Descriptions of two new endemic and cryptic species of Sitana Cuvier, 1829 from peninsular India

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4434 (2) ◽  
pp. 327
Author(s):  
V. DEEPAK ◽  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR ◽  
R. CHAITANYA ◽  
PRAVEEN KARANTH

Two new cryptic species of the agamid genus Sitana Cuvier, 1829 from Peninsular India are described herein. Sitana gokakensis sp. nov. from Gokak, Karnataka closely resembles Sitana thondalu sp. nov. from Nagarjuna Sagar, Andhra Pradesh. The two species can be distinguished based on their subtle morphological differences, genetic difference and geographic distribution. Sitana gokakensis sp. nov. have a relatively depressed head compared to Sitana thondalu sp. nov. Additionally, the vertebral scale counts differ in females of the two new species (Sitana gokakensis sp. nov. 45–47 vs Sitana thondalu sp. nov. 49–53). Genetic divergence between them is comparable to those between previously described Sitana species. Furthermore, the two new species are distributed ca. 500 km apart and are endemic to their respective landscapes that lie in similar latitudes of peninsular India. We urge the use of large sample size in new species descriptions especially those dealing with cryptic species like Sitana. The discovery of the two new cryptic species from these rocky terrains in peninsular India highlights need for more herpetological exploration in this region. 

1999 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A. Serov ◽  
George D. F. Wilson

The discovery of asellotan isopod species resembling Stenetrium, but with male pleopods like those in the genus Pseudojanira Barnard, 1925 necessitated a re-examination of the taxonomy of the family Pseudojaniridae Wilson, 1986. Data presented in this paper support the assignment of the Pseudojaniridae to the superfamily Stenetrioidea Hansen, 1905, thus eliminating the superfamily Pseudojaniroidea Wilson. A new definition of the Stenetrioidea and a generic key are provided. The genus Pseudojanira and its species are revised, including a species-level key. A study of Pseudojanira investigatoris Poore and Just, 1990 has revealed two new cryptic species, Pseudojanira fremantlensis, sp. nov. and Pseudojanira justi, sp. nov. Some paratypes and other specimens originally classified as Pseudojanira investigatoris are reassigned to other species. Descriptions of two new monotypic genera of the Pseudojaniridae, Schottea taupoensis, gen. nov., sp. nov. andAdajinoperus tetanomorphus, gen. nov., sp. nov. further expand the recognised morphological diversity of this family. A new genus of Stenetriidae, Lexcenium, gen. nov., with two new species, L. poorei, sp. nov. and L. greenensis, sp. nov., provides additional evidence of the diverse, non- homologous forms of the ‘stylet-like’ appendix masculina within the superfamily.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 205 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bevan Simon Weir ◽  
ELSA P. PADERES ◽  
NITISH ANAND ◽  
JANICE Y. UCHIDA ◽  
SHAUN R. PENNYCOOK ◽  
...  

Phytophthora Clade 5 is a very poorly studied group of species of oomycete chromists, consisting of only two known species P. castaneae (≡ P. katsurae, nom. illegit.) and P. heveae with most isolates from East Asia and the Pacific Islands. However, isolates of two important disease-causing chromists in Clade 5, one of kauri (Agathis australis) in New Zealand, the other of coconut (Cocos nucifera) in Hawaii, poorly match the current species descriptions. To verify whether these isolates belong to separate species a detailed morphological study and phylogenetic analysis consisting of eight genetic loci was conducted. On the basis of genetic and morphological differences and host specificity, we present the formal description of two new species in Clade 5, Phytophthora agathidicida sp. nov. and Phytophthora cocois sp. nov. To clarify the typification of the other Clade 5 species, an authentic ex-holotype culture of Phytophthora castaneae is designated and P. heveae is lectotypified and epitypified.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4958 (1) ◽  
pp. 510-559
Author(s):  
S. SALINI ◽  
PETR KMENT

