Dark Blotches Research Articles

Oligodon saiyok, a new limestone-dwelling kukri snake (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand

We describe Oligodon saiyok sp. nov. from Benjarat Nakhon Cave Temple, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. It is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 626.1 mm; 13 maxillary teeth, the posterior two enlarged; 8 supralabials; 17-17-15 dorsal scale rows; 181–187 ventrals and 38–43 subcaudals; a single anal; hemipenes extending in situ to the 18th subcaudal; dorsum with 21–22 dark blotches or white rings without vertebral or lateral stripes; and venter with a dense network of subrectangular dark blotches. It is the 7th squamate species believed to be endemic to Sai Yok District.

Intrapopulational variation in color pattern of Trichomycterus davisi (Haseman, 1911) (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) corroborated by morphometrics and molecular analysis

Color patterns of the body are commonly used to distinguish and identify species of Trichomycterus. Therefore, variation in color pattern in a population can cause doubt concerning species identification. With the purpose to test the hypothesis of high variation in color pattern of Trichomycterus davisi (Haseman, 1911), 118 specimens were collected in a stream of a private Ecological Park in southern Brazil, of which 88 were used in the morphological analysis and 30 for DNA barcoding analysis. Three phenotypic classes were determined analyzing the distribution, size and shape of dark brown spots and blotches. The results of morphometric analysis indicate a tendency of association of those pigmentation patterns with the standard length, evidencing ontogenetic variation of color pattern in the species. The results of K2P intraspecific genetic distance (<0.72%), haplotypes network and Bayesian phylogenetic tree corroborate the existence of only one species with a high variable color pattern.

Three new species of Curimatopsis (Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the Amazon basin.

Three new species of Curimatopsis are described from major tributaries of the Amazon basin. Curimatopsis guaporensis n. sp., from the Rio Madeira, belongs to the Curimatopsis evelynae clade and can be distinguished by the distinctive shape of the dark blotch on the caudal peduncle and by the position and shape of the nostrils. Curimatopsis pallida n. sp., from the Rio Negro, also related to C. evelynae, is distinguished from all congeners by the complete absence of pigmentation on the lateral surface of the caudal peduncle. Curimatopsis jaci n. sp., apparently endemic to the upper Rio Tapajós, belongs to the Curimatopsis macrolepis clade and differs from all congeners in details of body pigmentation. Meristic and morphometric features supplement diagnoses for the three new species. These species are hypothesized to belong to the two main clades of Curimatopsis on the basis of previous studies of osteology and external morphology and supplement a recent genetic study that revealed several cryptic and yet undescribed species within the genus. An updated identification key to the species of Curimatopsis is also provided.

Rhinobatos austini n. sp., a new species of guitarfish (Rhinopristiformes:Rhinobatidae) from the Southwestern Indian Ocean.

Rhinobatos austini sp. n. is described from the southwestern Indian Ocean based on four specimens collected from the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa and from Mozambique. The new species, with one exception, can be distinguished from all other members of this genus by a prominent teardrop-shaped dark blotch on the ventral surface of its snout. Its closest congener, R. holcorhynchus, also has a prominent teardrop-shaped blotch on its snout, but the new species differs from it by a lack of prominent thorns and tubercles on it dorsal disc surface and a very striking dorsal surface colour pattern of paired spots, some forming darker transverse bands across its back. Geographically, these two species broadly overlap, but R. austini appears to be a shallow, more coastal species (<1-107 m) compared to R. holcorhynchus that has a mostly offshore (75-254 m) depth distribution.

