Thenew Species Research Articles

Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from Amphisbaena alba Linnaeus (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) in the Cerrado Biome from Brazil.

In the present study, we describe Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. (Ascaridida: Cosmocercidae) parasitizing Amphisbaena alba Linnaeus (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) in the municipality of Uberlândia, Cerrado Biome, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. differs from its congeners by having shorter spicules and by the number and arrangement of caudal papillae. The males of thenew species have a precloacal unpaired papilla and can be easily distinguished from O. caucasicum in which this morphological trait is absent. Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. differs from the other three species of the genus by thenumber and arrangement of caudal papillae, with 13 pairs + 1 unpaired precloacal papilla, arrangement 8+1:2:3, while O. brevicaudatum has 14-16 pairs +1 unpaired papilla, and 7-9+1:1:6 arrangement, O. petrolinensis has 16 pairs +1 unpaired papilla, and 8+1:1:7 arrangement, and O. dollfusi with 15-16 pairs +1 unpaired papilla, and 8-9+1:1:6 arrangement. Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. is the fifth species of this genus, the second species in a Neotropical host, and the first species of this genus described in amphisbaenid hosts. In addition, the present study provides an identification key for the species of this genus.

Indigofera morroensis (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae): A New Species from the Drylands of Northeastern Brazil

Abstract— Indigofera is a genus of the tribe Indigofereae (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae), with approximately 750 species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In Brazil, the genus is associated mostly with the seasonally dry biomes of Caatinga and Cerrado, where 12 out of the 13 species recorded in Brazil occur. A close examination of the morphological variation in the Caatinga species showed that more than one species could be identified among the specimens referred to as I. blanchetiana. We thus propose the new species I. morroensis, which is distinguishable from I. blanchetiana by its habit, the number, shape, and hairiness of leaflets, and shape of the fruit. Indigofera morroensis occurs on sand dunes of the Morro do Chapéu municipality in Bahia state and its conservation status was assessed as Endangered. We provide the description, illustration, taxonomic comments, and distribution map for this new species, as well as an identification key for the species from Northeastern Brazil, including those that occur in the Caatinga.

A New Epidendrum (Laeliinae-Orchidaceae) from the Extensively Collected Itacolomi peak, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract— In this study we describe a new species, Epidendrum itacolomiensis, from the historically well collected region of the Itacolomi peak, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We compare the new species with taxa belonging to the E. proligerum complex. The new species has some of the smallest flowers of the complex and is similar to E. bothryanthum and E. parahybunense, but it is easily distinguished from them by the erect stems, the absence of a distinct ventral vesicle in the pedicellate ovary formed by an inflated cuniculus, and pale pink flowers. It also differs from E. bothryanthum by the entire lip. We also provide an illustration, photographs, and an identification key for the species complex. This study highlights that even extensively collected areas in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest may hide new orchid taxa.

Hibiscus fabiana sp. nov. (Malvaceae) from the Guinea Highlands (West Africa)

Hibiscus fabiana Cheek (sect. Furcaria, Malvaceae) is described from the Guinea Highlands of West Africa, and its taxonomic affinities and ecology are considered. Hibiscus fabiana has previously been confused with H. rostellatus but has red fleshy calyx ribs (vs not red and non-fleshy), the calyx surface is glabrous apart from 1-armed bristles (vs densely covered in minute white stellate hairs and bristles 2–5-armed), the leaves 3(–5)-lobed, bases truncate to rounded (vs 5-lobed, cordate). The conservation status of the new species is assessed using the IUCN 2012 standard as Vulnerable. In the context of the recently discovered extinction of the Guinean endemic Inversodicraea pygmaea G. Taylor (Podostemaceae), we discuss the 30 new species to science discovered in Guinea since 2005, all but one of which are also range-restricted and threatened, usually by development or habitat loss. We consider it urgent to avoid their extinction, ideally with in situ conservation using an Important Plant Areas approach.

A New Species of Merostachys (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae) from the Montane Atlantic Forest of Southern Bahia, Brazil

Abstract—Merostachys delicatula, a new species recorded thus far only from the montane Atlantic forest of southern Bahia, is described and illustrated here. Comments on its taxonomy, distribution, habitat, and phenology are presented. Among the narrow-leaved congeners occurring in Bahia, the new species is most similar to M. leptophylla. It is distinguished by having internodes glabrous to scabrous (vs. glabrous in M. leptophylla); internodes with an infranodal band of trichomes (vs. absent); culm leaf sheaths abaxially scabrous (vs. glabrous); upper glumes 1.2‐2.1 mm wide (vs. 3.5‐4 mm); anthecia dull (vs. shiny); lemmas 1.5‐2.7 mm wide, abaxially pubescent (vs. ca. 4 mm, glabrous); and paleas 1.2‐2.3 mm wide (vs. ca. 4 mm). We also provide an assessment of the conservation status of the new species and a geographic distribution map for both species.

