Color Pattern Characters Research Articles

Extreme variant of the triploid parthenogenetic lizardAspidoscelis exsanguis(Squamata: Teiidae) from New Mexico

Abstract Parthenogenetic reproduction in several all-female species of whiptail lizards (genus Aspidoscelis) does not preclude the occasional production of extreme variants. An adult lizard with a unique combination of dorsal color pattern, scutellation, and meristic characters captured 20 August 2013 approximately 200 m east of the Rio Grande in Bosque Farms, Valencia County, New Mexico, was inferred to be an extreme variant of triploid, hybrid-derived Aspidoscelis exsanguis which was also observed near the point of capture. There was no basis for identifying the specimen as a tetraploid hybrid because morphology did not reflect that origin and no gonochoristic species (e.g., Aspidoscelis marmorata or Aspidoscelis inornata) was known to occur at the site. Morphological analyses also ruled out the possibility that it could be an extreme variant of diploid parthenogenetic Aspidoscelis neomexicana, which is syntopic with A. exsanguis in Bosque Farms.

Salmoneus yoyo nov. sp., a peculiar new infaunal shrimp from Lombok, Indonesia (Decapoda, Caridea, Alpheidae).

An unusual new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 is described from Sekotong Bay, southwestern Lombok, Indonesia. The holotype and single known specimen of Salmoneus yoyo sp. nov. was collected with a suction pump from a burrow of unknown host, on a seagrass flat partly exposed at low tide. The new species presents three characters on the chelipeds that are unique within Salmoneus: a conspicuous, mesially curved, hook-like process on the distomesial margin of the merus, a row of blunt teeth on the ventromesial margin of the merus, and a series of blunt teeth on the ventromesial margin of the propodus. Salmoneus yoyo sp. nov. also has a characteristic colour pattern consisting of bright red chromatophores occupying most of the carapace surface, except for the frontal and post-frontal areas.

A new species of triadal coral snake of the genus Micrurus Wagler, 1824 (Serpentes: Elapidae) from northeastern Brazil.

The genus Micrurus comprises 123 currently recognized taxa (species and subspecies) that are traditionally arranged in four species groups diagnosable mainly by color pattern characteristics. Here, we describe a new species of triadal coral snake from northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from other sympatric triadal congeners (M. lemniscatus carvalhoi, M. ibiboboca and M. brasiliensis) mainly by the entirely black parietals and by a suite of external characters and hemipenial morphology. The new species appears to be restricted to tropical ombrophilous lowland coastal forests of northeastern Brazil and all recently collected specimens are known to occur in small forest patches surrounded by periurban environment, which calls for an urgent evaluation on its conservation status.

A New Species ofLiophryne(Anura: Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Abstract I describe a new species of Liophryne from Cape Nelson, southeastern New Guinea, that is unique in its combination of rather large size, a single-note call emitted from an underground burrow, and absence of vocal slits. This species also has a variety of morphometric and color-pattern features that distinguish it from one or more congeners. The new species is among the more-variable species of Liophryne in dorsal color pattern, being either brown, ochre, or a combination of the two. It is known currently only from the upper elevations of an extinct volcano and may be restricted in distribution to the broader volcanic massif that includes the type locality, inasmuch as this massif appears to have evolved in situ.

A new species of land flatworm (Platyhelminthes: Continenticola) from areas of Araucaria Forest in southern Brazil.

The genus Cratera Carbayo et al. was proposed to encompass five species of Geoplaninae from southeastern Brazil that were mainly recorded in the state of São Paulo. Here we describe a new species of the genus, C. steffeni sp. nov., that occurs in areas of Araucaria Forest in southern Brazil, which augments the known distribution of Cratera. The new species is distinguished from others of the genus by its characteristic colour pattern and a combination of internal morphological characters.

The phylogenetic relationships of three new species of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from poorly explored regions in northeastern Peninsular Malaysia.

An integrative taxonomic analysis of three newly discovered populations of the gekkonid genus Cyrtodactylus Gray from Merapoh, Pahang; Gunung Stong, Kelantan; and Gunung Tebu, Terengganu indicate they are part of the C. pulchellus complex and each is a new species and thusly named Cyrtodactylus sharkari sp. nov., C. jelawangensis sp. nov., and C. timur sp. nov., respectively. Each species bears a unique suite of morphological and color pattern characters separating them from each other and all other nominal species in the C. pulchellus complex. Their phylogenetic relationships to each other and other species in the C. pulchellus complex were unexpected in that they are not in accordance with the general distribution of the species in this complex, underscoring the intricate historical biogeography of the Thai-Malay Peninsula. These descriptions highlight our current lack of knowledge concerning the herpetological diversity and distribution of species in northeastern Peninsular Malaysia.

