Two new rheophytic species of Schistidium (Grimmiaceae) from China

Abstract

Two new species of Schistidium Bruch & Schimp., S. riparium H.H.Blom, Shevock, D.G.Long & Ochyra, and S. mucronatum H.H.Blom, Shevock, D.G.Long & Ochyra, are described and illustrated. They occur in rheophytic habitats in China, S. riparium in the southern Hengduan Mountains in Yunnan Province (Lancang Jiang and Nu Jiang catchments) and S. mucronatum from further north, on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau of Sichuan and Qinghai Provinces (Jinsha Jiang and Huang He catchments). The affinities of the new species are discussed and on the basis of their concave and broadly canaliculate leaves with plane and erect margins, S. riparium is tentatively placed in Schistidium Bruch & Schimp. subgen. Canalicularia Ochyra, whereas S. mucronatum on account of its keeled, ovate-lanceolate leaves and the strongly curved and twisted peristome teeth resembles very much species of sect. Apocarpiformia (Kindb.) Ochyra within subgen. Apocarpa Vilh.     

Phylogenetic position of the genus Bryhnia Kaurin (Brachytheciaceae,Bryophyta) inferred from chloroplast (rpl16, trnG,trnL–F) and nuclear (ITS) sequence data

Abstract

The systematic position of the genus Bryhnia Kaurin has been problematic and remains unsettled. A phylogenetic analysis of Bryhnia and closely related genera, based on the nuclear marker ITS1–5·8S–ITS2 and the plastid markers rpl16, trnG, and trnL–F, was carried out to clarify their relationships and systematic positions. The phylogenetic trees generated from Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses show that Bryhnia s.s., represented by B. novae-angliae (Sull. & Lesq.) Grout, B. hultenii E.B.Bartram, and B. scabrida (Lindb.) Kaurin, forms a maximally supported clade nested within Brachythecium Schimp. ‘Bryhnia scabrida’ sensu is Bryhnia brachycladula Cardot, and together they form a monophyletic group with Eurhynchiadelphus eustegia (Besch.) Ignatov & Huttunen and Myuroclada maximowiczii (G.G.Borshch.) Steere & W.B.Schofield. We propose the inclusion of the species currently recognized in Bryhnia in Brachythecium, with the transfer of Bryhnia brachycladula to the genus Myuroclada Besch. Bryhnia brachycladula is further treated as a synonym of the new combination, Myuroclada longiramea (Müll.Hal.) M.Li, Y.F.Wang, M.S.Ignatov & S.Huttunen.     

Arsenic Ingestion and Bladder Cancer Mortality—What Do the Dose-Response Relationships Suggest About Mechanism?

The Black–Foot Disease (BFD) endemic area of SW Taiwan has historically been the principal data source for assessing cancer risks from arsenic in drinking water in the United States, most recently in a 42–village ecological study. The data showed a discontinuity for bladder cancer risk at about 400 μg/L. A proposed explanation was that the arsenic–dependent bladder cancer risk was found only for those villages that were dependent on water from the artesian well aquifer (As > 350 μg/L and co–contamination with humic acids) and not for those villages receiving water from the shallow aquifer (As < 350 μg/L without humic acids). The humic acids were present from the algae that grew in the uncovered tanks holding the artesian water. The risk factors (slopes) developed from these subpopulations of the SW Taiwan study were applied to the data from an ecological study of median groundwater arsenic concentration and bladder cancer mortality in 133 U.S. counties dependent on groundwater to determine the slope most predictive of U.S. experience for bladder cancer mortality and arsenic ingestion (Lamm et al. 2004 Lamm, S H, Engel, AKruse, M B. 2004. Arsenic in drinking water and bladder cancer mortality in the United States: An analysis based on 133 U.S. counties and 30 years of observation.. J Occup Environ Med, 46(3): 298–306. [PUBMED][INFOTRIEVE][CSA][Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar]).The U.S. data excluded the SW Taiwan slope estimate derived from the artesian well–dependent subpopulation but were consistent with the slope estimate derived from the subpopulation using shallow aquifer water. Both the SW Taiwan data in the absence of high arsenic levels (< 350 μg/L) and humic acids and the U.S. 133–county data with As < 60 μg/L are consistent with no increased bladder cancer mortality risk from drinking water arsenic concentrations in the exposure range of observation. These analytic results are consistent with both co–carcinogenesis and high–exposure (hundreds of μ g/L As) dependence models of toxicological mode–of–action. These dose–response relationships should influence prioritization in the remediation of arsenic–contaminated drinking water supplies.     

