Foraging mode of Australolacerta rupicola (FitzSimons, 1933) (Sauria: Lacertidae): evidence of seasonal variation in an extremely active predator?

Foraging mode of the endemic Soutpansberg rock lizard (Australolacerta rupicola) was determined by (1) measuring the number of movements per minute (MPM) and the percentage time spent moving (PTM); and (2) analysing faecal samples. Furthermore, these criteria were related to diet composition, proportion of attacks initiated while moving and foraging substrate. The results are discussed in comparison to the foraging modes of 20 other lacertid species. Values for MPM and PTM as well as faecal analysis indicate an active foraging strategy for A. rupicola. Although rock living, this species mostly forages in leaf litter where it is well camouflaged while actively searching for sedentary prey. Even in comparison to other active foragers of the family Lacertidae, A. rupicola displays the prototypic behaviour of a widely foraging lizard with very high PTM and very low MPM.     

The varied foraging mode of the subtropical eublepharid gecko Goniurosaurus kuroiwae orientalis

Insectivorous lizards usually employ one of two foraging modes, ambush ‘sit-and-wait’ or active ‘widely foraging’, but in the Gekkonomorpha the situation has been unclear. Therefore we quantified the foraging mode of the eublepharid gecko Goniurosaurus kuroiwae orientalis on Tokashikijima near Okinawajima, Japan, in September 1999. The taxon is rare, endangered and protected. On the selected semi-urban study site the gecko was confirmed as a nocturnal cursorial gecko, which also ascends trees up to 1.8 m. Foraging regimes of marked individuals, during repeated 30-min observation periods, could vary from immobility throughout, to active locomotion 84% of the time. Foraging mode was not significantly affected by sex, body length, mass or state of tail regeneration of the individuals, or by the timing of the observation. In males, at higher temperatures single moves became longer, while time allocated to moving was stable. In both sexes longer observation bouts included longer sitting pauses, which, given stable move duration, reduced the share of time spent moving and the moves per minute. Goniurosaurus kuroiwae orientalis averaged moving during 23% of the time, moving 0.39 times per minute, the moves lasting 77 s and the pauses lasting 745 s. Compared to other geckos, G. k. orientalis may be defined as a widely foraging animal, despite its mixed behaviour. This result supports the definition of the Eublepharidae as widely foraging and is compatible with two hypotheses, that early Gekkonomorpha were widely foraging or that they had an intermediate, undefined, foraging mode.     

Revision of the Australian endemic genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae), with descriptions of seven new species

The Australian hyptiogastrine wasp genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer is revised. Among other characters, species of Hyptiogaster can be readily distinguished from other Hyptiogastrinae by having an exserted ovipositor and the anterior face of the mesothorax truncate in lateral view. Ten species are recognised including seven which are newly described: H. arenicola Turner, H. humeralis (Schletterer), H. rufus (Westwood), H. cobarensis sp. nov., H. hulli sp. nov., H. kalbarrii sp. nov., H. kiefferi sp. nov., H. naumanni sp. nov., H. pinjarregaensis sp. nov., H. weowaniensis sp. nov. Two synonymies are proposed; H. flavosignata (Kieffer) with H. humeralis and H. crassiceps (Schletterer) with H. rufus. An illustrated key to species is presented and relationships among genera of Hyptiogastrinae and species of Hyptiogaster are discussed.     

Two new free-living marine nematode species of Xyalidae (Monhysterida) from the Yellow Sea,China

Two new species of free-living marine nematodes Paramonohystera eurycephalus sp. nov. and Steineria sinica sp. nov. from the Yellow Sea, China are described. Paramonohystera eurycephalus sp. nov. is characterized by relatively wide head diameter (33 μm in width), large cup-shaped buccal cavity; presence of numerous long cervical setae; amphidial fovea 18–20 μm in diameter; spicules slender, arcuate, 3.1–3.2 anal body diameter; gubernaculum tubular with a distal hook; five to six minute precloacal supplements. Steineria sinica sp. nov. is characterized by eight groups of three subcephalic setae at almost same level as cephalic setae; eight groups of two long cervical setae situated between subcephalic setae and amphidial fovea; amphidial fovea round, 35% of corresponding body diameter, about one head diameter from anterior end; spicules slender, cephalate proximally and taper distally; gubernaculum pipe-shaped with dorsocaudal apophysis; tail conico-cylindrical with three long terminal setae.     

