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EMMA Talks: Dr. Amina Wadud: Feminist Muslim Voices
No full textA presentation from EMMA Talks, Dr. Amina Wadud talks about the evolution of Muslim women are in the 21st Century as it relates to her own personal history and story. Dr. Amina Wadud is Professor Emiratis of Islamic Studies and Visiting Scholar at Starr King School for the Ministry. Author of Qur’an and Woman; and, Inside the Gender Jihad; she is a founding member of Sisters in Islam and resource person for Musawah: the global movement for reform in Muslim Personal Status Law
Oral history of Amina Baraka
No full textBorn Sylvia Robinson, born 1942, in Charlotte, North Carolina - multi-talented artist (dancer, actress, singer/poet, and political activist).
Parents Ruth (garment worker) and James C Robinson were divorced when she was five. She was sent to her grandparents, Leona (domestic worker) and Patrick Bacote (construction worker). Sylvia grew up in Newark, New Jersey. She attended Arts High School where she majored in Art.
Sylvia early in life developed a love and respect for the working class and the labor union movement.
In 1960, Sylvia married Walter Vernon Wilson. They gave birth to daughters Vera and Wanda Wilson. Sylvia Wilson was one of the founding members of the Newark Jazz Art Society in 1963, a collective of artists: Art Williams (bass player and painter), Bill Harris (piano), Eddie Gladden (drum), and Tom White, owner of World Wide, a shop of Halsey Street in Newark, sold art and furniture imported from Africa, Asia, Latin America and books on Black history. Sylvia wrote and performed dance drama. The "Loft" was located on 22 Shipman Street. The "Loft" later became the "Cellar." Artists came from everywhere for a period and was the center for Jazz and Art in Newark. Marion Brown, Sun Ra, Albert & Don Ayler. All the local musicians Herb Morgan, Jimmy Anderson, Leo Johnson, Larry Young, Freddie Roach, Charlie Mason, Tyrone Washington, Woodie Shaw, poets Gaston Neal, John Sinclair (poet/writer) from Detroit workshop along with Stanley Cowan (piano player), Charles Moore (trumpet player), Stanley Myers, local Jazz historian and poet. Painter and playwright Ben Caldwell, artist Freddie Stringer known as the Charles White of Newark. Sylvia while at the Loft began to attend Voters Information Council known as VIC, an organization of Black Newark politicians and community activists. Sylvia Wilson was in the Newark production of Black Mass, a play written and directed by LeRoi Jones.
Sylvia later divorced her husband and joined the "Spirit House" (collective of cultural nationalist actors, poets, singers, writers, and visual artists) located at 33 Sterling Street, Newark, New Jersey. There she appeared in Slave Ship, Mad Heart, Home on the Range, plays written and directed by LeRoi Jones.
In 1967, Sylvia and LeRoi gave birth to their first child Obalaji Malik Ali on May 31, 1967. The year of the Newark Rebellion, Obalaji was 15 days old. Their first son was baptized in fire! Later that same year Sylvia and LeRoi "jumped the broom" in a Yoruba Ceremony (officiated by Baba Oserjeman).
In 1968, Sylvia and LeRoi Jones had become AMINA and AMIRI BARAKA. They were given the names Ameer and Ameena by Hesham Jaaber. Later Amiri translated to Swahili--Amiri and Amina. After Amina and Amiri gave birth to four more children three sons and one daughter (Ras, Amiri, Ahi, and Shani Baraka).
Amina founded the African Free School, a liberation school for community children. Amiri Baraka formed the Committee for a United Newark (CFUN) after the Newark rebellion. Amina Baraka organized the Women's Division of the Committee for a Unified Newark. The women of CFUN worked side by side with men that led to the first Black mayor of Newark. These women played a key role in inspiration, education, and social development, spreading the ritual of Kwanza. The women created the "Malika Singers" and sang liberation songs. Amiri Baraka was now Imamu Amiri Baraka.
Amina played an active role in the Congress of African People (CAP), a revolutionary nationalist organization. CAP focused on community organization, culture, African liberation, and the liberation throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Amina led the Women's Division in CAP, and the women played an essential role. The women created a 24-hour day care center for the women in CAP, pre-school for working parents in the community, a dining hall for CAP members and the community. At the "Gary Convention" held in Indiana, women attended and worked typing, collating papers, providing childcare for this historic convention that led to the National Black Assembly.
CAP women were an active member of the National Black Assembly (NBA), a Black Civil Rights organization around electoral and community politics which Amiri Baraka founded. CAP through work and study moved to the Left and became the Revolutionary Communist League (RCL), ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tse Tung thought.
The women in CAP organized a conference "African Women United" at Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey. National Liberation Movement from Africa, Caribbean, and Canada attended. In 1974, the women in RCL moved to call in continuation of the African Women Conference, an international women's conference under the banner of "ABOLITION OF EVERY POSSIBILITY OF OPPRESSION & EXPLOITATION" on July 5-7, held in Detriot, Michigan.
