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The history of Western Cape mammalogy began almost 200 years ago with Thunberg (1811) and has been augmented periodically ever since. The present paper follows Vernon (1972) and Grindley et al. (1973) in eliciting information from material in Barn owl Tyto alba (Scopoli) pellets. Analyses are based on identified and counted mandibles and maxillae. The Laminate vlei rat, Otomys laminatus Thomas and Schwann, and Krebs's fat mouse, Steatomys krebsii Peters, are shown to have wider distributions than were previously recorded. The Southern multimammate mouse, Mastomys coucha (A. Smith), is apparently expanding its range westwards, a move probably enabled by changes in vegetation due to farming practices. There appears to be some correspondence between proportional representation of some species and rainfall, either its amount per annum or its seasonality. Variation in alveolar length in Cape gerbils, Tatera afra (Gray), taken as a proxy for mean individual mass, suggests that mean size in this species may be influenced by rainfall seasonality. Although the Vlei rat, Otomys i r roratus (Brants), is known to breed throughout the year, the present evidence indicates that in the West Coast National Park births peak in late spring and early summer, some two months after maximum rainfall. The Western Cape data support the concept that T. alba is a selective opportunist. Sample structure and co-occurrence of species in individual pellets both show that in some cases the owls are more nearly opportunistic while in others they appear to be considerably more selective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The megalopa stage of the fiddler crab endemic to the Neotropical region, Uca uruguayensis , is redescribed, measured and illustrated from 216 specimens collected at Channel 1, Samborombón Bay, Argentina, the southernmost permanent population of the species. Special attention is given to the description of the types of setae, which are compared to those cited for U. uruguayensis and other fiddler crab megalopae reared in the laboratory. The differences are given in the outline of the carapace, the plumose spines of the telson, and also in the following appendages: antennule, antenna, mandible, maxillule, maxilla, first, second and third maxillipeds. These cited differences could be due to: the origin of the organisms, caught in the field from their settlement area versus reared in the laboratory, and/or the sampling locality. The purpose of the present paper is to provide a detailed description of the megalopa that may allow resolution of taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships within this complex genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loaches of the genus Niwaella, family Cobitidae, are distributed only in East Asia. At present only in Japan and South Korea have fishes of the genus Niwaella been found. Herein we revise the genus Niwaella in China. Son and He (2001) transferred the species Cobitis laterimaculata to the genus Niwaella, but their specimens were not N. laterimaculata, but a new species, N. longibarba sp. n., collected from Cao'ejiang River, Huangzezhen, Chengxian County, Zhejiang Province. The new species is distinguished from N. laterimaculata by its colour pattern of a row of slightly large, and long, scattered dark brown vertical bars on the dorsolateral surface, two or three striations on the caudal fin, and long barbels and undeveloped mental lobes. In this paper we also describe another new species, N. xinjiangensis sp. n., collected from Xinjiang River, Guangfeng County, Jiangxi Province, May 1990, with diagnostic colour pattern of 17–20 large and long, dark brown vertical bars on the dorsolateral surface, a dark stripe or rounded black spots along the lateral midline and some blotches below the lateral midline; it is a large-sized species, with shorter barbels, and longer caudal peduncle. Thus five species of the genus Niwaella are known, three are endemic to eastern China and two are endemic to either Japan or South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anyphops Benoit is a heterogeneous genus with 62 known species restricted to the Afrotropical region. It is split into four species groups using the number of ventral spine pairs on tibiae I–II. The lycosiformis species group (?=?B-B1 species group of Lawrence) is characterized by four ventral pairs of spines and includes Anyphops lycosiformis (Lawrence), A. natalensis (Lawrence) and A. parvulus (Pocock). In this paper, I revise this species group and include here A. mumai Corronca, A. lawrencei (Roewer) and two new species: Anyphops ngome n. sp. and A. lucia n. sp. from South Africa. Drawings of the female and male genitalia and some somatic characters are given, in some cases for the first time. A key for the lycosiformis species group and a map showing the distribution of each species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-six marine benthic ciliates including seven new species were isolated from King George Island, Antarctic. The morphology and taxonomy of 19 of them are described in the present paper: Aegyriana paroliva , Amphileptus sp., Amphisiella antarctica nov. spec., Condylostoma cf. magnum , Dysteria parovalis nov. spec., Folliculina ? sp., Hartmannula cf. angustipilosa , Hemigastrostyla szaboi nov. spec., Heterostentor coeruleus , Holosticha sp., Intranstylum antarcticum nov. spec., Metaurostylopsis rubra , Orthodonella shenae , Philasterides cf. armatalis , Pithites pelagicus nov. spec., Pleuronema coronatum , Strombidium apolatum nov. spec., Telotrochidium sp., and Thigmokeronopsis magna nov. spec. Based on the new observations, an improved diagnosis for the genus Aegyriana is suggested: dorsoventrally flattened Dysteriidae with tail-shaped podite, which is positioned subcaudally in a glabrous region within somatic kineties; oral structure in two parts: ca three close-set fragments on right and one preoral kinety on left; left postoral kineties shortened posteriorly