A New Species of Leptolalax （Anura： Megophryidae） from Southern China

A new species, Leptolalax laui sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from Hong Kong and Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China. The new species can be distinguished from other known congeners by morphological and molecular data. The new species is characterized by the following characters： 1） small size （adult males SVL 24.8.1 mm-26.7 mm）; 2） near immaculate creamy white chest and belly; 3） broad lateral fringes on toes; 4） head longer or as long as wide; 5） distinct dark brown spots in flank; 6） moderate dermal fringes on fingers; 7） brown or reddish-brown dorsum with fine round scattered tubercles; 8） thin traverse brownish-grey bars on the dorsal surface of tibia and lower arms; 9） longitudinal ridges under toes not interrupted at the articulations.     

A New Species of Odorrana Inhabiting Complete Darkness in a Karst Cave in Guangxi,China

A new species of the genus Odorrana is described from a completely dark karst cave of northeastern Guangxi, southern China. The new species, Odorrana lipuensis sp. nov., can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: medium size(SVL: 40.7–47.7 mm in males, 51.1–55.4 mm in females); tips of all but first finger expanded with circummarginal grooves; smooth, grass-green dorsum with irregular brown mottling; pineal body invisible; throat to upper abdomen with gray mottling; dorsal surfaces of limbs with brown bands; dorsolateral fold absent; tiny spinules on lateral body, temporal region, and anterior and posterior edge of tympanum; white nuptial pad present on finger I; males lacking vocal sacs; females having creamy yellow eggs, without black poles. Uncorrected sequence divergences between O. lipuensis sp. nov. and all homologous 16 S rRNA sequences of Odorrana available on Gen Bank is equal to or greater than 4.9%. Currently, the new species is only known from the type locality.     

A new species of the genus Leptolalax(Anura:Megophryidae) from southern Vietnam

We describe a new species of megophryid frog from Phu Yen Province in southern Vietnam. Leptolalax macrops sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological attributes:(1) body size medium(SVL 28.0–29.3 mm in three adult males, 30.3 mm in single adult female);(2) supra-axillary glands present, creamy white; ventrolateral glands indistinct;(3) tympanum externally distinct;(4) dorsal skin roughly granular with larger tubercles, dermal ridges on dorsum absent;(5) rudimentary webbing present between fingers Ⅰ–Ⅱ and Ⅱ–Ⅲ; rudimentary webbing between all toes; fingers and toes without dermal fringes;(6) in life ventral surface greyish-violet with white speckling;(7) supratympanic fold distinct, dark brown in life;(8) iris bicolored, typically golden in upper half, fading to golden green in lower half;(9) tibia short(TbL/SVL 0.44–0.45 in males); and(10) eyes large and protuberant(ED/SVL 0.15–0.16 in males).From all congeners for which comparable sequences are available, the new species differs markedly in the 16 S rRNA mitochondrial gene sequence(P-distance5.7%). The new species is currently known only from montane evergreen tropical forests of Song Hinh District, Phu Yen Province, and M'Drak District of Dak Lak Province at elevations of 470–630 m a.s.l.. We suggest the new species should be considered as Data Deficient following the IUCN's Red List categories. We also report a previously unknown Leptolalax mt DNA lineage from an evergreen tropical forest in the Hoa Thinh District of Phu Yen Province,which may also represent an undescribed species.     

A New Species of the Asian Toad Genus Megophrys sensu lato(Anura: Megophryidae) from Guizhou Province,China

We describe a new species of the genus Megophr ys from Guizhou Province, China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA sequences all strongly supported the new species as an independent clade nested into the Megophrys clade and sister to M. minor. On morphology,the new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters:(1) small body size with SVL 39.2 mm in male and SVL 40.4 mm in female;(2) vomerine teeth absent;(3) tongue not notched behind;(4) a small horn-like tubercle at the edge of each upper eyelid;(5) tympanum distinctly visible, rounded;(6) two or three metacarpal tubercles in hand;(7) relative finger lengths: Ⅰ Ⅱ Ⅴ Ⅲ;(8) toes without webbing;(9) heels overlapped when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body;(10) tibiotarsal articulation reaching tympanum to eye when leg stretched forward;(11) an internal single subgular vocal sac in male;(12) in breeding male, the nuptial pads with black nuptial spines on the dorsal bases of the first and second fingers.     

