Three new species of the aphaenopsian trechine genus Pilosaphaenops Deuve & Tian, 2008 from South China Karst (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)

Summary

Three new trechine species of the genus Pilosaphaenops Deuve & Tian, 2008, P. qianzhii n. sp. from cave Lubian Dong in Pingtang County, southern Guizhou Province, P. mengzhenae n. sp. and P. weiguofui n. sp. from cave Xia Dong in Nandan County, and cave Shenlong Gong in Huanjiang County respectively, northern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, are described and illustrated. A key to all known species of this genus is also provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:170C467F-5421-49AD-B1B1-091D8BD58B88     

Descriptions of the first semi-aphenopsian troglobiotic Patrobini and of a new anophthalmic cave-dwelling Trechini from central Sichuan,China (Coleoptera: Caraboidea)

Summary

The first known troglobiotic species belonging to the ground beetle tribe Patrobini is reported from a limestone cave called Lianhua Dong in Pengzhou, a suburb county-level city in northern Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Troglopatrobus zhouchaoi n. gen., n. sp., is an eyeless and large-sized patrobine beetle with extremely elongated body (esp. head and elytra) and appendages. Duvalioblemus (Shublemus) liyuani n. subgen., n. sp., a minute anophthalmic trechine species, is also discovered from the same cave. It is the first cave-dwelling species belonging to this genus already known as endogean from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.     

Ecological genetics of the cave beetle Neaphaenops tellkampfii (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Summary Genetic variability and similarity were examined in eight populations of the Kentucky cave beetle Neaphaenops tellkampfii (Coleoptera: Carabidae) using the technique of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results indicate that N. tellkampfii has high genetic variation within and high genetic similarity among local populations. These results are in sharp contrast to the patterns of low variability and similarity reported for other cave dwelling species in the same region. It is concluded that the differences in genetical population structure among cave species in the Central Kentucky Karst are related to ecological differences among the species.     

Lobatiriccardia yunnanensis,sp. nov. (Metzgeriales,Aneuraceae) from Yunnan,China

Abstract

The genus Lobatiriccardia Furuki is reported as new to China, from the Dulong River valley, Gaoligong Shan range, Yunnan Province and this material is described as a new species endemic to China, Lobatiriccardia yunnanensis Furuki & D.G. Long, the fifth known species in the genus. The differences between the new species and the other members of the genus are enumerated, along with a key to all known species of Lobatiriccardia.     

A new sinistral species of the land-snail genus Satsuma (Pulmonata: Camaenidae) from China

ABSTRACT

The species of Satsuma are mostly endemic to East Asia except for one species distributed in Batan Island of the Philippines. More than 99% of the known species of this genus are endemic to the island environment. Only three species are currently known to occur on the mainland. Here we describe a new sinistral Satsuma species from China, Satsuma guandi n. sp. We studied the shell morphology and genital anatomy of the new species and reconstructed the molecular phylogeny of the genus based on partial nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and nuclear markers from the ribosomal RNA cistrons (the internal transcribed spacer and the external transcribed spacer regions). The new species differs from other sinistral Satsuma species by having a strongly angulated shell and an open dark brownish-red umbilicus. The new species also differed from all other sinistral congeners in details of its reproductive anatomy. The molecular analysis supports the validity of the new species within the genus Satsuma.     

Revision of the genus Evanos Laporte de Castelnau, 1840, with the description of a second species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Rutelidae: Geniatini)

The monotypic genus Evanos (Coleoptera: Rutelidae: Geniatini) is revised and a new species, E. danieleae Grossi, n. sp., is described based on specimens collected from Minas Gerais, Brazil. A lectotype is designated for Evanos villatus. Diagnostic characters and comments about the taxonomic status of the genus are given, as well as a key for both species and a distribution map with the known locality records.     

A new genus and a new subgenus of cavernicolous beetles from Furong Jiang valley,southwestern China (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)

A new genus and a new subgenus of semi-aphaenopsian trechine beetles are described from Furong Jiang valley in the bordering areas of Chongqing Shi (Municipality) and Guizhou Province, southwestern China: Deuveaphaenops Tian & Huang, n. gen. (type species: Deuveaphaenops qimenxicus Tian & Huang, n. sp. from Qimenxia Cave II, Wulong Xian, Chongqing) and Furongius Tian & Huang, n. subgen. (type species: Deuveaphaenops (Furongius) gelaophilus Tian & Huang, n. sp. from cave Xianmi Dong, Daozhen Xian, Guizhou). Deuveaphaenops probably belongs to the complex of Cathaiaphaenops, Qianotrechus, Guizhaphaenops and Sinotroglodytes.     

