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Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
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| 4:12a | [Herpetology • 2025] Cyrtodactylus mendol • One More New Bent-toed Gecko of the Javanese Cyrtodactylus marmoratus complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from East Java, Indonesia
Abstract Here, we describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus Gray from East Java (Dampit, Malang), Indonesia that belongs to the C. marmoratus species group. It is a medium-sized (SVL) species with adult males reaching 65.9 mm in males, 64.3 mm in females; characterized by dorsal tubercle absent on brachium, 17–18 dorsal tubercle rows, 38–40 rows of smooth ventrals, precloacal depression present in a deep groove, 15–17 precloacal pores in an inverse Y shape, 7–12 femoral pores, 3–5 poreless femoral scale separated precloacal and femoral pores in males, 2 pairs of post caudal tubercles, second post mentals separated by 5–7 scales, abrupt transition between rows of large and small postfemoral and ventral femoral scales, and no enlarged subcaudals. The new species is genetically divergent from the other Javan congeners of the C. marmoratus complex with genetic divergences (p-distances) ranging from 15.1–24.3% for the mitochondrial ND2 gene. This description brings the number of nominal species of bent-toed gecko in Java to six. Reptilia, Cyrtodactylus darmandvillei, Cyrtodactylus marmoratus, new species, Java, taxonomy
Cyrtodactylus mendol sp. nov. Mendol Bent-toed Gecko Cecak jarilengkung Mendol Diagnosis. The new species is a distinct evolutionary lineage closely related to C. belanegara, C. marmoratus, and C. semiadii. It can be differentiated from other congeners by the following combination of characters: known maximum SVL 65.9 mm in males, 64.3 mm in females; two pairs of post caudal tubercles; second post mentals separated by 5–7 scales; 17–18 dorsal tubercle rows; 30–35 paravertebral tubercles; 38–40 ventral smooth scales across midbody; precloacal depression, precloacal and femoral pores present in male; precloacal depression in a deep grooved form; 15–17 precloacal pores arranged in an inverted Y; 7–12 femoral pores; 3–5 poreless femoral scales separated from precloacal and femoral pores; abrupt transition between rows of large and small postfemoral and ventral femoral scales; absence of enlarged subcaudals. Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, “mendol.” Mendol (Figure 8) is a traditional food typical of Malang (East Java) and its surrounding areas, known for its delicious taste and unique history. This dish is believed to be inspired by the popular Dutch food, mashed potato fritters. During the colonial era, Malang was one of areas where the Dutch resided. The term "mendol" means ball, which describes the method of forming the food into a ball shape. This dish is made from tempeh that has undergone further fermentation. The tempeh (fermented soybean cake) is crushed and mixed with spices such as garlic, coriander, galangal, lime leaves, and chili. The tempeh dough is then shaped into an oval form and fried until golden brown. Mendol has a savory taste with a hint of spiciness and a texture that is crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. It is typically served as a side dish for meals such as rawon, lodeh, and pecel. Awal RIYANTO, Muhammad A. FAUZI, Ahmad M. KADAFI, Misbahul MUNIR, Amir HAMIDY, Irvan SIDIK, Richo FIRMANSYAH, Retno LESTARI, FADHILLAH, ABINAWANTO and N. Smith, 2025. One More New Bent-toed Gecko of the Javanese Cyrtodactylus marmoratus complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from East Java, Indonesia. Zootaxa. 5683(2); 189-211. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5683.2.2 [2025-08-20] | ||||||||
| 7:06a | [Ichthyology • 2025] Micropterus pucpuggy & M. calliurus • Two New Species of Micropterus (Centrarchiformes: Centrarchidae) endemic to Atlantic Slope river drainages in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, U.S.A.