Cyrts in the city: a new Bent-toed Gecko (Genus Cyrtodactylus) is the only endemic species of vertebrate from Batu Caves, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia.

Cyrtodactylus metropolis sp. nov. from Batu Caves massif, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia is differentiated from all congeners by having a unique suite of morphological and color pattern characteristics. Remarkably, this species has been overlooked despite a plethora of field studies at Batu Caves from 1898 to the present and no specimens had ever been examined until now. As with all other limestone forest-adapted Cyrtodactylus in Peninsular Malaysia, C. metropolis sp. nov. is not a cave-adapted species but is far more common on the exterior surfaces of the Batu Caves limestone massif and its surrounding limestone vegetation. We suggest that researchers devote time exploring the exterior surfaces of limestone massifs as well the interiors of their caves.

Two new species ofSyllis(Polychaeta: Syllidae) from South Africa, one of them viviparous, with remarks on larval development and vivipary

Two new species of South African Syllidae of the genusSyllisLamarck, 1818 are described.Syllis unzimasp. nov. is characterized by having unidentate compound chaetae with long spines on margin, a characteristic colour pattern and its reproduction by vivipary. Vivipary is not common among the polychaetes, but most representatives occur in the family Syllidae Grube, 1850 (in five otherSyllisspecies, two species ofDentatisyllisPerkins, 1981 and two species ofParexogoneMesnil & Caullery, 1818).Syllis unzimasp. nov. differs from the other viviparous species in having large broods (>44 juveniles) which develop synchronously. Development of the juveniles is similar to that of free-spawningSyllisspecies, but the appearance of the first pair of eyespots and the differentiation of the pharynx and proventricle occur later inS. unzima.Syllis amicarmillarissp. nov., is characterized by having an elongated body with relatively short, fusiform dorsal cirri and the presence of one or two pseudosimple chaeta on midbody parapodia by loss of blade and enlargement of shaft.Syllis unzimasp. nov. was found in high densities on culturedHolothuria scabraJaeger, 1833 with single specimens found on a culturedCrassostrea gigasThunberg, 1793 and on coralline algae, respectively, whileS. amicarmillariswas found mainly in sediment outside an abalone farm and less frequently on culturedHaliotis midaeLinnaeus, 1758. We discuss the possible benefits of the association withH. scabratoS. unzimasp. nov.

A new species of insular Rock Gecko (Genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887) from the Bidong Archipelago, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia.

A new insular species Cnemaspis bidongensis sp. nov. (Squamata: Gekkonidae), is described from Pulau Bidong, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia and bears a unique suite of morphological and color pattern characters that differentiate it from all other congeners. Cnemaspis bidongensis sp. nov. is the sister species to C. kendallii (Gray) and represents the fifth insular endemic species of Cnemaspis on archipelagos along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This species survived massive deforestation of the small island of Bidong (260 ha) from the mid 1970s to the early 1990s when the island served as a Vietnamese refugee camp and harbored as many as 40,000 people at one time. We hypothesize that this species' generalized lifestyle contributed to its survival, allowing it to seek refuge in rocky microhabitats.

A new species of karst-adapted Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a threatened karst region in Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia.

A new species of karst-adapted gekkonid lizard of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch is described from Gua Gunting and Gua Goyang in a karst region of Merapoh, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia whose unique limestone formations are in immediate danger of being quarried. The new species differs from all other species of Cnemaspis based on its unique suite of morphological and color pattern characters. Its discovery underscores the unique biodiversity endemic to karst regions and adds to a growing list of karst-adapted reptiles from Peninsular Malaysia. We posit that new karst-adapted species endemic to limestone forests will continue to be discovered and these regions will harbor a significant percentage of Peninsular Malaysia's biodiversity and thusly should be conserved rather than quarried.

