Showing papers in "Journal of Natural History in 2018"
TL;DR: These data indicate that karst habitats not only serve as foci for speciation, but their rugged terrain spares them from agricultural development and, as such, they are the only habitats in the Salween Basin wherein much of the pre-agricultural herpetofauna can survive.
Abstract: An integrative phylogenetic taxonomic analysis recovers three additional new species of karst-associated Cyrtodactylus Gray (Squamata: Gekkonidae) – C. bayinnyiensis sp. nov., C. chaunghanakwaensis...
23 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented shells, anatomy and four molecular markers (nuclear H3, 18S and 28S and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I) in Belgrandiella from 16 localities in Slovenia, northern Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Abstract: ABSTRACT Belgrandiella A. J. Wagner, 1927 is a genus comprising minute snails with conic or turriform shells that are facultative stygobionts, inhabiting subterranean waters and springs. Few specimens or even empty shells of this taxon can be found, so the taxonomy is based mostly on the shell morphology and geographic distribution. Anatomy is known for a few taxa, and its usefulness is restricted. This, coupled with a popular idea that isolation is the first factor shaping divergence and speciation of the spring/cave fauna, resulted in dozens of nominal species of Belgrandiella, known from shells at a given locality. Herein we present shells, anatomy and four molecular markers (nuclear H3, 18S and 28S and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I) in Belgrandiella from 16 localities in Slovenia, northern Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Five sites are type localities of Boleana umbilicata, Belgrandiella kusceri, Belgrandiella krupensis, Belgrandiella zermanica and Belgrandiella robusta, respectively. Considering the shell and geographic distribution, we have determined B. cf. robusta Belgrandiella cf. croatica, Belgrandiella cf. fontinalis, Belgrandiella cf. kuesteri, Belgrandiella cf. pageti and Belgrandiella cf. koprivnensis The shells of all, as well as penes and female reproductive organs of two putative, species have been illustrated. Molecular analysis indicates four distinct clades, most probably of species rank for B. kusceri, B. cf. kuesteri, B. cf. fontinalis and B. cf. koprivnensis. Four nominal species (B. krupensis, B. robusta, B. umbilicata and B. zermanica) and one genus (Boleana) must be synonymised with Belgrandiella kusceri, and there are no more than four valid, biological species in the studied Belgrandiella. The molecular divergence is completely unmirrored by high morphological variability. Hence the level of endemism is markedly overestimated in these snails.
21 citations
TL;DR: The taxonomy of the osculatii complex of the hircus group is revised, with descriptions of two new species from South America (Onthophagus chacoensis sp. nov. and Onthophagine basicarinatus sp.nov).
Abstract: The taxonomy of the osculatii complex of the hircus group is revised, with descriptions of two new species from South America (Onthophagus chacoensis sp. nov. and Onthophagus basicarinatus sp. nov....
21 citations
TL;DR: Based on phylogenetic relationships, depth of molecular genetic and estimated temporal divergence, and on the external morphological and ecological distinctiveness of the two lineages, Xylophis is classified in a newly erected subfamily (Xylophiinae subfam.) within Pareidae.
Abstract: We report molecular phylogenetic and dating analyses of snakes that include new mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data for three species of the peninsular Indian endemic Xylophis. The results provide the first molecular genetic test of and support for the monophyly of Xylophis. Our phylogenetic results support the findings of a previous, taxonomically restricted phylogenomic analysis of ultraconserved nuclear sequences in recovering the fossorial Xylophis as the sister taxon of a clade comprising all three recognised extant genera of the molluscivoran and typically arboreal pareids. The split between Xylophis and ‘pareids’ is estimated to have occurred on a similar timescale to that between most (sub)families of extant snakes. Based on phylogenetic relationships, depth of molecular genetic and estimated temporal divergence, and on the external morphological and ecological distinctiveness of the two lineages, we classify Xylophis in a newly erected subfamily (Xylophiinae subfam. nov.) within P...
