The Hawaiian amphibious caterpillar guild: new species of Hyposmocoma (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) confirm distinct aquatic invasions and complex speciation patterns

Although aquatic caterpillars are a globally rare lifestyle, we have found them in multiple, independent lineages of the endemic moth genus Hyposmocoma across all of the Hawaiian Islands with flowing water. We formally describe 11 new species of Hyposmocoma that belong to four different larval case types: cone, bugle, medium burrito, and large burrito: Hyposmocoma kahamanoa sp. nov. from Oahu Island, Hyposmocoma kamakou sp. nov. from Molokai Island, Hyposmocoma kahaiao sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma waihohonu sp. nov. , and Hyposmocoma moopalikea sp. nov. from Maui Island, and Hyposmocoma aumakuawai sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma eepawai sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma ipowainui sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma kawaikoi sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma uhauiole sp. nov. , and Hyposmocoma wailua sp. nov. from Kauai Island. We also illustrate and describe in detail the aquatic case‐bearing larva of Hyposmocoma kahamanoa. Despite having similar ecologies as algae and lichen grazers at and below the water line of streams, prior research indicates that species with each case type constitute an independent lineage, with terrestrial sister taxa, and therefore the different groups of species bearing unique case types each represent an independent aquatic invasion. The case‐bearing larvae often occur sympatrically, and on Kauai even species with similar case‐types occur together, suggesting complex patterns of speciation and either past periods of isolation or sympatric speciation. Phylogenetic analysis of 2243 base pairs from two nuclear and one mitochondrial gene for 18 species confirm that each species is endemic to a single volcano, and that morphological divergence within case‐types has not been dramatic. Diversification has been complex, and superficially similar case type lineages are not all monophyletic. Kauai, the oldest but smallest of the major high islands, supports more species in the aquatic guild than any other island, thus island age, rather than size, may be important in generating diversity in this group. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 15–42.     

Phylogeography and ecology of an endemic radiation of Hawaiian aquatic case-bearing moths (Hyposmocoma: Cosmopterigidae)

The endemic moth genus Hyposmocoma (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) may be one of the most speciose and ecologically diverse genera in Hawaii. Among this diversity is the Hyposmocoma saccophora clade with previously unrecorded aquatic larvae. I present a molecular phylogeny based on 773 base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 762 bp of the nuclear gene elongation factor 1-alpha. Topologies were constructed from data using maximum-parsimony, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian search criteria. Results strongly support the monophyly of the H. saccophora clade and the monophyly of the genus Hyposmocoma. The H. saccophora clade has single-island endemic species on Oahu, Molokai and West Maui. By contrast, there are three species endemic to Kauai, two being sympatric. The H. saccophora clade appears to follow the progression rule, with more basal species on older islands, including the most basal species on 11 Myr-old Necker Island, one of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Aquatic behaviour either evolved recently in the species on the main Hawaiian Islands or was secondarily lost on the arid northwestern Necker Island. The phylogeny suggests that Hyposmocoma is older than any of the current main islands, which may, in part, explain Hyposmocoma's remarkable diversity.     

A taxonomic review of Eucalantica Busck (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutidae) with descriptions of six new species

The New World genus Eucalantica Busck, 1904 is reviewed. It comprises seven species, six of which are described as new: Eucalantica costaricae Sohn & Nishida, sp. n., Eucalantica ehecatlella Sohn & Nishida, sp. n., Eucalantica icarusella Sohn & Nishida, sp. n., Eucalantica powelli Sohn, sp. n., and Eucalantica pumila Sohn, sp. n., all five from Costa Rica; Eucalantica vaquero Sohn, sp. n. from southern USA and Mexico. The type species, Eucalantica polita (Walsingham, 1881), is redescribed and a lectotype and two paralectotypes are designated. Illustrations and keys based on the forewing patterns and the genitalia of each sex are provided. Our review suggests that there remains an undiscovered high diversity of Eucalantica in the tropical highlands of Central America.     

