An integrative taxonomic analysis of the Ptychozoon lionotum group across its range in Indochina and Sundaland recovers P. lionotum sensu lato Annandale, 1905 as paraphyletic with respect to P. popaense Grismer, Wood, Thura, Grismer, Brown, Stuart, 2018a and composed of four allopatric, genetically divergent, ND2 mitochondrial lineages. Multivariate and univariate analyses of continuous and discrete morphological and color pattern characters statistically and discretely diagnose each lineage from one another and together, with maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses, provide the foundation for the recognition of each lineage as a new species-hypotheses corroborated with a Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent species delimitation analysis. Ptychozoon cicakterbang sp. nov. ranges throughout Peninsular Malaysia to Pulau Natuna Besar, Indonesia; P. kabkaebin sp. nov. is endemic to northern and central Laos; and P. tokehos sp. nov. ranges from southern Thailand south of the Isthmus of Kra northward to Chiang Mai, fringing the Chao Phraya Basin and ranging southward through Cambodia to southern Vietnam. Ptychozoon lionotum sensu stricto ranges from northwestern Laos through southern Myanmar to eastern India. The phylogeographic structure within each species varies considerably with P. lionotum s.s. showing no genetic divergence across its 1,100 km range compared to P. cicakterbang sp. nov. showing upwards of 8.2% sequence divergence between syntopic individuals. Significant phylogeographic structure exists within P. tokehos sp. nov. and increased sampling throughout Thailand may require additional taxonomic changes within this species.
There are numerous pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae) that exhibit leaf-like appearance. Leaf-mimic species can be found mainly in the subfamily Cladonotinae (tribes Cladonotini, Xerophyllini). Two leaf-mimic pygmy grasshopper species found in India, Pakistan (Oxyphyllum pennatum Hancock, 1909) and Borneo (Paraphyllum antennatum Hancock, 1913) are the only macropterous leaf-like species of Asia and were traditionally assigned to subfamily Cladonotinae. Our study present new records of these species, as well as updated descriptions. Oxyphyllum pennatum is recorded for the first time from Chhattisgarh (Central India), and furthermore, records from Pakistan were reviewed and confirmed. Paraphyllum antennatum is reported from a few localities in the mountains of Borneo (East Malaysia). New records found in online social media (Flickr, iNaturalist) were implemented. Brachypronotal specimens of P. antennatum are reported. After comparison with Cladonotini and Xerophyllini members, we conclude that Oxyphyllum and Paraphyllum should not be regarded Cladonotinae members. Traditional assignment was based on superficial resemblance to leaf-like Cladonotinae genera (e.g. Phyllotettix, Hymenotes, Holoarcus, Xerophyllum). However, comparison of morphological characters reveals that Oxyphyllum shares morphology with Tetriginae genera, while Paraphyllum shares morphology with Asian Metrodorinae. Here, we assign the genus Oxyphyllum to Tetriginae and the genus Paraphyllum to Metrodorinae.
The viability of three recently isolated local strains of Bact. typhosus has been studied on 20 specimens of local hawker’s syrup used for sweetening ice balls and ice water. Precise survival times cannot be stated and only relatively wide limits can be estimated differing possibly in every individual case. Survival is influenced by the following factors : 1. The character of the containing material 2. The presence of other bacteria 3. Temperature 4. The presence of bactericidal agents or substances Significant diminution of the number of bacteria in 2 to 5 days after inoculation to sugar solutions is an important observation although survival up to two weeks has been noticed in repeated experiments. The results of experiments conducted in market syrup samples and on control experiments with laboratory sugar solutions indicate that the survival of the organisms tends to be more prolonged in dilute solutions than in concentrated
A new species of limestone karst-adapted gecko of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex, C. dayangbuntingensis sp. nov., is described from Dayang Bunting Island of the Langkawi Archipelago off the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is the third species of the group to be described from the archipelago after C. langkawiensis and C. macrotuberculatus. The new species can be distinguished from all other species of Cyrtodactylus based on molecular evidence from the mitochondrial gene ND2 and its flanking tRNAs as well as having unique combinations of morphological and color pattern characteristics. This discovery underscores the need for continued surveys of the many islands in the archipelago to properly ascertain its true herpetological diversity.
