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Friday, September 12th, 2025
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 6:03a | [Herpetology • 2025] Gekko septentrionalis • A New Species of Gekko (Ptychozoon) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Southwest China, with an Expanded Morphological Description of Gekko bannaensis
Abstract Parachute Geckos of the genus Gekko (Ptychozoon) are known for their extreme morphology for camouflage and gliding. Because of the cryptic lifestyle of its constituent species, little is known about the diversity of the subgenus, particularly in northern Indochina close to the northern edge of its distribution. Here we describe a new species of the subgenus from southwestern Yunnan Province close to the Myanmar border. The new species is sister to Gekko bannaensis on the basis of mitochondrial genealogy, and it shows substantial genetic divergence (9% of ND2 gene) and clear morphological distinctions by having different numbers of caudal cutaneous lobes and diagnostic conditions of the preaxial antebrachial flaps and dorsal bands. We report additional specimens of a recently described, poorly known species of the subgenus, G. bannaensis, from the vicinity of its type locality, and we describe its morphological variation for the first time. We discuss the distribution and diversity of the subgenus in northern Indochina and we highlight cryptic diversity in the Gekko kuhli complex. KEYWORDS: cryptic diversity, morphological variation, Myanmar, taxonomy   Gekko septentrionalis sp. nov.  Hao Xun, Hao-Nan Mu, Xiang-Le Zeng, Ling Li, Zheng-Pan Duan, Sheng-Quan Shu, Chang-Sheng Zuo, Wei Gao, Kai Wang and Jing Che. 2025. A New Species of Gekko (Ptychozoon) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Southwest China, with an Expanded Morphological Description of Gekko bannaensis. Herpetologica. 81(3); 291-302. DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-24-00032 (4 August 2025)  | ||||||
| 9:15a | [Botany • 2025] Sedum diversiflorum (Crassulaceae) • A New Species with variable merosity from the Satsunan Islands, Kagoshima, Japan
Abstract We re-examined the taxonomic status of a plant previously identified as Sedum formosanum subsp. formosanum from four islands in the Satsunan Islands, Japan. To clarify its taxonomic identity, we conducted morphological and phenological comparisons and performed molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and three chloroplast DNA regions using closely related species of Sedum in East Asia. Morphologically, the plants share traits with S. danjoense, S. formosanum subsp. formosanum, S. formosanum subsp. miyakojimense, S. plumbizincicola and S. tetractinum, but differ in key features such as their perennial life cycle, greenish to yellowish stem, presence of lateral branches, spatulate leaves with rounded apices, variation in sepal shape, yellow anthers, oblique fruits and autumnal flowering (October–December). Notably, the plants exhibit remarkable variation in floral merosity – in the number of petal, stamen, and pistils – a unique trait absent in other East Asian Sedum species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed inconsistency between the nuclear ITS tree and the chloroplast DNA tree: the nuclear ITS tree clustered the plants with S. danjoense, whereas the chloroplast DNA tree grouped them with S. formosanum subsp. miyakojimense. This finding suggests that the plants experienced chloroplast capture due to introgressive hybridization between the two species. Considering their distinct morphological, phenological and genetic features, we described these plants as a new species, Sedum diversiflorum. Keywords: Ryukyu Archipelago, stone crop, succulent, Tokara Islands, Yoron Island   Sedum diversiflorum Takuro Ito sp. nov. A species that differs from its close relatives S. danjoense, S. formosanum subsp. formosanum, S. formosanum subsp. miyakojimense, S. plumbizincicola and S. tetractinum by being a perennial, with irregular branching, greenish to yellowish stems, thick spatulate leaves with a rounded apex, polymorphic floral merosity and sepal morphology, yellow anthers, oblique fruits and an autumnal flowering period (Table 2). Type:Japan, Kagoshima Pref.: the Satsunan Island, the Amami Islands, Yoron-jima Island, Ōshima-gun, Yoron-cho, Mugiya, 26 Nov. 2021, T. Ito 7707 (holotype: TUS). Etymology: The epithet refers to the significant variation in floral morphology of this species.  