Species In Myanmar Research Articles

Phylogeny, Diversification, and Biogeography of Garra (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) Reveals Multiple Cross‐Drainage Dispersals in Southeast Asia

ABSTRACTGarra, a kind of small‐ to medium‐sized fish, is widely distributed from southern Eurasia to central Africa. As one of the most diverse genera of Cyprinidae, investigating the phylogeny and biogeography of Garra remains challenging. In this study, we combined sequences of Garra samples collected from Myanmar with sequences downloaded from GenBank to investigate the phylogeny, diversification, and biogeography of Garra on a global scale, with an emphasis on Southeast Asia. Species delimitation results indicated that there are at least 22 potential species, including eight undescribed species in Myanmar, suggesting that the diversity of Garra in this region have been largely underestimated. Diversification analysis suggested a relatively high diversification rate in the early branches of Garra. Ancestral distribution reconstruction results revealed that Garra originated from the Irrawaddy River basin in the late Eocene, approximately 34 million years ago, with subsequent dispersals across different drainages influenced by the uplift of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. Our study provided a new insight into the evolutionary history of Garra and the basis for further research on this genus.

Emergence of drug-resistant Elizabethkingia anophelis clinical isolates in Myanmar.

Seven drug-resistant Elizabethkingia anophelis isolates were obtained from inpatients in three medical settings in Myanmar between February 2017 and January 2021. All isolates were resistant to β-lactams and colistin. Among these, four isolates were resistant to amikacin with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≥64 µg ml-1. Six of the seven isolates harboured genes encoding intrinsic β-lactamases, including bla B, bla CME and bla GOB, whereas one isolate harboured bla B, bla CME and an incomplete bla GOB gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequences revealed that several E. anophelis isolates in Myanmar formed their own clusters, whereas others were similar to isolates found in the USA. This is the first report of the emergence of Elizabethkingia species in Myanmar.

Vertical root development of seedlings grown in deep containers: Comparison of five tropical dry forest species in Myanmar

Vertical root development of seedlings grown in deep containers: Comparison of five tropical dry forest species in Myanmar

Discovery of the genus Odontomutilla Ashmead, 1899 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in Myanmar with description of a new species

Odontomutilla listopadovi sp. n. is described and illustrated from Myanmar (Mandalay Region). A female of new species (male unknown) strikingly differs from congeners by having two golden spots located transversely in the basal half of second metasomal tergum (lacking such spots or having 1(3) spots in other species of the genus). The genus Odontomutilla Ashmead, 1899 is newly recorded from Myanmar. Three wrongly recorded by me from Myanmar species: Krombei¬nidia margheritae (Hammer, 1962), Trogaspidia fimbriata Hammer, 1962, and Odontomutilla familiaris trimaculata Hammer, 1962, described K. Hammer from Margherita (India: Assam), are excluded from Myanmar fauna.

Hidden shelter-like associations of minute Alboglossiphonia leeches (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) with sedentary animals and molluscs

Freshwater leeches are a diverse group of annelid worms, some of which may serve as endosymbionts of various freshwater invertebrates, being commensals and parasites. However, the nature of such hidden associations is poorly understood. Here, we describe the first record of a freshwater leech – sponge association ever discovered. A small fragment of an unidentified and probably new freshwater sponge species (Porifera: Spongillidae) from India was heavily infested by numerous juvenile leeches Alboglossiphonia pahariensis Nesemann & Sharma, 2007 (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae), which were found in chironomid larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae: Xenochironomus sp.) burrows, penetrating the sponge’s body. The taxonomic identification of the leech was confirmed by means of an integrative approach combining morphological and DNA-based evidence. Furthermore, we present a finding of Alboglossiphonia bhamoensissp. nov. from the mantle cavity of a freshwater mussel species in Myanmar. These new records are discussed within a broader ecological and evolutionary context based on a review of the body of available literature on hidden shelter-like and parasitic associations of leeches with gastropods, bivalves, and sedentary animals in freshwater environments.