Two new species of the family Eriophyidae (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from Mount Trusmadi, Malaysia, are described and illustrated. They are Neodicrothrix grandcaputus sp. nov. on Stachyurus himalaicus (Stachyuraceae) and Latitudo asiaticis sp. nov. on Psychotria asiatica (Rubiaceae). Both of the two new species are vagrant on the lower leaf surface. No damage to the host was observed. In addition to the description, a key to species of Neodicrothrix is provided.
The Barsine hypoprepioides (Walker, 1862) species-group is reviewed. Forty seven species and one subspecies belong to the species-group. Among them, fifteen species and one subspecies are new for science and described in the present paper: B. amoenissima sp. n. (Myanmar), B. selene sp. n. (Thailand and Laos), B. cao sp. n. (Thailand, Laos and Vietnam), B. speideli sp. n. (SE China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam), B. mesomene sp. n. (NE India, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam), B. pandeia sp. n. (Vietnam), B. karenkensis wushipheri ssp. n. (S Taiwan), B. euryphaessa sp. n. (Vietnam), B. ivanovamariae sp. n. (Vietnam and SE China), B. eos sp. n. (Thailand), B. mene sp. n. (Thailand), B. syntypicoida sp. n. (Malaysia and Indonesia), B. dubatolovi sp. n. (The Philippines), B. visaya sp. n. (The Philippines), B. nemea sp. n. (The Philippines) and B. kishidai sp. n. (The Philippines). Eight new combinations are established: B. parameia (Rothschild, 1913), comb. n. B. takamukui (Matsumura, 1927), comb. n., B. karenkensis (Matsumura, 1930), comb. n., B. rhipiptera (Wileman West, 1928), comb. n., B. chi (Roepke, 1946), comb. nov., B. salakia (Schaus, 1922), comb. n., B. marginis (Fang, 1991), comb. nov. and B. dentata (Wileman, 1910), comb. nov. The lectotype is designated for Lithosia hypoprepioides Walker, 1862. Adults, male and female genitalia of all species are illustrated.
Additions and corrections to original description of Umbrageocoris Kóbor, 2019 are provided along with the description of a new species and its two subspecies: Umbrageocoris maai maai ssp.n. from Borneo and the Malay Peninsula and Umbrageocoris maai timorensis ssp.n. from Timor. Key to known species and distribution maps included.
The genus Carlschoenherria Bezděk, 2016 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Melolonthini) in the Philippines is reviewed. Three new species: Carlschoenherria adoradae Calcetas, new species, C. hadsallae Calcetas, new species, and C. gapudi Calcetas, new species are described, figured and compared with their close relatives. The following new combinations are proposed: Carlschoenherria palawana (Moser, 1915) new combination, C. philippinica (Brenske, 1894) new combination, C. argus (Burmeister, 1855) new combination, C. hastata (Arrow, 1938) new combination and C. vervex (Sharp, 1876) new combination. A new C. adoradae species-subgroup is proposed under the broader C. sulcipennis species-group. A key of the Carlschoenherria of the Philippines Islands, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Java is provided.
Animals use social information, available from conspecifics, to learn and express novel and adaptive behaviours. Amongst social learning mechanisms, response facilitation occurs when observing a demonstrator performing a behaviour temporarily increases the probability that the observer will perform the same behaviour shortly after. We studied "robbing and bartering" (RB), two behaviours routinely displayed by free-ranging long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) at Uluwatu Temple, Bali, Indonesia. When robbing, a monkey steals an inedible object from a visitor and may use this object as a token by exchanging it for food with the temple staff (bartering). We tested whether the expression of RB-related behaviours could be explained by response facilitation and was influenced by model-based biases (i.e. dominance rank, age, experience and success of the demonstrator). We compared video-recorded focal samples of 44 witness individuals (WF) immediately after they observed an RB-related event performed by group members, and matched-control focal samples (MCF) of the same focal subjects, located at similar distance from former demonstrators (N = 43 subjects), but in the absence of any RB-related demonstrations. We found that the synchronized expression of robbing and bartering could be explained by response facilitation. Both behaviours occurred significantly more often during WF than during MCF. Following a contagion-like effect, the rate of robbing behaviour displayed by the witness increased with the cumulative rate of robbing behaviour performed by demonstrators, but this effect was not found for the bartering behaviour. The expression of RB was not influenced by model-based biases. Our results support the cultural nature of the RB practice in the Uluwatu macaques.
