[Ichthyology • 2024] Karstsinnectes cehengensis • A New Species of Cave Fish (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from Guizhou, China

 Karstsinnectes cehengensis Luo, Zhao & Zhou, 

in Zhao, Lan, Luo, Yu, J. Zhou, Xiao et J. Zhou, 2024.

册 亨中华喀鳅  ||  www.zootax.com.cn/EN/10.11865/zs.2024204

Abstract

Four species of the genus Karstsinnectes, which live in dark, low-energy groundwater ecosystems, are currently recorded, mainly distributed in the upstream of the Pearl River, the Youjiang River and the Hongshui River. Completing biodiversity surveys is particularly difficult due to the particular cave habitats inhabited by these species. In this work, we describe a new cave fish of the genus Karstsinnectes, namely K. cehengensis Luo, Zhao & Zhou, sp. nov., collected from the Beipanjiang River, the upstream of the Hongshui River. Genetically, the four individuals of the new species form a phylogenetically separate lineage, as the sister clade of K. acridorsalis, with a 9.4–9.5% genetic difference in mitochondrial Cyt b. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: body naked, without body color; eyes reduced, diameter 1.4–3.8% of head length; anterior and posterior nostrils adjacent, anterior nostril not elongated to a barbel-like tip; lateral line incomplete; caudal fin forked; dorsal-fin rays iii-7, pectoral-fin rays i-11–12, pelvic-fin rays i-7, anal-fin rays iii-5, with 14 branched caudal-fin rays. The discovery of this new species represents the northernmost distribution of species within the genus Karstsinnectes and the first record from Guizhou Province. All currently known species of this genus inhabited in caves, making them ideal organisms for studying historical river connectivity and cave formation process.

Key words: Diversity, karst cave, morphology, phylogeny, Karstsinnectes

 Karstsinnectes cehengensis Luo, Zhao & Zhou, sp. nov. (A–B) and
K. anophthalmus (C) in life.
A from holotype GZNU2023 0106002.

A, C were photographed by Tao Luo, B by Jiajun Zhou.

 

Karstsinnectes cehengensis Luo, Zhao & Zhou, sp. nov.  

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) body naked, without body color; (2) eyes reduced, diameter 1.4–3.8% of head length; (3) anterior and posterior nostrils adjacent, anterior nostril not elongated to a barbel-like tip; (4) lateral line incomplete; (5) caudal fin forked;(6) dorsal-fin rays iii-7, pectoral-fin rays i-11–12, pelvic-fin rays i-7, anal-fin rays iii-5, with 14 branched caudal-fin rays. 

Etymology. The specific epithet “cehengensis” is in reference to the type locality of the new species, Ceheng County. We propose the common English name “Ceheng Chinese Karst Loach” and Chinese name “Cè Hēng Zhōng Huá Kā qiū (册 亨中华喀鳅)”. 

 

Xinrui Zhao, Changting Lan, Tao Luo, Jing Yu, Jiajun Zhou, Ning Xiao and Jiang Zhou. 2024. Karstsinnectes cehengensis (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae), A New Species of Cave Fish from Guizhou, China. Zoological Systematics. 49(2); 101-115. DOI: 10.11865/zs.2024204 

 www.zootax.com.cn/EN/10.11865/zs.2024204

[Herpetology • 2024] Diploderma daduense • A New Species of Diploderma (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Valley of Dadu River in Sichuan Province, with a Redescription of Topotypes of D. splendidum from Hubei Province, China

 Diploderma daduense Cai, Liu & Chang,  

in Cai, Liu, Liang, Hou, Zhou, Zhong, Li et Chang, 2024. 

Dadu Mountain Lizard | 大渡攀蜥  ||  DOI: 10.3390/ani14091344  

Abstract

This study describes a novel species of Diploderma (Squamata, Agamidae) from the lower valley of the Dadu River of the Sichuan Province of Western China based on its distinct morphological features and molecular evidence. D. daduense sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by its tympanum concealed; head mainly green-yellow, supplemented by black; skin folds under the nuchal and dorsal crest obviously present in adult males only, its vertebral crest discontinuous between nuchal and dorsal sections with a distinct gap; transverse gular fold present but not obvious in some individuals; gular spot absent in both sexes; dorsolateral stripes green-yellow anteriorly, cyan in the center and blurry off-white posteriorly in adult males, the upper edge of dorsolateral stripes strongly jagged in adult males; no radial stripes around the eyes; inner-lip coloration smoky-white, and the coloration of the tongue and oral cavity as a light-flesh color in life; bright green-yellow transverse stripes on dorsal body in males; black patches are evenly distributed along the vertebral line between the dorsolateral stripes from the neck to the base of the tail in males; beech-brown or gray-brown line along the vertebral line with heart-shaped or diamond-shaped black patches on the dorsal body in females; and supratemporals fewer than four on at least one side. The phylogenetic tree based on mitochondrial ND2 sequences indicates that D. daduense sp. nov. forms an independent clade with strong support 1/100 in ML bootstrap/Bayesian posterior probability and is the sister group to D. splendidum. At the inter-species level, the p-distance is at least 6.95%, further confirming that an independent species had been identified. Our work raises the number of species within the genus Diploderma to 47.

