Complex migration and breeding strategies in an elusive bird species illuminated by genetic and isotopic markers

Unlike the annual bi‐directional movements of over 200 bird species within the Palaearctic–Afrotropical region, irregular movements such as irruptive migration with a low degree of philopatry are reported for a variety of species depending on highly seasonal and unpredictable resources. These flexible movements allow for itinerant breeding – consecutive breeding attempts in two or more geographically different regions during the same annual reproductive cycle. In order to illuminate migratory and breeding strategies of the erratic wetland species Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla across the W‐Palaearctic–Afrotropical region, we used a set of six DNA microsatellites as well as δ²H_f values of individuals sampled at one African and four European breeding sites. We investigated the degree of genetic population structure within and among different sites and assigned individuals’ feathers of unknown origin to their probable moulting (hence breeding) site using a likelihood approach. We found three genetic clusters, differentiating into one ‘European’ and two ‘African’ populations. Connectivity between the sampling sites was probable as genetic ‘African’ individuals were found in breeding conditions in Europe and vice versa. Likewise, assigned moulting locations based on δ²H isoscapes suggested trans‐continental movements as well as moulting and possibly breeding by the same individual both in African and European breeding grounds. Both isotopic and genetic data reveal the Baillon's crake pursue a complex migration and breeding strategy, allowing as well for irruptive movements and itinerant breeding across the W‐Palaearctic–Afrotropical region. However, a better knowledge about the species’ distribution as well as a more comprehensive data set, including samples from the southern and eastern boundaries of the distribution area would be necessary to improve the spatial resolution to the precision required to unambiguously infer migration directions and extent of exchange between African and European breeding grounds.     

The Palaearctic centers of taxonomic diversity of fleas (Siphonaptera)

The Palaearctic flea fauna includes 921 species and 479 subspecies from 96 genera of 10 families. Of them, 858 species (94%) from 43 genera are endemic to the Palaearctic; they comprise 40% of the Palaearctic Hystrichopsyllidae, 24% of Ceratophyllidae, and 20% of Leptopsyllidae. Ranges of 581 species (63% of the Palaearctic fauna) are situated within one province or subregion of the Palaearctic. Species with ranges including a part of Asia (592) comprise 87% of the total fauna; 72% of the species (517) are endemic to the Palaearctic. The largest centers of taxonomic diversity of Palaearctic fleas are situated in the East Asian, Central Asian, and Turano-Iranian Subregions: 320 species of fleas (214 of them endemic) from 59 genera (8 endemic) are known from the East Asian Subregion; 270 species (over 120 endemic) from 54 genera (5 endemic) are distributed in the Central Asian Subregion. The Turano-Iranian fauna comprises 213 species (103 endemic) from 47 genera (3 endemic); about 160 species occur in the Turanian Subprovince closest to the Russian borders, one-third of them (52 species, or 33%) are endemic; 69 species more are endemic to the entire Asian part of the Palaearctic. Extra-Asian and extra-Siberian ranges are known in 190 flea species. In the western Palaearctic, 76 species are endemic to the European Province, and 57 species, to the Mediterranean Province; 36 species have Euro-Mediterranean distribution. The fauna of the Saharo-Arabian Subregion comprises 30 species (12 endemic), 6 species have ranges of the Mediterranean-Saharo-Arabian type. Scenarios of the origin of the Siphonaptera at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary are hypothesized. Formation of the Palaearctic flea fauna was mostly supported by the Asian-Indo-Malayan and East Asian-Western American palaeofaunal centers of taxonomic diversity. The long history of faunal exchange between the east Palaearctic and the west Nearctic is manifested by the distribution of the parasites of rodents and insectivores, fleas of the genera Stenoponia, Rhadinopsylla, Nearctopsylla, and Catallagia, belonging to several subfamilies of the Hystrichopsyllidae, as well as members of a number of other flea families. A great number of endemic species in the genera Palaeopsylla and Ctenophthalmus (Hystrichopsyllidae), both in the European and Asian parts of the Palaearctic, can be explained by the junction of the European and Asian continental platforms in the late Cretaceous and their subsequent isolation during the Paleocene. A considerable contribution to the flea fauna in the Russian territory was made by the East Asian-Nearctic center of taxonomic diversity, with a smaller role of the European palaeofauna. Immigration of species of the family Pulicidae from the Afrotropical Region is restricted to the southern territories of Russia.     