A revision of the Haploporinae Nicoll, 1914 (Digenea: Haploporidae) from mullets (Mugilidae): <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccocoelium</Emphasis> Looss, 1902

Saccocoelium Looss, 1902 is revised and a key to its recognised species is presented. S. obesum Looss, 1902 (type-species) and S. tensum Looss, 1902 are redescribed based on material from Liza spp. (Pisces: Mugilidae) in Spanish Mediterranean and, in the case of the former, Bulgarian Black Sea waters. Two new species, S. cephali n. sp. and S. currani n. sp., are described from Mugil cephalus L. in Spanish Mediterranean waters. S. gohari Ramadan, Saoud, Ashour & Mansour, 1989b is recognised and commented upon. Lecithobotrys helmymohamedi Ramadan, Saoud, Ashour & Mansour, 1989a, S. portsaidensis El-Shahawi, El-Gindy, Imam & Al-Bassel, 1992, S. saoudi El-Shahawi, El-Gindy, Imam & Al-Bassel, 1992, Neosaccocoelium aegyptiacus El-Shahawi, El-Gindy, Imam & Al-Bassel, 1992 are considered to be synonyms of S. tensum and Neosaccocoelium El-Shahawi, El-Gindy, Imam & Al-Bassel, 1992 a synonym of Saccocoelium. S. obesum, S. tensum and the two new species are compared morphometrically and distinguished by univariate and multivariate analyses. Lecithobotrys mugilis Rekharani & Madhavi, 1985 is transferred to Unisaccus Martin, 1973 as U. mugilis (Rekharani & Madhavi, 1985) n. comb., and Lecithobotrys sprenti Martin, 1973 [=  Saccocoelium sprenti (Martin, 1973) Overstreet & Curran, 2005] is transferred to Unisaccus as U. sprenti (Martin, 1973) n. comb. S. megasacculum Liu, Wang, Peng, Yu & Yang, 2004 is transferred to Elliptobursa Wu, Lu & Zhu, 1996 as E. megasacculum (Liu, Wang, Peng, Yu & Yang, 2004) n. comb. S. tripathi Dutta, 1995 (syn. Saccocoelium tripathi Datta & Manna, 1998) is considered to be a species inquirenda.

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Boegeriella nom. nov. (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) for Walteriella Mendoza-Palmero,Mendoza-Franco,Acosta & Scholz, 2019, a junior homonym of Walteriella Kazantsev, 2001 (Coleoptera: Cantharidae)

Walteriella Mendoza-Palmero, Mendoza-Franco, Acosta & Scholz, 2019 was found to be a junior homonym of Walteriella Kazantsev, 2001 (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), also known as soldier beetles, and is replaced by Boegeriella nom. nov. (Dactylogyridae). The two species originally included into the genus, Walteriella conica Mendoza-Palmero, Mendoza-Franco, Acosta & Scholz, 2019 (type-species) and Walteriella ophiocirrus Mendoza-Palmero, Mendoza-Franco, Acosta & Scholz, 2019, are transferred as Boegeriella conica (Mendoza-Palmero, Mendoza-Franco, Acosta & Scholz, 2019) n. comb. and Boegeriella ophiocirrus (Mendoza-Palmero, Mendoza-Franco, Acosta & Scholz, 2019) n. comb.

     

广西被子植物新资料

桂西南喀斯特地区是广西也是中国生物多样性保护优先区域。基于该地区关键区域的深入调查，该文报道了广西被子植物新记录20种，即木姜叶征镒木[Wuodendron praecox(Hook. f.&Thomson) B. Xue, Y. H. Tan&X. L. Hou]、大果楠(Phoebe macrocarpa C. Y. Wu)、国楣铁线莲(Clematis fengii W. T. Wang)、方籽栝楼(Trichosanthes tetragonosperma C. Y. Cheng&Yueh)、枥叶花楸(Sorbus yunnanensis L. T. Lu)、长苞楼梯草(Elatostema longibracteatum W. T. Wang)、富宁槭(Acer paihengii Fang)、云南山茱萸(Cornus eydeana Q. Y. Xiang&Y. M. Shui)、长梗杜鹃(Rhododendron longipedicellatum Lei Cai&Y. P. Ma)、粉花安息香(Styrax roseus Dunn...     