Keywords: Eastern Tibetan Plateau; Hengduan Mountain Region; Xiling Gorge; Ichang City; dry valley

 Types of Diploderma daduense sp. nov. in life.
Holotype CIB119354 (male) lateral view (A), dorsal view (B), and ventral view (C);
allotype YBU−GP9889 (female) lateral view (D), dorsal view (E);
 habitats of new species (F).

  Diploderma daduense sp. nov. Cai, Liu, and Chang 

Diagnosis. Diploderma daduense sp. nov. can be diagnosed from other Diploderma species by the following unique combination of characters: (1) body size large, SVL 74.7–95.0 (average 86.5) mm in adult males, 52.6–80.2 (average 70.5) mm in adult females; (2) head relatively larger, HW/HL 0.61–0.79 (average 0.80) in adult males, 0.60–0.67 (average 0.64) in adult females; (3) finger IV subdigital lamellae 17–23 (average 19.2), toe IV subdigital lamellae 21–31 (average 25.3); (4) tympanum concealed; (5) head mainly green-yellow, supplemented by black; (6) skin folds under nuchal and dorsal crest obviously present in adult males only, vertebral crest discontinuous between nuchal and dorsal sections with a distinct gap; (7) transverse gular fold present but not ... 

Etymology. The Latin specific epithet daduense is derived from the Dadu River, where the new species was discovered. The genus Diploderma is Greek neuter, and that -ense of this new species name is the Latin neuter combinatorial suffix denoting “pertaining to” or “originating in”. And we suggest Dadu Mountain Lizard as its English common name and 大渡攀蜥 (Chinese phonetic alphabet: dà dù pān xī) as its Chinese common name. 

Bo Cai, Fengjing Liu, Dong Liang, Mian Hou, Huaming Zhou, Jiayun Zhong, Jing Li and Jiang Chang. 2024. A New Species of Diploderma (Squamata, Agamidae) from the Valley of Dadu River in Sichuan Province, with a Redescription of Topotypes of D. splendidum from Hubei Province, China. Animals. 14(9), 1344; DOI: 10.3390/ani14091344  

 

Simple Summary: The genus Diploderma Hallowell, 1861 (Squamata, Agamidae), currently consists of 46 species, which are distributed across East Asia (inclusive of Japan) and the northern part of the Indochinese Peninsula, primarily inhabiting dry valley regions in Western China. This article introduces a novel species of Diploderma based on its unique morphological features and molecular evidence, discovered in the lower valley of the Dadu River in Sichuan Province, Western China. Phylogenetic analysis using ND2 data suggests that this new taxon is distinct from its congeners. Morphologically, the new species can be differentiated from other Diploderma species by an assemblage of 46 specific characteristics. Principal component analysis (PCA) further demonstrates that this new species is clearly distinguishable from its closest relative, D. splendidum. Given these multiple lines of evidence, we describe this species from the lower Dadu River valley as a newly identified species, D. daduense sp. nov. This discovery brings the total number of recognized species within the genus Diploderma to 47.

[Ichthyology • 2024] Microglanis lucenai • The Barcode Trap—Description of A New Species of Microglanis (Siluriformes: Pseudopimelodidae), with A Review of the Status of Microglanis cibelae

Microglanis lucenai

 Albornoz, Bartzen & Malabarba, 2024

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15764

Abstract

In a recent study based on the generalized mixed Yule coalescent method for delimiting species, a threshold of 2% genetic distance using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences was used to delimit the species of Microglanis. That action resulted in assembling several populations of Microglanis from Atlantic coastal rivers between Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo states as a single species, Microglanis cottoides, including Microglanis cibelae as a junior synonym. We reexamined these populations and found three species diagnosed by their morphology and that constitute separate mtDNA lineages, including a new species. The synonym of M. cibelae and M. cottoides is reviewed and refuted based on morphological and molecular evidence. M. cibelae and the new species are sympatric and occasionally syntopic in the Tramandaí, Mampituba, and Araranguá river basins. The new species is distinguished from M. cibelae and M. cottoides by the anterior margin of the posttemporosupracleitrum narrow articulated with the epioccipital, the short mental and maxillary barbels, and depressed head and body.

