Search

Despite their attractive appearance, the velvet spiders of the genus Eresus are an understudied group in some parts of their range. Such areas include the south-western Mediterranean. In this paper we present a description of a new species from Morocco and Algeria, Eresus elhennawyi sp. n. We named it after the Egyptian arachnologist Hisham El-Hennawy, who has worked on the arachnids of North Africa for several decades. This species lives under rocks in semi-desert habitats, so unlike most species of the genus Eresus, it does not burrow. Adult males seek out females in April. Their colouration is obviously a mimicry of co-occurring stinging mutilid wasps. The most morphologically similar species is Eresus crassitibialis Wunderlich, 1987 from the nearby Canary Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Flora Montibérica is the property of Flora Montiberica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper offers a detailed taxonomic revision of all Canarian Pholcus species described before 2003, all of which are newly described and newly illustrated. Pholcus guadarfia sp. nov. is described, while a neotype for Pholcus malpaisensis Wunderlich, 1992 is also provided. In addition, we propose Pholcus gomerae Wunderlich, 1980 as a senior synonym for Pholcus gomeroides Wunderlich, 1987. More importantly, cladistic analysis based on the morphological characters of the Macaronesian Pholcus species was conducted for the first time. Parsimony analyses of 73 morphological characters revealed the close relationships between those species from the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Macaronesian enclave in Africa (between Agadir and Nouadhibou). © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 151, 59–114. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, three new dorvilleid species belonging to the genera Arenotrocha Westheide & von Nordheim, 1985 and Ophryotrocha Claparède & Mecznikow, 1869 are described. The material was collected in subtidal sandy sediments of Cymodocea nodosa meadows from Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife (Canary Islands). Ophryotrocha paragerlachi n. sp. resembles to O. gerlachi Hartmann-Schröder, 1974 in having mandibles L-shaped with smooth cutting edge and similar chaetation. The two species differ in the shape of the jaw parts, specially the forceps, and presence of biarticulated palps in O. paragerlachi. Ophryotrocha splendida n. sp. differs from all known species of the genus by the arrangement, form and gradation of the chaetae, and by the disposition and structure of the maxillae and mandibles. Arenotrocha lanzarotensis n. sp. is characterized by having a jaw apparatus with simple butterfly-wing shaped mandibles and two rows of maxillary plates. Arenotrocha minuta (Levi, 1954) is closely related to A. lanzarotensis, but these species differ in the form of the simple and compound chaetae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the lichen family Graphidaceae in Macaronesia (Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the Azores) is presented, with detailed treatments for the genera Allographa, Fissurina, and Graphis. All other species are listed and new records provided. A key to all Graphicacy known from Macaronesia, except the thelotremoid species, is presented. The following species are newly described: Fissurina azorica, Fissurina elaiocarpoides, Fissurina nigrolabiata, and Topeliopsis juniperina. Many species are newly recorded for one or more islands of the three archipelagos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seven-spotted ladybug is a widespread species in the Palearctic, and also acclimated in the Nearctic. It has been classified into different species on the basis of certain morphological characteristics, the geographical origin, and the genitalia structure of both sexes. The morphotypes of North Africa and the Canary Islands are separated, under the name of Coccinella algerica Kovář, 1977, from the rest of the Palearctic and Nearctic populations of Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, 1758. In this study, we investigated, on one hand, whether potential reproductive barriers have been established during evolution between the geographically isolated North African and the European seven-spotted ladybugs by performing reciprocal crosses. On the other hand, we assessed their cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) divergence by GC–MS. The 33 CHCs indentified are with a skeleton of 23 to 32 carbon atoms. These CHCs are linear alkanes (24.9 ± 3.6%) and methyl-branched alkanes (75.1 ± 3.6%) including monomethylalkanes (48.8 ± 2.4%), dimethylalkanes (24.6 ± 4.0%) and trimethylalkanes (2.0 ± 1.0%). Although all the CHC compounds identified are present in the two seven-spotted ladybugs and their F1 and F2 hybrids, their profiles diverged significantly. However, these chemical divergences have not altered the sexual communication to cause reproductive isolation. The two ladybugs interbreed and leave viable and fertile offspring, with even a heterosis effect on reproductive performances, without phenotypic degradation after the F1 generation. So, these chemical differences are just an