Monthly Archives: August 2019

Leptachatina saxatilis (Gulick)

Rock-dwelling Leptachatina Snail (Leptachatina saxatilis)

The Rock-dwelling Leptachatina Snail was described in 1856; it is known from Mokulē’ia near the north-western shore of O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands, where it was found under stones in open places.

The shells are only about 0.6 cm heigh; they are glass-like transparent, shining, and very finely striated.

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Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second series: Pulmonata. Vol 21: Achatinellidae (Amastrinae). 1911’   

(public domain)

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References:   

[1] George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second series: Pulmonata. Vol 21: Achatinellidae (Amastrinae). 1911

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edited: 15.01.2024

Atelopus petersi Coloma, Lötters, Duellman & Miranda-Leiva

Peters’ Stub-foot Toad (Atelopus petersi)

Peters’ Stub-foot Toad was described in 2007, the species is, respectively was restricted to a small area in Napo Province in the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes in Ecuador. A population that was found in the adjacent Chimborazo Province may also be referable to this species, but this has apparently not be proven yet.

The species was first collected in 1968, the last record of a live individual took place in 1993, when a female was collected, the very last record finally dates from 1996, when a last dead specimen was found.

Peters’ Stub-foot Toad reaches sizes of about 4,3 to 5 cm in females and 3,5 to 4,2 cm in males; The coloration is quite variable, the dorsal areas are bright yellow, with white pustules and warts, most individuals have a white ventral surface, some show orange areas or spots, and some have red bellies. [1] 

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References:

[1] Luis A. Coloma; Stefan Lötters; William E. Duellman; Alfonso Miranda-Leiva: A taxonomic revision of Atelopus pachydermus, and description of two new (extinct?) species of Atelopus from Ecuador (Anura: Bufonidae). Zootaxa 1557: 1-32. 2007

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edited: 07.05.2019

Acrocephalus yamashinae (Taka-Tsukasa)

Pagan Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus yamashinae)

The Pagan Reed Warbler was endemic to Pagan, a volcanic island in the northern part of the Marianas archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.

The species reached a size of about 17 cm and superficially resembled the likewise extinct Nightingale Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus luscinius (Quoy & Gaimard)).

The Pagan Reed Warbler was restricted to the reeds around the two wetlands that exist on the island; it disappeared due to the introduction of ungulates who destroyed much of the island’s native vegetation. It was last seen in 1969 and is now clearly extinct.

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syn. Acrocephalus luscinius ssp. yamashinae (Taka-Tsukasa)

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edited: 12.01.2024

Leiocephalus sp. ‘ Guadeloupe’

Guadeloupe Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus sp.)

This undescribed form, which may or may not be related to or even conspecific with the Barbuda Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus cuneus Etheridge) is known from subfossil remains of Latest Holocene age found in 1984 in an unnamed cave at Pointe du Capucin at the northern shore of the island of Basse Terre in the Guadeloupe archipelago.

The Guadeloupe Curly-tailed Lizard survived into historical times, the remains have not yet been dated but were found associated with the bones of rats, which were introduced to the Caribbean only in the 15th century. [1]

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References:

[1] Gregory K. Pregill: Systematics of the West Indian Lizard Genus Leiocephalus (Squamata: Iguania: Tropiduridae). Miscellaneous Publications of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 84: 1-69. 1992

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edited: 08.09.2019

Voraptus tenellus (Simon)

Mahe Miturgid Spider (Voraptus tenellus)

This spider species is known from two records, one from 1908 and another one from 1972, it has not been seen since.

The known habitats are heavily degraded due to invasion by introduced plant species and the species very likely is already extinct.

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edited: 27.04.2021

Omoadiphas cannula McCranie & Cruz-Díaz

Agalta Fossorial Snake (Omoadiphas cannula)

This species, placed in a small genus with three species that all are endemic to Honduras, was described in 2010; it is known from two specimens that had been collected in 1989 in the Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Agalta in eastern central Honduras.
The species reaches a length of only about 36 cm and appears to be semi-fossorial that means it may spend much time hidden in a burrow of some kind.