A review of the North American genus Epimartyria (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae) with a discussion of the larval plastron

The indigenous North American micropterigid genus Epimartyria Walsingham,1898 is revised. Three species are recognized, including Epimartyria auricrinella Walsingham, 1898 which occurs widely over much of the northeastern United States and Canada, a new species, Epimartyria bimaculella Davis & Landry from northwestern United States and Canada, and Epimartyria pardella (Walsingham, 1880) from northern California to northern Oregon. The larva of Epimartyria auricrinella is described in detail, supplemented with illustrations of the external structure of the larval integument. The larval plastron is described and illustrated for Epimartyria, and this is compared with the plastrons of Neomicropteryx Issiki, 1931 and Micropterix Hübner, 1825. COI barcode sequences show that the three species are genetically distinct, congruent with morphological differences. Marked haplotype divergence within some Epimartyria auricrinella populations appears to be unrelated to morphology, geography or phenology.     

First record of the genus aprivesa melichar (hemiptera: fulgoromorpha) from South India, with description of one new species

Aprivesa unimaculatasp. n. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Ricaniidae) is described and illustrated from Coorg, south India. This represents the first record of the genus Aprivesa Melichar from India and the fourth known species of Aprivesa. The new taxon greatly extends the range of the genus Aprivesa, which was previously known as an endemic Australian genus. A checklist of all known species of the Ricaniidae from India and keys to all the known genera of the Ricaniidae from India and all species in the genus are provided.     

A new genus of oak gallwasp, Coffeikokkos Pujade-Villar & Melika, gen. n., with a description of a new species from Costa Rica (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae)

A new genus of oak gallwasp, Coffeikokkos Pujade-Villar & Melika, gen. n., is described from Costa Rica. Diagnostic characters and generic limits of the new genus are discussed in detail. The new genus includes Coffeikokkos copeyensis Pujade-Villar & Melika, sp. n., which induces galls on stems of Quercus bumelioides, an endemic oak to Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama. The new species and galls are described and illustrated.     

Revision of the endemic Taiwanese millipede genus Aponedyopus Verhoeff, 1939, with descriptions of two new species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae). Advances in the systematica of Diplopoda III

The millipede genus Aponedyopus is endemic to Taiwan and contains three species. All previously described nominal species are considered to represent one species: Aponedyopus montanus Verhoeff, 1939 (the type species), including Aponedyopus reesi (Wang, 1957) and Aponedyopus maculatus Takakuwa, 1942, syn. n. Two further species are described as new: Aponedyopus similissp. n. and Aponedyopus latilobatussp. n. The genus is re-diagnosed, all of its three species are keyed, and their distributions mapped.     

Taxonomic review of the genus Ochyrotica Walsingham from China(Lepidoptera:Pterophoridae:Ochyroticinae)

The genus Ochyrotica from China is reviewed,with four species treated.The male of 0.connexiva(Walsingham) is described for the first time,O.zolotuhini Ustjuzhanin Kovtunovich is firstly recorded in China,and the distribution information of O.concursa(Walsingham) in China is clarified.The structural variations of the genus and all species from China are discussed.Images of the adults and illustrations of genital structures are provided,along with a key to the known Chinese species.     

A new karyotype of Oligoryzomys (Sigmodontinae, Rodentia) from central Brazil

A new karyotype of the genus Oligoryzomys was described for specimens collected in Brazilian Cerrado in Tocantins and Goiás States. Conventional staining, G-, C-banding, and Ag-NOR staining techniques were used for describe this karyotype with 2n=70, AN=74 or 76. The chromosome complement, with the highest diploid number known among Oligoryzomys species, differs from all others previously reported. This small sized Oligoryzomys species can be differentiated from other Brazilian Oligoryzomys not only by chromosomal complement, but also in some morphological attributes. The new species is apparently restricted in distribution and endemic of Brazilian Cerrado, occurring only in Rio Tocantins basin.     

