CFZ: Daily News: October 2020

Saturday, 31 October 2020

DAILY MAIL: Spider rediscovered (via Kev)

Huge 'extinct' spider is found on British army training area: Two-inch wide Great Fox spider which liquefies the internal organs of its prey with venom is seen for the first time in 27 years

The Great Fox spider had not been seen since 1993 and was feared to be extinct
Species was found with a torch on Ministry of Defence training ground in Surrey
Great Fox injects insect prey with its venom, which liquefies their internal organs

By JONATHAN CHADWICK FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 00:01, 31 October 2020 | UPDATED: 02:59, 31 October 2020

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One of Britain's most endangered spiders, the Great Fox, has been sighted for the first time in more than a quarter of a century.

Conservationists report the sighting of 22 Great Fox spiders in total, including 10 mature males and one mature female, which measures just over two inches (55mm) in diameter including its hairy, spiny legs.

The specimens were found on a Ministry of Defence (MoD) training area in Surrey by Mike Waite, spider enthusiast at Surrey Wildlife Trust.

Friday, 30 October 2020

BBC: Dogs are humans' oldest companions, DNA shows

Chihuahua standing on a Great Dane

A study of dog DNA has shown that our "best friend" in the animal world may also be our oldest one.

The analysis reveals that dog domestication can be traced back 11,000 years, to the end of the last Ice Age.

This confirms that dogs were domesticated before any other known species.

Our canine companions were widespread across the northern hemisphere at this time, and had already split into five different types.

Despite the expansion of European dogs during the colonial era, traces of these ancient indigenous breeds survive today in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania.

World’s Largest Seagrass Restoration Project is a Virginia Success, Planting 600 Acres That Grow to Become 9,000

In what started as an experiment and became the largest success of its kind, a seagrass restoration project in Southeast Virginia is demonstrating the resilience of marine ecosystems when they are given a chance to recover.

NOAA

A group of marine scientists and volunteers spread more than 70 million eelgrass seeds across a 200-hectare plot off the southern end of Virginia’s eastern shore. Led by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and with help from The Nature Conservancy, the project has grown to over 3,600 hectares (8,896 acres), making it the largest seagrass restoration in the world.

For perspective, this landmark seagrass meadow project off the coast of Wales used 750,000 seeds to create a five-acre meadow.

Re

Wednesday, 28 October 2020

Cow Cuddling Is the New Wellness Trend for Stress Relief (Via Louis)

https://www.insidehook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/hugging-cows.jpg?resize=750%2C500

If you, like many of us, cannot remember the last time you unclenched your jaw and have discovered heights of anxiety you never knew existed over the past several months, nature has a solution: cows — specifically, hugging them.

According to BBC, cow hugging is the latest wellness trend, one many people are embracing as the demand for COVID-era coping mechanisms increases. The practice, which reportedly comes from the Netherlands, supposedly

‘The largest pet rescue flight in history’ takes off next week from Hawaii (Via Louis)

More than 600 would-be pets from animal shelters across the state — including the Hawaii Island Humane Society — will be flown to the mainland next week.

“Paws Across the Pacific” is being touted as “the largest pet rescue flight in history.” It’s a team effort between the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Greater Good Charities and Wings of Rescue.

BBC: Cat missing since 2018 found 60 miles away in Coventry

Jordan Harvey and cat — image captionJordan Harvey's cat went missing in April 2018 and was found miles from home

A cat that went missing two-and-a-half years ago has been reunited with its owner after being found about 60 miles away on an industrial estate.

A security guard who had been feeding the "stray" in Coventry for three weeks had it checked by Cats Protection, which traced it to Bedfordshire.

Black cat Ruby, five, was reunited with delighted owner Jordan Harvey on Wednesday.

Mr Harvey thinks his mischievous moggy stowed away to the Midlands in a lorry.

BBC: Climate change: China's forest carbon uptake 'underestimated'

Logs — image captionSome tree planting has come from a desire to establish vibrant timber and paper industries

China's aggressive policy of planting trees is likely playing a significant role in tempering its climate impacts.

An international team has identified two areas in the country where the scale of carbon dioxide absorption by new forests has been underestimated.

Taken together, these areas account for a little over 35% of China's entire land carbon "sink", the group says.

The researchers' analysis, based on ground and satellite observations, is...

BBC: Police officer raiding illegal cockfight gets killed by rooster

A local cockfight in the Philippines, 2011 — image captionA local cockfight in the Philippines

A Philippine police officer has been killed by a rooster during a raid on an illegal cockfight in the province of Northern Samar.

Lieutenant Christine Bolok was struck by the rooster's gaff - a razor-sharp steel blade which is typically attached to the leg of fighting roosters.

The blade cut his left thigh, slicing his femoral artery. He was rushed to hospital and declared dead on arrival.

Tuesday, 27 October 2020

BBC: Beached: Can rescuers save this dolphin in time?

