New Species Research Articles

Species boundaries of the whiptail catfish Rineloricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Paraíba do Sul River drainage, southeastern Brazil, with species redescriptions and description of a new species.

Species of the catfish genus Rineloricaria are common in the Paraíba do Sul River basin, in southeastern Brazil; here we present a revision of the taxonomic diversity and geographic distribution of the species of the genus inhabiting the basin, based on novel morphologic and molecular data. Five species delimitation methods based on cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 nucleotide sequences yielded comparable molecular operational taxonomic units. The automatic barcode gap discovery, assemble species by automatic partitioning, barcode index number, and Bayesian implementation of the Poisson tree process methods supported the recognition of five evolutionary lineages. These taxonomic units were assigned to the previously described Rineloricaria nigricauda, Rineloricaria steindachneri, Rineloricaria zawadzkii, and Rineloricaria nudipectoris, and an additional undescribed species. R. zawadzkii was further divided into two intraspecific geographically structured lineages using the generalized mixed Yule coalescent delimitation method. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis revealed that the five lineages from the Paraíba do Sul have closer relationships to different species from southern and southeastern Brazil (Ribeira de Iguape, Lagoa dos Patos, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Parana river basins) than to each other. Based on the analysis of lectotypes, recently collected material, and specimens from ichthyological collections, the poorly described R. nigricauda and R. steindachneri are redescribed following current descriptive standards. The undescribed species from the middle and upper Paraíba do Sul River basin is formally described. The description of a new species, along with the description of species boundaries in R. nigricauda and R. steindachneri, contributes to the knowledge of the ichthyofauna of the Paraíba do Sul River basin and adjacent coastal drainages of southeastern Brazil. An identification key for the species of Rineloricaria occurring in the Paraíba do Sul River basin is provided.

Reviving Ligdus Thorell, 1895: Description of a new species from India, 129 years since the establishment of the genus (Araneae: Salticidae: Ballini)

Reviving Ligdus Thorell, 1895: Description of a new species from India, 129 years since the establishment of the genus (Araneae: Salticidae: Ballini)

Temporal and biogeographical patterns of new species descriptions in worldwide amphibians

Temporal and biogeographical patterns of new species descriptions in worldwide amphibians

Trends in botanical exploration in Nigeria forecast over 1000 yet undescribed vascular plant species.

Taxonomists are primary actors of biodiversity assessment. At the same time, there is awareness by the taxonomic community at large that the field is going through a crisis, sometimes referred to as the 'taxonomic impediment'. Coupled with the ongoing biodiversity crisis, or 6th mass extinction, this biodiversity impedance puts at risk the target set in the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Global Biodiversity Framework vision 2050, which calls for urgent action to '… put biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030 for the benefit of planet and people'. This risk is particularly pronounced in tropical African countries where taxonomic studies are done on an ad hoc basis. In this study, our aim is to investigate the historical trends in botanical exploration of vascular plants in Nigeria and forecast the near-term (50-year) description of presently unknown species, which we use to discuss scenarios of taxonomic effort that may be necessary for a comprehensive biodiversity assessment in the country. The study is based on a dataset from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, containing all vascular plant species reported to occur in Nigeria. We fit nested Bayesian time series regressions to estimate the long-term trend in the rate of description of vascular plant species in Nigeria. From these models, we use an ensemble forecast to estimate the number of species descriptions by the year 2070, and then evaluate the description rates per taxonomist required to meet this estimate under different totals of active taxonomists. We find a striking difference in species description between Nigerian botanists and their foreign counterparts, with the former contributing relatively small numbers. Additionally, only a fraction of the authors involved in describing Nigeria's vascular plants are of indigenous origin. Our study reveals that the number of new species described annually exhibits a long-term increasing trend, with an average of 19.5 species described per year. However, after taking into account year-to-year variability and the number of taxonomists active in a given year, the long-term trend in species descriptions credibly declines over time. While the number of authors involved in describing species has generally increased over time, it has remained stable since the 1950s. Predictions for the number of new species descriptions by 2070 vary by model, with an ensemble prediction estimating 1140 species descriptions, but ranging from 1004 to 2239 between individual models. The study estimates that current levels of taxonomic activity should lead to a 20 % increase in known species of vascular plants in Nigeria over the next 50 years, which is still probably an underestimate of the true, unknown species richness. Urgent action is needed to address the taxonomic impediment so that local taxonomic studies in tropical African countries can achieve the CBD's Global Biodiversity Framework vision 2050. Here, we outline some key pathways to achieving this goal.