The genus Erechthias Meyrick of Ascension Island,including discovery of a new brachypterous species (Lepidoptera,Tineidae)

One previously named and two new species of the tineid genus Erechthias Meyrick are described and illustrated from the small, remote, mid-Atlantic Ascension Island. With these additions the Lepidoptera fauna of Ascension now totals 38 known species. Little is known regarding the biology of the two new species of Erechthias, and none of the species has been reared from larvae from Ascension. Erechthias minuscula (Walsingham) is a widespread, largely pantropical species first described from the West Indies. Larvae of Erechthias minuscula are known to be scavengers on a wide variety of dead plant material. Erechthias ascensionae,new species, is one of two species of Erechthias now known to be endemic to the island. The other endemic species, Erechthias grayi, new species, is further remarkable in having wing reduction occurring in both sexes. It is one of the few species of Lepidoptera known where this extreme of brachyptery involving both sexes has evolved. The larvae of Erechthias grayi are believed to be lichenivorous, and larval cases suspected to represent this species are illustrated.     

Mariapanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), a new genus of Neotropical microgastrine parasitoid wasp discovered through biodiversity inventory

A new genus of microgastrine parasitoid wasps, Mariapanteles Whitfield & Fernández-Triana, gen. n., is described from rain forests of the Neotropics. The new genus is related to the common and speciose genus Pseudapanteles, but can be distinguished from the latter by having a complete transverse carina on the propodeum which forks around the spiracles. A molecular analysis based on data from COI from specimens of the proposed new genus plus possibly related genera confirms its generic distinctness. A key to two known species, Mariapanteles felipei Whitfield, sp. n. (Costa Rica) and Mariapanteles dapkeyae Fernández-Triana, sp. n. (Brazil) is provided. Evidence from collections suggests that there are other undescribed Neotropical congenerics. Specimens of Mariapanteles were likely confused in the past with the genus Beyarslania (referred to as Xenogaster until recently) but present information suggests that Beyarslania is restricted to the Afrotropical region while the Neotropical species clearly belong to a different genus, which we propose as new.     

Relationships Between the Bryoflora of Mt. Wuyi,SE China,and Those of Neighbouring Mountain Regions

