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Friday, September 26th, 2025
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| 2:03a | [Ichthyology • 2025] Moenkhausia solaris • A New Species of Moenkhausia (Characiformes: Acestrorhamphidae) from the Amazon basin at Serra do Cachimbo, Pará, Brazil
Abstract A new species of Moenkhausia is described from the headwaters of the Curuá and Teles Pires River basin, localities restricted to the Serra do Cachimbo, Pará, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed by the presence of dark blotches concentrated on the anterior portion of scales from the second to seventh longitudinal series, presence of red pigmentation on the adipose and caudal fins in life, green coloration in the ventral portion of the eye and absence of a longitudinal black stripe on body. The new species is morphologically similar and probably closely related to other Moenkhausia species endemic to the Brazilian Shield tributaries, particularly those restricted to the Serra do Cachimbo, sharing with them unique pigmentation traits. The ichthyofauna of the Serra do Cachimbo is notably distinct and characterized by high levels of endemism, likely influenced by geological barriers such as rapids and waterfalls that act as biogeographic barriers. The restricted and disjunct distribution of the new species in tributaries of Xingu and Tapajós basins suggests a historic headwater capture event in the Serra do Cachimbo plateau. Keywords: Biogeography; Headwater capture; Moenkhausia clorophthalma; Tapajós; Xingu
Moenkhausia solaris, new species Diagnosis. Moenkhausia solaris is distinguished from all congeners, except M. cambacica Marinho, Ohara & Dagosta, 2021, M. clorophthalma Sousa, Netto-Ferreira & Birindelli, 2010, M. lineomaculata Dagosta, Marinho & Benine, 2015, M. parecis Ohara & Marinho, 2016, M. petymbuaba Lima & Birindelli, 2006, and M. plumbea Sousa, Netto-Ferreira & Birindelli, 2010, by the presence of a dark blotch on the anterior portion of each scale of the second to seventh longitudinal series (vs. pigmentation absent or, when present, concentrated at the posterior margin of scales, forming a reticulate pattern). Moenkhausia solaris can be distinguished from all the aforementioned species, except M. petymbuaba, by having the adipose fin and the base of caudal-fin lobes red (vs. hyaline in M. lineomaculata and yellowish in ... Etymology. The specific epithet solaris comes from Latin, meaning sunny or pertaining to the sun. In allusion to the bright gold color of body and red color of the adipose and caudal fin present in live specimens. An adjective.
José Igor da Silva, Yasmim de Santana and Manoela Maria Ferreira Marinho. 2025. A New Species of Moenkhausia (Characiformes: Acestrorhamphidae) from the Amazon basin at Serra do Cachimbo, Pará, Brazil. Neotrop. ichthyol. 23(03) DOI: doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2025-0089 | ||||||||||
| 2:24a | [Ichthyology • 2025] Xenurolebias tupinikin • Habitat and Conservation Assessment of Annual Killifishes of the Genus Xenurolebias (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae: Cynolebiinae) from Coastal Floodplains, Including the First Record South of the Rio Doce, Sou
Abstract The Atlantic Forest coastal tablelands is home to a wide diversity of small-sized freshwater fish sharing a biogeographically congruent distributional pattern. The annual killifish Xenurolebias are among these remarkable inhabitants in the riparian wetlands with four species in the area. Xenurolebias pataxo are located between the Jucuruçu and Mucuri rivers, geographically replaced by Xenurolebias myersi at the Riacho Doce and the Rio Itaúnas, and, further south, Xenurolebias cricarensis are in the floodplains of the Rio São Mateus and Xenurolebias izecksohni, living in temporary environments of the Rio Barra Seca, north of the Rio Doce. Due to their restricted habitat in the lowlands, these annual killifish could all be designated as a target species, providing benefits in the conservation of riparian wetlands. However, less is known about their habits and real distribution. Otherwise, the accelerated habitat loss is worrisome. Two of these species are threatened with extinction on Red Lists; one is Near-Threatened; and one is Data-Deficient. After ten years since the last species description, our investigations revealed a fifth species, the first recorded south of Rio Doce. The present contribution aims to characterize the occupied habitat by each species within the temporary environments and present an updated distributional data on these fish. Additionally, a new Xenurolebias is described, the first one recorded south of Rio Doce. Keywords: Atlantic Forest; Rio Riacho; swamp; cloud fish; endemism
Xenurolebias tupinikin sp. nov. Diagnosis. Xenurolebias tupinikin is distinguished from remaining congeners by adult males presenting in life a dark blotch overlapping the median portion of the last stripe on the caudal peduncle (Figure 2). It further differs from congeners, except X. myersi, by presenting the dorsal and anal fin borders with a black outline. Additionally, it is distinct from X. myersi by a body depth of 25.9–27.9 in SL (vs. 29.0–31.4 in SL). It differs from X. izecksohni and X. cricarensis by the caudal fin in males with 5–6 bars (vs. 7–14 bars) and by male head depth 64.5–76.9% of HL (vs. 81.2–85.6% of head length in males). It further differs from X. pataxo and X. myersi due to no yellow spots on the distal half of the dorsal fin in males (vs. yellow spots present). Etymology. The specific name is a reference to the Tupiniquim Indigenous people, inhabitants of lowlands in the central north of Espírito Santo. On the left margin of the Rio Comboios is the Indigenous land Comboios (Figure 4, green stripes near coast), which corresponds to the nearest human occupation relative to the environments inhabited by these fish.
