New thagriine leafhoppers from the Oriental Region, with a key to 30 species (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae)

Five new species of Thagria from the Oriental region are described and illustrated. These include melichari from Thailand, unidentata from Indonesia, marissae from southern China, bifida from Nepal, and insolentis from an undetermined locality in the Oriental region. There are presently 166 species in this large and unique genus. A key to males of 30 species is included.     

Tasmanian Phoridae (Diptera) and some additional Australasian species

The list of Phoridae recorded from Tasmania is increased from five species in three genera to at least 52 species in eight genera. One species on the original list is transferred to the status of being incertae sedis. One new genus and 37 new species are described, two being reported from mainland Australia also. One species was previously only known from New Zealand, five from mainland Australia, four from Europe but one of which is now an almost cosmopolitan tramp species and one being from the Holarctic Region. However, one of the 'European' species may have orginally been introduced to Europe from Tasmania. Keys to genera, to all known species of Aphiura, to the Tasmanian species of Megaselia and to the Australasian species of Metopina are provided. A newly named and a new mainland Australian species of Aphiura, three mainland Australasian species of Metopina and three from Papua New Guinea are described and seven undescribed males (given code letters only) of this genus are included in the key (four from Papua New Guinea, two from Western Australia and one from Tonga). Aphiura and Paraphiura are transferred to the tribe Metopinini and the tribe Beckerinini is set aside, as it cannot be satisfactorily characterized as it is currently conceived. Megaselia dissita is synonymized with M. comparabilis.     

New taxa in miscellaneous families from Utah

Named are the following: Astragalus limnocharis Barneby var. tabulaeus Welsh var. nov., from the pass between Boulder Mountain and the Table Cliff Plateau, Garfield County, Utah; A. eremiticus Sheldon var. ampularioides Welsh var. nov. from Washington County, Utah; Lupinus argenteus Pursh var. moabensis Welsh var. nov., from southeastern Utah, validated by inclusion of a Latin diagnosis; Erigeron zothecinus Welsh sp. nov. described from moist alcoves along Lake Powell, eastern Kane County, Utah; Cleomella palmerana Jones var. goodrichii Welsh var. nov. described from Uintah County, Utah; Arabis vivariensis Welsh sp. nov. named from northeastern Uintah County, Utah; Draba kassii Welsh sp. nov. described from material taken in the Deep Creek Mountains, western Tooele County, Utah.     

Parasites from two species of suckers (Catostomidae) from southern Utah

Twenty Catostomus latipinnis and 50 Catostomus discobolis from La Verkin Creek and the Fremont River in southern Utah were collected and surveyed for parasites. Data from the survey indicated that 83 percent of the fish were infected with at least one parasite, with the fish from La Verkin Creek harboring more parasites. Twelve genera and 12 species of parasites were identified from these fish. A monogenetic trematode, Gyrodactylus elegans, which was found in 90 percent of the fish, was the most common parasite. Comments are included on habitat and host variations for the parasitofauna from suckers taken from the two locations.     

Spring and winter records of the eastern pipistrelle ( Perimyotis subflavus ) in southeastern New Mexico

Eastern pipistrelles ( Perimyotis subflavus ) were first documented from South Dakota, western Texas, and New Mexico during recent years, suggesting that the distribution of this species is expanding westward across central parts of North America. In New Mexico, only 2 records of P. subflavus previously were known—one from summer and one from autumn. Here we report on 3 new records of P. subflavus from southeastern New Mexico, including the first 2 records from winter and the first record from spring. One individual in winter was observed hibernating in a cave in Chaves County. Our records and previous ones from autumn and summer suggest that this species is resident throughout the year in New Mexico.     

Some benthic Tunicata from the southern Indo-Pacific Ocean

Forty one species of benthic Tunicata are recorded in the material collected from 87–5760m from the Coral Sea, Tasman Sea and the waters south of Australia and New Zealand, up to 65°S. Several species, recorded for the first time from the region, were previously known from the central and western Indian Ocean. Seven new species are described.     

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.     

Hindia sphaeroidalis Duncan from the Devonian of Nevada (Porifera)

The small, spherical, lithistid sponge, Hindia sphaeroidalis Duncan, 1879, is reported from the Devonian and Silurian of the Great Basin for the first time. Devonian specimens came from the Emsian Bartine Member of the McColley Formation from near Roberts Creek, Roberts Mountains, and from the Eifelian part of the Nevada Group near Bishops Creek, north of Wells, Nevada. The Silurian occurrence, questioned because of poor preservation, is from the Laketown Dolomite, on Tunnel Spring Mountain in western Millard County, Utah.     

