[Botany • 2025] Nepenthes higaonon (Nepenthaceae) • A New Species of Pitcher Plant from the northern Mindanao, Philippines

Nepenthes higaonon  Lagunday & V.B. Amoroso, 

in Lagunday, Baul, Ansihagan et Amoroso, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.2.12  

  facebook.com/MelbertJamesGBaul

 

Abstract

Nepenthes higaonon (section Alatae) is described as a new species from the gravel substrates of northern Mindanao, Philippines. It is morphologically similar to N. viridis from which differs in having a non-decurrent leaf-to-stem attachment (vs. slightly decurrent in N. viridis), rounded leaf apex (vs. acute), 3 longitudinal veins on each side of the midrib (vs. 1–2), monomorphic pitchers (vs. dimorphic) aerial pitchers cylindrical upper 1/3rd (vs. infundibular upper 1/3rd), aerial pitcher lid flattened, ovate, angled up to 90° completely exposing the opening (vs. domed, oval to cordate, angled up to ca. 60 ° covering the opening), aerial pitcher peristome anterior with shallow depression (vs. often raised), inflorescence 1-flowered (vs. 2-flowered), and by its climbing stems up to ca. 10 m (vs. up to ca. 4 m). The species described is assessed herein as Critically Endangered according to IUCN criteria, facing threats of poaching, shifting cultivation, without legislative protection and calls for immediate conservation efforts.

Nepenthes, new species, northern Mindanao, Misamis Oriental, Eudicots

Nepenthes higaonon 

  

Noel E. LAGUNDAY, Melbert James G. BAUL, Ramil P. ANSIHAGAN and Victor B. AMOROSO. 2025. Nepenthes higaonon (Nepenthaceae), A New Species of Pitcher Plant from the northern Mindanao, Philippines.  Phytotaxa. 689(2); 285-290. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.2.12 [2025-02-24] 

  facebook.com/MelbertJamesGBaul/posts/9429304917107250

[Botany • 2025] Pitcairnia zapoteca (Bromeliaceae: Pitcairnioideae) • A New Species with nocturnal anthesis from Oaxaca, Mexico

 

Pitcairnia zapoteca I. Ramírez, G. Carnevali & K. Romero,   

in Ramírez-Morillo, Carnevali, Romero-Soler, Pinzón, Tamayo-Cen, Flores et Martínez, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.17129/botsci.3550 

  Researchgate.net/publication/384986549

Abstract

Background: Pitcairnia is the third largest bromeliad genus in Mexico with 57 species and ca. 82.5 % endemism, and is characterized mostly by zygomorphic, ornithophilous flowers of diurnal anthesis in several hues of red, orange, or yellow, whereas white or green flowers are uncommon. Moreover, there are just a few species with nocturnal anthesis in Megamexico. One of them is documented and discussed here.

Questions: Is the Pitcairnia with campanulate, fragrant flowers of nocturnal anthesis from Oaxaca different from other species with similar characters native to Mexico and the Neotropics and what is its conservation status?

Studied species: Pitcairnia abundans, P. lokischmidtiae, P. zapoteca.

Study site and dates: Oaxaca, Mexico, 2016-2024.

Methods: Live plants, herbarium material, protologues, and high-resolution images of herbarium specimens, both of the new taxon and of morphologically similar taxa, were studied and compared against each other. The conservation status of the new species was assessed using the IUCN criteria.

Results: Pitcairnia zapoteca is similar but different at the species level from P. lokischmidtiae from Jalisco; both share campanulate flowers of nocturnal anthesis and a musky or frutal fragances. The conservation status of the new taxon is assessed as DD.

Conclusions: Pitcairnia zapoteca is a new species, only known from the type locality in the state of Oaxaca and only one of three Mexican species with campanulate, white, yellowish or greenish flowers of nocturnal anthesis. The assessment the true conservation status of the new taxon requires detailed exploration of the SE portion of Oaxaca.

Keywords: actinomorphic flowers, endemic species, nocturnal anthesis

Pitcairnia zapoteca (A-J).
A. Inflorescence. B. Flowers with floral bract and sepals. C. Flowers with floral bract and sepals removed. D. Petals, note the appendage at the base of each one. E. Apical view of the corolla, note the stigma and stamens resting on one petal. F. Floral bract. G. Sepals. H. Ovary with style, stigma and stamens. I. Ovary with stigma. J. Apical portion of filaments and anthers.

