Neotropical Affinities Research Articles

Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) of Mexican hydrological basins based on helminth parasites of freshwater fishes

AbstractAim The distributional patterns of helminthological fauna of freshwater fishes were analysed to postulate a general hypothesis on the relationships of some Mexican hydrological systems.Location Eight hydrological systems of central and eastern Mexico were studied and compared with records from Nicaragua.Methods A Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) was applied to the presence/absence of ninety‐two helminth parasite taxa (Monogeneans, Digeneans, Cestodes, Acanthocephalans and Nematodes) of freshwater fishes, from eight Mexican hydrological systems, using the Hennig86 program.Results The results represent the first attempt for a biogeographical analysis through application of the PAE method to the distributional patterns of helminth parasites of freshwater fishes in Mexico. A single most parsimonious cladogram was obtained, which grouped all the Neotropical systems in accordance with previous proposals based on other plant and animal taxa.Main conclusions The most basal systems were Santiago and Lerma basins, which exhibited Nearctic affinities. The remaining areas of the cladogram showed Neotropical affinities. All the southeastern systems were grouped in a clade with the Nicaragua system, providing support for a ‘Mesoamerican province’ based on helminth parasites of cichlids. The cladogram also suggests that the treatment of the Lerma‐Santiago basin as a single biogeographical unit is inaccurate and that they should be treated as separate systems.

Diversity and distribution of freshwater copepods (Crustacea) in southeastern Mexico

Plankton and littoral samples were obtained from several ponds and lagoons of different environments in the Mexican state of Tabasco. These systems are located in the Grijalva-Villahermosa or the Usumacinta basins. Twenty-two copepod species were recorded, most of them cyclopoids with neotropical and Caribbean affinities. Physical and chemical data associated with the species, as well as morphometric parameters of the surveyed systems were measured and analyzed. A correlation was found between diversity and parameters related to the productivity and the shoreline development (DL) of the systems; therefore the littoral heterogeneity could be used to predict the species number in shallow tropical systems. At a regional level, the Tabasco copepod fauna is similar to that known from the Yucatan Peninsula, but different from the faunal associations of central Mexico. Distributional patterns differed slightly between both basins and appear to be correlated with climatic variations. This first survey of the freshwater copepod fauna in the state of Tabasco shows it to be constituted mainly by neotropical forms.

Caddisflies of Dominican Amber VI. Hydroptilidae (Trichoptera)

Recognition of six further species amongst micro‐caddisflies from Dominican amber, raises to seven the number of hydroptilids known from these early Miocene deposits. One specimen is referred to the extant Ochrotrichia (Ochrotrichia) aldama (Mosely), and three new species appear to be closely allied to other modern Caribbean Ochrotrichia. Of the remaining two species, one is in Leucotrkhia Mosely and one in Alisotrichia Flint. For completeness, figures of the previously‐described Ochrotrichia doehleri Wichard are included. Comparisons with the modern Antillean fauna suggest little change in the Neotropical element over the last 20 million years. At present, only hydroptilids with Neotropical affinities are known from Dominican amber.

Annotated Checklist of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae and Platypodidae) Associated with a Tropical Deciduous Forest at Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico

An annotated checklist is presented of 99 species and 32 genera of bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae and Platypodidae) known from the tropical deciduous forest in the Estacion de Biologia Chamela and surrounding areas on the coast of Jalisco, Mexico. Important components of the fauna include the scolytid tribes Corthylini (26 spp., mostly Araptus, Pityophthorus), Micracini (18 spp., mostly Pseudothysanoes, Hylocurus) and Cryphalini (16 spp., mostly Hypothenemus). The fauna was poorly known: 29 species were previously undescribed, 36 are reported from Jalisco for the first time, and 3 are reported from Mexico for the first time. The area supports a characteristic fauna; 26 species are known only from the area and another 24 are known only from the Pacific Slope of Mexico. Most genera show neotropical affinities.

The Aquatic Oligochaeta (Aeolosomatidae, Opistocystidae, Naididae) of Central America

Twenty species of aquatic oligochaetes are reported from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Species are in the families Aeolosomatidae, Opistocystidae, and Naididae. Setal measurements are cited for each species and compared with measurements from other parts of the range. Seven of the species are cosmopolitan and seven show neotropical affinities, while only two show nearctic relationships. Two species, Pristina menoni and Dero plumosa, are reported for the first time from the Western Hemisphere. The Central American republics have very few recorded species of aquatic oligochaetes, although some of the terrestrial species have been studied. Over a decade has been spent in gathering these few collections, and since no additional effort is anticipated in the near future, it is deemed appropriate to publish these records.

Some Aspects of Plant Geography of the Northern Hemisphere During the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary

Some Aspects of Plant Geography of the Northern Hemisphere During the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary

Fleas (Siphonaptera) of Florida

Nineteen species of fleas are presently known from Florida. Pulex simulans, Corrodopsylla hamiltoni, and Orchopeas leucopus are here recorded from the state for the first time. Considering only wild mammals, the number of flea species found on a particular host ranged from 1 to 6, whereas the number of hosts infested by a given species of flea varied from 1 to 13. Six of the fleas recorded from the state are introduced or cosmopolitan, 4 have Neotropical affinities, and the remainder have Holarctic or Nearctic affinities. One of the latter group has apparently been introduced from western United States. The present data suggest that most of the northern fleas occurring in Florida reach the limits of their range in the northern part of the State and are uncommon. Still other northern species that extend well into southeastern United States apparently fail to reach Florida. As suitable hosts occur beyond the known range of all of these fleas, the southward limitation of their ranges appears to be attributable to climatic factors.

Studies in the Capparidaceae. XI: Cleome afrospina, a Tropical African Endemic with Neotropical Affinities

Studies in the Capparidaceae. XI: Cleome afrospina, a Tropical African Endemic with Neotropical Affinities

A Pleistocene Avifauna from Haile, Florida

A newly discovered fossil fauna near Haile, Alachua County, Florida, represents the Rancholabrean stage of the Pleistocene. The great concentration of small vertebrate remains, especially birds and mammals, is probably due to predatory birds. The avifauna of 72 species represents 12 orders and 26 families; 12 species are extinct. Five living species, Tympanuchus cupido, Actitis macularia, Coccyzus americanus, Cistothorus platensis, and Vireo griseus are new to the fossil record, and four others, Clangula hyemalis, Numenius americanus, Recurvirostra americana, and Asio flammeus, are new to the Pleistocene of Florida. The avifauna shows northern, western or southwestern, and Neotropical affinities; its composition indicates the close proximity of a lake or pond with accompanying marsh and wet meadow during the time of deposition, and that open prairie and scrub were also close at hand.