[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] 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

  facebook.com/Darthvaderiana

 

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

  facebook.com/Darthvaderiana/posts/10225241642771693

  

[Botany • 2024] Thaigardenia (Rubiaceae: Gardenieae) • A New Genus distributed from Thailand to South China

T. similis (Craib) K.M.Wong & L.Neo comb. nov., 
T. collinsiae (Craib) K.M.Wong, Teerawat. & Sungkaew comb. nov.,

Thaigardenia Sungkaew, Teerawat., Chamch. & K.M.Wong, gen. nov.

 

in Sungkaew, Arthan, Teerawatananon, Chamchumroon, Neo et Wong, 2024. 

DOI:10.20531/tfb.2024.52.1.04

Photos: D. Prathumthong, A. Teerawatananon and K.M. Wong.

Abstract

Identified as Gardenia over a century ago, three known species from Thailand to south China differ considerably from typical members of that genus, from which growth habits, aspects of branch architecture and corolla shape set them apart. They form a new genus, here named Thaigardenia, the species of which are scrambling to thicket-forming shrubs to sometimes treelets or small trees. They have typically unequal (asymmetric) development of each internode that offsets what began as opposite pairs of axillary buds (and potential axillary branches) from subtending leaf axils at the same level, and small infundibular corollas with insignificant tubular bases. In contrast, typical Gardenia are non-scrambling shrubs or trees, often have extra-axillary buds or branches that consistently continue to develop at the same level (i.e., remaining opposite); and showy hypocrateriform (salverform) corollas with elongate tubular bases. The unequal development of different sides of an internode that brings an initially opposite pair of axillary buds (branches) to different levels, so that they do not appear paired subsequently, is, as far as is known, unique and unknown in other Rubiaceae or opposite-leaved plants; this shared feature is a key synapomorphic character for species of the newly recognised genus.

Keywords: Branch architecture, Gardenia, hypocrateriform, infundibular

Open flower (inset) and fruiting twig of Thaigardenia similis (Craib) K.M.Wong & L.Neo, showing narrowly triangular lobes on a short calyx tube.

Photos: D. Prathumthong (flower) and A. Teerawatananon.

Thaigardenia Sungkaew, Teerawat., Chamch. & K.M.Wong, gen. nov.

Thaigardenia is a new genus of the Rubiaceae, allied to Gardenia J.Ellis, differing in the species being shrubs with a scrambling to thicket-forming habit or small trees with crooked sympodial trunks (vs Gardenia s.s. which are mostly trees with monopodial trunks or non-thicket forming bushes), developing extra-axillary buds and branches at different distances from a leaf-pair at the same node on stems and branches (sometimes these extra-axillary buds more than one per leaf axil) (vs with extra-axillary buds and branches always at the same level, and solitary buds in Gardenia), broad-triangular stipules fused along their edges (vs typical Gardenia spp. with stipules fused into a cylindric sheath split slightly on one side), infundibular corolla with insignificant tubular bases much shorter than the inflated upper portion (vs hypocrateriform corollas with relatively long basal tubes with a hardly widened uppermost portion in Gardenia), and pollen issued as tetrads. 

Type: Thaigardenia collinsiae (Craib) K.M.Wong, Teerawat. & Sungkaew.

Etymology.— The name Thaigardenia refers to Thailand, where studies into the taxonomy of this group were initiated, and where the generic type can be abundantly found, as well as Gardenia, the genus in which its species were earlier placed. Thailand has been eponymously included in the nomenclature of two other plant genera: Thaia Seidenf. (Orchidaceae) (Seidenfaden, 1975) and Thailentadopsis Kosterm. (Leguminosae) (Kostermans, 1977), both of which continue to be in use (Lewis & Schrire, 2003; Xiang et al., 2012).

Thaigardenia cambodiana (Pit.) K.M.Wong & Chamch., comb. nov.

Thaigardenia collinsiae (Craib) K.M.Wong, Teerawat. & Sungkaew, comb. nov.

Thaigardenia similis (Craib) K.M.Wong & L.Neo, comb. nov.

