Large Eyes Research Articles

Table Books

Book Review| September 01 2018 Table Books The Enigma of the Owl: An Illustrated Natural History. By Mike Unwin and David Tipling. 2016. Yale University Press. (ISBN 9780300222739). 288 pp. Hardcover, $40. The American Biology Teacher (2018) 80 (7): 546–547. https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2018.80.7.546b Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Table Books. The American Biology Teacher 1 September 2018; 80 (7): 546–547. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2018.80.7.546b Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentThe American Biology Teacher Search It is a rare lover of the natural world who can resist the beauty, elegance, and … well … the enigma of owls. And thus, inherently, there are few who will be able to resist the fascination, charm, and beauty of this lovely book. Oversized and lavish, with exquisite photographs, The Enigma of the Owl brings the owls of the world to life in front of your eyes. The book opens with a short introduction examining both the history and the natural history of owls. A discussion of owls as a group informs the reader of the two owl families and surveys both living and prehistoric species (including an extinct barn owl that stood a meter tall). Basic general owl anatomy is described – distinguished, in particular, by large eyes for binocular vision while hunting and, less obviously, by keen hearing, aided by the distinctive feathered facial disc of most... You do not currently have access to this content.

Incisional Ptosis Correction with Hidden Double Fold in Asian Patients.

Korean males and a few females desire to have larger eyes; however, they often wish to enlarge their eyes and conceal their double eyelids. This paper attempts to describe how to make the eyes bigger and brighter without showing double-fold eyelids. The authors performed cosmetic ptosis correction in 121 cases from April 2013 to December 2017. All patients enrolled in this retrospective study underwent surgical procedures at the author's institutions. Patients were included that had mild-to-moderate degrees of ptosis and levator function greater than 5mm, ages greater than 16years, and no prior ptosis surgery. A successful outcome was achieved with this surgical approach in 113 (93.4%) patients. Complications potentially associated with ptosis surgery were not observed. A refined method of preoperative evaluation for incisional ptosis correction to conceal a double fold with no visible signs of surgery is described. Ptosis correction without the formation of double eyelids will result in skin hooding and visible scarring, and thus, it is recommended to lower the height of the double eyelids. The lower height of double eyelids can cover the incisional scar and make it appear there are no double eyelids. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Two new weevil tribes (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from Burmese amber

ABSTRACTIn this article, two new tribes, Burmomaceratini n. trib. with type genus Burmomacer n. gen. and Burmocorynini n. trib. with type genus Burmocorynus n. gen., two new genera, Burmomacer n. gen. with type species Burmomacer kirejtshuki n. sp. and Burmocorynus n. gen. with type species Burmocorynus jarzembowskii n. sp. and two new species, Burmomacer kirejtshuki n. sp. and Burmocorynus jarzembowskii n. sp. of the families Nemonychidae and Belidae from Cretaceous Burmese amber are described and illustrated. Burmomaceratini differ from all tribes of the subfamily Rhinorhynchinae in the widely separate procoxal cavities. Burmocorynini differ from the tribe Archicorynini in the loose club articles, long pronotum without lateral carinae, antennae inserted at base of rostrum, narrow forehead and large eyes. This is the first record of the family Belidae in the Burmese amber.

