List Of Species Research Articles

Updating the Cetacean Species List of Raja Ampat, Indonesia, with Additional Sightings of the Rarely Documented Omura’s Whale (Balaenoptera omurai) and a New Record of Melon-Headed Whales (Peponocephala electra)

Updating the Cetacean Species List of Raja Ampat, Indonesia, with Additional Sightings of the Rarely Documented Omura’s Whale (Balaenoptera omurai) and a New Record of Melon-Headed Whales (Peponocephala electra)

Private Keeping of Dangerous Wild Animals in Great Britain

We analysed the licences issued by British local government authorities under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, which regulates the private keeping of wild animals categorised as “dangerous”, to assess the scope and scale of private keeping of dangerous wild animals in Great Britain. Results are compared with historical data from England and Wales, showing that there has been an overall decrease both in the total population of dangerous wild animals privately kept under licence and the number of licences, resulting primarily from a decrease in the farming of wild boar and ostrich, and from certain other species no longer requiring a licence to be kept. Nonetheless, the private keeping of dangerous wild animals remains prevalent, with a total population of 3950 animals kept under licence, and at least one-third of local authorities in Britain licensing keepers of one or more such animals. The population of non-farmed dangerous taxa has increased by 59% in 20 years, with notable increases in crocodilians (198%), venomous snakes (94%), and wild cats (57%). We present evidence that the average cost of a licence to keep dangerous wild animals has fallen over time, and that there is a negative association between cost and licensing. The current schedule of species categorised as dangerous is compared to a formally recognised list of species kept in zoos assessed by risk to the public. Problems with the legislation, enforcement of the licensing system, and animal welfare for privately kept dangerous wild animals are identified and discussed.

Beak and feather disease virus detected in the endangered Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus)

We report the first detection and prevalence of Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) in Australia’s Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus). This is a new host for this pervasive pathogen amongst a growing list of non-psittacine species including birds of prey from the orders Accipitriformes (hawks, eagles, kites), Falconiformes (falcons and caracas), and Strigiformes (owls). The Red Goshawk is the first non-psittacine species listed as Endangered to be diagnosed with BFDV. We report an initial case of infection discovered post-mortem in a dead nestling and subsequent surveillance of birds from across northern Australia. We reveal BFDV prevalence rates in a wild raptor population for the first time, with detections in 25% (n = 7/28) of Red Goshawks sampled. Prevalence appears higher in juveniles compared to adults, although not statistically significant, but is consistent with studies of wild psittacines. BFDV genotypes were associated with the Loriinae (lorikeets, budgerigar, and fig parrots), Cacatuini (Cockatoos), and Polytelini (long-tailed parrots) tribes; species which are preyed upon by Red Goshawks. A positive BFDV status may be associated with lower body mass but small sample sizes precluded robust statistical analysis. We postulate the possible impacts of the virus on Red Goshawks and discuss future research priorities given these preliminary observations.

PROSPECTS FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF WEEDS IN ARGENTINA

Argentina hosted pioneering classical weed biological control projects that were carried out by state institutions between the 1970s and 1990s, at a time when the practice was almost unheard of in Latin America. Despite the early development of these initiatives, the discipline did not prosper and all projects were discontinued. Notwithstanding, Argentina continued to provide biological control agents for the control of weeds in many other parts of the world, ensuring the expertise persisted. Although public concern about invasive plants and chemical-dependent agricultural practices has increased over time, it did not lead to a greater acceptance of classical biological control of weeds, which is still regarded with mistrust or ignored in many public and academic circles alike. Furthermore, there are no systems in place to reach a consensus on declaring weeds as targets for biological control in Argentina. In this paper we discuss different ways in which the community of researchers working in the field in Argentina can help relaunch the biological control of weeds, including the preparation of a prioritized list of target species. A list of this kind would not only reduce costs, but also help in developing trust in the discipline of biological control informing regulators and decision makers in this regard. Prospects are brighter today than a few years ago, but considerable communication and educational work on the benefits of this practice is still required to gain more support before it can effectively be re-implemented.

