Dlium

NEWS - Talaromyces disparis (ex-type AS3.26221), Talaromyces funiformis (ex-type AS3.26220) and Talaromyces jianfengicus (ex-type AS3.26253) isolated from soil were established as three new species in sect. Talaromyces based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis of BenA, CaM, Rpb2 and ITS sequences. Talaromyces species play important roles in nutrient cycling in natural ecosystems, plant biomass degradation in industry and implications in medicine. However, the diversity of this genus is far from being fully understood. The genus is currently divided into 8 sections (Bacillispori, Helici, Islandici, Purpurei, Subinflati, Talaromyces, Tenues and Trachyspermi). In a survey of Talaromyces in China, researchers found five typical Talaromyces strains and proposed three new species represented by these strains included in sect. Talaromyces, which now includes about 90 species, is the largest section within Talaromyces and generally grows rapidly to clumps with a diameter o

NEWS - The researchers established three new species and one new genus: Lisa Levin deep-sea limpet ( Bathyacmaea levinae ), confuse true limpet ( Paralepetopsis variabilis ), methane deep-sea limpet ( Cocculina methane ) and Costa Rica false hydrothermal vent limpet ( Pseudolepetodrilus costaricensis gen. et sp. nov). Chemosynthesis-based ecosystems, such as hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps, host unique, diverse and continuously emerging life forms. The researchers highlighted the unique gastropod fauna and the biodiversity of chemosynthesis-based deep-sea ecosystems. Limpets were collected from Pacific Costa Rica Margin hydrocarbon seeps during three cruises from 2017 to 2019. Genetic and morphological analyses revealed species in the genera Bathyacmaea Okutani, Tsuchida & Fujikura (1992), Paralepetopsis McLean (1990), Cocculina Dall (1882) and the family Lepetodrilidae McLean (1988). B. levinae was collected from the Jaco Scar and Quepos Seep hydrocarbon seeps in the Pa

NEWS - Hidden flatheaded mayfly ( Epeorus abditus ) was established as a new species within Epeorus Eaton, 1881, subgenus Caucasiron Kluge, 1997, collected in Türkiye, Georgia and Russia based on several methodological approaches to delimit the new species by analyzing COI sequence data and larval morphology. The authors describe comparisons with related taxa and diagnostic characters that allow the determination of larvae as part of a detailed study of the Caucasian mayfly fauna, updating the identification keys for other Caucasian species with E. (Caucasiron) abditus , E. hyrcanicus and E. tripertitus . Epeorus is a diverse genus of mayflies in the Caucasus region. The larvae inhabit cold, well-oxygenated rivers with rocky substrates. Given the body size of the adult larvae which can exceed 20 mm, they represent a charismatic and conspicuous group of mountain aquatic biota. E. abditus has a relatively wide distribution in the Caucasus region but is relatively rare. Specimens were

NEWS - Waiahulu schiedea ( Schiedea waiahuluensis ) is the only known species in the Waiahulu Valley cliffs in the Waimea Canyon of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands, and is placed in the broader sect. Leucocalyx. The new species brings the genus to 36 species endemic to Hawaii. In a survey by a National Tropical Botanical Garden drone team in December 2021, the team observed the enigmatic Schiedea on a steep rocky cliff face in the Waiahulu Valley. A subsequent survey in March 2022 using a remote-controlled cutting tool suspended from a drone, the first specimen was collected of this cliff dweller that has never been described before. The species has enlarged, whitish sepals that are similar to those of the cliff dweller S. attenuata , but differ significantly from all other species in the genus. The specimen also shares similarities with S. attenuata , namely woody, hermaphroditic flowers, colored nectaries and 5-7 or 8 stalks. The specific epithet refers to Waiahulu in Waimea Canyon, the onl

