Ecological comparison of sympatric populations of sand lizards ( Cophosaurus texanus and Callisaurus draconoides )

Sympatric populations of Cophosaurus texanus and Callisaurus draconoides were periodically sampled from March 1973 through April 1974 at Burro Creek, Mohave County, Arizona. Callisaurus were also sampled at Rock Valley, Nye County, Nevada. Sex ratios were skewed in favor of males in the adult Cophosaurus but were equal in both adult populations of Callisaurus. Both species became sexually mature as yearlings. Mean clutch sizes were 3.55 (±0.83) for Cophosaurus, and 4.25 (±1.08) and 5.07 (±1.33) for Callisaurus at Burro Creek and Rock Valley respectively. Evidence of multiple clutches was exhibited by both species. Egg weight/body weight ratios for both species and clutch weight/body weight ratios for Cophosaurus were notably smaller than previously reported. At Burro Creek both species were highly insectivorus, with orthopterans comprising the largest food group of each. Niche overlap for food was high at the ordinal level, but at the familial level it is apparent that Callisaurus probably fed in the more xeric areas of the riparian habitat. No differences were found in the temperature responses of these two lizards. However, minor temporal separations and substantial spatial partitioning were observed. Callisaurus preferred sandy open areas, while Cophosaurus preferred the presence of some rocks and boulders.     

Mitochondrial genetic variation within and between Holbrookia lacerata lacerata and Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis,the spot-tailed earless lizards of Texas

ABSTRACT

We examined genetic relationships among individuals and populations of the species Holbrookia lacerata, the spot-tailed earless lizard, using whole mitochondrial genomes. Lizards were collected from south, central and west Texas. We found significant amounts of genetic structure among populations and evidence of two major reciprocally monophyletic groups of spot-tailed earless lizards in Texas. Holbrookia lacerata lacerata occurs on the Edwards Plateau and adjacent regions of West Texas north of the Balcones Escarpment, while Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis occurs in South Texas and adjacent Mexico south of the Balcones Escarpment. These two recognised subspecies correspond to the two clades we discovered. Holbrookia l. lacerata occupies much of its historical range at sometimes high population densities, while populations of H. l. subcaudalis appear to be highly fragmented based on recent observations compared to their historical range.     

The significance of scale characters in evaluation of the lizard genera Gerrhonotus, Elgaria, and Barisia

Data taken on external scale characters of 1003 specimens representing nine of the sixteen species of Gerrhonotus sensu Stebbins, 1958, strongly indicate that Tihen's 1949 arrangement of those species in three genera ( Gerrhonotus, Elgaria, Barisia ) is valid. Misinterpretation of the identity of the head scales in various species of this group has led erroneously to disregard of them as indicators of relationships. Actually the scales are as constant as in most other lizards and seemingly provide firm clues to natural associations.       

The effect of the environment and copulatory movements on the taxonomic characters of three species of Ecdyonurus (Ephemeroptera)

The majority of characters used to separate the nymphs of Ecdyonurus dispar, venosus and torrentis are related to the relative proportions of parts of the body. Extensive measurements suggest that at least certain of these characters are the consequence of heterogonic growth and are not of taxonomic significance. The characters of importance in the taxonomy of the imagines appear to be related either to the effect of the environment during nymphal development on the subsequent pigmentation, limb and body size of the adult, or to the changing spatial relationships between the sclerites of the genitalia during copulatory movements, relationships which are retained when the imago is killed.     

Adaptations of sea snakes that eat fish eggs; with a note on the throat musculature of Aipysurus eydouxi (Gray, 1849)

Features of sea snakes (Emydocephalus and some Aipysurus) that specialize in eating fish eggs are reviewed. Additionally, an earlier account of the hyoid musculature of Aipysurus eydouxi is corrected.