The genus Surenus Distant, 1901 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Halyini) is revisited and found to be a junior subjective synonym of the genus Agathocles Stål, 1876 (currently Pentatominae: Rolstoniellini). The genus Agathocles and its type species, Agathocles limbatus Stål, 1876, are redescribed. Lectotype of Surenus normalis Distant, 1901 (= Agathocles normalis (Distant, 1901) comb. nov.) is designated and the unknown male of the species is described. Agathocles yunnanensis Zhang & Lin, 1984, syn. nov., is considered junior subjective synonym of A. limbatus. Two new species are described: Agathocles flavipes sp. nov. from India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu) and A. joceliae sp. nov. from Malaysia (Kelantan, Perak). The new species differ from their congeners mainly by the morphology of mandibular plates, length of antennomeres I, IIa and IIb, body length, and structure of male genitalia. Agathocles dubius Distant, 1921 is transferred to the genus Caystrus Stål, 1861 (Pentatominae: Caystrini) based on examination of its holotype with the resulting new combination: Caystrus dubius (Distant, 1921), comb. nov. One new combination is proposed, Paramecocoris ruficornis (Fieber, 1851), comb. nov. (from preoccupied Paramecus Fieber, 1851), and its type locality is clarified as Tenasserim (south Myanmar). Gender agreement and authorship of the name Riazocoris niger Ahmad & Afzal, 1977 in Ahmad et al. (1977: 161) are corrected and status of its name bearing type is clarified as lectotype. The following new distribution records are given: A. limbatus from Cambodia, China (Guangxi, Tibet), Laos and Thailand, A. normalis, Caystrus obscurus (Distant, 1901a) and Critheus lineatifrons Stål, 1869 from Laos, Amasenus corticalis Stål, 1863 from Cambodia, Indonesia (E Kalimantan), Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, and Rolstoniellus boutanicus (Dallas, 1849) from Vietnam. Based on characters of external morphology and genitalia, the genus Agathocles is compared with representatives of the genera Halys Fabricius, 1803 (Halyini), Caystrus (Caystrini), Laprius Stål, 1861 (Myrocheini), and Exithemus Distant, 1902 (currently in Rolstoniellini). As a result, the genus Agathocles is here transferred to the tribe Caystrini. The genus Kyrtalus Van Duzee, 1929 is tentatively placed in Myrocheini based on the presence of sulcate mesosternum and femora provided with teeth. 


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. 


1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Menchini Steiner ◽  
A. Cecilia Z. Amaral

We review the family Histriobdellidae and provide species descriptions and notes on geographical distribution based on data from the literature. The morphological structures used in the systematics of this family are defined. A new genus, Dayus, is proposed and two new species from Brazil, Stratiodrilus robustus and S. circensis, are described.


Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2894 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARYAM HEKMATARA ◽  
ALIREZA SARI ◽  
MOHAMMAD-HADI HEIDARY BALADEHI

The present study tries to focus on describing two new species belonging to genus Gammarus from western Iran along the Zagros Mountains range. The most remarkable feature of Gammarus hegmatanensis sp. n. is the shape of epimeral plate 3, which is sharply pointed posteriorly with a distinct lobate anterior margin. This species has some similarities with and differences from some other species of Gammarus pulex–group such as G. parthicus and G. syriacus. The other species, G. sirvannus sp. n. with elongated eyes is similar to G. duebeni, G. lobifer, G. balutchi and G. loeffleri, but it shows prominent morphological differences and a distinct geographical distribution from these species. These new findings shed more light on the information available on amphipod fauna of Iran.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 400 (4) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
ERTON M. ALMEIDA ◽  
ARTUR MAIA WANDERLEY ◽  
AMANDA DE SOUZA SANTOS ◽  
JOSÉ IRANILDO MIRANDA DE MELO ◽  
GUSTAVO SOUZA ◽  
...  

During field studies of the inselbergs of northeastern Brazil, two potentially new species of were discovered. They share morphological characters with several genera of Linderniaceae (Lamiales) such as Ameroglossum, Cubitanthus and Stemodiopsis, but the morphological differences are such that they do not make a good fit with any of the known genera in Linderniaceae. They are most likely related to Ameroglossum, and like most members of this genus the plants have a conserved chromosome number of 2n = 60. Their exclusive occurrence on inselbergs in northeastern Brazil also hint at this relationship, but because their morphology differs greatly from Ameroglossum and each other, the two new species are described in separate genera. Catimbaua is a pendent plant somewhat similar to Cubitanthus, but with different stem morphology and indumentum. Isabelcristinia grows in habitats similar to, but drier than, Ameroglossum and is vegetatively similar. However, it is covered in glandular hairs and has open-throated white flowers rather than the red or orange tubular flowers found in Ameroglossum. Catimbaua pendula and Isabelcristinia aromatica are rare, and both are likely to fall in a category of threat.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A. Ñacari ◽  
Fabiola A. Sepúlveda ◽  
Ruben Escribano ◽  
Marcelo E. Oliva

