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Revision of the European species of the subgenus <i>Neocheilosia</i> Barkalov (Diptera, Syrphidae: Cheilosia)
No full textThe European species of the Cheilosia subgen. Neocheilosia Barkalov, 1983 (Diptera, Syrphidae) are revised. The identities of Cheilosia morio (Zetterstedt, 1838) and of its synonyms are reviewed, and C. scanica Ringdahl, 1937 is established as a junior synonym of C. morio. Cheilosia luteicornis (Zetterstedt, 1838) is re-installed as the name for C. morio of authors pro parte, not Zetterstedt. Cheilosia morio and C. luteicornis are redescribed, and lectotypes are designated for Eristalis lineata Wahlberg, 1843 and for E. luteicornis Zetterstedt, 1838 in order to ensure the consistent future interpretation of the names. The hitherto unknown male of Cheilosia barovskii Stackelberg, 1930 is described, and the female of C. barovskii is redescribed. We also provide updated distributional records and an identification key. Finally, we present a Neighbor-Joining tree for mtDNA COI barcodes of four species of the subgen. Neocheilosia.</p
Squat lobsters (Decapoda: Chirostyloidea and Galatheoidea) from Saya de Malha Bank, SW Indian Ocean, with the descriptions of three new species
No full textSpecimens of galatheoid and chirostyloid squat lobsters were collected during a scientific cruise to the Saya de Malha Bank in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Nineteen species were identified, including three new species belonging to the genera Coralliogalathea Baba & Javed, 1974, Galathea Fabricius, 1793 and Trapezionida Macpherson & Baba, 2022. The present paper provides systematic accounts of the three new species, along with new locality records of other species. Molecular data are provided to support the identification and differentiation of each new species.</p
Quel serpent a mordu Philoctète? Un commentaire zoologique sur le mythe grec antique
No full textPhiloctète, fils de Poeas, était un personnage mythique plus connu comme ami d’Hercule et héros ayant participé à la guerre de Troie. Cependant, lors du voyage vers Troie, les Achéens abandonnèrent Philoctète sur l’île de Lemnos à cause de sa blessure nauséabonde causée par une morsure de serpent. Cette étude examine le mythe de Philoctète d’un point de vue herpétologique, en se concentrant sur le serpent. Sur la base de sources anciennes et de données herpétologiques modernes, l’étude vise à identifier l’espèce de serpent à l’origine de l’incident mythique. Compte tenu des différentes versions du mythe, les termes « hydrus », « echidna/echis », « ophis », « drakon/draco », « cenchrines » et « coluber » sont explorés dans divers textes anciens, à la recherche d’une explication zoologique. En outre, l’étude considère des lieux suggérés comme des sites possibles de l’incident mythique, en examinant la présence des espèces de serpents correspondantes. L’analyse comparative permet de conclure que le serpent du mythe était probablement un « hydrus » et plus précisément une couleuvre à collier, Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758). Cette conclusion peut être étayée par les données médicales et comportementales liées à cette espèce dans la littérature. En définitive, cette étude montre comment les approches interdisciplinaires peuvent jeter un pont entre les mythes et la science et révèle des informations sur les croyances culturelles et le monde naturel.Philoctetes, son of Poeas, was a mythical character better known as friend of Hercules and hero who participated in the Trojan War. However, on the journey to Troy, Achaeans abandoned Philoctetes in Lemnos Island because of his foul-smelling wound caused by a snakebite. This study examines the myth of Philoctetes by a herpetological perspective focusing on the snake. Based on ancient sources and modern herpetological data, the study sought to identify the snake species of the mythical incident. Considering the different versions of the myth, the terms “hydrus”, “echidna/echis”, “ophis”, “drakon/draco”, “cenchrines”, and “coluber” are explored in various ancient texts, seeking for zoological explanation. Furthermore, the study takes into account the possible locations that have been suggested as the place of the mythical incident examining the presence of relative snake species. The comparative analysis leads to the conclusion that the snake of the myth was likely a “hydrus” and specifically a Grass snake, Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758). This outcome can be further supported by medical and behavioural records correlated with this species in literature. Ultimately, this study demonstrates how interdisciplinary approaches can bridge myth and science to reveal insights into cultural beliefs and the natural world.</p
