Gracilaria parva sp. nov. (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) a Diminutive Species from the Tropical Eastern Pacific

DNA sequencing of the plastid encoded rbcL gene supported by morpho-anatomical features reveals Gracilaria parva sp. nov. from Panama and Ecuador in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. In the rbcL phylogram, G. parva occurs in a clade sister to the western Atlantic species G. galatensis. Morphologically and anatomically, G. parva is distinguished from two similar, described tropical eastern Pacific species, G. brevis and G. veleroae by its small size, to 2.5 cm tall with branch widths mostly <2 mm occasionally to 4 mm, and by its two to three cell layered cortex. Gracilaria brevis and G. veleroae are taller, have wider branches, and a one cell layered cortex. DNA sequencing is needed to resolve the many diminutive species in the tropical eastern Pacific, particularly those occurring in turf communities. DNA sequencing of historical type specimens from the 19th and 20th centuries is also needed to correctly apply names in this region.

First Description of the Female of the Trinidadian Theraphosine Spinosatibiapalpus trinitatis (Pocock, 1903) (Araneae: Theraphosidae)

The hitherto unknown female of the theraphosine Spinosatibiapalpus trinitatis (Pocock, 1903) is herein described based on the paralectotype series of the schismatotheline Neoholothele incei (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1899) housed in the collections of the Natural History Museum, London.

Two New Species of Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) from Amazonas Department in Northeastern Peru

We describe two new species of terrestrial-breeding frogs in the genus Pristimantis from the Andes of northeastern Peru, Amazonas Department. Both species share several characters with other congeners from northern Peru, such as the presence of prominent conical tubercles on their eyelids and heel, prominent conical tubercles along the outer edge of the tarsus, and discs on fingers and toes widely expanded. However, both species can be diagnosed from morphologically similar Pristimantis in the region. Pristimantis kiruhampatu has axillae, groins, and hidden surfaces of hindlimbs that are cherry with white minute flecks, tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus evident, conical tubercles along the edge of snout and outer edge of tibia, and \/ shaped folds in the scapular region. Pristimantis paulpittmani has yellow or dirty cream groins and hidden surfaces of hindlimbs, whitish cream irises with scattered dark brown reticulations, and a thin vertical dark brown streak at the middle of the eye, snout subacuminate with a conical tubercle at the tip, and lacks a tympanic annulus and membrane. Additionally, we provide a short description of the advertisement call of P. kiruhampatu.

New Techniques for Seed Shape Description in Silene Species

Seed shape in Silene species is often described by means of adjectives such as reniform, globose, and orbicular, but the application of seed shape for species classification requires quantification. A method for the description and quantification of seed shape consists in the comparison with geometric models. Geometric models based on mathematical equations were applied to characterize the general morphology of the seeds in 21 species of Silene. In addition to the previously described four models (M1 is the cardioid, and M2 to M4 are figures derived from it), we present four new geometric models (model 5–8). Models 5 and 6 are open cardioids that resemble M3, quite different from the flat models, M2 and M4. Models 7 and 8 were applied to those species not covered by models 2 to 6. Morphological measures were obtained to describe and characterize the dorsal view of the seeds. The analyses done on dorsal views revealed a notable morphological diversity and four groups were identified. A correlation was found between roundness of dorsal view and the geometric models based on lateral views, such that some of the groups defined by seed roundness are also characterized by the similarity to particular models. The usefulness of new morphological tools of seed morphology to taxonomy is discussed.

An Extinct New Rail (Gallirallus, Aves: Rallidae) Species from Rapa Island, French Polynesia

A new species of rail, Gallirallus astolfoi sp. nov., is described from Rapa Island (Rapa Iti), French Polynesia. The holotype (and single known specimen) is a left tarsometatarsus recovered from Tangarutu Cave. This rail species was apparently endemic to Rapa Iti and potentially flightless. It became extinct after human colonisation of the island.

A Brief Report of Five Newly Recorded Korean Modern Benthic Foraminiferal Species

The present study describes five newly recorded modern benthic foraminiferal species from the subtidal zone near Jeju Island and East China Sea (Korea). The newly recorded species (Karrerulina conversa, Rotaliammina trumbulli, Vertebralina striata, Pegidia dubia and Amphistegina radiata) belong to five families (Prolixoplectidae, Trochamminidae, Fischerinidae, Pegidiidae and Amphisteginidae), three orders (Lituolida, Miliolida and Rotaliida) and two classes (Globothalamea and Tubothalamea). All these five genera (Karrerulina, Rotaliammina, Vertebralina, Pegidia and Amphistegina) were also reported for the first time from Korean waters. Most of the examined specimens were highly consistent morphologically with previous records from southern China and Japan. Additionally, Amphistegina is one of the symbiont-bearing larger benthic foraminifera, known to be mainly distributed in tropical to warm subtropical waters. This study contributes to the expansion of data on the recent foraminiferal species diversity in Korean waters.