Filarioid nematodes (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) of Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos Brehm in southern Ontario,Canada and a consideration of the epizootiology of avian filariasis

Summary Chandlerella chitwoodae Anderson, 1961 (prevalence 65%), Splendidofilaria caperata Hibler, 1964 (21%), Eufilaria longicaudata Hibler, 1964 (15.5%), C. quiscali (von Linstow, 1904) Robinson, 1971 (1.9%), Cardiofilaria pavlovskyi Strom, 1937 (0.4%) and Splendidofilaria wehri (0.3%) were found in crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos Brehm) wintering in southern Ontario, Canada. S. caperata, E. longicaudata, Cardiofilaria pavlovskyi and S. wehri are reported for the first time from this host.Infection with Chandlerella chitwoodae and E. longicaudata produced microfilaraemias and these two common species apparently are maintained in the crow population. Infection with S. caperata was amicrofilaraemic (occult) and this common species cannot, therefore, be maintained in the crow population. C. quiscali, Cardiofilaria pavlovskyi and S. wehri occurred infrequently and must be common parasites of other woodland bird species. The presence of both common and sporadic infections in crows suggests that some avian filarioids parasitize numerous birds sharing a particular habitat. However, some host species are probably more important than others in maintaining infections within an avian community.The hosts of each species in Chandlerella, Splendidofilaria, Cardiofilaria and Eufilaria are listed. Chandlerella flexivaginalis (Jones, 1961) Sultana, 1962 and C. hispanica López-Caballero, 1974 are placed in synonymy with C. chitwoodae. Splendidofilarioides Freitas & Ibáñez, 1968 is made a synonym of Splendidofilaria and the type species becomes Splendidofilaria pachacuteci (Freitas & Ibáñez, 1968) n. comb. S. passerina Koch & Huizinga, 1971 is synonymized with S. algonquinensis (Anderson, 1955) Anderson, 1961. Pseudaproctella andersoni var. major Chabaud, Brygoo & Richard, 1964 and Cardiofilaria chabaudi Dissanaike & Fernando, 1965 are placed in synonymy with C. major Dissanaike & Fernando, 1965. Eufilaria cypseli (Annett, Dutton & Elliot, 1901) Nelson, 1966 is transferred to Lemdana as L. cypseli (Annett, Dutton & Elliot, 1901) n. comb. E. buckleyi (Desmukh, 1968) n. comb. is designated for Neofilaria buckleyi Desmukh, 1968 (= Eufilaria utae Anderson & Bain, 1976). ac]19800116Addendum: Since this paper went to press the following article has come to our attention: Olsen, O.W. & Braun, C.E. (1976) New species of Splendidofilaria and Chandlerella (Filarioidea: Nematoda), with keys to the species, from the band-tailed pigeon (Columba fasciata fasciata) in the Rocky Mountain region. Great Basin Naturalist, 36, 445–457. In their paper the authors describe the new species Splendidofilaria columbensis, S. hibleri and Chandlerella robinsoni. S. columbensis and S. hibleri are known from males only and their validity requires further study. C. robinsoni will also require further study.     

Scorpionfishes of New Zealand (Pisces: Scorpaenidae)

Abstract

Recent collecting has increased the number of scorpionfish species known from New Zealand, particularly the Kermadec Islands. The following species are now represented in collections at the National Museum of New Zealand: Scorpaena papillosus (Bloch & Schneider); S. cardinalis Richardson; S. cooki Günther; Trachyscorpia capensis (Gilchrist & von Bonde); Phenacoscorpius megalops Fowler; Maxillicosta raoulensis Eschmeyer & Poss; Ectreposebastes niger (Fovrmanoir); Pterois volitans (Linnaeus); P. antennata (Bloch & Schneider); Ocosia apia Poss & Eschmeyer; Plectrogenium nanum Gilbert; and Scorpaenodes guamensis (Quoy & Gaimard). Helicolenus, represented by a complex of species, is not discussed here. All other species are figured and at least briefly described, and a key to their identification is provided.     

