[Botany • 2025] Columnea golondrinensis (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from Cerro Golondrinas in the northern Andes of Ecuador

Columnea golondrinensis J.L.Clark,

in Clark, 2025.

 DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.253.144114

Abstract

Exploratory field expeditions to the Chocó forests in the northern Andes of Ecuador resulted in the discovery of a new species of Columnea (Gesneriaceae). Columnea golondrinensis J.L.Clark, sp. nov., is described as a narrow endemic from the cloud forests of Cerro Golondrinas in the Carchi Province near the northern Ecuadorian border with Colombia. The oval leaves with a rust-colored multicellular hispid indumentum, terrestrial subwoody habit and deeply bilabiate dark purple corollas with glandular trichomes differentiate this taxon from all other congeners. Based on IUCN guidelines, a preliminary conservation status of Vulnerable (VU) is provided for C. golondrinensis.

Key words: Chocó, Colombia, Columnea, Ecuador, Gesneriaceae, taxonomy

Columnea golondrinensis J.L.Clark
A recurved lower lip of bilabiate corolla B, C lateral views of flower D abaxial surface of flowering shoot E adaxial surface of flowering shoot (A–E from J.L. Clark et al. 18185).

Photos by J.L. Clark.

 Columnea golondrinensis J.L.Clark, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Vegetatively similar to Columnea suffruticosa J.F. Sm. & L.E. Skog due to the presence of ovate leaves with a rust-colored multicellular hispid indumentum, but differing in the terrestrial habit (vs. epiphytic habit in C. suffruticosa) and deeply bilabiate corolla (vs. uniformly tubular corolla in C. suffruticosa). The deeply bilabiate corolla, dark purple corolla tube, and glandular trichomes throughout the upper and lower lobes are unique characters not found in any other known species of Columnea.

Etymology. The specific epithet reflects the type locality, Cerro Golondrinas, where this species is presumably endemic.

 John L. Clark. 2025. Columnea golondrinensis (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Cerro Golondrinas in the northern Andes of Ecuador. PhytoKeys. 253: 57-65. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.253.144114

Resumen: Las expediciones de campo exploratorias a los bosques del Chocó en los Andes del norte de Ecuador resultaron en el descubrimiento de una nueva especie de Columnea (Gesneriaceae). Columnea golondrinensis J.L.Clark, sp. nov., se describe como una endémica restringida a los bosques nublados del Cerro Golondrinas, en la provincia de Carchi, cerca de la frontera norte de Ecuador con Colombia. Las hojas ovaladas con un indumento híspido multicelular de color óxido, el hábito subleñoso terrestre y las corolas profundamente bilabiadas de color púrpura oscuro con tricomas glandulares diferencian a este taxón de todos sus congéneres. Según las directrices de la UICN, se proporciona un estatus preliminar de conservación de Vulnerable (VU) para C. golondrinensis.

[Herpetology • 2025] Dendropsophus cannatellai • Systematics of the Dendropsophus leucophyllatus species group (Anura: Hylidae) from the Chocó region of Ecuador, with Description of a new species

Dendropsophus cannatellai 

 Aguirre, Apunte & Ron, 2025

 DOI: doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.9.135431 

Abstract

The Dendropsophus leucophyllatus group is composed by 19 species distributed from Central America to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Only one species is known from the Chocó region, D. ebraccatus, which is also distributed in Central America. Previous studies suggested the existence of two species masked under “D. ebraccatus”. The only other species of Dendropsophus in the Chocó lowlands of Ecuador is D. gryllatus, an elusive species never included in phylogenetic analyses. In the present study, we review the systematics of both species based on morphological, genetic, and bioacoustic data. For phylogenetic analyses, we sequenced four mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, COI, ND1, including flanking tRNAs) and two nuclear genes (TYR, POMC). Our results indicate that the populations of “D. ebraccatus” from the Chocó of Ecuador represent a new species, not most closely related to D. ebraccatus from Central America, but to D. gryllatus. The new species inhabits tropical rainforest and piedmont evergreen forest of NW Ecuador and SW Colombia. Populations of the new species differ from D. gryllatus by having larger body size and by the presence of an hourglass-shaped dorsal mark. The new species differs from D. ebraccatus from Central America by the absence of a clear band under the eye, by having well defined dorsal spots and by having a distinct advertisement call. Both species appear to be allopatric and, according to our time-tree, diverged from each other during the late Pliocene.

