[Botany • 2024] Distimake aparantae (Convolvulaceae: Merremieae) • A New Species from the coast of the northern Western Ghats, India

 

Distimake aparantae S.B.Patil, Shimpale & A.R.Simões, 

in Patil, Simões et Shimpale, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12225-024-10231-2

 x.com/AnaRitaGSimoes

Summary

A new species of Convolvulaceae from India, Distimake aparantae, is described and illustrated. The species is restricted to the northern Western Ghats, on sea-facing slopes in coastal regions, at low altitude and may be Critically Endangered. It is morphologically similar to D. rhyncorhiza, differing by the pendulous flowers (vs erect in D. rhyncorhiza), corollas widening from the base without a cylindrical tube (vs funnel-form), leaves deeply lobed with entire margins (vs deeply dissected margins), seeds shortly pubescent, with long golden hairs along the margins (vs mostly glabrous) and pollen 15-pantocolpate (vs 12-pantocolpate). A key to the species of Distimake in India is also provided. Distimake currently includes 49 species, the vast majority are native to Tropical Africa and Tropical America. Only nine species of Distimake occur in Asia, most of them are pantropical, extending their distributions into this region. Three are, however, restricted to Asia, of which two are widespread across SE Asia (D. vitifolius and D. quinatus) and one is narrowly endemic in the Western Ghats (D. rhyncorhiza). The latter three have been demonstrated to be phylogenetically closely related to each other. Distimake aparantae raises the total of Distimake species in Asia to ten and becomes the second species of Distimake endemic to the Western Ghats. It is expected to be phylogenetically close to D. rhyncorhiza, D. vitifolius and D. quinatus. This is the first time that 15-pantocolpate pollen is reported in Distimake. We estimate that the species diversity of this small, Asian clade of Distimake may have been overlooked and that more species remain undescribed, especially in such highly diverse regions as the Western Ghats.

Key Words: Endemism, Merremieae, morning glory, Sahyadri Mountains

Distimake aparantae S.B.Patil, Shimpale & A.R.Simões sp. nov. 

Etymology. The species is named after its type locality: Aparanta refers to the northern part of the Konkan region, on the western coast of India.

Sujit B. Patil, Ana Rita Giraldes Simões and Vinod B. Shimpale. 2024. Distimake aparantae (Convolvulaceae), A New Species from the coast of the northern Western Ghats, India. Kew Bulletin. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12225-024-10231-2

 x.com/AnaRitaGSimoes/status/1872681640956514541 

[Botany • 2020] Ophiorrhiza meenachilarensis (Rubiaceae) • A New Species from southern Western Ghats, India

 

Ophiorrhiza meenachilarensis Robi & Balan, 

in Balan, Robi et Joseph, 2020. 

DOI: doi.org/10.36253/jopt-8508  

 Researchgate.net/publication/346470479

Abstract

A new species of Ophiorriza (Rubiaceae) from southern Western Ghats, India is here described and illustrated. Ophiorriza meenachilarensis is similar to O. eriantha, from which it differs in its herbaceous habit (vs. shrubby habit), densely villous-hirsute stem (vs. pubescent-glabrous stem), entire stipule (vs. bifid stipule), short-peduncled cymes (vs. comparatively long-peduncled cymes), unscented flowers (vs. scented flowers) and corolla tube with a ring of hairs at the middle of the tube (vs. corolla tube without a ring of hairs). A detailed description, illustrations, ecological observations, and geographic distribution are provided.

 Keywords: Ophiorrhizeae, Camptothecin, Kerala, Rubioideae, Vagamon hills

Ophiorrhiza meenachilarensis Robi & Balan, sp. nov.

