Rediscovery and lectotypification of the Philippine endemic Hornstedtia microcheila Ridl. (Zingiberaceae) including an amendment to its description

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  

Hornstedtia microcheila Ridl. (Zingiberaceae; Alpinioidieae; Alpinieae) is a poorly-known endemic species in the Philippines. It has not been collected again since its description in 1909. In 2017, however, the species was rediscovered in the Mt. Mandalagan Range, Patag, Silay City, Negros Occidental, after a lapse of over a century. A new, amended and extended description of H. microcheila based on this new collection is presented herein. Typification, colour photographs, distribution data, ecological details as well as a taxonomic key to the different Hornstedtia species in the Philippines are also provided.

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  

The Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL) encompasses a prehistoric volcano caldera that caters to many documented endemic species. Although regarded as a unique area with the potential to house a diverse ecological community, biodiversity research in TVPL is still found wanting. The present paper aims to provide baseline information and increase research interests on the herpetofaunal diversity of TVPL, in light of its many undocumented terrestrial faunal species. Twelve study sites within the municipalities of Tanauan, Mataasnakahoy, and Balete were visited during survey trips from May to November 2015. A combination of transect and opportunistic sampling techniques were utilized, with morphometric data and sexual maturity recorded for each specimen collected. This preliminary survey provided 24 newly documented species of amphibians and reptiles occurring within TVPL. A total 10 frog species (from families Bufonidae, Ceratobatrachidae, Microhylidae, Dicroglossidae, Ranidae, and Rhacophoridae) and 14 reptile species (from families Agamidae, Gekkonidae, Scincidae, Varanidae, Acrochordidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, and Tryonychidae) were documented. Of the reptiles recorded, 3 are endemic species and widespread throughout the Philippines: Gekko mindorensis, Hydrosaurus pustulatus, and Draco spilopterus. Also recorded were the Philippine endemic frogs Kaloula picta and Limnonectes woodworthi along with the Luzon endemics Platymantis mimulus and Varanus marmoratus. The species-effort curve of amphibians showed a distinct plateau whereas the species-effort curve of reptiles has shown an increasing trend suggesting that additional sampling efforts should be done in the area to further increase knowledge of the TVPL herpetofaunal diversity.


Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 710
Author(s):  
Ladislav Bocak ◽  
Michal Motyka ◽  
Dominik Kusy ◽  
Renata Bilkova

We reviewed the species-level classification of Metriorrhynchina net-winged beetles to make the group accessible for further studies. Altogether, 876 valid species are listed in a checklist along with known synonyms, combinations, and distribution data. The compilation of geographic distribution showed that Metriorrhynchina is distributed mainly in the Australian region with very high diversity in the islands at the northern edge of the Australian craton, i.e., in the Moluccas and New Guinea (54 and 423 spp. respectively). The neighboring northern part of the Australian continent houses a majority of known Australian species (112 spp.) and the diversity of net-winged beetles gradually decreases to the south (43 spp.). The fauna of Sulawesi is highly endemic at the generic level (4 of 10 genera, 67 of 84 spp.). Less Metriorrhynchina occur in the Solomon Islands and Oceania (in total 22 spp.). The Oriental Metriorrhynchina fauna consists of a few genera and a limited number of species, and most of these are known from the Philippines (51 of 94 Oriental spp.). We identified a high species level turn-over between all neighboring landmasses. The genus-level endemism is high in Sulawesi (4 genera) and New Guinea (11 genera), but only a single genus is endemic to Australia. During the compilation of the checklist, we identified some homonyms, and we propose the following replacement names and a new synonym: Metriorrhynchus pseudobasalis, nom. nov. for M. basalis Lea, 1921 nec M. basalis Bourgeois, 1911; Metriorrhynchus pseudofunestus, nom. nov. for M. funestus Lea, 1921 nec M. funestus (Guérin-Méneville, 1838), Trichalus pseudoternatensis, nom. nov. for T. ternatensis Kleine, 1930 nec T. ternatensis Bourgeois, 1900, Procautires subparallelus, nom. nov. for P. parallelus (Pic, 1926) nec P. parallelus (Bourgeois, 1883), and Cautires pseudocorporaali, nom. nov. for C. corporaali (Pic, 1921: 12), (formerly Odontocerus and Cladophorus) nec C. corporaali (Pic, 1921) (formerly Bulenides, later Cautires). Diatrichalus biroi Kleine, 1943, syn. nov. is proposed as a junior subjective synonym of D. subarcuatithorax (Pic, 1926). Altogether, 161 new combinations are proposed, and 47 species earlier placed in Xylobanus Waterhouse, 1879 transferred from Cautirina to Metriorrhynchina incertae sedis. The study clarifies the taxonomy of Metriorrhynchini and should serve as a restarting point for further taxonomic, evolutionary, and biogeographic studies.