21 citations
TL;DR: A phylogenetic taxonomy of the gekkonid genus Hemiphyllodactylus based on molecular, morphological, and ecological data recovered 28 species, including three new species from the upland regions of the Shan Plateau in eastern Myanmar, which emphasizes the unrealized herpetological diversity endemic to karst ecosystems and the need for increased field work throughout such habitats in South-East Asia.
Abstract: A phylogenetic taxonomy of the gekkonid genus Hemiphyllodactylus based on molecular, morphological, and ecological data recovered 28 species, including three new species from the upland regions of the Shan Plateau in eastern Myanmar. Hemiphyllodactylus linnwayensis sp. nov. is a forest-adapted species that may also be a human commensal and H. montawaensis sp. nov. and H. tonywhitteni sp. nov. are karst forest-adapted species. The discovery of three new species from montane regions in eastern Myanmar extends the distribution of a larger monophyletic group of Hemiphyllodactylus westward to the eastern edge of the Ayeyrawady Basin through a series of semi-contiguous, parallel mountain ranges originating in western China and northern Thailand. The discovery of the karst forest-adapted H. montawaensis sp. nov. and H. tonywhitteni sp. nov. further emphasizes the unrealized herpetological diversity endemic to karst ecosystems and the need for increased field work throughout such habitats in South-East As...
20 citations
TL;DR: Genera assigned to the cheilostome bryozoan family Onychocellidae are revised based on the skeletal morphology of the type species and, when possible, the type material of these species.
Abstract: Genera assigned to the cheilostome bryozoan family Onychocellidae are revised based on the skeletal morphology of the type species and, when possible, the type material of these species. Al...
18 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate industrial activities to determine the extent to which human-ecosystem interactions may lead to species loss, disrupted community dynamics, and increased community instability.
Abstract: Efficiently evaluating industrial activities plays an essential role in determining the extent to which human–ecosystem interactions may lead to species loss, disrupted community dynamics, ...
17 citations
TL;DR: Longterm springtime counts of immature and adult monarch butterflies and their Asclepias humistrata host plants in north-central Florida reveal a close relationship between the milkweed's phenolog...
Abstract: Long-term springtime counts of immature and adult monarch butterflies and their Asclepias humistrata host plants in north-central Florida reveal a close relationship between the milkweed’s phenolog...
17 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest the Gran Sabana as a possible recent biogeographical barrier for the genus in the region and indicate that tepui-summit Neusticurus populations derive from uplands populations that shifted their habitat preference.
Abstract: The gymnophthalmid lizard genus Neusticurus Dumeril and Bibron, 1839 currently contains six described species. One of them, Neusticurus rudis Boulenger, 1900 has a long history of taxonomic confusion, and uncertainty remains about the number of species involved under that name, especially in the Pantepui region. Our molecular phylogenetic (concatenation and species tree) and morphological (morphometrics, external and hemipenial morphology) analyses confirm Neusticurus rudis as a species complex with several candidate species in the eastern Pantepui region. Neusticurus rudis is here redescribed based on the re-examination of the holotype and 10 specimens from the vicinity of the type locality (ca. 15 km airline) in Guyana. The geographic distribution of N. rudis sensu stricto is restricted to east of the Venezuelan Gran Sabana, extending from the slopes of Mount Roraima in Venezuela through the slopes of Maringma-tepui and Wayalayeng to Mount Ayanganna in Guyana, between 678 and 1500 m elevation. P...
17 citations
TL;DR: Two diminutive species of rattlesnakes from small nearshore islands off the coast of Baja California in the western Gulf of California, Mexico are described, speculate that collective evidence based on contrasting patterns of nuclear and mitochondrial evolution supports a hybrid origin of the species from Cabeza de Caballo Island followed by exceptionally rapid mitochondrial evolution.
Abstract: We describe two diminutive species of rattlesnakes (genus Crotalus) from small nearshore islands off the coast of Baja California in the western Gulf of California, Mexico. In order to test the hypothesis that some island populations represent cohesive species entities, we applied linear discriminant analysis and uniform validation procedures to multiple classes of intrinsic trait data. By using previously recognised species to establish a threshold for species recognition, we found that assignment of specimens to either new species was as probable as with other established rattlesnake species within the speckled rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) complex. We also found that assignment of specimens from other island populations was not as probable as for the established species, and these populations are referable to C. pyrrhus. The species endemic to Piojo Island is most closely related to other island and mainland populations of C. pyrrhus whereas the species endemic to Cabeza de Caballo Island i...