Comparative mitogenomics elucidates the population genetic structure of Amblyomma testudinarium in Japan and a closely related Amblyomma species in Myanmar.

Ticks are the second most important vector capable of transmitting diseases affecting the health of both humans and animals. Amblyomma testudinarium Koch 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), is a hard tick species having a wide geographic distribution in Asia. In this study, we analyzed the composition of A. testudinarium whole mitogenomes from various geographical regions in Japan and investigated the population structure, demographic patterns, and phylogeographic relationship with other ixodid species. In addition, we characterized a potentially novel tick species closely related to A. testudinarium from Myanmar. Phylogeographic inference and evolutionary dynamics based on the 15 mitochondrial coding genes supported that A. testudinarium population in Japan is resolved into a star‐like haplogroup and suggested a distinct population structure of A. testudinarium from Amami island in Kyushu region. Correlation analysis using Mantel test statistics showed that no significant correlation was observed between the genetic and geographic distances calculated between the A. testudinarium population from different localities in Japan. Finally, demographic analyses, including mismatch analysis and Tajima’s D test, suggested a possibility of recent population expansion occurred within Japanese haplogroup after a bottleneck event. Although A. testudinarium has been considered widespread and common in East and Southeast Asia, the current study suggested that potentially several cryptic Amblyomma spp. closely related to A. testudinarium are present in Asia.

Strobilanthes Blume (Acanthaceae) in Myanmar, a new species and an updated checklist

SummaryA brief history of the discovery of Strobilanthes species in Myanmar is presented. The revival of fieldwork in recent years has resulted in many new records, so an updated checklist of all known species from the country is needed. Selected specimens are cited and distribution notes provided. One new species, Strobilanthes hians J.R.I.Wood & K.Armstr., with unusual pollen, is described and illustrated bringing the total of recognised species in the country to 81 with six additional infraspecific taxa.

Dario tigris and Dario melanogrammus, two new species of miniature chameleon fishes from northern Myanmar (Teleostei: Badidae).

Dario tigris, new species, is described from mountain streams south of Mogaung, in the Ayeyarwaddy River basin, Myanmar. It differs from congeneric species by its unique colour pattern, which consists of a series of eight straight vertical bars, the first two of which in males are ash-grey and the subsequent six are orange-red in life, combined with a series of small black spots arranged in three to four rows dorsolaterally on the head and nape. It differs further from its close relative Dario hysginon, with which it may occur syntopically, by fewer dorsal-fin spines (modally 14 vs modally 15), and fewer vertebrae (modally 12+12=24 vs modally 12+13= 25). Dario melanogrammus, new species, is another barred Dario from the Chindwin River basin. It differs from all other species of the genus by its zigzagging dark vertical bars; amongst Myanmar species, it can be further distinguished from D. hysginon and D. tigris by more vertebrae (modally 26 vs 25 in D. hysginon, and 24 in D. tigris).

First Record of Brachiopod Species in Myanmar

The Paleozoic rocks are well exposed in the Taungnyo area and the main purpose of classification is taxonomic status of the invertebrate fossils and describing the systematic paleontology of brachiopod fossils from Taungnyo Formation. Mainly distributed clastic sedimentary rocks of Taungnyo Formation (Early Carboniferous) and carbonate rocks of Moulmein Limestone Group (Permian to Middle Triassic) are well exposed in the Taungnyo area. In this study, mainly, a total of five species are recognized in the clastic sediments of Taungnyo Formation. Most brachiopods are generally found abundant and well preserved in the mudstone unit. Among them, most of the taxa have not been recorded previously. The brachiopods include: Fimbrispirifer venustus, Ovetensispirifer ovetensium, Aullacella sp., Kayserellae emanuelensis, and Chonopectus sp. All of the species are first recorded in Myanmar.

Impatiens latiflora, a new record of Impatiens sect. Uniflorae for Sagaing Region, Myanmar

Impatiens latiflora (Balsaminaceae) is reported for the first time in Myanmar from the Sagaing Region. It differs from other Myanmar species by flat flowers on raceme inflorescences. A description of the species and colour photographs are provided.

