Asian Fauna Research Articles

Reinvestigation of Kuumbi Cave, Zanzibar, reveals Later Stone Age coastal habitation, early Holocene abandonment and Iron Age reoccupation

ABSTRACTThe late Pleistocene and Holocene history of eastern Africa is complex and major gaps remain in our understanding of human occupation during this period. Questions concerning the identities, geographical distributions and chronologies of foraging, herding and agricultural populations — often problematically equated with the chronological labels ‘Later Stone Age (LSA)’, ‘Neolithic’ and ‘Iron Age’ — are still unresolved. Previous studies at the site of Kuumbi Cave in the Zanzibar Archipelago of Tanzania reported late Pleistocene Middle Stone Age (MSA) and LSA, mid-Holocene Neolithic and late Holocene Iron Age occupations (Sinclair et al. 2006; Chami 2009). Kuumbi Cave considerably extends the chronology of human occupation on the eastern African coast and findings from the site have been the basis for the somewhat contentious identification of both a coastal Neolithic culture and early chicken, a domesticate that was introduced to Africa from Asia. The site therefore warrants further investigation. Here we report on a new excavation of the Kuumbi Cave sequence that has produced a suite of 20 radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates. Our results suggest that the cave’s stratigraphy is complex, reflecting taphonomic processes that present interpretive and dating challenges. Our assessment of the stratigraphic sequence demonstrates three phases of habitation, two of which reflect terminal Pleistocene occupation and are characterised by quartz microliths, bone points and the exploitation of terrestrial and marine species, and one of which reflects later reoccupation by AD 600. In this latter phase, Kuumbi Cave was inhabited by a population with a locally distinct material culture that included idiosyncratic Tana or Triangular Incised Ware ceramics and medium-sized limestone stone tools, but with a subsistence economy similar to that of the late Pleistocene, albeit with more emphasis on marine foods and smaller terrestrial mammals. Our results suggest that Kuumbi Cave may have been unoccupied for much of the Holocene, after Zanzibar became an island. Our findings also place into question earlier identifications of domesticates, Asian fauna and a mid-Holocene Neolithic culture at the site.

A morphological review of subspecies of the Asian box turtle,Cuora amboinensis(Testudines, Geomydidae)

Abstract The turtle Cuora amboinensis has an extensive distribution covering most of southern mainland Asia, Indonesia, and extending to the Philippine Islands. Unlike many species, C. amboinensis occurs on both sides of Wallace's Line separating Asian and Australian flora and fauna. Four subspecies are currently recognized; Cuora a. kamaroma (southern continental Asia, Java and the northern Philippines [introduced]), C. a. lineata (Kachin Province, Myanmar [Burma] and adjacent Yunnan Province, China), C. a. couro (Sumatra, Java, Sumbawa, and adjacent smaller Indonesian islands); and C. a. amboinensis (Moluccas, Sulawesi, Philippines). Five pattern and 33 morphological characters were examined for variation in 691 individuals from throughout the species' range. Our analyses suggest that only two presently recognized subspecies are valid: amboinensis and kamaroma. Neither couro nor lineata are supported by our analysis. We recommend that C. a. couro should be synonymized with the species C. amboinensis and...

New records of three species of the superfamily Pygmephoroidea (Acari: Heterostigmata) from Asia

A survey to study of mites associated with pomegranate in Mahvelat region, Khorasan Razavi province, northeastern Iran, in 2013 led to find three species of the superfamily Pygmephoroidea (Acari: Prostigmata: Heterostigmata) new to mite fauna of Asia. The materials have been collected from soil samples. These three species belong to three families of the mentioned superfamily as follows: Premicrodispus longicaudus Khaustov, 2006 (Microdispidae), Kerdabania variabilis Khaustov, 2009 (Neopygme-phoridae), Neositeroptes opacus Livshits, Mitrovanov & Sharonov, 1986 (Pygmephor-idae). A key to Iranian Pygmephoroidea (excluding Scutacaridae) recovered from soil samples is provided.

SHARKS AND RAYS IN INDONESIA

Indonesia is considered to have a high diversity of sharks and rays due in part to its position in the equatorial line, between two continents and two oceans. According to recent studies and various publications, the number of chondrichthyan species known to date is 207 species of 44 families, comprised of 109 species of sharks, 96 species of batoids, and two species of ghost sharks (chimaera). The Dasyatidae (stingrays) is the most speciose family of chondrichthyans occurring in Indonesia, followed by the Carcharhinidae (whaler sharks). Most species of elasmobranchs commonly occur on the continental or insular shelves and rays are more commonly found than sharks. This type of habitat can be found mostly in the western part of Indonesia (the Java Sea, Karimata Strait, South China Sea, Malacca Strait, and Macassar Strait). Due to the separation by the Wallace Line, there are some differences in species diversity between western and eastern region. The shark and ray fauna of the eastern region is more similar to the Australian fauna, while the fauna in the western region is more similar to the Asian fauna. There are also some endemic species known to occur in Indonesian waters. The endemicity of some species can be restricted in a certain area or in a regional area such as the Indo-West Pacific.