and continuous with right ones, leaving no median gap or suture; cytopharyngeal rods dominant. According to the new understanding and information obtained, a refined diagnosis of the genus Hemigastrostyla is also suggested: hypotrich with Oxytricha -like cirral pattern; eight to ten frontal (including one buccal) and five to seven ventral cirri; five transverse and three caudal cirri; no right-lateral anlagen of dorsal kineties occurring and the old adoral zone will be partly replaced by newly formed structure during morphogenesis; dorsal cilia located in small pits, fibre system highly developed; marine habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walter George Ridewood (1867-1921), an English comparative anatomist, was influential for many reasons, including his methods for preparing anatomical specimens and the factual results of his studies, as well as through his approach toward systematic comparative anatomy. Ridewood was not limited to expertise in any particular taxonomic group, but rather researched and published on many groups and anatomical systems, most notably on the hyoid apparatus of basal anurans, the skull of basal teleostean fishes, the gill morphology of lamellibranch molluscs, and the morphology and taxonomy of the pterobranch Cephalodiscus . In this paper, we describe Ridewood's life, and discuss his influence, particularly in regards to the systematic osteology of teleostean fishes. We provide a partially annotated list of Ridewood's published works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the genus Halecium is easy to recognize, identifications at the species level are often difficult, this even for quite common and supposedly well-known species of the north-eastern Atlantic. This paper revises and re-describes some Halecium species which resemble each other closely and which are not easy to distinguish. Additional information on a few rare species is also provided. The study is based on material collected from the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, South Africa, and New Zealand. Halecium scutum Clark, 1877 is recognized as a valid species and distinct from both H. beanii and H. halecinum ; colony form and microscopic characters allow a distinction. The pinnate colony form of H. halecinum is a characteristic trait, but not all colonies show this growth form. Halecium beanii can occur in monosiphonic and polysiphonic colonies. Monosiphonic colonies of H. beanii have probably been misidentified by some authors as H. lankesterii . The differences of H. lankesteri to H. beanii and H. petrosum are discussed. The South African population of the reportedly cosmopolitan H. beanii has distinct gonothecae and could belong to a separate species. The Mediterranean Halecium mediterraneum is hardly distinguishable from the New Zealandic H. delicatulum , but it is kept separate mainly for biogeographic reasons. The rare Mediterranean Halecium banyulense is re-described based on a second find from Naples. The male gonothecae of Halecium corrugatissimum are described for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An account is given of new distributional records and the taxonomy of nine species of marine triclad, including the description of two new species. After more than IOO years of uncertainty, the paper resolves the taxonomic status of the enigmatic nominal species Procerodes solowetzkianus Sabussow, 1900. The study concludes with a biogeographic analysis of all species of marine planarian by documenting patterns of species richness on an equal area grid map of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a checklist and a key to the 22 Chinese species of the nirvanine leafhopper genus Sophonia Walker. Two new species, Sophonia transvittata sp. nov. and S. yunnanensis sp. nov., are described and illustrated. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (IEGUC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of the present paper is to quantify the biogeographic affinity of the marine flora of Rodrigues within the Indian Ocean by means of the Simpson Similarity Coefficient. A second topic explores the observation that certain widespread macroalgae are absent from the island, using an extensive set of macroalgal distribution data for the Indian Ocean. Once these common Indian Ocean algae have been identified and selected for their absence in the coastal waters of Rodrigues, the two causal hypotheses, (1) low habitat diversity and (2) an incomplete process of colonization, are investigated by interpreting the ecological descriptions of a large number of Indian Ocean specimens from the GENT Herbarium. Comparisons with two neighbouring island groups, namely Mauritius and the Seychelles, show that the habitat preferences of these widespread macroalgae determine their island distributions. The biogeographic analysis shows that the species-poor marine flora of Rodrigues (179 spp.) is a subset of the tropical East African flora (Tanzania, Kenya, Mauritius and the Seychelles). The general trend of biogeographic affinities with regions within the Indian Ocean is best reflected by the Rhodophyceae, which account for (1) the highest species diversity and (2) the largest proportion of species with specific (restricted) distribution patterns (high biogeographic resolution). Regarding the explanatory hypothesis for the low species richness, the results of an analysis of the habitats of selected species favour the idea of limited habitat availability (with the consideration of potential undersampling of exposed shores with hard substrata). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the red algae of Rodrigues, collected in the framework of the Shoals of Capricorn Programme (10 September to 5 October 2001). In total 68 species are reported, of which 65 represent new records for the island. Although most taxa represent rather common species, which are generally widespread in the Indian and western Pacific Ocean, some are of special interest to algal systematists and biogeographers. Renouxia antillana is reported for the first time for the Indian Ocean. The presence of Renouxia also constitutes the first record of the order Rhodogorgonales for the entire Indian Ocean. A few species have interesting distribution patterns. Halydictyon sp. is restricted in its distribution to South Africa, Mauritius and Australia. Despite these interesting records, the red algal flora of Rodrigues is most remarkable by the absence of several 'ubiquitous' species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a number of new taxa in the Arcidae, Philobryidae, Mytilidae, Galeommatidae, Kelliidae, Cyamiidae, Carditidae, Thraciidae and Clavagellidae. A further 17 species are included as new to the malacofauna of Rodrigues. Most of the species included came from cryptic habitats, of which the most interesting are apparently cavernicolous and similar to those described from southern Japan. Other species were described from crevice or algal turf communities. The most understudied group is the Galeommatoidea with four species described as new and a further five with as yet unresolved taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Hersiliidae includes, to date, seven genera and 148 species, distributed throughout tropical, subtropical and warm temperate zones. Of these, five genera and 30 species have been recorded from the Oriental region. In this paper, three new species of the genus Hersilia Audouin and one new species of the genus Tamopsis Baehr and Baehr are described from Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the Chinese species of Platyplectrus Ferrière. Twelve valid species are recognized from mainland China and a key to species is provided. Trichoplectrus Erdös (1951) is newly synonymized with Metaplectrus Ferrière (1941) and three new combinations are proposed: Metaplectrus szepligetii (Erdös) from Platyplectrus , Platyplectrus bussy (Crawford) from Euplectrus and P. politus (Lin) from Metaplectrus . Four species of Platyplectrus were known previously from China: P. politus (Lin), P. odontogaster (Lin), P. papillata Lin and P. medius Zhu and Huang. Six species, P. bussyi (Crawford), P. laeviscuta (Thomson), P. natadae Ferrière, P. orthocraspedae Ferrière, P. pannonica (Erdös) and P. viridiceps (Ferrière) are newly recorded from China and re-described. Five new species, P. pulcher , P. setulosus , P. peculiaris , P. obtusiclavatus and P. variflagellum are described and compared with related species. Several species are also newly recorded from other regions: P. orthocraspedae Ferrière from the Afrotropical region, P. bussyi (Crawford) and P. laeviscuta (Thomson) from the Australian/Pacific region, P. laeviscuta (Thomson) from the Oriental region and P. viridiceps from the Palearctic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As human demands for water have become more intense in modern times, the Canary Islands have become a difficult environment for all the macroinvertebrate fauna dependent upon running water for their survival; few permanent streams remain. Investigations on the simuliid (blackfly) fauna have shown, however, that at least six species exist in the archipelago, but that one, the endemic Simulium paraloutetense , known only from one site now destroyed, is possibly extinct. The paper presents cumulated data on distribution and material obtained over the past 33 years (since aquatic-stage specimens from breeding sites were first collected) with the aim of providing a baseline against which future studies of the Canarian simuliid fauna can be assessed. Revised identification keys for larvae and pupae are given to aid such monitoring. Remarks concerning each species include notes on chromosomal data when these are available. Comments are included on some aspects of the lotic habitats and island colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we describe the postmarsupial development of the manca stages of Atlantoscia floridana (van Name, 1940). Ovigerous females were collected in Reserva Biológica do Lami, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil and separately reared in small containers at 20°C (±1°C). After birth each newborn (manca I) was reared separately in order to observe the subsequent moults. In a period of about 12 h the animals underwent the first moult. The manca II stage lasts 9.16±1.57 days while manca III takes up a period of 9.96±1.05 days. Growth was observed through measurements of cephalothorax width. The three manca stages are described, illustrated and compared with the adults. The main distinguishing characteristics among mancas I, II and III are presented as well as the b/c and d/c co-ordinates of the noduli laterales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a new species of gigantic terrestrial earthworm Metaphire taiwanensis sp. nov. from western Taiwan. It reached the maximum length of 860 mm for a living clitellate and 637 mm after preservation. It is an autochthonous species found in Mt Beidongyan and the Meifeng area of the Central Mountain Range at elevations of 1800-2100 m. M. taiwanensis is octothecate and protandric, characters shared by Metaphire stephensoni (Michaelsen) of Indochina, and Metaphire bununa Tsai, Tsai and Liaw and Metaphire paiwanna Tsai, Tsai and Liaw of Taiwan. These four species are combined as a new species-group called the stephensoni -group within the genus Metaphire Sims and Easton. It is closely related to the congeneric ignobilis species-group, which is also octothecate but holandric. It differs from holandric and quadrithecate Metaphire magna (Chen) of Hainan Island, in which the length also reaches 700 mm. Specific variation and evolutionary trends in sizes and segment numbers of the Pheretima genus-group are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three species of ergasilid copepods are described from plankton samples collected in Hokkaido of northern Japan: Ergasilus bani n. sp., E. hypomesi Yamaguti,1936 and E. genuinus (Kokubo, 1914) n. comb. The last was originally assigned to an enigmatic genus Limnoncaea Kokubo, 1914. In this