Copepoda associated with scleractinian corals on the Great Barrier Reef,northeastern Australia,with a key to the genera of the Lichomolgidae

Nine new species and three new genera, Parandrianellus, Scyphuliger, and James-cookina, are associated with various species of hard corals in the vicinity of Lizard Island, Big Broadhurst Reef, and Bowl Reef on the Great Barrier Reef. These copepods include the lichomolgids Parandrianellus annulatus from Hydnophora rigida, Scyphuliger concavipes from Acropora hyacinthus and Acropora sarmentosa, Scyphuliger manifestus from Acropora hyacinthus and Acropora squarrosa, James-cookina redacta from Echinopora horrida, Panjakus eumeces from Hydnophora rigida, Anchimolgus abbreviatus and Anchimolgus tanaus from Acrhelia horrescens, Anchimolgus exsertus from Echinopora horrida, and Odontomolgus bulbalis from Merulina ampliata. Schedomolgus tenuatus Humes, 1990, recorded from Acropora hyacinthus and Acropora humilis, is transferred to the genus Scyphuliger. Schedomolgus lobophorus (Humes and Ho, 1968) is recorded from Acropora hyacinthus, Acropora humilis, Acropora sarmentosa, and Acropora intermedia; Amarda goniastreae Humes, 1985, from Favia stelligera; and Amardopsis merulinae Humes, 1974, from Merulina ampliata and Leptoria phrygia. The harpacticoid Alteuthellopsis corallina Humes, 1981, is reported from Merulina ampliata and Stylophora pistillata. A list of those copepods previously known to be associated with hard corals in the area and a key to the 81 genera of the Lichomolgidae are provided.     

Colorado ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from the Rotger Collection, University of Colorado Museum

Ground Beetles from Rotger's collection of Colorado specimens have been identified, principally by the author, and a faunal list of 161 species from 80 localities is presented. The list includes 35 species not previously recorded from Colorado. Comparisons are made with Armin's (1963) carabid list from Boulder County and the diversity of species along transects through four elevational zones from the plains to the alpine.     

New and little‐known species of Didemnidae (Ascidiacea,Tunicata) from Australia (part 4)

Forty‐eight species (including nine that are new) of the 288 Didemnidae now known from Australian waters are reported on in the present work. Dredged material is from benthic habitats in inter‐reefal areas of the Great Barrier Reef and from deeper water canyons off northeastern and northwestern Tasmania. Collections from shallower waters of Port Davey (western Tasmania) and Kangaroo Island (South Australia) were hand‐collected by scuba divers. Seven of the eight known genera of the Didemnidae are represented. Despite this emphasis on sampling in temperate waters, only 14 species (all indigenous) are recorded from around the southern half of the continent. The species diversity of this family is greater in the tropics, with 34 species being recorded. Nearly half of these are known also from the tropical western Pacific and some from the Indian Ocean as well. Tropical indigenous species are relatively few.     

Distribution of the milliped Virgoiulus minutus (Brandt, 1841): first records from Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas (Julida: Blaniulidae)

Virgoiulus minutus (Brandt 1841) (Julida: Blaniulidae), the only indigenous representative of the family in the New World, occurs, or can be expected, in parts or all of 24 states east of the Central Plains plus the District of Columbia; it is documented for the 1st time from Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The northern-, southern-, and westernmost localities are in Berrien County, Michigan; Putnam County, Florida; and Angelina/Rusk Counties, Texas, respectively. New England, Utah, Wyoming, Canada, and Mexico are deleted from the range, and specific localities are reported to augment previous generalized citations; those from Mexico represent misidentifications of Nopoiulus kochii (Gervais, 1847), an introduced European species that is recorded from Mexico City, Distrito Federal. Records of V. minutus from Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri are the 1st definite localities from these states; a sample from ""Anechar,"" believed to be a misspelling of ""Arrochar,"" a neighborhood in Staten Island, is considered the 1st definite record from New York. The published statement of occurrence in Delaware in general is the only known record of an indigenous diplopod from this state.     