Incompletely understood taxon: Thaigardenia ‘Nhatrang’ 

Sarawood Sungkaew, Watchara Arthan, Atchara Teerawatananon, Voradol Chamchumroon, Louise Neo and Khoon Meng Wong. 2024. Thaigardenia (Rubiaceae: Gardenieae), A New Genus distributed from Thailand to South China.  Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 52(1), 25–43. DOI:10.20531/tfb.2024.52.1.04

[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

   

[Ichthyology • 2024] Phylogenetic Classification of Living and Fossil Ray-Finned Fishes (Actinopterygii)

Phylogenetic Classification of Living and Fossil Ray-Finned Fishes (Actinopterygii)

in Near & Thacker, 2024

DOI: 10.3374/014.065.0101 

 twitter.com/TJNear 

Abstract

Classification of the tremendous diversity of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) began with the designation of taxonomic groups on the basis of morphological similarity. Starting in the late 1960s morphological phylogenetics became the basis for the classification of Actinopterygii but failed to resolve many relationships, particularly among lineages within the hyperdiverse Percomorpha. The introduction of molecular phylogenetics led to a dramatic reconfiguration of actinopterygian phylogeny. Refined phylogenetic resolution afforded by molecular studies revealed an uneven diversity among actinopterygian lineages, resulting in a proliferation of redundant group names in Linnean-ranked classifications. Here we provide an unranked phylogenetic classification for actinopterygian fishes based on a summary phylogeny of 830 lineages of ray-finned fishes that includes all currently recognized actinopterygian taxonomic families and 287 fossil taxa. We provide phylogenetic definitions for 90 clade names and review seven previously defined names. For each of the 97 clade names, we review the etymology of the clade name, clade species diversity and constituent lineages, clade diagnostic morphological apomorphies, review synonyms, and provide a discussion of the clade's nomenclatural and systematic history. The new classification is free of redundant group names and includes only one new name among the 97 clade names we review and describe, yielding a comprehensive classification that is based explicitly on the phylogeny of ray-finned fishes that has emerged in the 21st century and rests on the foundation of the previous 200 years of research on the systematics of ray-finned fishes.

KEYWORDS: Teleostei, Holostei, Ostariophysi, Euteleostei, Acanthomorpha, Percomorpha, Perciformes, phylogeny, PhyloCode, taxonomy

    

 

   

Thomas J. Near and Christine E. Thacker. 2024. Phylogenetic Classification of Living and Fossil Ray-Finned Fishes (Actinopterygii). Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History. 65 (1); 3-302. DOI: 10.3374/014.065.0101

  twitter.com/TJNear/status/1781441614017171563

    

[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

  twitter.com/KewBulletin/status/1779796247424950603

[Botany • 2024] Kaempferia noctiflora var. thepthepae (Zingiberaceae) • A New Taxon from Thailand

 Kaempferia noctiflora var. thepthepae Noppornch. & Somnoo,

in Nopporncharoenkul, Jenjittikul, Somnoo, Meewasana et Tanming, 2024.

DOI: 10.5735/085.061.0112 

 facebook.com: Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul

Taxonomic study of Kaempferia subgen. Protanthium (Zingiberaceae) is difficult due to a high degree of intraspecific morphological variation in several species and the implied morphological overlap among the currently recognized species. Herein, we clarify the taxonomic circumscription of K. noctiflora, a rare species endemic to Chiang Mai Province (N Thailand), by describing Kaempferia noctiflora var. thepthepae Noppornch. & Somnoo, var. nova. It differs from K. noctiflora var. noctiflora especially by the labellum colouration and flowering time. The diagnostic characters of this novel variety are discussed and compared with those of morphologically similar taxa. Images of the plants, habit and dissected flowers, and information on the phenology, distribution and ecology are provided. Kaempferia noctiflora var. noctiflora and var. thepthepae are considered Vulnerable and Endangered, respectively.