Updating the national list of marine alien species in Morocco

This study provides an updated list of alien marine species that have been introduced to Morocco by analyzing both previous data and new findings. A total of 46 marine alien and 15 cryptogenic and crypto-expanding species were recorded in Moroccan waters. Alien species are more abundant in the Mediterranean (35 species) than in the Atlantic (16 species) waters. The number of records of introductions increased in recent years in Moroccan waters. Macrophyta ranked first in terms of the number of species (19 species), followed by Mollusca (8 species), Crustacea (7 species), Cnidaria (5 species), Pisces (3 species), and Tunicata (2 species), while Nematoda and Annelida each contain only one species. The finding of Phyllorhiza punctata, a new species recorded for the first time in the Moroccan Mediterranean waters, is described. The Moroccan Mediterranean harbors more established species (77%) than the Atlantic (69%), contrary to casual records (25% in the Atlantic and 20% in the Mediterranean). Within Moroccan waters, 12 species have been identified as either invasive or potentially invasive: Rugulopteryx okamurae, Sargassum muticum, Asparagopsis armata, Asparagopsis taxiformis, Caulerpa cylindracea, Codium fragile, Agarophyton vermiculophyllum, Artemia monica, Callinectes sapidus, Caprella scaura, Microcosmus squamiger, and Branchiomma luctuosum. The Transport- Stowaway pathway accounted for 23 and seven records in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, respectively. In the Mediterranean, the second most frequent pathway was Transport-Contaminant (6 species), while in the Atlantic was Escape (4 species). This list serves as a starting point for management measures and for selecting invasive alien species to assess their impact.

New records of Probopyrus pandalicola and Probopyrinella latreuticola (Epicaridea: Bopyridae) from the southern Mexican Caribbean

The ecology, distribution, and taxonomy of bopyrid isopod species are often omitted from studies not systematically addressed to crustaceans. From a wider study of zooplankton in coastal and reef waters of the Mexican Caribbean Sea, two bopyrid species were collected, Probopyrinella latreuticola, attached to the branchial chamber of Latreutes fucorum and Probopyrus pandalicola parasitizing the branchial chamber of Palaemon northropi. For both parasite-host associations, these records represent a new locality and the southernmost record in the Mexican Caribbean. A map and a list of the bopyrid species belonging to Bopyridae recorded in the Mexican Caribbean are provided.

Bat diversity in the Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam - Results from VIETBIO field training and annotated species list.

Biodiversity surveys are essential for both academic research and conservation. Integrative approaches that combine morphological, genetic and acoustic aspects for species identification can provide reliable information in taxonomy and evolution. This is especially relevant for those groups with a high degree of cryptic diversity such as bats. Here, we present the results from a field survey carried out in the Cuc Phuong National Park (CPNP) during 2019 as part of the VIETBIO project and from the examination of specimen collections preserved at the museums of CPNP and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR). In addition, we include an annotated species list, based on this survey and a literature review. We here confirm that CPNP is home to at least 47 bat species belonging to 23 genera and seven families. We recorded ten of these bat species during our field survey. Obtained data in genetics (sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial gene COI) supported the morphological identification of the recorded species for which we were able to produce these data. In addition, we include echolocation recordings obtained during our field training with the hope that they may contribute valuable insights to future work concerning the surveyed species. Results from the field survey represent a relevant contribution to biodiversity assessment efforts and, thus, support conservation and management efforts to maintain bat diversity in Vietnam.

