Early Pleistocene Equus (Equidae,Perissodactyla) from Andersson Loc. 32 in Qixian,Shanxi, China

The Equus specimens of Andersson Loc. 32 in Qixian, Shanxi previously identified as Equus cf. sanmeniensis are rediscovered in this research. The skull has moderate size, deep nasal notch, clear preorbital fossa, undulated lateral outline, upper cheek tooth with simple fossette and incisor with incomplete cup, should be identified as Equus teilhardi. The mandible has cheek tooth with V-shaped linguaflexid, incisor with incomplete cup, moderate size, strong pli caballinid and deep ectoflexid on molar, should be identified as Equus qingyangensis. This skull is first record of a complete cranial material of E. teilhardi, reveals many important cranial features of E. teilhardi, supports anatomical comparison and phylogenetic discussion with other stenonid horses. The morphological differences between E. teilhardi and E. qingyangensis show their different niches, further explain the reason of their coexistence. Incomplete cup on incisor is an unstable feature. It has been found in several species of stenonid horses, likely a remaining feature derived from the most primitive Equus, Equus simplicidens. The small-sized stenonid horses with short limbs and incisors with incomplete cups likely have relation with E. teilhardi, such as Equus yunnanensis and Equus stehlini. E. qingyangensis has most primitive features in Eurasian stenonid horses.     

Equus mosbachensis tautavelensis nov. subsp.,un nouvel Equidae (Mammalia,Perissodactyla) du gisement pleistocene moyen ante-rissien de la Caune de l'Arago (Tautavel,Pyrenees Orientales,France)

The horse discovered in the upper sediments from the middle pleistocene site of La Caune de l'Arago, attributedin 1968 to Equus caballus mosbachensis, constitutes a particular sub-species: Equus mosbachensis tautavelensis nov. subsp.     

Mass spectral analysis of domestic and wild equine apoA-I and A-II: detection of unique dimeric forms of apoA-II

In pigs, humans, chimpanzees and probably other great apes, a cysteine at residue 6 enables apolipoprotein A-II to form a homodimer. However, the apoA-IIs of other primates, lacking a cysteine residue, are monomeric. We have already reported that horse apoA-IIs form homodimers due also to a cysteine at residue 6. In this study, we wanted to determine whether other equine apoA-IIs might be monomeric. The high density lipoproteins were ultracentrifugally isolated from the plasmas of a horse (Equus caballus), a donkey (Equus asinus) and five wild equines: two types of zebras (Equus zebra hartmannae and Equus zebra quagga boehmi), a Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii), a Somali ass (Equus africanus somalicus) and a kiang (Equus kiang holdereri). Using liquid chromatography with electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry, we were able to obtain accurate values for the molecular masses of apoA-I and apoA-II. Homodimeric apoA-IIs were observed in each of the animals studied. The donkey had unique dimers, consisting of the proapolipoprotein A-II linked by a disulfide bond either to a mature apoA-II monomer or another proapoA-II. In addition, our data indicate that small amounts of apoA-I and apoA-II apparently are acylated.     

Chromosomal assignment of six genes (EIF4G3, HSP90, RBBP6, IL8, TERT, and TERC) in four species of the genus Equus

We mapped six genes (EIF4G3, HSP90, RBBP6, IL8, TERT, and TERC) on the chromosomes of Equus caballus, Equus asinus, Equus grevyi, and Equus burchelli by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Our results add six type I markers to the cytogenetic map of these species and provide new information on the comparative genomics of the genus Equus.     

