Monday, December 31, 2018

[Entomology • 2018] Holopothrips Diversity — A Neotropical Genus of Gall-inducing Insects (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae)


Holopothrips sp.

in Lindner, Ferrari, Mound & Cavalleri. 2018.

Abstract
The genus Holopothrips represents the main Neotropical group of thrips associated with plant galls, and several of the 36 currently described species are known to induce or invade galls of other organisms. The existence of several Holopothrips specimens in collections that do not belong to any of the already described species, allied to the absence of basic biological information for several species, such as host plants and habit, shows that the current knowledge on the genus is severely lacking. Here we start addressing these problems, by describing 24 new species: H. acrioris, H. atlanticus, H. bicolor, H. brevicapitatum, H. cardosoi, H. curiosus, H. flavisetis, H. graziae, H. inconspicuus, H. infestans, H. irregularis, H. johanseni, H. kaminskii, H. longihamus, H. longisetus, H. magnus, H. maiae, H. nigrisetis, H. nigrum, H. punctatus, H. reticulatus, H. singularis, H. spermathecus, H. varicolor. This study also includes information on galls for several species; an updated and illustrated key to species; and comments on the morphological diversity of the group. With that, we hope to lay the taxonomic and morphological bases for future studies in this group, focusing on its diversity, ecology and phylogenetic relationships.

Keywords: Thysanoptera, Galling thrips, Morphology, Neotropics, New species, Taxonomy





Mariana F. Lindner, Augusto Ferrari, Laurence A. Mound and Adriano Cavalleri. 2018. Holopothrips Diversity — A Neotropical Genus of Gall-inducing Insects (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae). Zootaxa.   4494(1); 1-99.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4494.1.1

[Arachnida • 2018] Philippinozercon makilingensis • A New Genus of Heterozerconidae (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata), with Description of All Active Instars


Philippinozercon makilingensis 

Gerdeman, Garcia, Herczak & Klompen, 2018


Abstract
The generic classification of millipede associated Heterozerconidae in the Oriental region is revised. The genus Allozercon Vitzthum is re-diagnosed and Asioheterozercon Fain is designated as an subjective junior synonym of Allozercon. Philippinozercon gen. nov., with the type species P. makilingensis sp. nov., is described for all instars. This genus may be endemic for the Philippines, but is quite widespread in that country. All immature instars are described, making this the second species of Heterozerconidae known for all instars. The morphology of the immatures is compared with that of immatures of the temperate species Narceoheterozercon ohioensis and unnamed species from Brazil and Thailand. All immatures were collected from millipede frass and litter, never from millipedes. Adults are associated with millipedes in the family Trigoniulidae (Spirobolida).

Keywords: Acari, heteromorphic development, Diplopoda, Oriental region, classification


FIGURE 1.  Philippinozercon makilingensis sp. nov., chelicera.
A, Deutonymph (OSAL 0053228); B, Female (OSAL 0053222); C, Male (OSAL 0053267).
Scale bar = 50 µm.

FIGURE 2.   Philippinozercon makilingensis sp. nov., chelicera male, confocal microscopy, maximum intensity projection.

Philippinozercon Gerdeman, Garcia, Herczak & Klompen gen. nov. 

  Philippinozercon makilingensis Gerdeman, Garcia, Herczak & Klompen sp. nov.

Diagnosis (based on adults). With the following combination of characters: adults with only three setae on the palp genu (unique); lacking series of spine-like setae latero-ventrally on the idiosoma; metapodal shields with acute postero-lateral angles (unique); setae Jv5 inserted posterior to the fusion line of the ventral and anal shields; with one pair of greatly elongated setae inserted on the postero-marginal shield. Female with a strip-like sclerite between the geniti-ventral and the endopodal-sternal shield remnants; sternal setae st3 inserted on soft cuticle. Male with sternal setae st3 on endopodal-sternal shield remnants (unique); seta pl1 on femora II hook-like and spinose.
....

Etymology. The name is derived from the location where the specimen was collected. Philippinozercon refers to the country, the Republic of the Philippines, and makilingensis refers to Mount Makiling, the dormant volcano located on the southern border between Laguna and Batangas provinces on the island of Luzon. 


