[Most Recent Entries] [Calendar View]
Wednesday, September 24th, 2025
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 12:12a | [Paleontology • 2025] Joaquinraptor casali • Latest Cretaceous megaraptorid theropod Dinosaur sheds light on megaraptoran evolution and palaeobiology
Abstract Recent fossil discoveries have cast considerable light on the palaeobiology of Megaraptora, a group of large-clawed carnivorous theropod dinosaurs known from Cretaceous deposits in Asia, Australia, and especially South America. Nevertheless, many important aspects of megaraptoran morphology and evolution remain poorly understood, due in large part to the fragmentary nature of most fossils of these theropods and the scarcity of anatomically overlapping skeletal elements among the known taxa. Here we report a previously unknown megaraptoran genus and species represented by a partially articulated partial skeleton recovered from an uppermost Cretaceous stratum of the Lago Colhué Huapi Formation of south-central Chubut Province in central Patagonia, Argentina. Pertaining to the derived megaraptoran subclade Megaraptoridae, the taxon is among the most completely represented and latest-surviving megaraptorans. Its stratigraphic occurrence indicates that these dinosaurs likely persisted to the Cretaceous/Palaeogene boundary; moreover, the preservation of a crocodyliform humerus between the dentaries of the new theropod may provide information on megaraptoran dietary preferences and feeding strategies. Megaraptorids appear to have been the apex predators in central and southern Patagonian palaeoecosystems approaching the end of the Cretaceous, in contrast to more northerly areas of South America where these niches were occupied by other non-avian theropod groups. 
Systematic palaeontology Saurischia Seeley, 1887 Theropoda Marsh, 1881 Tetanurae Gauthier, 1986 Megaraptora Benson, Carrano, and Brusatte, 2010 Megaraptoridae Novas, Agnolín, Ezcurra, Porfiri, and Canale, 2013 Joaquinraptor casali gen. et sp. nov. Etymology: Joaquín, in tribute to the son of the first author (L.M.I.) and the informal name given to the locality when the skeleton of the taxon was discovered (Valle Joaquín); Latin, raptor, thief. Specific epithet casali in recognition of Dr. Gabriel Andrés Casal for his many contributions to knowledge of the Cretaceous palaeontology and geology of central Patagonia (including the formal recognition and naming of the formation from which this megaraptorid was recovered).  
Lucio M. Ibiricu, Matthew C. Lamanna, Bruno N. Alvarez, Ignacio A. Cerda, Julieta L. Caglianone, Noelia V. Cardozo, Marcelo Luna and Rubén D. Martínez. 2025. Latest Cretaceous megaraptorid theropod Dinosaur sheds light on megaraptoran evolution and palaeobiology. Nature Communications. 16: 8298. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63793-5 [23 September 2025]  | ||||||
| 4:13a | [Botany • 2025] Homalomena siaisensis (Araceae) • One name, many faces: the dolphin case of Homalomena siaisensis in ornamental trade
Abstract Homalomena siaisensis is a newly described species of Sumatran aroid. The species was discovered in January 2024 from South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, Indonesia. This small lithophytic species has recently gained attention in the ornamental plant trade, where it is informally known as Homalomena ‘Dolphin Skin’ and frequently marketed via social media platforms. The species is formally described and illustrated in the present work. Keywords: Araceae, Malesia, Ornamental, Philodendreae, Sumatra  Homalomena siaisensis A.S.D.Irsyam, M.R.Hariri &Raynalta, sp. nov. Arifin S.D. Irsyam, Erick Raynalta and Muhammad R. Hariri. 2025. One name, many faces: the dolphin case of Homalomena siaisensis in ornamental trade. Webbia. Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography. 80(2); 291-294. DOI: doi.org/10.36253/jopt-17743 [2025-07-18] | ||||||
| 4:14a | [Botany • 2025] Kaisupeea larsenii (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from southern Thailand