 

  

Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul, Thaya Jenjittikul, Thunchanok Somnoo, Jiraporn Meewasana, Wattana Tanming. 2024. Kaempferia noctiflora var. thepthepae (Zingiberaceae), A New Taxon from Thailand.  Ann. Bot. Fennici. 61: 79–92. DOI: 10.5735/085.061.0112

  facebook.com/iSIRBOOM/posts/7894671867229203

  facebook.com/NSMThailand/posts/715587647422884

 “เปราะนพรัตน์” (K. noctiflora var. thepthepae Noppornch. & Somnoo) พืชเฉพาะถิ่นของไทยพันธุ์ใหม่ของโลก อยู่ในวงศ์ขิงข่า สกุลเปราะหอม สกุลย่อยดอกดิน (Protanthium) มีสถานะทางอนุกรมวิธานเป็น พันธุ์ (variety) ของเปราะชนิด “เปราะราตรี, เปราะใบม่วง” (Kaempferia noctiflora Noppornch. & Jenjitt.) พบเฉพาะ อ.ดอยสะเก็ด และ อ.สันกำแพง จ.เชียงใหม่ เท่านั้น ผลงานการค้นพบได้ถูกตีพิมพ์ลงวารสาร Annales Botanici Fennici ฉบับที่ 61 เมื่อวันที่ 7 มี.ค. 2567

เปราะราตรี จัดจำแนกย่อยเป็น 2 พันธุ์ (variety) ตามช่วงเวลาการบานและสีของกลีบปากที่แตกต่างกัน

เปราะราตรี - Kaempferia noctiflora var. noctiflora 

เปราะนพรัตน์ - K. noctiflora  var. thepthepae Noppornch. & Somnoo. 

รายงานการค้นพบโดย ทีมนักวิจัยจากองค์การพิพิธภัณฑ์วิทยาศาสตร์แห่งชาติ - NSM นำโดย ดร.ณัฐพล นพพรเจริญกุล นักวิชาการกองวิชาการพฤกษศาสตร์ สำนักวิชาการพิพิธภัณฑ์ธรรมชาติวิทยา NSM และ ผศ.ดร.ทยา เจนจิตติกุล ภาควิชาพฤกษศาสตร์ คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล น.ส.ธัญชนก สมหนู นักศึกษาระดับปริญญาโท ภาควิชาชีววิทยา คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น น.ส.จิราภรณ์ มีวาสนา นักวิชาการป่าไม้ชำนาญการพิเศษ สำนักบริหารพื้นที่อนุรักษ์ที่ 16 กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่าและพันธุ์พืช และดร.วัฒนา ตันมิ่ง สวนพฤกษศาสตร์สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ 

 www.nsm.or.th/nsm/th/node/54772

[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

[Botany • 2024] Leopoldia oztasii (Asparagaceae: Scilloideae) • A New Species from South Anatolia-Türkiye

Leopoldia oztasii Eker, Eroğlu & Pınar,

 

in Eroğlu, Pinar et Eker, 2024.

Konya Morbaşı  ||  DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.633.1.3 

 facebook.com: Ismail Eker

 

Abstract

Leopoldia oztasii sp. nov. (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae) is described as a new species in this study. It spreads on the stony slopes of Konya province in the south of Türkiye. Leopoldia oztasii is similar to L. tenuiflora, but it is easily distinguished from it, by having larger bulbs, falcate leaves, shorter scape, conical inflorescence, longer pedicels, and larger capsules. In this study, the morphology, seed surface characteristics and ecology of L. oztasii were studied. A detailed description of the new species, a comparison table between the two species, and detailed photographs showing their differences are provided. The distribution areas of L. oztasii and L. tenuiflora in Türkiye are also presented on the map.

 

Asparagaceae, Leopoldia, morphology, new species, seed, taxonomy, Türkiye, Monocots 

“Leopoldia oztasii Eker, Eroğlu & Pınar” 

“Konya Morbaşı”

Hüseyin Eroğlu, Süleyman Mesut Pinar, İsmail Eker. 2024. A New Leopoldia (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae) Species from South Anatolia-Türkiye: Leopoldia oztasii.  Phytotaxa. 633(1); 17-28. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.633.1.3

  facebook.com/IsmailEker946/posts/10161394503818817

[Ichthyology • 2024] Serrasalmus magallanesi • A New Species of Piranha (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae: Serrasalmus) from the Upper Madeira River System, Amazon Basin, Bolivia

