External Characters Research Articles

Shaping and Revealing the Suspense of Fate in “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Signalman”

The process of creating suspense in the short suspense novels of Edgar Allan Poe and Dickens is intertwined with the flow of the development of the protagonist’s destiny. The process of unveiling the suspense of the work is also the process of the arrival of the protagonist’s irresistible destiny. Through the desperate and destructive ending, the author wants to express the theme of revelation. In both “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Signalman”, a horrific atmosphere is created through the foreshadowing and hints of destiny, and the suspenseful effect is constantly realized along with the revelation of the established destiny. Therefore, this paper explores the author’s process of shaping and revealing the suspense of fate through the dynamic relationship between external objects and characters, the choice of narrator’s persona, the structure of the suspenseful plot, and the textual hints to find the differences between the author and the general suspense or tragedy text qualities. Through comparative analysis, find out how the two are conceived from the perspectives of the integration of external objects and characters, the construction of suspense structure, and textual hints. In the end will find out their unique performance methods in setting and revealing the suspense of fate, which will provide a reference for exploring the aesthetic and social values behind the suspense novels.

Two new species of the genus Quindina Roewer, 1914 (Opiliones: Nomoclastidae) from Colombia: phylogenetic relationships and notes on their nest architecture

ABSTRACT Quindina Roewer, 1914 is a nomoclastid genus with 11 described species behaviourally characterised by its remarkable nest-building behaviour. In this paper we describe two new Colombian species of the genus from the western range of the Northern Andes, based on genital morphology and external characters. In addition, we explore their phylogenetic relationships using a phenotypic matrix with 96 characters, three newly proposed, and 55 terminals including all described species of Quindina and a wide outgroup sample across the suborder Laniatores. Quindina sanantonio sp. n. (type locality: Valle del Cauca, Santiago de Cali, San Antonio Forest) can be diagnosed by having two olive-green patches behind the ocularium and on the lateral portion of areas II and III, connected on the posterior margin of area III. Quindina horologium sp. n. (type locality: Risaralda, Santuario, Planes de San Rafael) can be diagnosed by having an hourglass-shaped dorsal pattern, beginning as two emerald-green patches next to the ocularium and continuing to the posterior margin of area III. Both species build nests without walls on the underside of leaves (ie flattened nest type), a previously unknown nest architecture for the genus. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Quindina. The two new species, herein described, were recovered as basally branching within the genus. The inferred ancestral state for the nest architecture was the flattened nest type. We provide an updated key for the Colombian species of the genus Quindina and an updated distribution map. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4C811186-3FAC-4F65-81BD-A5720513551E.

A new threat to the European marine environment: The exotic polyclad flatworm Postenterogonia orbicularis (Schmarda, 1859)

Harbours and marinas are optimal places for the detection of the arrival of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) in the early stages of introduction. Marine traffic serves as a route for species movement among different regions, while the species settlement in the ports is facilitated due to habitat degradation. Among NIS, polyclads flatworms are active hunters of bivalves, posing a threat to recipient environments and aquaculture. They can either use their pharynx and mucus to penetrate the mussels and oysters, or enter molluscs while they filter, making the management of the species difficult. In this regard, this work aims to report the first morphological and molecular identification of a new NIS polyclad native to the Pacific Ocean in Europe, specifically in the Ría de Avilés and the Gijón Port (North of Spain, Cantabrian Sea, Bay of Biscay). The occurrence of mature ovigerous specimens and the collection of specimens of various sizes from different times of the year, evidence a reproductively-active population in the area. The external morphological characters, as the ruffled pharynx and the cephalic eyes, and the internal ones, as the male copulatory apparatus, fit with the description of Postenterogonia orbicularis. The phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial COI marker, placed the studied specimens from Avilés and Gijón (Spain) and the recently described species Idiostylochus tortuosus from Arcachon Bay (France) within the P. orbicularis clade (Ilyplanidae family). Therefore, our results suggest that I. tortuosus may be a synonym of the New Zealander P. orbicularis. Finally, we discuss the possible ecological impacts of its introduction and provide some management recommendations for controlling its influx in the recipient environments.