1. A strain of the urban form of tropical typhus has been established in guinea-pigs, and maintained in them for more than one hundred generations. The history and characteristics of the strain are given. The clinical criteria of infection are febrile and scrotal reactions.
2. Methods of demonstration of Rickettsia in material from infected guinea-pigs and rabbits are described. In morphology, distribution and staining characteristics these Rickettsia do not appear to differ from R. prowazeki.
3. The infection of rabbits by intra-ocular inoculation of virus has met with only partial success ; the strains rapidly lose virulence, and do not survive beyond the third generation. The results are closely similar to those reported by Nagayo et al., in corresponding infections of rabbits with the virus of typhus exanthematicus, and to those obtained by the authors in corresponding infections with a strain of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
4. Infection of white rats has been readily secured, and has been of the "inapparente" form.
5. Two monkeys, inoculated intradermally with infected material, showed a mild general reaction only; no lesion developed at the site of inoculation.
6. The results of the Weil-Felix reactions of sera from rabbits and monkeys convalescent from the infection are summarized. Agglutination is of the OX19 type of Proteus X strains, never of the OXK type.
7. The experimental data obtained indicate that the guinea-pig is the laboratory animal of choice for the study of the urban form of tropical typhus.
Mountains offer replicated units with large biotic and abiotic gradients in a reduced spatial scale. This transforms them into well-suited scenarios to evaluate biogeographic theories. Mountain biogeography is a hot topic of research and many theories have been proposed to describe the changes in biodiversity with elevation. Geometric constraints, which predict the highest diversity to occur in mid-elevations, have been a focal part of this discussion. Despite this, there is no general theory to explain these patterns, probably because of the interaction among different predictors with the local effects of historical factors. We characterize the diversity of small non-volant mammals across the elevational gradient on Mount (Mt.) Kinabalu (4,095 m) and Mt. Tambuyukon (2,579 m), two neighboring mountains in Borneo, Malaysia. We documented a decrease in species richness with elevation which deviates from expectations of the geometric constraints and suggests that spatial factors (e.g., larger diversity in larger areas) are important. The lowland small mammal community was replaced in higher elevations (from above ~1,900 m) with montane communities consisting mainly of high elevation Borneo endemics. The positive correlation we find between elevation and endemism is concordant with a hypothesis that predicts higher endemism with topographical isolation. This supports lineage history and geographic history could be important drivers of species diversity in this region.
Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the sister species Sphenomorphus stellatus and S. praesignis based on the mitochondrial genes 12S and 16S rRNA recover the former as paraphyletic with respect to the latter in that a specimen of S. stellatus from the type locality in Peninsular Malaysia is more closely related to S. praesignis than to Indochinese populations of S. stellatus. Furthermore, the phylogeny indicates that the Indochinese populations represent two species, thus resulting in four major lineages within this clade. These relationships are consistent with multivariate and univariate analyses of morphological and discrete color pattern data which statistically define and diagnose the four lineages and together with the molecular data, provide the foundation for robust, testable, species-level hypotheses. As such, S. stellatus is herein restricted to Peninsular Malaysia; S. annamiticus is resurrected for the circum-continental populations ranging through southeastern Thailand, southern Cambodia, and southern Vietnam; a new species-S. preylangensis sp. nov.-is described from an isolated mountain, Phnom Chi, from the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in central Cambodia; and the taxonomy of S. praesignis remains unchanged. The description of S. preylangensis sp. nov. underscores the necessity to conserve this remnant of lowland evergreen rainforest in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.
