[Botany • 2024] Astragalus quettensis (Fabaceae: Galegeae) • A New Species from Balochistan, Pakistan

 

Astragalus quettensis A. Khan, A. Sultan & Maassoumi, 

 in Khan, Sultan, Asghar Maassoumi et Mumtaz, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.636.1.1

  Researchgate.net/publication/377926200

 

Abstract

Astragalus quettensis is described and illustrated as a new species from Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park, near Quetta, Balochistan. The new species is related to Astragalus mirabilis and is characterized by 5–31 mm long tomentose, canescent, linear-lanceolate, folded leaflets in 9–13 pairs with basal leaflets opposite and distal alternate, densely racemose inflorescence or subcapitate with 2–3 flowers lying at the same level, 1–3 cm long, densely covered with off-white spreading hairs, 3.5–5.5 mm long, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, greyish, pilose bracts, 5–13 mm long densely pubescent pedicel with ca. 0.2 mm long, spreading hairs, 9.5–15 mm long densely pubescent calyx with 7.5–12 mm funnel-shaped cup and 2–3 mm long teeth, white and yellowish-green corolla, vexillum 16–23 × 8–12 mm, broadly elliptic, wing 17–21 mm long, keel 18–21 mm long, short-stipitate pubescent legume, 22–26 × 13–18 mm and 3–4 mm long stipe. With regard to the conservation status of the new species, Astragalus quettensis is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).

Eudicots, Astragalus, Balochistan, Critically Endangered, Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park, Taxonomy

Astragalus quettensis A. Khan, A. Sultan & Maassoumi, sp. nov.

Amjad KHAN, Amir SULTAN, Asghar MAASSOUMI and Abdul Samad MUMTAZ. 2024. Astragalus quettensis (Galegeae—Fabaceae), A New Species of section Pendulina from Pakistan. Phytotaxa. 636(1); 1-19. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.636.1.1 

 Researchgate.net/publication/377926200_Astragalus_quettensis_a_new_species_from_Pakistan 

facebook.com/100064560587743/posts/766380305523982

[Botany • 2022] Allium sulaimanicum (Amaryllidaceae) • A new Allium species and section from Pakistan

 

Allium sulaimanicum N. Khan, A. Sultan et N. Friesen, 

in N. Khan, Friesen, Sultan, Fritsch, T. Khan et Ishaq, 2022.

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1020440 

A new species, Allium sulaimanicum, is described from northern Balochistan and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan based on morphological, molecular, and cytological studies. The new species is characterised by long runner-like cylindrical rhizomes of adult plants, cylindrical bulbs, linear leaves with minute soft hairs along veins, campanulate perigonium, and white to creamy white, ovate to elliptical, 4.5–5-mm-long acute tepals, with brownish to purplish nerves, stamens as long as to slightly longer than tepals, yellow to brick red anthers, hexagonal ovary, and white and papillate/warty along angles. The presence of long herbaceous rhizomes indicated serious isolation of the new species; hence, a new section Sulaimanicum is proposed to accommodate the new species. The new species is diploid with a chromosome number of 2n = 16. Detailed morphological description, illustrations, phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of plastid spacers (rpl32-trnL (UAG) and trnQ-rps16) and nuclear ITS, karyotype features, and a distribution map of the new species are provided.

Keywords: Sulaiman range, ITS, rpl32-trnL, phylogeny, chromosome

 Allium sulaimanicum.
(A, B) Inflorescence (C) Flower section with tepals and stamens (scale bar: c 1.5 mm) (D) seed (scale bar: c 1 mm)

 (Photos by Nazar Khan).

Allium sulaimanicum N. Khan, A. Sultan et N. Friesen sp. nov.  

Nazar Khan, Nikolai Friesen, Amir Sultan, Reinhard M. Fritsch, Tahir Khan and Kamran Ishaq. 2022. Allium sulaimanicum: A new Allium species and section from Pakistan. Front. Plant Sci. 13:1020440. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1020440 

  twitter.com/zaland_botanist/status/1603593486560796672

 

[Botany • 2024] Astragalus kanjuensis (Fabaceae: Galegeae) • A New Species of Astragalus Sect. Aegacantha from Swat, Pakistan

 

Astragalus kanjuensis  

in Ullah, Khan, Sultan, Ali et Mumtaz. 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.671.3.1

 

Abstract

A new species Astragalus kanjuensis, is described and illustrated from Kanju Town, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The new species is morphologically similar to A. vallis-astoris Podlech & Zarre, but is characterized by densely white pilose young branches, short stipules 3.5–7 mm long, with 1–3 longitudinal nerves, elongate 2.5–6.3 cm long peduncles, pilose with white hairs, two-flowered raceme, whitish-membranous pilose bracts with white hairs, pedicels 3.5–5.5 mm long, densely pubescent with white hairs, relatively long standard up to 32 mm, ovary short-stipitate, style glabrous in the middle, legumes elliptic to oblong, 14–21×4–6.5 mm, beak abruptly curved 2–4 mm densely pubescent with white spreading hairs.

