New species of the fleas Farhangia and Nestivalius,from endemic rodents in Sulawesi,Indonesia

The fleas (Siphonaptera: Pygiopsyllidae) Farhangia quattuordecimdentata sp. n. and Farhangia sedecimdentata sp. n. are described from pygmy squirrels (Prosciurillus spp.), and Nestivalius sulawesiensis sp. n. from murine rodents, all from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Both new species of Farhangia were collected in Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah); F. quattuordecimdentata sp. n. was recovered mainly from P. murinus, whereas F. sedecimdentata sp. n. was recovered mainly from P. leucomus. These new species are compared with the two previously described species of Farhangia: F. celebensis (Ewing) from P. murinus in North Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara) and F. sciuri (Ewing) from the tree squirrel Callosciurus prevosti in Sabah (Borneo). Nestivalius sulawesiensis sp. n. was collected from six species of endemic murine rodents in both North and Central Sulawesi. It is compared to the morphologically similar N. pomerantzi (Traub) from Mindanao, which parasitizes murine hosts that are endemic to the Philippines.     

Two new species of Stivalius (Siphonaptera--Pygiopsyllidae--Pygiopsyllinae) from Indonesia

The fleas, S. meridionalis n. sp. from Timor and S. franciscae n. sp. from Sulawesi, Indonesia are described and illustrated. S. meridionalis was collected in Central Timor (Timor Tengah) at elevations between 930 m and 1,520 m, mainly from the murine rodent Rattus tanezumi, although one specimen was recovered from a house shrew, Suncus murinus. S. franciscae was collected in Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah) at known elevations between 950 m and 2,255 m from six species of native endemic murine rodents, especially Rattus hoffmanni, and from two species of commensal murine rodents. One specimen of S. franciscae was also collected from the native endemic murine Paruromys dominator in North Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara) at 1,780 m. These two new flea species are compared with the previously described taxa included in the genus Stivalius sensu stricto.     

Six new nematodes of the Heligmonellidae (Trichostrongylina) collected from endemic murines of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Nematodes in Odilia and Paraheligmonelloides (Trichostrongylina: Heligmonellidae) are first recorded from Sulawesi, Indonesia, with 6 new species from the small intestine of endemic murines: Odilia sulawesiensis n. sp. and Odilia moatensis n. sp. from Rattus xanthurus; Odilia mamasaensis n. sp. and Odilia maxomyos n. sp. from Maxomys musschenbroekii; Paraheligmonelloides eropeplios n. sp. from Eropeplus canus; Paraheligmonelloides paruromyos n. sp. from Paruromys dominator. The 6 species are readily distinguished from congeners in the arrangement and number of the synlophe ridges, dilatation of cuticle, shape of the bursa copulatrix and the spicules, and length ratio of the spicules or the ovejector to body. The intestinal heligmonellid fauna of Sulawesi rats shows affinity to both Sundaland and Australian representatives, reflecting dispersal and speciation history of the nematodes and their hosts.     

The flea genus Sigmactenus (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae): a new species from timor and new material from New Guinea and the Philippines

Both sexes of Sigmactenus timorensis n. sp. are described from Rattus tanezumi and Rattus exulans collected in West Timor, Indonesia. The true host presumably is a native murine rat such as the extant, endemic Rattus timorensis or 1 of several extinct, endemic Timorese rats. Analyses of new collections of Sigmactenus cavifrons and Sigmactenus toxopeusi from New Guinea demonstrate that these fleas show considerable morphological variation. We propose that they represent a single species with the name S. toxopeusi having priority. New collections of Sigmactenus werneri from the Philippines expand the known hosts and geographical distribution of this flea.     