NEWS - Ziyun high-plateau loach ( Triplophysa ziyunensis ) and King Yalu high-plateau loach ( Triplophysa yaluwang ) inhabit underground rivers with reduced eyes and irregular brown spots as stygophile fishes in the hypogean group of the genus Triplophysa in Maoying Town, Ziyun County, Guizhou Province, China. Mitochondrial cyt b revealed 1.4-2.0% genetic divergence between the two new species and their close relatives. The nuclear gene RAG1 showed that the two species had unique haplotypes with few linking mutations. This study emphasizes the importance of nuclear genes for identifying cave species undergoing rapid speciation with little genetic divergence due to mitochondrial introgression between species. T. ziyunensis is genetically close to T. qingzhenensis , T. rosa and T. wudangensis and has some similar morphological characters, such as eye degeneration, decreased body pigmentation, pigmented markings on the body surface except the ventral, but can still be distinguished by

NEWS - Researchers at the IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP) at Pusan National University in South Korea suggest that the patchwork of ecosystems found in mountainous regions played a key role in human evolution. Using a vast dataset of fossils, artifacts, high-resolution landscapes and 3 million-year-long simulations of Earth’s climate, a team of scientists is painting a clearer picture of how and why early humans adapted to rugged landscapes. Hominins are often found in and near mountainous regions. Now Elke Zeller and Axel Timmermann have helped explain why so many of our evolutionary relatives preferred to be “highlanders” rather than “lowlanders.” Mountainous regions are rich in biodiversity, providing a range of environmental conditions in which different species of plants and animals thrive. Steep areas typically exhibit a greater diversity, density of ecosystems and vegetation types, known as biomes. This diversity of biomes was attractive to early humans because it provided

NEWS - Researchers describe Mount Ayanganna bonnetia ( Bonnetia ayangannensis ) from the summit of Mount Ayanganna tepui in Guyana, in terms of morphology, distribution, micromorphological characterization under scanning electron microscopy, leaf venation and comparison with closely related species. Bonnetia Mart. is the most representative genus of the woody flora of Pantepui and one of the groups with the greatest endemism in the local flora. The genus has 32 species currently known in tropical America. This study adds Bonnetia ayangannensis and the number of endemics in Pantepui to 27 species. Micromorphological analysis of the leaves shows serrated margins, sometimes with deciduous spinular protrusions. The abaxial leaf surface is rough and has numerous sessile glands and stomata. At higher magnification, the surface appears warty-crusty with granular protrusions. The margins of the bracts have short-stalked glands with thin-walled elongated heads. The petals have short-stalked gla

NEWS - Xia Nianhe bamboo ( Yersinochloa nianheana ) from southern Vietnam, grows at an elevation of 1400-1500 meters on Voi Mountain, Duc Trong District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Researchers added a new species to Yersinochloa H.N.Nguyen & V.T.Tran 2016, a very rare genus. Yersinochloa consists of Y. dalatensis H.N.Nguyen & V.T.Tran and Y. nghiana V.T.Tran & T.V.Tran which are narrowly distributed in degraded natural forests in the highlands of southern Vietnam. This genus is distinguished from other related genera of Bambusinae by pseudo-spikelets with only one perfect floret, unnotched palea and anther tips with small spines. Researchers conducted a bamboo survey on Voi Mountain in December 2023 and found several populations of climbing bamboos growing sparsely in a valley. This population has only one perfect floret without terminal remnant flower, palea is not notched and the anther tip has small spines. The shape, branch structure and inflorescence of the collecte

NEWS - Researchers from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia in Kepong and the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh have identified three new species, Temu Bosuang ( Boesenbergia bosuangii ), Temu Gana-gana ( Boesenbergia ganaensis ) and Temu Gokusing ( Boesenbergia gokusingii ). B. bosuangii is similar to B. stenophylla R.M.Sm. in its narrow-oval lamina but differs in the shape of its bract and calyx. The species is endemic to Borneo, Sabah. The specific epithet is given by Dr Steven Bosuang, owner of Kipandi Park, an entomologist who works on insect and plant conservation in Sabah. The new species grows in riverine areas in mixed dipterocarp forests at elevations of 50-300 metres and flowers in August. The researchers have proposed the status Vulnerable VU D1 due to its small population, limited space outside protected areas and potential threats from development, landslides and flooding. B. ganaensis is closely related to B. burttiana R.M