(Based on I. Ramírez & G. Carnevali 2459 (Holotype: CICY)).

Pitcairnia zapoteca I. Ramírez, G. Carnevali & K. Romero, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis. This new species resembles Pitcairnia lokischmidtiae. However, P. zapoteca differs by the fewer leaves per rosette (10-15 vs. (16-)18-25 in P. lokischmidtiae), shorter leaves (40-60 vs. 80-100 cm), which are also narrower (1.3-1.5 vs.  ca.  4.5  cm  wide),  and  deciduous  (vs. persistent); it also features shorter inflorescences (70-80 vs.  120  cm), larger floral bracts (1.5-2 vs. ca. 1 cm), sepals tinged dull brown-red (vs. totally green), pale-yellowish petals with distal, dull red brown tinges (vs. greenish white), the stigma surpassing the petals when the flower withers (vs.included), and ovary superior (vs. almost completely superior).

Etymology. The name zapoteca honors the Zapotecan people, an ethnic group that have traditionally inhabited the type locality area.

Ivón Ramírez-Morillo, Germán Carnevali, Katya J. Romero-Soler, Juan Pablo Pinzón, Iván Tamayo-Cen, Néstor Raigoza Flores and Ricardo Rivera Martínez. 2025. A New Species of Pitcairnia (Bromeliaceae) with nocturnal anthesis from Oaxaca, Mexico.  Botanical Sciences. 103(1); 207-217. DOI: doi.org/10.17129/botsci.3550 

  Researchgate.net/publication/384986549_A_new_species_of_Pitcairnia_from_Oaxaca_Mexico

[Botany • 2025] Bulbophyllum abuniorum (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) • A New Species of Bulbophyllum sect. Lepidorhiza from the Bird’s Head Peninsula, Indonesian New Guinea

Bulbophyllum abuniorum Saputra & Schuit.,

in Saputra, Schuiteman, Ulimpa, Fitrah Darwis, Junial, Nuburi et Santoso, 2025. 

https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/TEL

Abstract

A new species of Bulbophyllum from section Lepidorhiza, B. abuniorum Saputra & Schuit., is described based on specimens from the Bird’s Head Peninsula, New Guinea. A detailed morphological description and diagnosis, information on distribution and ecology, and a preliminary conservation assessment are provided. A key to the species of Bulbophyllum section Lepidorhiza in New Guinea is also presented.

Keywords: Abun Tribe, Pegunungan Tambrauw, West Papua, endemic, indentification key

Bulbophyllum abuniorum Saputra & Schuit., sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Bulbophyllum abuniorum is similar to Bulbophyllum levyae Garay, Hamer & Siegerist (1995:176) especially in the shape of sepals and petals, the relatively long lip, and in the several simultaneously opening flowers (flowers usually opening one at a time in other species of sect. Lepidorhiza), but differs in having a slightly clawed lip at the base (vs. not clawed in B. levyae), densely irregular conical-subulate teeth all over the adaxial surface of the lip (vs. lip with papillae in the middle, smooth elsewhere), margin of lip laciniate basally, strongly serrate centrally, and crenate apically (vs. margin entire throughout).

Reza Saputra, André Schuiteman, Hormes Ulimpa, Fajar Fitrah Darmawan Darwis, Agaki Junial, Welem Nuburi and Johny Santoso. 2025. A New Species of Bulbophyllum section Lepidorhiza (Orchidaceae) from the Bird’s Head Peninsula, Indonesian New Guinea. Telopea. 29; 9-13.  DOI: 10.7751/telopea20323 

https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/TEL/article/view/20323

[Ichthyology • 2025] Homatula gelao • A New nemacheiline Species of loach (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from the upper Yangtze River basin in Guizhou Province, southwestern China

Homatula gelao Xiao,

in G.-B. Xiao, Guo, Cao, Lin, WeXi Deng, Q.-Q. Xiao, Zhou, Zhang et Fang, 2025. 