In the 90's, Amina joined the Communist Party (CPUSA). She worked as a journalist for the Peoples Weekly World for a short time.
Amina worked with her husband Amiri in BlueArk Poetry & Music. They created a house club "Kimakos-Blues People" where young and established artists (poets, writers, and musicians) gathered. Kimakos, which was named after Amiri's deceased sister, lasted 15 years. Kimakos closed after the death of Amina and Amiri's daughter. Shani was murdered on August 12, 2003.
Amina's work includes the self-published chapter book Songs for the Masses and an anthology of African American women writers Confirmation, which was co-authored with Amiri Baraka. Confirmation includes writers like Johari M. Amini, Maya Angelou, Toni Cade Bambara, Amina Baraka, Brenda Conner-Bey, Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton, Jayne Cortez, Alexis De Veaux, Mari Evans, Nikki Grimes, Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor, Safiya Henderson, Rashidah Ismaili, Mae Jackson, June Jordon, Abbey Lincoln (Aminata Moseka), Audre Lorde, Paule Marshall, Malkia M'buzi, Rosemari Mealy, Louise Meriwether, Toni Morrison, Aishah Rahman, Faith Ringgold, Carolyn M. Rodgers, Sonia Sanchez, Eleanor W. Traylor, Alice Walker, Margaret Walker, Michele Wallace, Sherley Anne Williams with an introduction by Amiri Baraka.
The book cover for Confirmation was done by the artist Elizabeth Catlett.
Amina performed song and poetry "I've got the right to sing the blues," which creates themes from history, politics, human struggle, women, and gay rights. Amina has performed along with Amina at community events, schools, jazz clubs, and theaters. Amina has performed internationally in Italy, England, South Africa, Colombia, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
Her poetry speaks of the love, struggle, hopes, tragedies, joy, and the perseverance, unwavering focus on self-determination of Black people and the international working class
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Wilmer Amina Carter
No full textWilmer Amina Carter shares stories of her childhood growing up in Neshoba County, Mississippi and the lessons she learned from her grandfather Anderson Carter about the importance of education, land and independence in the segregated south. She tells the story of her family’s migration to San Bernardino in 1952 and lessons she learned from family members as they built new lives in the city. She talks about overcoming racial barriers as she became the first black employee at Sears, worked at Cal State San Bernardino in the EOP office, and for Congressman George Brown, and as the first Black member of the Rialto school board where she served for 16 years. She discusses how she became a founding member of the National Counsel of Negro Women (NCNW), a member of AKA, and was elected to the State Assembly in 2006. Amina Carter explains why she started the archive to show younger generations how their ancestors paved the path for them. She shares the story of her marriage to Ratibu Jacocks, his contributions to the community, and her struggles with his recent loss. She emphasizes the influence of her religion and the important life values she has learned from others, most importantly, the motto she learned from her grandfather: “If you serve people, people will serve you.
Glyptotermes chiraharitae Amina & Rajmohana 2016, n. sp.
No full textGlyptotermes chiraharitae n. sp. (Figs 1, 2) TYPE MATERIAL. — India. Kerala. Kozhikode. Kakkayam MWLS 762 m, 11.4990° N, 75.8950° E, 27.XII.2012, Amina Poovoli. Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4942. Holotype (Soldier); paratypes 6 pseudoworkers and 3 soldiers. — Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4943. Paratypes: 4 imagoes, 2 soldiers and 5 pseudoworkers. ETYMOLOGY. — The species is named Chiraharita meaning evergreen (in Sanskrit), after their evergreen forest habitat. BIOECOLOGY. — (Fig. 3) The large sized dead log on the forest floor, from which G. chiraharitae n. sp. was collected had a very high moisture content. Though the attack was not at all visible externally, the log when cut open, exposed several large holes sealed with their faecal pellets, dissolved in a muddy paste. Networks of hidden galleries meandering through the wood were also observed. Workers and soldiers were very slow and sluggish, probably due to their large size.Published as part of Amina, Poovoli & Rajmohana, Keloth, 2016, Glyptotermes chiraharitae n. sp., a new dampwood termite species (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) from India, pp. 309-316 in Zoosystema 38 (3) on page 310, DOI: 10.5252/z2016n3a2, http://zenodo.org/record/515466
Rinacapritermes abundans Amina & Rajmohana 2022, n. sp.