Lost and found: Rediscovery of Ruellia bella Craib (Acanthaceae) after over a century, and first record of this species in Myanmar

A recent exploration of the Sagaing Region, Myanmar resulted in the re‐collection of Ruellia bella Craib, a long lost species previously known to be endemic to Thailand that was first described by Craib over 100 years ago. This study reports the first record of the species in Myanmar and presents an amended English description based on our newly collected material, colour photographs to aid accurate identification, and its proposed conservation status. An artificial key to the Ruellia species of Myanmar is provided below.

Blumea htamanthii (Asteraceae), a new species from Myanmar.

A new species, Blumea htamanthii Y.L. Peng, C.X. Yang & Y. Luo from Myanmar is described. The new species is distinguished from B. bifoliata by its leaves with short petioles, abaxially purple, leaf blade with papillary hair and sparse multicellular villous, capitula with 1–4 heads, glabrous florets and usually unbranched stems. A key to Blumea species in Myanmar is provided.

A Review on the Phytochemistry, Medicinal Properties and Pharmacological Activities of 15 Selected Myanmar Medicinal Plants.

Medicinal plants are a reservoir of biologically active compounds with therapeutic properties that over time have been reported and used by diverse groups of people for treatment of various diseases. This review covers 15 selected medicinal plants distributed in Myanmar, including Dalbergia cultrata, Eriosema chinense, Erythrina suberosa, Millettia pendula, Sesbania grandiflora, Tadehagi triquetrum, Andrographis echioides, Barleria cristata, Justicia gendarussa, Premna integrifolia, Vitex trifolia, Acacia pennata, Cassia auriculata, Croton oblongifolius and Glycomis pentaphylla. Investigation of the phytochemical constituents, biological and pharmacological activities of the selected medicinal plants is reported. This study aims at providing a collection of publications on the species of selected medicinal plants in Myanmar along with a critical review of the literature data. As a country, Myanmar appears to be a source of traditional drugs that have not yet been scientifically investigated. This review will be support for further investigations on the pharmacological activity of medicinal plant species in Myanmar.

New records of flowering plants for the flora of Myanmar collected from southern Shan State

Myanmar’s plant diversity is expected to be very high given the wide variety of climates and the diverse vegetation and geographical features of the country. Since the publication of Kress et al.’s plant checklist in 2003, new and unrecorded species have been constantly reported by various botanists, but much of Myanmar’s flora requires more intensive examinations. We conducted joint floristic surveys of several Ywangan areas, including the Panlaung-Pyadalin Cave Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Shan State of Myanmar. The initial identification of seed plant specimens collected from three short floristic expeditions revealed that 23 species were newly recorded species in Myanmar. More than half of these were found to be geographically notable species, which are known to be endemic to neighboring countries such as China (4 spp.), Thailand (6 spp.), and India (2 spp.). A considerable number of these unrecorded species are distributed in the limestone areas of neighboring countries, reflecting the geological characteristics of the survey area. The results of this study reemphasize the need for intensive and continuous research on the flora of Myanmar for a more comprehensive understanding of the distribution patterns of flowering plants in Southeast Asia.

Marine Fouling Panel Survey and Assessment of Marine Alien Invasive Species in Myanmar

A survey on fouling using PVC panels was carried out for a period of one year in Yangon River. Additional observations on fouling of man-made structures elsewhere in Myanmar were also made in an effort to find marine alien invasive species. The Myanmar ports at Yangon, Sittway and Myeik have a long history of overseas trading with Europe since the 17th century. In addition, though the Yangon port and jetties are located upstream some 12 miles from the mouth of Yangon River, it experiences regular tidal action with seasonal brackish water conditions. Its catchment area is only 100 miles from the mouth and hence the river and its tributaries are short and small. Moreover, there are several weirs and small dams on the tributaries, which result in reduced sediment influx at the mouth and thus less turbidity. Therefore, the physiochemical conditions at Yangon port may not pose a limitation on the distribution of nuisance species that are able to survive brackish water conditions. Elsewhere, Sittway port at the mouth of the Kispanadi River also experiences regular tidal action and is directly connected to the Bay of Bengal, conditions which are favourable for the intrusion of marine nuisance species. Myeik port is located along the open shore of the Myeik, which is located near the Myeik Archipelago. The waters around the archipelago are clear and the shelf is characterized by high biodiversity. Therefore, the environment also appears to be highly favourable for alien invasive species. However, these ports have no record of the occurrence of alien invasive species in particular the Caribbean bivalve Mytilopsis sallei.

