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Males of Ortheziidae (Hemiptera, Coccoidea).
36 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm.Because adult male Coccoidea rarely live more than three or four days, they are seldom collected and their morphology has been little studied. Therefore, the systematics of the Coccoidea is dependent on the morphology of the paedomorphic adult female. A good example is the family Ortheziidae, in which the males of only four extant and three fossil taxa are known among more than 200 species. The present work provides descriptions of the male morphology of seven further species: Graminorthezia graminis (Tinsley), Insignorthezia insignis (Browne), Newsteadia americana Morrison, Orthezia annae Cockerell, O. newcomeri Morrison, and Praelongorthezia praelonga (Douglas), as well as another belonging to an undetermined genus. The males of three additional genera are added to the previous literature on male Ortheziidae, providing significantly better sampling of male morphological variation within this family. Variation among genera confirms the latest classification of Kozár, in which Graminorthezia, Insignorthezia, and Praelongorthezia are separated from Orthezia. The use of confocal microscopy for the study of uncleared slide preparations is discussed as it allowed better visibility of macrostructures, although minute structures such as pores could not be thoroughly observed. An identification key to the species of known male Ortheziidae is included
A new specimen of Microraptor (Theropoda, Dromaeosauridae) from the Lower Cretaceous of western Liaoning, China. (American Museum novitates, no. 3821)
28 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 26 cm.Microraptor zhaoianus is known from several specimens collected in western Liaoning Province, China. However, several aspects of the morphology of Microraptor remain unknown or ambiguous due to poor preservation of the described specimens. A well-preserved new specimen of Microraptor zhaoianus is described in this study. This specimen preserves significant morphological details that are not present or are poorly preserved in the other Microraptor specimens including aspects of the skull, the rib cage, and the humerus. These new characters corroborate Microraptor as a member of the Dromaeosauridae as previously suggested and support the close relationship of troodontids and dromaeosaurids (Deinonychosauria). The morphology of the rib cage also suggests Microraptor and the early volant avialans very likely may have shared a similar mechanism to assist respiration
Type specimens of birds, Part 12.
165 pages : 1 illustration ; 26 cm. Parts 1-3 & 5-11 issued as v. 150, article 3 (1973), v. 161, article 1 (1978), no. 257 (2000), no. 278 (2003), no. 292 (2005), no. 313 (2008), no. 333 (2010), no. 348 (2011), no. 369 (2012) and no. 381 (2013) of Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History; part 4 issued as no. 2879 (1987) of American Museum novitates.This 12th and last part of "Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History" includes taxa in the passerine families included in volume 15 of Peters' Check-list of birds of the world (Mayr and Greenway, 1962). The original description of each name has been consulted and the currently accepted name of the taxon has been listed with reference to recent publications. The coordinates and modern names of type localities are given when found and comments on taxonomic history are provided. In this part, 355 names are treated. This part of the type list, as well as all previous parts, are searchable and available for download from the AMNH Library website (http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/)
Quaternary bats from Chapada Diamantina, Brazil.
31 pages : illustrations (some color), map ; 26 cm.The partially submerged Impossível-Ioiô cave system located in the karst region of Chapada Diamantina in Bahia (Brazil) has recently been the target of extensive paleontological studies. Here we provide the first report of fossil bats from this cave system, in which we recognize six species based on humeral remains: Furipterus horrens, Chrotopterus auritus, Mormoops cf. megalophylla, Pteronotus gymnonotus, Pteronotus parnellii, and Noctilio leporinus. Morphology of the humerus of these taxa is described in a comparative framework to document taxonomic assessments and provide a basis for future studies of fossil bat faunas. The relevance of the new records reported here is evaluated at a broader continental scale, as well as in contrast with the recent bat fauna of the region. The record of Noctilio leporinus stands as the first fossil occurrence of this species on the South American continent
High resolution images for Australian goblin spiders of the genus Ischnothyreus (Araneae, Oonopidae). (Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 389)
High resolution images for Australian goblin spiders of the genus Ischnothyreus (Araneae, Oonopidae). (Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 389) - http://hdl.handle.net/2246/653
Razianus (Scorpiones, Buthidae).
