Species New to Science: Ghana

Showing posts with label Ghana. Show all posts

Friday, July 30, 2021

[Herpetology • 2021] Conraua sagyimase • A New Critically Endangered Slippery Frog (Conrauidae, Conraua) from the Atewa Range, central Ghana

Conraua sagyimase

Neira-Salamea, Ofori-Boateng, Kouamé, Blackburn, Segniagbeto, Hillers, Barej, Leaché and Rödel, 2021

Atewa Slippery Frog | kwaeɛ mu nsutene apɔnkyerɛne || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4995.1.4

Researchgate.net/publication/352830196

Abstract

Forty-nine years after the last description of a slippery frog, we describe a seventh species of the genus Conraua. The new Conraua is endemic to the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, central Ghana, and is described based on genetic, bioacoustics, and morphological evidence. Recent molecular phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses support this population as distinct from nominotypical C. derooi in eastern Ghana and adjacent Togo. The new species is sister to C. derooi, from which it differs ~4% in the DNA sequence for mitochondrial ribosomal 16S. Genetic divergences in 16S to other species of Conraua range from 4–12%. The new species is distinguished morphologically from its congeners, including C. derooi, by the combination of the following characters: medium body size, robust limbs, lateral dermal fringing along edges of fingers, cream ventral color with brown mottling, the presence of a lateral line system, indistinct tympanum, the presence of inner, outer, and middle palmar tubercles, and two subarticular tubercles on fingers III and IV. We compare the advertisement calls of the new species with the calls from C. derooi and find that they differ by duration, frequency modulation, and dominant frequency. We discuss two potential drivers of speciation between C. derooi and the new species, including river barriers and fragmentation of previously more widespread forests in West Africa. Finally, we highlight the importance of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve as a critical conservation area within the Upper Guinean biodiversity hotspot.

Keywords: Amphibia, Anura, biodiversity hotspot, conservation, integrative taxonomy, Upper Guinean Forest, West Africa.

FIGURE 6. Four individuals of Conraua sagyimase sp. nov. from the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, southern Ghana ; specimens not collected.

(a: photo by Piotr Naskrecki)

FIGURE 7. Conraua sagyimase sp. nov. from the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, southern Ghana; specimen not collected.

(photos by Alan Channing)

Conraua sagyimase sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The new species generally resembles other members of the genus Conraua Nieden, 1908. Conraua sagyimase sp. nov. is the smallest species of its genus and a mid-sized (SVL of adults: 53–89 mm) aquatic frog, relative to other frog species (see Womack & Bell 2020). It has smooth dorsal skin, covered with scattered small, rounded warts; skin on belly smooth; large and protruding eyes, positioned latero-dorsally; three odontoid projections on lower jaw, one on the symphysis and one on each side of the central one on the dentary; fully webbed feet, i.e., webbing extends to the end of the last phalange of toe, disc remaining free of web.

Etymology. The name of the new species has been chosen in order to honor the people of the Sagyimase community. This small community has supported the research of COB and the anti-mining campaigns during the early 2006–2007. We hope that the naming of this endemic species will further encourage this community in their fight for an intact Atewa Range. The species epithet is used as an invariable noun in apposition to the generic name. As English common name, we suggest Atewa Slippery Frog, and as Akan common name we suggest kwaeɛ mu nsutene apɔnkyerɛne, meaning the frog of the forest streams.

FIGURE 9. Habitat from Conraua sagyimase sp. nov. in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve (a-b), southern Ghana (photos: courtesy of Piotr Naskrecki);
and type locality of Conraua derooi, Misahöhe, Togo (c-d).

FIGURE 10. Habitat from Conraua sagyimase sp. nov. in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, southern Ghana.

FIGURE 8. Inset shows a map of West Africa showing the location of the Atewa Range in Ghana (upper left), known localities of Conraua sagyimase sp. nov. are shown in red and know localities of Conraua derooi in yellow. Stars indicate type localities. Altitudinal range is indicated with shading from lowlands (light) to high elevation (dark). Sources: OpenStreetMap (2020), U.S. Geological Survey (2020).