Disentangling the Taxonomic History of the Widespread and Overlooked Centric Diatom Stephanodiscus makarovae and Its Transfer to Cyclostephanos

Stephanodiscus makarovae, a taxon originally described from Russia, is morphologically similar to several other taxa within Cyclostephanos, namely C. invisitatus, C. delicatus and C. tholiformis. However, it has not yet been transferred into Cyclostephanos, perhaps due to the difficulty in identifying it, as its original description is available only in the Russian language. To investigate its morphology, a detailed morphological comparison of S. makarovae and C. invisitatus was done from 286 SEM micrographs of 12 monoclonal strains. We performed a three-gene phylogenetic analysis with strains from eight additional taxa to independently confirm the position of S. makarovae. The morphology of S. makarovae shows key features of the genus Cyclostephanos and this attribution is supported by the phylogeny. Here we propose the transfer of the taxon S. makarovae to Cyclostephanos, considering the morphological and molecular data. According to both the molecular and morphological data, C. delicatus has a unique position within the genus; S. makarovae and C. invisitatus are morphologically very similar but genetically distinct. Furthermore, based upon the results, it was possible to reassign the authority of the transfer of S. delicatus into Cyclostephanos.

A Synopsis of Croton (Euphorbiaceae) in Michoacán, Mexico

A taxonomic and nomenclatural review of the genus Croton (Euphorbiaceae) in the Mexican state of Michoacán is presented. Six sections and 20 species are here reported. The greatest diversity is in the Balsas Depression province, where at least 12 species occur. There is a strong tendency to thrive in tropical deciduous forest. An identification key is provided, and for each species, the following information is included: protologue citation, type information, habit, habitat, and elevation within the state, regional and global distribution, and phenology. Relevant synonyms are listed, as too are herbarium specimens. Lectotypes are designated for Croton draco, C. niveus, and C. calvescens. One species, Croton rojasii, is described as new and illustrated with photos. It is known only from tropical deciduous forest in the Zicuirán-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve, at elevations from 400 to 700 m. It belongs to sect. Geiseleria and is remarkable because of the strongly unequal pistillate sepals, the larger of which becoming accrescent and exceeding the fruit.

Description of New Ground Spider Species (Gnaphosidae, Araneae) from Mainland Greece †

In the course of an extensive sampling of ground spiders in mainland Greece, six new species, namely, Civizelotes akmon n.sp., Drassyllus centrohellenicus n.sp., Drassyllus covid n.sp., Drassyllus dadianus n.sp., Phaeocedus similaris n.sp., and Zeloteshistio n.sp., all belonging to the family Gnaphosidae Banks, 1892, were identified and are described. Furthermore, taxonomic comments on Civizelotes gracilis (Canestrini, 1868) and its relationship with C. pygmaeus (Miller, 1943), Drassyllus dadia Komnenov & Chatzaki, 2016, as well as on Zelotes olympi (Kulczyński, 1903) and its relationship with Z. talpinus (L. Koch, 1872) are provided. Drassodes omalosis Roewer, 1928 is removed from the synonymy of D. unicolor (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) and the species is revalidated.

A New Species of Cyphocaris Boeck, 1871 (Amphipoda: Lysianassoidea: Cyphocarididae): Found off the Rocas Atoll, Northeastern Brazil

A new species of the genus Cyphocaris Boeck, 1871, is described. The material examined was collected during the “Acoustics along the Brazilian Coast” (Abraços 1) project, by micronektonic trawls at a targeted depth of 525 m, off the Rocas Atoll, Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. Cyphocaris boecki sp. nov. can be grouped with the eyed species in the genus but differs from them—except for C. faurei K. H. Barnard, 1916 and C. latirama, Hendrycks & Conlan, 2003—in presenting a dorsally smooth pereonite 1. However, the new species can be distinguished from both by its maxilliped inner plate with two robust apical setae, pereopod 7 basis with weakly produced posterodistal lobe, telson lobes without setae, spines or apical nails, and other characters that are individually discussed among them. The new species can be readily differentiated from C. pedroi Sorrentino, Alves, Johnsson & Senna, 2016, also described from Brazil, by presenting eyes, a rounded lateral cephalic lobe, very elongated antenna 2 almost reaching body length, and pereopod 5 basis, with apically acute spur reaching about two-thirds of the propodus. This is the second record of the genus for Brazilian waters.