[PaleoIchthyology • 2024] Exceptionally preserved Shark Fossils from Mexico elucidate the Long-standing Enigma of the Cretaceous Elasmobranch Ptychodus (Lamniformes: Ptychodontidae)

 Ptychodus Agassiz, 1834

in Vullo, Villalobos-Segura, Amadori, Kriwet, Frey, González, Gutiérrez, Ifrim, Stinnesbeck et Stinnesbeck, 2024.

DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0262

 

Abstract

The fossil fish Ptychodus Agassiz, 1834, characterized by a highly distinctive grinding dentition and an estimated gigantic body size (up to around 10 m), has remained one of the most enigmatic extinct elasmobranchs (i.e. sharks, skates and rays) for nearly two centuries. This widespread Cretaceous taxon is common in Albian to Campanian deposits from almost all continents. However, specimens mostly consist of isolated teeth or more or less complete dentitions, whereas cranial and post-cranial skeletal elements are very rare. Here we describe newly discovered material from the early Late Cretaceous of Mexico, including complete articulated specimens with preserved body outline, which reveals crucial information on the anatomy and systematic position of Ptychodus. Our phylogenetic and ecomorphological analyses indicate that ptychodontids were high-speed (tachypelagic) durophagous lamniforms (mackerel sharks), which occupied a specialized predatory niche previously unknown in fossil and extant elasmobranchs. Our results support the view that lamniforms were ecomorphologically highly diverse and represented the dominant group of sharks in Cretaceous marine ecosystems. Ptychodus may have fed predominantly on nektonic hard-shelled prey items such as ammonites and sea turtles rather than on benthic invertebrates, and its extinction during the Campanian, well before the end-Cretaceous crisis, might have been related to competition with emerging blunt-toothed globidensine and prognathodontine mosasaurs.

Keywords: Chondrichthyes, Lamniformes, Ptychodontidae, ecomorphology, Late Cretaceous, Vallecillo fossil Lagerstätte

Romain Vullo, Eduardo Villalobos-Segura, Manuel Amadori, Jürgen Kriwet, Eberhard Frey, Margarito A. González González, José M. Padilla Gutiérrez, Christina Ifrim, Eva S. Stinnesbeck and Wolfgang Stinnesbeck. 2024. Exceptionally preserved Shark Fossils from Mexico elucidate the Long-standing Enigma of the Cretaceous Elasmobranch Ptychodus.  Proc. R. Soc. B. 291: 20240262. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0262

 

[PaleoIchthyology • 2024] From Sabers to Spikes: A newfangled Reconstruction of the Ancient, Giant, sexually dimorphic Pacific Salmon, Oncorhynchus rastrosus (Salmoniformes: Salmoninae: Salmonini)

 

Oncorhynchus rastrosus (Cavender & Miller, 1972) 

in Claeson, Sidlauskas, Troll, Prescott et Davis, 2024.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300252

Abstract

The impressive †Oncorhynchus rastrosus of the Pacific Northwest’s Miocene and Pliocene eras was the largest salmonid ever to live. It sported a hypertrophied premaxilla with a pair of enlarged teeth which the original describers reconstructed as projecting ventrally into the mouth, leading them to assign the species to “Smilodonichthys,” a genus now in synonymy. Through CT reconstruction of the holotype and newly collected specimens, we demonstrate that the famed teeth projected laterally like tusks, not ventrally like sabers or fangs. We also expand the original description to characterize sexual dimorphism in mature, breeding individuals. Male and female †Oncorhynchus rastrosus differ in the form of the vomer, rostro-dermethmoid-supraethmoid, and dentary, much as do other extant species of Oncorhynchus. Male specimens possess a more elongate vomer than do females, and female vomers have concave ventral surfaces and prominent median dorsal keels. The dentary of females has no evidence of a kype, though some specimens of †O. rastrosus have a non-uniform density mesial to the tooth bed, which we interpret as a male kype. Unlike extant Oncorhynchus, male and female †O. rastrosus do not differ in premaxilla shape. Because male and females possess hypertrophied premaxillae and lateral premaxillary spikes, the former common name “Sabertoothed Salmon” no longer reflects our understanding of the species’ morphology. Accordingly, we redub †O. rastrosus the Spike-Toothed Salmon and postulate that its spikes were multifunctional, serving as defense against predators, in agonism against conspecifics, and as a practical aid to nest construction.