Keywords: barcode, biodiversity, catfish, GMYC, Microglanis cottoides, Neotropical

 

Microglanis lucenai 

Pablo Lehmann Albornoz, César Sá Bartzen and Luiz R. Malabarba. 2024. The Barcode Trap—Description of A New Species of Microglanis, with A Review of the Status of Microglanis cibelae (Siluriformes: Pseudopimelodidae). Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15764

[Botany • 2024] Lilium pacificum (Liliaceae) • Evolutionary History and Taxon Recognition in the L. maculatum–L. pensylvanicum Complex in Japan [Biosystematic Studies on Lilium (Liliaceae) II]

Lilium pacificum  

in Watanabe, Hayashi, Arakawa, Fuse, Takayama, Nagamasu et Tamura, 2024. 

DOI: 10.1002/tax.13141

 www.OMU.ac.jp

Abstract

To clarify the evolutionary history of the Lilium maculatum–L. pensylvanicum complex in Japan and to improve the circumscription of its component taxa, we conducted phylogenetic analyses based on chloroplast and nuclear internal and external transcribed spacer (ITS, ETS) DNA sequences, a genome-wide analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq), and morphological observations. Topological differences between the chloroplast and nuclear ITS + ETS phylogenies indicate that ancient hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting were involved in the origin of “maculatum”, but the relatively long length of relevant branches indicates that incomplete lineage sorting is implausible. The results of STRUCTURE analysis (K = 3, the highest delta K value) using MIG-seq indicate that “maculatum” has already developed its own cluster and can be considered a species (L. maculatum) that originated through the hybridization of L. pacificum (sp. nov.) and L. pensylvanicum. MIG-seq Neighbor-Net and STRUCTURE analyses (K = 3), as well as chloroplast DNA phylogeny, reveal that populations in disjunct limestone areas (L. maculatum var. bukosanense) originated via the hybridization of L. maculatum and L. pacificum, whereas populations in the Sado-Tobishima Islands (L. maculatum var. sadoense, var. nov.) originated via hybridization between L. maculatum and L. pensylvanicum. These taxa appear to be more or less genetically isolated from other populations based on the STRUCTURE analysis (K = 5), although we do not know whether this isolation resulted from geographic distance or reproductive barriers. Based on available MIG-seq and morphological data, respectively, we consider the two hybrid-origin populations to be independent varieties. Furthermore, the morphology of seaside populations of L. maculatum in East Tohoku District appears to have deviated slightly from that of mountain populations (L. maculatum f. monticola); as such, coastal populations merit recognition as a form of L. maculatum (L. maculatum f. spontaneum, comb. & stat. nov.). Other seaside populations of L. maculatum in the West Tohoku District appear to have originated from populations of L. pacificum, but have been successively taken over by L. maculatum through introgression, and have consequently evolved into a form of L. maculatum (L. maculatum f. maculatum). In addition, we found putative extant hybrid populations of L. maculatum × L. pensylvanicum. We recognize three species, two varieties, two forms, and one hybrid in the L. maculatum–L. pensylvanicum complex in Japan. 

Keywords: evolution, hybridization, Lilium maculatum var. sadoense, Lilium pacificum, MIG-seq, taxonomy

Among the characteristics differentiating this lily from other sukashiyuri are its leaves, which curve almost like a claw at the tips.

Lilium pacificum 

Seita T. Watanabe, Kazuhiko Hayashi, Katsuro Arakawa, Shizuka Fuse, Koji Takayama, Hidetoshi Nagamasu and Minoru N. Tamura. 2024. Biosystematic Studies on Lilium (Liliaceae) II. Evolutionary History and Taxon Recognition in the L. maculatum–L. pensylvanicum Complex in Japan. TAXON. DOI: 10.1002/tax.13141

New Japanese lily species identified, 1st addition to sukashiyuri group in 110 years

Classification of these plants bloom to double the number of taxonomic groups through morphological study, DNA analysis

 www.OMU.ac.jp/en/info/research-news/entry-51684.html

[PaleoOrnithology • 2024] Synthetic Analysis of Trophic Diversity and Evolution in Enantiornithes with New insights from Bohaiornithidae

Life reconstruction of enantiornithine birds feeding.
Longipteryx (left), Bohaiornis (centre), and Pengornis (right) are pictured in the Early Cretaceous forests of northeastern China, roughly 120 million years ago.

in Miller, Bright, Wang, Zheng & Pittman. 2024.