Evaluation of the seminiferous epithelial cycle, spermatogonial kinetics and niche in donkeys (Equus asinus)

Kinetics of spermatogonia as well as localization in niches have been described in rodents, but rarely in large animals or in species of economical interest. In this regard, and envisioning the possibility of spermatogonial transplantation from donkeys (Equus asinus) to mules (Equus mulus mulus), many variables that may contribute for an enhanced understanding of the spermatogonial biology in donkeys were investigated. Testes from five adult donkeys were routinely processed for high-resolution light microscopy. Donkey seminiferous epithelium can be divided in XII stages based on the development of the acrosomal system. In addition, spermatogonial morphology and morphometric analysis were performed allowing the characterization of two groups of spermatogonia: undifferentiated (A_und) and differentiating (A₁, A₂, A₃, B₁ and B₂). A_und spermatogonia were present along all XII stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle of this species, whereas differentiating spermatogonia were only at specific stages. Number of differentiating spermatogonia gradually increased as the cycle progressed, despite the apparent rigid regulation of the balance between mitosis and apoptosis throughout the spermatogenic process. Understanding of spermatogonial biology and kinetics in donkeys, revealed that type A_und spermatogonia are located in specific microenvironments, the spermatogonial niches. The present results enhance understanding of spermatogonial biology in donkeys providing information about subtypes, morphology, number and mitosis/apoptosis along the seminiferous epithelium cycle.     

Prey selection and prey preferences of spotted hyenas <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crocuta crocuta</Emphasis> in the Etosha National Park,Namibia

The feeding ecology of the spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta was studied in the central and eastern part of the Etosha National Park, Namibia. Hyenas mainly hunted migratory ungulates such as springbok Antidorcas marsupialis, zebra Equus burchelli, and blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, but also resident species such as the greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros and gemsbok Oryx gazella. There were, however, major differences in the species most frequently killed by hyenas in central and eastern Etosha. The preferred prey species of spotted hyenas in central Etosha was springbok, whereas regarding the abundance of zebra and wildebeest, these two species were rather avoided. In contrast, the prey species preferred by hyenas in eastern Etosha was kudu. Zebra and gemsbok were taken in proportion to their abundance, whereas wildebeest and springbok seemed to be rather avoided. Differences in prey selection and preferences were also reflected in differences in hunting group sizes. In eastern Etosha, where spotted hyenas frequently hunted larger prey, hunting group sizes were significantly larger compared to those in the center of the park.     

The Villafranchian perissodactyls of Italy: knowledge of the fossil record and future research perspectives

The Villafranchian fossil record of Perissodactyla is of a great interest because the appearance of the genus Equus and disappearance of the genus Tapirus mark important faunal turnovers. Here, we provide new data on Italian Villafranchian Tapiridae, Rhinocerotidae, and Equidae with updates from the last comprehensive review; most relevant are those of the Rhinocerotidae and Equidae. At present only two Villafranchian rhinoceros’ species are documented in Italy: Stephanorhinus jeanvireti and Stephanorhinus etruscus. The two species can be distinguished by several morphological features and by the dimensions of their bones. Stephanorhinus etruscus occurred throughout the Villafranchian; despite the numerous records, its remains are not enough to investigate morphometric trends. The Equidae include seven species including new occurrences of Hipparionine horses and of the genus Equus. The statistical analyses performed on the Equus species show two different evolutionary trends, namely the stenonine lineage “Equus livenzovensis - Equus stenonis” and the small-to-medium-sized lineage “Equus senenzensis - Equus stehlini”, suggesting a different evolution of these species. Moreover, the analyses show close relationships between the Italian Equus stenonis samples and three European Equus stenonis subspecies (E. stenonis vireti, E. stenonis guthi, and E. stenonis pueblensis). We begin to reconsider the validity of E. stenonis subspecies identification in order to provide new perspectives on the taxonomy of this species.     

Horse haemoglobin phenotyping by agarose gel isoelectric focusing comparison of Thoroughbreds with other Equidae*

By using isoelectric focusing in thin agarose slab gels 1049 Thoroughbred, 82 Nooit-gedachter, 45 Percheron and 244 horses of other breeds were examined. The numbers of other Equidae tested were 107 donkeys, 50 mules, 4 common zebras (Equus burchelli boehmi) and 8 mountain zebras (Equus zebra hartmannae). Phenotypic data are presented for all tested animals and gene frequencies are calculated for the horses.     

