scholarly journals New species of Xiphoscelis Burmeister, 1842 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae) from arid regions of South Africa and Namibia

ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 879 ◽  
pp. 57-89
Author(s):  
Renzo Perissinotto ◽  
Petr Šípek
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Instar Larva ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Defence Mechanism ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Arid Conditions ◽  
Brown Colour ◽  
African Genus

Two new species of the southern African genus Xiphoscelis Burmeister, 1842 are recognised and described, X. braunsisp. nov. from the Eastern and Western Cape Karoo (South Africa) and X. namibicasp. nov. from the Huns Mountains of southern Namibia and adjacent ranges in South Africa. These were previously overlooked and grouped together with X. schuckardi Burmeister, 1842, but further material and more in-depth analyses have now revealed their clear separation on the basis of key diagnostic features, including clypeal structure, metatibial spur development and aedeagal shape. The densely and coarsely costate elytral structure and the black to brown colour of these species are symplesiomorphies shared with a number of the most primitive genera among the African Cetoniinae. However, these characters also reflect the convergent adaptation to hot and arid conditions they share with several other species occurring in this region. Phylogenetic relationships of the genus with other Cetoniinae are explored using the larval characters highlighted in the description of the 3rd instar larva of X. braunsisp. nov. The extraordinary hypertrophy observed in the male metatibial spur of species in this genus, and particularly in X. schuckardi, appears to represent a defence mechanism against potential predators on the ground, apart from playing a role during mating.

scholarly journals Revision of the southern African genus Stuckenbergomyia Smith, 1971 (Diptera, Empidoidea) and proposal of a new subfamily

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-145
Author(s):  
Bradley J. Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Western Cape Province ◽  
A New Species ◽  
African Genus

The genus Stuckenbergomyia Smith is revised with the description of a new species from Namibia (S.namibiensissp. nov.) and an undescribed species based on females from Western Cape Province of South Africa. The genus is fully illustrated and its phylogenetic relationships within the Hybotidae are discussed with the proposal of a new subfamily, Stuckenbergomyiinaesubfam. nov.

Four new species of Pteronia (Astereae, Asteraceae) from South Africa

Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 430 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
ANIFAT O. BELLO ◽  
JAMES S. BOATWRIGHT ◽  
MICHELLE VAN DER BANK ◽  
ANTHONY R. MAGEE
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
Ecological Information ◽  
Taxonomic Studies ◽  
African Genus

During taxonomic studies of the southern African genus Pteronia, four new species, P. armatifolia, P. decurrens, P. flava and P. glandulosa were uncovered from the Northern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. We formally describe these four new species here and provide detailed descriptions, diagnostic characters, geographical distributions, as well as ecological information for each of the species.

Ten new species in the southern African genus Heliophila (Brassicaceae; Cruciferae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 434 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-88
Author(s):  
IHSAN A. AL-SHEHBAZ
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Chromosome Number ◽  
South African ◽  
New South ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
African Species ◽  
Northern Cape ◽  
African Genus

Ten new South African species of Heliophila (H. astyla, H. biseriata, H. clarkii, H. crassistyla, H. goldblattii, H. magaliesbergensis, H. pseudoeximia, H. roggeveldensis, H. volkii, and H. xylopoda) are described, illustrated, and their relationships and distinguishing characters from nearest relatives are discussed. The chromosome number 2n = 22 for H. goldblattii is reported. Four species (H. astyla, H. crassistyla, H. volkii, H. xylopoda) are endemic to the Western Cape, three (H. clarkii, H. goldblattii, H. pseudoeximia) to the Northern Cape, two (H. biseriata, H. roggeveldensis) in both provinces, and one (H. magaliesbergensis) in Gauteng Province. All species of the genus are native to South Africa, with the ranges of some extending in neighboring Namibia, Lesotho, and Swaziland. 

Two new species of Acontias (Acontinae, Scincidae) from the Mpumalanga Highveld escarpment of South Africa

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4429 (1) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
WERNER CONRADIE ◽  
THEO BUSSCHAU ◽  
SHELLEY EDWARDS
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Disjunct Populations ◽  
African Genus ◽  
Distinguishing Character

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. 

THYMELAEACEAE

Bothalia ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-81
Author(s):  
J. B. P. Beyers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
A New Species

A NEW SPECIES OF GNIDIA FROM THE KNERSVLAKTE. WESTERN CAPE. SOUTH AFRICA

Four new species of ,Erica (Ericaceae) from Western Cape, South Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. G. H. Oliver ◽  
I. M. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Western Cape

Four new species of Erica L. from the mountains of Western Cape are described:  E. richardii E.G.H.Oliv., rare and localized on quartzite cliffs in the foothills of the Great Swartberg north of Klaarstroom, E. anemodes E.G.H.Oliv., and E. viminalis E.G.H.Oliv., both restricted to the Hex River and adjacent mountains, and E.  limnophila E.G.H.Oliv., rare around high altitude marshes in the Wemmershoek and Dutoitskloof Mountains.

