A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Boreophylloceras</Emphasis> Alekseev et Repin, 1998 (Ammonitida) from the Berriasian <Emphasis Type="Italic">kochi</Emphasis> zone of north-central Siberia

Study of the shells of phylloceratids from the kochi Zone (Berriasian) of north-central Siberia (Boyarka River, basin of the Kheta River) allowed their assignment to the genus Boreophylloceras Alekseev et Repin, 1998. A new species B. densicostatum is described.     

Vuilleminia erastii sp. nov. (Corticiales), an amphi-Beringian species and revision of the occurrence of Vuilleminia comedens in North America

Vuilleminia is a basidiomycete genus the species of which have resupinate, corticioid fruiting bodies. It is apparently a North Hemisphere genus, and the majority of its species are distributed in Europe and western Asia. In North America, there are two reports of Vuilleminia comedens. Detailed study of North American specimens and comparisons with additional collections led to the conclusion that they belong to a new lineage named Vuilleminia erastii sp. nov., whose distribution extends from western North America to East Asia, Siberia, and Finland. The species is recognized by the decorticating fruiting bodies with preference for species of Betulaceae in the boreal zone, relatively small allantoid basidiospores, and little-developed cystidia with apical appendix.     

First finding of loach (Cobitidae: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Misgurnus</Emphasis>) in the lower Miocene deposits of Western Siberia

The first finding of a fossil loach of the genus Misgurnus from the Lower Miocene deposits of Western Siberia is described. The fossil form is extremely close to the modern M. mohoity from the Amur River basin. It is the actual proof of the hypothesis of latitudinal community of the Eurasian Neogene ichthyofauna.     

Ectoparasites of the particolored bat (Vespertilio murinus Linnaeus, 1758, Chiroptera,Mammalia) in the Urals and adjacent regions

The ectoparasite fauna on the most widespread synanthropic chiropteran species, the particolored bat (Vespertilio murinus L., 1758), is described from localities in the Urals and West Siberia. 86 individual bats have been examined, off which 463 ectoparasite specimens from 8 species have been collected. The species composition and ecology of these arthropods are analyzed. The core of the ectoparasite fauna on the particolored bat in the Urals has been found to consist of gamasine mites of the genus Steatonyssus.     

Comments on the Mond Scraper, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capoeta mandica</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Cyprinidae): Re-Description,Molecular Systematics and Distribution Modeling

Capoeta mandica was originally described as C. barroisi mandica from Mond River, Persian Gulf basin, based on morphological characters and later was considered as a distinct species based on a few small specimens. However, there is still controversial debate about its systematic position and morphological characters. To resolve the issue, new collected specimens from Iranian drainage basins examined morphologically and molecularly. Results revealed that C. mandica is a distinct taxon in the Capoeta trutta group. This taxon confirms the zoogeographical separation of the Persis basin (southern Iran) by the rise in post-Pleistocene sea level, isolating rivers from the Tigris-Euphrates and western basins.     

Siluro-Devonian miospore biostratigraphy of the Urubu River area, western Amazon Basin, northern Brazil

Well-preserved miospores have been observed in the Urubu River area from the western part of the Amazon Basin, northern Brazil, in rocks belonging to the uppermost Pitinga and Manacapuru Formations. A previous palynological work based on chitinozoans has dated these strata as Late Ludlow, Early Pridoli and Early Lochkovian. Although samples are relatively poor in miospores, the present study reveals the most diversified Silurian-Earliest Lochkovian palynoflora ever reported from South America, an interval where miospore information is still very rare. Sixty-four species have been identified, of which two are new (Artemopyra urubuense and Retusotriletes amazonensis). One single specimen attributed to the genus Grandispora, identical to unpublished forms identified by one of us (P.S.) in Lochkovian sections of Saudi Arabia, has been found in a Lochkovian sample from the Urubu River. These constitute the oldest geological record of Grandispora. Among the abundant acritarchs, specimens of the genus Schizocystia have been observed for the first time in pre-Devonian rocks.Although the Late Silurian-Early Lochkovian miospore biostratigraphy is still in its infancy in South America, it seems that Amazon Basin assemblages do not show significant differences in composition in comparison to coeval palynofloras from other areas of northwestern Gondwana. This is surprising since the miospore localities under consideration are widely distributed over high to low paleolatitudes, i.e. from cool temperate to dry subtropical belts. Conversely, Siluro-Devonian Gondwanan assemblages differ considerably from the contemporary palynofloras of the Old Red Sandstone Continent and adjacent areas, thus contradicting recent phytogeographic interpretations based on megafloras.     