Approche morphométrique des dents jugales déciduales d’Equus caballus arcelini (sensu lato, Guadelli 1991) : critères de détermination et estimation de l'âge d'abattage

Morphometrical approach of Equus caballus arcelini (sensu lato, Guadelli 1991) jugal milk teeth: determination criteria and mortality age estimation. This paper presents the main morphometrical results of the study of the last western European Pleistocene horse (Equus caballus arcelini sensu lato, Guadelli 1991) jugal milk teeth. In association with observed morphological characters, morphometrical data helps determination. The main purpose of this discrimination between the different jugal milk teeth is the estimation of the mortality age, according to the crown-height method. In an archaeological context, the use of this method on horses' dental series enables to study the issue of human settlements' seasonality. To cite this article: O. Bignon, C. R. Palevol 5 (2006).     

Ixodid ticks feeding on humans in South Africa: with notes on preferred hosts,geographic distribution,seasonal occurrence and transmission of pathogens

This paper records the identities of 558 ixodid ticks feeding on 194 humans in South Africa. These ticks belonged to 20 species in six genera and those most frequently encountered were Amblyomma hebraeum, Haemaphysalis leachi, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus gertrudae and Rhipicephalus simus. With the exception of the larvae of R. appendiculatus, the incidents of these ticks feeding on humans correlated well with their seasonal occurrences on preferred hosts. Ticks were also collected at monthly intervals, for 14 consecutive months, from the clothing of a game-guard providing protection for field-workers engaged in the collection, by means of flannel strips, of free-living ticks from the vegetation of four localities in the southern region of the Kruger National Park. In addition, with the exception of 3 months when the particular worker was absent, ticks that fed on one of the field-workers were collected over the same 14-month period. A total of 54,429 free-living ticks belonging to 14 species and six genera were collected from the vegetation at the four localities during this time and 3751 ticks belonging to 11 species and six genera from the clothing of the game-guard. The larvae of A. hebraeum and Boophilus decoloratus were the most numerous of the immature ticks, and H. leachi and R. simus of the adults on both the vegetation and the guard’s clothing. Ticks fed on the field-worker on six occasions and 14 were collected, all of which were A. hebraeum larvae. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dietary adaptations in an ungulate community from the late Pliocene of Greece

The dietary morphological methods of mesowear and microwear were applied to ungulates of the late Pliocene fauna of Sésklo (Thessaly, Greece). The results provide evidence for the predominance of open grassland in the area, as the most common species, Equus stenonis, was a strict grazer. The rare cervid cf. Croizetoceros ramosus was the only browser. The antelopes (genera Gazella and Gazellospira) yielded discrepant microwear and mesowear results. This is interpreted as an indication of regional or seasonal dietary resource differentiation, inferring that the antelopes were probably mixed feeders that grazed occasionally or periodically.     

Isolation and Identification of Bacteria Associated with Adult Laboratory Mexican Fruit Flies, Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae)

From the guts of new and old colonies (female and male) of Mexican fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae), we identified a total of 18 different bacterial species belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Vibrionaceae, Micrococcaceae, Deinococcacea, Bacillaceae, and the genus Listeria. Enterobacter, Providencia, Serratia, and Staphylococcus spp. were the most frequently isolated genera, with Citrobacter, Streptococcus, Aerococcus, and Listeria found less frequently. We found Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter sakazakii, Providencia stuartii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa only in the new colony, Aeromonas hydrophila and Klebsiella pneumoniae spp. pneumoniae only in the old colony. We also studied resistance/sensitivity to 12 antibiotics for six bacterial isolates such as Enterobacter cloacae, E. sakazakii, K. pneumoniae spp., Providencia rettgeri, P. aeruginosa, and Bacillus cereus. Isolates on the whole were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin (five of six isolates) and sensitive to rifampin and streptomycin (six of six isolates). Antibiotic resistance profiles might be useful characteristics for distinguishing among species and strains of these bacteria, probably having ecological significance with respect to intra- and inter-specific competition within host cadavers, and could have implications for the utility of these organisms for biological control, including the alternative control strategy, paratransgenesis. Received: 28 August 2000 / Accepted: 2 October 2000     

Large mammals from historical collections of open-air sites of Silesia (southern Poland) with special reference to carnivores and rhinoceros

The information presented here is based on 174 sites; it is a result of a detailed historical collection revision of materials from Silesia and also the first comprehensive paper after the early German and Polish compilations. Though our work includes both quantitative and qualitative updates, it is neither exhaustive nor complete. It is very likely that many finds have not yet been reported to scientific institutions or museums, or else remain in private collections. The localities concerned are dominated by remains found under or within alluvial deposits of the last glaciation or in the context of loess sediments. Most of the documented remains are from the Late Pleistocene. Cold-adapted members of steppe-tundra faunal assemblages, such as Mammuthus primigenius, Equus ferus, Coelodonta antiquitatis, Rangifer tarandus, Ovibos moschatus, and Bison priscus dominate. Most artiodactyls were found in alluvial sediments, in bogs or swamps, while carnivores are represented only by isolated remains. The location of faunal assemblages and isolated finds shows the importance of river valleys as migrations routes. Silesia stretches along the Odra River, which runs in a roughly south-north direction, and connects the Sudety Mts and the G?ubczyce Plateau with the wide, open lowlands of Eastern Germany and Western Poland.     

An identification system for zebra (Equus burchelli, Gray)

An identification system based on the individual stripe patterns, has been developed for zebra (Equus burchelli, Gray). A taxonomic nomenclature facilitates easy field classification into a number of classes, which form the basis for a photo-filing system, and thus quick identification of individual animals.     

Comparative parasitological examination on sympatric equids in the Great Gobi “B” Strictly Protected Area,Mongolia

The Przewalski’s horse (Equus caballus przewalskii) became extinct in the wild during the 1960s. Based on a successful captive breeding program, Przewalski’s horses were reintroduced to the Great Gobi Part “B” strictly protected area (SPA) in SW Mongolia in the late 1990s. The Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus), Przewalski’s horse, and sometimes domestic horses live sympatricly in the Gobi B SPA. Previously published data demonstrates that, as a result of their different requirements and utilization of the park’s resources, their home-range size and social structure differ. Parasitological examinations in the three equid species show how the factors “home range, social structure, and resource selection” significantly impact parasitic burden. Asiatic wild asses are potentially exposed to a higher risk of parasite re-infection due to their temporal aggregation in very large groups. This study demonstrates a highly significant greater parasite load in the Asiatic wild ass for the majority of parasites evaluated (Dictyocaulus arnfieldi, Trichostrongylus axei, Strongyloides westeri, Parascaris equorum) compared to Przewalski’s horses and domestic horses in the same habitat. Domestic horses had higher parasite loads for eggs of strongylids, eggs of anoplocephalidae, and Eimeria leuckarti. The potential risk of cross infection between sympatric living equids is high, as is the cross infection between ruminants and equids. Furthermore, this study reports for the first time the occurrence of lungworms in free-ranging Przewalski’s horses. Whereas, Asiatic wild asses and Przewalski’s horses seem to cope very well with the sometimes high parasite burden, Mongolian domestic horses manifested typical parasite burden symptoms.     

The Pleistocene archaeology and environments of the Wasiriya Beds, Rusinga Island, Kenya

Western Kenya is well known for abundant early Miocene hominoid fossils. However, the Wasiriya Beds of Rusinga Island, Kenya, preserve a Pleistocene sedimentary archive with radiocarbon age estimates of >33–45 ka that contains Middle Stone Age artifacts and abundant, well-preserved fossil fauna: a co-occurrence rare in eastern Africa, particularly in the region bounding Lake Victoria. Artifacts and fossils are associated with distal volcanic ash deposits that occur at multiple localities in the Wasiriya Beds, correlated on the basis of geochemical composition as determined by electron probe microanalysis. Sediment lithology and the fossil ungulates suggest a local fluvial system and associated riparian wooded habitat within a predominantly arid grassland setting that differs substantially from the modern environment, where local climate is strongly affected by moisture availability from Lake Victoria. In particular, the presence of oryx (Oryx gazella) and Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) suggest a pre-Last Glacial Maximum expansion of arid grasslands, an environmental reconstruction further supported by the presence of several extinct specialized grazers (Pelorovis antiquus, Megalotragus sp., and a small alcelaphine) that are unknown from Holocene deposits in eastern Africa. The combination of artifacts, a rich fossil fauna, and volcaniclastic sediments makes the Wasiriya Beds a key site for examining the Lake Victoria basin, a biogeographically important area for understanding the diversification and dispersal of Homo sapiens from Africa, whose pre-Last Glacial Maximum history remains poorly understood.     

