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Many diseases have been described to be associated with inflammatory processes. The currently available anti-inflammatory drug therapy is often not successful or causes intolerable side effects. Thus, new anti-inflammatory substances are still urgently needed. Plants were the first source of remedies in the history of mankind. Since their chemical characterization in the 19th century, herbal bioactive compounds have fueled drug development. Also, nowadays, new plant-derived agents continuously enrich our drug arsenal (e.g., vincristine, galantamine, and artemisinin). The number of new, pharmacologically active herbal ingredients, in particular that of anti-inflammatory compounds, rises continuously. The major obstacle in this field is the translation of preclinical knowledge into evidence-based clinical progress. Human trials of good quality are often missing or, when available, are frequently not suitable to really prove a therapeutical value. This minireview will summarize the current situation of 6 very prominent plant-derived anti-inflammatory compounds: curcumin, colchicine, resveratrol, capsaicin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and quercetin. We will highlight their clinical potential and/or pinpoint an overestimation. Moreover, we will sum up the planned trials in order to provide insights into the inflammatory disorders that are hypothesized to be beneficially influenced by the compound.
Bacteria communicate via small diffusible molecules to mediate group-coordinated behavior, a process designated as quorum sensing. The basic molecular quorum sensing system of Gram-negative bacteria consists of a LuxI-type autoinducer synthase producing acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as signaling molecules, and a LuxR-type receptor detecting the AHLs to control expression of specific genes. However, many proteobacteria possess one or more unpaired LuxR-type receptors that lack a cognate LuxI-like synthase, referred to as LuxR solos. The enteric and insect pathogenic bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus harbor an extraordinarily high number of LuxR solos, more than any other known bacteria, and all lack a LuxI-like synthase. Here, we focus on the presence and the different types of LuxR solos in the three known Photorhabdus species using bioinformatics analyses. Generally, the N-terminal signal-binding domain (SBD) of LuxR-type receptors sensing AHLs have a motif of six conserved amino acids that is important for binding and specificity of the signaling molecule. However, this motif is altered in the majority of the Photorhabdus-specific LuxR solos, suggesting the use of other signaling molecules than AHLs. Furthermore, all Photorhabdus species contain at least one LuxR solo with an intact AHL-binding motif, which might allow the ability to sense AHLs of other bacteria. Moreover, all three species have high AHL-degrading activity caused by the presence of different AHL-lactonases and AHL-acylases, revealing a high quorum quenching activity against other bacteria. However, the majority of the other LuxR solos in Photorhabdus have a N-terminal so-called PAS4-domain instead of an AHL-binding domain, containing different amino acid motifs than the AHL-sensors, which potentially allows the recognition of a highly variable range of signaling molecules that can be sensed apart from AHLs. These PAS4-LuxR solos are proposed to be involved in host sensing, and therefore in inter-kingdom signaling. Overall, Photorhabdus species are perfect model organisms to study bacterial communication via LuxR solos and their role for a symbiotic and pathogenic life style.
Ongoing and predicted global change makes understanding and predicting species’ range shifts an urgent scientific priority. Here, we provide a synthetic perspective on the so far poorly understood effects of interspecific interactions on range expansion rates. We present theoretical foundations for how interspecific interactions may modulate range expansion rates, consider examples from empirical studies of biological invasions and natural range expansions as well as process-based simulations, and discuss how interspecific interactions can be more broadly represented in process-based, spatiotemporally explicit range forecasts. Theory tells us that interspecific interactions affect expansion rates via alteration of local population growth rates and spatial displacement rates, but also via effects on other demographic parameters. The best empirical evidence for interspecific effects on expansion rates comes from studies of biological invasions. Notably, invasion studies indicate that competitive dominance and release from specialized enemies can enhance expansion rates. Studies of natural range expansions especially point to the potential for competition from resident species to reduce expansion rates. Overall, it is clear that interspecific interactions may have important consequences for range dynamics, but also that their effects have received too little attention to robustly generalize on their importance. We then discuss how interspecific interactions effects can be more widely incorporated in dynamic modeling of range expansions. Importantly, models must describe spatiotemporal variation in both local population dynamics and dispersal. Finally, we derive the following guidelines for when it is particularly important to explicitly represent interspecific interactions in dynamic range expansion forecasts: if most interacting species show correlated spatial or temporal trends in their effects on the target species, if the number of interacting species is low, and if the abundance of one or more strongly interacting species is not closely linked to the abundance of the target species.