Two new free-living nematode species of Setosabatieria (Comesomatidea) from the East China Sea and the Chukchi Sea

Two new free-living marine nematode species of the genus Setosabatieria from the sandy intertidal zone of Xiamen, in the East China Sea and a shallow water area in the Chukchi Sea, Arctic Ocean are described and illustrated. Setosabatieria longiapophysis sp. nov. is characterized by four longitudinal files with 7–9 cervical setae per file, 15–16 minute papillate precloacal supplements and relatively long straight apophyses of gubernaculum. Setosabatieria major sp. nov. is identified by its relatively large body of 2701–3144 µm, the number (10–11) of cervical setae per file, 26–28 minute papillate precloacal supplements and spicules with a central septum at both the proximal and distal end. A pictorial identification key to all known species of Setosabatieria is provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B8A2BEC9-5CD4-4AA9-9CA8-D1AE1FDE4887     

Two new species of Hatschekia Poche, 1902 (Copepoda,Hatschekidae) parasitic on two inshore fishes from Antofagasta,Chile

Hatschekia affluens sp. nov., parasitic on the gills of Pimelometopon maculatus, and Hatschekia amphiprocessa sp. nov., on those of Paralabrax humeralis, both from Antofagasta, Chile, are described and illustrated. These two species constitute the second record of Hatschekia from the coast of Chile.     

Patterns of host-plant utilization by leafhoppers in the genus Eupteryx (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Britain

Known host-plant associations are listed for the 16 species of Eupteryx occurring in Britain. A total of 77 species in 17 plant families are exploited. The most frequently represented plant family is the Labiatae. Degrees of specificity range from strict monophagy (four spp.) to broad polyphagy (five spp.). In general, host-plant overlap between species is low. The detailed relationships between three Eupteryx species and three members of the Urticaceae were explored using field populations and laboratory feeding experiments, survival tests and examination of patterns of oviposition. Eupteryx urticae, E. cyclops and E. aurata all utilized Urtica dioica as their primary host plant. However, the only regularly recorded association with other members of the Urticaceae was the host range expansion of E. urticae onto Parietaria judaica in the second generation. These findings were supported by the laboratory experiments. The spatial distributions of E. urticae oviposition sites and levels of attack by mymarid parasitoids were similar in populations on the two plant species. The implications of these results are discussed.     

Foraging by the flower-dwelling spider,Misumenops argenteus (Thomisidae), at high prey density sites

In this study, the foraging sites of the crab spider Misumenops argenteus on Trichogoniopsis adenantha (Asteraceae) were investigated over a 2-year period. The choice of sites was examined in relation to prey density in rainy and dry seasons, in leaves versus stems, reproductive branches versus vegetative branches, and in flowerheads in different phenophases. Misumenops argenteus generally occupied sites where the prey frequency was high, indicating that this species was able to evaluate the quality of the foraging sites, as predicted by optimal foraging theory. One exception to the rule was that adult males occurred at all sites, independently of prey density, as also observed in other spider species in which males search for females and not for prey. In addition, young (third and fourth instar) spiders occupied flowerheads with few prey, but which provided shelter.     

Courtship,copulation and oviposition in the chalcedon checkerspot,Euphydryas chalcedona (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

In this report we describe some aspects of the reproductive biology of a population of the chalcedon checkerspot, Euphydryas chalcedona, in central Arizona. Successful courtship in this species lasts about a minute and has a form similar to that of other nymphalids. During copulation the male forms a spermatophore within the female's bursa copulatrix that represents about 7% of the male's body weight. After copulation females may remate and older females may have mated as many as three times. The spermatophore deflates as time since deposition passes. Females oviposit every other day on average and lay their eggs in clusters. These data confirm previous brief reports of courtship structure and spermatophore size for E. chalcedona. Questions are raised about the control of receptivity in this species and the function of the mating plug.     