Lectotypification of the Bertoloni's names in the genus Senecio L. (Asteraceae)

Original material of the four Senecio taxa described by A. Bertoloni has been examined, and the typification of their names is discussed. A specimen from the Monti Herbarium (kept in BOLO) and iconographies from Bonanni and Bertoloni are designated as lectotypes, whereas another specimen from the Monti Herbarium is selected as neotype. The nomenclature of the names Senecio erucifolius L., Senecio tenuifolius Jacq., Senecio delphinifolius Vahl and Senecio rupestris Waldst. & Kit. is also analysed. The names S. crinitus Bertol. and S. laciniatus Bertol. belong to S. delphinifolius [now Jacobaea delphinifolia (Vahl) Pelser & Veldkamp] and S. rupestris [now Senecio squalidus subsp. rupestris (Waldst. & Kit.) Greuter], respectively, whereas S. erraticus Bertol. and S. praealtus Bertol. are accepted as separate taxa as Jacobaea erratica (Bertol.) Fourr. and Jacobaea erucifolia subsp. praealta (Bertol.) Greuter & B.Nord., respectively.     

Alcuni rari Aphyllophorales lignicoli italiani. Secondo contributo

Abstract

Vengono presentate in questo lavoro alcune specie rare, spesso non segnalate prima in Italia, come: Lindtneria trachyspora (Bourdot & Galzin) Pilat, Oligoporus rancidus (Bres.) Gilb. & Ryvarden, Sistotrema muscicola (Pers.) S. Lundell, Trechispora hymenocystis (Berk. & Broome) K.H. Larss. e Fomitopsis labyrinthica Bernicchia & Ryvarden, una specie recentemente descritta come nuova, ritrovata sull'Appennino settentrionale.     

Bucklandiella allanfifei (Grimmiaceae), a new moss species from New Zealand,with a note on South American B. striatipila

Abstract

A new species, Bucklandiella allanfifei Bednarek-Ochyra, is described from New Zealand. The new species belongs to Bucklandiella Roiv. sect. Marginatae (Bednarek-Ochyra) Bednarek-Ochyra & Ochyra and is allied to southern South American B. striatipila (Cardot) Bednarek-Ochyra & Ochyra. Bucklandiella allanfifei is characterized by the smaller stature of the plants, mostly prostrate and profusely branched stems, most often with short, erect-ascending branchlets, shorter leaves, 1.5–2.1 mm long (without a hair-point) and anatomy of the costa which is reniform to crescent-shaped in cross-section and 3(–4)-layered in the proximal part. Additionally, the laminal cells are short-rectangular in the distal and median parts, (15–)20–30(–40) μm long, the basal marginal border is composed of 3–4 rows of hyaline, translucent, esinuose and rectangular cells, the innermost perichaetial leaves are longly pilose, the capsules are ellipsoid to short-cylindrical, 1.5–2.0 mm long and the setae are short, (2.2–)3.0–4.5(–6.0) mm. Bucklandiella striatipila is briefly assessed taxonomically and it is considered to be definitely distinct from B. crispipila (Taylor) Bednarek-Ochyra & Ochyra, a pan-tropical oreophyte, with which it was prematurely considered conspecific. Racomitrium integripilum Dusén, R. gemminatum Roiv. and R. substriatipilum Roiv. are reduced to synonymy with B. striatipila. Two new combinations are made: Buckladiella elegans (Müll. Hal.) Bednarek-Ochyra & Ochyra and B. pycnotricha (Müll. Hal.) Bednarek-Ochyra, Ochyra & Seppelt.     

A reassessment of some Asian species of Heterophyllium (Schimp.) Kindb. (Pylaisiadelphaceae,Bryophyta)

Introduction. Heterophyllium albicans Thér., H. henryi Tixier, H. micro-alare (Broth. & Paris) Broth. and H. tonkinense (Broth. & Paris) Broth. were all either poorly known species or known only from the type collections since their inception.

Methods. Examination of the type material confirmed that the alar cell structure in these species do not conform to the generic concept of Heterophyllium (Schimp.) Kindb. The study also revealed some new features previously unreported in these species, i.e., the filamentous pseudoparaphyllia, one of the characteristic features of the genus Isopterygium Mitt.

Key Results & Conclusions. Three new combinations, Isopterygium albicans (Thér.) Y.Jia & S.He, I. micro-alare (Broth. & Paris) Y.Jia & S.He, and I. tonkinense (Broth. & Paris) Y.Jia & S.He are proposed. Heterophyllium henryi Tixier is treated as a new synonym of Brotherella henonii (Duby) M.Fleisch.     