Beverly S. Gerdeman, Rufino C. Garcia, Andrew Herczak and Hans Klompen. 2018. Philippinozercon, A New Genus of Heterozerconidae (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata), with Description of All Active Instars. Zootaxa. 4540(1); 7–22.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4540.1.4


[Arachnida • 2018] Tenuipalpus protium & T. kitajimai • Two New Species of Tenuipalpus sensu stricto (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Brazil, with A Discussion on the Ontogeny of Leg Setae


Tenuipalpus protium 
Castro, Beard, Ochoa, Bauchan & Feres, 2018


Abstract
The Amazon and the Cerrado are the two largest biomes in Brazil, and combined represent nearly 70% of the natural vegetation in the country. Recent surveys of the mite fauna present in these two biomes have revealed a great number of new species. In this paper, we describe the adult females, deutonymphs, protonymphs, larvae and eggs of two new species of Tenuipalpidae (Trombidiformes: Tetranychoidea), Tenuipalpus protium sp. nov., collected on Protium heptaphyllum (Burseraceae), and Tenuipalpus kitajimai sp. nov., collected on an unidentified plant of the family Sapindaceae, from the Cerrado and the Amazon Rainforest, respectively. Females of these two new species bear two distinct cuticular crests on the dorsal opisthosoma, one transverse crest anteriorly and one longitudinal crest mesally. The ontogenetic changes in the idiosomal and leg chaetotaxy of all stages are presented for both species. Adult males are not known for either species.

Keywords: Acari, flat mites, crest, body projections, taxonomy, biodiversity, Amazon Rainforest, Cerrado, LT-SEM



Elizeu B. Castro, Jennifer J. Beard, Ronald Ochoa, Gary R. Bauchan and Reinaldo J.F. Feres. 2018. Two New Species of Tenuipalpus sensu stricto (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Brazil, with A Discussion on the Ontogeny of Leg Setae. Zootaxa. 4540(1); 178–210. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4540.1.12

Friday, December 28, 2018

[Entomology • 2018] Indocnemis marijanmatoki • A New Species (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) from central Vietnam [On the Genus Indocnemis Laidlaw, 1917 in Vietnam]


[upper] Indocnemis marijanmatoki  Phan, 2018
[lower] Indocnemis orang (Förster in Laidlaw, 1907)


Abstract
Indocnemis marijanmatoki sp. n. (holotype ♂, 1503 m a.s.l., Hon Ba Nature Reserve, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa Province, central Vietnam) is described based on both sexes. The morphological variation of Indocnemis orang (Förster in Laidlaw, 1907) is discussed and its distribution in Vietnam updated.

Keywords: Indocnemis, new species, Odonata, Platycnemididae, Vietnam



Figures 7–10. Indocnemis spp.
Indocnemis marijanmatoki  sp. n., ♂ from Kon Ka Kinh National Park, photographed by Mr To Van Quang
8 I. orang ♂ in nature, Nam Giang, Quang Nam 9, 10 Habitus and appendages of I. orang ♂, Cuc Phuong National Park, photographed by the author. 

Figures 11–12. Habitus of Indocnemis marijanmatoki  sp. n.  11 Holotype male 12 Paratype female.

Figures 13–20. Indocnemis spp. ♂. 13–16 Indocnemis marijanmatoki  sp. n., holotype ♂
and 17–20 I. orang (km19, Hon Ba Nature Reserve) 13, 17 appendages, dorsal view 14, 18 right cerci, oblique-dorsal view 15, 19 appendages, lateral view 16, 20 genital ligula, dorsal view.

Indocnemis marijanmatoki sp. n.

Diagnosis: The new species differs from I. orang with a combination of the following characters: in the male, the marking on dorsum of synthorax is small, shield-shaped; S9–10 entirely black; cerci short, of the length as S10, without a robust basal spine; paraproct entirely black. In the female, the posterior pronotal lobe of the prothorax is rather small, semicircular-shaped.

Etymology: Marijanmatoki, a noun in the genitive case, after Marijan Matok (born 28 March 1972) of Ulm-Söflingen, Germany, in appreciation of his support of the author’s odonatological research in Vietnam through the International Dragonfly Fund.

Habitat and ecology: At the type locality, the new species was found at a narrow (2–3 m wide), shallow stream with sandy bottom. Specimens were collected in April, which otherwise is early for other dragonflies and damselflies, so only Anotogaster sp. was found at the same stream. At the two localities where the new species was found, I. marijanmatoki sp. n. and I. orang occur at quite different elevations. The new species occurs at very high elevations, from 1,400–1,500 m a.s.l., while I. orang is usually found in the areas ranging from 300–600 m a.s.l.