Natural history of the Lined Seedeater Sporophila lineola (Aves: Thraupidae) in southeastern Brazil

ABSTRACTThe Lined Seedeater (Sporophila lineola) is a migratory species that inhabits a variety of open habitats in South America. We studied the breeding biology and territorial behaviour of a colour-banded population of the species in the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Florestal (1–19,8808ºS, –44,4136ºW), during two breeding seasons (2014/2015 and 2015/2016), which spans from December to April. We monitored 74 nests of this species. The nest is a low cup supported between a fork. Nests are mainly built with grass stems and rootlets, with spider-web used to hold the material together and to bind the nest to its supporting plant. Females are solely responsible for nest building and incubation, which is synchronic, and also for feeding nestlings to a large extent. Males are responsible for defending the territory, which corresponds to a small portion of the home range restricted to the nest environs, and also feed the nestlings. Mean clutch size is two eggs (78% of nests monitored), with clutches of three (20.3%) and four (1.7%) eggs also observed. Eggs are whitish, covered with dark brown blotches and spots to a variable extent. Mean incubation period, considered as the period between the onset of incubation and hatching of the first egg, is 11 days. Nestling period, considered as the period between hatching of the first egg and fledging of the last young, is 10 days. During the first breeding season, the simple percentage of successful nests was 34.1%, while the Mayfield success was 29.8%, with slightly higher values observed during the second breeding season, with 39.4% and 35.7%, respectively. We recorded, for the first time, three cases of polygamy in the species. We also recorded breeding site fidelity for the first time in the species, with males returning to the same territory owned in a previous breeding season.

Two new species of Trimma (Pisces; Gobiidae) from Fiji, south-western Pacific Ocean.

Two new species of Trimma are described from Fiji. Trimma bathum n. sp. lacks scales on the cheeks, opercle and predorsal midline, has 18-19 unbranched pectoral fin rays, an unbranched 5th pelvic fin ray that is 40-56% the length of the 4th ray, 17-18 gill rakers on the outer surface of the first gill arch, a U-shaped interorbital and a narrow slit-like postorbital trench, a low, median fleshy ridge extending half-way towards the orbit from the origin of the first dorsal fin, and, when freshly collected, a pink head and body with most body scales having an orange-brown spot or short bar at their centres. The species is currently known only from off Suva Harbour, Viti Levu, Fiji. Trimma finistrinum n. sp. has a bony interorbital equal to the pupil diameter, a fully scaled nape of 12-14 scales, a second dorsal spine that may reach posteriorly to the middle of the second dorsal fin, the papillae in the longitudinal row immediately below the eye either single or with two papillae in a vertical row, unbranched pectoral fin rays, usually a branched fifth pelvic-fin ray that is about half length of the fourth ray, and a large diffuse dark blotch on the posterior part of the caudal peduncle. A colour pattern of a brownish body with most body scales having golden- to greenish-yellow (pale in preservative) centres is unique among species of the genus. The species is currently recorded only from off the north and east coasts of Viti Levu, Fiji.

A new species of labrid fish Oxycheilinus samurai from the western Pacific Ocean

A new species of labrid fish Oxycheilinus samurai sp. nov. is described on the basis of five specimens from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and Panay Island, the Philippines. The new species is most similar to the Indo-West Pacific species Oxycheilinus orientalis in having a slender compressed body, 12 pectoral-fin rays, a blackish blotch around the anterior portion of the lateral-line anterior series, and a dark blotch basally on the membrane between the first and second dorsal-fin spines. However, O. samurai can be distinguished from O. orientalis by the following combination of characters: gill rakers 4 + 7–8; snout rounded with maximum circumference 49.8–63.5 % of standard length (SL); interorbital width 7.7–9.2 % of SL; caudal-peduncle depth 13.8–15.3 % of SL; posterior margin of caudal fin white; black or dark red area just before white posterior margin of caudal fin; poorly defined blackish blotches on inner surface of opercle in preserved specimens.