Oncorhynchus rastrosus.
(A) CT model of Holotype, UO F-26799, skull in right lateral view with a stylized drawing of the originally proposed “sabertoothed” position of the isolated premaxilla; (B) UO_A in anterior view of skull, prior to complete preparation and CT scan; (C) Artist’s rendering skull of male iconic fish with accurate spike-tooth configuration; (D) Artist’s rendering of complete female iconic fish with accurate spike-tooth configuration. Scale bar blocks = 1 cm each.

Conclusion: 

Extant Pacific salmon are sexually dimorphic, anadromous fishes navigating complex terrains to successfully breed. They undergo impressive physiological and morphological transformations prior to and during migration inland to spawn. †Oncorhynchus rastrosus was no exception, despite its huge size and unusual filter feeding ecology. The newly recovered specimens from the Gateway Locality of Oregon represent mature individuals with subtle dimorphism in the vomer, rostro-dermethmoid-supraethmoid, and dentary. Male specimens possess a more elongate vomer than do females and do not have a dorsal keel as in females. The female dentary has no evidence of a kype and possesses two mesial teeth. Male specimens of †O. rastrosus have a non-uniform density deep to the tooth bed and edentulous portion of the dentary, which we interpret as evidence of a kype. Finally, the rds is blunt in females and pointed in males. Unlike extant Oncorhynchus, male and female specimens of †O. rastrosus do not differ in premaxilla shape and both sexes possess prominent, laterally-directed premaxillary teeth. These spikes on the hypertrophied premaxilla could have defended against predators, enhanced agonism against conspecific individuals, and/or aided nest construction.

 Kerin M. Claeson, Brian L. Sidlauskas, Ray Troll, Zabrina M. Prescott and Edward B. Davis. 2024. From Sabers to Spikes: A newfangled Reconstruction of the Ancient, Giant, sexually dimorphic Pacific Salmon, †Oncorhynchus rastrosus (SALMONINAE: SALMONINI). PLoS ONE. 19(4): e0300252. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300252

[Botany • 2024] Gynoxys revolutifolia (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) • A New Species from southern Ecuador

Gynoxys revolutifolia R. Arias, Espinosa-Ortega & Revilla, 

in Arias, Espinosa-Ortega, Revilla, Ansaloni et Tomasello, 2024.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.3.4

 

Abstract

Gynoxys is a very diverse genus of Asteraceae with an Andean distribution from Venezuela to northern Argentina. It comprises about 130 species, 34 of which are recorded in Ecuador. In the present study, we describe Gynoxys revolutifolia, a new species occurring in Ecuador between Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe provinces. The new species is a shrub or treelet characterized by coriaceous leaves with a strongly revolute margin. After an accurate revision of the main Ecuadorian herbaria and field surveys, we provide a comprehensive comparison of G. revolutifolia with the species it was previously misidentified as. We also provide information concerning the chemical composition, distribution range and conservation status of the new species.

Keywords: Andes, Compositae, Loja, Taxonomy, Zamora-Chinchipe

Lankester Composite Dissection Plate of Gynoxys revolutifolia R. Arias, Espinosa-Ortega & Revilla
A. Flowering branch. B. Leaf: abaxial surface (left), adaxial surface (right). C. Synflorescence. D. Capitulum, front view. E. Capitulum, cross-section. F. Calycle. G. Bracteoles: abaxial surface (left), adaxial surface (right). H. Outer phyllaries: abaxial surface (left), adaxial surface (right). I. Inner phyllaries: abaxial surface (left), adaxial surface (right). J. Ray floret (pappus removed). K. Ray floret style. L. Disc floret (pappus removed). M. Disc floret style. N. Anther. O. Achene (immature). P. Pappus bristles.

Photos and preparation by N. Espinosa-Ortega based on the isotype (QCA249764).