Bruno Pinheiro Gomes, Luisa Maria Sarmento-Soares, Ronaldo Fernando Martins-Pinheiro and Gustavo Rocha Leite. 2025. Habitat and Conservation Assessment of Annual Killifishes of the Genus Xenurolebias (Rivulidae: Cynolebiinae) from Coastal Floodplains, Including the First Record South of the Rio Doce, Southeastern Brazil. Diversity. 17(9), 644. DOI: doi.org/10.3390/d17090644 [12 September 2025] (This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Systematic and Conservation of Freshwater Fishes)  | ||||||||||
| 5:02a | [Paleontology • 2025] Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis • A new Eurhinosaurus Species (Ichthyosauria) from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) of Mistelgau (Bavaria, Southern Germany)
Abstract Eurhinosaurus is a European Lower Jurassic longirostrine ichthyosaur, characterized by its remarkable overbite. Despite the long history of the genus, the taxonomy of Eurhinosaurus is still under debate, and its morphology is poorly understood. Over the past two decades, three specimens of Eurhinosaurus have been discovered in the Mistelgau clay pit in Bavaria, southern Germany, from Upper Toarcian layers. This makes these specimens the youngest stratigraphic occurrence of the genus Eurhinosaurus. The examined specimens include two nearly complete skeletons and a partial snout, preserved three-dimensionally in a semi-articulated state, with elements exposed in multiple orientations. The Mistelgau specimens exhibit clear morphological similarities to known Eurhinosaurus, confirming their affiliation to the genus based on numerous characteristics. However, the Eurhinosaurus specimens from Mistelgau exhibit notable differences in the basioccipital and rib morphology compared to known species. While not significant at the genus level, these distinctions allow recognition as a new species: Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis sp. nov. These well-preserved fossils from Mistelgau further provide valuable insights into Eurhinosaurus morphology and significantly contribute to our understanding of this historically important ichthyosaur. Key Words: 3D Preservation, pathology, parvipelvia, skull morphology, taphonomy, taxonomy   Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis sp. nov.
