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Summary: Current study provides information on Length–weight relationship (LWR) of four fish species of family Mugilidae i.e., Planiliza macrolepis (Smith, 1846), Chelon parsia (Hamilton, 1822), Osteomugil cunnesius (Valenciennes, 1836) and Valamugil speigleri (Bleeker, 1858) from Chilika Lagoon, East coast of India. Samples were collected during monsoon (July 2016), winter (November 2016) and summer (April 2017) seasons from the fisher's boats inside the lagoon while fishing with screen barrier nets (mesh size 18‐38 mm) and gill nets (mesh size 34, 38, 46, 62 and 86 mm). The b values were determined from the data set in LWRs as 2.958 for P. macrolepis, 2.952 for O. cunnesius and 2.919 for C. parsia and 2.883 for V. peigleri. In all species, regression values were statistically significant (p < .05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Length–weight relationships (LWR) were estimated for five most abundant fish species occurring in the Utinga State Park within the metropolitan area of Belém, State of Pará, Northern Brazil. Data were obtained from specimens of Curimata knerii (n = 75), Gasteropelecus levis (n = 54), Hemigrammus rodwayi (n = 82), Hyphessobrycon bentosi (n = 69), and Pristobrycon calmoni (n = 76) collected in July 2013 with seines (1.5 mm mesh), sieves (1 mm mesh), and gill nets (40–120 mm mesh) in the main waterbodies. All LWRs are novel for science, increasing knowledge on biological information of the Neotropical freshwater fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Length–weight relationships (LWR) were provided for three fish species from Cujubim Sustainable Development Reserve, drainages of the Jutaí River Basin, a tributary of the Solimões River, part of the Central Amazon Biodiversity Corridor, Amazonas, Region North of Brazil. Specimens were collected in March 2006 using gill nets with mesh sizes range between 2 and 18 cm. The LWRs for all species are provided by the first time, and two new maximum length are recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The present study estimated the length–weight relationship (LWR) and length‐length relationships (LLR) of four fish species, Ompok pabo (Hamilton, 1822), Acentrogobius cyanomos (Bleeker, 1849), Acentrogobius caninus (Valenciennes, 1837) and Gagata cenia (Hamilton, 1822) collected from the Payra river over a period of 1 year between July 2015–June 2016 using set bag nets and cast nets with a mesh size of 0.5 cm and <0.5 cm, respectively. Altogether 593 individuals of O. pabo (59), A. cyanomos (221), A. caninus (240) and G. cenia (73) were sampled and studied. LWRs of O. pabo, A. cyanomos, and A. caninus are presented for the first time in Fishbase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper provides the length‐weight and length–length relationships for five fish species in the Zigui section of the lower Three Gorges Reservoir of the Yangtze River. Specimens were collected from December 2014 to January 2017, using various types of fishing gear and electroshock fishing techniques. Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) for one fish species and Length–length relationships (LLRs) for five fish species are unknown to FishBase. New maximum total lengths for four species were also recorded for FishBase. Moreover, standard‐length to total‐length equations for converting size measurements for these five species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Length‐weight and length‐length relationships were investigated for 13 freshwater fish species from the lower Jinsha River, southwest China (from 101°32′49.63″E; 26°35′38.27″N to 104°37′48.14″E; 28°45′59.55″N). Fish were sampled from five sites during 2014 and 2016, using trap‐nets, gillnets (major mesh size: 2–6 cm), longline and electrofishing. Length‐weight relationships for six and length‐length relationships for 12 species are the first report to FishBase, respectively. Moreover, new maximum length for 11 species are also presented to FishBase in this study. All regressions were highly significant (p < .001), with the coefficient of determination r2 > .950. These information will be helpful for management and conservation in local fishes and fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The study presents length‐weight relationships (LWRs) and length‐lenght relationships (LLRs) for two freshwater fish species from the Cheshmeh‐Langan River (Iran; 32°50′N, 50°04′E), a part of the Tigris drainage basin. Fish were sampled by electrofishing (Samus 725M) in August and September 2017. The LWRs and LLRs obtained showed a high level of correlation (r2 > .98). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study determined the length–weight relationships (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) of seven freshwater fish from the Daning River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, southwest China. Specimens were collected between July 2016 and July 2017 using drift gill nets (mesh size 1, 2 and 3 cm), cage net (0.5 cm mesh size) and electroshock fishing techniques quaterly. Parameter b values of LWRs ranged from 2.647 to 3.276 (r2 > .963) and b values of LLRs ranged from 1.091 to 1.213(r2 > .985). Six new LLRs and seven new maximum length data are presented. The biometric data and their relationships are relevant to Fishers science to supplement other data sets needed for fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The present study narrated the length–weight relationships (LWRs) of three fish species Salmophasia sardinella (Valenciennes, 1844), Amblypharyngodon microlepis (Bleeker, 1853) and Macrognathus aral (Bloch & Scheider, 1801) from the Arial Khan River, a south‐eastward outlet of the river Padma, Bangladesh. Fish samples were collected monthly basis from fishermen who used cast nets (mesh size <0.5 cm) and set bag nets (mesh size 0.5 cm) for catching fish species from January to December, 2016. The growth coefficient b in LWRs were 3.004, 3.001 and 2.936 for M. aral, S. sardinella and A. microlepis, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Length‐weight relationships (LWR) and length‐length relationships (LLR) were analyzed for three species inhabiting tidepools in the Amazon Coastal Zone, two of them non‐native. Tidepools were sampled in five beaches along the Amazon Coastal Zone in 2011, and samplings were carried out using hand nets. The coefficients of allometry and proportionality were within the ranges estimated for fishes. All three species exhibited coefficients of allometry (b) higher than 3 in the LWR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the spatial distribution of fish Thorogobius ephippiatus with the help of fishing data. It mentions that the specimens of this fish was collected at Gulen, Norway in 2015 and has been kept at Natural History Museum Rijeka. Topics include the fishing technique used in catching these fish, the decline in the gobiid fishes diversity in the cold North Eastern Atlantic, and the use of citizen science data that provides inforation on the distributiion of species.

Summary: The parameters of length‐weight relationship (LWR) are presented for seven species of catfish from the southeastern Gulf of California. Samples were obtained every three months, in Bahia de Matanchen (using bottom trawl nets consistent of 72 hauls, with mesh sizes of 3.2 cm in the wings and 2.54 cm in the cod‐end) from February to November, 2016 and in the San Blas estuarine system (using gill nets consistent of 32 hauls, with mesh sizes of 5 cm) from August, 2015 to May, 2016 respectively. The allometric coefficient (b) of LWR varied from 2.797 for the Cominate Sea Catfish (Occidentarius platypogon (Günther, 1864)) to 3.373 for the Tete Sea Catfish (Ariopsis gilberti (Jordan & Williams, 1895)). Four species reached new records on maximum total length (Tete Sea Catfish, A. gilberti; Widehead Sea Catfish, A. guatemalensis (Günther, 1864); Conguito Sea Catfish, Cathorops liropus (Bristol, 1897); and Curator Sea Catfish, C. raredonae Marceniuk, Betancur‐R, & Acero, 2009). For six of these species this accounts for the first report on estimations of LWR parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight species of mesoplodont whales (genus Mesoplodon Gervais, 1850) named during the nineteenth century are based on valid descriptions. A checklist with the original description and type material for each of these species is provided. Additional data given may include type locality and illustrative sources, type material holding institution and type registration number(s). The only type specimen for which a record of external morphology was published relates to the 1803 stranding of Sowerby's beaked whale ( Mesoplodon bidens). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT It is widely accepted that most larger Australian vertebrates were extinct by 40 ka. The reliability of <20-ka radiocarbon (14C) ages on charcoal stratigraphically associated with sthenurine (short-faced) kangaroo tooth fragments from Seton Rockshelter, Kangaroo Island, have therefore proven contentious. Some researchers have argued these fossils were in situ, while others have claimed they were reworked. To address this we obtained new 14C ages on bones from the site. These bone ages are not only consistent with earlier charcoal ages, but are in near-perfect stratigraphic order, providing strong support for the site's stratigraphic integrity. Our analyses indicate units aged 21−17 ka were primarily accumulated by Tasmanian devils ( Sarcophilus harrisii) and owls ( Tyto species), after which humans became the primary accumulation agent. The tight chronology, faunal trends and current lack of evidence for older layers from which specimens could have been reworked suggest the sthenurine remains may be in situ. However, because attempts to directly date sthenurine material failed, we cannot confidently assert that they survived to this time. Therefore, Seton Rockshelter may be best excluded from the Pleistocene extinction debate until the site can be re-excavated and more conclusive evidence collected, including more complete or directly datable sthenurine remains. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the taxonomic uncertainty involving species of fern Microsorum grossum and Microsorum colopendria focusing on how Microsorum scolopendria are incorrectly identified in South Florida. The maile scented fern is commonly known as wart fern in South Florida and is used in landscapes around buildings. Also discussed is the cultivation of this fern and it's varieties. Also discussed extensively are the differences between different herbarium specimens.