A New Species of the Genus Trimeresurus from Southwest China(Squamata:Viperidae)

Species from the Trimeresurus popeiorum complex(Subgenus: Popeia) is a very complex group. T. popeiorum is the only Popeia species known from China. During the past two years, five adult Popeia specimens(4 males, 1 female) were collected from Yingjiang County, Southern Yunnan, China. Molecular, morphological and ecological data show distinct differences from known species, herein we describe these specimens as a new species Trimeresurus yingjiangensis sp. nov Chen, Ding, Shi and Zhang, 2018. Morphologically, the new species distinct from other Popeia species by a combination of following characters:(1) dorsal body olive drab,without cross bands on the scales;(2) a conspicuous bicolor ventrolateral stripe present on each side of males, first row of dorsal scales firebrick with a white ellipse dot on posterior upper part in male, these strips absent in females;(3) eyes firebrick in both gender;(4) suboculars separated from 3rd upper labial by one scale on each side;(5) ventrals 164–168(n = 5);(6) MSR 21.     

Attacks on adult females with infants by non-resident males in the Franois langur

Infanticide by males is a common phenomenon in mammals, especially primates, as lactation lasts much longer than gestation in many species. Usually, infanticidal episodes occur soon after group takeovers, and are traditionally considered a male reproductive strategy (i.e., support the sexual selection hypothesis, Hrdy, 1974). To verify the validity of this conception, we observed one group of Franois’ langurs in the Nonggang Nature Reserve, China, between August 2003 and July 2004. During the study period, a Franois’ langur female with the youngest infant in the group was attacked three times by immigrating males, and later disappeared by the third day after the final attack. We suggest that these attacks on the female-infant dyad represent infanticide attempts by males, and may be the cause of the adult female and her infant’s disappearance. Presumably, that female dispersed with her infant to avoid infanticide and was not killed. Though these observations do not completely verify the sexual selection hypothesis, they are not inconsistent with it.     

Autecology and conservation status of Magnolia sargentiana Rehder ＆ Wilson （Magnoliaceae） in the Dafengding region,southern Sichuan Province,China

This paper reports the first population ecology study of the endangered Magnolia sargentiana Rehder ＆ Wilson （Magnoliaceae）. Magnolia sargentiana is a protected species in China, but little is known about its present status in the field. In 2007 and 2008, we surveyed the population and conservation status ofM. sargentiana in the Provincial Mamize Nature Reserve and the National Meigu Dafengding Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, southwestern China. Natural regeneration is poor because of unfavorable environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbances. Flower buds and bark ofM. sargentiana are used in traditional Chinese medicine and their collection by local people over the period 1983-1994 has led to marked population declines. The collection of flower buds and bark is now banned, but hewing branches for firewood and grazing continues to have a negative impact on the recovery of M. sargentiana populations. To protect the species, we require a ban on hewing branches, closure of primary forests to reduce the impact of humans and ungulates, better education of local people, and increased awareness of wildlife conservation.     

A New Species of Cyrtodactylus(Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Karst Forests of Daweishan National Nature Reserve,Yunnan, China

Cyrtodactylus geckos are one of the most speciose and diverse groups of extant lizards known, distributed throughout the Asian and Pacific realms. Using molecular phylogenetic methods and supporting morphological data,we describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus in Daweishan National Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, China.Cyrtodactylus hekouensis sp. nov. can be morphologically distinguished from its nearby congeners by the following characters: maximum SVL 92.3 mm and TL 98.5 mm;11–12 supralabials; 11–12 infralabials; 36–57 scale rows between the fifth supralabials; 10–13 dorsal tubercles rows;3 postnasals on blunt and smooth front snout; precloacalfemoral pores in a continuous series of 33–39(females with pitted scales) located under vent/cloaca and thighs in both sexes; precloacal groove absent; 3/3 postcloacal tubercles;subdigital lamellae under the fourth finger 21 or 22, under the fourth toe 20–23; smooth midbody with smooth venter and tuberculate dorsal scale rows, tubercles from head to tail base; dorsal transverse patterns are generally large,bilaterally symmetrical. The results of the phylogenetic analysis recover specimens of this new species as sister to a clade containing C. wayakonei and C. martini. Uncorrected pairwise intraspecific distances were 1%, and distances between our new species and other Cyrtodactylus species from nearby countries ranged from 14.2% to 26.8%.     