Systematic positions and taxonomy of two freshwater ciliates found in China, with establishments of one new family and two new species (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea)
No full textAbstract. The morphology and molecular phylogeny of two freshwater ciliates, Pseudotetrahymena orientalis gen. et sp. nov. and Cyclidium paravorax sp. nov., collected from Harbin, Northeast China, were investigated based on morphology of live specimens and ciliary pattern; the phylogenetic placements were inferred from the SSU-rRNA gene. Pseudotetrahymenidae fam. nov., assigned to the order Tetrahymenida Fauré-Fremiet in Corliss, 1956, can be distinguished from the other families by its membranelle 2 consisting of several clusters and the shape of the cell. The new species C. paravorax is similar to C. vorax Pan, 2020 in most morphological features except the membranelle 3, which is single-rowed. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU-rRNA gene sequence indicate that Pseudotetrahymenidae lies in the periphery of the Tetrahymenida clade and forms an independent, fully supported clade. Cyclidium paravorax groups with C. glaucoma Müller, 1773, which supports the assignment of the new species to the genus Cyclidium Müller, 1773.</p
Three new nematode species (Chromadorida: Selachinematidae) from the continental slope of New Zealand
No full textThree new species of selachinematid nematodes, Choanolaimus serieporus sp. nov., C. sparsiporus sp. nov. and Gammanema lunatum sp. nov., are described from the continental slope of New Zealand. We also provide partial ribosomal DNA SSU and LSU D2–D3 sequences for Gammanema lunatum sp. nov. and another selachinematid species, Halichoanolaimus funestus Leduc, 2020. Until now, the genus Choanolaimus de Man, 1880 comprised a single species restricted to coastal dunes, beaches and estuarine environments of the North Sea, Northeast Atlantic and Northeast Pacific. To our knowledge, the present study provides the first record of the genus from the southern hemisphere and from the deep-sea environment (> 250 m depth). The two new species of Choanolaimus are characterised by two longitudinal dorsosublateral rows of pore complexes, which differ in arrangement between species thus providing a taxonomically informative character. The presence of pore complexes in Choanolaimus is consistent with previous findings, which show that within the Selachinematidae Cobb, 1915, pore complexes are only found in genera with a blind intestine. The two species of Gammanema Cobb, 1920 known so far from New Zealand share characters not found in any other species of the genus, i.e., loop-shaped amphids in males and the presence of cuticle spines, which indicates that these two species may have evolved from a common ancestor. The SSU and LSU D2–D3 consensus trees are largely congruent. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses confirm previous results, which support the monophyly of the family Selachinematidae but not of the subfamilies Selachinematinae and Choniolaiminae, with some genera placed in different clades despite sharing strong morphological similarities. We have found no support for the monophyly of the genus Halichoanolaimus de Man, 1886, which forms a well-supported clade with the genera Bendiella Leduc, 2013, Cobbionema Filipjev, 1922 and Demonema Cobb, 1894.</p
A taxonomic study of millipede genera, <i>Orangutana</i> Golovatch, 1996 and <i>Gigantomorpha</i> Jeekel, 1963 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae), with description of four new species from Sabah, Borneo, East Malaysia
No full textThis taxonomic study focuses on the millipede genera, Gigantomorpha Jeekel, 1963, and Orangutana Golovatch, 1996, both in the family Paradoxosomatidae. The present investigation focuses on specimens collected in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, a region known for its remarkable biodiversity. Two new species are described from the Crocker Range Park: Gigantomorpha alabensis Ng & Likhitrakarn sp. nov., and Orangutana koropungoi Ng & Likhitrakarn sp. nov. Another two new species come from the Kinabalu Park: Gigantomorpha sayapensis Ng & Likhitrakarn sp. nov. and Gigantomorpha mesilauensis Ng & Likhitrakarn sp. nov. Their descriptions highlight the neglected, yet vibrant millipede diversity in Sabah. The statuses of both Gigantomorpha and Orangutana are mentioned, their distribution map is presented, and an identification key to all species of Gigantomorpha is given.</p
La fourmi tropicale <i>Pheidole megacephala</i> (Fabricius, 1793)<i> </i>en France et sa discrimination avec la fourmi locale <i>Pheidole pallidula</i> (Nylander, 1849).