 

Anoop Puthuparampil Balan, Aloor Jose Robi and Ginu Joseph. 2020. Ophiorrhiza meenachilarensis, A New Species of Rubiaceae from southern Western Ghats, India.  Webbia. 75(2), 231–236. DOI: doi.org/10.36253/jopt-8508  

  Researchgate.net/publication/346470479_Ophiorrhiza_meenachilarensis_a_new_species_of_Rubiaceae_from_southern_Western_Ghats_India

[Herpetology • 2024] Ophisops venustus • Notes on the Ophisops beddomei complex (Squamata: Lacertidae) with the description of a new allied cryptic species from western India

 

Ophisops venustus 

Patel, Vyas, Thackeray, Pal & Mirza, 2024

  

 www.taprobanica.org 

facebook.com: Thackeray Wildlife Foundation 

Abstract

The lacertid Ophisops beddomei was considered to be widely distributed in the northern and central Western Ghats, and some parts of western India. Recent studies, however, provide evidence of it being a species complex that harbours several morphologically cryptic species. In an attempt to resolve this species complex, we provide a re-description of O. beddomei sensu stricto based on type specimens and fresh material from near the type locality. Additionally, we describe a new species based on a series of 15 specimens from the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in western India. The new species is allied to O. beddomei and can be diagnosed from all its congeners by the following suite of characters: a small-sized Ophisops (adult, SVL up to 36 mm); upper eyelid movable; supranasal fused with nasal; two frontonasals; prefrontals not in contact; enlarged tympanic scale present; 46–53 dorsal scales; 28–31 scales at mid-body; 19–21 lamellae underneath the fourth toe; six chin shields; 15–19 scales between symphysis of chin shields and ventral plates; large mental scale, extending beyond first supralabial; 8–11 femoral pores on either side interrupted by 0–1 poreless scales in males and 3–4 poreless scales in females; and subtle colour pattern differences. Molecular data for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene further supports the distinctiveness of the new species and shows an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 8% from O. beddomei sensu stricto. These are among the only lacertids that inhabit high-elevation plateaus and deciduous forests in the Western Ghats and surrounding hill ranges. The findings also indicate that many other similar habitats may harbour as yet undescribed endemic taxa.

Key words : Endemic, hill ranges, Lacerta, plateau, Snake-eyed lizard, taxonomy

Ophisops venustus sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The new species was morphologically diagnosed as Ophisops based on the absence of a distinct collar, presence of a large transparent disc on the lower eyelid, and digits not fringed laterally (Boulenger 1921, Smith 1935). A small bodied Ophisops characterized by (1) snout-vent length up to 36 mm; (2) upper eyelid movable; (3) supranasal fused with nasal; (4) two frontonasals present; (5) prefrontals not in contact; (6) enlarged tympanic scale present; (7) 46–53 dorsal scales; (8) 28–31 scales at mid-body; (9) 19–21 lamellae underneath the fourth toe; (10) six chin shields, ...

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘venustus’ is a Latin first/second-declension adjective in the nominative singular given in masculine, which means ‘charming / elegant / beautiful’ refers to its elegant body colouration in life. Suggested English name is charming lacerta or charming snake-eye.

 

 

Harshil Patel, Raju Vyas, Tejas Thackeray, Saunak Pal & Zeeshan A. Mirza. 2024. NOTES ON THE Ophisops beddomei COMPLEX (SQUAMATA: LACERTIDAE) WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW ALLIED CRYPTIC SPECIES FROM WESTERN INDIA. TAPROBANICA. 13(2); 69–81.  www.taprobanica.org/Archives/Volume-9-14-2020-26/Volume-13-Number-2-November-2024/v13i2332.html

  facebook.com/100064866994974/posts/1048883850617172

[Ichthyology • 2024] Indoreonectes amrabad, I. kalsubai & I. radhanagar • Three New Species of Hill Stream Loach Genus Indoreonectes (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from peninsular India

 

Indoreonectes amrabad, 
I. kalsubai, 
I. radhanagar

Jadhav, Karuthapandi, Jaiawal, Shiva Shankar, Dinesh, Raghunathan & Banerjee, 2024 

 

