HerpVet Services

13/11/2024

By reporting dead wild birds, you are helping us understand:

🦆 the risk to different species groups of wild birds
🐓 the risk posed to poultry & other captive birds
🦊the risk of overspill into wild mammals.

If you spot dead wild birds in Great Britain, use the online service to report it https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds or call the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77

Reports are triaged and not all birds will be collected. Wild birds are susceptible to a range of diseases and injuries and most dead birds will not have been infected with avian influenza.

Find out more information on how and why we monitor avian influenza virus infection in wild birds and wild mammals on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu-infection-in-wild-birds-and-wild-mammals

08/11/2024

An outbreak of has been confirmed at a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire.

Please make sure you have registered your birds with APHA and your details are up-to-date.

Find advice on how to prevent , register and protect your birds at gov.uk/birdflu

08/11/2024

𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑎𝑑, 𝐼. 𝑘𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑎𝑖 and 𝐼. 𝑟𝑎𝑑ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑖, three new species of hill stream loach are described from peninsular India (Western & Eastern Ghats).

Open-access - https://recordsofzsi.com/index.php/zsoi/article/view/172675

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
Three new species of hill stream loach genus 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from peninsular India

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Jadhav, S., Karuthapandi, M., Jaiawal, D., Shankar, C. S., Dinesh, K. P., Raghunathan, C., & Banerjee, D. (2024). Three new species of hill stream loach genus 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from peninsular India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 124(1), 11–24. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v124/i1/2024/172675

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
Fishes of the genus 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) are widely distributed and endemic to the peninsular India.

An integrative taxonomic approach-based study including morphology, geography, genetic distance and mt Cytb genebased molecular phylogenetic analysis resulted in the description of three new species of 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 namely, 𝐼. 𝑎𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑎𝑑 sp. nov. from the Eastern Ghats, whereas 𝐼. 𝑘𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑎𝑖 sp. nov. and 𝐼. 𝑟𝑎𝑑ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑖 sp. nov. from the northern Western Ghats.

Overall, species diversity of the genus has increased from five species to eight species in peninsular India, wherein six species are known from the Western Ghats and two species from the Eastern Ghats. We also provide DNA analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence to support the distinction of the new species.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Top - 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑑ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑖i, paratype (ZSI/ FBRC/F/4042, 29.3 mm SL) in life.
Middle - 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑘𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑎𝑖, holotype (ZSI/ FBRC/F/4039, 44.3 mm SL) in life.
Bottom - 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑎𝑑, holotype (ZSI/ FBRC/F/4036, 49.3 mm SL) in life.

Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published in Records of the Zoological Survey of India journal. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

08/11/2024

New research revises the taxonomy of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 catfish in the Lake Tanganyika basin. Before this analysis, thirteen species of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 were recognized from Lake Tanganyika and its tributaries. This study suggests a lower species diversity than previously recognized, supporting the distinction of ten 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 species in the lake basin.

Paywall - https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-abstract/202/3/zlae130/7877276

Based on the author's findings, 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑝𝑠, 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑠, and 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑠 as treated as junior synonyms of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠, 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖, and 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑎, respectively.

The authors included redescriptions of all species and an updated identification key in this study.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
Revised taxonomy of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 catfishes (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) from the Lake Tanganyika basin reveals lower species diversity than expected

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Gernot K Englmaier, Radim Blažek, Holger Zimmermann, Veronika Bartáková, Matej Polačik, Jakub Žák, Deogratias P Mulokozi, Cyprian Katongo, Heinz H Büscher, Lwabanya Mabo, Stephan Koblmüller, Anja Palandačić, Martin Reichard, Revised taxonomy of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 catfishes (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) from the Lake Tanganyika basin reveals lower species diversity than expected, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 202, Issue 3, November 2024, zlae130, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae130

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 Cuvier, 1816 is a species-rich group of African catfishes. Prior to this analysis, 13 species of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 were recognized from Lake Tanganyika and its tributaries, composing the only extant lacustrine radiation of the genus, with a unique origin of obligate brood parasitism among all fishes. Species differentiation and phylogenetic relationships of this group remained largely unresolved.

Herein, the taxonomy of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 in the Lake Tanganyika basin is revised, including redescriptions of all species and an updated identification key. Genetic (mitochondrial and nuclear genomic markers) and morphological data suggest a lower species diversity than previously recognized, supporting the distinction of 10 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 species in the lake basin.

Based on our findings, we recognize 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑝𝑠, 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑠, and 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑠 as junior synonyms of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠, 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖, and 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑎, respectively. No recent material of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑑ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖 and 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑒 (with 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑠 as a synonym) was available. Morphometric/meristic data suggest their close relationship to 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑢𝑠. Sequencing of historical specimens inferred 𝑆. 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑒 as sister to 𝑆. 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑢𝑠 but with a 1.7% divergence based on mitochondrial data.

