Conical Tubercles Research Articles

New Species of Rock-Dwelling Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Gujarat, India

A new species of Hemidactylus gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) is described from Girnar in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, India. This medium-sized, chiefly rupicolous gecko may be distinguished from its south Asian congeners by having 12–16 rows of irregularly arranged, flattened to weakly conical dorsal tubercles, 7–9 subdigital lamellae on digit I of the pes and 10–11 on digit IV, and 12–14 femoral pores on each thigh separated by a median diastema. This is the second Hemidactylus currently regarded as endemic to Gujarat and the 10th member of the genus recorded for the state.

Rediscovery, resurrection and redescription of Rhinella leptoscelis (Boulenger, 1912) (Anura: Bufonidae)

We resurrect Rhinella leptoscelis (Anura: Bufonidae) from the synonymy of R. veraguensis and redescribe it on the basis of the holotype, and recently collected specimens from Peru and Bolivia. Rhinella leptoscelis is well distinguished from all other species of the R. veraguensis group by its flat head with well developed orbitotympanic and postorbital crests, distinct tympanum, large parotoid glands, spiny tubercles on dorsal surfaces, long and slender extremities, dorsolateral row of conical, enlarged and elevated tubercles, webbing absent on fingers, basal and serrated webbing between toes, and first finger longer than second. This species is known from the humid forests of the Amazonian versant of the Andes from central Bolivia to southern Peru.

Two new genera and three new species of leeches (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) from New Zealand marine fishes

The marine leech fauna of New Zealand is poorly known and based primarily on studies by Richardson in the 1950s. Three new species have recently been discovered. Dollfusobdella kaikourae n. gen., n. sp. is described from Kaikoura, New Zealand parasitising pectoral fins of Scorpaena cardinalis, and thornfish, Bovichtus variegatus. It is characterised by a cylindrical body widest at the posterior portion of the urosome and tapering gradually to the oral sucker; the total length is not known to exceed 10 mm. The urosome segments are 3‐annulate, each with large tubercles dorsally and smaller tubercles ventrally, but lacking pulsatile vesicles. The reproductive system has five pairs of testisacs and a small bursa. Leporinabdella digglesi n. gen., n. sp. is described from Manukau Harbour, Auckland, from the body and mouth of yellowbelly flounder, Rhombosolea leporina. It is characterised by a wide, flat body not known to exceed 10 mm total length and a large caudal sucker. Urosome segments are 3‐annulate with lateral conical tubercles on each annulus, but lacking pulsatile vesicles. The reproductive system has five pairs of testisacs and a large bursa. Pontobdella novaezaelandiae n. sp. is described from a single specimen collected near Wellington. It is characterised by a large oral sucker without a fringe and lacking papillae, a moderate‐size caudal sucker, and four annuli per segment with large tubercles on the first three annuli.

A new species of Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from the Andean highlands of northern Ecuador

We describe a new species of the genus Osornophryne from the vicinities of Laguna de Puruanta and Laguna de San Marcos in the Andean highlands of northeastern Ecuador. The new species is the largest known member of the genus (female snout-vent length = 40.5–47.1 mm; males unknown) and is remarkable for having a smooth dorsal skin lacking conical tubercles and interspersed with numerous glandular pustules. The new species has a clutch size of about 30 eggs and is likely nocturnal.

A new frog species (Strabomantidae: Pristimantis) from the High Andes of Southeastern Ecuador

We describe Pristimantis gagliardoi, a new medium sized (SVL 19.06–33.64 mm) Pristimantis species from the Andean forests of southeastern Ecuador. This species is referred to the P. unistrigatus group. It differs from other members in the unistrigatus group by the presence of large conical tubercles on the eyelid and heel, small conical ulnar and tarsal tubercles, suprascapular dermal ridges, and bronze iris.

