Gamo barb (Enteromius gamo) is fish endemic to Lakes Abaya and Chamo in southwestern Ethiopia

NEWS - A new species of fish, gamo barb (Enteromius gamo), from tributaries to Lakes Abaya and Chamo in southwestern Ethiopia, commonly identified as E. kerstenii, exhibits thickened and serrated last rays in the dorsal fin, few scales in the lateral series (≤ 27) and yellow or orange or reddish spots on the operculum.

The genetic distance between E. gamo from Ethiopia and E. kerstenii specimens from near the type locality in northeastern Tanzania is 7.5-8.3% (COI) and 8.9-10.1% (cytb). Morphologically it is distinguished from E. kerstenii and all its relatives from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda mainly by the short anterior and posterior barbels.

This fish is endemic to Ethiopia known only from the endorheic basins of Lakes Abaya and Chamo. The specimens were collected at the end of the rainy season from an irrigation canal connecting the lower Sile and Hare rivers with a floodplain. E. gamo was found sympatric with Enteromius cf. stigmatopygus at both sampling sites.

The substrate composition was dominated by silt and sand. The elevation of the sampling sites ranged from 1122-1185 meters. E. gamo was absent from the parent rivers and only one specimen was previously found in the coastal habitat of Lake Abaya. In addition, this new species was reported from the Sago River, Lake Chamo basin.

The gut contents contained unidentifiable fine organic detritus, remains of aquatic arthropods (Chironomidae, Ephemeroptera), terrestrial (Formicidae) and some non-organic materials. The specific epithet gamo was chosen to honor the Gamo people who inhabit the area around Lake Abaya.

This fish has a limited distribution range coupled with environmental pressures from agricultural intensification and modification of natural habitats prompted researchers to propose the IUCN status (2012) to Endangered or Critically Endangered.

Original research

Gernot K. Englmaier, Min Chai, Alemayehu Wubie, Rupert A. Collins & Abebe Getahun (2024). A new species within the Enteromius kerstenii complex (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae, Smiliogastrinae) from south-western Ethiopia. Zootaxa 5512 (2): 166-184, DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5512.2.2

Dlium theDlium

Purwaceng (Pimpinella pruatjan)

Purwaceng or purwoceng or antanan gunung or Viagra of Java ( Pimpinella pruatjan or Pimpinella priatjan ) are small termas growing horizontally in Apiaceae, growing in villages on Dieng Plateau, Central Java Province, Indonesia, at 1,500 to 2,000 meters above sea level, the roots have medicinal properties for aphrodisiacs and are usually processed in powder form for a mixture of coffee or milk. P. pruatjan grows flat on the ground but does not propagate, small leaves are reddish green for 1-3 cm in diameter. This plant is only found in Java and grows in high mountain areas. A low population where industrial demand is very high results in increasingly scarce. Another place that is likely to become a purwaceng habitat is the Iyang Mountains and the Tengger Mountains in East Java Province. Efforts to multiply and cultivate have a big problem where these plants have difficulty producing seeds. In vitro propagation research through tissue cultivation has been carried out to overcome ...

Six new species forming the Sumbana species group in genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg 1798 from Indonesia

NEWS - Sumbawa longhorn ( Nemophora sumbana Kozlov, sp. nov.), Timor longhorn ( Nemophora timorella Kozlov, sp. nov.), shining shade longhorn ( Nemophora umbronitidella Kozlov, sp. nov.), Wegner longhorn ( Nemophora wegneri Kozlov, sp. nov.), long brush longhorn ( Nemophora longipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.), and short brush longhorn ( Nemophora brevipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.) from the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia. The Lesser Sunda Islands consist of two parallel, linear oceanic island chains, including Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Sawu, Timor, Alor, and Tanimbar. The oldest of these islands have been continuously occurring for 10–12 million years. This long period of isolation has allowed significant in situ diversification, making the Lesser Sundas home to many endemic species. This island chain may act as a two-way filter for organisms migrating between the world's two great biogeographic regions, Asia and Australia-Papua. The recognition of a striking cli...

New living fossil, Amethyst worm lizard (Amphisbaena amethysta), from Espinhaço Mountain Range, Brazil

NEWS - New species from the northern Espinhaço Mountains, Caetité municipality, Bahia state, Brazil. Amethyst worm lizard ( Amphisbaena amethysta ) is the 71st species of the genus with 4 precloacal pores and the 22nd species of Caatinga morphoclimatic domain. Identification of the new species shows the reptiles of the Mountains are far from complete and may contain greater diversity of endemic taxa. A. amethysta can be distinguished by its anteriorly convex snout, slightly compressed and unkeeled, pectoral scales arranged in regular annuli, four precloacal pores, distinct head shield, 185-199 dorsal and half annuli, 13-16 caudal annuli, a conspicuous autotomy spot between the 4th-6th caudal annuli, 16-21 dorsal and ventral segments in the middle of the body, 3/3 supralabials, 3/3 infralabials and a smooth and rounded tail tip. A. amethysta occurs in areas with an average elevation of 1000 meters in patches of deciduous and semi-deciduous forests associated with valleys, slopes, fore...

Dlium