DOI: 10.7554/eLife.89871.3 

 facebook.com/PalaeoPittman

Abstract

Enantiornithines were the dominant birds of the Mesozoic, but understanding of their diet is still tenuous. We introduce new data on the enantiornithine family Bohaiornithidae, famous for their large size and powerfully built teeth and claws. In tandem with previously published data, we comment on the breadth of enantiornithine ecology and potential patterns in which it evolved. Body mass, jaw mechanical advantage, finite element analysis of the jaw, and traditional morphometrics of the claws and skull are compared between bohaiornithids and living birds. We find bohaiornithids to be more ecologically diverse than any other enantiornithine family: Bohaiornis and Parabohaiornis are similar to living plant-eating birds; Longusunguis resembles raptorial carnivores; Zhouornis is similar to both fruit-eating birds and generalist feeders; and Shenqiornis and Sulcavis plausibly ate fish, plants, or a mix of both. We predict the ancestral enantiornithine bird to have been a generalist which ate a wide variety of foods. However, more quantitative data from across the enantiornithine tree is needed to refine this prediction. By the Early Cretaceous, enantiornithine birds had diversified into a variety of ecological niches like crown birds after the K-Pg extinction, adding to the evidence that traits unique to crown birds cannot completely explain their ecological success.

Life reconstruction of enantiornithine birds feeding.
Longipteryx (left), Bohaiornis (centre), and Pengornis (right) are pictured in the Early Cretaceous forests of northeastern China, roughly 120 million years ago.
Bohaiornis is depicted feeding on cypress (Cupressaceae, Ding et al., 2016) leaves after the findings in this work. Longipteryx is depicted feeding on the mayfly Epicharmeropsis hexavenulosus (Huang et al., 2007) after (Miller et al., 2022). Pengornis is depicted feeding on the fish Lycoptera davidi (Chang and Miao, 2004) after Miller et al., 2023.

 

Case Vincent Miller, Jen A. Bright, Xiaoli Wang, Xiaoting Zheng and Michael Pittman. 2024. Synthetic Analysis of Trophic Diversity and Evolution in Enantiornithes with New insights from Bohaiornithidae. eLife. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.89871.3

  facebook.com/PalaeoPittman/posts/1828804674249023

[Entomology • 2024] Ravenna nivea ssp. ngiunmoiae • A peculiar Insular Race of Ravenna nivea (Nire, 1920) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) endemic to Yinggeling Mountain of Hainan, suggesting heterogeneous geological history of Mountain Formation of the Island

  

 Ravenna nivea ssp. ngiunmoiae Lo & Hsu,  

 

in Hsu​, Lo et Lin. 2024. 

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17172

Abstract 

A peculiar population of Ravenna nivea (Nire, 1920) was discovered from the Yinggeling Mountain Mass of central Hainan. Its wing pattern and COI barcode data show considerable distinction from other geographic populations of R. nivea, including that of Bawangling, approximately only 40 km away and also located in Hainan. The p-distance value of the COI barcode between the Yinggeling and Bawangling populations was 1.1%, considerably higher than the value (0.6%) between Bawangling population and populations in eastern China, where the subspecific name howarthi Saigusa, 1993 applies. The population is regarded as a distinct subspecies ngiunmoiae Lo & Hsu, subsp. nov. The distinctness and high degree of COI haplotype diversity of R. nivea found in Hainan and Taiwan suggest continental islands may serve as glacial refugees for the butterfly and other organisms during previous glaciations, and the presence of the relict populations of montane butterflies like R. nivea may provide useful clues towards a better understanding of the geological history of mountain formation within islands.

Adults of Ravenna nivea.
(A) ssp. howarthi Saigusa, male, upperside, Bawangling, Hainan. (B) Undersides. (C) Same, female, upperides. (D) Undersides.
(E) ssp. ngiunmoiae Lo & Hsu, subsp. nov., paratype, male, upperside, Yinggeling, Hainan. (F) Undersides. (G) Same, holotype, female, upperside. (H) Undersides.

Adults of Ravenna nivea ssp. ngiunmoiae Lo & Hsu, subsp. nov., Yinggeling, Hainan. 
paratype, male, (E) upperside, (F) Underside. 
holotype, female,(G) upperside. (H) Underside.

 

Yu-Feng Hsu​, Yik Fui Philip Lo and Rung-Juen Lin. 2024. Discovery of A peculiar Insular Race of Ravenna nivea (Nire, 1920) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) endemic to Yinggeling Mountain of Hainan, suggesting heterogeneous geological history of Mountain Formation of the Island. PeerJ. 12:e17172 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17172

[Botany • 2024] Giuliettia minima • A tiny rediscovery in the Land of Giants: A New Combination in Giuliettia (Poales: Eriocaulaceae) and other implications of finding Paepalanthus minimus again

 Giuliettia minima (Silveira) Andrino, L. H. Rocha & Gonella,

in Andrino, Rocha et Gonella, 2024. 