Classification,reconstructed phylogeny and geographic history of the Neotropical phorid flies of the genus Gymnophora (Diptera: Phoridae)

The Neotropical species of Gymnophora are revised to include 28 species, 17 of which are new. Two subgenera, Cerocratia (in a revised sense) and Gymnophora s.s. are recognized. Cerocratia includes Gymnophora triangularis sp. nov., G. acutangula Schmitz, G. latibrachia sp. nov., G. lacertosa sp. nov., G. chilensis Borgmeier, G. parachilensis sp. nov., G. aemula Borgmeier, G. forticornis Schmitz, and doubtfully G. colona Brues. G. adumbrata Borgmeier is considered as a junior synonym of G. aemula (syn. nov.). Within Gymnophora s.s. there are four major lineages, the G. commotria-group, the G. carina-group, the G. cymatoneura-group and the G. quartomollis-group. Of these, the G. carina-group and the G. quartomollis-group are known only from the Holarctic Region. The G. commotria-group consists of the G. forcipis-series, containing G. forcipis sp. nov., subuncata sp. nov. and uncata sp. nov., and G. damula-series, whose species are further organized into the G. strigula-subseries, containing G. strigula sp. nov. and G. unidentata sp. nov., plus the G. falciformis-subseries, containing G. alces sp. nov., damula sp. nov. and falciformis sp. nov. Also included in the G. commotria-group are eight residual species whose relationships cannot be deduced at this time. Three of these species, G. commotria Schmitz, penai sp. nov. and quadrata sp. nov. are more closely related to each other than to G. auricula sp. nov., brasiliensis Borgmeier, heteroneura Schmitz, inusitata sp. nov. and trispina sp. nov. The G. cymatoneura-group contains G. cymatoneura Enderlein and G. spiracularis Borgmeier, and the male of G. spiracularis is described for the first time. A key is given that permits identification of males of most species, but females cannot be identified with certainty. A partially sequenced classification of the genus indicates the relationships of most of the included species. The genus may have originated in the Neotropical Region, although the evidence is tenuous, and shows some similarity of distribution to Andean-centered plant groups.     

Two new species of the genus Sinella Brook, 1882 (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from East China

Two new species, Sinella hexaseta sp. nov. and Sinella pauciseta sp. nov., collected from East China, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, respectively, were described. Both are easily discriminated from each other and all known Sinella species by their unique dorsocentral chaetotaxic patterns on Abd. IV. In S. pauciseta sp. nov., postlabial setae H_1–4 are ciliate, which are smooth in all other known species of the genus.     

Foraging patterns and artificial fragrance choices of male orchid bees in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

ABSTRACT

With the aim of increasing our knowledge concerning fragrance choices by male euglossine bees (Apidae, Euglossini), we investigated: (i) possible foraging patterns and choices of artificial fragrances explored by the most frequent species attracted to scent baits during the same season across consecutive years, sampled invariably in a same study area; (ii) the foraging patterns of populations of orchid bees surveyed in two similar forest habitats (Atlantic rainforest remnants) located 24 km apart, on Superagui Island (SI) and on a private reserve (RNSM), in southern Brazil. Although in both areas males attracted to scent baits were collected with insect nets and odour traps during the warm-wet season, the number of samplings were different in both study sites, totalling 15 samplings on RNSM and five on RNSM. In both areas four euglossine species were the most abundant: Euglossa annectans, E. stellfeldi, E. iopoecila and E. roderici. Overall, we can draw three main conclusions. Firstly, there were conspicuous patterns in regard to the set of fragrances visited by the four most abundant euglossine species over the three consecutive years of surveys on SI, with some shifts in fragrance choices found only for E. annectans and E. stellfeldi. Second, the most attractive fragrances used distinctively by each species were very similar in both study areas, indicating a local intraspecific similarity in the use of some main fragrances. Third, E. annectans showed a clear tendency to occupy a broader niche, which probably resulted in the highest percentages of niche overlap.     