Records of the Zoological Survey of India. 124(1);  

  RecordsofZSI.com/index.php/ZSoI/article/view/172675 

Abstract

Fishes of the genus Indoreonectes (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) are widely distributed and endemic to the peninsular India. An integrative taxonomic approach-based study including morphology, geography, genetic distance and mt Cytb genebased molecular phylogenetic analysis resulted in the description of three new species of Indoreonectes namely, I. amrabad sp. nov. from the Eastern Ghats, whereas I. kalsubai sp. nov. and I. radhanagari sp. nov. from the northern Western Ghats. Overall, species diversity of the genus has increased from five species to eight species in peninsular India, wherein six species are known from the Western Ghats and two species from the Eastern Ghats. We also provide DNA analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence to support the distinction of the new species.

Keywords: Eastern Ghats, Freshwater Fish, Indoreonectes, Taxonomy, Western Ghats

Indoreonectes radhanagari, paratype (ZSI/ FBRC/F/4042, 29.3 mm SL) in life.
Indoreonectes kalsubai, holotype (ZSI/ FBRC/F/4039, 44.3 mm SL) in life.
Indoreonectes amrabad, holotype (ZSI/ FBRC/F/4036, 49.3 mm SL) in life.

Indoreonectes amrabad sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the name of the type locality, ‘Amrabad Tiger Reserve’, a protected area  in  the  state  of  Telangana.  The  species  epithet  is  a  noun in apposition to the generic name.

Indoreonectes kalsubai sp. nov.

Etymology:The specific epithet is derived from the name ‘Kalsubai’, one of the highest mountain peaks in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, which also comprises the type locality. The species epithet is a noun in apposition to the generic name.

Indoreonectes radhanagari sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet is named after ‘Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary’, the type locality for the species and a protected area in Maharashtra. The species epithet is a noun in apposition to the generic name.

 Shrikant Jadhav, M. Karuthapandi, Deepa Jaiawal, C. Shiva Shankar, K. P. Dinesh, C. Raghunathan and Dhriti Banerjee. 2024. Three New Species of Hill Stream Loach Genus Indoreonectes (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from peninsular India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India. 124(1); 11-24. DOI: 10.26515/rzsi/v124/i1/2024/172675

  RecordsofZSI.com/index.php/ZSoI/article/view/172675

[Entomology • 2024] Melanoneura agasthyamalaica • A New Species of Melanoneura (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) from the Western Ghats, India

 

Melanoneura agasthyamalaica Chandran, Chandran, Jose & Koparde, 

in V. Chandran, R. Chandran, Jose, Payra et Koparde, 2024.

Agasthyamalai bambootail  ||  www.biotaxa.org/ijo/article/view/86296

 Researchgate.net/publication/384741197

 

Abstract

Melanoneura Fraser, 1922 is a genus of damselflies which was, to date, regarded as monotypic. It is represented by the nominate species, Melanoneura bilineata Fraser, 1922 which is endemic to the Western Ghats in India. We describe the population of Melanoneura in the Agasthyamalai landscape of the Western Ghats as a species new to science based on differences in the structure of male cerci, mesostigmal plates, genital ligulae, and the structure and marking of the prothorax. Subtle differences in body markings are also documented. Further, we demonstrate a significant genetic distance (7.2–7.4%) between the new species and M. bilineata, based on mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I analysis. Our study combines morphological and genetic evidence to describe a new species belonging to the genus Melanoneura, cancelling its monotypic nature.

 

Keywords: Zygoptera, bambootail, biodiversity, damselfly, dragonfly, endemic, monotypic, new species, taxonomy

Order Odonata Fabricius, 1793

Suborder Zygoptera Selys, 1854

Superfamily Coenagrionoidea Kirby, 1890

Family Platycnemididae Jacobson and Bianchi, 1905

Genus Melanoneura Fraser, 1922

Type species: Melanoneura bilineata Fraser, 1922

Melanoneura agasthyamalaica sp. n. ♂ in habitat.