 Quoc Toan Phan. 2018. On the Genus Indocnemis Laidlaw, 1917 in Vietnam with Description of Indocnemis marijanmatoki sp. n. (Odonata, Zygoptera, Platycnemididae). ZooKeys. 809: 15-29. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.809.29058

Thursday, December 27, 2018

[Botany • 2017] Habenaria janellehayneiana (Orchidaceae) • A New Species from northern Thailand


Habenaria janellehayneiana Choltco, Moloney, & Yong Gee


Abstract 
A new species, Habenaria janellehayneiana Choltco, Moloney, & Yong Gee is described. It is native to Phitsanulok, northern Thailand. It is characterized by possessing stigmas that are parallel basally, with apices convergent, the tips touching, or nearly touching. A character that is absent in the remaining members of the Habenaria rhodocheila complex”. A key is provided differentiating it from both Habenaria erichmichelii, and Habenaria rhodocheila.







    

     

[Herpetology • 2018] Microhyla beilunensis • A New Species of Genus Microhyla (Anura: Microhylidae) from Zhejiang Province, China


Microhyla beilunensis 
Zhang, Fei, Ye, Wang, Wang & Jiang, 2018


Abstract 
We described a new species, Microhyla beilunensis sp. nov., from Zhejiang Province of China. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial 12S, 16S and CO1 gene sequences suggested that the new taxon was distinctly separated from its congeners and closed to M. mixtura and M. okinavensis. Morphologically, the new species could be identified from its congeners except M. mixtura by several characters: (1) rudimentary webs on toe base; (2) absence of disks and dorsal median longitudinal grooves on finger tips; (3) presence of disks and dorsal median longitudinal grooves on toe tips. As well, the new species could be identified from topotype M. mixtura by the combination of characters: (1) apart from the stripes, bar-shaped and oval-shaped patterns, the rounded spots present on the dorsum of body and legs; (2) the outer metacarpal tubercles prominently larger than the inner one; (3) of males, the ratios of HW, IND, UEW and LAW to SVL of the new species were significantly larger than those of M. mixtura (P < 0.01), and the ratios of SL, IOD, LAHL, HLL, TL, TFL and FL to SVL of the new species were significantly less than those of M. mixtura (P < 0.05).

Keywords: Microhyla; morphological comparison; new species; phylogenetic analysis; taxonomy; Zhejiang



Figure 6: Variation in Microhyla beilunensis sp. nov. from Chaiqiao Town, Beilun District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, China.
 A and B, dorsal and ventral views of the holotype in life, respectively; C and D, dorsal and ventral views of the allotype in life, respectively; E, mating couples; F, breeding site.

Microhyla beilunensis sp. nov.
 Microhyla mixtura: Fei, Ye, Xie and Cai. 1999. 
Chin Zool Res, Beijing (Beilun, Zhejiang): 239−240.

Etymology: This specific name beilunensis is a Latinize toponymic adjective that refers to Beilun District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province of China, where the new species was collected. For the common name, we suggest Beilun Pygmy frog (English) and Bei lun ji wa (Chinese).

Diagnosis: The new species is allocated to the genus Microhyla, because it is consistent with the generic diagnostic characters: relatively small body size; maxillary and vomerine teeth absent; vomer divided into two parts and disappearing at the posterior edge of the choana; tongue posteriorly rounded; skin smooth or with tubercles; tympanum hidden or indistinct; 1−2 row of horizontal skin ridges on the palate; fingers without webbing; toes webbed or free of webbing; 2 or 3 metacarpal tubercles; the absence of supernumerary tubercles below the base of fingers and toes; the absence of skin ridge or skin projection between the subarticular tubercles of toes III and IV (Parker, 1934; Fei et al., 2005, 2009).

Distribution and habits: Microhyla beilunensis sp. nov. is now known only from the type locality, Beilun District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province of China. This species lives in the water pits or ponds about 3 m diameter or adjacent grass thickets, subterranean holes and mud pits in the mountainous regions at elevation 1400 m a.s.l. The male frogs make vibrating calls on the last 10 days of March. Small tadpoles seen in the early April would dive to the bottom when disturbed. On the 9th April 1998, four gravid females, egg groups, and small tadpoles were found. Mating of females and males took place in the pond of imitated natural eco-breeding in Chengdu (Fei et al., 1999). Small tadpoles were found in the last 10 days April. It took 60 days for the fertilized eggs to finish metamorphosis. Newly metamorphic frogs were 8−10 mm. Sympatric species of amphibians in the Beilun District during the surveys includes Hynobius yiwuensis, Echinotriton chinhaiensis, Bufo gargarizans, Rana zhenhaiensis, Pelophylax nigromaculatus, Sylvirana latouchii, Fejervarya multistriata.