A New Species of the Gekko japonicus Group(Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Southwest China

A new species of the Gekko(Squa ma ta:Gekkonidae)is described from the border of Sichuan and Yunnan Province,southwest China,based on distinct morphological and molecular features.Gekko jinjiangensis sp.nov.is distinguished from congeners by a combination of the following characters:size small(SVL 50.2–61.6 mm,n=13);nares in contact with rostral;interorbital scales between anterior corners of the eyes 20–24;ventral scales between mental and cloacal slit 146–169;midbody scale rows 111–149;ventral scale rows 31–47;subdigital lamellae on first toe 8–11,on fourth toe 11–15;no webbing in the fingers and toes;with tubercles on uapper surface of fore and hind limbs;precloacal pores 4–5 in males;postcloacal unilateral tubercles 1–2;dorsal surface of body with 8–9 large greyish brown markings between nape and sacrum.In molecular analyses,the new species is sister to G.scabridus,but separated from them by approximately 9.9%–12.2%in genetic divergence as shown by a fragment of the partial mitochondrial ND2 gene.The new species is the highest Gekko with elevation range from 2000 to 2476 m.Further surveys are recommended to better understand the occurrence and population status of the new species.     

A New Species of the GenusThermophis （Serpentes：Colubridae） from Shangri-La,Northern Yunnan,China, with a Proposal for an Eclectic Rule for Species Delimitation

The hot-spring snakes,Thermophis, were previously known only from the Tibet Autonomous Region and Western Sichuan, China. During the past two years, three adult hot-spring snakes （2 females, 1 male） were sampled in Shangri-La, northern Yunnan, China, thus expanding their known distribution region towards the southeast. This site is the southeastern-most corner of the Tibetan Plateau and the southernmost tip of the Hengduan Mountains （Mts.）. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial （mt） and nuclear （n） DNA segments suggested that the three specimens belong to the genus ofThermophis. Morphologically, the new species is more similar toT. zhaoermii. However, it is distinguished fromT.zhaoermiiin the number of maxillary teeth （15）, distance between the two eyes/head width, rostral width/height, mental width/height, in one character limited to female： head width/length, and in four characters restricted to male： occurrence of the reduction from 10 to 8 （8 to 6, 6 to 4） scales in each dorsal row on the tail. There are differences in morphology, genetics （mtDNA, nDNA）, and geography between the putative new species andT.zhaoermii,the new species meets our proposed eclectic and feasible ＂four-differences＂ rule.     

A Remarkable New Family of Jurassic Insects (Neuroptera) with Primitive Wing Venation and Its Phylogenetic Position in Neuropterida

Background

Lacewings (insect order Neuroptera), known in the fossil record since the Early Permian, were most diverse in the Mesozoic. A dramatic variety of forms ranged in that time from large butterfly-like Kalligrammatidae to minute two-winged Dipteromantispidae.

