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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2005

The crane flies (Diptera: Tipuloidea) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The list of crane flies (Diptera: Ptychopteridae, Tipuloidea, Trichoceridae) known from Great Smoky Mountains National Park is updated. Sampling in association with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory of Great Smoky Mountains National Park resulted in the addition of 107 new Park records, bringing the current list to 250 species. This species assemblage is much richer than those of surrounding areas, although similar in composition. Total richness is estimated to be between 450 and 500 species for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

North Carolina, Tennesse↗
USGS2006

Distribution and morphological variation of Eleutherodactylus mercedesae Lynch & McDiarmid, 1987 (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae) with first record for Peru

We report new distributional information for Eleutherodactylus mercedesae in Bolivia, and provide the first record for Peru based on an adult female. This species, previously endemic to Bolivia, now ranges across about 1000 km in cloud forests on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes from southern Peru to central Bolivia. We provide the first morphological description of females based on two specimens, compare them with the male type and paratype, add some observations to the original description, and comment on variation in the species.

Zootaxa↗
USGS2007

Molecular systematics of Serrasalmidae: Deciphering the identities of piranha species and unraveling their evolutionary histories

Piranhas and their relatives have proven to be a challenging group from a systematic perspective, with difficulties in identification of species, linking of juveniles to adults, diagnosis of genera, and recognition of higher-level clades. In this study we add new molecular data consisting of three mitochondrial regions for museum vouchered and photo-documented representatives of the Serrasalmidae. These are combined with existing serrasalmid sequences in GenBank to address species and higher-level questions within the piranhas using parsimony and Bayesian methods. We found robust support for the monophyly of Serrasalmus manueli , but not for Serrasalmus gouldingi when GenBank specimens identified as S. gouldingi were included in the analysis. " Serrasalmus gouldingi " sequences in GenBank may, however, be misidentified. Linking of juveniles to adults of the same species was greatly facilitated by the addition of sequence data. Based on our sampling and identifications, our data robustly reject the monophyly of the genera Serrasalmus and Pristobrycon . We found evidence for a well-supported clade comprised of Serrasalmus , Pygocentrus , and Pristobrycon (in part). This clade was robustly supported in separate and combined analyses of gene regions, and was also supported by a unique molecular character, the loss of a tandem repeat in the control region. Analysis of specimens and a literature review suggest this clade is also characterized by the presence of a pre-anal spine and ectopterygoid teeth. A persistent polytomy at the base of this clade was dated using an independent calibration as 1.8 million years old, corresponding to the beginning of the Pleistocene Epoch, and suggesting an origin for this clade more recent than dates cited in the recent literature. The sister group to this clade is also robustly supported, and consists of Catoprion , Pygopristis , and Pristobrycon striolatus . If the term piranha is to refer to a monophyletic clade, it should be restricted to Serrasalmus , Pygocentrus , and Pristobrycon (in part), or expanded to include these taxa plus Pygopristis , Catoprion , and Pristobrycon striolatus .

Zootaxa↗
USGS2007

Three new percid fishes (Percidae: Percina) from the Mobile Basin drainage of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee

Three new species of Percina are described from upland drainages of the Mobile Basin. Two of the three species are narrowly distributed: P. kusha , the Bridled Darter, is currently known only from the Conasauga River drainage in Georgia and Tennessee and Etowah River drainage in Georgia, both tributaries of the Coosa River, and P. sipsi , the Bankhead Darter, which is restricted to tributaries of Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River in northwestern Alabama. The third species, P. smithvanizi , the Muscadine Darter, occurs above the Fall Line in the Tallapoosa River drainage in eastern Alabama and western Georgia. In a molecular analysis using mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence data, P. kusha and P. smithvanizi were recovered as sister species, while Percina sipsi was recovered in a clade consisting of P. aurolineata ( P. sciera + P. sipsi ). Two of the three species, P. kusha and P. sipsi , are considered to be imperiled species and are in need of conservation actions to prevent their extinction. Description of these three darters increases the number of described species of Percina to 44. Sixteen are known to occur in the Mobile Basin, including nine that are endemic.

Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee↗
USGS2007

Revision of the characters of Centrolenidae (Amphibia: Anura: Athesphatanura), with comments on its taxonomy and the description of new taxa of glassfrogs

Anurans of the family Centrolenidae are a diverse clade of arboreal frogs distributed across tropical America. Knowledge of their taxonomy, systematics, ecology, behavior, morphology, and other evolutionary aspects of their biology is deficient. Relationships among centrolenid species remain largely unresolved, with no satisfactory phylogenetic hypothesis, and none of the current genera has compelling evidence of monophyly. Further, understanding the phylogeny of glassfrogs is constrained by species-level taxonomic problems, including incorrect description of characters, incomplete analyses of intraspecific variation, and lack of appreciation of species diversity. Herein, we define and analyze the 23 characters that are useful, in combination, in diagnosing centrolenid species, and thereby provide a reference for the use of future workers. We propose revised classifications for the parietal and visceral peritoneal pigmentation, liver form and coloration of its associated hepatic peritoneum, nuptial excrescences, and hand ornamentation. We comment on the generic and species-level taxonomy of Centrolenidae, proposing the recognition of a new genus and describing a new species from Ecuador. We treat Hyla ocellifera Boulenger as a synonym of Centrolene prosoblepon (Boettger), Hyalinobatrachium cardiacalyptum McCranie & Wilson as a synonym of Hyalinobatrachium chirripoi (Taylor), and Hyalinobatrachium crybetes McCranie and Wilson as a synonym of Hyalinobatrachium colymbiphyllum (Taylor). We also present an annotated list of the species of glassfrogs from the Republic of Ecuador with some distributional remarks.

Zootaxa↗
USGS2009

An evaluation of the genus Kincaidiana Altman, 1936, with the designation of Altmanella n. gen. (Annelida, Clitellata, Lumbriculidae)

A review of morphological characters for the western Nearctic genus Kincaidiana indicated that the two described species should be assigned to separate genera. Kincaidiana freidris Cook was transferred to a new genus, Altmanella. New material resembling A. freidris was obtained from many sites throughout western North America. Morphology of the male reproductive structures varied among populations, and the most distinctive morphological differences were accounted for by splitting the taxon into two species, which roughly corresponded to large scale regional patterns. Typical A. freidris occurred in several Pacific Coast drainages. Altmanella idahoensis n. sp., mostly associated with the Snake River drainage, was distinguished from A. freidris by shorter and less muscular atria and penial structures. A second new lumbriculid species with the same basic arrangement of reproductive organs was collected in southeastern North America, and was provisionally assigned to Altmanella. However, in contrast to the petiolate atria and large penial structures of A. freidris and A. idahoensis, Altmanella lenati n. sp. has tubular atria and simple male porophores.

Zootaxa↗
USGS2009

Etheostoma erythrozonum, a new species of darter (Teleostei: Percidae) from the Meramec River drainage, Missouri

A new species of darter, Etheostoma erythrozonum, is described from the Meramec River drainage of Missouri, USA. Etheostoma erythrozonum is the first known fish species endemic to the Meramec River drainage. It differs morphologically and genetically from populations of its sister species, Etheostoma tetrazonum, from the Gasconade River, Osage River, and Moreau River drainages.

Missouri↗
USGS2009

Porites randalli: A new coral species (Scleractinia, Poritidae) from American Samoa

A new species of scleractinian coral, Porites randalli spec. nov. (Scleractinia, Poritidae), previously known as Porites sp. 2, is described from American Samoa. P. randalli typically forms small pale green colonies that are usually Porites randalli spec. nov. is an example of cryptic diversity; it is a small coral that at first glance can be overlooked or mistaken for a young colony of other species.

American Samoa↗
USGS2010

Contributions towards a review of the genus Rhynchelmis Hoffmeister (Clitellata: Lumbriculidae)

Morphological characters for several Palearctic taxa attributed by recent authors to the genus Rhynchelmis Hoffmeister, 1843 were reviewed using new or previously studied museum specimens. The genus Rhynchelmis s. lat. was supported, and the Palearctic subgenus Rhynchelmis (Rhynchelmis) was proposed, based on several probable synapomorphies: longitudinal muscles with lateral margins curled; strong dorsolateral-transverse muscles; vasa deferentia with thickened, glandular epithelium; spermathecal ampullae with anterior, sacciform diverticulum; accessory organ often present in preatrial segment. The Japanese Rhynchelmis orientalis Yamaguchi, 1936 was redescribed using new material, and had none of the abovementioned characters. The separation of other potential subgenera, the Rhynchelmoides and Sutroa groups, is still subject to review of those primarily Nearctic taxa. Attribution by Kaygorodova & Liventseva (2007) of several Lake Baikal species to Pseudorhynchelmis Hrabě (1982) was supported, and Rhynchelmis paraolchonensis Giani & Martinez-Ansemil, 1984 may also belong in Pseudorhynchelmis.