Meihua Zhang, Liang Fei, Changyuan Ye, Yufan Wang, Bin Wang and Jianping Jiang. 2018. A New Species of Genus Microhyla (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from Zhejiang Province, China. Asian Herpetological Research9(3); 135-148. DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.180032

[Botany • 2018] On the Occurrence of Crotalaria uncinella subsp. elliptica (Fabaceae) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India


Crotalaria uncinella subsp. elliptica

in Nandikar, Kishor & Malpure, 2018.

Abstract
We present a first wild record of Crotalaria uncinella subsp. elliptica (Fabaceae) from Saddle Peak National Park, North Andaman, India with its comprehensive morphological description, illustration, photographs and lectotypification.

Keywords: Crotalarieae, subspecies, Roxburgh, India, new addition, Eudicots





Mayur D. Nandikar, K. C. Kishor and Nilesh V. Malpure. 2018. On the Occurrence of Crotalaria uncinella subsp. elliptica (Fabaceae) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Phytotaxa. 379(1); 73–77. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.379.1.7


[Entomology • 2018] Revision of the Bee Group Anthophora (Micranthophora) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with Notes on Potential Conservation Concerns and A Molecular Phylogeny of the Genus


Anthophora hololeuca Cockerell, 1923

in Orr, Pitts & Griswold, 2018. 

Abstract
Anthophora (Micranthophora) comprises the largest subgenus of Anthophora in the Western Hemisphere, with 26 species. Though previously synonymized with the Anthophora (Heliophila), Anthophora (Micranthophora) is here confirmed as a subgenus, morphological and multi-gene molecular phylogenetic evidence refute this and the synonymy of A. (Micranthophora) to A. (Heliophila) is formally rejected. Characters for (Micranthophora) are given and a key to species is provided. Seven new species are described: Anthophora (Micranthophora) caudata Orr, sp. nov.; Anthophora (Micranthophora) chihuahua Orr, sp. nov.; Anthophora (Micranthophora) escalante Orr, sp. nov.; Anthophora (Micranthophora) parkeri Orr, sp. nov.; Anthophora (Micranthophora) rara Orr, sp. nov.; Anthophora (Micranthophora) striata Orr, sp. nov.; and Anthophora (Micranthophora) timberlakei Orr, sp. nov. Further, four new synonyms are enacted: A. arthuri and A. flexipes to A. albata, A. nigritula to A. exigua, and A. xanthochlora to A. pachyodonta. Distributional and phenological data, as well as known details of nesting biology and floral specialization, are provided. Future research directions and species of potential conservation interest are also discussed. 

Keywords: Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Anthophorini, Heliophila, systematics, taxonomy, new species




Michael C. Orr, James P. Pitts and Terry Griswold. 2018. Revision of the Bee Group Anthophora (Micranthophora) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with Notes on Potential Conservation Concerns and A Molecular Phylogeny of the Genus. Zootaxa. 4511(1); 1–193. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4511.1.1

[Invertebrate • 2018] New Genera, Species and Occurrence Records of Goniasteridae (Asteroidea; Echinodermata) from the Indian Ocean


Astroceramus kintana Mah, 2018


Abstract
Modern goniasterids are the most numerous of living asteroids in terms of described genera and species and they have important ecological roles from shallow to deep-water marine habitats. Recent MNHN expeditions and historical collections in the USNM have resulted in the discovery of 18 new species, three new genera and multiple new occurrence records from the western Indian Ocean region including Madagascar, Glorioso and Mayotte islands, Walters Shoal, South Africa, and Somalia. This report provides the first significant contribution to knowledge of deep-sea Asteroidea from the Indian Ocean since the late 20th Century. Several deep-sea species, previously known from the North Pacific are now reported from the western Indian Ocean. Gut contents from Stellaster and Ogmaster indicate deposit feeding. Feeding modes of this and other deep-sea species are discussed. Comments are made on fossil members of included taxa. A checklist of Indian Ocean Goniasteridae is also included.