Erythroxylum niziae (Erythroxylaceae): A New Species from the West-Central Cerrado of Brazil

Abstract—A new species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylum niziae) from west-central Brazil is presented here. Descriptions, illustrations, a map of geographic distribution, and morphological comparisons with morphologically similar species are provided. The novelty differs from its congeners by its subshrub habit 12 to 16 cm in height, firmly chartaceous to coriaceous leaves (8.8‐12.7 × 4.3‐7.9 cm), and single flowers produced per node along the distal portion of the main branch. A key is provided to differentiate the new species from others occurring in Parque Nacional de Brasília.

The genus Bulbothrix (Parmeliaceae) in China

AbstractThe morphology, chemistry and phylogenetic relationships of Chinese populations of Bulbothrix are described. Nine species, including two new species B. mammillaria Y. Y. Zhang & Li S. Wang sp. nov. and B. lacinia Y. Y. Zhang & Li S. Wang sp. nov., and two newly recorded for the flora, B. scortella and B. meizospora, are reported. Bulbothrix mammillaria can be recognized by the sparse cilia that are reduced to a bulbate structure and the broad lobes (3–11 mm). Bulbothrix lacinia differs from other species of the genus by dark brown, spherical to short-cylindrical isidia and common lacinulae on the upper surface. Phylogenetic relationships of currently known ITS sequences from Bulbothrix were inferred to assess the affinities of the new species. A key to all known species from China is presented.

First survey of the Neotropical species of Microchelonus Szépligeti with descriptions of twenty-five new species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cheloninae)

A short review is supplied of the history and search of the Microchelonus species in the Neotropics, taxonomic status of the genus Microchelonus and the features employed for the species differentiation. Descriptions of 25 new species of Microchelonus are presented from the Neotropical Region, completed with their taxonomic position. The enumeration of the new species is presented in the Introduction. Fifty-six Microchelonus species are registered in the region, their checklist are compiled. Identification key was constructed to the species occurring in Central and South America, females and males separately. A new synonymy; Microchelonus parkeri Papp, 2010 sen. syn. / Chelonus (Microchelonus) murici Nascimento et Penteado-Dias, 2011, jun. syn. and a new combination; Microchelonus kellieae (Marsh, 1979) originally Chelonus (Microchelonus) kellieae are presented. With 519 line-drawn figures.

A new species of the highland frog genus Holoaden (Amphibia, Strabomantidae) from cloud forests of southeastern Brazil

A new species of the genus Holoaden is described from the Atlantic forest of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, being restrictedto primary or slightly disturbed high altitude cloud forests along the northeastern portion of the Serra do Mar. The typelocalityis determined as Estação Ecológica de Bananal, in the Municipality of Bananal, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Thenew species is characterized by its moderate body size (female 42.6-44.2 mm SVL; male 37.2-38.5 mm SVL) with longand slender limbs, a head wider than long, a highly glandular dorsum, covered by well developed macroglands that extendto the internasal region, thigh and tibia, and an intense dark brown dorsal coloration and dark grey ventral surface.

Remyella montenegrina, a new troglobitic leiodid beetle (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Leptodirini) from northeastern Montenegro

A new leiodid beetle species, Remyella montenegrina sp. n., from a cave in northeastern Montenegro is described and diagnosed. Both male and female genitalia and other taxonomically important characters are illustrated. The new species is clearly distinct from the closest congeners. It is of Tertiary or pre-Tertiary age and originated during the Alpine Orogeny, which affected vast areas of the Balkan Peninsula, including the Dinarides, its terra typica. The new species is both an endemic and a relict form inhabiting northeastern Montenegro.

New and little known earthworm species from Central Madagascar (Oligochaeta: Kynotidae)

The investigation of a small number of earthworms collected in Central Madagascar resulted in the discovery of two spe-cies new for science, Kynotus minutus and Kynotus parvus spp. nov. Apart from the descriptions and illustrations of thenew species, the two little-known species Kynotus alaotranus Michaelsen, 1907 and Kynotus michaelseni Rosa, 1892 arerecorded for the first time after the original description, and commented short diagnoses are provided. With the two newspecies described in this paper, the genus Kynotus now contains 20 species. The monogeneric earthworm family Kynotidae is endemic to Madagascar.

A new dwarf species of Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura, Cycloramphidae) from the highlands of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

A new species of Proceratophrys is described from the highlands of northeastern Brazil. Molecular and morphologicaldata suggests that Proceratophrys redacta sp. nov. is sister to P. minuta, and related to P. schirchi and P. cristiceps. Thenew species is diagnosed by its small size, absence of rostral and palpebral appendages, sagittal ridges interrupted, absenceof postocular swellings, snout vertical in profile and dorsal coloration lacking distinct ocelli. The new species representsanother example of endemism for the genus Proceratophrys in Chapada Diamantina region, and of another appendagelesssmall-sized species associated with highlands. The phylogenetic results indicate that current morphological groupings in Proceratophrys may not represent natural groups.