paper Limnoncaea is relegated to a junior synonym of Ergasilus Nordmann, 1832, while the type species, L. genuina Kokubo, 1914 is transferred accordingly to Ergasilus. Transformation in adult female of ergasilids from the planktonic to the infesting stages is also discussed. Comparison of ovigerous females from host fish and plankton samples suggests that ergasilids may lead dual life cycles in freshwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cymadusa filosa Savigny, 1816 (type locality Egypt) has long been considered a polymorphic, pantropical species (Ledoyer, 1984; Barnard and Karaman, 1991). Since its original description, C. filosa has been recorded globally, from southern Africa (K. H. Barnard, 1916) to New Caledonian waters (Ledoyer, 1984). In this paper I will show that Cymadusa filosa , type species of the genus Cymadusa , is in fact a species complex, and this situation has confused the generic concept. Cymadusa filosa is redescribed and thoroughly illustrated, based on new material from the Mediterranean Sea, and a neotype is established. Other species to which the C. filosa name has been misapplied are identified, described and illustrated. Two new species, C. tattersalli n. sp. from Australia and C. ledoyeri n. sp. from Madagascar, are described and illustrated. Three previously described species, Cymadusa setosa (Haswell, 1879), C. imbroglio Rabindranath, 1972 and C. vadosa Imbach, 1967, have been removed from synonymy with Cymadusa filosa and have been redescribed and re-illustrated. Based on these results a new diagnosis is developed for the genus and a key to species of the C. filosa complex is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of the genus Iberobathynella from the Iberian Peninsula are described and complementary diasgnostic features are provided to the original description of Iberobathynella ( Asturibathynella ) cavadoensis . Two of the new species were found in the interstitial environment (gravel bank) of two streams in Portugal (in Ponte de Lima and Coimbra) and two others in Spain. One of the latter was in a subterranean river in the largest cave in Spain (Ojo Guareña Cave, Burgos, 100 km in length), and the other was in the gravel bank of a small stream in Lora del Río (Sevilla). Specimens of I . ( A .) cavadoensis from the type locality (Cavado river in Barcelos, Portugal) are examined in this paper. Of the 22 species of iberobathynells so far described none show the combinations of characters present in the four new species described here. These new character combinations will be very useful in resolving current phylogenetic problems in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two horseshoe crab species, namely Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda , have been identified from Hong Kong. This paper describes the morphological characteristics of the two species and the morphometrics employed to help distinguish them. Comparisons were also made between adults from local waters and those from other Asian geographic regions. Intra-specific variations were also investigated by comparing morphological data obtained for local T. tridentatus juveniles and individuals of comparable sizes from Fujian Province, China. Morphological differences between the species and sexes and significantly different morphometric ratios were identified for the two horseshoe crab species. Intra-specific variations in morphometric characteristics were also demonstrated between juveniles from local beaches and those from Fujian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species of Hyalella living in the southern extreme of South America have several common morphological features. The uniqueness of this morphology presents a good argument for inferring phylogenetic relationships among them. The species are concentrated, although not exclusively, in the Patagonia of Chile and Argentina. The group is called here 'patagonica complex'. These species are not the only Hyalella present in the area, however. Hyalella simplex Schellenberg, 1943, with no morphological a3nities to the patagonica complex is also present, and is one of the few other species outside the complex living in the continental extreme south of South America. Hyalella simplex is redescribed in this paper. Two species of the patagonica complex have been recorded for the area: H. neonoma Stock and Platvoet, 1991 and H. araucana Grosso and Peralta, 1999. H. fossamancinii Cavalieri, 1959, another species in the complex, is found high in the Andes. The new species H. franciscae described in this work is added to the complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was carried out over a five-year period into the blackfly fauna of one of the most important rivers of the North-Central European lowlands, the Oder, together with its major tributaries (Nysa, Stobrawa, Olawa, Barycz, Bobr, Kroisa, Lausitzer Neisse, Warta, Notec), from its source in the Oder Hills to its mouth in the Baltic Sea. Thirteen species were found. The two dominant indicator species, Simulium (Simulium) reptans (Linnaeus) and Simulium (Schoenbaueria) nigrum (Meigen), develop populations of plague proportions within this catchment area. Blackflies of the subgenus Schoenbaueria Enderlein have not been found in Germany or Poland for more than 70 years. However, since 1997, the species S. (Sch.) nigrum was found in the River Oder in enormous numbers together with S. (S.) reptans, and in the vicinity of their breeding sites in Poland and eastern Germany both species are serious pests of man and grazing animals. Notes are given on the biology, distribution and habitat preferences of S. (Sch.) nigrum. The paper concludes with a comparison of the River Oder with some other Central European rivers in respect of its blackfly fauna, together with data on the phenology of the two indicator species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper redescribes the classical taxon Amerus troisi (Berlese, 1883) on the basis of topotypical material. A new species, Amerus cuspidatus , characterized by short interlamellar setae and a distinct rostral morphology, is also described. In spite of overlapping biogeographical distributions, biochemical analysis indicates that the two Amerus species are clearly differentiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the 77 Old World genera of blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae). Included is a key to genera and a synopsis of each genus. The generic synopses incorporate synonyms, number of species, geographic distribution, and the most significant references on taxonomy, life history and certain other topics. Additional notes are appended to several of the generic treatments. Formal nomenclatural changes include two new generic synonymies, one new status, three new combinations and the transfer of one subgenus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crab family Gecarcinidae Macleay, 1838 currently consists of 18 species that are grouped in four genera. Larval data for the Gecarcinidae were only known for species of the genera Cardisoma Latreille, 1825 and Gecarcinus Leach, 1814. In the present paper, the first zoeal stage of Gecarcoidea lalandii H. Milne-Edwards, 1837, Epigrapsus politus Heller, 1862 and E. notatus Heller, 1865 are described and illustrated. Zoeal morphology of the Gecarcinidae is reviewed, taking into account all previous descriptions and analysing the relationships between the different genera of Gecarcinidae based on zoeal morphological characters. A series of typical morphological features is proposed for the zoea larvae of this family differentiating them from the rest of the Grapsoidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only seven species of freshwater Nematomorpha (Gordiida) are known from Australia, four of which belong to the genus Chordodes. This paper describes two new species: C. queenslandi and C. brevipilus. Chordodes queenslandi is characterized by a polymorphism of crowned areoles which appear as two types with distinct distribution patterns. Chordodes brevipilus is characterized by crowned areoles with very short apical filaments. One specimen previously determined as C. modiglianii (Camerano, 1892) belongs to C. queenslandi. Chordodes jandae Camerano, 1895 is redescribed according to the terminology introduced for C. queenslandi and C. brevipilus. Two further species, C. annulatus Linstow, 1906 and C. undulatus Linstow, 1906 do not belong to Chordodes. The newly reported specimens were collected emerging from praying mantids in the vicinity of water and escaped by contact of the host's abdomen with water. The active movement of mantids towards water suggests an internal stimulus of the nematomorph parasite to its host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a new species of athecate earthworm belonging to the illotus species-group of the genus Amynthas Kinberg from Taiwan. It is Amynthas hohuanmontis sp. nov. from Mt Hohuan at an elevation of 3000 m in the Central Mountain Range. The athecate earthworm Amynthas pusillus (Ohfuchi) from Ishigaki Island, Riukiu is found to be synonymous with Amynthas assacceus (Chen) from Hainan Island, China. Accordingly, the A. illotus species-group currently consists of A. hohuanmontis sp. nov. from Taiwan, A. illotus (Gates) from Yunnan and Riukiu, A. assacceus (Chen) of Hainan and Riukiu, A. sheni (Chen) from Hong Kong and A. oyuensis (Ohfuchi) from Japan. Based on characters of particularly the porophore structure, the five species are divided into two species-subgroups: the sheni species-subgroup of A. sheni and A. hohuanmontis , and the assacceus species-subgroup of A. illotus, A. assacceus and A. oyuensis. The two subgroups might have differentiated from two independent ancestors. The five species show an arc-shaped distribution in the peripheral regions of the East Asian continent (Yunnan, Hainan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Riukiu and Japan), suggesting them to be survivors from the Pleistocene ice ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1996 Chagos expedition collected 128 specimens of opisthobranch gastropods representing at least 50 species, of which only 41 species are described in this paper: two cephalaspideans both belonging to the genus Chelidonura, two sacoglossan species of Thuridilla, one sea hare with problematic taxonomy, and 36 species of nudibranchs. Of the nudibranchs, all the sub-orders are represented by one or two species only except the dorids, which comprise the majority of the collection. Two species are allocated to genus only, one species each of Phyllidiopsis and Dermatobranchus, while two species are similar to known species. Numerous species of Phyllidiidae were collected, but only 10 are confidently assigned to a taxon. The taxonomic identities of Hoplodoris pustulata, Dendrodoris tuberculosa, Phyllidiopsis xishaensis and Phyllidiella striata are defined and discussed. There are four new distribution records for the Indian Ocean and several species are of interest as they have been rarely recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The donation to The Natural History Museum, London of the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences (IOS) Discovery collections in 1997 included pycnogonids taken in bathypelagic samples collected with a rectangular mid-water trawl. The material of Pallenopsis tritonis Hoek, 1883 in these collections has been analysed and reported elsewhere. The present paper describes the remaining trawl material. One new species of Ascorhynchus is described. The male of Pallenopsis (Bathypallenopsis) scoparia is described for the first time. A number of new records of bathypelagic Colossendeis allow interpretation of the status of C. gardineri, recorded here for only the third time. The bathypelagic habit of pycnogonids is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomy and species richness of the stony corals of the eastern Pacific have been studied for more than a hundred years, but discrepancies in the nomenclature of some species were common, a situation