Malagasy Endemic Genus Research Articles

Humbertioturraea labatiiLescot & Callm. (Meliaceae), une nouvelle espèce endémique de Madagascar

Humbertioturraea labatii Lescot & Callm. (Meliaceae), a new endemic species from Madagascar. We describe a new species in the endemic Malagasy genus Humbertioturraea J.-F.Leroy: H. labatii Lescot & Callm. Th e new species is provided with illus- trations, a discussion of its morphological affi nities and a conservation threat analysis based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Four new species in the endemic genusRhodocoleaBaill. (Bignoniaceae) from Madagascar

A recent review of the Malagasy Bignoniaceae for the Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar has enabled us to discover new species in most genera in the family. In this part of a series of publications detailing the necessary taxonomic changes, we provide descriptions of four new species in the endemic Malagasy genus Rhodocolea: R. humbertii Callm. & Phillipson, R. magnifica Callm. & Phillipson, R. parvifoliolata Callm. & Phillipson and R. ranirisonii Callm., Phillipson & L.Gaut. Each of the new species is provided with line drawings, a discussion of its morphological affinities and a conservation threat analysis based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Re-discovery after more than a century: a redefinition of the Malagasy endemic millipede genus Zehntnerobolus, with a description of a new species (Diplopoda, Spirobolida, Pachybolidae) THOMAS WESENER (Germany)

A new species of the previously monotypic Malagasy pachybolid genus Zehntnerobolus Wesener, 2009, Z. hoffmani new species, is described. The diagnosis of the genus Zehntnerobolus is updated and new characters of potential phylogenetic importance for the classification of Malagasy Spirobolida are described. The here described specimens are the first known representatives of Zehntnerobolus collected since 1900. The late discovery of another Zehntnerobolus is a clear indication of how little we know about the soil arthropod macrofauna of Madagascar. Particularly the eastern rainforest region and the north of Madagascar are still underexplored. The specimens were collected in the eastern montane rainforest more than 380 km south of the known distribution of the other Zehntnerobolus species. The collection method used, as well as morphological parameters of Zehntnerobolus indicate that its species live in the leaf litter of Malagasy rainforests.

Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of an endemic leafhopper genus Nesocerus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Idiocerinae) from Madagascar

The Malagasy endemic genus Nesocerus Freytag & Knight, 1966 is reviewed. A key is provided for the 35 recognized species, of which 29 are described as new. Diagnoses and descriptions, along with illustration of both taxonomic characters and habitus, are provided for all new species and for holotypes of five previously described species. Nesocerus trimaculatus Freytag & Cwikla is redescribed and its habitus and aedeagus are illustrated. Phylogenetic analysis of 65 adult morphological characters supports the monophyly of the genus with strong branch support. Within Nesocerus, the analysis recovered two sister clades, one comprising species mostly distributed in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar, and the other including species mainly restricted to the dry western region of Madagascar. The analysis did not resolve the relationship of Nesocerus to other Idiocerini unambiguously, but some unique derived features of the forewing and male genitalia suggest that the closest relatives of Nesocerus may include taxa from south Asia and South America. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162, 499–543.

Another new species of Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995 from Madagascar (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

A new species of the endemic Malagasy genus Pseudouroplectes Lourenço (family Buthidae) is described from spiny forests of the southwestern portion of the island. The holotype was obtained in the forests of Ifaty, north of Toliara. With the description of this species, the distributional pattern of this genus is confined to dry forest formations in the south and southwest. A key is proposed to the known species.

Révision du genreParadorodociaMachatschke, 1957 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Rutelidae, Adoretinae)