Gaël E. Spicher, Feiko Miedema, Jelle Heijne and Nicole Klein. 2025. A new Eurhinosaurus (Ichthyosauria) species from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) of Mistelgau (Bavaria, Southern Germany). Fossil Record. 28(2): 249-291. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/fr.28.154203  | ||||||||||
| 12:28p | [Herpetology • 2025] Cyrtodactylus arnei • A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Hon Tre Island in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam
Abstract A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus is described from Khanh Hoa Province, South-central Vietnam based on genetic divergence and morphological differences. Cyrtodactylus arnei sp. nov. is distinguished from the remaining Indochinese bent–toed geckos of the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group by having the unique combination of the following characteristics: size medium (SVL 70.9–78.0 mm); dorsal tubercles in 15–17 irregular rows; 34 or 35 ventral scale rows; 12–15 enlarged femoral scales on each side, in continuous series without gap between precloacal and femoral scales; precloacal pores absent in females, 5–7 in males, in a continuous row; femoral pores absent; postcloacal spurs 0–3 on each side; 19–21 lamellae under toe IV; dorsal pattern between limb insertions consisting of four narrow light bands with dark edges and a transversal row of dark spots in the middle; subcaudal scales enlarged, forming broad transverse plates. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species was nested within the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group without any clear sister taxon. Genetically, Cyrtodactylus arnei sp. nov. is divergent from other species within the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group by at least 10.97% (COI) and 14.39% (ND2) based on two fragments of the mitochondrial gene. Key words: Cyrtodactylus arnei sp. nov., Cyrtodactylus irregularis group, morphology, phylogenetic relationships, taxonomy
Cyrtodactylus arnei sp. nov. Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from other members of the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group by a combination of the following characteristics: size medium (SVL 70.9–78.0 mm); dorsal tubercles in 15–17 irregular rows; 34 or 35 ventral scale rows; 12–15 enlarged femoral scales on each side, in continuous series without gap between precloacal and femoral scales; precloacal pores absent in females, 5–7 in males, in a continuous row; femoral pores absent; postcloacal spurs 0–3 on each side; 19–21 lamellae under toe IV; dorsal pattern between limb insertions consisting four narrow light bands with dark edges and a transversal row of dark spots in the middle; subcaudal scales enlarged, forming broad transverse plates. Etymology. The new species is named after Dr. Arne Schulze, Executive Director of the Zoological Society for Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP) to honor his great commitment and support for herpetological research and conservation in Vietnam, in particular within the scope of the Zoo Species of the Year – The Gecko Conservation Campaign 2024.  Quyen Hanh Do, Hanh Thi Ngo, Truong Quang Nguyen, Minh Duc Le, Thomas Ziegler, Dang Trong Do and Cuong The Pham. 2025. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Hon Tre Island in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. ZooKeys. 1253: 195-218. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1253.149459  | ||||||||||
| 12:38p | [Botany • 2025] Begonia nhatii (Begoniaceae, sect. Platycentrum) • A New Species from Lao Cai, Northwest Vietnam
Abstract Begonia nhatii, discovered from the lowland forest of Lao Cai Province in north-western Vietnam, is herein described as a species new to science. Morphologically, it is most similar to B. gulinqingensis, but can be readily distinguished by its ovate to oblong-ovate (vs. suborbicular) leaf blades that are sparsely scabrescent (vs. hirsute) on the adaxial surface, the outer tepal margins of the staminate flowers being often serrate occasionally entire (vs. always entire), shorter pistillate pedicels measuring 2–4 mm (vs. ca. 1 cm), and the presence of one or two bracteoles (vs. absent) towards the top of the pedicel. biodiversity, endemism, Indochina, plant conservation, taxonomy, Eudicots   Begonia nhatii V.T. Bui, K.S. Nguyen & C.W. Lin sp. nov. Van Thanh BUI, Khang Sinh NGUYEN and Che Wei LIN. 2025. Begonia nhatii, A New Species (sect. Platycentrum, Begoniaceae) from Lao Cai, Northwest Vietnam. Phytotaxa. 720(1); 81-86. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.720.1.8 [2025-09-26]  | ||||||||||
| 2:36p | [Botany • 2025] Porroglossum hildeae (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) • A New Species from the threatened cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador
Abstract A new species of Porroglossum (Orchidaceae) is described and illustrated from the cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador. Porroglossum hildeae sp. nov. is morphologically similar to P. josei Luer, but can be distinguished by several features: it has narrowly obovate leaves reaching up to 9 cm in length (vs. elliptical, 4.5 cm), a longer dorsal sepaline tail measuring 6 mm (vs. 1.5 mm), oblong-ovate petals with one acute angle at the upper margin (vs. ovate with the upper and lower margins acutely angled below the middle), and the lip obtrullate, attenuate at the base, and acute at the apex (vs. obovate with the apex obtuse and abruptly acuminate). It grows epiphytically at approximately 1,600 m elevation in a cloud forest ecosystem that is increasingly threatened by deforestation, land-use change, and mining activities. Due to its restricted distribution and the ongoing degradation of its habitat, we recommend classifying it as Critically Endangered according to IUCN Red List criteria. Key words: Conservation, Cordillera del Toisán, epiphyte, Intag Valley, IUCN Red List, Río Manduriacu Reserve
Porroglossum hildeae M.F.Monteros, E.Restrepo & Baquero, sp. nov. Diagnosis. Most similar to P. josei Luer but distinguished by the longer, narrowly obovate leaves 8.0–9.0 cm long (vs. shorter, elliptical, 4.5 cm long), tail length of the dorsal sepal 6 mm long (vs. 1.5 mm long), longer lateral sepaline tails 19–20 mm long (vs. ca. 14 mm), petals oblong-ovate with one acute angle near the middle of the upper margin (vs. ovate with two acute angles below the middle), obtrullate blade of the lip with an attenuate base (vs. obovate) and apex of the lip acute (vs. obtuse and abruptly acuminate). Eponymy. The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case, honoring Hildegarden Toeppfer de Kohn (1912–2006), a Czech refugee who settled in Ecuador in 1945. A devoted admirer of nature, particularly orchids, she inspired in her children and grandchildren a deep appreciation for the natural world. This legacy ultimately led them to establish the Río Manduriacu Reserve, the site where this species was discovered. Marco F. Monteros, Eugenio Restrepo, Gabriel A. Iturralde, Marco M. Jiménez and Luis E. Baquero. 2025. Porroglossum hildeae sp. nov. (Orchidaceae), A New Species from the threatened cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador. PhytoKeys. 263: 151-164. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.263.159826 | ||||||||||
| 2:49p | [Crustacea • 2025] Pilarta vaman • A New Species of Pilarta Bahir & Yeo, 2007 (Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India
Abstract A new species of gecarcinucid freshwater crab Pilarta vaman sp. nov. is described from Gavi, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, Southern India. The new species differs from P. anuka Bahir & Yeo, 2007, by its more quadrate carapace with an extremely shallow cervical groove that is almost undiscernible, as well as the proportionately longer terminal article and more convex outer margins of the subterminal article of the male first gonopod; from P. aroma Pati, Rajesh, Raj, Sheeja, Kumar & Sureshan, 2017, by its low subtruncate inner angle of the carpus of the cheliped, and the narrower proximal part of the subterminal article and shape of the terminal article of the male first gonopod; and from P. punctatissima Pati, Rajesh, Raj, Sheeja, Kumar & Sureshan, 2017, by the carapace and the surfaces of the chela being weakly punctate, the male pleonal somite 6 has the lateral margins gently concave and the overall male first gonopod being more elongate. Crustacea, Gecarcinucoidea, Pilarta vaman, taxonomy, new taxon, comparative morphology  Pilarta vaman sp. nov. Smrithy RAJ, Appukuttannair Biju KUMAR and Peter K. L. NG. 2025. Description of A New Species of Pilarta Bahir & Yeo, 2007 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from the Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Zootaxa. 5642(5); 476-484. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5642.5.4 [2025-06-03] | ||||||||||
| 2:53p | [Entomology • 2025] Nudopeza cura, N. glypha, N. rutilans, N. sirena, N. zostera, ... • Nudopeza, a New Genus of Neotropical Micropezidae (Diptera)