仡佬荷马条鳅  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.141973 

 Abstract

Homatula gelao, a new species, is here described from the Wu-Jiang of the Yangtze River basin in Guizhou province, southwestern China. This new species belongs to the elongate-bodied group of Homatula defined by having a complete lateral line, sparsely scales hidden in skin on the predorsal body, and a slender body with a uniform depth. It, along with H. variegata, is distinguished from all other species of this group in having a broadly rounded caudal fin and a small number of scales sparsely scattered over the predorsal body. Both differ in body coloration, striped pattern on the predorsal body, and caudal-peduncle length. The validity of the new species is corroborated by distinct genetic distance divergence with closely related congeneric species and its monophyly recovered in a mtDNA COI gene-based phylogenetic analysis. It is separated from other Homatula species by a minimum of 8.2% Kimura 2-parameter distance in the COI gene.

Key Words: Homatula gelao, new species, morphological comparison, taxonomy, Yangtze River basin

Lateral (A), dorsal (B), and ventral (C) views of Homatula gelao, holotype, ZVTC 20200601, 127.6 mm SL, caught from Furong-Jiang, a tributary flowing into Wu-Jiang of the Yangtze River basin, at Huaiping Village, Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou Province, P. R. China.

 Homatula gelao Xiao, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: A member of the elongate-bodied group of Homatula defined by having a slender body with a uniform depth (9.2%–14.4% of SL), a complete lateral line, and a scarcely scaled or scaleless predorsal body. H. gelao resembles H. variegata in the presence of a broadly rounded (vs. truncate or obliquely truncate) caudal fin and scales sparsely scattered on the predorsal body (vs. predorsal body unscaled or sparsely scaled on the dorsum and flank), which distinguishes both from all other species of this group (H. berezowskii, H. guanheensis, H. laxiclathra, H. longidorsalis, H. oxygnathra, and H. tigris). It differs from H. variegata in possessing a body coloration of 17–18 brown vertical bars narrower than interspaces, particularly on the Caudal peduncle flank (vs. dense, undulating vertical bars slightly wider or equal to interspaces); a thick brown-black stripe running along dorsal midline from behind head to dorsal fin origin; and symmetrical black vertical bars on sides of body (vs. light brown spots on the dorsum and irregular markings on the sides of the body); and a longer (vs. equal) distance from the origin of the anal fin to the origin of the pelvic fin than the distance from the origin of the anal fin to the base of the caudal fin.

Sampling locality of Homatula gelao in the Huaixi-He, tributary to the Furong-Jiang in Huaiping Village, Jiucheng Town, Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County, Zunyi City, Guizhou Province, P. R. China; 2 June 2020, photographed by Guibang Xiao. 

The view of perched states of a fresh individual of Homatula gelao in Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou, P. R. China. The white arrow indicates the backwater areas. Red arrow indicates the natural habitat state of H. gelao. White square indicates the inhabitant situation of H. gelao.

Etymology: The specific epithet is named after Gelao (in Chinese spelling) nationality. The type specimens of the new species were collected from the Huaixi-He in Daozhen Gelao Autonomous County, northern Guizhou Province. The Chinese common name for H. gelao is suggested as “仡佬荷马条鳅”.

Gui-Bang Xiao, Qi-Wei Guo, Liang Cao, Jia Lin, Wei-Xi Deng, Qi-Qi Xiao, Lin Zhou, Hao-Ran Zhang and Ding-Zhi Fang. 2025. Homatula gelao (Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae), A New nemacheiline Species of loach from the upper Yangtze River basin in Guizhou Province, southwestern China. Zoosystematics and Evolution .101(1): 257-271. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.141973 

[Entomology • 2024] Metapocyrtus inangsabong, M. lumad & M. uphagpula • Three New Mimetic Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) from Mt. Candalaga, Davao de Oro, Mindanao Island, Philippines

Metapocyrtus inangsabong Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov., 
Metapocyrtus lumad Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov., and 
Metapocyrtus (Trachycyrtus) uphagpula Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov.

in Obrial, Agbas, Medina et Cabras, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5541.4.2 

 facebook.com: Graden Obrial 

Abstract

Three new species of Metapocyrtus: Metapocyrtus inangsabong Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov., Metapocyrtus lumad Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov., and Metapocyrtus (Trachycyrtus) uphagpula Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Short ecological notes on the species’ habitat, mimicry with other weevils and beetles, and the association between Nepenthes candalaga and Pachyrhynchini in the Philippines are also presented.

