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Systematic review of Pseudobarbus burchelli (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), with revalidation of P. vulneratus and description of a new species
No full textPseudobarbus burchelli (Smith, 1841) was previously considered to have a relatively wide distribution range spanning four isolated river systems in the Cape Fold Ecoregion of South Africa: the Breede, Duiwenhoks, Goukou, and Heuningnes. Extensive exploration and the application of molecular data led to the discovery and description of a new species, Pseudobarbus skeltoni, from the Breede River system, and the identification of three distinct lineages within P. burchelli. These lineages were provisionally named P. burchelli ‘Tradouw’ from the Tradouw catchment in the Breede River system, P. burchelli ‘Breede’, distributed across the Breede, Duiwenhoks, and Goukou river systems, and P. burchelli ‘Heuningnes’, distributed in the Heuningnes River system. Additionally, recent surveys found a new redfin population in the upper Klein River, genetically linked to the Heuningnes lineage. This study used an integrative approach to assess the taxonomic status of these three lineages. Detailed morphological examination identified a combination of characters that consistently separate the lineages, supporting their recognition as distinct species. Based on both genetic and morphological distinctiveness, we redescribe P. burchelli s.s. for the P. burchelli ‘Tradouw’ lineage, revalidate Pseudobarbus vulneratus (Castelnau, 1861) for the P. burchelli ‘Breede’ lineage, and describe the P. burchelli ‘Heuningnes’ lineage as a new species, Pseudobarbus agulhas sp. nov. These three species differ in circumpeduncular scale count, head and snout proportions, and the number of teeth in the outer pharyngeal tooth row. The biogeographic history, key threats, and conservation needs of these three species are discussed
Taxonomic revision of the Cyathula achyranthoides group (Amaranthaceae, Achyranthoids) in continental Africa and Madagascar
No full textDesmochaeta (now Cyathula) achyranthoides was described from South America and reported to be a widespread tropical plant in both Africa and the Americas. A revision of herbarium material revealed that inter alia leaf shape differs between the populations of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Therefore, we maintain the name C. achyranthoides s.str. for the American populations and re-instate the name C. geminata for most of the African plants. Both species are found in tropical evergreen forests, mainly at low altitudes. Furthermore, two mountain species, C. brevispicata from Madagascar and C. aethiopica from east tropical Africa, which were previously identified as C. achyranthoides, are described as new to science. Compared to both C. achyranthoides and C. geminata, these new species have short inflorescences and longer, recurved or uncinate perianths in the fertile flowers and morphologically resemble C. fernando-poensis; the latter is only known from the mountains of Equatorial Guinea (Bioko Island), south-west and (newly recorded here) North-West Regions of Cameroon. The species under study are compared with one another and with the related, pantropically distributed species C. prostrata; their synonymy is verified and typifications are established. The fine-level partial florescence (cyme) structure of each species is also studied, with further taxonomic implications. Cyathula geminata seems to be restricted to west and central tropical Africa, with its range replaced eastwards by C. aethiopica and in Madagascar by C. brevispicata
Two new species of Trilacuna Tong & Li, 2007 (Araneae, Oonopidae) from Yunnan Province, China, with a key to all known Trilacuna species of Yunnan
No full textTwo new species of the genus Trilacuna Tong & Li, 2007, T. manhao Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) and T. mopanshan Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), are described from Yunnan, China. Descriptions, diagnoses, photomicroscopy images and a key to species of Yunnan Province are provided
Ictalurus nazas sp. nov., a new species of North American catfish (Siluriformes, Ictaluridae) from Mexico
No full textCatfishes of the genus Ictalurus (Ictaluridae) range geographically from southern Canada to northern Guatemala and Belize. The systematics of this genus remain unresolved, with recent studies suggesting the presence of cryptic diversity. This is the case for a potentially undescribed catfish species distributed in the Nazas River basin, which has been recorded to date as a population of Ictalurus pricei. Recent phylogenetic studies suggest that it represents an independently evolving lineage that is distinct from I. pricei. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic characters that differentiate the Nazas River basin lineage and to describe this lineage as a new taxon. Morphological comparisons were made using meristic and morphometric characters. The study identified useful meristic and morphometric characters for diagnosing Ictalurus nazas sp. nov., which differentiate it from I. pricei
Postgraduate training of healthcare professionals at Medical University – Sofia: financing and challenges
No full textAfter completing a six-year undergraduate medical program, during which young doctors acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, they build the necessary foundation for independently addressing organizational, preventive, diagnostic, and other professional tasks. They then undergo postgraduate training to acquire a medical specialty in the Bulgarian healthcare system. This training involves mastering advanced theoretical knowledge and practical skills in a specific area of medical science and practice and concludes with a state examination. This article presents and analyzes the dynamics of financing postgraduate training of healthcare professionals in Bulgaria
A new cave-dwelling species of the genus Triplophysa (Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from southwest China
