Type Specimens of Conopidae (Diptera) in the Collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences,St. Petersburg

Entomological Review - A catalog of the type specimens of Conopidae (Diptera) described by Th. Becker and L.V. Zimina and deposited in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in...     

Phylogeny of the vipers of the Caucasus (Reptilia, Viperidae)

Phylogenetic relationships for five taxa of Palearctic vipers (genus Vipera ) from the Caucasian region were revealed by cladistic analyses of separate and combined morphological and biochemical characters. The different data sets yielded largely congruent cladograms. Vipera berus from Sweden was included as an ingroup and V. aspis was used for outgroup comparison. For V. kaznakovi and V. dinniki , three and four different sub-populations, respectively, were treated as independent terminal taxa in the analyses. The most parsimonious cladograms confirmed the systematic positions of these populations, discussed in a recent study, and support the hypothesis that the montane populations of the western main Caucasus comprise one polymorphie species: V. dinniki.
Analyses of combined biochemical and morphological data generated two equally parsimonious cladograms (for all ingroups compared), but yielded only one fully resolved topology when ingroups were condensed to the species level: ( berus ((renardi ('ursinii'-eriwanensis )))( dinnikikaznakovi )).     

Bayesian mixed models and the phylogeny of pitvipers (Viperidae: Serpentes)

The subfamily Crotalinae (pitvipers) contains over 190 species of venomous snakes distributed in both the Old and New World. We incorporated an extensive sampling of taxa (including 28 of 29 genera), and sequences of four mitochondrial gene fragments (2.3kb) per individual, to estimate the phylogeny of pitvipers based on maximum parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic methods. Our Bayesian analyses incorporated complex mixed models of nucleotide evolution that allocated independent models to various partitions of the dataset within combined analyses. We compared results of unpartitioned versus partitioned Bayesian analyses to investigate how much unpartitioned (versus partitioned) models were forced to compromise estimates of model parameters, and whether complex models substantially alter phylogenetic conclusions to the extent that they appear to extract more phylogenetic signal than simple models. Our results indicate that complex models do extract more phylogenetic signal from the data. We also address how differences in phylogenetic results (e.g., bipartition posterior probabilities) obtained from simple versus complex models may be interpreted in terms of relative credibility. Our estimates of pitviper phylogeny suggest that nearly all recently proposed generic reallocations appear valid, although certain Old and New World genera (Ovophis, Trimeresurus, and Bothrops) remain poly- or paraphyletic and require further taxonomic revision. While a majority of nodes were resolved, we could not confidently estimate the basal relationships among New World genera and which lineage of Old World species is most closely related to this New World group.     

The braincase of Typhlops and Leptotyphlops (Reptilia: Serpentes)

The structure of the braincases and associated nerves and blood-vessels is described. Typhlops combines primitive lacertilian features, notably the retention of a palatine artery, with specialisations such as the structure of the recessus scalae tympani. Leptotyphlops is more completely snake-like, but the two genera show in common a specialised intracranial course of the hyomandibular branch of the facial nerve, due to lateral closure of the juxtastapedial recess by the overgrowing crista circumfenestralis. The lateral closure of the juxtastapedial recess is considered as an adaptation to burrowing habits. The Vidian canal in scolecophidians is poorly defined, due to the lack of lateral ascending wings of the parasphenoid. This might constitute an archaic character contradicting the descent of snakes from any Recent lacertilian group.     

Studies on the skull of the Henophidia (Reptilia: Serpentes)

The skulls of Cylindrophis, Anilius, Uropeltis and other genera of Uropeltidae, Xenopeltis and Loxocemus are described and figured.
On the basis of cranial characters, a separation of the Aniliidae into two subfamilies, the Aniliinaeand theCylindrophinaeis suggested. The Uropeltidae, separated from the Aniliidae by a set of derived characters, are grouped together with the Aniliidae as the superfamily Anilioidea. The skulls of Xenopeltis and Loxocemus are described and the systematic position of the genera discussed. General remarks as to the bearing of the skull on the reconstruction of henophidian phylogeny conclude the study.     