Montreuil O. 2010. — Révision du genre Paradorodocia Machatschke, 1957 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Rutelidae, Adoretinae). Zoosystema 32 (1): 87-99.Revision of the genus Paradorodocia Machatschke, 1957 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Rutelidae, Adoretinae).The Adoretinae of the endemic Malagasy genus Paradorodocia Machatschke, 1957, are revised. A lectotype is designated for Adoretus albosetosus Waterhouse, 1878. Adoretus hystrix Künckel d'Herculais, 1887 and Adoretus albohispidus Fairmaire, 1883, are considered synonyms of Adoretus albosetosus. The lectotype of Adoretus albosetosus is designated as neotype of Adoretus hystrix Künckel d'Herculais, 1887 and of Adoretus albohispidus Fairmaire, 1883, which induces objective synonymies between these three names. Two new species are described and compared with their most closely related species: Paradorodocia elongata n. sp. and P. excavata n. sp. Paradorodocia fairmairei n. sp. is also introduced for the species named Adoretus hystrix by Fairmaire in 1897, which is not an available name. Based on this study, the genus Paradorodocia includes four species. Diagnostic characters for species in the genus include the shape of aedeagus, the shape and position of the metafemoral spurs, and the shape of the metasternum. Key to species, diagnoses, and distributions are provided. Endophallus and female genitalias are illustrated for the first time for this genus.

A Revision of the Malagasy Endemic Helmiopsis (Malvaceae S.L.)1

A taxonomic revision of the endemic Malagasy genus Helmiopsis H. Perrier (Malvaceae s.l.) is presented, based on material that has been collected since the last complete revision by Arènes. Nine species and one subspecies are recognized, of which one species (H. polyandra Appleq.) and one subspecies (H. hily Arènes subsp. boinensis Appleq.) are newly described from Madagascar. Arènes' infrageneric taxonomy is simplified; two sections (section Glandulipetalae Arènes and section Helmiopsis) are recognized. The section Glandulipetalae is typified by H. pseudopopulus (Baill.) Capuron ex Arènes, and H. inversa H. Perrier, the type species for the genus, is lectotypified. Dombeya rigida Baill. is excluded from Helmiopsis. Preliminary conservation assessments using IUCN criteria indicate that most taxa are of potential conservation concern: four species native to the extreme north should be considered Vulnerable, and one species and one subspecies are considered Data Deficient but likely to be at risk.

Effects of Rhodocodon madagascariensis extracts on embryo–larval development of medaka fish, Oryzias latipes

Rhodocodon madagascariensis, also named Urginea mascarenensis, is a malagasy plant belonging to the Hyacinthaceae family. As for the other members of the endemic malagasy genus Rhodocodon, the chemical and toxicological properties of this species have not yet been studied. The present study concerns the analysis of the toxicity of R. madagascariensis to medaka embryo–larval development. The incubation of medaka fish embryos or larvae in a medium containing R. madagascariensis extract resulted in a dose dependent reduction in development of embryos leading to lethality and a drastic reduction in survival rate of exposed larvae. Survival rates were reduced up to 100% with an extract concentration of 4mgmL−1. The LD50 was estimated to be 1mgmL−1. Anatomopathological studies did show some neuro-embryonal modifications in the encephalic region. The data presented in this paper thus extends the use of medaka embryos as a valuable model to detect and analyse the effects of plant toxins.

Four new species and one new combination in the Malagasy endemic genusMicronychiaOliv. (Anacardiaceae)

Randrianasolo A. & Lowry II P. P. 2009. — Four new species and one new combination in the Malagasy endemic genus Micronychia Oliv. (Anacardiaceae). Adansonia, sér. 3, 31 (1): 157-168.Four new species of the Malagasy endemic genus Micronychia ate described based on newly available material, and a previously recognized variety is elevated to the rank of species, bringing the total number of accepted species to 10, a two-fold increase. Illustrations are provided for each of the new taxa, along with preliminary assessments of their conservation status. An identification key in English and French is also included.

Phylogeny of the Cichlid Subfamily Etroplinae and Taxonomic Revision of the Malagasy Cichlid Genus Paretroplus (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

Abstract A species-level phylogeny for Etroplinae is presented, based on the simultaneous analysis of morphological and nucleotide characters, and species of the endemic Malagasy genus Paretroplus are taxonomically revised, including the description of two new species. Relative to most other cichlid genera, Paretroplus is diagnosed by numerous anatomical features, including morphology of the gas bladder, neurocranium, oral jaws and dentition, and suspensorium. Keys to the genera of Malagasy–South Asian cichlids and to the species of Paretroplus are provided. Paretroplus is endemic to Madagascar and is the sister genus to Etroplus, endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka. Together these two genera comprise the subfamily Etroplinae. Paretroplus comprises 12 species, two of which are described herein as new. Three morphologically distinct clades are recovered within Paretroplus, one comprising the comparatively elongate, primarily riverine and rheophilic species P. damii, P. nourissati, P. tsimoly, and P. la...