Key Words: Advertisement calls, Chocó rainforest, Colombia, Dendropsophus cannatellai sp. nov., Dendropsophus gryllatus, phylogeny

Life coloration of Dendropsophus cannatellai sp. nov.
First and third rows, dorsolateral views; second and fourth, ventral views. From left to right, first and second rows: QCAZ 51877 (SVL = 22.26 mm, male); QCAZ 78809 (SVL = 33.61 mm, female); QCAZ 55558 (SVL = 21.96 mm, male); third and fourth rows: QCAZ 40847 (holotype; SVL = 22.32 mm, male); QCAZ 78812 (SVL = 25.86 mm, male); QCAZ 78813 (SVL = 24.94 mm, male). See type series for locality data. All specimens are shown at the same scale.

 Dendropsophus cannatellai sp. nov.

Common names: English: Cannatella’s treefrog. 

Spanish: Ranita de Cannatella.

Definition: (Figs 8, 9). In this section, we describe coloration in life. We assign the new species to the genus Dendropsophus based on the phylogeny (Fig. 1). The new species is characterized by: (1) mean SVL 23.4 mm in males (range 21–26; n = 115); 30.7 mm in females (range 28–33; n = 14); (2) axillary membrane reaching arm halfway to elbow; (3) reduced webbing on fingers; (4) webbing on feet; (5) palmar tubercle single; (6) pectoral glands present; (7) dorsal background coloration brown with white to bright yellow dorsolateral bands, extending to the eyes and top of head; white or bright yellow well defined sacral mark, fused with dorsolateral bands in some individuals; (8) absence of a light labial stripe in contact with the orbit; (9) dorsal surfaces of the limbs brown, with white to bright yellow ovoid marks, with the forearm typically bearing one to two marks, and the shank one to three; (10) webbing and ventral surfaces vary from orange to yellow; (11) iris dull bronze to coppery bronze, and (12) advertisement call pulsed with a mean dominant frequency = 3274.7 Hz (range 3169.0–3498.7) and mean pulse rate of the primary note = 95 pulses/s (range 87–100).

Etymology: The specific name cannatellai is a noun in the genitive case and is a patronym for David C. Cannatella, who collected type specimens of the new species. Moreover, during his career he has contributed extensively to the study of systematics and evolution of neotropical amphibians. He has been integral part of scientific societies, exemplified by his presidencies of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (2002–2003) and the Society of Systematic Biologists (2004–2005). Currently he is Dean of the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin, USA.

 P. Doménica Aguirre, Katherine Apunte and Santiago R. Ron. 2025. Systematics of the Dendropsophus leucophyllatus species group (Anura, Hylidae) from the Chocó region of Ecuador, with Description of a new species. Evolutionary Systematics. 9(1): 7-31. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.9.135431 

[Ichthyology • 2024] Aulopus chirichignoae • A New flagfin (Aulopiformes: Aulopidae) from the eastern Pacific Ocean

 

Aulopus chirichignoae

Béarez, Zavalaga, Miranda, Mennesson, Campos-Leónand & Jiménez-Prado, 2024 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5458.1.6  

 

Abstract

A new species of the Aulopidae is described from the waters of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Aulopus chirichignoae sp. nov. was previously confused with Aulopus bajacali Parin & Kotlyar, 1984, but it differs from this species by a significantly marked elongation of the dorsal fin rays in males (absent in females), a smaller head, modal differences in dorsal and anal ray counts (15 vs 14 and 11 vs 12, respectively), a higher number of vertebrae (50–51 vs 47–49), and color differences, especially on the dorsal fin. DNA barcoding analysis supported the status of new species, evidencing a 4.2% and 2.8% divergence with Aulopus filamentosus (Bloch, 1792) and A. bajacali, respectively. A sequence of an Aulopus sp., collected in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, matches the new species with only a 0.4% divergence, indicating that Aulopus chirichignoae sp. nov. is distributed at least as far north as the Paramount Seamount at 3°20.35’N, ca. 400 km north of the Galápagos Islands.

Pisces, new species, fish, taxonomy, Peru, Ecuador, Tropical Eastern Pacific, DNA barcode

Aulopus chirichignoae sp. nov. 