Karla Neira-Salamea, Caleb Ofori-Boateng, N'goran G. Kouamé, David C. Blackburn, Gabriel H. Segniagbeto, Annika Hillers, Michael F. Barej, Adam D. Leaché, Mark-Oliver Rödel. 2021. A New Critically Endangered Slippery Frog (Amphibia, Conrauidae, Conraua) from the Atewa Range, central Ghana. Zootaxa. 4995(1); 71-95. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4995.1.4

Researchgate.net/publication/352830196_A_new_slippery_frog_Conraua_from_the_Atewa_Range_central_Ghana

rufford.org/projects/evans-ewald-nkrumah/conservation-of-the-critically-endangered-conraua-derooi-in-ghana/

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

[Diplopoda • 2018] Pelmatojulus tectus • A Giant African Millipede (Spirobolida, Pachybolidae) Re-discovered, Re-located and Re-classified After 120 Years

Pelmatojulus tectus (Cook, 1897)

in Fiemapong & Enghoff, 2018.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.3.9

Abstract

The giant millipede Pachybolus tectus Cook, 1897, described from Zanzibar, East Africa, and never re-collected till now, is re-described based on newly collected specimens from Cameroon, West Africa. The species is transferred to the genus Pelmatojulus Saussure, 1860, and compared with the most similar congener, P. togoensis (Cook, 1897). The type specimen of P. tectus, which no longer exists, probably was mis-labelled. An overview of the distribution of Pelmatojulus species and records of the genus from Cameroon are given, including P. brachysternus (Cook, 1897) as new to the fauna of Cameroon. Pelmatojulus insignis (Saussure, 1859) and P. togoensis are recorded as new to the fauna of Ghana.

Keywords: Myriapoda, Pachybolus, Pelmatojulus, Cameroon, Ghana, Zanzibar, taxonomy

Armand Richard Nzoko Fiemapong and Henrik Enghoff. 2018. A Giant African Millipede Re-discovered, Re-located and Re-classified After 120 Years (Diplopoda, Spirobolida, Pachybolidae). Zootaxa. 4527(3); 403–413. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.3.9

Friday, May 25, 2018

[Arachnida • 2018] Charinus kakum • A New Species of Charinus (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from Ghana, with Notes on West African Whip Spiders

Charinus kakum Harms, 2018

DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.2.24505

Abstract

The fauna of whip spiders (Amblypygi) in Western Africa is poorly known but probably diverse. Here, I describe the new species Charinus kakum sp. n. based on female morphology, and accompanied by DNA sequence data. The species is small and differs from other African species of Charinus in the low number of pseudosegments on leg IV, female genital features, spination patterns of the pedipalp, and small body size. It was collected from wet tropical rainforest in Kakum National Park, Ghana and is only the fourth species of Charinus to be recorded from the highly diverse Western African biodiversity hotspot. With a total body length of not even 6 mm it is also one of the smallest whip spiders in the world.

Key Words: Amblypygid, Arachnida, Kakum National Park, new species, taxonomy

Figure 2. Female holotype of Charinus kakum sp. n.: A, habitus dorsal; B, genital operculum in ventral view. Arrow indicates the position of the ventral sac covers; C, opisthosoma in dorsal view; D, eggs carried by the female (removed from the genital operculum for imaging).

Figure 3. Female holotype of Charinus kakum sp. n.: A, details of habitus in dorsal view; B, details of habitus in ventral view; C, carapace in dorsal view; D, prosomal sternites in ventral view.

Charinidae Quintero, 1986

Charinus Simon, 1892

Type species: Phrynus australianus L. Koch, 1867, by original designation.

Taxonomic remarks: Weygoldt (2000a) defined Charinus based on the armature of the pedipalp: with three large dorsal spines on the tibia of which the first one is the largest and the others decrease proximally in length; spine 1 sometimes followed distally by one to three spinelets, pedipalp basitarsus with two spines of which the distal spine is largest. Charinus also differs from the closely related Sarax in lacking ventral sac covers (Rahmadi and Kojima 2010). The genus currently includes more than 70 species (Vasconcelos and Ferreira 2017) but is in need of revision (Weygoldt 2000a, b). Nonetheless, the new species aligns well with the current genus diagnosis and is placed here until such revision has been carried out.

Charinus kakum sp. n.