A revised synonymy for Syrrhopodon trachyphyllus (Calymperaceae,Musci) and some related old world taxa

Several taxa erroneously regarded as conspecific with Syrrhopodon trachyphyllus Mont. are reinstated. These include Syrrhopodon cavifolius Sande Lac., S. planifolius P. de la Varde, S. semperi Müll. Hal., S. tosaensis Cardot and Calymperopsis katemensis Zanten (=Syrrhopodon katemensis (Zanten) L.T. Ellis, comb. nov.). Syrrhopodon ludovicae Broth. & Paris is recognized as a synonym of S. mammillosus Müll. Hal., Syrrhopodon orientalis W. D. Reese & P. J. Lin as conspecific with S. cavifolius Sande Lac., Syrrhopodon cambodiensis Tixier as synonymous with S. semperi, S. calymperoides Cardot & P. de la Varde as conspecific with Syrrhopodon prolifer Schwägr., and S. prolifer var. mossmanensis W. D. Reese is placed in synonymy with S. katemensis (Zanten) L.T. Ellis. Varieties of Syrrhopodon prolifer Schwägr. occurring in the palaeotropics are discussed.     

A new entomopathogenic nematode, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Steinernema robustispiculum</Emphasis> n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), from Chumomray National Park in Vietnam

Steinernemar robustispiculum n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) was isolated from woodland in Chumomray National Park, Sason, Sathay, Kontum, Vietnam. Its morphology, morphometrics, cross-hybridisation and the ITS-rDNA sequence analysis revealed that S. robustispiculum clearly differs from other known Steinernema spp. As in the cases of S. intermedium (Poinar, 1985), S. robustispiculum has very robust spicules, but it can be distinguished by the longer tail of the infective juvenile, lower E%, shorter spicules, the shape of the spicules, the number of genital papillae in the caudal region and the presence of a mucron on the male tail. S. robustispiculum has a lateral field resembling that of S. sangi Phan, Nguyen & Moens, 2001, but can be distinguished by a higher E%, higher D%, smaller length to width ratio of the spicules and the morphology of both the spicule head (manubrium) and the dorsal lobe of the spicule. The morphometrics of infective juveniles of S. robustispiculum are similar to those of S. monticolum Stock, Choo & Kaya, 1997; these species can be distingusihed by the position of the excretory pore, the smaller length to width ratio of the spicules, and the length and morphology of the spicule head (manubrium). The phylogenetic relationships within Steinernema Travassos, 1927, including the newly sequenced Vietnamese species S. robustispiculum n. sp., S. loci Phan, Nguyen & Moens, 2001, S. thanhi Phan, Nguyen & Moens, 2001 and S. sangi, are presented based on analyses of the ITS-rDNA. The ITS RFLP profiles obtained from 17 different restriction enzymes are also presented.     

Molecular characterisation of acanthocephalans from Australian marine teleosts: proposal of a new family,synonymy of another and transfer of taxa between orders