Aegacantha, Astragalus, Eudicots

Astragalus kanjuensis sp. nov.

Zahid Ullah, Amjad Khan, Amir Sultan, Ahmad Ali and Abdul Samad Mumtaz. 2024. Astragalus kanjuensis, A New Species of Section Aegacantha (Galegeae-Fabaceae) from Swat, Pakistan.  Phytotaxa. 671(3);211-230. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.671.3.1

  x.com/Amjadkh36324282/status/1857260895463997702

[Botany • 2024] Tragopogon pashtunianus (Asteraceae: Cichoreae) • A New Species from northern Balochistan, Pakistan

Tragopogon pashtunianus N.Khan, A.Sultan & T.Khan, 

in N. Khan, Sultan, T. Khan et Ishaq, 2024. 

DOI: 10.30848/PJB2025-1(12) 

 Researchgate.net/publication/382532942 

Abstract

A new species Tragopogon is described and illustrated from Northern Balochistan, Pakistan. The new species, here described and illustrated, is found in area west of Zhob city along the Afghanistan border. It comes closest to T. leucanthus, but differs from it, beside other characters, in its narrower leaves, number of phyllaries and a shorter cypsela beak. We have amended the key to Tragopogon in the Flora Pakistan (Fasc. 222, IV) to include the new species.

Tragopogon pashtunianus N.Khan, A.Sultan & T.Khan sp. nov.

Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan, Tahir Khan and Kamran Ishaq. 2024. A New Species of Tragopogon (Cichoreae: Asteraceae) from northern Balochistan, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 57(1): DOI: DO: doi.org/10.30848/PJB2025-1(12)

 facebook.com/100064560587743/posts/872462974915714

  Researchgate.net/publication/382532942_A_NEW_SPECIES_OF_TRAGOPOGON_FROM_NORTHERN_BALOCHISTAN_PAKISTAN

[Botany • 2023] Oxytropis mandokhailii (Fabaceae) • A New Species from Zhob, Pakistan

Oxytropis mandokhailii N. Khan, A. Sultan et M. Rashid, 

in Khan, Sultan, Rashid et Ishaq, 2023. 

 DOI: 10.30848/PJB2023-1(26) 

facebook.com/KamranIshaq927

  Researchgate.net/publication/361168569

Abstract

A new species Oxytropis mandokhailii (Fabaceae) from Zhob distict of Pakistan is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by basally fused unequal stipules, heteromorphic leaves and very long stems. Key to Oxytropis species in Flora of Pakistan is amended to reflect the diagnostic characters of O. mandokhailii.  

 

Oxytropis mandokhailii N. Khan, A. Sultan et M. Rashid sp. nov.

Diagnosis: The new species has affinities to Oxytropis margacea by its narrow leaflets, basally connate stipules and inflorescence longer than leaves, but differs by its heteromorphic, longer leaves. Oxytropis margacea has 3-5 cm long leaves while O. mandokhailii has 6-14 cm long leaves. The new species also has longer stems (20-110cm) while O. margacea has 15-20 cm long stems. Calyxin O. mandokhailii is black and white appressed pubescent, while calyx has white minute appressed hairs in O. margacea. The new species also has affinities to Oxytropis cabulica by its peduncle longer than leaves andcalyx with black and white appressed hairs, but differs by its connate stipules opposed to free stipules in O. cabulica, linear to lanceolate leaflets, longer stem up to110 cm long, versus oblong to elliptic leaflets and stem upto 30 cm long in O. cabulica. The new species also differs by its stipitate, unilocular, black and white pubescent legume opposed to subsessile partially bilocular, black pubescent legume in O. cabulica.

Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan, Mahrine Rashid and Kamran Ishaq. 2023. Oxytropis mandokhailii (Fabaceae), A New Species from Zhob, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 55(1);  DOI: 10.30848/PJB2023-1(26)

 facebook.com/KamranIshaq927/posts/1941526366032226

  Researchgate.net/publication/361168569_Oxytropis_mandokhailii_a_new_species_from_Zhob_Pakistan

[Fungi • 2023] Mallocybe pakistanica & M. pinicola (Agaricales: Inocybaceae) • New Species of Mallocybe from Pakistan, based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence

A Mallocybe pakistanica & B M. pinicola Saba & Khalid,

in Saba, Khalid et Sarwar, 2023. 

DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.99.86844

 Scale bars: 10 mm 

Abstract

Within the family Inocybaceae, many species of Mallocybe have been reported, but there are only a few reports of this genus from Pakistan. In this study, six collections of Mallocybe were studied by morphological and phylogenetic methods. Phylogenetic analyses, based on sequence data from two different loci (ITS and LSU) using Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony methods, have been performed to infer species relationships within Mallocybe. Results indicated that these six collections encompass two new species of Mallocybe i.e. M. pakistanica and M. pinicola, from Pakistan. Their detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are also provided. In addition, comparison with morphologically closely-related taxa is also discussed. Previously, only two species of this genus have been recorded from Pakistan and, with this addition, the total number of reported taxa of Mallocybe has been raised to four from Pakistan. A key to the described taxa of Mallocybe from Pakistan is also provided.

Key words: Asia, molecular systematics, phylogeny, Pinaceae

Holotypes A Mallocybe pakistanica (MSM#0061) B Mallocybe pinicola (MSM#0060).

 Scale bars: 10 mm (A, B).

 Mallocybe pakistanica Saba & Khalid, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: Most similar to Mallocybe myriadophylla described from north-western Europe, but differs by the absence of a crowded lamellae, different pileal colouration and somewhat larger basidiospores. Phylogenetically separated from other species of Mallocybe due to unique ITS and LSU sequences.

Etymology: Referring to the country where it was discovered.

 Mallocybe pinicola Saba & Khalid, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: Most similar to M. siciliana and M. subtomentosa, but differs by the combination of pileal colour, absence of umbo, size of basidiospores, pyriform to broadly clavate, catenate cheilocystidia and an ecological association with Pines. Phylogenetically separated from other species of Mallocybe due to unique ITS and LSU sequences.

Etymology: Referring to its exclusive association with Pinus.

 Malka Saba, Abdul Nasir Khalid and Samina Sarwar. 2023. New Species of Mallocybe (Agaricales, Inocybaceae) from Pakistan, based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence. MycoKeys. 99: 171-186.  DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.99.86844

[Botany • 2023] Atriplex pseudotatarica (Amaranthaceae) • A New Species from the Indian Subcontinent

 

Atriplex pseudotatarica Sukhor. & Nidhan Singh,

in Sukhorukov, Singh, Kushunina, Zaika et Sennikov, 2023. 

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.229.105162

Abstract

A new subshrubby C4-species from the lowlands and foothills of India, Pakistan and SE Afghanistan, Atriplex pseudotatarica, is described and illustrated. Previously, it was incorrectly identified as A. crassifolia auct. non C.A.Mey. belonging to a distant C3-group of the genus. A phylogenetic analysis based on nrITS and nrETS revealed its position as sister to A. schugnanica (sect. Obionopsis). Both species share aphyllous inflorescence and smooth bract-like cover, but differ in life form, leaves, seed colour, and geographical distribution. We revised native Indian Atriplex species and excluded some of them from the flora of the country. An improved checklist of the native Atriplex species in India with their corrected synonymy and nomenclature is given, and a new diagnostic key is provided.

Key words: Atriplex, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Indian subcontinent, new species

Atriplex pseudotatarica.
A an overview of the plant B a twig with the inflorescence C a vegetative shoot D a shoot at fruiting. Origin of the material A Haryana, near Asan Khurd village, Nov 2022 B Haryana, near Asan Kalan village, Nov 2022 C Haryana, near Asan Kalan village, Aug 2022 D Haryana, near Panipat town, Oct 2014.

Photographer: A, B A. Sukhorukov, C, D N. Singh.

 Atriplex pseudotatarica Sukhor. & Nidhan Singh, sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet is chosen due to the resemblance of the new species to A. tatarica L., which also has long aphyllous inflorescences.