The genus Theopea Baly, 1864 is redefined. Seventeen species from Sundaland and the Philippines are recognized and classified into four species groups (including seven new species): T. impressa (Fabricius, 1801), T. longicollis (Jacoby, 1896), T. louwerensi Jolivet, 1951, T. lunduensis Mohamedsaid, 1998, T. chungi sp. nov. in the T. impressa group; T. flavipalpis Laboissère, 1940, T. guoi sp. nov., T. lui sp. nov., T. sabahensis sp. nov. in the T. flavipalpis group; T. elegantula Baly, 1864, T. pulchella Baly, 1864, T. fairmairei Duvivier, 1885, T. kedenburgi Weise, 1922, T. houjayi sp. nov., T. tsoui sp. nov., T. yuae sp. nov. in the T. pulchella group; and T. costata (Allard, 1889) in the T. costata group. The following new synonyms are established: Theopea pulchella Baly, 1864 = T. nigricollis Jacoby, 1892 syn. nov.; Theopea impressa (Fabricius, 1801) = T. impressa flavicornis Laboissère, 1940 syn. nov. and T. impressa malaccana Laboissère, 1940 syn. nov.; T. lunduensis Mohamedsaid, 1998 = T. sepilokensis Mohamedsaid, 2000 syn. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Crioceris impressa Fabricius, 1801, Ozomena longicollis Jacoby, 1896, Theopea elegantula Baly, 1864, T. fairmairei Duvivier, 1885, T. nigricollis Jacoby, 1892, and T. pulchella Baly, 1864. Theopea obliterata Jacoby, 1884, T. variabilis (Jacoby, 1887), T. incostata (Allard, 1889), T. clypeata Jacoby, 1896, T. modiglianii Jacoby, 1896, T. dohrni (Jacoby, 1899), T. viridipennis (Jacoby, 1899), and T. weberi (Weise, 1913) are removed from Theopea and regarded as species incertae sedis.
This study investigates the published literature and incorporates our field data from 1997 to September 2018 to generate an inventory report of primary freshwater fishes for Perak State in Malaysia. We critically examined and enumerated 186 species from 2 classes, 16 orders, 43 families and 114 genera in 57 localities. A total of 173 fish species (91.4%) are native to Perak and 17 species (8.6%) are non-native. The provisional checklist presented herein is conservative and excludes doubtful inventory records that lack synthesis and traceability. We encountered seven taxonomic discrepancies and we also could not confidently identify eight species. These are explicitly discussed to inform future workers.
The species of Estheria Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Tachinidae) from the East Palearctic and Oriental regions are reviewed. Eighteen species are recognized: the fourteen previously described, E. acuta (Portschinsky, 1881), E. alticola Mesnil, 1967, E. bucharensis (Kolomiets, 1974), E. cinerella Mesnil, 1967, E. cristata (Meigen, 1826), E. decolor (Pandellé, 1896), E. flavipennis Herting, 1968, E. lacteipennis Mesnil, 1967, E. maculipennis Herting, 1968, E. magna (Baranov, 1935), E. nigripes (Villeneuve, 1920), E. pallicornis (Loew, 1873), E. petiolata (Bonsdorff, 1866) and E. picta (Meigen, 1826), and four species described as new to science, E. hirtinerva Zhang Shima sp. nov. (W China, Nepal), E. prostata Zhang Shima sp. nov. (W China, Nepal), E. tibetensis Zhang Shima sp. nov. (W China, Nepal) and E. wangi Zhang Liang sp. nov. (W China, Pakistan). Estheria acuta and E. decolor are newly recorded for China, E. magna is newly recorded for Malaysia, Pakistan and Vietnam, and E. pallicornis is newly recorded for Nepal. An identification key to the 18 species of Estheria so far known from the East Palearctic and Oriental regions is included, together with 126 figures of heads and habitus of males and females, and male terminalia and known distributions.
Simulium (Gomphostilbia) marosense sp. nov. is described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from Sulawesi, Indonesia. This new species is placed in the Simulium duolongum subgroup of the S. batoense species-group, representing the ninth member for the subgroup in Sulawesi. This new species is characterized by a narrow female frons and pupal gill with eight filaments, of which two filaments of the ventral pair are 1.9-3.0 times as long as the six other filaments. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish this new species from related species.