Philippe BÉAREZ, Fabiola ZAVALAGA, Junior MIRANDA, Marion I. MENNESSON, Sarita CAMPOS-LEÓN and Pedro JIMÉNEZ-PRADO. 2024. Aulopus chirichignoae, A New flagfin from the eastern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei, Aulopiformes, Aulopidae). Zootaxa. 5458(1); 108-118. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5458.1.6  

[Herpetology • 2025] A Roadmap for Harlequin Frog Systematics (Anura: Bufonidae: Atelopus), with a partial Revision of Amazonian Species related to Atelopus spumarius

  Atelopus harlequin

in Lötters, Böning, Bailon, Castañeda ... et Plewnia, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5571.1.1

  facebook.com/RocaReyBernardo 

  facebook.com: Jaime Culebras Wildlife

Abstract

Harlequin frogs, genus Atelopus, are a species-rich group of bufonid anurans from the Neotropics with more than 100 species. For nearly four decades now, this group has suffered from massive population declines. Almost all species are threatened with extinction, and many populations and several species are considered extinct or possibly extinct. This results in a limited sampling available for studies on harlequin frog systematics, especially in terms of molecular genetic information. However, efficient conservation of harlequin frogs requires an improved taxonomy. This is further complicated through the circumstance that many Atelopus species are relatively poor in external morphological characters combined with a high level of intra-specific character variation (e.g. coloration and body size). At the same time, cryptic diversity exists with well differentiated species (supported by osteology and molecular genetics) almost indistinguishable by external morphology. We compiled the largest dataset to date for mitochondrial (12S, 16S, cyt b) and nuclear (POMC, RAG1) markers and present a phylogeny (likelihood and Bayesian inference methods) including 152 samples from 104 populations scattered over the entire geographic range of the genus. Four allo- or parapatric main clades are distinguished: I. Sierra Nevada; II. Venezuelan-Andean; III. Andean-Chocó-Central American (with the ignescens and the varius-longirostris clades); and IV Amazonian (containing the tricolor and the flavescens-spumarius clades). The phylogenetic relationships within these clades remain to be resolved. Taxonomic implications included both splitting and lumping, but taxonomic action is here only taken for populations related to A. spumarius from western Amazonia. Besides redescriptions of A. spumarius sensu stricto and A. colomai, we describe two new species based on morphology, skull osteology and bioacoustics. Additional yet understudied populations from Amazonia may be allocated to these species or may represent additional undescribed taxa.

 Amphibia, Anura, amphibian crisis,  cryptic diversity, Neotropics, integrative taxonomy

  Atelopus harlequin sp. nov.

 Atelopus histrionicus sp. nov.

 

 

Stefan LÖTTERS, Philipp BÖNING, Salvador BAILON, Jose Daniel Barros CASTAÑEDA, Renaud BOISTEL, Alessandro CATENAZZI, Juan C. CHAPARRO, Germán CHÁVEZ, Angel CHUJUTALLI, LAURENT COEN, LUIS A. COLOMA, ANDREW J. CRAWFORD, Jaime CULEBRAS, JUAN CARLOS CUSI MARTÍNEZ, JUAN MANUEL DAZA, IGNACIO DE LA RIVA, DENISE J. ELLWEIN, RAFFAEL ERNST, SANDRA V. FLECHAS, ANTOINE FOUQUET, JUAN MANUEL GUAYASAMIN, CHRISTOPHER HEINE, RAFAEL F. JORGE, ALISHA JUNG, KARL-HEINZ JUNGFER, NATHALIE KAFFENBERGER, HENRIK KREHENWINKEL, ENRIQUE LA MARCA, MARGARITA LAMPO, GUIDO F. MEDINA RANGEL, LUDVIG ORSEN, DANIEL J. PALUH, JOSÉ LUIS PÉREZ GONZALEZ, JONATHAN PERRIN, AMANDA B. QUEZADA RIERA, JUAN PABLO REYES-PUIG, Bernardo Roca-Rey ROSS, DANIELA C. RÖSSLER, LUIS ALBERTO RUEDA SOLANO, DAVID SALAZAR-VALENZUELA, JOSEFA CELSA SEÑARIS VAZQUEZ, MORGANE SOWINSKI, ANDREA TERÁN-VALDEZ, ANGIE TOVAR-ORTIZ, MICHAEL VEITH, PABLO VENEGAS, RUDOLF VON MAY, TIMM WEITKAMP and AMADEUS PLEWNIA. 2025. A Roadmap for Harlequin Frog Systematics, with a partial Revision of Amazonian Species related to Atelopus spumarius. Zootaxa.  5571(1); 1-76. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5571.1.1  

facebook.com/RocaReyBernardo/posts/1154048106720304 

 facebook.com/JaimeCulebrasWildlife2/posts/1162070302588297

  facebook.com/100064548225275/posts/1047421104086154

[Botany • 2024] Pleurothallis markgruinii (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) • A New Species from the Northwestern Ecuador

