Treerunners,cryptic lizards of the Plica plica group (Squamata,Sauria, Tropiduridae) of?northern?South?America

The arboreal, Neotropical lizard Plica plica (Linnaeus, 1758) has been long considered a widespread species with a distribution east of the Andes. A preliminary examination of 101 specimens from about 28 locations mostly north of the Amazon suggests that Plica plica is a cryptic species complex with taxa that can be distinguished on the basis of the number of scale rows at mid-body; the arrangement, shape and ornamentation of scales on the snout; the number of lamellae on the fourth toe; the number of subocular plates; as well as other commonly used external morphological traits. The allopatric species discussed here are concordant with northern South American geography. Plica plica (Linnaeus, 1758) is associated with the Guiana Shield (Suriname, Guyana and Venezuela). A second species, P. caribeana sp. n. is associated with the Caribbean Coastal Range of Venezuela including Trinidad and Tobago. A third, distinctive species, P. rayi sp. n. is associated with the middle Orinoco at the eastern edge of the Guiana Shield. Two other species, P. kathleenae sp. n. and P. medemi sp. n., each based upon a single specimen, one from the Sierra Acarai Mountains of Guyana, and the other from southern Meta, Colombia are described. In addition to morphological analyses, we sequenced 12S and 16S rDNA gene fragments from one Plica plica from Trinidad to assess its relationship and taxonomy to other mainland Plica cf. plica. The results suggest Plica caribeana sp. n. likely diverged prior to the separation of Trinidad from northern Venezuela. Isolation in the Caribbean Coastal Range during its rapid uplift in the late Miocene, combined with a marine incursion into northern Venezuela may have contributed to their genetic divergence from other populations.     

Revision of the genus Froesia (Quiinaceae)

Froesia venezuelensis, a new species from Venezuela, is described, and the two previously known species ofFroesia are revised.     

A new Venezuelan species of Cordia sect. Gerascanthus (Boraginaceae)

Cordia thaisiana is described as new from the state of Zulia, Venezuela. It can be distinguished from other species in the section by the inconspicuously nerved calyx, the flower disk fused with the ovary, and by the glabrous branches and leaf blades. A key is provided for the species ofCordia sect.Gerascanthus growing in northern South America.     

A New Species of Pterandra (Malpighiaceae) from the Guayana Highland

Pterandra sericea, a new species from southeastern Venezuela and western Guyana, is described, illustrated, and compared with its nearest relative,P. flavescens, another species of the Guayana Highland.     

Description of a New Species of Neoadoxoplatys and Immature Stages of Neoadoxoplatys saileri Kormilev (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) Associated with Bamboo

Neoadoxoplatys thomasi is described as a new species from Mexico and Venezuela. The immature stages of Neoadoxoplatys saileri Kormilev are presented for the first time. Immature stages are described and illustrated, some bamboo species of Guadua are recorded as hosts, distributional records in Mexico are also included; scanning electron micrographs of the eggs of N. saileri are provided. A key to separate the four known species of Neoadoxoplatys is included.     

Description of new taxa of Halenia Borkh. (Gentianaceae) from Colombia and Venezuela with significance for testing a key innovation hypothesis

As a result of an ongoing complete taxonomic revision of Halenia (Gentianaceae), the new taxa Halenia perijana K.B. Hagen and H. major subsp. meridensis K.B. Hagen are described from Colombia and Venezuela, respectively. Flower morphology suggests that both taxa belong to the Halenia viridis group. H. perijana is vegetatively well separated from its probable closest relatives, and the only member of Halenia from a small and rather isolated mountain range. The new subspecies meridensis has small remnants of nectary spurs, and probably links the unspurred viridis group to its prominently spurred Central American sister group. Previous molecular clock approaches showed that the viridis group arrived in South America approximately at the same time as the weddelliana group, the distantly related second major South American group, which contains species with prominent spurs. Based on the new extensive knowledge of all species, the distribution patterns of both groups in Colombia and Venezuela are compared. The existence of marked differences—weddelliana group species grow in sympatry more often than species of the viridis group—is consistent with a key innovation effect of the presence/absence of nectary spurs, i.e., the reduction of pollinator overlap mediated by the presence of nectary spurs may allow sympatric speciation or remigration after a shorter phase of allopatric differentiation. However, this new evidence is relatively weak due to lack of statistical support and several other unresolved problems.     

A new American species of schismatoglottis (araceae)

Schismatoglottis has been known previously in the Western Hemisphere from two species of sect. Philonotion that occur in northeastern South America. A third species, S. bolivarana, is described and illustrated, from materials collected in the Guayana Highland of Venezuela; it is most closely related to S. americana of Surinam. The possible existence of infraspecific taxa of S. bolivarana is suggested by the differences of ecology and slight morphological variance of the plants at the two widely separated localities where it has been collected. A key to the known American species is presented.     

Descriptions of a new Brazilian Tacora species and the female of Tacora saturata, and a key to the species of the genus (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellini)

Tacora johanni, a new species from Rondônia State, North Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species can be recognized by the male genital features, especially the subgenital plates with the basal half distinctly expanded and with outer lateral margin round, the long and slender preapical pygofer process, and the styles with apical half strongly curved. Also, the genus is recorded for the first time from Venezuela, based on specimens of Tacora saturata Young, 1977, while the female of this species (here described in detail for the first time) shows two unusual features of the genitalia. A key to males of all known Tacora species and a map showing the known distribution of the genus are provided.     