NEWS - Researchers established a new species, white darwin wasp ( Protoleptops nyeupe ) marking the first occurrence of an Ichneumoninae species in Burundi, first described a female P. farquharsoni Heinrich 1967 from KwaZulu-Natal, documented P. magnificus from Mpumalanga, South Africa, and P. angolae Heinrich 1967 from Uganda, P. nyeupe can be easily distinguished from all other known species of the genus by the combination of characters of incomplete carination of the propodeum, absence of costulae and fused dentiparous area with area externa and area spiracularis. The temples are straight and fused ( P. farquharsoni , P. heinrichi and P. magnificus are prominent and not fused). The hind tarsus is white ( P. farquharsoni , P. heinrichi and P. magnificus are fused). The presence of scopa that occupies 1/3 of the ventral part of the coxa ( P. heinrichi does not have it, P. angolae and P. farquharsoni are small, P. magnificus occupies 2/3 of the ventral side of the coxa). Me

NEWS - Researchers investigated a unique gall morphotype in New Mexico and Colorado that was previously described as a variant induced by Aciurina bigeloviae (Cockerell, 1890). They found several consistent features that distinguish it from A. bigeloviae and described it as light-gall tephritid ( Aciurina luminaria Baine). Integrative taxonomic analyses that combine multiple lines of evidence for species delimitation improve understanding of intraspecies, interspecies variation, and biodiversity. However, the expanded phenotype remains underutilized despite its potential as a set of species-specific extracorporeal morphological and life-history traits. The practice of relying on wing pattern variation has led to taxonomic confusion within the genus Aciurina, a gall-inducing fly of Asteraceae plants in western North America. However, the species exhibit distinct morphologies that are important for species identification. A. luminaria is univoltine, with a life cycle and phenology simi

NEWS - The wealth of data held in natural history collections can contribute to global challenges ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss to pandemics. However, current practices for collecting biodiversity and geological specimens are inefficient, limiting scientists. But there is a serious lack of linkage between data centered around specimens and that from multiple databases, creating significant obstacles when researchers try to work with specimens from multiple collections. Now, a publication is the first to demonstrate a new workflow to better digitize and secure biodiversity data in the future. The paper revises two genera of jumping spiders from two collections and describes the newly discovered species using a new workflow and format: digital specimen DOIs and nanopublications. DOIs Several initiatives have been launched in recent years to establish a globally accepted system of persistent identifiers (PIDs) that guarantee the “uniqueness” of a collection’s specimens

NEWS - Pterosaurs, the first true flying vertebrates, played a significant role in Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems from about 252–66 million years ago. However, our understanding of their ability to move on land more broadly and their terrestrial paleoecology is limited. The researchers show a remarkably high degree of variation in pterosaur hands and feet, comparable to that observed in birds today, suggesting that pterosaurs adapted to a wide range of non-aerial locomotor ecologies throughout history. Early small-bodied, long-tailed (non-pterodactyliform) pterosaurs exhibited extreme modifications in hand and foot proportions indicative of a climbing lifestyle. In contrast, the hands and feet of short-tailed (pterodactyliform) pterosaurs typically exhibit morphology consistent with a more terrestrial locomotor ecology. "Early pterosaurs were highly specialised for climbing with modifications to their hands and feet, similar to today's climbing lizards and woodpeckers. Holdin