Melanoneura agasthyamalaica Chandran, Chandran, Jose & Koparde sp. n.

Diagnosis: Male Melanoneura agasthyamalaica sp. n. can be distinguished from its only congener, M. bilineata, by the following features: posterior lobe of prothorax with a more rounded posterior margin (posterior lobe of prothorax with a relatively straight posterior margin in M. bilineata). Mesostigmal plates flat (mesostigmal plates curled at the tips in M. bilineata) (Figures 3 & 4). Pt in FW squarish, covering just over one cell (Pt in all wings rectangular, covering two cells in M. bilineata) (Figure 5). Cerci more elongated, as long as paraprocts, with a more pointed spine (cerci shorter, falling just short of paraprocts, with a more rounded spine in M. bilineata) (Figures 6 & 7). The outer processes of the distal segments of genital ligula are spatulate in both taxa. The inner processes are shallowly divided in the new taxon and deeply divided in M. bilineata (Figures 8 & 9). The following differences in body markings are also seen, but these could be ....

Etymology: The species epithet agasthyamalaica is derived from the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve of the Western Ghats, the landscape from where this species is first described.

Habitat of Melanoneura agasthyamalaica sp. n.

  

A. Vivek Chandran, Reji Chandran, Subin Jose, Arajush Payra and Pankaj Koparde. 2024. Melanoneura agasthyamalaica sp. n. (Odonata, Platycnemididae) from the Western Ghats, India. International Journal of Odonatology. 27; 213-226. www.biotaxa.org/ijo/article/view/86296

DOI: doi.org/10.48156/1388.2024.1917298 

  Researchgate.net/publication/384741197_Melanoneura_agasthyamalaica_sp_n_from_the_Western_Ghats_India

[Ichthyology • 2024] Koima gen. n. • A New Genus of nemacheilid loach (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from the Western Ghats, India

 

Koima gen. nov. 
 Koima remadevii (Shaji, 2002), Koima monilis (Hora, 1921)

in Anoop, Dahanukar & Raghavan, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5538.2.1 

  facebook.com: Rajeev Raghavan 

Abstract

Koima, a new genus of nemacheilid loach, is described for Mesonoemacheilus remadevii Shaji 2002, and Nemacheilus monilis Hora 1921, both of which are endemic to the Western Ghats of southern peninsular India. Koima is distinguished from all other genera of family Nemacheilidae by its unique colour pattern comprising a yellowish-brown ground colour, single row of black spots on lateral line, all fins hyaline, and absence of a uniform banding pattern on dorsal side. Koima remadevii was initially identified as a species of Mesonoemacheilus Bănărescu & Nalbant 1982, from which it can be distinguished by the presence of a lower adipose crest, and an absence of a banding pattern on the dorsal side and on the caudal fin, while Koima monilis was initially identified as a species of Nemacheilus Bleeker 1863, from which it can be distinguished by the presence of a lower adipose crest, a narrow and deeply incised upper lip and having the fins hyaline. In the multi-gene phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences, Koima remadevii and K. monilis were recovered in a monophyletic group, sister to the endemic peninsular Indian nemacheilid, Schistura denisoni. Resolution of the identity of Koima remadevii and K. monilis contributes to our understanding of the phylogenetics of family Nemacheilidae, which is widely considered to be a polyphyletic group.

Pisces, Mesonoemacheilus remadevii, Nemacheilus monilis, river-loach, systematics, taxonomy

 

V.K. Anoop, Neelesh Dahanukar, Rajeev Raghavan. 2024. Koima, A New Genus of nemacheilid loach from the Western Ghats, India (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae).  Zootaxa. 5538(2); 101-126. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5538.2.1 

  facebook.com/RajeevRaghavan98/posts/10159886328610938

[Botany • 2024] Impatiens minnamparaensis (Balsaminaceae) • A New Species from the Nelliyampathy Region of southern Western Ghats, India

 

Impatiens minnamparaensis Sindhu Arya, Ambika, Alen Alex, V.Suresh, Sojan & V.S.A.Kumar,  

in Sindhu, Anilkumar, Pilllai, Philip, Sojan et Suresh, 2024.  