Mt. Wuyi, located at 27°37‛-27°54‛ N, 117°27‛-117°51‛ E, is the highest mountain in South-East China. Its main peak, Huanggangshan, is 2158 m above the sea level. In 1955, P. C. Chen organized the first expedition to Mt. Wuyi, and the authors investigated the different ravines and the forests of that area in 1976 and from 1979 to 1984 respectively. Up to now 355 species of the bryophytes have been found in Mt. Wuyi. I. The influence of the factors of geological history on the bryoflora of Mt. Wuyi Fujian Province, belonging to Cathaysian, one of three Chinese ancient lands, was a part of ocean until the end of the lower Tertiary. In the early Devonian, Fujian uplifted above the sea level, but it submerged in the sea later, and then uplifted above the sea level again in the upper Triassic. By the end of the lower Triassic the Himalayan movement influenced the paleogeography of China deeply, and the eastern and central mountains of Fujian uplifted again. In the Tertiary, Fujian was influenced by the hot maritime weather, so the tropical evergreen forests existed in southern Fujian at that time. The conclusion was made by Z. B. Zhao in 1983 after his long period of study on geological history of Fujian Province since the Yanshan movement. According to the morden geographical distribution of Chinese bryophytes, it seems that the above influence might be related to the bryophytes of Mt. Wuyi and also the southern part of Zhejian Province. By the end of the Tertiary the weather became cold in most parts of China. Since then the cold weather and hot weather alternated several times. One kind of the endemic elements of the bryoflora formed in the area from the south-eastern coast of China to the southeastern Xizang (Tibet), including Japan. They are not specialized at the family level or closely related to each other, but they have similar distribution and belong to different families. In the Quaternary, Mt. Wuyi gradually uplifted following the Himalayan movement. As the weather cooled down in the upper part of the mountain, deciduous broad-leaved and needleleaved trees increased there. Meanwhile, temperate genera and species of the bryophytes spread and invaded South China and entered Mr. Wuyi. Rhytidiadelphus and Hvlocomium probably began to grow in Mt. Wuyi at that time, and their distribution is quite different from their primary one. On the other hand, a part of tropical and subtropical bryophytes might enjoy the changed weather and environment in the Quaternary and existed in a few small localities of Mt. Wuyi, and the genera Haplomitrium, Endotrichella and Floribundaria are probably their representatives. From the point of view of geological history we are now living in the interglacial period and the present natural conditions will last continuously, so they will steadily influence the bryoflora of Mt. Wuyi in a long period of time. 2. Essential characteristics of the bryoflora in Mt. Wuyi Due to the geographical position and the other factors of Mt. Wuyi the bryoflora is represented by numerous tropical and subtropical elements (34.1%), but the East-Asiatic endemic ones (79.2%) are characteristic of the bryoflora in Mt. Wuyi (Tab. 1). The tropical and subtropical families of the bryophytes, found south of Changjiang (Yangtzi) River, are Haplomitriaceae (1 genus, 3 species), Porellaceae (2 genera, 8 species), Frullaniaceae (2 genera, 10 species), Lejeun eaceae (21 genera, 35 species), Trachypodaceae (3 genera, 4 species), Meteoriaceae (10 genera, 17 species), Neckeraceae (5 genera, 8 species) and Hookeriaceae (3 genera, 3 species). The above 8 families, including 46 genera and 85 species, represent about 1/4 genera (24.3%) and less than 1/4 species (23.9%) of the bryoflora of Mt. Wuyi. Most species of East-Asiatic elements show very close relationships with Japan, and are widely distributed from the low altitude of Mt. Wuyi to the summit of Mt. Huanggangshan. However, the Holarctic species (26.8%) are also important elements of the bryoflora in Mt. Wuyi, showing its transition nature, although it is located in the subtropics. Moreover, the in fluence of the Himalayas also exists in Mt. Wuyi, and the Himalayan elements cover 14.4% in the bryoflora of Mt. Wuyi. The similarity coefficients between the bryofloras of Central and South America, Africa and Oceania and that of Mt. Wuyi are from 5.0-9.2% respectively. The endemic species are not very many and cosmopolitan species are only 7 there. In 1958, P. C. Chen designated Mt. Wuyi as “the transition region of South and North China rich in East-Asiatic genera and species”. His very important conclusion is essentially in accordance with the fact of the bryoflora on Mt. Wuyi. Recently, some of the new records fur ther show the characteristics of the bryoflora in Wuyi. Two facts are worth being mentioned. One is that East-Asiatic genera are only five in Mt. Wuyi. However, there are 9 East-Asiatic genera in Mt. Huangshan more than in Mt. Wuyi; 4 East-Asiatic genera are recorded in Mt. Shennongjia. The other is that epiphyllous liverworts in Mt. Wuyi, consisting of 7 families, 21 genera and 36 species, are less than on Hainan Island and Xishuangbannan, located in the tro pics in China. 