 

Pleurothallis markgruinii Baquero & M.F.Monteros,  

Baquero, Monteros, Iturralde Jimenez et Dueñas. 2024.    

 journals.RBGE.org.uk/EJB/article/view/2032   

 Researchgate.net/publication/385907281 

Abstract

Pleurothallis markgruinii, a particularly tall species for the genus, is described as new to science and an illustration provided. The new species is most similar to Pleurothallis gargantua and shares with that species its large size, reaching 1 m tall, but differs in the much smaller flowers with a deeply concave dorsal sepal, narrower petals, and a synsepal with strongly revolute margins that form an elongated, triangular shape. Comprehensive field research has shown Pleurothallis markgruinii to have a restricted geographical range in the northwest Andes of Ecuador, and it is assessed as Critically Endangered.

Keywords: Carchi, Dracula Reserve, New orchid species, Reserva youth land trust

Composite dissection plate for Pleurothallis markgruinii Baquero & M.F.Monteros, sp. nov.
 A, Habit; B1, flower, frontal view; B2, flower, lateral view; C, dissected perianth; D1, lip and column, lateral view; D2, lip and column, dorsal view with magnified image showing the rugulose-verrucose texture of the lip; E, capsule, dorsal view. Photographs: Marco F. Monteros.

Pleurothallis markgruinii Baquero & M.F. Monteros, sp. nov.

This new species is most similar to Pleurothallis gargantua in the large size of the plants (up to 1 m tall) and the large flowers (among the largest in the genus, between 5.6 and 10 cm long) borne at the base of a large (up to 30 cm long) ovate leaf, but it differs from that species in its considerably smaller flowers, 6.1 cm (vs 10.5 cm long when ...

Etymology. Named in memory of Mark Gruin, horticulturist, curator at Zoo America, and benefactor at the Rainforest Trust, who devoted the bulk of his life’s work to protecting nature and supporting budding conservationists.

L. E. Baquero, M. F. Monteros, G. A. Iturralde, M. M. Jimenez and R. Dueñas. 2024. PLEUROTHALLIS MARKGRUINII, A NEW PLEUROTHALLIDINAE(ORCHIDACEAE) FROM NORTHWESTERN ECUADOR. Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 81; DOI: 10.24823/ejb.2024.2032   journals.RBGE.org.uk/EJB/article/view/2032 

   Researchgate.net/publication/385907281_PLEUROTHALLIS_MARKGRUINII_A_NEW_SPECIES_from_NW_ECUADOR

Pleurothallis markgruinii, una especie con plantas particularmente largas dentro del género se describe e ilustra aquí como nueva para la ciencia. La nueva especie es similar a Pleurothallis gargantua y comparte con esta las grandes plantas que alcanzan 1 m en longitud, pero se diferencia en las flores mucho más pequeñas con el sépalo dorsal muy cóncavo, pétalos más estrechos, y un sinsépalo con márgenes fuertemente revolutos que le dan una forma alargada y triangular. Investigación de campo exhaustiva muestra que Pleurothallis markgruinii tiene una distribución restringida, al noroeste de los Andes en Ecuador y es evaluada como en peligro crítico.

[Botany • 2023] Cedrela angusticarpa (Meliaceae) • A New Species and a new record for Cedrela in Ecuador: morphological, molecular, and distribution evidence

Cedrela angusticarpa W. Palacios,

in Palacios, Torres, Quintana, Asadobay, Iglesias, Quillupangui, ... et Rivas-Torres, 2023. 