Experimental Study on Properties of Some Lesser Used Seasoned Timber Species in Myanmar

Experimental Study on Properties of Some Lesser Used Seasoned Timber Species in Myanmar

Human liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini (Trematoda, Opisthorchiidae) in Central Myanmar: New records of adults and metacercariae identified by morphology and molecular analysis

Opisthorchis-like metacercariae were found in cyprinoid fish, Puntius brevis, bought from markets in the Bago region, Central Myanmar. Adult worms recovered from experimentally-infected hamsters resembled Opisthorchis viverrini. DNA was extracted from adults and metacercariae. A portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and then sequenced. The sequences confirmed that the flukes were O. viverrini. In phylogenetic analyses, sequences of O. viverrini, including our new sequences, clustered in a group with high bootstrap support for ITS2 (80%) and the cox1 gene (99%). Interestingly, ITS2 and cox1 sequences of O. viverrini and O. lobatus were very similar, raising a question about the identity of the latter. This is the first report of O. viverrini in cyprinoid fish in Central Myanmar, and only the second report of the species in Myanmar. It is an urgent warning against consuming raw or semi-cooked freshwater fish dishes. Development of an effective food-safety strategy should be provided for the prevention and control of opisthorchiasis and other foodborne diseases.

Species composition of hairtails (Trichiuridae) in Myanmar

Hairtails (family Trichiuridae) are an important group of fish for coastal fisheries worldwide. In the view to reiterate the need of management of hairtails found in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the species composition of hairtails was investigated according to the morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. A total of 95 individual landed fish were sampled from fish markets in Yangon and Myeik. The hairtails were treated similarly to the group without species distinction at the fish markets, which consisted of five species from three genera, namely Trichiurus sp., Lepturacanthus savala, Lepturacanthus sp., Eupleurogrammus sp., and Eupleurogrammus muticus. Further studies on the biological characteristics and taxonomies are needed to establish improved approach of identifying with such fishery species in Myanmar.

Artabotrys manoranjanii sp. nov. (Annonaceae) from the Andaman Islands, India

Artabotrys manoranjanii M. V. Ramana, J. Swamy & K. C. Mohan (Annonaceae), a new species from the foot hills of Saddle Peak National Park, north Andaman Islands, is described and illustrated. Its fleshy petals and prominent stigmas, distinguish it from all previously known species. Its affinity with A. parkinsonii Chatterjee, a Myanmar species, and A. grandiflorus King, a species from Malayan peninsula, is deliberated.

Chromosome studies in the aquatic monocots of Myanmar: A brief review with additional records

Myanmar (Burma) constitutes a significant component of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, with elements of the Indian, the Indochina, and the Sino-Japanese floristic regions, yet thus far only a few reliable sources of the country's flora have been available. As a part of a contribution for the floristic inventory of Myanmar, since it is important in a floristic survey to obtain as much information as possible, in addition to previous two reports, here we present three more chromosome counts in the aquatic monocots of Myanmar: Limnocharis flava with 2n = 20, Sagittaria trifolia with 2n = 22 (Alismataceae), and Potamogeton distinctus × Potamogeton nodosus with 2n = 52 (Potamogetonaceae); the third one is new to science. A brief review of cytological researches in the floristic regions' 45 non-hybrid aquatic monocots plus well investigated two inter-specific hybrids that are recorded in Myanmar is given, indicating that the further works with a focus on species in Myanmar that has infra-specific chromosome variation in the floristic regions will address the precise evolutionary history of the aquatic flora of Myanmar.