Rounded Tubercles Research Articles

Pseudomystus tuberosus, a new species of catfish from central Borneo (Actinopterygii: Bagridae)

Pseudomystus tuberosus, a new species of bagrid catfish from the Kahayan River drainage in south central Borneo, is described in this study. It can be distinguished from all congeners in having a strongly humped dorsal profile (vs. dorsal profile weakly humped or without hump), as well as its head and flanks covered with rounded tubercles (vs. smooth or with capillaceous epithelial projections). Pseudomystus tuberosus most closely resembles P. vaillantii, but can be further distinguished from it in having a smaller eye (8% HL vs. 9–12) and a slenderer caudal peduncle (5.5–6.0% SL vs. 6.8–8.1). The identity of P. carnosus, described from southern Sumatra, is also discussed, and the species treated as a junior synonym of P. moeschii.

On the Occurrence of the Gar Obaichthys africanus Grande in the Cretaceous of Portugal: Palaeoecological and Palaeobiogeographical Implications

Several disarticulated fish scales and a vertebral centrum were collected from the uppermost middle to lowermost upper Cenomanian beds of the vertebrate fossil site of Casais dos Carecos (Baixo Mondego region, Coimbra, West Portugal), corresponding to shallow carbonate and mixed facies (“Unit B”) of the Tentúgal Formation. The taphonomic preservation of these remains is adequate for their detailed taxonomical study. The scales are diagnosable for the species Obaichthys africanus Grande, as each one has a strong spine protruding from the middle of the posterior border in a rostrocaudal direction, a dorsoventral peg and socket, and a small anterodorsal process for articulation of adjacent scales. The sculpture with ganoid ridges and grooves distinguishes the studied remains from those of O. decoratus Wenz and Brito, which display rounded tubercles. The isolated Lepisosteoidea centrum is tentatively attributed to O. africanus as well, as it was found together with the scales, and no other compatible remains were found in the site. The fish material reported here constitutes the first record of O. africanus in the Baixo Mondego region and northern ranges of the Albian–Turonian West Portuguese Carbonate Platform, as well as in the uppermost middle to basal upper Cenomanian of Portugal.

Mammillichnis monstrum isp. nov., a new sea anemone trace fossil from the Carboniferous of the Donets Basin, Ukraine

A new ichnospecies Mammillichnis monstrum isp. nov. (Domichnia) is described from turbidite sandstone in the upper part of the Mospyne Formation (late Bashkirian, Early Pennsylvanian) of southern Luhansk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. Mammillichnis monstrum isp. nov. is represented by hypichnial, hemispherical, slightly flattened passive fillings of a large burrow; the apex of burrow casts has concentric depression or a small rounded tubercle. Mammillichnis monstrum isp. nov. differs from Mammillichnis aggeris Chamberlain, 1971 (Vendian–Oligocene) and Mammillichnis jakubi Pokorny et al., 2017 (Late Miocene, Neogene) by its much larger size. The depth of burrows varies greatly, which seems to be related to the different preservation of burrow casts, as well as, apparently, different maturity of burrow producers. In addition, such an important diagnostic feature as a rounded tubercle at the apex of the burrow casts is not observed in all specimens, which is probably also due to the different types of preservation of the trace fossils. Perhaps, the differences in the morphology of the apex of some examined specimens are due to the activity of organisms that lived in the burrows after the death of the trace fossil producer. The producers of the trace fossils Mammillichnis are apparently sea anemones (Actiniaria). The fossil record of Actiniaria has significant gaps because these animals lack a mineral skeleton that can be preserved as a fossil. The oldest sea anemones are known from the Vendian; there is no data on post-Carboniferous fossil Actiniaria. It seems that the only way to study the evolution of this group of animals is studying of their trace fossils, such as burrows (e.g. ichnogenera Astropolichnus, Bergaueria, Conostichus, and Kulindrichnus), which demonstrate some details of the body morphology of their producers. The trace fossils Mammillichnis monstrum apparently marks insignificant pauses in sedimentation preceding the accumulation of turbidite sandstones. In the coarse sandy sediments are preserved mainly large depressions left by sessile coelenterates. Trace fossils are well preserved in some sandstone lenses and poorly preserved in others. This circumstance is apparently related to the different intensity of erosive activity of turbidity currents.

A new genus and species of minute litter bugs family Schizopteridae Reuter, 1891 from China (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Dipsocoromorpha).