Parasites of the blue shark (Prionace glauca L.), in the North-East Atlantic Ocean

A total of 159 blue sharks, ranging in length from 64 to 228 cm, was collected from the tuna drift-net fishery operating in the North-East Atlantic Ocean, and a parasite analysis conducted. The parasite assemblage consisted of three copepod species, one nematode species and four cestode species. The copepods Kroyeria lineata and Phyllothereus cornutus both occurred on the gills, while Echthrogaleus coleoptratus occurred on the skin. The third larval stage of the nematode Anisakis simplex was recorded from the lumen of both the stomach and spiral valve, but it seems likely that these specimens were a build up of parasites from consumed prey, and were not actively parasitizing the sharks. The cestodes Prosobothrium armigerum, Anthobothrium laciniatum and Platybothrium auriculatum were all recorded from the spiral valve, while Hepatoxylon trichiuri was recorded from the body cavity. All species with the exception of E. coleoptratus displayed a negative binomial distribution, although Green's Index determined that the degree of aggregation was only slight. Infection parameters varied widely among species, but the most abundant parasite was K. lineata, which was recorded from all of the sharks examined.     

Numeric analysis of the lizard genus Sceloporus with special reference to cranial osteology

Phylogenetic relationships among Sceloporine genera are briefly discussed. Species relationships within the genus Sceloporus are analyzed, and evolutionary lines of descent are proposed. The genus Sceloporus is composed of three monophyletic groups: Group I, the most primitive, probably developed from Sator - like ancestral stock in Miocene times. This group speciated from stock similar to Sceloporus gadoviae in southern Mexico to S. merriami in the North and contains 7 species in 3 species groups. We propose that these species be included in the genus Lysoptychus Cope. Group II arose from Group I and evolved from centrally located Sceloporus pictus in all directions throughout Mexico. This intermediate group contains approximately 19 species in 5 species groups. Group III also arose from the primitive stock of Group I and radiated from several desert refugia created by Pleistocene glaciation. Evolution of this group in Mexico was generally from north to south with Sceloporus malachiticus extending as far south as Panama. This group contains approximately 33 species in 5 species groups.     

Additional new species of Teruliine leafhoppers with key to species (Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae: Teruliini)

Five new species of teruliine leafhoppers from the Nearctic and Neotropical regions are described and illustrated. These include Plapigella jessicae , Stalolidia crista , and Korsigianus christopheri from Brazil; Jikradia infula from Mexico; and Onblavia freytagi from Venezuela. Revised keys to males of species of three genera are also given.     

Life cycle of a new African echinostome species reproducing by parthenogenesis

The morphology of the adult and larval stages of Echinostoma deserticum n. sp. and its life cycle are described. Adults were collected from the small intestine of the rodent Arvicanthis niloticus from Niger. Sporocysts and rediae were isolated from Bulinus truncatus and B. globosus from south of Algeria (Djanet oasis) and Niger (Daikena district). Previously phylogenetic results using both mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequencing indicate that E. deserticum n. sp. is very distant from the only considered valid African Echinostoma species, E. caproni Richard, 1964. The new species also differs from the other 37-collar spine echinostomes in that it develops in bulinid snails and in its probable exclusive parthenogenetic reproduction.     

Checklist of Gyrinidae,Haliplidae, Noteridae and Dytiscidae of Turkey (Coleoptera: Adephaga)

An updated species list of four beetle families is given for Turkey. A total of 35 genera and 167 species and subspecies are known to occur in Turkey. Ten species and two subspecies are from the family Gyrinidae, 16 species are from the family Haliplidae, three species are from the family Noteridae and 129 species and seven subspecies are from the family Dytiscidae.     

A review of the pseudoscorpion genus Ideoblothrus (Pseudoscorpiones,Syarinidae) from western and northern Australia

Five new pseudoscorpion species belonging to the genus Ideoblothrus are named and described from Western Australia and the Northern Territory: I. pisolitus from a single pisolitic mesa near Pannawonica, I. nesotymbus from limestone karst on Barrow Island, I. westi from limestone karst near the Fortescue River, I. descartes from a vine thicket on Descartes Island in the Kimberley, and I. milikapiti from rainforest on Melville Island. New specimens of I. papillon Harvey from Papillon Cave and I. woodi Harvey from Cave C‐167, Western Australia are recorded. A further species is recognised but not named as adult specimens are not available: Ideoblothrus sp. ‘Mesa A’ occurs within a different pisolitic mesa than I. pisolitus.