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Sunday, July 27th, 2025
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| 2:25a | [Herpetology • 2025] Crossodactylodes alairi • Historical Fragmentation in Atlantic Forest Explains the Diversification of a Clade of Mountaintop Bromeligenous Frogs (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Crossodactylodes)
ABSTRACT The Atlantic Forest domain is a biodiversity hotspot with remarkable amphibian diversity, including over 700 species, 70% of which are endemic. Most of these endemic species have restricted geographic ranges, often confined to mountainous areas, as exemplified by the leptodactylid genus Crossodactylodes. These frogs are characterised by small body sizes, a bromeligenous habit and limited dispersal abilities, with species often restricted to their type localities. Previous studies have revealed geographically structured lineages within the genus, even when separated by short distances. Here, we focused on a clade of Crossodactylodes comprising three lineages from southeastern Brazil, inhabiting montane forest ‘islands’ distinct from surrounding lowland areas regarding vegetation structure and microclimate. We integrated genetic, geographic, morphometric and qualitative morphological data to assess species boundaries through species delimitation analyses and validation procedures. This integrative approach provided evidence supporting the recognition of one lineage as a distinct taxonomic entity, which we formally describe herein as Crossodactylodes alairi sp. nov. Additionally, we applied coalescent simulations and supervised machine-learning approaches to evaluate alternative diversification hypotheses. Our results provide strong support for fragmentation models, suggesting that divergences within the focal lineages were driven by climate-related habitat fragmentation during the Plio-Pleistocene. Given that these lineages inhabit a non-macrorefugium region of the Atlantic Forest, their evolutionary trajectories were likely shaped by survival in isolated microrefugia that offered stable and suitable microclimatic conditions amidst broader environmental changes. Keywords: Anura, integrative taxonomy, microendemism, microrefugia, Paratelmatobiinae, speciation, species delimitation
Crossodactylodes alairi sp. nov. Crossodactylodes bokermanni—Almeida et al. (2011, 557 [their appendix 1], in part); Montesinos et al. (2012, 112 [their appendix 1]). Diagnosis. Crossodactylodes alairi is diagnosable from its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) absence of vomerine odontophores; (2) adult males lacking vocal slits; (3) absence of dorsolateral fold; (4) inner metacarpal tubercle in adult males weakly widened; (5) discs of fingers II–IV slightly expanded; (6) hindlimbs lacking transverse bars; (7) skin on males dorsum coarsely granular; (8) SVL 17.2–18.6 mm (females) and 17.0–21.1 mm (males); (9) in life, iris uniformly dark brown or light brown with dark brown fine reticulations; (10) upper eyelid margin granular, with a pronounced tubercle in its medial region; (11) disc of Finger I rounded; (12) medial region of the upper lip not anteriorly projected. Etymology. The specific epithet honours Alair Tedesco, a park ranger who worked at Parque Estadual do Forno Grande for 27 years, dedicating much of his life to conserving the region. Even in retirement, he continues to collaborate with researchers and visitors, enthusiastically sharing his vast knowledge of the area. Suggested common names: Alair's bromeliad frog (English); rãzinha-de-bromélia-de-Alair (Portuguese). Marcus Thadeu T. Santos, Marcelo Gehara, Caroline B. Oswald, Rodrigo B. Ferreira, Fabrício R. Santos, Paulo C. A. Garcia, Kelly R. Zamudio, Célio F. B. Haddad and Rafael F. Magalhães. 2025. Historical Fragmentation in Atlantic Forest Explains the Diversification of a Clade of Mountaintop Bromeligenous Frogs (Leptodactylidae: Crossodactylodes). Zoologica Scripta. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/zsc.70001 [11 July 2025] | ||||||
| 2:26a | [Herpetology • 2025] Osornophryne backshalli • A New Andean Plump Toad of the Genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, Ecuador
Abstract The amphibian genus Osornophryne is endemic to the northern Andes of South America and has long been considered rare. Recent explorations in the humid montane forests of the upper Pastaza Valley have uncovered previously unknown species. Here, we describe a new Andean toad species from the central Ecuadorian Andes, identified through genetic analyses and distinctive morphological and cranial traits. Osornophryne backshalli sp. nov., from Cerro Candelaria in the upper Pastaza River basin, is closely related to O. sumacoensis from Sumaco Volcano. This new species is characterized by a uniquely short fifth toe relative to toes I–III, triangular papillae on the snout tip, an occipital fold, large subconical and conical warts on the body, dorsal surfaces Brownish Olive with Spectrum Yellow and Light Neutral Gray flecks, ventral surfaces Brownish Olive with Spectrum Yellow bright blotches. Our phylogenetic analyses revise the genus taxonomy by delimiting two well-supported clades: the Osornophryne bufoniformis species group and the Osornophryne guacamayo species group. Furthermore, we show that the Pastaza River does not constitute a geographical barrier for Osornophryne distribution. These findings emphasize the value of continued exploration to expand our understanding of this genus in the humid montane forests of the Ecuadorian Andes.