Principal Findings

We describe the intriguing new neuropteran family Parakseneuridae fam. nov. with three new genera and 15 new species from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou (Inner Mongolia, China) and the Early/Middle Jurassic of Sai-Sagul (Kyrgyzstan): Parakseneura undula gen. et sp. nov., P. albomacula gen. et sp. nov., P. curvivenis gen. et sp. nov., P. nigromacula gen. et sp. nov., P. nigrolinea gen. et sp. nov., P. albadelta gen. et sp. nov., P. cavomaculata gen. et sp. nov., P. inflata gen. et sp. nov., P. metallica gen. et sp. nov., P. emarginata gen. et sp. nov., P. directa gen. et sp. nov., Pseudorapisma jurassicum gen. et sp. nov., P. angustipenne gen. et sp. nov., P. maculatum gen. et sp. nov. (Daohugou); Shuraboneura ovata gen. et sp. nov. (Sai-Sagul). The family comprises large neuropterans with most primitive wing venation in the order indicated by the presence of ScA and AA1+2, and the dichotomous branching of MP, CuA, CuP, AA3+4, AP1+2. The phylogenetic position of Parakseneuridae was investigated using a phylogenetic analysis of morphological scoring for 33 families of extinct and extant Neuropterida combined with DNA sequence data for representatives of all extant families. Parakseneuridae were recovered in a clade with Osmylopsychopidae, Prohemerobiidae, and Ithonidae.

Conclusions/Significance

The presence of the presumed AA1+2 in wings of Parakseneuridae is a unique plesiomorphic condition hitherto unknown in Neuropterida, the clade comprising Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera. The relative uncertainty of phylogenetic position of Parakseneuridae and the majority of other families of Neuroptera reflects deficient paleontological data, especially from critical important periods for the order, earliest Triassic and latest Triassic/earliest Jurassic.     

中国绒茧蜂属一新种（膜翅目：茧蜂科）

报道采自中国云南的小腹茧蜂亚科Microgastrinae绒茧蜂属Apanteles Forsters.str,1新种,即瘦鞘绒茧蜂Apanteles petilicaudium sp.nov。模式标本保存于福建农林大学植物保护学院益虫室。     

Three new species of bipolar budding yeasts of the genus Hanseniaspora and its anamorph Kloeckera isolated in Thailand

In the course of a survey of yeast biodiversity in the natural substrates in Thailand, eight strains were found to represent three hitherto undescribed species of Hanseniaspora/Kloeckera . They were isolated from insect frass, flower, lichen, rotted fruit and rotted wood. Based on the morphological and physiological characteristics, and sequences of D1/D2 domain, six strains represent a single species of the genus Hanseniaspora , described as Hanseniaspora thailandica sp. nov. (type BCC 14938^T=NBRC 104216^T=CBS 10841^T), and another strain as Hanseniaspora singularis sp. nov. (type BCC 15001^T=NBRC 104214^T=CBS 10840^T). A further strain, which belongs to Kloeckera and does not produce ascospores, is described as Kloeckera hatyaiensis sp. nov. (type BCC 14939^T=NBRC 104215^T=CBS 10842^T). Strains belonging to H. thailandica sp. nov. differed by 17–19 nucleotide substitutions from Hanseniaspora meyeri , the closest species. DNA reassociation between the two taxa showed 30–48% relatedness. Kloeckera hatyaiensis sp. nov. and H. singularis sp. nov. differed by eight and 16 nucleotide substitutions with one gap from the nearest species, Hanseniaspora clermontiae and Hanseniaspora valbyensis , respectively.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Amiota apodemata and Amiota sinuata species groups (Diptera: Drosophilidae), with descriptions of four new species

The phylogenetic relationships among the East Asian species of the apodemata and sinuata species groups of the genus Amiota were investigated based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene. A total of 23 samples of 12 species were employed as in‐group taxa, and one sample for each of four other Amiota species were used as out‐groups. The results suggested with strong confidence the monophyly of both the apodemata and the sinuata groups, whereas the monophyly of the ‘apodemata group + sinuata group’ cluster was less supported. Based on its geographical distribution, the origin of the sinuata group is supposed to be southern China. Four new species were described from Guangxi and Yunnan, China: Amiota reikae Xu & Chen sp. nov. , Amiota guiensis Xu & Chen sp. nov. , Amiota hesongensis Xu & Chen sp. nov. , and Amiota polytreta Xu & Chen sp. nov. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Revision of the New Caledonian endemic genus Gracilipsodes (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae: Grumichellini)