Her Majesty’s Servants

Through an analysis of colonial and orientalist literature, this article will show how South Asian fauna, through the lenses of Colonial enterprise, came to epitomize a whole system of social relations which can be easily tri-partite: the ruler, the ruled and the unruly. The complex colonial apparatus of dominance and repression clearly surfaces in many of the texts produced by the literates working, living or simply travelling through the British Indian Empire. Fascination for the wildest creatures of the jungle or the domesticated flocks reflected and re-shaped discourses about Western dominance. Eventually it entered European culture and modified our perception of South Asia. As long as the boundaries between the human and the non-human remain thin and blurred, non-human animals were rapidly equated to the human subjects of the Empire. The imperialist discourse, a mythology in the making, was made up of a series of performative utterances used to conveniently describe and to shape the new world. A world to be subjugated, tamed and ruled upon by a self-appointed superior authority. The living landscape of South Asia cannot escape the literary cage of the Empire. Human and nonhuman indigenous animals, or even the hybrid system they form, are discussed like a vast, uncharted and uncanny new territory to conquest with sword and pen alike. The article eventually argues that the colonialism of the mind exerted by the British Empire did not spare non-human animals and such perdurable effects still linger and affect uncritical policies of exploitation.

An annotated catalog of the Iranian Reduvioidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha).

An updated list of Iranian Reduvioidea Latreille (families Pachynomidae, Reduviidae) is presented and discussed in this paper. For Iranian fauna, there are records of one species of Pachynomidae and 109 species and subspecies of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) distributed in 24 genera and subgenera, and seven subfamilies, Emesinae, Harpactorinae, Holoptilinae, Peiratinae, Phymatinae, Reduviinae, and Stenopodainae. We report 6 new country records and one new species, Empicoris baerensprungi (Dohrn, 1863) for Asian fauna. Synonyms and distribution data are also given.

A review of the species of the genus Curimopsis Ganglbauer, 1902 (Coleoptera, Byrrhidae) in North Asia

A review of species of the pill-beetle genus Curimopsis Ganglb. in the fauna of North Asia is presented. New localities for Curimopsis (s. str.) cyclolepidia (Munster, 1902)—the Gydanskii Peninsula, Tazovskii Vill.; C. (s. str.) moosilauke Johnson, 1986—Kamchatka, Esso Vill., and C. (s. str.) monticola Franz, 1967—Irkutsk (Russia) and Baruunturuun somon (Mongolia) are recorded. Two new species, C. (s. str.) nordensis Tshernyshev, sp. n. (Taimyr Peninsula) and C. (s. str.) olgae Tshernyshev, sp. n. (the Suntar-Khayata Range, Yakutia) are described. The first species is similar to C. (s. str.) cyclolepidia (Munst.) and differs in the not prominent humeri and in a curved apical lobe of the aedeagus; the second species is closely related to C. (s. str.) moosilauke Johns. but differs in almost completely reduced humeri with an expanded basal elytral angle and in the trapezoid lamella of the aedeagus. Curimopsis mongoliensis Paulus described from Kuku-Nor (the Tibet) is supposed to belong to the Chinese alpine fauna and is deleted from the list of the North and Central Asian fauna. Diagnosis, illustrations of the male genitalia, and a distribution map are given for all the species.

The Collothecidae (Rotifera, Collothecacea) of Thailand, with the description of a new species and an illustrated key to the Southeast Asian fauna

Following previous reports indicating a remarkable high diversity of sessile rotifers in Southeast Asian freshwaters, we report on an extensive study of the diversity of Collothecidae rotifers from fifteen freshwater habitats in Thailand. A total of 13 species, including two additional infraspecific variants, of Collothecidae are recorded, one of which is described as a new species of Collotheca. We further add taxonomic remarks on some of the taxa on record and illustrate the uncinate trophi of several representatives by scanning electron microscopic images. Finally, we provide illustrated identification keys to the Collothecidae recorded to date from Southeast Asia.