Zootaxa↗
USGS2010

New southeastern Nearctic Rhynchelmis (Rhynchelmoides) species and the description of Pararhynchelmis n. gen. (Annelida: Clitellata: Lumbriculidae)

The first verified records of Rhynchelmis from the southeastern Nearctic represent two new species. Both belong to R. (Rhynchelmoides) (Hrabě) n. comb. , which is defined here. Rhynchelmis bolinensis n. sp. resembles other R. (Rhynchelmoides) species with elongate spermathecae, but differs in details of the reproductive structures. Rhynchelmis croatanensis n. sp. is similar in many respects, but the gonads and male and female pores are shifted anteriad by one segment, a character previously unknown within the genus. Pararhynchelmis murdocki n. gen. , n. sp. has the spermathecal pores in VIII and IX and male pores in X, and the spermathecae connect to the gut. These characters associate the new species with Rhynchelmis , but the combination of differences in morphology or arrangement of atria, spermathecae, blood vessels and nephridia, and the absence of a proboscis, suggest that it be placed in a related genus. Rhynchelmis bolinensis was collected at several sites in North Carolina, but the other two species are known only from single localities.

Zootaxa↗
USGS2012

The unexpected discovery of blind snakes (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) in Micronesia: Two new species of Ramphotyphlops from the Caroline Islands

Two new blind snakes in the genus Ramphotyphlops are described from Ulithi ( R. hatmaliyeb sp. nov. ) and Ant Atoll ( R. adocetus sp. nov. ) in the Caroline Islands, the first blind snake species known from Micronesia east of Palau (excluding Ramphotyphlops braminus ). Both species are unusual in being known only from small, low-lying atolls. They can be distinguished from other Ramphotyphlops by the combination of 22 scale rows over the length of the body; a wedge-shaped snout, without a keratinized keel; and a broad, pyriform ( R. adocetus ) or ovate ( R. hatmaliyeb ) rostral scale.

Caroline Islands↗
USGS2012

New Eclipidrilus species (Annelida, Clitellata, Lumbriculidae) from southeastern North America

Three new species of Lumbriculidae from southeastern North America are attributed to Eclipidrilus Eisen. All are small worms (diameter 0.2–0.5 mm), having semi-prosoporous male ducts with the atria in X, and spermathecae in IX. Eclipidrilus breviatriatus n. sp. and E. microthecus n. sp. have crosshatched atrial musculature, similar to some E. (Eclipidrilus) species, but they differ from congeners in having small, compact spermathecal ampullae. Eclipidrilus macphersonae n. sp. has a single, median atrium and spermatheca. The new species have been collected only in Sandhills and Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain streams of North Carolina.

North Carolina↗
USGS2012

Isleria, a new genus of antwren (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae)

A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of the family Thamnophilidae indicated that the genus Myrmotherula is not monophyletic. The clade composed of M. guttata and M. hauxwelli is only distantly related to other members of the genus and should be removed from Myrmotherula. The phenotypic distinctiveness of the clade argues against merging it with its sister group Thamnomanes and no generic name is available for the guttata-hauxwelli clade. Consequently, we describe the genus Isleria for these two species, and designate Myrmothera guttata as its type species.

Zootaxa↗
USGS2012

A preliminary assessment of the Nactus pelagicus species group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in New Guinea and a new species from the Admiralty Islands

The Slender-toed Geckos ( Nactus ) currently have four recognized species in New Guinea, and these species divide into two sister clades: a pelagicus clade and a vankampeni clade (Heinicke et al. 2010). The latter contains three dwarf species. The former consists of five bisexual populations, of which numerous New Guinea populations are uncharacterized nomenclaturally and lumped under the epithet ‘ pelagicus .’ This report and description of a new species of the pelagicus group from Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands encourages us to offer a preliminary assessment of morphology and diversity in New Guinea ‘ pelagicus ’ populations.