 Gynoxys revolutifolia.
A. Habit, shrub in shrubby páramo, Cerro Toledo-Loja/Zamora Chinchipe border. (R. Ansaloni & N. Espinosa-Ortega 310).
B. Habit, treelet in elfin forest, Yangana-Cerro Toledo road, Loja (R. Ansaloni & N. Espinosa-Ortega 311).

Photos by N. Espinosa-Ortega

Gynoxys revolutifolia R. Arias, Espinosa-Ortega & Revilla, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis:—The new species differs from all other congeners by having coriaceous leaves with strongly revolute margins (giving it a concave shape) and conspicuous primary and secondary veins (8–12 pairs) on both leaf surfaces, simple and T-shaped trichomes covering the abaxial side of the leaves, involucre with 8 phyllaries with ferruginous unicellular trichomes, 4–5 ray florets with limbs 10–11 mm long and 8–9(–12) disc florets. 

Etymology:—The specific epithet of the new species refers to the strong revolute leaf margins.

Ruth Arias, Nelson Espinosa-Ortega, Italo Revilla, Raffaella Ansaloni and Salvatore Tomasello. 2024. Gynoxys revolutifolia (Senecioneae, Asteraceae): A New Species from southern Ecuador.  Phytotaxa. 644(3); 211-219. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.3.4

[Crustacea • 2024] Wollastenothoe minuta • “Hidden” Biodiversity: A New amphipod Genus (Amphipoda: Stenothoidae) dominates Epifauna in Association with a mesophotic Black Coral Forest

 

Wollastenothoe minuta Gouillieux & Navarro-Mayoral, 

in Navarro-Mayoral, Gouillieux, Fernandez-Gonzalez, Tuya, Lecoquierre, ... et Otero-Ferrer, 2024.

DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02491-y

 twitter.com/philebo73

Abstract

Black corals are important components of mesophotic and deep-water marine habitats. Their presence at great depths (e.g., 50 to 200 m) makes accessibility difficult, limiting our understanding of the associated biodiversity. Amphipods dominate vagile epifauna in marine habitats around the world, fulfilling important ecosystem functions. However, there are no studies on amphipods exclusively associated with black corals, including relationships between their ecological patterns (e.g., abundances) and the size of coral colonies. We investigated the epifaunal composition and abundance associated with black coral colonies of Antipathella wollastoni in the subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean. In total, 1,736 epifaunal individuals were identified, of which 1,706 (98.27%) were amphipods, belonging to 6 taxa. We identified and described a new amphipod genus and species within the Stenothoidae family, Wollastenothoe minuta gen. nov., sp. nov., which outnumbered the amphipod assemblage (86.15%) and provided a complete taxonomic key of Stenothoidae family including this new finding. For the first time, the association between an amphipod species and a black coral was described, including a strong correlation between coral colony size and amphipod abundances. This study demonstrates that epifauna associated with mesophotic black corals remains largely undescribed.

Keywords: Stenothoidae, Key to species, Antipathella wollastoni, Epifauna, Marine animal forests

Wollastenothoe minuta gen. nov., sp. nov. SEM pictures, MNHN-IU-2021–8808.
a Lateral view; b Maxilla 2, left; c Lower lip; d Gnathopod 2, outer face, dactylus and propodus; e Gnathopod 1, inner face, dactylus and propodus; f Urosome, lateral view.

 Scale bars: a: 0.25 mm; b: 0.01 mm; c: 0.01 mm, d, e: 0.02; f: 0.1 mm

 

Taxonomy

Class Malacostraca Latreille 1806

Order Amphipoda Latreille 1816

Suborder Senticaudata Lowry & Myers 2013

Family Stenothoidae Boeck 1871

Genus Wollastenothoe Gouillieux & Navarro-Mayoral gen. nov.

Diagnosis of the new genus: Body dorsally smooth. Head without rostrum. Antenna 1 article 1 not nasiform; accessory flagellum with 1 article. Mandible palp with 1 article, molar process conical. Maxilla 1 palp with 2 articles. Gnathopod 1 and 2 subchelate, subequal. P5 basis rectolinear without posterodistal lobe. P6-7 basis widened.

Etymology: The genus name, Wollastenothoe, refers the combination of host name corresponding to the species of black coral (i.e., Antipathella wollastoni) with the genus name Stenothoe belonging to the Stenothoidae family.