Lifestyle shapes bird of prey binocular visual field

Swooping toward a victim with its vicious talons extended, a bird of prey homes in for the kill with meticulous precision. ‘Birds, particularly birds of prey [raptors], are believed to forage primarily using visual cues’, says vision scientist Simon Potier from Lund University, Sweden, who was inspired by his father's love of birds of prey to take up falconry as a small child. Yet, Potier explains that it was not clear how the birds use the region where the views from the two eyes overlap (the binocular zone) during their rapier-like attacks. As the hunting strategies of birds of prey span low-speed scavenging to high-speed aerial and ground prey capture, Potier, Francesco Bonadonna and Olivier Duriez from Université de Montpellier, France, and an international team of collaborators wondered whether the binocular vision of these precision hunters might vary depending on their lifestyle.Potier turned to his own collection of almost 60 birds at Les Ailes de l'Urga theme park in France and other birds from Le Grand Parc du Puy du Fou to measure the binocular visual fields of birds ranging from carrion-feeding vultures to predatory Cooper's hawks and eagles that target victims on the ground. ‘We used a non-invasive procedure to measure visual field characteristics in alert birds’, says Potier, recalling the difficulty of holding the large eagles steady for 20 min while measuring the limit of the view from each eye in order to calculate the binocular region where the visual fields overlapped. ‘The experience of the falconers who helped was essential’, he says. In addition, he had to custom build individual bill holders for each species to keep their heads in place, ‘which took me quite some time to fit perfectly’, he laughs. However, Potier was relieved when the birds appeared unfazed after they were released: ‘Directly after the experiment, they still flew to me, which indicates that they were not stressed’, he smiles.Initially, Potier and his colleagues had anticipated that the binocular visual fields of the hunters would be wider than those of the scavengers, as the hunters have to precisely target a moving victim with their talons while the scavengers’ aim may not need to be as precise. However, the width of the binocular visual fields was remarkably similar. The contrasts were more apparent when the team plotted the full projections of the binocular region, showing that the zone above the beak where the view from the two eyes overlapped tapered more rapidly in the ground-hunting eagles than it did in Cooper's hawks (which target birds on the wing) and the scavenging vultures. There was also an extensive blind zone above the heads of the ground predators – which do not have to outmanoeuvre agile targets on the wing. Considering the various hunting strategies and differences in the head shapes of the 15 species, Potier and his colleagues suspect that the ridge of bone that shades the eyes of the ground-hunting species could partially obscure the upper portion of their binocular field to produce the large blind zone. In addition, their short, but wide, powerful beaks appear to shade the lower portion of their view.‘Our results show that the binocular field configuration is specialized to foraging tactics in raptors’, says Potier, who is keen to scrutinise the vision of the almost exclusively terrestrial secretary bird. ‘They have very large eyes… I would love to estimate their visual field’, he muses.

On the pea crabs found in the chiton Tonicia chilensis (Frembly, 1827) (Mollusca, Polyplacophora: Chitonidae) identified as "Orthotheres sp." by Melzer Schwabe (2008), and its reassignment to Calyptraeotheres Campos, 1990 (Crustacea: Pinnotheridae).

Crabs of the family Pinnotheridae have been considered a phylogenetically heterogeneous group and taxonomically problematic (Palacios-Theil 2009, 2016; Tsang et al. 2018). The lack of knowledge of sexual dimorphism and morphological variation throughout the life history for many species have complicated its taxonomy and has resulted in errors in its classification (Campos 1989, 1993, 2016). Consequently, if the taxonomy of these symbiotic crabs had been based on juveniles and undeveloped character states, the problems get even more serious (Campos 1989, 1993). Melzer Schwabe (2008) studied three juvenile crabs living in the chiton Tonicia chilensis (Frembly, 1827) (Polyplacophora: Chitonidae) collected in Muelle Dichato, Chile, and they identified them as the putative invasive stage of a species of Orthotheres Sakai, 1969. The crabs are of the typical juvenile pinnotherid form with a masculine habitus, including a suborbicular carapace, large eyes and a slender pleon (= abdomen) with the telson well defined (Ocampo et al. 2017). Unpublished observations on juveniles and adults of several species of pinnotherid crabs by the author, for example, Juxtafabia muliniarum (Rathbun, 1918), Dissodactylus lockingtoni Glassell, 1935, D. xantusi Glassell, 1936, Calyptraeotheres granti (Glassell, 1933), Austinotheres angelicus (Lockington, 1877) and Tumidotheres margarita (Smith, 1870) have revealed that the third maxilliped exhibit little morphological variation through the post-larval stages of development (from juvenile to adult). This appendage, including the partial or total fusion of the ischium and merus (Fig. 1A-G; Fig 2A, C-G), has been considered a valuable feature for distinguishing genera in the family Pinnotheridae (Bürger 1895; Rathbun 1918; Manning 1993; Ahyong Ng 2007; Campos 2009). According to Melzer Schwabe (2008) the ischium and merus of the third maxilliped are completely fused, the carpus is larger than the propodus and the small dactylus is subterminally inserted on the propodus (Fig 1C), and as such the juveniles studied are possibly members of the genus Orthotheres Sakai, 1969. A detailed re-examination of the third maxilliped, chela of pereiopod 1 (cheliped) and pleon, however, has shown otherwise. Campos (1989) discussed the taxonomy of Orthotheres and treated all the species he recognised as belonging to this genus; characterising its members by its diagnostic third maxilliped palp structure. Ng Ho (2014) rediagnosed the genus based on the type species, O. turboe Sakai, 1969, from Japan, and restricted it for three Indo-West Pacific species; commenting that the American species as well as some Indo-West Pacific taxa will need to referred to other genera when a full revision is done. This revision is now in progress by the author, PKL Ng and ST Ahyong. Until the revision is complete, the genus is treated here in the broader sense of Campos (1989) and Geiger Martin (1999).

