacific lowlands of southwestern Colombia: Epipedobates currulao sp. nov., named for the Pacific music and dance genre known as "currulao" or "bambuco viejo". This species inhabits lowland forests from 0–260 m a.s.l. This taxon differs from congeners by having a combination of bright yellow blotches in the dorsal anterior region of the thigh and upper arm, homogenous dark-brown dorsal coloration, and advertisement calls of long duration and many pulses. We also describe the courtship call of E. currulao sp. nov., which is lower in frequency and shorter in duration than its advertisement call. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirm the monophyly of the populations sampled and its position as the sister species of Epipedobates narinensis, which occurs in southwestern Colombia. Among species of Epipedobates, the new species has been previously confused with E. boulengeri, but the two species are allopatric and represent two divergent clades (1.77% divergent for 12S–16S and 5.39% for CYTB). These species can be distinguished by the presence of a bright yellow blotch on the dorsal anterior region of the thigh and on the upper arm of E. currulao sp. nov., blotches that are either more white than yellow or absent in E. boulengeri. In addition, the advertisement calls are distinct, with E. currulao sp. nov. having a single but long call in each call series while E. boulengeri has 2–6 calls in a series with each call being much shorter in length. Epipedobates currulao sp. nov. is the most northern species of Epipedobates, which extends southwards along the western edge of the Andes. Known as the Chocó, this biogeographic region has been largely converted to agriculture in Ecuador and is experiencing widespread transformation in Colombia, which may endanger E. currulao sp. nov. and biodiversity in the region. Key words: Alpha taxonomy, bioacoustics, Chocó, DNA barcoding, megadiverse, music, new species, poison frogs   
Epipedobates currulao sp. nov. Proposed English common name: Currulao Nurse Frog Proposed Spanish common name: Rana nodriza de currulao Diagnosis: Epipedobates currulao is a small dendrobatid frog (SVL mean = 17.99 mm and SD = 0.95 mm, n = 16 frogs; Tables 1, 2) with uniformly brown dorsal coloration, black sides, a white to yellow oblique lateral stripe, a bright yellow blotch on the anteriodorsal side of thigh and on the upper arm, and a pale-blue or turquoise venter with black mottling (Fig. 2, Suppl. material 3). Calls of E. currulao sp. nov. are long with a call duration of 0.67–3.88 s (mean = 2.21, SD = 0.54 s, n = 15) and 22–122 pulses per call (mean = 73.98, SD = 18.77, n = 15). They occur in call series of only one call (Tables 3, 4). Etymology: The specific epithet "currulao" is a noun in apposition of masculine gender. It refers to the musical genre that originated on the southern Pacific coast of Colombia and Ecuador, where E. currulao occurs and also contributes to the local soundscape. Currulao, also known as bambuco viejo, is an Afro-Colombian sounded practice that inspires dancing and transmits the happiness and cultural tradition of this region. It is a symbol of resilience in the face of racial and regional oppression (Abadía 1973; Aristizabal 2002; Birenbaum Quintero 2006, 2019). We named this species in honor of, and as an homage to, this musical genre that represents the culture of the southern Colombian Pacific because: “la música, como la vida, no se pueden dejar perder”, which translates to “music, like life, cannot be allowed to be lost” (Cruz Hoyos 2016).