The taxonomy and systematics of the New Caledonian endemic caddisfly genus Gracilipsodes Sykora, 1967 (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae: Grumichellini) are reviewed. Seven new species represented by males are described and illustrated: Gracilipsodes aoupiniensis sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes aureus sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes aurorus sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes grandis sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes koghiensis sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes lanceolatus sp. nov. , and Gracilipsodes robustus sp. nov. Molecular phylogenetic analyses are applied to discern the relationships among the species of the genus and their closest relatives, based on sequence characters from the nuclear gene translation elongation factor-1α (EF-1α) and the three mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase I (COI), COII, and ribosomal large subunit (16S). The data are analyzed using parsimony and Bayesian inference, revealing a monophyletic Gracilipsodes with the eastern Australian monotypic genus Triplexa as its closest relative. Gracilipsodes is in turn divided into two major lineages.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153 , 425–452.     

Ophryophryne属在角蟾科系统发育中所处的位置及拟髭蟾族四属间系统关系

采用最大似然法、贝叶斯法、最大简约法对来自角蟾科Megophryidae(Anura)9属20种及外群2种共30号标本的DNA序列进行了系统发育分析,所用片段为线粒体16S rRNA和cytb基因部分序列。结果表明,用于分析的所有角蟾科物种形成两大支。Ophryophryne、Brachycarsophrys、Atympanophrys同属第一支,前两者的系统关系较近。第二支5属间系统发育关系为(Leptolalax,((Leptobrachium,Vibrissaphora),(Oreolalax,Scutiger)))。     

Eleven new species of Sugiyamaella and Candida from forest habitats

Eleven new yeasts from forest habitats are described from nucleotide sequence analysis of the nearly entire large subunit rRNA gene, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rRNA gene, mitochondrial small subunit rRNA gene, and the cytochrome oxidase II gene. All are members of the Sugiyamaella clade. Three are heterothallic species of Sugiyamaella and eight species are assigned to Candida. The Sugiyamaella species are: Su. americana sp. nov., type strain NRRL YB-2067 (CBS 10352), mating type a, and isotype NRRL YB-4197 (CBS 10353), mating type alpha; Su. chiloensis sp. nov., type strain NRRL Y-17646 (CBS 8168), mating type a, and isotype NRRL Y-27101 (CBS 5927), mating type alpha, anamorph Ca. bertae; Su. japonica sp. nov., type strain NRRL YB-2788 (CBS 10354), diploid, NRRL YB-2764 (CBS 10355), mating type a, and NRRL YB-2799 (CBS 10356), mating type alpha. The Candida species with type strains are: Ca. boreocaroliniensis sp. nov. NRRL YB-1835 (CBS 10344), Ca. floridensis sp. nov. NRRL YB-3827 (CBS 10350), Ca. grinbergsii sp. nov. NRRL Y-27117 (CBS 5924), Ca. lignohabitans sp. nov. NRRL YB-1473 (CBS 10342), Ca. marilandica sp. nov. NRRL YB-1847 (CBS 10346), Ca. marionensis sp. nov. NRRL YB-1336 (CBS 10341), Ca. neomexicana sp. nov. NRRL YB-2450 (CBS 10349), and Ca. pinicola sp. nov. NRRL YB-2263 (CBS 10348).     

Jurassic Scaphopoda from the Russian platform: Pulsellidae and Gadilidae

The scaphopod families Pulsellidae and Gadilidae from sandy and clayey beds of the Jurassic (Callovian?Volgian) of European Russia are investigated. In Pulsellidae, the following taxa are described: Annulipulsellum with two subgenera, Annulipulsellum (species A. ambiguum sp. nov., A. rugosum sp. nov.) and Mesopulsellum subgen. nov. (A. alternoides sp. nov., A. calloviense sp. nov., A. hirtistriatum sp. nov., A. medium sp. nov.), Gracilipulsellum gen. nov. (G. iodaense sp. nov.), Gardneridentalium gen. nov. (G. primitivum sp. nov., G. reticulatum sp. nov.), and Mesoentalina gen. nov. (M. fabulosa sp. nov.). New taxa of the family Gadilidae include the genus Mesoantalis gen. nov. with the species M. clava sp. nov., M. expolitum sp. nov., and M. volgense sp. nov.