Elevation of two eastern Atlantic varieties of Ampelisca brevicornis (Costa, 1853) (Crustacea,Amphipoda) to full specific rank with redescription of the species

Two species of Ampelisca, Ampelisca pectenata and Ampelisca cavicoxa, are studied here. These species were originally taken to be varieties of Ampelisca brevicornis, but they proved upon closer study actually to be different species. They are redescribed here in detail, and raised to the status of species. These two species have hitherto only been known to inhabit tropical Atlantic areas. Now for the first time they have been recorded on the French Atlantic coast, which shows that they have a wider geographical distribution than was previously assumed. Some biological data are also given which add to the knowledge available about this family of Amphipoda. Deux espèces d'Ampeliscidae sont étudiées dans ce travail, Ampelisca pectenata et Ampelisca cavicoxa. A l'origine, elles ont été décrites comme variétés de Ampelisca brevicornis, mais une étude détaillée montre qu'il s'agit d'espèces différentes. Elles ont donc étéentièrement redécrites et élevées au rang d'espèces. Ces espèces n'étaient connues jusqu'àprésent qu'en régions tropicales Atlantiques. Pour la première fois elles sont signalées sur les cô     

Olpium minnizioides nouvelle Espèce de Pseudoscorpions Olpiidae habitant l'île Hasikaya (Sud de L'arabie)

Resumé

Olpium minnizioides est une nouvelle espèce de Pseudoscorpions (famille des Olpiidae). Ses caractères, dont certains appartiennent au genre Olypium et d'autres au genre Minniza, lui donnent une position particulière par rapport à ces deux genres qui ont de grandes affinités.     

Description of a new hypogean species of the genus Trechus Clairville, 1806 from eastern Spain and comments on the Trechus martinezi‐lineage (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Carabidae)

Trechus torressalai new species, a cave‐dwelling ground beetle from eastern Spain is described. Ecological data are also included. Diverse morphological characters suggest they belong in the Trechus fulvus‐group. Detailed study of the aedeagus suggests taxonomic affinities with Trechus martinezi Jeannel, Trechus alicantinus Español, and Trechus beltrani Toribio. The close relationship among these species reveals an adelphotaxon‐complex that constitutes the T. martinezi‐lineage, exclusive to the north‐eastern Betic Mountains. An identification key to the species and biogeographical comments on the T. martinezi‐lineage are also included.

Se describe Trechus torressalai nueva especie, carábido cavernícola del Este de España. Se incluyen datos sobre su ecología. Diversos caracteres morfológicos aconsejan su inclusión dentro del amplio grupo de Trechus fulvus. El estudio detallado de la genitalia masculina sugiere su proximidad taxonómica a Trechus martinezi Jeannel, Trechus alicantinus Español y Trechus beltrani Toribio. Las estrechas afinidades entre estas cuatro especies desvela un complejo de adelfotaxones que constituyen el linaje de T. martinezi, exclusivo del extremo nororiental de las montañas Béticas. Se aportan claves de identificación para estas especies. Se incluyen comentarios sobre la biogeografía del linaje de T. martinezi.     

Sexual dimorphism,reproduction and diet of the casque-headed treefrog Itapotihyla langsdorffii (Hylidae: Lophiohylini)

Itapotihyla langsdorffii is a large “casque-headed” treefrog (Hylidae: Lophiohylini) found along most of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. We studied some aspects of the ecology of a population of I. langsdorffii from the Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia, in Espírito Santo State, southeastern Brazil. Itapotihyla langsdorffii shows considerable sexual size dimorphism, with females (mean snout-vent length 103 mm) being significantly larger than males (mean snout-vent length 81 mm). This species is an explosive breeder with a generalized reproductive mode and has a mean brood size of over 6000 eggs. It feeds on few, large prey, with orthopterans being the dominant items in the diet, though even smaller frogs may occasionally be preyed upon. We discuss our data, making comparisons with other Neotropical hylids, with emphasis on other species in the Tribe Lophiohylini.     

Vocalizations of the Brazilian torrent frog Hylodes heyeri (Anura: Hylodidae): Repertoire and influence of air temperature on advertisement call variation

In this study we analysed the acoustic activity of Hylodes heyeri in areas of Atlantic Forest, in southern Brazil. Observations were made in November 2001 and from January to April 2002, at Estação II Instituto Agronômico do Paraná, municipality of Morretes, State of Paraná. Males displayed three different vocalizations: advertisement calls, territorial calls, and courtship calls. Temporal and spectral parameters of advertisement and territorial calls were analysed, along with call intensity. The duration of the advertisement call showed a negative correlation with air temperature, with males decreasing the duration of advertisement calls at higher temperatures. Male body size was not correlated with any of the acoustic parameters. Details on habitat use, distances to nearest vocalizing neighbour, and daily calling activity are also included.     

