scholarly journals Athanasia argentea and A. gyrosa (Asteraceae), two new species from the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 219-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.F. Powell ◽  
A.R. Magee
Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2216 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
JESSICA L. WARE ◽  
JOHN P. SIMAIKA ◽  
MICHAEL J. SAMWAYS

Syncordulia (Odonata: Anisoptera: Libelluloidea) inhabits mostly cool mountainous streams in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. It is found at low densities in geographically restricted areas. Syncordulia is endemic to South Africa and, until recently, only two species were known, S. venator (Barnard, 1933) and S. gracilis (Burmeister 1839), both considered Vulnerable by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Two new species, S. serendipator Dijsktra, Samways & Simaika 2007 and S. legator Dijsktra, Samways & Simaika 2007, were described from previously unrecognized museum specimens and new field collections. Here we corroborate the validity of these two new species using multiple genes and propose intergeneric relationships within Syncordulia. Molecular data from two independent gene fragments (nuclear 28S and ribosomal and cytochrome oxidase subunit I mitochondrial data) were sequenced and/or downloaded from GenBank for 7 libelluloid families, including 12 Syncordulia specimens (2 Syncordulia gracilis, 4 S. serendipator, 2 S. legator and 4 S. venator). The lower libelluloid group GSI (sensu Ware et al. 2007), a diverse group of non– corduliine taxa, is strongly supported as monophyletic. Syncordulia is well supported by both methods of phylogenetic analyses as a monophyletic group deeply nested within the GSI clade. A DIVA biogeographical analysis suggests that the ancestor to the genus Syncordulia may have arisen consequent to the break–up of Gondwana (>120 Mya). Divergence time estimates suggest that Syncordulia diverged well after the breakup of Gondwana, approximately 60 million years ago (Mya), which coincides with the divergence of several Cape fynbos taxa, between 86 – 60 Mya. DIVA analyses suggest that the present distributions of Syncordulia may be the result of dispersal events. We relate these phylogenetic data to the historical biogeography of the genus and to the importance of conservation action.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAN SUDA ◽  
JANA KREJČÍKOVÁ ◽  
RADKA SUDOVÁ ◽  
KENNETH C. OBERLANDER ◽  
LÉANNE L. DREYER

Two new multifoliolate species of Oxalis L. (Oxalidaceae) from the Hantam Karoo region of South Africa are described and illustrated: Oxalis carolina and O. filifoliolata. Both species occur in single populations in the extremely geophyte-rich area on the Bokkeveld Plateau in the Northern Cape Province. Morphological characteristics, phylogenetic position, habitat description and conservation status of the new species are provided, in addition to a diagnostic comparison with other phenotypically similar Cape species. Fifteen multifoliolate Oxalis species are currently recognized in South Africa, disregarding multifoliolate varieties of otherwise trifoliolate species. A key for multifoliolate Oxalis species known from the Bokkeveld Plateau is presented. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 728 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
E. Akingbohungbe

Namaquaropus niger gen nov. & sp.nov. is described from South Africa. In addition, two new species of the subgenus Jehania Distant of Isometopus Fieber (I. mirus sp. nov. and I. maculipennis sp. nov.), and Paloniella flavicolor sp. nov. are described. With these, the known species of Isometopinae in South Africa now number sixteen.


Taxon ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 731-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Yuan Hong

Author(s):  
Carol Simon ◽  
Guillermo San Martín ◽  
Georgina Robinson

Two new species of South African Syllidae of the genusSyllisLamarck, 1818 are described.Syllis unzimasp. nov. is characterized by having unidentate compound chaetae with long spines on margin, a characteristic colour pattern and its reproduction by vivipary. Vivipary is not common among the polychaetes, but most representatives occur in the family Syllidae Grube, 1850 (in five otherSyllisspecies, two species ofDentatisyllisPerkins, 1981 and two species ofParexogoneMesnil & Caullery, 1818).Syllis unzimasp. nov. differs from the other viviparous species in having large broods (>44 juveniles) which develop synchronously. Development of the juveniles is similar to that of free-spawningSyllisspecies, but the appearance of the first pair of eyespots and the differentiation of the pharynx and proventricle occur later inS. unzima.Syllis amicarmillarissp. nov., is characterized by having an elongated body with relatively short, fusiform dorsal cirri and the presence of one or two pseudosimple chaeta on midbody parapodia by loss of blade and enlargement of shaft.Syllis unzimasp. nov. was found in high densities on culturedHolothuria scabraJaeger, 1833 with single specimens found on a culturedCrassostrea gigasThunberg, 1793 and on coralline algae, respectively, whileS. amicarmillariswas found mainly in sediment outside an abalone farm and less frequently on culturedHaliotis midaeLinnaeus, 1758. We discuss the possible benefits of the association withH. scabratoS. unzimasp. nov.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 295 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
ALUWANI A. TSHIILA ◽  
SAMSON B.M. CHIMPHANGO ◽  
JAN-ADRIAAN VILJOEN ◽  
A. MUTHAMA MUASYA

Unclear boundaries between species hinder identification in the field and in herbaria, especially in species groups that can only be distinguished on the basis of subtle morphological and ecological features. One such taxon is Ficinia indica, widespread in the Greater Cape Floristic Region, growing on deep sandy soils between sea level and 1000 m elevation. Within its range, several phylogenetically related and morphologically similar species co-occur or occupy distinct habitats. Studies in herbaria show species in the Ficinia indica complex to be largely misidentified based on the use of qualitative information. Here, we investigate whether the six taxa recognized, based on one or a few characters, are supported as distinct species based on multivariate analysis of macro-morphological data. Two of the taxa were mostly separated whereas the other four taxa overlapped in multivariate space, but all the taxa could be distinguished using a single or a combination of morphological and ecological characters. We uphold the four previously recognized taxa (Ficinia argyropus, F. elatior, F. indica, F. laevis) as species, describe two new species (F. arnoldii and F. montana), and provide a dichotomous key for their identification.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4429 (1) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
WERNER CONRADIE ◽  
THEO BUSSCHAU ◽  
SHELLEY EDWARDS

The African genus of fossorial legless lizards (Acontias Cuvier) currently comprises 26 species and subspecies. In a recent study on the two disjunct populations of Acontias breviceps Essex, the presence of cryptic species was discovered. Here, we increase the sampling size and describe these disjunct populations from the Mpumalanga Escarpment of South Africa as new species. The new species differ from congeners based on a combination of factors, including the number of midbody, ventral, and subcaudal scale counts, ventral pigmentation, allopatric distributions, and genetic divergences. The new species are genetically distant from nominal A. breviceps, with which it shares overall pigmentation and scalation. The new description adds to the growing number of Mpumalanga escarpment endemic reptiles, and highlights the area as a biodiversity hotspot. The use of vertebral counts as a distinguishing character between species is briefly discussed. 


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document