3. Comparison between the bryoflora of Mt. Wuyi and those of the neighbouring regions As China covers a very large area, bryofloristic elements are quite different in the diffe rent regions. In this section, we are concentrated on making a comparison between the bryof loras of Mt. Wuyi and the regions belonging to the Central China of the bryoflora named by P. C. Chen. Huaping Forest Region, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China, with both latitute and altitude very similar to Mt. Wuyi, is included in this comparison (Fig. 1). According to the rough estimation, the similarity coefficient of moss genera between Mt. Wuyi and Huaping is 56.3%, and those between the mountain and southern Zhejian and Mt. Huangshan, Anhui, are 62.7% and 51.6% respectively, while the similarity coefficient of the genera of the mossfloras between Mt. Shennongjia and Mt. Wuyi is 46.8%. Table 2 shows the statistics of mosses in Mt. Wuyi and the others, but the bryoflora of Huaping needs further study However, it is very interesting to note that Haplomitrium and Pleurozia of liverworts are both found in Mt. Wuyi and Huaping Forest Region, and the similarity coefficient between the mossfloras of Mt. Wuyi and Zhejian Province is also higher than those mentioned above. Tropical and subtropical elements reduce towards the north in China, and temperate ones increase. Huaping is located in the south, and, as expected, some tropical and subtropical genera such as Hookeriopsis and Symphyodon have been found there, but not in Mt. Wuyi; several temperate genera, such as Schwetschkeopsis and Fauriella, have been recorded in Mt. Huangshan, but not in Mt. Wuyi. For some unknown reasons, Octoblepharum and Neckeropsis are only found in southern Zhejiang, but not in Mt. Wuyi. Mt. Shennongjia, with its main peak over 1000 m higher than that of Mt. Wuyi, is located in its northwest, and more than ten temperate genera, such as, Ceratodon, Aulacomnium Myurella, Bryonoguchia and Abietinella have been found there. Generally, Mt. Wuyi belongs to the central subtropical region of China, and East-Asiatic endemic genera are the main elements of its bryoflora, but the bryoflora also consists of tropical and subtropical elements with some temperate ones. 4. East-Asiatic endemic genera in the bryoflora of Mt. Wuyi In the bryoflora of Mt. Wuyi, one of the main elements, East-Asiatic endemic genera, should not be neglected (Tab. 4). East-Asiatic endemic genera in Mt. Wuyi (five) are less than in Mt. Huangshan and Mt. West Tianmu, although the positions of the latter two are very close to Mt. Wuyi. East-Asiatic endemic genera of liverworts are Trichocolea and Macvicaria so far found in Mt. Wuyi, and the mosses are Myuriopsis, Meteoriella, Pseudospiridentopsis (Fig. 1). Myuriopsis is only distributed in Taiwan Province and Mt. Wuyi, and the other four are distributed in Mt. Huangshan or Mt. West Tianmu, and also in Taiwan, besides in Mt. Wuyi. About thirty EastAsiatic endemic genera have so far been known in China, which means that about one sixth of East- Asiatic endemic genera of the bryophytes occur in Mt. Wuyi. We may notice that nine and seven East-Asiatic endemic genera of the bryophytes have been recorded in Mt. Huangshan and Mt. West Tianmu respectively. In Mt. Shennongjia, Central China, there are four East Asiatic endemic genera, but only two have been found in the Huaping Forest Region, South China. In Mt. Dinghua, located south of Mt. Wuyi, on East-Asiatic endemic genus of the bryophytes has so far been found. East-Asiatic endemic genera of the bryophytes are mainly limited to China, Korea and Japan, including the East Himalayas, rarely occur in South Asia, Siberia of the Soviet Union. Therefore, these genera enjoy a warm and moist environment. In Mt. Wuyi, all the East-Asiatic endemic genera are monotypic ones with a disjunct distribution. Now in Taiwan Province five of six recorded East-Asiatic endemic genera are common to Mt. Wuyi. In Japan, about eleven, i.e. one third of, East Asiatic endemic genera so far found are common to China, which shows a long history of the phytogeographical relationships between Japan and China. East Asiatic endemic genera of the bryophytes might therefore exist on islands of Taiwan Province and Japan before they were separated from the mainland of Asia. However the fossil evidence is still lacking in the bryophytes, so we are not able to discuss about the distribution area and the distribution center of the East-Asiatic bryoflora in detail. The above estimation is more or less related to geological history, and we assume that the East-Asiatic endemic genera have existed at least since the end of the Tertiary. Starting from the Quaternary, the climatic change during glacial epoch has been possibly the most important factor affecting the bryoflora in Asia, and the upheaval of the Himalayas has stimulated the diversity and the specialization of the bryophy tes. Considering these factors, East-Asiatic endemic genera might be the “Tertiary fossil plants”. Another problem is difficult to explain, because Mts. Huangshan, West Tianmu and Shen nongjia were once influenced by glaciation directly, although Chinese geologists hold different views. However, no evidence of glaciation has been found in Mt. Wuyi. It is worth to study the close relationships between Mt. Wuyi, Mt. Huangshan and Mt. West Tianmu, where is the distri bution center of the East-Asiatic endemic genera. The above three mountain regions share half of the East-Asiatic endemic genera, and about 32% genera of the others are found in two of them (Fig. 2). Myuriopsis, one of the East Asiatic types, was only recorded in Taiwan Pro vince, Japan and Korea. Neodolichomitra, occuring in Taiwan Province, is endemic to China. More or less the differentiation has taken place in Mt. Huangshan, Mt. West Tianmu and Mt. Wuyi. The number of the East-Asiatic endemic genera is smaller in Mt. Wuyi, so it is possibly located on the border of the distributional center of the East-Asiatic endemic genera. Moreo ver, three of four East-Asiatic endemic genera in Mt. Shennongjia are also found in Mt. Huang shan and Mt. West Tianmu, but the other East-Asiatic genus in Mt. Wuyi is common to the mountain areas in SW China, the Qinglin Range of NW China, and the isolated mountain areas of NE China. Considering all the characteristics of the bryoflora of Mt. Shennongjia, we assume that Mt. Shennongjia may belong to another distribution center, including SW part of Sichuan Province, and the other neighbouring mountains.     

