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Redescription d’un petit Caviidae (Rodentia: Hystricognathi) du Néogène du Nord-Ouest de l’Argentine et ses implications systématiques
No full textLa compréhension de la taxonomie, de la diversité et des schémas évolutifs des caviidés du Nord-Ouest de l’Argentine est encore en cours de développement. Dans cet article, nous reportons les avancées sur la taxonomie et l’évolution de l’une des espèces de Caviidae Fischer de Waldheim, 1817 les plus abondantes dans le registre fossile de cette région, Orthomyctera andina (Rovereto, 1914). Nous avons réalisé une description anatomique exhaustive, ainsi qu’une révision taxonomique dans un contexte phylogénétique, d’O. andina et de l’espèce type O. rigens (Ameghino, 1888). Nous concluons ici qu’Orthomyctera Ameghino, 1889 est un genre valide, mais O. andina appartient à un autre genre. Aussi, nous confirmons l’appartenance des deux espèces aux Caviinae Fischer de Waldheim, 1817, et leur proche relation avec les lignées de Microcavia Gervais & Ameghino, 1880, Dolicavia Ameghino, 1916, et Neocavia Kraglievich, 1932. Le nouveau genre prend une place basale au sein du clade de part la présence d’une mosaïque de caractères plésiomorphiques (partagés avec les formes basales de Dolichotinae Pocock, 1922) et dérivés (partagés avec les Caviinae). Une discussion sur le possible comportement fossilifère d’O. andina est incluse. Ce travail contribue à l’interprétation taxonomique, phylogénétique et biogéographique des communautés de caviomorphes de la fin du Néogène en Argentina.The understanding of the taxonomy, diversity, and evolutionary patterns of caviids in northwestern Argentina is still in the process of development. This paper presents new insights into the systematic and evolution of Orthomyctera andina (Rovereto, 1914), one of the most abundant species within Caviidae Fischer de Waldheim, 1817, in the fossil record of this region. A comprehensive anatomical description and taxonomic review of Orthomyctera andina in a phylogenetic context is provided. Moreover, it includes a redescription of the type specimen of Orthomyctera rigens (Ameghino, 1888). The taxonomical results confirm that O. andina belongs to a different genus: Orocavia (Kraglievich, 1932). The phylogenetic analysis further confirms the placement of both species within Caviinae Fischer de Waldheim, 1817. Orthomyctera andina is the sister taxon of the clade that includes Microcavia Gervais & Ameghino, 1880, Dolicavia Ameghino, 1916, Neocavia Kraglievich, 1932, and Orthomyctera Ameghino, 1889. It is supported by a combination of plesiomorphic characters (e.g. furrow opposite to hypoflexus/id in molariforms) shared with basal taxa and Dolichotinae Pocock, 1922 and derived characters (such as a terreced palate, external auditory meatus below the occlusal surface , length of p4-m1 shorter than length of m2-m3) shared with Caviinae. This study aims to elucidate the taxonomic status of these poorly known rodents and their relationships within Caviidae. Additionally, it incorporates a biogeographic analysis of caviomorph communities from the late Neogene in Argentina.</p
The dung beetles of Venezuela (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): catalogue and updated distribution
No full textAbstract. Venezuela’s diverse land ecosystems are grouped into four major regions (coast-islands, low plains, hills and mountains), ranging from sea level up to 4978 m. The Scarabaeinae (Scarabaeidae, Coleoptera) currently encompass 278 genera and 6837 species worldwide, but are poorly inventoried in Venezuela. We reviewed the literature and the material housed at the entomological collection of the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (CEMT), Cuiabá, Brazil, and found 32 genera and 149 species of dung beetles as certainly present in Venezuela. Twenty-four of these species are, as far as current knowledge goes, endemic to the country, while another 34 are restricted to Venezuela and the neighbouring countries of Colombia, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. Additionally, 36 species are deemed potential inhabitants of the country, whilst 14 others previously recorded in the literature as part of the Venezuelan fauna are here concluded not to be actually present there. Complete literature is listed for each genus and species, and information on type material, material examined, worldwide distribution, and Venezuelan records is also presented.</p
Biographies d’animaux : état de la recherche, approches et perspectives