Admiralty Islands↗
USGS2013

New species of Rhyacodrilus (Annelida: Clitellata: Rhyacodrilinae) of North America, with re-description of R. sodalis (Eisen, 1879)

Six new Nearctic species of the aquatic oligochaete genus Rhyacodrilus (Annelida, Clitellata, Rhyacodrilinae), are de-scribed, five (R. saelonae sp. n., R. quileuticus sp. n., R. clio sp. n., R. alcyoneus sp. n. and R. longichaeta sp. n.) from western and one (R. propiporus sp. n.) from eastern North America. The taxonomy of the most common Rhyacodrilus species reported in the Nearctic region has been based largely on chaetal characters, which has generated certain confu-sion. The new species give a new perspective on the genus Rhyacodrilus in North America, suggesting a much higher diversity than previously expected. The description of R. longichaeta sp. n. questions the taxonomic status of R. montana (Brinkhurst), which is here regarded as species inquirenda. The taxonomic status of R. sodalis (Eisen) is discussed based on characters of the reproductive system, the existing Lake Tahoe neotype series is invalidated, and a neotype is described from Eisen's type locality. Based on the discussion of the characters of the genus Rhyacodrilus, the genus Stochidrilus Martínez-Ansemil et al. is proposed as a junior synonym of that genus. The presence of the widely reported species R. coccineus has not been confirmed in the study collections, although the species requires a sound revision. A key to the species bearing hair chaetae is provided, based mainly on features of the reproductive system.

Zootaxa↗
USGS2013

A new species of Helobdella (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae) from Oregon

Helobdella bowermani n. sp. is described from specimens collected in fine sediment of open water benthos of Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath County, Oregon. The new species has pale yellow/buff coloration with scattered chromatophore blotches throughout the dorsal surface, lateral extensions or papillae only on the a2 annulus, dorsal medial row of papillae with small papilla on a1 and larger papillae on a2 and a3, and a small oval scute (rarely triangular). Helobdella bowermani n. sp. is morphologically similar to Helobdella atli and Helobdella simplex. Molecular comparison of CO-I sequence data from H. bowermani n. sp. revealed differences of 10.6%–10.8% with Helobdella californica, differences of 12.2%–13.7% with H. atli, and differences of 12.7%–13.2% with H. simplex.

Oregon↗
USGS2013

On the correct name of Icterus bullockii (Passeriformes: Icteridae)

William Bullock was an Englishman who owned the Egyptian Hall (also known as the London Museum or Bullock’s Museum) at Piccadilly in London, a museum opened in 1812 to display his collection of antiquities, artifacts, and natural history specimens. Following the sale of Bullock’s collection in 1819, the Egyptian Hall served as an exhibition space. Bullock and his son, William Bullock, Jr., both enthusiastic naturalists, travelled in Mexico in 1822–1823, spending some six months together collecting natural history specimens and other artifacts for exhibition and investigating mining and other business opportunities (Costeloe 2006). The elder Bullock returned to London with the collections in 1823, but his son, while ostensibly managing the silver mine his father had purchased in Temascaltepec, outside of Mexico City, continued to travel in Mexico and collect specimens, often in the company of German naturalist Ferdinand Deppe (Costeloe 2006). William Bullock, Sr., meanwhile prepared the Mexican collection for exhibition at the Egyptian Hall. Twin exhibitions on ancient and modern Mexico opened, with much fanfare, in April 1824, and were a great success, remaining open until September 1825 (Costeloe 2006). Afterwards, the contents of the exhibitions were dispersed via auction, but not before Bullock had made the bird specimens available to English naturalist William Swainson for “recording this portion of his discoveries” (Swainson 1827: 365).

Zootaxa↗
USGS2013

Cambarus (C.) hatfieldi , a new species of crayfish (Decapoda:Cambaridae) from the Tug Fork River Basin of Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia, USA

Cambarus ( Cambarus ) hatfieldi is a stream-dwelling crayfish that appears to be endemic to the Tug Fork River system of West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky. Within this region, it is prevalent in all major tributaries in the basin as well as the Tug Fork River’s mainstem. The new species is morphologically most similar to Cambarus sciotensis and Cambarus angularis. It can be differentiated from C. sciotensis by its squamous, subtrinagular chelae compared to the elongate triangular chelae of C. sciotensis ; its shorter palm length/palm depth ratio (1.9) compared to C. sciotensis (2.3); and a smaller areola length/total carapace length ratio (30.4% vs.36.5% respectively). Cambarus hatfieldi can be differentiated from C. angularis by its smaller areola length/total carapace length ratio (30.4% vs. 36.7% respectively); a smaller rostrum width/rostral length ratio (59.4% vs. 67.2% respectively); its rounded abdominal pleura as compared to the subtruncated pleura of C . angularis ; the length of the central projection and mesial process of C . hatfieldi which both extend to the margin of the gonopod shaft or slightly beyond the margin compared to the central projection of C. sciotensis and C. angularis where both extend well beyond the margin of the gonopod shaft.

Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia↗