Osornophryne backshalli sp. nov. Osornophryne sp. nov. INABIO-Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (2023) Proposed standard English name. Steve Backshall’s Andean Toad Proposed standard Spanish name. Osornosapo de Steve Backshall Diagnosis. Osornophryne backshalli sp. nov. is a member of clade B (O. guacamayo species group), and differs from all other species of the clade by the following combination of characters: (1) small to medium size toads (SVL = 22.08–29.68 mm in males, 30.09–35.4 mm on females; Table 2); (2) head slightly wider than long; (3) skin on dorsal surfaces and limbs finely granular with conical and subconical warts, males more tuberculated than females,ventral surfaces with subconic tubercles; (4) snout subacuminate in dorsal view, protruding in lateral profile, with pointed irregular papillae on the tip; (5) crista parotica slightly arched with finely glandular skin, posterior and oblique in relation to the orbit; zygomatic ramus of the squamosal elongated with a blunt anterior border, cultriform process with blunt anterior border; (6) glandular occipital folds present, discontinuous, dorsolateral folds absent, instead a row of discontinuous subconical tubercles on its place; (7) pelvic folds absent (8) limbs short, heels do not touch when adpressed; (9) fingers and toes with extensive and thick webbing, fingers visible, tips of Toes I, II, III almost indistinguishable, Toe V short, not elongated, slightly longer than Toe III, nuptial pads in males on the anterior part of Finger I; (10) dorsal surfaces Brownish Olive with Spectrum Yellow and Light Neutral Gray flecks, ventral surfaces Brownish Olive with Spectrum Yellow blotches; (11) short cloacal tube slightly projected medial to the thighs.
Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of the explorer and television presenter Steve Backshall, of London, UK. He has raised awareness of nature around the world and has, through his patronage of the World Land Trust, contributed directly to the conservation of the Corredor de Conectividad Llanganates-Sangay, the habitat of this particular species and many others. Juan P. Reyes-Puig, Miguel A. Urgiles-Merchán, H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrade, Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia, Julio C. Carrión-Olmedo and Mario H. Yáñez-Muñoz. 2025. New Andean Plump Toad of the Genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, Ecuador. PeerJ. 13:e19760 DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19760 [July 23, 2025] | ||||||
| 2:26a | [Herpetology • 2025] Blaesodactylus ganzhorni • An Updated Survey of Molecular Diversity in Madagascar's Velvet Geckos, Genus Blaesodactylus (Gekkonidae), with Description of A New Species from the island’s arid West
Abstract Madagascar velvet geckos, genus Blaesodactylus, are classified in six species distributed over low-elevation sites across most of Madagascar. Based on DNA sequences of one mitochondrial and two nuclear-encoded gene fragments obtained from numerous newly collected tissue samples, we provide an updated review of their molecular variation. Our genetic screening confirms an extended distribution of B. ambonihazo, so far only known from its type locality Ankarafantsika, now reaching northwards to the Sahamalaza Peninsula. Compared to previously available molecular data, we also verify minor range extensions of B. boivini (southeastwards to Bezavona), B. antongilensis (northwards to the Marojejy Massif), and the B. sakalava complex. Samples assigned to B. sakalava according to current taxonomy fell into two mitochondrial sister lineages differing by about 8.5% pairwise distances in the 16S rRNA gene, lack of haplotype sharing in the nuclear-encoded CMOS gene, and various subtle but consistent differences in body proportions and scalation. We conclude that the lineage occurring in the South of Madagascar, encompassing known locations south of Morombe, corresponds to B. sakalava sensu stricto based on its type locality and morphological characters of its name-bearing type; and describe the lineage occurring in the West of Madagascar north of Morombe as a new species, Blaesodactylus ganzhorni sp. nov. Squamata, Gekkonidae, Blaesodactylus sakalava, Blaesodactylus ganzhorni sp. nov., Blaesodactylus ambonihazo, Blaesodactylus boivini, distribution, taxonomy, Reptilia  Blaesodactylus ganzhorni sp. nov. Miguel VENCES, Aurelien MIRALLES, Ivan INEICH, Andolalao RAKOTOARISON, Christian GLASENAPP, Mark D. SCHERZ, Jörn KÖHLER, Frank GLAW and Achille P. RASELIMANANA. 2025. An Updated Survey of Molecular Diversity in Madagascar's Velvet Geckos, Genus Blaesodactylus, with Description of A New Species from the island’s arid West. Zootaxa. 5620(2); 230-254. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.2 [2025-04-09] Malagasy gecko species named after our former Prof Dr Jörg Ganzhorn | ||||||
| 1:21p | [Botany • 2025] Columnea flavohirsuta (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from the Chocó Biogeographic Region, and an Update on Some Columnea Circumscriptions
Abstract Recent field expeditions in the Chocó Biogeographic Region on the western Andean slopes of northwestern South America, as well as ongoing herbarium research, have led to the discovery of a new species of Columnea L. (Gesneriaceae) and prompted circumscriptions to be updated for some Columnea species. A new species, Columnea flavohirsuta J. L. Clark, is described and differentiated from a complex of morphologically similar species including C. minutiflora L. P. Kvist & L. E. Skog and C. herthae Mansf. The name C. parviflora C. V. Morton is recognized as a heterotypic synonym of C. herthae. The name C. tenensis (Wiehler) B. D. Morley is recognized as a heterotypic synonym of C. illepida H. E. Moore. The name C. reticulata Amaya-Márquez, L. E. Skog & G. E. González is recognized as a heterotypic synonym of C. purpureovittata (Wiehler) B. D. Morley. The taxonomic history of these species is discussed, and field images are provided to serve as aids for identification and a guide for future systematic studies of Columnea. Keywords: Chocó Biogeographic Region, Colombia, Columnea, Ecuador, taxonomy
Columnea flavohirsuta J. L. Clark, sp. nov. John L. Clark, Laura Clavijo and Laurence E. Skog. 2025. Columnea flavohirsuta (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from the Chocó Biogeographic Region, and an Update on Some Columnea Circumscriptions. Novon, A Journal for Botanical Nomenclature. 33; 71 - 82. DOI: doi.org/10.3417/2025989 |
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