Oryx ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Goodman ◽  
N. R. Ingle

In the spring of 1992 a group of zoologists completed a faunal survey of Sibuyan Island, a small mountainous island in the central Philippines. This island, which is oceanic in origin and during the Pleistocene at least was not connected to any other island mass, has an exceptional amount of intact primary forest, including lowland forest, a habitat that has all but been destroyed in the Philippines. The mammalian fauna of Sibuyan Island is exceptionally high in endemic species and also contains many other species that are threatened throughout the Philippines. Current logging operations severely threaten the remaining areas of lowland forest on the island. With forests of the Philippines under intense pressure, the most realistic hope for conservation lies in the protection of forests on islands where the population and political pressures are less intense. Sibuyan Island is an excellent candidate for such initiative.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul John Tolentino ◽  
JOHN RYAN L. NAVIDAD ◽  
MARJORIE DELOS ANGELES ◽  
DESAMARIE ANTONETTE P. FERNANDEZ ◽  
ELAINE LOREEN C. VILLANUEVA ◽  
...  

Abstract. Tolentino PJS, Navidad JRL, Angeles MD, Fernandez AP, Villanueva ELC, Obena RDR, Buot Jr IE. 2020. Review: Biodiversity of forests over limestone in Southeast Asia with emphasis on the Philippines. Biodiversitas 21: 1597-1613. A comprehensive review of literature was carried out to determine the status of plant and animal diversity on forests over limestone in Southeast Asia (SEA), particularly in the Philippines. Angiosperm records are available in Peninsular Malaysia (1216 spp.); West Java and Seram Indonesia (101 and 149 spp., respectively); Laos (135 spp.); Thailand and Myanmar (1 sp.); and Limestone areas in Vietnam. Pteridophytes were recorded in Malaysia (32 spp.) while Bryophytes are recorded in Peninsular Malaysia (59 spp.). In the Philippines, there are plant records in: Masbate (61 spp.); Isabela (169 spp. Pteridophytes); Bohol (12 spp.), and Samar forests over limestone (29 spp. palms and 20 spp. orchids). A floral assessment in Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) includes species (212 spp.) that can possibly be found but are not limited to karsts. New Philippine endemic species are also recorded in Cebu, Palawan, and Panay Island. There are animal records in SEA including Vietnam (Bats-36, Bird-1, and Langurs-5 spp.); Malaysia (Sciuridae-1, Bats-28, Birds-129, Reptiles-17, and Invertebrates-74 spp.); Thailand (Murids-12, Reptiles-11, and Amphibian-1 sp.); and Myanmar (Reptiles-15 spp.). Records in the Philippines include: Mammals (Bicol-9, Mt. Irid-24, Mt. Aruyan-1, and Cebu-1 species), and; Birds (Cebu-1 sp.). A terrestrial faunal assessment in SINP includes species (182 spp.) that can possibly be found but are not limited to karsts. Forests over limestone are still largely understudied and the potential of discovering species is high. Further research is critical to establish science-based initiatives and policies that will protect and conserve limestone ecosystem biodiversity while allowing the utilization of its biological resources at a sustainable level.


Oryx ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Lewis

Living in the rain forests of the Philippines is one of the largest and rarest eagles in the world, the Philippine eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi.This magnificent bird is in danger of extinction due to the pressures of land development and human persecution. The author spent three0 years, from 1982 to 1985, helping to study the eagle, both in the wild and captivity, as part of a team dedicated to its conservation. The eagle has become the symbol of the conservation movement in the Philippines, and linked with its survival are a host of endemic species that share the same forest habitat.


REINWARDTIA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Ruth Kiew

KIEW, R. 2020. Towards a Flora of New Guinea: Oleaceae. Part 1. Jasminum, Ligustrum, Myxopyrum and Olea. Reinwardtia 19(1): 1‒25. ‒‒ Oleaceae in New Guinea is represented by five genera and about 32 species, namely Chionanthus (about 16 species), Jasminum (10 species), Ligustrum (3 species), Myxopyrum (2 species) and Olea (1 species). A key to genera as well as descriptions of and keys to species of Jasminum, Ligustrum, Myxopyrum and Olea are provided. Of the three Ligustrum species, L. glomeratum is widespread throughout Malesia, L. novoguineense is endemic and L. parvifolium Kiew is a new endemic species. Six species of Jasminum are endemic (J. domatiigerum, J. gilgianum, J. magnificum, J. papuasicum, J. pipolyi and J. rupestre). Jasminum turneri just reaches the northern tip of Australia; of the two species from the Pacific Islands J. simplicifolium subsp. australiense just reaches SE Papua New Guinea and J. didymum, a coastal species, reaches into Malesia as far north as E Java; J. elongatum is widespread from Asia to Australia. Neither Myxopyrum species is endemic: M. nervosum subsp. nervosum extends from Peninsular Malaysia to Indonesian New Guinea, and M. ovatum from the Philippines to the Admiralty Islands. The sole species of Olea, O. paniculata, stretches from Java to Australia and New Caledonia. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 18054-18058
Author(s):  
Blessy Cherian ◽  
K.M. Prabhukumar ◽  
R. Jagadeesan ◽  
V.V. Naveen Kumar ◽  
Indira Balachandran