Ultrastructure of Sarcocystis spp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in rodents from North Sulawesi and West Java, Indonesia

Tissue cysts of the protozoan genus Sarcocystis were detected in the skeletal muscles of 16 (40%) of 40 wild rodents captured in North Sulawesi and West Java, Indonesia. Two types of cysts were found to differ in their morphological characteristics. Macroscopic and microscopic cysts bounded by thick radially-striated cyst walls were detected at both locations in a total of 13 rodents belonging to seven different species (Bunomys chrysocomus, B. fratrorum, Maxomys bartelsii, M. musschenbroekii, Paruromys dominator, Rattus xanthurus and R. exulans). The primary cyst walls contained numerous broad spatula-like protrusions and the cysts were identified as S. singaporensis Zaman and Colley, 1976. In contrast, microscopic cysts bounded by thin smooth cyst walls were detected in seven rodents belonging to three different species captured at Toraut in North Sulawesi (B. chrysocomus, B. fratrorum and P. dominator). Ultrastructural examination revealed numerous slender hair-like protrusions of their primary cyst walls. It is proposed that these cysts be named S. sulawesiensis sp. n. on the basis of their unique morphological characteristics, their intermediate host range and their limited geographic distribution. Mixed infections by both species were found in three rodent species (B. chrysocomus, B. fratrorum and P. dominator).     

Three new fleas from Sulawesi, Indonesia (Siphonaptera: Pygiopsyllidae & Ceratophyllidae)

Gryphopsylla maxomydis n. sp. (Pygiopsyllidae), Medwayella rubrisciurae n. sp. (Pygiopsyllidae) and Macrostylophora theresae n. sp. (Ceratophyllidae) are described from endemic rodents in Sulawesi. Gryphopsylla maxomydis was collected from the murids Maxomys musschenbroekii and Paruromys dominator in Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah). However, M. musschenbroekii appears to be the true host of this flea because it has spiny pelage and G. maxomydis shows morphological adaptations for parasitizing spiny hosts including a remarkable "beak-like" structure on the head. This adatation is similar to a beak-like structure on the head of Gryphopsyllo hopkinsi (Traub) which parasitizes the spiny murid Maxomys whiteheadi in Borneo (Sabah). Medwayella rubrisciurae was collected from the large tree squirrel Rubrisciurus rubriventer in Central Sulawesi and this represents the first report of this flea genus in Sulawesi. Macrostylophora theresce was recorded from the murids Bunomys fratrorum, P. dominator and Rattus xanthurus in North Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara); most other members of this flea genus parasitize squirrels in the Oriental and Palaearctic zoogeographical regions.     

A phylogenetic reassessment of Hyalenna Forbes and Dircenna Doubleday, with a revision of Hyalenna (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Ithomiinae)

Abstract.  A morphological study of adults and immature stages and a cladistic analysis were conducted to clarify the relationships amongst members of the sister nymphalid butterfly genera Dircenna Doubleday and Hyalenna Forbes. Two species formerly included in Dircenna , Ithomia paradoxa Staudinger and Dircenna hugia Schaus, clustered with Ithomia perasippa , the type species of Hyalenna . Therefore, the first two species are transferred from Dircenna to Hyalenna ( comb.n .). Hyalenna and Dircenna as now conceived are both monophyletic and well supported by morphological apomorphies and branch support measures. The taxonomy and classification of Hyalenna are reviewed and seven species and twenty-four taxa are recognized, including one new species, Hyalenna buckleyi sp.n. , and eleven new subspecies: Hyalenna paradoxa incachaca ssp.n. , H. perasippa valencia ssp.n. , H. perasippa ortygiosa ssp.n. , H. perasippa solitaria ssp.n. , H. buckleyi pomacocha ssp.n. , H. alidella exsulans ssp.n. , H. alidella cinereola ssp.n. , H. alidella vesca ssp.n. , H. sulmona balsamica ssp.n. , H. sulmona hyalina ssp.n. and H. sulmona tersa ssp.n. A key for the identification of all taxa, and illustrations of male and female genitalia for all species and adult specimens of all taxa (where known), are presented. The natural history of each species is summarized and the immature stages of H. paradoxa and H. sulmona are described for the first time.     