Establishing a fish repository at Ege University Faculty of Fisheries (1965-2023): A Journey on a long and challenging road to becoming a museum

This study examined preserved marine fish specimens collected from numerous field surveys conducted along Türkiye’s Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean coasts since 1965. Our review and categorization of these materials revealed that the specimens belong to 360 species from 131 families. Current data shows that the museum collection includes 20 species of cartilaginous fish and 8 species of bony fish listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, alongside 54 non-native fish species. Prepared according to museum standards by Ege University Fisheries Faculty’s Scientific Material (ESFM), this collection of Turkish marine fish constitutes 66% of all Turkish marine fish fauna. This makes it the largest and oldest marine fish collection in Türkiye. Considering Türkiye’s maritime borders with neighboring countries, this collection is significant nationally and globally. Given the diverse marine fish species in Turkish seas over the past half-century, this preserved material is a vital reference for local and foreign ichthyologists. If organized and transformed into a visitable museum, this extensive collection could raise awareness about the diversity of marine fish species in our seas. As a result, we have established the ” biological repository of Turkish Marine Fish Department” in the Faculty Museum, now known as the Fisheries Faculty’s Scientific Material (ESFM) at Ege University. We present the fish in the collection as a species list.

Разнообразие и закономерности распространения Bazzania (Lepidoziaceae, Marchantiophyta) в притихоокеанской Азии с особым вниманием к роду во Вьетнаме

The distribution of Bazzania in Pacific Asia excluding Malesia is surveyed. The taxonomic diversity in this genus increases from North to South, while the regional taxonomic composition of Bazzania is rather gradually changes and compared regions are distributed strictly along a latitudinal gradient on the DCA scatter plot. Particular attention is paid to the distribution of Bazzania in Vietnam, for which considerable data were obtained in recent decade. A list of Bazzania of Pacific Asia is provided with distribution by country, as well as more detailed species list for this genus in Vietnam. The world centers of Bazzania species diversity are located in Malesia and Melanesia, where the former is adjacent to Pacific Asia in the northwest. Bazzania siamensis comb. nov. is proposed, the species is treated as different from B. pearsonii with which it was synonymized before. A description and photographs of the species based on lectotype are provided.

Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XXVI: Taxonomic review of Cladomorformia tax. n., a lineage of Diapheromerinae stick insects, with the descriptions of seven new genera and 41 new species (Phasmatodea: Occidophasmata: Diapheromerinae)

Stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea) are a moderately diverse order that comprises almost 3,500 extant species of large to very large often impressively camouflaged nocturnal herbivores. The order also stands out as one of the few insect orders that have until lately lacked a robust higher-level phylogeny and still the relationships between many New World taxa in particular remain unknown. The Diapheromerinae is one of the main lineages of the Occidophasmata and comprises a bulk of the diversity of New World stick insects. The clade is endemic to the Americas and includes the longest insects of that region. During the past 25 years Diapheromerinae has experienced various often inconsistent attempts of a classification, which have resulted in a complicated history that has meanwhile constituted a heterogenous mixture of historical and contemporary views. To counter these challenges workers have made use of rank-free taxa to provisionally group supposedly monophyletic clades. Currently the Diapheromerinae are sub-divided into the two tribes Diapheromerini and Oreophoetini and recent molecular analyses have shown taxa of the Cladomorphinae Günther, 1953 to belong to Diapheromerinae. Certainly, the clade still deserves much work to delimit meaningful sub-groups within Diapheromerinae reflective of their evolutionary history and the results of the latest comprehensive molecular-based phylogenetic studies already imply sub-divisions within the Diapheromerini. The rank-free taxon Cladomorformia tax. n. is established to comprise former Cladomorphini, Cranidiini, Otocrania Redtenbacher, 1908 as well as sections of Diapheromerini sensu Robertson et al., 2018, which are the genera that have previously been placed in the “Phanocles group” sensu Zompro, 2001 as well as two genera of the “Bacteria group” and one genus of the “Clonistria group”: Alienobostra, Bostriana, Calynda, Globocalynda, Laciphorus, Phanocles, Phanocloidea and Trychopeplus. The genus Cranidium and all genera of Cladomorphini sensu Hennemann et al., 2016 are here formally transferred to Diapheromerinae, this is Aplopocranidium, Cladomorphus, Jeremia, Jeremiodes, Otocraniella and Xylodus. A holistic review of Cladomorformia at the genus level is conducted herein and new diagnoses, differentiations and keys to all 25 genera that are now contained in that clade are presented. Lists of species are provided for all genera, which include detailed type data, synonymies and distributional records. Moreover, identification keys to all 163 known valid species are provided to render identification of species within the 25 known genera possible. In total, 232 species are covered if the 69 synonymous taxa are included. The subfamily Haplopodinae is introduced to comprise all genera of the tribes Haplopodini, Hesperophasmatini and Pterinoxylini as classified by Hennemann et al. (2016) as well as the recently described Teruelphasmini. Renaming former Cladomorphinae sensu Robertson et al. (2018) into Haplopodinae is necessary, because the type-genus Cladomorphus can no longer be considered a member of that lineage and belongs in Diapheromerinae. Haplopodinae is the only New World clade that belongs into the Old World Oriophasmata. Bostranova Villet, 2023 has been introduced to replace the preoccupied Bostra Stål, 1875. The type-species of Bostranova, Bacteria turgida Westwood, 1859, however is here shown to belong in Phanocloidea Zompro, 2001. Thus, Bostranova is synonymised under Phanocloidea (n. syn.) and all species are transferred to Phanocloidea and other genera. Paraphanocles Zompro, 2001 (Type-species: Mantis keratosqueleton Olivier, 1792) is synonymised with Phanocles Stål, 1875 (syn. n.). Seven new genera are described: Globocrania gen. n. (Type-species: Bacteria emesa Westwood, 1859), Hirtuleiodes gen. n. (Type-species: Phibalosoma gibbosa Chopard, 1911), Lanceobostra gen. n. (Type-species: Bacteria aetolus Westwood, 1859), Ocreatophasma gen. n. (Type-species: Ocreatophasma elegans sp. n.), Parotocrania gen. n. (Type-species: Parotocrania panamae sp. n.), Phanoclocrania gen. n. (Type-species: Bostra dorsuaria Stål, 1875) and Spinocloidea gen. n. (Type-species: Spinocloidea panamaense sp. n.). All seven genera are described from both sexes and the eggs, with the exception of Ocreatophasma gen. n., which is known from the females only. Forty-one new species are described: Globocalynda cornuta sp. n. from Ecuador, Globocalynda marcapatae sp. n. from Peru, Globocalynda ruficollis sp. n. from Bolivia, Hirtuleiodes peruanus sp. n. from Peru, Jeremiodes costaricensis sp. n. from Costa Rica, Jeremiodes ecuadoricus sp. n. from Ecuador, Jeremiodes peruanus sp. n. from Peru, Lanceobostra chapalaense sp. n. from Mexico, Lanceobostra glabra sp. n. from Mexico, Lanceobostra oaxacaee sp. n. from Mexico, Lanceobostra ornata sp. n. from Mexico, Lanceobostra torquata sp. n. from Mexico, Lanceobostra tuckerae sp. n. from Mexico, Ocreatophasma elegans gen. n., sp. n. from Peru, Ocreatophasma fragile gen. n., sp. n. from Peru, Ocreatophasma modestum gen. n., sp. n. from Peru, Parotocrania acutilobata gen. n., sp. n. from Ecuador, Parotocrania curvata gen. n., sp. n. from Peru, Parotocrania panamae gen. n., sp. n. from Panama, Phanocles acutecornutus sp. n. from Ecuador, Phanocles barbadosense sp. n. from Barbados, Phanocles berezini sp. n. from Mexico, Phanocles brevipes sp. n. from Peru, Phanocles chiapasense sp. n. from Mexico, Phanocles cuzcoense sp. n. from Peru, Phanocles ecuadoricus sp. n. from Ecuador, Phanocles falcatus sp. n. from Ecuador, Phanocles maximus sp. n. from Panama, Phanocles mexicanus sp. n. from Mexico, Phanocles pleurospinosus sp. n. from Costa Rica, Phanocles rehni sp. n. from Honduras, Phanocles solidus sp. n. from Ecuador, Phanocles spectabilis sp. n. from Costa Rica, Phanocles superbus sp. n. from Ecuador, Phanocloidea sanguinea sp. n. from Ecuador, Phanocloidea semiptera sp. n. from Venezuela, Phanocloidea venezuelica sp. n. from Venezuela, Spinocloidea panamaense gen. n., sp. n. from Panama, Spinocloidea splendida gen. n., sp. n. from Colombia and Spinocloidea tumescens gen. n., sp. n. from Costa Rica. With a maximum recorded body length of 285.0 mm the new species Phanocles maximus sp. n. from Panama is the longest extant insect of the Americas and the Occidophasmata clade. A total of 132 taxonomic changes are conducted: 64 species are transferred to other genera and 43 new synonyms are established. Lectotypes are designated for 25 taxa to ensure stability of the concerned names or new synonymies here established. Moreover, the previously unknown females of five and males of twelve species are described and illustrated for the first time. Colour illustrations are presented of the eggs of 39 species, of which those of 26 species are formally described and illustrated for the first time.