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.595.2.1 

 

Abstract

A new Cedrela (Meliaceae) species, Cedrela angusticarpa, is described through a combination of taxonomic, morphological, and molecular analyses. Cedrela kuelapensis, originally described as an endemic species of northern Peru, is also reported here as a new record for Ecuador. Cedrela angusticarpa has oblong or oblong-lanceolate glabrous leaflets, rounded at the base. Inflorescences are up to 70 cm long, and flowers present a cupuliform calyx with five regular teeth. Fruits are narrowly obovoid capsules. Through molecular analyses using nine microsatellite loci, it is evident that samples from C. angusticarpa form their own genetic cluster when compared to the most morphologically similar species, C. odorata, suggesting that they belong to a new separate species. Additionally, here we report that C. angusticarpa has a very narrow geographic range, recorded between 550 and 1300 m in elevation, and restricted to the relatively small areas of northwestern Ecuador. Climatic niche modelling techniques were used as a proxy for assessing potential distributions and habitat loss percentages for both C. angusticarpa and C. kuelapensis. Finally, IUCN Red List categories and criteria were applied to assess the conservation status of both Cedrela species analyzed here.

Andes Mountain Range, Cedrela angusticarpa, Cedrela kuelapensis, “cedro”, endemic species, Eudicots

Cedrela angusticarpa: Branch with inflorescences.

W. Palacios et al. 18445.

Photograph by W. Palacios.

Cedrela angusticarpa:
A. bark of an adult tree, B. lower surface leaflets (scale bar = 6 cm), C. lower surface leaflets (scale bar = 2.5 cm), D. flower (scale bar = 0.4 cm), E. cymule of inflorescence (scale bar = 1 cm), F. old fruit.

A. W. Palacios et al. 18407; B, C, W. Palacios et al. 18413; D, E, W. Palacios 18445; F, W. Palacios 18755. All photographs by W. Palacios.

Cedrela angusticarpa W. Palacios, sp. nov.  

Diagnosis:— Cedrela angusticarpa is related to C. odorata. The distinctive characteristics of these species are: a) leaflets oblong to oblong-lanceolate, base obtuse or rounded, (8–)9–15 × (4–)5–6 (–7) cm in C. angusticarpa vs leaflets oblong, oblong-falcate, base usually strongly asymmetric and rounded on one side, acute or obtuse on the other, 7–14 × 2.5–4 cm in C. odorata; b) inflorescence a robust-erect panicle, 40–70 cm long in C .angusticarpa vs a curved panicle, 15–40 cm long in C. odorata; c) calyx with five teeth in C. angusticarpa vs calyx 2–3-lobed in C. odorata; d) fruits narrowly obovoid, 1.3–1.8 cm in diameter, base acute, sometimes slightly 5-angled when dry in C. angusticarpa vs fruits oblong or ellipsoid, 1.8–2.6 cm in diameter, base rounded or obtuse in C. odorata.

Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the narrow fruits recorded in this taxon, although the length is equivalent to that of other species. 

Walter A. PALACIOS, Maria De Lourdes TORRES, Martina Albuja QUINTANA, Pacarina ASADOBAY, Juan IGLESIAS, Richard QUILLUPANGUI, Estefania ROJAS, Janeth SANTIANA, Augusto SOLA and Gonzalo RIVAS-TORRES. 2023. A New Species and a new record for Cedrela (Meliaceae, Sapindales) in Ecuador: morphological, molecular, and distribution evidence.  Phytotaxa. 595(2); 127-138. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.595.2.1 

[Botany • 2019] Scaphosepalum luannae (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) • A New Species, and S. anchoriferum from north-western Ecuador

Scaphosepalum luannae  Baquero,  

in Baquero. 2019. 

DOI: doi.org/10.15517/lank.v19i3.39971 

 Researchgate.net/publication/337852618

 Abstract

A new species, Scaphosepalum luannae, is described, and new records for Scaphosepalum anchoriferum from Ecuador are presented. Scaphosepalum luannae is superficially similar to S. swertiifolium but its differs in the the dark green leaves, conspicuously nerved at the abaxial side and shiny at the adaxial side, the sub-quadrate petals with a basal lobe at the columnar margin and the lip with a truncate base without lobes with an oblong and flat hypochile. Scaphosepalum luannae and S. anchoriferum were discovered growing sympatrically in a poorly explored cloud forest from north-western Ecuador, near the border with Colombia.

Key words: Ecuador; new species; Reserva Dracula; Scaphosepalum anchoriferum

Scaphosepalum luannae photographs.
 a. Flower of S. luannae: a1. Frontal view, a2. Lateral view B. Flower of S. luannae in situ. c. Lip and petal of S. luannae: c1. Lip, three quartres view. c2. Petal, adaxial view.