Monday, 26 October 2020

CRYPTOLINKS: Chupastuff

A word about cryptolinks: we are not responsible for the content of cryptolinks, which are merely links to outside articles that we think are interesting (sometimes for the wrong reasons), usually posted up without any comment whatsoever from me.

	chupacabra \| The Cryptid Files with John and Cindy Spreaker Explicit chupacabra. From: The Cryptid Files with John and Cindy. 2 0 about 1 hour ago. 00:00. 55:32. Like Like. Download Embed. Info; Live Chat ...
	S1E14- La Chupacabra: Cole's Cacophony of Cryptids spotify.com Listen to this episode from Let's Ruin It on Spotify. In this episode, we cover the goat sucker itself: La Chupacabra. From humble beginnings in Puerto ...

Sunday, 25 October 2020

BBC: ‘Baby sharks' rescued in Essex after getting trapped in shallow water

BBC: Swimming with sharks at Bondi Beach

NOVATAXA: Strikingly Coloured New Giant Millipede

[Diplopoda • 2020] Alienostreptus bicoloripes • A Strikingly Coloured New Giant Millipede (Spirostreptida, Harpagophoridae: Rhynchoproctinae) from Vietnam has Copycat in Borneo

Alienostreptus bicoloripes

Pimvichai, Akkari, Semenyuk, Constant & Enghoff, 2020

DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.722.1129

ABSTRACT

A new giant species of the subfamily Rhynchoproctinae with strikingly bi-coloured, red-yellow legs contrasting with a black body is described: Alienostreptus bicoloripes sp. nov. from Vietnam. The new species is assigned to the genus Alienostreptus Pimvichai, Enghoff & Panha, 2010 hitherto comprising one species, A. alienus (Attems, 1936), and differing from other rhynchoproctine genera by having the femoral spine duplicated. Species of this genus share three synapomorphic characters of the subfamily, viz (1) anterior coxal fold forms deep concavity in posterior view, (2) posterior coxal fold very low, and (3) posterior coxal fold with mesal flap. A superficially very similar colourful species from Borneo, also with bi-coloured legs but clearly not belonging to Alienostreptus due to the position of ventral soft pads on male legs, is documented based on photographs.

Keywords: new species, Southeast Asia, taxonomy

NOVATAXA: Two New Species of Cavernicolous Trechines

[Entomology • 2020] Two New Species of Cavernicolous Trechines (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae) from central Guizhou and northwestern Guangxi, China

Sinaphaenops (Sinaphaenops) chengguangyuani

Ma, Huang & Tian, 2020.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4861.4.6

Abstract

Two highly modified new species of cave-adapted trechine beetles are described from Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Sinaphaenops (Sinaphaenops) chengguangyuani n. sp. (Guizhou: Longli: cave Shuijing Dong), belonging to the banshanicus species group of the genus Sinaphaenops Uéno & Wang, 1991; Giraffaphaenops brevicephalus n. sp. (Guangxi: Leye: cave Dalongguan Dong), being the third species of the genus Giraffaphaenops Deuve, 2002, with a shorter but broader head than its congeners. Keys to identify the species of the banshanicus species group and the genus Giraffaphaenops are provided respectively.

Keywords: Coleoptera, troglobitic, ground beetle, China

NOVATAXA: Five New Species of Phalangopsis

[Entomology • 2020] Five New Species of Phalangopsis Serville, 1831 (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) from Brazilian Caves in the Amazon Forest

Phalangopsis kysuia

in Junta, Castro-Souza & Ferreira, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4859.2.1

Abstract

The current work presents the description of five new cricket species for the genus Phalangopsis Serville, 1831 found in Brazilian caves in the Amazonas, Mato Grosso and Pará states, northern Brazil. The morphology of the phallic complex was used as the main criterion for distinguishing the species. In addition, we present data on the natural history and ecology of the new species as well as hypothesis about the variations of tegmina size in relation to the subterranean lifestyle for the genus. Finally, we provide a pictorial key based on adult males for the Phalangopsis species.

Keywords: Orthoptera, Ensifera, Cave, Insect, Taxonomy

NOVATAXA: A New Species of the Genus Batrachuperus

[Herpetology • 2020] Batrachuperus daochengensis • A New Species of the Genus Batrachuperus (Urodela: Hynobiidae) from Southwestern China

Batrachuperus daochengensis

Xiong, Luo & Zeng, 2020

稻城山溪鲵 || zoores.ac.cn

Abstract

A new stream salamander species, Batrachuperus daochengensis sp. nov., from southwestern China, is described herein based on morphological and molecular evidence. Molecular phylogeny derived from the mitochondrial gene together with previous nuclear data revealed that B. daochengensis sp. nov. is sister to B. yenyuanensis. The new species differs from all other species of the genus by the following combination of characters: brown horny epidermis on tips of fingers and toes absent; tubercles on palms and soles absent; costal grooves 12; dorsal brown, mottled with blackish spots; fingers 2-3-4-1 in order of decreasing length; tips of longest digits of fore- and hindlimbs largely separated by one to two costal spaces when adpressed towards each other along sides of body. The new species is currently known in the central and southern Shaluli Mountains in southwestern China.