Systematics of Oreobates and the Eleutherodactylus discoidalis species group (Amphibia, Anura), based on two mitochondrial DNA genes and external morphology

We present morphological and molecular (mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA) evidence supporting the validity and monophyly of the genus Oreobates. This genus also includes members of the former Eleutherodactylus discoidalis species group plus Eleutherodactylus heterodactylus. The presence of prominent conical subarticular tubercles and prominent supernumerary tubercles associated with the axis of fingers and toes, the presence of glandular axillary pads, and the absence of vocal sacs are proposed as morphological synapomorphies. Species of this taxon form a well-supported crown clade in a phylogeny including members of the genera Craugastor and Eleutherodactylus s.l. The sister taxon to Oreobates is the Eleutherodactylus martinicensis series; Oreobates does not appear to be closely related to the Eleutherodactylus binotatus series or to members of the Eleutherodactylus dolops and Eleutherodactylus nigrovittatus species groups. The taxonomic status of all species of Oreobates is reassessed. Hylodes philippi and Hylodes verrucosus are removed from the synonymy of Oreobates quixensis. We redescribe Oreobates cruralis on the basis of the holotype and new material from Bolivia and Peru, and restrict its distribution to the humid forests of the lowlands and adjacent foothills of the Andes, from southern Peru to central Bolivia. Oreobates granulosus is rediscovered, redescribed, and resurrected, on the basis of the examination of the holotype and additional material from Peru. Phylogenetic analyses of partial 16S mtDNA are used to test the independence of lineages (species). The 14 species of Oreobates are distributed from southern Ecuador to northern Argentina. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 152, 737–773.

A new species of Nicella (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) from the western Atlantic

ABSTRACT A new species of Nicella, N. toeplitzae, is described from specimens collected from the western Atlantic Ocean, including the northern and eastern Gulf of Mexico. It is distinguished from other closely related species of this genus in having prominent, conical tubercles on the double head sclerites that measure up to 17 µm in height. Among the species having rotund body wall rods, it is distinguished by having double heads with a relatively thick waist.

A New Species of Torrent-Dwelling Frog (Hylidae, Litoria) from the Mountains of New Guinea

ABSTRACT Litoria megalops sp. nov. from mountain torrents in Papua Province, Indonesia is described. It is most similar to L. micromembrana from which it is distinguished by its smaller size (male SVL: 24.6–27.5 vs 31.7–35.5 mm), exceptionally large and prominent eyes, and conical tubercles on the dorsum. The advertisement call of the new species is a short pulse train with 7–10 pulses per call and lasting 0.9–1.3 s. The new species was found at night on low vegetation along torrents in closed-canopy lower montane rainforest.

Two new species of Eleutherodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the Andes of northern Peru

Two new sympatric species assignable to the Eleutherodactylus orestes Group were discovered in the northern part of the Cordillera Central of the Andes in northern Peru. One of the new species differs from all other members of the group by having conical tubercles on the eyelids and heels; the other species differs by having a white groin with brown marks.

A new Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), possessing mitra-shaped oocysts, from the Neotropical chelid turtle Batrachemys heliostemma (Testudines: Chelidae), and its comparison with Eimeria mitraria (Laveran & Mesnil 1902)

Eimeria jirkamoraveci sp. n. is described from faeces of two specimens of the toad-headed, side-necked turtle Batrachemys heliostemma collected at Iquitos in Peru. Oocysts are ovoid to almost spherical, 10.6 (8-12) x 8.9 (7-10) microm, without micropyle, polar granule and oocyst residuum. One conically stretched end and three blunt conical tubercles at the opposite end of oocyst give it mitra-like appearance. Sporocysts are elongated, ellipsoidal, 7.2 (6-8) x 4.1 (4-4.5) microm, with a small, knob-like Stieda body and sporocyst residuum composed of fine granules. To avoid possible conspecificity, the described new species is thoroughly compared with the most similar coccidium, E. mitraria, collected from its type host, Chinemys reevesii.

First occurrence of the genus <i>Sclerocypris</i> Sars, 1924 (Ostracoda) in the ?Pleistocene of Western Europe (Portugal)