which affected the quality of ecological and biogeographic analysis. During the last decade, the identity of most scleractinians of the region was well established but subsequently, the discovery of new colonizing and endemic species demanded a new revision of the taxonomic status of this fauna. The objective of this paper is to present an updated checklist of all accepted and synonym names of coral species of the eastern Pacific, from Alaska (USA) to Tierra del Fuego (Chile), considering as valid those which have appeared in recent reviews of this fauna (1993 to date). The status of each species was tracked in the literature as far as its original description or first report in the region, a strategy which also enabled recording and detailed assignment of the respective synonyms and their geographic distribution. There are 124 valid species names of stony corals in the eastern Pacific from 51 genera and 15 families; of them, 83 species have no synonyms, three are only tentatively identified and six are considered valid but in the process of formal description. This updated list comprises more taxa than any previous compilation. The increase in number is due to the recent discoveries of species in extreme latitudes or oceanic islands, and the description of new species. This study shows that the eastern Pacific coral fauna is relatively poor, but nevertheless there are many more species than originally thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep-sea asellote isopod (Crustacea) species, belonging to the families Desmosomatidae and Nannoniscidae, were studied from R/V Eastward collections of Duke University from three study sites off North Carolina. The Desmosomatid isopod Eugerda svavarssonni n. sp. is described from Site Alpha at 620m. Eugerda latipes Hansen, previously known from boreal North Atlantic, is also reported from this upper slope site. Two new desmosomatid isopods, Mirabilicoxa hessleri n. sp. and M. alberti n. sp., and a new nannoniscid isopod Exiliniscus chandravoli n. sp. are also described from site Beta from 2700 to 3700 m. A nannoniscid isopod Leutziniscus jebamoni gen n., n. sp., and a desmosomatid isopod, Prochelator sarsi n. sp., are described from the deepest study site Omega in the Hatteras Abyssal Plain. A new genus, Nannoniscella is erected to accommodate Nannoniscoides bicustatus Siebenaller and Hessler, 1977. This paper also includes discussions on comparative morphology and sexual dimorphism in species of Mirabilicoxa, zoogeography of species of the genus Eugerda and phylogeny with emphasis on the genus Prochelator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five genera of Eunotinae are included in this paper. Ophelosia, Moranila, Cephaleta, Eunotus are reviewed and a new genus Cavitas is described. Four new species, Cavitas concava sp. nov., Eunotus applanatus sp. nov., E. strenus sp. nov. and E. aequalivenus sp. nov. are described. The type specimens are deposited in the Zoological Museum, Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes Snootitermes leuserensis, gen. et sp. nov. (collected from the Leuser Ecosystem, Sumatra), Hirtitermes brabazoni sp. nov. (collected from north Sulawesi) and the major soldier of Ceylonitermes indicola. It also includes a revised generic key to the Nasutitermitinae of Peninsular Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and Borneo and reassigns the South-East Asian Subulitermes- group of termites to the Nasutitermes-group. Aciculioiditermes denticulatus and A. sarawakensis are considered to be junior synonyms of Aciculioiditermes holmgreni. The genera Aciculioiditermes and Proaciculitermes are considered to be junior synonyms of Malaysiotermes. Therefore Aciculioiditermes holmgreni, Proaciculitermes orientalis, P. sabahensis, P. malayanus and P. lowi are all Malaysiotermes species. Tho's (1982, 1992) unpublished new genus (Genus A) is considered to be a new species of Ceylonitermes. Oriensubulitermes borneensis is shown to be a Subulioiditermes species, S. borneensis. Nasutitermes matangensiformis is shown to be a junior synonym of N. matangensis. Havilanditermes is shown to be a junior synonym of Nasutitermes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indo-Pacific species Hypselodoris infucata (Rüppell and Leuckart, 1830) and Hypselodoris obscura (Stimpson, 1855) have been regarded as distinct by most authors. In this paper, numerous specimens with the colour pattern described for both H. infucata and H. obscura, and collected from localities comprising the geographic range of both nominal species, have been examined and anatomically studied. All specimens from south-east Australia, the type locality of H. obscura, consistently have a very long ejaculatory portion of the vas deferens, whereas in specimens collected from other Indo-Pacific localities this portion is very short. There are no other major morphological or anatomical differences between H. infucata and H. obscura. It is not clear whether H. obscura and H. infucata are different species, but since there is at least a consistent anatomical difference between them, they are provisionally regarded as distinct. The reproductive system, radula and external morphology are extremely variable among specimens of H. infucata. Specimens from Indo-Pacific localities other than south-east Australia, even those externally similar to H. obscura, belong to H. infucata. Hypselodoris saintvincentius Burn, 1962, which has been regarded as a synonym of H. infucata, is clearly distinguishable by the external coloration, reproductive system and radular morphology. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that H. saintvincentius is the sister species of H. infucata and H. obscura. A re-examination of the holotype of the uncertain species Brachychlanis pantherina Ehrenberg, 1831 revealed that it is conspecific with Hypselodoris infucata. Therefore, the name Brachychlanis Ehrenberg, 1831, which has not been used for more than 50 years, has preference over the widely used name, Hypselodoris Stimpson, 1855. In order to preserve nomenclatural stability invalidation of the name Brachychlanis is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes dipteran infestation of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtle nests in northern Cyprus in 1996 and 1997. Insect larvae were collected from infested nests, reared to adulthood and identified to species. A minimum of 13.4% (1996) and 17.4% (1997) of loggerhead turtle nests and 3.3% and 20.7% of green turtle nests were infested in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Eleven dipteran species were found infesting turtle nests with one species (Sarcotachina aegyptiaca) being dominant. Gross estimates, utilizing the speeds of development for three species of sarcophagid showed that infestation was taking place differentially between the two turtle species. Various aspects of the effect of dipteran infestation on marine turtle nests in northern Cyprus and recommendations for future investigations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allozyme variation of aspartate-aminotransferase locus Aat 1 is analysed in the land snail Cochlicopa lubrica (O. F. Müller, 1774). Two alleles, denoted '20' and '80', have been found in 29 Central European populations investigated. This species reproduces under a high rate of self-fertilization. Only three out of 787 individuals were heterozygous (enzyme pattern Aat 1 '20'/'80'). The homozygous individuals with Aat 1 '80' were frequent in moist and shady habitats. In exposed and open habitats, however, the homozygous individuals with Aat 1 '20' occurred frequently. These results give strong evidence for habitat-specific selection inferred from allozyme variation. Moreover, a tight interlocus correlation of isocitrate-dehydrogenase patterns (Idh 1) and Aat 1 patterns has been observed. Two groups of homozygous genotypes are commonly found: (1) the group Idh 1 '145'/Aat 1 '80', and (2) the group Idh 1 '155'/Aat 1 '20'. The Aat data for Cochlicopa lubrica are complemented by morphometric measurements of the shells. The homozygous types of Aat 1 '20' (common in exposed/open habitats) possessed, on average, slightly smaller shells than the homozygous types with Aat 1 '80' (common in moist/shady habitats). This slight mean difference in shell size might be due to the living conditions in the habitats. In the last part of the study, the allozyme variation of snails was assessed for spatial selection processes, and a compilation of the available papers is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we describe for the first time an extraordinary example of an interspecific trophobiotic relation between reptiles and planthoppers in Madagascar. Day gecko species of the genera Phelsuma and Lygodactylus as well as the nocturnal gecko Homopholis sakalava (Grandidier, 1867) show a particular behaviour that induces planthoppers of the family Flatidae to excrete a drop of honeydew in the course of an interspecific key stimulus reaction. Similar behaviour patterns are well known between ants and green flies or planthoppers, but have not been reported for vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present catalogue lists 144 species and one subspecies described by Delucchi (134), Delucchi et al . (eight), Ferrière in Delucchi (two), and Ferrière and Delucchi (one). Name-bearing types are deposited in the entomological collections at the Lund University (three), the Natural History Museums of Budapest (three), Geneva (nine), London (four), Oxford (one), Paris (three), and Vienna (35), the Royal Africa Museum, Tervuren (26), and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich (60). The actual depository of the name-bearing types of one species and the subspecies (Scelionidae) is unknown. Lectotypes of 15 species are here designated. Twenty new synonyms are established, Eulophidae: Entedon erdoesi Delucchi= E. metatarsalis Thomson. Pteromalidae: Gitognathus gibberosus Delucchi and Lamprotatus kerrichi Delucchi= Sphaeripalpus viridis Förster; Glyphognathus umbelliferae Graham= G. convexus (Delucchi); Kentema viride Delucchi= Merismus megapterus Walker; Lamprotatus cupreus Delucchi, L. ornatus Delucchi, and L. rusticus Delucchi= L. splendens Westwood; Lamprotatus flavus Delucchi= L. crassipes Thomson; Lamprotatus montanus Delucchi= L. picinervis Thomson; Miscogaster fulgens Delucchi= M. rufipes Walker; Miscogaster lucens Delucchi= M. hortensis Walker; Seladerma agreste Delucchi= S. convexum Walker; Seladerma luteolum Delucchi= S. bicolor Walker; Seladerma nobile Delucchi and S. violaceum Delucchi= S. laetum Walker; Skeloceras cerebrosum Delucchi= Lamprotatus truncatus (Fonscolombe); Skeloceras glaucum Delucchi= Lamprotatus novickyi (Delucchi); Stictomischus lamprosomus Graham= S. nitentis Delucchi; Telepsogos helveticus Delucchi= Seladerma nigrum (Delucchi). Twelve new combinations are proposed, Eulophidae: Achrysocharoides parva (Delucchi) (from Enaysma); Aprostocetus hanangensis (Delucchi), A. longiscutulum (Delucchi), A. scutellaris (Delucchi), Neotrichoporoides crassianulus (Delucchi), N. microstigma (Delucchi), and Pracetus stramenticius (Delucchi) (all from Tetrastichus); Notanisomorphella bicolor (Delucchi) (from Sunha); Platyplectrus meruensis (Delucchi) (from Euplectromorpha). Pteromalidae: Glyphognathus convexus (Delucchi) (from Stictomischus) and G. nitidus (Delucchi) (from Sphaeripalpus); Theocolax oblonga (Delucchi) (from Cerocephala). The paper provides taxonomic notes on several species, references to published figures of and detailed information on type specimens. Parts of them, mostly antennae and wings, were mounted on slides by Delucchi and were contained in a hitherto unknown slide collection. These slides are individually associated with the respective specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes two new species, each consisting of two subspecies, of protandric, octothecal pheretimoid earthworms from Taiwan. They are Metaphire paiwannasp. nov. typica, Metaphire paiwannavar. liliumfordiI subsp. nov., Metaphire bununasp. nov. typicaand