Description of a new species of Heteroscorpion Birula, 1903 (Scorpiones, Heteroscorpionidae) from the Montagne des Français in extreme northern Madagascar

The endemic Malagasy genus Heteroscorpion Birula, 1903, of the family Heteroscorpionidae was monotypic for a century with H. opisthacanthoides (Kraepelin, 1896). Extensive field surveys conducted over the last 15 years in the different bioclimatic regions of Madagascar have resulted in the collection of numerous scorpions, including specimens belonging to the genus Heteroscorpion. These collections led to the description of three new species, H. goodmani Lourenço, 1996, H. magnus Lourenço & Goodman, 2002, and H. raselimanana Lourenço & Goodman, 2004. In this paper another species new to science is described from the extreme north of the island and is presumed to be locally endemic. With this taxon, the number of species in the genus Heteroscorpion is now five, and its distribution covers numerous zones of the island, including humid and dry forests. Aspects of the geographic distribution and ecology of the different species are also commented upon.

Phylogeny and Taxonomic Revision of the Endemic Malagasy Genus Ptychochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae), with the Description of Five New Species and a Diagnosis for Katria, New Genus

The Malagasy cichlid genus Ptychochromis is revised and five new species are described, one of which is presumed to be extinct. The three valid nominal species, P. oligacanthus, P. grandidieri, and P. inornatus, are redescribed with diagnoses provided for each. A phylogeny of ptychochromin cichlids, derived from the simultaneous analysis of morphological features and nucleotide characters from a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear genes is presented. Ptychochromis is diagnosed by a suite of derived features of the pharynx, infraorbital series, and palatine morphology. In addition, the sister taxon to Ptychochromis, Ptychochromoides katria, is removed from Ptychochromoides and placed in its own genus, Katria, which is described herein as new. Katria is diagnosed by a unique pigmentation pattern, the absence of paired anterior gas bladder chambers that approach the neurocranium, an elevated vertebral count, and a slender caudal peduncle. An unnamed clade comprising Ptychochromis and Katria is diagnosed by a suite of derived features of the pharynx, sensory canal system, supraneural patterning, and palatine morphology.

Descriptions of two new species of Gyrocarisa (Trichoptera: Petrothrincidae) from Madagascar

Two new species of the Malagasy endemic genus Gyrocarisa (Trichoptera: Petrothrincidae), Gyrocarisa scottae, new species, and Gyrocarisa weaveri, new species, are described and illustrated. A key to the males of the known species of Gyrocarisa, and additional records of G. stenieri Weaver and G. acuta Weaver are given.

Description de trois nouvelles especes deParactenopsyllus(Siphonaptera : Leptopsyllinae) de Madagascar

The males of three new and rare species of the Malagasy endemic genus Paractenopsyllus Wagner, 1938 are described. Paractenopsyllus beaucournui, P. oconnori and P. raxworthyi have been collected on endemic small mammals and the black rat. As for others species of the genus, biotopes are rain-forests of the central highlands or the northern mountains of Madagascar. Two of the described species were collected at elevations lower than typical for the genus and below the limits of the highland bioclimatic zone. Morphological affinities between these new species and those already described provide taxonomic framework for the genus. An updated identification key is provided for the diagnosis of all the 20 Malagasy species of Leptopsyllinae.

Leptopsyllines from Madagascar (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae): description of five new species of Paractenopsyllus Wagner, 1938.

Five new species of the malagasy endemic genus Paractenopsyllus Wagner, 1938, are described. Paractenopsyllus rouxi, P. ratovonjatoi, P. duplantieri, P. juliamarinus and P. gemelli have been collected on endemic small mammals and the black rat. Biotopes are mid-elevation rain-forests of the central highlands or the northern mountains of Madagascar. Morphological affinities between these new species and those already known provide taxonomic links within the genus. Differences in the spatial and altitudinal distributions and host ranges allow discussion of the potential factors important in the species distribution of this genus.

Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the Malagasy and South Asian cichlids (Teleostei: Perciformes: Cichlidae)

Phylogenetic relationships of the Malagasy and South Asian cichlids are investigated using nucleotide characters from two mitochondrial genes, a 544 bp region of the large ribosomal subunit (16S) and a 649 bp region of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). This is the first molecular analysis to include a thorough taxonomic sampling of all Malagasy-South Asian genera, and a near complete taxonomic inventory of all valid species. Parsimony analysis of the combined data set (1193 aligned nucleotide positions) results in a single, completely resolved phylogenetic hypothesis. Results of this analysis, and that based on more comprehensive taxonomic sampling across Cichlidae for 16S alone (554 bp for 73 taxa), indicate that the Malagasy cichlids are paraphyletic, whereas the Malagasy and South Asian cichlids comprise a monophyletic group. In both analyses, the African and Neotropical assemblages are monophyletic. The Malagasy-South Asian cichlids are not recovered as plesiomorphic members of the family in either analysis. Two major clades are recovered within the Malagasy-South Asian assemblage and given subfamilial rank, Etroplinae, comprising Paretroplus (Madagascar) and Etroplus (southern India and Sri Lanka), and Ptychochrominae, comprising Ptychochromis, Ptychochromoides, and Oxylapia, all endemic Malagasy genera. Placement of the endemic Malagasy genus Paratilapia is equivocal depending on the gene fragment(s) analyzed. Inter- and intrageneric relationships within Ptychochrominae and Etroplinae are presented and discussed. The hypothesis of relationships for Cichlidae based on nucleotide characters from 16S alone, arguably the most comprehensive and broadly sampled data set across all major geographic assemblages to date, is congruent with prevailing hypotheses regarding the sequence of Gondwanan fragmentation and a vicariance scenario to explain the current distribution of cichlid fishes.

The generic and species relationships of the reputed endemic Malagasy genus Pseudocossyphus (family Turdidae)

The generic and specific relationships of the Malagasy rock-thrushes, variously placed in the genus Monticola or as an endemic genus Pseudocossyphus, are examined using morphological and molecular characters. On the basis of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequence data it was concluded that all Malagasy rock-thrushes fall between Asian Monticola and a species group of Monticola occurring in numerous Old World areas. It is recommended that all Malagasy species be placed in the genus Monticola. Relationships between various named forms of Malagasy rock-thrushes indicate: M. imerinus is a distinct species, M. bensoni is a synonym of M. sharpei, the subspecies M. sharpei erythronotus should be elevated to a full species, and that no geographic forms of M. sharpei (including interioris and salomonseni) should be recognized on the basis of current evidence. These taxonomic conclusions have important implications for conservation projects currently underway on Madagascar.

A Systematic Revision of "Breonia" (Rubiaceae-Naucleeae)

Breonia A. Rich., a Malagasy endemic genus of the tribe Naucleeae (Rubiaceae, Cinchonoideae), is revised here. The morphology of Breonia species is deseribed and compared with that of the other Malagasy Naucleeae, Breonadia Ridsdale, Gyrostipula J.-F. Leroy, and Janotia J.-F. Leroy. Breonia is distinguished from these genera by having flattened and elongated placentae, imbricate ovules, and indehiscent, multiple fruits rather than triangular placentae, ovules attached side by side to the base of the placentae, and free, capsular fruits as in these genera. Neobreonia Ridsdale is again included in Breonia. Twenty species are recognized, including eight that are new to science. A full taxonomic treatment, keys, and distribution maps of the recognized species are provided. The newly described species are illustrated.

Revision of the Malagasy genus Pervillea (Asclepiadaceae) and its phylogenetic relationship to Calyptranthera

The Malagasy endemic genus Pervilleu (Asclepiadaceae), distributed in the drier West Malagasy phytogeographic region, is revised. Four species and one subspecies are recognized. Pervillea has not been recognized as a distinct genus during the last century, and species belonging to this genus have been referred to Toxocarpus and Menabea. One new species and one new subspecies are described, viz. p phillipsonii Klack. and I! venenata ssp. mucrantha Klack., and one new combination, Secamone surfurea (Jum. & Perr.) Klack. is made. A key, typifications, descriptions as well as drawings of all taxa are given. A hypothesis of the phylogenetic relationship of the species IS presented, including also the monotypic genus Calyptranthera. Phytogeography and vicariance patterns are discussed.