A phylogeny for grasshoppers of the genus Chitaura (Orthoptera: Acrididae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia, based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data

The Indonesian island of Sulawesi occupies a central position within the biogeographically complex region known as Wallacea. Its fauna is characterised by a high rate of endemism and a patchwork distribution of taxa within the island. The grasshopper genus Chitaura is a good example having at least ten endemic species with predominantly parapatric distributions. It can be used as a model for determining the origins of Sulawesi taxa and the within-island evolution that has led to the present patterns of distribution. Here we present a phylogenetic hypothesis for 28 individuals within the genus, including individuals of one species from Java and two from the Moluccas, based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene. Frequent sequence heteroplasmy was observed. The phylogenetic hypothesis is consistent with recent interpretations of the geological history of Sulawesi suggesting separate evolution on the island for 7–14 Myr, possibly since South Sulawesi was connected to Borneo. Within the island, the pattern of genetic divergence is dominated by a strong correlation with geographic distance, with exceptions indicating past or present barriers to dispersal. Colonisation of the Moluccas from North or Central Sulawesi is implied. Levels of genetic divergence are compared with distribution patterns of colour morphs and with possible effects of tectonic movements in the Cenozoic, or Pleistocene climatic, vegetational and sea-level changes.     

Systematics of Maxomys Sody, 1936. (Rodentia: Muridae: Murinae): DNA/DNA hybridization studies of some Borneo-Javan species and allied Sundaic and Australo-Papuan genera

We compared five species of the murine genus Maxomys and representatives of nine other murid genera in a complete 15 × 15 DNA-hybridization matrix. FITCH trees were calculated for the entire suite of taxa and for subsets including only the five Maxomys and these together with the four nearest outgroups. All trees were validated by 'bootstrapping' and by jackknifing, performing both single- and multiple-deletions of taxa. The full 15 times 15 data set indicated a sister-group relationship between Maxomys and two pairs of genera ( Sundamys-Rattus sensu stricto and Mviventer-Leopoldamys ) that are more closely related to each other than to Maxomys; addition of data on Bandicota and Berylmys from another recent DNA-hybridization study confirmed that these genera are successive sister-taxa to the Sundamys-Rattus pair. Mus-Myomys and Uromys-Melomys were each distinct lineages from the above grouping of Rattus sensu lata species, and from the putative outgroup sigmodontine Peromyscus, but the interrelations of the three murine clades were unresolved. Within Maxomys, M. surifer and M. bartelsii are a related pair, and M. ochraceiventer probably forms an unresolved trio with M. rajah and M. whiteheadi. Calibration of a tree generated from saturation-corrected distances against a likely divergence-date of 12.2 Mybp for the separation of Mus and Rattus confirms a high rate of single-copy DNA change in murids (2.1%/Myr); and suggests that Sigmodontinae and Murinae diverged at around 15.3 Mybp, that Maxomys and the group of six other Rattus sensu lato separated approximately 7.6 Myr ago, and that Maxomys began to diversify 4.8 Myr ago.     