Extension of the geographical range of the primary burrowing crayfish Cambarus strigosus Hobbs, 1981 (Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae) in South Carolina

Abstract Knowledge of the geographical distribution for many primary burrowing crayfishes is often limited to information presented in species descriptions or field notes associated with epigean crayfish surveys. Cambarus strigosusHobbs, 1981, a rare primary burrowing crayfish, was collected as part of a survey of the Sumter National Forest, South Carolina (SC), USA. Prior to this discovery, C. strigosus appeared to be endemic to mid-reaches of the Broad River Drainage in Georgia (GA). We conducted additional field sampling in SC and GA and used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to compare the relative genetic distance between individuals across all populations in an effort to determine the identity of the specimens collected. Genetic data indicated that the crayfish collected in SC was C. strigosus, with one shared haplotype between SC and GA populations. Our genetic results exhibited geographic structuring and indicated that SC populations have a specific haplotype unique to them, providing strong evidence that SC populations are not introduced. Two additional SC records of C. strigosus from 1983 housed in the US National Museum were examined and determined to be C. strigosus. With these records, we hypothesized that like in GA, the distribution of C. strigosus in SC is limited to riparian habitats associated with the Savannah River Drainage. While the range of this species has been extended, it is still limited to small portions of this drainage. Thus, further sampling to determine the true extent of C. strigosus distribution within SC along with conservation efforts are needed to protect this globally rare species.

A review of the leaf-beetle genus Sinoluperus Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) from China, with the description of a new species

In this study, all species of the leaf-beetle genus Sinoluperus Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963 from China are redescribed based on the reexamination of type specimens, and a new species, S. variegatussp. nov. from Nanling Mountains, is described. A key to the three Chinese species of Sinoluperus is provided, as well as photographs of the habiti and aedeagi of these species.

A review of the genus Vitrea Fitzinger, 1833 (Gastropoda, Eupulmonata, Pristilomatidae) in Serbia: diversity, distribution and the description of a new species

In this paper, the genus Vitrea Fitzinger, 1833 in Serbia is reviewed. All previous literature data on this genus from Serbia are summarised and used to discuss its distribution in the country and create distribution maps, supplemented by new material collected by the authors. All Serbian species are figured. For each species, a brief description of the examined specimens, data on previous findings in Serbia, the material (including types) that were analysed, the distribution and habitats in Serbia they inhabit, as well as remarks on specific species are given. A new species, Vitrea virgo Gojšina & Dedov, sp. nov., is described from a pit on Mt. Devica in eastern Serbia. Vitrea pygmaea (O. Boettger, 1880) is reported for the first time for the territory of Serbia. As some Vitrea species have a narrow geographical range and prefer certain habitats, they are particularly vulnerable to habitat changes, which is also discussed in the paper. An identification key for all hitherto known Serbian species is given.

Two new species of Nematoda: Gairleanema pulchra sp. nov. (Tripyloididae) and Axonolaimus dimorphous sp. nov. (Axonolaimidae) from the Yellow Sea, China

Two new species of Nematoda, Gairleanema pulchra sp. nov. and Axonolaimus dimorphous sp. nov. are described from Rizhao coast, the Yelllow Sea. Gairleanema pulchra sp. nov. is characterized by six inner labial setae with bulbous swelling, six long outer labial setae and four short cephalic setae in one circle, amphidial fovea oval-shaped, spicules L-shaped with proximal end slightly cephalated, gubernaculum boat shaped with proximal end hooked anteriorly, seven oval-shaped precloacal supplements and tail conico-cylindrical. With the species description here two species are considered valid now in genus Gairleanema. Axonolaimus dimorphous sp. nov. is characterized by four long cephalic setae, amphidial fovea elongated loop in males and loop-shaped in females, spicules arcuated, gubernaculum with dorsal apophysis slightly directed to caudal position and tail conico-cylindrical with caudal setae. With the species description here 34 species are considered valid now in genus Axonolaimus.

