A new species of Phyllurus leaf-tailed gecko (Lacertilia: Carphodactylidae) from The Pinnacles, north-east Australia

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4576 (1) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
CONRAD J. HOSKIN ◽  
LORENZO V. BERTOLA ◽  
MEGAN HIGGIE

Recent surveys of rocky rainforest in the Townsville region have found additional populations of Phyllurus geckos. One of these populations was discovered at The Pinnacles, an isolated area of habitat in between the distributions of P. gulbaru and P. amnicola. Genetic and morphological data shows that this population is most similar to P. gulbaru Hoskin, Couper & Schneider, 2003 but divergent in a number of traits. Here we describe this population as a new species, P. pinnaclensis sp. nov., based on genetic divergence and differences in a number of morphometric and scalation traits from other populations of Phyllurus. Phyllurus pinnaclensis sp. nov. appears to be restricted to a few small areas of deeply layered rock with associated dry rainforest. This habitat is fire-sensitive and increased frequency and intensity of fires (due to late season burns and high fuel loads of invasive grasses) threatens to reduce and fragment these dry rainforest patches. Other threats include potential future invasion of the habitat by introduced Asian House Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836) and illegal collecting. Given the very small and fragmented distribution and potential reduction in habitat area due to fire, P. pinnaclensis sp. nov. warrants a Critically Endangered listing. Resolving the distributional change of dry rainforest in the Townsville region in recent decades, particularly in regards to fire, is key to resolving the status of this and other locally threatened taxa that depend on this habitat. 

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 205 (3) ◽  
pp. 168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Lee ◽  
Myung Soo Park ◽  
Paul Eunil Jung ◽  
Jonathan J. Fong ◽  
Seung-Yoon Oh ◽  
...  

A new species belonging to Lactarius subg. Plinthogalus was discovered during a long-term project on the diversity of Korean Lactarius. This species is proposed here as Lactarius cucurbitoides. The status of L. cucurbitoides as a new species is supported by molecular data and morphological features. Phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences shows that L. cucurbitoides is closely related to L. subplinthogalus, L. friabilis, and L. oomsisiensis, with pairwise distances of 2.8–4.3%. Morphological characters of L. cucurbitoides that distinguish it from these closely related species are a pale yellow to pale orange colored pileus and non-discoloration of white latex. The new species is described and illustrated in the present paper.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4377 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
VALENTIN DE MAZANCOURT ◽  
GERARD MARQUET ◽  
D. CHRISTOPHER ROGERS ◽  
PHILIPPE KEITH

During field trips to Guam and Babeldaob Islands in Micronesia, freshwater shrimps were sampled and assigned either to Caridina brachydactyla De Man, 1908 or C. mertoni J. Roux, 1911 (Decapoda: Atyidae), following previous inventories. In combining morphological data with a genetical analysis, it appeared that all the specimens belonged to a new species, Caridina variabilis sp. nov., here described with its distribution. The status of this new species is clarified and finally, neither C. brachydactyla, nor C. mertoni occur in these two islands. DNA sequences of 16S were obtained from the syntypes of C. mertoni. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5032 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-46
Author(s):  
DIOGO PARRINHA ◽  
MARIANA P. MARQUES ◽  
MATTHEW P. HEINICKE ◽  
FARKHANDA KHALID ◽  
KELLY L. PARKER ◽  
...  

The genus Pedioplanis reaches its northernmost limit in western Angola, where it is represented by three species, Pedioplanis benguelensis, P. haackei and P. huntleyi. The taxonomic status of P. benguelensis remains problematic, mainly due to the vague original description and the loss of the original type material. Here we provide a revision of the Angolan representatives of the genus, with the description of a new species, Pedioplanis serodioi sp. nov., from the lowlands of southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analyses using a combination of mitochondrial (16S and ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1) markers, as well as morphological data, support the recognition of the new species. For purposes of nomenclatural stability, we designate a neotype for P. benguelensis and provide motivation to correct the spelling of the specific epithet to “benguelensis”. The clarification of the status of P. benguelensis and the description of a new species contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Pedioplanis, as well as the general biogeographic context of southwestern Angola, adding to the growing evidence in favor of the recognition of this region as a hotspot of lizard diversity and endemism. An updated key to the genus is also provided.  


Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2730 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
GRAHAM J. BIRD

The tanaidacean fauna of the Iceland-Faroes-Shetlands sector of the North-east Atlantic was studied using material from the BIOFAR, BIOICE and AFEN surveys. Seven agathotanaid species were recorded from the genera Agathotanais, Paragathotanais and Paranarthrura, a total comparable to those from a similar bathymetric range in the Rockall-Biscay area and the Gulf of Mexico. A new species of Paragathotanais is described. All records of this family were from benthic stations with a mean bottom temperature of >= 2 degrees C, with none from the 'cold-water' region north of the Iceland-Shetlands ridge complex. An analysis of North-east Atlantic agathotanaid sex-ratios shows that these are not highly skewed in favour of females and are consistent with the status of the males as relatively non-dimorphic and long-lived entities.