A revision of the genus Lasianthus (Rubiaceae) in Africa, excluding Madagascar

23 species, one subspecies and three varieties have been described or named for the pan-tropical genus Lasianthus Jack (Rubiaceae) in continental Africa. In the present revision thirteen species, five subspecies and one variety are recognized; additionally two hybrids are proposed. Of the previously named taxa, the subspecies is raised to species rank whereas two species are degraded to subspecies and variety status, respectively. Five species are synonymised including two varieties, and four are left with uncertain status, including one variety. The distribution of the genus in Africa consists of two distinct elements: one component is found in the Guineo-Congolian regional centre of endemism and one in the eastern part of Afiomontane Archipelago-like regional centre of endemism. A centre of species diversity is found in Eastern Arc Mts., where six endemic species occur together with L. laxinervis and the more widespread L. kilimandscharicus. Four of the species are strict endemics of the Uluguru Mts. In addition to the presentation of the new section: Lasianthus Sectio Membranacei, sect. nov., this revision contain two hybrids from Uluguru Mts.: L. macrocalyx × pedunculatus and L. cereifizorus × pedunculatus, and following new taxa and new combinations: L. africanus ssp. biokoensis, subsp. nov.; L. africanus ssp. mayumbensis, comb. et stat. nov.; L. kilimandscharicus ssp. glabrescens, ssp. nov.; L. kilimandscharicus ssp. glabrescens var. xanthospermus, comb. et stat. nov.; L. kilimandscharicus ssp. hirsutus, ssp. nov.; L. laxinervis, stat. nov.; L. pedunculatus ssp. angustisepalus, ssp. nov.     

Taxonomic status and relationships of bracken ferns (Pteridium: Dennstaedtiaceae) of Laurasian affinity in Central and North America

Detailed quantitative comparisons confirm and extend the discrimination of four major morphotypes amongst brackens of Laurasian affinity in Central and North America. These are recognized here at subspecies level as: Pteridium aquilinum sspp. feei , pubescens , latiusculum , and pseudocaudatum . Measurements of spore size indicate that sporophytes of P. aquilinum ssp. feei are diploid (2 n  = 104), as are sspp. pubescens , latiusculum , and pseudocaudatum . Phenetic cluster analysis based on DNA fingerprinting by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction groups these four subspecies as genomically more similar to each other than to any taxa from other geographical regions. The chloroplast haplotype of ssp. feei is the same as that of sspp. latiusculum , pseudocaudatum , and pubescens with respect to the absence of both of the short direct repeats in the rps 4– trn S region (haplotype A), whereas the European ssp. aquilinum (haplotype B) has one of these repeats, and the Southern Hemisphere brackens P. arachnoideum and P. esculentum (haplotype C) have the other.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 1–17.     

Ancient lakes as hotspots of diversity: a morphological review of an endemic species flock of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tylomelania</Emphasis> (Gastropoda: Cerithioidea: Pachychilidae) in the Malili lake system on Sulawesi,Indonesia

The viviparous freshwater gastropod Tylomelania (Caenogastropoda: Cerithioidea: Pachychilidae) endemic to the Indonesian island Sulawesi has radiated extensively in two ancient lake systems. We here present the first systematic species-level review of taxa in the five lakes of the Malili lake system, which contains the most diverse and best studied freshwater fauna on Sulawesi. Our results indicate a significantly higher diversity of Tylomelania in these lakes than previously perceived based on morphological evidence for delimiting the taxa. We describe nine new species, thus increasing the number of taxa known from the Malili lakes to 25. Tylomelania species are inhabiting all available substrates in the lakes, and the diversity of habitats is reflected in an unparalleled range of radula types in this closely related group. Several species show a high intraspecific variability in some characters, and their closer investigation will probably lead to the discovery of more cryptic species. As it is, this species flock on Sulawesi is among the largest freshwater mollusc radiations known. Since the Malili lake system also contains other large endemic species flocks of e.g. crustaceans and fishes, it is a major hotspot of freshwater biodiversity in Asia to become a conservation priority. Handling editor: K. Martens     

印度尼西亚四跗蚴螨属一新种(蜱螨亚纲:蚴螨科)

记述寄生于印度尼西亚一种白条天牛上的四跗蚴螨属1新种,苏拉维西四跗蚴螨Tetrapolipus sulawesiensis sp.nov。该种标本由美国密西根大学生物系Dr.Robert W.Husband提供。新种模式标本保存于西南农业大学植保系。     

A taxonomic revision of Secale (Triticeae, Poaceae)

Several taxa have previously been recognized within Secale , but most of them are difficult or even impossible to distinguish morphologically. We recognize only three species: S. sylvestre, S. strictum , and S. cereale. Secale strictum has priority over S. montanum and has two subspecies, ssp. strictum and ssp. africanum , and two varieties within ssp. strictum , van strictum and var. ciliatoglume comb. nov. Secale cereale is also treated as having two subspecies. The cultivated taxa, marked by their tough rachises, are placed in ssp. cereale and the wild or weedy taxa that have more or less fragile rachis, in ssp. ancestrale. A complete synonymy is given for S. cereale , but typification has been omitted because, in many instances, type material does not exist or has been impossible to trace.     

