Faunal List Research Articles

A new species of tick (Acari: Ixodidae) from seabirds in New Zealand and Australia, previously misidentified as Ixodes eudyptidis

The tick Ixodes eudyptidis Maskell, 1885 has long been recognised as a parasite of penguins and a number of other seabird hosts and, despite a convoluted taxonomic history, there has been no disagreement as to its validity. The opportunity to examine a larger series of ticks from a wider range of hosts than previously available has led to the finding of a morphologically close and hitherto undescribed species, which is herewith described and named as Ixodes laridis sp.nov. The new species has a superficial similarity to its sibling, I. eudyptidis, but on close examination it displays a number of morphological differences that justify its taxonomic separation. Also, the hosts of the new species are principally gulls, gannets and cormorants, while I. eudyptidis is restricted to penguins. The recognition of this new species has implications for faunal lists in both New Zealand and Australia, as well for seabird health, as it appears that I. eudyptidis does not cause paresis as originally thought, but it is I. laridis that causes potentially fatal paralysis in its hosts. A taxonomic history and review of I. eudyptidis and keys to all stages of the species of Ixodes recorded from New Zealand, and from Australian seabirds are given. Reference to Ixodes kohlsi Arthur, 1955, a species currently restricted to Australia, is made for comparative purposes because of the similarity of both its morphology and host associations with the other species under consideration. Aspects of the distribution, zoogeography, hosts and ecology of all three species of ticks are discussed.

A preliminary list of the Ant Fauna in Northeastern Sahara of Algeria (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

We present here a preliminary list of ant fauna of some study sites in thenortheastern Sahara of Algeria using two methodologies, quadrat andpitfall traps (Barber-pots) methods. This work was conducted in wild andagricultural ecosystems in the basin of Ouargla, El-Oued region and Djamaaregion. We record a total of 26 species of 12 genera belonging to threesubfamilies Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, and Myrmicinae. Species of theMyrmicinae and Formicinae were the most abundant with 62.96% and29.63% respectively. The most diverse genus was Monomorium Mayr, 1855(6 species), followed by Messor Forel, 1890 (5). The highest diversity of antswas in Djamaa region (24 species), followed by Ouargla (18) and El-Oued(13). Moreover, this work shows the first record of the species Strumigenysmembranifera Emery, 1869 for the Country. Finally, we observed a variationin the distribution of ant species between study sites, for why, ecologicaldeterminants such as soil need to be studied deeply to explain their influenceon the repartition and richness of the Saharan myrmycofauna of Algeria.

Checklist of the Rove Beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of South Carolina, Based on Published Records

Abstract A review of the literature revealed 17 subfamilies and 355 species of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) reported from South Carolina. Updated nomenclature and references are provided for all species. The goal of this list is to set a baseline for improvement of our knowledge of the state's staphylinid fauna, as well as to goad ourselves and others into creating new, or updating existing, regional faunal lists of the world's most speciose beetle family.

An Updated List of Cerambycid Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of Assam, India

Assam is a state in North-East India which is considered as a biological hotspot. Present communication is the first consolidated updated list of cerambycid fauna of Assam and reports 95 species, 64 genera, 32 tribes and 3 subfamilies. Among the three subfamilies from Assam, subfamily Lamiinae shares 49 species, followed by the subfamily Cerambycinae with 38 species and Prioninae with only 8 species.

Illustrated guide to the echinoid (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) fauna of South Africa

The sea-urchins (class Echinoidea) of South Africa have received little taxonomic attention since the last comprehensive regional monographic guide, which was published in 1976 and is thus now severely outdated. That account was also poorly illustrated, making it difficult to use. Recent work by the authors has also added some 19 additional species to the known fauna, which now stands at 70 species. The aims of this study are thus to revise and update the South African echinoid fauna list, and to present a new, easy to use and fully-illustrated guide to all known regional species. The analysis is based mainly on examination of samples from the Iziko South African Museum collections, although additional records from other museum collections, the published literature, photographic images submitted to the EchinoMap Virtual Museum Database and any other reliable records are also included. A short account of each species is given, including relevant synonymy and literature, and brief notes on identification, size, and global distribution. Photographs that best represent the diagnostic features of each species and a map showing its known records within the region accompany each species account. A binary key to species is also provided.

