Phylogenetic placement of a recently discovered population of the threatened alpine she-oak skink Cyclodomorphus praealtus (Squamata: Scincidae) in Victoria

The alpine she-oak skink Cyclodomorphus praealtus is a threatened alpine endemic lizard from the mainland of Australia. The species is previously known from disjunct populations in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales and three isolated localities in the Victorian Alps. The New South Wales and Victorian populations represent separate evolutionarily significant units. In 2011, a fourth Victorian population was discovered. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis and determined that the newly discovered population is discrete and may have been separated from other populations since the end of the last glacial maxima. This population requires separate management.

Morphological and genetic divergence supports peripheral endemism and a recent evolutionary history of Chrysiptera demoiselles in the subtropical South Pacific

The delineation of species and their evolutionary relationships informs our understanding of biogeography and how regional faunas are assembled. The peripheral geography and local environment of reefs in the subtropical South Pacific likely promotes the allopatric and adaptive divergence of taxa colonising from the tropics; however, the fauna of this region has been relatively understudied. Here, we address the taxonomic and evolutionary relationships among Chrysiptera taxa of the subtropical South Pacific. We use meristic counts, morphometrics and genetic markers to characterise the similarities and differences among four taxa restricted to the South Pacific region that have strikingly different colouration: C. notialis, a taxon restricted to eastern Australia, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island; C. galba, found in the Cook Islands, southern French Polynesia and Pitcairn Islands; and the two disjunct populations of C. rapanui, found in the eastern Pacific around Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua or Easter Island) and Motu Motiro Hiva (Salas y Gómez) and in the South-western Pacific around Rangitāhua (Kermadec Islands). Our morphometric analysis confirmed that these four taxa, including the two disjunct populations of C. rapanui, are morphologically distinct. However, our genetic analysis revealed that only C. rapanui from Rapa Nui was genetically differentiated, whereas C. rapanui of Rangitāhua, C. galba and C. notialis all shared a common haplotype. Furthermore, none of the taxa could be consistently differentiated based on individual meristic features. Our study reconciles a formerly perplexing and disjunct distribution for C. rapanui, to reveal that C. rapanui is an endemic of Rapa Nui and that the Chrysiptera of French Polynesia, Rangitāhua, and the South-western Pacific have only a very recent history of divergence. Our analyses suggest these subtropical taxa have diverged from a predominantly tropical Chrysiptera genus in morphological features important in determining colonisation success, locomotion and feeding ecology.

Third time’s a charm: reviewing the advertisement call of Gabohyla pauloalvini (Anura: Hylidae: Scinaxinae), an endemic species from Brazil’ Atlantic Forest

The Neotropical tribe Sphaenorhynchini is composed of 15 recognized species commonly named as “lime treefrogs”. Gabohyla pauloalvini occurs in Atlantic Forest lowlands through the states of Bahia and Espírito Santo, Brazil. Based on field observation, literature review, and evaluation of audio files, we conclude that previous bioacoustic descriptions were erroneously assigned to G. pauloalvini. Here, we describe for the first time the advertisement call of G. pauloalvini from two disjunct populations. In addition, we provide new distribution records and an updated map for this species. The advertisement call of G. pauloalvini is composed of 1–5 closely spaced notes, with duration of 0.016–1.976 s, inter-note intervals of 0.340–1.25 s, and an average dominant frequency (= fundamental frequency) of 4966.0 Hz. Harmonics are visible in the spectrogram. Three new populations of G. pauloalvini have been recorded and extended the distribution by 60 km south. Nevertheless, G. pauloalvini is still known only from few localities. We highlight the importance of depositing audio recordings and specimens in scientific collections to promote systematics and natural history studies.

Importance of Plants with Extremely Small Populations (PSESPs) in Endemic-Rich Areas, Elements Often Forgotten in Conservation Strategies

The distribution of the threatened fern Ophioglossum vulgatum L., a plant with extremely small populations (PSESPs) in Sardinia, is characterized by small disjunct populations with only a few individuals, and little is known about its status in the wild. To provide information for the conservation of O. vulgatum and with the aim to develop an in situ conservation strategy, we investigated its distribution, population size, and habitat. Field surveys confirmed that the species grows in only five localities. Two representative populations were selected for this study (Funtanamela and Gedili), and in each population, all plants were mapped and monitored monthly from April to August over an 8-year period. During the study, the populations had a very low number of reproductive plants and the populations appeared to be in decline, with the total number of plants per population slightly decreased in Gedili while a sharp reduction was recorded in Funtanamela due to wild boar threat. A fence was built in order to protect the site from further damage, but no noticeable signals of recovery were observed. The most urgent conservation requirement for this species is to preserve the threatened habitat of the remnant populations. Further field surveys and research are also required for an improved understanding of the species’ status.

Lechenaultia peregrina, a new species of Goodeniaceae from northern Australia, New Guinea and the Moluccas

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.

First record of Caecilia guntheri Dunn, 1942 (Gymnophiona, Caeciliidae) in Central America

I report the first encounter in Central America of an individual of Caecilia guntheri Dunn, 1942 (Gymnophiona, Caeciliidae). The individual was observed and collected in a primary evergreen submontane forest in Cerro Pirre, Darien Province, Republic of Panama. It was identified mainly by the low counts of secondary and primary folds. The encounter of this individual of C. guntheri highlights the disjunct populations and apparently the results of dispersion of this species from South to Central America by biotic exchange as result of the closure of the Isthmus of Panama.

Genetic data and niche differences suggest that disjunct populations of Diglossa brunneiventris are not sister lineages

Disjunct distributions within a species are of great interest in systematics and biogeography. This separation can function as a barrier to gene flow when the distance among populations exceeds the dispersal capacity of individuals, and depending on the duration of the barrier, it may eventually lead to speciation. Here, we describe patterns of geographic differentiation of 2 disjunct populations of Diglossa brunneiventris separated by ~1,000 km along the Andes. Diglossa brunneiventris vuilleumieri is isolated in northern Colombia, while Diglossa brunneiventris brunneiventris has a seemingly continuous distribution across Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. We sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear DNA of the 2 D. brunneiventris subspecies to evaluate whether they form a monophyletic clade, while including the other 3 species within the carbonaria complex (D. gloriosa, D. humeralis, and D. carbonaria). We also constructed ecological niche models for each D. brunneiventris subspecies to compare their climatic niches. We found that when using all available molecular data, the 2 D. brunneiventris subspecies are not sister lineages. In fact, each subspecies is more closely related to other species in the carbonaria complex. Our niche modeling analyses showed that the subspecies are occupying almost entirely different climatic niches. An additional and not expected result was that the carbonaria complex might encompass more cryptic species than previously considered. We suggest reevaluating the taxonomic status of these brunneiventris populations, especially the northern subspecies, given its highly restricted range and potential threatened status.

The lichens of the Majella National Park (Central Italy): an annotated checklist

The botanical exploration of the Majella National Park has a long tradition dating back to the eighteenth century. However, the lichen biota of this area is still poorly investigated. To provide a baseline for future investigations, in this annotated checklist, we summarised all available information on the occurrence of lichens in the Majella National Park, retrieved from previous literature, herbarium material and original data produced by recent research. The checklist includes 342 infrageneric taxa. However, seven taxa are considered as dubious, thus setting the number of accepted taxa at 335, i.e. 45.8% of those currently known to occur in the Abruzzo Region. This checklist provides a baseline of the lichens known to occur in the Majella National Park, highlighting the potential of this area as a hotspot of lichen biodiversity, especially from a biogeographical point of view as indicated by the occurrence of several arctic-alpine species that form disjunct populations in the summit area of the massif.