The 5S DNA sequences in Hordeum bogdanii and in the H. brevisubulatum complex, and the evolution and the geographic dispersal of the diploid Hordeum species (Triticeae: Poaceae).

The molecular diversity of 5S rDNA from the closely related Asiatic diploid species, Hordeum bogdanii and the H. brevisubulatum complex has been catalogued and analysed. As in previous studies in Hordeum, we found that the sequences are constrained in such an manner that unit classes can be defined. The long H1 unit class, known to occur in all Eurasian species, was frequently found in these 2 taxa. In addition, we identified a new unit class, called the short H3 to reflect the H genome found in these 2 taxa. Although the 2 taxa are very close morphologically, the variation in the long H1 DNA units is constrained to such a great degree that, in many cases, the accessions in a unit class from a single species are clustered. In H. bogdanii, the majority of the sequences are grouped in this manner, whereas in the H. brevisubulatum complex, the tendency to be constrained is lower in some but not all subspecies. These results support keeping H. brevisubulatum ssp. violaceum and ssp. iranicum as 1 species with the long H1 and short H1 unit classes, while retaining ssp. nevskianum and ssp. turkestanicum in the H. brevisubulatum complex. We have summarized our work on the presence/absence of the 10 unit classes found in all diploid species of Hordeum. A phylogenetic analysis, based strictly on the presence/absence of unit classes, indicated clearly that all the South American diploids and all the North American diploids possess long H2 and long Y2 unit classes and, except for H. californicum and H. pusillum, which contain long H1 in addition to the long H2 and long Y2 classes, are devoid of the long H1 unit class. This suggests that the gene gain/loss process from a common ancestor has been concomitant with intercontinental dispersal between the Old and the New Worlds.     

A taxonomic and cladistic analysis of the west European genus Monobella (Collembola, Neanuridae)

The genus Monobellu Cassagnau, 1979 (Collembola) is redefined. Four new species and one new subspecies are described from Pyrenees and Cevennes (France) on the basis of labrum morphology, tubercle arrangement on tergites and chaetotaxy of somites: Monobellu culvu sp. n., Monobellu eduphica sp. n., Monobellu grussei minor ssp. n., Monobellu juu sp. n., and Monobellu rousseti sp. n. The subspecies Monobellu grussei dubiu Deharveng, 1986 is reassigned to specific level. A key to the 14 species and subspecies of Monobellu is given. Except M. g. minor ssp. n. which is present in the Pyrenees and the Massif Central and the widespread M. g. grussei (Denis, 1923), all Monobellu species and subspecies are narrow endemics of the Pyrenean range; their distribution is mapped in details. A phylogenetic analysis is performed, taking into account the high level of polymorphism of some characters and the incomplete genetic isolation between certain subspecies, indicated in the field by the presence of narrow hybrid zones. Though obtained under different assumptions and constraints, the most parsimonious cladograms exhibit only slight differences, and the proposed phyletic reconstruction can be considered as robust. It adequately reflects the known distribution of the species in the Pyrenees, it confirms the monophyly of the species M. grussei and supports, in agreement with field distribution data, the idea that reticulate evolution might have occurred in this taxon. © The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters     

A revision of the Nasa ranunculifolia group (Nasa ser. Grandiflorae pro parte,Loasaceae)