Translation fidelity and efficiency require multiple ribosomal (r)RNA modifications that are mostly mediated by small nucleolar (sno)RNPs during ribosome production. Overlapping basepairing of snoRNAs with pre-rRNAs often necessitates sequential and efficient association and dissociation of the snoRNPs, however, how such hierarchy is established has remained unknown so far. Here, we identify several late-acting snoRNAs that bind pre-40S particles in human cells and show that their association and function in pre-40S complexes is regulated by the RNA helicase DDX21. We map DDX21 crosslinking sites on pre-rRNAs and show their overlap with the basepairing sites of the affected snoRNAs. While DDX21 activity is required for recruitment of the late-acting snoRNAs SNORD56 and SNORD68, earlier snoRNAs are not affected by DDX21 depletion. Together, these observations provide an understanding of the timing and ordered hierarchy of snoRNP action in pre-40S maturation and reveal a novel mode of regulation of snoRNP function by an RNA helicase in human cells.
Arachnides N°73 (2014)
(2014)
Arachnides N°72 (2014)
(2014)
Arachnides N°71 (2014)
(2014)
Arachnides N°70 (2014)
(2014)
One of the most challenging aspects of RT-qPCR data analysis is the identification of reliable reference genes. Ideally, they should be neither induced nor repressed under different experimental conditions. To date, few reference genes have been adequately studied for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) using statistical approaches. In this work, six candidate genes (αTUB, GAPDH, H1, SAMDC, UBQ, and 25S rRNA) were tested for gene expression normalization of sugarcane root tissues from drought-tolerant and -sensitive accessions after continuous dehydration (24 h). By undergoing different approaches (GeNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper), it was shown that most of them could be used in combinations for normalization purposes, with the exception of SAMDC. Nevertheless three of them (H1, αTUB, and GAPDH) were considered the most reliable reference genes. Their suitability as reference genes validated the expression profiles of two targets (AS and PFPα1), related to SuperSAGE unitags, in agreement with results revealed by previous in silico analysis. The other two sugarcane unitags (ACC oxidase and PIP1-1), after salt stress (100 mM NaCl), presented their expressions validated in the same way. In conclusion, these reference genes will be useful for dissecting gene expression in sugarcane roots under abiotic stress, especially in transcriptomic studies using SuperSAGE or RNAseq approaches.
Ursine bears are a mammalian subfamily that comprises six morphologically and ecologically distinct extant species. Previous phylogenetic analyses of concatenated nuclear genes could not resolve all relationships among bears, and appeared to conflict with the mitochondrial phylogeny. Evolutionary processes such as incomplete lineage sorting and introgression can cause gene tree discordance and complicate phylogenetic inferences, but are not accounted for in phylogenetic analyses of concatenated data. We generated a high-resolution data set of autosomal introns from several individuals per species and of Y-chromosomal markers. Incorporating intraspecific variability in coalescence-based phylogenetic and gene flow estimation approaches, we traced the genealogical history of individual alleles. Considerable heterogeneity among nuclear loci and discordance between nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenies were found. A species tree with divergence time estimates indicated that ursine bears diversified within less than 2 My. Consistent with a complex branching order within a clade of Asian bear species, we identified unidirectional gene flow from Asian black into sloth bears. Moreover, gene flow detected from brown into American black bears can explain the conflicting placement of the American black bear in mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies. These results highlight that both incomplete lineage sorting and introgression are prominent evolutionary forces even on time scales up to several million years. Complex evolutionary patterns are not adequately captured by strictly bifurcating models, and can only be fully understood when analyzing multiple independently inherited loci in a coalescence framework. Phylogenetic incongruence among gene trees hence needs to be recognized as a biologically meaningful signal.
NeoBiota, Volume 23 (2014)
(2014)
Kempfidris : a new genus of myrmicine ants from the Neotropical region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
(2014)
The new genus Kempfidris gen. nov. is described based on the workers of a single species, K. inusualis comb. nov., from Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Kempfidris inusualis comb. nov. was originally described by Fernández (2007) and provisionally placed in Monomorium awaiting a better understanding of the internal relationships in Myrmicinae. Kempfidris gen. nov. has a series of distinctive morphological characters including the mandibular configuration, vestibulate propodeal spiracle, propodeal carinae, and cylindrical micro-pegs on the posteromedian portion of abdominal tergum VI and anteromedian portion of abdominal tergum VII. This last trait appears to be autapomorphic for the genus.