Coleoptera, Biodiversity, endemic, new species, mimicry, Pachyrhynchini, weevils, Nepenthes

  

Metapocyrtus inangsabong Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov., 

Metapocyrtus lumad Cabras, Obrial & Agbas sp. nov.,

Metapocyrtus (Trachycyrtus) uphagpula Cabras, Obrial & Agbas 

Graden G. OBRIAL, Daven JAYSON D. AGBAS, Milton Norman D. MEDINA and Analyn A. CABRAS. 2024. Three New Mimetic Weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae) from Mt. Candalaga, Davao de Oro, Mindanao Island, Philippines.  Zootaxa. 5543(4); 438-454. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5541.4.2

  facebook.com/GradenObrial9/posts/3809491716045524

[Botany • 2021] Miconia waimiri-atroari (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) • A New Species from the Brazilian Amazon Forest

  Miconia waimiri-atroari  Meirelles & Caddah,

in Meirelles, Sartor, Chagas et Caddah, 2021.

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.521.3.5

  Researchgate.net/publication/354966173

 

Abstract

Miconia waimiri-atroari is presented here as a new species from the Brazilian Amazon Forest. This new species has discolorous leaf blades, inflorescences with scorpioid branches, and petals and antesepalous stamen connectives with glandular trichomes. It has been misidentified as Miconia argyrophylla, another species from the Amazon Forest that has this same set of characters. However, the new species has cylindrical young branches (vs. quadrangular in M. argyrophylla), stellate trichomes on leaf abaxial surface (vs. arachnoid), stamens with yellow filaments that turn red in old flowers (vs. stamens with white filaments that only turn pale in old flowers), and style with glandular trichomes (vs. glabrous). At the moment, the species is only known from a small area north of Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Morphological description, illustrations, general comments and comparison to other similar species are also provided.

Albicans clade, Eudicots, Miconia argyrophylla, Neotropics, Taxonomy

  Miconia waimiri-atroari.
A: Branch with inflorescence. B: Flower. C: Style. D: Antesepalous stamen in lateral view. E: Antepetalous stamen in lateral view. F: Antesepalous stamen in ventral view. G: Petal. H: Fruit in upper view. I: Fruit in lateral view.

Drawn by Carlos Alvarez based on the MG isotype.

  Miconia waimiri-atroari.
A: Branch with leaves and inflorescence. Flower in detail, with thin arrow pointing to petal with glandular-ciliate margin, and thick arrows pointing to glandular trichome on antesepalous stamen connective. B: Inflorescence branch with buds and young flowers. C: Inflorescence branch with young and old flowers. D: Young and old flowers.

 A-B: Photos by Francisco Farroñay, C-D: Photos by Layon Oreste Demarchi.

Miconia waimiri-atroari sp. nov. 

Etymology:—The new species is named after the indigenous people of Waimiri-Atroari, whose territory is located near the BR-174, between Manaus (Amazonas) and Boa Vista (Roraima), where the species occurs. During the construction of the BR-174, mainly in the 1960’ and 1970’s, these people have suffered a massive genocide by the military government of that time, and lost part of their land to farmers, squatters and the state (Sousa et al. 2020).Besides the BR-174, the Balbina Dam and mining companies have also explored the land of the Waimiri-Atroari, contributing to population decrease from 3000 in 1972 to 350 people in 1983 (Damasio 2019). The epithet is a name in apposition. 