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.650.1.7

 facebook.com: Arya Sindu 

 

Abstract

A new species, Impatiens minnamparaensis, belonging to section uniflorae is described and illustrated from southern Western Ghats of Kerala. It is morphologically similar to Impatiens sasidharanii but can easily be distinguished in having ovate-oblong leaf, milky white distal lobe of keel petal, red blotch on lower sepal, pollen architecture and capsule morphology. It is also showing similarities with I. rupicola but differs in shape of lower sepal, shape of distal lobe, number of flowers per axil, anther, pollen and capsule morphology. Impatiens minnamparaensis is assessed here as Endangered based on the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List.

Nelliyampathy, Impatiens, taxonomy, uniflorae, Eudicots

Impatiens minnamparaensis Sindhu Arya, Ambika, Alen Alex, V.Suresh, Sojan & V.S.A.Kumar sp. nov. 

Arya Sindhu, Venugopalan Nair Saradhamma Anilkumar, Ambika Viswanathan Pilllai, Alen Alex Philip, Jose Sojan and Veerankutty Suresh. 2024. A New Species of Impatiens from the Nelliyampathy Region of southern Western Ghats, India.  Phytotaxa. 650(1); 83-92. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.650.1.7

 facebook.com/AryaSindu33/posts/7471660532953218

[Botany • 2024] Impatiens cheruthoniensis & I. idukkiana (Balsaminaceae) • Two New Species from the Southern Western Ghats, India

 

Impatiens cheruthoniensis V.S.A. Kumar & Sindhu Arya
I. idukkiana V.S.A. Kumar & Sindhu Arya 

in Anil Kumar et Arya, 2024. 

 DOI: doi.org/10.5735/085.061.0119 

  facebook.com/AryaSindu33

Abstract

Two new species, Impatiens cheruthoniensis V.S.A. Kumar & Sindhu Arya and I. idukkiana V.S.A. Kumar & Sindhu Arya (Balsaminaceae), belonging to the section Uniflorae, are described and illustrated from Idukki District in the southern Western Ghats, Kerala Province, India. The new species morphologically resemble I. periyarensis and I. rupicola, respectively, but differ from them by morphology of dorsal auricles and capsule, shape of lower sepals, pollen surface, and by having extra-floral nectaries on stem.

 

 

Impatiens cheruthoniensis V.S.A. Kumar & Sindhu Arya 

I. idukkiana V.S.A. Kumar & Sindhu Arya

Venugopalan Nair Saradamma Anil Kumar and Sindhu Arya. 2024. Impatiens cheruthoniensis and I. idukkiana (Balsaminaceae), Two New Species from the Southern Western Ghats, India. Annales Botanici Fennici. 61(1):131-137. DOI: doi.org/10.5735/085.061.0119 

  facebook.com/AryaSindu33/posts/7521175074668430

[Herpetology • 2024] Teretrurus albiventer, T. agumbensis, etc. • Phylogenetic Systematics of the Shieldtail Snake Genus Teretrurus Beddome, 1886 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) reveals extensive Cryptic Diversity and Novel Geographic Spread in the Western Ghats of India