BRUNIACEAE

Bothalia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Hall ◽  
E. G. H. Oliver ◽  
R. Claben-Bockhoff
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Western Cape

NEW SPECIES OF  THAMNEA AND BRUNIA FROM WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

New taxa of Babiana (Iridaceae: Crocoideae) from coastal Western Cape, South Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Goldblatt ◽  
J. C. Manning
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
New Taxa ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Perianth Tube ◽  
Pale Green ◽  
A New Species

Discovery of populations south of Elandshaai of a small-flowered plant closely allied to Babiana ringens led to a critical re-evaluation of this sunbird-pollinated Western Cape species. We conclude that these populations represent a new species, B. avicularis, recognized by long, arching, subterete leaves, and flowers with the lower part of the perianth tube sigmoid and ± 4 mm long, a dorsal tepal 15-18 mm long, pale green lower tepals directed forward, and a style dividing below the bases of the anthers. In addition, the southern coastal populations of B. ringens merit recognition as a separate subsp. australis, recognized by the smaller flower, filaments not reaching the apex of the dorsal tepal and the style dividing at or below the bases of the anthers. Field work along the Western Cape coast also resulted in the discovery of a new species, B. teretifolia, allied to the distinctive B. brachystachys but differing from that species in the linear, spreading, twisted tepals, filaments 12 mm long, white anthers 5.5-6.0 mm long, and the style dividing opposite the anther tips, with branches ± 5 mm long and notched at the tips.

Eight new species of Moraea (Iridaceae) from southern Africa with range extensions and morphological notes in the genus

Bothalia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Goldblatt ◽  
J. C. Manning
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
African Species ◽  
Basal Leaf ◽  
Pale Yellow ◽  
Northern Cape ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
African Genus

We describe eight new southern African species in the largely sub-Saharan African genus Moraea L., one from the winterdry Great Karoo and the others from the winter-rainfall zone of the southwest of the subcontinent. M. striata Goldblatt J.C.Manning (subg. Visciramosae Goldblatt) from the southern foothills of the Great Swartberg Mtns has khaki-green flowers with reflexed tepal limbs streaked with dark lines. The acaulescent M. singularis Goldblatt J.C.Manning (subg. Umbellatae Goldblatt J.C.Manning) with terete leaf blades is restricted to the dry, interior foothills of the Kamiesberg in Northern Cape. M. filamentosa Goldblatt J.C.Manning, subg. Acaules (Baker) Goldblatt J.C.Manning, is described from the dry interior of Namaqualand in Northern Cape. The species is closely allied to the widespread M. falcifolia Klatt. In subg. Polyanthes (Goldblatt) Goldblatt J.C.Manning, we describe M. thermarum Goldblatt J.C.Manning (sect. Hexaglottis (Vent.) Goldblatt) from southwestern Namibia, allied to M. brevituba (Goldblatt) Goldblatt, and M. lazulina Goldblatt J.C.Manning (sect. Pseudospicata Goldblatt J.C.Manning) from the Little Karoo, until now confused with M. exiliflora Goldblatt but differing in its larger flowers with strongly reflexed tepals. The new M. petricola Goldblatt J.C.Manning (subg. Vieusseuxia (D.Delaroche) Goldblatt), is restricted to higher elevations of the Pakhuis Mtns of northern Western Cape. Lastly, in subg. Homeria (Vent.) Goldblatt J.C.Manning, we recognize M. doleritica Goldblatt J.C.Manning with pale yellow flowers and anthers exceeding the style branches, restricted to dolerite outcrops in the Great Karoo, and M. eburnea Goldblatt J.C.Manning from the northern foothills of the Klein Swartberg, which has a single, basal leaf and pale yellow flowers with filaments free distally. Moraea now has 222 species, including 203 in southern Africa, of which 200 are endemic to the region. In addition to describing new species, the paper brings to light range extensions of a further eight species: M. barnardii L.Bolus, M. elliotii Baker, M. exiliflora Goldblatt, M. falcifolia Goldblatt J.C.Manning, M. fenestralis (Goldblatt E.G.H.Oliver) Goldblatt, M. louisabolusiae Goldblatt, M. tulbaghensis L.Bolus and M. unguiculata Ker Gawl. Each of the species falls into one of the subgenera mentioned for the new species except M. fenestralis which belongs in subg. Galaxia.

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