Revision of Acroleptus Bourgeois, 1886 and descriptions of New Acroleptina taxa (Coleoptera,Lycidae, Calopterini)

ABSTRACT

The Neotropical lycid genus Acroleptus Bourgeois, 1886 is revised and illustrations of diagnostic characters, geographic distribution maps and an identification key to the species are presented. Acroleptus chevrolati Bourgeois, 1886 is redescribed and a lectotype and a paralectotype are designated; two new species are described for the genus: Acroleptus alvarengai new species and Acroleptus limai new species. Two Aporrhipis Pascoe, 1887 species are described: Aporrhipis obrieni new species and Aporrhipis milleri new species and a key and geographic distribution map to the species of the genus are provided. Acroleptus costae Ferreira, 2015 is moved to the genus Paracroleptus new genus, a new genus erected to accommodate Paracroleptus costae (Ferreira, 2015) new combination.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5F72E2BB-48BF-491D-8D3A-E7D878222B72     

Prey capture and feeding behaviour in an endemic land flatworm from São Tomé Island

ABSTRACT

Two specimens of the endemic land flatworm species Othelosoma impensum Sluys & Neumann, 2017 from the volcanic island São Tomé were observed in the wild in Obo-National Park while they were preying on ants that had descended on a tree trunk after their nuptial flight. A maximum of 41 ants were assembled in a cluster by one of the flatworms, the insects being immobilised by mucus secreted by the worms. A strong cephalic retractor muscle facilitated capture of the mobile prey. Presence or absence of similar cephalic adaptations in other species of Othelosoma and other genera of land flatworms is discussed, as well as the effectiveness of the sticky mucus secreted by the worms during prey capture.     

Ephippia of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) from the Oligocene Tremembé palaeolake,Brazil

Ephippia of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) are found in the Oligocene deposits of Tremembé Formation (Taubaté Basin, Southeast Brazil). Thirty specimens from a short stratigraphic interval of a 115-m section of a core drilled in Taubaté city, São Paulo state, have been studied. Based on the morphology, we assumed that they might belong to two diferent species of Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) which lived either in the Tremembé palaeolake or in some surrounding temporary waters. Our find represents the oldest record of fossil ephippia in South America and the second record of Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) in the former Gondwana. A tentative palaeolimnological interpretation is proposed based on the ephippia occurrences, allied to ostracod and lithological data.     

On taxonomy and hosts of Leptostylum Macquart, 1851 (Diptera: Tachinidae: Blondeliini), with description of a new species and a new host record

Tachinid flies are well known as being parasitoids of arthropods, mostly insects. Because of this, there is great economic interest in the biological control of pests using tachinids. Host records for Tachinidae, however, are still scarce, especially in the Neotropical region. A new species of the Neotropical genus Leptostylum Macquart was reared from Automeris naranja Schaus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), a new host record, in Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil. Leptostylum oligothrix Gudin and Messas sp. nov. is herein described, including diagnosis and the first illustration of female terminalia for the genus. Additionally, illustrations and remarks on type material of Leptostylum deposited at Museu de Zoologia de São Paulo (MZSP) are made, a taxonomic catalogue of Leptostylum is provided, and a host record is detailed, including a host catalogue for the genus.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C54E5F46-B9D5-49CE-A0C9-D260F2896662     

Reproductive biology of Scinax fuscomarginatus (Anura,Hylidae) in south‐eastern Brazil

The present study describes the reproductive biology of Scinax fuscomarginatus in a remnant of Cerrado in south‐eastern Brazil. Observations were made between September 2002 and March 2004 at Estação Ecológica de Itirapina, State of São Paulo, south‐eastern Brazil. Breeding activities occurred in lentic and temporary bodies of water during the rainy season. Scinax fuscomarginatus exhibited a prolonged breeding pattern and a lek mating system. Males were smaller than females and defended individual calling areas through acoustic and physical interactions. Resident males consistently won encounters, but did not differ in size or mass from intruder males. Satellite behaviour was observed, but no female or amplected pair interception was registered. Scinax fuscomarginatus exhibited low operational sex ratios and the general reproductive mode in which eggs are laid in the water and tadpoles are aquatic. Amplexus was axillary and the eggs were deposited at the bottom of temporary ponds. Details on oocytes, egg masses, and eggs are included.     

The first Hapalotremus Simon, 1903 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Argentina: description and natural history of Hapalotremus martinorum sp. nov.