Review of the systematics, morphology and distribution of Asian Clawed Salamanders, genus Onychodactylus (Amphibia, Caudata: Hynobiidae), with the description of four new species

We describe four new species of Asian Clawed salamanders of the genus Onychodactylus (Caudata: Hynobiidae), basedon fresh material collected during fieldwork in Japan, Korea, the Russian Far East and northeastern China between 2003and 2010, as well as older voucher specimens deposited in several museums. Our analyses comprise all species currentlyrecognized within this genus across its entire distribution range. We follow an integrative taxonomic approach bycombining detailed morphological comparative analyses with molecular phylogenetic analyses. We find significantdifferences among species in this genus, based on morphological and molecular data, which resulted in the recognitionand description of four new species within this genus. The new species have uncorrected molecular divergences of over4.5–7.4% and 1.9–4.1% to their closest relatives in the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes respectively. In themolecular analyses, we found two very divergent lineages in Korea and Japan that need further investigation, as detailedmorphological data are not available for them. We also discuss our approach to delimit species on salamanders. For thenew species described in this group we evaluate their threat status according to IUCN criteria: O. koreanus sp. nov. Min,Poyarkov & Vieites and O. nipponoborealis sp. nov. Kuro-o, Poyarkov & Vieites are classified as Least Concern, whileO. zhaoermii sp. nov. Che, Poyarkov & Yan and O. zhangyapingi sp. nov. Che, Poyarkov, Li & Yan are classified as Vulnerable (Vu2a).

Description of a new shrew of the genus Cryptotis (Mammalia: Soricomorpha: Soricidae) from the Sierra de Aroa, an isolated mountain range in northwestern Venezuela, with remarks on biogeography and conservation

In South America, shrews of the genus Cryptotis have a primarily Andean distribution. Based on specimens from the non-Andean Sierra de Aroa in Venezuela, we name Cryptotis aroensis sp. nov., which we assign to the C. thomasi group of thegenus owing to its possession of characters that include a relatively large body size, luxuriant fur, moderately enlargedforefeet with elongated and narrow claws, unicuspid teeth relatively narrow and concave on the posteroventral margin,ectoloph of first upper molar with the anterior element reduced relatively to the posterior element, and mandible with thearticular process not robust, high, and broad, and with the coronoid process joining the ramus at a low angle. The newspecies can be differentiated from other members of the C. thomasi group on the basis of its possession of a uniquecombination of characters, that include a rich grayish brown pelage, a narrow palate at the level of the second upper molars(no overlap in this measurement observed with 146 specimens of 10 other species of the group), nasal cavity and ethmo-turbinals partially visible in occlusal view of palate, lacrimal foramina wide and deep, tympanic process of petromastoidsshowing a minute foramen, unicuspid teeth with posterolingual cuspules, fourth unicuspid tooth labially placed, thirdupper molar complex and nearly as wide as the second upper molar, and bicuspulate lower incisors. The new species isknown from only 3 specimens obtained at the type locality, which is in a pristine patch of cloud forest at elevation 1730m, and represents the first mammalian taxon known to be endemic to the Sierra de Aroa, a small and isolated mountainrange that was previously reported to possess numerous biotic elements that are either exclusive, or shared with the muchlarger Cordillera de la Costa to the east. The clear morphological differentiation of the new species with respect to itsAndean relatives suggests that its ancestors colonized the Sierra de Aroa several glacial maxima ago, when montanevegetation belts were lower than today. The presumably optimal habitat of the new species (cloud forests of the Sierra deAroa above 1500 m) covers less than 40 km2 , and is threatened by deforestation and global climate change. Therefore, thenew species can be categorized as endangered by application of criteria B2a and E of the current “Red List Categories and Criteria” of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Calappa karenae, a new species of box crab from Guam (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Calappidae)

A new deep-water species of box crab, Calappa karenae sp. nov. (Brachyura: Calappidae) is described from Guam. Thenew species differs from its congeners by its distinctive colouration and conspicuously wide carapace. It is one of the largest Calappa species known from the Indo-West Pacific.

Description and bioacoustics of a new species of the genus Isophya (Orthoptera: Tetigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) from Turkey

A new species for the genus Isophya, I. bumerangoides, is described from the Northeastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. Thenew species differs from closely related species in some aspects of morphology, mainly in male and female genitalia. Illustra-tions of external morphological characters and male and female songs are provided. Additional data on male calling song andfemale song of closely related bush-cricket Isophya rizeensis Sevgili, 2003 are also given. Scanning Electron Microscopeimages of stridulatory file of the other related species I. redtenbacheri Adelung, 1907 are provided. I. bumerangoides clearlybelongs to I. amplipennis group. Our bioacoustic results suggest that within the genus Isophya, changes in calling song seem to appear more slowly than those in external morphological characters as in most tettigoniid.