Photos by Luis Baquero, based on the holotype.

 Scaphosepalum luannae.
 a. Habit. B. Flower in ¾ view. c. Column and lip. d. Lip, adaxial view. e. Dissected flower.

Illustration by Luis Baquero based on the holotype.

Scaphosepalum luannae Baquero, sp. nov. 

TYPE: Ecuador. Carchi: between Chical y El Carmen, 0°54’42.5” N 78°12’48.7” W, 1750 m, collected by Luis Baquero on 8th of May 2016, LB 3121 (holotype, QCNE).

Diagnosis: Scaphosepalum luannae is similar to S. swertiifolium but it differs in the smaller (7-10 vs. 8-21 cm long), dark green, reflective leaves (vs. light green, non-reflective) conspicuously nerved at the abaxial surface (vs. not conspicuously nerved); the shorter ramicauls (3.5-5.0 vs 4-10 cm long); the well-developed, subquadrate, reflexed osmophores of the lateral sepals (vs. transversely lunate, markedly divergent); the sub-quadrate petals with a callous lobe at the base of the columnar margin (vs. ovate, oblique, ecallose), the lip truncate at the base, elobulate (vs. provided wit minutely auricles); and the flat and oblong hipochile (vs. shallowly concave, more or less oblong in S. swertiifolium) (Fig. 3-4).

Eponymy: This species is named in honor of Luanne Lemmer of Washington State, USA. Luanne, her husband Eric Veach, and their two sons, Malcolm and Nigel, are passionate supporters of conservation and have given important help to Rainforest Trust and EcoMinga for the establishment of the Dracula Orchid Reserve, which now protects this species.

Luis E. Baquero. 2019. Scaphosepalum luannae, A New Species, and Scaphosepalum anchoriferum (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidianae) from north-western Ecuador. Lankesteriana. 19(3); DOI: doi.org/10.15517/lank.v19i3.39971 

 Researchgate.net/publication/337852618_Scaphosepalum_luannae_a_new_species_from_NW_Ecuador

[Botany • 2018] Scaphosepalum tarantula (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) • A New Species from Ecuador

Scaphosepalum tarantula Baquero & Hirtz, 

in Baquero, Hirtz et Iturralde. 2018.  

DOI: doi.org/10.15517/lank.v18i3.35605  

Researchgate.net/publication/330313103 

[A1, B1, C2, D1] S. fimbriatum

Abstract

A new species, Scaphosepalum tarantula, is described. It is recognized by the medium-sized plants with grey-green leaves suffused with red-brown to purple stains at the petioles; densely fimbriated, red-brown to sanguine flowers, spiky tails of the lateral sepals and a dark sanguine, wingless lip. It is here compared to Scaphosepalum fimbriatum with which it shares similarities.

Keywords: new species, Pichincha, Scaphosepalum fimbriatum, sympatric species

Scaphosepalum tarantula in situ.
 A. Plant and habit. B. Flower in situ. C. Close-up of the apiculate apex of thedorsal sepal.

Photos by L. E. Baquero.

Scaphosepalum tarantula.
A. Habit. B. Flower. C. Dissected perianth. D. Lip extended. E. Lip and column.

Drawn by L. E. Baquero from the holotype.

Scaphosepalum tarantula Baquero & Hirtz, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Species similar to Scaphosepalum fimbriatum, from which it differs by triangular osmophores of the lateral sepals instead of quadrilateral osmophores; the pandurate, dark sanguine lip, with a rhomboid epichile instead of an elliptical-subpandurate, three-lobed, purple lip; and the rhomboid petals versus the subquadrate, oblique petals of S. fimbriatum. 

Eponymy: Named for the large, hairy spiders of which this orchid flower is reminiscent because of the spiky tails of the sepals and dark color.

Comparison between Scaphosepalum tarantula and S. fimbriatum.
A. Frontal view of the flowers: 1. S. fimbriatum,2. S. tarantula. B. Lateral view of the flowers: 1. S. fimbriatum, 2. S. tarantula.  
C. Lateral view of dorsal sepals, column, u petals and lip: 1. S. tarantula, 2. S. fimbriatum. D. Frontal view of the epichile of the lip: 1. S. fimbriatum, 2. S. tarantula.

Photos by L. E. Baquero. 

