We describe and illustrate a new genus and species of sea anemone from shallow waters of the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean based on morphological, cnidae, and molecular data. Spiractis pacifica, gen. et sp. nov., has a unique combination of morphological features and cnidae among genera within the family Actiniidae (Actiniaria: Actinioidea). This species is characterized by a column with longitudinal rows of verrucae and marginal projections with basitrichs only, mesenteries arranged in three cycles and the presence of a distinct cnida, p-mastigophore A2, in the actinopharynx and filaments. Differences among species with verrucae and protuberances in the distal column within Actiniidae are discussed. Morphology, cnidae, and molecular phylogenetic analyses support the erection of a new genus within Actiniidae to place specimens of Spiractis, gen. nov. This is the first recorded sea anemone from the Pacific side of Colombia and the 14th from the Panamanian Pacific.
Herein we present a phylogenetic analysis of the species-rich pomacentrid genus Pomacentrus, based on the analysis of sequence data from eight nuclear and mitochondrial loci, and describe a new species from inshore reef habitats in Madagascar. Pomacentrus maintivombona, new species, is described based primarily on specimens collected during an expedition to survey marine fishes on shallow fringing reefs and rocky habitats spanning the Masoala Peninsula in northeastern Madagascar. The new species is readily distinguished from congeners except P. aquilus by a distinct adult coloration pattern in life comprising light brownish coloration dorsally, becoming grayish violet posteroventrally, with a distinctly lighter tan throat and chest region, jet-black fins, and a yellowish to golden eye ring. The new species is further distinguished from its sister species, P. aquilus, in life and preservation, by the absence of a prominent black ocellus outlined in white on the soft dorsal fin and the absence of a black saddle on the caudal peduncle in adults, and in possessing fewer anal-fin rays (14 vs. 15). We discuss the phylogenetic placement of the new species and its relationship to closely related and morphologically similar species occurring in the western Indian Ocean, including those with similar coloration patterns.
Morphological and genetic revision of Central Asian minnows previously named as “Phoxinus” discovered a major novel evolutionary lineage of leuciscid fishes. According to both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers, the novel lineage is sister to large-sized fishes known as Altai osmans, the genus Oreoleuciscus; the high mtDNA p-distance between these lineages (0.113 ± 0.006) further supports the genetic distinctiveness of the new lineage. A new genus of minnows, Tianshanophoxinus, gen. nov. (Leuciscidae: Pseudaspininae), is described from the endorheic basins of Central Asia. This genus includes at least three species: T. poljakowii (Kessler, 1879), comb. nov., T. kuldschiensis (Warpachowski, 1887), comb. nov., and T. issykkulensis (Berg, 1912), comb. nov., all formerly placed in Phoxinus Rafinesque, 1820. Detailed morphological analyses clearly distinguish the lineage of Tianshanophoxinus from related genera (Phoxinus, Rhynchocypris, and Oreoleuciscus) based on unique characteristics such as the reduced number of pored scales in the lateral line, lower counts of pelvic-fin rays and caudal vertebrae, and distinct morphometric proportions. Phylogenetic evidence supports the monophyly of the genus and its placement within the subfamily Pseudaspininae of the family Leuciscidae. The species exhibit restricted distributions across the Lake Balkhash, Alakol, Issyk-Kul and Chu River basins, reflecting the geological and hydrological history of the region.
Neorhinoleucophenga Duda, 1924, has been known for a century just on the basis of several types, two of them putatively lost. The type species, N. vitripennis Duda, was designated by Wheeler (1970). For the present study, the type of vitripennis (which was not lost) was studied along with several new specimens, all from Costa Rica, and the species is shown to belong to Zygothrica Wiedmann, thus Zygothrica vitripennis, new combination, is proposed. The remaining species, N. trachyopa Duda, is subsequently designated as the type species, and defining differences between it and four other new species are based on restudy of its type (it also was not lost). New material from Costa Rica and Venezuela allowed a detailed morphological study of the genus, which is in the subfamily Drosophilinae (not Steganinae); species are highly modified, including the unique presence of a large, setose gland on the hind femur. Of the five species four are new: Neorhinoleucophenga frontalis, n. sp., lepida, n. sp., nectandra, n. sp., and priapos, n. sp. The genus appears restricted to cool, wet, montane neotropical forests. One species (N. lepida) was found aggregating with a pyraloid caterpillar in rolled leaves in Venezuela, perhaps attracted to the frass. Synapomorphic morphological characters are presented for a close relationship of Neorhinoleuphenga and Laccodrosophila Duda, the latter breeding in flowers. An identification key to the species of Neorhinoleucophenga is provided.
The arachnid order Amblypygi Thorell, 1883, currently comprises 299 described species in 18 genera and five families, a surprisingly low diversity compared to other globally distributed arachnid orders. The genus Phrynus Lamarck, 1801, the most speciose genus of the Neotropical family Phrynidae Blanchard, 1852, is one of several amblypygid genera that contain much undescribed diversity. For example, its type species, Phrynus operculatus Pocock, 1902, allegedly distributed from southern Texas to Guatemala, appears to represent a complex of more range-restricted cryptic species. Existing records suggest a disjunction in the distribution of P. operculatus, with the Texan population separated from Mexican populations by considerable distance and a potential barrier of unsuitable desert habitat. The recent collection and examination of new material from the Big Bend area of southern Texas revealed that the Texan population is not conspecific with typical P. operculatus material from Mexico and Central America. It differs from the latter in being almost entirely depigmented and is the third troglomorphic species of Phrynus. The morphology and habitat of this unusual troglophilous species, named Phrynus abstrusus, sp. nov., are described herein.