Dispatches

Dispatches

A new species of Isometopus Fieber, the first record of Isometopinae (Heteroptera: Miridae) from Thailand

The isometopine plant bug genus Isometopus Fieber currently comprises 69 nominal species (Schuh, 1995). The majority of the members are known to occur in the Old World tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zone; 26 species have been reported from the Afrotropical Region, and Asian faunas documented mainly by Lin (2004) [Taiwan], Ren (1991) and Ren & Yang (1988) [China], Yasunaga (2001, 2005) [Japan], and Yasunaga & Duwal (2006) [Nepal]. However, there is no reliable account of the Isometopinae from Thailand, or Indochina.

Vom Ruhr Zoo zur ZOOM Erlebniswelt III: Der Bauabschnitt Asien

In the Zoom Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen the third and last biogeographical area dedicated to the Asian fauna was opened in March 2010 covering a total area of five hectares. In May 2013 a new enclosure for tigers was added. The emphasis of the Asia area lies on a 4700 m2 tropical hall with mammals and birds, and Asian gastronomic facilities as well. Included is a mixed species exhibit for orangutans (Pongo abelii), northern plains grey langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) and Asian small clawed otters (Aonyx cinerea). Along a 1.3km outside path enclosures for some species of colder climates were built, too. The transformation of the former Ruhr Zoo Gelsenkirchen to the modern ZOOM Erlebniswelt herewith is brought to a close.

Presence of Sphedanolestes sanguineus (Fabricius, 1794) in Turkey, followed by an annotated checklist of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

In this paper, the authors report the discovery of Sphedanolestes sanguineus (Fabricius, 1794) in Turkey, a new finding for Asian fauna, and give an annotated checklist of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) for this country. Stenolemus novaki Horvath, 1888, Holotrichius apterus Jakovlev, 1879, Holotrichius denudatus A. Costa, 1842, Holotrichius rotundatus Stal, 1874, Rhynocoris annulatus (Linnaeus, 1758), Rhynocoris transitus Hoberlandt, 1952, and Pygolampis bidentata (Goeze, 1778) are little known species from Turkey. Furthermore, Stenolemus novaki is recorded for the first time from Marmara and central Anatolia, and Pygolampis bidentata is recorded for the first time in the eastern Black Sea region. A revised list of Turkish Reduviidae species comprising 57 taxa is compiled.

Terrestrial bdelloid rotifers from Erzurum (Eastern part of Turkey)

There has been a growing interest in studies of the macroecology and biogeography of microorganisms (smaller than 2 mm) in recent years; however, knowledge of the diversity patterns of these organisms is inadequate. The reason for this lack of knowledge is that faunistic studies of these microorganisms have not been extensive enough to cover all areas of the world. Bdelloid rotifers of 200-600 µm in size are among these microorganisms. In many countries, few studies have been conducted on bdelloid fauna thus far. With only one detailed study, Turkey can be counted as one of those countries. In this present work, 30 samples belonging to 4 substrates (mosses on concrete, mosses on rock, mosses on the ground, and lichens on trees) were collected in an eastern province of Turkey (Erzurum) at a high altitude (1761-1965 m) and examined. In total, 3000 individual (100 for each sample × 30 samples = 3000) were investigated, and 30 taxa were recorded. Twelve of them are new records for Turkey, of which 10 are new records for Asian fauna.

Systematic review of a new orb-weaving spider genus (Araneae: Araneidae), with special reference to the Australasian-Pacific and South-East Asian fauna

The Australasian-Pacific and South-East Asian species of the new orb-weaving spider genus Plebs with Plebs eburnus (Keyserling, 1886) as type species are revised. Following this study, Plebs includes a total of 22 species of which seven are here described new. Seven species are found in Australia, two in the Pacific region (New Caledonia, Vanuatu), and two in South-East Asia (Papua New Guinea, The Philippines). Eleven Asian species are transferred to the new genus. Plebs represent comparatively small orb-weaving spiders of c. 1.2–15.0 mm body length with a slightly elongated abdomen and humeral (shoulder) humps. Males of most species have two to three stout setae on the ventral side of their fourth coxae. Male pedipalps are characterized by the presence of a single macroseta on the patella, the presence of a paramedian apophysis as basal extension of the conductor, and an apical tegular protrusion. The female epigyne has a scape that is generally much longer than wide. It does not have a terminal pocket and is frequently broken off in a number of species. A phylogenetic analysis of 15 species of Plebs (those for which both sexes are known), 13 Australian/Pacific orb-weaving spider species representing the most commonly collected clades with paramedian apophysis, three species of Nearctic Eriophora Simon, 1864, and Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1758, as outgroup, identified a single synapomorphy of Plebs based on 35 morphological and three behavioural characters: a distinct, inverted U-shaped light pattern on the ventral side of the abdomen with two additional white spots anterolateral to the spinnerets. This analysis recovered a monophyletic clade of all Asian Plebs, suggesting a single colonization event of the genus that putatively originated in Australia. Most Plebs species appear to be active during the day. They build a regular orb-web with vertical stabilimentum in grass and low shrubs. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166, 279–341.