A review of the taxonomic status of the Smooth Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas laevis) in Borneo resulted in the discovery of two previously unrecognised species from the highlands of Sabah, East Malaysia. Asthenodipsas jamilinaisi sp. nov. and A. stuebingi sp. nov. are presumed to be closely related to A. laevis based on similarities in pholidosis and patterning but can be separated from A. laevis by their dorsal scale rows of 15/15/15 vs 15/15/13 and the presence of a sharp vertebral keel. Asthenodipsas jamilinaisi sp. nov. can be further differentiated from A. stuebingi sp. nov. by the greatly enlarged size of the vertebral scales, higher number of ventrals in males (173-175 vs 165), higher number of subcaudals (53 vs 35-47) and colour pattern (dark overall with indistinct bands vs lighter head and body with clear, distinct bands and a dark neck patch). The discovery highlights the need for more careful examination of much of the herpetofauna of Borneo that still remains underestimated and understudied. There is an urgent need for continued surveys into its diversity and the collection of genetic material for integrated taxonomic revisions.
Two new intertidal oribatid mite species from the Indo-pacific region are described. Indopacifica iohanna sp. n. was found on the coasts of the Philippines and can be distinguished from its congeners by the lack of a ventral tooth on the claws. The larva and nymphs of this species show the same type of plication and setation typical for juveniles of other selenoribatid mites. Indopacifica mauritiana sp. n. was discovered on the coast of Mauritius and can be separated from its congeners by possessing only vestigial lamellar setae. A morphometric comparison of these two species and Indopacifica pantai from Thailand and Malaysia showed a clear separation between the three species. The known distribution of the genus Indopacifica stretches now from Mauritius in the West to the Philippines in the East and further occurrences within this area should be expected.
An integrative taxonomic analysis of Subdoluseps herberti from southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia and S. samajaya from Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo) recovers the former as paraphyletic with respect to the latter. The analyses recover the three southernmost populations of S. herberti in Peninsular Malaysia as conspecific and the sister lineage of S. samajaya, whereas S. herberti from Thailand and northern Peninsular Malaysia constitute the sister species to S. samajaya plus the southern three Peninsular Malaysian populations. As such, the southern populations are described herein as S. malayana sp. nov. and all three species are referred to as the S. herberti group. Clade boundaries and breaks within this group on the Thai-Malay Peninsula occurring at the Isthmus of Kra, across the Kangar-Pattani line, and between the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Borneo are consistent with phylogeographic patterns of other Sundaic taxa. The discovery of S. malayana sp. nov. continues to underscore the fact that, despite the well-studied nature of the lizard fauna of Peninsular Malaysia, much of it still remains unrealized and for conservation efforts to move forward, field research followed by expeditiously revised taxonomies must continue.
Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are ecologically and medically important insects but they have been understudied in Malaysia. Accordingly, a study on the temporal variation in diversity and community structure of preimaginal blackflies was conducted for the first time in Malaysia. A total of 865 preimaginal blackflies were collected in 120 samplings from five streams across three monsoon seasons from February 2018 until January 2019. Ten species were recorded and most frequently collected species were Simulium cheongi, Simulium vanluni and Simulium jeffreyi. Relatively common species were Simulium roslihashimi, Simulium tani complex and Simulium trangense. No significant changes of rainfall was observed between three monsoon seasons as well as the seasons with species and physiochemical parameters except acidity (pH) (P 20%) indicated that S. vanluni and S. jeffreyi were commonly associated with wider, deeper and fast-flowing streams with low conductivity and larger streambed particle. In contrast, S. cheongi was associated with smaller, slower and small streambed particle. This first extensive bimonthly study has uncovered the species community structure as well as the changes of stream physicochemical parameters over time although they were not greatly and significantly influenced by the monsoon seasons. Species distribution, richness and abundance, however, were highly determined by the stream width, depth and velocity, therefore, were vital in shaping diversity and community structure of preimaginal blackflies.