Venous branching asymmetry in the pygmy squid Idiosepius (Cephalopoda: Idiosepiida) with reference to its phylogenetic position and functional significance

The Japanese pygmy squid, Idiosepius paradoxus (Ortman, 1888), is one of the smallest cephalopods in the world. Their fully described developmental stages and the ready availability of eggs also make pygmy squids suitable material for cephalopod developmental studies. However, their phylogenetic position among the Decabrachia is unclear. We investigated the vascular anatomy of the Japanese pygmy squid using serial sections of the adult. Their venous system is different from that of teuthoids with respect to the presence of the vena cava sinistra. The branching pattern of the vena cava is similar to that of the sepiolids in having two pathways, but different in that it lacks a connection above the hind gut. The Idiosepius heart is also similar to that of sepiids in having the genital artery located dorsally. These features of Idiosepius agree with molecular phylogenies suggesting they are related to the sepiolids. We discuss the venous branching asymmetry with reference to its phylogenetic and functional significance.     

Genetic and morphometric variation of the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) on the Azores Archipelago reveals a recent range expansion

ABSTRACT

The Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla, is one of the few passerine species that breeds in all the Macaronesian archipelagos. The sedentary habits of these populations contrast with the migratory populations from the Western Europe. However, little is known for Azorean populations. We assessed the phylogeography of populations from the Azores based on sequences of two mitochondrial genes and one nuclear gene in the Z-chromosome. We also analysed differences in eight morphometric characters from a total of 282 Blackcaps from all the Azores islands. Our results suggest the occurrence of historical and/or current gene flow among birds from all the islands. Blackcaps from the Azores are close relatives of those from Madeira and Portugal, indicating a recent range expansion to the Azores in the last 0.1 million years. The analysis of morphometric data showed a high morphological diversity among and within the islands, probably related to ecological traits.     

Gobiid fishes from the Cape Verde Islands,including two new species of Gobius (Teleostei: Gobioidei)

Ten species of gobiid fishes (Teleostei: Gobioidei) now listed from the Cape Verde islands fall into several zoogeographical categories, including tropical West African Bathygobius casamancus, Mauligobius nigri, Porogobius schlegelii (unconfirmed) and Vanneaugobius canariensis, tropical amphiatlantic B. soporator and Gnatholepis thompsoni, and Canarian Didogobius kochi. Two new species of the eastern Atlantic, predominantly temperate genus Gobius are described: G. ateriformis sp. nov. and G. tetrophthalmus sp. nov., known so far only from the Cape Verdes, but reported occurrence of the congeneric Atlantic-Mediterranean G. paganellus has not been confirmed. The pattern of free neuromast organs (sensory papillae) of the head lateral-line system in Mauligobius nigri and the habitat of this species are described for the first time and its distribution further discussed. Diversity of gobies and other inshore fishes at the Cape Verdes is briefly indicated.     

The fifth element: reconnection of the disjunct distribution of the members of Siphonocryptida (Diplopoda) with the description of a new species from Nepal

The fifth species of the millipede order Siphonocryptida, Hirudicryptus quintumelementum sp. nov., is described from Nepal. With this, the surprisingly disjunct distribution of the order with its four former species from Sumatra, the Macaronesian Islands, Malaya and Taiwan, has become connected through the relatively young mountain chains of the Himalayas. The new species shows the typical morphology of the order, with very little variation in external characters (in lack of male specimens). This may be the result of the conservative evolutionary history of the surviving small, widely separated, remnant populations of a once coherent, ancient range. The female vulva of the new species is described, and illustrated for the first time in the order.     

A new species of arboreal salamander (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Pseudoeurycea) from the mountains of Oaxaca,Mexico

Recent surveys of the plethodontid salamander fauna of Oaxaca, Mexico, disclosed the existence of a new, morphologically distinct arboreal species of the genus Pseudoeurycea. The new species, described here, is from the Sierra Mazateca in northern Oaxaca. Sequences of 1833 base pairs of the 16S, cytochrome b and ND4 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes from the new taxon were used to assess its phylogenetic position. Previous phylogenetic analyses based on mtDNA supported recognition of four clades within Pseudoeurycea: P. bellii, P. gadovii, P. juarezi and P. leprosa-Lineatriton species groups. One additional species, P. unguidentis, was not closely allied to any of the four groups. Re-analysis including the additional sequences reported here establishes a sister-group relationship between the new species and P. unguidentis. Moreover, it supports this clade as part of the P. juarezi species group.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Pseudomonocelis Meixner, 1943 (Rhabditophora: Proseriata)