Mileidy Betancourth-Cundar, Juan Camilo Ríos-Orjuela, Andrew J. Crawford, David C. Cannatella and Rebecca D. Tarvin. 2025. Honoring the Afro-Colombian Musical Culture with the Naming of Epipedobates currulao sp. nov. (Anura, Dendrobatidae), A Frog from the Pacific Rainforests. ZooKeys. 1226: 139-170. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1226.123803 Resumen: El número de especies de anfibios descritas cada año continúa aumentando, especialmente en las regiones tropicales, lo que implica que la biodiversidad de anfibios sigue siendo subestimada. Se describe una nueva especie de rana venenosa de las tierras bajas del Pacífico del suroccidente de Colombia: Epipedobates currulao sp. nov., nombrada así por el género de música y danza del Pacífico conocido como "currulao" o "bambuco viejo". Las ranas de esta especie habitan en bosques de tierras bajas desde el nivel del mar hasta los 260 m. Este taxón se diferencia de sus congéneres por tener una combinación de manchas amarillas brillantes en la región dorsal anterior del muslo y los brazos, una coloración dorsal homogénea marrón oscuro y cantos de advertencia más largos y en consecuencia con mayor número de pulsos. También describimos la llamada de cortejo de E. currulao, con menor frecuencia pico y duración que la llamada de advertencia. Los análisis filogenéticos confirman la monofilia de la especie y su posición como hermana de Epipedobates narinensis, la cual se distribuye en el suroccidente de Colombia. Entre las especies de Epipedobates, la nueva especie ha sido previamente asignada a E. boulengeri, pero las dos especies son alopátricas y representan dos clados filogenéticamente divergentes (1.77% divergentes para 12S–16S y 5.39% para CYTB). Estas especies se pueden distinguir fenotípicamente por la presencia de una mancha amarilla brillante en la región dorsal anterior del muslo y en la parte superior del brazo en E. currulao sp. nov., que son más blancas que amarillas o están ausentes en E. boulengeri. Además, los cantos de advertencia son distintos, E. currulao sp. nov. tiene una única y larga llamada en una serie de llamadas, mientras que E. boulengeri tiene de 2 a 6 llamadas por serie, siendo cada llamada mucho más corta. Epipedobates currulao es la especie distribuida más al norte del género Epipedobates, el cual se extiende hacia el sur a lo largo del flanco occidental de la cordillera de los Andes. Esta región conocida como el Chocó biogeográfico, ha sido fuertemente transformada por agricultura en Ecuador y está experimentando una transformación generalizada de sus bosques en Colombia, lo cual pone en peligro a E. currulao sp. nov. y toda su biodiversidad en un futuro cercano. Una traducción del texto principal al español está disponible en el material suplementario 8. | ||||||||||
| 2:37a | [Herpetology • 2025] Gehyra shiva • A New limestone-dwelling Four-clawed Gecko (Squamata, Gekkonidae: Gehyra) from Sa Kaeo Province, eastern Thailand
Abstract We describe Gehyra shiva sp. nov. from limestone cave and hills in Khlong Hat District, Sa Kaeo Province, eastern Thailand, near the border with Cambodia. The new species differs from all currently recognized Southeast Asian Gehyra by the following combination of morphological characters and dorsal color pattern: maximal known snout–vent length of 53.8 mm, 8–10 supralabials, 54–67 dorsal and 46–56 ventral scale rows around midbody, absence of skin folds on limbs, 34–37 preanofemoral pores in males in a continuous series extending along the whole length of the femur (pores absent in females), tail not to moderately widened behind vent in adults, a single row of widened subcaudals, digits and toes unwebbed, 7 or 8 divided subdigital lamellae on 4th toe, and a dorsal pattern with five regular dark brown bands between limb insertions, separated or not by pairs of large, white round paravertebral spots. Reptilia, Gehyra shiva sp. nov., taxonomy, morphology, karst, cave   Gehyra shiva sp. nov.  Worawitoo MEESOOK, Nattasuda DONBUNDIT, Tanasak JINDAMAD, Nittaya TOPAI, Kirati KUNYA, Winai SUTHANTHANGJAI, Maneerat SUTHANTHANGJAI, Natthaphat CHOTJUCKDIKUL, Teeraphat CHONKAMNORD, Montri SUMONTHA and Olivier S. G. PAUWELS. 2025. A New limestone-dwelling Four-clawed Gecko from Sa Kaeo Province, eastern Thailand (Squamata, Gekkonidae: Gehyra). Zootaxa. 5588(2); 381-395. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5588.2.12 [2025-02-14] | ||||||||||
| 3:55p | [Botany • 2025] Syagrus harenae (Arecaceae) • Hidden in the Mountain: A New rare Syagrus with morphological novelties