NEWS - Researchers have established the black-spotted longnose gudgeon ( Microphysogobio punctatus ) as a new species and redescribed M. elongatus (Yao & Yang, 1977) as a junior synonym of M. tungtingensis (Nichols, 1926) based on morphological analysis and molecular evidence supported by mitochondrial gene sequences. M. tungtingensis has been considered valid since its description, but its morphology is still vague especially when compared to another similar species, M. elongatus . In this study, researchers examined both species and compared several lots of specimens from a wide geographical range. There was no significant morphological difference between the two. Molecular evidence supported by mitochondrial gene sequences also showed low genetic distance and suggested that M. elongatus is a junior synonym of M. tungtingensis . At the same time, M. punctatus was found to have a similar distribution to both. M. punctatus is distributed in the Guijiang and Liujiang rivers, t

NEWS - A spider survey in Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve in Xuan’en County, southwest Hubei Province, adjacent to the northeastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, discovered three new species: arc huntsman spider ( Pseudopoda arcuata ♀), Qizimeishan huntsman spider ( Pseudopoda qizimeishanensis ♂ ♀) and Mian Wei huntsman spider ( Pseudopoda weimiani ♂ ♀). The reserve covers a total area of 345.5 km2 and the highest peak is about 2010 meters. It mainly protects the central subtropical mountain evergreen broadleaf forest and subalpine sphagnum swamp wetland area. The reserve is rich in wildlife resources and has been listed as a key biodiversity area in the China Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan. Pseudopoda Jäger 2000 is the largest genus of the Sparassidae Bertkau 1872 with 256 species. Currently, 155 species of Pseudopoda are known in China. This genus is a small to large spider that lives mainly in leaf litter and less frequently in plants. P. arcuata derives its spe

NEWS - Xie’s golden-lined fish ( Sinocyclocheilus xiejiahuai ) lives in a cave with a type site in the Nanpanjiang River Basin. A phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on mitochondrial genes suggests that the new species is an independent evolutionary lineage with 1.9-13.8% genetic divergence in mitochondrial Cyt b from its conspecifics. During a biodiversity survey in a completely dark cave in Hongguo Town, Panzhou City, southwest Guizhou Province, China, in October 2019, researchers collected a Sinocyclocheilus specimen with normal eyes, no scales, and no irregular black markings on the flanks. S. xiejiahuai is the only vertical cave species found at an elevation of 2276 m. The location is in the Beipanjiang River Basin and there is no light in the cave. The individuals are scattered in a pool from the cave entrance. The pool is ~1.8 m wide, 80 cm deep, with a water temperature of ~16C and a pH of 7.4. Inside the cave, the species S. xiejiahuai is symbiotic with S. longicornus ( S

NEWS - Green vestment mantis ( Phyllothelys qingjinum ) from Malipo, Yunnan, China, is described based on geometric morphometric, genetic distance and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The discovery of this new species fills a significant distribution gap for the P. werneri group in southern Yunnan and highlights the need for further exploration in this region. Phyllothelys Wood-Mason, 1876 (Mantodea, Hymenopodidae) includes 22 species with China being the hotspot containing 15 species in four groups, especially P. werneri which includes 6 species. This suggests a wide distribution across the mountainous region south of the Yangtze River extending from Medog in the west to Taiwan Island in the east. P. qingjinum has dimensions (mm) with head to abdomen: 52.75-54.95, head to wing: 58.60-62.14, pronotum: 15.30-17.76, prozone: 3.46-3.95, metazone: 11.84-13.88, anterior coxa: 8.39-10.64, anterior femur: 9.36-11.46, anterior tibia: 5.55-7.02, posterior femur: 7.82-9.35, posterior tibia: 6.