No full textEn raison de la sensibilisation croissante de la société sur les relations humain-animal, ces dernières sont graduellement devenues un sujet de plus en plus important dans les discours publics et académiques. La recherche, y compris en archéologie, est passée de l’étude des espèces animales en tant que subordonnées à l’être humain à l’étude des animaux humains et non humains. Les disciplines archéologiques et historiques ont fait des progrès significatifs ces dernières années, notamment à la suite de l’émergence de nouvelles méthodes telles que l’ADNa et l’analyse isotopique. Les données issues des contextes archéologiques et historiques sont donc particulièrement pertinentes pour comprendre la situation complexe des animaux dans le monde contemporain. Lors de la conférence Animal Life Histories / Biographie d’animaux, les représentants les plus divers des études sur l’humain et l’animal se sont réunis et ont mené des discussions animées et fructueuses, qui ont montré les perspectives pour les recherches futures.Due to the growing awareness of society, human-animal relations have become an increasingly important topic of public and academic discourse in recent decades. Research, including archaeology, has moved from the study of animal species as subordinate to humans to the study of human and non-human animals. The archaeological and historical disciplines have made significant progress in recent years due to the emergence of new methods such as aDNA and isotope analysis. Data from archaeological and historical contexts are therefore particularly relevant for understanding the complex situation of animals in the contemporary world. At the conference Animal Life Histories / Animal Biographies, the most diverse representatives of human and animal studies came together and held lively and fruitful discussions that showed the perspectives for future research.</p
A practical, step-by-step, guide to taxonomic comparisons using Procrustes geometric morphometrics and user-friendly software (part A): introduction and preliminary analyses
No full textTaxonomy lays the foundations for the study of biodiversity and its conservation. Procrustean geometric morphometrics (GMM) is a most common technique for the taxonomic assessment of phenotypic population differences. To measure biological variation and detect evolutionarily significant units, GMM is often used on its own, although it is much more powerful with an integrative approach, in combination with molecular, ecological and behavioural data, as well as with meristic morphological traits. GMM is particularly effective in taxonomic research, when applied to 2D images, which are fast and low cost to obtain. Yet, taxonomists who may want to explore the usefulness of GMM are rarely experts in multivariate statistical analyses of size and shape differences. In these twin papers, I aim to provide a detailed step-by-step guideline to taxonomic analysis employing Procrustean GMM in user-friendly software (with tips for R users). In the first part (A) of the study, I will focus on preliminary analyses (mainly, measurement error, outliers and statistical power), which are fundamental for accuracy, but often neglected. I will also use this first paper, and its appendix (Appendix A), to informally introduce, and discuss, general topics in GMM and statistics, that are relevant to taxonomic applications. In the second part (B) of the work, I will move on to the main taxonomic analyses. Thus, I will show how to compare size and shape among groups, but I will also explore allometry and briefly examine differences in variance, as a potential clue to population bottlenecks in peripheral isolates. A large sample of North American marmot mandibles provides the example data (available online, for readers to replicate the study and practice with analyses). However, as this sample is larger than in previous studies and mostly unpublished, it also offers a chance to further explore the patterns of interspecific morphological variation in a group, that has been prominent in mammalian sociobiology, and whose evolutionary divergence is complex and only partially understood.</p
Nouvelles perspectives sur les relations évolutives d’<i>Opisthodorylaimus sylphoides</i> (Williams, 1959), avec la proposition de <i>Sylphodorylaimus</i> n. gen. (Nematoda, Dorylaimida, Thornenematidae)
