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1. A new forest frog of the genus Platymantis (Amphibia: Anura: Ceratobatrachidae: subgenus Tirahanulap) from Leyte and Samar islands, eastern Philippines

   https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4830.3.6  

   DIESMOS, ARVIN C.; SCHEFFERS, BRETT R.; MALLARI, NEIL ALDRIN; SILER, CAMERON D.; BROWN, RAFE M. (August 2020, Zootaxa)

   null (Ed.)

   We describe a new species of frog of the genus Platymantis Günther (subgenus Tirahanulap), from the east-central regions of the Philippines. It belongs to the the previously-defined P. hazelae Group) based on morphological and bioacoustic datasets. The new species is phenotypically and ecologically most similar to members of Tirahanulap, an assemblage of small-bodied arboreal frogs inhabiting montane forests of the central and northern islands of the Philippine archipelago. The new species represents the first taxon in the Cloud Frog species known from the biogeographically unique Mindanao Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex. Particularly susceptible to local extirpation following deforestation, all known species of Tirahanulap are important indicator species for environmental and conservation assessments, making this new species not only an exceptional addition to Philippine biodiversity but also an important symbol for conservation initiatives in the region. 

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2. Unexpectedly high levels of lineage diversity in Sundaland Puddle Frogs (Dicroglossidae: Occidozyga Kuhl and Van Hasselt, 1822).

   Flury, J. (January 2021, Molecular phylogenetics and evolution)

   null (Ed.)

   One of the most urgent contemporary tasks for taxonomists and evolutionary biologists is to estimate the number of species on earth. Recording alpha diversity is crucial for protecting biodiversity, especially in areas of elevated species richness, which coincide geographically with increased anthropogenic environmental pressures - the world’s so-called biodiversity hotspots. Although the distribution of Puddle frogs of the genus Occidozyga in South and Southeast Asia includes five biodiversity hotspots, the available data on phylogeny, species diversity, and biogeography are surprisingly patchy. Samples analyzed in this study were collected throughout Southeast Asia, with a primary focus on Sundaland and the Philippines. A mitochondrial gene region comprising ~ 2000 bp of 12S and 16S rRNA with intervening tRNA Valine and three nuclear loci (BDNF, NTF3, POMC) were analyzed to obtain a robust, time-calibrated phylogenetic hypothesis. We found a surprisingly high level of genetic diversity within Occidozyga, based on uncorrected p-distance values corroborated by species delimitation analyses. This extensive genetic diversity revealed 29 evolutionary lineages, defined by the > 5% uncorrected p-distance criterion for the 16S rRNA gene, suggesting that species diversity in this clade of phenotypically homogeneous forms probably has been underestimated. The comparison with results of other anuran groups leads to the assumption that anuran species diversity could still be substantially underestimated in Southeast Asia in general. Many genetically divergent lineages of frogs are phenotypically similar, indicating a tendency towards extensive morphological conservatism. We present a biogeographic reconstruction of the colonization of Sundaland and nearby islands which, together with our temporal framework, suggests that lineage diversification centered on the landmasses of the northern Sunda Shelf. This remarkably genetically structured group of amphibians could represent an exceptional case for future studies of geographical structure and diversification in a widespread anuran clade spanning some of the most pronounced geographical barriers on the planet (e.g., Wallace’s Line). Studies considering gene flow, morphology, ecological and bioacoustic data are needed to answer these questions and to test whether observed diversity of Puddle frog lineages warrants taxonomic recognition. 

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3. Who is that?! Using Genetic and Morphological Data to Identify Cryptic African Tree Frog Specimens in Natural History Collections

   Vargas, Arlene; Bell, Rayna (October 2023, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science - 2023 NDiSTEM)

   Natural history collections are important resources for research and conservation. Unfortunately, sometimes certain taxa can be hard to identify to the species level or can be misidentified, impacting how those specimens and their accompanying data are used for future research and conservation. African tree frogs (Family Arthroleptidae, Genus Leptopelis) are a group of big-eyed tree frogs found across Sub-Saharan Africa. While they have morphological differences that can help tell members of the genus apart, when in the field species can look similar to each other which gives rise to them being misidentified or unidentified in collections. In particular, Leptopelis exhibit extensive intraspecific variation in coloration and pattern that makes identification based solely on morphology challenging. The goal of this project is to use DNA barcoding of the 16s mtDNA gene and morphological characteristics to update the identification of “Leptopelis sp.” specimens that are part of the California Academy of Science’s Herpetology collection to the species level. By comparing the genetic and morphological data collected to identified reference specimens in the Academy’s collection we can confirm species identification and update the Academy’s database. Having the opportunity to identify species in natural history collections using both genetic and morphological analysis helps us better understand what species are found in an area, and can reveal new localities and range expansions of poorly known species. These data serve as an important baseline for monitoring how species are adapting to global change and enable future research on these poorly known, charismatic frogs. 

