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Ophiorrhiza xinchengensis (Rubiaceae), a new species from the middle part of Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological evidence. This new species resembles Ophiorrhiza…

Ophiorrhiza xinchengensis (Rubiaceae), a new species from the middle part of Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological evidence. This new species resembles Ophiorrhiza longanensis in its densely pubescent stems, linear stipules, terminal or upper axillary inflorescences, but it can be distinguished by its elliptic or oblanceolate leaf blade, base attenuate (vs. oval, ovate to broadly ovate, base cuneate), its 2–3 mm long stipules (vs. 3.8–6.5 mm long), its 3–5 mm long bracteoles (vs. 6–10 mm long) its 10–12 mm long corolla tubes (vs. 2–3 mm long) and its filaments adnate at the middle of corolla tube, styles 12–15 mm long (vs. adnate to the base of corolla tube and styles ca. 3 mm long). The new species is currently known from a single population with approximately 60–100 mature individuals. Following IUCN Criteria, it is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered. Photographs, an illustration and a distribution map are also provided.

Ophiorrhiza saxatilis M.T.An & G.L.Li, sp. nov., a new species of the genus Ophiorrhiza (Rubiaceae) discovered in the karst regions of Guizhou, China, and provides its taxonomic basis from a morph…

Ophiorrhiza saxatilis M.T.An & G.L.Li, sp. nov., a new species of the genus Ophiorrhiza (Rubiaceae) discovered in the karst regions of Guizhou, China, and provides its taxonomic basis from a morphological perspective. The new species is morphologically similar to Ophiorrhiza lignosa, but differs from the latter by having an inflorescence in that its young branches are uniformly pubescent (vs. bifariously pubescent in O. lignosa); the abaxial leaf surface is pubescent (vs. puberulent only along the midrib and secondary veins in O. lignosa); the bracteoles are 5–6 mm long (vs. 1.5–3 mm long in O. lignosa); the petioles are 2–5.8 mm long (vs. 6–20 mm long in O. lignosa); the stamens are inserted at the base of the corolla tube (vs. inserted near the middle of the corolla tube in O. lignosa); the flowers are distylous (vs. monomorphic with pin flowers in O. lignosa), and the styles of long-styled flowers are 6–8 mm long (vs. 10–11 mm long in O. lignosa). These stable and significant morphological differences, combined with a comprehensive and detailed morphological description of the new species and a comparison of diagnostic characters with similar species, firmly support the recognition of Ophiorrhiza saxatilis as a distinct new species.

The genus Asplenium is known for its high morphological diversity and complex evolutionary history. Two South American species, Asplenium brasiliense and A. douglasii, possess unusual morphological tr…

The genus Asplenium is known for its high morphological diversity and complex evolutionary history. Two South American species, Asplenium brasiliense and A. douglasii, possess unusual morphological traits, including simple fronds, anastomosing venation, and paired indusia opening toward each other, which have historically led to their assignment to several satellite genera, such as Antigramma, Hemidictyum, Phyllitis, and Scolopendrium. However, their phylogenetic positions have never been rigorously tested using molecular data. In this study, four chloroplast markers were employed to infer the phylogenetic placement of these two enigmatic species. The phylogenetic analyses robustly resolved both species as members of the Asplenium schaffneria clade, where they form a strongly supported monophyletic group that is sister to the A. varians subclade. This study provides the first molecular phylogenetic evidence clarifying the phylogenetic relationships of A. douglasii and A. brasiliense, demonstrating that their morphological peculiarities represent specialized evolutionary derivations within Asplenium s.l. rather than providing justification for generic segregation.

Bassaricyon (Carnivora, Procyonidae) is a little-known group of small Neotropical carnivores from central and northern South America. Despite their charismatic nature, they are difficult to spot in th…