The type locality of this species has subsequently been converted into a coffee plantation and, having never been found since the type collection, it might well be already extinct now.

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The photo below shows another one of the three known species in this genus, the Omoa Fossorial Snake (Omoadiphas aurula G. Köhler, Wilson & McCranie).

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Omoa Fossorial Snake (Omoadiphas aurula)

Photo: Josue Ramos Galdamez
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/josuergg
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ 

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edited: 22.01.2024

Plectrohyla siopela (Duellman)

Voiceless Treefrog (Plectrohyla siopela)

The Voiceless Treefrog was described in 1968, it was restricted to the western slope of the Cofre de Perote Mountain in the Sierra Madre Oriental in central Veracruz, Mexico, where the frogs inhabited dry pine forests spending the days hidden in crevices and under rocks behind small cascades of mountain streams.

The species reached a length of 4 to 5 cm, with the females being slightly larger than the males

The Voiceless Treefrog was once abundant but has not been seen since around 2010 and is now feared to have gone extinct.

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edited: 13.09.2019

Chiasmalges carolinensis Mironov, Dabert & Ehrnsberger

Carolina Parakeet Chiasmalges Feather Mite (Chiasmalges carolinensis)

This feather mite was described in 2005; it is known from an immature skin of a Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis (L.)) without further data that had been collected sometimes before 1869 and was subsequently found on other Carolina Parakeet skins as well.

The species was adapted to its single host, the Carolina Parakeet, and died out together with its host. [1]

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References:

[1] Serge V. Mironov; Jacek Dabert; Rainer Ehrnsberger: Six new feather mite species (Acari: Astigmata) from the carolina parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), an extinct parrot of North America. Journal of Natural History 39: 2257-2278. 2005

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edited: 24.08.2022

Ciridops tenax Olson & James

Stout-legged Finch (Ciridops tenax)

This species was described in 1991 on the basis of subfossil remains that were recovered from Holocene deposits on the island of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands.

The biology of this species is not known.

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References:

[1] S. L. Olson; H. F. James: Descriptions of thirty-two new species of birds from the Hawaiian Islands: Part II. Passeriformes. Ornithological Monographs 45: 1-91. 1991

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edited: 26.08.2022

Bembidion trechoides Wollaston

Trechus-like Bembidion Ground Beetle (Bembidion trechoides)

The Trechus-like Bembidion Ground Beetle was described in 1877; it is, or rather was, restricted to the island of Saint Helena in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.:

“It is only on the lofty central ridge that I have observed the B. trechoides, – where, however, in damp places generally, amongst the cabbage trees and tree ferns, it is not particularly uncommon, on the densely-covered slopes about Actaeon and Diana’s Peak; but I did not meet with it in the more western and rather less elevated parts towards High Peak and West Lodge, where the B. sublimbatum would seem to occur.” [1]

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The species was apparently not found during the latest field searches and might be extinct.

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References:

[1] T. Vernon Wollaston: Coleoptera Sanctae-Helenae. London: John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row 1877

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Photo: The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London

(under creative commons license (4.0))
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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edited: 30.05.2021

Tubuaia voyana ssp. oromanaensis Kondo

Oromana Tubuaia Snail (Tubuaia voyana ssp. oromanaensis)

The Oromana Tubuaia Snail was described in 1962; it was only ever known from its type locality, the Oromana Hills on the island of Rimatara in the Austral archipelago, a place that today is completely degraded and transformed into agricultural fields (like actually most of the island).

This snail is now clearly extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Olivier Gargominy; Benoît Fontaine: A Global Overview of the Terrestrial and Freshwater Molluscs. In: Jean-Yves Meyer; Elin. M. Claridge: Biodiversity of the Austral Islands, French Polynesia. Muséum national d´Histoire naturelle, Paris. 55-91. 2014

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edited: 02.05.2022

Mautodontha saintjohni Solem

St. John’s Mautodontha Snail (Mautodontha saintjohni)

This species was described in 1976; it was endemic to the island of Bora Bora in the Society archipelago.