A new species of lobe-lipped bat (Chalinolobus: Vespertilionidae) from southern Papua New Guinea

The Hoary Bat Chalinolobus nigrogriseus is the only species of the genus known from the island of New Guinea. A new species of Chalinolobus from Papua New Guinea is described based on DNA sequence and morphological criteria using material previously assigned to C. nigrogriseus. The new species most resembles the eastern Australian subspecies of the Hoary Bat C. n. nigrogriseus in general size and appearance but is easily distinguished by an enlarged, rather than rudimentary lobe at the terminal outer ear margin. The new species might also be confused on external characters with smaller individuals of Australian Gould’s Wattle Bat C. gouldii, from which it differs in having bifid first upper incisors and uniform dark dorsal fur. The inclusion of C. nigrogriseus in the bat fauna of New Guinea is now in doubt, pending a re-assessment of the identity of Chalinolobus specimens in world museum collections. Locality records of all Chalinolobus spp. from Papua New Guinea are reviewed. Most localities are below 60 m elevation in coastal savannah and woodlands. The identity of specimens of C. nigrogriseus and C. gouldii from northern Australia should be reviewed to determine whether the new species also occurs in Australia.

A new species of the newt genus Hypselotriton (Amphibia, Urodela, Salamandridae) from Jiangxi Province, southeastern China.

A new newt species, Hypselotritonhuanggangensis sp. nov., is described based on nine specimens collected from Huanggangshan Mountains, Yanshan County, Jiangxi, China. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by the combination of nine external characters: (1) obvious black patches with clear boundaries on the whole body; (2) ground color of the dorsal body tan; (3) ground color of venter bright orange; (4) skin rough; (5) vertebral ridge weak; (6) fingers and toes overlapping when forelimb and hindlimb adpressed towards each other along body; (7) postocular orange spot absent; (8) small white warty glands around the eye; (9) two discontinuous longitudinal lines formed by white warty glands from neck to lateral parts of tail. Molecularly, the new species forms an independent clade with strong support in the phylogenetic trees of the genus based on the mitochondrial locus of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene fragments. The new species distinctly differs from H.fudingensis by differences in its body measurements, vertebral ridge, dorsal black patches, and ventral black patches. Furthermore, the new species and H.fudingensis are geographically isolated by a series of high mountain ranges, including the Wuyishan and Jiufengshan Mountains. The number of Hypselotriton species is now 11.

The La Voulte-sur-Rhône Konservat-Lagerstätte reveals the male and female internal anatomy of the Middle Jurassic clawed lobster Eryma ventrosum

The biology of extinct animals is usually reconstructed from external morphological characters and comparison with present-day analogues. Internal soft organs are very rarely preserved in fossils and require high-tech approaches for visualization. Here, we report the internal anatomy of a female and male of the ~ 162 Myr-old lobster Eryma ventrosum from the Jurassic La Voulte-sur-Rhône Konservat-Lagerstätte in France using X-ray synchrotron tomography. The Erymidae is an extinct, species-rich, widespread and ecologically important Mesozoic family of decapod crustaceans. Our investigation revealed the anatomy of the locomotory, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, digestive, nervous and sensory, and reproductive systems at a resolution resembling low-magnification histology. Particularly notable is the detailed preservation of the small brain and the fragile hepatopancreas, the main metabolic organ of decapods that decays rapidly post-mortem. The remarkable preservation shows that the internal anatomy of Eryma ventrosum is closer to that of Nephropidae (clawed lobsters) than Astacidae (freshwater crayfish), their closest living relatives based on skeletal morphology. The microanatomy of the gonads and hepatopancreas indicates that the two specimens investigated were a young, well-nourished female and male prior to sexual maturity. The analysis of the soft anatomy reveals remarkable conservatism over 160 Myr and offers new insights into feeding, reproduction, life history and lifestyle of an important component of the macrozoobenthos of Middle Jurassic seas.

Embryonic development and cranial ossification of the Japanese Aodaishō, Elaphe climacophora (Serpentes: Colubridae): with special reference to the prootic bone and auditory evolution in snakes.

Snakes show remarkably deviated "body plan" from other squamate reptiles. In addition to limb loss, they have accomplished enormous anatomical specialization of the skull associated with the pit organs and the reduction of the tympanic membranes and auditory canals in the outer ears. Despite being the most diverse group of snakes, our knowledge of the embryonic staging for organogenesis and cranial ossification has been minimal for Colubridae. Therefore, in the present observation, we provide the first embryonic description of the Japanese rat snake Elaphe climacophora. We based our study on the Standard Event System (SES) for external anatomical characters and on a description of the cranial ossification during post-ovipositional development. We further estimated the relative ossification timing of each cranial bony element and compared it with that of selected other snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodilians. The present study shows that the relative ossification timing of the palatine and pterygoid bones is relatively early in squamates when compared to other reptiles, implying the developmental integration as the palate-pterygoid complex in this clade and functional demands for the unique feeding adaptation to swallow large prey with the help of their large palatine and pterygoid teeth. Furthermore, unlike in species with pit organs, the prootic bone of Ela. climacophora is expanded to provide articulation with the supratemporal, thereby contributing to the hearing system by detecting substrate vibration. We also demonstrate that the relative timing of the prootic ossification is significantly accelerated in colubrids compared to snakes with pit organs. Our finding suggests that the temporal changes of the prootic ossification underpin the evolution of the perception of the ground-bourne sound signals among snakes.

