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Wednesday, March 12th, 2025
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 8:03a | [Botany • 2025] Rorippa daguanensis (Brassicaceae) • A New Species from eastern China
Abstract Rorippa daguanensis W.Zhang & K.Zhao (Brassicaceae), a new species from Anhui and Hubei Provinces of eastern China, is described. Its floral morphology resembles R. dubia, with its fruit morphology similar to R. cantoniensis. However, it can be readily distinguished from R. dubia by its inconspicuous stems, oval silicle and from R. cantoniensis by the absence of petals and bracts on its flowers. The complete plastid genome of this new species is 155,594 bp in length. Phylogenetic analyses, based on whole plastid genome sequences of Rorippa species, revealed that R. daguanensis is sister to R. cantoniensis. Key words: Morphology, new species, phylogenomics, Rorippa, taxonomy
Rorippa daguanensis W.Zhang & K.Zhao, sp. nov. Diagnosis. Rorippa daguanensis is similar to R. dubia and R. cantoniensis, but it can be readily distinguished from R. dubia by inconspicuous stems (vs. conspicuous stems), oval silicle 5.5–6.5 mm × 2.5–3.5 mm (vs. linear silique 2.5–4 cm × 0.7–0.9 mm) and can be differentiated from R. cantoniensis by the absence of petals and bracts on the flowers (vs. flowers with petals and bracts) and wrinkled pericarps (vs. smooth pericarps). Etymology. The specific epithet ‘daguanensis’ refers to the type specimen collection locality, Daguan District, Anqing City, Anhui, China. Chinese name. Dà Guān Hān Cài (大观蔊菜). Wei Zhang, Xiao-Yan Xiang, Ting-Shen Han, Jian-Wen Shao and Kai Zhao. 2025. Rorippa daguanensis (Brassicaceae), A New Species from eastern China. PhytoKeys. 253: 189-198. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.253.145997 | ||||||
| 1:57p | [Herpetology • 2025] Leptobrachella albomarginata • Morphological and Molecular Evidence for A New Species of the Genus Leptobrachella (Anura: Megophryidae) from Gaoligong Mountain Range, Yunnan, China
Abstract The Gaoligong Mountain Range in Yunnan Province, China, is characterized by its large variation in elevation and topography, together with its wide latitudinal range, resulting in extremely high levels of biodiversity. Studies show that the amphibian diversity of the Gaoligong Mountain Range is largely underestimated, especially in the south. During herpetological surveys in 2023 and 2024, three specimens of Leptobrachella were collected from the mountain at Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve. Subsequent morphological comparisons and a phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that these specimens belonged to a previously unknown and morphologically distinct lineage of Leptobrachella, which we formally describe. Our discovery brings the number of species in the genus to 108, 44 of which occur in China, and seven on Gaoligong Mountain Range. This result confirms the underestimated amphibian diversity of the Gaoligong Mountain Range, especially in Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, where multiple sympatric congeneric species occur, including four species of Leptobrachella, five species and a putative new species of Xenophrys, and three species of Polypedates. These findings also highlight the need for future research to investigate the mechanisms of sympatric and syntopic coexistence. Key Words: Asian Leaf Litter Toad, frog, Leptobrachella albomarginata sp. nov., sympatric distribution, Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve
Leptobrachella albomarginata Wu, Yu, Kilunda, Murphy & Che, sp. nov. Diagnosis. Leptobrachella albomarginata sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) body size small (SVL 26.5 mm in one adult male, 32.5 mm in one female); (2) tibiotarsal articulation reaches the middle eye; (3) tongue with a shallow notch at the posterior tip; (4) heels meeting; (5) toes with rudimentary webbing and narrow lateral fringes; (6) relative finger lengths: I ≈ II < IV < III; (7) reverse-triangle markings and a ˄-shaped marking with a white lining in dorsal view; (8) black and bluish-white marbling all over ventral surfaces of throat, chest and belly; (9) flanks with distinct irregular black spots; (10) iris bicolored, upper 1/3 of the iris being coppery, lower 2/3 silvery gray. Etymology. The name refers to reverse-triangle markings and ˄-shaped marking with a white