Bassaricyon (Carnivora, Procyonidae) is a little-known group of small Neotropical carnivores from central and northern South America. Despite their charismatic nature, they are difficult to spot in the field, and they are confused with another procyonid, the kinkajou. This poorly studied genus comprises four species: B. gabbii, B. alleni, B. medius, and B. neblina, the latter with two subspecies. In this study, the genetic diversity of Bassaricyon from eastern Amazonia was explored based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b. A maximum-likelihood analysis confirms the taxa recognized at the species and subspecies levels and shows that populations from the Guiana Shield (GS) are well structured relative to the lineage from western Amazonia (WA), with genetic distances among them comparable to those of other Bassaricyon subspecies. A median-joining network showed five median vectors between B. alleni lineages, more than between B. medius and B. neblina subspecies (n = 1); additionally, there are at least 10 nucleotide substitutions between them, suggesting a considerable difference between these lineages. In the last review of the genus, the estimated divergence time between B. alleni from western Amazonia and Guiana Shield was slightly less than that between B. neblina and B. medius subspecies, suggesting less time to differentiate. We collected Potos flavus in the two municipalities sampled; however, in different localities, suggesting different habitat specificities. These results, together with morphological differences among B. alleni lineages, suggest a subspecies taxonomic status for the Guiana Shield population, B. alleni beddardi.

As currently defined, Pristimantis subsigillatus is a species of the P. lacrimosus species group distributed in the Chocó of Colombia and Ecuador, from lowlands to Andean foothill forests. Upon re-exa…

As currently defined, Pristimantis subsigillatus is a species of the P. lacrimosus species group distributed in the Chocó of Colombia and Ecuador, from lowlands to Andean foothill forests. Upon re-examination of the holotype of P. subsigillatus, we conclude that the populations currently ascribed to P. subsigillatus are not conspecific with the holotype. Instead, the holotype is conspecific with one of the syntypes of P. latidiscus, a species described four years before from a nearby locality. To avoid the ambiguity in the application of the binomen Hylodes latidiscus, we designate a lectotype. As a result, P. subsigillatus becomes a junior synonym of P. latidiscus. The misidentified populations represent an undescribed species which we describe based on morphological, bioacoustic, and genetic data as Pristimantis milpe sp. nov. The new species has one of the widest distributions among Chocoan Pristimantis and is unusual for having sexual dimorphism in coloration. It is most closely related to Pristimantis degener from which it diverged in the late Miocene and is morphologically distinct. The fact that such a common species remained "invisible" to taxonomy highlights the importance of correctly establishing the link between the name-bearing types and natural populations. Finally, we discuss how taxonomic treatments of Pristimantis during the second half of the 20th century often made this non-trivial error.

With approximately 115 described species, Dendrobaena is the most species-rich genus within the family Lumbricidae and is probably also the most heterogeneous, both morphologically and geographically.…

With approximately 115 described species, Dendrobaena is the most species-rich genus within the family Lumbricidae and is probably also the most heterogeneous, both morphologically and geographically. Early attempts at morphological revision led to the separation of some morphologically homogeneous groups as separate genera, such as Fitzingeria and Satchellius. Although molecular phylogenetic approaches are now widely applied, relatively few studies have focused on Dendrobaena, and those have generally been limited to the revision of individual species groups. To address this gap, we employed an integrative approach combining molecular and morphological data. Our dataset includes 40 Dendrobaena taxa from diverse regions of Europe and Asia, several Eisenia species representing their entire geographic range, and representatives of related genera (Dendrodriloides, Healyella, and Spermophorodrilus). Our results indicate the potential polyphyly of both Dendrobaena and Eisenia, with E. ebneri and related species forming a clade with Caucasian Dendrodriloides species instead of Eisenia s. str. This clade also includes Dendrobaena veneta and closely related taxa. Within Dendrobaena, five distinct clades were recovered. According to our results, the lineage comprising former Fitzingeria species and allied taxa, and also the D. byblica species group together with Philomontanus baloutchi, do not belong to the Dendrobaena s. str. clade.

Eight new species of the genus Ischnothyreus Simon, 1893 are described from Hainan, China: I. bawangling Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), I. diaoluoshan Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), I. hongxin Tong &amp…

Eight new species of the genus Ischnothyreus Simon, 1893 are described from Hainan, China: I. bawangling Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), I. diaoluoshan Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), I. hongxin Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), I. jianfengling Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), I. limuling Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), I. liudao Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), I. luobidong Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) and I. wuzhishan Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂). Diagnoses and illustrations for all eight species are given.

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Reference implementation of MT-CPSO-F and three modal-basis baselines (SVD-QR, mrDMD-QR, POD-Transformer) for full-field wind pressure reconstruction from sparse sensors, accompanying the paper submit…

Reference implementation of MT-CPSO-F and three modal-basis baselines (SVD-QR, mrDMD-QR, POD-Transformer) for full-field wind pressure reconstruction from sparse sensors, accompanying the paper submitted to Automation in Construction. Code only; the TPU pressure-tap data is downloaded separately by the user from the TPU Aerodynamic Database.