Only nine skins of the extinct Falkland Islands wolf, Dusicyon australis, are currently known in museum collections. In this article we present the results of locating these specimens with a special focus on the origins of two mounted skins in Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden and in the Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden. Although only a few specimens were collected, their history is far more complicated than initially thought, and most of their documentary records are fragmented or lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fleas are acknowledged vectors and reservoirs of various bacteria that present a wide range of pathogenicity. In this study, fleas collected from wild rodents from the Negev desert in southern Israel were tested for Rickettsia DNA by targeting the 16S rRNA (rrs) gene. Thirty-eight Xenopsylla ramesis, 91 Synosternus cleopatrae and 15 Leptopsylla flea pools (a total of 568 fleas) were screened. Rickettsia DNA was detected in 100% of the X. ramesis and in one S. cleopatrae flea pools. None of L. algira flea pools was found positive. All positive flea pools were further characterized by sequencing of five additional genetic loci (gltA, ompB, ompA, htrA and fusA). The molecular identification of the positive samples showed all sequences to be closely related to the 'Rickettsia felis-like' organisms (99-100% similarities in the six loci). To further investigate the association between 'R. felis-like' and X. ramesis fleas, ten additional single X. ramesis adult fleas collected from the wild and five laboratory-maintained X. ramesis imago, five larva pools (2-18 larvae per pool) and two egg pools (18 eggs per pool) were tested for the presence of 'R. felis-like' DNA. All samples were found positive by a specific ompA PCR assay, confirming the close association of this Rickettsia species with X. ramesis in all its life stages. These results suggest a symbiotic association between 'Rickettsia felis-like' and X. ramesis fleas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto, is a species with considerable public health and economic importance. However, the taxonomic status of this species is far from resolved. After more than 110 years of scientific work on R. sanguineus s.s., the situation is that there is no type, no solid description, nor is there a consensus about the range of morphological variability within the species. Recent findings based on laboratory crosses and molecular genetics strongly suggest that there are several entities grouped under the same name. Here we review the history of the taxon, and we point out the caveats behind any further work on this tick. The current taxonomic status of R. sanguineus s.s. thus lacks an informative original description, and is based on the existence of several morphological descriptions based on ticks originating from different populations, which show, in some cases, biological incompatibility and significant genetic divergence. We suggests that as a result it is not possible to assign the specific name R. sanguineus s.s. to any population. Further work is required based on the rules issued by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature to clearly define the morphological range of the different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An annotated catalogue is provided for the type specimens of turtles (Testudines: Chelidae) in the herpetological collection of the Western Australian Museum. The collection currently holds eight type specimens representing five named taxa from Australia and Timor-Leste, two of which are currently considered as valid at the specific or subspecific level. We also take into consideration the taxonomic status of some species and synonymise Chelodina kuchlingi with C. oblonga and Macrochelodina walloyarrina with C. burrungandjii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rust Herbarium in Berlin (B) is one of the world's richest collections of rust fungi. The author's inventory of Uredinales types at B has shown that the number of types not previously separated from the main herbarium is significant. Of the c. 100 000 images scanned, over 1900 rust type specimens, representing 1380 species, were recognized. With further scrutiny more type specimens and species are expected to surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Original material of 17 names applying to 14 accepted species and one accepted subspecies of predominantly N Eurasian Cruciferae is enumerated and briefly discussed. In most cases, previous typifications