Systematics of Serinus canaries and the status of Cape and Yellow-crowned Canaries inferred from mtDNA and morphology

The taxonomy of, and phylogenetic relationships among, African canaries typically assigned to the genus Serinus sensu lato (including the putative genera Alario, Pseudochloroptila, Serinops, Ochrospiza, Dendrospiza and Crithagra) were investigated, based on 823bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Two clades emerged: (1) Palaearctic and Afrotropical taxa, including Serinus serinus, S. canaria, A. alario and the S. canicollis complex (S. c. canicollis, thompsonae and flavivertex), and (2) taxa endemic to the Afrotropics comprising Pseudochloroptila, Serinops, Ochrospiza, Poliospiza, Dendrospiza, Poliospiza and Crithagra spp. However, only clade one has jackknife and bootstrap support values above 50. The two clades were separated by Carduelis taxa, suggesting that Serinus sensu lato is not monophyletic. As it stands, the phylogeny does not support the recognition of Alario and Serinops and possibly Ochrospiza, Dendrospiza and Pseudochloroptila (Cape siskins) as distinct genera. Alario is sister to Serinus canicollis whereas the others are intermingled in a clade comprised primarily by Crithagra spp. The use of Serinus is confined to the Palaearctic canaries and allied species, and Crithagra for the strictly Afrotropical clade. Since the cytochrome b sequence divergence between the allopatric Cape (S. [c.] canicollis) and Yellow-crowned (S. [c.] flavivertex) canaries (2.8%) was similar to differences between other closely-related species and there are marked plumage differences between these taxa, we suggest that they be elevated to full species rank.     

New insights on diversity,morphology and distribution of Culicoides Latreille 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Northeast Spain

The present work provides an improvement on the knowledge of the diversity, morphology and distribution of Culicoides species in Catalonia (NE Spain). Data derived from morphology and sequencing allowed to detect the presence of 13 species non previously found in the surveillance area, updating the number of species recorded in Catalonia up to 53. Of special interest among the newly recorded species are: 1) C. yemenensis, new record for Europe, 2) C. coluzzii and C. sejfadinei, being new records for the Iberian Peninsula, and 3) C. pseudopallidus which is new record for Spain. Regarding the current distribution of Culicoides species, two eco-zones were detected in the region, the first eco-zone had species with typical northern Palaearctic (European) distribution whereas the second had species with typical southern Palaearctic (African) distribution, which were apparently influenced by mean high temperature of the warmest month and annual precipitation rate.     

New Afrotropical species belonging to genera never recorded before for the Afrotropical fauna (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Five remarkable new Afrotropical species belonging to four Old World genera never recorded before for the Afrotropical region (Neophryxe, Calliethilla, Metadrinomyia, Pseudalsomyia) are described and compared with congeners. Existing keys to tropical African tachinid genera are implemented. A brief discussion on the apomorphic support to each genus is provided.     

Five new records of bee flies (Bombyliidae,Diptera) from Saudi Arabia with zoogeographical remarks

Five bee-fly species (Bombyliidae, Diptera) have been listed in this paper as new to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Four of the recorded species have been identified to the level of species, namely: Bombomyia discoidea (Fabricius, 1794), Spogostylum candidum (Sack, 1909), Exoprosopa linearis Bezzi, 1924, and Exoprosopa minos (Meigen, 1804), while the fifth one only to genus, Desmatoneura sp. The species have been collected from Al-Baha and Asir Provinces in the south-western part of the Kingdom. One of the four identified species, Exoprosopa linearis, has an Afrotropical affinity, and another two, Spogostylum candidum and Bombomyia discoidea, have considerable Afrotropical distributions, and this result agrees to some extent with studies considering these parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including Al-Baha and Asir Provinces, having Afrotropical influences and may be included in the Afrotropical Region rather than in the Palaearctic Region or the Eremic zone.     