No full textRinacapritermes abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. sp. (Figs 2; 7C; Table 2) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 976E00D3-6BC8-4B67-83A3-90778E454A45 TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype (soldier). India • Kerala, Kottayam (Changanasseri- Kadamanchira); 9°35’29”N, 76°31’19”E; 13.III.2015; Amina Poovoli leg.; Colony code: ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/4612. Paratypes. India • 10 workers, 6 soldiers; with same data as for holotype • 4 soldiers, 10 workers; Kerala, Kozhikode (Balussery- Narayamkulam); 11°30’14”N, 75°48’58”E; 2.I.2015; Amina Poovoli leg.; Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4613 • 4 soldiers, 8 workers; Kerala, Wayanad (Vythiri); 11°33’6”N, 76°2’25”E; 1.VIII.2015; Shilimol; Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4944 • 3 soldiers, 5 workers; Kerala, Wayanad (Thalappuzha); 11°50’25”N, 75°56’57”E; 29.VII.2015; Shilimol; Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4945. Sequenced specimens. Same as paratypes. ETYMOLOGY. — The species epithet name is derived from the latin term ‘abundans’ meaning abundant, as the population of the new species is seen to be abundant across the known range of distribution. DNA BARCODE. — Rinacapritermes abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. is a member of the larger ‘ Rinacapritermes clade’ showing sister relationship with Rinacapritermes silvius Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. exhibiting medium to high genetic divergence of 7.3% to 8.3% for COI gene (Fig. 4). Both species can easily be distinguished morphologically (see key below) and the type localities of both species are isolated in range of distribution (Fig. 5). DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA. — Could be a narrow-range endemic species, known from central as well as southern Western Ghats of Kerala (Wayanad, Kozhikode and Kottayam). DESCRIPTION Imago Not known Soldier (Fig. 2; Table 2). Monomorphic. Head capsule yellow; fontanelle gland area pale yellow; antennae paler brown; labrum translucent; left mandible blackish brown; right mandible reddish brown; legs and body whitish yellow. Head capsule. Moderately hairy with many long and a few short hairs. Antennal segments with long and short hairs on entire surface; labrum with a few hairs on anterior part; postmentum with a very few hairs on entire surface. Anterior margin of pronotum with 5-8 long hairs. Body densely hairy with long hairs; legs covered with long hairs, more concentrated at last tarsal segments. Head subrectangular. Sides substraight; posterior margin rounded. Frons sharply inclining in front; median suture of head very short, only at posterior margin of head capsule; fontanelle transverse, situated anteriorly at distal 1/5 of head; fontanelle gland large, extending beyond middle of head. Antenna 15 segmented; segment 2 longer than 3; segment 4 shorter than 2 and slightly longer than 3; segment 3 shortest; 5-10 gradually increasing in length and remaining segments subequal. Labrum slightly asymmetrical; anterior margin substraight with broad based, robust and long antero-lateral points. Mandibles strongly asymmetrical; left mandible strongly twisted at middle; with blunt apex. Right mandible blade-like with sharp, pointed apex, facing upward; inner margin of right mandible incurved at middle region; apical blade substraight. Postmentum club-shaped; with a narrow waist lying posteriorly. Pronotum. Saddle-shaped, anterior and posterior margin without any notch. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs. Abdomen oblong; cerci short; 2 segmented. Worker (n = 5) Monomorphic. Head capsule, antennae whitish yellow; postclypeus pale brown, thorax and legs paler than head; abdomen translucent with intestinal contents showing through. Head capsule moderately hairy with many long and short hairs, post clypeus with long hairs and body sparsely hairy with a few long hairs and very short hairs. Total body length 3.70-4.20 mm. Head capsule. Length to tip of labrum 1.17-1.21 mm, length to base of mandible 0.75-0.79 mm and maximum width 0.92- 0.95 mm; width of head capsule widest at base of mandibles. Epicranial suture slightly distinct; fontanelle plate translucent and oval. Antennae with 15 segments, segment 2 longer than 3 and 4; segment 3 shortest. Postclypeus swollen; almost straight anteriorly and rounded posteriorly; length less than half of width (length 0.20-0.224; width 0. 46-0.48 mm). Mandible (Fig. 2F). As for genus. Digestive tube. As for genus. Pronotum. Saddle-shaped (length 0.22-0.24 mm; width 0.47-0.50 mm); anterior and posterior lobe without notch. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs; dorsal spur of foretibia indistinct; foretibia somewhat swollen. REMARKS In R. abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp., all soldiers are with apical tibial spur 3:2:2. In workers the dorsal spur is sometimes indistinct. R. silviu s Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. is comparatively a larger species than R. abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. In addition to the keyed characters, they can be differentiated also by the following features. In R. silvius Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. soldiers, the median suture is present a little above the posterior part of the head capsule and workers have 14-15 antennal segments. But in R. abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. soldiers, the median suture is seen only at a very basal region of the head capsule and workers have 15 segmented antennae.Published as part of Amina, Poovoli, Rajmohana, Keloth, Dinesh, K. P. & Asha, Gopalan, 2022, Integrative taxonomic studies on Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae) with two new species from India, pp. 109-124 in Zoosystema 44 (3) on pages 114-118, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2022v44a3, http://zenodo.org/record/608015
