Lost before being recognized? A new species of the genus Ophisops (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Gujarat, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 31-44
Author(s):  
Harshil Patel ◽  
Raju Vyas
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Western India ◽  
Female Specimen ◽  
Single Female ◽  
Gujarat State ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
A New Species

A new species of the lacertid genus Ophisops is described based on a single female specimen from a plateau in the Dahod district, Gujarat state, western India. The new species is diagnosable by the following suite of characters: a small-sized Ophisops (adult, snout to vent length 40.8 mm); two frontonasals; prefrontals not in contact; enlarged tympanic scale absent; 30 scales around mid-body; 19 lamellae underneath the fourth toe; five chin shields, first two in contact medially; 15 gular scales between symphysis of chin shields and ventral plates; large mental scale, extending beyond second supralabial; females with 9 femoral pores on either side interrupted by three poreless scales. The new species, Ophisops agarwali sp. nov. is the fourth endemic species of reptile described in last 12 years from the state of Gujarat and highlights the rich and unique diversity of this understudied region. The single known specimen of the new species was collected nearly two decades ago and recent surveys by the authors at the type locality and surrounding areas failed to yield a surviving population which reflects the possibility that Ophisops agarwali sp. nov. may have been lost before any understanding could be gained about its existence or identity. The study emphasises dire need for proper taxonomic documentation of animals from poorly studied regions in India.

scholarly journals Description of a new species of Tityus (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from the Parque Estadual de Vila Velha in the State of Paraná (Brazil)

2005 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilson R. Lourenço
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Species Group ◽  
The State ◽  
Taxonomic Position ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Female Specimen ◽  
Single Female ◽  
Environmental Characteristics ◽  
A New Species

Tityus pintodarochai sp. n., pertencente ao grupo de espécies de Tityus bahiensis (Scorpiones, Buthidae) é descrito com base em um único exemplar coletado no ‘Parque Estadual de Vila Velha’, Estado do Paraná, Brazil. São comentadas a posição taxonômica da espécie nova e as características ambientais da localidade do tipo. É provida uma chave para as espécies pertencentes ao Grupo Tityus bahiensis, distribuídas no sul do Brasil, assim como em países vizinhos como Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Abstract Tityus pintodarochai sp. n., belonging to the Tityus bahiensis species group (Scorpiones, Buthidae) is described on the basis of a single female specimen collected in the ‘Parque Estadual de Vila Velha’, State of Paraná, Brazil. Comments on the taxonomic position of the new species and on the environmental characteristics of the type locality are given. A key is provided to the species belonging to the Tityus bahiensis group, distributed in the southern range of Brazil as well as in nearby countries such as Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Résumé Tityus pintodarochai sp. n., espèce appartenant au groupe d’espèces Tityus bahiensis, (Scorpiones, Buthidae) est décrit à partir d’un seul exemplaire femelle collecté dans le ‘Parque Estadual de Vila Velha’, dans l’Etat du Paraná, Brésil. Des commentaires sur la position taxonomique de la nouvelle espèce, ainsi que sur les caractéristiques écologiques de la localité typique sont apportés. Une clé est proposée pour les espèces appartenant au group Tityus bahiensis, distribuées dans la région Sud du Brésil, ainsi que dans les pays limitrophes tels l’Argentine, le Paraguay et l’Uruguay.

Male of Spilarctia mikeli Bolotov, Kondakov & Spitsyn, 2018, an endemic species from Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Archipelago (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4975 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-197
Author(s):  
VITALY M. SPITSYN ◽  
ALEXANDER V. KONDAKOV ◽  
ALENA A. TOMILOVA ◽  
ELIZAVETA A. SPITSYNA ◽  
IVAN N. BOLOTOV
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Female Specimen ◽  
Single Female ◽  
Tiger Moth ◽  
First Time

The Lepidoptera fauna of the island of Flores (Lesser Sunda Archipelago, Indonesia) shares a large proportion of endemic species, which may reach 80–100% in several groups (Zolotuhin & Witt 2005; Nässig et al. 2009; Zolotuhin 2009; Nässig & Bouyer 2010; Yakovlev 2015; Spitsyn & Potapov 2020; Spitsyn & Bolotov 2020). A plethora of new species was described from this island during the last 15 years, e.g. the tiger moth Spilarctia mikeli Bolotov, Kondakov & Spitsyn, 2018 (Zolotuhin & Witt 2005; Yakovlev 2006; Spitsyn & Bolotov 2020a, b, c). This species was described based on a single female specimen collected in West Flores (Bolotov et al. 2018). In the present paper, we describe the male of Spilarctia mikeli for the first time, and illustrate variability of marking patterns of both the male and the female of this species. 