  Wollastenothoe minuta Gouillieux & Navarro-Mayoral gen. nov., sp. nov.,  

Diagnosis: Body length less than 1.5 mm. Antenna subequal, shorter than half length of body. Antenna 1 accessory flagellum with 1 small article. Gnathopod 1 and 2 subchelate, subequal. Pereonite 4 slightly longer than pereonite 3. Coxa 4 ventral margin concave. Coxae 5–7 posterior margin with a notch. P5 basis rectolinear without posterodistal lobe. P6-7 basis widened with posterodistal lobe reaching along half of ischium, merus posterodistal lobe reaching more than half length of carpus. Telson with dorsal spines.

 

Etymology. The epithet specific of the species, minuta, refers to its small size.

Type locality. Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain.

Sandra Navarro-Mayoral, Benoit Gouillieux, Victoria Fernandez-Gonzalez, Fernando Tuya, Ninon Lecoquierre, Lorenzo Bramanti, Lucas Terrana, Fernando Espino, Jean-François Flot, Ricardo Haroun and Francisco Otero-Ferrer. 2024. “Hidden” Biodiversity: A New amphipod Genus dominates Epifauna in Association with a mesophotic Black Coral Forest. Coral Reefs. DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02491-y

 twitter.com/philebo73/status/1780971901126328651

[Entomology • 2024] Cryptophasa warouwi • A New endemic Clove Tree Pest of Cryptophasa Lewin (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae), from Sangihe Island, Sulawesi, Indonesia

[C-D] Cryptophasa warouwi  Sutrisno & Watung, 2024
[A, B] Crytophasa watungi Sutrisno & Suwito, 2015

in Watung, Tairas, Kaligis, Darmawan, Suwito, Narakusumo, Encilia, Dwibadra, Dharmayanthi et Sutrisno, 2024. 

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5403.1.10

Abstract

A novel endemic pest of clove tree, Cryptophasa warouwi sp. nov., has been discovered on Sangihe Island. This new species can be distinguished from its closest relative species, C. watungi Sutrisno & Suwito, 2015 which is found in North Sulawesi, by its dark brown straw-coloured wings in both males and females. The most distinctive diagnostic characters of this new species are observed in its genitalia structure: a bent-downward uncus with a strongly sclerotized finger-shaped apex, a bent phallus gradually widened towards coecum, and a double, membranous corpus bursae branching off at mid-ductus corpus bursae of female genitalia. Additionally, DNA barcodes revealed this new species to be embedded among Australian Cryptophasa species despite having fasciculated male antennae that have been considered diagnostic of the genus Paralecta. This suggests that the male antennae may not be a reliable character for separating Cryptophasa from Paralecta. A more comprehensive study including all Cryptophasa and Paralecta will be required to elucidate the definition of each genus. Images depicting both adults and genitalia are provided for this newly recognized species.

 Lepidoptera, clove, description, genitalia, Syzygium, tunnels

  A. Crytophasa watungi ♂, B. C. watungi 3f,
C. C. warouwi sp. nov., ♂, D. C. warouwi ♀.

ds= discal spot, blt= basal line of termen.

Cryptophasa warouwi Sutrisno & Watung, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The male of C. warouwi sp. nov. is easily distinguished from the closest species, C. watungi , by the forewing dark brown streak along the entire costa, which is gradually paler towards CuP, being light brown from CuP towards dorsum, the dark brown spots on discal cell of forewing, predominantly dark brown and become paler from the cubito-anal (CuA 1 and CuA 2) area towards dorsum, and white on the discal cell of hindwing. The female has the forewing with a white ochreous ground color tinged with brown from costa to dorsum, more pronouncedly so toward the margin, with a dark brown spot at the discal cell, a margin with a prominent basal line of alternating white and dark brown dashes (Fig. 1C–D). A bent-down uncus (black arrow) with a strongly sclerotized, finger-shaped apex (black arrow) a slightly sclerotised, medially bent phallus (black arrow), and a double corpus bursae without signum black arrow) are the best diagnostic for the male and female genitalia of this species (Fig. 2C–D, 3B).