DOI: 10.3372/wi.54.54104

Abstract

Serra do Padre Ângelo, a quartzitic massif in eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil, was nicknamed “Land of Giants” due to the gigantism observed in some plant species found in its campos rupestres. During fieldwork for the floristic inventory of this Serra, a small Eriocaulaceae species was collected. Initially it was believed to be a new species, but a thorough revision of names and type specimens revealed that it was conspecific with Paepalanthus minimus. This taxon was known only from the type specimen collected over 100 years ago and more than 200 km distant from the new collections. It had been overlooked in previous studies dealing with the family in Brazil, which could be explained by its diminutive size and the poor conditions of the type specimen. Here we present the implications of this rediscovery, including the combination of P. minimus in Giuliettia, a genus recently proposed based on general habit, inflorescence and seed morphology. We also present information on distribution and ecology and briefly discuss the biogeographical pattern that could explain this rediscovery far away from the previous record. Considering its likely local extinction at the type locality and threats to the quality of its remaining habitat, the species is preliminarily assessed as Critically Endangered. This highlights the urgent need for conservation actions to protect Serra do Padre Ângelo and its unique biodiversity.

KEYWORDS: Campos rupestres, conservation, Eriocaulaceae, Giuliettia, monocots, Paepalanthus, Poales

 Giuliettia minima. – A: habitat on shaded rock crevices, with some capitula presenting apparent vivipary; B: habitat under rocks in shade with mosses; C: close-up of plants in habitat; D: plants in a humid rock crevice with organic matter in more exposed site; E: collected specimen, P. M. Gonella 3474; F, G: capitula; F: posterior view, showing involucral bracts; G: front view.

– Photographs: A: Serra da Palha Branca, March 2023, by Júlio César Ribeiro; B, C: Serra da Palha Branca, June 2020, by Gabriele A. da Silva; D–G: Pico da Bela Adormecida, May 2022, by Paulo Minatel Gonella.

Giuliettia minima (Silveira) Andrino, L. H. Rocha & Gonella, comb. nov. 

≡ Paepalanthus minimus Silveira, 

Floral. Mont. 1: 107, t. 66. 1928. 

 

Habitat of Giuliettia minima and conservation threats.
 A: Pico da Bela Adormecida, one of the highest peaks of Serra do Padre Ângelo and habitat of G. minima, May 2022; B: Serra da Palha Branca, part of Serra do Padre Ângelo, August 2022; C: habitat of Pico da Bela Adormecida population in June 2020, before the fire; D: same area as C in October 2020, immediately after the fire; E: invasion of molasses grass, Melinis minutiflora, in Pico da Bela Adormecida, with individuals of Vellozia gigantea in background, July 2017; F: area of Serra da Palha Branca invaded by bracken fern, Pteridium aquilinum, February 2021; G: pastures and degraded areas surrounding Pico da Bela Adormecida, April 2023.

 – All photographs by Paulo Minatel Gonella.

Proposed vernacular name — “sempre-viva-mínima” (Portuguese). Following the suggestion of Marinho & Scatigna (2022), we propose a vernacular name for this species as a way to promote knowledge about it to the local communities and to address the urgency of promoting conservation actions to protect the species and its habitat. The proposed name considers the common name of many Eriocaulaceae species in Brazil (“sempre-viva” – Portuguese for “everlasting”) plus the specific epithet, which is easily relatable in Portuguese, meaning “minimal” or “very small”.

Caroline Oliveira Andrino, Luiz Henrique Rocha and Paulo Minatel Gonella. 2024. A tiny rediscovery in the Land of Giants: A New Combination in Giuliettia (Eriocaulaceae, Poales) and other implications of finding Paepalanthus minimus again. Willdenowia. 54(1):81-93. DOI: 10.3372/wi.54.54104

A Serra do Padre Ângelo, um maciço quartzítico no leste de Minas Gerais, Brasil, foi apelidada de “Terra de Gigantes” devido ao gigantismo observado em algumas espécies de plantas encontradas em seus campos rupestres. Durante o trabalho de campo para o inventário florístico desta Serra, uma pequena espécie de Eriocaulaceae foi coletada. Inicialmente, acreditava-se ser uma nova espécie, mas uma revisão minuciosa dos nomes e espécimes tipo revelou que ela era na verdade conspecífica com Paepalanthus minimus. Esse táxon era conhecido apenas pelo espécime tipo, coletado há mais de 100 anos e a mais de 200 km das novas coletas, tendo passado despercebido em estudos anteriores sobre a família no Brasil, o que pode ser explicado pelo seu tamanho diminuto e pelas condições precárias do espécime tipo. Aqui, apresentamos as implicações dessa redescoberta, incluindo a combinação de P. minimus em Giuliettia, um gênero recentemente proposto, com base em seu hábito geral, morfologia da inflorescência e da semente. Também fornecemos informações sobre a distribuição e ecologia, e discutimos brevemente o padrão biogeográfico que poderia explicar essa redescoberta tão distante do registro anterior. Considerando sua provável extinção local na localidade tipo e as ameaças à qualidade de seu habitat remanescente, a espécie é preliminarmente avaliada como Criticamente em Perigo. Isso destaca a necessidade urgente de ações de conservação para proteger a Serra do Padre Ângelo e sua biodiversidade única.

