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Tuesday, May 27th, 2025
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 2:14a | [Botany • 2025] Mappianthus kachinensis (Icacinaceae) • A New woody climber from Kachin State, Myanmar
Abstract Mappianthus kachinensis, a new species currently only known from Kachin State, Putao District, northern Myanmar, is described and illustrated. A detailed description along with etymology, conservation status, and a line illustration are provided for a new species. The genus is still poorly known, and this discovery increases the number of species in Mappianthus to at least three. Problems with species delimitation in the genus are also briefly discussed. Keywords: Icacinales, Iodes, Mappia, China, Borneo, new taxon, taxonomy
Mappianthus kachinensis Utteridge & K.Armstr., sp. nov. Recognised in the genus Mappianthus by the combination of the following characters: glabrous to sparsely hairy on the vegetative parts, chartaceous, ovate leaves with relatively long petioles to 2.5 cm long, the staminate inflorescence with a peduncle to 6.5 cm long, and the glabrous oblongoid fruits. Timothy M. A. Utteridge, Mu Mu Aung, Hannah Wheatcroft, Jack Plummer and Kate E. Armstrong. 2025. Mappianthus kachinensis (Icacinaceae), A New woody climber from Kachin State, Myanmar. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 53(1); 25–32. DOI: doi.org/10.20531/tfb.2025.53.1.04 https://x.com/timutteridge/status/192214 | ||||||
| 2:14a | [Botany • 2022] Pitcairnia mineira (Bromeliaceae: Pitcairnioideae) • A New rheophytic Species from the Espinhaço Range, Brazil
ABSTRACT Pitcairnia is a species-rich genus with about 400 species distributed mainly in the Neotropics. We propose and diagnose a new rheophytic species of Pitcairnia, P. mineira, found in campos rupestres vegetation in the Southern Espinhaço Province (Minas Gerais State). We provide a description, including anatomical characters, illustration, distribution map, photographs, preliminary conservation assessment and comments on the distribution, habitat, phenology, and taxonomy of the new species. We also include an identification key to all species of Pitcairnia in the Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Keywords: campos rupestres; Pitcairnioideae; Brazilian flora; endemism; leaf anatomy
Pitcairnia mineira B.M.Carvalho & Forzza, sp. nov. Pitcairnia mineira is most similar to P. bradei Markgr., but differs by the following: thin peduncle, 0.3-0.5 cm in diam. (vs. 1-2 cm in diam.); lepidote peduncle, floral bracts and sepals (vs. glabrescent peduncle, floral bracts and sepals); erect to erect-patent flowers post-anthesis (vs. patent flowers post-anthesis); red calyx and corolla (vs. yellow-orange calyx and greenish-yellow corolla); narrow-elliptical petals with obtuse to rounded apex (vs. oblanceolate petals with acute apex); and ovary more than 1/2 inferior (vs. ovary more than 1/2 superior). Etymology: The species was named Pitcairnia mineira because it was collected in the state of Minas Gerais, which is one of the main center of diversity and endemism of the Bromeliaceae, especially in the Espinhaço Range. Brenda de Moura Carvalho and Rafaela Campostrini Forzza. 2022. Pitcairnia mineira (Bromeliaceae): A New rheophytic Species from the Espinhaço Range, Brazil. Acta Bot. Bras. 36; DOI: doi.org/10.1590/0102-33062021abb0377 | ||||||
| 7:53a | [Paleontology • 2025] Jinchuanloong niedu • A New eusauropod (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Middle Jurassic of Gansu, China
Abstract Sauropod dinosaurs were gigantic quadrupedal herbivores. They range from Early Jurassic to Late Cretaceous and have been found on all continents. The rich sauropod faunas in the Middle and Late Jurassic of China are mainly from southern or western China. Here, we describe a non-neosauropod eusauropod from the Middle Jurassic Xinhe Formation of Gansu Province, northwestern China, based on an associated partial skeleton that includes a nearly complete skull with mandible, the five anteriormost cervical vertebrae appressed with the skull and the posterior 29 articulated caudal vertebrae. It can be diagnosed as a new taxon Jinchuanloong niedu gen. et sp. nov. based on several cranial and postcranial autapomorphies. In Jinchuanloong, the posterior margin of the external naris lies in front of the posterior margin of the antorbital fenestra, similar to that in basal eusauropods, and the base of the maxillary ascending process presents a foramen, similar to that in neosauropods. The finding of Jinchuanloong adds diversity and helps elucidate the evolution of the sauropods in East Asia. Keywords: Dinosauria, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Jurassic, China