A new species of Hapalotremus Simon, 1903 from northern Argentina is described and illustrated. Hapalotremus martinorum sp. nov. differs from all other congeners by the colour pattern of live specimens. Males differ in the male palpal bulb morphology, with thickened and less curved embolus having a blunt subapical keel and less-developed apical keel. Females differ in the shape of the spermathecae, with the lateral bases more pronounced than the superiors and the upper edge more rounded. Specimens were captured inhabiting short burrows or crevices under stones in high cloud forests. Hapalotremus cyclothorax (Mello-Leitão 1923) is a junior synonym of Homoeomma montanum (Mello-Leitão, 1923), Hapalotremus scintillans (Mello-Leitão 1929) is a junior synonym of Pachistopelma rufonigrum Pocock, 1901, Hapalotremus exilis (Mello-Leitão 1923) and Hapalotremus muticus (Mello-Leitão 1923) are considered species inquirenda.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1758F6FD-8883-445D-A757-0AC7E120DCF6     

Heteromysoides (Crustacea: Mysidacea: Heteromysini) from a submarine cave on Grand Cayman,the Caribbean Sea: descriptions of a new and a rare species

During a recent biological investigation of submarine caves of Grand Cayman, the Caribbean Sea, two species of Heteromysoides were collected. One species, referred to Heteromysoides spongicola B?cescu, 1968 Baˇcescu, M, 1968. Heteromysini nouveaux des eaux cubaines: trois espèces nouvelles de Heteromysis et Heteromysoides spongicola n. g. n. sp., Revue Roumaine de Biologie, Zoologie 13 (1968), pp. 221–237. [Google Scholar], is known only by the type specimens; therefore, this discovery marks the second record of occurrence and a new habitat record for the species. The other species is considered new and is described as H. stenoura, a 10th species of the genus. The new species closely resembles H. simplex Hanamura and Kase, 2001 Hanamura, Y, and Kase, T, 2001. A new species of Heteromysoides (Mysidacea: Mysidae) from submarine caves of Okinawa, southwestern Japan, with a key to the world species, Crustacean Research 30 (2001), pp. 65–71.[Crossref] , [Google Scholar], known from the submarine caves of Okinawa, north-western Pacific, in the possession of a spiniform process on the eyes and a simple termination to the third thoracic endopod. However, the new species can be readily distinguished from the Pacific congener by a distally narrow telson and a more developed cornea in the eyes.     

Diversity of Salticidae (Arachnida: Araneae) in the historical and natural reserve ‘Martín García Island’, Argentina

From Martín García Island were collected 975 jumping spiders, from five environments, using beating net and manual sampling methods. Saitis variegatus Mello-Leitão, 1941 was the most abundant (24.62%). The sandy xerophilous forest had the highest species richness (23 morphospecies) and jungle showed the greatest spider abundance (n: 384). The sandy area was the least diverse and the last in relative abundance. Salticids represented 16% of the species recorded from Argentina, and the second largest family registered. The spider fauna found could be similar to that of the Southern Brasilian region, as occurs with scorpions. Two genera and two species are new records for Argentina. In addition, three new species of jumping spiders, as well as the discovery of the unknown male and female of two species, were registered. There was no record of cosmopolitan spiders or those with a large distribution range on the Island.     

Geographical variation in the golden‐striped salamander,Chioglossa lusitanica Bocage, 1864 and the description of a newly recognized subspecies

Morphological and genetic data for the Iberian golden‐striped salamander, Chioglossa lusitanica, demonstrate the existence of two groups with southern and northern ranges, connected by a zone of intergradation in central Portugal. Because reproductive isolation between them is incomplete we consider the groups to be subspecies. The type locality of C. lusitanica (Buçaco near Lousã) is situated inside the mixed zone. This necessitates identification of the nominotypical subspecies. We sequenced a fragment of mitochondrial DNA from one of the species' syntypes and we determined what position over a latitudinal transect maximizes the morphological discrimination between the groups. Both approaches indicate that C. lusitanica from Buçaco represents the southern subspecies. A new subspecies of C. lusitanica is described from a northern locality (Valongo near Porto in north‐western Portugal). A lectotype is designated for Chioglossa lusitanica.     

Co-existence of myxomycetes and beetles in an Atlantic Rainforest remnant of Pernambuco,Brazil, with emphasis on staphylinids (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

The relationship between myxomycetes and insects was investigated in a fragment of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest located in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, north-eastern Brazil. Sixteen excursions into the Dois Irmãos State Ecological Reserve (7°55′43′′ to 8°09′17′′ S, 34°52′05′′ to 35°00′59′′ W, 387.4 ha) were carried out during different seasons between August 2005 and August 2007 for observations and collections of myxomycetes and insects on decomposing trunks and leaf litter. A total of 196 specimens of myxomycetes was obtained, representing 31 species, 16 genera and six families. Baeocera sp. (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) individuals predominated (86%) in the sample, found on the sporocarps of four species of Trichiales (Arcyria cinerea, Arcyria denudata, Hemitrichia calyculata, Hemitrichia serpula) and two species of Liceales (Lycogala epidendrum, Tubulifera microsperma). No preference was observed for type of sporocarp. No seasonal influence was found for the establishment of these associations, recorded for the first time in this forest environment.