No full textUn nouveau genre de nématode, Sylphodorylaimus n. gen., est proposé pour accueillir une espèce précédemment classée sous Opisthodorylaimus Ahmad & Jairajpuri, 1982. L’étude de deux populations iraniennes d’O. sylphoides (Williams, 1959), collectées dans des zones naturelles, y compris leur caractérisation morphologique, morphométrique et moléculaire (28S rDNA), a révélé que les femelles étaient presque identiques à celles des autres populations connues, mais aussi que leurs mâles, trouvés et décrits pour la première fois, présentaient une queue longue et filiforme, semblable à celle observée chez les femelles. Étant donné qu’Opisthodorylaimus est caractérisé par un dimorphisme sexuel très net sur la forme de la queue, les mâles ayant une queue courte et arrondie, O. sylphoides ne doit pas être maintenu dans ce genre. Le nouveau taxon est comparé et séparé d’autres genres de Thornenematidae Siddiqi, 1969, et ses relations évolutives sont discutées.A new nematode genus, Sylphodorylaimus n. gen., is proposed to accommodate one species previously classified under Opisthodorylaimus Ahmad & Jairajpuri, 1982. The study of two Iranian populations of O. sylphoides (Williams, 1959), collected in natural areas, including their morphological, morphometrical and molecular (28S rDNA) characterisation, revealed that females were almost identical to those of other known population, but also that their males, found and described for the first time, displayed long and filiform tail, similar to that observed in females. Since Opisthodorylaimus is characterized by showing a conspicuous sexual dimorphism in tail shape, with males having short and rounded tail, O. sylphoides must not be retained under this genus. The new taxon is compared with and separated from other genera of Thornenematidae Siddiqi, 1969, and its evolutionary relationships are discussed.</p
Two new polyporoid species of Fomitopsidaceae (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from India
No full textTwo new species of Fomitopsidaceae, Pseudofomitopsis fusca R.Saha, A.K.Dutta & K.Acharya sp. nov. and Fomitopsis benghalensis R.Saha, A.K.Dutta & K.Acharya sp. nov., are described from West Bengal, India, based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses (nuclear ITS sequence). Pseudofomitopsis fusca sp. nov. possesses perennial, triquetrous to ungulate, sessile basidiocarps with a shiny, glabrous, azonate, dark brown upper surface, a yellowish grey pore surface with angular pores (3–5 per mm), a dimitic type of hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, fusoid cystidioles; ellipsoid, cotton blue positive, and basidiospores 3–5 × 1.5–3.5 µm. Fomitopsis benghalensis sp. nov. is characterized by its annual, resupinate basidiocarp with pilose, bluish white to orange-grey, warty, woody upper surface, bluish-white pore surface, circular to angular pores (5–7 per mm), a trimitic type of hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, fusoid cystidioles, and cylindrical to elongate basidiospores (5.5–8 × 2.5–3.5 µm). The new taxa are compared to closely related taxa. Photomicrographs of the basidiocarps, along with detailed morphological descriptions and a molecular sequence-based phylogenetic tree, are provided.</p
Two new species of <i>Perinereis</i> Kinberg, 1865 (Annelida: Nereididae) from the rocky shore of Maharashtra, India, including notes and an identification key to Group 1
No full textTwo new species of Perinereis with single bar-shaped paragnaths on area VI (Group 1) from the rocky shores of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, are described with barely (Subgroup 1A) or largely (Subgroup 1B) expanded proximal region of dorsal ligule in posterior parapodia. Perinereis malabarensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from the morphologically similar 1B species P. euiini Park & Kim, 2017 by the paragnath count in area I, the laterally isolated paragnaths in area III, and the length of the dorsal cirrus and dorsal ligule. Additionally, P. misrai sp. nov. is more similar to 1A species P. falsovariegata Monro, 1933 and P. villalobosi Rioja, 1947, but differs by the paragnath count in areas III–V and VII–VIII, the isolated paragnaths in area III, and the number of rows in the anterior band of areas VII–VIII. The morphological characters of the current 44 species within Perinereis G1 are compared, and an identification key to the species belonging to this group is also provided.</p
Bilan des connaissances sur les récifs du bathyal et évaluation de l’état de conservation de l’habitat d’intérêt communautaire<i> Récifs</i> dans les eaux françaises hexagonales