Julia MEIRELLES, Mariana Furlan SARTOR, Rennan Lopes CHAGAS and Mayara Krasinski CADDAH. 2021. Miconia waimiri-atroari (Miconieae, Melastomataceae): A New Species from the Brazilian Amazon Forest.  Phytotaxa. 521(3); 203-211. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.521.3.5

  Researchgate.net/publication/354966173_Miconia_waimiri-atroari_a_new_species_from_the_Brazilian_Amazon_Forest

[PaleoIchthyology • 2024] Miaojiaaspis dichotomus • A New Genus of galeaspids (Eugaleaspiformes: Tujiaaspidae) from the early Silurian Chongqing Lagerstätte, China

 

Miaojiaaspis dichotomus 

Chen, Li, Zhou, Shan, Y.-A. Zhu, Wang, Wei & M. Zhu, 2024

 https://www.vertpala.ac.cn/EN/10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.240820 

 

The early Silurian Chongqing Lagerstätte (middle Telychian) yields exceptionally preserved articulated jawless and jawed fishes. Here, we describe a new eugaleaspiform (Galeaspida, jawless stem-Gnathostomata), Miaojiaaspis dichotomus gen. et sp. nov., from the Chongqing Lagerstätte in Xiushan, Chongqing, China. The new form resembles Tujiaaspis vividus in the short medial dorsal canal, and the presence of the branching ends of the lateral transverse canal. They differ in that T. vividus has highly developed subordinate branches of the sensory canals that form a reticulate sensory canal system, and the median dorsal opening is more elongated. Our phylogenetic analysis recovers M. dichotomus and T. vividus as a monophyletic clade (Tujiaaspidae fam. nov.), which is supported by two synapomorphies: the short medial dorsal canal, and the branching ends of the lateral transverse canal. Tujiaaspidae forms a trichotomy with Shuyuidae and a clade comprising Anjiaspis, Sinogaleaspidae, Yongdongaspidae, and the ‘eugaleaspid cluster’. The sensory canal patterns in galeaspids are compared to show the transformation sequence of the sensory canal system in Eugaleaspiformes.

Photographs (A, C) and interpretative drawings (B, D) of Miaojiaaspis dichotomus gen. et sp. nov. from Xiushan, Chongqing
A, B. an incomplete internal mold of the headshield with the trunk articulated, CIGMR V0125a; C, D. an incomplete external mold of the headshield with the trunk articulated, holotype, CIGMR V0125b

Subclass Galeaspida Tarlo, 1967

Order Eugaleaspiformes (Liu, 1965) Liu, 1980

Family Tujiaaspidae fam. nov.

Type genus Tujiaaspis Gai et al., 2022.

Referred genus Miaojiaaspis gen. nov.

Differential diagnosis Tujiaaspidae differs from other families of Eugaleaspiformes in the short medial dorsal canal, and the branching ends of the lateral transverse canal.

Remarks Our phylogenetic analysis shows that M. dichotomus and T. vividus form a monophyletic clade supported by two synapomorphies.

Genus Miaojiaaspis gen. nov.

Type species Miaojiaaspis dichotomus sp. nov.

Etymology From Miaojia, Pinyin for the Miao People, a minority ethnic group in China, which is one of the two main autonomous minority ethnic groups in Xiushan County, Chongqing, and aspis (Gr.), shield.

Differential diagnosis M. dichotomus differs from T. vividus in a more subtriangular headshield, no highly developed subordinate branches of sensory canals and a shorter median dorsal opening.

Miaojiaaspis dichotomus sp. nov.

Holotype An incomplete headshield with the trunk articulated, CIGMR V0125a, b (Figs. 2–3).

Referred specimens 8 complete headshields, CIGMR V0126–V0129, IVPP V28714–V28717 (Fig. 4).

Etymology From dichotomus (Latin), referring to the dichotomous ends of the lateral transverse canals.

Diagnosis Small-sized eugaleaspiform fish with a subtriangular headshield. Spine-shaped cornual and inner cornual processes caudo-laterally or caudally oriented. Longitudinal oval-like median dorsal opening. Pineal opening positioned behind the posterior margin of the orbits. Funnel-shaped supraorbital canals. Short medial dorsal canal. 