Abstract. The Recent distribution of the freshwater ostracod genus Sclerocypris Sars, 1924 (type species Sclerocypris clavularis Sars, 1924; synonyms Bharatcypris Battish, 1978 and Candonopsis Sars, 1894 pro parte), subfamily Megalocypridinae Rome, 1965, is restricted to Africa and India (Martens, 1986; Martens & Coomans, 1990).Recovery of fossils of Sclerocypris are not frequent and are restricted to Plio-Quaternary deposits of Kenya, with Sclerocypris clavularis Sars, 1924 from Lakes Turkana and Bogoria (Carbonel & Peypouquet, 1979; Carbonel et al., 1983, 1987; Cohen et al., 1983) and Sclerocypris jenkinae Klie, 1933 from Lakes Elmenteita and Naivasha (Lindroth, 1953; Cohen & Nielsen, 1986) and the Pliocene basal member of the Omo Series, Lake Turkana (Peypouquet et al., 1979). Sclerocypris bicornis (G. W. Müller, 1900) has been recorded (identified as Chlamydotheca sp.) in the Pleistocene of Egypt (Boukhari & Guernet, 1985).Recent field work in Algarve, southern Portugal (Cabral et al., 2003, 2004, 2005), recorded the presence of Sclerocypris. It was represented by numerous juvenile specimens of a species related closely to the Recent species Sclerocypris bicornis in a probable Pleistocene lacustrine ostracod assemblage at Bolqueime associated with other Cypididae, Candonidae, Darwinulidae, Limnocytheridae and Cypridopsidae. The instars are characterized by the presence of long spines on the margins, as is common in many species of this genus (Martens, 1986, 1991), such as Sclerocypris tuberculata (Methuen, 1910), Sclerocypris venusta (Vavra, 1897) [illustrated in Martens, 1986] and Sclerocypris clavularis Sars, 1924 (Pl. 1, fig. 2). They also possess three large conical tubercles not present on adults, an important . . .

Three remarkable new genera of Tethyidae (Porifera, Demospongiae) from Australia

Three new genera and species of Tethyidae (Porifera, Demospongiae) are described from shallow water Australian stations of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Oxytethya mirabilis gen. n. sp. n., from the southeastern Australian coast, is a large sponge, hemispherical or spherical, characterized by radiate, branching and sometimes anastomosing, tracts of giant oxeas, a megasclere type new for Tethyidae, a pinnacled and crested surface texture, lack of megasters, varied micrasters and polyrhabds. Anthotethya fromontae gen. n. sp. n. from the Dampier Archipelago along the Western Australian coast shows an irregular somewhat conical body, irregular tubercles and sinuous ridges on the surface, a thin cortex, megascleres, generally styles, in ascending tracts branching and sometimes anastomozing, but also abundant and scattered in the interstices, anthasters as megasters, large oxyasters and small strongylasters as micrasters. Laxotethya dampierensis gen. n. sp. n., also from the Dampier Archipelago, is characterized by a compressed cushion shape, irregular tubercles and sinuous ridges on the surface, indistinct cortex, megascleres, generally short subtylostyles, sometimes tylostyles, forming a loose dendritic reticulate skeleton with winding and more or less compact ascending, branching and anastomosing tracts but also many spicules scattered in the interstices, lack of megasters, tylasters and oxyasters as micrasters.

A new species of fungus‐growing ant and its implications for attine phylogeny (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract. Apterostigma megacephala, a new species of attine ant, is described from Peru and Colombia. It is diagnosed by the following combination of worker characters: flattened compound eyes partially wrapped around conical tubercles, mesonotal denticles and erect rigid pilosity on the head, mesosoma and gaster. It is thought to be a basal species in relation to the rest of Apterostigma. Phylogenetic relationships among basal genera of the tribe Attini are discussed.