Across Siberia and over Europe: Phylogenetic relationships of the freshwater fish genus Rhodeus in Europe and the phylogenetic position of R. sericeus from the River Amur

We present the phylogenetic relationships of the freshwater fish genus Rhodeus from 45 localities in Europe and three localities in the Amur basin using the mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence. The study aims to (1) test the colonisation history between Europe and East Asia and (2) to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Rhodeus in Europe. Our analyses revealed five monophyletic clades which correspond to four species: R. sericeus in the Amur basin, R. meridionalis in the River Vardar, R. colchicus in western Caucasus and two sister lineages in most of Europe which together represent R. amarus. The reconstructed colonisation scenario assumes a continuous distribution of Rhodeus from Europe through Siberia until East Asia during Pliocene, depletion of the Siberian population in late Pliocene, isolation of the population in River Vardar during early Pleistocene, refuges during late Pleistocene glaciations in the Danubian basin, in the lowlands of western Black Sea and in western Caucasus Mountains and a post-glacial expansion from the Danubian refuge towards western Europe and from the Black Sea refuge across Eastern Europe.     

Loaches of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Barbatula</Emphasis> (Nemacheilinae) of the Zavkhan River basin (Western Mongolia)

Two sympatric species of Siberian loaches are recorded in the Zavkhan River basin (Great Lakes Depression, Western Mongolia) and described as new for science: Barbatula conilobus and B. dsapchynensis spp. n. The former species, most likely, is widely distributed over the entire river basin, and the latter species, apparently, occurs locally, but in sympatry with B. conilobus. Morphological differences of the new species from other representatives of the genus Barbatula and their relationships are analyzed. Ecological distinctions between the species of the genera Barbatula and Triplophysa in the Zavkhan River basin are described. Possible mechanisms of development of the present fauna of loaches in Mongolia and adjacent territories with an appearance of sympatric species pairs in a single water basin are discussed.     

Pearl mussels of the genus Dahurinaia (Bivalvia,Margaritiferidae): Differently sized groups of Margaritifera dahurica Middendorff, 1850

Molecular and genetic studies have revealed that all five species of pearl mussels of the genus Dahurinaia (Bivalvia, Margaritiferidae) inhabiting the upper basin of the Amur River on the territory of Transbaikalia belong to Margaritifera dahurica Middendorff, 1850. Based on the statistical analysis, it has been shown that morphometric shell ratios form continuous variation series without differentiation on discrete groups. It has been found that changes in these ratios are caused by the shell growth of pearl mussels and their morphological variations reflects the high level of polymorphism. The so-called “comparator” species of the genus Dahurinaia are differently sized groups of one polymorphic biological species M. dahurica.     

The occurrence of an Eastern African haplochromine cichlid in the Ituri River (Aruwimi,Congo basin): adaptive divergence in an introduced species?

Recently, specimens belonging to the genus ‘Haplochromis’ have been found in the Ituri River (Congo basin). They clearly do not belong to any of the species known from the Congo basin, but strongly resemble ‘H’. aeneocolor from the Lake Edward/George system. We examined whether this population represents a new species or is conspecific with ‘H’. aeneocolor. A morphological comparative study was executed based on 11 counts and 23 measurements on 64 specimens. The results revealed the Ituri specimens to differ from the types of ‘H’. aeneocolor in snout length, premaxillary pedicel length and eye diameter. Since these few differences are correlated, and head morphology is known to be subject to adaptive responses in haplochromine cichlids, they were considered the result of morphological adaptation to a riverine habitat rather than an indication of heterospecificity. Probably, ‘H’. aeneocolor has accidentally been introduced into the Ituri region together with tilapias used in aquaculture, and has subsequently established a stable population in a riverine environment. As fish introductions can have a severe impact on aquatic ecosystems, improving our knowledge as well as a good management of aquacultural activities is essential.     

An annotated checklist of the fish fauna of the river systems draining the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Upper Congo: Eastern DR Congo)

The Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP), situated mainly in the Eastern Highlands Ecoregion of the Upper Congo basin, is drained by the Lowa and Ulindi rivers, and some western affluents of Lake Kivu. In this study, the first list of the fish diversity of these systems is provided based on museum collections and complemented, for the Lowa River system and the western Lake Kivu affluents, with recently collected specimens (2013–2017). A total of 118 species are reported from the Lowa basin, 22 from the Ulindi basin and seven from these Lake Kivu affluents. Within the Lowa and Ulindi, respectively, five and one species, all cichlids, have been introduced. Currently, 51 species are reported from within the park, only two of which have been reported from the highlands, i.e., Amphilius kivuensis from the Luha, the source of the Luka River, and Clarias liocephalus from the headwaters of the Lake Kivu’ affluents. With a total of 30 species, Cyprinidae is by far the largest family, representing 25% of the total species diversity of the Lowa basin. It is followed by Mormyridae with 13 species (11%), Alestidae and Mochokidae with 10 species each (8%), Clariidae and Amphiliidae with eight species (7%), and Distichodontidae with six species (5%). Seven new species for science were discovered and 11 species were found to be endemic to the Lowa system. Although further exploration is needed, this underscores the importance of the KBNP in protecting the fish fauna of the Lowa basin but also highlights the park's limited coverage of the fish fauna of the Lowa basin.     