A new feeding mechanism, possibly unique in higher snakes, is postulated; fish eggs together with substantial quantities of sand appear to be sucked into the mouth by the contraction of a ‘geniomucosalis’ muscle which originates on the lower jaw and inserts on the oral mucosa. Other characters, which occur in two of the three egg-eating species, and which seem to correlate with this feeding habit, include: a spine on the snout (perhaps used for probing sand), strong consolidation of lip scales (likely to increase rigidity of the mouth border) and marked tooth reduction and loss (probably reflecting redundancy).     

Cladistic analysis of Charterginus Fox, 1898 (Hymenoptera,Vespidae, Epiponini). A neotropical genus of social wasps

A cladistic analysis of the swarm‐founding neotropical social wasp genus Charterginus is presented. A single cladogram resulted from the analysis of 31 morphological characters and six nest characters, with relationships among the species as follows: ((C. fulvus + C. xanthura) + (C. weyrauchi + (C. nevermanni + (C. carinatus + C. zavattarii)))). The monophyly of the genus is confirmed and a new identification key is presented. Notes on the nest are given and the misidentification of C. carinatus is explained.     

A new species of Caraiboscia Vandel, 1968 from South America,and a type species for Colombophiloscia gen. n. (Crustacea: Oniscidea: Crinocheta)

The South American genera Caraiboscia Vandel, 1968 and Colombophiloscia gen. n. are examined to establish their phylogenetic relationships in the light of their life histories. A new species is described in the genus Caraiboscia, whereas the latter genus replaces the name Colombophiloscia Vandel, 1968 which is an unavailable name since no type species was chosen by Vandel (1968). The taxa are described in detail and apomorphic characters supporting a sister group relationship are given. The adaptive value of these characters is discussed with respect to their life history and the probability of a convergent evolution.     

Phylogenetic implications of ovipositor structure in Eucharitidae and Perilampidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

The external and cross-sectional morphology of the ovipositor was examined for 21 genera and 28 species of Philomidinae, Perilampidae and Eucharitidae. Eleven characters were scored and either mapped onto existing topologies reflecting the relationships of genera, or included in a larger data set focused on the generic relationships of Eucharitidae and analyzed using parsimony. The presence of a setiform flap in the ventral wall of the dorsal valve supported the monophyly of Perilampinae and possibly Chrysomalla (Chrysolampinae) + Perilampinae. Monophyly of Eucharitidae was supported by a thinning of the dorsal wall of the dorsal valve. One of two islands of most parsimonious trees that have recently been proposed was selected on the basis of fewer step changes as a result of both character mapping and parsimony analysis. Within Eucharitinae, this would support a clade that includes Kapala, Stilbula and Pseudochalcura, with Schizaspidia and Chalcura as its sister group. By mapping characters, an additional hypothesis of monophyly of Anorasema and Gollumiella was preferred, which on the basis of the pruned topologies was a single step shorter than the preferred islands of trees.     

Phylogenetic relationships within Amphiglena Claparède, 1864 (Polychaeta: Sabellidae), description of five new species from Australia,a new species from Japan,and comments on previously described species

In reviewing material in Australian museum collections from the Australian and Japanese coasts it became clear that many specimens of Amphiglena did not match the diagnosis of any current species. To allow for variability observed among the specimens, and hence within nominal species, three specimens from each locality were included in a cladistic analysis, along with all currently accepted Amphiglena species, new characters, and a variety of apomorphic sabellins. This allowed a reassessment of the monophyly of Amphiglena, its sister group, and relationships with close taxa. Phylogenetic relationships among the species of Amphiglena are presented and six new species are described.     

Reptile population changes with manipulation of Sonoran Desert shrub

The diversity and abundance of reptiles were studied in three vegetation types on the Santa Rita Experimental Range, Arizona. Total reptile sightings were greatest in undisturbed mesquite and mesquite with irregularly shaped clearings. No zebra-tailed lizards ( Callisaurus draconoides ) or desert spiny lizards ( Sceloporus magister ) were seen, and significantly fewer western whiptails ( Cnemidophorus tigris ) were in the mesquite-free area. Only the Sonora spotted whiptail ( Cnemidophorus sonorae ) was significantly more abundant in the mesquite-free area than in the undisturbed mesquite. In an effort to increase grass production for cattle in mesquite grasslands, it is preferable to clear irregularly shaped areas rather than to attempt total mesquite removal, if reptiles are to be considered.     