Diagnosis: Charinus kakum sp. n. differs from the cave-inhabiting species C. milloti Fage, 1939 and C. fagei Weygoldt, 1972 in low number of tibial segments on leg IV (5 in C. millotei and C. fagei vs. 3 in C. kakum), trichobothria patterns of leg IV (compare with Weygoldt 1972, 2000a), small body size (prosoma length 2.6 in C. kakum), and shorter legs; from the island species C. africanus Hansen 1921 through the female genital operculum which has a steep ventral flexure at about two third of its length in C. africanus (Weygoldt 1972; Miranda et al. 2016b) but is uniform in C. kakum, and body size (ca. 8.0–8.5 mm in C. africanus and 5.8 in C. kakum; Hansen 1921).

....

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Kakum National Park in Ghana.

Distribution: Only known from the type locality by a single female individual. The wider distribution remains unknown and unfortunately no other specimens could be collected, despite targeted searches in the vicinity of the type locality.

Danilo Harms. 2018. A New Species of Charinus (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from Ghana, with Notes on West African Whip Spiders. Evolutionary Systematics. 2: 45-53. DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.2.24505

Saturday, November 12, 2016

[Ornithology • 2016] Stiphrornis dahomeyensis, S. inexpectatus & S. rudderi • Three New Species of Stiphrornis (Aves: Muscicapidae) from the Afro-tropics, with A Molecular Phylogenetic Assessment of the Genus

[from top to bottom] Stiphrornis rudderi, S. dahomeyensis & S. inexpectatus

Voelker, Tobler, Prestridge, Duijm, Groenenberg, Hutchinson,
Martin, Nieman, Roselaar & Huntley, 2016

DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2016.1226978

Abstract

We describe three new species of forest robin in the genus Stiphrornis; two from West Africa and one from the Congo Basin. Each species represents a distinct phylogenetic lineage based on genetic analysis. In addition to genetic differentiation, each new species is diagnosable from other Stiphrornis lineages by morphology, and by plumage. One of the new species [Stiphrornis inexpectatus] appears to be restricted to the Central and Brong-Ahafo Regions of Ghana, and another [Stiphrornis dahomeyensis] is restricted to Benin and the Central Region of Ghana. In Ghana, these two new species presumably come into contact with Stiphrornis erythrothorax (Western Region of Ghana and westward), and there is evidence that one of the new species has a distinguishably different song from erythrothorax. The distribution of the third new species [Stiphrornis rudderi] is primarily on the south bank of the Congo River, near the city of Kisangani. Recognition of these species provides additional evidence that Afrotropical forests are harbouring substantial cryptic diversity, and that our knowledge of the drivers of this diversity remains poorly documented across the region.

Key words: Africa, cryptic species, speciation, systematics, tropical forests,

Fig. 1. Visual comparisons of new Stiphrornis taxa and their closest relatives. Column (A) dorsal, lateral and ventral views of (from left to right): erythrothorax, the type specimen of inexpectatus (LSUMZ 168539), the type specimen of dahomeyensis (TCWC 15743) and gabonensis. Column (B) dorsal, lateral and ventral views of (from left to right): the type specimen of rudderi (TCWC 15204) and xanthogaster.

Stiphrornis dahomeyensis sp. nov.

Dahomey Forest Robin

ETYMOLOGY: Named after the Dahomey Gap, that separates the otherwise broadly distributed western and eastern expanses of Guineo-Congolian tropical forests, and in which the isolated Lama Forest is located. The Gap derives its name from the African kingdom of Dahomey, which lasted c. 300 years and was located in the area of what is now Benin.

DISTRIBUTION: The known distributional range of the new species is currently limited to one locality in Benin, the Lama Forest (6 57.61’N, 2 10.12’E) and a second locality from c. 30 km south of Assin Foso, Central Region, Ghana (5 19’59.88“N, 1 13’ 0.1194”E).

Stiphrornis inexpectatus sp. nov.

Ghana Forest Robin

ETYMOLOGY: Named both for the unexpected nature of its distribution, being restricted to two provinces in Ghana, and the fact that there are no obvious geographic barriers that separate it from two other members of the genus.