The evolution of the basicranium in the Henophidia (Reptilia: Serpentes)

In lizards, a short Vidian canal pierces the base of the basipterygoid process. In snakes, the anterior opening of the primitively short Vidian canal lies on the dorsal surface of the basisphenoid, trapped in an intracranial position by downgrowths of the frontal and parietal which meet the lateral edges of the basisphenoid-parasphenoid complex. This condition is observed in anilioid snakes which retain other primitive features in the braincase: the paroccipital process and the spheno-occipital tubercle (Aniliidae only) and participation of the basioccipital in the apertura lateralis of the recessus scalae tympani.
Subsequent evolution within booid snakes shows a shift of the anterior opening of the Vidian canal around the anterior edge of the basisphenoid, thus acquiring a secondary extracranial position. This occurs in parallel within boine and pythonine snakes. Dinilysia shows a parallel development of die condition observed in advanced booid snakes. Pseudoboa , with its short Vidian canal opening in-tracranially, demonstrates that caenophidians originated from a basal henophidian or pre-henophidian stock. The Acrochordidae show a basicranium that can be interpreted as either primitive henophidian or primitive caenophidian.     

Biological and immunological characteristics of the poison of Bothrops cotiara (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Bothrops cotiara is a venomous snake sporadically found in the province of Misiones in Argentina, South of Brazil and Paraguay. Data on the clinics of the envenomation produced by its bite and on its venom are scarce. There is no information on the neutralizing capacity of the antivenoms available. In this study, the lethal potency, hemorrhagic, necrotizing, coagulant and thrombin-like, defibrinogenating, indirect hemolytic and fibrinolytic activities of the venom of B. cotiara specimens from the province of Misiones were determined. The toxic activities were within the range of those described for the other Bothrops species from Argentina, and the electrophoretic and chromatographic studies showed similarities with those described for the other bothropic venoms. The immunochemical reactivity of six South American anti Viper antivenoms (ELISA) have a strong reactivity with all the antivenoms studied. The neutralizing capacity of three of these therapeutic antivenoms against the lethal potency and hemorrhagic, necrotizing, coagulant, thrombin-like and hemolytic activities showed a very close neutralizing capacity. Our data strongly suggest that the antivenoms for therapeutic use available in this area of South America are useful to neutralize the toxic and enzymatic activities of the venom of this uncommon specie of Bothrops.     

Type specimens of argasid and ixodid ticks (Ixodoidea: Argasidae, Ixodidae) in the collection of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg)

The catalogue contains data on type specimens of 79 species and subspecies of argasid and ixodid ticks. The data on 32 holotypes, 35 lectotypes, and 2 neotypes are given; paratypes and paralectotypes of 47 taxa are present in the collection. Within each family, type specimens are listed in alphabetical order.     

Hepatozoon species (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) of the corn snake,Elaphe guttata (Serpentes: Colubridae) and the pigmy rattlesnake,Sistrurus miliarius barbouri (Serpentes: Viperidae) in south Florida

Hepatozoon guttata n. sp. is described from the corn snake (Elaphe guttata guttata) from south Florida. Gamonts average 14.6 x 4.6 (13-17 x 3.5-6) and are not recurved, with nucleus situated in the second quarter of the gamont. Erythrocyte cytoplasm rarely appears partially dehemoglobinized. The infected cells are usually distorted and are longer than the uninfected erythrocytes but do not differ in width; nuclei are smaller in length and width than those of uninfected cells. Sporogony in Aedes aegypti occurs within the head and the thorax but rarely in the abdomen. Oocysts are spherical to usually ovoid, 87.2 x 75.9 (45-155 x 40-152.5) and contain on average 7.1 (2-32) sporocysts. Sporocysts are spherical to ovoid, 34.8 x 31.0 (20-55 x 17.5-47.5), with 45.7 (14-89) sporozoites contained within. The pigmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri) in south Florida is parasitized by H. sistruri n. sp. Gamonts average 14.1 x 5.6 (12.6-15.8 x 4.7-6.3) in breadth and are not recurved, with the nucleus always situated in the second quarter of the gamont commonly at the midbody. Erythrocyte cytoplasm is not dehemoglobinized. The infected cells are always distorted and similar in length to the uninfected cells but with greater width and enlarged nuclei. Sporogony in A. aegypti occurs within head, thorax, and abdomen. Oocysts are spherical to usually ovoid, 163.6 x 154.7 (92-245 x 82-240) and contain 27.4 (12-42) sporocysts. Sporocysts are round to usually ovoid, 39.7 x 33.5 (25-50 x 20-50), with 45.7 (19-70) sporozoites.     