lining on dorsum of the new species: the specific epithet “albus” is a Latin adjective which means “white”, and “marginis” is Latin adjective for “border, lining”. We propose the English common name “White-lined Leaf Litter Toad” and the Chinese common name “Bái Yuán Zhǎng Tū Chán (白缘掌突蟾)”. Yun-He Wu, Zhong-Bin Yu, Shen-Pin Yang, Zheng-Pan Duan, An-Ru Zuo, Ding-Can Zhang, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Robert W. Murphy and Jing Che. 2025. Morphological and Molecular Evidence for A New Species of the Genus Leptobrachella (Anura, Megophryidae) from Gaoligong Mountain Range, Yunnan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(2): 449-463. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.135560 | ||||||
| 1:57p | [Herpetology • 2025] Rhacophorus medogensis • A New Species of Rhacophorus (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Xizang, China, with A Revision of the Distribution of R. bipunctatus
Abstract A new species of Rhacophorus (Anura, Rhacophoridae), Rhacophorus medogensis sp. nov., is described from Medog, Xizang Tibetan Autonomous Region, China. The new taxon can be distinguished from all phylogenetically closely related taxa (R. rhodopus and R. bipunctatus complexes) by the following combination of features: 1) body size medium (adult males SVL 31.6–38.7 mm, n = 17; adult females SVL 50.1–55.7 mm, n = 2); 2) pineal ocellus obvious; 3) toe webbing formula: I1‒1II1‒1.5III1‒1IV1‒1V; 4) irregularly shaped large black spots, white pattern in black spots on flanks; 5) snout pointed with appendage on tip; 6) tongue pyriform, with a deep notch at posterior tip; 7) tibiotarsal articulation reaching eye. In addition, we also discuss the distribution of R. bipunctatus, which is limited to northern India and central-western Myanmar, rather than the traditionally presumed range across South and Southeast Asia. Key Words: Biodiversity, cryptic species, Rhacophorus medogensis sp. nov., taxonomy 
Rhacophorus medogensis sp. nov. Diagnosis. The genus Rhacophorus, also known as flying frogs, is characterized by the following features: 1) body size relatively moderate or large (SVL 30–100 mm, above 40 mm in most species); 2) presence of intercalary cartilage between terminal and penultimate phalanges of digits; 3) terminal phalanges of fingers and toes Y-shaped; 4) tips of the digits expanded into large disks bearing circummarginal grooves; 5) webbed fingers; 6) skin not co-ossified to the skull; 7) upper eyelid projections absent, tarsal projections present in most species; 8) dermal folds along the forearm or tarsus present; 9) pupil horizontal; 10) iris without “X”-shaped marking; 11) white foam nests or jelly-encapsulated eggs produced by Etymology: The specific epithet “medogensis” is named after the type locality, Medog, Xizang, China. We suggest “Xizang flying frog” as its English common name and “Mò Tuō Shù Wā” (墨脱树蛙) as its Chinese common name. Shiyang Weng, Xiaolong Liu, Jianchuan Li, Guohua Yu, Junkai Huang. 2025. A New Species of Rhacophorus (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Xizang, China, with A Revision of the Distribution of R. bipunctatus. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(2): 437-447. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.142297   | ||||||
| 2:12p | [Botany • 2022] Goodyera medogensis (Orchidaceae: Cranichideae) • A New Species from Tibet, China
Abstract A new species of Goodyera (Orchidaceae) from Tibet, China, G. medogensis, is described and illustrated here. Molecular phylogenetic results based on one nuclear (ITS) and two plastid markers (matK and trnL-F) support the recognition of G. medogensis as a new species in Goodyera subsection Reticulum. Morphologically, the novelty is most similar to G. biflora, G. vittata and especially to G. hemsleyana, but differs by the thick grid lines of the reticulations with a diffused margin on the adaxial surface of the leaf blades, the inflorescence with more flowers, the obliquely obovate-rhombic petals, the yellow or yellowish labellum without a lamella on the blade, and the shorter trichomes on the floral bracts, sepals and ovary. Finally, a key to the species of Goodyera subsect. Reticulum in China is also provided. Keywords: Cranichideae, Jewel orchid, morphology, new species, Orchidoideae, phylogeny Goodyera alveolata var. medogensis (H.Z.Tian, Y.H.Tong & B.M.Wang) Av.Bhattacharjee, Tsering, Layola, F.Banu & Anant Kumar