The monophyletic Nasa ranunculifolia group (Nasa ser. Grandiflorae pro parte) is revised on the basis of extensive field studies and a revision of copious herbarium material. All species of this group are from the high Andes of Peru and Ecuador (mostly 3000–4300 m). The overall degree of morphological divergence is much lower than in other groups of Nasa and many of the various local ‘races’ are best recognized as ecogeographically isolated subspecies. Thus, six species and 13 subspecies are recognized on the basis of differences in leaf and floral morphology, growth habit, life history and distribution. Nasa ranunculifolia, N. macrantha, N. cymbopetala and N. macrorrhiza are united as subspecies under N. ranunculifolia. An additional five subspecies of N. ranunculifolia are newly described (ssp. pamparomasii, ssp. guzmangoensis, ssp. bolivarensis, ssp. patazensis and ssp. huanucoensis). Nasa rugosa is subdivided into four subspecies, three of them new (ssp. llaqtacochaensis, ssp. gracilipes and ssp. pygmaea). Nasa tulipadiaboli sp. nov. and N. basilica sp. nov. are described as new species. Eight taxa (seven subspecies and one species) are endemic to the Amotape–Huancabamba Zone, and seven of them (six subspecies and one species) are new to science. Only a single species ranges into the Amotape–Huancabamba Zone from the south, underscoring the high levels of endemism (and taxonomic novelty) in this area. Illustrations, distribution maps, a key and diagnoses are given for all taxa recognized. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 167 , 47–93.     

To the knowledge of the leaf beetle genus Cystocnemis (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Four subspecies of Cystocnemis discoidea are distinguished; two subspecies are described as new to science based on investigation of intraspecific variation in different parts of the species range, and ssp. gebleri was resurrected from synonymy. The ways of speciation in highland-hollow landscapes are discussed. The alpine subspecies C. discoidea oreas ssp. n. has an altibiome disjunction with the nominotypical subspecies. Similarity of the alpine subspecies of C. discoidea to the species from the subgenus Entomomela was found to be the reason of permanent confusion of representatives of these taxa. The subgenus Entomomela is transferred from the genus Oreomela to the genus Cystocnemis. A key to species and subspecies of the genus Cystocnemis is given.     

Revision of Taeniatherum (Poaceae)

Three species are often accepted in Taeniatherum Nevski. Analysis of morphological characters show that indistinct limits occur between them. All taxa are found to be diploid (2n=14), with the same karyotype, but artificial hybridization shows genetical barrier to exist. For these reasons subspecific level is chosen for the taxa, viz. T. caput-medusae (L.) Nevski ssp. caput-medusae, T. caput-medusae ssp. crinitum (Schreb.) Melderis and T. caput-medusae ssp. asperum (Simk.) Melderis. Map showing known distribution of the subspecies is presented.     

Taxonomic revision of shrews of the genus Crociduras from the Sunda Shelf and Sulawesi with description of two new species (Mammalia: Soricidae)

The skulls of 387 shrews of the genus Crocidura sampled in peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Sulawesi were submitted to principal component and stepwise discriminant analyses. These analyses helped to delineate morphological taxa in this species-rich genus of mammals. Most morphologic groups could be attributed to described species, except one taxon from Sumatra and one from Sulawesi, which are described and named as new. Most of the 21 species recognized in this paper are endemic to one major island. Although Sulawesi has never been connected to the mainland, it supports at least six species, followed by Sumatra (5–6 species), Java and the Malay Peninsula (4 spp) and Borneo (3 spp). C. monticola is apparently the only widespread species whose distribution range covers the entire Malay Archipelago except the Philippines and Sulawesi. In contrast, the continental C. fuliginosa enters only marginally into the Sunda Shelf: its southernmost record is on the Malay Peninsula. This interpretation is completely different from the classical view that C. fuliginosa is a cosmopolitan species occupying the whole of Southeast Asia. Identification keys, tables of measurements and discriminant functions provided in this work may aid in identification of the various species and subspecies of Crocidura living in the Malaya Archipelago.