The Tanaidacea (Crustacea,Peracarida) of the North-East Atlantic: the shelf and bathyal Paratyphlotanais of the ‘Atlantic Margin’

Increasing oil-exploration activity and associated ecological surveying west of the Shetlands is leading to the discovery of many poorly known or undescribed tanaidaceans. Three species of the typhlotanaid genus Paratyphlotanais Kudinova-Pasternak and Pasternak, 1978 Kudinova-Pasternak R. K Pasternak F. A 1978 Deep sea Tanaidacea collected from the Caribbean Sea and Puerto Rico trench during the 16th cruise of RV ‘Akademik Kurchatov’ and the resemblance between the fauna of deep-sea Tanaidacea of the Caribbean region and the Pacific Trudy Instituta Okeanologiii. Akademiya Nauk SSSR, 113, 115–135 (in Russian)  [Google Scholar] have been recorded from shelf and bathyal depths between Iceland, the Faroe Islands and the western margin of the British Isles. Two, P. gracilipes (Hansen) and P. microcheles (G. O. Sars), formerly belonging to the genus Typhlotanais, are redescribed and a new species is described. A key to their identification is included. Inhabiting largely discrete zoogeographic areas, these species help define regional macrofaunal associations.     

Revision of the hirsuticornis‐like species of Macrothrix Baird, 1843 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Macrothricidae) from Subantarctic and temperate regions of the southern hemisphere

The aim of this paper is to revise populations of Macrothrix cf. hirsuticornis (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Macrothricidae) from different regions of the southern hemisphere. It is demonstrated that M. hirsuticornis Norman and Brady, 1867 Norman, A. M. and Brady, G. S. 1867. A monograph of the British Entomostraca belonging to the families Bosminidae, Macrothricidae and Lynceidae.. Natural History Transactions of Northumberland and Durham, 1: 354–408.  [Google Scholar] s. str. is absent there, and five related species occupy different Subantarctic islands and the southernmost portions of South America, and Africa. Macrothrix boergeni Studer, 1878 Studer, T. 1878. Beiträge zur Naturgeschichte wirbelloser Tiere von Kerguelensland.. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, 44: 102–121.  [Google Scholar] from the Kerguelen Archipelago is redescribed and a neotype is selected. All populations in the southernmost portion of continental South America, Tierra del Fuego, Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkney Islands, and on the Antarctic Peninsula belong to M. oviformis Ekman, 1900 Ekman, S. 1900. Cladoceren aus Patagonien, gesammelt von der schwedischen Expedition nach Patagonien 1899.. Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 14: 62–84.  [Google Scholar]. All the taxa described from this region—M. ciliata Vávra, 1900 Vávra, W. 1900. “Süsswasser‐Cladoceren. Ergebnisse der Hamburger magalhaensische Sammelreise 1892/93. II Band. Arthropoden.”. In Hamburg 1–25.  [Google Scholar], M. odontocephala Daday, 1902 Daday, E. 1902. Mikroskopische Süsswasserthiere aus Patagonien, gesammelt von Dr. Filippo Sylvestri.. Természetrajzi Füzetek, Budapest, 25: 201–310.  [Google Scholar], M. propinqua Sars, 1909 Sars, G. O. 1909. Fresh‐water Entomostraca from South Georgia.. Archiv for Mathematik og Naturvidenskab, 30: 1–35.  [Google Scholar], and, probably, M. inflata Daday, 1902 Daday, E. 1902. Mikroskopische Süsswasserthiere aus Patagonien, gesammelt von Dr. Filippo Sylvestri.. Természetrajzi Füzetek, Budapest, 25: 201–310.  [Google Scholar]—are junior synonyms of M. oviformis. Two new species are established: M. sarsi sp. nov. from the Cape region of South Africa and M. ruehei sp. nov. from Crozet, Marion islands, and Île Amsterdam. Macrothrix cf. flagellata Smirnov and Timms, 1983 Smirnov, N. N. and Timms, B. V. 1983. A revision of the Australian Cladocera (Crustacea).. Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement, 1: 1–132. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar], previously known only from Tasmania, is found on Macquarie Island too. Differences between species from the southern hemisphere and Palaearctic M. hirsuticornis are summarized. It is demonstrated that characters of the general body shape (i.e. presence of a hood or a tooth on posterior head border) have a limited value for the systematics of Macrothrix. In contrast, some fine details, mostly missed by previous authors, are valuable for species discrimination. The present study increases the number of species recorded from the Antarctic‐Subantarctic region. Probably, the current pattern of Macrothrix distribution results from a disruption of a pan‐continental (early Mesozoic?) species complex.     

Local floras of the southwest, 1920–1980: an annotated bibliography

Local floras, that is, plant lists for relatively small areas, are widely scattered, often unpublished, and difficult to locate. Over 100 local floras from the southwestern United States (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) are listed and briefly annotated.     