Solaenodolichopus Verhoeff, 1924 is redefined to include S. pruvoti (Brolemann, 1931), S. rubriventris Verhoeff, 1928, S. sulcatus (Verhoeff, 1928), S. teres (Verhoeff, 1924), S. vittatus (Verhoeff, 1924) and S. walesius Verhoeff, 1928, each of which is redescribed. Lectotypes are designated for S. sulcatus, S. teres, S. vittatus and S. walesius. Parwalesoma Verhoeff, 1937 is synonymised with Solaenodolichopus and S. vittatus dorsalis (Verhoeff, 1924) with S. vittatus vittatus (Verhoeff, 1924).
Tapinesthis inermis Simon, 1882, the only species in the genus, is widely distributed in western Europe. This redescription provides the first information on the ultrastructure of the species using SEM. The morphology of the spinnerets, tarsal claws and tarsal organs, and the internal structure of the female genitalia and the male palp are described and illustrated in detail. The combination of these structures is very similar to those encountered in some dysderoid spiders and supports the basal placement of Tapinesthis among Oonopinae. The phylogenetic relationships of the species are discussed. The only female among the three syntypes is designated as the lectotype.
This paper summarizes current knowledge about Central African pholcids. Central Africa is here defined as the area between 10°N and 7°S and between 6°E and 18°E, including mainly the Lower Guinean subregion of the Guineo-Congolian center of endemism. This includes all of Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, most of Cameroon and Congo Republic, and parts of the neighboring countries. An annotated list of the 14 genera and 79 species recorded from this area is given, together with distribution maps and an identification key to genera. Seven species are newly described: Anansus kamwai sp. nov., Leptopholcus gabonicus sp. nov., Ninetis faro sp. nov., Pholcus punu sp. nov., P. rawiriae sp. nov., Spermophora abibae sp. nov., and S. awalai sp. nov. Additional new records are given for 16 previously described species, including 17 new country records. Distribution and diversity patterns are compared with data on West and East Africa. While West Africa contains a similar set of genera it is significantly less diverse than Central Africa. East Africa is taxonomically more distinct. It has similar levels of diversity as Central Africa, but appears to be less undersampled.
Among the 125 currently recognized species of the panoceanic genus Leucothoe, L. antarctica was described in 1888 from the Antarctic seas, but was soon synonymized with the so-called cosmopolitan Leucothoe spinicarpa Abildgaard, which was cited from the Southern Ocean about 70 times since this first record. After erecting a new Antarctic species again only in 1983, “morphological variants” were observed and discussed. In this paper, we revalidate the first defined Antarctic species (Leucothoe antarctica), redescribe the second one (L. orkneyi), describe 5 new Southern Ocean species (L. campbelli sp. nov., L. longimembris sp. nov., L. macquariae sp. nov., L. merletta sp. nov. and L. weddellensis sp. nov.) and provide a key to all Antarctic and sub-Antarctic species.
Es wird die Entwicklung der Brockenvegetation von 1993 bis 2013 aufgezeigt. Von besonderem Interesse ist dabei die Vegetationsentwicklung auf ehemals versiegelten und später renaturierten Flächen. Aber auch den acidiphilen Zwergstrauchheiden galt ein besonderes Augenmerk, da diese bevorzugte Standorte für die Brockenanemone (Pulsatilla alpina ssp. alba) sind.
Über die seit dem Altertum übliche Verwendung der Knollen von Orchis morio und verwandter Arten (Salep) wird aus kulturhistorischer Sicht berichtet. Dabei wird auf die Gewinnung von Salep und seine Bedeutung als Aphrodisiakum, als pharmazeutische Droge und technisches Hilfsmittel eingegangen. Es folgen Ausführungen zur Bestandssituation von Orchis morio im Altmarkreis Salzwedel.