intraspecific variability in response to heterogeneous environments. The two types of ladybugs can be considered as two different races of the same species with reduced genetic divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sub-alpine zones of oceanic islands are unique and dynamic ecosystems with high levels of endemism, making them particularly suitable model systems in which to investigate evolutionary and biogeographic processes. The sub-alpine flora of the Canary Islands is restricted to the islands of Tenerife and La Palma. Its origins are poorly understood. Echium wildpretii Hook.f. is an iconic species of the subalpine zones of these two islands, with distinct subspecies recognized on each island. This study examines patterns of genetic and morphological diversity in E. wildpretii to investigate the diversity and evolution of the lineage. Nine microsatellite markers were designed and used to investigate population genetic structure and patterns of gene flow within and between islands and populations. Morphological characters were assessed to test the distinctiveness of the two subspecies recognized. Strong genetic differentiation was observed between islands with higher genetic diversity on the younger island of La Palma than on Tenerife. Very low levels of inter-island gene flow were observed indicating that these taxa are reproductively isolated and evolving independently. Morphological analysis confirmed the distinctiveness of plants from the two islands. Given their genetic and morphological distinctiveness the taxa on Tenerife and La Palma merit recognition as distinct species. Higher genetic diversity in the La Palma species is consistent with an origin of the lineage on this island via upslope colonization, followed by dispersal to Tenerife where the plants show lower genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent integrative taxonomy study, we verified that the previously accepted concept of Lewinskya affinis (≡ Orthotrichum affine) actually comprises a complex of sibling lineages encompassing both known, accepted species (L. affinis s.str., L. praemorsa and L. tortidontia), recovered synonyms (L. fastigiata and L. leptocarpa), and four species yet unpublished. In the present work, we present detailed descriptions of the previously identified species and the new species, L. scissa from the Canary Islands, and the North American L. arida, L. pacifica and L. pseudoaffinis. In addition, we provide a key to the species in the complex, and discuss the morphological distinction of the species according to geographical areas. All included species are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tamarix is one of the taxonomically most complex genera among the angiosperms, and there is little consensus regarding its infrageneric classification. Here we present the most complete phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus to date. This includes a DNA phylogenetic tree based on nuclear ribosomal ITS, and a plastid DNA phylogeny based on three intergenic spacers (trnS‐trnG, ndhF‐rpl32, and trnQ‐rps16). In total, both nuclear and plastid phylogenetic analyses include more than 70 samples of 39 species from 27 countries, which represent close to 60% of the diversity of the genus. Two complementary trees, based only on one plastid marker, are also included. The first, based on trnS‐trnG, is used to increase the number of species related to T. amplexicaulis. The second, based on ndhF‐rpl32, is used to investigate the separation between T. tetrandra and T. parviflora. The incongruence between the available infrageneric classifications and the molecular results is confirmed. A reticulate evolution is inferred from the trees, showing characters such as vaginate leaves appearing at different stages along the evolutionary history of the genus. The presence of T. canariensis outside the Canary Islands is cast into doubt, and all such records from NW Africa and Europe are here considered to belong to T. gallica. The results also suggest independence of T. karelinii from T. hispida, and T. parviflora from T. tetrandra. Relationships between a number of species are still not resolved, and additional studies will be needed to further refine the complex taxonomy of Tamarix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background - Species of Agave and Furcraea (Agavaceae, Asparagaceae s. lat.) are widely cultivated as ornamentals in Mediterranean climates. An increasing number is escaping and naturalising, also in natural habitats in the Canary Islands (Spain). However, a detailed treatment of variously naturalised and invasive species found in the wild in the Canary Islands is not available and, as a result, species identification is often problematic. Methods - The present study is based on many years of fieldwork on the islands of Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife. Results - Fourteen species and several additional infraspecific taxa of Agave have been identified. In addition to the widely naturalised and invasive Agave americana, A. fourcroydes and A. sisalana (incl. the not previously reported var. armata), the following species of Agave were observed: A. angustifolia (incl. var. marginata), A. attenuata, A. filifera, A. franzosinii, A. lechuguilla, A. macroacantha, A. murpheyi, A. oteroi, A. salmiana (var. ferox and var. salmiana), A. aff. tequilana and A. vivipara. From the genus Furcraea three species were found: F. foetida, F. hexapetala and F. selloana. Several of these newly detected species of Agave and Furcraea are at least locally naturalised. A key for the identification of the representatives of these genera in the study area is presented and all species are illustrated. Additional nomenclatural, taxonomic and ecological notes are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanic islands are hotspots of biodiversity due to their high levels of endemism, with the Canary Islands being a notable example. A previous molecular study on the biogeography and host associations of haemogregarines (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) infecting lizards from this archipelago detected seven parasite haplogroups. These haplogroups exhibited high host-specificity and geographical structure, suggesting that they might correspond to distinct biological identities. In this study, along with sequencing a longer fragment of the 18S rRNA, we further explore the distinctiveness of these parasites by analysing their morphology, effects on host erythrocytes and parasitaemia levels. These lines of evidence together with their genetics, host associations, frequency of occurrence and geographical distribution support them as different biological entities. As such, we describe seven new species: Karyolysus canariensis sp. nov., Karyolysus galloti sp. nov., Karyolysus stehlini sp. nov., Karyolysus gomerensis sp. nov., Karyolysus atlanticus sp. nov., Karyolysus tinerfensis sp. nov. and Karyolysus makariogeckonis sp. nov. These new taxa are further examples of endemic diversity in the Canarian archipelago. They also contribute to clarify the taxonomy within the Apicomplexa, a phylum estimated to have one of the lowest percentages of described species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TheDiplecogaster-ctenocryptaspecies-group is reviewed; it comprises two species. The clingfishDiplecogaster ctenocryptafrom the Canary Islands is redescribed. The new speciesDiplecogaster tonstricula, a facultative cleaner of other teleosts, is described on the basis of eight specimens and colour photos from Senegal and the Canary Islands, eastern Atlantic Ocean. The species is small, apparently not exceeding 23 mm total length; it is characterised by having nine dorsal-fin rays, eight anal-fin rays, 24–25 pectoral-fin rays, 14–15 principal caudal-fin rays, 13–16 rakers on third gill arch, pelvic disc without lateral papillae in region A, disc region B with two rows of weak papillae, interorbital distance 4.1–4.6 in head length, distance between disc and anus 14–17% of SL, head and body with 10–13 narrow vertical brownish bars, cheek with a white ocellus surrounded by black, and with a small black spot in the middle. The new species is compared with other species of the genus; a key to the six known species of the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea and South African genusDiplecogasteris presented. A checklist is provided for the species ofDiplecogasterand their synonyms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domingo Bello y Espinosa (1817–1884) was an attorney and naturalist from the Canary Islands who lived in Mayagüez (Puerto Rico) between 1848 and 1878. He is the author of a two–part publication dated 1881 and 1883, which represents one of the first contributions on plant taxonomy made by an island resident. These studies include a total of 88 new taxa. Eighty–four of them are new taxonomic descriptions (3 genera, 59 species, 22 varieties) and 4 of them are new combinations. Eight of these species are still accepted either as published originally by Bello (3 species) or as basionyms of subsequent taxonomic combinations (5 names). Stahlia Bello is also currently accepted. Twelve of Bello's names are not legitimate (11 species, 1 variety). Bello did not leave a herbarium and published illustrations for only 3 of the new species that he described. Therefore, Bello's names need to be interpreted on the basis of his descriptions and indirect accounts primarily provided by Ignatz Urban. This German botanist had access to illustrations (made by Leopold Krug) and plant collections (from Krug and Agustín Stahl) that were originally identified with Bello's names. Here we assign neotypes for 42 of the 59 species described by Bello. The remaining 17 species not typified include 3 names typified in previous works, 9 illegitimate names, 3 names that we could not assign to any infrageneric taxon, and 2 names that are both illegitimate and can not be interpreted taxonomically. In addition, we lectotypify Caesalpinia monosperma (synonym of Stahlia maritima). We present a summary of the life of Domingo Bello that includes new data from archival research in the Canary Islands and Puerto Rico, as well as the only known portrait of him. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lecania chlorotiza and L. falcata, described here as new from Spain/Navarra, the Canary Islands and the Azores, do not belong to Lecania s. str. They belong to a strongly supported clade comprising Bacidia, Bacidina, Scutula and Toninia when examined with maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences using mtSSU, nuLSU and nuITS sequences. This clade represents the Bacidiaceae and is included in the Ramalinaceae s. lat. Most genera included in that family need further work before a new genus can possibly be described for Lecania chlorotiza and L. falcata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-five corticioid collections from the Canary Islands and Azores Archipelago were examined morphologically and subjected to molecular phylogenetic analysis. These specimens, almost all collected on endemic and/or xerophilic vegetation, were similar in morphological and ecological characteristics to Hypochnicium prosopidis from the Sonoran Desert (Arizona, USA) and Hyphoderma amoenum. Thirty-seven new ITS nrDNA sequences from these specimens, including the nomenclatural type of the above-mentioned species, were obtained and aligned with homologous sequences from GenBank. These collections were distributed in two strongly supported monophyletic clades. However, similar patterns of morphological variability shared by specimens included in both clades and their differences with related species suggest that they should be described as a single new species. Therefore Hyphoderma macaronesicum is proposed. Studies will be required to test, in a more robust multilocus genealogical framework, whether these populations constitute two cryptic species or whether they are the same taxon. The position of Hypochnicium prosopidis in the resolved tree and its morphological characters suggest that it should be included in Hyphoderma and the new combination Hyphoderma prosopidis is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological and molecular studies have been performed on Laurencia dendroidea derived from Brazil and the Canary Islands. This species possesses all of the characters that are typical of the genus Laurencia, including the production of the first pericentral cell underneath the basal cell of the trichoblast; the production of tetrasporangia from particular pericentral cells without the formation of additional fertile pericentral cells; spermatangial branches that are produced from one of two laterals on the suprabasal cell of the trichoblasts; and a procarp-bearing segment that possesses five pericentral cells. The phylogenetic position of L. dendroidea was inferred by analysing the chloroplast-encoded rbcL gene sequences of 51 taxa. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the taxa previously identified and cited in Brazil as Laurencia filiformis, L. majuscula and L. obtusa and in the Canary Islands as L. majuscula all represent the same taxonomic entity and examination of type material allowed us to identify this entity as L. dendroidea, whose type locality is in Brazil. Laurencia obtusa from the Northern Atlantic is confirmed to represent a distinct species, which displays high genetic divergence with respect to western and eastern Atlantic samples. The phylogenetic analyses also supported the nomenclatural transfer of Chondrophycus furcatus (Cordeiro‐Marino & M.T. Fujii) M.T. Fujii & Sentíes to Palisada furcata (Cordeiro‐Marino & M.T. Fujii) Cassano & M.T. Fujii comb. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Diploschistes albopruinosus is described as new to science. This species is found on siliceous rocks in La Caldera de Taburiente National Park (La Palma, Canary Islands). A description of the species is given together with notes on its chemistry, distribution, ecology and taxonomy. Related lichen taxa are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

James Cuninghame (ca. 1665-1709) was the first person to explore, collect and send back to the West significant numbers of Chinese plants and animals. During his first voyage to the Far East, this distinguished Scottish surgeon and naturalist stopped at the island of La Palma (Canary Islands). Although we do not know the exact dates of his arrival and departure, it is clear that Cuninghame was on the island during January and February 1698. During his stay, Cuninghame collected plant specimens which are now preserved in three volumes of the Sloane Herbarium (BM-SL). A five-folio manuscript (deposited in the Sloane Manuscript collection of the British Library) listing 62 plant entries also survives, together with fragmentary lists of names prepared by James Petiver (ca. 1658-1718), the main recipient of Cuninghame's Canarian collection. These specimens comprise the earliest documented herbarium collection made in the Canary Islands and are one of the most important pre-Linnaean sources for the Macaronesian flora. A study of these specimens and documents shows that Cuninghame collected/recorded material of 154 taxa including one lichen, nine bryophytes, 15 ferns, two gymnosperms, and 127 flowering plants. We were able to identify all but 16 of the herbarium specimens and one of Cuninghame's manuscript names below the rank of genus, and all but three of the specimens below family level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]