Keywords: Echinodermata, Deep-sea, Indian Ocean, Valvatida, Oreasteridae, Goniasteridae, Asteroidea, feeding, diversity




Christopher L. Mah. 2018. New Genera, Species and Occurrence Records of Goniasteridae (Asteroidea; Echinodermata) from the Indian Ocean. Zootaxa.  4539(1); 1–116. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4539.1.1

[Herpetology • 2018] The Advertisement Call of the Treefrog Nyctimantis rugiceps Boulenger, 1882 (Anura: Hylidae), with Notes on Its Natural History and Toxicity


Nyctimantis rugiceps  Boulenger, 1882

in Camargo de Souza, Rivera-Correa, Padial & Castroviejo-Fisher, 2018. 

Nyctimantis rugiceps Boulenger, 1882 (Fig. 1A) is a Neotropical treefrog (Duellman & Trueb 1976; Faivovich et al. 2005) known only from disjunct localities in Amazonian Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (Pérez-Villota et al. 2009). This species has the skin of the skull co-ossified and reproduces—including calling behavior, egg deposition and tadpole development—in water-filled tree or bamboo cavities (Duellman & Trueb 1976; Duellman 1978). Given its secretive behavior, this is a poorly known species and, as noted by Duellman (1978: 169), “the major clue to the life history of Nyctimantis is the calling behavior of the males”. Unfortunately, the only quantitative description of the advertisement call of N. rugiceps is a brief passage in Duellman (1978) based on four specimens from Santa Cecilia, Ecuador, where important variables are missing (e.g., call duration). More importantly, graphs illustrating the waveform and spectrogram are missing. Considering these limitations and the importance of advertisement calls to the study of anurans (Köhler et al. 2017), we provide a quantitative description using a call recording obtained in Leticia, Amazonas, Colombia.




Camila Camargo de Souza, Mauricio Rivera-Correa, Jose M. Padial and Santiago Castroviejo-Fisher. 2018. The Advertisement Call of the Treefrog Nyctimantis rugiceps Boulenger, 1882 (Anura: Hylidae), with Notes on Its Natural History and Toxicity.  Zootaxa. 4532(3); 441–443. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4532.3.8

[Botany • 2018] Commelina rupestris (Commelinaceae) • A New Species of Commelina from India


 Commelina rupestris Nandikar & Gurav

in Nandikar & Gurav, 2018. 
 Photos: M. Nandikar.   facebook.com/NGCPR

ABSTRACT
The present article describes and illustrates a new species of Commelina from dryland hillocks of Karnataka, India. The new species Commelina rupestris shares morphological similarities with C. badamica, C. hirsuta and C. attenuata, but differs in its perennial habit, knotted rhizomatous, definite base, broadly elongate, thickened tuberous roots, characteristically ligulate, linear to lanceolate leaves, minutely fused spathes, one- to two-seeded bilocular capsules, and stramineous to light brown, rostrate seeds.

KEYWORDS: Commelineae, new species, ligulate leaves, India


Figure 1.  Commelina rupestris.
(A) Habit. (B) Flowering branches. (C) Male flower. (D) Bisexual flower. (E) Ligule. (F) Opened spathe with flowering cincinni and capsule. (G, H) Dorsal and ventral surfaces of seed.
 Photos: Mayur Nandikar.

Commelina rupestris Nandikar & Gurav, sp. nov. 

Etymology: As the species preferentially grows in rock crevices, the epithet ‘rupestris’ denotes its rocky habitat.


Mayur D. Nandikar and Rajaram V. Gurav. 2018. A New Species of Commelina (Commelinaceae) from India. Webbia: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography73(2); 233-237. DOI: 10.1080/00837792.2018.1540743  

[Entomology • 2018] Systematics of the Parasitoid Wasp Genus Aulacus Jurine (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Aulacidae) from Australia


Aulacus bicolor Jennings & Austin

in Jennings, Parslow & Austin, 2018. 