A new genus of Anostomidae (Ostariophysi: Characiformes): Diversity, phylogeny and biogeography based on cytogenetic, molecular and morphological data

A new genus of Anostomidae (Characiformes) is described to include ten valid extant species previously classified in Leporinus or Hypomasticus and distributed throughout most major river basins in South America: L. brinco, L. conirostris, L. elongatus, H. garmani, L. macrocephalus, L. muyscorum, L. obtusidens, L. piavussu, L. reinhardti, and L. trifasciatus. The monophyly of Megaleporinus is well-supported in a phylogenetic analysis based on two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes, as well as its sister group relationship to Abramites. Megaleporinus is diagnosed by having the exclusive combination of three unicuspid teeth on each premaxillary and dentary bone and a color pattern composed of one to four dark midlateral blotches. Additional distinguishing features and possible synapomorphies include a unique ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system confirmed for six congeners and a drumming apparatus wherein the first rib is elongated and associated with hypertrophied intercostal muscles, which was confirmed for three congeners as exclusive to mature males. Furthermore, our study identified at least four undescribed cryptic species, emphasizing the need for further taxonomic work and genetic analyses. A time-calibrated phylogenetic and biogeographical analysis of the new genus suggests that speciation in the proto-Amazon-Orinoco lineage was primarily driven by paleogeographic processes, such as the formation of the Orinoco and Tocantins basins. Dispersal and diversification of the genus in coastal basins draining the Eastern Brazilian Shield appears to have been facilitated by connections between paleo-basins during low sea level periods and headwater captures between coastal and inland watersheds. The present contribution demonstrates the importance of integrating data from morphology, DNA sequences and cytogenetics to advance the taxonomy and systematics of any complex species group.

Description of a new species of Parotocinclus (Siluriformes, Hypoptopomatinae) from the rio Tapajós basin.

A new species of Parotocinclus is described from three small tributaries of the rio Tapajós basin, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by presenting the following characters: (1) a triangular dark blotch at the anterior base of the dorsal fin, (2) the absence of an adipose fin but presence of one small platelet at typical adipose-fin region, (3) the abdomen completely covered by dermal plates, (4) a pectoral girdle totally exposed, (5) a single series of bicuspid teeth, and (6) the higher number of bicuspid premaxillary and dentary teeth.

A new species of the leopard pleco genus Pseudacanthicus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Rio Xingu, Brazil.

The genus Pseudacanthicus comprises six valid species distributed in the Amazon basin and Caribbean coastal drainages from Guyana to French Guiana: P. serratus, P. fordii, P. histrix, P. spinosus, P. leopardus and P. pitanga. A new species of Pseudacanthicus is described from the Rio Xingu Basin, distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of anastomose dark blotches forming continuous zigzag bands alongside longitudinal keels; presence of dark blotches on ventral surface of body and head; all fins with orange to red colour on unbranched rays and sometimes subsequent branched rays. Brief comments on ornamental fisheries and conservation of the new species are also provided.

Two new species of Leporinus Agassiz, 1929 (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from tributaries of the lower Amazon basin in Brazil.

Two new species of Leporinus (Characiformes, Anostomidae) are described. Both new species are diagnosed by having one dark blotch on midline of anterior portion of the flank (between opercle and pelvic-fin origin) surrounded by five to seven dark blotches; and a subinferior mouth with three premaxillary teeth. Leporinus multimaculatus, new species, is distributed in small and medium-sized tributaries of the rio Tocantins and rio Xingu basins, and also in the rio Jari and coastal drainages of Amapá state, whereas L. torrenticola, new species, is endemic to the rapids of the rio Xingu and its main tributaries. The number of scale rows around the caudal peduncle is the main feature distinguishing L. multimaculatus from L. torrenticola. Comments on the diagnostic features of the newly described species are provided. In addition, the phylogenetic position and generic assignment of the new species are discussed based on available information from recent morphological and molecular analyses.