First Species of Oreoeudesis from Rwanda, with Description of Suboreon subgen. nov. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

The Afrotropical genus Oreoeudesis Franz was previously known to occur in Tanzania, Kenya and Cameroon. A new species, Oreoeudesis ruandensis sp. nov. is described on the basis of a material coming from Rwanda. Differences in cephalic, pronotal, mesonotal and genital structures justify placing the new species in a separate subgenus, Suboreon subgen. nov. Morphological structures of O. ruandensis, especially the large composite eyes and fully developed wings, seem to be plesiomorphic as compared to derived character states in the previously known, microphthalmous or anophthalmous and wingless species.

Japanese Species of the Genus <i>Lasconotus</i> (Coleoptera: Zopheridae: Colydiinae), with Description of a New Species from Ishigaki-jima Island, the Ryukyu Islands

A new species of the genus Lasconotus Erichson, 1845 from Ishigaki-jima Island, Southwest Japan, is described. Lasconotus akitai sp. nov. is compared with the three previously known species of Lasconotus in Japan: L. niponius (Lewis, 1879), L. okadai Aoki, 2011, and L. sculpturatus (Sharp, 1885). The new species is characterized by small body size, large eyes, antennal segments III and IV same in size, four sharp ridges on pronotum, and bubble-shaped sculpture on ventral side of body. A key to the four Japanese Lasconotus-species is also given.

Non-uniform evolutionary response of gecko eye size to changes in diel activity patterns.

Geckos feature a large range of eye sizes, but what drives this phenotypic diversity is currently unknown. Earlier studies point towards diel activity patterns (DAPs) and locomotory mode, but phylogenetic comparative studies in support of the proposed adaptive mode of eye evolution are lacking. Here, we test the hypothesis of DAPs as the driver of eye size evolution with a dataset on 99 species of gecko. Results from phylogenetic generalized least-square analysis (PGLS) and multivariate model-fitting reveal smaller eyes in diurnal geckos consistent with different phenotypic optima. However, Bayesian analyses of selective regime shifts demonstrate that only two of nine transitions from nocturnal to diurnal activity are coupled with decreases in eye size, and two other regime shifts are not associated with DAP transitions. This non-uniform evolutionary response suggests that eye size is not the only functionally relevant variable. Evolutionary adaptations may therefore include different combinations of several traits (e.g. photoreceptors), all with the same functional outcome. Our results further demonstrate that DAP only partially explains eye size diversity in geckos. As open habitats favour the evolution of large eyes while obstructed habitats favour small eyes, the degree of habitat clutter emerges as another potential axis of eye diversification.

Review of the genus Engyprosopon Günther, 1862 (Pleuronectiformes: Bothidae) from waters off Taiwan, with descriptions of two new species.

Species of the bothid genus Engyprosopon Günther, 1862 from the waters off Taiwan are reviewed. Nine species are recognized and described. Of the nine species, E. grandisquama (Temminck Schlegel, 1846), E. multisquama Amaoka, 1963 and E. maldivense (Regan, 1908) previously known from Taiwan are confirmed, whereas E. xystrias Hubbs, 1915, E. mogkii (Bleeker, 1854), E. longipelvis Amaoka, 1969 and E. mozambiquense Hensley, 2003 represent new records for Taiwan. Moreover, two further species are described new to science. Engyprosopon brevifrontale sp. nov. is characterized by a deep and short body, large eyes situated close to the head margin, 0 + 9-10 smooth gill rakers, strong rostral and upper orbital spines on the ocular side, small rostral spine on the blind side, and a dark blue peritoneum. Engyprosopon parvipectorale sp. nov. is characterized by the combination of serrate gill rakers, large head (3.1-3.4 in SL); extremely narrow or almost ridge-like interorbital in both sexes; ocular-side pectoral fin distinctly short (1.4-1.6 in HL) in both sexes; and no rostral or orbital spines in either sex. Detailed descriptions and a key to all of the species of Engyprosopon recorded from the waters off Taiwan are provided.

