Discovery of substantial Oxalis (Oxalidaceae) diversity and endemism in an arid biodiversity hotspot

Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 181 (2) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Carl Oberlander ◽  
Francois Roets ◽  
Leanne Laurette Dreyer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
The State ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
New Knowledge

Despite globally acknowledged diversity levels, the flora of the arid Richtersveld of South Africa remains poorly known for certain plant lineages, including the eudicot genus Oxalis. Cryptic habit, inaccessible and harsh terrain and the lack of focussed systematic attention has led to the assumption that the region is depauperate in this genus. However, recent exploration proved quite the opposite and revealed a wealth of Oxalis species, including at least ten undescribed species and many significant range extensions of known taxa. We are in the process of describing these new species, but an overarching work, placing the abundant new knowledge in the context of southern African Oxalis, is necessary. In this study we revise the state of knowledge regarding Richtersveld Oxalis and provide brief descriptions, diagnostic characters and a morphological identification key for the 20 species confirmed to occur in the region. Nine of the ten new species are currently only known from the Richtersveld, with seven having extremely limited known distributions. Surprisingly, levels of endemism in the Richtersveld are higher than the relatively well-explored central Namaqualand Oxalis flora, and suggest that, far from being depauperate in Oxalis, the Richtersveld region should be considered a centre of endemism for the genus in southern Africa.

scholarly journals Gymnosporia swazica (Celastraceae), a new species from southern Africa

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 192 (4) ◽  
pp. 296
Author(s):  
Marie Jordaan ◽  
Abraham E. Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Restricted Range ◽  
Small Tree ◽  
African Species ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
A New Species

Gymnosporia swazica, a new restricted-range southern African species, is described and illustrated here. Known from only a few localities in Swaziland and bordering parts of South Africa (Mpumalanga and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal), G. swazica grows as an understorey shrub or small tree in forest, often among granite boulders. Diagnostic characters for G. swazica include chartaceous leaves, usually shorter than 25 mm, 3-valved capsules usually 6–7 mm long, which are smooth, green turning yellow, and a white aril partially covering the brownish seed. Its closest relative appears to be G. buxifolia (capsules rugose, mottled white-and-brown), one of the most widespread members of the genus in southern Africa, but it can also be confused with G. maranguensis (capsules red, 2-valved) and G. harveyana (capsules pink to red, 3-valved; aril orange, completely covering the seed).

Molecular phylogeny reveals strong biogeographic signal and two new species in a Cape Biodiversity Hotspot endemic mini-radiation, the pygmy geckos (Gekkonidae: Goggia)

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4312 (3) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATTHEW P. HEINICKE ◽  
DILARA TURK ◽  
AARON M. BAUER
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Molecular Phylogeny ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
External Morphology ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Allozyme Electrophoresis ◽  
Two New Species

The gekkonid genus Goggia includes eight described species of mostly small-bodied rock dwelling gecko endemic to the southwestern portion of southern Africa, in South Africa and extreme southern Namibia. Previous studies focused on Goggia have employed external morphology and allozyme electrophoresis, but no sequence-based molecular phylogeny of the group has been produced. We have generated a molecular phylogeny of Goggia including all named species and multiple individuals within each species, using sequences of the mitochondrial gene ND2 and nuclear genes RAG1 and PDC. The phylogeny depicts a basal divergence between eastern and western species of small-bodied Goggia, with additional divergences also showing structure strongly correlated with geography. Goggia lineata and G. rupicola are shown to be non-monophyletic, and examination of external morphology supports the distinctiveness of these lineages. We describe two new species to accommodate the southern lineages of “G. lineata” and “G. rupicola”: Goggia incognita sp. nov. and Goggia matzikamaensis sp. nov. Both new species are separated from their northern relatives by geographic barriers: the Knersvlakte plain for G. incognita sp. nov. and G. lineata, and the high Kamiesberg mountains for G. matzikamaensis sp. nov. and G. rupicola. The possible roles of geography, ecology, and climate in promoting diversification within Goggia are discussed. 