contrary to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants or erroneously believed to be effective are revised and replaced with effective typifications. Fourteen lectotypes including one narrowing of a previous choice (second-step lectotype) are designated. In addition, two neglected type designations are confirmed and recognized. Notes are provided on the nomenclature of the treated taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In July 1926, the science behind biological control transitioned from an experimental method to a trusted policy tool in invasive species management. In local storytelling, historical writing and scientific analysis, the ‘lucky’ discovery of the South AmericanCactoblastis cactorummoth was a watershed moment for scientists concerned with prickly pear,OpuntiaandNopaleaspp. Within 10 years, Queensland declared itself pest free. Overnight success is the climax in this tale's narrative arc. Articulating this introduction as a ‘lucky break’ worked to stabilize the narrative of human control in the agricultural environments of post-colonial Queensland, and, in doing so, consolidated biological control as critical management technique. I argue that ‘luck’ elides the assemblage of elements and actors necessary to enable this change, allowing settlers to distance themselves from the responsibility for disruptions associated with nineteenth-century plant transfers. To challenge the rhetorical function of luck, three episodes of contingency are discussed: (1) transnational mobility of things and knowledge, (2) the unpredictable adaptation of insect diet, and (3) human vectors in industrialized insect–plant complexes. There are important distinguishing differences between luck and contingency, which I frame as a critical analytical tool for understanding the political role of non-humans, in the storied worlds of science in prickly pear land. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The ammonoid genus Churkites, a typical representative of the Early Olenekian assemblage ( Anasibirites nevolini Zone) in South Primorye, is reported for the first time in the top part of the Tri Kamnya section located on the western coast of the Ussuri Gulf. Churkites cf. syaskoi Zakh. et Shig. was found in association with Inyoites, Clypeoceras, Owenites, Juvenites, Prionites, Glyptophiceras, Brayardites, Mianwaliites, Pseudoflemingites, Aspenites, Rohillites, Pseudoaspedites, Anaxenaspis, Anasibirites, Monneticeras?, Shamaraites, Palaeokazakhstanites, Xenoceltites, and Arctoceras ammonoids; the majority of these are known from the SMID section (Artem), where the Anasibirites nevolini Zone has been studied in great detail. In the region of Smolyaninovo Village, the type locality of Churkites syaskoi, the latter was found in association with Clypeoceras, Juvenites, Mianwaliites, Prionitidae gen. et sp. indet., as well as Preflorianites? and Hanielites?. Ammonoids from the Smithian Substage of the Olenekian Stage of the Ungun (Khabarovsk Region) and Pereval'nyi (South Primorye) sections have also been revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Natural History Museum in London has embarked on an epic journey to digitise 80 million specimens from one of the world's most important natural history collections. Publishing this data to our open Data Portal will give the global scientific community access to unrivalled historical, geographic and taxonomic specimen data gathered over the last 250 years. We have been involving the public in this large task by asking digital volunteers to help transcribe information written on specimen labels, via an online crowdsourcing interface, such that anyone in the world can participate. In this talk we will share our experience with these projects over the past year. Within the Digital Collections Programme at the Natural History Museum London we have so far digitally imaged approximately 200,000 of our total holdings of around two million microscope slides, and from these have selected two discrete collections for crowdsourcing the transcription effort. Miniature Lives Magnified (now complete) contained 6,285 digitised Chalcidoidea slides from our Hymenoptera collection, and Miniature Fossils Magnified (not yet complete at time of writing) contains 2,000 Foraminifera slides from our Micropalaeontology collection. Both projects are hosted on the Notes from Nature platform, which has been built on the Zooniverse Panoptes open-project platform. As the lead partner of the Crowdsourcing task within SYNTHESYS3, an EC-funded project creating an integrated European infrastructure for natural history collections, we have partnered with our fellow consortium members to help them design and launch crowdsourcing projects of their own. These have included an Amaranthaceae collection with 444 specimens and a Primulaceae collection with 3,093 specimens hosted on Notes from Nature, and a Brachiopod collection with 1,810 specimens built directly on Panoptes. In this talk we will share the key insights gained through practical experience with this wide range of specimens, specimen