Relationships of the South African lizards assigned to Aporosaura,Meroles and Pedioplanis (Reptilia: Lacertidae)

Phylogenetic analyses, using parsimony and compatibility methods, were carried out on the South African lacertid lizards assigned in recent times to Aporosaura, Meroles and Pedioplanis. These were based on 80 primary and 102 binary morphological characters which were drawn from osteology, external features, muscles, kidneys and reproductive systems. Contrary to some previous interpretations, there are two well-defined clades: Meroles plus Aporosaura, and Pedioplanis; these form successive branches on the main stem of the phylogeny of advanced lacertids. The clades show considerable parallel development of derived features, presumably because they had very similar initial genetic potential. Relationships within the two groups are shown on p. 800 and p. 802. As Aporosaura anchietae is sister taxon to a clade consisting of three of the seven species of Meroles, it has been transferred to that genus. Relationships in Meroles-Aporosaura are very well substantiated, in contrast to the situation in Pedioplanis. This difference appears to be related to the different kinds of evolutionary history that the two groups have had. The Meroles-Aporosaura clade has spread progressively into increasingly stringent and singular aeolian sand environments which have elicited the production of many, often unique, derived character states related to the functional problems of survival in such situations. As these states are rarely duplicated in outgroups, the characters concerned are easily polarized. This, together with their abundance, means that a robust basis for phylogenetic inference is available. In contrast, Pedioplanis exhibits relatively limited ecological radiation of a kind that also occurs in related groups, and the functionally related derived states elicited are fewer and less distinctive. In fact, production of a phylogeny for Pedioplanis is very dependent on genital characters which seem to be substantially independent of the main ecological changes that have occurred in the genus. The premaxilla is embraced dorsally by the anterior processes of the maxillae in most lacertids, but the processes are less extensive in two sister species of Pedioplanis, P. burchelli and P. laticeps. This modified condition also occurs in the genera Eremias, Acanthodactylus, Mesalina and Ophisops, which together constitute a clade that forms the sister group of Pedioplanis. The modification provides extra evidence for the holophyly of the clade, even though presence in some Pedioplanis shows it to be homoplasious.     

Ancestrular morphology in cyclostome bryozoans and the quest for phylogenetically informative skeletal characters

Cyclostomes are an ancient order of bryozoans with more than 500 living species. Traditionally, cyclostome taxonomy has depended almost entirely on characters of the calcareous skeletons of mature colonies. However, the taxonomic distribution of these characters is largely incongruent with well-supported molecular phylogenetic trees, implying the need for major revisions if cyclostome taxonomy is to reflect phylogeny. While far more taxa must be sequenced to ascertain their molecular relationships, there is also a need to discover morphological characters that can be used to support molecular clades, not least to allow these clades to be inferred among fossil cyclostomes for which molecular data will never be available. Here we survey the skeletal morphology of the first-formed part of the skeleton – the protoecium of the founding zooid (ancestrula) – in a variety of Recent and well-preserved fossil cyclostomes, motivated by the recent discovery of a morphologically disparate molecular clade that can be distinguished by protoecial characters. The distribution of pseudopores on the protoecium is shown to vary between species, with eight patterns recognizable, offering a new source of skeletal characters in both living and fossil taxa. However, the patterns seem not to be fully congruent with the cyclostome molecular tree and more data and analyses are required before these patterns can be used to recognize cyclostome clades.     