A new cyclopoid copepod from Korean subterranean waters reveals an interesting connection with the Central Asian fauna (Crustacea: Copepoda: Cyclopoida)

Monchenkocyclops gen. nov. was erected to accommodate M. changi sp. nov. from South Korea (type species), M. mirabdullayevi sp. nov. from Kazakhstan, M. biarticulatus (Monchenko, 1972) comb. nov. from Uzbekistan, and M. biwensis (Ishida, 2005) comb. nov. from Japan. The latter species was originally described from surface-water habitats of the ancient Lake Biwa in the genus Diacyclops Kiefer, 1927, while two Central Asian species were previously collected from groundwater habitats and assigned to the genus Acanthocyclops Kiefer, 1927. Monchenkocyclops changi is also found in subterranean waters, and described here in detail. It is morphologically most similar to its Uzbek congener (not to the Japanese one), which rises some interesting zoogeographical questions about the disjunct distribution of this genus. Range fragmentation is a more plausible explanation for this distribution pattern than range expansion, and we emphasize four lines of evidence that support this hypothesis. Four species of Monchenkocyclops share not only the same segmentation of the swimming legs, but also the exact same armature formula of all swimming legs, in addition to many other morphological characters, such as the caudal rami shape and armature, absence of exopod on the antenna, similar shape of the seminal receptacle, fifth leg, etc. They can be distinguished mostly by the relative length of different armature elements, such as the innermost terminal caudal setae, and inner setae and apical spines on the third endopodal segment of the fourth leg. A dichotomous key to species is provided.

The importance of Messel for interpreting Eocene Holarctic mammalian faunas

The middle Eocene Messel fauna includes 34 genera and 46 species of mammals, most of which have close relatives or analogues in other Eocene faunas. Unlike most other Eocene fossil assemblages, however, the Messel mammal assemblage consists of an extraordinary number of nearly complete, articulated skeletons, often exquisitely preserved and sometimes revealing details of soft anatomy and stomach contents as well as osteology. Consequently, Messel fossils provide a wealth of anatomical and ecomorphological data that inform our understanding of the functional anatomy, behaviour and phylogenetic relationships of these animals and of related Eocene mammals from other faunas. Several examples are highlighted here, including the metatherians Amphiperatherium and “Peradectes,” the pantolestan Buxolestes, the pholidotamorphs Eomanis and Eurotamandua, the possible stem macroscelidean Macrocranion, the leptictidan Leptictidium, the bats Hassianycteris and Archaeonycteris, the apatothere Heterohyus, and the artiodactyls Messelobunodon and Aumelasia. All of these Messel taxa have enhanced our knowledge of mammals from various North American and Asian faunas.

The genus Cultroribula (Acari: Oribatida: Astegistidae) in Mongolia, with new findings from Altai Mountains and remarks on known species of the world

The oribatid mite genus Cultroribula Berlese, 1908 is represented in Mongolia with six species. Most species of Cultroribulafound in Mongolia are inhabitants of litter of various types of forests, soils of steppes and the high mountain alpine zone, butare also commonly found in lichens growing on trees or bare rock and terricolous bryophytes. In this work, two species, Cul-troribula altaica sp. nov. and Cultroribula rarisetosa sp. nov., are described as new to science based on adults collected fromlitter of cool temperate forests and lichens growing on bare rock, respectively, in western Mongolia. In addition, two knownspecies, Cultroribula berolina Weigmann, 2006 and Cultroribula vtorovi Krivolutsky, 1971 are redescribed. Cultroribula bero-lina is recorded for the first time for the fauna of Asia. Species descriptions are accompanied with detailed illustrations. Data ongeographical distribution and habitat ecology are given for all known species in the world. Issues concerning the taxonomic sta-tus of some genera of Astegistidae and species of Cultroribula are discussed. The subgenus Furcoppia (Mexicoppia) is consid-ered as a junior synonym of Cultroribula. The new combination, Cultroribula hauseri (Mahunka, 1983) for Furcoppia(Mexicoppia) hauseri Mahunka, 1983 is proposed. Furthermore, a key is provided for the identification of adults of the known species of Cultroribula in Mongolia.