Tuyamaella serratistipa S. Hatt. new to the Philippines,with a key to the genus Tuyamaella (Hepaticae,Lejeuneaceae)

Abstract

Tuyamaella serratistipa S. Hatt. is reported as a new generic and specific record for the Philippine bryoflora. A detailed illustration of the species and a distribution map of the genus and the species are presented. A key to all known species of Tuyamaella is also provided, and the taxonomy of the genus discussed.     

Review of the neotropical endemics Burmeistera, Centropogon, and Siphocampylus (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae), with description of 18 new species and a new section

Burmeistera, Centropogon, and Siphocampylus together comprise more than 500 species endemic to the Neotropics, Current knowledge of these genera is unsatisfactory, with much diversity yet to be described. Over the past seven years, one out of every 28 specimens received for identification has represented a new species, many characterized by unique or unusual character states. Siphocampylus smilax (Bolivia) is unique in the genus in its parallelodromous leaf venation and extra-floral nectaries. Centropogon dianae (Peru) cannot be accommodated in any recognized infrageneric taxon, and a new section, Centropogon sect. Niveopsis, is proposed for it. The flowers of C. steinii (Ecuador) are the smallest known in the genus, while C. connatilobatus (Venezuela) is the first species to combine arbusculiform pubescence and connate calyx lobes. Burmeistera venezuelensis is only the second species of the genus known to occur in Venezuela and the first to be endemic; similarly, Centropogon wilburii is only the third species of Centropogon known from Mexico and the first to be endemic to that country. Additional novelties are also described.     

Revision of the genus Heliomantis Giglio-Tos 1915 (Insecta: Mantodea: Hymenopodidae)

Summary. The little-known flower mantis genus Heliomantis Giglio-Tos 1915 (Hymenopodidae) distributed in South and South-Eastern Asia is revised. All species are redescribed. New data on the morphology, distribution and ecology are given, and all known specimens are listed. The lectotype of H. elegans (Navás 1904) is designated. Due to highly divergent morphology, H. latipennis Werner 1930 from Sarawak, Borneo, is transferred to Werneriana n. gen., leaving the genus Heliomantis with the only species, H. elegans (Navás, 1904).     

Relaxed purifying selection of rhodopsin gene within a Chinese endemic cavefish genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinocyclocheilus</Emphasis> (Pisces: Cypriniformes)

The cyprinid fish genus Sinocyclocheilus, as the most cavefish rich genus, includes many species showing striking adaptation to caves and convergent reduction or even loss of eyes and pigmentation. RH1 is responsible for dim vision. In order to explore the evolution of RH1 gene in this genus, we sequenced the complete gene from 28 individuals of 16 representative species of Sinocyclocheilus, with cave and surface species included. Phylogenetic analyses supported the monophyly of Sinocyclocheilus and polyphyly of the cave species. Codon models implemented in PAML were used to infer the evolution of RH1. We found that Sinocyclocheilus had a significantly higher evolutionary rate for amino acids than other cyprinid fishes compared, which might be the result of relaxation of purifying selection and could be ascribed to cave habit of this genus. In contrast to previous hypotheses, both cave and surface lineages exhibited a similar rate of molecular evolution, so the RH1 of cave species may still be functional, although these species were highly adapted to cave environment. Two amino acid substitutions (D83G and E122V) that were not reported before were found, which may be useful for site-directed mutagenesis in the future. Handling editor: Christian Sturmbauer     

Preliminary notes on the genus Aeschnosoma Selys 1870 (Odonata: Anisoptera: Corduliidae s. str.)

