Species name formation for zoologists: a pragmatic approach

ABSTRACT

The formation of scientific names for species may be challenging for modern systematists without a background in Latin or familiarity with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Therefore, presented here are 10 pragmatic and simplified strategies for creating zoological species names. They are intended to demystify the derivation and construction of species names and facilitate the process of naming species for a broad audience of zoologists working in systematics.     

First record of the genus Leptodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Cuba: Leptodactylus fragilis,a biological invasion?

The Neotropical genus Leptodactylus is currently represented by three species in the West Indies (Leptodactylus albilabris, Leptodactylus fallax and Leptodactylus validus). Based on morphological, acoustic and molecular evidence, we document the presence of a fourth species in the Caribbean region, Leptodactylus fragilis (Brocchi, 1877). The species was found at two localities in western Cuba, and molecular data suggest a northern South American origin, possibly Venezuela, for these populations. We discuss the potential invasive status of L. fragilis, based on its known distribution, relative abundance, behaviour and possible impacts on native species of Cuban amphibians.     

宽阔水保护区白辛树群落物种组成及种群结构分析

为了解贵州宽阔水国家级自然保护区白辛树(Pterostyrax psilophywus)群落物种组成及种群结构特征,选取保护区内白辛树群落主要分布范围进行调查分析.结果表明:调查群落样地内共有维管植物42科, 71属, 84种,其中蕨类植物1科, 1属, 1种;种子植物41科, 70属, 83种;无裸子植物,被子植物41科, 70属, 83种;单子叶植物4科, 5属, 7种;双子叶植物37科, 65属, 76种.物种组成较为单一.白辛树虽占据优势,但龄级结构不正常,呈"两头多,中间少".群落物种多样性指数及均匀度指数不高.白辛树幼苗和幼树极少,更新困难,且受林下金佛山方竹(Chimonobambusa quadrangularis)干扰较强,大径阶植株比重大,年龄结构总体呈衰退型.种群在该区处于濒危状态,亟待保护.     

Albertine Rift Valley endemics: three new species of freshwater crabs (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae) from Uganda,the Democratic Republic of the Congo,and Rwanda

Three new species of potamonautid freshwater crabs are described from the Albertine Rift Valley, Eastern Africa. One of the new species is from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, the second is from Lake Kivu in Rwanda, and the third is from the Rwenzori Mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Diagnoses, illustrations and distribution maps are provided for these taxa, and they are compared to similar species from Uganda and elsewhere in East Africa.

www.zoobanl.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FC681BD6-6FB2-4A14-B068-89FC3EB26605     

Hysterothylacium,Iheringascaris and Maricostula new genus,nematodes (Ascaridoidea) from Australian pelagic marine fishes

The state of knowledge of Australian fish parasitic ascardioids is briefly reviewed. The following species are described in full: Hysterothylacium cornutum, H. pelagicum, H. scomberoidei n. sp. Additional data are provided for Iheringascaris inquies. Maricostula n. gen. is established for those species that have lips with lateral flanges, deep postlabial grooves, interlabia, and elongate intestinal caecum, pyriform ventriculus, long sac-like ventricular appendix, an expanded filamentar excretory system and excretory pore near the nerve ring. The males of all the species have precloacal crests. Species included are: M. caballeroi (Deloya), M. cenatica n. sp., M. histiophori (Yamaguti), M. incurva (Rudolphi), M. makairi n. sp. and M. tetrapteri n. sp. All are recorded from billfishes, and all but M. caballeroi are recorded from Australian waters. The systematic position of the genus is discussed. New characters of taxonomic utility used in the discrimination of fish parasitic ascaridoids are discussed. These include fine details of alae, male caudal crests and papillae. We demonstrate that these characters can be used to separate species of Maricostula. Remarks are also given on nomenclatural problems within the Indo-Pacific fish parasitic Ascardioidea.     

New species of Notophthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaroidea) from Tanzania

Three new species of the genus Notophthiracarus are described, identified and figured from Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania: Notophthiracarus quasiuluguruensis sp. nov, Notophthiracarus tuberculus sp. nov, and Notophthiracarus uluguruensis sp. nov. A comparison with the most closely related species of the genus Notophthiracarus is also presented.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3FBF24E7-3E2D-4686-AD57-EFEA25510BBD     

一种荧光分光光度法测定铜绿微囊藻胞内氧化物的方法

该论文利用荧光分光光度计的三维波长扫描和定量分析模式,探讨了一种简单、快捷地测定水华爆发的优势藻——铜绿微囊藻胞内氧化物的方法.论文比较了去离子水、超纯水和磷酸盐缓冲溶液作为细胞承载基质时的荧光发光情况,确定了超纯水为最适的藻细胞承载基质;确定了荧光剂的激发发射波长为Ex/Em=498 nm/522 nm;比较得出最适的荧光剂终浓度和黑暗孵育时间为100μmol/L和60 min.该方法无需复杂的前处理,可快速地测定胞内氧化物.     

Diagnosis and key for the Helina annosa-group (Diptera: Muscidae) from China,with descriptions of nine new species

Nine new species of Helina annosa-group from China, namely H. longievecta sp. nov, H. longisurstyla sp. nov, H. midmargiseta sp. nov, H. nigriabdomilis sp. nov, H. nivimonta sp. nov, H. setosiannosa sp. nov, H. shii sp. nov, H. subfloscula sp. nov. and H. subnigriabdomilis sp. nov, are described and illustrated. Diagnosis of this group, a key and distributions of the species are also given.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3516C15F-F4AA-4391-B944-84556792CC83     

Spatial distribution of ichthyofauna in the northern Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean)

This study describes the four main demersal fish assemblages identified along the continental shelf and slope (30–800 m depth) of the northern Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean), based on the analysis of the MEDITS (International bottom trawl survey in the Mediterranean) 12-year data series. We collected 186 fish species belonging to three classes, 24 orders and 69 families. Taxonomically, the order Perciformes was the most diverse, represented by 18 families and 58 species. Each assemblage had particular characteristics of abundance, biomass, mean fish weight and species richness. The geographical differences associated with the distribution of some species occurred within shelf assemblages. The middle slope was characterised by the highest similarity between samples, probably due to its lower environmental variability compared to that of the other assemblages.     

A revision of the genus Ceratomerus (Diptera: Empididae: Ceratomerinae) of New Zealand

The genus Ceratomerus Philippi (Diptera: Empididae; Ceratomerinae) of New Zealand is revised and a key to species given. Thirteen species are recognized and the following new species are proposed: C. biseriatus sp. nov., C. flavus sp. nov., C. earlyi sp. nov., C. melaneus sp. nov., C. brevifurcatus sp. nov., C. tarsalis sp. nov. and C. vittatus sp. nov. The biology and phylogeny are briefly discussed.