Colonization of post-mining landscapes by shrews and rodents (Mammalia: Rodentia,Soricomorpha)

The presence and relative abundance of shrews and rodents have been studied in four different former brown coal mining areas in Lower Lusatia between 1995 and 1997 as well as 2001 and 2002. Several sites of undisturbed, i.e. non-mined, areas were included for comparison. Four species of shrews and four species of rodents have been found. Generally only few shrews were recorded in the Lower Lusatian area. Sorex araneus and S. minutus are the most abundant species, while Crocidura leucodon and C. suaveolens are rare. In the brown coal mining area shrews mainly occur in older sites with higher vegetation. The analysis of the distribution of rodent species revealed that Microtus arvalis having a comparably small spread potential, colonizes sites preferably with dense vegetation, while Apodemus sylvaticus was also found in sites with sparse vegetation. The relative abundance of all species is significantly higher in undisturbed sites. The colonization of the dumped openland areas is difficult for small mammals.     

Unexpectedly high diversity of trypanosomes in small sub-Saharan mammals

The extremely species-rich genus Trypanosoma has recently been divided into 16 subgenera, most of which show fairly high host specificity, including the subgenus Herpetosoma parasitizing mainly rodents. Although most Herpetosoma spp. are highly host-specific, the best-known representative, Trypanosoma lewisi, has a cosmopolitan distribution and low host specificity. The present study investigates the general diversity of small mammal trypanosomes in East and Central Africa and the penetration of invasive T. lewisi into communities of native rodents. An extensive study of blood and tissue samples from Afrotropical micromammals (1528 rodents, 135 shrews, and five sengis belonging to 37 genera and 133 species) captured in the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia revealed 187 (11.2%) trypanosome-positive individuals. The prevalence of trypanosomes in host genera ranged from 2.1% in Aethomys to 37.1% in Lemniscomys. The only previously known trypanosome detected in our dataset was T. lewisi, newly found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania in a wide range of native rodent hosts. Besides T. lewisi, 18S rRNA sequencing revealed 48 additional unique Herpetosoma genotypes representing at least 15 putative new species, which doubles the known sequence-based diversity of this subgenus, and approaches the true species richness in the study area. The other two genotypes represent two new species belonging to the subgenera Ornithotrypanum and Squamatrypanum. The trypanosomes of white-toothed shrews (Crocidura spp.) form a new phylogroup of Herpetosoma, unrelated to flagellates previously detected in insectivores. With 13 documented species, Ethiopia was the richest region for trypanosome diversity, which corresponds to the very diverse environments and generally high biodiversity of this country. We conclude that besides T. lewisi, the subgenus Herpetosoma is highly host-specific (e.g., species parasitizing the rodent genera Acomys and Gerbilliscus). Furthermore, several newly detected trypanosome species are specific to their endemic hosts, such as brush-furred mice (Lophuromys), dormice (Graphiurus), and white-toothed shrews (Crocidura).     

Mammal distributions in the western Mediterranean: the role of human intervention

The natural distribution of the 17 non-flying mammal species occurring wild in both the Maghreb (north-west Africa) and Iberia (south-west Europe) is considered. It is concluded that only four species – Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Wild Cat Felis silvestris and Otter Lutra lutra – are native to both regions, while another three – Red Deer Cervus elaphus, Brown Bear Ursus arctos and Aurochs Bos primigenius – were native to North Africa until the mid-Holocene but have probably died out naturally. Algerian Hedgehog Atelerix algirus, Barbary Ape Macaca sylvanus, Genet Genetta genetta and Egyptian Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon are widely accepted as introductions to Europe from North Africa. The remaining six species, and Red Deer now found in Africa, were also probably introduced – Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, Weasel Mustela nivalis, Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus and Lesser White-toothed Shrew Crocidura russula from Europe to Africa; Algerian Mouse Mus spretus from Africa to Europe; Savi’s Pygmy Shrew Suncus etruscus perhaps from the eastern Mediterranean to both Iberia and the Maghreb. There are two Maghrebi species which, although not found in Europe, are more closely related to Palaearctic than to Afrotropical species: Garden Dormouse Eliomys melanurus, probably native to north-west Africa, although possible augmentation of the natural population cannot be ruled out, and Whitaker’s Shrew Crocidura whitakeri, a North African endemic. Removal of so many species of European provenance from the list of mammals native to north-west Africa should not be considered to weaken its position as part of the Palaearctic zoogeographical region. Bats and other, non-mammalian, taxa illustrate the clear faunal relationship between the Maghreb and south-west Europe, whilst emphasizing its distinction from subsaharan Africa.     