Abstract Background Parasites of deep-sea fishes from the South-East Pacific (SPO) are poorly known. Of c.1030 species of fish found in this area, 100–150 inhabit the deep-sea (deeper than 200 m). Only six articles concerning metazoan parasites of fish from deep-waters of SOP are known, and nine monogenean species have been reported. Currently, ten species are known in Acanthocotyle Monticelli, 1888 (Monogenea) and when stated, all of them are found in shallow waters (10–100 m). Acanthocotyle gurgesiella Ñacari, Sepulveda, Escribano & Oliva, 2018 is the only known species parasitizing deep-sea skates (350–450 m) in the SPO. The aim of this study was the description of two new species of Acanthocotyle from two Rajiformes. Methods In September 2017, we examined specimens of two species of deep-sea skates (Rajiformes), Amblyraja frerichsi (Krefft) and Bathyraja peruana McEachran & Myyake, caught at c.1500 m depth off Tocopilla, northern Chile, as a by-catch of the Patagonian tooth fish Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt fishery. Specimens of Acanthocotyle were collected from the skin of the skates. Morphometric (including multivariate analysis of proportional measurements, standardized by total length), morphological and molecular analyses (LSU rRNA and cox1 genes) were performed in order to identify the collected specimens. Results The three approaches used in this study strongly suggest the presence of two new species in the genus Acanthocotyle: Acanthocotyle imo n. sp. and Acanthocotyle atacamensis n. sp. parasitizing the skin of the thickbody skate Amblyraja frerichsi and the Peruvian skate Bathyraja peruana, respectively. The main morphological differences from the closely related species Acanthocotyle verrilli Goto, 1899 include the number of radial rows of sclerites, the non-discrete vitelline follicles and the number of testes. Conclusions The two species of monogeneans described here are the only recorded parasites from their respective host species in the SPO. Assessing host specificity for members of Acanthocotyle requires clarifying the systematics of Rajiformes.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4337 (4) ◽  
pp. 523
Author(s):  
CHRISTIAN R. GONZÁLEZ

The tabanid tribe Diachlorini (Diptera) is the most genus-rich tribe in the Tabanidae; the tribe is cosmopolitan, but the greatest species richness and morphological diversity are found in the Australasian and Neotropical Regions. A new arrangement for the species of Acellomyia González is given; Acellomyia lauta (Hine) is transferred to a new genus, Montismyia gen.n., based on its morphological differences from Acellomyia and geographical distribution. The morphological differences between Acellomyia and Montismyia gen. n. are discussed. Two new species, Acellomyia casablanca sp.n. and Acellomyia puyehue sp.n., are described from specimens collected in southern Chile. Comparison of the morphology of Acellomyia paulseni mapuche (Coscarón & Philip) stat.nov. indicate that they should be elevated to species rank. A key to species of Acellomyia is provided and diagnostic characters are illustrated. 


Parasitology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
pp. 793-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. A. BURGER ◽  
R. D. ADLARD

SUMMARYKudoid parasites are significant pathogens of marine fish. In the past, specific identification has been difficult due to a paucity of detailed morphological and biological information provided in the original description of some species. However, the introduction of DNA analysis has dramatically improved diagnosis. For morphological characterization, this paper proposes a new set of schematics including additional measurements to give a more thorough description of spore morphology, and provides evidence for uniqueness of 4 new species: Kudoa gunterae n. sp. (from 10 pomacentrid species and 1 apogonid species), K. kenti n. sp. (from 4 pomacentrid species), K. paraquadricornis n. sp. (from 4 carangid species), and K. whippsi n. sp. (from 8 pomacentrid species and 1 apogonid species). Subtle morphological differences found between closely related species were reflected in their genetics, with increased resolution provided by the large subunit, compared with that of the small subunit, of the ribosomal DNA gene region. This article proposes comprehensive requirements for species descriptions within the Kudoidae that incorporate biology, morphology, and genetic sequence.


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