Newly discovered / described species 2016

A new European viper: Vipera walser

"A new vertebrate for Europe: the discovery of a range-restricted relict viper in the western Italian Alps"
Samuele Ghielmi et al.
Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 54:

Abstract: We describe Vipera walser, a new viper species from the north-western Italian Alps. Despite an overall morphological resemblance with Vipera berus, the new species is remarkably distinct genetically from both V. berus and other vipers occurring in western Europe and shows closer affinities to species occurring only in the Caucasus. Morphologically, the new species appear to be more similar to V. berus than to its closest relatives occurring in the Caucasus, but can be readily distinguished in most cases by a combination of meristic features as confirmed by discriminant analysis. The extant population shows a very low genetic variability measured with mitochondrial markers, suggesting that the taxon has suffered a serious population reduction/bottleneck in the past. The species is extremely range-restricted (less than 500 km2) and occurs only in two disjunct sites within the high rainfall valleys of the Alps north of Biella. This new species should be classified as globally ‘endangered’ due to its small and fragmented range, and an inferred population decline. The main near-future threats to the species are habitat changes associated with reduced grazing, along with persecution and collecting.
 
MikeG said:
A new European viper: Vipera walser

"A new vertebrate for Europe: the discovery of a range-restricted relict viper in the western Italian Alps"
Samuele Ghielmi et al.
Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 54:
Click to expand...
have you read the paper? Is the viper a whole new discovery or is it a split (i.e. is it a population already known which has just been split, or was it not known previously)?
 
Chlidonias said:
Is the viper a whole new discovery or is it a split (i.e. is it a population already known which has just been split, or was it not known previously)?
Click to expand...
The vipers in the area concerned were assumed to be V. berus, on morphological evidence, but have now been found to be very distinct genetically.
So it's not formally a 'split' but one of those discoveries that couldn't really have been made without the science of DNA analysis.
 
'Extinct' sponge makes comeback in Singapore

A rare sea creature once thought to be globally extinct was rediscovered in Singapore waters in 2011, to the delight of scientists. It now seems to be thriving.

Last month, researchers from the National Parks Board (NParks) found three more specimens of the Neptune's cup sponge, bringing the total number to five.

The first time the sponge made an appearance after its disappearance in 1908 was near St John's Island five years ago.

Read more (includes video): 'Extinct' sponge makes comeback in Singapore, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times
 
‘Extinct’ fish found in Lake Constance

Several specimens of the deep-water char, declared extinct in 2008, have been discovered by surprised scientists in Lake Constance as part of a study into fish biodiversity in Alpine lakes.

...

But Projet Lac also brought good news: thanks to a targeted search in Lake Constance, several specimens of the deep-water char (Salvelinus profundus) native to the lake were rediscovered.
This species, frequently caught by Lake Constance fishermen until the 1960s, was declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008.
The deep-water char is found at a depth of about 80 metres and feeds on flatworms, small crustaceans and mussels. The size of the population from which these recently found specimens come will be investigated in the future.

Read more: ?Extinct? fish found in Lake Constance - SWI swissinfo.ch
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top