New Species of Xylopia and Uvaria (Annonaceae) from Tanzania

Two new species of Annonaceae from the threatened lowland coastal forests of Tanzania are described and illustrated. Xylopia mwasumbii D. M. Johnson has distinctive flattened monocarps, unique among its African congeners. Uvaria puguensis D. M. Johnson is a small-flowered species belonging to a complex including, in East Africa, U. angolensis, U. lucida, and U. tanzaniae. A key to the taxa of the U. angolensis group in East Africa is provided. Annonaceae are especially diverse in the lowland coastal forests of Tanzania and Kenya, with six genera and 35 species endemic to these forests (Verdcourt, 1971, 1986; Verdcourt & Mwasumbi, 1988; Vollesen, 1980). At the same time that the biological diversity of these coastal forests is being recognized, this rare forest formation is disappearing due to pressure from land development and charcoal production (Burgess et al., 1992; Mwasumbi et al., 1994). Pugu Forest Reserve near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is the best-studied coastal forest in Tanzania (Burgess et al., 1992), yet we have just recently gathered sufficient material to describe two new species of Annonaceae, one in Xylopia and one in Uvaria, from this small reserve and nearby areas. Both species occur in forested uplands with a distinctive suite of associated species, including Baphia puguensis Brummitt, Hugonia castaneifolia Engler, Hymenaea verrucosa Gaertner, Hymenocardia ulmoides Oliver, Landolphia kirkii Dyer, Lasiodiscus holtzii Engler, Manilkara sulcata (Engler) Dubard, Monanthotaxis fornicata (Baillon) Verdcourt, Nesogordonia holtzii (Engler) Capuron, Scorodophloeus fischeri (Taubert) J. Leon, Suregada zanzibariensis Baillon, and Uvaria pandensis Verdcourt, as well as species of Croton, Haplocoelopsis, Ochna, Megalochlamys, Rinorea, and Tessmannia. Verdcourt (1971), in his treatment of Xylopia for the Flora of Tropical East Africa, first drew attention to the specimen Semsei 3704 from the Pugu Forest Reserve, identifying it as Xylopia Species B and commenting, material is scarcely adequate for description and only one of the two specimens seen bears flowers; both bear globose artichoke-like galls covered with conical tubercles which appear to be derived from the flowers. The name Xylopia Species B has, in the meantime, crept into East African floristic literature (e.g., Hawthorne, 1993), but it is now possible to name and describe this species in detail. Xylopia mwasumbii D. M. Johnson, sp. nov. TYPE: Tanzania. Coast Region: Kisarawe District, Pugu Forest Reserve, along N road 0.5 km E of brick factory, 6?52'S, 39006'E, 200 m, 16 Feb. 1996, Johnson & Ndangalasi 1884 (holotype, OWU; isotypes, DSM, K, MO). Figure 1A-H. Inter africanas Xylopiae species petalis lanceolatis olivaceis, staminibus non-capitatis, staminodiis nullis, carpellis duobus vel tribus, stigmatibus glabris oblongo-falcatis, toro leviter tantum concavo, et monocarpiis foliiformibus falcatis venosis compressis distincta. Tree 4-9 m tall, DBH up to 8 cm, often with multiple trunks, the principal trunk often arching rather than erect; bark white with gray and orange mottling, exfoliating in places; slash brown on yellow (ex Hawthorne). Nodes occasionally with two or more axillary branches. Twigs 0.7-2.1 mm diam., gray, longitudinally wrinkled, with epidermis soon exfoliating, sparsely lenticellate, sparsely appressed-pubescent to glabrate, the simple hairs 0.2-0.4 mm long. Lamina of larger leaves 4.6-7.7 cm long, 2.4--4.3 cm wide, paler abaxially, subcoriaceous, broadly elliptic to elliptic, occasionally ovate, elliptic-ovate, or obovate-elliptic; base cuneate, decurrent on petiole; apex 4-8 mm long, blunt-acuminate, or occasionally obtuse and emarginate; lamina with adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface sparsely sericeous; midrib impressed to plane adaxially, abaxially raised and keeled; secondary veins 9-11 per side, departing at 50-600 from the midrib, weakly brochidodromous, anastomosing 1-2 mm from margin; secondary and highNovoN 9: 55-60. 1999. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.138 on Tue, 19 Apr 2016 04:43:31 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms

Two New Geophytic Species of Euphorbia with Comments on the Subgeneric Grouping of Its African Members

Summary. Euphorbia cryptocaulis M. Gilbert and E. monadenioides M. Gilbert from Ethiopia are described as new. Both are geophytic and the status of subgenus Rhizanthium to which they would currently be considered to belong is discussed. It is suggested that the African species of Euphorbia fall into four major groups most practicably treated as subgenera at least for the present. Rhizanthium is an artificial group with members divided among three of the four subgenera recognised. One of these, subgenus Lacanthis (Rafin.) M. Gilbert, made up mainly of the Madagascan species formerly placed in 'sect. Diacanthium', is formally recognised for the first time. Euphorbia cryptocaulis M. Gilbert sp. nov. ab Euphorbia rubella Pax et E. brunellia Chiov., radice non tuberascenti, caulis tuberculis tenuibus, stipulis filiformibus, cymis laxioribus, pedunculis gracilioribus differt. Typus: Ethiopia, Corradi s.n. (holotypus FT). Glabrous hysteranthous geophyte: roots fibrous, not or only slightly thickened; stem vertical, completely below ground, cylindrical-ovoid, probably branching only after injury to apex, to 4 cm high, 2 cm diam., with c. 14 longitudinal rows of slender, recurved, soft, conical tubercles up to 5 mm long, extended into fine points, these set into tight rather irregular spirals towards the stem apex. Leaves inserted just above base of tubercles, closely resembling those of E. brunellii, forming a rosette flat on the ground; petiole up to 3 cm long depending on the depth of burial of the stem; lamina oblong-obovoid, up to 3-6 x 2-2 cm, base cuneate to rounded or subcordate, apex obtuse to shallowly emarginate, mucronulate, upper surface uniformly deep, slightly bluish-green, underside deep carmine red; stipules present, thread-like, up to c. 2 mm long, rapidly caducous. Cymes produced before leaves, very lax, to 12 cm long overall, branching at first dichasial but sometimes subsequently monochasial; peduncle filiform, c. 0-6 mm thick, up to 3-5-6 cm long, branches shorter; bracts forming asymmetric pairs immediately below sessile involucres, joined on upper side, free below, obovate, 2-4 x 2-1 mm, margin minutely toothed, pale pink. Involucres all bisexual, subcylindrical-obconical, 1-3 mm long, 2-1 mm diam. including glands; cyathial glands 6, separate, 4 larger oblong and 2 smaller square, pale pinkish green; scales between glands spathulate with fimbriate margin, that between the smaller glands rudimentary; bracteoles few in number, deeply divided into linear lobes. Male flowers in 5 groups of 3 per involucre, articulation exserted by 1 mm at anthesis; anther loculi subglobose, yellow. Female flower just exserted at anthesis, later recurved-pendulous; ovary deeply lobed with conspicuous grooves between loculi; styles bifid for half the-_ length then divided again just below apex, ultimate segments circinate. Fruit not seen. (Fig. 1 G-L).