A staging table of Balkan crested newt embryonic development to serve as a baseline in evolutionary developmental studies.

There is an increased interest in the evolution and development of newts from the genus Triturus because: (1) morphological differentiation among the nine constituent species largely corresponds to different ecological preferences, (2) hybridization between different species pairs has various evolutionary outcomes in terms of life history traits and morphology, and (3) the genus expresses a balanced lethal system that causes arrested growth and death of half of the embryos. These features provide natural experimental settings for molecular, morphological, and life-history studies. Therefore, we produce a staging table for the Balkan crested newt (T. ivanbureschi). We provide detailed descriptions of 34 embryonic stages based on easily observable and interpretable external morphological characters, to ensure reproducibility. Compared with previous staging tables for Triturus, we include a vastly increased sample size and provide high-resolution photographs in lateral, ventral, and dorsal view, complemented by videos of specific developmental periods, and accompanied by detailed explanations on how to delineate the specific stages. Our staging table will serve as a baseline in comparative studies on Triturus newts: an emerging model system in evolutionary and developmental studies.

Infestation of the spider crab Menaethius monoceros (Epialtidae: Brachyura) from the Egyptian Red Sea coasts by Parasacculina pilosella (Polyascidae: Rhizocephala: Cirripedia

The results of this study showed that out of 287 individuals (135 males and 152 females) of the spider crab Menaethius monoceros collected from the Red Sea and the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, 15 individuals (6 males and 9 females) were infected with Parasacculina pilosella (Van Kampen & Boschma, 1925) (Polyascidae: Rhizocephala: Cirripedia: Crustacea). A total of 20 externae were recorded, including 11 singles, three doubles, and only one triple on the infected crab abdomens. The overall infection rate was 5.23% for the combined sexes at all sites, declined to 4.44% in males, but increased to 5.92% in females, reaching a higher rate of 16.07% in the populations of Marsa Alam and Shalateen sectors during summer. The examined externae have variable colors, sizes, and shapes based on their sexual maturity, which has been classified into four stages: immature or virgin, early mature, maturing, and late (spent externae). The largest number of externae was eight extruded on the 3rd abdominal segment, while it decreased to six, two, and one on the 4th, 2nd and 5th segments, respectively. The size of externae varied from 1.3 × 1.0 × 1.0 to 6.3 × 4.5 × 2.5 mm (Breadth × Height × Thickness). These results showed changes in the external secondary sexual characters of the infected males, represented by the remarkable broadness of the abdomen fringed with marginal setae and invagination of the sternum, but were limited in infected females.

The Problems of DNA-Barcoding the Shads of Genus Alosa (Alosidae) of the Ponto-Caspian Basin

—Numerous studies show that species identification of representatives of the genus Alosa using various genetic markers is often difficult and the search for more specific biomarkers is required. For the first time we analyzed polymorphism of COI gene fragment of mitochondrial DNA of two representatives of this genus (A. tanaica and A. kessleri), supplemented with new data on A. immaculata, from the waters of the Ponto-Caspian basin in comparative aspect with other representatives of the herring (Clupeoidea) genera Alosa, Clupea, Clupeonella, Sprattus, and Sardinops. The main result was the conclusion that within the genus Alosa, it is not possible to identify species using the marker used. On the one hand, specimens collected from morphologically distinct individuals and identified as different species have the same haplotypes. On the other hand, samples belonging to different species differ from each other by an insignificant number of nucleotide substitutions and do not form independent clades on the phylogram and haplotype network. This indicates the absence of genetic differentiation between the studied samples of herrings of genus Alosa into separate species and species groups when using DNA barcoding based on the COI gene. The reasons for such a phenomenon may be the following: (1) incorrect identification of species in catches, since shads (Alosidae) have high morphological flexibility and in many species, the main external morphological characters often overlap; (2) recent time of speciation by the standards of biological evolution for shads of genus Alosa; (3) difference in proportion of interspecific hybrids, which can vary significantly between populations of the same species.

Historical Note on the Genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) in Brazil, Focusing on Taxonomy and Diversity.