We provide molecular data (cox1, 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA) for 17 acanthocephalan species and 20 host-parasite combinations from Australian marine teleosts collected from off Queensland, Australia. Fourteen of these acanthocephalans are characterised with molecular data for the first time and we provide the first molecular data for a species of each of the genera Heterosentis Van Cleave, 1931, Pyriproboscis Amin, Abdullah & Mhaisen, 2003 and Sclerocollum Schmidt & Paperna, 1978. Using 18S and 28S rDNA sequences, the phylogenetic position of each newly sequenced species is assessed with both single-gene and concatenated 18S+28S maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. Additional phylogenetic analyses focusing on the genus Rhadinorhynchus Lühe, 1912 and related lineages are included. Our phylogenetic results are broadly consistent with previous analyses, recovering previously identified inconsistencies but also providing new insights and necessitating taxonomic action. We do not find sufficient evidence to recognise the Gymnorhadinorhynchidae Braicovich, Lanfranchi, Farber, Marvaldi, Luque & Timi, 2014 as distinct from the Rhadinorhynchidae Lühe, 1912. The family Gymnorhadinorhynchidae and its sole genus, Gymnorhadinorhynchus Braicovich, Lanfranchi, Farber, Marvaldi, Luque & Timi, 2014, are here recognised as junior synonyms of Rhadinorhynchidae and Rhadinorhynchus, respectively. The two species currently assigned to Gymnorhadinorhynchus are recombined as Rhadinorhynchus decapteri (Braicovich, Lanfranchi, Farber, Marvaldi, Luque & Timi, 2014) n. comb. and Rhadinorhynchus mariserpentis (Steinauer, Garcia-Vedrenne, Weinstein & Kuris, 2019) n. comb. In all of our analyses, Rhadinorhynchus biformis Smales, 2014 is found basal to the Rhadinorhynchidae + Transvenidae Pichelin & Cribb, 2001, thus resulting in a paraphyletic Rhadinorhynchidae. It appears that R. biformis may require a new genus and family; however, morphological data for this species are currently insufficient to adequately distinguish it from related lineages, thus we defer the proposal of any new higher-rank names for this species. Species of the genus Sclerocollum, currently assigned to the Cavisomidae Meyer, 1932, are found nested within the family Transvenidae. We transfer the genus Sclerocollum to the Transvenidae and amend the diagnosis of the family accordingly. The genera Gorgorhynchoides Cable & Linderoth, 1963 and Serrasentis Van Cleave, 1923, currently assigned to the Rhadinorhynchidae, are supported as sister taxa and form a clade in the Polymorphida. We transfer these genera and Golvanorhynchus Noronha, Fabio & Pinto, 1978 to an emended concept of the Isthomosacanthidae Smales, 2012 and transfer this family to the Polymorphida. Lastly, Pyriproboscis heronensis (Pichelin, 1997) Amin, Abdullah & Mhaisen, 2003, currently assigned to the Pomphorhynchidae Yamaguti, 1939, falls under the Polymorphida in our analyses with some support for a sister relationship with the Centrorhynchidae Van Cleave, 1916. As this species clearly does not belong in the Pomphorhynchidae and is morphologically and molecularly distinct from the lineages of the Polymorphida, we propose the Pyriprobosicidae n. fam. to accommodate it.

     

Syrrhopodon spuriodisciformis Dusén (Calymperaceae) as a distinct species,with taxonomic notes on Syrrhopodon africanus (Mitt.) Paris and related taxa

Syrrhopodon spuriodisciformis Dusén is removed from synonymy with Syrrhopodon africanus (Mitt.) Paris and reinstated as a distinct species. Syrrhopodon guineensis Broth. & Paris is recognised as a synonym of S. spuriodisciformis. Syrrhopodon africanus ssp. graminicola (R.S.Williams) W.D.Reese and S. africanus ssp. mandrakensis (Tixier) W.D.Reese are reconsidered as species, and the status of Syrrhopodon obuduensis Egunyomi & Olar. is discussed.     

Adults and larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Skrjabinocerca canutus</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Acuariidae) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calidris canutus rufa</Emphasis> (Aves: Scolopacidae) on the southern Southwest Atlantic coast of South America

Adults and larvae of a new species of Skrjabinocerca Shikhobalova, 1930 (Nematoda: Acuarioidea) are described on the basis of light and scanning electron microscope studies. Specimens were recovered from Calidris canutus rufa Wilson (Aves: Scolopacidae) from the Southwest Atlantic coast of Uruguay. Data on the hosts, localities and main features of the four previously described species of the genus are provided. S. canutus n. sp. can be distinguished its congeners by a combination of the following characters: non-recurrent cordons, shorter right spicule and possession of a delicate finger-like projection on the distal end of the left spicule. S. prima Shikhobalova, 1930 has a left spicule which is stilletto-shaped and sharply pointed, S. europaea Wong & Anderson, 1993 has recurrent cordons, S. americana Wong & Anderson, 1993 possesses two delicate digitiform projections on the distal end of its left spicule and S. bennetti Bartlett & Anderson, 1996 has subequal spicules.     

Conservation of two threatened species: Picathartes

Thompson, H.S. & Fotso, R. 2000. Conservation of two threatened species: Picathartes. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 154–156.

In this paper, we describe the threats faced by Picathartes populations around two urban centres in Sierra Leone and Cameroon and outline some of the possible lines of conservation action. These populations are small and on the brink of local extinction unless immediate action is taken now. It is postulated that proper management of the unique situation of these “urban Picathartes populations” could contribute to local eco-tourism revenues, whilst ensuring the long-term survival of the birds. Some of our recent results on the breeding biology and ecology of the two species form the background against which conservation issues are discussed.