A new genus and species of Schizopteridae, Cornonannusbui gen. et sp. nov. is described from Yunnan Province, China. The new genus is closest to Pachyplagia Gross, 1951, Ogeria, Distant 1913, and Kaimon Hill, 2004 in morphology, but it can be distinguished from these genera by the male having a frontal process, the absence of pronotal collar, the distinct venation of forewing, a tarsi formula of 3-3-3, and the middle area of abdominal tergites I to VII with small, round tubercles. Photographs of the male habitus, head, thorax, abdomen, appendages, and genitalic structures, as well as scanning electron micrographs of the male head, thorax, abdomen, and genitalic structures and drawings of male genitalia, are provided. Moreover, a key to all known Chinese schizopterid genera is presented.

Strong differentiation between amphibian communities on two adjacent mountains in the Upper Rio Pastaza watershed of Ecuador, with descriptions of two new species of terrestrial frogs.

We present the results of herpetological surveys in two adjacent mountains where the EcoMinga Foundation protects the cloud forest in the Upper Rio Pastaza watershed, in the Llanganates Sangay Ecological Corridor in Ecuador. A rapid assessment of the amphibian communities of the study sites reveals a diverse and heterogeneous composition, dominated by terrestrial frogs from the genus Pristimantis. We also identify a cryptic diversity with a significant number of candidate new species. We describe two new species of terrestrial frogs of the genus Pristimantis. Pristimantismaryanneaesp. nov. is characterised by not having tympanum externally visible and having 2–3 subconical tubercles in the upper eyelid; and Pristimantisburtoniorumsp. nov. is characterised by the presence of red colouration in hidden surfaces of the hind-limbs, tubercles on the upper eyelid, interorbital tubercle and a row of rounded tubercles along the snout to the tip and a pale red venter with dark brown mottled pattern. Our samples from the two Reserves do not share species between them, so the proportion of shared species seems to be relatively low. In addition, we highlight the importance of updating the knowledge of amphibians that are restricted to this important conservation region and comment about the threats and composition of the amphibian communities on the eastern slopes of the Upper Rio Pastaza watershed.

Pristimantis achupalla sp. n., a new minute species of direct-developing frog (Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae) inhabiting bromeliads of the montane forest of the Amazonian Andes of Puno, Peru.

We describe a new species of bromeliad-dwelling Pristimantis from primary montane forest (2,225 m a.s.l.) in southern Peru. The type locality is near Thiuni, in the Department of Puno (province of Carabaya) in the upper watershed of a tributary of the Inambari River. Pristimantis achupalla sp. n. is characterized by a snout-vent length of 10.0–12.8 mm in adult males (n = 4), unknown in adult females, and is compared morphologically and genetically with species in the Pristimantis lacrimosus group, and with other similar species of Pristimantis. The new species is characterized by having skin on dorsum and flanks rugose, green brownish color, distinctive scapular folds, subacuminate or acuminate snout profile, upper eyelid bearing two or three subconical tubercles and some rounded tubercles, rostral papilla, flanks light brown to brown, with irregular dark brown marks.

Two new feather mites of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Acariformes: Trouessartiidae) from tyrant flycatchers (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) in Argentina

Two new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) are described from tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae) in Argentina: Trouessartia salvadori sp. nov. from the White-crested Tyrannulet Serpophaga subcristata (Vieillot) and T. gonzalezacunai sp. nov. from the Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus (Boddaert). Trouessartia salvadori sp. nov. is close to T. longiducta Hernandes et Valim, 2015 and most clearly differs from the latter in having, in males, the genital apparatus with wedge-shaped hyaline extensions and the anterior genital papillae situated more distant from the midline than posterior ones, and in females, setae h1 not extending beyond the margin of the interlobar membrane, and the posterior part of the hysteronotal shield bearing well outlined ovate lacunae except in the narrow median area. Trouessartia gonzalezacunai sp. nov. is similar to T. savanae Hernandes, 2014, but is distinguished from that species in having, in males, the terminal lamellae shaped as a fishtail, the epiandrum shaped as a goblet, the apophyses of adanal apodemes represented by thick spine-like tubercles, and in females, setae h1 minute spiculiform about 10 long, and the external copulatory tube shaped as a small rounded tubercle near the margin of interlobar membrane.