26 pages : illustrations (some color), map ; 26 cm.The scorpion fauna of Pakistan, like that of the rest of the Indian subcontinent, is poorly known and many new species may await discovery. We describe two new species of the buthid genus Razianus Farzanpay, 1987, i.e., Razianus birulai, sp. nov., and Razianus farzanpayi, sp. nov., the first records of this genus from Pakistan, raising the number of species in the genus to four and extending its distribution southeast. In addition, we redescribe the type species, Razianus zarudnyi (Birula, 1903), report the first record from Iraq, extending the distribution of Razianus further west, plot the known locality records of the three species occurring in Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan, and provide a key to their identification
High resolution images for Phylogeny, taxonomic revision, and character evolution of the genera Chiasmocleis and Syncope (Anura, Microhylidae) in Amazonia, with descriptions of three new species. (Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 386)
High resolution images for Phylogeny, taxonomic revision, and character evolution of the genera Chiasmocleis and Syncope (Anura, Microhylidae) in Amazonia, with descriptions of three new species. (Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 386); Bulletin no. 386 can be accessed at this link: http://hdl.handle.net/2246/651
The morphology and phylogeny of dionychan spiders (Araneae, Araneomorphae). (Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 390)
374 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm.A phylogenetic analysis of the two-clawed spiders grouped in Dionycha is presented, with 166 representative species of 49 araneomorph families, scored for 393 characters documented through standardized imaging protocols. The study includes 44 outgroup representatives of the main clades of Araneomorphae, and a revision of the main morphological character systems. Novel terminology is proposed for stereotyped structures on the chelicerae, and the main types of setae and silk spigots are reviewed, summarizing their characteristics. Clear homologs of posterior book lungs are described for early instars of Filistatidae, and a novel type of respiratory structure, the epigastric median tracheae, is described for some terminals probably related with Anyphaenidae or Eutichuridae. A new type of crypsis mechanism is described for a clade of thomisids, which in addition to retaining soil particles, grow fungi on their cuticle. Generalized patterns of cheliceral setae and macrosetae are proposed as synapomorphies of the Divided Cribellum and RTA clades. Dionycha is here proposed as a member of the Oval Calamistrum clade among the lycosoid lineages, and Liocranoides, with three claws and claw tufts, is obtained as a plausible sister group of the dionychan lineage. The morphology of the claw tuft and scopula is examined in detail and scored for 14 characters highly informative for relationships. A kind of seta intermediate between tenent and plumose setae (the pseudotenent type) is found in several spider families, more often reconstructed as a derivation from true tenent setae rather than as a phylogenetic intermediate. Corinnidae is retrieved in a restricted sense, including only the subfamilies Corinninae and Castianeirinae, while the "corinnid" genera retaining the median apophysis in the copulatory bulb are not clearly affiliated to any of the established families. Miturgidae is redefined, including Zoridae as a junior synonym. The Eutichuridae is raised to family status, as well as the Trachelidae and Phrurolithidae. New synapomorphies are provided for Sparassidae, Philodromidae, and Trachelidae. Philodromidae is presented as a plausible sister group of Salticidae, and these sister to Thomisidae; an alternative resolution placing thomisids in Lycosoidea is also examined. The Oblique Median Tapetum (OMT) clade is proposed for a large group of families including gnaphosoids, trachelids, liocranids, and phrurolithids, all having the posterior median eye tapeta forming a 90[degree] angle, used for navigation by means of the polarized light in the sky as an optical compass; prodidomines seem to have further enhanced the mechanism by incorporating the posterior lateral eyes to the system. The Teutamus group is recognized for members of the OMT clade that are usually included in Liocranidae, but not closely related to Liocranum or phrurolithids. The Claw Tuft Clasper (CTC) clade is proposed for a group of families within the OMT clade, all having a peculiar mechanism grasping the folded base of the claw tuft setae with a hook on the superior claws. The CTC clade includes Trachelidae, Phrurolithidae, and several gnaphosoids such as Ammoxenidae, Cithaeronidae, Gnaphosidae, and Prodidomidae. A remarkable syndrome involving the expansion of the anterior lateral spinnerets, often sexually dimorphic, is here reported for some Miturgidae and several members of the CTC clade, in addition to the known cases in Clubionidae and "Liocranidae." The following genera are transferred from Miturgidae to Eutichuridae: Calamoneta, Calamopus, Cheiracanthium, Cheiramiona, Ericaella, Eutichurus, Macerio, Radulphius, Strotarchus, Summacanthium, and Tecution; Lessertina is transferred from Corinnidae to Eutichuridae. The following genera are transferred to Miturgidae: Argoctenus, Elassoctenus, Hestimodema, Hoedillus, Israzorides, Odomasta, Simonus, Thasyraea, Tuxoctenus, Voraptus, Xenoctenus, Zora, and Zoroides, from Zoridae; Odo and Paravulsor, from Ctenidae; Pseudoceto from Corinnidae. The following genera are transferred from Corinnidae to Trachelidae: Afroceto, Cetonana, Fuchiba, Fuchibotulus, Meriola, Metatrachelas, Paccius, Paratrachelas, Patelloceto, Planochelas, Poachelas, Spinotrachelas, Thysanina, Trachelas, Trachelopachys, and Utivarachna. The following genera are transferred from Corinnidae to Phrurolithidae: Abdosetae, Drassinella, Liophrurillus, Plynnon, Orthobula, Otacilia, Phonotimpus, Phrurolinillus, Phrurolithus, Phruronellus, Phrurotimpus, Piabuna, and Scotinella. Dorymetaecus is transferred from Clubionidae to Phrurolithidae. Oedignatha and Koppe are transferred from Corinnidae to Liocranidae. Ciniflella is transferred from Amaurobiidae to Tengellidae
Systematics of Vampyressa melissa Thomas, 1926 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae), with descriptions of two new species of Vampyressa. (American Museum novitates, no. 3813)
27 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), map ; 26 cm.Vampyressa melissa is a poorly known phyllostomid bat listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Since its description in 1926, fewer than 40 V. melissa have been reported in the literature, and less than half of these may have been correctly identified. During revisionary studies of Vampyressa, we uncovered two previously unrecognized species related to V. melissa, all associated with higher elevation habitats (>1400 m), one from the Andes of Colombia (Vampyressa sinchi, new species) and the other from western Panama (Vampyressa elisabethae, new species) revealing that V. melissa, as traditionally defined, is a composite of at least three species. In this paper, we provide a restricted diagnosis for the genus Vampyressa, an emended diagnosis of V. melissa, and descriptions of the two new species. The separation of these frugivorous bats, previously identified as V. melissa, into three isolated upper-elevation species, each having restricted distributions further highlights their fragile conservation status
Nesting biology of Rhophitulus and Cephalurgus.
16 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm.Herein is presented nesting information on the communal ground-nesting Argentinian bees Rhophitulus xenopalpus Ramos and R. mimus Ramos, which is compared with what is known concerning the closely related Brazilian bee Cephalurgus anomalus Moure and Lucas de Oliveira. The mature larvae of all three taxa are described, illustrated, and compared with one another and with those of other Protandrenini. While larvae of the three species share many similarities, those of R. xenopalpus and R. mimus, though each distinctive, are quite similar, and those of C. anomalus differ from the others in mandibular features and in dorsal body ornamentation. Male and female pupae of R. xenopalpus are also described