data, and label-styles. In particular, we have gained insights into the design of the workflow and interface, such as the considerable reduction in human error when drop-down menu options are introduced where possible, rather than free data entry fields. These five projects provided us with a unique opportunity to compare the dedicated Notes from Nature platform, which has significant advantages due to the size and engagementlevel of the existing community, to the open project-building Panoptes platform, which has storytelling advantages in terms of the capacity to provide more information about a specific collection, its subject, and its underlying scientific importance. A crucial element of running successful crowdsourcing projects is building an engaged community of digital volunteers. We compared the use of social media channels with more traditional Museum communication channels (such as e-newsletter and website), and found that the latter had the most reach in terms of raising awareness of the projects, but that the former enabled more frequent and varied engagement with a potential volunteer audience. However, when examining which metrics are the most important to track in assessing the success of various initiatives, we found that the highest impact on the ultimate volume of transcription were in-house volunteering days run in person, rather than online. In reaching out and engaging with a diverse range of volunteer audiences, we found evidence of the major sources of motivation that are described in the existing citizen science literature, but also more nuanced insight into behaviours such as pursuing independent learning, the desire to enter all of the information even when not requested, and preferring tasks that can be performed by rote. Our efforts to support and nurture the existing Notes from Nature community confirmed the importance of the principle of 'givingback', and gave us insight into how to do this when research results emerge over a longer timeline than is typical of field-based citizen science projects. And finally, we will share our experience with the behind-the-scenes elements of crowdsourcing - the parts the 'crowd' doesn't see - such as data quality assessment, data ingestion, data publication, and the flow of data between internal systems. In conclusion we will propose some visions of the future, such as moving towards a global platform for specimen label transcription with a shared underlying database infrastructure, how to deepen the engagement of digital volunteers from transcription tasks to scientific observations, and ways to bring online crowdsourcing and field-based citizen science together in a more streamlined way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the enterobacterial genus Serratia are ecologically widespread, and some strains are opportunistic human pathogens. Bacteriophage ϕMAM1 was isolated on Serratia plymuthica A153, a biocontrol rhizosphere strain that produces the potently bioactive antifungal and anticancer haterumalide oocydin A. The ϕMAM1 phage is a generalized transducing phage that infects multiple environmental and clinical isolates of Serratia spp. and a rhizosphere strain of Kluyvera cryocrescens. Electron microscopy allowed classification of ϕMAM1 in the family Myoviridae. Bacteriophage ϕMAM1 is virulent, uses capsular polysaccharides as a receptor, and can transduce chromosomal markers at frequencies of up to 7 × 10-6 transductants per PFU. We also demonstrated transduction of the complete 77-kb oocydin A gene cluster and heterogeneric transduction of a plasmid carrying a type III toxin-antitoxin system. These results support the notion of the potential ecological importance of transducing phages in the acquisition of genes by horizontal gene transfer. Phylogenetic analyses grouped ϕMAM1 within the ViI-like bacteriophages, and genomic analyses revealed that the major differences between ϕMAM1 and other ViI-like phages arise in a region encoding the host recognition determinants. Our results predict that the wider genus of ViI-like phages could be efficient transducing phages, and this possibility has obvious implications for the ecology of horizontal gene transfer, bacterial functional genomics, and synthetic biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on 27 mesoplodont whales are compiled from the original nineteenth century published records from Britain, Ireland, Europe and the United States. These data comprise the type specimen of Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) and 26 other records, all referred to the taxon M. bidens. Records may include the following information: specimen total length, sex, date of discovery and the locality, pigmentation pattern, external morphology, osteology and soft-tissue anatomy. This information is summarized here from the original descriptions. Only a handful of these specimens was externally complete when described at first hand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dothistroma septosporum is a haploid fungal pathogen that causes a serious needle blight disease of