A new species of rock-dwelling Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Tamil Nadu, southern India

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4571 (3) ◽  
pp. 383
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Southern India ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Tamil Nadu State ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

A new species of the gekkonid genus Cnemaspis is described based on a series of nine specimens from near Sankari in Salem district, Tamil Nadu state, southern India. The new species is diagnosable by the following suite of characters: a small-sized Cnemaspis (adult snout to vent length less than 33 mm); heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis consisting of weakly keeled granular scales intermixed with large strongly keeled, conical tubercles, 9–11 rows of dorsal tubercles, 12–17 tubercles in paravertebral rows; spine-like scales absent on flank, 17–20 lamellae under digit IV of pes. Males with 4–6 femoral pores on each thigh, separated on either side by eight poreless scales from four precloacal pores; precloacal pores separated medially by a single poreless scale; two single dorsal ocelli on occiput and between forelimb insertions, two pairs of ocelli on either side just anterior and posterior to forelimb insertions. Cnemaspis agarwali sp. nov. is the fifth endemic species of Cnemaspis from peninsular India outside the Western Ghats and highlights the rich and unique diversity of this understudied region. 

A new species of Pseudolambrus (Crustacea: Brachyura: Parthenopidae: Parthenopinae) from Panglao, Bohol, the Philippines

Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1731 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. TAN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Female Specimen ◽  
Single Female ◽  
A New Species

A new species of parthenopid, Pseudolambrus bato, is described. The single female specimen was collected from a trap during the PANGLAO 2004 expedition to Panglao, Bohol, Philippine Islands.

A new species of the genus Discoelius Latreille, 1809 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from India

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4272 (4) ◽  
pp. 583 ◽  
Author(s):  
ARATI PANNURE ◽  
VASUKI V. BELAVADI ◽  
JAMES M. CARPENTER
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Female Specimen ◽  
Single Female ◽  
Oriental Region ◽  
Solitary Wasp ◽  
Small Genus ◽  
A New Species

Discoelius vasukii Pannure & Carpenter, sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Tamil Nadu, India.        Discoelius Latreille, 1809 is a small genus of solitary wasp with ten species and one subspecies described, of which D. aurantiacus Nguyen, D. emeishanensus Zhou & Li, D. esakii Yasumatsu, D. longinodus Yamane, D. nigriclypeus Zhou & Li, D. turneri (Meade-Waldo), D. wangi Yamane and D. zonalis (Panzer) are recorded from Oriental Region (Zhou et al. 2013; Nguyen 2016). Only a single species, D. turneri described from Shillong (Meghalaya) (Meade-Waldo, 1910) and later recorded from Sikkim (Giordani Soika 1960) has been previously known from India. In this study, we describe a new species of Discoelius from India based on a single female specimen collected at Valparai (Tamil Nadu), India. 

A new species of Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Pakistan

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4780 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAFAQAT MASROOR ◽  
MUHAMMAD KHISROON ◽  
MUAZZAM ALI KHAN ◽  
DANIEL JABLONSKI
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Mountainous Terrain ◽  
Morphological Comparison ◽  
Dorsal Midline ◽  
Northwestern India ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
A New Species

Members of the dwarf geckos of the genus Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 are distributed from western Iran to northwestern India, with seven currently recognized species. Three taxa have been reported from Pakistan, M. depressus, M. persicus persicus and M. p. euphorbiacola. The former is the only endemic species restricted to Pakistan. Herein, we describe a new species, Microgecko tanishpaensis sp. nov., on the basis of four specimens collected from the remote area of the Toba Kakar Range in northwestern Balochistan. The type locality lies in an isolated valley in mountainous terrain known for the occurrence of other endemic reptile species, including geckos. Microgecko tanishpaensis sp. nov. is differentiated from the morphologically similar species M. depressus by possessing larger size, five scales bordering the nostril, internasals (supranasals) scales in contact with nostril, two large pairs of postmentals, higher numbers of interorbitals (27–30), scales around midbody (76–84), ventral scales from the postmental to vent (144–156) and scales along dorsal midline from axilla to groin (75–86). A morphological comparison of M. tanishpaensis sp. nov. with other species of the genus and an updated identification key for the genus Microgecko are presented. 

