A new species of the genus Tylototriton (Urodela, Salamandridae) from western Thailand.

We describe a new species of the newt genus Tylototriton from Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, Tak Province, western Thailand based on molecular and morphological evidence and named here as Tylototritonumphangensis sp. nov. The new species is assigned to the subgenus Tylototriton and differs from other species in having dark-brown to blackish-brown body and limbs, truncate snout, prominent antero-medial ends of the expansion of the dentary bones, laterally protruding quadrate regions, indistinct and small rib nodules, a well-segmented vertebral ridge, and rough dorsolateral bony ridges, which are steeper anterior, and curved medially at the posterior ends. The molecular data show that Tylototritonumphangensis sp. nov. differs from T.uyenoi sensu stricto by a 5% genetic sequence divergence of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 region gene. The new species and T.uyenoi are both endemic to Thailand, distributed along the Northwest Thai (Dawna) Uplands of Indochina. To clarify the species boundary between Tylototritonumphangensis sp. nov. and T.uyenoi, additional field research is needed in adjacent areas. Tylototritonumphangensis sp. nov. is restricted to evergreen hill forests in Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary. We suggest that the new species should be classified as Endangered (EN) in the IUCN Red List.

Age-related changes in osteometry, bone mineral density and osteophytosis of the lumbar vertebrae in Japanese macaques.

The age-related changes in lumbar vertebrae were studied in 77 young/full adult Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) (40 females, 37 males), in terms of their morphometry, density and osteophytosis, and the interrelationship between these three aspects. The most common age-related pattern of morphometric changes was an initial increase during young adulthood until reaching the peak and then a subsequent decrease with age. Most of the peaks were in the age group 15-20 and 10-15 years in females and males, respectively. In both sexes, the age-related decrease in the vertebral body depth (ventro-dorsal) was greater than in the height and width. The ventral height of the vertebral body relative to the dorsal height continuously decreased with age. The trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) continuously decreased after young adulthood. However, the magnitude of the decreased trabecular BMD with age was greater in females than in males, especially in the older age groups. Osteophytosis clearly increased with age in both sexes, but males showed an earlier appearance of osteophytes and females tended to have more severe osteophytes from 15 years old upwards. A correlation between the osteometry, density, and osteophytosis severity appeared in all vertebrae, but not all of these reached statistical significance after controlling for the influence of age. Although Japanese macaques showed the higher prevalence and rapid increase of osteophytosis, a similar age change profile was observed in the lumbar vertebrae of Japanese macaques and humans.

Two new species of Tylototriton from Thailand (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae).

Three morphological groups are found in a salamandrid newt Tylototriton shanjing from Thailand. We describe two of them as new species, one from northern and the other from northeastern Thailand, based on molecular and morphological data, however we could not make a taxonomic decision on the remaining one group because of the lack of voucher specimens and sufficient genetic data. The northern species differs morphologically from all known congeners by having the combination of orange to reddish brown markings, narrow and sharply protruding dorsolateral bony ridges on head, weakly segmented vertebral ridge, and long and high tail. The northeastern species is characterized by having the combination of yellow, orange, or reddish brown markings, wide and moderately protruding dorsolateral bony ridges on head, smooth vertebral ridge, black limbs, and black tail except for edges. Validity of taxonomic subdivision of the genus Tylototriton is discussed.

Boundary zone between northern and southern pig-tailed macaques and their morphological differences.

Based on previous conflicting reports that the two forms of pig-tailed macaque (northern and southern) exist as separate species, subspecies, or forms, and that their boundary zone lies in Thailand, a survey of the distribution range and morphology of pig-tailed macaques in Thailand was conducted during 2003-2010. We first conducted a questionnaire survey. Questionnaires were sent to 7,410 subdistricts throughout Thailand. We then traveled to 72 of the 123 subdistricts reporting the presence of pig-tailed macaques. However, due to a lack of reports of the presence of free-ranging pig-tailed macaques living south of the Isthmus of Kra, a survey of pet pig-tailed macaques was also conducted during 16-24 September 2011. Furthermore, 35 wild northern pig-tailed macaques inhabiting northern Thailand (13°13'N, 101°03'E) were temporarily caught and their morphological characters were measured and then compared to those of the southern form captured from Sumatra, Indonesia. Although largely allopatric, the ranges of the northern and southern pig-tailed macaques in Thailand were found to have a partially sympatric boundary at the Surat Thani-Krabi depression (8-9°30'N). Morphologically, these two forms were very distinctive, with different morphological characters such as the crown patch, the white color of the triangle above the eyes, the red streak at the external rim of the eyes, pelage color, ischial callosity, tail length and carriage, facial height, and limb length in both sexes, and patterns of sex skin swelling and reddening in females. These differences in morphological characters between the northern and southern forms should help settle the problems of their taxonomy.