16 citations
TL;DR: The first records of the species in the Western Mediterranean basin and review the progression of its colonization from the Red Sea were obtained through the online database of the NGO called Catalan Opisthobranch Research Group (Spain) as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The colonization of foreign species into the Mediterranean Sea has increased in number and geographic coverage over the past decades For instance, the marine mollusc Haminoea cyanomarginata has scattered across the Central and Eastern Mediterranean since its description in the Red Sea by Heller and Thompson in 1983 In this study, we add the first records of the species in the Western Mediterranean basin and review the progression of its colonization from the Red Sea The new records were obtained through the online database of the NGO called Catalan Opisthobranch Research Group (Spain), thus highlighting how citizen science platforms can provide an early warning for marine scientists and managers in relation to exogenous species
TL;DR: This new taxonomy recognizes a revised genus of Sonora, which contains 15 species of diminutive and often brightly coloured snakes that are distributed from central Mexico to north-western USA, and revised species-level taxonomy accordingly.
Abstract: Delimiting species is a crucial goal of integrative biology, and yet can be misled by homoplasy and high levels of morphological variation. The snake tribe Sonorini contains three genera that have long confounded taxonomists: Chilomeniscus, Chionactis and Sonora. Dynamic colour evolution in this group, including rampant geographic variation in colour and colour polymorphism, has led to a chaotic taxonomy. We used mitochondrial and high-throughput nuclear data (ddRADseq) and complete taxonomic sampling of each genus to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and systematically revise the genus. Our research revealed that Sonora is paraphyletic with regards to Chilomeniscus and Chionactis and that at least one species (S. semiannulata) is paraphyletic with respect to at least one other recognized species. Additionally, we found substantial undescribed genetic diversity within multiple species which is incongruent with morphological variation in coloration. Accordingly, we proposed synonymizing Chiona...
TL;DR: An integrative approach is used to link morphological, molecular and historical evidence to identify the original type locality of B. cinereus and the population to which the name applies, and present a detailed review of the nomenclatural acts and decisions taken by other authors.
Abstract: Presently two species of the genus Blanus are known from the Iberian Peninsula, Blanus cinereus Vandelli, 1797 and Blanus mariae Albert & Fernandez, 2009 The latter was recently described based on ...
TL;DR: Evidence is provided that colonies of hemipterans interacting with ants can be beneficial for these herbivorous insects, but they are quite harmful to the host plant.
Abstract: Ants commonly participate simultaneously in mutualisms with honeydew-producing hemipterans and extrafloral nectar-bearing host plants. These interactions are based on the exchange of resources (hon...
TL;DR: Krauss et al. as mentioned in this paper contributed in-life perspectives to morphological and phylogenetic analyses known to be on-going, and found that at Knysna, they are syntopic: at least two occurring in >85% and all three in >40% of individual 0.0026m² samples from their region of dominance.
Abstract: Areas of the Knysna estuarine bay in the Western Cape are dominated by three endemic South African truncatelloid microgastropods, temporarily known as ‘Hydrobia’ knysnaensis (Krauss), ‘Assiminea’ capensis (Sowerby) and ‘Assiminea’ globulus Connolly. Although first described 80–170 years ago and present in abundance (up to 100,000 m⁻²), they remain surrounded by confusion and still await taxonomic assignment, largely because they appear most atypical members of their groups by virtue of anatomy and/or biogeography and/or habitat. This study contributes in-life perspectives to morphological and phylogenetic analyses known to be on-going. At Knysna, they are syntopic: at least two occurring in >85% and all three in >40% of individual 0.0026 m² samples from their region of dominance. Nevertheless, they tend to greater abundance in divergent microhabitats; ‘A.’ globulus dominating higher tidal levels, and ‘A.’ capensis and ‘Hydrobia’ lower ones; the former especially unvegetated sediment, the latter, if anything, seagrass. Interspecific feeding interactions appear unlikely to be responsible for these patterns, other evidence suggesting that all are maintained below carrying capacity. Field biology of ‘H.’ knysnaensis generally appears equivalent to that of northern-hemisphere intertidal hydrobiids and that of ‘A.’ globulus is typically assimineid, albeit at atypically low shore height. Unlike assimineids, however, ‘A.’ capensis is truly aquatic. The success of these truncatelloids in unusual circumstances may be consequent on the absence from South Africa of other microgastropod groups that fill their niches elsewhere in the southern hemisphere.