Three new species of Orphninotrichia Mosely (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Barrington Tops, New South Wales, a distribution extended, and remarks on generic placement

Abstract Three new species are described in the endemic Australian microcaddisfly genus Orphninotrichia Mosely (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae: Hydroptilinae), all collected in the Barrington Tops area of north-eastern New South Wales: Orphninotrichia bilobata sp. n., O. claviculata sp. n. and O. dundungra sp. n. From the same area, Orphninotrichia papillata Wells, described from central Victoria, is newly recorded and noted for the atypical presence of a large gland on the dorsum of the male head. Comments are made on the still unresolved affinities of the genus Orphninotrichia , and a key to males of all species is provided.     

Systematics of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Notidobiella Schmid (Trichoptera, Sericostomatidae), with the description of 3 new species

Three new species of Notidobiella Schmid (Insecta: Trichoptera) are described from South America: Notidobiella amazonianasp. n. (Brazil), Notidobiella brasilianasp. n. (Brazil), and Notidobiella ecuadorensissp. n. (Ecuador). In addition, the 3 previously described species in the genus, Notidobiella chacayana Schmid, Notidobiella inermis Flint, and Notidobiella parallelipipeda Schmid, all endemic to southern Chile, are redescribed and illustrated, including the females of each species for the first time, and a key to males of the species in the genus is provided. The occurrence of Notidobiella in Brazil and Ecuador represents a significant extension of the range of the genus beyond southern Chile where it previously was thought to be endemic. The biogeography of Sericostomatidae and other austral South American Trichoptera is reviewed. The presence of the family in South America may not be part of a "transantarctic" exchange, but instead may represent an earlier occurence in the region. The distribution of Notidobiella in tropical South America likely represents recent dispersal from southern South America to the north.     

广西元宝山植被种子植物区系初步研究

组成元宝山植被的种子植物共有118科337属732种,区系统计分析表明:(1)科级和属级的区系成分都表现为热带性质稍强于温带性质,亚热带区系性质明显。在元宝山植被区系中,热带亚热带成分与温带成分相互交融,这正是亚热带山地植物区系的一个基本特征。(2)泛热带分布、热带亚洲分布、北温带分布、东亚和北美洲间断分布和东亚分布的属为该植被区系主要构成成分。(3)元宝山植被中存在许多区系上孑遗、古老、孤立的植物类群,并且特有成分丰富,具有重要的保护价值。(4)裸子植物丰富,针叶林群落类型多样,是元宝山植被组成的突出特点。     

Phylogeny,taxonomy, genetics and global heritage ranks of an imperilled,freshwater snail genus Lithasia (Pleuroceridae)