An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark.

Traditional moist chamber cultures (MCs) prepared in aseptic laboratory environments using sterile Petri dishes are commonly used to quantify the microbiota of rough-bark tree species and woody vines. MCs are typically expensive and may be difficult to make, so a less expensive option made from easily available supplies was developed. These cost-friendly MCs were compared with standard laboratory methods to demonstrate their efficacy. Modified MCs were made using inexpensive, store-bought supplies; compared to a standard laboratory setting, the modified MCs are shown to be less expensive with a faster setup time and larger size that facilitates a variety of tree and woody vine species. MC use resulted in the discovery of new species of fungi and myxomycetes with associated locality records. We provide detailed instructions for creating modified MCs, as well as a list of myxomycete species and their associated bark characteristics, pH values, and water-holding capacity. This new, low-cost MC technique makes the study of microbiota more inclusive and accessible for those in research laboratories, classrooms, and homes, including both amateurs and professionals. MCs are easy to prepare, versatile, and applicable for many areas of botany and the biological sciences, potentially allowing exploration into unexplored areas in urban ecosystems.

New Host of Three Beetles1, and List of Species Associated with Ficuscarica L.2 in Mexico

New Host of Three Beetles1, and List of Species Associated with Ficuscarica L.2 in Mexico

A first report of Pseudosuccinea columella (Say, 1817), an alien intermediate host for liver fluke, in Malawi

Starting in October 2021, quarterly malacological surveys have been undertaken in Malawi, with the sampling of 12 specified freshwater habitats throughout a calendar year. Each survey monitors the presence of aquatic intermediate snail hosts of medical and veterinary importance. In March 2023, the alien lymnaeid species Pseudosuccinea columella was encountered for the first time in the surveys, in Nsanje District. This species identity was later confirmed upon DNA analysis of mitochondrial ribosomal 16S sequences. In July 2023, P. columella was also noted at single sites within Mangochi and Chikwawa Districts, and again in Nsanje District, with an additional location observed. Of particular importance, our sampled location in Mangochi District was directly connected to Lake Malawi, which expands the species list of invasive molluscs in this lake. While P. columella is a well-known intermediate snail host for human and animal fascioliasis, screening collected snails for trematode cercariae, alongside molecular xenomonitoring, did not yield equivocal evidence of active fluke infection. However, the newly recognized presence of this alien intermediate snail host within Lake Malawi, and along the Shire River Valley, flags a new concern in altered local transmission potential for human and animal fascioliasis.Graphical

Potamophylaxkosovaensis sp. nov. (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae), a new species of the Potamophylaxwinneguthi species cluster from the Ibër River Basin in Kosovo.