FRUIT CHARACTERISTIC AND NUTRIENT VALUES OF FOUR INDONESIAN BANANA CULTIVARS (Musa spp.) AT DIFFERENT GENOMIC GROUPS

Aims of this research were to describe the morphology and analyze nutrient values of mature fruits at three different genomic groups of Indonesian banana cultivars including Pisang Berlin (AA), Ambon Hijau (AAA), Raja Bandung (ABB) and Kepok (ABB). Fruit characterization results show that each banana cultivar had specific characteristics related to their genomic group. Pisang Berlin has bright yellow peel and pulp, sugary taste. Pisang Ambon Hijau has fine curved fruit shape, sweet taste and aromatic. Pisang Raja Bandung has medium thickness and yellow peel, firm flesh, sweet and slightly acidic taste. Pisang Kepok has thick coarse and yellow peel with dark brown blotches, mild sweet taste. Fruit characters of Pisang Berlin and Ambon Hijau are close related to their ancestral parents’ Musa acuminata wild species, whereas Pisang Kepok and Pisang Raja Bandung as hybrid cultivars have intermediate characters between Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana wild species. Nutrient analysis revealed that mature banana pulp contain of high carbo-hydrates (16.72-35.24 g 100g -1 ), total sugar (12.12-20.82 g 100g -1 ), vitamin C (16.45-30.27 g 100g -1 ) and potassium (275-375 g 100g -1 ); moderate protein (1.48-1.78 g 100g -1 ) and low fat (0.03-0.08 g 100g -1 ). About 100 g edible portion of banana fruit produce 73.43 to 148.80 calories.

A new species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from southern China.

A new species, Amolops albispinus sp. nov. is described based on a series of specimens collected from Mt. Wutong, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. The new species can be distinguished from other known congeners by molecular divergence in the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA gene and morphological characters including presence of white conical spines on the lips, loreal and temporal regions, excluding the tympanum; small body, SVL 36.7-42.4 mm in adult males and 43.1-51.9 mm in adult females; very rough dorsal skin of body with numerous raised large warts; olive-brown dorsum with dark brown blotches; strongly developed vomerine teeth; absence of vocal sacs; absence of tarsal glands; absence of dorsolateral folds; presence of circummarginals groove on the disk of first finger; and absence of outer metatarsal tubercles. At present, the genus Amolops contains 51 species, of which 23 occur in China.

A new record of Neobythites multistriatus Nielsen &amp; Quéro, 1991 (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) from the Andaman Sea, North Indian Ocean

The occurrence of Neobythites multistriatus Nielsen & Quero, 1991 which hitherto has not been recorded from the Andaman Sea is reported here. Three specimens measuring 175 mm, 153 mm and 136 mm (total length) were collected from Andaman Sea (13°10′903″N, 93°08′162″E) from a depth range of 320–410 m. The results of the comparison of meristic and morphometric characters with the holotype and paratypes of the species are presented. N. multistriatus is closely related to N. fasciatus in terms of two opercular spines and several vertical bars on the body ending as ocelli or dark blotches on the dorsal and anal fins, versus posterior to the line. The occurrence of this little-known benthopelagic fish in Andaman waters for the first time further adds to and strengthens the rich deep-sea ichthyofaunal biodiversity of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India, which is hitherto not fully known.

A new species of Hyphessobrycon Durbin (Characiformes: Characidae) from rio Aripuanã, rio Madeira basin, Brazil.

A new species of Hyphessobrycon is described from the rio Aripuanã, rio Madeira basin, Amazonas State, Brazil. Hyphessobrycon procyon can be distinguished from its congeners by the unique combination of the following features: elongation of the dorsal fin in mature males, absence of dark blotches on the dorsal fin, and presence of two humeral blotches. The possibility of a relationship of the new species within H. elachys, H. heliacus, H. loweae, H. moniliger, and H. peugeoti is discussed based on the sharing of characteristics related to the sexual dimorphism and tooth morphology.

Recharacterization of Rhinophis dorsimaculatus Deraniyagala, 1941 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae), including description of new material.

The Sri Lankan uropeltid (shieldtail) snake Rhinophis dorsimaculatus Deraniyagala, 1941 was described originally from two specimens that were subsequently lost. The small amount of previously published data and lack of published colour photographs made this one of South Asia's most poorly known snake species, and this resulted in at least one instance of taxonomic misidentification. An additional 10 specimens from a historical collection from the vicinity of the type locality recently came to light. This material is reviewed and documented and the species recharacterized. An additional locality for the species is reported. The newly reported material helps to corroborate the taxonomic validity and distinctiveness of Rhinophis dorsimaculatus. The species is readily distinguished from congeners by having 227 or more ventral scales; a large, dorsally carinate rostral shield; posterior margins of paired anals that are largely separated by the posteriormost ventral scale; and a distinctive colour pattern with bilaterally asymmetrical dark blotches within a broad, pale middorsal stripe and regularly punctate flanks.