pines, particularly as an invasive alien species on Pinus radiata in the Southern Hemisphere. During the course of the last two decades, the pathogen has also incited unexpected epidemics on native and non‐native pine hosts in the Northern Hemisphere. Although the biology and ecology of the pathogen has been well documented, there is a distinct lack of knowledge regarding its movement or genetic diversity in many of the countries where it is found. In this study we determined the global population diversity and structure of 458 isolates of D. septosporum from 14 countries on six continents using microsatellite markers. Populations of the pathogen in the Northern Hemisphere, where pines are native, displayed high genetic diversities and included both mating types. Most of the populations from Europe showed evidence for random mating, little population differentiation and gene flow between countries. Populations in North America (USA) and Asia (Bhutan) were genetically distinct but migration between these continents and Europe was evident. In the Southern Hemisphere, the population structure and diversity of D. septosporum reflected the anthropogenic history of the introduction and establishment of plantation forestry, particularly with Pinus radiata. Three introductory lineages in the Southern Hemisphere were observed. Countries in Africa, that have had the longest history of pine introductions, displayed the greatest diversity in the pathogen population, indicating multiple introductions. More recent introductions have occurred separately in South America and Australasia where the pathogen population is currently reproducing clonally due to the presence of only one mating type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-cidaroid echinoids (subclass Euechinoidea Bronn, 1860) from the Oxfordian epicontinental sequence of Poland (Polish Jura, Holy Cross Mountains, Mid-Polish Anticlinorium) are assigned to the genera Hemipedina Wright, 1855, Hemicidaris L. Agassiz, 1838, Hemitiaris Pomel, 1883, Pseudocidaris Étallon, 1859, Stomechinus Desor, 1856, Eucosmus L. Agassiz in Agassiz and Desor, 1846, Glypticus L. Agassiz, 1840, Pleurodiadema de Loriol, 1870, Diplopodia McCoy, 1848, Trochotiara Lambert, 1901, Desorella Cotteau, 1855, and Heterocidaris Cotteau, 1860, plus one acropeltid taxon, and one taxon left in open nomenclature. Within the genus Hemicidaris L. Agassiz, 1838, the relationship between Hemicidaris intermedia (Fleming, 1828), Hemicidaris crenularis L. Agassiz, 1839 [non Lamarck, nec Goldfuss] and Hemicidaris quenstedti Mérian, 1855, all with confused taxonomy, is discussed. Based on test structure, the genera Polydiadema Lambert, 1883, and Trochotiara Lambert, 1901, of the family Emiratiidae Ali, 1990, are proved to be separate; the common species mamillana of F.A. Roemer (1836) is a typical Trochotiara. An attention is paid to the morphology of the tiny, juvenile specimens, common in Eucosmus decoratus L. Agassiz in L. Agassiz and Desor, 1846, and in Pleurodiadema stutzi (Moesch, 1867). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new scleractinian coral species, Pachyseris inattesa sp. n., is described from the Red Sea. Despite a superficial resemblance with some species in the agariciid genus Leptoseris with which it has been previously confused, P. inattesa sp. n. has micro-morphological characters typical of the genus Pachyseris. This genus, once part of the Agariciidae, is comprised of five extant species and is widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. It is currently incertae sedis as a result of recent molecular analysis and appears to be closely related to the Euphylliidae. A molecular phylogenetic reconstruction including P. inattesa sp. n., the genus type species P. rugosa, and P. speciosa, all present in the Red Sea, was performed using the mitochondrial intergenic spacer between COI and 16S-rRNA. The results confirm that P. inattesa sp. n. is a monophyletic lineage closely related to the other Pachyseris species examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection of Mantodea of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, includes 26 holotypes, 7 allotypes, 4 lectotypes, 23 paratypes, and 1 paralectotype. Four type specimens were designated as lectotypes within this work. Highly accurate measurement data, high resolution images of specimens and labels, verbatim label data, georeferenced coordinates, original and newly assigned database codes, and bibliographic data are presented for all primary types. Label data for all paratype specimens in the collection are provide in tabular form. The location of the USNM collection has been moved to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as a loan under the Off-site Enhancement Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jacoburbirostrum gen. nov., type species Atrypa duplicata Hall, 1843, is described from the middle Famennian (II-G) of southwestern New York State, and a lectotype is formally designated. New family Jacoburbirostridae is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species from Yunnan, China are described and illustrated, namely Subancistrocerus compressus and Subancistrocerus jinghongensis. In addition, S. camicrus (Cameron) and S. sichelii (de Saussure) are newly recorded from China. A key to the Chinese species of Subancistrocerus is provided. Type specimens of the new species are deposited in Chongqing Normal University and Yunnan Agricultural University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turner I. M.: William Roxburgh and the names of some Indian indigos. - Willdenowia 44: 21-25. 