 

CHEN Yang, LI Qiang, ZHOU Zheng-Da, SHAN Xian-Ren, ZHU You-An, WANG Qian, WEI Guang-Biao, ZHU Min. 2024. A New Genus of galeaspids (jawless stem-Gnathostomata) from the early Silurian Chongqing Lagerstätte, China. Vertebrata Palasiatica. 62(4); 245-261.  DOI: 10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.240820 

 https://www.vertpala.ac.cn/EN/10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.240820 

[Ichthyology • 2024] Hypancistrus parkateje • A New Species of Hypancistrus Isbrücker & Nijssen 1991 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rapids of the middle Rio Tocantins

 

Hypancistrus parkateje

 Araújo, Ferreira, Monteiro & Wosiacki, 2024 

 DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15971 

 x.com/Araujoictio

Abstract

The Hypancistrus genus is recognized in the Río Orinoco basin and Rio Xingu in the Guiana and Brazilian Shields, respectively. Some of its species are important in ornamental fishing. Despite this significance, many other undescribed species are still awaiting to be named. Here we describe a new species of Hypancistrus found on bedrock in the Rio Tocantins, representing an extension of the distribution of the genus. Also, a multigene phylogeny is presented to evaluate the taxonomic position of this species concerning congeners. The new species differs from all congeners by (1) hypertrophied odontodes on cheeks reaching beyond the cleithrum, (2) a supraoccipital crest conspicuously elevated, (3) a supraorbital crest slightly convex, (4) oblique bars on the anterior part of the body, (5) a dark E-shaped mark on the snout, (6) three oblique dark bars on the anterior part of the body and horizontal vermicular bars from the pectoral girdle to the posterior insertion of the dorsal fin, (7) a thin light gray bar on the posterior of the head extending across the branchial opening, (8) a tan background color, (9) a developed suspensorium with a diminished appendix in the metapterygoid, and (10) a dentary plate robust significantly fused with the angulo-articular bone. The molecular phylogenetic results show the new species forming a group with Hypancistrus zebra (Brazilian Shield—Rio Xingu) as a clade, a sister group of a monophyletic group consisting of all congeners from the Río Orinoco.

Keywords: armored catfish, molecular phylogeny, new taxon, rheophilic fish

Holotype of Hypancistrus parkateje, 64.5 mm SL (standard length),
Brazil, Pará, Bom Jesus do Tocantins, Rio Tocantins basin.

Hypancistrus parkateje

Felipe Araújo, Marlon Ferreira, Iann Monteiro and Wolmar Wosiacki. 2024. A New Species of Hypancistrus Isbrücker & Nijssen 1991 (Loricariidae, Siluriformes) from the rapids of the middle Rio Tocantins. Journal of Fish Biology.  DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15971

  x.com/Araujoictio/status/1854503751215686100

[Ichthyology • 2024] Oreichthys warjaintia • A New Species of cyprinid fish (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Meghalaya, India

 

Oreichthys warjaintia

Dann, Dahanukar & Raghavan, 2024 

DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.16001 

 facebook.com: Rajeev Raghavan

 

Abstract

Oreichthys warjaintia, new species, is described from the Pyrngang stream (Surma–Meghna basin), Meghalaya, northeast India. It can be distinguished from all known species within the genus Oreichthys in having the following combination of characters: complete lateral line with 25–27 pored scales, 13 branched pectoral-fin rays, 5–5½ branched anal-fin rays, 14 rows of papillae on suborbital, ½3/1/2½ scale rows in transverse line on body, presence of a black blotch on caudal-fin base, and in the coloration of dorsal, caudal, and anal fins. Oreichthys warjaintia is distinct from all known Oreichthys species for which mitochondrial cox1 sequence data are available by a raw genetic distance ranging from 8.3% to 11.1%.

Keywords: Cox1 gene, eastern Himalaya, high-fin barb, Surma–Meghna, taxonomy

Oreichthys warjaintia sp. nov.

 

Lekiningroy Dann, Neelesh Dahanukar and Rajeev Raghavan. 2024. Oreichthys warjaintia, A New Species of cyprinid fish from Meghalaya, India (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae). Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.16001

  facebook.com/RajeevRaghavan98/posts/385262360937

 

[Botany • 2024] Begonia tamoiana (Begoniaceae) • A New Species from Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

  

Begonia tamoiana  

in Jacques, Moonlight et José dos Santos, 2024.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.669.2.8

 x.com/PeterMoonlight

 

Abstract

Begonia tamoiana is a new species endemic to Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, a biome rich in endemism and species diversity, and it is described and illustrated herein. Begonia tamoiana is morphologically similar to B. magdalenensis but differs in having abaxial leaf blades with simple trichomes throughout (vs. 2-branched trichomes throughout) and ovate wings capsule (vs. triangular). A description, ecological comments, illustrations, color photographs, and a provisional IUCN conservation assessment of this species are provided. Begonia tamoiana is preliminarily classified as Vulnerable (VU) due to its very small populations and restricted distribution.