No full textBased on morphological and molecular data, we described a new cave-dwelling species, Triplophysa xiuwenensis sp. nov., from the karst region of southwest China. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following morphological characteristics: body scaleless without pigmentation; eye diameter of HL with 4.6–6.7%; tip of pelvic fin not reaching anus; outer rostral barbel reaching to posterior margin of eyes; 14–15 branched caudal fin rays. Phylogenetic relationships based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene support the validity of the new species. The discovery of the new species brings the number of cave-dwelling Triplophysa species in Guizhou Province to 15, making it the region with the highest number of Triplophysa cave species in the southwestern karst area
Revision of genus Zele Curtis (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae) from China, with description of nineteen new species
No full textZele Curtis is a braconid parasitoid wasp genus within the subfamily Euphorinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), consisting of only 30 species worldwide. The Chinese species of the genus Zele are revised and 29 species are now recognised, including 19 species new to science: Z. aquilus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. carinatus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. confusus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. cristatus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. curvatus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. curvinervis Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. densipunctatus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. extensus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. fulgidus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. fuscatus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. impolitus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. inclinator Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. irregularis Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. petiolatus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. rugulosus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. sculpticoxis Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. shaanxiensis Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., Z. syntomus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov., and Z. vacatus Fang, van Achterberg & Chen, sp. nov. 31 barcode region sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) from the genus Zele were obtained and combined with 102 sequences from BOLD. They were used to validate new species and to get an indication of similarity among species. Three species are reinstated: Zele peronatus (Shestakov, 1940), Z. romani (Fahringer, 1929), and Z. rufulus (Thomson, 1895). In addition, an identification key for the Zele species recorded in China (plus one expected species) is provided
A new species of Ceratostema (Ericaceae) with nearly tubular leaves from the Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador
No full textA new species of Ceratostema from the Cordillera del Cóndor in Ecuador is described and illustrated. Ceratostema revoluta is distinguished by its nearly tubular leaves with revolute margins, pulvinate petioles, reddish flowers with white base and brownish to black lobes, short, complanate pedicel with carinate bracteoles appressed to the base and calyx lobes appressed to the corolla and overlapping each other below the middle. The taxonomic similarities of the new species are discussed and information about its distribution, habitat and conservation is provided
Metapetrocosmea navicularis, a new species of Gesneriaceae in Vietnam
No full textBased on morphological comparisons, literature reviews, and molecular systematic studies, a new species from South Vietnam, Metapetrocosmea navicularis F.Wen, T.V.Do, Z.B.Xin & K.Tan, has been confirmed. Morphologically, this new species resembles Metapetrocosmea tamiana (B.L.Burtt) Yin Z.Wang & P.W.Li in leaf peltate, bilabiate corollas, arcuate filaments, and slightly curved capsule, while it is distinguished from M. tamiana in having leaf blade ovate to ovate-elliptic, boat-shaped bracts 6–9 mm long, the ratio of corolla lobes length to corolla tube length consistently 1 : 3, corolla tube gradually narrowed from mouth to base, subcylindrical-infundibulate, 10–20-flowered or more, filaments pubescent near the top. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the combined dataset of trnL-F and ITS sequences show that the new species is also most closely related to M. tamiana. The conservation status of this new species is assessed as Least Concern (LC)
The larva of the genus Tolmerinus Bernhauer described: does it help to reveal a sister-group for the rove beetle subtribe Anisolinina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae)?
No full textAbstract We provide a taxonomic description of the larva of the rove beetle Tolmerinus fratrumelliotorum Rougemont, 2017, identified through DNA barcoding. This is the first larval description for Anisolinina, the only subtribe whose sister group within the tribe Staphylinini remains unclear. While most phylogenetic hypotheses, especially molecular-based, suggest sister group relationships between Anisolinina and Staphylinina, conflicts remain, particularly when adult morphology is used for phylogeny reconstruction. Our attempt to use larval morphology for phylogeny reconstruction neither revealed a sister group for Anisolinina, nor unique synapomorphies for this subtribe. However, by mapping larval characters on the reference tree of Staphylinini, i.e., a phylogeny firmly established by phylogenomics in agreement with the adult morphology, we found unique larval synapomorphies to support the tribe Staphylinini and informal clade Staphylinini propria. We review all phylogenetic hypotheses ever proposed for a sister group of Anisolinina and discuss potential reasons for the poor phylogenetic signal in the larval characters alone. We stress some opportunities and challenges of using larval characters in phylogeny reconstructions