Une association scientifique : à quoi ça sert ? [Amina Béji-Bécheur]
No full textXerfi Canal a reçu Amina Béji-Bécheur, Présidente de l’Association Française du Marketing (2022-2024), pour parler des associations scientifiques.Une interview menée par Jean-Philippe Denis
Amina Taher El-Lozy Oral History
No full textAmina Taher El-Lozy was a faculty member teaching English language and writing at the American University in Cairo from 1972 to 1992, and had attended AUC as an undergraduate (alumna of 1967) and in the Teaching English as a Foreign Language Master’s degree program (1972). She provides a view of her upbringing in Cairo's Maadi neighborhood within a well-to-do family, her education in British schools, and aspects of life during World War II (and later conflicts). Amina recalls her courtship and marriage to her cousin Ahmed El-Lozy, and his background and career in the family silk factory. She recounts how her family and their elite social circles perceived and were affected by the 1952 revolution and later the nationalization of private property, facing financial setbacks as her husband’s silk factory was sequestrated and he was the subject of government surveillance and placed on lists of enemies of the state. Amina El-Lozy recalls coming to attend AUC in 1962 as an undergraduate at the age of 32 while married and with children, telling about other older female classmates like her, studying English Literature with faculty like Doris Shoukri and John Rodenbeck, her participation in theater performances, and the leading literary figures who came as distinguished visiting professors. After graduation El-Lozy worked in the AUC President’s Office, and she tells of how the 1967 war and Egyptian government sequestration under Dr. Hussein Said affected the university. She speaks of how her work and friendship with President Thomas Bartlett (whose family she describes) contributed to her husband Ahmed El-Lozy becoming AUC’s Business Manager, and mentions Ahmed's accomplishments in that position. In the early 1970s she studied in the Teaching English as a Foreign Language Master’s program, and she describes her teaching career at AUC in its English Language Institute and later the Freshman Writing Program, offering commentary on colleagues and AUC students through the years. She mentions her son Mahmoud El-Lozy’s time as a student at AUC and his later joining the university as a theater professor. She also tells about changes in the Zamalek neighborhood, where she lived, over time
Amina :
No full textAmina of Zazzau was an important Hausa political and military leader between the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. This article has as one of its objectives to serve as a subsidy and support instrument for the debate on the film Amina (2021), whether for the reading by History and Humanities students in a university context, or secondary school teachers using the film as a teaching tool. Therefore, this article is divided into three parts. Firstly, we will discuss the audiovisual production Amina (2021) in the regional and national context of the Nigerian film industry (Nollywood and Kannywood), as well as the demand coming from a cosmopolitan niche of audiovisual consumption in the international streaming market for African films; second, we will contextualize the History of Amina, the historical sources on the character and political and cultural context of the Hausa country, notably the kingdom of Zazzau between the 15th and 16th centuries; finally, we will critically discuss the film at its narrative and production levels, thinking about its didactic potential.Amina de Zazzau foi uma importante líder política e militar hauçá entre a virada do século XV e XVI. Este artigo tem como um de seus objetivos servir de subsídio e instrumento de apoio para debate sobre o filme Amina (2021), seja para leitura de estudantes de História e Humanidades em contexto universitário, ou professores de escola secundária utilizando o filme como instrumento didático. Para tanto este artigo se divide em três partes. Primeiramente discutiremos a produção audiovisual Amina (2021) no contexto regional e nacional da indústria cinematográfica nigeriana (Nollywood e Kannywood), como também a demanda proveniente de um nicho cosmopolita de consumo de audiovisual no mercado internacional de streaming para filmes africanos; segundo contextualizaremos a História de Amina, as fontes históricas sobre a personagem e contexto político e cultural do país Hauçá, notadamente o reino de Zazzau entre os séculos XV e XVI; por fim, discutiremos criticamente o filme em seus níveis narrativo e de produção, pensando as potencialidades didáticas do mesmo
Imaginer des alternatives pour la transition écologique et sociale [Amina Béji-Bécheur]
No full textXerfi Canal a reçu Amina Béji-Bécheur, professeure à l'Université Gustave Eiffel, pour parler de l'économie et des organisations
Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana 2022, n. gen.