A nesting of vipers: Phylogeny and historical biogeography of the Viperidae (Squamata: Serpentes)

Despite their medical interest, the phylogeny of the snake family Viperidae remains inadequately understood. Previous studies have generally focused either on the pitvipers (Crotalinae) or on the Old World vipers (Viperinae), but there has been no comprehensive molecular study of the Viperidae as a whole, leaving the affinities of key taxa unresolved. Here, we infer the phylogenetic relationships among the extant genera of the Viperidae from the sequences of four mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b, NADH subunit 4, 16S and 12S rRNA). The results confirm Azemiops as the sister group of the Crotalinae, whereas Causus is nested within the Viperinae, and thus not a basal viperid or viperine. Relationships among the major clades of Viperinae remain poorly resolved despite increased sequence information compared to previous studies. Bayesian molecular dating in conjunction with dispersal-vicariance analysis suggests an early Tertiary origin in Asia for the crown group Viperidae, and rejects suggestions of a relatively recent, early to mid-Tertiary origin of the Caenophidia.     

系统与进化植物学国家重点实验室(中国科学院植物研究所)

<正>系统与进化植物学国家重点实验室的前身是1987年成立的中国科学院系统与进化植物学开放研究实验室。2005年3月成为国家重点实验室,依托单位为中国科学院植物研究所。现任学术委员会主任为洪德元院士,实验室主任为葛颂研究员。     

Experimental transmission of Caryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) to Palestine vipers, Vipera xanthina palestinae (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Four littermate, laboratory-reared Palestine vipers, Vipera xanthina palestinae (#149, #150, #151, #152) (Serpentes: Viperidae) were used to determine modes by which Caryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) could be transmitted to snakes. Viper #149 was inoculated orally by stomach tube with 5.0 X 10(4) sporulated oocysts of C. simplex obtained from the feces of an Ottoman viper, V. x. xanthina and began passing unsporulated oocysts of C. simplex 121 days post-inoculation (DPI). Viper #150 was fed five mice that had been inoculated orally greater than or equal to 25 days previously with 5.0 X 10(4) sporulated oocysts of C. simplex and it began passing unsporulated oocysts of C. simplex 33 days after being fed the first two of five mice. Viper #151 was inoculated orally with sporulated oocysts of C. simplex obtained from viper #150 and began passing oocysts 52 DPI. Viper #152 served as an uninoculated control and did not pass oocysts of any species of coccidian. This study demonstrates that snake/snake and mouse/snake transmission of C. simplex readily occurs.     

Experimental Transmission of Caryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) to Palestine Vipers, Vipera xanthina palestinae (Serpentes: Viperidae)

ABSTRACT. Four littermate, laboratory-reared Palestine vipers, Vipera xanthina palestinae (#149, #150, #151, #152) (Serpentes: Viperidae) were used to determine modes by which Caryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) could be transmitted to snakes. Viper #149 was inoculated orally by stomach tube with 5.0 x 10⁴ sporulated oocysts of C. simplex obtained from the feces of an Ottoman viper, V. x. xanthina and began passing unsporulated oocysts of C. simplex 121 days post-inoculation (DPI). Viper #150 was fed five mice that had been inoculated orally £25 days previously with 5.0 x 10⁴ sporulated oocysts of C. simplex and it began passing unsporulated oocysts of C. simplex 33 days after being fed the first two of five mice. Viper #151 was inoculated orally with sporulated oocysts of C. simplex obtained from viper #150 and began passing oocysts 52 DPI. Viper #152 served as an uninoculated control and did not pass oocysts of any species of coccidian. This study demonstrates that snake/snake and mouse/snake transmission of C. simplex readily occurs.