[Most Recent Entries] [Calendar View]
Friday, May 9th, 2025
| Time | Event | ||||
| 3:22a | [Herpetology • 2024] Neblinaphryne imeri • A New Species of Neblinaphryne (Anura: Brachycephaloidea: Neblinaphrynidae) from Serra do Imeri, Amazonas State, Brazil
Abstract The highlands of the Guiana Shield (Pantepui) in northern South America harbor a unique fauna and flora. However, this diversity remains poorly documented, as many Pantepui massifs remain little explored or unexplored, mainly because their access is very challenging. Considering amphibians, 11 genera are endemic or sub-endemic to Pantepui, and one of them, Neblinaphryne, is monospecific and was recently described from the Neblina massif, at the border between Brazil and Venezuela. We recently undertook an expedition in the nearby, previously uninventoried Imeri massif and discovered a new species of this genus. We describe this new species herein as Neblinaphryne imeri sp. nov., combining molecular, external morphological, acoustic, osteological and myological data. The new species shares with the other Neblinaphryne species (N. mayeri) minuscule septomaxillae and pointed terminal phalanges, confirming the morphological diagnostic characters of the genus. Nevertheless, the new species can promptly be distinguished from N. mayeri by having the head wider than long, a distinct color pattern, and prominent tubercles on the eyelid and humeral region, as well as osteological and genetic differences. These two species are likely endemic to their respective massifs, providing a striking new example of speciation by isolation within Pantepui, which was possibly mediated by climate and elevation, as previously hypothesized for many other lineages endemic to this region. Amphibia, Amazonia, Amphibian, Biodiversity, Frog, Guiana Shield, Pantepui, Taxonomy, Systematics      Neblinaphryne imeri  Antoine FOUQUET, Leandro J.C.L. MORAES, Taran GRANT, Renato RECODER, Agustín CAMACHO, José Mário GHELLERE, Alexandre BARUTEL and Miguel Trefaut RODRIGUES. 2024. A New Species of Neblinaphryne (Anura: Brachycephaloidea: Neblinaphrynidae) from Serra do Imeri, Amazonas state, Brazil. Zootaxa. 5514(1);73-90. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5514.1.5 [2024-09-25] https://jornal.usp.br/uspnews/a-new-spec | ||||
| 3:30a | [Mollusca • 2025] Pararosa vigarae • The Accordion Worm: A New Genus and Species of heteronemertean (Nemertea: Pilidiophora) from Galicia (Spain)
Abstract Ribbon worms (Nemertea) are a less-known group of invertebrates, specially challenging for taxonomic studies due to the scarcity of external morphological features. As a consequence, the number of known nemertean species might represent just a small fraction of the true diversity of the phylum. The present study increases the number of known ribbon worm species with the description of the accordion worm Pararosa vigarae sp. nov., a new genus and species of Heternonemertea from the northwest coast of Spain. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and histone H3 gene markers that indicated the newly identified specimens represent a new genus and species of heteronemertean in the family Lineidae. We also provide morphological data and images illustrating its unique behaviour, contracting its body into a series of rings similar to an accordion. Our results increase our knowledge on the diversity of an important but often overlooked invertebrate phylum and emphasize the need to combine morphological and molecular data to discover new ribbon worm species and better evaluate the true diversity of the phylum. Keywords: accordion worm, Heteronemertea, Lineidae, Nemertea, Pararosa vigarae, ribbon worm Subjects 
PILIDIOPHORA Thollesson and Norenburg, 2003 Class HETERONEMERTEA Coe (1901) Family LINEIDAE McIntosh, 1874 Genus Pararosa gen. nov. Diagnosis. Heteronemertean with a single pair of horizontal lateral cephalic slits which posteriorly form deep intramuscular canals; proboscis simple, unbranched; nervous system without neurochord or neurochord cells; dermis thick, glandular region separated from body wall muscles by well-developed connective tissue layer; blood system with cephalic lacunae; frontal sensory organs consisting of three simple ciliated pits located at the tip of the head; eyes absent. Etymology. The name refers to the type locality of the type species, the ría de Arosa, preceded by the Spanish word par (pair), referring to the two localities where the specimens were collected. The name of the type locality in Spanish is feminine, and thus the new genus name is also feminine. Type species. Pararosa vigarae sp. nov. Pararosa vigarae sp. nov. Junoy & Verdes Diagnosis. Heteronemertean with brown to dark green body, head shape retuse; ocelli absent; contracts into regular rings that persist as annular constrictions when stretched. Etymology. Named after Rosa Vigara, wife of the senior author, as a gift for their golden wedding anniversary. Specific epithet is a noun, in reference to the last name Vigara. Common name. Accordion worm. Spanish common name: gusano acordeón. Aida Verdes, Carlota Gracia-Sancha, Jacinto Pérez-Dieste, María Conejero, Patricia Alvarez Campos, Carlos Leiva, Sergi Taboada, Ana Riesgo and Juan Junoy. 2025. The Accordion Worm: A New Genus and Species of heteronemertean (Nemertea, Pilidiophora) from Galicia (Spain). R. Soc. Open Sci. 12; 250313. DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.250313 [07 May 2025] | ||||
| 3:36a | [Botany • 2025] Nasa katjae (Loasaceae) • No end to endemism – Contributions to the difficult Nasa Series Alatae. A New Species from Peru
Abstract A new species of Nasa ser. Alatae (Urban & Gilg) Weigend from Northern Peru is described and illustrated. Nasa katjae sp. nov. was at first encountered by an observation on iNaturalist and subsequently collected in the humid Andean forests near Colasay in the province of Jaén (Cajamarca, Peru). Whilst comparing the new species with closely related Nasa loxensis (Kunth) Weigend, a taxon widespread in Southern Ecuador (and tentatively adjacent Peru), a reevaluation of the status of earlier synonymized Loasa calycina Benth. became necessary. Consequently, Nasa calycina comb. nov. is rehabilitated at species level and Nasa loxensis is redefined. Key words: Amotape-Huancabamba Zone, Andes, Cajamarca, cloud forest, Cornales, iNaturalist, Loasoideae, narrow-endemic
Nasa katjae T.Henning, J.P.Allen & R.H.Acuña, sp. nov. Diagnosis. The new species is morphologically most similar to Nasa calycina comb. nov. (see below) and differs from it in its very elongated stems, subscandent habit, proportionately broader leaf blades with a conspicuously deeply cordate base, sepals and petals almost twice as long (to 4 cm and 4.5 cm respectively), sepals and petals of equal length and nectar scales with 3 conspicuous apical dorsal threads up to 5 mm long. Etymology. The new species is named after Katja Lohse, beloved partner of the first author, mother of their children and steady supporter of his scientific endeavors. Tilo Henning, Joshua P. Allen, Daniel Montesinos-Tubeé, Eric F. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, José Luis Marcelo Peña and Rafael Acuña-Castillo. 2025. No end to endemism – Contributions to the difficult Nasa Weigend Series Alatae (Loasaceae). A New Species from Peru and the Rehabilitation of “ Loasa” calycina Benth. PhytoKeys. 252: 163-186. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.252.141635 Resumen: Describimos e ilustramos una nueva especie de Nasa ser. Alatae (Urban & Gilg) Weigend del norte de Perú. Nasa katjae sp. nov. fue inicialmente encontrada gracias a la plataforma de ciencia ciudadana iNaturalist y posteriormente recolectada en los bosques húmedos andinos cerca de Colasay en la provincia de Jaén (Cajamarca, Perú). Al comparar la nueva especie con Nasa loxensis (Kunth) Weigend, un taxón estrechamente relacionado y ampliamente distribuido en el sur de Ecuador (y posiblemente en Perú adyacente), fue evidente que una reevaluación del estado de Loasa calycina Benth., anteriormente sinonimizada, era necesaria. En consecuencia, proponemos la rehabilitación de Nasa calycina comb. nov. a nivel de especie y redefinimos a Nasa loxensis basados en la evidencia acumulada. |
| << Previous Day |
2025/05/09 [Calendar] |
Next Day >> |