A new species of the genus Pseudomonocelis (P. caribbea sp. n.) is described. It is distinguished from congenerics by shape and size of the copulatory organ and relative positions of mouth and genital openings. It is the first species of the genus found in America. Sampling in east Africa (Zanzibar island) revealed two species, attributed to P. pardii and, tentatively, to P. cavernicola, both originally described from Somaliland. Morphological differences between Tanzanian and Somali specimens are reported. The Mediterranean P. ophiocephala, based on extensive morphological and karyological survey of 13 populations, is interpreted as constituting at least two sibling species, distinguishable solely on the basis of karyotype. Results support the notion that the present perception of the contribution of interstitial Rhabditophora to marine biodiversity may be unrepresentative.     

A new species of Mantidactylus (subgenus Guibemantis) from Madagascar,with a comparative survey of internal femoral gland structure in the genus (Amphibia: Ranidae: Mantellinae)

A new species of Mantidactylus (subgenus Guibemantis) from the rainforests of eastern Madagascar is described. The new species is sympatric with the closely related M. depressiceps (Boulenger, 1882) and M. tornieri (Ahl, 1929) but differs by larger size, a more strongly developed prepollex, and by advertisement calls. Mantidactylus acuticeps Ahl, 1929 and Rhacophorus mocquardii Boulenger, 1896 are confirmed to be junior synonyms of M. depressiceps. The presence of distinct femoral glands in the new species was noted; a feature so far not reliably recognized in other members of the subgenus Guibemantis. Femoral gland structure was investigated in representatives of each of the subgenera included in Mantidactylus by dissecting and reflecting the femoral skin. Four femoral gland types were identified. Type 1: many small, single granules in an ill-delimited patch, grouped in rosettes at the patch edges; type 2: a group of moderately sized granules in a well-delimited patch; type 3: comprising two different structures: distal granules enclosing externally a distinct central depression, and smaller proximal granules or groups of granules; type 4: as type 3, but lacking the proximal granules. Mantidactylus rivicola Vences, Glaw and Andreone, 1997, M. cf. malagasius (Methuen and Hewitt, 1913) and M. ventrimaculatus (Angel, 1935) differed from all other species examined; their femoral glands comprise a reduced number of large granules with an indistinct central depression in external view. The presence of a distal granule group with external central depression (types 3 and 4 above) provides a probable synapomorphy for the subgenera Brygoomantis, Ochthomantis, Hylobatrachus, Chonomantis and Mantidactylus. In females of these subgenera rudimentary femoral glands are present, but they lack completely in females of the other groups.     

New taxa of Rhagidiidae (Acari: Prostigmata) from North America. Part V. Genus Robustocheles Zacharda,with a key to world species of the genus

Six new species of rhagidiid mites from the Nearctic region, Robustocheles (R.) pascuaria n.sp., R. (R.) similis n.sp., R. (Mexia) longichelae n.subgen, n.sp., R. (Lewia) lacustris n. sp., R. (L.) obscuritata n. sp. and R. (L.) spinaea n. sp., are described. Additional morphological data are given for R. infernalis Zacharda and Elliott which is placed in the new subgenus Mexia. A key to adults of the known four subgenera and 15 species of the genus Robustocheles Zacharda of the world is presented.     

L.—Notes on Cecidomyidæ

Resumé

This paper is mostly concerned with records of mites new to the British Isles. Odd notes on the biology of some species previously recorded from these islands deal with various aspects of the general biology of the different species. The following species are described as new to science:—Parasitus hibernicus, Phaulodiaspis euris, Ettmulleria dipterorum, and Schwiebea boletophagi. The newly discovered male of Polyaspinus cylindricus Berl. is described fro the first time and its importance in the study of the comparative parative morphology of the Mesostigmata is discussed. The division of the genus Pergamasus by Hull in 1918 is treated in some detail and his subgenera, Plesiogamasus, Paragamasus are promoted to generic status. Some remarks are made on the generic divisions of the Hypoaspis complex of the Laelaptidae and two new genera of Dr. Hull, Chamolaelaps and Halbertia, are brought forward and the types of all the above genera of Dr. Hull designated. New records of Leptus porcinus Hull, 1918 are given and the species is figured in detail.     

New species of cave-dwelling beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae) from the Azores

The cave-dwelling beetles, Trechus pereirai, new species, and Trechus oromii, new species, and the epigean Trechus terrabravensis, new species, from the Azores islands are described. The male of the cave-dwelling beetle Trechus jorgensis Oromí and Borges is described for the first time. Affinities between Trechus species from the Azores and from other Macaronesian archipelagoes are discussed based on the morphology of the aedeagus. Ecological data are also included.