TL;DR: Parasite community structure and species composition varied between locations and/or sampling years, and the main factors responsible were host traits such as feeding behaviour and body size, the occurrence of a set of distinctive parasite species, and possible variations in the availability of infected prey between locations.
Abstract: Biotic or abiotic factors responsible for temporal or spatial variation in metazoan parasite communities of the green jack Caranx caballus were studied over a nine-year period using samples collected at locations along the south-central Pacific coast of Mexico. A total of 708 fish were collected from six locations between December 2009 and October 2017. Thirty-two parasite species were identified: three Monogenea, nine Digenea, two Cestoda, five Nematoda, eight Copepoda, and three Isopoda. At the component community level, parasite species richness varied significantly from seven (Zihuatanejo 2016) to 18 (Acapulco Bay 2011). The component communities and infracommunities of C. caballus exhibited a similar pattern: low species numbers, low diversity, and dominance by a single species (mainly the monogenean Pseudomazocraes selene or the digenean Bucephalus varicus). Parasite community structure and species composition varied between locations and/or sampling years. The main factors responsible for t...
TL;DR: Using a combination of genetic analyses and morphometric methods, specimens of Anagrus incarnatosimilis collected in Europe were shown to be not significantly different from those of A. nilaparvatae reared from eggs of rice planthoppers and leafhoppers mainly in Taiwan and also in Malaysia, and A. columbi Perkins were found to be genetically identical to the common Palaearctic species A. incarnatus Haliday.
Abstract: Anagrus nilaparvartae Pang and Wang has been recorded frequently as an egg parasitoid of rice planthoppers in SE Asia, especially of brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stal). However, what appea...
TL;DR: Twenty living ostracod species were identified in the Tiantong National Forest Park and Dongqian lake in Zhejiang Province, China, and two species are new, belonging to the genus Ilyocypris and Schellencandona.
Abstract: In this study, 192 samples were collected and analyzed from diverse water bodies in the Tiantong National Forest Park and Dongqian lake in Zhejiang Province, China. Twenty living ostracod species w...
TL;DR: The distribution pattern of flying squid and the relationship between its abundance and environmental variables in the south-eastern Arabian Sea were analyzed using a geographical informa-tion using a GPS in this article.
Abstract: The distribution pattern of purpleback flying squid and the relationship between its abundance and environmental variables in the south-eastern Arabian Sea were analysed using a geographical inform...
TL;DR: A key to Chinese Corydiinae genera is provided as well as checklists for extant Polyphaga and Ergaula and the occurrence of two species ofPolyphaga Brullé, P. plancyi Bolívar and P. obscura Chopard, in China are confirmed.
Abstract: New findings on Chinese Corydiinae are presented and new taxa are described and illustrated: Ctenoblatta impubis gen. and sp. nov., Minicorydia maoxiana gen. and sp. nov. and Ergaula nepalensis (Sa...
TL;DR: The genus Hapalotremus comprises 10 valid species, distributed along the Andes and Yungas in western South America, with the highest altitude record for a Theraphosidae spider, living at 4524 m above sea level.
Abstract: New specimens of the genus Hapalotremus (Theraphosinae) are revised based on the examination of types and additional material collected in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. A new generic diagnosis is pr...
TL;DR: Camponotus renggeri and C. rufipes are very abundant in Brazilian cerrado savannah, where they feed extensively on liquid rewards and commonly associate with plants bearing extrafloral nectaries an...
Abstract: Camponotus renggeri and C. rufipes are very abundant in Brazilian cerrado savannah, where they feed extensively on liquid rewards and commonly associate with plants bearing extrafloral nectaries an...