Abstract
The Aulacidae is a small family of Hymenoptera that are parasitic on wood-boring beetles and wasps. They have a worldwide distribution but are generally poorly studied, particularly for the southern hemisphere. This study is part of a series that aims to describe the Australian fauna which is relatively species-rich compared with other regions. We describe 39 new Aulacus species from eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania: A. anici Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. aquilus Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. bamagensis Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. bashfordi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. bicolor Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. boonanghiensis Jennings & Parslow, sp. nov., A. brabyi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. broadi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. burnsi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. confusus Jennings & Parslow, sp. nov., A. dandenongensis Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. deansi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. doddi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. froggatti Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. glorious Jennings & Parslow, sp. nov., A. hackeri Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. insularis Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. jamberoo Jennings & Parslow, sp. nov., A. kittelae Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. kiwarrakensis Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. leai Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. mareebaensis Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. naumanni Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. nebo Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. neboissi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. obcordellus Jennings & Parslow, sp. nov., A. pallidus Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. quickei Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. rieki Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. scitulus Jennings & Parslow, sp. nov., A. simsoni Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. smithi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. tasmanicus Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. tiernyi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. umbackae Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. walkeri Jennings & Parslow, sp. nov., A. warraensis Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., A. willamsi Jennings & Austin, sp. nov., and A. wrightae Jennings & Austin, sp. nov. We also redescribe 14 species: A. albimanus (Kieffer), A. aroueti (Girault), A. atriceps Kieffer, A. elegans (Kieffer), A. festivus (Kieffer), A. flavicornis (Kieffer), A. flavimanus (Kieffer), A. fuscicornis Cameron, A. longiventris (Kieffer), A. minutus Crosskey, A. pallidicaudis (Cameron), A. planiceps (Szépligeti), A. truncatus (Kieffer), and A. vespiformis (Kieffer). As well, A. nigriventris (Kieffer) is synonymised with A. albimanus (Kieffer) syn nov. This brings to 60 the total number of species known from Australia (71 for the Australian region), although one species, A. biroi (Szépligeti), remains incertae sedis. A key to Australian Aulacus species is presented, along with notes on taxonomic history and host relationships.

Keywords: Hymenoptera, taxonomy, parasitic wasps, new species




John T. Jennings, Ben A. Parslow and Andrew D. Austin. 2018. Systematics of the Parasitoid Wasp Genus Aulacus Jurine (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Aulacidae) from Australia. Zootaxa.  4538(1); 1-113.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4538.1.1

[Fungi • 2018] Hygrocybe indica • A New Species of Hygrocybe from Kerala State, India


Hygrocybe indica 

in Latha & Manimohan, 2018. 

Abstract
Hygrocybe indica sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from Kerala State, India. Morphology-based methods and phylogenetic analyses of sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and nuclear large subunit (nrLSU) of the ribosomal RNA gene were employed to confirm the novelty of this species. The phylogenetic relationship inferred from independent nrLSU and nrITS sequence data matrices confirmed the difference of this new species from other species of Hygrocybe for which DNA sequences are available. The phylogenetic analyses clearly assigned H. indica to the subgenus Hygrocybe. A comprehensive description, photographs of the basidiocarps and the microstructures, and comparisons with morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species and phylograms to depict the placement of the new species are provided.

Keywords: Agaricales, Basidiomycota, Hygrophoraceae, phylogeny, taxonomy, Fungi




 K. P. Deepna Latha and Patinjareveettil Manimohan. 2018. A New Species of Hygrocybe from Kerala State, India.  Phytotaxa. 385(1); 13–22. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.385.1.2

[Ichthyology • 2018] Rasboroides vaterifloris & P. pallidus • Undocumented Translocations Spawn Taxonomic Inflation in Sri Lankan Fire Rasboras (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae)



(A–D) Rasboroides vaterifloris Deraniyagala, 1930
(E–JRasboroides pallidus Deraniyagala, 1958

in Sudasinghe, Herath, Pethiyagoda & Meegaskumbura, 2018. 

Abstract
A recent (2013) taxonomic review of the freshwater-fish genus Rasboroides, which is endemic to Sri Lanka, showed it to comprise four species: R. vaterifloris, R. nigromarginatus, R. pallidus and R. rohani. Here, using an integrative-taxonomic analysis of morphometry, meristics and mitochondrial DNA sequences of cytochrome b (cytb) and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (coi), we show that R. nigromarginatus is a synonym of R. vaterifloris, and that R. rohani is a synonym of R. pallidus. The creation and recognition of unnecessary taxa (‘taxonomic inflation’) was in this case a result of selective sampling confounded by a disregard of allometry. The population referred to R. rohani in the Walawe river basin represents an undocumented trans-basin translocation of R. pallidus, and a translocation into the Mahaweli river of R. vaterifloris, documented to have occurred ca 1980, in fact involves R. pallidus. A shared haplotype suggests the latter introduction was likely made from the Bentara river basin and not from the Kelani, as claimed. To stabilize the taxonomy of these fishes, the two valid species, R. vaterifloris and R. pallidus, are diagnosed and redescribed, and their distributions delineated. We draw attention to the wasteful diversion of conservation resources to populations resulting from undocumented translocations and to taxa resulting from taxonomic inflation. We argue against translocations except where mandated by a conservation emergency, and even then, only when supported by accurate documentation.