No full textGenus Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8C629647-1999-45D7-BAB7-F16A1C792D1C TYPE- SPECIES. — Rinacapritermes silvius Amina & Rajmohana, n. sp. MORPHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS. — Soldier. Soldiers with antennae 15 segmented, labrum with substraight anterior margin equipped with broad-based, robust and long antero-lateral points. Frons sharply inclining in front, fontanelle transverse and frontal gland large, postmentum club-shaped, pronotum saddle-shaped, anterior margin convex, without notch. Worker. Worker caste with 14-15 segmented antennae and mandibles with apical tooth slightly larger than first marginal. Second marginal of left mandible not distinct, third marginal rudimentary or just as an impression of tooth, not separated from first marginal by any cut or notch; small, tooth-like process partially visible on the underside of the left molar plate. Digestive tube characterised by the presence of a mixed segment and the absence of malpighian nodule, with both pairs of malpighian tubules united at common base. Enteric valve cushions acutely triangulate and median longitudinal area of each cushion with uniformly distributed small spine-like protrusions (Fig. 3E). DNA BARCODE DIAGNOSIS. — A total of 28 mt COI sequences were generated from the Western Ghats representing multiple species under nine genera for the first time (Appendix 1). On the preliminary phylogenetic tree multiple sequences of monophyletic group representing at least two species is treated as a new genus Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. with an unresolved sister relationship among the other genera of the larger ‘ Termitinae clade’ (Fig. 4). Members of the Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. is genetically distinct from the morphologically similar genus Indocapritermes (Fig. 4). The new genus exhibited a high-level genetic divergence of 10.7% to 13.7%, for mt COI with the genus Indocapritermes (Appendix 3). ETYMOLOGY. — The genus name ‘ Rinacapritermes ’, is the combination of name ‘Rina’ and ‘capritermes’. ‘Rina’ refers to the first author’s daughter and ‘capritermes’ refers to the morphological similarity with Capritermes Wasmann, 1897 group. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 5). — The Western Ghats from Wayanad, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam districts (Kerala state, India). BIOECOLOGY. — Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. species are soil dwellers. All samples in the present study were collected from underneath small boulders. The concavity and the rudimentary ridges of the molar plate of right mandible of worker caste (Figs 1F; 2F) indicate their humus/organic rich soil feeding habit of type III feeding group (De Souza & Brown 1994). The soldier abdomen has a hyaline appearance, indicating that they are fed with salivary secretions only (Scheffrahn et al. 2017). Since they are not wood feeders, they are not categorised as pests. Their presence in multiple localities ranging from low (26 m asl.) to high elevations (910 m asl) indicates that they do not have any strict elevational preferences. Among the two species, the samples of R. silvius Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. were collected from the forest area while R. abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. from tea and rubber plantations. DESCRIPTION Imago Not known. Soldier Head capsule. Monomorphic, small; head moderately and body fairly hairy. In dorsal view head subrectangular; broad; antero-lateral corners of head rounded, without any tuberclelike process. Frontal gland large and median arm of Y-suture distinct only at posterior part of head capsule; in profile, frons sharply inclining in front; fontanelle transverse. Antennae with 15 segments. Labrum not swollen; asymmetrical, anterior margin substraight with broad based, robust and long antero-lateral points or spine-like processes. Mandibles asymmetrical and thick; left mandible strongly twisted at middle, with blunt apex, tip without any hook, not beak-like; basal projection sharply pointed. Right mandible blade-like with pointed apex, facing upwards; inner margin of right mandible incurved at middle region and with a deep cut at basal half; postmentum club-shaped. Pronotum. Saddle-shaped; anterior lobe raised, narrower and smaller than posterior lobe; anterior margin convex; posterior margin substraight; anterior and posterior margin without any notch. Mesonotum and metanotum narrower than pronotum. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs; dorsal spur of foretibia sometimes indistinct; tarsi 4-segmented. Worker Head capsule. Monomorphic; head and body densely hairy. In dorsal view head subcircular, maximum width of head capsule at base of antennae. Fontanelle plate translucent and round. Antennae with 14-15 segments. Postclypeus swollen. Left mandible. Apical tooth slightly larger than first marginal. Posterior margin of apical tooth concave; second marginal not distinct (M2); third marginal rudimentary (M3) or just as an impression of tooth, not separated from first marginal by any cut or notch; small, tooth-like process partially visible on the underside of the left molar plate; molar plate large and extending upto first marginal. Right mandible. Apical tooth finger-like and larger than first marginal (M1); posterior margin of first marginal a little longer than anterior margin; second marginal (M2) short and with incurved posterior margin; molar plate longer than posterior margin of second marginal, without any ridges; cockroach notch present. Pronotum. Saddle-shaped. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs, dorsal spur sometimes absent or indistinct; fore tibia swollen. Digestive tube (Fig. 3 A-D). Crop (C) globose, voluminous and partially visible in dorsal view in coiled condition, funnelling into a poorly sclerotized gizzard. Mixed segment (MS) present. Both pairs of malpighian tubules united at common base; malpighian nodule absent. First part of proctodeal segment (P1) starting from the right side of abdomen, tubular and short. Posterior part narrow and running into paunch (P3) through narrow enteric valve (P2). P2 inserted into paunch (P3). Paunch J-shaped, composed of 2 parts. Region of attachment of enteric valve remaining separated by constriction. Posterior part of paunch narrowing progressively and opening into long and narrow tube-like colon with a U-turn at anterior side and P4 leading to very large bulbous rectum (P5). Enteric valve armature (Fig. 3E). Thin, composed of six acutely triangulate cushions; acute points of cushions directed to posterior. Median longitudinal area of each cushion covered with uniformly distributed and small spine-like protrusions. Each cushion separated by cuticular lining having similar but larger and more widely spaced protrusions. REMARKS In the key to Indian genera of Termitinae (Chhotani 1997), the proposed new genus runs to serial number 17, leading to Indocapritermes. In the key to common genera of Termitidae found in South India (Kalleshwaraswamy et al. 2013), this genus also keys to Indocapritermes, at serial number 9. However, it does not fit the description of Indocapritermes. The soldiers of Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. have antennae with 15 segments vs 14 segments in Indocapritermes; anterior margin of labrum is substraight with broad based, robust and long, antero-lateral points in the new genus vs labrum with narrow based, short, thin and minute lateral points in the latter; comparing to head length, left mandible of new genus is somewhat longer, thinner and tip not broadly rounded vs shorter, thick with broadly rounded tip; apical blade of right mandible pointed and facing upwards in Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. (Fig. 7C) vs not much pointed and substraight in Indocapritermes (Fig. 7D). Anterior lobe of pronotum in new genus is slightly raised with strongly convex anterior margin and without any notch vs anterior lobe not raised with slightly convex to substraight anterior margin and with a weak median notch in latter; posterior margin substraight, not emarginate and without any notch in proposed new genus vs slightly convex, faintly emarginate and with a weak notch. The workers also differ in having antennae with 14-15 segments in the new genus vs 13-14 segments in Indocapritermes; a small, tooth-like process partially visible on the underside of the left molar plate in new genus, while this tooth-like process is absent in Indocapritermes. The shape of the antero-lateral points of labrum in soldier caste also help to separate this genus from the rest of other genera under Pericapritermes -group found in India (Fig. 6) The proposed new genus has the posterior margin of the right second marginal of the worker mandible (M2) incurved (Figs 1F; 2F), the digestive gut without a malpighian nodule and P1 is short and tubular, as seen in Pericapritermes -group (Noirot 2001; Krishna et al. 2013). Hence based on the worker mandible structure and the gut morphology, Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. is placed in Pericapritermes - group, though their soldiers are with 15 segmented antennae, in spite of their usual 14 segments. . Acknowledgements KEY TO THE SPECIES OF RINACAPRITERME S AMINA & RAJMOHANA, N. GEN. — Comparatively smaller: Head length to the base of mandibles 1.48-1.55 mm; maximum head width 1.06- 1.10 mm. Postmentum short and a little wider at waist (postmentum length 0.71-0.79 mm; postmentum contraction index 0.48-0.54 mm)................. Rinacapritermes abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. — Comparatively larger: Head length to the base of mandibles 1.60-1.66 mm; maximum head width 1.17-1.24 mm. Postmentum long and a little narrower at waist (postmentum length 0.85-0.89 mm; postmentum contraction index 0.39-0.45 mm)......................................... Rinacapritermes silvius Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. Rinacapritermes silvius Amina & Rajmohana n. sp. (Figs 1; 3; 7A; Table 1) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8C629647-1999-45D7-BAB7-F16A1C792D1C TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype (Soldier). India • Kerala, Ernakulam, Urulanthanni (Thattekadu Bird Sanctuary); 10°7’41”N, 76°45’18”E; 5.I.2015; Amina Poovoli leg.; Colony code:ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/4610. Paratypes (12 soldiers, 10 workers). India • 10 soldiers, same data as for holotype • 10 workers; same data as for holotype • 2 soldiers; Kerala, Idukki (Thekkady, in Periyar Tiger Reserve); 9°27’43”N, 77°14’12”E; 6.IV.2013; K. Rajmohana & party leg.; Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4611. Sequenced specimens. Same as paratypes. ETYMOLOGY. — The species epithet name is derived from the latin term ‘silvius’ meaning forest as the new species was predominant in forested habitat. DNA BARCODE. — Rinacapritermes silvius Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. is showing sister relationship with Rinacapritermes abundans n. sp. exhibiting genetic divergence of 7.3% to 8.3% for COI gene (Fig. 4). Both the species can easily be distinguished morphologically (see key below) and both the species type localities are isolated in range of distribution (Fig. 5). DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA. — From two adjoining districts of Kerala (Ernakulam and Idukki); could be a limited-range endemic species restricted to south of Palghat Gap. DESCRIPTION Imago Not known Soldier (Fig. 1 A-E; Table 1) Monomorphic. Head capsule pale yellowish brown; fontanelle gland area pale yellow; antennae paler than head; labrum translucent at arterial and lateral part and pale yellow on rest; left mandible blackish brown; right mandible reddish brown; legs and body whitish yellow. Head Capsule. Moderately hairy with long and a few short hairs. Antennal segments with long and short hairs on entire surface; labrum with a few hairs on anterior part; postmentum with a very few short hairs at distal third. Anterior margin of pronotum with 5-8 long hairs. Body densely hairy with long hairs; legs covered with long hairs, more concentrated at last tarsal segments. Head capsule in dorsal view. Subrectangular; sides substraight, slightly narrowing at anterior end; minimum width being at base of mandibles; posterior margin rounded. Frons sharply inclining in front; median suture of head short, extending up to 1/4 of head-length from posterior margin; fontanelle transverse, situated anteriorly at distal 1/5 of head; fontanelle gland large, extending beyond middle of head. Antennae with 15 segments; segment 2 longer than 3; segment 4 slightly longer than or sometimes subequal to 3; segment 3 sometimes shortest; 5-10 gradually increasing in length and remaining segments subequal. Labrum slightly asymmetrical; anterior margin substraight with broad based, robust and long antero-lateral points. Mandibles strongly asymmetrical; left mandible strongly twisted at middle; with blunt apex. Right mandible blade-like with sharp, pointed apex, facing upward; inner margin of right mandible incurved at middle region; apical blade substraight. Postmentum club-shaped; length more than 1/2 of head length; with a narrow waist lying posteriorly. Title. Pronotum saddle-shaped, anterior and posterior margin without any notch. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs; outer spur not very distinct. Abdomen. Elongated; cerci short; 2 segmented. Worker (n = 5) Monomorphic. Head capsule, antennae, postclypeus whitish yellow; thorax and legs paler than head; abdomen translucent with intestinal contents showing through. Head capsule moderately hairy with many long and short hairs, post clypeus with long hairs and body sparsely hairy with a few long hairs and very short hairs. Total body length 3.9-4.40 mm. Head. Subcircular; length to tip of labrum 1.13-1.23 mm, length to base of mandible 0.68-0.76 mm and maximum width 0.88-0.92 mm; width of head capsule widest at base of mandibles. Epicranial suture slightly distinct; fontanelle plate translucent and oval. Antennae with 14-15 segments; segment 3 shortest; segment 2 longer than 3 and 4. Postclypeus swollen; almost straight anteriorly and rounded posteriorly; length less than half of width (length 0.19-0.22 mm; width 0.45-0.47 mm). Mandible (Fig. 1F). As for genus. Digestive tube. As for genus. Pronotum. Saddle-shaped (length 0.24-0.26 mm; width 0.48-0.53 mm); anterior and posterior lobe without notch. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs; dorsal spur of foretibia at times indistinct; foretibia somewhat swollen. REMARKS Dorsal spur of fore tibia is sometimes indistinct. So both the 3:2:2 and 2:2:2 conditions are seen in the soldiers as well as the workers of the same colony. Rinacapritermes abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. sp. (Figs 2; 7C; Table 2) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 976E00D3-6BC8-4B67-83A3-90778E454A45 TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype (soldier). India • Kerala, Kottayam (Changanasseri- Kadamanchira); 9°35’29”N, 76°31’19”E; 13.III.2015; Amina Poovoli leg.; Colony code: ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/4612. Paratypes. India • 10 workers, 6 soldiers; with same data as for holotype • 4 soldiers, 10 workers; Kerala, Kozhikode (Balussery- Narayamkulam); 11°30’14”N, 75°48’58”E; 2.I.2015; Amina Poovoli leg.; Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4613 • 4 soldiers, 8 workers; Kerala, Wayanad (Vythiri); 11°33’6”N, 76°2’25”E; 1.VIII.2015; Shilimol; Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4944 • 3 soldiers, 5 workers; Kerala, Wayanad (Thalappuzha); 11°50’25”N, 75°56’57”E; 29.VII.2015; Shilimol; Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4945. Sequenced specimens. Same as paratypes. ETYMOLOGY. — The species epithet name is derived from the latin term ‘abundans’ meaning abundant, as the population of the new species is seen to be abundant across the known range of distribution. DNA BARCODE. — Rinacapritermes abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. is a member of the larger ‘ Rinacapritermes clade’ showing sister relationship with Rinacapritermes silvius Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. exhibiting medium to high genetic divergence of 7.3% to 8.3% for COI gene (Fig. 4). Both species can easily be distinguished morphologically (see key below) and the type localities of both species are isolated in range of distribution (Fig. 5). DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA. — Could be a narrow-range endemic species, known from central as well as southern Western Ghats of Kerala (Wayanad, Kozhikode and Kottayam). DESCRIPTION Imago Not known Soldier (Fig. 2; Table 2). Monomorphic. Head