Description of a new species of the rare genus Epacrolaimus Andrássy, 2000 (Dorylaimida, Aporcelaimidae) and new data on male of Paraxonchium laetificans (Andrássy, 1956) Altherr & Loof, 1969 (Dorylaimida, Paraxonchiidae) from Iran

Epacrolaimus reyesi n. sp., an amphimictic species of a rare nematode genus, is described and illustrated. The new species ischaracterised by its long body (7.23–7.87 mm), 32 µm wide lip region, with well developed and distinct lips and liplets pro-vided with longitudinal corrugation on their inner surface; 19–22 µm long odontostyle with a wide, arched aperture occupyingca 85% of its length; 45–56 µm long odontophore; 55–67 µm long rounded tail, nine regularly spaced ventromedian supple-ments in males and 135–145 µm long spicules. The new species is compared with two other known species of the genus,namely E. declinatoaculeatus (Kreis, 1924) Andrássy, 2000 and E. imperator Andrássy, 2000. Compared to the former, thenew species has a rounded tail in females vs bluntly conoid, rounded on tip or with a minute peg, shorter tail (55–67 vs 63–75µm) shorter spicules (135–145 vs 215 µm) and fewer male copulatory supplements (9 vs 12). Compared to the latter species, E.reyesi n. sp. is wider at the midbody region (172–178 vs 156–160 µm), and has a shorter tail (55–67 vs 84 µm in females and58–65 vs 70–86 µm in males), shorter spicules (135–145 vs 202–210 µm) and fewer male copulatory supplements (9 vs 14–16).From both species the new species differs by having a rounded tail vs convex-conoid or slightly subdigitate. Beside the newspecies, a population of Paraxonchium laetificans (Andrássy, 1956) Altherr & Loof, 1969 with relatively numerous males wasfound from forests of northern Iran. The male of this species, which had not been found in Iran so far and had been described on two specimens only, is described and illustrated in detail.

Botrylloides pizoni, a new species of Botryllinae (Ascidiacea) from the Mediterranean Sea R.

A new ascidian species belonging to the Botryllinae was discovered in the Gulf of Taranto (South Italy). This new species wascollected in different seasons over a period of several years, which allowed information about its biology to be obtained. Thenew species presents large zooids arranged in ladder systems. The zooids have several rows of stigmata, the second one com-plete, ovary posterior to testis, one larva per side developing in an incubatory pouch, and a peculiar arrangement of the gut loop. The new species is named Botrylloides pizoni after the great French zoologist Antoine Pizon (1860–1942).

The Indonesian species of Macrophthalmus Desmarest, 1823, with the description of a new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Macrophthalmidae)

Fourteen species of Macrophthalmus Desmarest, 1823, are reported from Indonesia, of which two species, Macrophthal-mus (Macrophthalmus) abbreviatus Manning & Holthuis, 1981, and M. (Macrophthalmus) sulcatus malaccensis Tweedie,1937, are recorded for the first time from the region, and one new species M. (Mareotis) fusculatus n. sp. is described. Thenew species resembles M. (Mareotis) definitus Adams & White, 1849, in the relatively narrow male abdomen and mod-erately long, curved tip of the male G1. However, the differences are noticeable in the morphology of the carapace of thenew species which is divergent posterolateraly, the presence of tubercles on the gastric, cardiac and intestinal regions, and the absence of a longitudinal row of granules or setae on the branchial region.

On sand-bearing myxillid sponges, with a description of Psammochela tutiae sp. nov. (Poecilosclerida, Myxillina) from the northern Moluccas, Indonesia

Sand-bearing sponges belonging to the suborder Myxillina are mainly observed in South Australia. Recent biodiversitysurveys in Indonesia yielded several of these sand-bearing sponges belonging to three different genera, Chondropsis, Des-mapsamma and Psammochela. These sponges are distributed across three different families and the ecological and evo-lutionary implications for the incorporation of sand and detritus in the skeleton remain unresolved so far. In the presentpaper Psammochela tutiae sp.nov. (Poecilosclerida: Myxillina: Myxillidae) is described from the northern Moluccas, In-donesia. The new species is compared with all other (five) Psammochela species occurring in the Indo-West Pacific. Thenew species differs from the other species by overall morphology, absence of polydentate chelae and presence of thinstrongylote megascleres. The current position of Psammochela within the Myxillidae and its relation to other arenaceous Myxillina are discussed here, and an identification key to all known species of Psammochela is given.