Channa aurantipectoralis, a new species of snakehead from Mizoram, north-eastern India (Teleostei: Channidae)

Channa aurantipectoralis, a new species of snakehead of the C. gachua species group, is described from Karnaphuli drainage of Mizoram, India. The species is immediately distinguished from all other snakehead species by its unique coloration in life, specifically its brightly-coloured orange pectoral fins, which lack any spots or stripes; and by the presence of a dark V-shaped blotch on the dorsal surface of the head. It can be further distinguished from all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: presence of pelvic fins, a large scale on the ventral surface of the lower jaw, 51-64 lateral-line scales, 34-37 dorsal-fin rays, 23-25 anal-fin rays, 13-14 pectoral-fin rays, 5½-6½ /1/ 7½-8½ transverse scale rows, and the absence of scales on the gular region.

A new Otocinclus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Hypoptopomatinae) from the Rio Juruena Basin, central Brazil.

A new species of Otocinclus (Loricariidae) is described from the Rio Juruena, a right bank tributary of the Rio Tapajós system in Mato Grosso State, central Brazil. The new taxon can be distinguished from its congeners by the possession of an ocular operculum and by a complete lateral line. Additionally, the new species is distinguished by having a dorsal trunk coloration composed of a set of distinct oval dark blotches and by a caudal spot.

A new species of wedgefish Rhynchobatus cooki (Rhinopristiformes, Rhinidae) from the Indo-West Pacific.

A new dwarf wedgefish, Rhynchobatus cooki sp. nov. is described from a single female from a Jakarta fish market (Indonesia) and 11 specimens collected at Jurong fish market (Singapore). First collected in 1934, the broader ichthyological community have been aware of this distinctive but little known ray since the late 1990's. Rhynchobatus cooki is the smallest of the wedgefishes (to 81 cm TL) and has the lowest vertebral count (fewer than 107 centra). It is also distinguishable from its congeners based on its long, hastate snout, very strongly undulate anterior pectoral-fin margin, coloration and aspects of its squamation. The dorsal coloration is mainly dark and distinctively marked with white blotches, spots and streaks, and has a dark cruciate marking on the interorbit and a prominent white border around the body margin. Unlike most other wedgefish species, the snout tip lacks dark blotches and there is no black pectoral-fin marking. It shares well-developed rostral spines with a much larger Atlantic species (Rhynchobatus luebberti), but these spines are confined to the snout tip (rather than being more numerous and extending in paired rows along the rostral ridges nearly to the eyes). No additional specimens have been observed since 1996, despite an increased recent effort to survey the chondrichthyan fauna of South-East Asia and collect biological data for species, raising concerns over its conservation status.

Narcine baliensis, a new species of electric ray from southeast Asia(Chondrichthyes: Torpediniformes).

A new species of numbfish, Narcine baliensis, sp. nov., is described from the tropical eastern Indian Ocean from Indonesia. It is superficially similar to N. brevilabiata and N. atzi in aspects of its color pattern, but is distinguished from both congeners in details of its color pattern, in tooth band morphology, and in proportions of its dorsal fins, among other features. Narcine baliensis, sp. nov., is unique in having a dorsal color pattern composed of large, circular, ovoid or elongate dark brown spots or blotches on dorsal disc along with more numerous small (about eye-sized or slightly greater) brownish, subcircular spots, with large blotches and small spots surrounded by a very slender creamy-white pattern, as well as in having broadly circular upper and lower tooth bands of about the same width and shape. The genus Narcine is now composed of 20 valid species, but uncertainty remains concerning the identification and morphological variation of some of its species in the tropical Indo-West Pacific region.