capsule yellow; fontanelle gland area pale yellow; antennae paler brown; labrum translucent; left mandible blackish brown; right mandible reddish brown; legs and body whitish yellow. Head capsule. Moderately hairy with many long and a few short hairs. Antennal segments with long and short hairs on entire surface; labrum with a few hairs on anterior part; postmentum with a very few hairs on entire surface. Anterior margin of pronotum with 5-8 long hairs. Body densely hairy with long hairs; legs covered with long hairs, more concentrated at last tarsal segments. Head subrectangular. Sides substraight; posterior margin rounded. Frons sharply inclining in front; median suture of head very short, only at posterior margin of head capsule; fontanelle transverse, situated anteriorly at distal 1/5 of head; fontanelle gland large, extending beyond middle of head. Antenna 15 segmented; segment 2 longer than 3; segment 4 shorter than 2 and slightly longer than 3; segment 3 shortest; 5-10 gradually increasing in length and remaining segments subequal. Labrum slightly asymmetrical; anterior margin substraight with broad based, robust and long antero-lateral points. Mandibles strongly asymmetrical; left mandible strongly twisted at middle; with blunt apex. Right mandible blade-like with sharp, pointed apex, facing upward; inner margin of right mandible incurved at middle region; apical blade substraight. Postmentum club-shaped; with a narrow waist lying posteriorly. Pronotum. Saddle-shaped, anterior and posterior margin without any notch. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs. Abdomen oblong; cerci short; 2 segmented. Worker (n = 5) Monomorphic. Head capsule, antennae whitish yellow; postclypeus pale brown, thorax and legs paler than head; abdomen translucent with intestinal contents showing through. Head capsule moderately hairy with many long and short hairs, post clypeus with long hairs and body sparsely hairy with a few long hairs and very short hairs. Total body length 3.70-4.20 mm. Head capsule. Length to tip of labrum 1.17-1.21 mm, length to base of mandible 0.75-0.79 mm and maximum width 0.92- 0.95 mm; width of head capsule widest at base of mandibles. Epicranial suture slightly distinct; fontanelle plate translucent and oval. Antennae with 15 segments, segment 2 longer than 3 and 4; segment 3 shortest. Postclypeus swollen; almost straight anteriorly and rounded posteriorly; length less than half of width (length 0.20-0.224; width 0. 46-0.48 mm). Mandible (Fig. 2F). As for genus. Digestive tube. As for genus. Pronotum. Saddle-shaped (length 0.22-0.24 mm; width 0.47-0.50 mm); anterior and posterior lobe without notch. Legs with 3:2:2 apical tibial spurs; dorsal spur of foretibia indistinct; foretibia somewhat swollen. REMARKS In R. abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp., all soldiers are with apical tibial spur 3:2:2. In workers the dorsal spur is sometimes indistinct. R. silviu s Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. is comparatively a larger species than R. abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. In addition to the keyed characters, they can be differentiated also by the following features. In R. silvius Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. soldiers, the median suture is present a little above the posterior part of the head capsule and workers have 14-15 antennal segments. But in R. abundans Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen., n. sp. soldiers, the median suture is seen only at a very basal region of the head capsule and workers have 15 segmented antennae. DISCUSSION The nine genera for which the mt COI DNA Barcodes were generated for the Western Ghats include Dicuspiditermes (1 sp.), Homallotermes (1 sp.), Indocapritermes (1 sp.), Krishnacapritermes (2 sp.), Labiocapritermes (1 sp.), Pericapritermes (1 sp.), Procapritermes (1 sp.), Pseudocapritermes (1 sp.) and Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. (2 sp.). Of the above nine genera, only Pericapritermes is distributed outside the region, the remaining eight are restricted to the Oriental Region. Initial search for the mt COI gene sequences for the members of the subfamily Termitinae from GenBank yielded 18 sequences falling under 10 genera (Appendix 1). In the present study 58 sequences (under nine genera) were generated from the samples of the Western Ghats and are deposited in GenBank (Appendix 1). All the above 76 sequences were used for the generation of single gene Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree (Fig. 4). The resultant topology shows the monophyly of the new genus and the sistership relation of the new taxa described. Among the new sequences generated from the Western Ghats, monophyletic groups were obtained only for the members of the genera Dicuspiditermes, Pericapritermes, Homallotermes, Indocapritermes, Krishnacapritermes, Procapritermes and Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. (without strong bootstrap values among the sister clades; Fig. 4). Based on the unique combination of morphological characters, like soldier caste having a 15-segmented antennae, large frontal gland and transverse fontanelle, anterior margin of labrum with broad-based, robust and long antero-lateral points, anterior lobe of pronotum strongly convex and without notch and also its monophyly, a new genus Rinacapriterme s Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. is established here with two species new to science. KEY TO THE SOLDIERS OF GENERA UNDER PERICAPRITERMES -GROUP FOUND IN THE ORIEN
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