Taxonomy of the ant genus Pheidole Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Afrotropical zoogeographic region: definition of species groups and systematic revision of the Pheidole pulchella group

This paper is a starting point towards a much needed comprehensive taxonomic treatment of the genus Pheidole in theAfrotropical region. Despite its hyperdiversity, the taxonomy of this globally distributed ant genus is limited to importantrevisions for the New World and several Asian faunas. However, Pheidole of the Afrotropical zoogeographic region hasnever been revised. The most recent Afrotropical Pheidole species descriptions are fifty years old and many are consider-ably older. Identification keys are not available and many species descriptions are of limited diagnostic value. This callsfor a series of taxonomic revisions in order to resolve the complicated taxonomic situation for the complete AfrotropicalPheidole fauna. In this paper the following preliminary morphological species groups for the Afrotropical region are de-fined: P. aurivillii group, P. excellens group, P. megacephala group, P. nigeriensis group, and P. speculifera group. We also establish and revise the P. pulchella group, which currently contains eleven species, of which seven are new. The four spe-cies described prior to this study are: P. pulchella Santschi, P. dea Santschi, P. nimba Bernard, and P. batrachorum Wheelerstat. rev., which is removed from synonymy under P. dea and regains species status. The following new synonymy isproposed (senior synonym listed first): P. pulchella Santschi = P. pulchella achantella Santschi. The following seven spe-cies are described as new: P. christinae sp. n., P. darwini, sp. n., P. glabrella sp. n., P. heliosa sp. n., P. rebeccae sp. n., P. semidea sp. n. and P. setosa, sp. n. An illustrated key combining the minor and major worker subcastes is presented.

Dental tissue proportions in fossil orangutans from mainland Asia and Indonesia

Orangutans (Pongo) are the only great ape genus with a substantial Pleistocene and Holocene fossil record, demonstrating a much larger geographic range than extant populations. In addition to having an extensive fossil record, Pongo shows several convergent morphological similarities with Homo, including a trend of dental reduction during the past million years. While studies have documented variation in dental tissue proportions among species of Homo, little is known about variation in enamel thickness within fossil orangutans. Here we assess dental tissue proportions, including conventional enamel thickness indices, in a large sample of fossil orangutan postcanine teeth from mainland Asia and Indonesia. We find few differences between regions, except for significantly lower average enamel thickness (AET) values in Indonesian mandibular first molars. Differences between fossil and extant orangutans are more marked, with fossil Pongo showing higher AET in most postcanine teeth. These differences are significant for maxillary and mandibular first molars. Fossil orangutans show higher AET than extant Pongo due to greater enamel cap areas, which exceed increases in enamel-dentine junction length (due to geometric scaling of areas and lengths for the AET index calculation). We also find greater dentine areas in fossil orangutans, but relative enamel thickness indices do not differ between fossil and extant taxa. When changes in dental tissue proportions between fossil and extant orangutans are compared with fossil and recent Homo sapiens, Pongo appears to show isometric reduction in enamel and dentine, while crown reduction in H. sapiens appears to be due to preferential loss of dentine. Disparate selective pressures or developmental constraints may underlie these patterns. Finally, the finding of moderately thick molar enamel in fossil orangutans may represent an additional convergent dental similarity with Homo erectus, complicating attempts to distinguish these taxa in mixed Asian faunas.

Home ranges of raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides, Gray, 1834) in Southern Brandenburg, Germany

The raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides, a medium-sized canid, is a representative of the East Asian fauna and has been introduced to Europe during the years 1928–1953. Today, this alien carnivore is a widespread species in Eastern Europe, Finland and Germany. In our study, we determined home range sizes of raccoon dogs in an agricultural landscape in Northeast Germany between 2001 and 2004 by very high frequency radio tracking. Those data are useful for estimation of predator densities in respect to conservation of biodiversity and also to develop models for disease and parasite transmission. Yearly average home range sizes were calculated as 95% fixed kernel: 1.83 km2 ± 1.54 and as 50% fixed kernel (=core areas): 0.50 km2 ± 0.49. We documented seasonal differences in home range sizes as well as overlapping of home ranges from 0.65% up to 67%. Some individuals’ home ranges recorded during the same season showed a clear shifting between different years. Abandoned badger dens, located in the core areas of raccoon dogs home ranges, were important during the whole year and particularly used in the winter period. Therefore, distribution of those dens had some influence on the spatial distribution of raccoon dogs in the study area. Based on mean annual home range size, we estimated the mean local population density during winter as 1.1 individuals per square kilometre and during summer as 4.90 individuals per square kilometre.