Disentangling prey-handling efficiency of larval newts through multivariate prey trait analysis

Multivariate prey trait analysis is a functional approach to understand predator–prey relationships. In the present study, six prey macroinvertebrate ecological traits were used to identify several key factors in the handling efficiency of seven predatory larval newt species. The results revealed a remarkable similarity in the feeding behaviour among species, suggesting a foraging behaviour convergence among species in the prey-handling efficiency of larval newts. Nevertheless, larvae of some newt species showed clear preferences for particular categories of ecological trait; for example, Lissotriton vulgaris tended to feed on macroinvertebrate taxa with random trajectory, and Calotriton asper fed on macroinvertebrate taxa with high agility. In contrast, Mesotriton alpestris showed a clear ability to feed on prey with movable accessories (cases/tubes) and patterned concealment. This study shows how multivariate approaches can complement traditional diet analyses, and the method has wide applicability across life-stages and species.     

The morphological and molecular analyses of a new South American urban tardigrade offer new insights on the biological meaning of the Macrobiotus hufelandi group of species (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae)

Worldwide knowledge of tardigrade fauna is still limited, and many areas such as South America are not well studied. The collection of new substrates in Argentinean urban areas provided an opportunity to describe the new tardigrade species Macrobiotus kristenseni sp. nov. This species has been studied with an integrative taxonomic approach, analysing its morphology by light and scanning electron microscopy, and considering two genes (cox1 and 18S rRNA) for DNA barcoding and phylogenetic purposes. The species belongs to the Macrobiotus hufelandi group of species, and it is characterized by egg processes in the shape of elongated cones with truncated and enlarged apexes, and by a high genetic distance with respect to closely related species (cox1: 18.2–33.4%). Morphological and molecular data show that the Macrobiotus hufelandi group of species has to be considered a true biological entity; one of the more widespread tardigrade lineages in continental environments. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2CA51ABA-5570-4AFB-8182-CE499D97B0F1     

A new species of the genus Liopeltis Fitzinger, 1843 from Vietnam (Squamata: Colubridae)

ABSTRACT

A new species of Liopeltis from central Vietnam is described based on morphological and molecular differences. Liopeltis pallidonuchalis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: one single (or missing) loreal; one single nasal shield; dorsal scales in 15–15-15 rows, all smooth; 1 preocular, 2 postoculars and 1 + 2 temporals; 7 supralabials, of which 3^rd and 4^th in contact with the eye; 8 infralabials; nasal contacting internasal; prefrontal touching or separated from supralabials; ventral scales 126–138; subcaudal scales 67–73, paired; relative tail length about 0.274–0.301; an uniform bronze body colouration; a thin postocular stripe extending from eye to end of the neck becoming indistinct posteriorly. The new species differs from the morphologically closest species Liopeltis frenata by the lower number of ventrals and subcaudals, by characteristic colouration and significant divergence in cytochrome b mtDNA gene sequences (p = 15.3–15.6%). The new species is currently known from northen and central parts of the Annamite (Truong Son) Mountains, central Vietnam, and was recorded from montane evergreen tropical forests of Kon Tum–Gia Lai Plateau (Gia Lai and Thua Thien–Hue provinces, Da Nang City) at elevations of 950–1010 m asl to karst tropical forests in Quang Binh Province in the north at elevation 150 asl. We suggest the new species should be considered as Vulnerable (VU) following the IUCN’s Red List categories. An updated taxonomic key to the Liopeltis species is provided.     

XXII.—On the structure of the palate and mandible of Archegosaurus decheni,Goldfuss

Summary

The genus Helixotionella is introduced for three species of spirally budded, free-living, lunulitiform bryozoans from Australia, H. spiralis (Chapman), H. rubra (Bretnall) and H. scutata sp. nov. H. spiralis, the type species, has a fossil history extending from the Upper Oligocene of Victoria, but like H. scutata, has been found to occur in Recent samples from Western Australia. H. rubra is known only from the Recent of New South Wales. All species have minute colonies and the majority of specimens has been revealed only after detailed examination of very fine fractions of bottom sediments, which themselves include a high proportion of bryozoan skeletal material.