Review of the ant genus Manica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with a new record of the genus in China and description of a new species

Seven known extant species of Manica have been identified worldwide: M. bradleyi (Wheeler, 1909), M. hunteri (Wheeler, 1914), M. invidia Bolton, 1995, M. parasitica (Creighton, 1934), M. rubida (Latreille, 1802), M. shanyiisp. nov., and M. yessensis Azuma, 1955. The discovery of the new species is documented from Sichuan Province, China, marking the first recorded instance of the genus Manica in China. Additionally, an identification key for distinguishing the known species within the genus Manica is provided.

Taxonomic notes on toad bug genus Nerthra (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gelastocoridae) with description of a new species from Bonaire and Curaçao

During an inventory of the Gelastocoridae in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands (formerly Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden, The Netherlands), and the Nieser & Chen Collection in Tiel, The Netherlands, we came across an undescribed species of Nerthra Say, 1832 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gelastocoridae: Nerthrinae). The specimens were collected from Bonaire and Curaçao, Kingdom of the Netherlands, and we describe them here as N. papaceki sp. nov. Nerthra lurida Todd, 1959, syn. nov., is synonymized with Nerthra occidua Todd, 1959 (both from Indonesia: Sulawesi). In addition, we provide new distributional records of Nerthra americana (Montandon, 1905) (Brazil: Paraná), Nerthra buenoi Todd, 1955 (Brazil: Pará), and Nerthra raptoria (Fabricius, 1803) (Suriname) and provide their differential diagnoses and illustrations.

Description of a new species of Cottus Linnaeus (Cottidae) from the Western Dvina / Daugava River system, Baltic Sea basin, based on integrative taxonomy

In the genus Cottus (family Cottidae), 72 species are known. Of these, 37 species are found in North America, 17 in Asia, and 18 in Europe. Over the past 18 years, nine new species have been described from Western and Central Europe, two from Eastern part of this continent. Also, the validity of two Eastern European species was confirmed. In the Western Dvina / Daugava River system (Baltic Sea basin), Cottus dorofeevi sp. nov. was found. To describe this species, an integrative approach was used that combines morphological and molecular methods. The new species differs from other species of the genus Cottus by a combination of morphological characters. Taxonomically the most conspicuous features are: flattened shape of head; long pelvic fins (reaching anus); incomplete trunk canal of lateral line with 25-27 pores; presence of melanophores on ventral side of body and fins. Genetically, C. dorofeevi sp. nov. is sister to C. koshewnikowi. Haplotypes (CR) of C. dorofeevi sp. nov. are differentiated from haplotypes of other European species of the genus Cottus by genetic distances between 1.3% and 3%.

Occurrence of Stenurus globicephalae (Nematoda: Pseudaliidae) in the blowhole of Globicephala macrorhynchus (Cetacea: Delphinidae) in Tasmania, Australia.

Information about parasites of cetaceans in Australia is scarce and mostly opportunistic. The morphology of specimens of the metastrongyloid Stenurus globicephalae Baylis & Daubney, 1925 (Nematoda: Pseudaliidae), collected from the blowhole of a pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus Gray, 1846 (Cetacea: Delphinidae) off northern Tasmania, Australia, were studied. Light and scanning electron microscopical examinations enabled a detailed redescription of this nematode species, including corrections of some inaccuracies in previous species descriptions, particularly those concerning cephalic and caudal structures. The presence of numerous ventrolateral oblique muscle bands, characteristic of the males of S. globicephalae, is reported for the first time. This is the second finding of this nematode parasite, in a different host species, in Tasmania.