Etymology: The species name is dedicated to Dr. Ir. Jootje Warouw, a senior entomologist and retired professor in the Faculty of Agriculture, Sam Ratulangi University who conducted research on pest control in Sangihe and Talaud Islands.

Jackson F. Watung, Robert W. Tairas, James B. Kaligis, Darmawan Darmawan, Awit Suwito, Raden Pramesa Narakusumo, Encilia Encilia, Dhian Dwibadra, Anik Budhi Dharmayanthi and Hari Sutrisno. 2024. A New endemic Clove Tree Pest of Cryptophasa Lewin, from Sangihe Island, Indonesia (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae).  Zootaxa. 5403(1); 141-150. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5403.1.10

[Funga • 2024] Leccinellum bothii, Phylloporus himalayanus, Porphyrellus uttarakhandae, etc. • Concordance of Multigene Genealogy along with Morphological Evidence unveils Five Novel Species and Two New Records of boletoid Mushrooms (Fungi) from India

 

Phylloporus himalayanus K. Das, Sudeshna Datta & A. Ghosh,

Phylloporus smithii K. Das, Sudeshna Datta, U. Singh & A. Ghosh 

Leccinellum bothii K. Das, A. Ghosh, Sudeshna Datta, U. Singh & Vizzini,  

Porphyrellus uttarakhandae K. Das, Sudeshna Datta & A. Ghosh, 

Retiboletus pseudoater K. Das, A. Ghosh, Sudeshna Datta & Vizzini, 

in Das, Ghosh, Datta, Singh, Chakraborty, Tudu et Vizzini, 2024

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59781-2

 

Abstract

Agaricales, Russulales and Boletales are dominant orders among the wild mushrooms in Basidiomycota. Boletaceae, one of the major functional elements in terrestrial ecosystem and mostly represented by ectomycorrhizal symbionts of trees in Indian Himalaya and adjoining hills, are extraordinarily diverse and represented by numerous genera and species which are unexplored or poorly known. Therefore, their hidden diversity is yet to be revealed. Extensive macrofungal exploration by the authors to different parts of Himalaya and surroundings, followed by through morphological studies and multigene molecular phylogeny lead to the discovery of five new species of wild mushrooms: Leccinellum bothii sp. nov., Phylloporus himalayanus sp. nov., Phylloporus smithii sp. nov., Porphyrellus uttarakhandae sp. nov., and Retiboletus pseudoater sp. nov. Present communication deals with morphological details coupled with illustrations and phylogenetic inferences. Besides, Leccinellum sinoaurantiacum and Xerocomus rugosellus are also reported for the first time from this country.

Keywords: Agaricomycetes, Biodiversity, Boletaceae, Morphology, Multigene phylogeny, Novel species

Leccinoideae

Leccinellum bothii K. Das, A. Ghosh, Sudeshna Datta, U. Singh & Vizzini sp. nov.

Etymology Commemorating E.E. Both for his important contribution to the systematics of Boletaceae.

Xerocomoideae

Phylloporus himalayanus K. Das, Sudeshna Datta & A. Ghosh sp. nov. 

Phylloporus smithii K. Das, Sudeshna Datta, U. Singh & A. Ghosh sp. nov. 

Etymology Commemorating Alexander H. Smith for his significant contribution to the systematics of Boletaceae.

Boletoideae

Porphyrellus uttarakhandae K. Das, Sudeshna Datta & A. Ghosh sp. nov. 

Retiboletus pseudoater K. Das, A. Ghosh, Sudeshna Datta & Vizzini sp. nov. 

 Kanad Das, Aniket Ghosh, Sudeshna Datta, Upendra Singh, Dyutiparna Chakraborty, Debala Tudu and Alfredo Vizzini. 2024. Concordance of Multigene Genealogy along with Morphological Evidence unveils Five Novel Species and Two New Records of boletoid Mushrooms (Fungi) from India. Scientific Reports. 14: 9298. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59781-2

[Botany • 2024] Vincetoxicum gongshanense (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) • A New Species from Yunnan, China

Vincetoxicum gongshanense Wen B. Xu & J. Y. Shen,

in  Xu, Liu, Li, Yan et Shen, 2024. 

 taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/1991

  facebook.com/TaiwaniaOffice

Photos by Jian-Yong Shen & Wen-Bin Xu.