In contrast to previous studies, phylogenomic data support the lacustrine assemblage of 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 in Lake Tanganyika as monophyletic.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑢𝑠, Ben Lee Amiidae Lee.

© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Linnean Society of London. All rights reserved. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model. (https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights)

05/11/2024

𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠, a new species of blind cave loach is described from Guangxi, China.

Open-access - https://zse.pensoft.net/article/133964/

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
Evolutionary history of Chinese karst loaches (Nemacheilidae, 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠): new insights from mitochondrial-based genomes and description of a new species from Guangxi, China

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Luo T, Luo F-W, Lan C-T, Xiao M-Y, Zhou J-J, Liao M, Xiao N, Zhou J (2024) Evolutionary history of Chinese karst loaches (Nemacheilidae, 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠): new insights from mitochondrial-based genomes and description of a new species from Guangxi, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(4): 1473-1486. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.133964

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
The genus 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 of blind fishes known as karst loaches from China was established in 2023 during a revision of the genus 𝑂𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 (Nemacheilidae).

Six species are recorded in this study and some taxonomic progress has been made; however, the lack of genetic data for some species (e.g., 𝐾. 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑢𝑠) may have weakened our current understanding of 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠. This study reassessed the phylogeny and evolutionary history of 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 by integrating a combination of previously published and newly sequenced mitochondrial genomic data.

A phylogenetic tree was developed that was able to divide 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 into two clades corresponding to drainages and clarify the phylogenetic position of 𝐾. 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑢𝑠. Divergence times show that 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 originated at the Oligocene/Miocene boundary (~22.37 Mya), with the most recent common ancestor occurring in the early Miocene (~18.87 Mya) and interspecific divergence occurring in the late Miocene. Ancestral area reconstruction suggests that the most recent common ancestor of 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 most likely inhabited the Hongshui River basin and dispersed into the Zuojiang-Yujiang, Beipanjiang, and Youjiang river basins during the early Miocene (~18.87 Mya), middle Miocene (~12.78 Mya), and late Miocene (~6.71 Mya), respectively. The dispersal under the influence of orogenesis and a monsoon climate drove the speciation and diverse distribution of 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠.

Such findings are important for conservation considering that 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 strictly inhabits deep caves. Additionally, the taxonomic status of the distributed 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 population in Leiping Town, Daxin County, Guangxi, China was revised by combining genetic and morphological differences to describe this population as a new species, 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 Luo, Zhou & Zhou, sp. nov.

The definition of the phylogenetic position of 𝐾. 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑢𝑠 emphasizes the importance of using type locality material for the identification of cryptic species.

𝗘𝘁𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
The specific epithet “𝑑𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠” refers to the type locality of the new species: Leiping Town, Daxin County, Chongzuo City, Guangxi, China. We propose the English common name “Daxin Chinese Karst Loach” and Chinese common name “Dà Xīn Zhōng Huá Kā Qiū (大新中华喀鳅).”

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Lateral, dorsal, ventral views of 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 sp. nov. In living.
Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published in Zoosystematics and Evolutionjournal. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

01/11/2024

𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑒, a new freshwater pipefish species is described from Java, Bali and Lombok (Sunda shelf islands), Indonesia.

Paywall - https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5536.1.5

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
A new freshwater pipefish species (Syngnathidae: 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠) from the Sunda shelf islands, Indonesia

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Haÿ, V., Mennesson, M. I., Dahruddin, H., Sauri, S., Limmon, G., Wowor, D., Hubert, N., Keith, P., & Lord, C. (2024). A new freshwater pipefish species (Syngnathidae: 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠) from the Sunda shelf islands, Indonesia. Zootaxa, 5536(1), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5536.1.5

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
A new species of freshwater pipefish, 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑒 sp. nov., is described from the West Indonesian Islands (Java, Bali and Lombok). This species is morphologically very close to 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑧𝑖𝑖 (Bleeker, 1856), which is found in the eastern Indonesian Islands (Sulawesi, Ceram, Ambon and Papua).