6 March 2014. - Version of record published online ahead of inclusion in April 2014 issue; ISSN 1868-6397; © 2014 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. DOI: In 1811, a paper by William Roxburgh was published in the Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. In it Roxburgh described four species used in dye manufacture in India and the surrounding region. This publication has been largely overlooked by plant taxonomists. Of the four names, one, Nerium tinctorium, had already been published. For the other three, Asclepias tinctoria, A. tingens and Indigofera coerulea, this represents the earliest place of valid publication. The application and typification of these names are reviewed. Some notes on other Roxburgh names appearing in the Transactions are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallo L.: Sedum ochroleucum subsp. mediterraneum (Crassulaceae), a new Italian endemic. - Willdenowia 44: 27-33. 6 March 2014. - Version of record published online ahead of inclusion in April 2014 issue; ISSN 1868-6397; © 2014 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. DOI: A new subspecies of Sedum ochroleucum Chaix ( S. ser. Rupestria Berger, Crassulaceae), endemic to the Italian Peninsula, is described. It differs from the typical subspecies mainly by the glabrous sepals and the semi-erect to spreading petals at anthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cabarroi Hernández M., Johnston P. R. & Minter D. W.: Rhytismataceae (Ascomycota) in Cuba. - Willdenowia 44: 65-75. 14 March 2014. - Version of record published online ahead of inclusion in April 2014 issue; ISSN 1868-6397; © 2014 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. DOI: Knowledge of Rhytismataceae (Ascomycota) in Cuba is inadequate; many specimens have been collected and identified by foreign specialists and many types are mostly preserved in reference collections of other countries. Following extensive field and herbarium studies, nine species of Rhytismataceae are reported, discussed and illustrated from Cuba, of which three: Coccomyces leptosporus, C. tesselatus and Lophodermium mangiferae are new for this country. Six other species: Coccomyces clusiae, C. limitatus, Lophodermium australe, L. platyplacum, Marthamyces quadrifidus and Terriera minor, which had been reported previously, are now confirmed. New host records for some species are also presented. Fruit bodies and spores, as well as ecology of the species included, are described. An identification key to the accepted species in Cuba is provided and host organisms are cited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small number of Hydrozoa specimens, collected by Emperor Hirohito of Japan in Sagami Bay in the 1930s, was re-discovered in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels. The history of the collection is described here; part of it has been returned to the Showa Memorial Institute in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection which belonged to the Prof. Ioan Nemeș (1924-2009), currently curated at the Museum of Natural Sciences Dorohoi (Botoșani County), is one of the most important and valuable collections of Lepidoptera preserved in a Romanian museum. Within this collection, a number of 47 type specimens have been identified, on which the descriptions of 28 species and other infraspecific taxa from 5 Lepidoptera families: Nepticulidae, Coleophoridae, Tortricidae, Crambidae and Geometridae have been based. All these specimens were collected from the territory of Romania. Some of the identified type specimens belong to taxa with doubtful status, whose original descriptions are poor and superficial. The discovery of these type specimens finally allowed assessing the status of several taxa, and the following new synonymies are proposed: Ancylis uncella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1933) = Ancylis bucovinella Peiu & Nemeş, 1969 nov. syn.; Epiblema foenella (Linnaeus, 1758) = Epiblema foenella f. fracta Popescu-Gorj & Nemeş, 1965 nov. syn.; Pelochrista decolorana ( Freyer, 1842) = Pseudeucosma alexinschiana Peiu & Nemeş, 1968 nov. syn.; Nascia cilialis ( Hübner, 1 796) = Calamotropha olarui Nemeş, 1972 nov. syn.; Scopula (Calothysanis) subpunctaria (Herrich-Schäffer, 1847) = Scopula peiui Olaru, 1973 nov. syn.; Idaea pallidata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) = Sterrha constantineanui Olaru, 1973 nov. syn.; Idaea elongaria (Rambur, 1833) = Sterrha nemesi Olaru, 1973 nov. syn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]