Natural hybridization and taxonomy of birches in North Asia

Currently there is a complicated situation in the taxonomy of widespread species such as birch (Betula L.). A large number of species of this genus in Siberia and the Russian Far East has been described, but one encounters an insurmountable obstacle when trying to carry out a more detailed study: the impossibility of finding them for a second time in nature or at least collect plants that have identical characteristics to the typical examples of the described species. All of these species are characterized by a very high variability of traits. These are the traits of Betula pendula and B. microphylla in the southern parts of Central Siberia and Betula pendula (= B. platyphylla) and B. lanata in Eastern Siberia and in the northern regions of the Russian Far East. This suggests intense and widespread hybridization between these species. In connection with this, research of this genus throughout North Asia has begun. These studies have been carried out over 40 years. To date, many works in periodicals and several monographs have been published using the data of numerous expeditions. This paper shows the role of natural hybridization in plant taxonomy using the example of the Siberian species of birch. It is necessary to have a clear understanding of the hybridization processes on large areas that include the ranges of contact species. Solving problems of taxonomy only by studying small local populations is a hopeless pursuit.     

Representatives of the genus Ammosiphonia He, 1977 (Foraminifera) from the Jurassic and Carboniferous of Western Siberia

The wide distribution of the genus Ammosiphonia in the Upper Jurassic and Carboniferous of Western Siberia is established for the first time. Six haplophragmoidid species of Western Siberia are assigned to this genus. The diagnosis of the genus is emended; the taxonomic positions and scopes of the species Ammosiphonia nonioninoides (Reuss), A. beresoviensis (Bulatova), and A. sibirica (Zaspelova) are revised; two new species, A. suprajurassica sp. nov. and A. valanginica sp. nov., are described.     

Distribution of cicadas of the genus Lyristes (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in the eastern Mediterranean area

The present study gives an updated overview on the distribution of species of the genus Lyristes Horváth, 1926 in the eastern Mediterranean area. Besides occurring in southern continental Europe, specimens of L. plebejus were also found along the southern Greek mainland and in the western Aegean island of Kithira. Moreover, the new data presented give L. gemellus as a new record for Greece (appearing only along most of the Anatolian coast) as well as for Cyprus. The genus seems to be absent from the Cyclades as well as from the islands of Crete and Karpathos. Therefore, the results revealed a faunal discontinuity between the Greek western and eastern islands in the Aegean Sea. Hence, the persistence of a deep sea barrier between these two groups of islands seems to explain the present distribution of Lyristes species, which is also in accordance with the paleogeography of the area and with the fact that dispersal to more geographically isolated islands might have been virtually impossible for species of this genus.     

在种与属两个级别评价太子河硅藻群落与环境因子的关系

2009年8—9月,对辽宁省太子河流域67个点位进行采样调查,以硅藻群落为研究对象,比较硅藻属级水平与种级水平相对多度、物种丰富度以及生物多样性指数间的相关性,并比较硅藻属级与种级属性与环境因子的相关性。实验结果表明,太子河流域硅藻属级水平的相对多度、丰富度和多样性指数与硅藻种级水平都极显著相关。Pearson相关性分析表明,硅藻属级水平的丰富度与环境显著相关的因子与种级水平丰富度与环境显著相关的因子相一致。Mantel-Test相关性分析表明,硅藻属级水平的相对多度与环境因子的相关性弱于种级水平与环境因子相关性。典范对应分析结果显示,影响硅藻属级和种级群落结构分布的主要环境因子均为悬浮物。基于硅藻生物评价指数的流域健康评价结果表明,应用硅藻属级和种级属性对太子河流域进行健康评价,其评价结果相一致。     

Infructescences of Friisicarpus nom. nov. (Platanaceae) and associated foliage of the platanoid type from the Cenomanian of western Siberia

A new generic name, Friisicarpus N. Maslova et Herman, is proposed to replace Platanocarpus Friis, Crane, et Pedersen, 1988. Pistillate capitate inflorescences of Friisicarpus nom. nov. are reported from the Cenomanian of western Siberia for the first time. They are found in association with leaves of the typical Platanus-morphotype. Earlier, remains belonging to this genus were found to be associated with pinnatifid leaves of cf. Sapindopsis variabilis Fontaine (Crane et al., 1993).     

Comparative osteology of lotaks, Cyprinion kais and C. macrostomum (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from Godarkhosh River, western Iran

Osteology of two cyprinid fishes, Cyprinion kais and C. macrostomum, from the Tigris-Euphrates basin was described and compared. Eight specimens of C. kais and ten specimens of C. macrostomum from Godarkhosh River (western Iran) were studied. The skeletal elements were prepared using clearing and softening methods and photographed. The differences between the two taxa include a deeper posterior position of the lower jaw with a much narrower labial surface, a longer last dorsal unbranched ray with weaker posterior serration, and a more embowed dentary, maxillary and premaxillary in C. kais. Based on these differences, the examined specimens of these two taxa could be easily distinguished.