Two new charismatic Pristimantis species (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the tepuis of the "Lost World" (Pantepui region, South America)

Two new colourful species of direct-developing frogs of the genus Pristimantis are described from the summit of two isolated tepuis (sandstone table mountains) in the Eastern Pantepui District of the Guiana Shield highlands. Pristimantis jamescameroni sp. nov. is described from the summit of Aprada-tepui from 2557-2571 m elevation, and P. imthurni sp. nov. is described from the summit of Ptari-tepui at 2471 m elevation. Both species share the absence of a differentiated tympanic membrane and external tympanic annulus (but presence of tiny pharyngeal ostia), the presence of nuptial pads in males, and the presence of lateral fringes on fingers and toes, a combination of characters that immediately distinguishes them from all other known Pantepui congeners. The two new species are morphologically similar to each other and are phylogenetically closely related, but they can be distinguished based on colour pattern and morphological characters such as head proportions, dorsal skin texture, and condition of the supratympanic fold. The IUCN conservation status of the new species is considered as Endangered (EN) owing to their apparent very restricted ranges. The number of described Pristimantis species occurring exclusively on tepui (and faunistically related granitic mountains) summits and upper slopes now reaches eleven.

A New Species ofHylophorbus(Anura: Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Abstract: I describe a new frog of the microhylid genus Hylophorbus from the north-coast mountain ranges of Papua New Guinea that is unique in its small size, continuous black lateral band bordered below by a white line and then a field of whitish gray, and other morphometric and color-pattern features that distinguish it from its two most similar congeners, each also possessing a black lateral band. The new species is one of the two smallest species in the genus. It is currently known only from two of the easternmost north-coast mountain ranges, although it seems likely to occur in nearby mountain ranges to the west, a distributional pattern that is common among endemic amphibians from this region.

Morphology of immatures of Euschistus (Mitripus) grandis (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Immatures are important sources of information about characters, thus potentially improving classification and phylogenies. Euschistus (Mitripus) grandis Rolston, 1978 occurs in southern and southeastern Brazil. There are no references in the literature about this species other than the original description and distribution records. Our aim is to describe the egg and five nymphal instars of E. (M.) grandis, addressing the ontogeny of the external scent efferent system. Specimens of E. (M.) grandis were collected on Solanum pseudocapsicum Linnaeus (Solanaceae) in São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and reared in the laboratory. The egg of E. (M.) grandis is white and barrel-shaped, chorion translucent bearing spines connected by thin sheets forming polygons. Aero-mycropilar processes translucent and slightly clubbed. The nymphs bear anterior dorsal abdominal scent glands (DAG) with slit-like ostiole continued by a short groove; from the second instar onward median and posterior DAGs with rounded ostiole bearing closing cuticular valve. Spout peritreme flat and curved anteriorly, evaporatorium network-shaped surrounding ostiole plus peritrema; alveoli surface with trabeculae. Nymphs of E. (M.) grandis can be distinguished from other species of Euschistus by the color pattern and morphological features. The most striking morphological characteristic of 4th and 5th instar nymphs of E. (M.) grandis is the broad, deflected projection of humeral angles.

A New Record of Mesalina brevirostris (Reptilia: Sauria: Lacertidae) from Southeastern Anatolia

A total of 12 Mesalina brevirostris specimens collected from Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa, Turkey were examined in terms of pholidosis characters, morphometric measurements and color-pattern features. Akcakale and Ceylanpinar populations were differentiated from one another in the number transversal series of ventral plates (TVP) according to the results of the Mann–Whitney U -test. The main characteristics of the specimens collected from Ceylanpinar are within variation limits mentioned in the literature.

Pheromones exert top-down effects on visual recognition in the jumping spiderLyssomanes viridis

In diverse and productive habitats, predaceous arthropods are expected to frequently encounter dangerous conspecifics and heterospecifics. This should make quick and accurate discriminations between species and sexes adaptive. By simultaneously sampling both visual cues and pheromones, and by utilizing stringent species- and sex-specific visual recognition templates, an individual should be able to increase both its speed and accuracy in making such discriminations. We tested for the use and stringency of visual recognition templates in the jumping spider Lyssomanes viridis by presenting males with animated images of conspecifics, heterospecifics and composite images that combined the facial coloration and morphology of one sex or species with the leg coloration of another. Males' courtship versus threat displays indicated whether a stimulus was perceived as a potential mate or a threat. By comparing males' visual inspection times of, and display types towards, the various images in the presence versus absence of female pheromones, we were able to deduce whether males tend to inspect a subset of the color pattern and morphological features that make up their conspecific recognition templates (i.e. those on just the face or just the legs), or all features, and whether this changes in the presence of pheromones. We found that the male recognition template for conspecific female was surprisingly coarse, whereas the recognition template for conspecific male, and especially the male face, was more specific. Pheromones hastened the recognition of images with coloration and morphology closely matching those of conspecifics, presumably by activating conspecific visual recognition templates. When males were presented with an image that was, overall, a poor match to a conspecific female, but that contained a subset of female or female-like features, female pheromones usually did not hasten recognition, but did increase the likelihood that the image would be identified as a female. Taken together, our data suggest that males examined features on both the face and the legs in both the presence and absence of pheromones, and that female pheromones tipped the balance in favor of a female identification when a male was unsure how to categorize an incongruous set of visual features.