Author(s):  
Valentin De Mazancourt ◽  
Gerard Marquet ◽  
Philippe Keith

Recently, the status of a new species of atyid shrimp from Pohnpei (Micronesia) was discussed in relation to C. brachydactyla De Man, 1908 and C. mertoni J. Roux, 1911. By combining morphological data with a phylogenetic analysis with closely related species, this species is here described as Caridina variabilirostris sp. nov. Notes on its ecological distribution are also provided. The new species is characterized by a highly variable rostrum and is present in rivers all over Pohnpei Island. The status of this new species is clarified and it is shown that neither C. brachydactyla De Man 1908 nor C. mertoni J. Roux, 1911 occur on Pohnpei Island.


Telopea ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 277-282
Author(s):  
Russell Barrett ◽  

Morphological studies of Lechenaultia filiformis R.Br. have determined that more than one taxon is presently included under that name. We here recognise the suite of disjunct populations from north-east Queensland, north-east Northern Territory, New Guinea and the Moluccas as a new species, Lechenaultia peregrina R.W.Jobson & R.L.Barrett. This is the third tropical species of Lechenaultia currently recognised, however further studies are required to assess the status of about five additional entities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia currently included in L. filiformis s.l. Seed article morphology is critical for species delimitation in tropical Lechenaultia, but seed articles are often absent from collections, or only immature, as they fall quickly once ripe.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5048 (4) ◽  
pp. 486-510
Author(s):  
ALEXANDER L. MONASTYRSKII ◽  
VU VAN LIEN

A new species and eight new subspecies of Papilionoidea discovered in Vietnam between 2002 and 2020 are described and illustrated. The status of two taxa are revised. New taxa include Pieridae: Delias sanaca bidoupa Monastyrskii & Vu subspec. nov. and Talbotia naganum aurelia Monastyrskii & Vu subspec. nov.; Nymphalidae: Abrota ganga pulcheria Monastyrskii & Vu, subspec. nov.; Bassarona recta consonensis Monastyrskii & Vu, subspec. nov.; Pantoporia bieti aurantina Monastyrskii & To subspec. nov.; Ragadia latifasciata cristata Monastyrskii & Vu, subspec. nov.; Ragadia latifasciata crystallina Monastyrskii & Vu, subspec. nov.; Faunis indistincta luctus Monastyrskii & Vu subspec. nov. & Aemona gialaica Monastyrskii, K. Saito & Vu, spec. nov. The taxon infuscata Devyatkin & Monastyrskii, previously described as the subspecies Aemona tonkinensis infuscata, was elevated to the species level, while the taxon critias (Ragadia critias Riley & Godfrey) was reduced to a subspecies. Three Satyrinae species were recorded from Vietnam for the first time: Palaeonympha opalina Butler, 1871; Ypthima motschulskyi Bremer & Grey, 1853; and Ragadia latifasciata Leech, 1891.  


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4980 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-365
Author(s):  
OSCAR J. CADENA-CASTAÑEDA ◽  
CARLOS JULIO ARANGO DÍAZ ◽  
DANIELA SANTOS MARTINS SILVA ◽  
OSCAR BUITRAGO ◽  
ALEXANDER GARCÍA GARCÍA ◽  
...  

The status of the genus Phelene stat. resurr., previously synonymized under Chiriquia is revalidated. The genus is redescribed and Phelene turgida stat. rev. a lectotype and paralectotypes are designated for this species. Tetrix laticeps is proposed as nomen dubium and its described a new additional species Phelene maroon n. sp. The diagnosis of the subfamily is adjusted with the characters of the new taxa included and an updated key of genera and species is provided. 


Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-161
Author(s):  
ER-HUAN ZANG ◽  
MING-XU ZHANG ◽  
WEN-LE WANG ◽  
CHUN-HONG ZHANG ◽  
MIN-HUI LI

In May 2020, a new taxon of Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae was collected from a dry hillside of Dongsheng District, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. The morphological characteristics of the specimens analyzed differ from those of the known Euphorbia species from this region; therefore, we suspected this may be a new species, and we set to analyze the ITS2 sequences of some Euphorbia species. The results show that the new taxon belongs to the sect. Esula of Euphorbia subg. Esula. It is similar to Euphorbia esula (description from Flora of China) but does not belong to the same species. Concomitantly, plant morphological data and pollen morphology results show significant differences between the new taxon, E. esula and E. caesia, a finding that supports the delimitation of this new taxon, which is named Euphorbia mongoliensis in accordance with its geographical distribution.


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