A new species of Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura, Odontophrynidae) of the P. bigibbosa species group from Southern Brazil

Abstract The monophyletic Proceratophrys bigibbosa species group has a stable taxonomic history. Despite the increasing number of Proceratophrys described in the last decades, the P. bigibbosa group, for a long time, has consisted of four species distributed in south of South America; except for P. palustris that occurs in southeastern Brazil. Herein, based on concordant evidence of morphology and mtDNA barcoding, we describe a new species of Proceratophrys for specimens assigned to the P. bigibbosa group collected in Tibagi municipality, Paraná state, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed by its small size, snout rounded in dorsal view, palpebral ridge with small and rounded tubercles, small postocular swellings, presence of a line of small and round tubercles on dorso-lateral region of body, and dorsal region covered by small, sparse, and rounded tubercles. We also highlight the potential occurrence of the new species in other areas along the Campos Gerais of Paraná, given the strong association of the species with this vegetational formation in South Brazil.

A new species of Dudgeodes Sartori, 2008 (Ephemeroptera: Teloganodidae) from Megamalai hills of southern Western Ghats, India.

Dudgeodes sartorii sp. nov. is described based on nymphs from the Megamalai hills of Western Ghats, Southern India. The nymph of Dudgeodes sartorii sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Indian species of Dudgeodes by i) prothorax with two rounded tubercles; (ii) outer margin of mesothorax with simple setae; (iii) distinct maculae in the distal region of femora; (iv) transverse row of setae on fore femora narrower with blunt apex and (v) dark brownish band on the 5th segment of cerci.

Doris adrianae sp. nov. (Heterobranchia; Nudibranchia; Doridina) from the Galician coasts (NW Iberian Peninsula).

Abstract
 A new species of dorid nudibranch, Doris adrianae sp. nov. is described, from the Ría de Ferrol (NW Iberian Peninsula) on rocky bottoms, between 11 and 20 m deep, where the sponge Polymastia boletiformis (Lamarck, 1815) on which it feeds is common. The new species is oval-shaped and yellow to yellow-orange in colour, with the back covered by rounded tubercles of various sizes, reinforced by tegumentary spicules. It is characterised by numerous integumentary and fusiform calcareous spicules, mainly grouped in multispicular bundles that give it a complex and very dense skeletal structure, giving the animal great consistency without losing flexibility. In addition, it differs from other known species of the genus Doris Linnaeus, 1758 by various external and internal characters, mainly by the colouring and tubercles of the body, characters of the radula and of the digestive and reproductive systems. Doris adrianae sp. nov. also presents a marked genetic distance in the barcode fragment (cox1-5') with other species of the genus Doris.

A new species of Dynoides Barnard, 1914 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Sphaeromatidae) from Canada, with notes on geographic distribution of the north-eastern Pacific Ocean species

ABSTRACT Dynoides canadensis sp. nov. is described from the south-western coast of British Columbia, Canada. This species differs from its closely related species, D. elegans (Boone, 1923) ), by the presence of a smooth pleotelson without prominent rounded tubercle on the basal part of the pleotelsonic sinus, its sinus wall lacking crenulation; in having the penial processes length 7.7 × basal width and acute distal apex instead of 2.3 × basal width and rounded and blunt distal apex in D. elegans. This new species also has an appendix masculina with the distal apex extending somewhat beyond its base, instead of not reaching the base as is the case for D. elegans. A map of the distribution for the north-eastern Pacific species of Dynoides Barnard, 1914 (D. elegans (Boone, 1921); D. crenulatus and D. saldanai Carvacho & Haasmann, 1984; and D. dentisinus Shen 1929) in the north-eastern Pacific is provided. The new species is abundant in the western coastal zone of British Columbia. A revised generic diagnosis is provided for the genus Dynoides. Publication LSID: lsid:http://zoobank.org:pub:ADF85BE9-C307-43EA-B270-1B2DB2F61883

Species Identification of Shed Snake Skins by Scanning Electron Microscopy, with Verification of Intraspecific Variations and Phylogenetic Comparative Analyses of Microdermatoglyphics