Abstract Kaisupeea larsenii Triboun, Pansomboon & Bannajit, a new species from southern Thailand is newly described. A description and illustration are provided. Keywords: Kaisupeea, new to science, Ranong, taxonomic treatment, Thailand  Kaisupeea larsenii Triboun, Pansomboon & Bannajit, sp. nov. Pramote Triboun, Tossawat Pansomboon, Worapon Bannajit and David J. Middleton. 2025. Kaisupeea larsenii (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Thailand. Thai Journal of Botany. วารสารพฤกษศาสตร์ไทย. 17: 31–34.  | ||||||
| 4:14a | [Botany • 2025] Columnea congestiflora (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from the Western Andean Slopes of the Cordillera Occidental in Colombia
Abstract Columnea congestiflora J. L. Clark, Solano-C & Parra-Lizc. (Gesneriaceae), a new species endemic to Buenaventura and discovered in the lowland forests of western Colombia, is described and illustrated. A preliminary conservation assessment based on IUCN Red List criteria supports the classification of the risk of extinction for the species as Endangered (EN). Keywords: Chocó Biogeographic Region, Colombia, Columnea, Gesnerioideae, taxonomy    Columnea congestiflora J. L. Clark, Solano-C & Parra- Lizc., sp. nov. Etymology.The specific epithet congestiflora is derived from the Latin congestus, meaning “crowded” or “clustered,” in reference to the dense or compact clusters of flowers. Carlos A. Solano-C, Nicolas Parra-Lizcano, John L. Clark and James F. Smith. 2025. Columnea congestiflora (Gesneriaceae), a New Species from the Western Andean Slopes of the Cordillera Occidental in Colombia. Novon. 33: 133–140. DOI: doi.org/10.3417/20251002 | ||||||
| 6:47a | [Herpetology • 2025] Ingerophrynus wangyingyongi • A New Species of Ingerophrynus (Anura: Bufonidae) from Guangdong, China
Abstract A new species of the genus Ingerophrynus is described based on seven specimens collected from northern Guangdong Province, China. The new species was previously confused with Ingerophrynus ledongensis, however, it can be distinguished from I. ledongensis and other congeners by a combination of morphological differences and genetic divergence. In addition, this study reveals that the taxonomic status of the populations previously considered to be Ingerophrynus galeatus from central and northern Vietnam and central Laos needs to be reassessed, and the species diversity of this genus may have been significantly underestimated. Keywords: 12S; 16S; morphology; systematics; taxonomy; Tianjingshan  Ingerophrynus wangyingyongi sp. nov.   Shuo Liu, Liang Zhang, Natalia B. Ananjeva, Zhifa Liu, Mian Hou and Nikolai L. Orlov. 2025. A New Species of Ingerophrynus (Anura, Bufonidae) from Guangdong, China. Russian Journal of Herpetology. 32(2):85-95. DOI: doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2025-32-2-85-9 | ||||||
| 6:55a | [Ichthyology • 2025] Indoreonectes mahadeoensis • A New Species of River Loach (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from headwaters of the Narmada River, India
Abstract A new species of nemacheilid loach, Indoreonectes mahadeoensis is described from the Narmada River basin, Central India. Indoreonectes mahadeoensis is distinguished from its congeners by the presence of 8 branched rays in the dorsal fin, 7 branched rays in the anal fin, and by the unique combination of the following characters: nasal barbels reaching anterior border of eye, dorsal-fin origin positioned posterior to vertical line drawn from pelvic-fin origin, and broken bars along lateral surface of body. Further, I. mahadeoensis differs from all congeners, except I. evezardi, in having divided vertical bars on caudal peduncle (vs. undivided bars), but can be distinguished from the latter in having larger eyes (16.5–21.8 vs. 9.8–15.9% HL) and wider gape (40.4–59.1 vs. 24.3–37.5% HL). Analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences revealed high genetic divergence (uncorrected P-distance ranging from 11.2 to 18.6%) between I. mahadeoensis and congeners. Pisces, Central India, Madhya Pradesh, river loach, taxonomy, freshwater fish