Keywords: Batrachuperus daochengensis sp. nov., Salamander, Taxonomy, Tibetan Plateau, New species

Dorsal (C) and ventral (D) views of holotype of Batrachuperus daochengensis sp. nov. (adult female, CIB108172). Dorsal (E), ventral (F), and lateral (G) views of head, and ventral views of right forelimb (H) and right hindlimb (I) of holotype of Batrachuperus daochengensis sp. nov.
Photos by Jin-Long Ren.

Batrachuperus daochengensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis: The new species of Batrachuperus differs from all other species of the genus by the following combination of characters: brown horny epidermis on tips of fingers and toes absent; tubercles on each palm and sole absent; costal grooves 12; dorsal brown, mottled with blackish spots; fingers 2-3-4-1 in order of decreasing length; tips of longest digits of fore- and hindlimbs largely separated by one to two costal spaces when adpressed towards each other along sides of body.

Distribution and habitat: Batrachuperus daochengensis sp. nov. is currently known from the central and southern Shaluli Mountains (Figure 1A). The new species is an aquatic salamander adapted to cold water environments. The holotype and paratypes were found under stones of small mountain streams at elevations ranging from 4 000 m to 4 100 m a.s.l. The breeding habits of this species are not well known.

NOVATAXA: An Incredible New Mayfly Genus (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae)

[Entomology • 2020] Cymbalcloeon sartorii • An Incredible New Mayfly Genus (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from Thailand

Cymbalcloeon sartorii

Suttinun, Gattolliat & Boonsoong, 2020

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240635

Abstract

The genus Cymbalcloeon gen. nov. (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) is established for a new species Cymbalcloeon sartorii sp. nov. from Thailand, based on larval stage. This genus is unique among all of the Baetidae by the presence of three pairs of single gills on segments V–VII, ventrally oriented to cover the sterna VI–IX. Cymbalcloeon sartorii gen. nov. et sp. nov. presents unique or rare morphological characters such as a deeply concave margin between the prostheca and mola, without setae; a very large subtriangular process of the left mandible; a maxillary palp segment II with scarce and very long setae; almost completely fused labial palp segments II and III with numerous very long setae; elongate tarsal claw with two rows of teeth; a shagreen surface of the terga and paraproct; and a very reduced body size. The gills of the new genus move very quickly during respiration and present a near-synchronous protraction. Due to the very derived larval morphological character and the unknown imaginal stage, the exact phylogenetic position of the genus remains unclear; it most certainly belongs to the concept of Anteropatellata and is possibly closely related to the genus Baetopus.

Fig 3. Cymbalcloeon sartorii gen. nov. et sp. nov. Larva habitus.
(A) female larva, (B) male mature larva.

Cymbalcloeon gen. nov.

NOVATAXA: A New Species of Wedgefish (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinidae) from Japan

[Ichthyology • 2020] Rhynchobatus mononoke • A New Species of Wedgefish (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinidae) from Japan, with Comments on Rhynchobatus laevis (Bloch and Schneider 1801)

Rhynchobatus mononoke

Koeda, Itou, Yamada & Motomura, 2020

モノノケトンガリサカタザメ || DOI: 10.1007/s10228-020-00777-z

Abstract

Rhynchobatus mononoke sp. nov. (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinidae) is described from mature male and female specimens from southern Japan. A juvenile specimen, newly born from a captive individual collected from Kagoshima, is also referenced (non-type). The new species can be distinguished from congeners by a combination of its obtusely wedge-shaped snout, bluntly rounded dorsal fins, first dorsal fin originating about level with the pelvic-fin origin, and the outer fold on the spiracle posterior margin more pronounced than the inner fold. Distinctive coloration of the new species included a black blotch, followed by a single white spot (rarely absent) posterodorsally on the middle of the pectoral disc, and a large black blotch covering the anterior half of the undersurface of snout. Distinct white spots distally on the pectoral disc to the middorsal area were absent. Most previous records of species of Rhynchobatus in Japanese waters were reidentified as Rhynchobatus australiae, except for the records from the northern East China Sea. Rhynchobatus mononoke appears to be endemic to southern Japan.

Keywords: Rhynchobatus australiae, Rhynchobatus djiddensis, Rhynchobatus laevis, Taxonomy, Endemic species, East China Sea, Rays

Fig. 1: Fresh holotype of Rhynchobatus mononoke sp. nov., off Satsumasendai, Kagoshima, Japan. KAUM–I. 80332, 1167 mm TL, male

MONGABAY: Murder loris

Armed and dangerous, ‘murder lorises’ use their venom against each other

BY LIZ KIMBROUGH 19 OCTOBER 2020

Videos and images of slow lorises being “tickled” have gone viral: their large eyes peering out, tiny arms raised overhead. But, as it turns out, the loris isn’t tickled to