Atlantic Coastal Forest, conservation, endemism, taxonomy, Eudicots

Begonia tamoiana 

Eliane de Lima Jacques, Peter W. Moonlight and Alfredo José dos Santos Jr. 2024. Begonia tamoiana (Begoniaceae), A New Species from Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.  Phytotaxa. 669(2); 159-164. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.669.2.8

 x.com/PeterMoonlight/status/1848753386612523188

[Ichthyology • 2023] Lasiancistrus wiwa • Phylogenetic Revision of Whisker-cheeked Suckermouth Catfishes (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Lasiancistrus) from east of the Andes: Five Species where once there were Two

Lasiancistrus wiwa

Poveda-Cuellar, Conde-Saldaña, Villa-Navarro, Lujan & Santos, 2024

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad042 

 Researchgate.net/publication/372161393

 

Abstract

We integrated large sample sizes, morphometric and molecular data, and phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses to test the 17-year-old hypothesis that only two species of whisker-cheeked suckermouth catfishes (genus Lasiancistrus) occur in river drainages west of the Andes Mountains. Our results reject this hypothesis, demonstrating that, in addition to the previously recognized Lasiancistrus guacharote from Lake Maracaibo, a Lasiancistrus clade from west of the Sierra de Perijá contains at least four allopatric, genetically differentiated and morphologically distinct lineages. One of these lineages had no previous name associated with it and is described here as the new species Lasiancistrus wiwa. Phylogenetic relationships and geographical distributions of all five trans-Andean lineages are concordant with watershed boundaries and major mountain ranges that form these boundaries, with the following five freshwater basins or regions each containing a single species: Lake Maracaibo (L. guacharote), Rancheria River basin (L. wiwa), Upper and Middle Magdalena River and lower Cauca River basins (Lasiancistrus volcanensis), Upper Cauca River basin (Lasiancistrus caucanus) and Pacific Coastal watersheds between central Colombia and central Panama (Lasiancistrus mayoloi). Evolutionary relationships among these lineages suggest that Andean uplift-mediated vicariance contributed significantly to the cladogenesis and allopatric distributions of these fishes.

Andes, biodiversity, biogeography, molecular phylogeny, South America, morphology, anatomy

 Holotype of Lasiancistrus wiwa, CZUTIC17449, 79.6 mm standard length, from Colombia, Departamento de La Guajira, Ranchería River basin, Manantial Cañaverales. Scale bar: 10 mm.

  Lasiancistrus wiwa

Etymology: Wiwa is a noun in apposition, referring to indigenous peoples who live in what is now northern Cesar Department and southern La Guajira Department, Colombia. The Wiwa have been displaced to between 900 and 2500 m a.s.l. in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and their population currently numbers< 14 000 people. 

José Luis Poveda-Cuellar, Cristhian Camilo Conde-Saldaña, Francisco Antonio Villa-Navarro, Nathan K Lujan and Jorge Abdala Dergam dos Santos. 2024. Phylogenetic Revision of Whisker-cheeked Suckermouth Catfishes (Loricariidae: Lasiancistrus) from east of the Andes: Five Species where once there were Two. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 199(3); 688–712. DOI:  doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad042  

Researchgate.net/publication/372161393_Phylogenetic_revision_of_Lasiancistrus_from_east_of_the_Andes

 x.com/Novatax_Col/status/1821004988958617910

[Entomology • 2024] Gasteruption mamburrumurl • A New Species of Gasteruption (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae) with A Host Association from Northern Australia

 

Gasteruption mamburrumurl 

Parslow, Volpe & Kania, 2024

 

Mam-Burrumurl wasp  ||  DOI: 10.54102/ajt.byysx

Abstract

Here we describe the distinctive new species Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov. from Leliyn (Edith Falls), Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia and document a host association with the native resin bee, Megachile micrerythrura Cockerell, 1910 (Megachilidae: Apoidea). The common name for the species is the "Mam-Burrumurl wasp".