The Middle Triassic (Anisian) Otter Sandstone biota (Devon, UK): review, recent discoveries and ways ahead

The Middle Triassic (Anisian) Otter Sandstone was laid down mostly by braided rivers in a desert environment and is now well exposed along the south-east Devon coast in south-west England, part of the ‘Jurassic Coast’ World Heritage Site. It yields uncommon and generally fragmentary fossils, principally of vertebrates, including fish, temnospondyl amphibians and reptiles such as rhynchosaurs, predatory archosaurs, and small superficially lizard-like forms. These provide important information about a freshwater and terrestrial ecosystem that marks recovery from the end-Permian mass extinction, but pre-dated the appearance of dinosaurs and mammals. The constantly eroding Otter Sandstone exposures continue to reveal new taxa (for example, freshwater sharks). Furthermore, microvertebrate material obtained by sieving bone-bearing levels has the potential to further expand the faunal list. Newly discovered associated and articulated vertebrate remains, including small tetrapods, improve knowledge of whole-body anatomy and facilitate systematic work. Invertebrate burrows and reptile footprints provide information on ecological interactions and detailed bed-by-bed collecting casts light on taphonomic processes and faunal changes over time.

An annotated catalogue of the Iranian Microtypinae and Rogadinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The Iranian species diversity of the braconid subfamilies Microtypinae (four species from one genus, Microtypus Ratzeburg), and Rogadinae (33 species from four genera, Aleiodes Wesmael, Heterogamus Wesmael, Clinocentrus Haliday and Yelicones Cameron) is summarized. A faunistic list is given comprising both local and global distribution of each species as well as host records. In the present study Microtypus trigonus (Nees, 1843) (Microtypinae), Aleiodes albitibia (Herrisch-Schaeffer, 1838) and Aleiodes coxalis (Spinola, 1808) (Rogadinae) are new records for the fauna of Iran.

Annotated checklist of the butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Sonora, Mexico

A complete list of the known butterfly fauna of the Mexican state of Sonora is presented, representing 347 species in six families. The list is annotated with habitat notes and a timetable of occurrence.

An approach to the floristics and faunistics of the intertidal zone in El Pulpo rocky shore, Cazones, Veracruz, Mexico.

The rocky intertidal of Veracruz, Mexico is a coastal ecosystem with high biodiversity. However,its relevance has not been recognized compared with other marine ecosystems. The objective of this study was todevelop the first floristic and faunistic lists of the rocky intertidal of El Pulpo beach, located in the municipalityof Cazones, Veracruz. Samples were taken from 2013 to 2016 in the rocky intertidal strip in periods of low tidein order to record the marine biota and the collection of biological material for their taxonomic identification. Inaddition, a bibliographic review was performed to complement the species inventory. Fifty-one species of benthicmacroalgae, one species of phanerogam, 186 species of invertebrates, and five species of vertebrates were recorded totaling 243 intertidal marine species. The Rhodophyta are the most representative of the phycoflora with 29species, while the phylum Mollusca are the most representative of the fauna with 139 species. Most of the marinespecies were recorded in the middle and lower intertidal. Consequently, the lowest richness was recorded in theupper intertidal which consists of filamentous and foliose algae, mollusks and crustaceans with both browsing andfilter habits. This distribution coincides with those described for other rocky intertidal environments. The numberof species recorded in the rocky intertidal of El Pulpo beach demonstrates the relevance of this ecosystem. It isthus necessary to encourage actions for its protection and conservation.

Una lista actualizada de los murciélagos de la región de Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz

Bats are a key component in the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems and reach high levels of abundance and diversity in the Neotropics. Environmental transformations modulate alpha, beta and gamma biodiversity of a region, where some species are favored while others are not, reducing or expanding their regional presence. Also, the constant development of new systematic information requires necessary updates of the nomenclature in faunal lists. Updated information is basic for programs of environmental management and conservation. Here, we present an updated list of bats of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. The list is based on captures in the field, the revision of specimens deposited in collections, as well as the revision of online databases of national and international scientific collections. In this manner, we confirm the presence of 65 species of bats and discard 8 species still not confirmed in the region, but have been mentioned in various sources.