Comparion of the flowers of Scaphosepalum fimbriatum and Scaphosepalum tarantula.
 A. S. fimbriatum form from Esmeraldas province. B. S. fimbriatum form from Imbabura province.
C–D. Scaphosepalum tarantula.

Photos by A. Hirtz (A–C) and L. E.Baquero (D). 

   

Luis E. Baquero, Alexander Hirtz and Gabriel Iturralde. 2018. Scaphosepalum tarantula (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), A New Species from Ecuador. Lankesteriana: International Journal on Orchidology. 18(3); 231–237. DOI: doi.org/10.15517/lank.v18i3.35605

https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/lankesteriana/article/view/35605

  Researchgate.net/publication/330313103_Scaphosepalum_tarantula_a_new_species_from_Ecuador

  

[Entomology • 2024] Platyptilia azuayensis, Hellinsia juliae, H. razboinikovi, ... • New Species of Plume Moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) from Ecuador. Part 2

  

Platyptilia azuayensis sp. nov. (1), Hellinsia juliae sp. nov. (3),
H. razboinikovi sp. nov. (5) and H. muratovi sp. nov. (7). 

Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2024 

 DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2024.33.1.85 

1a, 3a, 5a, 7a, reconstructed images of adults in dorsal view.

Artwork by Sergey Kovtunovich 

Abstract

 Five new species of plume moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) are described from Ecuador: Platyptilia azuayensis sp. nov., Hellinsia juliae sp. nov., H. razboinikovi sp. nov., H. muratovi sp. nov., and H. elini sp. nov. Two species of Pterophoridae, Quadriptilia obscurodactyla Gielis, 1994 and Stenoptilodes brevipennis (Zeller, 1874), are recorded from Ecuador for the first time.

Key words: South America, Ecuador, biodiversity, plume moths, Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae, new records, new species

Platyptilia azuayensis sp. nov. (1–2) and Hellinsia juliae sp. nov. (3–4).
1, 3, adults in dorsal view, holotypes; 1a, 3a, reconstructed images of adults in dorsal view; 2, 4, male genitalia, holotypes.

 Scale bars: 10 mm (1, 1a, 3, 3a).

Platyptilia azuayensis sp. nov. (1) and Hellinsia juliae sp. nov. (3).
Hellinsia razboinikovi sp. nov. (5) and Hellinsia muratovi sp. nov. (7). 
1a, 3a, 5a, 7a, reconstructed images of adults in dorsal view.

Artwork by Sergey Kovtunovich (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine)

V.N. Kovtunovich and P.Ya. Ustjuzhanin. 2024. New Species of Plume Moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) from Ecuador. Part 2. Zoosystematica Rossica. 33(1): 85–91. DOI: doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2024.33.1.85 

[Entomology • 2024] Cyphonia dayuma & C. kellyswingi • New Species and Records of the Treehopper Genus Cyphonia (Hemiptera: Membracidae) from the northern Amazonia lowlands of Ecuador

 

Cyphonia dayuma Montalvo-Salazar & Karbaum;  
C. kellyswingi Montalvo-Salazar & Torres, 

in Montalvo-Salazar, Torres Arizaga et Karbaum. 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/00379271.2024.2396823  

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Abstract

Summary. We describe two new species of Cyphonia Laporte, 1832 from the Amazonia lowlands of Ecuador: Cyphonia dayuma Montalvo-Salazar & Karbaum n. sp. (♀) and C. kellyswingi Montalvo-Salazar & Torres n. sp. (♀). We also add two new records for Ecuador from an urban forest remnant in the Amazonia: Cyphonia clavigera (Fabricius, 1803) and C. longistyla Sakakibara, 1972. With this contribution, the number of known species of Cyphonia inhabiting Ecuador is elevated to seven. We lastly provide a key to the known Cyphonia species of Ecuador.