Another inordinate fondness†: diversity of the tanaidacean fauna of Australia,with description of three new taxa

The shallow-water tanaidacean fauna of the Bass Strait has been the subject of recent intensive studies. The present paper extends this work into the deeper waters of the region, describing two new species and one new genus. The new species of the genus Paradoxapseudes has a combination of three maxillule palp setae, no plumose setae on the basis of pereopod 1 nor proximal serration on the antennal peduncle. The second species represents a new genus of the family Anarthruridae, having six marginal setae on the third maxilliped palp article and spines on the merus and carpus of the anterior pereopods. The high diversity of Tanaidacea in Australian waters is discussed. In particular, we conclude that Australian coasts suffer a diversity of immigration routes, have sufficient marine longevity, and afford such a diversity of available niches to have allowed multiple colonization and subsequent allopatric speciation of Tanaidacea. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EE309A5A-E06D-416F-95BD-4C8D0D2BEB97     

Revision of the West Palaearctic species of Rhoptromeris Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae)

The West Palearctic species of Rhoptromeris are revised. A total of 11 species are recognised as valid in this region, including four newly described species: Rhoptromeris dichromata sp. nov., Rhoptromeris koponeni sp. nov., Rhoptromeris leptocornis sp. nov. and Rhoptromeris macaronesiensis sp. nov. Eucoila luteicornis Ionescu, 1959 is synonymised with Rhoptromeris heptoma (Hartig, 1840) syn. nov. A checklist of the Holarctic Rhoptromeris is presented and an identification key to the West Palearctic species is provided. www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8164332C-93E2-4E3F-A408-F5FF5DFB366E     

Amerozercon Halašková, 1969 species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconidae) of the United States of America

During the study of rich material collected in the USA, six Zerconidae species were found which seem to belong to the genus Amerozercon Hala?ková, 1969 Hala?ková, V. 1969. Some new species of the family Zerconidae from North America (Acari: Mesostigmata). Acta Soc Zool Bohem, 33: 115–127.  [Google Scholar]. Four of them, Amerozercon annularis sp. nov., Amerozercon auricularis sp. nov., Amerozercon halaskovae sp. nov. and Amerozercon penicillatus sp. nov. proved to be new to science. The unknown female of the type species of the genus, Amerozercon suspiciosus Hala?ková, 1969 Hala?ková, V. 1969. Some new species of the family Zerconidae from North America (Acari: Mesostigmata). Acta Soc Zool Bohem, 33: 115–127.  [Google Scholar], is described. Amerozercon minimus (Sellnick, 1958) is redescribed and transferred from the genus Zercon C. L. Koch, 1836 to Amerozercon. Some remarks on the problems of the present Zerconidae systematics are discussed.     

Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Peracarida) of the North-east Atlantic: the genera Leptognathioides and Portaratrum of the ‘Atlantic Margin’

The tanaidomorphan genera Leptognathioides and Portaratrum from the Benthic Invertebrates of Icelandic waters (BIOICE), Marine Benthic Fauna of the Faroe Islands (BIOFAR), and Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network (AFEN)-related surveys are examined. The diagnosis for Leptognathioides polita is amended and additional size data are given. A new species, L. biarticulata, is described although the differences from L. polita are slight. It occurs in the bathyal Iceland Basin with a distribution that does not overlap with that of L. polita. A new species of Portaratrum, P. holdichi, is described and the apparent similarities (parallelisms) between this former colletteid genus and the akanthophoreid Chauliopleona are discussed. The distribution and rarity of both genera in the region are analysed, Leptognathioides being more common in the cold-water areas or along the cold–warm interface. Portaratrum holdichi n. sp. is more common and abundant in the Rockall-Biscay region of the NE Atlantic.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:81262671-0665-49C3-9A02-F243C60FC334     

A new species of the subterranean genus Oodinotrechus Uéno, 1998, from northern Guangxi,China, with additions to the generic diagnosis (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)

A new eyeless species, Oodinotrechus liyoubangi n. sp, is described from northern Guangxi. All specimens of this interesting species were collected in three limestone caves in Mulun National Nature Reserve of northern Guangxi, southern China. It is the second species for the genus Oodinotrechus Uéno, 1998, distinguished from the type species O. kishimotoi Uéno, 1998 by its visible scutellum and pronotal structure. Several additional diagnostic characters for the genus and a geographical distribution map for both known species are also provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F82E3C03-0A15-4410-B674-BC8EB95607CE     

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.     