scholarly journals Synopsis of Cis Latreille (Coleoptera: Ciidae) from southern Africa

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Souza-Gonçalves ◽  
Artur Orsetti ◽  
Cristiano Lopes-Andrade
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Provisional Identification ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
The Republic ◽  
First Time

A synopsis of the Cis Latreille, 1796 from southern Africa is provided, with the description of 10 new species: Cis bicaesariatus sp. n., Cis foveocephalus sp. n., Cis grobbelaarae sp. n., Cis lacinipennis sp. n., Cis makrosoma sp. n., Cis mpumalangaensis sp. n., Cis parvisetosus sp. n., Cis tessariplacus sp. n., Cis umlalaziensis sp. n. and Cis westerncapensis sp. n. The introduced species Cis fuscipes Mellié, 1849 is recorded for the first time from the Republic of South Africa. New geographic records are provided for the following species: Cis neserorum Souza-Gonçalves & Lopes-Andrade, 2017; Cis regius Orsetti & Lopes-Andrade, 2016 and Cis stalsi Souza-Gonçalves & Lopes-Andrade, 2017. Most southern African Cis are placed in available or newly proposed species-groups and a provisional identification key is provided.

scholarly journals Vera-duthiea zebrina (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a new species from eastern South Africa, and a first genus record for southern Africa

Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 375 (4) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIO MARTÍNEZ-AZORÍN ◽  
NEIL R. CROUCH ◽  
MANUEL B. CRESPO
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
First Record ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
A New Species

In the course of revising the subfamily Urgineoideae of the Hyacinthaceae it became evident, based on molecular and morphological data, that some plants usually named ‘Drimia indica’ from northeastern South Africa represent rather an undescribed species of Vera-duthiea. This is the first record of this genus occurring in southern Africa. The new species (V. zebrina) was collected and illustrated some 50 years ago, but never validly published. We here provide data on its morphology, ecology, and distribution.

scholarly journals Taxonomic notes on the Acanthopsis disperma-hoffmannseggiana complex (Acanthaceae, tribe Acantheae), with an interim key to members of the genus

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 219 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hester Maria Steyn ◽  
Abraham E Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Species Concepts ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Northern Cape ◽  
Detailed Assessment

Acanthopsis is a taxonomically poorly understood genus confined to arid parts of southern Africa. This contribution is the first detailed assessment of the diversity within the Acanthopsis disperma-hoffmannseggiana complex, the latter of which comprises the bulk of the specimens of the genus represented in herbaria. Species concepts are resolved and the misapplication of names is noted. In addition to the recognition of A. disperma and A. hoffmannseggiana, five new species of Acanthopsis formerly treated under these two names, are described, namely A. tuba and A. ludoviciana (both confined to the Richtersveld, Northern Cape, South Africa), A. adamanticola (endemic to southern Namibia), A. villosa (endemic to Bushmanland, Northern Cape) and A. dispermoides (endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa). The names A. disperma and A. hoffmannseggiana are lectotypified here. An identification key to the members of the Acanthopsis disperma-hoffmannseggiana complex is provided, as well as an interim key to the major artificial groupings in the genus, the taxonomy of some which still needs to be resolved.

scholarly journals Taxonomic notes on Acanthopsis (Acanthaceae, tribe Acantheae): the group with semi-dense spikes and 5-fid bracts

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 324 (2) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
HESTER M. STEYN ◽  
ABRAHAM E. VAN WYK
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Northern Cape ◽  
Three New Species

Acanthopsis is a poorly understood genus taxonomically, confined to arid parts of southern Africa. The density of the inflorescences and the morphology of the bracts are taxonomically useful characters for species delimitation. This contribution focuses on the taxonomy and conservation status of those members in the genus characterized by semi-dense inflorescences with 5-fid bracts, all of which are confined to arid parts of the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Six species, A. carduifolia, A. glabra, A. glandulopalmata, A. insueta, A. nitida and A. scullyi, are recognized in this group. Three new species, A. glandulopalmata, A. insueta and A. nitida, are described. An identification key to the species of the group with semi-dense spikes and 5-fid bracts is provided.