Metaphire bununavar. glareosussubsp. nov. The var. typicaof both new species occurred on the west side of the Central Mountain Range, whereas the subspecies, liliumfordiand glareosus, occurred on the east side of the range. Apparently, the Central Mountain Range constitutes a geographical barrier for isolation and subspeciation. Metaphire paiwannahas a male disc medial to male pore (opening of copulatory pouch) with a horizontal ridge, the character shared by holandric and sexthecal Amynthas swanus(Tsai) of Taiwan and Metaphire aggera(Kobayashi) of Korea and Manchuria, whereas M . bununaresembles more closely holandric, octothecal Metaphire riukiuensis(Ohfuchi) of the Riukiu Islands than protandric, octothecal Metaphire stephensoni(Michaelsen) of Indochina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we provide a field account of some aspects of the behavioural biology of Goniosoma longipes (Roewer), a harvestman which commonly occurs in caves in South-east Brazil. During daytime, solitary and aggregated individuals can be found resting on the cave walls. Just after sunset, however, many individuals leave the cave to forage for live and dead arthropods. Foraging individuals return to the cave before dawn. Aggregations of G. longipes contain on average 34 individuals (range 7-200), and the groups are usually found close to the water source and away from the cave entrance. The main predators of G. longipes are the spider Ctenus fasciatus Mello-Leitao (Ctenidae) and the opossum Philander opossum (L.) (Didelphidae). Upon disturbance solitary and aggregated individuals may either flee, or drop from the cave wall or vegetation. The harvestmen can also release a repugnatory liquid upon manipulation, and aggregated individuals collectively discharge this secretion toward the aggressor before fleeing. The activity schedule of G. longipes shows that individuals need to leave the cave periodically to forage, and therefore the population can be considered trogloxene. Data on the food items collected by G. longipes indicate that the harvestman is a generalist predator which also feeds on dead animal matter. Gregarious behaviour is considered relatively common among harvestmen and has been interpreted in several ways. We suggest that gregarious behaviour in G. longipes may be related with the choice of more suitable microconditions in the cave habitat and/or with group chemical defence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the 49 New World genera of blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae). Included is a key to genera, and a brief synopsis of each genus. Each generic synopsis contains synonyms, number of species, geographic distribution, and important references dealing with taxonomy and biology. Additional notes are included for several of the genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is a review of the genus Pellenes ( s . lat .) in the fauna of Central Asia and the Caucasus. The genus Pellenes ( s . lat .) is redefined and subdivided into four subgenera according to the structure of genitalia: Pellenes ( s . str .), Pelpaucus subgen. nov., Pelmultus subgen. nov. and Pelmirus subgen. nov. Altogether 23 species have been treated, of which nine are described as new to science: Pellenes amazonka sp. nov. (female), P. badkhyzicus sp. nov. (male), P. borisi sp. nov. (female), P. karakumensis sp. nov. (male), P. bonus sp. nov. (male), P. pamiricus sp. nov. (male and female), P. pseudobrevis sp. nov. (male and female), P. sytchevskayae sp. nov. (male and female) and P. turkmenicus sp. nov. (male and female). Five species are newly synonymized: P. maderianus Kulczynski, 1905 with P . epularis (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872); P. kulabicus Andreeva, 1976 and P . simoni (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) with P. geniculatus (Simon, 1868); and P. albomaculatus Peng and Xie, 1993 with P. denisi Schenkel, 1963; P. tauricus (Thorell, 1875) is removed from synonymy with P. simoni (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) and is shown to be a junior synonym of P. nigrociliatus (Simon in L. Koch, 1875). A lectotype is designated for Pellenes brevis Simon, 1868. P. campylophorous (Thorell, 1875) is recognized to be nomen dubium . Pellenes calvus (Simon, 1868) is excluded from the Central Asian fauna of Pellenes . Evarcha lapponica (Sundevall, 1832), comb. nov. (ex Pellenes ), is proposed. Some morphological terms, e.g. the median septum, the epigynal flaps, the central blindending pocket and the newly proposed 'compound terminal apophysis', are discussed in relation to their homology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper two new species, Arrenurus (s.str.) hasankalensis n.sp. and A. (s.str.) afyonensis n.sp., and the females of A. (s.str.) turgidus Koenike 1911 and A. (s.str.) ayyildizi Erman 1993 are described. In addition, a list of Arrenurus species known from Turkey is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We, the Editor and Publisher of I Journal of Natural History i , have retracted the following article: Hendrik Freitag, Christian Molls, Aglaia M. Bouma, Jhoana M. Garces, Marzia Rossato, Emanuela Cosentino & Massimo Delledonne (2019) Additional new species of I Grouvellinus i Champion 1923 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Elmidae) discovered by citizen scientists and DNA barcoded in the field applying a novel MinION-based workflow, Journal of Natural History, 53:41-42, 2593-2620, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2019.1709669 The collection permit from Sabah Biodiversity Centre in Malaysia does not allow for the publication of these data, which formed the basis of the article above. The authors were made aware of this problem with their permit by the Sabah Biodiversity Centre following publication of their paper, and informed Taylor & Francis promptly. [Extracted from the article]

A letter to the editor in response to the proposal of using concept-mapping approach for the construction of research papers.