Jinchuanloong niedu gen. et sp. nov. Horizon and locality: Jinchuan District, Jinchang City, Gansu Province, northwest of China; lower part of the Xinhe Formation (late Bathonian). Diagnosis: Jinchuanloong can be diagnosed by a suite of unique character combinations (autapomorphies are marked by *): (1) in lateral view, there is a small foramen at the base of the nasal process of the maxilla *. (2) The anterodorsal surface of the prefrontal bears a small round aperture near the bifurcation (Figs. 2 and 5) *. (3) In lateral view, the postorbital is very robust. The ratio of the anteroposterior length to the dorsoventral height of the posterior process of the postorbital of Jinchuanloong is 0.9 *. (4) The posteroventral process of the jugal contributes 22% of the ventral margin of the infratemporal fenestra; The dorsal process of the jugal contacts the lacrimal and has a small contribution to the antorbital fenestra (Fig. 2). Etymology: The genus name ‘Jinchuan’ refers to the region where the specimens were found; ‘loong’ is Mandarin Chinese for ‘dragon’. ‘Nie’, the Mandarin Chinese for ‘nickel’; ‘du’, the Mandarin Chinese for ‘city’, reflecting that Jinchuan (Jinchang) is a city famous for its rich nickel resources. Ning Li, Xiaoqin Zhang, Xinxin Ren, Daqing Li and Hailu You. 2025. A New eusauropod (Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha) from the Middle Jurassic of Gansu, China. Scientific Reports. 15: 17936. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03210-5 [23 May 2025] | ||||||
| 8:36a | [Herpetology • 2025] Ranitomeya aquamarina • An Amazonian Hidden Gem: A New Metallic-colored Species of Ranitomeya (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from Juruá River Basin forests, Amazonas State, Brazil
Abstract The genus Ranitomeya has 16 known species, and the last of them was described 13 years ago. The forests of the Juruá River basin are known for their enormous vertebrate diversity, despite being one of the least sampled regions in the entire Amazonia. Our recent expeditions to the region resulted in the discovery of a Ranitomeya species with blue-green dorsal stripes and quite peculiar behavior. Here, it is described as a new species using morphological, morphometric, advertisement call, natural history, and genetic data. This new species is strongly nested within the R. vanzolinii clade, with interspecific p-distances ranging from 2.94 to 3.91%, and it was confirmed in all the delimitation methods used. It differs from its closest relatives mainly by (i) its size (male SVL 15.4–17.7 mm, n = 8; female SVL 17.3–18.5 mm, n = 5), (ii) its unique color pattern that is metallic pale yellowish green to metallic pale turquoise-green dorsal stripes pattern, limbs metallic chrome with dark carmine spotting), (iii) presence of a conspicuous sulfur yellow spot on the dorsal surface of the thighs, (iv) tadpoles with posterior tooth rows P1 > P2 > P3 in all stages, head translucent brownish and lack of emarginate lateral papillae, and (v) its advertisement call (composed of 21–45 notes, call duration of 647–1,424 ms, note rate of 28–36 notes/s and dominant frequency of 4,996–6,288 Hz). Key words: Advertisement call, Amphibia, biodiversity, integrative taxonomy, morphology, phylogeny