Numerous aquatic species are threatened with extinction from habitat elimination or modification. One particularly imperilled group is the freshwater gastropod family Pleuroceridae. Pleurocerids reach their greatest diversity in the southeastern United States, and many species are currently considered extinct, endangered or threatened. One issue hindering efforts to implement conservation management plans for imperilled pleurocerid species is that the taxonomy is in an abysmal state. The taxonomy of pleurocerids is currently based on late 19th- and early 20th-century studies, which used a typological or morphospecies concept. Most biologists today doubt the validity of many of the currently recognized species; however, this does not stop them from assigning conservation ranks in an attempt to determine which species are imperilled or currently stable. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the pleurocerid genus Lithasia using morphological and mitochondrial DNA sequence (mtDNA) data in an attempt to delimit species boundaries and test previous taxonomic schemes. We found that the current taxonomy of Lithasia does not reflect species diversity adequately within the genus, with two new undescribed species being discovered. The conservation status ranks of the new, undescribed species are imperilled and would have been overlooked had we relied on the conventional taxonomy. Additionally, the undescribed species' conservation ranks that were previously apparently secure became vulnerable due to being inappropriately assigned as members of formerly widely distributed species instead of the imperilled status they warrant and vice versa, as some taxa that were considered imperilled are now thought to be modestly stable. Our study suggests that conservation ranks should be considered suspect at best in taxonomically poorly known groups until the taxa are reviewed using modern systematic methods.     

Saussurea chabyoungsanica Im (Compositae), a new species from Mt. Chabyoung-san, Korea

A new species, theSaussurea chabyoungsanica Im, is described from Mt. Chabyoung-san, Kangwon Province, Korea. The new species has long elliptic leaves with short petioles and a compact corymb which consists of many slender tubular heads and tiny pedicels. These characteristics are not seen in any otherSausurea species in Korea, Japan, and northeast China (Manchuria).Saussurea chabyoungsanica is an endemic species of Korea.     

Sky Islands of the Cameroon Volcanic Line: a diversification hot spot for puddle frogs (Phrynobatrachidae: Phrynobatrachus)

The continental highlands of the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) represent biological ‘sky islands’ with high levels of species richness and endemism, providing the ideal opportunity to understand how orogenesis and historical climate change influenced species diversity and distribution in these isolated African highlands. Relationships of puddle frogs (Phrynobatrachus) endemic to the CVL are reconstructed to examine the patterns and timing of puddle frog diversification. Historical distributions were reconstructed using both elevation and geography data. Puddle frogs diversified in the CVL via several dispersal and vicariance events, with most of the locally endemic species distributed across the northern part of the montane forest area in the Bamenda‐Banso Highlands (Bamboutos Mts., Mt. Lefo, Mt. Mbam, Mt. Oku and medium elevation areas connecting these mountains). Two new species, P. jimzimkusi sp. n. and P. njiomock sp. n., are also described based on molecular analyses and morphological examination. We find that these new species are most closely related to one another and P. steindachneri with the ranges of all three species overlapping at Mt. Oku. Phrynobatrachus jimzimkusi sp. n. is distributed in the southern portion of the continental CVL, P. njiomock sp. n. is endemic to Mt. Oku, and P. steindachneri is present in the northeastern part of the montane forest area. Both new species can be distinguished from all other puddle frogs by a combination of morphological characters, including their large size, ventral coloration and secondary sexual characteristics present in males. These results highlight the Bamenda‐Banso Highlands, and specifically emphasize Mt. Oku, as a centre of diversification for puddle frogs, supporting the conservation importance of this region. Our results also provide new insights into the evolutionary processes shaping the CVL ‘sky islands’, demonstrating that lineage diversification in these montane amphibians is significantly older than expected with most species diverging from their closest relative in the Miocene. Whereas climatic changes during the Pliocene and Pleistocene shaped intraspecific diversification, most speciation events were significantly older and cannot be linked to Africa's aridification in response to Pleistocene climate fluctuations.