Meghma GHOSH, Anuradha BHAT, Jeyaraj Antony JOHNSON. 2025. Indoreonectes mahadeoensis, A New Species of River Loach from headwaters of the Narmada River, India (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). Zootaxa. 5693(4); 537-550. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5693.4.5 [2025-09-19] | ||||||
| 9:14a | [Ichthyology • 2025] Triplophysa baishuijiangensis • A New typical Cavefish of the Genus Triplophysa (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from the Jinsha River, Yunnan, China
Abstract Triplophysa baishuijiangensis sp. nov., a new cave-dwelling loach, was collected from an underground river outlet in Xiaoganxi Village, Yiliang County, Yunnan Province, China, situated within the core area of the Baishuijiang National Aquatic Germplasm Resources Reserve for Endemic Fish, part of the Hengjiang–Jinsha River system. The new species is distinguished from congeners by significant genetic divergence and the following combination of characteristics: vestigial eyes, absence of skin pigmentation, pelvic fin tip reaching the anus, complete lateral line, developed posterior chamber of the swim bladder, and dorsal fin rays iii-7. Phylogenetic analysis based on Cyt b positions this new species in the hypogean group of Triplophysa, increasing the documented cave species in the genus from 42 to 43. Triplophysa baishuijiangensis sp. nov. represents the first documented typical cavefish in the Jinsha River basin, underscoring the region’s ecological significance for subterranean adaptation and suggesting unexplored cave biodiversity that merits systematic investigation. Key words: Cavefish, Cyt b sequence, loach, molecular phylogeny, new species, Triplophysa
Triplophysa baishuijiangensis Shi, Chen, Yang & X.-A. Wang, sp. nov. Etymology. The specific epithet baishuijiangensis is in reference to the type locality of the new species: the core area of Baishuijiang National Aquatic Germplasm Resources Reserve for Endemic Fish. We propose the common English name “Baishuijiang high-plateau loach” and the Chinese name “Bái Shuǐ Jiāng Gāo Yuán Qiū (白水江高原鳅)”. Min Shi, Yuan-Chao Chen, Xing-Jin Che, Wei Dao, Wen-Ming Liu, Deng-Shan Wang, Jun-Xing Yang and Xiao-Ai Wang. 2025. A New typical Cavefish of the Genus Triplophysa (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from the Jinsha River, Yunnan, China. ZooKeys. 1253: 73-92. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1253.153155 | ||||||
| 2:19p | [Herpetology • 2025] Cyrtodactylus chure & C. makwanpurgadhiensis • Two New Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Nepal
Two new species of Cyrtodactylus from the khasiensis group are described using morphological characters supported by molecular analyses based on the mitochondrial ND2 gene. Cyrtodactylus makwanpurgadhiensis sp. nov. and C. chure sp. nov. from the Siwalik Mountains in central Nepal are at least 11.2% divergent from other Nepalese congeners and 16.7% from each other and can be distinguished by a combination of morphometric and meristic traits. The description of two new species from the Siwalik Mountains underscores the conservation significance of this region, a relatively young, dry, and geologically unstable range of the Himalayan orogen. Despite serving as a border between the lowland (Terai) and Himalayan range, it remains underrepresented in both biodiversity assessments and conservation planning in Nepal. Our findings suggest the need for a robust and targeted species research program and to prioritise this landscape for conservation actions. Key words: Bent-toed gecko, Himalayas, integrative taxonomy, khasiensis group, Siwalik
Santosh Bhattarai, Bivek Gautam, Bishal Prasad Neupane, Akshay Khandekar, Tejas Thackeray, Ishan Agarwal, Ashley R. Olson, Fiona Hogan and Wendy Wright. 2025. Description of Two New Species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Nepal. ZooKeys. 1253: 131-160. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1253.161933 |
| << Previous Day |
2025/09/24 [Calendar] |
Next Day >> |