Structure of alpine plant communities near King's Peak, Uinta Mountains, Utah

A study was made at 18 sites with elevations between 3512 and 3768 m in the Uinta Mountains, Utah. Sites were small in extent but typified vegetation patterns found in the Uintas. Standing crop, species composition (based on dry weight), and values for several physical parameters were determined at each site. Simple linear regressions performed between the various biotic and abiotic characters revealed significant relationships between the characteristics of rocks visible at the surface (the number, size, and variation in size) and vegetation cover. This relationship was probably due to the burial of rocks as a region became vegetated. Bray and Curtis ordinations performed on the data indicated that there were several factors which influenced the species composition but that no single factor dictated the vegetational pattern.     

A new species of Nebalia (Crustacea,Leptostraca) from Unguja Island (Zanzibar), Tanzania,East Africa,with a phylogenetic analysis of leptostracan genera

Nebalia brucei sp. nov. is described from specimens taken in traps from Unguja Island (Zanzibar), Tanzania, East Africa. The species is characterized by the following unique combination of characters: a short and broad rostrum; a carapace that is large compared to overall body size and that covers pleonite 4; a basally narrow compound eye; and acutely pointed denticles at the dorsal margin of pleon segments 6 and 7. Cladistic analyses of the relationships of the seven recognized leptostracan genera resulted in two hypotheses. One tree has Nebaliopsis as sister group to the remaining leptostracans and supports the monophyly of Nebaliidae. The other tree has Paranebalia as sister group to the remaining leptostracans and Nebaliidae as paraphyletic with respect to Nebaliopsis. Both trees contain a Nebalia/Dahlella/Sarsinebalia clade.     

Mating behaviour in the bees,Dieunomia heteropoda and Nomia tetrazonata,with a review of courtship in Nomiinae (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Males of many bees in the subfamily Nomiinae (Halictidae) have numerous secondary sexual characters, which provide much systematic information. Similarly, the use of these structures by males during sexual behaviour may provide useful characters, but the courtship and copulatory behaviour of most of these bees is not known. Structures and behaviour used for courtship and mating are described for two species of nomiine bees, Dieunomia heteropoda and Nomia tetrazonata, along with brief observations of mating in a parasitic bee, Triepeolus verbesinae (Apidae: Nomadinae). A review of mating behaviour within the Nomiinae shows no obvious phyletic patterns, based upon present limited knowledge. The species-specific nature of the male secondary sexual characters suggests they may have evolved in the context of sexual selection, but behavioural data from populations of additional species are needed to evaluate the hypothesis adequately.     

Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Old World jumping plant-louse genus Paurocephala (Insecta,Hemiptera, Psylloidea)

Fifty-one species are recognized in the genus Paurocephala, with an additional 14 species which remain unnamed. Thirty-five species are described as new, and five species are synonymized: P. pumilae and P. zhejiangensis with P. chonchaiensis, P. debregeasiae with P. sauteri, and P. guangxiensis and P. tremae with P. trematos. Two varieties, P. psylloptera maculipennis and P. psylloptera setifera, are raised to species level. P. bifasciata is reinstated from former synonymy with P. chonchaiensis, and Anomoterga kleinhofiae is transferred back to Paurocephala. Lectotypes are designated for P. brevicephala, P. chonchaiensis, P. psylloptera, P. sauteri, P. setifera and P. wilderi. The four New World species of Paurocephala are not considered to be congeneric with the Old World species and will be transferred to Diclidophlebia. Two South African species, P. bicarinata and P. hottentotti, are removed from Paurocephala and have to be accommodated in a new genus in the Diaphorininae. Thus Paurocephala is an Old World genus with nine Afrotropical and 42 Indo-Australian described species. Keys for the identification of adults and fifth instar larvae are provided. All 51 named species are diagnosed and illustrated, and information is given on distribution and host plants. Based on two cladistic analyses, one using adult characters only, and one using both adult and larval characters, four monophyletic species groups are recognized. In both analyses a basal group of 10 species, the brevicephala -group, forms the sister group to all other Paurocephala spp. The Afrotropical species are monophyletic and, together with one Oriental species constitute the gossypii group. In the analysis with adult characters only, the gossypii -group is the sister taxon of the kleinhofiae -group and, both together, are the sister group of the psylloptera -group, the largest species group with 27 species. In the analysis of adult and larval characters, the relationships between the last three species groups are not resolved. The result of the phylogenetic analysis confirms the synonymy of the subgenus Thoracocorna with Paurocephala. Known host plants of Paurocephala spp. belong to the Malviflorae with the exception of the Afrotropical P. insolita which develops on Theiflorae (Theales, Clusiaceae). The brevicephala -, kleinhofiae - and gossypii -groups are associated with hosts of the order Malvales (Malvaceae and Sterculiaceae), whereas the psylloptera -group is with Urticales (Urticaceae, Moraceae and Ulmaceae).     