The Potamophylaxwinneguthi species cluster comprises species with limited distribution, currently documented from Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria. In this paper, we describe a new species, Potamophylaxkosovaensis sp. nov., discovered in two tributaries of the Ibër River Basin, within the Kopaonik Mountains of the Republic of Kosovo. Morphologically, males of this species closely resemble those of P.idliri Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 2022 from Serbia's Jastrebac Mountain and P.humoinsapiens Ibrahimi & Bilalli, 2023 from the Sharr Mountains in the Republic of Kosovo. However, the new species can be distinguished by its smaller aedeagus, thicker and differently-shaped parameres, as well as distinctive patterns and elongated spines on the parameres. Notably, this species is restricted to spring areas, indicating sensitivity to water pollution and habitat degradation. Additionally, we provide a list of caddisfly species found in sympatry with the new species.Potamophylaxkosovaensis sp. nov. is the third known species within the Potamophylaxwinneguthi species cluster, identified in the Republic of Kosovo.

A new sympagic nematode species Daptonema gelida sp. n. (Monhysterida, Xyalidae) from the White Sea landfast ice

A new ice-associated species of Xyalidae family, Daptonema gelida sp. n., is described from the first-year fast sea ice of the Ermolinskaya Inlet, White Sea, Russia. The new species of Daptonema is a morphologically distinct species from other species of the genus. Daptonema gelida sp. n. is characterized by (1) elongated, slender body, (2) short, evenly distributed throughout the body somatic setae, (3) circular amphideal fovea, (4) thin and strongly curved, L-shaped spicules with round-shaped manubrium, (5) gubernaculum with short dorsal-caudal apophysis by triangular-shaped outline, (6) post-vulval uterine sac present, and (7) two short terminal setae. We barcoded partial 18S rRNA gene sequences from the new sympagic species. Phylogenetic reconstructions showed that the specimen of Daptonema gelida sp. n. formed a distinct lineage with high support among other Daptonema species and was genetically related to D. carnulentum, D. setosum, D. hirsutum, Metadesmolaimus sp. and Daptonema spp. We provided a list of valid Daptonema species, including key morphological characteristics of males, and additionally reviewed 30 species inquirenda.

Endemic amphibians of the Cerrado and Caatinga: species richness, geographic range and conservation

The Cerrado and the Caatinga have few formally protected areas and encompass a high diversity of amphibians, which is still relatively unknown. In this study we present the list of amphibian species endemic to the Cerrado or Caatinga and their geographic range, highlighting current conservation status. We obtained the species list from the compilation of scientific publications (up to July 2022). We obtained the occurrence records from the databases SpeciesLink, GBIF, Portal da Biodiversidade and literature. We classified the species in the categories of threat according to the Brazilian list of threatened species and the global list of threatened species. We compiled 2,659 occurrences of amphibians, 1,335 from the SpeciesLink platform, 414 from GBIF, 371 from the Biodiversity Portal and 539 obtained from the literature. We recorded 100 endemic species, 82 from the Cerrado and 18 from the Caatinga. The Cerrado has three species Vulnerable (VU) (Boana buriti, Bokermannohyla napolii and Scinax pinimus), one Critically Endangered (CR) (Proceratophrys moratoi), 14 species Data Deficient (DD), 46 in the Least Concern (LC) category and 18 Not Evaluated (NE). The Caatinga has three species CR (Adelophryne maranguapensis, Proceratophrys ararype, Rhinella casconi), three DD, five LC and seven NE. Threatened, DD and NE species have few records within the protected areas of Cerrado and Caatinga. We consider that the Cerrado and Caatinga present a rich diversity of endemic amphibians, which have a geographic range relatively reduced, especially the threatened ones, DD and NE. Distribution and taxonomy data are essential, because the lack can hinder the assessment of conservation status, since threatened species, DD, NE, including LC, may be undervalued and at risk. Keywords: amphibia, distribution, endemism, species list, species protection

Update of the target list of wild bird species for passive surveillance of H5 HPAI viruses in the EU

Update of the target list of wild bird species for passive surveillance of H5 HPAI viruses in the EU

The red listed eagle owl (Bubo bubo) population in Norway is exposed to POP levels exceeding threshold values for adverse health effects