Figure 4: Live color pattern variation in A–D, Rasboroides vaterifloris; E–J, R. pallidus.
(A) topotypes of R. vaterifloris, Kalu basin, Gilimale; (B–D) topotypes of population identified as R. nigromarginatus by Batuwita, De Silva & Edirisinghe (2013), Kalu basin, Athwelthota; (E) Bentara basin, Pitigala; (F) topotypes of population identified as R. rohani by Batuwita, De Silva & Edirisinghe (2013), Walawe basin, Suriyakanda; (G) Bentara basin, Yagirala; (H) Gin basin, Udugama; (I) Bentara basin, Yagirala; (J) Bentara basin, Pitigala. (A, B, D, E, F, G, H) males; (C, I, J) females. Specimens not collected.

 Live color pattern variation in Rasboroides vaterifloris.
(A) topotypes of 
R. vaterifloris, Kalu basin, Gilimale; (B–D) topotypes of population identified as R. nigromarginatus by Batuwita, De Silva & Edirisinghe (2013), Kalu basin, Athwelthota.
 (A, B, D) males; (C) females. Specimens not collected.

Rasboroides vaterifloris Deraniyagala, 1930
Rasbora vaterifloris Deraniyagala, 1930: 129
Rasbora nigromarginata Meinken, 1957: 65–68
Rasbora vaterifloris var. nigromarginatus Deraniyagala, 1958: 137
Rasboroides nigromarginatus (Meinken, 1957): Batuwita, De Silva & Edirisinghe, 2013

Diagnosis. Males of Rasboroides vaterifloris can be distinguished from males of R. pallidus by having the unbranched rays of dorsal, anal, pectoral and pelvic fins black along their entire length, more distinctly evident in the last unbranched ray of the dorsal fin (vs. the mentioned rays being the same color as other rays; in preserved specimens, interradial membranes of dorsal, anal, pelvic and pectoral fins with distinct, scattered melanophores (vs. absent or vaguely present only around the beginning). Females of R. vaterifloris have a lesser body depth (27.2–31.9% SL vs. 31.7–35.5) than those of R. pallidus.

Live color pattern variation in Rasboroides  pallidus. (E) Bentara basin, Pitigala; (F) topotypes of population identified as R. rohani by Batuwita, De Silva & Edirisinghe (2013), Walawe basin, Suriyakanda; (G) Bentara basin, Yagirala; (H) Gin basin, Udugama; (I) Bentara basin, Yagirala; (J) Bentara basin, Pitigala.
 (E, F, G, H) males; (I, J) females. Specimens not collected.

Rasboroides pallidus Deraniyagala, 1958
Rasbora vaterifloris pallida Deraniyagala, 1958: 136.
Rasbora vaterifloris ruber Deraniyagala, 1958: 136.
Rasbora vaterifloris rubioculis Deraniyagala, 1958: 136.
Rasboroides rohani Batuwita, De Silva & Edirisinghe, 2013

Diagnosis. The males of Rasboroides pallidus can be distinguished from the males of R.  vaterifloris by having the unbranched rays of dorsal, anal, pectoral and pelvic fins the same color as other branched rays (vs. black along their entire length); in preserved specimens, interradial membranes of dorsal, anal, pelvic and pectoral fins without distinct scattered melanophores throughout or with only minute, vague melanophores only around the beginning (vs. melanophores distinctly present). The females of R. pallidus have greater body depth (31.7–35.5% SL vs. 27.2–31.9) than females of R. vaterifloris.