Campos rupestres, conservação, Eriocaulaceae, Giuliettia, Paepalanthus, Poales, monocotiledôneas, espécie ameaçada

[Botany • 2024] Opuntia fortanelli (Cactaceae) • A New Species from the Huastec Region of San Luis Potosí, México

 Opuntia fortanelli Reyes-Agüero, Orta & Heindorf,

Reyes-Agüero, Orta-Salazar, Heindorf et González. 2024, 

DOI: 10.2985/026.031.0104 

 Researchgate.net/publication/378825127

 Abstract 

In Mexico there are between 66 and 97 species of Opuntia, divided into 17 series. One of these series is the Tunae, which consist of low shrubs with cladodes that detach from the plant, though not easily, and have a pubescent epidermis. In the dry season the areoles are sometimes surrounded by a purple spot. The cladodes have acicular, subulate, yellow or white spines. The fruit is red and fleshy. During the exploration in the Sierra of Abra Tanchipa Biosphere Reserve, situated in the first foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, East of the state of San Luis Potosí, a cactus pear was discovered. This cactus pear cannot be classified among the known species of Opuntia due to its distinct morphological characteristics. However, it does possess features typical of the members of the Tunae section. Therefore, it is proposed as a new species within this series, named Opuntia fortanelli. The differences between O. fortanelli, the proposed species, and the closely related species O. decumbens and O. elizondoana, are discussed.

KEYWORDS: Cactus pear, new species, taxonomy, tunae, Cactaceae, San Luis Potosi

 Opuntia fortanelli Reyes-Agüero, Orta & Heindorf sp. nov.

Juan Antonio Reyes-Agüero, Carolina Orta-Salazar, Claudia Heindorf and Eleazar Carranza González. 2024. Opuntia fortanelli (Cactaceae), A New Species from the Huastec Region of San Luis Potosí, México. Haseltonia. 31 (1), 26-33. DOI: 10.2985/026.031.0104

  Researchgate.net/publication/378825127_Opuntia_fortanelli_a_New_Species_from_SanLuisPotosi_Mexico

[Botany • 2017] Phyllagathis millelunata, P. phyllioides, P. violinifolia, P. wallacei, etc. (Melastomataceae: Sonerileae) • Ten New Species from Sarawak, Borneo

Phyllagathis rivularis, P. wallacei, P. millelunata, 
P. rubrosetosa, P. ulu, P. violinifolia, 
P. yodae, P. phyllioides, 
 P. bicolor, P. lii 

in Lin, Chen & Yang, 2018.

 DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.302.3.1 

   facebook.com/Darthvaderiana

Abstract  

Ten undescribed species of Phyllagathis from southwestern Sarawak, named P. bicolor, P. lii, P. millelunata, P. phyllioides, P. rivularis, P. rubrosetosa, P. ulu, P. violinifolia, P. wallacei and P. yodae are reported in this study. We describe and illustrate the ten new species after a careful study of the literature, herbarium specimens and living plants.

Keywords: Sonerileae, Melastomataceae, Sarawak, Borneo, Eudicots

Phyllagathis bicolor C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang, sp. nov. 

Etymology: “Bicolor” refers to the color of the leaves, with dark maroon background surrounded by an emerald green periphery

 Phyllagathis lii C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang, sp. nov. 

Etymology: The specific epithet is named in honor of Mr. Weng-Feng Li, who grows this Phyllagathis and provided the specimens for our studies.

 Phyllagathis millelunata C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang, sp. nov.

 Etymology: Latin, mille = thousand, luna = moon, referring to the vesiculate translucent (and scintillating in the sunshine) trichomes on both leaf surfaces, resembling numberless moons. 

Phyllagathis phyllioides C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang, sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the resemblance of this new species panduriform leaves to the leaf insect genus “Phyllium”.

 Phyllagathis rivularis C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang, sp. nov. 

Etymology: rivularis means “river”, and the epithet refers to the fact that the new species grows along stream banks.

Phyllagathis rubrosetosa C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang, sp. nov. 

Etymology: “Rubrosetosa” refers to the red hairs on the leaf.

 Phyllagathis ulu C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang. sp. nov. 

Etymology: Malay, ulu= upriver; referring to the new species being discovered in upstream Batang Ai.

  Phyllagathis violinifolia C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang, sp. nov.

Etymology: The epithet refers to the panduriform-obovate leaves.

 Phyllagathis wallacei C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang. sp. nov. 

Etymology: Named in honour of Alfred Russel Wallace, the noted naturalist who explored Simunjan in the19th century, and discovered many wild animals and plants.

 Phyllagathis yodae C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang, sp. nov. 

Etymology: The specific epithet was chosen after “Yoda”, a character in Star Wars movies, who has a furry, wrinkled and greenish appearance. This new species is characterized by the hairy, rugose and greenish leaves that resembles Yoda, therefore we choose this special character as the epithet.