Keywords: Ceresini, Smiliinae, Morphology, Taxonomy, Tiputini Biodiversity Station

Jorge L. Montalvo-Salazar, David M. Torres Arizaga and Geronimus L. Karbaum. 2024. New Species and Records of the Treehopper Genus Cyphonia (Hemiptera: Membracidae) from the northern Amazonia lowlands of Ecuador. Annales de la Société entomologique de France (N.S.): International Journal of Entomology. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/00379271.2024.2396823  

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Résumé: Nouvelles espèces et citations du genre Cyphonia (Hemiptera : Membracidae) des basses terres du nord de l'Amazonie, en Équateur. Nous décrivons deux nouvelles espèces de Cyphonia des basses terres de l'Amazonie, en Équateur : Cyphonia dayuma Montalvo-Salazar & Karbaum n. sp. (♀) et C. kellyswingi Montalvo-Salazar & Torres n. sp. (♀). Nous ajoutons également deux nouvelles citations pour l'Équateur, à partir d'un reliquat de forêt amazonienne urbaine : Cyphonia clavigera (Fabricius, 1803) et C. longistyla Sakakibara, 1972. Avec cette contribution, le nombre d'espèces connues de Cyphonia habitant l'Équateur est porté à sept. Nous fournissons enfin une clé d’identification des espèces de Cyphonia connues en Équateur.

[Herpetology • 2024] Atelopus colomai • A New Species of Harlequin Toad (Anura: Bufonidae: Atelopus) from Amazonian Ecuador

Atelopus colomai

Plewnia, Terán-Valdez, Culebras, Boistel, Paluh, Quezada Riera, Heine, Reyes-Puig, Salazar-Valenzuela, Guayasamin & Lötters, 2024 

 

 SALAMANDRA. 60(4) 

  Researchgate.net/publication/385849022

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Abstract

 For nearly four decades, harlequin toads, genus Atelopus, have sufered unparalleled population declines. While this also results in limited understanding of alphataxonomic relationships, these toads face an urgent need for advances in systematics to inform conservation eforts. However, high intraspecifc variation and cryptic diversity have hindered a comprehensive understanding of Atelopus diversity. Tis is particularly exemplifed among Amazonian populations related to A. spumarius, where decades of taxonomic work have not been able yet to unravel relationships between the many forms, while the names coined so far have led to taxonomic confusion leaving numerous lineages unnamed. A recent comprehensive phylogenetic study has revealed new insights into the systematics of harlequin toads with an emphasis on Amazonian forms, identifying several unnamed lineages. We here describe one of these evolutionary lineages as a new species, restricted to the Ecuadorian Amazon basin, in an integrative taxonomic approach using molecular, morphological, bioacoustic and larval information. With this, we contribute to a better understanding of Atelopus diversity as the baseline of conservation action.

 Key words. Amphibia, Anura, amphibian crisis, bioacoustics, cryptic diversity, Neotropics, osteology, integrative taxonomy

  Ontogenetic change in an individual of Atelopus colomai sp. n. from tadpole to subadult, reared under laboratory conditions at CJ from parental stock collected at the type locality (specimens not preserved).
Upper lef: CJ (sc 10997), Stage 25, lateral, dorsal and ventral views, total length = 8.3 mm; upper right: Stage 41, total length = 14.5 mm; Stage 42, total length = 14.1 mm; Stage 46, 71 days afer Stage 25, 6.8 mm SVL; bottom: subadult 244 days afer Stage 46, 18 mm SVL.

Scale bar 10 mm. Photos by Steven Guevara Salvador, CJ.

Atelopus colomai sp. n.

Diagnosis: Atelopus colomai sp. n. (Figs 1–2, S1) can be readily distinguished from all other Atelopus species (as far known) by molecular genetics (monophyly in a concatenated (12S, 16S, CytB) mitochondrial phylogeny, support by molecular species delimitation and lack of haplotype sharing in POMC, Lötters et al. in press). It can be morphologically distinguished from all congeners by the combination of small size, dorsal and lateral skin covered with dense well-defned minute spiculae, ventral skin smooth to slightly areolate, presence of a columella and dorsal ...

Etymology: We dedicate this species to our friend and colleague Luis A. Coloma, who has continuously contributed to the study and protection of harlequin toads for decades. Te specifc name colomai is an eponym (i.e. a noun in genitive case). As English common name, we propose ‘Coloma’s harlequin toad’

 

Amadeus Plewnia, Andrea Terán-Valdez, Jaime Culebras, Renaud Boistel, Daniel J. Paluh, Amanda B. Quezada Riera, Christopher H. Heine, Juan P. Reyes-Puig, David Salazar-Valenzuela, Juan Manuel Guayasamin and Stefan Lötters. 2024. A New Species of Harlequin Toad (Bufonidae: Atelopus) from Amazonian Ecuador. SALAMANDRA. 60(4); 237–253. 

 Researchgate.net/publication/385849022_A_new_species_of_Atelopus_from_Amazonian_Ecuador

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