Abstract The Neotropical genus Nudopeza (Micropezidae, Taeniapterinae) is described for a group of 41 species, including Nudopeza tapanti sp. nov. (type species) and Nudopeza pronigra (Hennig) n. comb. for Grallipeza pronigra Hennig 1934, Nudopeza arcuata (Hennig) n. comb. for Grallipeza arcuata Hennig 1934, and the following 38 additional new species: N. cegex sp. nov, N. cura sp. nov, N. duplitheca sp. nov, N. gilli sp. nov., N. glypha sp. nov., N. gracei sp. nov., N. hansoni sp. nov., N. horologia sp. nov., N. laselva sp. nov., N. mephitis sp. nov., N. mexicana sp. nov., N. micromephitis sp. nov., N. nigrivertex sp. nov., N. nigriscutellum sp. nov., N. nudarcuata sp. nov., N. penai sp. nov., N. palenque sp. nov., N. paramephitis sp. nov., N. peruviensis sp. nov., N. quadrivitta sp. nov., N. ruficincta sp. nov., N. rutilans sp. nov, N. sirena sp. nov., N. sumaco sp. nov., N. trinidadensis sp. nov., N. uniseta sp. nov., N. variterga sp. nov., N. venezuelensis sp. nov., N. verpa sp. nov., N. versivitta sp. nov., N. viriola sp. nov., N. viva sp. nov., N. yungasensis sp. nov., N. zarza sp. nov., N. zostera sp. nov., N. zumera sp. nov., N. zygoma sp. nov., and N. zytha sp. nov. Keywords: new species; new combinations; Grallipeza Nudopeza New Genus Type species: Nudopeza tapanti sp. nov., current designation. Etymology: The generic name Nudopeza was used informally for many years to refer to species with a bare arista but otherwise superficially similar to Grallipeza. Because the name has been widely used as a manuscript name it is retained and formalized here even though the generic concept is now expanded to include species with a plumose or pubescent arista. Diagnosis: Most species of Nudopeza, including the type species, have a conspicuous white or centrally white scutellum, a white postpronotum flanked mesally by a characteristic black spot, an all or mostly black frontal vitta, and an angled black line dividing the fronto-orbital plate into a pale lower (frontal) plate and a variously pigmented upper (orbital) plate (the net effect is usually a black “V” running eye to eye across the black or mostly black frontal vitta). Male terminalia of most species are simple, with the basal distiphallus ending in a broad phallic bulb as in Grallipeza, although a few males have a short (N. verpa group) to moderately long (N. zostera) distal distiphallus beyond the phallic bulb and two species (N. mexicana sp. nov., N. glypha sp. nov.) have an extraordinarily long distal distiphallus extending far anteriorly into the abdomen along with a correspondingly elongate hypandrium. Female N. glypha and N. mexicana have extremely long spermathecal ducts that seem to correspond with the elongate male phallus. The spermathecal complex of most Nudopeza species includes a simple primary spermathecal duct running to a pair of long, characteristically twisted and often ornamented spermathecal stems; the secondary spermathecal duct is usually very small with a single small or entirely atrophied spermatheca, but some species have both the primary and secondary spermathecae and associated ducts strongly developed. A few species, including the type, have two pairs of spermathecae. One unusual species (N. penai sp. nov) is the only known micropezid with five spermathecae.
Stephen A. Marshall. 2025. Nudopeza, a New Genus of Neotropical Micropezidae (Diptera, Micropezidae, Taeniapterinae). Taxonomy. 5(2), 19; DOI: doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy5020019 [12 April 2025] | ||||||||||
| 3:07p | [Botany • 2025] Begonia brunneosquamata (Begoniaceae, sect. Jackia) • A New Species from Limestone Karsts of Bolikhamxai Province, Central Laos
Abstract Begonia brunneosquamata, a striking new species discovered in the limestone karst region of Bolikhamxai Province, central Laos, is described here. It resembles B. tatianae in being a rhizomatous plant with suborbicular leaves, 4-tepaled staminate flowers, and a zygomorphic androecium. However, the new species differs markedly from B. tatianae in several key morphological characters: the petioles and inflorescences are densely covered with scale-like brown trichomes (vs. glabrous), the anther apex is mucronate (vs. truncate), the pistillate flower bears five tepals (vs. four), and the ovary and styles are sparsely covered with scale-like brown trichomes (vs. ovary bearing sparse 3-branched purple trichomes and styles glabrous). Based on the currently available data, B. brunneosquamata is assigned to the Endangered (EN) category, following the Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Annamite mountains, biodiversity, endemism, flora of Laos, taxonomy, Eudicots  Begonia brunneosquamata Phonep. & C.W. Lin sp. nov. ສົ້ມກຸ້ງວຽງທອງ  Phongphayboun PHONEPASEUTH, Che-Wei LIN. 2025. Begonia brunneosquamata (sect. Jackia, Begoniaceae), A New Species from Limestone Karsts of Bolikhamxai Province, Central Laos. Phytotaxa. 720(1); 67-74. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.720.1.6 [2025-09-26] | ||||||||||
| 3:35p | [Herpetology • 2025] Boulenophrys dalaolingensis • A New Species of Boulenophrys (Anura: Megophyridae) from Hubei Province, China