Conclusion: 
As a freshwater-fish genus endemic to Sri Lanka and restricted largely to streams draining the island’s dwindling rainforest estate, Rasboroides attracts considerable conservation attention. The National Red List (MOE, 2012) treats ‘R. nigromarginatus’ as Critically Endangered and R. vaterifloris as Endangered. The synonymy of these two nominal species demonstrated here allows their ranges to be combined, widening their extent of occurrence and area of occupancy and hence potentially lowering the threat-status of R. vaterifloris. Although ‘R. rohani’ has not as yet been assessed for conservation purposes, its restriction to a small population at a single locality would almost certainly have caused it to be ranked as Critically Endangered. Given that we show here that it represents only an undocumented translocation of R. pallidus, its population is now only of marginal conservation concern. Indeed, of the two valid species of Rasboroides, R. pallidus enjoys the wider range and hence warrants less conservation concern, especially given its successful translocation to two river basins (Mahaweli and Walawe) in which it did not previously occur.

In describing ‘R. rohani’ as a new species, Batuwita, De Silva & Edirisinghe (2013) were misled by apparently collecting only the largest specimens for their sample while neglecting to account for allometric growth. It is additionally regrettable that the type series of ‘R. rohani’ designated by these authors cannot be identified in the collection of the National Museum of Sri Lanka, in which it was stated to be deposited.

Both translocations referred to in this paper were made by well-meaning citizens but without the safeguards that should apply in such cases. Perhaps most egregiously, no records were published of the rationale for translocation or the precise identity and origin of the source population. We urge that any future attempts to introduce species to novel habitats be guided by IUCN/SSC (2013) and that the intentional release or introduction of species without legal sanction be prohibited in Sri Lanka.


Hiranya Sudasinghe, Jayampathi Herath, Rohan Pethiyagoda and Madhava Meegaskumbura. 2018. Undocumented Translocations Spawn Taxonomic Inflation in Sri Lankan Fire Rasboras (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae). PeerJ. 6:e6084.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6084

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

[Botany • 2018] Thismia sumatrana (Thismiaceae) • A New Species from West Sumatra, Indonesia, with Discussions on the Taxonomic Identity of Thismia clavigera


Thismia sumatrana Suetsugu & Tsukaya

in Suetsugu, Tsukaya, Nurainas & Okada, 2018. 

Abstract
A new species of the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia Griff. (Thismiaceae), Thismia sumatrana Suetsugu & Tsukaya, from West Sumatra, Indonesia, is described, based on a rehydrated herbarium specimen from National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan. Thismia sumatrana is closely related to T. clavigera (Becc.) F.Muell. but is distinguished by a much larger flower.

Keywords: Thismia, taxonomy, new species, mycoheterotrophy, Sumatra


Figure 1. Thismia sumatrana from West Sumatra, Indonesia (from the holotype).
A Flower B Dome-shaped mitre bearing the eaves-like to hood-like accessory lobes. The accessory lobes are indicated using the arrows C Upper part of perianth tube. Outer perianth lobes are indicated by arrows D Inner view of two pendulous stamens. Thecae and glands are indicated by upper and lower arrows, respectively E Outer view of a pendulous stamen. Thecae and glands are indicated by upper and lower arrows, respectively. One grid is equal to 1 mm2.


Figure 2. Thismia sumatrana from West Sumatra, Indonesia (Drawn from the holotype). 
A Flowering plant B Flower C Inner view of two pendulous stamens D Outer view of two pendulous stamens E Ovary with style and stigmas.
 Drawn by Kumi Hamasaki. Scale bars: 1 cm (A–B), 1 mm (C–E).

Thismia sumatrana Suetsugu & Tsukaya, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Thismia sumatrana differs from its close relative T. clavigera, in having a much larger flower (ca. 8 cm vs. ca. 2.8 cm long).


Distribution: It is known from only a single collection comprising of one flowering and one fruiting individual.
 Thismia sumatrana was collected from a forest floor beside a rheophytic zone along Anak Air Ganggu (Ganggu Stream), 0°33'S, 100°21'E, at Sipisang Village, Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The area was covered by mixed primary and secondary forest along a stream, where relatively natural conditions remained. For example, there were many individuals of a rare and large herbaceous plant, Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc. (Araceae). In addition, many individuals of a rheophytic plant, Furtadoa sumatrensis M.Hotta (Araceae), grew on small rocks both in the stream and on the stream bank (Mori and Okada 2001).




 Kenji Suetsugu, Hirokazu Tsukaya, Nurainas Nurainas and Hiroshi Okada. 2018. Thismia sumatrana (Thismiaceae), A New Species from West Sumatra, Indonesia, with Discussions on the Taxonomic Identity of Thismia clavigeraPhytoKeys. 113: 59-67.  DOI:  10.3897/phytokeys.113.29103