Bei herbstlichen Temperaturen machten wir uns auf ins Weitmarer Holz zur jährlichen Pilzexkursion, geleitet vom Arbeitskreis Pilzkunde Ruhr (APR). Das Gebiet gilt nicht nur als größtes zusammenhängendes Waldgebiet in Bochum, sondern lockt am frühen Sonntagmorgen offensichtlich auch sämtliche Bochumer Sportler aus den Betten, die das im weniger sportlichen Tempo voranschreitende Exkursionsgrüppchen kritisch beäugten. Neben vielen häufigen Pilzarten, die der Pilzanfänger bereits aus Exkursionen der letzten Jahre kannte und sich dankbar wieder ins Gedächtnis rief, konnte auch die eine oder andere Besonderheit wie der Bittere Schleimkopf (Cortinarius infractus) gefunden werden – ein Neufund für die Region. Die Artenliste ist auf der Homepage des Arbeitskreises Pilzkunde Ruhr (www.pilzkunde-ruhr.de) einzusehen.
"Paccan – Nuss, die mit einem Stein geknackt werden muss", so nannten die Algonkin- Indianer Nordamerikas die Nüsse der Hickory-Bäume, zu denen auch der Pekannussbaum (Carya illinoinensis, oft fälschlich Carya illinoensis geschrieben) gehört. Er ist verwandt mit der Echten Walnuss (Juglans regia). "Carya" leitet sich ab vom griechischen Wort "karyon" und bedeutet Nüsse oder Kerne. Als "Illinois nuts" brachten Pelzhändler die Nüsse an die Atlantikküste und so kamen sie zu ihrem botanischen Namen "illinoinensis", obwohl sie nicht aus Illinois stammten. Pekannüsse sind bei uns regelmäßige Bestandteile des Nusssortiments und werden besonders zur Weihnachtszeit überall angeboten. Lebende Pflanzen gibt es bei uns dagegen nur selten (z. B. in den Botanischen Gärten Bochum, Bonn und Düsseldorf).
Um auf die Problematik der Veränderung von Lebensräumen und ihre Zerstörung aufmerksam zu machen, wird jährlich von den deutschen Arbeitskreisen Heimische Orchideen (AHO) eine "Orchidee des Jahres" gewählt. Für das Jahr 2013 wurde das Purpur-Knabenkraut (Orchis purpurea) ausgewählt. Es steht insbesondere für die Gefährdung von Halbtrockenrasen.
Bei Schnee, Frost um -5 C° und eisigem Ostwind scharrte sich die für diese Verhältnisse bemerkenswert große Exkursionsgruppe um winterliche Bäume und Mauern und grub Moose aus dem Schnee. Diesmal wurde der Bereich der I-Nordstraße von IB-Gebäude bis zum Park zwischen ID und ND aufgesucht. Und der Einsatz wurde belohnt: Die Artenliste der Ruhr-Uni, die durch die Exkursionen der vergangenen Jahre bereits beachtliche Ausmaße annimmt, konnte noch um einige Arten erweitert werden.
Exkursion: Hattingen-Niederbonsfeld, geologisch-geomorphologische Exkursion im Ruhrtal am Isenberg
(2014)
Am steilen Prallhang der Ruhr zwischen Hattingen und Niederwenigern ist die vermutlich längste zusammenhängende Gesteinsfolge des Ruhrgebiets aufgeschlossen, deren südlicher Abschnitt im Rahmen der Exkursion näher betrachtet wurde. Im Mittelpunkt standen die besonders deutlich ausgeprägten Zusammenhänge zwischen der inneren geologischen Struktur des Steinkohlengebirges und dem heutigen Oberflächenrelief mit seinen markanten Bergrücken (Eggen). Die Eggen sind südlich des Ruhrtals zwischen Kettwig und Witten derart bestimmend für das Landschaftsbild, dass die entsprechenden Gebiete im Rahmen der naturräumlichen Gliederung des Ruhrgebiets durch VON KÜRTEN (1970) als Ruhr- Eggenland und Märkisches Eggenland bezeichnet werden.
Stechpalme, Efeu und Misteln gehören zu den heimischen Pflanzen, die in unseren Weihnachtsbräuchen eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Als immergrüne Arten haftet ihnen eine umfassende Symbolik an und sie beleben damit die dunkle Jahreszeit. Der Mistel kommt dabei eine besondere Bedeutung zu, die auf ihrer ungewöhnlichen Lebensweise basiert.
Eine der letzten relativ nährstoffarmen und daher artenreichen Wiesen in Bochum liegt auf dem Kalwes südlich der Fachhochschule Bochum. Sie wird allerdings zunehmend von Norden her aufgebraucht und als Bauland verwendet. Es lohnt sich daher immer wieder, diese Wiese aufzusuchen, solange sie noch existiert.