Aspects of the biology of a rare redfin minnow,Barbus burchelli(Pisces, Cyprinidae), from South Africa

Burchell's redfin, Barbus burchelli is endemic to the Breede River and adjacent smaller river systems in the Cape Province. Negative human influences have led to a drastic decline in numbers of this medium-sized minnow, especially agricultural demand on the water resource and the introduction of exotic predatory fish. The breeding season is extended, from September to February, with a peak in December. The absolute fecundity of a 123 mm FL specimen was 10 678, which includes both mature and recruitment ova. Females grow larger (123 mm FL), and live longer (6 +years), than males (113 mm FL and 4 + years). 8. burchelli grow rapidly in their first year attaining a length of between 40 and 50 mm FL. Pronounced conical tubercles of sexually mature males erupt in spring, begin to show signs of wear in November and by March are worn or sloughed off. The survival of this species is dependent upon proper management of the Breede River system.

X-Ray Radiographic Examination of Dart Formation in Helix Aspersa

Formation of the dart in the snail Helix aspersa occurs following loss of the dart during mating behavior. The new dart is formed during a period of 5-6 days within a dart sac lined with epithelium, and the stages of its development can be followed by x-ray radiography. CaCO 3 deposition is initiated at the tip of a conical tubercle covered with epithelium and proceeds anteriorly forming a shaft with blades and then posteriorly with the formation of a flared region bearing pleated rods. The form of the dart appears to be governed by the conformation of the epithelium lining the dart sac. The calcium content of the dart is approximately 0.5 mg. The dart sac tissue (excluding the collar spherules) contains less than 5% of this amount, indicating that the calcium used for dart formation comes from other body or shell sources.

NEW GENUS INCLUDING TWO NEW SPECIES OF SALDIDÆ

Head narrower, eyes nearer together than in Salda, ocelli approximate, frontal ridge weak, becoming obsolete at base of tylus, bucculæ enlarged; antennæ with the two distal joints incrassate, rostrum as in Salda, basal joints very thick, second elongate, terminal very slender. Prothorax bearing two very prominent conical tubercles on anterior lobe, which is narrow, cylindrical, not carinate anteriorly; posterior lobe short, carinate laterally, widening rapidly to humeri.

PREPARATORY STAGES OF ALYPIA LANGTONII, COUPER

This larva is a close ally of A. octomaculata, but differs from it in thepale head, the black bands broken in the subdorsal region, the small size of the subventral white spots and the absence of the conical tubercles which are represented by black spots. The food plant is the fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium).

DESCRIPTIONS OF CERTAIN LEPIDOPTEROUS LARVÆ

Ichthyura vau Fitch.Egg.—The colour of the unhatched eggs is deep purplish-pink, pale around the bottom; slightly shining.First stage.—Head bilobed, bearing a few hairs, shining black; width .45 mm. Dorsum broadly bluish-white, except the black cervical shield and anal plate and joints 5 and 12, which latter ar hardly enlarged, coloured vinous-brown. Whole lateral area also brown but paler, and broken into patches. Feet black outwardly. Hair fine, very long laterally, pale, darker dorsally, arising singly from black conical tubercles with the normal arrangement.