Dark Brown Blotches Research Articles

A new diploid species belonging to the Odontophrynus americanus species group (Anura: Odontophrynidae) from the Espinhaço range, Brazil.

The Odontophrynus americanus species group is a complex of diploid and tetraploid species hardly distinguished by morphological characters. It currently consists of three allopatric diploid species (i.e. O. cordobae, O. lavillai, and O. maisuma) and one widely distributed tetraploid species (i.e. O. americanus). We herein describe a new diploid allopatric species from campo rupestre, a typical phytophysiognomy of the Espinhaço Range, Brazil. The new species is distinguishable by the diploid complement of 2n = 2x = 22 chromosomes, small to medium-sized dorsal dark brown blotches with low contrast on a light brown background, light mid-dorsal stripe absent or greatly interrupted in most specimens with yellowish coloration as the background of both head and flanks of the body, advertisement call with dominant frequency of 840-1080 Hz, pulse rate of 90.5-106.7 pulses/s, and small tadpoles (TL = 24.30-35.69 mm).

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.

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.

Systematics of a small Gehyra (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Einasleigh Uplands, Queensland: description of a new range restricted species.

The tropical savannah landscapes of Australia's north, though previously overshadowed by the biodiverse rainforests of the Wet Tropics, are themselves now attracting interest for their biological significance and uniqueness. The Einasleigh Uplands region of north-east Queensland is home to a diverse group of mammals and reptiles and was previously recognised for its importance in shaping speciation in birds. Here we add a small saxicoline gecko to a growing list of recently described reptiles that are endemic to this region. Phylogenetic analyses including Gehyra species from the arid zone and the monsoonal tropics reveal that small Gehyra geckos in this area, while closely resembling Gehyra nana from the Top End and Kimberley, form a clade that is geographically isolated and phylogenetically distant from the G. nana complex. Instead, the Einasleigh Uplands taxon is sister to a large, arboreal species within the arid zone clade. It is readily distinguished from all lineages within the G. nana complex, its closest relative G. purpurascens, and all other rock-dwelling species from the arid zone by a combination of its very small body size, few subdigital lamellae, and mid tan to golden dorsal coloration with a pattern of scattered pale ocelli and irregular dark-brown blotches on a stippled background. We therefore describe this taxon as a new Australian species of Gehyra, Gehyra einasleighensis sp. nov., based on a combination of phylogenetic separation, morphological characters and discrete geographic distribution.

Cobitis nalbanti, a new species of spined loach from South Korea, and redescription of Cobitis lutheri (Teleostei: Cobitidae).

Cobitis nalbanti, new species, is described from the South Korean Han and Geum Rivers, draining to the Yellow Sea. It differs from its congeners by having a wide, ovoid lamina circularis; rounded scales with a large, slightly-displaced focal zone; a relatively long, protruded snout; the suborbital spine not reaching the center of the eye; the mandibular barbel not reaching the anterior edge of the eye; usually 12-14 dark brown blotches in the fourth Gambetta's zone; a single elongated black spot on the upper part of the caudal-fin base; the only streak on the head running from the tip of the snout to the nape, across the eye; 2n=48-51 and NF=66. Cobitis nalbanti was previously identified as C. lutheri. Morphological analysis of C. lutheri shows that it is distinct in having a short obtuse snout, the suborbital spine reaching the center of the eye, the mandibular barbel reaching the anterior edge of the eye, usually less than 12 dark brown blotches in the fourth Gambetta's zone, two spots at the caudal-fin base, several dark streaks on the head, and 2n=50, NF=70. A lectotype is selected for C. lutheri. Cobitis lutheri has a wide distribution in the Amur River basin, several rivers flowing into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), and in the northern part of Sakhalin Island.

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.

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.

A new species of Scinax Wagler (Anura: Hylidae) from Mato Grosso, Brazil.

A new species of the Scinax ruber Clade is described from Municipality of Barra do Garças, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. It is diagnosed by its size (SVL 29.4-35.4 mm in males); dorsum with a background that varies from light and dark gray to dark brown, with round and irregular dark blotches; hidden surfaces of thigh and shank light or dark brown, with lighter, large and irregular blotches (yellow in life); and nuptial pad that covers the medial margin of Metacarpal I, and obscures the posterior portion and the outer margin of the inner metacarpal tubercle. It is most similar with Scinax rupestris, from which it differs by having larger adult males; less developed nuptial pad; and hidden surfaces of thigh and light or dark brown, with lighter, large and irregular blotches (yellow in life). The new species occurs near the headwaters of permanent or temporary streams, where males call from vegetation or rocks at the margins of small streams.

New species of Scleromystax Günther, 1864 (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) - extending the meridional distribution of genera endemic to the Atlantic Forest

ABSTRACT The genus Scleromystax includes species occurring in several coastal river basins from southern Bahia to southern Santa Catarina States. Examination of Scleromystax specimens sampled from the laguna dos Patos drainage revealed a new taxon, further extending the distribution of the genus to the southern border of the Atlantic forest. The new species differs from its congeners by the second infraorbital ventrally expanded. It is also distinct, except from S. macropterus and S. salmacis , by roughly oblique, elongate, dark brown blotches along body; large specimens displaying cranial fontanel completely occluded, leaving just a shallow fossae; and sexually dimorphic features inconspicuous, i.e. preopercular (cheek) region similar in males and females, and dorsal and pectoral fins of males slightly longer than in females. Herein, we also extend the record of Scleromystax salmacis to the rio Tramandaí drainage.

A new species of Allobates (Anura: Aromobatidae) from Parque Nacional da Amazônia, Pará State, Brazil.

We describe the fourth species of nurse-frog genus Allobates occurring in the southeastern Brazilian Amazonia. The new species is sympatric with Allobates femoralis, Allobates masniger and Allobates magnussoni, and inhabits the margins of streams in forested areas within Parque Nacional da Amazônia, on the western bank of the Tapajós River. Snout-to-vent length ranges between 14.9-16.1 mm among males and 15.6-16.5 mm among females. The species is distinguished by the light brown background color of dorsum, with irregular dark brown blotches appearing from eye level to the urostyle region. In life, ventral surfaces of males are golden yellow on throat and chest, and white to yellow on abdomen. Ventral surfaces of females are predominantly white, except for light yellow on chin. The dark brown lateral band has a diffuse lower edge ventrolaterally. Dorsal surface of thigh is cream, with a longitudinal dark brown band extending dorsally from vent to knee. Tail musculature of tadpoles is robust, bifurcating dorsally over the body and reaching about two-thirds of the body length. Advertisement calls consist predominantly of continuous pairs of notes, but other note arrangements are also emitted. Notes have ascending frequency modulation and average peak frequency ranging between 5.3-5.9 kHz. First and second notes of the same note pair are similar in amplitude, duration and frequency spectrum. Successive note pairs are split by approximately regular silent intervals (0.30-0.49 s). The species lays its eggs inside rolled or folded dead leaves on the leaf litter. Egg capsules and jelly nests are opaque.

Nest, Eggs, and Nestlings of the Atlantic Forest Endemic Star-throated Antwren (Rhopias gularis)

ABSTRACT Here, we describe nests, eggs, and nestlings of the monotypic Star-throated Antwren, Rhopias gularis (formerly Myrmotherula gularis), found at Carlos Botelho State Park, in Atlantic Forest in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Nests were pensile cups of dark rootlets and black fungal hyphae, found near forest streams, 34–70 cm high, over ground or water. A leaf appeared to form a roof over two nests. Clutch size was always two eggs, white with reddish and dark brown spots and blotches. Hatchlings were naked with pinkish skin. Nest architecture, eggs, and nestlings were similar to other Myrmotherula and Epinecrophylla, suggesting that nesting characteristics may not be informative to reconstruct recent DNA-based phylogenies that resolved the monotypic genus of this Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic species.

A new species of tree frog genus Rhacophorus from Sumatra, Indonesia Amphibia, Anura).

A small-sized tree frog of the genus Rhacophorus is described on the basis of 18 specimens collected from three different localities on Sumatra Island, Indonesia. Rhacophorus indonesiensis sp. nov. is divergent from all other Rhacophorus species genetically and morphologically. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of: the presence of black spots on the ventral surfaces of the hand and foot webbing, an absence of vomerine teeth, a venter with a white kite-shaped marking, raised white spots on the dorsum or on the head, and a reddish brown dorsum with irregular dark brown blotches and distinct black dots. With the addition of this new species, fifteen species of Rhacophorus are now known from Sumatra, the highest number of species of this genus in the Sundaland region. However, with the increasing conversion of forest to oil palm cultivation or mining, the possibility of the extinction of newly described or as yet undiscovered species is of great concern.

A new species of wolf snake (Colubridae: Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826) from Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, Cardamom Mountains, southwest Cambodia.

A new species of the genus Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826 is described from the Cardamom Mountains of southwest Cambodia. Lycodon zoosvictoriae distinctly differs from all other species of Lycodon in Southeast Asia by a combination of its morphometric characters and unique coloration. The new species has 17 dorsal scales at midbody; 2+2 temporals; 8 supralabials; 10 infralabials; loreal separated from internasal and orbit; 213 ventrals; 85 subcaudals; pale tan brown ground color; irregular dark brown blotches on anterior part, 31 transverse blotches on posterior part of body and 26 blotches on tail. Given its submontane type locality, the new species could prove to be endemic to the Cardamom Mountains of southwest Cambodia and probably Southeast Thailand.

Two new species of the tooth-carp Aphanius (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) and the evolutionary history of the Iranian inland and inland-related Aphanius species.

Two new species of Aphanius are described from the Kol drainage in southern Iran (Aphanius darabensis n. sp.) and the endorheic Kavir Basin in northern Iran (A. kavirensis n. sp.), and compared with eight closely related species. Aphanius darabensis n. sp. is sister to A. shirini, from which it is distinguished by molecular characters (cytochrome b) and the combination of three morphological characters: 9-18 flank bars in males (vs. 7-10), females with irregular vertical patches of brown color on the flank (vs. prominent dark brown blotches of round or irregular shape), and symmetrically-shaped triangular to trapezoid otoliths with a rostrum distinctly longer than the antirostrum (vs. quadrangular to trapezoid otoliths with short and equally sized rostrum and antirostrum). Aphanius kavirensis n. sp. is closely related to a group containing A. sophiae, A. mesopotamicus and A. pluristriatus, from which it is distinguished by cytochrome b characters and the combination of three morphological characters: females with irregularly arranged large blotches of dark brown color on the flank, short pectoral fin in both sexes (13.4-18.1% SL in males, 11.2-18.3% SL in females), and asymmetrically shaped triangular to trapezoid otoliths with a pronounced predorsal region. Our tree based on the cytochrome b data demonstrates that the Iranian inland and inland-related Aphanius species (IIRAS) form a monophyletic clade with three subclades (A. vladykovi -, A. shirini -, A. sophiae subclades). The A. sophiae subclade, which is the most diverse of the three subclades, can be further divided into three lineages (A. isfahanensis -, A. farsicus -, A. sophiae lineages). The temporal diversification of the IIRAS clade is discussed and two evolutionary groups of Aphanius are depicted. Aphanius vladykovi, together with A. shirini, A. darabensis n. sp. and A. isfahanensis characterize the "old" evolutionary group. Their divergences may have happened 10-5 m.y. ago (Late Miocene-Early Pliocene). Aphanius farsicus, A. arakensis, A. sophiae, A. mesopotamicus, and A. pluristriatus, together with Aphanius kavirensis n. sp., represent the "young" evolutionary group, which developed in the Late Pleistocene (100,000-11,700 y. ago) and Early to Middle Holocene (c. 11,700-4,000 y. ago).

A new species of Coelogyne (Orchidaceae) from western Yunnan, China

A new species of Orchidaceae, Coelogyne pianmaensis, is described and illustrated from western Yunnan, China. Morphologically, it is similar to Coelogyne corymbosa, but differs from the latter by having dark brown eyelike blotches surrounded by brownish-yellow on lip, 1-veined obovate-oblong leaves, 7-veined oblong-lanceolate sepals, shorter pedicel and ovary, and 7-veined petals.

A new species of Microglanis(Siluriformes: Pseudopimelodidae) from the upper rio Tocantins basin, Goiás State, Central Brazil

A new species of Microglanis is described from the upper rio Tocantins basin, Barro Alto, Goiás State, Brazil. This species is distinguished from the others by presenting a unique color pattern, consisting of round spots in the flank between the larger dark brown blotches. Moreover, it can be distinguished by the combination of the following features: caudal fin emarginate, the upper lobe slightly larger than the lower, lateral line relatively long, reaching vertical through posterior margin of the pelvic fin, and light stripe on supra-occipital region absent or very narrow and with irregular shape.

Pogonophryne neyelovi , a new species of Antarctic short-barbeled plunderfish (Perciformes, Notothenioidei, Artedidraconidae) from the deep Ross Sea.

This paper continues descriptions of new deep-water Antarctic barbeled plunderfishes of the poorly known and the most speciose notothenioid genus Pogonophryne. It is based on a comprehensive collection obtained by the authors in 2009–2010 during an Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) fishing trip. A new species, the hopbeard plunderfish Pogonophryne neyelovi, the twenty-second species of the genus, is described. The new species belongs to dorsally-spotted short-barbeled species forming the “Pogonophryne mentella” group. Pogonophryne neyelovi sp. n. is characterized by the following combination of characters: a very short and small mental barbel with an ovaloid and short terminal expansion covered by flattened scale-like processes that are mostly bluntly palmate; a moderately protruding lower jaw; a high second dorsal fin almost uniformly black and lacking a sharply elevated anterior lobe; pectoral fins striped anteriorly and uniformly light posteriorly; the anal and pelvic fins light; the dorsal surface of the head and the area anterior to the first dorsal fin covered with large, irregular dark brown blotches and spots; the ventral surface of the head, breast and belly without sharp dark markings. The new species is compared to the closest species Pogonophryne brevibarbata, Pogonophryne tronio, and Pogonophryne ventrimaculata. English vernacular names are proposed for all species of the genus.

Pogonophryne tronio, a new species of Antarctic short-barbeled plunderfish (Perciformes: Notothenioidei: Artedidraconidae) from the deep Ross Sea with new data on Pogonophryne brevibarbata

Antarctic barbeled plunderfishes of the genus Pogonophryne are the most speciose notothenioid group, comprising about 20 poorly known recognized species. The interspecific systematics within the genus is complex, because the various species vary little morphologically. One of these previously unknown forms captured as by-catch of the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) fishery during the Antarctic summer 2009–2010 in deep waters of the western Ross Sea is described herein as new species Pogonophryne tronio. The description is based on 2 adult specimens, captured at depths 900–1,015 m: the holotype (male, 290 mm TL, 234 mm SL), paratype (female, 315 mm TL, 260 mm SL). This species, a short-barbeled form of the dorsally spotted “P. mentella” group of species, is compared morphologically to the closely related P. brevibarbata and P. ventrimaculata, using type specimens of both species. P. tronio sp. n. is characterized by the following combination of characters: a short (about 10–12 % SL), slender, tapered and bicolored (dark basally, light distally) mental barbel without a conspicuous terminal expansion; tip of barbel slightly flattened and covered by short tapered finger-like processes basally and flattened, leaf-like processes distally; a slightly protruding lower jaw; a relatively low (about 18 % SL) second dorsal fin lacking the elevated anterior lobe occurring in males of some species in the genus, sharply striped pectoral and caudal fins; the dorsal surface of the head and the area anterior to the first dorsal fin covered with large dark-brown blotches and spots.

A New Distinctively Colored Catfish of the Genus Pareiorhaphis (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Rio Piracicaba, Upper Rio Doce Basin, Brazil

A new species of Pareiorhaphis is described from the Ribeirão Caraça, a tributary to the Rio Piracicaba, upper Rio Doce basin in the State of Minas Gerais, eastern Brazil. The new taxon is promptly diagnosed from all other species of Pareiorhaphis by having a unique color pattern in both sexes. The color pattern consists of conspicuous dark brown blotches irregularly scattered over a yellowish tan background on head, along the dorsal surface of body and flanks. In addition, the new species can be further distinguished from all congeners except P. eurycephalus, P. nudulus, and P. vestigipinnis, by the absence of an adipose fin. From those species it is distinguished by morphometric traits. The new species is further compared to P. nasuta and P. scutula, which also occur in the Rio Doce system.