 Live image of Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov. 

photo by N. Volpe 

Taxonomy 

Gasteruptiidae Ashmead, 1900 

Gasteruptiinae Ashmead, 1900 

Gasteruption Latreille, 1796 

Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov. is a distinctive species that is easily distinguished from other described Australian species based on the combination of body colouration; head and metasoma black, mesosoma reddish-brown, metatibia without cream patch, and areolate-rugulose sculpturing on the mesoscutum.

Distribution. The species is known only from the holotype locality at Leliyn (Edith falls), Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. 

Etymology. In collaboration with First Nations elders and custodians of the Country in which this species was discovered, the species epithet mamburrumurl is derived from the Jawoyn language, combining the words mam meaning 'ghost' and burrumurl meaning 'wasp.' This name describes the distinctive floating searching flight pattern exhibited by these wasps. Hence, this species is commonly referred to as the “Mam-Burrumurl wasp”.

 

Ben A. Parslow, Nicholas J. Volpe and Lucyna I. Kania. 2024. A New Species of Gasteruption (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae) with A Host Association from Northern Australia. Australian Journal of Taxonomy. 70: 1–7. DOI: doi.org/10.54102/ajt.byysx

  www.taxonomyaustralia.org.au/ajt/papers/j2iqgsdncv

 nit.com.au/09-09-2024/13609/mam-burrumurl-new-species-of-ghost-wasp-discovered-in-the-nt

[Herpetology • 2024] Nactus simakal • A New Species of Nactus Gecko (Gekkonidae) from Boulder-pile Habitat on Dauan Island, Torres Strait, Australia

 

Nactus simakal 

Hoskin, Davies & Aland, 2024

Dauan Island Gecko  ||  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5497.4.7

 

Abstract

The Torres Strait Islands lie between Cape York Peninsula, north-east Australia, and the southern coast of Papua New Guinea. The vertebrate fauna of these islands is a relatively depauperate mix of Australian and New Guinean species, with only two endemic species described to date. Here we describe a new species of Nactus gecko discovered during a targeted survey of Dauan Island in the northern Torres Strait. Nactus simakal sp. nov. is a genetically (ND2 mtDNA) and morphologically highly distinct species, with a banded pattern and a slender, elongate form. It is saxicoline, living on deeply piled boulder habitat, and is likely to be restricted to Dauan Island. Nactus simakal sp. nov. is currently known from a very small area and further surveys, and assessment of current and potential threats, are required to assess the conservation status of this species. Nactus simakal sp. nov. is similar in general appearance to N. galgajuga (Ingram, 1978), which is restricted to boulder-pile habitat 750 km to the south in mainland north-east Queensland but is readily distinguished from that species morphologically and genetically.

Reptilia, Nactus, new species, Torres Strait, Queensland, saxicoline, boulder-field

Holotype of Nactus simakal sp. nov. (QM J97603) in life (A) and preserved (B).

Photos: Conrad Hoskin.

Nactus simakal sp. nov. in life.
 (A–C) Adults; (D) sub-adult.

Photos: (A, D) Alexander Davies; (B, C) Conrad Hoskin

Nactus simakal sp. nov. 

Dauan Island Gecko

Diagnosis. A slender, elongate Nactus gecko with strongly banded pattern and prominently keeled subcaudal scales.

 

Etymology. The species name ‘simakal’ is in reference to Simakal Pad, the local language name for Mt Cornwallis (the mountain that dominates Dauan Island). The local language name was provided by Laurie Elisala, Torenzo Elisala, Abi Mooka, Tenny Elisala, and Thomas Mooka.

Similarity in general appearance between Nactus simakal sp. nov. (A) and N.galgajuga.

Photos: (A) Conrad Hoskin; (B) Scott Macor.

 

Conrad J. Hoskin, Alexander Davies and Kieran Aland. 2024. A New Species of Nactus Gecko from Boulder-pile Habitat on Dauan Island, Torres Strait, Australia.  Zootaxa. 5497(4); 577-590. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5497.4.7