A new species of gymnophthalmid lizard of the genus Anadia (Gymnophthalmidae: Cercosaurinae) from Northern Andes of Colombia

A new Colombian species of gymnophthalmid lizard is described from Porce River piedmont, in the northern region of the Cordillera Central of Colombia. The new species is allocated in the Anadia bitaeniata group and represents the westernmost member of the group. This species is distinguished primarily by the sub-hexagonal dorsal scales, large quadrangular ventral scales, ten femoral pores per leg not separated by inter-pore scales in both sexes, and by a combination of several characteristic scale counts, hemipenial morphology and color pattern. The threatened status of the new species is discussed.

New locality record for Podarcis siculus hieroglyphicus (Berthold, 1842) (Squamata: Lacertidae) in the western Black Sea region of Anatolia

Six specimens of Podarcis siculus hieroglyphicus from Filyos, Zonguldak Province, in the western Black Sea region were collected. This new record extended eastward seriously (ca. 250 km) the known distribution area of the subspecies in Turkey. The meristic (pholidolial) and metric (morphometric) characters and color-pattern features of specimens collected from Filyos, Zonguldak, are given in detail and compared with the specimens from other known Turkish localities with regard to the literature. The specimens examined were similar to P. siculus hieroglyphicus specimens mentioned in the literature.

Redescription of the genus Curiades Pascoe 1880 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Naupactini), a potential mimic of Mutillidae from Brazil

The monotypic genus Curiades Pascoe 1880 (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Naupactini) is redescribed based on the type species C. boisduvali (Boheman 1840), endemic to Río de Janeiro, Brazil. Curiades boisduvali shows a characteristic color pattern and vestiture composed of long erect setae that resembles species of Dasymutilla Ashmead 1899, a genus of Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) whose wingless females have aposematic colors and painful stings. The similarities between the wasp (model) and the weevil (mimic) suggest a case of Batesian mimicry. The morphological characters of the rostrum and antennae justify a close phylogenetic relationship of Curiades and Platyomus Sahlberg 1823, even though based on its hairy vestiture the former is superficially more similar to Trichaptus Pascoe 1880, another Brazilian naupactine mimic of mutillid wasps. The present contribution includes a redescription of Curiades and its only known species, accompanied by habitus photographs, line drawings of genitalia and other diagnostic features.

Diversification of complex butterfly wing patterns by repeated regulatory evolution of a Wnt ligand.

Although animals display a rich variety of shapes and patterns, the genetic changes that explain how complex forms arise are still unclear. Here we take advantage of the extensive diversity of Heliconius butterflies to identify a gene that causes adaptive variation of black wing patterns within and between species. Linkage mapping in two species groups, gene-expression analysis in seven species, and pharmacological treatments all indicate that cis-regulatory evolution of the WntA ligand underpins discrete changes in color pattern features across the Heliconius genus. These results illustrate how the direct modulation of morphogen sources can generate a wide array of unique morphologies, thus providing a link between natural genetic variation, pattern formation, and adaptation.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISTRIBUTION AND MORPHOLOGY OF Pelias darevskii (VEDMEDERJA, ORLOV ET TUNIYEV 1986) (REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: VIPERIDAE) IN NORTHEASTERN ANATOLIA

Two specimens of the viper P. darevskii which is only known from two localities are recorded from Posof, Ardahan, northeastern Anatolia. The meristic and metric characters and the color-pattern features of the viper specimens of P. darevskii captured from a new locality are given in detail and compared with the specimens from other localities with regard to literature. The present record of P. darevskii extends from its known distribution (Zekeriya Village, 26 km SE of Ardanuc, Artvin) almost 85 km distance to the north-east direction in northeastern Anatolia.