Three new species of the genus Aeschnosoma are briefly described and illustrated. A. pseudoforcipula n. sp. and A. heliophila n. sp., both from the Brazilian Central Plateau are respectively related to the two Amazonian species A. forcipula Hagen in Selys 1871, and A. auripennis Geijskes 1970. A. louissiriusi n. sp. from Northern Brazil is not closely related to any known species. Based on larval and adult derived characters, the genus Aeschnosoma appears closely related to the Australian genus Pentathemis Karsch 1890, and also to the Madagascan genus Libellulosoma Martin 1907. The clade Aeschnosomata nov. is erected to receive the three genera. Some putative plesiomorphies would place this clade sister group of the remaining Corduliidae s.str.     

The first report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spondias</Emphasis> native to Madagascar: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spondias tefyi</Emphasis>, sp. nov. (Anacardiaceae)

Spondias represents a genus new to Madagascar’s native flora. Like Campnosperma, it is now known from both American and Asian tropics and Madagascar but not from continental Africa. The new species Spondias tefyi is easily distinguished from all of its Asian congeners by having the stamens shorter than the pistil and fruits brown and lenticellate at maturity (vs. greenish, yellow, orange or red, and relatively smooth). The new species is one of several Anacardiaceae whose fruits are eaten by lemurs in the Analavelona Forest, highlighting the importance of conserving this threatened subhumid forest remnant in southern Madagascar.     

On the genus SuniusStephens, 1829 of Turkey. VI. A new micropterous species and distribution of the genus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

A new species of the genus Sunius Stephens, 1829 is described from Konya province in Anatolia and illustrated: Sunius yamani sp. n. Additional records of six species of Sunius from Turkey are reported. A total of 39 species are now known from Turkey, 35 of them are endemic. Distribution maps are given for all Turkish members of the genus Sunius.     

The genus Gottschelia Grolle (Jungermanniopsida,Lophoziaceae) in China,with a description of G. grollei,sp. nov.

Abstract

The genus Gottschelia Grolle is reported as new to mainland China, from Yunnan Province. Previously G. schizopleura (Spruce) Grolle was the only known Chinese species, reported from Taiwan. However, two further species have recently been found in the Gaoligong Shan range, Yunnan Province, G. patoniae Grolle, Schill & D.G. Long, previously known from the East Himalaya of Nepal and India (Sikkim) and G. grollei D.G. Long & Váňa, described here as a new species endemic to China, the fourth known species in the genus. The differences between the three Chinese species are enumerated with notes on distribution and ecology.     

Rediscovery of the “extinct” blind ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)

The blind ground beetle Ishikawatrechus intermedius (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae), called Kadota‐mekurachibigomimushi in Japanese, was first found in 1952 in the cave Ôchi‐dô, Kôchi Prefecture, Japan. However, this cave and a large part of the surrounding hill were destroyed by limestone mining in the 1970s. Because most species of blind ground beetles are restricted to specific caves or cave systems, I. intermedius has been considered endemic to very narrow areas of the cave Ôchi‐dô and the upper hypogean zone around the cave. Therefore, I. intermedius was considered to have become extinct. In this study, during 2011–2015, we collected ten individuals of a blind ground beetle, which appeared to be I. intermedius, from the upper hypogean zone, approximately 0.3–1.0 m below ground, in the southern part of the type locality. A comparison with type specimens indicated that the individuals were indeed I. intermedius. Therefore, we conclude that I. intermedius survives in the upper hypogean zone near the type locality. The results of this study will be useful for quickly establishing conservation measures for threatened or vulnerable species of Trechinae beetles.     

The species of the genus Micrambe Thomson 1863, from South Africa (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae)

The 22 species of the genus Micrambe Thomson known from South Africa are analyzed and revised. Micrambe danielssoni sp. nov is described. Following a detailed study of the type material in different entomological collections, the status of two taxa is revised and two new synonymies are proposed: Micrambe kolbei Grouvelle 1908, syn. nov. for Micrambe minuta Grouvelle 1908, and Micrambe similis Bruce 1957, syn. nov. for Micrambe peringueyi Grouvelle 1908. A lectotypus is designated for one taxon: Micrambe capensis (Redtenbacher 1867). A key to all the species occurring in South Africa is presented.     

African Hepatica XXI. Microlejeunea,Chaetolejeunea and Pleurolejeuna

Abstract

Zoopsis nitida is described as a new species endemic to New Zealand, at present only known from Northland, and appears to be most closely related to Z. setulosa. It differs from other species of the genus in its very reduced leaves which are usually only discernible near the shoot apex.