A new deep-sea Cristaphyes (Kinorhyncha: Allomalorhagida: Pycnophyidae) from the continental rise of South Island, New Zealand

ABSTRACT A new kinorhynch species, Cristaphyes microtubuliferus sp. nov., is described from the continental rise of South Island, New Zealand. The new species is recognised by the presence of very poorly developed lateral terminal spines, combined with its considerable trunk length, which can exceed 1 mm. In addition, the new species is characterised by morphologically dimorphic setae, i.e. the regular long and slender setae found in most pycnophyid species, and much shorter and more rigid ‘minute setae’. Besides the new species, the presence of two additional undescribed Cristaphyes species is reported. The material is insufficient to support formal species descriptions for the latter two, but short diagnoses are provided for the species. The description of Cristaphyes microtubuliferus sp. nov. brings the total number of described and identified kinorhynch species in New Zealand up to 19. With the new species included, the genus Cristaphyes now accommodates 26 species, of which only six are known from the southern hemisphere. LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub: 77FEA91A-7684-4664-9DFC-470A245D9267

Old World species of Trichanthecium (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae) including a new species from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Studies of African material of the tribe Paniceae (Poaceae) resulted in the transfer of 12 species from Panicum, the description of a new species, and the conclusion that the genus Trichanthecium now consists of 52 species. The new Trichanthecium delimitation was confirmed by phylogenetic studies based on chloroplast ndhF and rbcL sequences. Morphological and anatomical characters are discussed within their pylogenetic context. A new species is described: T. marunguensis. Lectotypes are designated for Panicum aequinerve, P. calvum, P. chionachne, P. hochstetteri var. glaberrimum, P. inaequilatum, P. lepidum, P. mokaense, and P. wiehei. The following new combinations are proposed: T. acrotrichum, T. aequinerve, T. calvum, T. chionachne, T. delicatulum, T. eickii, T. hochstetteri, T. inaequilatum, T. perrieri, T. pusillum, T. striatissimum, and T. wiehei. Full synonymies, descriptions, distribution and habitat information, citation of all specimens and a key to the Old World species of the genus are provided; seven species are illustrated.

Towards holistic insect monitoring: species discovery, description, identification and traits for all insects.

Holistic insect monitoring needs scalable techniques to overcome taxon biases, determine species abundances, and gather functional traits for all species. This requires that we address taxonomic impediments and the paucity of data on abundance, biomass and functional traits. We here outline how these data deficiencies could be addressed at scale. The workflow starts with large-scale barcoding (megabarcoding) of all specimens from mass samples obtained at biomonitoring sites. The barcodes are then used to group the specimens into molecular operational taxonomic units that are subsequently tested/validated as species with a second data source (e.g. morphology). New species are described using barcodes, images and short diagnoses, and abundance data are collected for both new and described species. The specimen images used for species discovery then become the raw material for training artificial intelligence identification algorithms and collecting trait data such as body size, biomass and feeding modes. Additional trait data can be obtained from vouchers by using genomic tools developed by molecular ecologists. Applying this pipeline to a few samples per site will lead to greatly improved insect monitoring regardless of whether the species composition of a sample is determined with images, metabarcoding or megabarcoding. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.

Hygrocybe pellucida—a new species of Hygrophoraceae from Kerala State, India

Hygrocybe pellucida sp. nov. is described from Kerala State, India based on both morphology and multigene phylogenetic analyses (nrITS, nrLSU). This species is characterized by small, viscid, translucent basidiocarps, a whitish to grayish pileus with reddish pellucid striations, dimorphic basidiospores and basidia, a sterile lamella edge with abundant pseudocystidia, an ixotrichoderm-type pileipellis and an ixocutis-type stipitipellis. A comprehensive species description along with photographs of both the basidiocarps and the microscopic features, line drawings of the microscopic structures, a comparison with morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species and phylogenetic trees inferring the placement of the new species within the section Velosae are provided.

Taxonomic reassessment of the Herpetoreas xenura (Wall, 1907) (Squamata: Serpentes: Natricidae) from Myanmar with description of a new species

The review of the taxonomic status of Herpetoreas xenura species complex, based on morphological and molecular data, revealed a new species from Myanmar, which we describe as Herpetoreas davidi sp. nov. from the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary in Rakhine State. It is suggested to be a sister species to Herpetoreas pealii and Herpetoreas xenura sensu stricto, and can be separated from the latter species by a combination of morphological and scalation characters, and by its pattern. Another population from the Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary, Sagaing Region, was previously confused with H. xenura. However, as a closer examination of its morphology, shows it to be closer to Hebius khasiensis, we herein tentatively refer to this population as Hebius khasiensis, pending further molecular data confirming its taxonomic status. Consequently, we propose to temporarily remove Herpetoreas xenura from the fauna of Myanmar. Further studies, especially in the northwestern region of Myanmar, such as near border with India in Chin Hills and Naga Hills, are required. An updated key for the species of Herpetoreas is also provided.