The New Genus Calyptranthera (Asclepiadaceae) from Madagascar

A species previously identified as Toxocarpus caudiclavus Choux (Asclepiadaceae, Secamoneae) is outside the morphologic and phylogenetic bounds of this genus. Instead, it is more closely related to the Malagasy endemic genus Pervillea Decaisne (Secamoneae), with which it shares some gynostegium characters. Toxocarpus caudiclavus differs from Pervillea, however, in several characters and is best placed in a new genus, Calyptranthera, which is herein described and illustrated. During a survey of the tribe Secamoneae in Madagascar for the Flore de Madagascar et des Comores, I came across a taxon of Toxocarpus, TI caudiclavus Choux, that has been misplaced. Toxocarpus caudiclavus was described by Choux (1914: 415), who with some hesitation placed the taxon in this genus. Toxocarpus Wight & Arnott is a primarily Asian genus, with a few species described from the African mainland and Madagascar. The type species, T kleinii Wight & Amrnott, which is distributed in India and Sri Lanka, is characterized by a two-parted dorsiventrally flattened corona lobe, a stigma head placed directly on the ovary with a thick lower part and a long thin upper part distinctly projecting above the staminal column. The likewise paleotropical Secamone R. Brown, the other large genus within the tribe Secamoneae, also described from Asia, differs primarily from Toxocarpus by having small flowers, laterally compressed corona lobes, and a short stigma head that does not project above the staminal column. Outside Asia, however, the distinction between these two genera is less marked, and several species of Toxocarpus might be better placed in Secamone, or both taxa may need to be divided into several smaller monophyletic genera (for discussion and references, see Klackenberg, 1992: 8). In Madagascar none of the diagnostic characters for the two genera holds true, and most Malagasy Secamoneae have hitherto been included in Secamone sensu lato. However, a handful of distinctly different Malagasy taxa with large flowers and dorsiventrally flattened corona lobes have been considered to be congeneric with the Asian Toxocarpus. Recent studies have shown that the Malagasy Toxocarpus is a paraphyletic group composed of species better placed in at least three other genera, i.e., Secamone s.1. (Klackenberg, 1992: 20), Pervillea (Klackenberg, 1995 and in prep.) and Calyptranthera (see below). Toxocarpus caudiclavus fits neither in Toxocarpus s. str. as it is circumscribed in Asia, nor in Secamone s.1. as it is known in Madagascar. It differs by its long projecting connectives and by having a discoid stigma head abruptly narrowed into a style and topped by a short broad upper part. This structure is found also in, e.g., Periplocaceae and the Malagasy endemic genus Pervillea, but not in Secamone/Toxocarpus (see above). Furthermore, in T caudiclavus the four pollinia are adnate to a very thin U-like folded corpusculum without caudicle. These three characters, which distinguish Toxocarpus caudiclavus from Toxocarpus/Secamone, ally it, however, to Pervillea. Pervillea was described by Decaisne (1844: 613) as a monotypic genus (P tomentosa), but was later included in Toxocarpus by Jumelle and Perrier de la Bathie (1907: 389, 1908: 214). However, it has recently been shown that due to several distinguishing characters, particularly the long projecting connectives, this taxon must be excluded from Toxocarpus, and Pervillea has been reinstated as a separate genus (Klackenberg, 1995). Furthermore, Pervillea is no longer monotypic but comprises, in addition to P tomentosa, two more species: P. decaryi (Choux) Klackenberg (= Toxocarpus decaryi Choux) and P. venenata (Baillon) Klackenberg ( Menabea venenata Baillon) (Klackenberg 1995 and in prep.). Toxocarpus caudiclavus differs from Pervillea and Toxocarpus/Secamone by the fused connectives forming a calyptra at the top of the gynostegium, the club-shaped appendages on long strings at the top of the prolonged connectives, the filaments with cuplike projections below the anther wings forming the pollinium entrance, the short recurved corona lobes, and the thin hairy submarginal fold at the corolla lobes. None of these features have been observed elsewhere in the tribe Secamoneae. Toxocarpus caudiclavus also lacks the unique feature of distinctly curled leaf hairs with much reduced or NovoN 6: 25-27. 1996. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.176 on Mon, 20 Jun 2016 06:15:47 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms