A New Species of Sand Racer, Psammodromus (Squamata: Lacertidae), from the Western Iberian Peninsula

A new species of lacertid lizard of the genus Psammodromus is described from the Iberian Peninsula. Genetic and recently published phenotypic data support the differentiation of Psammodromus hispanicus into three, and not as previously suggested two, distinct lineages. Age estimates, lineage allopatry, the lack of mitochondrial and nuclear haplotype sharing between lineages, ecological niche divergence, and the current biogeographic distribution, indicated that the three lineages correspond to three independent species. Here, we describe a new species, Psammodromus occidentalis sp. n., which is genetically different from the other sand racers and differentiated by the number of femoral pores, number of throat scales, snout shape, head ratio, green nuptial coloration, and number of supralabial scales below the subocular scale. We also propose to upgrade the two previously recognized subspecies, Psammodromus hispanicus hispanicus Fitzinger, 1826 from central Spain and Psammodromus hispanicus edwardsianus (Dugès, 1829) from eastern Spain, to the species level: Psammodromus hispanicus stat. nov. and Psammodromus edwardsianus stat. nov. Given that the holotype of Psammodromus hispanicus was lost, we designate a neotype. We also analysed museum specimens of P. blanci, P. microdactylus and P. algirus to describe differentiation of the Psammodromus hispanicus lineages/species from their closest relatives.

The shrew of the Eastern Canary Islands: a new species (Mammalia: Soricidae)

The karyotype, morphology and biology of Crocidura from Fuerteventura (Canary Islands) are described. The species has a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 36, thus differing from all other species of the genus. A detailed morphological comparison of the shrews from Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and other islets with C. russula from Morocco revealed specific characters for both taxa. Differences were also observed in biological parameters. It is concluded that the Canary Island populations of Crocidura form a biological species which is consequently named Crocidura canariensis sp. nov.

New biogeographical and morphological information on Physaloptera ngoci Le-Van-Hoa, 1961 (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) in South-east Asian rodents

During a study of the helminth fauna of 1,643 rodents trapped along the Mekong River (Thailand, LaoPeople"s Democratic Republic and Cambodia) in 2008-2011, the spirurid nematode Physaloptera ngoci Le-Van-Hoa,1961 was recovered with an overall prevalence of 2.8%. Based on the original description, it was identified in nine of 23 different Murinae host species and is here reported for the first time from these three countries. A scanning electron microscopy study provides additional morphological data.

Alai! Alai! - a new species of the Gloydius halys (Pallas, 1776) complex (Viperidae, Crotalinae), including a brief review of the complex

During a scientific field expedition to the Alai-Pamir range five specimens of the genus Gloydius have been collected in the larger Alai. A morphological and genetical examination of the specimens has shown that they are part of the G. halys complex, but represent a new taxon which is characterized by the following unique character combination: It is a slender and moderately stout small snake, up to 479 mm total length. The head has nine symmetrical plates on the upper head, 7 supralabial and 8-9 infralabial scales. Body scales in 20-22 rows around midbody, 143-156 ventral and 35-45 usually paired subcaudal scales. The cloacal plate not divided. The general coloration consists of various different tones of olive, tan and brown, having a distinct head, but an indistinct body pattern with, excluding the tail, 26-29 transverse crossbands, which are not extending to the sides of the body. The haplotype network shows the new species within the G. halys complex and close related to both, G. h. halys and G. h. caraganus. So far the new described species is only known from the Alai range. However, various Gloydius specimens are found in Kyrgyzstan and because of the complicated taxonomy those specimens have to re-identified to clarify their status and the status of the new species.

Undressing of Waddlia chondrophila to enrich its outer membrane proteins to develop a new species-specific ELISA.

Waddlia chondrophila, an obligate intracellular bacterium of the Chlamydiales order, is considered as an agent of bovine abortion and a likely cause of miscarriage in humans. Its role in respiratory diseases was questioned after the detection of its DNA in clinical samples taken from patients suffering from pneumonia or bronchiolitis. To better define the role of Waddlia in both miscarriage and pneumonia, a tool allowing large-scale serological investigations of Waddlia seropositivity is needed. Therefore, enriched outer membrane proteins of W. chondrophila were used as antigens to develop a specific ELISA. After thorough analytical optimization, the ELISA was validated by comparison with micro-immunofluorescence and it showed a sensitivity above 85% with 100% specificity. The ELISA was subsequently applied to human sera to specify the role of W. chondrophila in pneumonia. Overall, 3.6% of children showed antibody reactivity against W. chondrophila but no significant difference was observed between children with and without pneumonia. Proteomic analyses were then performed using mass spectrometry, highlighting members of the outer membrane protein family as the dominant proteins. The major Waddlia putative immunogenic proteins were identified by immunoblot using positive and negative human sera. The new ELISA represents an efficient tool with high throughput applications. Although no association with pneumonia and Waddlia seropositivity was observed, this ELISA could be used to specify the role of W. chondrophila in miscarriage and in other diseases.

Sawfly larval poisoning in cattle: Report on new outbreaks and brief review of the literature

Sawfly larval poisoning (SLP) is an acute hepatotoxicosis documented in livestock in Australia, Denmark and in countries of South America. It is caused by the ingestion of the larval stage of insects of the suborder Symphyta, order Hymenoptera, commonly known as "sawfly". Three species of sawfly are reportedly involved in the toxicosis. The insect involved in Australian SLP is Lophyrotoma interrupta (Pergidae), in Denmark the cause of SLP is the ingestion of the larvae Arge pullata (Argidae), and in South American countries documented outbreaks of SLP were caused by the ingestion of yet another sawfly, Perreyia flavipes (Pergidae). In all geographical areas where it occurred, SLP causes important livestock losses. In cattle, as well as in other affected species, the disease has a short clinical course and in many outbreaks affected cattle can be found dead. When observed, clinical signs include apathy, recumbence, tremors, paddling movements and death in 24-48 hours. Neurological signs such aggressiveness attributable to hepatic encephalopathy are also observed. In cases with a more protracted course icterus and photodermatitis may develop. Gross findings included ascites, petechiae and ecchymosis over serosal surfaces of thoracic and abdominal cavities, and an enlarged liver that displays accentuation of the lobular pattern and edema of the gall bladder wall. Sawfly larval body fragments and heads are consistently found in the fore stomachs and occasionally abomasum of affected cattle. Main microscopic lesions are restricted to the liver and consist of centrolobular (periacinar) to massive hepatocellular necrosis. In most lobules necrotic areas extended up to the portal triads where only a few viable hepatocytes remain. Mild to moderate lymphocyte necrosis is seen in lymphatic tissues. Cases occur in the winter months when the larval stages of the sawfly are developing. D-amino acid-containing peptides have been found to be the toxic principle in each sawfly involved in SLP. The octapeptide lophyrotomin is the major toxin in the in the larvae of Australian and Danish sawflies and is present in small amounts in the larvae of South American sawfly. The heptadecapeptide pergidin is the main toxin in the South American sawfly while small amounts of pergidin have been found in the other two species of toxic sawfly. During the winter of 2011 (July-August) four outbreaks of SLP were diagnosed in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The findings in those outbreaks are reported here and a brief review of the literature regarding SLP around the world is provided.

A new species of Bulbophyllum Thouars (Orchidaceae) from Minas Gerais, Brazil

During the taxonomic revision of the Neotropical Bulbophyllum (Orchidaceae) species, a new species was discovered from Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais State, described and illustrated here as B. hatschbachianum E. C. Smidt & Borba. This species belongs to the Neotropical section Xiphizusa (Rchb. f.) Cogn. and posses a lip epichile completely different from the related species. It is closely to B. plumosum (Barb. Rodr.) Cogn. due to its vegetative morphology, but has different flower size, color and lip epichile. In B. plumosum the epichile is thin, longer and wider than the hipochile. In B. hatschbachianum the epichile is fleshy, shortest than the hipochile, thin, and sharply narrower than the hipochile. The flowers of this new species is similar to the Mexican B. solteroi R. González, but the general morphology of the lip, trichome size and the geographical distribution clearly distinguishes apart the two species.

A new species of Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) from central Brazil

Utricularia cochleata C. P. Bove (Lentibulariaceae) from the "cerrado" (savanna) in central Brazil is described and illustrated. It is similar to Utricularia aureomaculata Steyerm. and Utricularia steyermarkii P. Taylor and can be distinguished from both by the densely branched traps, smaller lower calyx lobe, with rounded apex, the spur longer than the lower lip, insertion of the thecae below the filament apex, and the ciliate stigma.

Three new species of Eugenia sect. Racemosae (Myrtaceae) from the cerrados of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Three new species of Eugenia sect. Racemosae (Myrtaceae) from cerrado vegetation of central region in Brazil are described and illustrated. They are: Eugenia hatschbachii Mazine, Eugenia mattogrossensis Mazine and Eugenia glabrescens Mazine. Data on the geographic distribution and habitat are given for the new taxa.

New species of Luxemburgia A. St.-Hil. (Ochnaceae)

Three new species of Luxemburgia named as L. furnensis Feres, L. leitonii Feres and L. mogolensis Feres are described and illustrated. A map with the geographical distribution of the new species is provided. Luxemburgia furnensis and L. polyandra A.St.-Hil., both from Minas Gerais, are similar in the absence of cilia on the leaf margin, but L. furnensis differs in the leaf shape, inflorescence and flowers size. Luxemburgia leitonii (also from Minas Gerais) differs from L. macedoi Dwyer (from Goiás) by the smaller flowers and absence of cilia at the margins of the bracts and bracteoles. Luxemburgia mogolensis (from Minas Gerais) resembles L. glazioviana (Engl.) Beauverd (from Rio de Janeiro) in the leaf, bracts and bracteoles shape, and differs by the presence of cilia at the sepals.

Three new species of Sloanea L. (Elaeocarpaceae) from the Central Amazon, Brazil

Three new species of Sloanea L. are recognized based on specimens collected in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve. These new species are morphologically distinct from other Sloanea in the Neotropics in terms of their vegetative and reproductive characters. The Ducke Reserve contains a total of 18 species of Sloanea, and the species closest to these new taxa occur there. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided, together with comments concerning morphological similarities with other species, as well as their geographic distributions and their phenologies.

A new species of Lemmermanniella (Cyanobacteria) from the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

The Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest is a highly heterogeneous ecosystem comprising large numbers of tropical and subtropical habitats favorable to the development of cyanobacteria. Studies on cyanobacteria in this ecosystem are still rare, however, especially those involving unicellular and colonial types. The high biodiversity and endemism of this biome has been extremely impacted and fragmented, and less than 10% of its original vegetation cover remains today. We describe here a new species of a colonial cyanobacteria, Lemmermanniella terrestris, found on dry soils in a subtropical region of the Atlantic Rainforest in the municipality of Cananéia in southern São Paulo State, Brazil. This new taxon demonstrated all of the diacritical features of the genus Lemmermanniella but, unlike the other species of the genus, it was growing on the soil surface and not in an aquatic environment. A set of morphological features, including colonies composed of subcolonies, and cell dimensions, shapes and contents distinguish it from other species of the genus. Considering that species of Lemmermanniella are found in very distinct habitats (such as thermal and brackish waters) and that they maintain the same life cycle described for the genus in all of those environments, the morphological structures of the colonies can be used as reliable markers for identifying the genus, and its species differ primarily in relation to the habitats they occupy.

Taxonomy and Species Richness of Amazonian Pimplinae and Rhyssinae (hymenoptera: ichneumonidae)

The Amazonian region, the biggest rain forest of our planet, is known for its extraordinary biodiversity. Most of this diversity is still unexplored and new species of different taxa are regularly found there. In this region, as in most areas of the world, insects are some of the most abundant organisms. Therefore, studying this group is important to promote the conservation of these highly biodiverse ecosystems of the planet. Among insects, parasitoid wasps are especially interesting because they have potential for use as biodiversity indicators and biological control agents in agriculture and forestry. The parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae is one of the most species rich groups among the kingdom Animalia. This group is still poorly known in many areas of the world; the Amazonian region is a clear example of this situation. Ichneumonids have been thought to be species poor in Amazonia and other tropical areas. However, recent studies are suggesting that parasitoid wasps may be quite abundant in Amazonia and possibly in most tropical areas of the world. The aim of my doctoral thesis is to study the species richness and taxonomy of two of the best known ichneumonid subfamilies in the Neotropical region, Pimplinae and Rhyssinae. To do this I conducted two extensive sampling programs in the Peruvian Amazonia. I examined also a large number of Neotropical ichneumonids deposited to different natural history museums. According to the results of my thesis, the species richness of these parasitoids in the Amazonian region is considerably higher than previously reported. In my research, I firstly further develop the taxonomy of these parasitoids by describing many new species and reporting several new faunistic records (I, II, III). In this first part I focus on two genera (Xanthopimpla and Epirhyssa) which were thought to be rather species poor. My thesis demonstrates that these groups are actually rather species rich in the Amazonian region. Secondly, I concentrate on the species richness of these parasitoids in a global comparison showing that the Neotropical region and especially the Peruvian Amazonia is one of the most species rich areas of Pimpliformes ichneumonids (V). Furthermore, I demonstrate that with the data available to date no clear latitudinal gradient in species richness is visible. Thirdly, increasing the macroecological knowledge of these parasitoids I show that some previously unreported ichneumonid subfamilies are present in the Amazonian region (IV). These new insights and the results of the global comparison of ichneumonid inventories suggest that the previous belief of low diversity in the tropics is most likely related to a lack of sampling effort in the region. Overall, my research increases the knowledge of Neotropical ichneumonids highlighting the importance of Peruvian Amazonia as one of the diversity hotspots of parasitoid wasps.

A new species of Pseudostomella (Gastrotricha: Macrodasyida: Thaumastodermatidae) from a sandy beach of Kerala, India

During an interstitial faunal survey along the south-west coast of Kerala, India, gastrotrich fauna were found in abundance. Together with species of the genera Xenotrichula, Halichaetonotus and Tetranchyroderma, were present several undescribed thaumastodermatid gastrotrichs belonging to the buccal palp bearing genus Pseudostomella. Adults of the new species are characterized by the following traits: total body length of about 300 μm; cuticular armature made up of medium sized pentancres covering the entire dorsolateral surface; pre-buccal, grasping palps bearing five, large papillae dorsally and 4-6 smaller papillae ventrally; adhesive apparatus made up of six anterior, 22-24 ventrolateral, two dorsolateral and six posterior adhesive tubes; caudal organ pear-shaped; frontal organ spherical. Pseudostomella cheraensis sp. nov. is the fourth taxon of the genus known from India; however, all the previous species reported hitherto from India have tetrancres instead of pentancres.

Integro-difference equations for interacting species and the Neolithic transition

We introduce a set of sequential integro-difference equations to analyze the dynamics of two interacting species. Firstly, we derive the speed of the fronts when a species invades a space previously occupied by a second species, and check its validity by means of numerical random-walk simulations. As an example, we consider the Neolithic transition: the predictions of the model are consistent with the archaeological data for the front speed, provided that the interaction parameter is low enough. Secondly, an equation for the coexistence time between the invasive and the invaded populations is obtained for the first time. It agrees well with the simulations, is consistent with observations of the Neolithic transition, and makes it possible to estimate the value of the interaction parameter between the incoming and the indigenous populations