Abstract

Vincetoxicum gongshanense Wen B. Xu & J. Y. Shen (Apocynaceae), a new species from Gongshan County, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to V. silvestre (Tsiang) Meve & Liede, V. kerrii (Craib) A. Kidyoo and V. biondioides (W. T. Wang) C. Y. Wu & D. Z. Li, but can be distinguished by the leathery leaves, five basal veins, ovate-triangular sepals, yellow corolla, lanceolate corolla lobes, wide triangular corona and reniform pollinia. Photographs, line drawing, distribution, comparison with related species, and a parallel conservation assessment are provided for this species.

Keyword: Apocynaceae, Vincetoxicum biondioides, Vincetoxicum kerrii, Vincetoxicum silvestre, Yunnan, China, Tylophora

Vincetoxicum gongshanense Wen B. Xu & J. Y. Shen.
A. Flowering plant. B. Inflorescence in lateral view. C. Flower in ventral view. D. Gynostegium in lateral view. E. Sepals. F. Branchlets showing dense pubescence. G. Leaves showing adaxial (above) and abaxial (below) surface. H. Style-head in lateral view showing attached pollinarium I. Pollinarium.

Photos by Jian-Yong Shen & Wen-Bin Xu.

Vincetoxicum gongshanense Wen B. Xu & J. Y. Shen.
A. Section of trailing plant in habit. B. Flower in ventral view. C. Gynostegium in lateral view. D. Anther in ventral view. E. Anther and corona in lateral view. F. Leaves showing abaxial (right) and adaxial (left) surface. G. Styles and style-head in lateral view. H. Pollinia. I. Sepals in abaxial view.

Drawn by Jing-Jing Yan.

Vincetoxicum gongshanense Wen B.Xu & J.Y.Shen, sp. nov. 

貢山娃兒藤 

Diagnosis: Vincetoxicum gongshanense is morphologically similar to V. silvestre, V. kerrii and V. biondioides by the habit of vines and linear lanceolate leaves, but can be distinguished by the leathery leaves, five basal veins, ovate-triangular sepals, yellow corolla, lanceolate corolla lobes, wide triangular corona and reniform pollinia. (Table 1)

...

Etymology: The epithet “gongshanense” is derived from the type locality Gongshan County, Yunnan, China.  

Wen-Bin Xu, Yan-Ling Liu, Xin-Wei Li, Jing-Jing Yan and Jian-Yong Shen. 2024. Vincetoxicum gongshanense (Apocynaceae), A New Species from Yunnan, China. Taiwania. 69(2); 168-172.  taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/1991

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[Herpetology • 2024] Cnemaspis persephone & C. sanctus • Two New nocturnal Species of South Asian Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) of the wynadensis clade from the southern Western Ghats, India

Cnemaspis persephone & C. sanctus  

Khandekar, Thackeray & Agarwal, 2024

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5443.3.3 

 facebook.com/AkshayKhandekarAK

 

Abstract

We describe two new medium-bodied, nocturnal species of South Asian Cnemaspis from the southern Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India in an integrative taxonomic framework. The two new species are phylogenetically and morphologically allied to the wynadensis clade and can be distinguished from other species of the wynadensis clade and each other by a combination of nonoverlapping morphological characters including body size, homogeneous dorsal pholidosis, the number of femoral pores and poreless scales separating these series, the number of ventral scales across the midbody and longitudinal scales from mental to cloaca, the number of dorsal granules around the body; and an uncorrected pairwise ND2 sequence divergence of 8.2–22.9 % (16S 4.2–12.2 %) from all other members in the clade. These are the first members of the wynadensis clade known from south of the Palghat Gap apart from C. bireticulata, a putative junior synonym of C. sisparensis that is likely to be distinct owing to morphological differences and geographic distance. Cnemaspis sanctus sp. nov. is from low coastal hills in Kanyakumari District at the southern tip of the Western Ghats and Cnemaspis persephone sp. nov. is from the Anaimalais, Anaimalai Tiger Reserve. Many more undescribed species of the wynadensis clade and South Asian Cnemaspis are likely to be found across the southern Western Ghats.