Aus dem Studentenfutter ist die leckere Cashewnuss nicht wegzudenken und manchmal findet sie sich auch auf dem Weihnachtsteller oder im Weihnachtsgebäck. Weniger bekannt sind jedoch die vielfältigen Nutzungsmöglichkeiten, die sich hinter dem exotischen Cashewbaum (auch Kaschubaum, Acajubaum oder Nierenpflanze) verbergen. Und auch eine Cashewblüte oder den sog. Cashewapfel (Kaschuapfel) bekommt man bei uns kaum einmal zu sehen, denn die Art ist hier nur in Botanischen Gärten zu finden und dort fruchtet sie nur selten.
Der Weihnachtsstern ist im mexikanischen Hochland beheimatet und wächst dort als Strauch von 4 bis 6 m Höhe. J. R. POINSETTE, seinerzeit Botschafter der USA in Mexiko, schickte 1835 Pflanzen nach Hause und begründete damit eine gärtnerische Erfolgsstory. Der Name "Poinsettia" hat sich für den Weihnachtsstern bis heute vor allem im englischen Sprachraum gehalten. Zuerst wurden die Pflanzen überwiegend als Schnittblumen kultiviert.
Der Freeden im Teutoburger Wald ist ein mit Kalk-Buchenwäldern bestandener Bergkamm. Geologisch betrachtet handelt es sich um Kalkgesteine der Oberkreide, die hier am Rand des Münsterländer Kreidebeckens aufgebogen und steil gestellt sind. Von herausragender Bedeutung ist das Naturschutzgebiet aufgrund der Vielzahl von Frühjahrsblühern.
The ground beetle genus Cymindis is the most species rich amongst genera in the carabid subtribe Cymindidina (tribe Lebiini). Four subgenera are often recognized, i.e. Cymindis (sensu stricto) Latreille, Afrotarus Jeannel, Taridius Chaudoir and Pinacodera Schaum. Cymindis (sensu stricto) has a predominately Holarctic distribution (Hunting 2013) and includes Cymindis alutacea Wollaston, C. dohrnii Wollaston and C. anchomenoides Wollaston (the last one sometimes placed in Tarulus Bedel, either ranked as a genus or a subgenus), all three endemic to the Cape Verde Islands (Geisthardt 1988, 1996).
The abundance of humpback whales occurring around Boa Vista, Cape Verde Islands, was estimated by markrecapture modelling. Photographs of markings on tail flukes of individual whales were collected during the breeding season. Sighting histories were constructed for each individual and an abundance of 171 animals was estimated using a Jolly-Seber mark-recapture model. Correcting for known biases arising due to sex-specific behaviour and temporary emigration insofar as possible, an estimate of 260 whales was obtained. This is significantly higher than the previous estimate of 99 humpback whales from this region. Due to limited survey effort it is not known how representative the study area is of the entire Cape Verde archipelago and this estimate may be considered to be biased low and serves as a minimum estimate. The high recapture probability (0.37) coupled with the low abundance is consistent with a small local population. The low survival rate (0.86) suggests possible emigration and further studies are needed to assess connectivity between humpback whales breeding in Cape Verde and other breeding locations. The amount of exchange between groups of whales breeding in Cape Verde and adjacent areas remains unknown. It is unclear whether the abundance estimate herein applies to part of an isolated population or part of a larger and continuous one.
Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758) has a wide geographical distribution, including France and southern Iberia to sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, and east to central Asia and northern central China, India, Sri Lanka, Indochina and Taiwan (Pierce 1996). On the African mainland, breeding sites nearest to the Cape Verde Islands are in Mauritania and Senegal (Isenmann et al. 2010, Borrow & Demey 2014).
Recent data on status and distribution of resident and migrant birds in the Cape Verde Islands are presented, including records of nine taxa new to the archipelago, viz. Ciconia nigra, Ciconia ciconia, Circus macrourus, Falco naumanni, Chlidonias hybrida, Chlidonias leucopterus, Apus affinis, Ptyonoprogne fuligula and Phylloscopus inornatus. Also presented are data on a number of breeding taxa, including the first record of the endemic Cape Verde purple heron Ardea bournei outside Santiago island. The alarming situation of the magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens, of which only three individuals remain in Cape Verde, constituting the entire population in the East Atlantic, remains of great concern. Several species of birds of prey are also highly threatened and have already become extinct in some islands. Following its expansion through Northwest Africa and the Canary Islands, Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto has now also become established in at least three of the Cape Verde Islands.