Abstract The diversity of the genus Boulenophrys, with around 72 species identified so far, is still thought to be highly underestimated, as it contains a large number of undescribed cryptic species. The favorable ecological environment of the Dalaoling National Nature Reserve, located in Yichang City, Hubei Province, is home to many characteristic species. This work describes a new species from central China, namely: Boulenophrys dalaolingensis Wang, Chen & Liu, 2025, sp. nov. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by the combination of nine external characters: (1) medium-sized body (SVL 49.9–56.2 mm in seven males, SVL 50.3–60.0 mm in three females; (2) vomerine teeth absent; (3) margin of tongue smooth, with weakly notch behind; (4) relative finger length III>II=I>IV; (5) tibio-tarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching posterior corner of the eye; and (6) toes with more than 1/4 web. Molecularly, the new species forms an independent clade with strong support in the phylogenetic trees of the genus based on two partial mitochondrial sequences: 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that it is a new species that has not been systematically described. Our work increases the number of species in the genus Boulenophrys to 73. Key words: Boulenophrys dalaolingensis sp. nov., horned toad, Hubei Province, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy 
Boulenophrys dalaolingensis Wang, Chen & Liu, 2025, sp. nov. Diagnosis: (Table 2, Figs 3, 4). The new species is recognized as a member of the B. omeimontis group based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and can be distinguished from its groups by a combination of the following characters: (1) medium-sized body, SVL 49.9–56.2 mm in seven males, SVL 50.3–60.0 mm in three females; (2) head width larger than head length, or nearly equal; (3) vomerine ridge without obvious V-shaped and vomerine teeth absent; (4) supratympanic fold prominent; (5) small nodules on the back, forming a weak V-shaped ridge; two discontinuous dorsolateral parallel ridges on each side of the V-shaped ridge; (6) margin of tongue smooth, with weakly notch behind; (7) maxillary teeth developed; (8) relative finger length III>II=I>IV; (9) tibio-tarsal articulation of ... Etymology: The specific epithet “dalaolingensis” is a Latinized adjective derived from the name of Dalaoling Nature Reserve, Hubei Province, China, which is the type locality of this species. We propose the English common name “Mt. Dalaoling Horned Toad” and the Chinese common name “Dà Lǎo Lǐng Jiǎo Chán (大老岭角蟾)”. Ruiqi Wang, Lu Chen, Jinliang Chen, Haochen Huang, Gangzhi Peng, Honglin Peng, Xinzhang Gao, Bangqing Chen and Naiyi Liu. 2025. A new horned toad of Boulenophrys (Anura, Megophryidae) was discovered in Hubei Province, China. ZooKeys. 1253: 305-320. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1253.154757 | ||||||||||
| 4:04p | [Botany • 2025] Raphiocarpus discolor (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from Guangdong, China
Abstract Raphiocarpus discolor, a new species from Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated. This species is morphologically similar to R. bicallosus C.H.Nguyen, Aver. & F.Wen but can be distinguished by several characteristics, including the absence of prophylls, all axes bearing white pubescence, the corolla tube being externally yellow to brownish yellow with several indistinct longitudinal yellowish-brown stripes, and internally purplish red to purplish brown and glabrous. According to the IUCN Red List criteria for endangered species, this new species has been provisionally recognized as Critically Endangered (CR). Key words: Flora of Guangdong, new taxa, plant taxonomy, Raphiocarpus bicallosus 
Raphiocarpus discolor F.Wen, Z.B.Xin & L.B.Ji, sp. nov. Diagnosis. Raphiocarpus discolor is morphologically similar to R. bicallosus, but it differs from the latter in its leaf blade adaxially densely white puberulent, abaxially nearly glabrous (vs. sparsely hispid adaxially and abaxially); prophylls absent (vs. present); calyx ca. 4 × 1 mm (vs. 5–6 × 2–3 mm), outside pubescent (vs. outside glandular pubescent); corolla tube outside yellow to brownish-yellow externally with several indistinct longitudinal yellowish-brown stripes (vs. tube outside yellow to orange-yellow), inside purplish-red to purplish-brown, glabrous, with two bosses inside the corolla tube placed at the base of the abaxial lobe (vs. inside yellow with more or less dense brown purple spots, hairy bosses inside the corolla tube placed at the base of the abaxial lobe); staminode ca. 6 mm long (vs. ca. 4 mm long); capsule in size 35–39 × ca. 2 mm (vs. 50–60 × ca. 3 mm) (Table 1), although there are differences between them, these distinctions remain consistently stable. Etymology. The specific epithet ‘discolor’ is derived from the Latin ‘dis-’ (meaning ‘different’) and ‘-color’ (meaning ‘color’), referring to the color differences in different parts of the corolla. Vernacular name. Huà Zhoū Loù Doú Jù Tái (Chinese pronunciation); 化州漏斗苣苔 (Chinese name). Xiao-Mao Qian, Jia-Xin Fu, Ling-Bo Ji, Bo Tang, Zi-Bing Xin and Fang Wen. 2025. Raphiocarpus discolor (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Guangdong, China. PhytoKeys. 263: 165-174. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.263.167423 |
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