Goodyera medogensis H. Z. Tian, Y. H. Tong & B. M. Wang, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Similar to G. hemsleyana, but distinguished by the greenish thick reticulations on the adaxial surface of leaf blades with diffused margin (vs. white thin reticulations with clear margin), inflorescence with more flowers ((6–)12–15 vs. 4–10), petals obliquely obovate-rhombic (vs. obliquely ovate-oblong), labellum yellow or yellowish (vs. white, with light greenish to pinkish tinge at apex) without lamella on blade (vs. with a low bi-lamellate callus), and floral bracts, sepals as well as ovary with shorter trichomes.  Yi-Hua Tong, Mei Sun, Bing-Mou Wang and Huai-Zhen Tian. 2022. Goodyera medogensis (Orchidaceae), A New Species from Tibet, China. PhytoKeys. 189: 141-154. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.189.77374 Researchgate.net/publication/358602594_Goodyera_medogensis_a_new_species_from_Tibet_China AVISHEK BHATTACHARJEE, JAMBEY TSERING, RANJITH LAYOLA M.R., FARHEEN BANU, ANANT KUMAR. 2023. Elucidating taxonomic status of Goodyera medogensis (Orchidaceae) based on morpho-molecular data. Phytotaxa. 595(2); 209-218. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.595.2.7 [2023-05-05] Researchgate.net/publication/370527361_E | ||||||
| 6:00p | [Arachnida • 2025] Disconnecting Trapdoors: Phylogenomic Analyses reveal Evolutionary Contrasts in Trapdoor Spiders (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae: Idiopinae) with Intercontinental Distribution
Highlights: • This is the most comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of Idiopidae using UCEs. • The subfamily Idiopinae is monophyletic and divided into Neotropical and Afrotropical groups. • Neotropical Idiops form a monophyletic clade, while African Idiops and Titanidiops form a separate clade from the remaining African Idiopinae. • The non-monophyly of Idiops is reinforced by congruent morphological evidence. • Our results challenge Idiopidae’s monophyly, showing Neocteniza (Genysinae) as a sister lineage to Cteniza (Ctenizidae) and other Idiopidae subfamilies. Abstract Among Mygalomorphae spiders, the family Idiopidae is the second most diverse, consisting exclusively of trapdoor spiders and is divided into three subfamilies: Arbanitinae, Genysinae, and Idiopinae. The subfamily Idiopinae, distinguished mainly by anterior lateral eyes that project forward, includes 153 species across seven genera, distributed throughout South America, Africa, and parts of Asia. Within this subfamily, the genus Idiops includes the greatest diversity and is the only genus recorded in both the New and Old Worlds. Utilizing a taxon set from the Neotropical and Afrotropical regions, with specimens collected from 1947 to 2021, our study provides the first phylogenomic analysis of the family based on Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs). To assess the monophyly of Idiopinae and Idiops, as well as the relationships among genera within the subfamily, we conducted phylogenetic analyses employing maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and coalescent-based methods. The phylogenetic trees reveal that Idiopinae forms a monophyletic lineage, split into two geographically distinct groups: one with African species and the other with Neotropical species. We did not recover monophyly of the genus Idiops; Neotropical Idiops form a monophyletic lineage, while African Idiops species group with Titanidiops, forming a sister lineage to the remaining African Idiopinae. The relationship between the phylogenetic results obtained and the main morphological differences observed among the genera is discussed. Finally, our study challenges the monophyly of Idiopidae by including Neocteniza, which is found to be an independent lineage sister to Ctenizidae and the rest of Idiopidae. Keywords: Mygalomorphae, Idiops, Ultraconserved Elements, Neotropical species, Afrotropical species, Neocteniza  R. Fonseca-Ferreira, S. Derkarabetian, M.J.A. Morales, V. Opatova, T. Belintani, R. Lyle and J.P.L. Guadanucci. 2025. Disconnecting Trapdoors: Phylogenomic Analyses reveal Evolutionary Contrasts in Trapdoor Spiders with Intercontinental Distribution (Idiopidae, Idiopinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 108323, In Press. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108323 |
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