DNA barcoding of Oryza: conventional,specific, and super barcodes

Key message

We applied the phylogenomics to clarify the concept of rice species, aid in the identification and use of rice germplasms, and support rice biodiversity.

Abstract

Rice (genus Oryza) is one of the most important crops in the world, supporting half of the world’s population. Breeding of high-yielding and quality cultivars relies on genetic resources from both cultivated and wild species, which are collected and maintained in seed banks. Unfortunately, numerous seeds are mislabeled due to taxonomic issues or misidentifications. Here, we applied the phylogenomics of 58 complete chloroplast genomes and two hypervariable nuclear genes to determine species identity in rice seeds. Twenty-one Oryza species were identified. Conspecific relationships were determined between O. glaberrima and O. barthii, O. glumipatula and O. longistaminata, O. grandiglumis and O. alta, O. meyeriana and O. granulata, O. minuta and O. malampuzhaensis, O. nivara and O. sativa subsp. indica, and O. sativa subsp. japonica and O. rufipogon. D and L genome types were not found and the H genome type was extinct. Importantly, we evaluated the performance of four conventional plant DNA barcodes (matK, rbcL, psbA-trnH, and ITS), six rice-specific chloroplast DNA barcodes (psaJ-rpl33, trnC-rpoB, rps16-trnQ, rpl22-rps19, trnK-matK, and ndhC-trnV), two rice-specific nuclear DNA barcodes (NP78 and R22), and a chloroplast genome super DNA barcode. The latter was the most reliable marker. The six rice-specific chloroplast barcodes revealed that 17% of the 53 seed accessions from rice seed banks or field collections were mislabeled. These results are expected to clarify the concept of rice species, aid in the identification and use of rice germplasms, and support rice biodiversity.

     

Food habits of fishes in the surf zone of a sandy beach at Sanrimatsubara, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

To clarify the feeding habits of fishes in surf zones, the gut contents of 19 fish species collected in the surf zone of a sandy beach at Sanrimatsubara, western Japan, were examined. Ontogenetic changes in food preference were recognized in seven species (Mugil cephalus cephalus, Lateolabrax latus, Sillago japonica, Paralichthys olivaceus, Paraplagusia japonica, Takifugu poecilonotus, and Takifugu niphobles). A cluster analysis based on dietary overlaps showed that the surf zone fish assemblage comprised six trophic groups (zooplankton, benthic and epiphytic crustacean, detritus, polychaete, fish, and insect feeders). Of these, the most abundant trophic group was zooplankton feeders, along with benthic and epiphytic crustacean feeders.     

Any use in proteomics for low-tech approaches? Detecting fibrinogen chains of different animal species in two-dimensional electrophoresis patterns

We characterized the two-dimensional electrophoretic patterns of fibrinogen chains α, β, and γ from the plasma of six animal species – Bos taurus, Canis familiaris, Equus caballus, Felis catus, Gallus domesticus and Sus scrofa. Comparing the spots resolved from serum and plasma samples, or exploiting the cross-reactivity of animal fibrinogen with an antiserum raised against the human protein could detect only some of the fibrinogen chains. Conversely, the analysis of the precipitate obtained by heating plasma for some minutes at 56 °C was adequate for the recognition of all fibrinogen chains in all samples. Physicochemical properties of the homologous proteins were found to extensively vary across species, with complete separation among the mapping areas for α, β and γ chains and maximal heterogeneity among β chains.