Alexander P. Sukhorukov, Nidhan Singh, Maria Kushunina, Maxim A. Zaika and Alexander N. Sennikov. 2023. A New Species of Atriplex (Amaranthaceae) from the Indian Subcontinent. PhytoKeys. 229: 167-183. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.229.105162

[Fungi • 2022] Lepiota sindhudeltana (Basidiomycota: Agaricaceae) • A New Species from Punjab, Pakistan

  Lepiota sindhudeltana Haqnawaz, Niazi, Usman & Khalid, 

 

in Haqnawaz, Niazi, Usman & Khalid, 2022. 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.550.3.5

 Photos by: M. Haqnawaz.

Abstract

Lepiota sindhudeltana sp. nov. was found on sandy soil under Saccharum bengalense during fungal surveys to the deltas of the Indus River and the banks of the River Ravi, Punjab, Pakistan. The new species belongs to section Ovisporae, subsection Felininae and is characterized by dull orange appressed squamules on the pileus, thin pileal context, pale yellow lamellae, a stipe rounded to slightly oblong at base, basidiospores broadly ellipsoid to oblong, neither dextrinoid nor amyloid, short, clavate erect pileal hyphae, and narrowly clavate terminal hyphae of the stipitipellis. The closest described species to the new taxon in the phylogenetic tree, based on analysis of ITS and LSU sequences, is L. angusticystidiata. We present the new species with illustrated morphological description, phylogeny, and comparison with related or similar species.

Keywords: Indus Valley, Felininae, biodiversity, Muzaffargarh, pileal elements, Fungi

Fruitbodies of Lepiota sindhudeltana sp nov. (A. Holotype LAH37025).

Scale bars: A–C = 10 cm.

 Photos by: Muhammad Haqnawaz.

Lepiota sindhudeltana Haqnawaz, Niazi, Usman & Khalid sp. nov.

Etymology:— ‘sindhudeltana’ (Latin) refers to the locality of the taxon i.e., the delta of the River Sindh (Indus River).

Muhammad Haqnawaz, Abdul Rehman Niazi, Muhammad Usman and Abdul Nasir Khalid. 2022. Lepiota sindhudeltana sp. nov. (Agaricaceae; Basidiomycota) from Punjab, Pakistan. Phytotaxa. 550(3); 253-262. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.550.3.5

[Herpetology • 2022] Eremias killasaifullahi & E. rafiqi • Appearances Often Deceive in Racerunners: Integrative Approach reveals Two New Species of Eremias (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Pakistan

 Eremias killasaifullahi & E. rafiqi 

Masroor, Khan, Nadeem, Amir, Khisroon & Jablonski, 2022

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5175.1.3

 twitter.com/HerpetologyTra1 

Abstract

Based on newly provided morphological and previously published genetic data, we describe two new distinctive sympatric lacertid lizards of the genus Eremias (subgenus Aspidorhinus) from the arid mountains of northwestern Balochistan Province, Pakistan. The new species, Eremias killasaifullahi sp. nov. and Eremias rafiqi sp. nov. are distinguished from all other species of the subgenus Aspidorhinus (E. afghanistanica, E. fahimii, E. isfahanica, E. kopetdaghica, E. lalezharica, E. montana, E. nikolskii, E. papenfussi, E. persica, E. regeli, E. roborowskii, E. strauchi, E. suphani, and E. velox) by unique morphological characters and genetic differentiation. In the molecular phylogeny of Aspidorhinus, both new taxa are well-supported lineages differentiated from other species of this subgenus by uncorrected p distances from 8.5% to 21.6%, respectively. Both new species belong to E. persica complex where E. rafiqi sp. nov. is partly similar in dorsal color pattern to E. persica but can be distinguished from this species by unique meristic and morphometric characters. Eremias rafiqi sp. nov. is found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and eastern Iran. Eremias killasaifullahi sp. nov. can be differentiated from E. persica by its distant distribution, dorsal color and pattern, smaller size, and less number of gulars and ventral scales. Eremias killasaifullahi sp. nov. is only known from the type locality and represents the local microendemism, along with other endemic species of reptiles reported from this part of Pakistan. We, however, expect that E. killasaifullahi sp. nov. could have a broader range in northwestern Pakistan and southeastern Afghanistan, which should be an object of following investigations. Our data show that remote areas between Hindu Kush Mountains and Indus River need attention as they most probably represent possible sources of genetic and species diversity in the region.