Abstract We describe as new species Micropterus pucpuggy Freeman & Freeman (Bartram’s Bass), sp. nov., and Micropterus calliurus Freeman & Freeman (Altamaha Bass), sp. nov., which occur allopatrically in four river systems draining the Atlantic Slope of the southeastern United States. In recent decades, biologists and anglers have acknowledged the existence of these two distinctive taxa of black bass, both of which were previously considered synonymous with M. coosae Hubbs & Bailey (Redeye Bass). However, introgression with non-native congeners that have been widely introduced for sport-fishing (including M. henshalli Hubbs & Bailey and M. dolomieu Lacepède) has confounded formal description of M. pucpuggy and M.calliurus. We examined mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear gene sequences of candidate type-specimens of M. pucpuggy and M. calliurus. We then used reduced-representation, short-read sequencing of candidate types along with specimens of six other Micropterus species to identify a series of non-introgressed individuals for each of the two new species. Micropterus pucpuggy and M. calliurus are each reciprocally monophyletic in both mitochondrial and RADseq phylogenies and are diagnosable from all other Micropterus species and from each other in chromatic fin coloration, body pigmentation, and other morphological attributes. Pisces, Redeye Basses, Micropterus coosae, Black Basses, Altamaha Bass, Bartram’s Bass
 Micropterus pucpuggy Freeman & Freeman (Bartram’s Bass), sp. nov., Micropterus calliurus Freeman & Freeman (Altamaha Bass), sp. nov., Byron J. FREEMAN, Mark C. SCOTT, Kelly N. PETERSEN, Natalia J. BAYONA-VÁSQUEZ, Andrew T. TAYLOR, Bryson G. HILBURN, Mary C. FREEMAN and John P. WARES. 2025. Two New Species of Micropterus (Centrarchidae) endemic to Atlantic Slope river drainages in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, U.S.A. Zootaxa. 5683(1); 67-89. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5683.1.3 [2025-08-19] | ||||||||
| 10:11a | [Entomology • 2025] Metallacantha aculeata • The Sertão Leaf Katydid – A New Genus of Pterochrozinae Walker, 1870 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from the Caatinga in Northeastern Brazil
Abstract Pterochrozinae are katydids endemic to the Neotropics, commonly known as peacock or leaf katydids. Several areas in the Neotropical are poorly sampled for leaf katydids, and there are few experts working with this group. Most of Pterochrozinae diversity occurs in rainforests, while only a single genus occurs in the savannic Cerrado, and no Pterochrozinae is known for the Caatinga, a semi-arid biome. Here, we present a new Pterochrozinae genus and species, Metallacantha aculeata Engelking, Ghirotto, Fianco, Sobral, Silva-Neto & Mendes gen. and sp. nov., from the Caatinga. The new genus can be distinguished from all other Pterochrozinae by its robust body, enlarged legs, large and flat hind tibial spines, and extremely shortened hind wings. We describe the new genus and species based on three adult females, three adult males, and one nymph from different areas in the Southern Sertanejo Depression of the Caatinga biome, Brazil, also presenting notes on its biology, acoustics, and behavior. Furthermore, we present discussions on the relationship of some Pterochrozinae genera. Keywords: New species, taxonomy, peacock-katydid, South American dry diagonal, Brazilian fauna Class Insecta Linnaeus, 1758 Order Orthoptera Olivier, 1789 Family Tettigoniidae Krauss, 1902 Subfamily Pterochrozinae Walker, 1870
Metallacantha Engelking, Ghirotto, Fianco, Sobral, Silva-Neto & Mendes gen. nov.
Diagnosis: The new genus can be differentiated in both sexes from all other known Pterochrozinae by the broad pronotum that is wider than long; the very reduced hind wings not extending more than two tergites in length; the very robust, large legs in relation to the body (the whole third leg being 1.9–2.1× longer than the body); the large, widened and dorsoventrally flattened spines on hind tibiae; the conical spines on the dorsal surface of hind femora. For females, the wide and short subgenital plate that is wider than long also readily differs the new genus from the females of all other Pterochrozinae. Furthermore, other characteristics that can help differentiate the new genus, but are not exclusive of it, are the short tegmina that do not or barely surpass the end of the abdomen (shared with Asbolomma and Tanusiella); a white band running through the lateral region of the head, the middle of the eyes, the lateral edge of the pronotum, lateral region of the thorax, and dorsal edge of the tegmina (shared with Paracycloptera); the unspotted hind wing (shared with Celidophylla, Cycloptera, Mimetica, Paracycloptera, Typophyllum, and Roxelana); hind femora with two ventral rows of conical spines (Metallacantha gen. nov. presents rows both in the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the hind femora, while other genera, such as Paracycloptera, bear only ventral rows); fore wings with R and M veins not conjoined in lateral view, running parallel and very closely apart, side by side (shared with several other genera such as Paracycloptera). Etymology: Taken in reference to the large and wide spines with a metallic iridescent shine present on the metatibiae that readily distinguishes the new genus from other Pterochrozinae genera. The name is derived from the Latin words “metallicus” (= metallic) and “acanthus” (= spines). The gender is feminine. Metallacantha aculeata Engelking, Ghirotto, Fianco, Sobral, Silva-Neto & Mendes gen. et sp. nov. Etymology: From Latin aculeata, meaning “spiny” in reference to the many distinct spines of this katydid, especially the enlarged ones on its hind legs. Victor M. Ghirotto, Phillip W. Engelking, Marcos Fianco, Samuel M. Martins, Rafael Sobral, Alberto M. da Silva-Neto and Diego M. de Mello Mendes. 