Asia, biodiversity hotspot, dwarf geckos, integrative taxonomy, phylogeny, species complex, Squamata,

Akshay Khandekar, Tejas Thackeray, Ishan Agarwal. 2024. Two New nocturnal Species of South Asian Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) of the wynadensis clade from the southern Western Ghats, India.  Zootaxa. 5443(3); 353-386. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5443.3.3

  facebook.com/AkshayKhandekarAK/posts/7324976984267598

[Botany • 2024] Impatiens neo-uncinata (Balsaminaceae) • A New Species from southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India

 

Impatiens neo-uncinata V.S.A.Kumar & Sindhu Arya, 

in Sindhu et Kumar, 2024. 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.1.1 

 facebook.com: Arya Rajasekhar S 

 Abstract

A new species, Impatiens neo-uncinata, belonging to section Scorpioidae is described and illustrated from Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in the southern Western Ghats. It is morphologically similar to Impatiens unicinata, but can easily be distinguished in having milky white distal lobe of keel petal, deltoid shape of standard petals and 1–2 seeded capsules. Furthermore, the SEM analysis of pollen and seed also delineate the taxa. Impatiens neo-uncinatais assessed here as Endangered based on the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List.

Eudicots, Agasthyamala biosphere reserve, Impatiens, Scorpioidae, taxonomy

   

Impatiens neo-uncinata V.S.A.Kumar & Sindhu Arya

Arya Sindhu and Venugopalan Nair Saradhamma Anil Kumar. 2024. Impatiens neo-uncinata (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India.  Phytotaxa. 644(1); 1-9. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.644.1.1

  facebook.com/AryaSindu33/posts/7271537509632189

   

[Botany • 2024] Casearia septandra (Salicaceae) • A New tree Species from the Mountains of Guinea, West Africa

Casearia septandra Breteler & Baldé, 

in Breteler et Baldé, 2024. 

DOI: 10.1007/s12225-024-10166-8 

 twitter.com/KewBulletin

Summary

In the synopsis of Casearia Jacq. in West and Central Africa (Breteler 2008), only a single, poor collection (Adam 3972), identified as C. prismatocarpa Mast., was recorded from the mountains of Guinea. More recently, some other flowering and fruiting specimens of Casearia have been collected from the same region as Adam’s specimen and together they represent a new species. It is illustrated and named herein as Casearia septandra, its distribution is mapped and conservation status assessed as Endangered, according to the IUCN criteria. A key to the four Casearia species of the Upper Guinea region of West Africa is presented.

Key Words: endangered, endemic, montane rainforest, taxonomy, woody plant

Casearia septandra. A leafy branchlet; B fruits; C dehisced fruit.

A – B from Baldé 1001; C from C. A. Couch et al. 550.

photos: A – B © A. Baldé; C © X. van der Burgt

Casearia septandra Breteler & Baldé sp. nov.

F. J. Breteler and A. Baldé. 2024. Casearia septandra (Salicaceae), A New tree Species from the Mountains of Guinea, West Africa. Kew Bulletin. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-024-10166-8

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[Arachnida • 2023] Leiurus nigellus • A New remarkable Species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia

Leiurus nigellus Abu Afifeh, Aloufi & Al-Saraireh, 

in Afifeh, Aloufi, Al-Saraireh, Badry, Al-Qahtni et Amr, 2023.

DOI: 10.37828/em.2023.69.9 

 Researchgate.net/publication/375743878

 Abstract

A new remarkable buthid scorpion, Leiurus nigellus sp. nov., was discovered in Al Ula Governorate, north of Al Madinah Al Monawwarah Province, Saudi Arabia. The new species is described, fully illustrated, and compared with other species of the genus Leiurus reported from the Arabian Peninsula. Notes on its habitats are provided.

 Habitus of Leiurus nigellus sp. nov., male paratype and female holotype.
A. male in dorsal view. B. male in ventral view.
C. female in dorsal view. D. female in ventral view.

Scale bar = 20 mm.

Leiurus nigellus sp. nov. Abu Afifeh, Aloufi & Al-Saraireh

Leiurus nigellus sp. nov., female paratype from Al Buriakah, Al Ula governorate, Saudi Arabia.