NEWS - Researchers report an enzyme that breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in a somewhat unlikely place: Comamonas testosteroni , a microbe that lives in sewage sludge. The enzyme could be used by wastewater treatment plants to break down microplastic particles and recycle plastic waste. Plastic pollution is everywhere, and it mostly consists of PET. The polymer is used to make bottles, containers and even clothing. PET beads are an increasingly common microplastic found in places ranging from remote oceans to inside our bodies. But the particles are so small that they can escape water treatment processes and end up in wastewater that re-enters the environment. On the other hand, wastewater also contains microorganisms that like to eat these plastic particles, including C. testosteroni, so named because it degrades sterols like testosterone. “It’s important to note that PET plastic represents 12% of global plastic use. And it accounts for up to 50% of microplastics in wastew

NEWS - Coccinelloid beetles have a rare fossil record from the Mesozoic, but researchers describe and illustrate an unusual fossil, Yassibum yoshitomii , from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. The new genus and species stand out within the Coccinelloidea because of the notched prophemorea and the presence of antennal grooves on the elytral epipleura. Yassibum is characterized by an oval body, 10-segmented antennae, with a 3-segmented club. Labrum with a strongly emarginate apex. Pronotal disc with a narrow and deep basolateral sulcus. Procoxa prominent. Elytral epipleura broad at base, basally with antennal grooves extending posterolaterally. Mesocoxa cavity broadly closed laterally. Mesoventrite and metaventrite without opening near anterior margin. Metanepisterna hidden. Profemora with prominent incisions on outer side. Tarsi simple, 4-4-4. The species name is gender-neutral. The species is named after coleopterist Dr. Hiroyuki Yoshitomi. The main characteristics are an oval body, slightl

NEWS - Adult Guangdong bolbos ( Bolbelasmus guangdongensis ) found in the lowlands, on the edge of a maar in Huguangyan National Geopark, have a short flight period, from late April to early June. Weiqi Liao and Zhengwei Wu of Ocean University in Zhanjiang City upheld this beetle as new to science. Bolbelasmus Boucomont 1910 is one of the largest bolboceratine genera established for Bolboceras bocchus Erichson 1841, Bolboceras gallicus Mulsant 1842 and Bolboceras unicornis Schrank von Paula 1789. Kolbeus was established for Bolboceras arcuatum Bates 1887 and Bolboceras coreanum Kolbe 1886, but this genus was later treated as a synonym of the genus Bolbelasmus by Cartwright (1953) or a subgenus by Nikolajev (1996). Bolbelasmus previously contained 31 species, including the subgenus Kolbeus and distributed from Oriental to Central America. Recently, 11 species have been recorded in Asia, 6 of them in China ( B. coreanus , B. meridionalis Krikken 1977, B. nativus Krikken 1977, B. m

NEWS - There are many Musa L. species in the natural diversification area of Southeast Asia, but the actual number is still debated because the botanical characterization, distribution and intraspecific variability are still poorly known which endangers the conservation and exploitation as wild relatives of cultivated forms. To address the unexplored Musa diversity in mainland Southeast Asia, researchers examined 208 specimens collected in Vietnam, Laos and China which mostly belong to Musa balbisiana , Musa itinerans , Musa acuminata and Musa yunnanensis . Mainland Southeast Asia as the main center of diversification for the Musa section shows a very contrasting distribution. M. yunnanensis is localized in the specific ecology of the Yunnan plateau, while Musa acuminata is only endemic to the Burmannica complex in upper Laos but has occasionally been transported over long distances. M. itinerans has a strong presence with a much wider distribution throughout Southeast Asia. M. balb

NEWS - New species of Microlaimidae were discovered in sediment samples collected in the South Atlantic, along the continental shelf separating Northeastern Brazil. Pernambucano worm ( Spirobolbolaimus pernambucanus ) has six outer labial setae and four cephalic setae of almost equal length. Graciele worm ( Ixonema gracieleae ) has somatic setae on peduncles. Both are the first species of the genus described from the South Atlantic and greatly contribute to the knowledge and variability of these two genera. The number of Microlaimidae species initially described from sediment samples collected on the Brazilian coast shows that great efforts are still needed to fully understand the richness of continental margins such as the Brazilian coast. Pernambucanus is the Latin form of the term “pernambucano”. In Brazil, “pernambucano” refers to something or someone originating from the state of Pernambuco. I. gracieleae received its specific epithet in honor of Graciele Mariza dos Santos Alves,