Taxonomic revision of Mozambique dung beetle species in the genus Diastellopalpus van Lansberge, 1886 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Recently, there has been growing attention paid to the Mozambican dung beetle fauna, including the description of several new species. In this paper, we revise the taxonomy of species recorded from Mozambique in the genus Diastellopalpus van Lansberge, 1886, including the description of Diastellopalpus scholtzi Daniel, Strümpher, Josso & Davis, new species. We also report a new country record for Diastellopalpus neavei (d’Orbigny, 1914). Moreover, Diastellopalpus orbignyi Péringuey, 1904 is removed from subjective synonymy with Diastellopalpus infernalis van Lansberge, 1887 and proposed as a valid species. Currently, Mozambique encompasses five valid species of the genus Diastellopalpus, namely: Diastellopalpus infernalis van Lansberge, 1887, D. quinquedens Bates, 1888, D. neavei, D. orbignyi and D. scholtzi, new species. We redescribe the former four species and include an examination of the types of their junior synonyms. Furthermore, we diagnose, illustrate, and provide a distribution map for all five species and compare them to the morphologically most similar species in the genus. We designate lectotypes for the following species-group taxa: Diastellopalpus nyassicus Kolbe, 1901, D. orbignyi, D. quinquedens Bates, 1888, Onthophagus ponderosus Péringuey, 1896, and O. tridepressus d’Orbigny, 1902. Finally, we provide an updated identification key for the species of Diastellopalpus recorded from Mozambique.

Interpreting and Georeferencing the Concept of “Near” in Biodiversity Records

Georeferencing historical biodiversity specimens is a difficult but necessary task to bring data accumulated in the course of past scientific efforts into full currency for modern use. Textual locality descriptions vary widely, and are prone to error involved in interpretation of brief descriptions and often-unclear terms. Each type of locality description requires particular georeferencing methods to maximize precision and accuracy of resulting coordinates and uncertainty. Current “best practice” methods concerning textual descriptions referring to proximity to a locality (i.e., “near” a locality) are arbitrary, restrictive, or undefined. In this paper, I explore these challenges, and provide new methods for assigning geographic coordinates and uncertainty (with appropriate metadata) to such locality descriptions using point, line, or polygon shapes as the basis for Voronoi diagrams. Voronoi diagrams define the geographic space nearer to a given point than to any other point in a collection, making them ideally suited for determining the shape of such locality descriptions.

The parasitic louse genus Myrsidea (Amblycera: Menoponidae): a comprehensive review and world checklist

Abstract Myrsidea Waterston, 1915 (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) is the most diverse genus of avian chewing lice. Myrsidea has a global distribution, is thought to be highly host-specific, and parasitizes mostly passerine birds. However, the rate of taxonomic studies describing new species is relatively low, and it is thought that much of the diversity of Myrsidea is yet to be discovered. This low rate of taxonomic description for this genus, and many others, may be related to the time-consuming nature of morphological species description and a lack of expertise in louse taxonomy. Furthermore, most of the taxonomic revisions and reviews have focused on specific host families, and no comprehensive review of the morphology and molecular work of Myrsidea has been completed in the last 20 years. Here, we review the taxonomy and systematics of Myrsidea to (i) describe this chewing louse genus and its biological importance; (ii) describe current problems with its taxonomy; (iii) simplify and summarize morphological descriptions; (iv) summarize molecular data; and (v) provide a comprehensive checklist of the Myrsidea species, with all publications and localities of occurrence included. Together, we hope that this information will provide researchers with a single source of information on the genus Myrsidea, making it easier for work to proceed on its taxonomy, systematics, ecology, and evolution. Importantly, our work highlights important gaps in our knowledge of Myrsidea, providing guideposts on where future work on Myrsidea is needed.