 

Bassam Abu Afifeh, Abdulhadi Aloufi, Mohammad Al-Saraireh, Ahmed Badry, Abdulmani H. Al-Qahtni and Zuhair S. Amr. 2023. A New remarkable Species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Ecologica Montenegrina. 69; 91-106. DOI: 10.37828/em.2023.69.9

  Researchgate.net/publication/375743878_A_new_species_of_Leiurus_from_SaudiArabia

[Entomology • 2023] Kalimantanossus kongkeoi • A New Species of Kalimantanossus Yakovlev, 2011 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae: Cossinae) from Laos

[1] Kalimantanossus kongkeoi Yakovlev, Prozorov, Prozorova & Müller, 2023; 
[2-4] K. microgenitalis (Yakovlev, 2004)

DOI: 10.37828/em.2023.69.15  

Researchgate.net/publication/375801094

Abstract

The article describes Kalimantanossus kongkeo, sp. n. (Lepidoptera, Cossidae: Cossinae) distributed in the Central Laos (Xiangkhouang Province). The article has nine illustrations. The world catalog of the genus Kalimantanossus Yakovlev, 2011 is presented.

Figures 1−5. Kalimantanossus, adult males:
 1. Kalimantanossus kongkeoi, holotype (coll. G. Müller, Freising); 
2. K. microgenitalis, holotype (MWM); 3. K. microgenitalis, Borneo, Trus-Madi (MWM); 4. K. microgenitalis, Borneo, Trus-Madi (MWM); 5. K. microgenitalis in nature, Trus Madi Entomology Camp, Nuluhon Trusmadi Forest Reserve, Keningau District, Sabah, Borneo. Lower montane dipterocarp forest, 1050 m, 5.442964 N / 116.451075 E (photo by Alexey Yakovlev).

1. Kalimantanossus kongkeoi, holotype (coll. G. Müller, Freising); 2. K. microgenitalis, holotype (MWM); 3. K. microgenitalis, Borneo, Trus-Madi (MWM); 4. K. microgenitalis, Borneo, Trus-Madi (MWM); 5. K. microgenitalis in nature, Trus Madi Entomology Camp, Nuluhon Trusmadi Forest Reserve, Keningau District, Sabah, Borneo. Lower montane dipterocarp forest, 1050 m, 5.442964 N / 116.451075 E (photo by Alexey Yakovlev).

Kalimantanossus kongkeo, sp. n. 

Roman V. Yakovlev, Alexey M. Prozorov, Tatiana A. Prozorova, Günter C. Müller. 2023. New Species of Kalimantanossus Yakovlev, 2011 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae: Cossinae) from Laos with the genus catalogue. Ecologica Montenegrina. 69; 154-159. DOI: 10.37828/em.2023.69.15

  Researchgate.net/publication/375801094_New_species_of_Kalimantanossus_from_Laos

[Botany • 2024] Primulina hoangmongii (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from northern Vietnam

 Primulina hoangmongii K.S. Nguyen, Aver. & C.W. Lin, 

in Nguyen, Averyanov et Lin, 2024.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.645.2.7

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Abstract

Primulina hoangmongii, a new species from Yen Bai Province of northern Vietnam, is described and illustrated. It is similar to P. albicalyx in its robust rhizome, rosette leaves, and yellow flowers. However, P. hoangmongii is clearly distinguished by its linear to narrowly-lanceolate bracts, 8–12 × 2–3 mm (vs. narrowly ovate to ovate, 18–25 × 9–14 mm), green calyx (vs. white), rich yellow corolla (vs. pale yellowish), base of the upper lip flat, thin and rich pure yellow (vs. swelling between lobes, yellow-brownish), and a ligulate, entire stigma (vs. deltoid, 2-lobed). The conservation status of P. hoangmongii is preliminarily assessed according to IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered (CR).

plant diversity, endemism, plants of limestone karst, plant taxonomy, Eudicots

Primulina hoangmongii

 

Khang Sinh Nguyen, Leonid V. Averyanov and Che Wei Lin. 2024. Primulina hoangmongii (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from northern Vietnam.  Phytotaxa. 645(2); 179-185. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.645.2.7

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