Ranitomeya aquamarina sp. nov. Chresonymy. Ranitomeya sp. Envira – Twomey et al. (2023); Ranitomeya aff. sirensis – Lima et al. (2024). Vernacular names. Suggested English name: Metallic poison frog. Suggested Spanish name: Rana venenosa metálica. Suggested Portuguese name: Rãzinha-venenosa-metalizada. Etymology. The specific epithet ‘aquamarina’ is a Latin adjective that means “pale blue-green”, referring to the coloration of the dorsal-lateral stripes of the new species. Another aspect that led us to use this epithet was the metallic blue and greenish tones of the stripes, which resemble seawater. Additionally, aquamarine is a gemstone, which philosophically conveys the value of this discovery.  Alexander Tamanini Mônico, Esteban Diego Koch, Jussara Santos Dayrell, Jiří Moravec and Albertina Pimentel Lima. 2025. An Amazonian Hidden Gem: A New Metallic-colored Species of Ranitomeya (Anura, Dendrobatidae) from Juruá River Basin forests, Amazonas State, Brazil. ZooKeys. 1236: 51-83. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1236.146533 | ||||||
| 9:17a | [Ichthyology • 2025] Rineloricaria buckupi • A New Species of Whiptail Catfish Rineloricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Macaé and São João River Basins, southeastern Brazil
Abstract A new species of Rineloricaria from the São João and Macaé river basins in Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil is described. The new species is distinguished from most of its congeners by possessing of five series of lateral plates below the dorsal fin; mid-dorsal series consisting of four or five keeled plates extending posteriorly beyond the origin of the dorsal fin; pectoral girdle covered by plates; snout tip with naked area not reaching most anterior pore of infraorbital ramus of sensory canal; dorsal-fin spinelet present. The new species differs from R. zawadzkii, the most similar and geographically closest species, by having mid-ventral and lateral abdominal plates in contact (vs. separated by skin), the dorsal fin with a dark brown terminal band not reaching the edge, with inconspicuous dark dots along the lower edge (vs. band reaching the edge), and the caudal fin with a diffuse distal band with variegated white spots (vs. a well-defined distal band). The genetic distance based on cytochrome c oxidase I between the new species and the closest congeners supports its validity. The current distribution of the new species in the São João and Macaé basins is consistent with paleo-drainage connections influenced by sea-level fluctuations. Keywords: DNA barcode; Freshwater fishes; Loricariinae; Sea-level variations; Suckermouth armored catfishes
Rineloricaria buckupi, new species Diagnosis. Rineloricaria buckupi can be distinguished from most congeners except for R. aequalicuspis Reis & Cardoso, 2001, R. altipinnis, R. anhaguapitan Ghazzi, 2008, R. anitae Ghazzi, 2008, R. baliola Rodriguez & Reis, 2008, R. cacerensis (Miranda Ribeiro, 1912), R. cachivera, ..., R. zaina Ghazzi, 2008 and R. zawadzkii by having five lateral series of plates below the dorsal fin (vs. four lateral series of plates below the dorsal fin), and mid-dorsal series extending below and posterior to dorsal fin (vs. mid-dorsal series not extending beyond the origin of dorsal fin). Rineloricaria buckupi differs from R. aequalicuspis, R. anhaguapitan, R. baliola, R. capitonia, R. latirostris, R. maacki, R. malabarbai, R. maquinensis, R. microlepidogaster, R. nudipectoris, R. reisi, and R. tropeira by the extensive ventral covering of the pectoral girdle by plates (vs. absence of plates on most of the ventral surface of the pectoral girdle). It differs from R. cacerensis, R. fallax, ... Etymology. The specific name buckupi (noun, masculine, singular genitive), is a patronym for Paulo A. Buckup, in recognition of his valuable teachings as an advisor to numerous students, including the authors of this paper. Paulo has done outstanding work and made numerous contributions to Neotropical ichthyology, including advances in the systematics of Rineloricaria over the past 25 years. Mejia, Eduardo; Ferraro, Gustavo A. and Souto-Santos, Igor C. A. 2025. A New Species of Whiptail Catfish Rineloricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Macaé and São João River Basins, southeastern Brazil. Neotrop. ichthyol. 23 (02); DOI: doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2024-0087 |
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