Abstract Background and aims – The Serra do Ambrósio is a mountain with a unique vegetation called carrasco. The carrasco is characterised by sandy soils of high granulometry and is home to rare species. During the current research on the Arecaceae flora of the Diamantina Plateau, a new Syagrus species was discovered, which is described here. Material and methods – The morphology and anatomy are described based on field collections. The pinnae anatomy was analysed using LM (free-hand cross sections). The new species belongs to the Syagrus glaucescens complex, and an identification key and a distribution map were created. Key results – Syagrus harenae resembles S. glaucescens, but some characteristics easily differentiate it, such as the small size, lax pinnae, symmetric pinnae tips, ramenta scales, a scattered thin indumentum on the peduncle, inflorescences and fruits orangish-yellow, and pistil with indumentum. The new species also possesses flowers arranged in tetrads and pentads and is the first species of Syagrus showing two sepals, petals with imbricate tips, staminodes with anthers, and frequently lacks staminodial rings. The pinnae anatomy of the new species also resembles S. glaucescens, which indicates their relatedness. However, reliable differences in pinnae anatomy set the new species apart, such as the fibrous ring reaching the abaxial hypodermis and the large first adaxial fibre bundle near the margin. The new species is assessed as critically endangered. Conclusion – Syagrus harenae is the first endemic species of the genus described for the Serra do Ambrósio and possesses striking characteristics, such as the re-greening of the pistillate flowers and flowers arranged in tetrads and pentads. The type population corroborates the Diamantina Plateau and its disjunctions as one of the centres of diversity for Syagrus. The discovery of this new species reinforces the uniqueness of the local flora and its classification as a priority area for conservation. Keywords: campo rupestre, carrasco, Espinhaço Range, Palmae, Serra do Ambrósio, taxonomy
Syagrus harenae B.F.Sant’Anna-Santos, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Syagrus harenae is similar to S. glaucescens Glaz. ex Beccari, from which it differs by lax pinnae on the leaf rachis (vs congested pinnae), apical pinnae size (8–12 × 0.2–0.4 vs 1.5–6 × 0.2–1.0), pinnae with symmetrical tip (vs asymmetrical); base of the stem not-angular (vs angular), brownish indumentum where pinnae are inserted on the lower leaf rachis (vs glabrous); prostrated stem (vs erect); sheathing leaf base length (10–28 cm vs 42–52 cm), lax sheathing leaf base (vs congested); inflorescence strongly pendulous (vs erect ou slightly pendulous); peduncle with scattered thin indumentum (vs glabrous); petal tips imbricate (vs valvate); pistil with whitish indumentum on lower 1/3 (vs glabrous), inconspicuous staminodial ring (vs conspicuous staminodal ring); fruit yellowish-orange when mature (vs brownish). Etymology: The specific epithet, harenae, means sand and refers to the unique sandy soil where the new species grows in the Serra do Ambrósio mountain.
Bruno Francisco Sant’Anna-Santos, Elaine Lopes Pereira Nunes, Rafael Micheli and Dayana Maria Teodoro Francino. 2025. Hidden in the Mountain: A New rare Syagrus (Arecaceae) with morphological novelties. Plant Ecology and Evolution. 158(1): 63-81. DOI: doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.140657 | ||||||||||
| 4:27p | [Botany • 2025] Primula yanbianensis (Primulaceae) • A New Species from Sichuan, China
Abstract Primula yanbianensis T.Shuai, Lei Cai & Z.K.Wu, a new species of Primulaceae from Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated. Morphological evidence supports P. yanbianensis as a member of P. sect. Cortusoides, which is characterised by lack of farina, generally well furnished with multicellular hairs, subrounded leaf blades are more or less lobed, with distinct petiole and a deeply cordate base and campanulate or narrowly campanulate calyx not accrescent after anthesis. The new species is characterised by having umbel in whorls of 1–2, scape usually lower than leaf clusters, bracts broadly ovate and rose to pink petals distinctly veined. The distribution, morphological comparison with closely-related species and conservation status of the new species are also provided. Key words: New species, Primula sect. Cortusoides, Sichuan, yan bian bao chun
Primula yanbianensis T.Shuai, Lei Cai & Z.K.Wu, sp. nov. Diagnosis: The new species is most similar to P. neurocalyx, P. longipilosa and P. sinomollis, sharing multicellular hairs covering the plant, subrounded leaf blade are more or less lobed, with distinct petiole and a deeply cordate base and campanulate or narrowly campanulate calyx. However, the new species is distinguished from the latter three mainly by its scape usually being lower than leaf clusters, umbel is in whorls of 1–2, broadly ovate bracts and rose to pink petals are distinctly veined (Figs 1–3). The main morphological distinctions between P. yanbianensis, P. neurocalyx, P. longipilosa and P. sinomollis are summarised in Table 1. ... Etymology. The specific epithet of the new species is taken from the Chinese Pinyin “yanbian”, the name of the county in south-western Sichuan, China, where the type specimen was collected (Map 1). Vernacular name. Chinese mandarin: yan bian bao chun (盐边报春). Tian Shuai, Hong-qiang Lin, Lei Cai, Yu-fan Chen and Zhi-kun Wu. 2025. Primula yanbianensis (Primulaceae), A New Species in Primula sect. Cortusoides from Sichuan, China. PhytoKeys 252: 109-118. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.252.140026 |
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