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Organisms are complex entities whose study has necessitated an increasingly reductionistic stance in modern biology (CAPLAN 1987). As a consequence, biology as a science has been split up into numerous sub-disciplines. However, this extremely reductionistic philosophy must not be taken as marking the endpoint of biological research but should be reappraised as the beginning of a new integrative approach encompassing the entire organism (SAUER 1992). This view has been promoted since the second half of the 20th century with the rise of new disciplines such as ecophysiology and ethoecology. Moreover, in morphology, an integrative approach with regard to the form and function of organisms in their relationship to the external environment is becoming increasingly important (e.g. KARR & JAMES 1975, MOTTA & KOTRSCHAL 1992, REILLY & WAINWRIGHT 1994).
Morphologische Daten von Zweigsängern Sylviidae sind nur spärlich publiziert. Basierend auf Beringungstätigkeit in drei Regionen Nordasiens (Ussurien, Baikalsee und Zentralkasachstan) präsentieren wir Flügellängen, Teilfederlängen der achten Handschwinge, Tarsuslängen, Schwanzlängen und Gewichtsmessungen von 27 Zweigsängerarten aus 6 Gattungen. Außerdem zeigen wir flügelmorphologische Profile basierend auf Einzelfedermessungen des Handflügels für 15 Arten aus 5 Gattungen. Von allen untersuchten Arten zeigte der Koreabuschsänger Cettia canturians den rundesten Handflügel, während der Wanderlaubsänger Phylloscopus borealis den spitzesten Handflügel (mit langen Handschwingen 6-8) zeigte. Für einige Arten waren Tests auf Unterschiede in den Messwerten zwischen den Regionen möglich. Wander- und Dunkellaubsänger Phylloscopus fuscatus unterschieden sich nicht zwischen den Fangorten, während am Baikalsee gefangene Gelbbrauenlaubsänger Phylloscopus inornatus kleiner, aber schwerer waren als Individuen aus Ussurien. Auch Klappergrasmücken Sylvia curruca unterschieden sich in Tarsus- und Schwanzlängen, aber nicht in Flügelmorphologie zwischen den Fangregionen Baikalsee und Zentralkasachstan. Die präsentierten Ergebnisse zeigen, wie innerhalb relativ kurzer Fangzeiträume interessante morphologische Daten gesammelt werden können.
The pseudoscorpions Chthonius (Chthonius) carinthiacus Beier, 1951 and Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) tuberculatus Hadži, 1937, are recorded for the first time from Slovakia. An illustrated description of these species is provided based on their morphological and morphometric characters. The descriptions of the species offer an update on the variability of their morphological and morphometric characters.
Camel spiders (Arachnida: Solifugae) are one of the arachnid groups characterised by a prosomal dorsal shield composed of three distinct elements: the pro-, meso- and metapeltidium. These are associated respectively with prosomal appendages one to four, five, and six. What is less well known, although noted in the historical literature, is that the coxae of the 4th and 5th prosomal segments (i.e. walking legs 2 and 3) of camel spiders are also separated ventrally by a distinct membranous region, which is absent between the coxae of the other legs. We suggest that this essentially ventral division of the prosoma specifically between coxae 2 and 3 is homologous with the so-called sejugal furrow (the sejugal interval sensu van der Hammen). This division constitutes a fundamental part of the body plan in acariform mites (Arachnida: Acariformes). If homologous, this sejugal furrow could represent a further potential synapomorphy for (Solifugae + Acariformes); a relationship with increasing morphological and molecular support. Alternatively, outgroup comparison with sea spiders (Pycnogonida) and certain early Palaeozoic fossils could imply that the sejugal furrow defines an older tagma, derived from a more basal grade of organisation. In this scenario the (still) divided prosoma of acariform mites and camel spiders would be plesiomorphic. This interpretation challenges the textbook arachnid character of a peltidium (or ‘carapace’) covering an undivided prosoma.
An illustrated description of Withius hispanus (L. Koch, 1873) is provided based on its morphological and morphometric characters. This finding of W. hispanus is the first record of the family Withiidae in Slovakia. The present re-description of this species allows an assessment of the variability of its morphological and morphometric characters.
Hortipes gigapophysalis (Araneae, Corinnidae) is a new species described from both sexes from montane forest on Mt Nimba, eastern Guinea. The species is remarkable for its long, whip-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) on the male palp. The structure apparently has an insertable function as the epigyne of the female contains a separate set of ducts starting from a central concavity that is unique in the genus. This duct system is apparently meant to receive the supple RTA. This type of structural arrangement has never previously been found in spiders.
Six Odonata species were collected during night light trapping on the Mambilla Pla-teau, Taraba State Nigeria. Being predominantly diurnal insects, odonates captured in light traps have always been considered as an anomaly. The new data initiated an extensive interrogation of all records on Odonata collected near artificial light sources.A total of 415 records (402 published and 13 new) are presented here with a sum-mary of previous discussions and new discussion points. The general conclusion is that odonates are mainly confused by, rather than attracted to the light. New ave-nues for further research in this field are suggested based on previous important stu-dies undertaken on Odonata morphology and physiology.
Several populations of four known species of the genus Pungentus (P. clavatus, P. engadinensis, P. marietani and P. silvestris), collected in the wild and in cultivated soils from the Iberian Peninsula, are studied. Detailed redescriptions and morphometrics are presented for each species. Illustrations are provided, including line drawings, light microscopy pictures of the four species as well as scanning electron microscopy observations of P. engadinensis. The Iberian populations are compared to type and other known populations, and new data are given that provide a better characterization of these taxa. Pungentus engadinensis is the most widely distributed species in the Iberian Peninsula.
The taxonomy of the genus Ophiocoma was last revised by Devaney in 1970. Recent discoveries of new species and re-instatement of previously synonymized names suggest that we still do not fully understand the species limits in this genus. A recent biodiversity survey of the SW Indian Ocean shallow reefs strongly suggested an unrecognised species in the genus, closely related to O. brevipes/O. dentata. This study examined both the molecular phylogenetic relationships and the morphological characteristics of several species in the genus in order to characterise the unrecognised species. The focal species clusters with O. brevipes, O. dentata, O. doederleini within a monophyletic clade supported by molecular data for the first time. The name Breviturma subgen. nov. is proposed for this clade, previously known as brevipes group. Type material of nominal species that have been synonymized with O. dentata was examined and re-assessed. Ophiocoma marmorata proved not conspecific with O. dentata. A rarely used character, dorsal disc granule density, was tested and showed differences between the examined species at similar sizes. In combination with colour pattern, disc granule density, arm spine sequence and maximum disc size, the new species was delimited morphologically and described as Ophiocoma krohi sp. nov.