Primer registro del género Corytoplectus (Gesneriaceae: Episcieae) en México, con descripción de una nueva especie

Corytoplectus (Gesneriaceae) is a neotropical genus of 11 species from South America. Collections recently made in Oaxaca indicate, for the first time, the presence of the genus in Mexico, and a newly described endemic species, C. oaxacensis. This species is most closely resembles C. schlimii which is from Colombia and Venezuela. Geographical distribution of the genus is briefly discussed.     

Notes on Guayana mosses with new information of Sphagnum ornatum

Mosses restricted to tepui summits in the Guayana Highland are relatively few.Sphagnum ornatum Crum, though, only recently described from Brazil, has been found subsequently in a number of localities in nearby Venezuela and Guyana. These additional collections make for a better understanding of the diagnostic features of a species characteristically found on the tops of the sandstone mesas of southern Venezuela and adjacent areas.     

The saurian malarias of Venezuela: Haemosporidian parasites of gekkonid lizards

Telford S. P., Jr. 1978. The saurian malarias of Venezuela: haemosporidian parasites of gekkonid lizards. International Journal for Parasitology8: 341–353. Five haemosporidian species were found among 185 gekkonid lizards from Estados Portuguesa, Cojedes and Aragua, Venezuela, four of which were new to science. A pigmented Plasmodium species is described from Gonatodes taniae of Estado Aragua. It produces 8–20 merozoites in variably shaped schizonts, and elongate, irregularly margined prematuration gametocytes which contract to form round to broadly elongate mature gametocytes. Phyllodactylus ventralis of Estado Portuguesa is parasitized by two new unpigmented malarial species. One produces 11–35 merozoites in schizonts which are often rounded or elongated, occasionally fan-shaped. Gametocytes are always elongated and usually lie diagonally across one end of the host cell or laterally to the nucleus. The second species forms rounded mature schizonts nearly filled with 14–32 merozoites. The sexual stages are usually round or oval, rarely elongate. Plasmodium aurulentum Telford, 1971 was found in Thecadactylus raplcaudus of Estados Portuguesa and Cojedes. A single Thecadactylus from Cojedes was infected by a haemosporidian species of uncertain generic identity which resembles a parasite found earlier in a Panamanian gecko.     

Thymocarpus cannoides (Marantaceae), a new genus and species from Venezuela and Brazil

Thymocarpus, apparently most closely related to Calathea, is described and illustrated. Its sole species, T. cannoides, has been collected in lowlands of eastern Venezuela and western Brazil.     

Streblocerus superserricaudatus sp. nov. from Venezuela

A new species of the genus Streblocerus is described from Venezuela and compared with European, Newfoundland and Australian specimens. The geographical distribution of the genus is discussed.     

Hourcquia Collignon, 1965 (Cretaceous Ammonoidea) from the upper Turonian of the southern United States

Hourcquia Collignon, 1965, previously described only from the upper Turonian of Madagascar, Venezuela, South Saghalien and Hokkaido, Japan, is documented from New Mexico and Texas in the United States. The material is referred to a single variable species,H. mirabilis Collignon, 1965, previously known only from Madagascar and Hokkaido, Japan.     

Three New Species of Thraulodes (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae) from Venezuela

Three new species of Thraulodes from Venezuela are described. One species is known from male and female imagines, and the other two only from male imagines. With this, the known Thraulodes species for Venezuela are four. A key for the male imagines of the known species of Thraulodes from Venezuela is provided.     

The Venezuelan species of Neoelmis (Coleoptera: Elmidae)

Eight new species of Neoelmis from Venezuela are described, and a key is given to the species. N.pusio of Trinidad and Tobago is included in the key because it seems likely that it may occur in Venezuela.     

A new species of Graffenrieda (Melastomataceae) from the northern Amazon basin

A new species of Graffenrieda (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) from northern Brazil and southern Venezuela is described. Graffenrieda laevicarpa closely resembles the morphologically variable and complex G. caryophyllea, but can be distinguished based on leaf morphology and pubescence, and by its shiny capsules.     

Three new species of Couratari (Lecythidaceae)

Three new species of Couratari are described. Couratari scottmorii from San Biás, Panama and Costa Rica and C. asterotricha from southeastern Brazil are closely related to C. stellata and C. pyramidata. Couratari scottmorii is another example of the close relationship between the forests of Panama and those of the Guianas. Couratari sandwithii from Venezuela and Suriname belongs to the C. multiflora species complex.     

Maracanthus,a new genus of Loranthaceae

A new genus of small-flowered Loranthaceae,Maracanthus, is described from northernmost Colombia and adjacent Venezuela.Maracanthus has indeterminate, spicate inflorescences with decussate, sessile flowers, each bracteolate. It is most closely related toOryctanthus but differs in being functionally dioecious, in having smooth pollen grains, and in lacking the stellate fiber bundles characteristic ofOryctanthus leaves. There are two species,M. chlamydatus (Rizzini) Kuijt (the type species), andM. pedunculatus Kuijt, a new species.     

Freshwater larval trematodes: Cercaria ghaziaporzanae n. sp., of the pharyngeal longifurcate distome group,parasitic in ancylid molluscs

A new species of a pharyngeal longifurcate distome furcocercous cercaria characterized, chiefly, by two pairs of penetration glands located pre- and post-acetabulum, well-developed oesophagus and intestinal caeca, 20 flame cells, and by the absence of a transverse excretory commissures, is described from an ancylid mollusc, Gundlachia sp., abundant in Laguna de Los Patos, near Universidad de Oriente, Cumaná, Venezuela. A review of larval trematodes parasitic in ancylid molluscs, with information on their life histories, is given.