However, it can be distinguished by its in vivo coloration. Furthermore, genetic analysis of the partial COI gene (barcoding) indicates that it represents a distinct genetic lineage in the Indonesian region.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Top - Coloration in vivo of (A) 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑧𝑖𝑖 (male, BIF5345, Indonesia, Ceram) (Photo: N. Hubert), (B) 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑢𝑠 (Female, RTNC119, New Caledonia) (Photo: N. Charpin), and (C) 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑒 sp. nov. (male, MZB.26973, tag BIF4074, Indonesia, Lombok) (Photo: N. Hubert).
Bottom - Distribution of the species. 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑢𝑠 (in green), 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑒 (), 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑧𝑖𝑖 (in red) and 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑒 sp. nov. (in blue). Type localities: 𝑀. 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑢𝑠 (■), 𝑀. 𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑒 (), 𝑀. 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑧𝑖𝑖 (■) and 𝑀. 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑒 (■). PNG: Papua New Guinea.

Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published in Zootaxa journal.

30/10/2024

28/10/2024

28/10/2024

ZSL herpetologists make surprising discovery in a hotspot for rare amphibian species

21/10/2024

18/10/2024

𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑔𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 and 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑖, two new species of cave-dwelling loaches are described from Guangxi, China. Both species have limited range and the authors note the cave systems these loaches were inhabit were contaminated with fertilizers and pesticides, as well as serving as an important source of drinking water and irrigation for locals.

Open-access - https://zse.pensoft.net/article/129520

The authors note that 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑔𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 often migrates from the cave to feed in flooded mountain swales and farmlands during the rainy season, a behaviour frequently observed by working locals.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
Description of two new species of the genus 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 (Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from Guangxi, China

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Mo H-L, Yang J, Li P, Du L-N (2024) Description of two new species of the genus 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 (Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from Guangxi, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(4): 1375-1385. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.129520

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
This study describes two new species within the genus 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠. 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑔𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 sp. nov. and 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑖 sp. nov. can be distinguished from all recognized congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics and substantial genetic divergences.

𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑔𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 sp. nov. is characterized by scaled cheeks; the whole body covered in scales, except for the head; 11–12 branched pectoral fin rays; 4–5 preoperculomandibular canal pores; body depth 13.5%–16.8% of standard length; and preanus length 68.3%–73.9% of standard length.

𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑖 sp. nov. is characterized by scaled cheeks; the whole body covered in scales except for the head; 11–13 branched pectoral fin rays; 11–15 supraorbital canal pores at the base of the anterior nostrils; 7–9 preoperculomandibular canal pores; preanus length 67.4%–74.3% of standard length; snout length 21.4%–28.7% of lateral head length.

𝗘𝘁𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑔𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 - The name 𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑔𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 originates from the Zhuang language of the Luoyue Ancient Kingdom, pronounced LOKWET. This kingdom, believed to be located in what is now the Wuming District of Nanning City, Guangxi, China, where the type specimens were collected, is considered the cradle of this ancient civilization. The Luoyue Ancient Kingdom was known for its rich cultural contributions, including rice cultivation, cotton textiles, cliff paintings, witchcraft, Longmu rituals, and jade carving. These cultural elements profoundly influenced not only Chinese and Southeast Asian civilizations but also had significant global impacts. We propose the common Chinese name “骆越异条鳅” (Luo Yue Yi Tiao Qiu).
𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑖 - The new species is named in honor of Zongyuan Liu, a distinguished official, literary author, and thinker. During his tenure in Liuzhou, Liu significantly promoted the economic and cultural landscape of the region, thereby elevating the quality of life for its residents and earning him deep admiration and respect from the local community. We propose the common Chinese name “柳氏异条鳅” (Liu Shi Yi Tiao Qiu).

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Top - Upper loach - lateral view of 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑔𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 sp. nov. NNNU230611, holotype, 41.2 mm standard length.
Lower loach - 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑖 sp. nov. NNNU230710006, holotype, live, photo taken on 11 June 2023.
Bottom left - Pool or a cave from which 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑔𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 sp. nov. type species was collected in Nonghu Tun, Chuanqian Village, Wuming District, Nanning City. Left (15 October 2023), right (10 June 2023).
Bottom right - Pool and a cave from which type 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑖 sp. nov. was collected in Youshan Village, Yufeng District, Liuzhou County.

Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published in Zoosystematics and Evolution journal. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

17/10/2024

𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 and 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑢𝑎, two new species of 'whiptail' catfish are described from the trans-Andean rivers of Colombia. The authors also provide an identification key for the trans-Andean and Central American species of 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎.

Open-access - https://meridian.allenpress.com/copeia/article/112/3/429/503546/Two-New-Species-of-Rineloricaria-Siluriformes

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
Two New Species of 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Trans-Andean Rivers of Colombia, Unveiled through Iterative Taxonomy

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
María Camila Castellanos-Mejía, Alejandro Londoño-Burbano, Luz E. Ochoa, Carlos A. García-Alzate, Carlos DoNascimiento; Two New Species of 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Trans-Andean Rivers of Colombia, Unveiled through Iterative Taxonomy. Ichthyology & Herpetology 1 October 2024; 112 (3): 429–443. doi: https://doi.org/10.1643/i2023091

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
Two new species of 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 are described from the trans-Andean region of Colombia.

𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠, new species, is distributed in the Atrato River and is distinguished by the absence of the mid-dorsal plate series and by having three rows of median abdominal plates, first (unbranched) ray of dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins extended as a short filament, and breeding males with hypertrophied odontodes on sides of head and dorsum of pectoral fin.

𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑢𝑎, new species, is found in the Magdalena and Ranchería Rivers and is distinguished by absence of mid-dorsal plate series and by having four or five rows of median abdominal plates, four plates along sides of dorsal-fin base, lateral margins of snout straight, and breeding males with hypertrophied odontodes on sides of head and dorsum of pectoral fin.

Phylogenetic analyses of COI sequences of species of 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 from trans-Andean and Central American river basins revealed the different phylogenetic positions of the new species. Likewise, species delimitation analyses corroborated their status as independent lineages. An identification key for the trans-Andean and Central American species of 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 is provided.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Top - Paratypes of 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑢𝑎, CIUA 8370, 79.5 mm SL, female, Tucuy River, Magdalena River basin, La Jagua de Ibirico, Cesar, Colombia, 9°35′13″N, 73°18′34.9″W. (B) live specimen. Photographs by José Luis Londoño-López, copyright Colección de Ictiología de la Universidad de Antioquia; used with permission. Scale bar 1 cm.
Bottom - Holotype of 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠, CIUA 4629, 113.8 mm SL, female, caño Chageradó, Atrato River basin, Murindó, Antioquia, Colombia, 6°49′56″N, 76°48′31″W. Photograph by José Luis Londoño-López, copyright Colección de Ictiología de la Universidad de Antioquia; used with permission. Scale bar 1 cm.

Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published in Ichthyology & Herpetology journal. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

09/10/2024

📢 GOOD NEWS FROM OUR NORTHERN POOL FROG RECOVERY PROJECT 🐸
In spite of some dull summer weather, both of the reintroduced northern pool frog populations have had a good year. After skipping a year, breeding has resumed at the first site and Norfolk Wildlife Trust ’s Thompson Common has seen the highest counts of emerging froglets so far.

Find out more about the project at 👉 www.arc-trust.org/northern-pool-frog-recovery

07/10/2024

Explore results from APHA’s in wildlife surveillance programme. Check out our:

• interactive map of reported wild bird mortality and findings of avian influenza virus (bird flu) in wild birds and wild mammals
• interactive data dashboard of findings of avian influenza virus in wild birds

If you have reported a dead wild bird online or via the helpline (03459 33 55 77), check the status of your wild bird report by entering the location of your report or your Defra reference number (prefixed by WSF- or REP-) in the maps search box.

Data in the map and dashboard will be updated weekly, collection information and test results may show as pending for recent reports.

Find out more information on how and why we monitor avian influenza virus infection in wild birds and wild mammals on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu-infection-in-wild-birds-and-wild-mammals/avian-influenza-bird-flu-infection-in-wild-birds-and-wild-mammals.

07/10/2024

🦈 🔓 • 2024 :: alleni • A New Hammerhead Shark (Carcharhiniformes: ) from the and the Southwest
novataxa.blogspot.com/2024/09/sphyrna.html 🦈
DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5512.4.2 🔓


Abstract :: Hammerhead sharks (Family Sphyrnidae) comprise a monophyletic Miocene radiation of sharks characterized by their laterally expanded and dorsoventrally compressed head (‘cephalofoil’). The shark (Sphyrna tiburo) is currently described as a single amphi-American hammerhead species composed of the subspecies Sphyrna tiburo tiburo in the Western (WA) and S. tiburo vespertina in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EP). Variation in mitochondrial DNA and cephalofoil shape suggest a , with S. tiburo occurring in the U.S., , and ; S. aff. tiburo occurring from Belize to Brazil; and S. vespertina occurring in the EP. , meristic, and genetic variation was used to resolve the bonnethead shark complex in the . Twenty-three specimens (12 S. aff. tiburo from Belize and 11 S. tiburo from U.S.) were subject to sixty-one morphometric measurements and three meristic characters (counts of the number of precaudal vertebrae, lower and upper rows of functional teeth). An allometric formula was used to standardize any effect caused by differences in size of the individuals and data were analyzed with univariate and multivariate statistics. Sphyrna aff. tiburo and S. tiburo have non-overlapping vertebral counts (80-83 and 71-74 respectively) but no morphometric differences were detected. Although not captured in morphometric analysis, the cephalofoil of S. aff. tiburo has a more pointed anterior margin than S. tiburo that together with lobule shaped posterior margins gives the cephalofoil a distinctive shovel-shaped appearance. Concatenated mitochondrial sequences and 12 nuclear microsatellite markers clearly separated S. aff. tiburo and S. tiburo. We conclude that this complex comprises two species in the Western Atlantic, S. tiburo and S. alleni sp. nov., and we provide a description of the latter, which is distinguished by precaudal vertebral counts (80-83), a shovel-shaped cephalofoil with rounded posterior margins, and robust differences in mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers. We suggest nuclear genetic and meristic examination of EP bonnetheads is needed to update the taxonomical status and redescribe S. vespertina.




C. Gonzalez, B. Postaire, et al. 2024. 2024. . 5512(4); 491-511.
DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5512.4.2

04/10/2024

VET UPDATE 4: I'm very pleased to announce that I shall be consulting again from Saturday 12th October - happy to take appointments now. Thanks again for all your good wishes (and patience)!

04/10/2024

𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑥𝑖𝑒𝑗𝑖𝑎ℎ𝑢𝑎𝑖, a new species of cavefish with extremely small population size is described from western Guizhou, China. The authors suggest the species may be eligible for listing as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Open-access - https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/127629/

"In addition to the small population size, the following threats to the habitat of the new species include declining water levels in caves, pesticide use, domestic waste, and as potential land for urban construction. Therefore, we suggest the species may be eligible for listing as Endangered (B1ab (i, ii, iii) + 2ab (i, ii, iii)) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species."

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑥𝑖𝑒𝑗𝑖𝑎ℎ𝑢𝑎𝑖 (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), a new cave fish with extremely small population size from western Guizhou, China

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Fan C, Wang M, Wang J-J, Luo T, Zhou J-J, Xiao N, Zhou J (2024) 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑥𝑖𝑒𝑗𝑖𝑎ℎ𝑢𝑎𝑖 (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), a new cave fish with extremely small population size from western Guizhou, China. ZooKeys 1214: 119-141. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1214.127629

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
This study describes a new species, 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑥𝑖𝑒𝑗𝑖𝑎ℎ𝑢𝑎𝑖 sp. nov., discovered within a cave located in Hongguo Town, Panzhou City, Guizhou Province, southwestern China, with the type locality in the Nanpanjiang River basin.

Phylogenetic trees reconstructed based on mitochondrial genes show that the new species represents an independent evolutionary lineage with large genetic differences, 1.9%–13.8% in mitochondrial Cyt b, from congeners. Morphologically, this species can be differentiated from the 79 species currently classified under the genus 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 by several characteristics: absence of horn-like structures and indistinct elevation at the head-dorsal junction, absence of irregular black markings on the body lateral and scaleless, eyes large, eye diameter 13% of head length, dorsal-fin rays, iii, 6½, last unbranched ray strong, with serrations along posterior margin, pectoral-fin rays, i, 13, anal-fin rays, iii, 5, pelvic-fin rays, i, 7, lateral line pores 74, gill rakers well developed, nine on first gill arch, pectoral fins short, tip not reaching to pelvic-fin origin.

The number of 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 species has been increased from 79 to 80 since the description of this new species.

𝗘𝘁𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
The specific name 𝑥𝑖𝑒𝑗𝑖𝑎ℎ𝑢𝑎𝑖 is in honour of Professor Jia-Hua Xie (谢家骅), for his contribution to zoological research in China. Before retiring from Guizhou Normal University, he described 𝑆. 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑠, the first species distributed in Guizhou within the 𝑆. 𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑖 species group and his work has been an important contribution to the study of zoology in Guizhou, especially the conservation of critically endangered species. We propose the common English name “Xie’s Golden-lined Fish” and the Chinese name “Xiè Shì Jīn Xiàn Bā (谢氏金线鲃).”

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Lateral view of adult holotype GZNU20230304001 of 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑥𝑖𝑒𝑗𝑖𝑎ℎ𝑢𝑎𝑖 sp. nov. in preservative A left side B right side.

Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published in ZooKeys journal. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

04/10/2024

A Restricted Zone is in place across multiple counties in England.

Watch our YouTube videos to find out more on the actions you need to take and the restrictions in the zone.

Animal movements: https://youtu.be/AKuehmsfGKg
Germinal product movements: https://youtu.be/gKO5IC3nkI4

You can use the interactive map to check if you are in a bluetongue Restricted Zone.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=514ec88edec74575958d860f0196d2ea