Further studies on the systematics of Australian Diplurinae (Chelicerata: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae): Two new genera from south western Australia

Summary

The current status of Australian diplurine genera is presented. The following genera are recognized here: Aname Koch, Chenistonia Hogg, Ixamatus Simon, Kiama Main and Mascord, Stanwellia Rainbow and Pulleine, Teyl Main, Troglodiplura Main and Xamiatus Raven. Aparua Todd from New Zealand is newly synonymized with Stanwellia Rainbow and Puleine. Two new genera, Kwonkan and Merredinia and six new species are described: Kwonkan anatolion, eboracum, goongarriensis, moriartii and silvestre and Merredinia damsonoides. Dekana wonganensis Main is designated as the type species of Kwonkan. The tribe Anamini Simon is rediagnosed and Anamini Raven newly synonymized with it. Aname, Chenistonia and the two new genera are attributed to the Anamini.     

Geographical variation in the golden‐striped salamander,Chioglossa lusitanica Bocage, 1864 and the description of a newly recognized subspecies

Morphological and genetic data for the Iberian golden‐striped salamander, Chioglossa lusitanica, demonstrate the existence of two groups with southern and northern ranges, connected by a zone of intergradation in central Portugal. Because reproductive isolation between them is incomplete we consider the groups to be subspecies. The type locality of C. lusitanica (Buçaco near Lousã) is situated inside the mixed zone. This necessitates identification of the nominotypical subspecies. We sequenced a fragment of mitochondrial DNA from one of the species' syntypes and we determined what position over a latitudinal transect maximizes the morphological discrimination between the groups. Both approaches indicate that C. lusitanica from Buçaco represents the southern subspecies. A new subspecies of C. lusitanica is described from a northern locality (Valongo near Porto in north‐western Portugal). A lectotype is designated for Chioglossa lusitanica.     

云南大理不同来源旋毛虫肌肉幼虫形态学分析

目的 :对大理不同来源的旋毛虫肌肉幼虫形态进行初步研究。方法 :镜下观察旋毛虫幼虫卷曲状态 ,用测微尺随机测量囊包长、宽。结果 :五株不同来源的旋毛虫幼虫多为圆盘状卷曲 ,C1株、C2株和L株旋毛虫幼虫囊包指数不同于S株和A株 ;前者囊包长梭形 ,后者则近似椭圆形。结论 :大理不同来源的旋毛虫幼虫囊包形态存在一定差别 ,但不是旋毛虫种株鉴定的依据。     

Assessment of morphometric characters to delimit species of Apolpium Chamberlin, 1930 (Pseudoscorpiones,Olpiidae)

ABSTRACT

Pseudoscorpiones is a mesodiverse order of Arachnida, with more than 3600 described species in the world. Species delimitation is sometimes difficult due to the high variability of some characters, difficulty in finding informative and useful characters for species differentiation and the subjectivity of individual specialists. The aim of this work is to explore and to evaluate the role of morphometric characters in species delimitation within the genus Apolpium (Olpiidae). Measurements of 17 structures of 57 individuals were taken and their length/width ratios calculated. Cluster analyses, principal components analyses, discriminant function analyses and non-metric multidimensional scaling were carried out. The results showed low resolution for the number of species currently recognised in the genus. These results highlight the importance of looking for other morphological characters, and also for a more rigorous assessment of previously used characters for defining species.     

Species status of two colour morphs of Eupelmus vesicularis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) as revealed by allozyme electrophoresis,morphometric and host preference data

Eupelmus vesicularis (Retzius) is considered to be a widespread and polyphagous parasitoid recorded from more than 200 hosts. The aim of this study was to determine whether two colour forms of the putative species represent two different morphs of a single species or a pair of cryptic species. Three different methods – morphometric analysis, allozyme electrophoresis and evaluation of host preferences – were used to investigate the existence of two cryptic species. Bivariate and multivariate analyses clearly indicate two species that are also distinguishable electrophoretically at the Idh-2, G6pdh, Me, Pgm and Xdh loci. The evaluation of host preferences indicates some overlap in host range between the two species.     

Morphometrical analysis of four populations of the Little Blue Penguin,Eudyptula minor

Variations in coloration, external morphology and plasma protein between four populations of the Little Blue Penguin, E. minor were determined. A south-north cline was found along the coast of New Zealand.     

Traditional and geometric morphometric analyses reveal homogeneity in European Scutacarus acarorum Goeze, 1780 populations (Acari: Scutacaridae: Heterostigmatina)

The mite Scutacarus acarorum (Scutacaridae, Heterostigmatina) is one of the dominant bumblebee inquilines in the Holarctic. The wide distribution and the host generalist behaviour of S. acarorum suggest that it could be a group of multiple cryptic species. European S. acarorum populations and a small population from New York were studied using traditional and geometric morphometric methods to detect possible geographical or host-dependent variation. The analyses revealed homogeneity of all populations, suggesting that the species experienced a bottleneck during the last ice age and that gene flow between the populations is maintained. High variability within populations indicates a high genetic diversity. No host-related morphological differences were detected, suggesting that S. acarorum is a true generalist. Fresh mite samples from locations all over the Holarctic are needed to draw further conclusions on the species’ phylogeography and also on its population genetic structure.     

Tegmina-size variation in a Neotropical cricket with implications on spectral song properties

This study evaluates the relationship between shape and size of tegmen, harp, mirror, and spectral range of calling song frequency of a Neotropical cricket subpopulation (Lerneca inalata beripocone. In addition, we compare intraspecific morphological divergence and calling song properties between individuals from different sites of the Pantanal of Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Regression analysis showed that the dominant and maximum calling song frequencies were negatively correlated with tegmen size, i.e. frequencies are either lower or higher depending on the corresponding size variation in resonance structures of the forewings. Canonical variable analysis demonstrated marked intraspecific differences in morphometric characters between localities of a L. inalata subpopulation c. 35 km apart (SESC-Pantanal Advanced Research Base and Pouso Alegre Farm, Mato Grosso, Brazil). Lerneca inalata beripocone at SESC had larger forewings than conspecifics from Pouso Alegre Farm. These morphological variations of wing properties related to reproductive behaviours were interpreted as fitness parameters, likely shaped by restricted gene flow during temporal habitat isolation episodes. Such isolation patterns occur in the Pantanal wetlands for several months during the annual hydrological cycle.     

A systematic revision of the large-scaled Marcusenius with description of a new species from Cameroon (Teleostei; Osteoglossomorpha; Mormyridae)

Nine out of 37 recognized species in the genus Marcusenius have eight large circumpeduncular scales rather than 12 or 16, which is more typical of the genus. They are: M. dundoensis, M. fuscus, M. ghesquierei, M. intermedius, M. kutuensis, M. lambouri, M. moorii, M. paucisquamatus and M. schilthuisiae. All nine are restricted to West-Central and Central Africa. A detailed morphometric analysis could not distinguish differences between M. moorii, M. paucisquamatus and M. lambouri. Therefore they are considered as synonyms with M. morrii as the senior synonym. The systematic status of M. intermedius is uncertain owing to the existence of only three specimens. Within this species complex a new species, Marcusenius sanagaensis, is described from the Sanaga River basin in Cameroon. It differs from all the others in the number of scales on the lateral line and in the extent of the broad dark band between the anterior base of the dorsal fin and the anterior base of the anal fin. All valid Marcusenius species with eight circumpeduncular scales are redescribed and a key to these species is given.