Serrasalmus magallanesi

Gallo-Cardozo, Maldonado, Careaga & Carvajal-Vallejos, 2024

DOI: 10.1134/S0032945224700036 

 facebook.com/FlavioGalloCardozo

 

Abstract

A new species of piranha, in the genus Serrasalmus (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae), is described from tributaries of the upper Madeira River drainage (Bolivian Amazon Basin). This new species exhibits a similar caudal-fin color like that observed in S. hollandi, and review of the literature suggested that former studies have misidentified these two species. The new species can be diagnosed morphologically from other congeners, but genetic variation of the COI sequence data showed little difference (~1%) from similar, morphologically recognized species. Since Serrasalmus species are widespread and morphologically difficult to identify, a key for identifying Bolivian species of this genus is presented.

 Keywords: COI, morphology, osteology, taxonomy 

  

Serrasalmus magallanesi, New Species

Etymology. Serrasalmus magallanesi sp. nov. is named in honor and memoriam of Frank Magallanes, in recognition of his permanent collaboration with ichthyologists and Serrasalmus fans, mainly through his website OPEFE (https://www.opefe.com). Magallanes passed away in May 2022.

F. Gallo-Cardozo, M. Maldonado, M. Careaga and F. M. Carvajal-Vallejos. 2024. A New Species of Piranha (Serrasalmus, Serrasalmidae) from the Upper Madeira River System, Amazon Basin, Bolivia.  Journal of Ichthyology. DOI: 10.1134/S0032945224700036

  facebook.com/FlavioGalloCardozo/posts/7723189084379968

[Ichthyology • 2024] Rhinolepadichthys gen. nov. • A New Generic Name for the “Lepadichthys” lineatus complex (Gobiesocidae: Diademichthyinae) with A Rediagnosis of Discotrema, a senior synonym of Unguitrema, and Comments on their phylogenetic relationships

Representatives of diademichthyine clingfishes.
A Rhinolepadichthys lineatus (Oman); B Rhinolepadichthys geminus (Anilao, Philippines);
C Rhinolepadichthys geminus (Okinoerabu Islands, Amami Islands, Japan); D Discotrema crinophilum (Amami-oshima Island, Amami Islands, Japan: KPM-NR 78755);
E Lepadichthys frenatus (Lord Howe Island, Australia); F Diademichthys lineatus (Lembeh Strait, Indonesia: KPM-NR 147468).

in Fujiwara, Motomura, Summers & Conway, 2024. 

DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e113955

All images except F with sides reversed.

photos by J. Randall, J. Eyre and K. Uehara. 

Abstract

Rhinolepadichthys, a new genus of the gobiesocid subfamily Diademichthyinae, is described for the “Lepadichthys” lineatus complex (including Rhinolepadichthys geminus comb. nov., R. heemstraorum comb. nov., R. lineatus comb. nov., and R. polyastrous comb. nov.). Detailed investigation of external morphology and osteological anatomy of the new genus and related genera suggests that Rhinolepadichthys represents the sister genus to Discotrema, based on the following putative synapomorphies: (1) presence of a hardened (potentially keratinized) cap on the surface of at least some disc papillae (vs. surface of disc papillae soft, without hardened cap); and (2) the anterolateral part of the ventral postcleithrum extended anteriorly as a well-developed rod-like process, its tip close to the base of pelvic-fin soft ray 4 (vs. only weakly pointed, or irregular). Compared with Discotrema, Rhinolepadichthys gen. nov. is distinguished by the presence of a row of 8–12 large papillae on the inner surface of the upper and lower lips (vs. inner surface of lips smooth, without distinct papillae); the absence (vs. presence) of a well-developed lateral process on the pterotic immediately posterior to the opening of the otic canal; the presence (vs. absence) of gill rakers on the anterior edge of ceratobranchials 1–3; the presence (vs. absence) of gill rakers on the posterior edge of ceratobranchial 4; having the upper pharyngeal teeth arranged in a loose patch on the ventral surface of the pharyngobranchial 3 toothplate, with tooth tips directed posteroventrally (vs. arranged in a single row along posteroventral edge of the pharyngobranchial 3 toothplate, with tooth tips directed posteriorly); features of the adhesive disc, including outline of disc papillae roughly hexagonal or ovoid and with a flattened surface (vs. outline circular, at least some with raised, dome-like surface); the absence (vs. presence) of a deep cavity at the center of disc region C; the absence (vs. presence) of three paired and one median cluster of small papillae (reminiscent of bunches of grapes) across the surface of the adhesive disc; and having the ventral postcleithrum entire, not divided into two separate, articulating elements (vs. ventral postcleithrum divided into an anterior and posterior element, separated via a specialized joint). Reexamination of materials of the poorly known genus Unguitrema, considered a close relative of Discotrema, revealed no morphological differences between the two genera. Unguitrema therefore represents a junior synonym of Discotrema.