Teretrurus albiventer,  
Teretrurus siruvaniensis &
Teretrurus agumbensis

Cyriac, Ganesh, Madani, Ghosh, Kulkarni & Shanker, 2024

DOI: 10.18061/bssb.v3i2.9630 

Researchgate.net/publication/383343027

Abstract  

The genus Tereturus is a small and poorly studied group of uropeltid snakes, known from only a few localities in the Western Ghats of southwest India. Recent taxonomic reviews as well as phylogenetic reconstructions have suggested the presence of cryptic diversity within Teretrurus. Here, based on additional collections from previously unsampled regions of the Western Ghats, we expand the geographic range of the genus significantly northwards by ca. 300 km and evaluate species limits between populations. While morphometric analyses indicate that the four currently known species occupy distinct morphospaces, there was no significant difference in the morphospace between the new populations sampled in this study and the four known species. However, phylogenetic species delimitation using multiple methods consistently indicated greater diversity within Teretrurus than currently known. Based on these results, we further describe four of these lineages as Teretrurus albiventer sp. nov. from Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Teretrurus siruvaniensis sp. nov. from Siruvani Hills, Teretrurus periyarensis sp. nov. from the Periyar plateau and Teretrurus agumbensis sp. nov. from Agumbe. The four new lineages can be distinguished by their phylogenetic position, geography and a combination of diagnostic characters. The discovery of these four species further highlights the extensive hidden diversity among fossorial taxa and the role of extensive sampling in uncovering the true diversity within uropeltid snakes.

Keywords: Hidden diversity, allopatry, range-restricted, morphometry, species delimitation

Teretrurus albiventer sp. nov. from Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, 

Teretrurus siruvaniensis sp. nov. from Siruvani Hills, 

Teretrurus periyarensis sp. nov. from the Periyar plateau 

Teretrurus agumbensis sp. nov. from Agumbe.

Vivek P. Cyriac, S.R. Ganesh, Zeba Madani, Avrajjal Ghosh, Vidisha Kulkarni, Kartik Shanker. 2024. Phylogenetic Systematics of the Shieldtail Snake Genus Teretrurus Beddome, 1886 (Squamata, Uropeltidae) Reveals Extensive Cryptic Diversity and Novel Geographic Spread in the Western Ghats of India. Bulletin of the Society of Systematic Biologists. 3(2); DOI: doi.org/10.18061/bssb.v3i2.9630

 Researchgate.net/publication/383343027_Phylogenetic_Systematics_of_Teretrurus_Cryptic_Diversity_Western_Ghats_of_India

[Herpetology • 2024] Cnemaspis kanyakumariensis & C. geethaiyerae • Two New Species of South Asian Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the southern tip of the Western Ghats, India

 

Cnemaspis kanyakumariensis & C. geethaiyerae

 Agarwal, Thackeray & Khandekar, 2024

DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2024.2400730 

 facebook.com: Thackeray Wildlife Foundation

ABSTRACT

We describe two new small-bodied species of South Asian Cnemaspis from Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu State, India. The two new species [Cnemaspis kanyakumariensis and Cnemaspis geethaiyerae] are sister taxa, forming a well-supported, previously unsampled clade of South Asian Cnemaspis that we name the kanyakumariensis clade. This new clade is recovered with weak support as the sister taxon to the goaensis clade. Both the new species together can be easily distinguished from all other peninsular Indian clades by a combination of non-overlapping morphological characters such as small size with snout to vent length < 40 mm, femoral pores only present in males, presence of spine-like tubercles on flanks, and condition of the subcaudals. They can also be distinguished from each other by several characters such as the number of dorsal tubercles around the body, short vs long spine-like tubercles on flank, and the arrangement of keeled subcaudal scales. They also differ by uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 10.2 and 2.9% for ND2 and 16S, respectively. This work reveals that even the low-elevation coastal hills of southern India have ancient, endemic lineages and require protection.