Nesta contribuição são descritos para os Açores os escaravelhos cavernícolas, Trechus pereirai, nova espécie, e Trechus oromii, nova espécie, e ainda o escaravelho epígeo Trechus terrabravensis, nova espécie. É feita pela primeira vez a descrição do macho da espécie cavernícola Trechus jorgensis Oromí & Borges. Com base na morfologia da genitália masculina são discutidas as afinidades com as outras espécies de Trechus dos Açores e outros arquipélagos Macaronésicos. Incluem-se ainda dados ecológicos.     

Revision of the Trogidae of South America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea)

The South American Trogidae are revised. Three genera, Trox Fabricius, Omorgus Erichson (with two subgenera, Omorgus and Haroldomorgus Scholtz), and Polynoncus Burmeister, and 47 species are recorded from the continent and its islands. Trox is represented by the ubiquitous introduced species T. scaber (L.), Omorgus is represented by 13 species and Polynoncus by 33 species. Five new species are described and all others are re-described. A key to all taxa is provided. Adults of all species and their male genitalia are illustrated and their distributions mapped. Observations are presented on phylogeny, zoogeography and biology. The new species are O. capillaceus, O. indigenus, O. nocheles, P. erugatus and P. gibberosus. Four new synonymies are proposed (synonyms listed first): O. triestinae Pittino = P. suberosus (Fabricius); P. furcifer Pittino = P. bifurcatus (Vaurie); P. parafurcatus occidentalis Pittino and P. furcillifer Pittino = P. parafurcatus Pittino. Omorgus badeni (Harold) is reinstated as a valid species. Lectotypes are designated for O. batesi (Harold) and O. badeni (Harold).     

The genus Monacha in the Western Caucasus (Gastropoda: Hygromiidae)

Seven Monacha species have been found in the Western Caucasus region. Six of these species are endemic there. They all belong to the subgenera Paratheba and Metatheba. Three species are new to science. M. (Paratheba) claussi, sp. n. and M. (Metatheba) subcarthusiana (Lindholm) are the only Monacha species, in which the right ommatophoral retractor sometimes crosses with the penis. This might be due to an ancestral polymorphism, atavism or a basal position of the two species within Monacha, which would mean that Paratheba is paraphyletic and Metatheba is polyphyletic. Monacha (Monacha) cartusiana (O. F. Muller), the only Monacha sensu stricto species in the Caucasus region, has probably been introduced by man. The shell and the genitalia of every species are described and illustrated. The synonyms and all Caucasian locality records are listed. The distributions of the species are illustrated on UTM-grid maps.     

Two new Andean species of Anolis lizard (Iguanidae: Dactyloinae) from southern Ecuador

ABSTRACT

We describe two new species of Anolis lizard that are sympatric on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes of southern Ecuador at elevations between 1440 and 1970 m. The new species may be distinguished from other Anolis by external anatomy, mitochondrial divergence and dewlap colour. We estimate the phylogenetic positions of the new species using Bayesian analysis of DNA sequence data including all species of Dactyloa-clade Anolis for which DNA data are available. Anolis hyacintogularis sp. nov. is sister to Anolis calimae, whereas Anolis lososi sp. nov. is sister to Anolis williamsmittermeierorum, herein reported for Ecuador for the first time. Individuals of both new species were collected within a protected area in southern Ecuador, Podocarpus National Park, which suggests that at least some populations of these species are well protected.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E55FA804-E3FD-4412-8FEB-5234E29E272D     

A new species of the genus Saussurella Bolivar 1887 from China,with a key to the species of the genus (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)

Taxonomy of a tetrigid genus Saussurella Bolivar is reviewed. One new species, Saussurella brachycornis sp. nov. is described from China and an updated identification key to all known species of the genus is given, as well as brief comments on phylogenetic relationships and distributions of the genus.     

New species of the rhagidiid genus Foveacheles (Acari: Prostigmata: Eupodoidea) with a lyrifissure-like structure on the chelicerae

Three new species are described: Foveacheles gigantea n. sp., F. halltalensis n. sp. and F. proxima n. sp. Their phylogenetic relationships are discussed. The new gigantea-species group is erected, based on the presence of a lyrifissure-like structure near the base of the fixed digit of the chelicera. A cheliceral lyrifissurelike structure has not been previously observed and described in literature on mites of the superfamily Eupodoidea. The definition of the genus Foveacheles is slightly adapted.