Specialization of the gobioid palatopterygoquadrate complex and its relevance to gobioid systematics

The gobioid suspensorium provides a suite of characters which seem valuable in hypothesizing gobioid phylogenies. Characters presently discussed refer to the architecture of the palatopterygoquadrate complex; i.e., the structure of the palatine, ectopterygoid and quadrate, and the spatial relationships existing between these bones. Several genera exhibit specialization, to different levels, of the palatopterygoquadrate complex. The following are regarded as specialized characters: a long palatine extending towards, or meeting the quadrate; or a very short, stubby palatine; a shallow ectopterygoid meeting the anteroventral corner of the quadrate, near the articulation with the lower jaw; a quadrate which is deeply forked, bearing an anteroposteriorly short dorsal lamina with a long anteroventrally sloping edge. Examination of the distribution of these palatopterygoquadrate complex characters, and reference to other, previously documented, features of gobioid skeletons and modified lateral-line systems, permits discussion of the phylogeny of several gobioid genera. The Gobionellinae, the Sicydiinae, and Awaous exhibit specialized characters of the palatopterygoquadrate complex, and are hypothesized to form a monophyletic group. Affinities between these lineages and the Microdesminae are also proposed, on the basis of similarities in palatopterygoquadrate complex, and other morphological characters.     

Larval development of Apiomithrax violaceus (A. Milne Edwards, 1868) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Pisidae) reared in laboratory conditions,and a review of larval characters of Pisidae

Apiomithrax violaceus (A. Milne Edwards, 1868 Milne Edwards A 1868 Observations sur la faune carcinologique des Iles du Cap-Vert Nouvelles Archives du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, 4, 49–68, pls 16–18  [Google Scholar]) is a pisid majoid crab occurring in tropical and subtropical coastal waters of the eastern and western South Atlantic. Larval development consists of two zoeal stages and a megalopa. Beginning with the first zoea, the duration of each larval stage at 24°C was 3–8 (5±1), 3–5 (4±0.5) and 9–15 (11±2) days, the megalopa and first crab instar appearing 9–11 (10±1) and 20–27 (23±2) days after hatching, respectively. Larval characters agree with those proposed for the Majoidea, in having nine or more setae on the scaphognathite in the first zoea and well-developed pleopods in the second zoea. However, larvae of A. violaceus do not fit larval pisid features. Zoeal stages differ from most other Pisidae in having lateral spines, a long rostral spine extending beyond the antenna, two spines per telson fork and a dorsolateral process on the third abdominal somite. The megalopa differs in having a spine dorsally on the carapace and on the basial segment of the second pereiopod. Two characters that are potentially unique to Apiomithrax include a zoeal antenna with an exopod that is much longer than the protopod, and a rostral spine that is longer than the dorsal spine. These characters should facilitate the identification of this taxon and could also be useful for phylogenetic studies. A review of larvae of 28 species among 14 genera indicated that there is no apparent single larval character that differentiates the Pisidae, with more limited phylogenetic analyses suggesting that this is a paraphyletic group. Apiomithrax, Eurynolambrus, Pisoides, Rochinia and Scyra have the most divergent morphological characters within the family. The analysis and inclusion of additional taxa is likely to shed more light on the sister-group relationships of the Pisidae. However, based on the extent of morphological interspecific variability of known larvae it is likely that the group, as presently defined by adult morphology, is not monophyletic.