No full textLa Directive Habitats-Faune-Flore (92/43/CEE) est un des piliers de la politique de l’Union européenne en faveur de la biodiversité marine. Cette directive impose aux États membres de rapporter périodiquement l’état de conservation et les tendances d’évolution des espèces et habitats d’intérêt communautaire. Pour les habitats, quatre paramètres sont considérés : l’aire de répartition, la surface occupée par l’habitat, l’état de la structure et des fonctions de l’habitat, et les perspectives futures selon les pressions agissant sur l’habitat et selon les mesures de gestion mises en place. Les précédents rapportages pour l’habitat 1170 – Récifs n’ont considéré que partiellement les récifs géologiques et biogènes de l’environnement profond (bathyal). Pour pallier cette lacune, un bilan des connaissances a été réalisé selon les quatre paramètres d’évaluation afin de proposer une évaluation globale de l’habitat Récifs bathyal pour les régions biogéographiques marines Atlantique et Méditerranée françaises. Les évaluations globales de l’état de conservations des Récifs du bathyal indiquent un état de conservation « défavorable-inadéquat » en Atlantique et « défavorable-mauvais » en Méditerranée. Même si des mesures de gestions sont en place ou sont à venir, elles restent insuffisantes pour assurer à long terme un état de conservation favorable de l’habitat Récifs de la zone bathyale.The Habitats Directive (92/43/CEE) is one of the political pillars of the European Union in terms of marine biodiversity. Under the directive, each Member State must report periodically the conservation status and evolution trends of species and habitats of Community interest. This conservation status of habitats is characterised by four parameters: habitat range, habitat area, habitat structure and functions, and future prospects according to the pressures acting on the habitat and the management measures put in place. In previous reports, the assessment of the 1170-Reefs habitat considered only partially the geological and biogenic reefs of the deep sea (bathyal). To overcome such a knowledge gap, a scientific review was carried out according to the four evaluation parameters in order to advance an overall assessment of the bathyal Reefs for the French Atlantic and Mediterranean marine biogeographical regions. The overall assessment of the conservation status of bathyal Reefs is « unfavourable-inadequate » in the Atlantic and « unfavourable-bad » in the Mediterranean. Although management measures are in place or planned, they are not sufficient to ensure a favourable conservation status for the bathyal Reefs in the long term.</p
Forme et fonction de la ceinture pelvienne des thalattosuchiens et des dyrosauridés (Crocodyliformes)
No full textLes crocodyliformes Hay, 1930 constituent un groupe majeur d’archosaures actuellement restreint à vingt-huit espèces semi-aquatiques de prédateurs en embuscade. Cependant, le vaste enregistrement fossile de Crocodyliformes révèle une plus grande diversité passée ainsi qu’une histoire évolutive complexe, rythmée par une série d’extinctions. Une représentation emblématique de cette diversité passée se trouve dans la colonisation du milieu marin par plusieurs lignées de crocodyliformes, et plus précisément par les thalattosuchiens (Thalattosuchia Fraas, 1901) pour l’intervalle Jurassique inférieur-Crétacé inférieur, et par les dyrosauridés (Dyrosauridae de Stefano, 1903) pour l’intervalle Crétacé supérieur-Éocène inférieur. Les thalattosuchiens constituent de loin la plus spectaculaire et diverse radiation marine de Crocodyliformes ayant colonisé plusieurs niches écologiques, avant de s’éteindre mystérieusement durant le Crétacé inférieur. Les dyrosauridés sont bien connus pour avoir survécu massivement à l’extinction de la fin du Crétacé, mais disparaissent peu de temps après. La façon dont les crocodyliformes ont évolué pour coloniser les niches marines et les raisons de leur disparition en dehors des épisodes d’extinction marine du Mésozoique constituent un mystère. En effet, malgré un bon enregistrement fossile, les éléments postcraniens des thalattosuchiens et des dyrosauridés ont longtemps été mis de côté, en dépit de plusieurs travaux plus modernes au cours du siècle passé. L’attention s’est principalement concentrée, pendant des années, sur leurs adaptations craniodentaires et sur leurs régimes alimentaires, masquant les adaptations liées au mode de nage enregistrée dans le squelette postcrânien, qui ont permis ces radiations. Ce travail consiste en une nouvelle description minutieuse de la ceinture pelvienne des membres les plus représentatifs de deux