Che-Wei Lin, Chien-Fan Chen and T.Y. Aleck Yang. 2017. Ten New Species of Phyllagathis (Trib. Sonerileae, Melastomataceae ) from Sarawak, Borneo.  Phytotaxa. 302(3); 201–228. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.302.3.1

  facebook.com/Darthvaderiana/posts/10209174950794435

Phyllagathis bicolor, P. lii, P. millelunata, P. phyllioides,  P. rivularis, 
P. rubrosetosa, P. ulu, P. violinifolia, P. wallacei & P. yodae 

  C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang

[Botany • 2022] Croton guaritensis (Euphorbiaceae: Crotoneae) • A New Species endemic to the Brazilian Pampa and its Phylogenetic Affinities

Croton guaritensis  A.P.N.Pereira & Caruzo, 

in Pereira, Riina, Valduga et Caruzo, 2022.

DOI: 10.1007/s00606-021-01803-x  

Researchgate.net/publication/359335581

Abstract

Croton guaritensis, sp. nov. is here described, illustrated, and classified based on morphological and molecular data. The new species is restricted to the Pampa biome where it grows around rocky outcrops. Examination of the morphology from herbarium collections and field observations, as well as evidence from molecular analysis, indicate that Croton guaritensis belongs to Croton section Barhamia subsection Medea. Croton subsection Medea is represented by several rare and endemic species and stands out by its glandular structures in stipules, bracts, and sepals. The new species differs from other species of this subsection in the indumentum on branches and leaves, which consists of subentire lepidote trichomes, and in the sepals of staminate and pistillate flowers that have stipitate glands. An identification key to the new species and closely related taxa in southern Brazil is provided, as well as a preliminary conservation status.

Keywords: Croton sect. Barhamia subsect. Medea, Crotoneae, Neotropics, Southern Cone, Taxonomy

Croton guaritensis: 
d inflorescence with flower buds and two open flowers: the top one staminate and the lower one pistillate; e top view of a staminate flower; f side view of a staminate flower showing the stipitate, green glands along the sepal margins; g detail of a pistillate flower showing the tetrafid styles; h sepals of a pistillate flower showing the green stipitate glands on the outer surface; i young fruit with persistent, accrescent sepals; note that the marginal glands are more noticeably compared to the younger flower (see h); j verruculose seed with cream-colored caruncle.

Scale bar: 1 mm. Photos by A.P.N. Pereira

Croton guaritensis
 a a typical rocky outcrop of the Guaritas area; the new species grows on the slopes and tops of these outcrops (“cerros”);
b subshrub habit; c branches showing yellowish fruits. 

Photos by A.P.N. Pereira

Croton guaritensis A.P.N.Pereira & Caruzo, sp. nov. 

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the “Guaritas do Camaquã” rock formations in southern Brazil (see Fig. 2a), and is a reference to the type locality.

Comparison of morphology of pistillate and staminate flowers between Croton guaritensis and C. helichrysum:
 a pistillate flower of C. guaritensis showing entire sepals with conspicuous glands; b pistillate flower of C. helichrysum showing the serrate sepals with inconspicuous glands (on teeth apices); c staminate flower of C. guaritensis showing sepals with marginal glands; d staminate flower of C. helichrysum showing sepals without glands.

 Photos by A.P.N. Pereira

 

Amanda da Paixão Noronha Pereira, Ricarda Riina, Eduardo Valduga and Maria Beatriz Rossi Caruzo. 2022.  A New Species of Croton (Euphorbiaceae) endemic to the Brazilian Pampa and its Phylogenetic Affinities. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 308, 14. DOI: 10.1007/s00606-021-01803-x [18 March 2022]

Researchgate.net/publication/359335581_A_new_species_of_Croton_endemic_to_the_Brazilian_Pampa

[Botany • 2022] Agave rosalesii (Asparagaceae: Agavoideae) • A New Species from the Mixteca Alta of western Oaxaca, Mexico

Agave rosalesii A. Vázquez, Thiede, Etter & Kristen, 

 in Vázquez-García, Thiede, Etter et Kristen, 2022. 

DOI: 10.17129/botsci.3044 

 Researchgate.net/publication/359772995

facebook.com: Santiago Rosales

Abstract

Background: Agave ellemeetiana (A. sect. Choritepalae) features soft and “spineless” leaves and occurs in two disjunct and ecologically differentiated populations classified as subspecies. An incidental look at the flowers of A. ellemeetiana ssp. subdentata unveiled that these did not match those of A. ellemeetiana s. str. nor those of sect. Choritepalae.

Questions: Do these disjunct populations differ in flower and fruit morphology? Do they belong to the same section within Agave?