The shells reach about 0,26 to 0,3 cm in diameter; they are white and bear prominent zigzag-shaped, reddish flammulations. 

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References:

[1] Alan Solem: Endodontoid land snails from Pacific Islands (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Sigmurethra). Part I, Family Endodontidae. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois 1976

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edited: 13.03.2021

Ptilinopus rarotongensis ssp. ‘Mangaia’

Mangaia Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus rarotongensis ssp.)

This form is known based on a single subfossil femur that was found in the Te Rua Rere Cave on the island of Mangaia, Cook Islands.

The species still occurs (with two subspecies which may in fact be candidates for splitting) on the islands of ‘Atiu and Rarotonga, both likewise in the Cook archipelago, and may have constituted another distinct, now extinct subspecies. [2]

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There is yet (of course) an interesting account, which is given by  D. T. Holyoak and J. C. Thibault in 1984.:

“P. r. sous-espèce?

… 
Mangaia: un habitant de cette île déclara, en 1973, qu’il connaissaitle «Kukupa» et que cet oiseau habitait seulement les bois de la région corallienne. Il sut imiter l’appel et décrivit le nid. Toutefois, Ducula pacifica, qui est également inconnue dans cette île, pourrait être l’oiseau décrit.” [1]

translation:

“P. r. subspecies?

…
Mangaia: a resident of this island declared, in 1973, that he knew «Kukupa» and that this bird lived only in the woods of the coral region. He knew how to imitate the call and described the nest. However, Ducula pacifica, which is also unknown on this island, could be the described bird.“

Kukupa is the local name for the Lilac-crowned Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus rarotongensis Hartlaub & Finsch), and (most if not all) Polynesians make a clear distinction between the smaller green fruit-doves (Ptilinopus spp.) and the larger imperial pigeons (Ducula spp.), which on the Cook Islands are called rupe.

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References:

[1] D. T. Holyoak; J.-C. Thibault: Contribution à l’étude des oiseaux de Polynésie orientale. Mémoires du Muséum national d’histoire naturelle 127(1): 1-209. 1984
[2] David W. Steadman: Fossil birds from Mangaia, southern Cook Islands. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 105(2): 58-66. 1985

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edited: 09.03.2020

Hylaeus gliddenae Magnacca & Daly

Glidden’s Masked Bee (Hylaeus gliddenae)  

This species was described in 2003 based on a single (?) specimen, a male that had been collected sometimes in the early 20th century at an not further specified locality on the Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawai’i.

The species is known to have nested in the burrows left behind by the larvae of beetles from the genus Halcobius in the stems of kolea (Myrsine spp.).

The species differs from nearly all others by its red metasoma (the posterior part of the body), which it shares only with the Paradox Masked Bee (Hylaeus paradoxus (Schrottky)), and by its somewhat u-shaped facial markings. [1]

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References:

[1] Howell V. Daly; Elwood Curtin Zimmerman; Karl N. Magnacca: ‘Insects of Hawaii; Volume 17; Hawaiian Hylaeus (Nesoprosopis) Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). 2003

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edited: 12.06.2020

Bountyphaps obsoleta Worthy & Wragg

Henderson Island Archaic Pigeon (Bountyphaps obsoleta)

This large columbiform was described in 2008 based on subfossil bone material that had been collected from cave deposits on Henderson Island in the Pitcairn Islands.

The species was hunted by the Polynesian settlers and birds were also brought (dead or alive?) to the Gambier Islands, where their subfossil remains were found in archaeological sites. [1]

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References:

[1] Stanislas Rigal; Patrick V. Kirch; Trevor H. Worthy: New prehistoric avifaunas from the Gambier Group, French Polynesia. Palaeontologia Electronica 21.3.4A 1-35. 2018

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edited: 25.04.2022