DISTRIBUTION: The known distributional range of the new species is currently limited to three locations in Ghana, one 30 km south of Assin Foso, Central Region (5 20.300 N, 1 13.58’W), one in Kakum National Park, Central Region (5 210 3000N, 1 230 W) and another 26 km south-west of Goaso, Brong-Ahafo Region (6.71 N, 2.73 W).

Stiphrornis rudderi sp. nov.

Rudder’s Forest Robin

ETYMOLOGY: Named in honour of James Earl Rudder, who led the 2nd Ranger Battalion during the invasion of Normandy, and was later President of Texas A&M University; his presidency was a transformative steppingstone in driving A&M’s success.

DISTRIBUTION: The known distributional range of the new species is currently limited to two localities near the city of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The first is Yoko Forest Reserve, Ubundu District (0.29400 , 25.288917 ), on the south side of the Congo River. The second locality is Turumbu, c. 8 km N of Yelenge, Yawenda District (0.633483 , 25.073933 ), on the north side of the Congo River.

Rudder’s Forest Robin, Stiphrornis rudderi

Gary Voelker, Michael Tobler, Heather L. Prestridge, Elza Duijm, Dick Groenenberg, Mark R. Hutchinson, Alyssa D. Martin, Aline Nieman, Cees S. Roselaar and Jerry W. Huntley. 2016. Three New Species of Stiphrornis (Aves: Muscicapidae) from the Afro-tropics, with A Molecular Phylogenetic Assessment of the Genus. Systematics and Biodiversity. DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2016.1226978

ResearchGate.net/publication/308697529_Three_new_species_of_Stiphrornis_Aves_Muscicapidae_from_the_Afro-tropics_with_a_molecular_phylogenetic_assessment_of_the_genus

facebook.com/BRTCTAMU/posts/10154443381201760

Team discovers three new bird species in Africa http://phy.so/397725009 via @physorg_com

Thursday, February 6, 2014

[Herpetology • 2005] The Amphibians of the forested parts of south-western Ghana

Fig. 2. Geotrypetes seraphini occidentalis from Draw River Forest Reserve.
Fig. 3. Dorsal (above) aspect of Aubria subsigillata from Boi-Tano Forest Reserve.
Fig. 4. Unnamed Astylosternus species from Ankasa Conservation Area.

Abstract

We investigated the herpetofauna of four forests, designated as Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas in the Western Region, Ghana. We recorded a total of 47 amphibian species, among them the first country records for the genera Acanthixalus and Phlyctimantis, as well as new taxa within the genera Arthroleptis and Astylosternus. The species Acanthixalus sonjae was so far only known from Ivory Coast. Phrynobatrachus ghanensis and Hyperolius bobirensis are reported for the first time outside of the Kakum and Bobiri forest reserves, respectively. We comment on and illustrate these and other less known species. Most of the recorded species were either endemic to West Africa or even smaller parts of the Upper Guinean forest block.

The relatively high diversity, and/or unique species composition with respect to regional endemicity, documented during our surveys, clearly demonstrates that the western Ghanaian forests, although already highly fragmented, still have a high potential for nature conservation. However, we also documented several invasive species (e.g. Bufo maculatus, Bufo regularis, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Phrynobatrachus accraensis, Afrixalus fulvovittatus), normally not occurring in forest habitats. These species clearly indicate significant alteration of the original forest habitats by means of unsustainable forest use. The relatively high diversity of western Ghanaian amphibian communities and their unique composition is a further hint towards the existence of a Pleistocene forest refugium in south-western Ghana.

Key words: Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Anura: conservation, faunistics, forest, south-western Ghana, taxonomy.

Fig. 6. a. Juvenile Acanthixalus sonjae (SVL 24 mm) from Ankasa Conservation Area;
b. Hyperolius bobirensis from Ankasa Conservation Area;
c. Hyperolius cf. fusciventris lamtoensis female from Ankasa Conservation Area (SVL 47 mm);
d. Hyperolius laurenti from Draw River Forest Reserve.

MARK-OLIVER RÖDEL, MARLON GIL, ALEX CUDJOE AGYEI, ADAM D. LEACHÉ, RAUL E. DIAZ, MATTHEW K. FUJITA & RAFFAEL ERNST. 2005. The Amphibians of the forested parts of south-western Ghana. SALAMANDRA. 41(3); 107-127

http://faculty.washington.edu/leache/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2005Salamandrab.pdf