No full textLes fourmis introduites apparaissent de plus en plus fréquemment dans de nombreux pays avec tous les problèmes que cela peut poser. En France, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793), une espèce classée dans le top100 des envahissantes par l’IUCN, vient d’être signalée en France dans des serres chauffées à Alligator Bay (Beauvoir, près du Mont Saint-Michel) et à Paris (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle). Nous avons voulu confirmer la détermination de cette espèce comparée à l’espèce locale Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849). Pour cela nous avons utilisé les critères morphologiques, les hydrocarbures cuticulaires et la génétique (gènes COI). Tous confirment bien la présence de P. megacephala dans ces serres en France. Cette espèce ne paraît pas envahissante pour le moment mais il faudra la surveiller de près dans les années à venir.Introduced ants appear to be more and more frequent in many countries, becoming sometimes invasives. Recently, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793) was signaled in greenhouses near Mont-Saint-Michel and Paris. As the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has identified it as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species worldwide, it was interesting to verify the identity of this species. We used morphological measures, cuticular hydrocarbons and genetical analyses (COI) compared to the local Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849). All the items confirmed the presence of P. megacephala. Now, it does not appear to be invasive, but it needs to be surveilled.</p
Review of the pseudoscorpion genus <i>Stenohya</i> Beier, 1967 from China (Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae)
No full textStenohya Beier, 1967 is an Asian pseudoscorpion genus, with more than half of the species reported from China. In this study, eight new Stenohya species from China are described: S. biverticis Zhao, Guo & Zhang sp. nov., S. cordata Zhao, Guo & Zhang sp. nov., S. margarita Zhao, Guo & Zhang sp. nov., S. polygonia Zhao, Guo & Zhang sp. nov. and S. ungulata Zhao, Guo & Zhang sp. nov. from Guangxi, S. jiaxiani Zhao, Guo & Zhang sp. nov. from Fujian, S. harveyi Zhao, Guo & Zhang sp. nov. from Yunnan, and S. qianlei Zhao, Guo & Zhang sp. nov. from Chongqing. The females of S. jiahensis Li & Shi, 2023 and S. dongtianensis Li & Shi, 2023 are described for the first time, and S. bomica Zhao & Zhang, 2011 and S. hainanensis Guo & Zhang 2016 are redescribed based on the reexamination of the type specimens. A key and a distribution map to the Chinese species are provided.</p
Serpents de l’Éocène tardif-Oligocène précoce du bassin transylvanien (Roumanie)
No full textNous rapportons ici le registre des serpents fossiles récupérés dans une localité de l’Éocène tardif (Priabonien) et deux localités de l’Oligocène précoce (Rupélien) de l’ouest de la Roumanie. Le seul site à vertébrés fossiles de l’Éocène tardif contenant des serpents est celui de Treznea, où l’on a trouvé un serpent booïdé de petite taille identifié comme Ungaliophiidae indet. La localité de l’Oligocène précoce de la colline de Cetățuia, Cluj-Napoca, comprend un ungaliophiidé (cf. Messelophis variatus Baszio, 2004), tandis que celle de Suceag 1 comprend un ungaliophiidé (cf. M. variatus), un membre de Alethinophidia incertae sedis (Falseryx cf. neervelpensis) et un serpent alethinophidien indéterminé. Une partie des serpents identifiés représente une faune plus ancienne, connue depuis l’Éocène moyen d’Allemagne (Messelophis Baszio, 2004) et ayant survécu jusqu’au début de l’Oligocène, tandis que les autres (Falseryx Szyndlar & Rage, 2003) peuvent être considérés comme de nouveaux venus apparus en Europe après la « Grande Coupure ». La faible diversité des faunes de serpents dans les localités étudiées est due aux conditions insulaires de ce territoire, avec de rares connexions terrestres intermittentes avec les faunes de serpents plus diversifiées de l’Europe cratonique.We report herein the fossil record of snakes recovered from one late Eocene (Priabonian) and two early Oligocene (Rupelian) localities from western Romania. The only late Eocene fossil vertebrate site with snake content is Treznea, which yielded a small sized booid snake assigned to Ungaliophiidae indet. The early Oligocene locality of Cetățuia Hill, Cluj-Napoca, documents an ungaliophiid (cf. Messelophis variatus Baszio, 2004), while that of Suceag 1 yielded an ungaliophiid (cf. M. variatus), a member of Alethinophidia incertae sedis (Falseryx cf. neervelpensis) and an indeterminate alethinophidian snake. Part of the identified snakes represent an older fauna, known from the middle Eocene of Germany (i.e., Messelophis Baszio, 2004) and surviving up to the early Oligocene, while the others (e.g. Falseryx Szyndlar & Rage, 2003) may be seen as newcomers that appeared in Europe after the so-called “Grande Coupure”. The low diversity of snake faunas in the studied localities is due to the insular conditions of that territory, with rare intermittent terrestrial connections to the more diverse snake faunas of cratonic Europe.</p
Two new skinks of the genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from southern Vietnam
No full textTwo new skinks of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950, from Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan provinces, southern Vietnam, are described based on differences in morphology and nucleotide sequences. Scincella honbaensis sp. nov. is diagnosed by the following morphological characters: 28 smooth midbody scale rows; dorsal scales enlarged, six rows on back; 64 paravertebrals; 74 ventral scale rows; prefrontals in broad contact with one another; one anterior and two posterior enlarged temporals; three pairs of nuchals; 21 smooth lamellae beneath toe IV; dorsum with two longitudinal rows of black dots. Scincella auranticaudata sp. nov. is diagnosed by the following morphological characters: 34–36 smooth midbody scale rows; dorsal scales not enlarged, ½+8+½ rows on back; 67–74 paravertebrals; 65–69 ventral scale rows; prefrontals separated from or just in contact with one another; two anterior and two posterior enlarged temporals; one pairs of nuchals; 17–20 smooth lamellae beneath toe IV; hemipenis smooth, forked near the base with two long symmetrical lobes; dorsum with a vertebral line formed by large black spots. Scincella honbaensis and Scincella auranticaudata differ from their congeners by an uncorrected p-distance in COI sequences of at least 16.7% and 9.4%, respectively.</p