Isoperla vjosae sp. n., a new species of the Isoperla tripartita group from Albania (Plecoptera: Perlodidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4370 (2) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
WOLFRAM GRAF ◽  
STEFFEN U. PAULS ◽  
SIMON VITECEK
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Hydroelectric Power ◽  
Molecular Tools ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Low Altitude ◽  
First Time ◽  
A New Species

In this contribution, we describe Isoperla vjosae sp. nov. from Albania. We characterize males, females, and larvae of the new species collected at the Vjosa River using morphological and molecular approaches. Isoperla vjosae sp.nov. is a member of the I. tripartita group, which is widely distributed in the Balkans. This new endemic species is being threatened by a proposed hydroelectric power dam on the Vjosa River impacting the type locality – a large, shifting gravel, low altitude River – an atypical habitat for larvae of the I. tripartita group. For the first time we use molecular tools to delineate Isoperla species from the Balkans. 

A new species of Cycreon d’Orchymont, 1919 from Singapore (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Megasternini)

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4317 (3) ◽  
pp. 588 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEXANDER SHATROVSKIY
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Monotypic Genus ◽  
Female Specimen ◽  
Single Female ◽  
A New Species

The monotypic genus Cycreon Orchymont, 1919 was established for the species Cycreon sculpturatus Orchymont, 1919, based on a single female specimen from Palembang, Sumatra (Orchymont 1919). At some later point, d’Orchymont studied a specimen from Singapore and labelled it with a note indicating it may be either a male of C. sculpturatus or a new species (Fig. 27). Examination of the holotype of C. sculpturatus revealed the Singapore specimen does indeed represent a new species. It was additionally labeled by d’Orchymont: “Cycreon emarginatus n. sp. voir cependantsi ce n’esl pas le ♂ de sculpturatus” [Cycreon emarginatus n. sp. however, whether is it not the male of C. sculpturatus] but it has never been described. 

Cockscomb-shaped twighopper, Cladonotus bhaskari sp. n., a new and rare pygmy grasshopper species from Sri Lanka (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Cladonotinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4821 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-342
Author(s):  
JOSEF TUMBRINCK ◽  
MAKS DERANJA ◽  
KARMELA ADŽIĆ ◽  
MARKO PAVLOVIĆ ◽  
JOSIP SKEJO
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Female Specimen ◽  
Single Female ◽  
Grasshopper Species ◽  
A New Species

The paper describes a new species of a Sri Lankan twighopper, genus Cladonotus Saussure, 1862 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Cladonotini), C. bhaskari sp. n., based on a single female specimen collected and photographed by T. Kirschey in 2016 in Sinharaja rainforest (SW Sri Lanka). The new species is clearly distinguished from other species of the genus by its long and spine-like frontomedial projection and cockscomb-shaped promedial projection. Species of this genus resemble tiny twigs, hence the name ‘twighopper’. Our new specimen is the first known female of the genus, and we also present the first photograph of the member of this genus in the natural habitat. An annotated identification key for the Cladonotus species is provided. Furthermore, we synonymize genus Hypsaeus Bolívar, 1887 syn. nov. with Hymenotes Westwood, 1837, based on the pronotal variability of the leaf-like pygmy grasshoppers in the Philippines and introduce one new combination—Hymenotes westwoodi (Bolívar, 1887) comb. nov..

Catoptrus iejima, a new species of cavernicolous swimming crab (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae) from a submarine cave at Ie Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2918 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
YOSHIHISA FUJITA ◽  
TOHRU NARUSE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Ryukyu Islands ◽  
Swimming Crab ◽  
Female Specimen ◽  
Single Female ◽  
Submarine Cave ◽  
A New Species

A new species of swimming crab belonging to the genus Catoptrus A. Milne-Edwards, 1870, is described based on a single female specimen collected from a submarine cave at Ie Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The new species can be easily distinguished from all five congeners by its proportionally longer pereopods as well as by combinations of the characters of the carapace, eyes, and cheliped.

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