Sunda clouded leopard conservation requires understanding key species traits. Using photo-identification, we estimated lifespans from minimum residence times, documenting the oldest wild individual known to date-a 6.51-year-old female. We discuss methodological limitations in female detectability and transient individuals in the population and propose recommendations to improve future monitoring.
Recent field work in Sabah state of Malaysia in Borneo, as well as Mindanao, Negros and Siquijor Islands in the Philippines has led to the collection of crickets from the family Phalangopsidae. This allows us to review the taxonomy of Luzonogryllus Yamasaki, 1978 from the Philippines and Sabah. We also describe a new species from Mindanao: Luzonogryllus (Apterozacla) appa Tan & Alo, sp. nov. We also present new locality records for Luzonogryllus (Apterozacla) mindoroensis Gorochov, 2006 in Negros and Siquijor Islands. Lastly, we also present new material of Strophiola lugubrina (Stål, 1877) from Mindanao and Negros Islands.
Potua Bolívar, 1887, a genus currently assigned to Xerophyllini (Cladonotinae), requires taxonomic revision because its type species, P. coronata Bolívar, 1887, is poorly defined. It exhibits huge variability in the pronotum among type specimens and longstanding confusion with P. morbillosa (Walker, 1871). To resolve the issue, we performed morphometric analyses and sequenced a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene to reassess species boundaries. Integrating the morphological and genetic data, we synonymise P. coronata Bolívar, 1887, syn. nov. with P. morbillosa (Walker, 1871) and prove that specimens with different pronotal morphology, previously regarded as intraspecific variations, represent different species. Genetic variations within each morphotype are also very low. Here, we describe three new species-P. bulbosa Muhammad, Adžić & Tan, sp. nov. from the Malay Peninsula; P.kinabalu Muhammad & Tan, sp. nov.; and P.sepilok Tan & Muhammad, sp. nov. from Borneo. We also provide an annotated diagnostic table to distinguish each of the four species from Southeast Asia.
Leptochilus is an Old World fern genus with uncertain species diversity. The Leptochilus macrophyllus complex exemplifies this uncertainty, as previous taxonomic treatments recognized it as a broadly circumscribed species with considerable morphological variation. Recent phylogenetic studies revealed multiple distinct lineages within L. macrophyllus, further suggesting the presence of potential cryptic species. In this study, we investigate the systematics of the L. macrophyllus complex using phylogenetic analyses based on five chloroplast markers, complemented by detailed morphological comparisons of sori arrangement, venation patterns, and laminae texture. We also reconstructed the historical biogeography of the complex, examining dispersal patterns that shaped its current distribution. Our findings support the classification of the L. macrophyllus complex into six distinct species, including three newly described species (Leptochilus nooteboomii C.T.Chen, C.W.Chen & Y.S.Chao sp. nov., Leptochilus papuasiaticus C.T.Chen, C.W.Chen & Y.S.Chao sp. nov., and Leptochilus punctiformis C.T.Chen, C.W.Chen & Y.S.Chao sp. nov.), two reinstated basionyms (Leptochilus polysorus (Brause) C.T.Chen, C.W.Chen & Y.S.Chao comb. nov. and Leptochilus regularis (Mett.) C.T.Chen, C.W.Chen & Y.S.Chao comb. nov.), and the recircumscribed L. macrophyllus. We provide detailed morphological descriptions and taxonomic notes for each species, along with a distribution map and an identification key. For names not treated in this study due to insufficient material, we offer insights based on existing data. This work advances the taxonomy of Leptochilus in Malesia and Papuasia by clarifying species boundaries within the L. macrophyllus complex and illuminating its evolutionary and biogeographical history.
Two new species of Varitrella (Cantotrella) (Oecanthidae: Podoscirtinae) are described from Sulu Archipelago: Varitrella (Cantotrella) sulu Haibil, Nuñeza & Tan, sp. nov. and Varitrella (Cantotrella) alternata Haibil, Nuñeza & Tan, sp. nov. The calling songs of Varitrella (Cantotrella) sulu Haibil, Nuñeza & Tan, sp. nov. and Varitrella (Cantotrella) trusmadi Gorochov, 2014 are also described.
