Refine
Year of publication
- 2014 (22) (remove)
Document Type
- Part of Periodical (18)
- Article (4)
Has Fulltext
- yes (22)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (22)
Keywords
- taxonomy (22) (remove)
Institute
Twenty new species of the millipede genus Chaleponcus Attems, 1914, are described from the Udzungwa Mountains: C. netus sp. nov., C. quasimodo sp. nov., C. malleolus sp. nov., C. scopus sp. nov., C. nikolajscharffi sp. nov., C. mwanihanensis sp. nov., C. basiliscus sp. nov., C. krai sp. nov., C. nectarinia sp. nov., C. circumvallatus sp. nov., C. ibis sp. nov., C. vandenspiegeli sp. nov., C. vilici sp. nov., C. teres sp. nov., C. hamerae sp. nov., C. termini sp. nov., C. gracilior sp. nov., C. mwabvui sp. nov., C. howelli sp. nov. and C. tintin sp. nov. Together with C. dabagaensis Kraus, 1958, they constitute the Chaleponcus dabagaensis-group, well characterized by apparently apomorphic gonopodal characters, presumably monophyletic, and the first example of a major radiation within the Udzungwas. All species are restricted to altitudes >1390 m, all but one were found in only one, rarely two forest reserves, and the vast majority of specimens were collected in montane forest. Chaleponcus gracilior sp. nov. was collected in four forest reserves, often in secondary habitats where other species were only exceptionally found. Co-occurrence of multiple species, inter-specific differences in body size and unusual tarsal setation of a few species tentatively suggest adaptive radiation.
The Afrotropical Rhyssinae are reviewed. A total of 12 species are reported from the region, including five new species: Epirhyssa brianfisheri sp. nov., E. gavinbroadi sp. nov., E. shaka sp. nov., E. villemantae sp. nov. and E. tombeaodiba sp. nov. The generic status of E. brianfisheri sp. nov. is discussed since this species could also be considered to be an extra-limital Triancyra species, emphasizing the putative paraphyletic status of Epirhyssa. Epirhyssa ghesquierei Seyrig, 1937, E. overlaeti Seyrig, 1937 and E. uelensis Benoit, 1951 are newly reported from Cameroon. We provide illustrated diagnoses and identification notes. Finally, we discuss the apparent scarcity of African rhyssines compared to other regions.
A revision of the genus Asterostegus Mortensen, 1933 (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Euryalidae) is based on seven specimens, including the holotype of Asterostegus maini McKnight, 2003. A new species, Asterostegus sabineae sp. nov., is described from off Reunion Island and two other species, A. tuberculatus Mortensen, 1933 and A. maini, are redescribed. A tabular key to the three species of the genus Asterostegus is provided. Some terminology of the taxonomy of euryalid ophiuroids is revised.
This study presents a taxonomic update of the Tetramorium weitzeckeri species group.
Tetramorium mpala sp. nov. is described from Laikipia, Kenya, and placed in the T. weitzeckeri species complex. In addition, we also provide an illustrated identification key to the three species complexes of the T. weitzeckeri species group, and an updated illustrated identification key to the species of the T. weitzeckeri species complex.
The endophallic structure of the genus Laius is studied and discussed based on the examination of 19 species from Asia to the Indian Ocean. The structure contains two primary sclerites (named gonoporal piece and ligula), a secondary sclerite on the basal part of the gonoporal piece (named additional sclerite) in some species, and a membranous basal area closely covered with many spines (named spinous area). Five species groups are recognized based on the morphology of the endophallic sclerites. The sympatric species have different body sizes and quite distinguishable endophallic sclerites (= different species group), while the allopatric species have overlapping body sizes and similar endophallic sclerites (= same species group). Three new species are described and six previously known species are redescribed with endophallic sclerites, and the descriptions of endophallic sclerites of the remaining ten species are added. The larva of Laius rodriguesensis sp. nov. is also described. The genus
Nossibeus Evers, 1994 is synonymised with Laius Guérin-Méneville, 1830.
Populations of Stegelleta are described from California, New Zealand and Senegal. An amphimictic population from California is identified as belonging to S. incisa and compared with type specimens from Utah and an amphimictic population from Italy. One population from New Zealand is close to S. incisa but considered to represent a new species, Stegelleta laterocornuta sp. nov. It is particularly characterised by a 379–512 μm long body in females and 365–476 μm in males; cuticle divided into 16 rows of blocks at midbody (excluding lateral field); lateral field with four incisures; three pairs of asymmetrical lips, U-shaped primary axils without guarding processes, each lip asymmetrically rectangular with a smooth margin, only lateral lips have slender acute tines; three labial probolae, bifurcated at half of their length; vulva without flap; spermatheca 17–31 μm long; postuterine sac 7–24 μm long; spicules 21.5–23.5 μm long. Other specimens from New Zealand are identified as belonging to S. tuarua. A parthenogenetic population from Senegal is identified as belonging to S. ophioglossa and compared with type specimens from Mongolia and records of several other populations of S. ophioglossa. The generic diagnosis is emended and a key to the species of Stegelleta is provided.