TL;DR: Most canopy chrysomelid beetle fauna observed and collected at canopy trees for 1 year revealed broader plasticity in host tissue selection, and insights into beetle seasonality, diurnal/nocturnal activity and intra-canopy migration are provided.
Abstract: Embedded within the interdisciplinary research project ‘Towards an understanding of the structure and function of a Neotropical rainforest ecosystem with special reference to its canopy’ organised ...
TL;DR: Lethal yellowing (LY) of coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L., Arecaceae) is a disease of economic importance that is caused by the phytoplasma "Candidatus Phytoplas palmae" and is transmitted by the...
Abstract: Lethal yellowing (LY) of coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L., Arecaceae) is a disease of economic importance that is caused by the phytoplasma ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmae’ and is transmitted by the ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the first extinct vertebrate ever recorded from this western Indian Ocean island group has been found in the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen) and described as an exceptionally rare species.
Abstract: Data on the prehistoric biota of the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen) are scarce. We report on the first extinct vertebrate ever recorded from this western Indian Ocean island group. An exceptionally pr...
TL;DR: A key to all spider mite species of SA is provided as well as a key to the species of the armenychus species group of the genus Tetranychus Dufour, based on males.
Abstract: A total of 18 spider mite species belonging to 10 genera of the family Tetranychidae (Acari: Prostigmata) are reported from different provinces of Saudi Arabia (SA). Among these, two new species, S...
TL;DR: The population dynamics and phenology of two congeneric lynx spider species were examined in southeastern Brazil and the variation in the total abundance of individuals and age structure and their relationship with climatic variables were similar between the two spiders.
Abstract: Numerous phenological studies on spiders belonging to the families Oxyopidae, Thomisidae, Lycosidae, Selenopidae (e.g. Selenops cocheleti) and Salticidae (e.g. Psecas chapoda and Psecas viridipurpureus) have been conducted in the neotropical region. However, studies that simultaneously compare population dynamics and age structure in populations of sympatric species are limited, especially in Oxyopidae. The population dynamics and phenology of two congeneric lynx spider (Peucetia rubrolineata and Peucetia flava) were examined in southeastern Brazil. Several characteristics of the age structure were compared between the two spider species. The variation in the total abundance of individuals and age structure and their relationship with climatic variables were similar between the two spiders. Adults of these spiders were present mainly in spring, indicating an annual reproductive cycle and a ‘stenochronous spring’ phenological pattern. The recruitment of spiders occurred in summer for P. rubrolineata and P....
TL;DR: A new brachypterous species of Onthophagus from Mexico, belonging to the New World chevrolati species group, is described and illustrated and the relationships with other brachycephalous species that occur in Guerrero (Mexico) are discussed.
Abstract: A new brachypterous species of Onthophagus from Mexico, belonging to the New World chevrolati species group, is described and illustrated. Illustrations of the male and female dorsal habitus, and g...
TL;DR: Two new species of Anolis lizard that are sympatric on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes of southern Ecuador are described, distinguished from other Anolis by external anatomy, mitochondrial divergence and dewlap colour.
Abstract: We describe two new species of Anolis lizard that are sympatric on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes of southern Ecuador at elevations between 1440 and 1970 m. The new species may be distinguished from other Anolis by external anatomy, mitochondrial divergence and dewlap colour. We estimate the phylogenetic positions of the new species using Bayesian analysis of DNA sequence data including all species of Dactyloa-clade Anolis for which DNA data are available. Anolis hyacintogularis sp. nov. is sister to Anolis calimae, whereas Anolis lososi sp. nov. is sister to Anolis williamsmittermeierorum, herein reported for Ecuador for the first time. Individuals of both new species were collected within a protected area in southern Ecuador, Podocarpus National Park, which suggests that at least some populations of these species are well protected.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E55FA804-E3FD-4412-8FEB-5234E29E272D
TL;DR: This work found significant amounts of genetic structure among populations and evidence of two major reciprocally monophyletic groups of spot-tailed earless lizards in Texas, and identified two recognised subspecies correspond to the two clades.
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.