clades éteints de crocodyliformes aquatiques : les thalattosuchiens et les dyrosauridés. Ce travail fournit également une terminologie standardisée et orientée des éléments pelviens pour ces clades. Ce travail ne vise pas à affiner la taxonomie ou la cladistique de Thalattosuchia et Dyrosauridae, mais facilitera ce type de travail futur beaucoup plus spécifique. Ce travail se concentre sur l’anatomie postcranienne de Thalattosuchia et Dyrosauridae et aspire à clarifier les étapes de leur évolution pelvienne à travers leurs histoires. Enfin, ce travail a pour objectif de mettre en évidence les relations entre la forme et la fonction au sein du squelette postcrânien des thalattosuchiens et des dyrosauridés, dans le but d’obtenir une meilleure compréhension des habitudes ou limitations locomotrices présentes au sein des membres de ces groupes disparus.Crocodyliformes Hay, 1930 represents an important group of archosaurs that is currently restricted to twenty-eight species of semi-aquatic ambush predators. However, the extensive fossil record of Crocodyliformes indicates this group was much more diverse in the past and had a complex evolutionary history, rhythmed by a series of extinction events. An iconic expression of this past diversity is the colonization of the marine realm by several crocodyliform lineages, most notably by Thalattosuchia Fraas, 1901 during the Early Jurassic-Early Cretaceous and by Dyrosauridae de Stefano, 1903 during the Late Cretaceous-Early Eocene. Thalattosuchia constitutes by far the most spectacular and speciose marine radiation of Crocodyliformes, colonizing several ecological niches, before mysteriously going extinct during the Early Cretaceous. Dyrosauridae is well known for massively surviving the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, but disappearing soon afterwards. How crocodyliformes evolved to occupy marine niches and why they went extinct outside the marine extinction events of the Mesozoic is a mystery. Indeed, despite a good fossil record, postcranial elements of thalattosuchians and dyrosaurids have long been disregarded, withal several modern works during the past century. Attention has been focused, for years, on craniodental adaptations and feeding styles only, overlooking the swimming-related adaptations recorded in the postcranial skeleton that permitted these radiations. This work consists of a new thorough comparative description of the pelvic girdle of the most representative members of two extinct clades of aquatic crocodyliforms: Thalattosuchia and Dyrosauridae. This work also provides a standardize terminology and orientated of pelvic elements in those clades. This works does not aim at refining the taxonomy or cladistics of Thalattosuchia and Dyrosauridae, but will certainly clear the way for such future more specific endeavors. This work focuses on the postcranial morphology of Thalattosuchia and Dyrosauridae and aspires to shed light on pelvic evolution throughout their histories. Lastly, this work intends to highlight the relations between form and function within the postcranium of Thalattosuchia and Dyrosauridae, in order to better understand the locomotor habits or limitations present among the members of those extinct groups.</p
A remarkable rediscovery and range extension from Australia to South India with the description of two new species of the genus <i>Shortia</i> Gauld, 1984 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)
No full textThe monotypic banchine ichneumonid genus Shortia is rediscovered after 39 years, based on two new species from India, far away from the type locality in Australia: S. karumban Ranjith sp. nov. and S. manjapulli Ranjith sp. nov., collected from the Western Ghats, India. The generic concept of Shortia is revised. Both new species and the type species of the genus, S. siccula Gauld, 1984, are illustrated. A taxonomic key for the identification of species of Shortia is provided and the possible causes for the disjunct distribution are discussed.The monotypic banchine ichneumonid genus Shortia is rediscovered after 39 years, based on two new species from India, far away from the type locality in Australia: S. karumban Ranjith sp. nov. and S. manjapulli Ranjith sp. nov., collected from the Western Ghats, India. The generic concept of Shortia is revised. Both new species and the type species of the genus, S. siccula Gauld, 1984, are illustrated. A taxonomic key for the identification of species of Shortia is provided and the possible causes for the disjunct distribution are discussed.</p