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4. Phylogenetic relationships, host associations, and three new species of a poorly known group of “tetraphyllidean” tapeworms from elasmobranchs

   https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5254.1.2  

   BUENO, VERONICA M.; CAIRA, JANINE N. (March 2023, Zootaxa)

   This paper aims to expand understanding of a poorly known group of cestodes that parasitize an intriguingly diverse suite of elasmobranchs. The group’s three currently described members (i.e., Pentaloculum macrocephalum, Pentaloculum hoi, and Zyxibothrium kamienae) parasitize an electric ray, a carpet shark, and a skate, respectively. Pentaloculum grahami n. sp. is described from a second genus of carpet shark, specifically Parascyllium collare, in Australia. Zyxibothrium duffyi n. sp. and Zyxibothrium healyae n. sp. are described from the deep-sea skates Brochiraja asperula and Brochiraja spinifera, respectively off New Zealand. The three new species share distinctive bothridia that bear a small number of large, circular, facial loculi and lateral bands of vitelline follicles that converge posterior to the ovary—features which are found in all other members of these genera. Zyxibothrium healyae n. sp. is unique in possessing three, rather than four or five, facial loculi. Zyxibothrium duffyi n. sp. possesses a combination of five facial loculi and vitelline follicles that stop short of the anterior margin of the proglottid. Pentaloculum grahami n. sp. is the largest member of the group with the greatest number of proglottids. Based on striking similarities in scolex morphology, Pentaloculum and Zyxibothrium have been hypothesized to belong to a distinct subgroup of “tetraphyllideans” provisionally designated as Clade 1. Based on sequence data for the D1–D3 region of the 28S rDNA gene generated for species of Zyxibothrium for the first time, we confirm the reciprocal monophyly of both genera as well as the monophyly of Clade 1 and its status as a distinct lineage among the “Tetraphyllidea”. This work also suggests that the presence of five facial loculi is homoplasious given this character state is found in members of both genera. The new species expand the host associations of Clade 1 to include additional skate and carpet shark genera. Moving forward we would expect to find additional members of this group parasitizing other species of parascyliid carpet sharks as well as other species of the rajid genus Malacoraja and the arhynchobatid genus Brochiraja. Here we have doubled the number of described species in the taxon referred to as Clade 1 while simultaneously expanding our understanding of the morphology and anatomy of its members. This additional information will help inform the ultimate revision of the ordinal classification of the cestodes to address the highly polyphyletic nature of the order “Tetraphyllidea” as it is currently configured. 

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5. Mitochondrial DNA and other lines of evidence clarify species diversity in the Peromyscus truei species group (Cricetidae: Neotominae)

   https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2021-0146  

   Hernández-Canchola, Giovani; León-Paniagua, Livia; Esselstyn, Jacob A. (January 2022, Mammalia)

   Abstract Deer mice (genus Peromyscus ) are among the commonest small mammals in the Nearctic zoogeographic region. Nevertheless, systematic relationships are only partially settled and numerous taxonomic questions await resolution. For instance, researchers have found that some members of the Peromyscus truei species group contain high levels of genetic divergence that could indicate the presence of cryptic species. We analyzed the systematics and phylogenetic relationships of the P. truei group using new and previously published mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences. Our analyses verify several earlier conclusions, but we also detected new clades that deserve recognition. Considering their mitochondrial distinctiveness, allopatric ranges, and previously reported molecular, biochemical, chromosomal, morphological, and ecological differences, we elevate three previously described taxa to species. We support the recognition of two subgroupings. The first comprises P. gratus , P. truei , and possibly P. cf. martirensis and P. cf.  zapotecae . The second contains to P. amplus , P. attwateri , P. collinus , P. difficilis , P. felipensis , P. laceianus , P. nasutus , P. ochraventer , and P. pectoralis. Placement of P. bullatus will likely remain unknown until genetic data are available. Further research could improve our understanding of the evolutionary history of Peromyscus , but in some cases taxonomic issues must be resolved first. 

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