Strobilanthes lawsonii was described by Gamble based on a collection made from Sispara Ghat of Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu.  Later researchers reported its distribution in Kerala, and S. gamblei and S. pushpangadanii, two endemic species of the Western Ghats, were synonymised with S. lawsonii during the genus revision in southern India in 2006.  During a recent expedition to Muthikulam forest of Palakkad, Kerala the authors collected typical S. lawsonii.  After comparing the new collections with S. gamblei and S. pushpangadanii, it was found that both taxa are distinct from S. lawsonii, with the most notable morphological differences being partially fused corolla lobes and exserted stamens.  A detailed comparison of the three taxa is provided here, along with color photographs and a taxonomic key for easy species identification.


2008 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 17-20
Author(s):  
Ivailo Kanev Dedov

This work presents results of two years collecting efforts within the project “The role of the alpine karst area in Bulgaria as reservoir of species diversity”. It summarizes distribution data of 44 terrestrial gastropods from the Bulgarian part of Alibotush Mts. Twenty-seven species are newly recorded from the Alibotush Mts., 13 were confirmed, while 4 species, previously known from the literature, were not found. In the gastropod fauna of Alibotush Mts. predominate species from Mediterranean zoogeographic complex. A large part of them is endemic species, and this demonstrates the high conservation value of large limestone areas in respect of terrestrial gastropods.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4952 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-127
Author(s):  
VERNER MICHELSEN

The Macaronesian species of the muscid genus Limnophora are reviewed with special emphasis on the fauna of the western Canary Islands. The genus is represented by 14 species in the Macaronesian archipelagos, with 10 species in the Canary Islands, 4 species in the Cape Verde Islands, and 3 species in Madeira. Limnophora obsignatula sp. nov. is endemic to the western Canary Islands, where it replaces the widespread continental L. obsignata (Rondani). It is further shown that L. paneliusi Emden, a species so far considered endemic to the Cape Verde Islands, is widespread in the Canary Islands. Two species, L. obsignata (Rondani) and L. tigrina Am Stein, are removed from the list of Canarian Muscidae as based on misidentifications of other species with a mesonotal “Anthomyia-pattern”. Limnophora (Calliophrys) riparia capoverdica Emden, a taxon described from the Cape Verde Islands, is synonymized with L. riparia (Fallén), syn. nov. Distribution data and illustrated diagnoses are given for each species. The species account is finalized with an identification key to males and females. An assessment of the ovipositor as a characters source in phylogeny and species recognition is made for 12 species of Limnophora. Finally, it is pointed out that several species are acutely threatened due to habitat disturbance. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-519
Author(s):  
Myra A. Abayon ◽  
Richard B. Parilla ◽  
Bernard Lassalle ◽  
Rainer Schnell

Abstract Surveys were conducted in six protected forests of Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) of the Philippines, namely Lake Danao, Mt. Nacolod, Kuapnit Balinsasayao, Asug Forest, City Forest, and Closed Canopy, from January to June of 2019. A total of 7,844 individuals belonging to 41 species, 25 genera, 13 tribes, and 2 subfamilies were recorded in the six selected forests of Leyte and Samar, Eastern Visayas, Philippines. Twenty-six species were recorded from Lake Danao, 32 species in Mt. Nacolod, 20 species in Kuapnit Balinsasayao Forest, 11 species in Asug Forest, 19 species in City Forest, and 26 species in Closed Canopy Forest. A total of 19 endemic species were recorded, of which 12 are endemic to the Philippines, 6 are endemic to Leyte, and 1 is endemic to Samar. The survey found new species and new records of carabid beetles in the region. The new records include Brachinus leytensis (Lassalle & Schnell), Trigonotoma goeltenbothi (Lassalle, Roux & Schnell), Pheropsophus uliweberi (Lassalle & Schnell) in Leyte, and Lesticus samarensis (Dubault, Lassalle & Roux) in Samar. The new species are Pheropsophus uliweberi (Lassalle & Schnell) and Pheropsophus sp. (Lassalle & Schnell), both found in Leyte. These findings demonstrate that the forests in Eastern Visayas can be considered as centers of carabid diversity. Appropriate protection and conservation strategies should be implemented.


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