Refine
Document Type
- Article (7)
- Part of Periodical (2)
Language
- English (9) (remove)
Has Fulltext
- yes (9) (remove)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (9) (remove)
Keywords
- biodiversity hotspot (9) (remove)
Pristomerus species of Madagascar are revised. We report 15 species, of which 12 are newly described: P. guinness sp. nov., P. hansoni sp. nov., P. kelikely sp. nov., P. keyka sp. nov., P. moramora sp. nov., P. melissa sp. nov., P. patator sp. nov., P. ranomafana sp. nov., P. roberti sp. nov., P. vahaza sp. nov., P. veloma sp. nov. and P. yago sp. nov. Pristomerus albescens (Morley) and P. cunctator Tosquinet are newly recorded from Madagascar and new host and/or distribution records are provided for this species. A dichotomous key to all species is provided. The zoogeographical relation of the Malagasy fauna of Pristomerus with respect to mainland Africa is discussed: only three of the 15 species are reported to occur outside of Madagascar, suggesting a high level of endemism in Madagascar which was not unexpected.
Three new species of Pachygnatha, P. bispiralis sp. nov., P. intermedia sp. nov. and P. ventricosa sp. nov., are described from forest areas in western Burundi. The presence of P. procincta Bosmans & Bosselaers, 1994 in Burundi confirms its very wide distribution spanning most of Africa.
Pachygnatha appears to be an important element of the afromontane spider fauna.
The abiotic and biotic drivers of rapid diversification in Andean bellflowers (Campanulaceae)
(2016)
The tropical Andes of South America, the world's richest biodiversity hotspot, are home to many rapid radiations. While geological, climatic, and ecological processes collectively explain such radiations, their relative contributions are seldom examined within a single clade. We explore the contribution of these factors by applying a series of diversification models that incorporate mountain building, climate change, and trait evolution to the first dated phylogeny of Andean bellflowers (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae). Our framework is novel for its direct incorporation of geological data on Andean uplift into a macroevolutionary model. We show that speciation and extinction are differentially influenced by abiotic factors: speciation rates rose concurrently with Andean elevation, while extinction rates decreased during global cooling. Pollination syndrome and fruit type, both biotic traits known to facilitate mutualisms, played an additional role in driving diversification. These abiotic and biotic factors resulted in one of the fastest radiations reported to date: the centropogonids, whose 550 species arose in the last 5 million yr. Our study represents a significant advance in our understanding of plant evolution in Andean cloud forests. It further highlights the power of combining phylogenetic and Earth science models to explore the interplay of geology, climate, and ecology in generating the world's biodiversity.
Six new and four known species of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 are described and illustrated from the Western Ghats of India. Axonchium indicum sp. nov. has a 1.2–1.4 mm long body, offset lip region, 8–9 µm long odontostyle, expanded part of pharynx 39–49 % of total neck length, anterior uterine sac 0.9–1.6 times the mid-body diameter long, and a bluntly conoid tail. Axonchium microspiculum sp. nov. has a 1.1–1.22 mm long body, offset lip region, 7–8 µm long odontostyle, 20–23 µm long spicules, two weakly developed ventromedian supplements, and obtusely rounded tail. Axonchium nilgiriense sp. nov. has a 1.4–1.6 mm long body, offset lip region, 8–9 µm long odontostyle, vagina strongly bent posteriad, 37–41 µm long spicules, 3–4 ventromedian supplements, and bluntly conoid tail. Axonchium paracingulatum sp. nov. has a 2.5–2.8 mm long body, offset lip region, 10–11 µm long odontostyle, vaginal lumen highly expanded in the middle, 69 µm long spicules, and broadly conoid tail with rounded terminus. Axonchium tropicum sp. nov. has a 1.7–2.0 mm long body, offset lip region, 11–12 µm long odontostyle, anterior uterine sac 2.3–4.0 times the mid-body diameter long, 40 µm long spicules, 4 widely spaced ventromedian supplements, and broadly rounded tail. Axonchium uniqum sp. nov. has a 1.7–2.0 mm long body, offset lip region, 10–11 µm long odontostyle, anterior uterine sac 2.5–2.8 times mid-body diameter long, 68 µm long and slender spicules, and broadly conoid tail. Axonchium nitidum, A. saccatum, A. transkeiense and A. vallum are redescribed based on specimens collected from several localities. A diagnostic key to the identification of the valid species of this genus is provided.
Five new and four known species of the genus Dorylaimellus Cobb, 1913 are described and illustrated from the Western Ghats of India. Dorylaimellus attenuatus sp. nov. has a 0.73–0.84 mm long body; lip region rounded, offset; odontostyle attenuated with indistinct lumen, odontophore 9–10 µm long; expanded part of pharynx 39–48% of neck length; female genital system amphidelphic and tail long filiform. Dorylaimellus cylindricaudatus sp. nov. has a 1.0–1.15 mm long body; lip region rounded, offset; odontostyle 4 µm long, odontophore 11–12 µm long; expanded part of pharynx 47–56% of neck length; female genital system amphidelphic, and tail elongate-cylindrical with rounded terminus. Dorylaimellus karnatakensis sp. nov. has a 1.2–1.3 mm long body; lip region rounded, offset; odontostyle 5 µm long, odontophore 12–13 µm long; expanded part of pharynx 45–53% of neck length; female genital system amphidelphic; spicules 22 µm long, ventromedian supplements four, and tail elongate-conoid dorsally convex. Dorylaimellus kasplateauensis sp. nov. has a 0.68–0.83 mm long body, lip region with a weak perioral disc; odontostyle 6–7 µm long, odontophore 11–14 µm long; expanded part of pharynx 38–43% of neck length; female genital system amphidelphic, and tail elongate arcuate conoid. Dorylaimellus tropicus sp. nov. has a 0.6–0.7 mm long body; lip region rounded, offset; odontostyle 4–5 µm long, odontophore 8–10 µm long; hemizonid present; expanded part of pharynx 43–52% of neck length; female genital system amphidelphic and tail elongate-filiform, sudden tapering, ending with rounded tip. Dorylaimellus andrassyi, D. discocephalus, D. belondirelloides, D. chakpilus are redescribed based on the specimens collected from several localities of the Western Ghats.