A review of sexual dimorphism of eye size in Colubroidea snakes

Eye size is interesting in snakes because in most species body length differs between the sexes, while the eye’s performance depends on its absolute size. So, does the smaller sex see less well? We hypothesized that eye sexual mensural dimorphism (SMD) would be smaller than Body SMD. We found among 26 snake populations that body length SMD was female biased in 47.6% and male biased in 38.1% of samples. Often the larger sex’s head was further enlarged but the SMD of absolute eye size was mitigated or annulled by the smaller sex’s eye being enlarged within the head, and the head enlarged relative to the body. Overall generally the SMD of eye size was smaller than body SMD. This accords with a hypothesis that eye size affects the evolution of head size and its SMD, both reflecting and emphasizing that absolute eye size is functionally important. Although Colubridae exceed Viperidae in length, Viperidae have larger eyes in absolute terms. In Colubridae the females have larger eyes and in Viperidae the males have larger eyes. Additionally we examine to what extent SMD in different characters is correlated, and briefly review other aspects of SMD, including some aspects of Rensch’s rule.

The evolution of sexual signal modes and associated sensor morphology in fireflies (Lampyridae, Coleoptera).

Animals employ different sexual signal modes (e.g. visual, acoustic, chemical) in different environments and behavioural contexts. If sensory structures are costly, then evolutionary shifts in primary signal mode should be associated with changes in sensor morphology. Further, sex differences are expected if male and female signalling behaviours differ. Fireflies are known for their light displays, but many species communicate exclusively with pheromones, including species that recently lost their light signals. We performed phylogenetically controlled analyses of male eye and antenna size in 46 North American taxa, and found that light signals are associated with larger eyes and shorter antennae. In addition, following a transition from nocturnal light displays to diurnal pheromones, eye size reductions occur more rapidly than antenna size increases. In agreement with the North American taxa, across 101 worldwide firefly taxa in 32 genera, we found light displays are associated with larger eye and smaller antenna sizes in both males and females. For those taxa with both male and female data, we found sex differences in eye size and, for diurnal species, in antenna size.

Auditory opportunity and visual constraint enabled the evolution of echolocation in bats

Substantial evidence now supports the hypothesis that the common ancestor of bats was nocturnal and capable of both powered flight and laryngeal echolocation. This scenario entails a parallel sensory and biomechanical transition from a nonvolant, vision-reliant mammal to one capable of sonar and flight. Here we consider anatomical constraints and opportunities that led to a sonar rather than vision-based solution. We show that bats’ common ancestor had eyes too small to allow for successful aerial hawking of flying insects at night, but an auditory brain design sufficient to afford echolocation. Further, we find that among extant predatory bats (all of which use laryngeal echolocation), those with putatively less sophisticated biosonar have relatively larger eyes than do more sophisticated echolocators. We contend that signs of ancient trade-offs between vision and echolocation persist today, and that non-echolocating, phytophagous pteropodid bats may retain some of the necessary foundations for biosonar.

Normal Tritan Discrimination in Amblyopia Suggests Preservation of Koniocellular Function