Biogeographical analysis of the flea beetle genus Chaetocnema in the Afrotropical Region: distribution patterns and areas of endemism

Aim The areal distributions of Chaetocnema species in the Afrotropical Region have been analysed with the aims of determining the distribution patterns (chorotypes) and identifying the most important areas of endemism for this flea beetle genus in sub‐Saharan Africa. Location Data were collected in sub‐Saharan Africa, including Madagascar. Methods The Afrotropical Region was divided into 103 5° quadrats (operative geographical units, or OGUs). A presence–absence matrix of the Afrotropical Chaetocnema species in the OGUs was analysed by cluster analysis (Baroni Urbani & Buser index and the WPGMA clustering method) to generate distribution pattern data based on similarity of distribution. The most important areas of endemism were identified by parsimony analysis of endemicity. Results The general distribution of Chaetocnema in the Afrotropical Region was found to be associated with moist environments and montane grasslands. Most species exhibit restricted geographical ranges. Cluster analysis revealed 120 spatial distributions that can be grouped into 13 distinct distribution patterns (chorotypes). The most important areas of endemism for Chaetocnema in sub‐Saharan Africa according to the present parsimony analysis of endemicity are: (1) central and eastern Madagascar [endemicity rate (ER) = 61.1%], (2) Western Cape Province (ER = 36.4%), (3) southern Drakensberg (ER = 26.7%), (4) the Shaba Region (ER = 16.7%), and (5) the North‐Kivu Region (ER = 5.0%). Main conclusions There are 123 known species of Chaetocnema in the Afrotropical Region, more than in any other zoogeographical region. About 91% of the species are endemic and they generally exhibit a restricted and often very localized geographical range. The remaining 9% of the species are represented by seven species that also inhabit northern Africa and/or the Arabian peninsula (C. bilunulata Demaison, C. ganganensis Bechyné, C. ljuba Bechyné, C. pulla Chapuis, C. tarsalis Wollaston, and C. wollastoni Baly), three species that widely inhabit the Palaearctic Region (C. conducta (Motschulsky), C. schlaeflini (Stierlin), and C. tibialis (Illiger)), and two species that were introduced (C. confinis Crotch, and C. picipes Stephens).     

A preliminary study on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province,Saudi Arabia,with descriptions?of?two?new?species

A preliminary study was carried out on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, south-western part of Saudi Arabia. A total number of 582 species and subspecies (few identified only to the genus level) belonging to 129 families and representing 17 orders were recorded. Two of these species are described as new, namely: Monomorium sarawatensis Sharaf & Aldawood, sp. n. [Formicidae, Hymenoptera] and Anthrax alruqibi El-Hawagry sp. n. [Bombyliidae, Diptera]. Another eight species are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia, namely: Xiphoceriana arabica (Uvarov, 1922) [Pamphagidae, Orthoptera], Pyrgomorpha conica (Olivier, 1791) [Pyrgomorphidae, Orthoptera], Catopsilia florella (Fabricius, 1775) [Pieridae, Lepidoptera], Anthrax chionanthrax (Bezzi, 1926) [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Spogostylum near tripunctatum Pallas in Wiedemann, 1818 [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Cononedys dichromatopa (Bezzi, 1925) [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Mydas sp. [Mydidae, Diptera], and Hippobosca equina Linnaeus, 1758 [Hippoboscidae, Diptera]. Al-Baha Province is divided by huge and steep Rocky Mountains into two main sectors, a lowland coastal plain at the west, known as “Tihama”, and a mountainous area with an elevation of 1500 to 2450 m above sea level at the east, known as “Al-Sarat or Al-Sarah” which form a part of Al-Sarawat Mountains range. Insect species richness in the two sectors (Tihama and Al-Sarah) was compared, and the results showed that each of the two sectors of Al-Baha Province has a unique insect community. The study generally concluded that the insect faunal composition in Al-Baha Province has an Afrotropical flavor, with the Afrotropical elements predominant, and a closer affiliation to the Afrotropical region than to the Palearctic region or the Eremic zone. Consequently, we tend to agree with those biogeographers who consider that parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including Al-Baha Province, should be included in the Afrotropical region rather than in the Palaearctic region or the Eremic zone.     