Psychodid specimens from one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots – the Caucasus region – were sorted from samples collected during field work in 2019. Pneumia fuehzulii sp. nov. (from two localities in Azerbaijan) and Thornburghiella salihi sp. nov. (from one locality in Azerbaijan and four sites in Georgia) are described from this material. Differential diagnoses are given and some morphological characters illustrated. Sijaricia Krek, 1999, syn. nov. of Thornburghiella Vaillant, 1982 is proposed and T. erinacea (Krek, 1971) comb. nov. from Ulomyia Walker, 1856 is suggested.
Five new and six known species belonging to the genus Basirotyleptus collected from the Western Ghats, India, are described and illustrated. Basirotyleptus conicaudatus sp. nov. is characterized by having 0.42–0.44 mm long body; odontostyle 9.5–10.0 μm, odontophore 11.5–12.0 μm; pharyngeal bulb pear-shaped, 14–15% of total neck length; female genital system mono-opisthodelphic; tail conoid with acute terminus. Basirotyleptus constrictus sp. nov. is characterized by having 0.38–0.49 mm long body; perioral disc distinct; odontostyle 9–10 μm, odontophore 14–15 μm; pharyngeal bulb pear-shaped, 15–17% of total neck length; female genital system mono-opisthodelphic; tail rounded to conoid. Basirotyleptus goaensis sp. nov. is characterized by having 0.73–0.87 mm long body; odontostyle 13.0–14.5 μm, odontophore 15.0–17.5 μm; pharyngeal bulb pyriform, 16–18% of total neck length; female genital system mono-opisthodelphic; tail rounded. Basirotyleptus neocaudatus sp. nov. is characterized by having 0.31–0.44 mm long body; odontostyle 7.5–9.5 μm, odontophore 10–13 μm; pharyngeal bulb pear-shaped, 14–19% of total neck length; female genital system mono-opisthodelphic; tail conoid with acute terminus. Basirotyleptus siddiqii sp. nov. is characterized by having 0.36 mm long body; odontostyle 7.5–8.0 μm, odontophore 10.0–10.5 μm; pharyngeal bulb pear-shaped, 15–16% of total neck length; female genital system mono-opisthodelphic; tail conoid. Six known species viz., B. basiri, B. pini, B. nindei, B. ethiopicus, B. acus, B. minutus are also described and illustrated. Along with light microscopic study, line drawings, compendium and key to species of Basirotyleptus are also provided.
Five new and five known species of the genus Tylencholaimus de Man, 1876 are described from the Western Ghats of India. Tylencholaimus macroamphidius sp. nov. has a 0.61–0.85 mm long body, angular lips, large amphid, 8.0–9.0 μm long odontostyle, odontophore with asymmetrical basal knobs, pharyngeal bulb expanding gradually, female genital system mono-prodelphic, and a rounded to conoid tail. Tylencholaimus shamimi sp. nov. has a 0.57–0.71 mm long body, 6.0–7.0 μm long odontostyle, odontophore with basal thickening, pharyngeal bulb expanding gradually, female genital system amphidelphic and a convex-conoid tail. Tylencholaimus southindicus sp. nov. has a 0.44–0.55 mm long body, lip region with distinct labial disc, 4.5–5.5 μm long odontostyle, odontophore with minute basal knobs, pharyngeal expansion abrupt, female genital system mono-prodelphic, and a rounded-conoid to rounded tail. Tylencholaimus striatus sp. nov. has a 0.30–0.34 mm long body with distinctly striated cuticle, 5.0–5.5 μm long odontostyle, odontophore with minute basal knobs, pharyngeal bulb expanding abruptly, female genital system mono-prodelphic, and a conoid tail with bluntly rounded terminus. Tylencholaimus tamiliensis sp. nov. has 0.51–0.58 mm long body, 5.5–6.0 μm long odontostyle, odontophore with minute basal knobs, pharyngeal bulb expanding gradually, female genital system mono-prodelphic and tail rounded to conoid with sunken terminus. Five known species of the genus Tylencholaimus viz. T. mirabilis, T. teres, T. micronanus, T. ibericus and T. cosmos also recorded from the region and redescribed/illustrated.
A new species of snail-eating snakes of the genus Pareas Wagler, 1830 is described from the eastern Himalayas. The species Pareas kaduri sp. nov. differs from all known species of the genus in bearing the following suite of characters: SVL 455–550 mm, TaL/TL 0.184–0.207, brown dorsum with black transverse bands throughout the body, 15 dorsal scale rows throughout the body and mid-dorsal vertebral scale rows enlarged, 8 rows keeled in males, loreal not touching orbit, ventrals 160–183, subcaudals 65–70 in males, 52 in one female specimen, hemipenis short, unilobed and 6–7 maxillary teeth. Molecular data for mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome b genes further attest the distinctness of the new species, which was recovered as a member of the Pareas hamptoni clade. Our work brings the total number of species recognized within the genus Pareas to 20.