Background: Human stereoscopic vision is a psychological abstraction emerging from sufficiently grouped monocular signals within a broader unity of simultaneous binocular perception. Incongruent central signals inevitably arise when moving through a visual landscape, due to changing asymmetries of perception, producing signal rivalry. Humans have an evolved capacity to dynamically inhibit incongruous or ambiguous signals in order to maintain a coherent unity of stereoscopic perception, a facility sometimes exploited by optical illusions. Unlike the beneficial mental construct that arises from physiological inhibition, the amblyopic inhibition is permanently unilaterally destructive, has a large field size, is associated with irreversible signal inhibition at the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), and leads to structural alterations in dLGN that can be demonstrated histologically. Recent reports suggest amblyopic signal inhibition at the dLGN may be selective, preferentially involving the parvocellular system and sparing the koniocellular system. It is not yet known whether physiological inhibition is also pathway specific, but it would be surprising if it were not. The two chromatic opponent systems display differing vulnerabilities in a number of disease states, including optic neuritis and toxic neuropathies, and they followed independent evolutionary paths during phylogenetic development from small primates into apes and humans with larger eyes. Tritan contrast is conducted exclusively by the koniocellular system as far as the striate cortex, so clinical tests of tritan contrast may provide information about koniocellular function in humans. If koniocellular function is not inhibited in amblyopia then tritan discrimination tests may be normal in amblyopic eyes. Objective: In this study the C test for tritan discrimination was employed as a proxy for koniocellular function to discover whether tritan discrimination was affected in proportion with achromatic contrast in the amblyopic eye of 18 amblyopic adults. Method: The tritan contrast and logmar visual acuity results were compared between eyes, using two non parametric statistical tests. Results: The C test scores for tritan discrimination were statistically similar in the normal and amblyopic eyes, but mean logmar acuity scores were significantly different, with a mean of 0.76 in the amblyopic eyes compared to 0.18 in the non-amblyopic eyes. Conclusion: This finding is consistent with preservation of koniocellular signal perception despite parvocellular signal inhibition in amblyopic eyes.

Addition to the knowledge on Acromegalomma messapicum (Giangrande & Licciano, 2008) (Annelida: Sabellidae)

The genus Acromegalomma has been recently introduced as nomen novum for the polychaete genus Megalomma. Recently specimens of A. messapicum were collected from the coastal area of Civitavecchia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) and re-collected from the type locality (Brindisi, Adriatic Sea, Italy) allowing us to examine additional fresh material and to add some useful morphological and biological information to the original description. The present data widens the distribution of the species. The possibility to examine several specimens of A. messapicum collected in different areas allowed us to state with certainty the absence of variability as concerns both the distribution of the radiolar eyes and the collar shape. The new findings revealed a colouration pattern present in the thorax and in the branchial crown, as well as the presence of large pygidial eyes previously not reported. Specimens have very broadly hooded chaetae, especially at the beginning of the abdomen, becoming more slender and therefore narrowly hooded, proceeding towards the end of the abdomen. This could explain the incorrect statement in the original description, of the presence of narrowly hooded abdominal chaetae as characterising A. messapicum. The present data also allowed some biological observations. Acromegalomma messapicum is gonocoric with eggs measuring about 120 mm in diameter. Most of the specimens were collected in cold months but ripe specimens were found in warm months. In addition a scheme of groups of Acromegalomma species modified from that previously proposed by different authors is given, where some taxa have been moved to different groups on the basis of a new interpretation of the collar features.

A case report of seckel syndrome

Seckel syndrome, first defined by Seckel in 1960, is a rare (incidence 1:10,000) genetically heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder presenting at birth. Seckel described the disease on the basis of two cases he had studied in Chicago as well as 13 cases on nanocephalic dwarfs reported in the literature over a 200-year period. It is Characterized by dwarfism prenatally resulting in low birth weight, abnormally small head with a “bird‑headed” like appearance (beaked nose, receding forehead, prominent eyes, and micrognathia) and mental retardation. Other facial features include abnormally large eyes and narrow face. This syndrome has an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. A case of Seckel syndrome that was reported is described in this article.

A new species of the genus Macrorhyncolus Wollaston, 1873 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cossoninae) from China.

Following recent taxonomic study, Macrorhyncolus spinosus sp. nov. is described from China. Earlier, Macrorhyncolus included four species, M. crassiusculus, M. crassitarsis, M. littoralis and M. ventilaginis. A key is presented to all known species of Macrorhyncolus in the Palaearctic Region and China. Illustrations of diagnostic characters of the new species are provided. Macrorhyncolus spinosus is winged, has larger eyes, the rostrum is longer than wide and has a median furrow in the basal half, extending to the vertex, and striae 9 and 10 remain separate from base to apex.

Ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-Andean drainage, Upper Magdalena River Basin, Colombia

ABSTRACT Ecomorphological patterns of the fish community were evaluated in the trans-Andean Alvarado River drainage, Colombia. A total of 29 species using 25 ecomorphological indices were analyzed to test how well the ecomorphological patterns are related to the fish assemblage. Although a significant correlation was found (Mantel test) between morphological attributes and trophic guilds, habitat use and distribution across the altitudinal gradient, only the last two were significantly independent of the phylogenetic relationships (partial Mantel test). Regarding the ecomorphological space, two main trends were defined. First, benthic periphytivores and invertivores were characterized by having dorsal or dorsolateral eyes, labial appendages, depressed bodies and well-developed pectoral, ventral and caudal fins, which provide them the ability to stabilize over the substrate and make rapid movements. Second, nektonic detritivore-invertivores and insectivores were found to have laterally compressed bodies, lateral eyes and larger eyes and anal fins. These species use vision during predation, are good continuous swimmers and possess higher maneuverability and stability. These results show that the fish assemblages in the Alvarado River drainage are structured ecomorphologically mainly by habitat and the altitudinal gradient. Therefore, this is evidence of the importance of habitat structure to maintain the functionality of the ecosystem.

Diet reveals links between morphology and foraging in a cryptic temperate reef fish.

Predators select prey so as to maximize energy and minimize manipulation time. In order to reduce prey detection and handling time, individuals must actively select their foraging space (microhabitat) and populations exhibit morphologies that are best suited for capturing locally available prey. We explored how variation in diet correlates with habitat type, and how these factors influence key morphological structures (mouth gape, eye diameter, fin length, fin area, and pectoral fin ratio) in a common microcarnivorous cryptic reef fish species, the triplefin Helcogrammoides cunninghami. In a mensurative experiment carried out at six kelp‐dominated sites, we observed considerable differences in diet along 400 km of the Chilean coast coincident with variation in habitat availability and prey distributions. Triplefins preferred a single prey type (bivalves or barnacles) at northern sites, coincident with a low diversity of foraging habitats. In contrast, southern sites presented varied and heterogeneous habitats, where triplefin diets were more diverse and included amphipods, decapods, and cumaceans. Allometry‐corrected results indicated that some morphological structures were consistently correlated with different prey items. Specifically, large mouth gape was associated with the capture of highly mobile prey such as decapods, while small mouth gape was more associated with cumaceans and copepods. In contrast, triplefins that capture sessile prey such as hydroids tend to have larger eyes. Therefore, morphological structures co‐vary with habitat selection and prey usage in this species. Our study shows how an abundant generalist reef fish exhibits variable feeding morphologies in response to the distribution of potential habitats and prey throughout its range.

Neustonic copepods (Labidocera spp.) discovered living residentially in coral reefs

Pontellid copepods are archetypical representatives of the neuston—the highly specialized community living in the top 5–10 cm of the ocean surface. Their deep blue pigmentation and large eyes are unique adaptations to surface irradiation and carnivory, but poor prerequisites for survival in the transparent waters beneath the sea surface. Here, we report the discovery of three reef-associated representatives of this group—Labidocera bataviae A. Scott, 1909; L. pavo Giesbrecht, 1889; and Labidocera sp.—living residential in coral reefs. We (1) document the presence of Labidocera spp. for two separate coral reefs on two expeditions to Papua New Guinea, (2) describe their migration behavior and substrate preference, and (3) quantify the effects of benthic reef community composition on their abundance. All life stages of Labidocera spp. were 43 to 94 times more abundant at the reef sites compared to offshore sites. Although pontellids are generally considered non-migrators, Labidocera spp. showed discernible diel vertical migrations: living in reef substrates during the day, emerging into the water column at night (sometimes more than once), and returning to the substrate at dawn. Labidocera spp. showed a pronounced substrate preference for coral rubble, microalgae, and turf, over branching coral, massive boulder coral, and sand.

A New Ant Species, Temnothorax ansei sp.n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Arid Environments of South-eastern Spain

We describe here a new ant species in the genus Temnothorax, species grouplaurae, based on morphological evidence supported by other biologicalinformation. It has been discovered at two locations in southeast Spain:Pulpí (Almería) and Lorca (Murcia). This species is a member of the lauraespecies group based on the following characters: large eyes, long and erecthairs on alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole, rectangular head and metanotalgroove. Other characters unique to new species are: dark brown in color,decumbent pilosity, and smooth and shiny head and pronotum. In addition,this new species is distinctly nocturnal in its activity patterns. Based on themorphological measurements of the queens and the workers, as well as ourobservations in the laboratory, we predict that this species has a dependentcolony founding. An identification key to the Iberian Peninsula species ofthe laurae group is also provided.