Shed skins of snakes have practical applications and can provide information on biodiversity. We examined shed skins or scales stripped from 53 native species of snakes from Taiwan and adjacent islands and 13 foreign species, verified the intraspecific variation of microstructures on the scales, conducted phylogenetic comparative analyses of microdermatoglyphics, and developed a guide and key to identify shed skins by scanning electron microscopy. We examined several microstructural characteristics of scales including the form and dimensions of oberhautchen cells, denticulations, microridges, nanopits, and nanochannels. Furthermore, we noted scale shape and presence or absence of rounded tubercles on the scales. The microstructures of apical (and central) regions of scales were similar to each other, but different from those on basal and lateral margins, the keel, or apical pits. The microdermatoglyphics on cranial scales (cephalic shields) differed from those on scales from other regions of the body. Those from the dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces of the body, and the dorsal surface of the tail were similar, as were those on scales from the ventral surfaces of the body and tail. For adults or juveniles, there was no significant ontogenetic variation in many microdermatoglyphic characteristics. By conducting phylogenetic mapping, we found that symmetrical (dorsal) scales without apical pit organs or rounded tubercles, keelless and rounded scales, flat microdermatoglyphic patterns (without longitudinal microridges), (sub)lamellate oberhautchen cells, cell borders without denticulations or with tiny and keelless denticulations, and relatively small nanopits at denticulation joints or covering cells, are likely to be plesiomorphic character states. We also examined character evolution models based on the microdermatoglyphics and their phylogenetic signals, conducted phylogenetic generalized least-squares regressions to examine the correlations among snake habitat type and the morphological traits on scales, and confirmed a hypothesis that the evolution of scale microstructures is dominated by both phylogenetic and functional (ecological) constraints. This study also indicates that scale microstructure can be used to identify snakeskin products, roadkill specimens and fragmented samples, scale remnants in predator feces, and wild snake sloughs.

A new species of Pegasus (Syngnathiformes: Pegasidae) from the South China Sea.

A new fish species from the South China Sea, Pegasus nanhaiensis sp. nov., is described herein. The new species is readily distinguished from all other species of the genus Pegasus with the following characteristics: A rounded hump-like tubercle on each of dorsal plates I, II, and III. Noticeable hexagonal patterns on the dorsal carapace with a clear boundary, and two paired caudolateral plates overlapping the junctions between tail rings II and III, and between tail rings IV and V. The integrated evidence from both morphological and genetic studies indicates that P. nanhaiensis represents an independent lineage within the genus Pegasus.

The return of the clown: pseudocryptic speciation in the North Pacific clown nudibranch, Triopha catalinae (Cooper, 1863) sensu lato identified by integrative taxonomic approaches

The North Pacific nudibranch species Triopha catalinae (Cooper, 1863), also known as the clown nudibranch, includes two distinct morphotypes: the trans-Pacific morphotype, known from South Korea to Southern California, and the eastern Pacific-only morphotype from Southeast Alaska to Baja California. We tested the hypothesis that Triopha catalinae is a species complex by applying an integrative taxonomic approach that included (1) phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial 16S and COI, and the nuclear Histone H3 genes; (2) haplotype network analysis based on COI sequences; (3) Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) species delimitation analysis based on 16S and COI sequences; and (4) comparative internal and external morphological studies. Specimens of two morphotypes were found to be genetically distinct; they clustered into two well-supported clades in the phylogenetic analyses and two groups in the TCS haplotype network. Moreover, these two groups displayed morphological differences in the dorsal tubercles and radula structure: the trans-Pacific morphotype specimens possess relatively small and dendritic dorsal tubercles, two rows of arborescent tubercles on the dorso-lateral appendages of larger individuals, and radular formula 19–24 × (9–12.5–10.1.5–10.9–12). Specimens of the eastern Pacific-only morphotype have relatively large, conical or rounded dorsal tubercles, and radular formula 48–79 × (16–18.17–33.1.17–33.16–18). Finally, the ABGD analysis confirmed that these two morphotypes constitute different species. A review of the literature (including original descriptions) and available type material revealed that Triopha modesta Bergh, 1880 and T. catalinae are the valid names for the trans-Pacific and eastern Pacific-only morphotype, respectively.

New Insight into the Systematics of European Lepidocyrtus (Collembola: Entomobryidae) Using Molecular and Morphological Data.

The Collembolan genus Lepidocyrtus is subdivided into up to eight subgenera, of which only Lepidocyrtus s.str. (Bourlet, 1839) and Lanocyrtus (Yoshii & Suhardjono, 1989) are represented by European species. The discovery of unique characters in the European species Lepidocyrtus tomosvaryi (rounded dental tubercle) and L. peisonis (lateral tuft of long filiform chaetae in abdomen III) has only described so far for species of the subgenera Setogaster (Salmon, 1951) and Cinctocyrtus (Yoshii & Suhardjono, 1989) and has raised the need to perform a molecular analysis by involving other representative species of the genus. For this study, phylogenetic analysis of 15 Lepidocyrtus species occurring in the Carpathian Basin were carried out. The analyses, which was based on both concatenated datasets of COII and EF1-α sequences and individual gene sequences, clearly placed L. tomosvaryi within the subgenus Lanocyrtus and L. peisonis within Lepidocyrtus s.srt. European species groups defined on the basis of morphological characters were only partly confirmed by the concatenated and COII analyses because of the splitting of the pallidus–serbicus-group, whereas EF1- α sequences weakly supported this group.