Keywords: Clingfishes, Indo-Pacific, morphology, taxonomy, Teleostei

Representatives of diademichthyine clingfishes.
A Rhinolepadichthys lineatus (Oman: J. Randall); B Rhinolepadichthys geminus (Anilao, Philippines: J. Eyre);
C Rhinolepadichthys geminus (Okinoerabu Islands, Amami Islands, Japan: K. Uehara); D Discotrema crinophilum (Amami-oshima Island, Amami Islands, Japan: KPM-NR 78755, K. Uchino);
E Lepadichthys frenatus (Lord Howe Island, Australia: J. Eyre); F Diademichthys lineatus (Lembeh Strait, Indonesia: KPM-NR 147468, K. Uchino).

All images except F with sides reversed.

Rhinolepadichthys gen. nov.

Included species: The genus contains the following four valid species, previously included in the “Lepadichthys” lineatus complex by Fujiwara and Motomura (2021): Rhinolepadichthys geminus (Fujiwara and Motomura, 2021) comb. nov., Rhinolepadichthys heemstraorum (Fujiwara and Motomura, 2021) comb. nov., Rhinolepadichthys lineatus (Briggs, 1966) comb. nov., and Rhinolepadichthys polyastrous (Fujiwara and Motomura, 2021) comb. nov.

Etymology: The suffix rhino-, meaning nose, in combination with Lepadichthys, a genus of the Diademichthyinae. In reference to the pointed snout in members of this genus, which distinguishes the new genus from Lepadichthys (sensu stricto). Gender masculine.

Discotrema Briggs, 1976

Included species: The genus contains the following four valid species, Discotrema crinophilum Briggs, 1976, Discotrema monogrammum Craig & Randall, 2008, Discotrema nigrum (Fricke, 2014), comb. nov. (validity tentative, see below), and Discotrema zonatum Craig & Randall, 2008.

 

Kyoji Fujiwara, Hiroyuki Motomura, Adam P. Summers and Kevin W. Conway. 2024. A New Generic Name for the “Lepadichthys” lineatus complex with A Rediagnosis of Discotrema, a senior synonym of Unguitrema, and Comments on their phylogenetic relationships (Gobiesocidae: Diademichthyinae). Vertebrate Zoology. 74: 279-301. DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e113955

 

[Ichthyology • 2024] Pimelodella guato • A New Species of Pimelodella (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from the Paraguai Basin, Brazil, with a discussion regarding its distribution

 Pimelodella guato

Pierre & Slobodian, 2024

  ni.bio.br/1982-0224-2023-0110

Abstract​ 

A new species of Pimelodella is described from the rio Paraguai basin in Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso States, Brazil. The new species distinguishes from all other members of the genus based on a unique combination of characteristics, which include: dorsal profile straight from snout to dorsal-fin, maxillary barbel reaching at least the anal-fin terminus when parallel to main body axis, robust dorsal-fin spine bearing small spinules along three-fourths of its posterior margin, 41–42 total vertebrae (rarely 43 or 44), 13–23 large and retrorse blades at the posterior margin of the pectoral-fin spine, and dorsolateral region of body slightly darkened. This study also discusses the ichthyofaunal similarities between the Paraguai and Amazon basins, shedding light on their biogeographic history. Additionally, the research includes considerations about the sexual dimorphism of Pimelodella and provides an identification key for the Pimelodella species found in the Paraguai basin.