The feeding strategy of the predatory Gyrineum natator (Gastropoda: Neotaenioglossa: Ranellidae) in the Cape d’Aguilar Marine Reserve,Hong Kong,with a review of sulphuric acid use in prey access by the Tonnoidea and experimentally derived estimates of consumption

Under conditions of otherwise enforced starvation in filtered seawater and with only oysters (Saccostrea mordax) to feed on, an individual of Gyrineum natator consumed > 98%, on average, of its body weight of oyster tissues each week (> 14% per day). When other potential food, such as sediment, organic debris and other newly settled sessile organisms, was available to a similar-sized conspecific living in conditions of unfiltered seawater (in addition to oysters), the oysters only accounted for 1.52% of its average weekly diet (0.21% per day). This was because of the 12 proffered oysters, only four were consumed in contrast to the 12 eaten by the individual in filtered seawater. All the oysters were accessed through large holes made in their shells. It is generally understood that the salivary glands of confamilial ranellids produce secretions of sulphuric acid from greatly enlarged salivary glands and this is demonstrated herein for G. natator also. It is believed that it was these secretions that made the holes in the oyster shells. It, therefore, seems that G. natator uses sulphuric acid to attack prey only when more easily obtained food is not available. It may also be used in defence. A comparison of consumption rates for a range of scavenging and predatory gastropod taxa shows that representatives of the Nassariidae consume (much) more than predators because of their opportunistic lifestyles. Gyrineum natator generally eats similar amounts to other predators, although the increased difference in estimated consumption (~10%) between this species and another similar-sized ranellid, Linatella caudata, might be because the latter did not use sulphuric acid to access its prey. Its enforced use in this study of G. natator, therefore, might represent the increased costs of using the acid to access the proffered oyster prey.     

First record of the genus Arphthicarus Niedbała (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) from China,with descriptions of two new species

The oribatid mite genus Arphthicarus Niedba?a, 1994 (Phthiracaridae) is reported in China for the first time. Two new species of Arphthicarus are described: Arphthicarus baculus sp. nov. from Hunan Province, and Arphthicarus spiniformis sp. nov. from Guangxi Province.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A1729EB7-2C99-4BF6-94EB-229E2A743D84.     

Comparative demography of the high-altitude lizard, Sceloporus grammicus (Phrynosomatidae), on the Iztaccihuatl Volcano, Puebla, México

Population density, reproduction, and survivorship were compared between 2 populations of Sceloporus grammicus occurring at different altitudes (3700 m and 4400 m) on the eastern slopes of Iztaccihuatl Volcano, Puebla, México. Lizards in both populations matured at the same age (14-15 mon) and size (39-42 mm SLV). Population density was slightly greater at high altitude (131-163 per ha) than at low altitude (52-83 per ha). Survivorship and R o were higher at the low-altitude areas, but in general there were no significant demographic variations between altitudes that have been reported in lizard population at higher latitudes. Studies of lower-elevation populations might reveal some differences because previous studies indicated that litter size increases at lower altitudes, although they do not differ between our 3700 m and 4400 m populations.     

East–west differentiation in the Marcusenius macrolepidotus species complex in Southern Africa: the description of a new species for the lower Cunene River,Namibia (Teleostei: Mormyridae)

This paper critically compares the Southern African bulldog fish species Marcusenius macrolepidotus (Peters, 1852), inhabiting the eastern Lower Zambezi River, and Marcusenius altisambesi Kramer et al., 2007, inhabiting the central Upper Zambezi River, with bulldog fish samples from the western lower Cunene River, a 2600-km range from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. The three species or forms are well differentiated in morphology and molecular genetics, and differentiation is also present in electric organ discharges. Marcusenius altisambesi and the Cunene sample, which we recognize as Marcusenius multisquamatus sp. nov., are closely related and form a sister taxon to M. macrolepidotus. This result is based on the analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences and genomic Inter-simple-sequence-repeat fingerprinting. Morphological adaptations to life in a torrential escarpment river seem to be present in M. multisquamatus sp. nov. when compared with M. altisambesi, which lives in a reservoir river that periodically floods the savannah. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8FE68494-9ED9-428E-B181-E814D25493F2     

A taxonomic study of the genus Coptotettix Bolívar, 1887 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Tetriginae) from China with description of a new species

An annotated list of 27 species of the genus Coptotettix Bolívar, 1887 Bolívar, I. 1887. Essai sur les acridiens de la tribe Tettigidae. Ann Soc Entomol Belg., 31: 175–313.  [Google Scholar] distributed in China is given. Coptotettix emeiensis sp. nov. is described from Sichuan Province, China. A key to the Chinese species of the genus Coptotettix is given.     

Extension of southern range and new specimens of the western gray squirrel, Sciurus griseus anthonyi (Mammalia: Sciuridae), in Baja California, México

We documented a southern range extension and new specimens of western gray squirrel ( Sciurus griseus anthonyi ) for the state of Baja California, México. The most recent specimen was collected in the town Cataviña and represents the southernmost record for the species and subspecies. Repeated observations of individuals in this new location suggest the presence of a marginal population in Mediterranean chaparral–desert scrub transition vegetation. Documentamos la extension de ámbito más sureño y nuevos especímenes de a ardilla gris occidental ( Sciurus griseus anthonyi ) para el Estado de Baja California, México. El espécimen más reciente fue recolectado en el poblado de Cataviña y representa el registro más sureño para la especie y subespecie. Observaciones repetidas de individuos en esta última localidad sureña sugiere la presencia de una población marginal en vegetación de transición de chaparral mediterráneo–matorral desértico.