A new species of terrestrial frog of the genus Noblella Barbour, 1930 (Amphibia: Strabomantidae) from the Llanganates-Sangay Ecological Corridor, Tungurahua, Ecuador.

We describe a new species of terrestrial frog of the genus Noblella from the eastern versants of the Ecuadorian Andes in the upper Pastaza watershed. Noblella naturetrekii sp. n. differs from its Ecuadorian congeners by the presence of a differentiated tympanic membrane and a weakly defined tympanic annulus, and eyelids with rounded tubercles. In addition, the new species is characterized by its blackish–dark brown ventral coloration scattered with little white dots and the absence of papillae at the tip of the fingers and toes. We provide a detailed description of the call and osteology of the new species. Finally, we present the most complete phylogeny of the genus, which confirms that Noblella is a non-monophyletic group.

Two new species of the Simulium (Simulium) tuberosum species-group (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Palawan, the Philippines.

Two new species of black flies, Simulium mainitense and S. tukurongense, are described from Palawan, the Philippines. Both species are placed in the Simulium nitidithorax subgroup of the Simulium tuberosum species-group of Simulium (Simulium). They are characterized by the female sensory vesicle of medium length, pupal thorax covered with round tubercles, and anterodorsal trichomes on the pupal thorax longer than frontal trichomes. This combination of characters separates these two new species from S. quasifrenum Delfinado, the only previously known member of the S. nitidithorax subgroup from Palawan, and nine other related species from Sabah, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia and India. Simulium mainitense sp. nov. is distinguished from S. tukurongense sp. nov. in the female by the somewhat larger body size, and greater length ratio of the labrum against the clypeus; and in the pupa by the much longer gill filaments.

A new species of terrestrial frog Pristimantis (Strabomantidae) from the upper basin of the Pastaza River, Ecuador.

We describe a new species of Pristimantis from the montane forest of the Río Zuñag Ecological Reserve, upper basin of the Pastaza River, Ecuador. Pristimantismalliisp. n. is characterized by a snout-vent length of 11.6–21.3 mm in adult males (n = 12), 22.6–34.3 mm in adult females (n = 8), and is compared morphologically and genetically with Pristimantismiktos and with other relevant species of Pristimantis. The new species is characterized by having skin on dorsum and flanks shagreen, distinctive scapular folds, snout broadly rounded in dorsal view, upper eyelid bearing one or two subconical tubercles and some rounded tubercles, dorsum and flanks light brown to brown, with irregular dark brown marks bounded by dirty cream and groin with irregular yellowish marks.

A bizarre new species of Lynchius (Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae) br />from the Andes of Ecuador and first report of Lynchius parkeri in Ecuador.

We describe a new species of Lynchius from the eastern montane forest of southern Ecuador. We also report the occurrence of L. parkeri in Ecuador, on paramos of Yacuri National Park, near the border with Peru. We used morphological and genetic evidence for the description of the new species and the new report of L. parkeri. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference on DNA sequences for mitochondrial and nuclear genes. The phylogeny shows that L. simmonsi is sister to a clade composed of the remaining species of Lynchius and that the new species is sister to L. flavomaculatus. The new species has a prominent and heavily ossified head with noticeably spiculate cranial exostosis that easily distinguishes it from all its congeners. The dorsal region and limbs present several reduced subconical and rounded tubercles and pronounced dermal ridges on the dorsum. We also describe the osteology of the new species based on x-rays of the holotype. Only six species of Lynchius, two known to occur in Ecuador (L. flavomaculatus and L. simmonsi). The description of L. megacephalus sp. n. and new record of L. parkeri double the number of known Lynchius in Ecuador and suggest that the diversity of Ecuadorian and Peruvian Lynchius is still underestimated.

A New Species ofFritzianaMello-Leitão 1937 (Amphibia: Anura: Hemiphractidae) from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Abstract We describe a new species of the genus Fritziana, historically identified as Fritziana fissilis or F. aff. fissilis. Using adult and tadpole morphology, as well as molecular analyses, we found the new species to be characterized by having the following traits: a mucronate snout tip, a black stripe on the wrist, round subarticular tubercles on the fingers and toes, a closed dorsal egg-pouch in females, tadpoles deposited in bromeliads, and a different mitochondrial transfer RNA gene order, when compared to the general orders already recognized for anurans. This new species occurs in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, in the states of Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, and has the largest geographic distribution recorded for a species of Fritziana.