Keywords: Biogeography, Catfishes, Identification key, Sexual dimorphism, Taxonomy.

 Pimelodella guato, holotype, ZUFMS-PIS 8515, 78.5 mm SL, Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul, Corumbá municipality, rio Paraguai basin, rio Miranda, sandy beaches at Passo do Lontra region, ...
 A. Dorsal; B. Left lateral; and C. Ventral views. Scale bar = 1 cm.

Pimelodella guato, new species

Diagnosis. Pimelodella guato differs from all Pimelodella species except P. boliviana, P. chaparae, P. cristata, P. cruxenti, P. dorseyi, P. geryi, P. gracilis, P. howesi, P. humeralis, P. laurenti, P. longibarbata, P. longipinnis, P. martinezi, P. megalops, P. mucosa, P. notomelas, P. odynea, P. ophthalmica, P. parnahybae, P. serrata, P. steindachneri, P. taeniophora, P. tapatapae, P. wesselii, and P. witmeri by the long maxillary barbel, reaching at least the anal-fin terminus when parallel to main body axis (vs. reaching at best posterior limit of anal-fin base). It differs from P. longipinnis and P. tapatapae by having the supraoccipital process reaching the anterior nuchal plate (vs. not reaching, gap between distal terminus of supraoccipital process and anterior nuchal plate ca. 20–25% of supraoccipital process length). It differs from P. boliviana, P. cruxenti, P. geryi, P. laurenti, P. martinezi, P. megalops, P. notomelas, P. odynea, and P. taeniophora by having a robust dorsal-fin spine, bearing small, straight spinules along three-fourths of its posterior margin (vs. dorsal-fin spine not particularly robust, with posterior margin spinules inconspicuous or absent). It differs from P. cristata, P. dorseyi, P. gracilis, P. howesi, P. humeralis, P. ophthalmica, P. parnahybae, P. steindachneri, P. wesselii,and P. witmeri by usually having 41–42 (rarely 43 or 44) total vertebrae (vs. always 43–44 in P. howesi; 46 or more in the remaining species). It further differs from P. howesi by having the dorsolateral region of body slightly darkened (vs. not darkened), dorsal fin with light brown stripe near its origin, followed by a hyaline stripe, and distal half dark (vs. basal half of dorsal fin hyaline, and distal half dark), and by the dorsal lamina of the Weberian apparatus reaching the ventral margin of the supraoccipital process only at its first third (vs. dorsal lamina reaching the supraoccipital process along all its extension). It differs from P. mucosa and P. longibarbata by the preoperculomandibular laterosensory canal openings at dentary not particularly large (vs. large openings). It differs from P. chaparae, P. longibarbata, and P. serrata by the wide midlateral stripe (vs. narrow) and by the dorsal lamina of the Weberian apparatus reaching the ventral margin of the supraoccipital process only at its first third (vs. first half in P. longibarbata; and almost its entire extension in P. chaparae and P. serrata) (Figs. 2A, D).

Etymology. The species name guato is in honor of the indigenous Guató people, who are affectionately known as “people of the Pantanal waters” due to their primary mode of transportation, canoes. Historically, the Guató people inhabited an extensive area along the rio Paraguai (Schmidt, 1942). However, in the 1940s, they began to lose their territory due to cattle ranching, and many relocated to cities such as Cáceres and Corumbá. This dispersal led to a reduction in the Guató population, and since then, they have been fighting for recognition of their ethnicity and the demarcation of their lands (Costa, 2015). The choice of guato is a homage to the resilience and cultural significance of these people who inhabit the same region where the new species is found. It also recognizes the ongoing struggles with land delimitation that indigenous communities continue to face, particularly in Brazil. A noun in apposition.

Veida Pierre and Veronica Slobodian. 2024. A New Species of Pimelodella (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from the Paraguai Basin, Brazil, with a discussion regarding its distribution. Neotrop Ichthyol. 22(1): e230110. DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2023-0110

  ni.bio.br/1982-0224-2023-0110