Pugs of the tribe Eupitheciini (Lepidoptera,Geometridae): the history of study and distribution over biogeographic regions

The World fauna of the tribe Eupitheciini is the most species-rich in the family Geometridae. This tribe includes about 1900 species (almost 3000 species-group names) from 47 genera; about one third of the genera (15) are monotypic. The generic diversity of Eupitheciini is the highest in the Australian (38 genera, 11 of them endemic) and Oriental regions (32 genera, 4 endemic) and the lowest in the Neotropical Region (possibly one genus only). The faunas of different biogeographic regions can be arranged in following order by their species richness: the Palaearctic (487 species), Oriental (397), Neotropical (346), Australian (251), Afrotropical (198), and Nearctic Regions (166 species). Eupithecia is the most species-rich genus in the family Geometridae and the entire order Lepidoptera, and one of the largest genera in the whole World fauna of insects. The greatest number of species of this genus is recorded in the Palaearctic Region (466 species), where Eupithecia accounts for about 95% of the tribe Eupitheciini. The mainland of the Oriental Region (especially the Himalayas) is also very species-rich; however the proportion of the Eupithecia representatives decreases towards Malaysia, Sundaland, and the Australian Region (about 2% of the tribe). The Eupitheciini faunas have the greatest similarity at the generic level between the Oriental and Australian Regions (the Jaccard and Sørensen coefficient values being 0.62 and 0.77, respectively). The Palaearctic fauna is more similar to the Afrotropical and Oriental faunas at the genus-group level. On the whole, the fauna of the Nearctic Region is similar to that the West Palaearctic, with the exception of the fact that representatives of the genera Gymnoscelis and Chloroclystis are absent in North America, although two endemic genera Nasusina and Prorella are present. At the genus-group level, the Nearctic fauna of Eupitheciini is more similar to the Neotropical (the Jaccard and Sørensen coefficients 0.20 and 0.33, respectively) than to the Palaearctic fauna (0.17 and 0.29). The number of synonymies is very high in the tribe Eupitheciini because of the homogeneity of this group, whose species are difficult to identify without the use of elaborate anatomical techniques. Modern revisions, catalogues, surveys, and atlases on Eupitheciini are absent for many countries and large geographic regions. Revisions of pugs of the tribe Eupitheciini for some biogeographic regions are extremely difficult because of fragmentation of entomological collections including the type specimens of many species-group taxa. A large fraction of synonyms is characteristic of parts of the World with the best known faunas: Europe (64% of synonyms) and North America (39%). On the contrary, the lowest levels of synonymy are typical of the less known faunas of the regions situated at the equatorial latitudes, namely the Neotropical (9%) and Afrotropical (8%) ones.     

Molecular variability in the common shrew Sorex araneus L. from european russia and siberia inferred from the length polymorphism of DNA regions flanked by short interspersed elements (inter-SINE PCR) and the relationships between the moscow and seliger chromosome races

Genetic exchange among chromosomal races of the common shrew Sorex araneus and the problem of reproductive barriers have been extensively studied by means of such molecular markers as mtDNA, microsatellites, and allozymes. In the present study, the interpopulation and interracial polymorphism in the common shrew was derived, using fingerprints generated by amplified DNA regions flanked by short interspersed repeats (SINEs)—interSINE PCR (IS-PCR). We used primers, complementary to consensus sequences of two short retroposons: mammalian element MIR and the SOR element from the genome of Sorex araneus. Genetic differentiation among eleven populations of the common shrew from eight chromosome races was estimated. The NJ and MP analyses, as well as multidimensional scaling showed that all samples examined grouped into two main clusters, corresponding to European Russia and Siberia. The bootstrap support of the European Russia cluster in the NJ and MP analyses was respectively 76 and 61%. The bootstrap index for the Siberian cluster was 100% in both analyses; the Tomsk race, included into this cluster, was separated with the bootstrap support of NJ/MP 92/95%.     

Molecular taxonomy of Crocidura species (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) in a key biogeographical region for African shrews,Nigeria

The taxonomy of African shrew species is still unresolved due to their conserved morphology. This also affects knowledge concerning their geographic distribution. In Nigeria, using mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene sequences, we carried out a survey for shrews from the genus Crocidura across various ecological zones to determine taxa that are present and also to assess their phylogeographic structure. Our analyses include 183 specimens collected with Sherman traps from 19 localities around the country. We detected six taxa: Crocidura olivieri lineages II, III and IV, C. hildegardeae, C. jouvenetae, and C. foxi. Among these, C. hildegardeae and C. jouvenetae are reported in Nigeria for the first time. Phylogenetic comparison of our genetic sequences to those generated from other parts of Africa demonstrate that all species in our study, as currently defined, are in need of taxonomic revision. Geographically, Nigeria seems to represent the easternmost boundary for C. olivieri lineage II and C. jouvenetae, and the western distribution limit of C. olivieri lineage IV and C. hildegardeae. The Niger River appears to be the most significant topographical barrier restricting these taxa. This information is vital to preserving the diversity but also managing the epidemiological potential of these small mammals.     