 Keywords: Reptilia, Afghanistan, Aspidorhinus, Balochistan, microendemism, molecular taxonomy, Palearctic region, Sulaiman Mountains

 

Rafaqat Masroor, Muazzam Ali Khan, Muhammad Sajid Nadeem, Shabir Ali Amir, Muhammad Khisroon and Daniel Jablonski. 2022. Appearances Often Deceive in Racerunners: Integrative Approach reveals Two New Species of Eremias (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Pakistan.   Zootaxa. 5175(1); 55-87. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5175.1.3

 twitter.com/HerpetologyTra1/status/1561634053266219008

[Entomology • 2022] A Revision of the Palaearctic Pimeliini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): A Comparative Analysis and Systematic Position of Eastern European and Asian Taxa with Dorso-lateral Eyes

Dietomorpha gonzalesi S. Chigray & Nabozhenko, 

in Chigray, Nabozhenko, Chigray & Abakumov, 2022. 

  DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.809.1719  

ABSTRACT

A taxonomic review of tenebrionid platyopoid genera of the subfamily Pimeliinae from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan is given. This group of taxa was known before 1994 as the tribe Platyopini Motschulsky, 1849, which is now interpreted as a junior synonym of Pimeliini Latreille, 1802. The group is different from other Pimeliini in having dorso-lateral eyes, located above the level of the genae, and it includes the following ultrapsammophilic genera at least from Central and Southern Asia: Apatopsis Semenov, 1891, Habrochiton Semenov-Tjan-Shansky, 1907, Habrobates Semenov, 1903 [= Kawiria Schuster, 1935 syn. nov.], Dietomorpha Reymond, 1938, Przewalskia Semenov, 1893, Mantichorula Reitter, 1889, Platyope Fischer von Waldheim, 1820 [= Homopsis Semenov, 1893 syn. nov.], Earophanta Semenov, 1903. These genera are distributed in almost all large deserts of Palaearctic Asia: Karakum, Kyzylkum, Muyunkum, Taklamakan, Gobi, Registan, Dasht-e-Kawir, Dasht-e-Lut, as well as in other arid and semi-arid sandy landscapes from European Russia to the south of Eastern Siberia. The group of platyopoid genera is polyphyletic. We propose at least two monophyletic branches: the Habrobates genus group (the first four genera mentioned above), which represents the subtribe Habrobatina Nabozhenko & S. Chigray subtrib. nov. and the Platyope genus group (latter four genera) within the nominotypical subtribe. A new species is described from Pakistan (Balochistan): Dietomorpha gonzalesi S. Chigray & Nabozhenko sp. nov. Platyope granulata Fischer von Waldheim, 1820 is recorded for Kazakhstan for the first time. The following synonymy is resurrected: Apatopsis grombczewskii Semenov, 1890 = Apatopsis conradti Semenov, 1890, syn. resurr. Two new combinations resulting from the synonymy of genera are given: Habrobates gabrieli Schuster, 1935 comb. nov. (from Kawiria), Platyope grumi Semenov, 1893 comb. nov. (from Homopsis). Lectotypes are designated for the following taxa: Apatopsis grombczewskii (Semenov, 1891), Apatopsis conradti Semenov, 1891, Habrochiton vernus Semenov-Tjan-Shansky, 1907, Habrobates vernalis Semenov, 1903, Kawiria gabrieli Schuster, 1935, Platyope dilatata Reitter, 1887; Mantichorula semenowi Reitter, 1889, Mantichorula grandis Semenov, 1893, Homopsis grumi Semenov, 1893, Platyope serrata Semenov, 1893, Platyope planidorsis Reitter, 1889, Platyope tomentosa Semenov, 1893. Additional information for type specimens studied by the authors is given for Habrochiton primaeveris Semenov-Tjan-Shansky, 1907 (holotype), Habrobates vejisovi Kelejnikova, 1977, Platyope ordossica Semenov-Tjan-Shansky, 1907 (holotype), Earophanta autumnalis Semenov, 1903 (holotype, junior synonym of E. planidorsis Reitter, 1889), Earophanta loudoni Semenov, 1903 (holotype, junior synonym of Earophanta pilosissima Reitter, 1895), Earophanta pubescens Skopin, 1960 (holotype, paratypes), Earophanta beludzhistana Bogatchev, 1957 (holotype).

Keywords: Tenebrionidae, Pimeliini, new taxa, synonymy, nomenclature

Dietomorpha gonzalesi S. Chigray & Nabozhenko sp. nov., ♀, holotype (MNHP).
C. dorsal view. D. Ditto, ventral view. E. Ditto, anterior view. F. Ditto, posterior view. G. Ditto, dorso-antero-lateral view.

 photographs by David Gonzales.

Fig. 3. Species of the genus Dietomorpha Kühnelt, 1957, habitus.
A. Dietomorpha pardalis Kühnelt, 1957, ♂ (ZIN), dorsal view. B. Ditto, ventral view.
C. Dietomorpha gonzalesi S. Chigray & Nabozhenko sp. nov., ♀, holotype (MNHP), dorsal view. D. Ditto, ventral view. E. Ditto, anterior view. F. Ditto, posterior view. G. Ditto, dorso-antero-lateral view. 

C–G: photographs by David Gonzales.

Dietomorpha gonzalesi S. Chigray & Nabozhenko sp. nov.

 

Etymology: The new species is named after David Gonzales (Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, France), who made a great contribution to the Tenebrionidae of the New and Old Worlds.

Svetlana N. Chigray, Maxim V. Nabozhenko, Ivan A. Chigray and Evgeny V. Abakumov. 2022. A Revision of the Palaearctic Pimeliini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): A Comparative Analysis and Systematic Position of Eastern European and Asian Taxa with Dorso-lateral Eyes. European Journal of Taxonomy. 809(1); 1–71. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.809.1719 [2022-04-05]

[Herpetology • 2022] The Evolutionary History of An Accidental Model Organism, the Leopard Gecko Eublepharis macularius (Squamata: Eublepharidae)

in Agarwal, Bauer, Gamble, Giri, Jablonski, et al., 2022. 

   

DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107414 

 facebook.com/AkshayKhandekarAK

Highlights

• First multi-locus, range-wide sampling of leopard geckos, including most recognised species, synonyms.

• Updated time-tree for Eublepharidae shows most recent common ancestry at 77 Myr ago.

• 10 species of Eublepharis, Oligo-Miocene origins, with the most recent common ancestor entering India from Saharo-Arabia.

• Pleistocene separation of lineages occurs across different biogeographic regions within E. angramainyu and E. hardwickii, with E. macularius now recognized as five species .

• Model organism E. macularius represents a single population of this species with low mtDNA divergence, distributed in Pakistan.

Abstract

The leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius, is a widely used model organism in laboratory and experimental studies. The high phenotypic diversity in the pet trade, the fact that the provenance of different breeding lines is unknown, and that distinct Eublepharis species are known to hybridize, implies that the continued use of E. macularius as a model requires clarity on the origin of the lineages in the pet trade. We combine multi-locus sequence data and the first range-wide sampling of the genus Eublepharis to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the Eublepharidae and Eublepharis, with an updated time-tree for the Eublepharidae. Our sampling includes five of the six recognized species and additional nominal taxa of uncertain status comprising 43 samples from 34 localities plus 48 pet-trade samples. The Eublepharidae began diversifying in the Cretaceous. Eublepharis split from its sister genera in Africa in the Palaeocene-Eocene, and began diversifying in the Oligocene-Miocene, with late Miocene-Pliocene cladogenesis giving rise to extant species. The current species diversity within this group is moderately underestimated. Our species delimitation suggests 10 species with four potentially unnamed divergent lineages in Iran, India and Pakistan. All 30 individuals of E. macularius that we sampled from the pet trade, which include diverse morphotypes, come from a few shallow E. macularius clades, confirming that lab and pet trade strains are part of a single taxon. One of the wild-caught haplotypes of E. macularius, from near Karachi, Pakistan, is identical to (10) pet-trade samples and all other captive populations are closely related to wild-caught animals from central/southern Pakistan (0.1–0.5 % minimum pairwise uncorrected ND2 sequence divergence).

 

Keywords: Aridification, Divergence dating, Eublepharis macularius, Historical biogeography, Pet trade

 

Ishan Agarwal, Aaron M. Bauer, Tony Gamble, Varad B. Giri, Daniel Jablonski, Akshay Khandekar, Pratyush P. Mohapatra, Rafaqat Masroor, Anurag Mishra and Uma Ramakrishnan. 2022. The Evolutionary History of An Accidental Model Organism, the Leopard Gecko Eublepharis macularius (Squamata: Eublepharidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 168; 107414. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107414

  facebook.com/AkshayKhandekarAK/posts/4658528334245823

[Botany • 2022] Cicer appozaicum (Fabaceae) • A New Species from Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan

Cicer appozaicum Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan & Maesen

in Khan, Sultan, Van Der Maesen, Qaiser & Ishaq, 2022.

 Researchgate.net/publication/357834367

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Abstract

Specimens of a native Cicer were collected from different localities in the Zhob district of Pakistan. It is described as a new species, Cicer appozaicum. It belongs to section Vicioides in the subgenus Viciastrum and is characterized by small flabellate leaflets, coiled simple tendril, very small triangular spinescent stipules often parted into two spinelets, a minute bract, large lilac flowers, rhomboid fruits, beaked rugose to tuberculate and granulose seeds and presence of glandular pubescence on the entire plant, except corolla. Illustrations and a distribution map of the new species are provided. The key to Cicer species in the Flora of Pakistan is amended.

Key words: Cicer appozaicum, Description, Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan.

Cicer appozaicum Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan & Maesen sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Size and shape of flower and ovary, size of fruits and  glandular  hairs  are  similar  to Cicer microphyllum but differs  by  the  stem  which  is  mostly  flexuous,  fewer  and smaller size of leaflets, flabellate to orbicular leaflet shape, smaller  triangular  stipules  comprising  a  single  tooth  or spinelet or often parted into two spinelets, linear to lanceolate calyx lobes, rhomboid fruits, rugose-granulose seed surface and more densely hairy vestituture. 

Size and flabellate shape of leaflets and flexuous stem are also similar to Cicer mogoltavicum, but C. mogoltavicum has more numerous leaflets, slightly smaller corolla, stipules with  many  teeth,  simple  to  ramified  tendrils  while C. appozaicum has  fewer  leaflets,  larger  corolla  size,  stipules comprising a single or two spinelets and simple tendrils.

 Etymology: The species is named after the historic name of Zhob district ‘Appozai’.

Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan, L. J. G. Van Der Maesen, Muhammad Qaiser and Kamran Ishaq. 2022. Cicer appozaicum (Fabaceae): A New Species from Zhob (Balochistan, Pakistan). Pakistan Journal of Botany. 54(4); DOI: 10.30848/PJB2022-4(3)

  Researchgate.net/publication/357834367_Cicer_appozaicum_a_new_species_from_Zhob_Balochistan_Pakistan

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[Paleontology • 2021] Sindhochelys ragei • First Report of A Bothremydid Turtle (Pleurodira: Bothremydidae) from the early Paleocene of Pakistan, Systematic and Palaeobiogeographic Implications

 Sindhochelys ragei

 Lapparent De Broin, Métais, Bartolini, Brohi, Lashari, Marivaux, Merle, Warar & Solangi, 2021

 sciencepress.mnhn.fr 

We report the discovery of remains of a large chelonian from the base of the early Paleocene Khadro Formation exposed in the Ranikot Fort area (Ranikot Group, Sindh Province, Southern Pakistan). This formation already yielded the snake Gigantophis Andrews, 1901, studied by our friend Jean-Claude Rage. The chelonian specimens consist of a large carapace and a shell fragment of Bothremydidae, a family of Gondwanan origin. A new genus and species, Sindhochelys ragei n. gen., n. sp. is identified from the first specimen and named in honor of Jean-Claude Rage. It is the first report of a Bothremydidae in Southern Pakistan. Its affinities with Cretaceous and Paleocene representatives of the family are discussed. The association of characters such as the shape of the shell, anterior plastral scute pattern and strongly marked decoration characterize the taxon and, despite some similarities, allows excluding close phylogenetic affinities with Taphrosphyini and Carteremys group; other well-documented bothremydids are also excluded. The shell fragment, also strongly decorated, is left undetermined. The discovery of two new littoral bothremydid specimens in the early Paleocene of Pakistan fills a geographic and stratigraphic gap in our knowledge of the family, which is known since the continental early Cretaceous of Africa, diversifying in the world up to the Miocene deposits of the Neotethys. A particular diversification during the Maastrichtian-Paleocene is recognized along the neotethyan coasts, and occasional dispersals across this ocean were possible. Sindhochelys ragei n. gen., n. sp. may have colonized the Indian subcontinent by this time, or may represent an older diversification before the Gondwana breakup.

KEYWORDS: Bothremydidae, Southern Pakistan, geology, Pelomedusoides, Gondwana, Neotethys, new genus, new species

Sindhochelys ragei n. gen., n. sp.

 

France de Lapparent De Broin, Grégoire Métais, Annachiara Bartolini, Imdad Ali Brohi, Rafiq A. Lashari, Laurent Marivaux, Didier Merle, Mashooque Ali Warar and Sarfraz H. Solangi. 2021. First  Report of A Bothremydid Turtle, Sindhochelys ragei n. gen., n. sp., from the early Paleocene of Pakistan, Systematic and Palaeobiogeographic Implications. GEODIVERSITAS. 43(25); 1341-1363. [This article is a part of the thematic issue Memorial Jean-Claude Rage: A life of paleo-herpetologist]

 sciencepress.mnhn.fr/en/periodiques/geodiversitas/43/25

 twitter.com/plazi_species/status/1471014928639270920

[Herpetology • 2020] Eremias kakari • A New Species of Eremias (Squamata: Lacertidae) from the Arid Mountains of Pakistan

Eremias kakari 

Masroor, Khisroon, Khan & Jablonski, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4786.1.8

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Abstract

A new, morphologically distinctive lacertid lizard of the genus Eremias (Rhabderemias) is described from the arid mountains of northwestern Balochistan Province in Pakistan. Eremias kakari sp. nov. has an isolated distribution and can be easily distinguished from all other species of mainly desert subgenus Rhabderemias (E. andersoni, E. cholistanica, E. fasciata, E. lineolata, E. pleskei, E. scripta, E. vermiculata). Apart from other differences, Eremias kakari sp. nov. can be distinguished from geographically close members of the subgenus Rhabderemias (E. cholistanica, E. fasciata, and E. scripta) by having a single row of subdigital lamellae and a complete row of lateral scales and hence three scales around the penultimate phalanx of 4th toe. The new species is morphologically (dorsal pattern) very similar to E. fasciata but can be distinguished from this species for having 22–26 subdigital lamellae under 4th toe, 48–55 dorsal scales across midbody, ventrals in 11–14 oblique longitudinal series across the belly, 17–21 femoral pores and 17–21 scales in the 9th–10th annulus posterior to the postcloacal granules. The new species is currently known only from the type locality situated in the Toba Kakar Range, near to Tanishpa village. However, we expect that Eremias kakari sp. nov. would have a broader range in northwestern Pakistan and southeastern Afghanistan. An identification key for the Pakistani Eremias, together with other remarks to the new species, is presented.

Keywords: Reptilia, Afghanistan, Balochistan, Eremias fasciata, endemism, Palearctic region, Rhabderemias, Torghar Mountains.

FIGURE 6. Live individuals of Eremias kakari sp. nov. in type locality:
A—paratype PMNH 4048, adult, male; B—paratype PMNH 4092, subadult.

Genus Eremias Fitzinger, 1834

Subgenus Rhabderemias Lantz, 1928

Eremias kakari sp. nov.

 Suggested vernacular name: Kakar’s Racerunner

Diagnosis. A medium-sized lacertid lizard, maximum snout-vent length (SVL) = 52.2 mm, tail being 1.9 to 2.2 times longer than body length (SVL), hindlimbs relatively long (HLL/SVL ratio 0.58–0.66); subocular scale reaching to the edge of the mouth, 5–7 (mainly 6) supralabials anterior to subocular; dorsals 48–55; ventrals in 11–14 oblique longitudinal series; frontal mostly separated from supraoculars or in few instances in contact with anterior large supraocular only; height of the first two to three transverse rows of ventral scales in pectoral region more than its breadth; 17–21 femoral pores on each side, separated medially by 4–5 scales, the space between the femoral pores about one–fourth or less than one–fourth length of each row; toes without fringe, encircled by three scales and with a single series of 22–26 unicarinate scales underneath. Hindlimbs reach to the base of collar in males and to the axilla of forelimbs in females. Color creamy beige in life with eight dark brown stripes on body dorsum (including the narrow stripes on flanks) and an additional short median stripe (nuchal) originating from the junction of parietals.

 Etymology: The species is dedicated to the “Kakar” tribe of Pashtun people inhabiting the Torghar Mountains in the Toba Kakar Range where the holotype and paratypes were collected.

FIGURE 1. The type localities of the members of the subgenus Rhabderemias including the new species, Eremias kakari sp. nov.

FIGURE 7. The type locality and habitat of Eremias kakari sp. nov. near the Tanishpa village, Toba Kakar Range:
A—cultivated orchards along the type locality; B—type locality of E. kakari sp. nov.

Rafaqat Masroor, Muhammad Khisroon, Muazzam Ali Khan and Daniel Jablonski. 2020. A New Species of Eremias (Squamata: Lacertidae) from the Arid Mountains of Pakistan. Zootaxa. 4786(1); 101–121. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4786.1.8

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