The zoogeographic composition of the coastal ichthyofauna of the Cape Verde archipelago shows a predominance of Guinean species, followed by tropical-subtropical (amphi-Atlantic) fishes and several endemic species. Recent taxonomic revisions, new species descriptions, new fish records in the area and recent ecological surveys of intra-specific fish interaction as well as emergent research on seamounts in national waters warrant an up-to-date review of research on the ichthyofauna of Cape Verde. An updated percentage of endemic coastal reef fish of 10.2% attest significant speciation in Cape Verde waters. Almost half of the total cryptobenthic fish species richness in Cape Verde comprises endemic species, some of them newly discovered. Examples of endemism are discussed, notably white seabream Diplodus sargus lineatus, bulldog dentex Dentex (Virididentex) acromegalus, blackfish drummer Girella stuebeli, Lubbock's chromis Chromis lubbocki, Cape Verde damselfish Similiparma hermani and Guinean parrotfish Scarus hoefleri. Cape Verde diverges considerably from the other Macaronesian island groups in terms of its ichthyofauna and its uniqueness warrants special attention by governmental agencies and conservation organizations.
During an entomological survey in Santiago Island, Cape Verde Islands, in November-December 2011 in order to study the bio-ecology and susceptibility to insecticides of Anopheles arabiensis Patton, 1905, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles, 1901 was found to be present in the Santa Cruz District. Both adult and immature specimens were collected and a description of both is given. Further confirmation of the taxonomic identity of the specimens was obtained from studying the male genitalia. This is the first known occurrence of Culex tritaeniorhynchus (a primary vector of Japanese encephalitis in eastern and southern Asia and a potential vector of West Nile Virus, Sindbis and Rift Valley Fever Virus) in the Cape Verde Islands.
The genus Paragymnopleurus Shipp, 1897 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Gymnopleurini) is characterized and its constituent taxa are keyed and illustrated. Twelve species and five subspecies are deemed valid, and five species groups are recognized. Three new synonymies include: Paragymnopleurus stipes japonicus Balthasar is synonymized with P. ambiguus Janssens, and P. maurus malayanus Ochi and Kon and P. maurus pauliani Janssens are synonymized with the nominotypical subspecies. First country and provincial records are reported for P. brahminus (Waterhouse), P. maurus (Sharp) and P. sinuatus szechouanicus Balthasar. A lectotype is here designated for Gymnopleurus singularis Waterhouse, validating an unpublished designation. A checklist of valid species and synonyms is provided.
A summary of the milliped faunas of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Kashmir (Arthropoda: Diplopoda)
(2014)
Three female callipodidan samples from northern Pakistan are assigned to Bollmania kohalana (Attems, 1936) (Caspiopetalidae), the only ordinal representative documented from the country; a new record of Kaschmiriosoma loebli Jeekel, 2003 (Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae), is also provided. Localities are summarized for the 14 Pakistani, 6 Kashmirian, and 5 Bangladeshi diplopods. The last include one unidentifi able female of Zephronia Gray, 1832 (Sphaerotheriida: Zephroniidae), and two adventive species, Trachyjulus calvus (Pocock, 1893) (Spirostreptida: Cambalopsidae) and Asiomorpha coarctata (Saussure, 1860) (Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae); all constitute new country records. Two obscurely documented Bangladeshi diplopods are Gonoplectus cautus (Attems, 1936) (Spirostreptida: Harpagophoridae), and Trichopeltis watsoni Pocock, 1895 (Polydesmida: Cryptodesmidae). The Pakistani polydesmidan, Quasidesmus puschtun Golovatch, 1991, is transferred from Pyrgodesmidae to Cryptodesmidae.
Carinostoma elegans new to the Slovakian harvestmen fauna (Opiliones, Dyspnoi, Nemastomatidae)
(2014)
A new genus and species of small harvestman was found for the first time in Slovakia – Carinostoma elegans (Sorensen, 1894). One male and two females were collected in the Mlyňany arboretum of the Slovak Academy of Science (western Slovakia). Descriptions and photographs of both sexes of C. elegans are provided. Additional comments, and a map of distribution of all species of this genus, are provided.