<em>Procerberus</em> (Cimolestidae, Mammalia) from the Latest Cretaceous and Earliest Paleocene of the Northern Western Interior, USA

Three species of the cimolestid Procerberus are currently recognized in the northern North American Western Interior in latest Cretaceous and earliest Paleocene (Puercan North American Land Mammal Age) faunas: P. formicarum, P. andesiticus, and P. grandis. Analysis of a new topotypic sample of P. formicarum from the Bug Creek Anthills locality provides an estimate of the range of variation of its postcanine dentition. The three currently recognized species occur in Puercan 1 (Pu1) interval zone faunas, but two other occurrences indicate that the genus originated and initially diversified prior to the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary. Rare occurrences at several localities and entries in faunal lists suggest even greater taxonomic diversity. Limited evidence suggests continued diversification in the later Puercan and possible survival of the genus into the Torrejonian. Procerberus grandis or a closely related species may be a sister group of primitive taeniodonts.

MOSQUITOES (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) OF THE WESTERN COASTAL AREA, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA: SPECIES COMPOSITION, ABUNDANCE, DIVERSITY AND MEDICAL IMPORTANCE.

An entomological survey was undertaken for two years to update the mosquito fauna of the 3 regions (Mecca, Al Madinah and Tabouk), of the western coast, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Six localies representing such Regions (lhif, Mecca, Jeddah, Yanbu, Daba and Haql) were sampled for larvae and adults. Nineteen soecies of six genera were reported of which genus Culex (57.89% sp.) were the most commo6, followed by Anopheles (21.05%) and Stegomyia, Ochlerotatus, Aedes and Culesita (5.26% each). Three species (Cx. sitiens, Cx. torrenlium and Am. v. arabiensis) were new reports in study area. A total of 10930 larvae and 33108 adults were collected of which those representing genus Culex were predominating (92.74% larva, 93.46% adult). Of the reported species, Cx. quinquefasciatus (47.11% larva, 57.52% adult) and Cx. pipiens (22.24% larva, 27.42% adult) Were the common ones. Both Taif and Tabouk reported the highest number of species (13 sp., 68.42%), followed by Jeddah (12 sp., 63.16%), Mecca (10 sp., 52.63%) and Yanbu (8 sp., 42.11%). Tabouk represented the maximum diversity with the highest Simpson index (1-D=0.65) and Shannon index (H=1.25) followed by Taif (1- D=0.54, H=1.01). Per sampling site, Jeddah reported the highest number of larvae (313.70), and Mecca had the highest adult number (670.18). A complete list of mosquito fauna of the western coast including 35. spp. was presented based on the present and previous surveys. The role of the reported mosquito species as disease vectors was discussed. The study concluded that the diversity and abundance of the different mosquito species, among which several vectors of diseases mainly malaria, Rift Valley fever, lymphatic filariasis and dengue fever may pause a risk of transmission and more spread of such disease in this part that contains the holy places which are visited all year round by millions of people from several countries.

Latest Miocene insectivores from Eastern Spain: Evidence for enhanced latitudinal differences during the Messinian

The fossil insectivores from Turolian sites (latest Miocene) in Spain are poorly studied, usually limited to the description of a few new species, or restricted to non-detailed faunal lists. For the first time, the insectivore fossil contents from several Turolian localities at different latitudes from the eastern area of the Iberian Peninsula have been thoroughly studied, and appropriate descriptions, measurements and photographs have been provided. The systematic characterisation of these small mammal assemblages reveals a difference between northern and southern localities, the latter including a lower number of species than the former ones. The identifications carried out are in good agreement with the previous faunal lists of Turolian insectivores, thus reinforcing the model of southward diversity decrease already noticed for older Miocene insectivore assemblages from Spain, and weakening the possibility of a sampling or a taphonomic bias. This pattern is linked to the latitudinally prevailing climatic and environmental conditions; it has not been found hitherto in any other region from Europe, Western Asia or northern Africa.

A revised key to the lizards of Iran (Reptilia: Squamata: Lacertilia).

During recent years several lizard taxa have been added to the faunal list of Iran. Descriptions and new records are scattered in different publications in the herpetological literature. We here present species accounts for 152 species belonging to 43 genera and 10 families up to July 2016. The most diverse family is Lacertidae with 9 genera, 49 species and 2 subspecies, followed by Gekkonidae with 13 genera and 43 species, Agamidae with 5 genera, 18 species and 4 subspecies, Scincidae with 7 genera, 18 species and 2 subspecies, Phyllodactylidae with 1 genus and 10 species, Sphaerodactylidae with 2 genera and 4 species, Varanidae with 1 genus, 3 species and 2 subspecies, Uromastycidae with 2 genera and 3 species, Eublepharidae with 1 genus and 3 species, and Anguidae with 2 genera and 2 species. The current paper provides a dichotomous key including all of the currently recognized lizards of Iran.

Systematics of some calloporid and lacernid Cheilostomata (Bryozoa) from coastal South Korean waters, with the description of new taxa.

Six species in two families of Cheilostomata-Calloporidae and Lacernidae-are described from the southern coasts of the Korean Peninsula, resulting in a new distributional record and four new species to the Korean fauna. Further, Woosukia n. gen. is described, based on an existing species. Two species names (Crassimarginatella crassimarginata and Arthropoma cecilii) are deleted from the Korean faunal list owing to previous misidentification, with the net result that the Korean cheilostome fauna is increased to 125 species. The new additions to the fauna are: Crassimarginatella kumatae (Okada), Retevirgula asiana n. sp., Woosukia subhexagona (Ortmann), Arthropoma magniporosum n. sp., Arthropoma minus n. sp., and Phonicosia crena n. sp. The biogeographic relationships of some western Pacific taxa are discussed.

A redescription of Lerista karlschmidti (Marx & Hosmer, 1959) (Reptilia: Scincidae) from the Northern Territory and removal of this species from the Queensland faunal list by rejecting its type locality

A redescription of Lerista karlschmidti (Marx & Hosmer, 1959) (Reptilia: Scincidae) from the Northern Territory and removal of this species from the Queensland faunal list by rejecting its type locality

Catalogue of Danish Alysiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with the description of two new species of Aspilota Foerster, 1863

In the present study, a total of 153 species of Alysiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Denmark are catalogued. Two species are described as new for science: Aspilota leptoarticulata Munk & Peris-Felipo sp. nov. and A. grandis Munk & Peris-Felipo sp. nov. Additionally, 38 alysiine species are recorded for the first time for the Danish fauna. A faunistic list with distribution data and host records is provided.

Index of Fossiliferous Localities of the Olešná Member, Klabava Formation (Lower Ordovician of the Prague Basin, Czech Republic)

AbstractThirty-two fossiliferous localities of the Olešná Member, a distinct unit of the Klabava Formation, are described. As we are able to find they represent all fossil sites of this unit ever been mentioned in publications. Fossil taxa from relevant papers are summarized and the historical names used for the localities are listed. Updated lists of fauna are compiled for each locality; based on them an overall list for the member is completed.

Updated list of anurans from Floresta Nacional Mário Xavier, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: changes from 1990 to 2012

The Floresta Nacional Mário Xavier (FNMX) is a reserve located in the Municipality of Seropédica, State of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. It is an area with intense anthropic activity and is one of the last remaining forests of the Baixada Fluminense. An inventory of the anurans of the FNMX was performed and the results compared with those of a previous species list for the area. Thirteen excursions were conducted, totaling more than 416 hours of sampling effort. Twenty-six species belonging to five families were found: Bufonidae (one species), Hylidae (15 species), Leptodactylidae (six species), Microhylidae (three species) and Phyllomedusidae (one species). Six species on the previous list were not found in this study. Sphaenorhynchus planicola is a new record for the area. Two species are endangered: Chiasmocleis lacrimae and Physalaemus soaresi, the latter being considered critically endangered by the List of Brazilian Fauna Threatened with Extinction.

Checklist of Dinotrema Foerster, 1863 species of Finland (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae).

In the present study, a total of 91 species of the genus Dinotrema Foerster, 1863 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) from Finland are catalogued. Of them, 73 species are recorded for the first time for this country. A faunistic list with distributional data and host records is provided.