2025. The Sertão Leaf Katydid – A New Genus of Pterochrozinae Walker, 1870 (Insecta, Orthoptera) from the Caatinga in Northeastern Brazil. European Journal of Taxonomy. 1007(1); 279-310. DOI: doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.1007.3013  | ||||||||
| 2:43p | [Botany • 2025] Nototriche antisanensis (Malvaceae: Malvoideae) • A New Species from the high Andes of Ecuador
Abstract A new species of Nototriche (Malvaceae, Malvoideae) growing in the high Andes of Ecuador is described. Nototriche antisanensis E.J.Trujillo, Muriel, Espinel-Ortiz & Romol. is a cushion plant known only from the Antisana volcano in northeastern Ecuador. Morphologically, it is most similar to N. jamesonii A.W.Hill, but it differs in its cushion habit and vegetative characters, such as indumentum, corolla tube size, stamen head morphology, and the number of mericarps per fruit. Photographs of living plants and a scientific illustration of the new species are provided. In addition, a distribution map, an identification key, and a table comparing the habit, morphology, and distribution of all Nototriche species known from Ecuador are included. Key words: Antisana, Ecuador, Malvaceae, Nototriche, páramo, taxonomy
Nototriche antisanensis E.J.Trujillo, Muriel, Espinel-Ortiz & Romol., sp. nov. Diagnosis. Nototriche antisanensis is morphologically most similar to N. jamesonii in having both surfaces of the leaf lamina covered by small stellate trichomes, triangular stipules and connate petals but the former differs from the latter in its cushion-forming (vs. prostrate shrubby) habit, dense (vs. lax) rosettes with 3 (vs. 9) lobes, free part of the stipule narrowly triangular with a 6:1 proportion (vs. triangular with a 2:1 proportion), sheath with both faces covered by stellate indumentum (vs. abaxial face glabrous), flowers with corolla tubes 1–2 mm (vs. 2.5–5 mm) long, anthers forming a globose head with a spherical 1:1 proportion, 2–3 × 2–3 mm (vs. elliptic 2:1 proportion, 3–5.5 × 2.2–3 mm); and a fruit with 11 (vs. 10) mericarps. Etymology. The specific epithet honors the páramos of the Antisana volcano, where this species was found and collected for the first time. Emilio J. Trujillo, David A. Espinel-Ortiz, Katya Romoleroux and Priscilla Muriel. 2025. A New Species of Nototriche (Malvaceae, Malvoideae) from the high Andes of Ecuador. PhytoKeys. 261: 1-12. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.261.157043 | ||||||||
| 2:43p | [Botany • 2025] Oreocharis sanglocii (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from Hoang Lien Son Range, north-western Vietnam
Abstract Oreocharis sanglocii, a new species discovered in Hoang Lien Son Range of north-western Vietnam, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by leaf blade much longer than petiole and distinctly longer than wide, many-flowered inflorescence, light yellow to almost white corolla with purple-maroon markings at throat, narrow corolla tube constricted at throat, stamens with distally pubescent filaments and free (and not coherent) anthers, glabrous pistil and capsule, and peltate stigma. Oreocharis sanglocii is most close to O. blepharophylla, being readily distinguishable from it by more numerous secondary veins of leaf blade, inflorescence with up to 20 flowers, yellowish outer surface of corolla tube, hairy stamen filaments, and free anthers. The new species is also similar to the yellow-flowered O. tsaii and O. zhenpingensis. Available information on the species phenology, ecology and conservation status is presented, along with the taxonomic notes. This discovery is in line with the idea that within the territory of Vietnam Oreocharis is most diverse in the northern areas. It brings the number of species of the genus documented from Vietnam to twelve. Bat Xat Nature Reserve, endemism, flora of Vietnam, Lao Cai Province, plant diversity, plant taxonomy, Eudicots    Oreocharis sanglocii K.S. Nguyen, Aver., Nuraliev, L. Wu & C.W. Lin sp. nov.  Khang Sinh NGUYEN, Leonid V. AVERYANOV, Van Canh NGUYEN, Maxim S. NURALIEV, Dmitry F. LYSKOV, Fang WEN, Lei WU and Che Wei LIN. 2025. Oreocharis sanglocii (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Hoang Lien Son Range, north-western Vietnam. Phytotaxa. 715(2); 129-141. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.3 [2025-08-19]  |
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