The eagle owl (Bubo bubo) population in Norway is today classified as critically endangered on the red list of endangered species. Because previous studies have detected high concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in birds of prey, concerns have been raised whether POPs exposure are a significant factor to the substantial decline of the eagle owl population.The aims of this study were to measure the levels of POPs in eagle owls and to assess whether POPs may represent a potential health risk. POPs were analysed in liver samples from 100 eagle owls collected between 1994 and 2014.The concentrations of POPs were generally very high and individual birds had levels among the highest measured worldwide. The contaminant groups analysed were highly correlated (p < 0.0001). The concentrations of sum of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (∑PCB) exceeded the threshold value from moderate to severe health risk in 90% of the birds. The birds with cachectic or lean body condition had significantly higher levels of contaminants than those with higher body condition scores. No significant temporal or spatial trends were noted.The lack of temporal trends, suggest that the downward trend of POPs, appear to be levelling off. The lack of differences between inland and coastal regions suggest that the risk of exposure may be comparable between predatory birds feeding in marine or terrestrial food webs. The significantly higher POPs levels detected in individuals with poor body condition may be due to reduced fat stores and thereby higher concentration in the remaining fat and/or the weight loss could be induced by toxic effects. The high proportion of birds exceeding the threshold values for severe and high risk of adverse effects, suggest that the high contamination load may reduce the eagle owl’s fitness and survival and, thus, contribute to decline of the eagle owl population.

NEW RECORDS OF HELMINTHS OF THE JAGUAR IN MEXICO, WITH AN UPDATED LIST OF SPECIES IN THE AMERICAS.

An inventory of parasites infecting the jaguar (Panthera onca) across its distribution range is relevant for the conservation of this threatened big cat. In this study, we report the occurrence of helminths in a jaguar from Mexico using morphological techniques (cleared and stained mounts and scanning electron microscopy) and partial sequences of the 28S ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) gene and the cytochrome c oxidase 1 mitochondrial (COI) gene. We also provide an updated list of helminth species reported in jaguars in the Americas. Three helminth taxa are identified in the jaguar examined from Mexico: Toxocara cati, Physaloptera sp., and Taenia sp. The new 28S rRNA sequences of To. cati, Physaloptera sp., and Taenia sp. and the COI sequence of Taenia sp. corroborate the identity of the helminths isolated from this host. One hundred and twenty-nine records of helminths parasitizing jaguars from 49 studies up to May 2023 were identified in the Americas. In most of these studies (73.6%), helminths were identified using coproparasitological techniques. Sixteen helminths (7 nematodes, 5 cestodes, 3 acanthocephalans, and 1 trematode) were identified at the species level in free-ranging and captive jaguars. The study demonstrates the value of an integrative taxonomy approach to increase the accuracy of parasite identification in wildlife, especially when helminth specimens are scarce or poorly fixed.

Epidemiological Situation on Tick-Borne Encephalitis in the Russian Federation in 2014–2023 and Short-Term Forecast of the Incidence for 2024

The aim of the review was to conduct a comparative analysis of the epidemiological situation on tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) over 2014–2023 in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation located in the European and Asian parts of the country and to give a forecast of incidence for 2024. The incidence of TBE in 2023 only marginally decreased as compared to the peak values in 2022, which leveled down the ten-year trend towards reduction. Grouping of the entities of the Russian Federation according to the average incidence of TBE over a decade made it possible to classify 17 of them as regions of low, 15 – of medium, and 17 – of high epidemiological risk. In general, the epidemiological situation regarding TBE is more unfavorable in the Asian part of the country. A list of species of Ixodidae ticks, the main vectors of the tick-borne encephalitis virus, is provided, as well as subtypes and genetic variants of the latter, identified in the European and Asian parts of the country. The peculiarities of the epidemiological situation on TBE and the scope of preventive measures undertaken in Russia in 2023 are considered. It is shown that there are no clearly outlined trends in the nature of changes in the incidence of TBE in endemic federal districts and entities of the country, and the expected incidence rates in 2024 will remain at the long-term average level.