The centipede genus Otostigmus Porat in Brazil: Description of three new species from the Atlantic Forest; a summary and an identification key to the Brazilian species of this genus (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae, Otostigminae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3280 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
AMAZONAS CHAGAS-JÚNIOR
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
The State ◽  
Junior Synonym ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Nominal Species ◽  
Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
First Time ◽  
New Distribution

Three new species of Otostigmus Porat, 1876 from Brazilian Atlantic Forest are described. Otostigmus beckeri sp. n. andO. lanceolatus sp. n. are described from the state of Bahia and O. giupponii sp. n. from the state of Espírito Santo. InBrazil, the otostigmine scolopendrid genus Otostigmus comprises 22 species. A summary of Brazilian Otostigmus speciesis presented with new distribution records, taxonomic remarks when appropriate and an identification key. Otostigmus sul-catus Meinert, 1886 is recorded for the first time from Brazil; the Andean Otostigmus silvestrii Kraepelin 1903, previouslyrecorded from Brazil, is here considered not to be present in this country. Eight nominal species are regarded here as newsynonyms. Five of them—Otostigmus pradoi Bücherl, 1939, O. longistigma Bücherl, 1939, O. longipes Bücherl, 1939,O. langei Bücherl, 1946 and O. dentifusus Bücherl, 1946—are based on females of O. tibialis Brölemann, 1902. O. latipesBücherl, 1954 is conspecific with and is considered a junior synonym of O. sulcatus Meinert, 1886; O. limbatus diminutusBücherl, 1946 is a junior synonym of O. limbatus Meinert, 1886 and O. fossulatus Attems, 1928 is a junior synonym of O. goeldii Brölemann, 1898. A lectotype is designated for O. goeldii.

Three new Nearctic species of Telenomus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) attacking Tabanidae eggs

2004 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmood Iranpour ◽  
Terry D. Galloway
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New World ◽  
Egg Parasitoids ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
World Species ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
Three New Species

AbstractThree new species of Tabanidae egg parasitoids are described: Telenomus hybomitraesp. nov. and Telenomus utilissp. nov., both reared from eggs of Hybomitra nitidifrons nuda (McDunnough) and Hybomitra lasiophthalma Macquart, and Telenomus chrysopsissp. nov., reared from eggs of Chrysops aestuans Wulp, Chrysops excitans Walker, and Chrysops mitis Osten Sacken. Specimens of these species were compared with type specimens of known New World species of scelionid parasitoids attacking tabanid eggs. Diagnostic characters and identification key to the Nearctic species are provided.

Fritillaria arsusiana (Lilieae, Liliaceae), a new species from southern Anatolia

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-159
Author(s):  
HASAN YILDIRIM ◽  
MEHTAP TEKŞEN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Flower Colour ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Shape And Size

In this study, Fritillaria arsusiana (Liliaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Hatay province in southern Anatolia, Turkey. It is related to F. amana and F. hermonis by habitus features and broadly campanulate flowers, but differs mainly by its bulb shape and size, smaller leaf and flower features, and flower colour. It has also been morphologically compared with F. wendelboi, F. pinardii, and F. latakiensis. The detailed description, diagnostic characters, original photographs, geographical distribution, habitat and phenology, etymology, conservation status, and identification key of the new and the related species are presented in this study. IUCN conservation status of F. arsusiana is suggested as Critically Endangered (CR).

Muscari inundatum (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a new species from southern Anatolia

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 484 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-194
Author(s):  
İSMAİL EKER ◽  
HASAN YILDIRIM
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Conservation Assessment ◽  
Comprehensive Description ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
Original Photographs ◽  
A New Species

A new species, Muscari inundatum (Asparagaceae) from Turkey, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to M. neglectum and M. adilii, but differs mainly by its shouldered fertile flowers with erect to slightly recurved lobes at maturity. In this study, a comprehensive description, diagnostic characters, original photographs, detailed illustration, geographical distribution, conservation assessment, identification key, and taxonomic comments on the new species are presented.

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