Takuro Ito, Masatsugu Yokota, Mizuho Endo, Akitoshi Iwamoto, Masayuki Maki and Goro Kokubugata. 2025. Sedum diversiflorum sp. nov. (Crassulaceae), A New Species with variable merosity from the Satsunan Islands, Kagoshima, Japan. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.04877 [08 September 2025] | ||||||
| 9:53a | [Herpetology • 2025] Boulenophrys huangniushiensis • A New Species of the Genus Boulenophrys (Anura: Megophryidae: Megophryinae) from Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve, southern Jiangxi, China
Abstract A new species of the genus Boulenophrys (Anura: Megophryidae: Megophryinae), Boulenophrys huangniushiensis sp. nov., is described from Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi Province, southeastern China. The new species was identified based on a combination of morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA and CO1 genes. Phylogenetic results place the new species in a well-supported clade with B. xiangnanensis and B. yingdeensis, though it exhibits substantial genetic divergence from both. Morphologically, the new species is distinguishable by its moderate male body size (SVL 37.9–40.7 mm), absence of vomerine teeth, and toes without lateral fringes and webs. The discovery adds to the growing diversity of Boulenophrys and represents the third species of the genus recorded from this biodiversity-rich nature reserve. Amphibia, Asian horned toads, Boulenophrys huangniushiensis sp. nov., morphology, taxonomy   Boulenophrys huangniushiensis sp. nov.  Hao-Tian WANG, Xiao-Gang WU, Han-Ming SONG, Zhong HUANG, Xiao-Hai ZHUO and Ying-Yong WANG. 2025. A New Species of the Genus Boulenophrys (Anura: Megophryidae: Megophryinae) from Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve, southern Jiangxi, China. Zootaxa. 5691(3); 376-398. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5691.3.1 [2025-09-10] | ||||||
| 2:50p | [Botany • 2025] Magnolia tapichalacaensis (Magnoliaceae: sect. Splendentes) • A New Species from the Andean foothills of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador
Abstract Magnolia tapichalacaensis is described from the cloud forest remnants of Quebrada Honda, Tapichalaca Reserve in the Zamora Chinchipe Province, south-east Ecuador. This species is characterized by its tomentose leaves and hypsophyll, flowers 5.6–7.5 cm in diameter with three sepals that are abaxially tomentose to villous and adaxially glabrous, petals 9–10, stamens 54–63, gynoecium densely tomentose with 4–5 carpels and densely tomentose ellipsoid fruits. An illustration, photos and a distribution map for the new species are provided. Relationships with other species are discussed, and preliminary conservation status of Critically Endangered (CR) is assigned. Finally, an updated list of Ecuadorian magnolias is presented. Andes, Cloud Forest remnants, Conservation, Jocotoco Foundation, Neotropical taxonomy, Tapichalaca Reserve, Magnoliids
Magnolia tapichalacaensis Á.J.Pérez & E.Rea, sp. nov. Magnolia tapichalacaensis is like Magnolia bankardiorum Dillon & Sánchez Vega (2009: 7) and Magnolia lozanoi Vázquez & CastroArce in Vázquez-García et al. (2012: 114), but differs from these in several morphological features (Table 2). Álvaro J. PÉREZ, Edison REA, Jennifer MARTÍNEZ, Fanny HIDALGO, Franco MENDOZA, Ramiro MENDOZA, Nelson Jaramillo DÍAZ, Fredy ARCHILA, Kevin S. BURGESS, Rosana ZENIL-FERGUSON, J. Antonio VÁZQUEZ-GARCÍA. 2025. Magnolia tapichalacaensis (M. sect. Splendentes, Magnoliaceae), A New Species from the Andean foothills of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador. Phytotaxa. 716(4); DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.716.4.2 [2025-09-04]  |
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