 

KEYWORDS: Asia, biodiversity hotspot, dwarf geckos, granulite boulders, integrative taxonomy, relict

Cnemaspis kanyakumariensis 

 Cnemaspis geethaiyerae

Ishan Agarwal, Tejas Thackeray and Akshay Khandekar. 2024. Two New Species of South Asian Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the southern tip of the Western Ghats, India. Journal of Natural History. 58(41-44); 1803-1843. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2024.2400730

 facebook.com/100064866994974/posts/990897786415779

 facebook.com/AkshayKhandekarAK

[Botany • 2024] Holarrhena parishadii (Apocynaceae) • A New Species from Palakkad Gap of Western Ghats, South India

 Holarrhena parishadii  

in Ambika, Jose et Suresh, 2024.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.664.4.6 

 

Abstract

A new species of Holarrhena from the Palakkad gap of Western Ghats, S. India is described and compared with Holarrhena pubescens. Detailed description, distribution, phenology, illustration, key and photographs are provided.

colleter, follicle, Palakkad gap, Western Ghats, Eudicots

Viswanathan Pillai Ambika, Sojan Jose, Veerankutty Suresh. 2024. Holarrhena parishadii (Apocynaceae), A New Species from Palakkad gap of Western Ghats, South India. Phytotaxa. 664(4); 290-296. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.664.4.6 

  facebook.com/kssppalakkad/posts/926485746183098

[Arachnida • 2024] Habrocestum benjamin & H. swaminathan • On the Genus Habrocestum Simon, 1876 (Araneae: Salticidae: Hasariini) from India

  

Habrocestum swaminathan and (G-H) H. benjamin 

 Jose, Caleb & Sudhikumar, 2024

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5448.2.3 

  Researchgate.net/publication/380464663 

 x.com/sureshbenjamin 

Abstract

Two new species of the ground-dwelling jumping spider genus Habrocestum Simon, 1876 from the wet evergreen forests of the southern Western Ghats, India are described: H. benjamin sp. nov. (♂♀) and H. swaminathan sp. nov. (♂♀). Furthermore, H. emanasakgrensis Kadam & Tripathi, 2023 is synonymized with Chinattus validus (Xie, Peng & Kim, 1993) syn. nov.. Diagnoses, digital illustrations, morphological descriptions, natural history notes and discussion are provided.

Araneae, ground spiders, Kerala, Meghalaya, new species, new synonym, primary forest, Western Ghats

General habitus of Habrocestum swaminathan sp. nov. (A–F). A. Holotype male, dorsal view; B. Same, lateralview; C. Same, frontal view; D. Paratype female, dorsal view; E. Same lateral view; F. Same, frontal view.
General habitus of Habrocestum benjamin sp. nov. (G–H). G. Holotype male, dorsal view; H. Paratype female, dorsal view. 

 Habrocestum benjamin 

Athira Jose, John T.D. Caleb and Ambalaparambil Vasu Sudhikumar. 2024. On Three Species of the Genus Habrocestum Simon, 1876 (Araneae: Salticidae: Hasariini) from India. Zootaxa. 5448(2); 212-224. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5448.2.3

  x.com/sureshbenjamin/status/1788810258237862331 

  Researchgate.net/publication/380464663_On_the_genus_Habrocestum_from_India

[Botany • 2024] Gongronema sasidharanii (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae: Marsdenieae) • A remarkable New Species from Pambadum Shola National Park of Kerala and A New Genus record for southern India

  

Gongronema sasidharanii  

in Aloor, Menachery, Vadakkekkara, Arun, Nair et Thomas. 2024.

DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04377

 

Abstract

Gongronema sasidharanii, a new species of hitherto unknown genus of south India Gongronema, characterized by an urceolate flower and discovered in Pambadum Shola National Park is described and illustrated. Photographs, and detailed comparison with the allied species G. napalense and G. ventricosum are provided.

Keywords: Apocynaceae, Gongronema, Idukki, Munnar, southern Western Ghats

 

Gongronema sasidharanii

Robi Jose Aloor, Salish Johnson Menachery, Sreenivas Vadakkekkara, Lekshmi Arun, Arun Krishnankutty Nair and Valukattil Ponnachan Thomas. 2024. Gongronema sasidharanii (Marsdenieae, Asclepiadoideae, Apocynaceae), A remarkable New Species from Pambadum Shola National Park of Kerala and A New Genus record for southern India. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04377