The history of the taxonomy of Trichogramma parasitoid wasps can be divided into two phases. In the first phase, species identifications were based on external morphological characters; however, these identifications proved to be confusing and inaccurate. In the second phase, starting in the 1970s, taxa were identified based on charcteristics of the male genital capsule, leading to a major advance in Trichogramma taxonomy. The history of Trichogramma taxonomy in Brazil is recent and mainly related to species that parasitize agricultural pests. In Brazil, the first phase of Trichogramma taxonomy occurred in the 1960s, while the second phase occurred from the 1980s onward. In this second phase, Trichogramma taxonomy progressed significantly and knowledge of Trichogramma diversity as well as associations with lepidopteran pests improved markedly in Brazil as well as worldwide. The last five decades have seen significant progress in studies in Brazil, with taxonomy evolving from identifications based exclusively on morphological characters to integrative taxonomy, encompassing biology (crosses) and morphometry. This historical outline presents the phases of Trichogramma taxonomy in Brazil, addressing the hurdles encountered in the first descriptions, erroneous records of the species, and species descriptions since the 1980s. We highlight the importance of accurately identifying Trichogramma taxa for their use in biological control, as well as species diversity and associations with lepidopteran hosts.

Ascetoaxinus ravichandrani sp. nov., a new species of deep-water Thyasiridae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) from the northern Indian Ocean

A new species of deep-sea thyasirid (Bivalvia: Thyasiridae), Ascetoaxinus ravichandrani sp. nov., is described and illustrated from material collected in the northern Indian Ocean during the FORV Sagar Sampada deep-sea cruise no. 404. Specimens were collected from a depth between 1007 m and 1038 m off Kanyakumari, Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, South India. This is the first record of the genus Ascetoaxinus from the Indo-West Pacific. The new species is compared to A. quatsinoensis P.G. Oliver & Frey, 2014 from the Northeast Pacific and A. ovoideus (Dall, 1890) from the Northwest Atlantic. It can be distinguished from these species by its external shell characters. Further comparisons are made between the new species and other larger thyasirids recorded from deep waters around India, notably Channelaxinus investigatoris E.A. Smith, 1895. The distinctions and similarities among these species are discussed, highlighting the key features that set A. ravichandrani apart from related species.

Revision of the taxonomic status of Amathuxidia morishitai from Hainan, China (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Based on the external characters, genital structures, distribution, and intermediate individuals from contact zones, the endemic species Amathuxidia morishitai Chou & Gu, 1994 from Hainan, China is treated as conspecific with A. amythaon (Doubleday, 1847) and is downranked to a subspecies of the latter, i.e., Amathuxidia amythaon morishitai stat. nov. Meanwhile, two subspecies groups of A. amythaon are recognized by morphological and genetic evidence, termed amythaon-group (A. a. amythaon + A. a. dilucida (Honrath, 1884)) and annamensis-group (A. a. morishitai + A. a. annamensis Talbot, 1932) with the latter group showing a deeper divergence than normal on a subspecific level genetically.

Redescription of Astylus atromaculatus (Blanchard, 1843) a taxonomic contribution to the Neotropical species of the genus Astylus (Coleoptera: Melyridae)

Astylus atromaculatus (Blanchard, 1843), the most widely distributed taxon of the genus, is redescribed. The original description is based mainly on the coloration patterns of the elytra. The study of the external morphological characters and genitalia of the type material and from specimens of collections allows the establishment of a new synonymy between A. atromaculatus and A. atromaculatus var. duodecimmaculatus. Geographic distribution data is provided for the taxon are provided.

A Review on Plant Taxonomy

The Identification and naming of plants has attracted a lot of attention throughout history. The science that investigates, identifies, describes, naming of the plant and classifies all plants. Plant taxonomy includes the description of the variation of plants, the observation of the characters like morphological, anatomical and phylogenic characters of the plants, variation, comparison and the manipulation of the data obtained from the previous information/ data is useful to arrange plants in a system of classification. The 3 aspects of the taxonomy are Identification, Nomenclature, classification are the main activates of the taxonomy. Taxonomy means law full arrangement of plants and it is a process of grouping the plants and other organisms. In ancient days plants the classification of plants was very easier and the classification of made by taking consideration of one or two morphological characters which is known as artificial classification but in course of time the classification of plants underwent many medications were taken place because of technological development. But end the end of 19th century the system of classification based on external morphological characters especially based on floral characters because floral characters are stable when compare to morphological characters while growth of the plants, this system of classification is classical/ alpha taxonomy. In course of time the classification of organisms/plants taken consideration of the multiple allied disciplines like the evidences from Anatomy, Embryology, Palynology, Cytology and Genetics. This type of classification is used to resolve taxonomic problems in addition to morphology this classification special significance which is called as biosystematics. Of course an insufficient number of experts, and the instability of phenotypes, which are easily affected by environmental factors, made this classification meet difficulties. With the advent evidences of the fields of phylogenetic, cladistics, experimental botanical gardens, field study, herbariums, keys, museums, computers and systematics, the artificial classification have progressed to a system of modern/ Phylogenic system of biological classification based on consideration of the evolutionary relationships between organisms and both biotic and abiotic factors. Here, I discussed the history of Identification, nomenclature classification and its different systems, for the identification of plants, the development of various molecular techniques that generate molecular markers has made it possible to accurately identify plants. Here I referred the reviews which gives information of the modern techniques and traditional methods that can be used for identification plant species through genotypic studies based on DNA barcoding.

Taxonomic position of holothurian Eupentactafraudatrix (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea).

Samples of the holothurian Eupentactafraudatrix (Djakonov & Baranova in Djakonov, Baranova & Saveljeva, 1958) from the Sea of Japan were studied and the relationships of the genera Eupentacta and Sclerodactyla, as well as related taxa, were evaluated on the basis of phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial DNA COI and 16S rRNA genes. Using three methods, phylogenetic trees were constructed, and the degree of reliability of topological reconstructions was estimated by means of a nonparametric bootstrap test for the neighbor joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) techniques, as well as by a posteriori probability for Bayesian inference (BI) analysis. Genetic data confirm the validity of the assignment of Cucumariafraudatrix to the genus Eupentacta Deichmann, 1938. The study of sequences obtained from the holothurian specimens collected in Russian waters, near the city of Vladivostok, and determined by morphological characters clearly indicate that these specimens belong to the genus Eupentacta and are assigned as E.fraudatrix . The specimens from China in GenBank named as Sclerodactylamultipes and used in the present study, were likely misidentified, and after re-examination they may be assigned to the genus Eupentacta, either as E.fraudatrix or another taxon. Analyses of morphological characters of S.multipes unequivocally affirm that this species must be excluded from Sclerodactyla Ayres, 1851 and is provisionally assigned to the genus Sclerothyone Thandar, 1989 based on the external morphological characters and the body wall ossicles.

Candravastra talina (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Halyini), a new genus and species from Myanmar

The article provides a detailed illustrated description of a new genus and species of the tribe Halyini (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae) from Myanmar. The description is based on external morphological characters and the structure of the male and female terminalia, including the completely inflated aedeagus. A detailed comparison of the new genus with the closely related genera Halys Fabricius, 1803 and Neohalys Ahmad et Perveen, 1982 is given, as well as a key for these three genera.

Cedestis granadensis sp. nov., a new species from Spain (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutidae)

Cedestis granadensissp. nov. is described from specimens taken in two localities in the Spanish province of Granada, in the highlands north of Puebla de Don Fadrique, and the mountains of Sierra de Huétor. The new species belongs to the genus Cedestis Zeller, 1839 in the family Yponomeutidae Stephens, 1829. It does not resemble any of the six other known species of this genus in external characters and it also differs significantly from species already barcoded according to the results of a DNA analysis. The immature stages of the new species are unknown. Colour photographs of the adults, the male genitalia, and of the habitat are included with an illustration of the female genitalia.

Review of the genus Carriola Swinhoe, 1922 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Lymantriinae), with descriptions of four new species

The genus Carriola Swinhoe, 1922, which is considered a recent synonym of Arctornis Germar, 1810, is revised on the basis of the wing pattern, the absence of abdominal tymbal organs and the genitalia of both sexes. Diagnostic and faunistic data are provided for the five known species previously classified as Carriola. In addition, four new species are described: C. wittisp. nov. from Borneo, C. polyakovisp. nov., C. shorokhovisp. nov., and C. zolotuhinisp. nov. from the Philippines. Comparative diagnoses, illustrations of external characters, including male and female genitalia, and information on distribution are provided for all species.

A new species of Scathophaga Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Scathophagidae) from Kyrgyzstan

A new species, Scathophaga ferganensis sp. n. (Diptera, Scatho¬phagidae), is described and illustrated based on male from Kyrgyzstan. Holotype is kept in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. New species is similar to S. lapponica (Ringdahl) but differs from the latter by colour, external characters and by the structure of the genitalia.