Hypotheses: The floral morphology of populations of Agave ellemeetiana ssp. subdentata from western Oaxaca places this species in A. sect. Inermes, and the set of qualitative and quantitative differences is sufficient to recognize it as a distinct species.

Studied species: Agave ellemeetiana, Agave pedunculifera.

Study site and dates: Putla District, western Oaxaca, December 2011 and April 2014.

Methods: We conducted an alpha-taxonomic study of the Agave ellemeetiana species complex, involving two fieldwork expeditions, review of literature, online images, and herbarium specimens.

Results: Differences in flower, fruit and vegetative morphology and habitat support the segregation of the populations (from the Putla District, Oaxaca) from the Agave ellemeetiana complex as a new species, A. rosalesii spec. nov. The presence of an evident corolla tube places the proposed taxon close to A. pedunculifera and within A. sect. Inermes.

Conclusions: The populations from the Putla District are sufficiently distinct in their morphology and ecology to merit recognition as a new species, Agave rosalesii, placed in A. sect. Inermes.

Keywords: Agave ellemeetiana subsp. subdentata, Agave sect. Choritepalae, Agave sect. Inermes, corolla tube, endemic, montane pine-oak forest

Agave rosalesii A. Vázquez, Thiede, Etter & Kristen. 
 A. Habit. B. Rosette. C. Leaf margin. D. Terminal spine. E. Capsules. F. Peduncle segment. G. Inflorescence segment. H. Flower bud. I. Fully developed flower. J. Geminate flowering node. K. Dissected flower.

Mostly from photographs by Julia Etter & Martin Kristen, 

except E. from E. Solano w/ R. Ríos 1976 (MEXU). 

Illustration by Edgar Esau Vázquez-Verdejo.

Agave rosalesii A. Vázquez, Thiede, Etter & Kristen. 
A. Geminate flowering node with outer and inner floral bracts (bracteoles). B. Dissected flower showing corolla tube and ovary. C. Inflorescence close up. D. Leaf showing a terminal spine. E. Habitat. F. Habit in full bloom. G. Rosettes. H. Leaf margin.

Photographs by Julia Etter & Martin Kristen.

Agave rosalesii A. Vázquez, Thiede, Etter & Kristen, spec. nov.

Agavero salesii is also similar to Agave pedunculifera in having non-offsetting rosettes, a denticulate leaf margin, a distinct corolla tube, a similar tepal lobe size and anther length, but it differs from the latter in having leaves broadly oblanceolate to rarely elliptic vs. mostly ovate-acuminate or lanceolate; leaf size 43.0-60.0 × 14.0-30.0 cm (vs. 80.0-90.0  ×  11.0-15.0  cm);  leaf  length  to  width  ratio  2.6-3.2  (vs.  5.2);  terminal  spine  2.0-3.0  mm  long  (vs.  10.0  mm);  inflorescence 3.2-3.5 m long (vs. 2.0-3.0 m); pedicels 4.0-5.0 mm long (vs. 20.0-30.0 mm); flower length 3.3-3.5 cm (vs. 3.7-5.2 cm); flower color yellow (vs. pale yellow); tepal lobes reflexed rolled, 19.0-22.0 × 6.5-7.0 mm (vs. erect, 12.0-18.0 × 5.0-6.0 mm); number of flowers per node 2 (vs. 4), filaments 60.0-65.0 mm long (vs. 40.0-55.0 mm); and style 40.0-53 mm long (vs. 20-27 mm) (Table 1).

Distribution and ecology. Agavero salesii is endemic to the Putla District in western Oaxaca, in the municipalities of Santa Cruz Itundujía (paraje Los Monos), Santa María Yucuhiti (Yosonicaje) and Putla Villa de Guerrero (Las Mesas Santo Domingo), inhabiting rocky outcrops of montane pine-oak forest at 2,400-2,600 m in elevation within the Río Verde basin. It grows with A. kavandivi, Echeveria sp., Furcraea sp., Pinguicula sp., Pinus sp., and Sprekelia sp. (Table 2, Figure 1).

Etymology. The species honors Carlos Santiago Rosales Martínez, a young enthusiastic agavologist, explorer, and horticulturist of succulents, who, in collaboration with the first author, unveiled that the Putla populations traditionally treated as belonging to A. sect. Choritepalae, actually belong to A. sect. Inermes due to the presence of a distinct corolla tube.

 

J. Antonio Vázquez-García, Joachim Thiede, Julia Etter and Martin Kristen. 2022. Agave rosalesii (sect. Inermes, Asparagaceae), segregated from Agave ellemeetiana K. Koch (sect. Choritepalae): A New Species from the Mixteca Alta of western Oaxaca, Mexico. Botanical Sciences. 1(1);  DOI: 10.17129/botsci.3044

  Researchgate.net/publication/359772995_Agave_rosalesii_A_new_species_from_the_Mixteca_Alta_of_western_Oaxaca_Mexico

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