Palearctic elements in the old world tropics: a taxonomic revision of the ant genus Temnothorax Mayr (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) for the Afrotropical biogeographical region

Four new Afrotropical species of the ant genus Temnothorax are described and illustrated, all from Kenya. Based upon high resemblance to taxa known from the North African and Iberian territories of the Mediterranean region, these new tropical elements are placed into known Palaearctic species complexes. Specifically, Temnothorax brevidentis sp. n., Temnothorax mpala sp. n. and Temnothorax rufus sp. n. are placed in the laurae species group, and Temnothorax solidinodus sp. n. is placed in the angustulus species group. Two already known Temnothorax species from the region, Temnothorax cenatus (Bolton, 1982) and Temnothorax megalops (Hamann & Klemm, 1967), are also placed into the laurae species group based on the high number of shared morphological characters. Diagnoses for the African representatives of laurae and angustulus species groups of the Afrotropical biogeographical region are provided. A key to workers of the six Temnothorax species known to occur in the Afrotropical biogeographical region is provided, as well as diagnoses of morphologically similar myrmicine genera.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eusarima</Emphasis> Yang (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Issidae) from Pakistan

Eusarima albifrons sp. n. is described from northern Pakistan (Islamabad). The new species is closely related to Eu. iranica Gnezdilov et Mozaffarian, 2011 and may be distinguished by details of coloration and male genital structure. This is the second species of the genus Eusarima Yang recorded from the Western Palaearctic. Parasarima triphylla Che, Zhang et Wang, 2012 is transferred to the genus Eusarima, which is thus recorded for the first time from continental China. The homologies in the genital structures of males and females are discussed for some genera of Oriental, Palaearctic, and Afrotropical Issidae.     

Morphometric,meristic and ISSR marker systems for species identification and evolutionary analysis in five Indian Channids

Snakehead species belonging to Channidae are primary group of freshwater air breathing fishes having their confined distribution in African and Asian continents. ISSR – PCR was used to investigate the phylogenetic relationship among five Channidae species viz. Channa striatus, Channa marulius, Channa punctatus, Channa diplogramme and Channa gachua. In addition, morphometric and meristic characters were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) and the bootstrap values within the species were also calculated. The genetic identity between the species ranged from 0.5526 to 0.7632 and the genetic distance ranged from 0.2703 to 0.5931. The Nei's gene diversity (H) was calculated as 0.2653 and the Shannon's information index (I) was 0.3842. UPGMA dendrogram arrived by the morphological and molecular markers revealed the closeness between C. striatus and C. marulius among the five species.     

Global diversity of polychaetes (Polychaeta; Annelida) in freshwater

A literature review of Polychaeta (Annelida) including Aphanoneura (the oligochaete-like Aeolosomatidae and Potamodrilidae), living in freshwater yielded 168 species, 70 genera and 24 families representing all of the major polychaete clades, but less than 2% of all species. The best-represented families were, in order, Nereididae, Aeolosomatidae, Sabellidae, Spionidae and Histriobdellidae. Fourteen families were represented by a single species and genus. Regions supporting the highest diversity of freshwater polychaetes were in order, Palaearctic, Neotropical, Oriental, Nearctic, Australasian, and Afrotropical. More than half of all species and genera inhabitat lakes and rivers, followed by lagoons/estuaries, which have a high proportion of euryhaline species, and inland seas. Less common, atypical polychaete habitats include subterranean waters, the hyporheic zone of rivers and plant container habitats (phytotelmata). At least three distinct ecological/historical processes appear to account for the colonisation of continental waters: invasion of a clade prior to the break-up of Gondwana, as in Aphanoneura, Namanereis, Stratiodrilus, and Caobangia; relatively recent stranding of individual species (relicts); and the temporary visitation of euryhaline species. Guest editors: E. V. Balian, C. Lévêque, H. Segers & K. Martens Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment