Imagined Differences: Hatred and the Construction of Identity

Imagined Differences: Hatred and the Construction of Identity . Günther Schlee, ed. New York: Palgrave, 2002. 280 pp.     

A morphological re-examination of the frog genus Nannophrys (Anura: Ranidae) with comments on its biology, distribution and relationships

The morphology of Nannophrys Günther, 1869, a genus of ranid frogs endemic to Sri Lanka, is reexamined. The three species comprising the genus are redescribed, and a detailed account of the osteology of the type-species, N. ceylonensis Günther, is given for the first time. Adults of two species show heavy secondary cranial ossification, a feature known in only one other ranid genus, the Solomon Islands Ceratobatrachus. New information on the tapdole of N. ceylonensis is provided. N. marmorata Kirtisinghe, 1946, is accorded full species status. Reference is made to the ecological niches of N. ceylonensis and N. marmorata. The resemblance of Nannophrys to the myobatrachine leptodactylids is noted, both groups possessing a cartilaginous omosternum and dilated sacral diapophyses. On the basis of this resemblance and other data presented in the present paper, it is suggested that Nannophrys may be interpreted as a primitive ranid genus which has independently acquired a large number of derived features. Comparison is made with a selected group of related Indian ranid genera, and with Ceratobatrachus. Results indicate that Nannophrys show some affinity with the southern Indian genera Nannobatrachus and Nyctibatrachus , and also with Ceratobatrachus. Comment is made on the correlation of the zoogeographical subdivision of the southern Indian region and Nannophrys relationships.     

Redescriptions of the type specimens of six clarid species (Pisces) from Western Africa

Six species of genus Clarias (Clariidae) - Clarias angolensis Steindachner, Clarias liberiensis Steindachner, Clarias submarginatus Peters, Clarias laeviceps Gill, Clarias walkeri Günther and Clarias longior Boulenger — are redescribed from type specimens. It is shown that C. submarginatus and C. laeviceps should be properly ascribed to the subgenus Clarioides David and not to subgenus Allabenchelys (Boulenger), and that conversely C. walkeri belongs to subgenus Allabenchelys rather than subgenus Clarioides . It is further shown that C. longior has commonly been mistaken for C. laeviceps and that C. walkeri has often been mistaken for C. submarginatus . A general revision of the genus Clarias in Africa based on reference to type material is strongly recommended.     

Morphological and sensory specializations of five New Zealand flatfish species, in relation to feeding behaviour

The morphology of the feeding apparatus and sensory systems of flatfish species Rhombosolea plebeia (Richardson, 1843), Rhombosolea leporina Günther, 1862, Peltorhamphus novaezeelandiae Günther, 1862, Pelotretis flavilatus Waite, 1911 (f. Pleuronectidae) and Arnoglossus scapha (Forster, in Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (f. Bothidae) are described. The four pleuronectid species have asymmetric jaws and non-toothed gill rakers typical of benthic-feeding flatfish, while the bothid has symmetric jaws and toothed gill rakers typical of midwater-feeding flatfish. R. plebeia, R. leporina and P. novaezeelandiae have extensive external taste bud systems which facilitate non-visual prey location. External tastebuds are lacking in P. flavilatus and A. scapha ; however, these two species have relatively large, prominent eyes which facilitate visual prey location. The lateral line is well-developed in all five species, but R. plebeia, R. leporina and particularly P. novaezeelandiae have additional free neuromasts on their blind sides, which probably assist in prey location.
The feeding habits of these flatfish species closely reflect their morphological and sensory specializations. A detailed feeding study in Wellington Harbour, New Zealand showed that R. plebeia, R. leporina and P. novaezeelandiae have closely overlapping diets consisting of largely sedentary or inactive invertebrates living in the bottom sediments. In contrast, P. flavilatus and A. scapha have specialized diets of one or two species only. While the latter two species differ in that P. flavilatus is a benthic feeder and A. scapha is pelagic feeder, both are visual feeders and therefore more specialist than the other three species.     

Hennig's enkaptic system

Hennig's phylogenetic system is characterized by an asymmetry between (sexually reproducing) species that form tokogenetic systems, versus monophyletic taxa that form a phylogenetic system. This was claimed to reflect a conflict between two hierarchies, i.e. the hierarchy of species-lineages splitting and splitting again as opposed to the phylogenetic hierarchy of groups within groups. Some cladists have sought the unification of the phylogenetic system by abandoning the species concept. In contrast, contemporary commentators (Klaus Günther, Walter Zimmermann) characterized Hennig's system as an enkaptic hierarchy. This paper explores the concept of enkapsis, and the way Hennig used it as a basis for the unification of his phylogenetic system.
 © The Willi Hennig Society 2009.     

The food and feeding habits of Hydrocynus forskahlii Cuvier and Hydrocynus brevis Günther in Lake Kainji, Nigeria

The diets and modes of feeding of Hydrocynus forskahlii Cuvier and Hydrocynus brevis Günther are described. Both species are mainly piscivorous in Lake Kainji. H. forskahlii feeds largely upon small clupeids though very large specimens prey more heavily upon the characid Alestes baremose. H. brevis preys upon a wide variety of species by swallowing them whole but also attacks large fish and bites pieces from them. Sexual dimorphism in H. brevis is described. The effects of predation upon the fish stock of Lake Kainji by Hydrocynus species are discussed.     

The role of air breathing in the resistance of bimodally respiring fish to waterborne toxins

The bimodally respiring catfish Clarias macrocephalus Günther responded to a toxic extract of Croton tiglium (Euphorbiaceae) seeds by increased air breathing under both normoxic (8.1 ± 0.4 mgO₂ l⁻¹) and hypoxic (0.7 ± 0.1 mgO₂l⁻¹) conditions. Fish in hypoxia survived longer than those in normoxia when surface access was provided. When air breathing was prevented, survival time in toxin was greatly reduced at both levels of dissolved oxygen, and fish in normoxia survived longer than those in hypoxia. Non-toxin controls without surface access survived in normoxia but in hypoxia died at the same time as the fish in toxin. These results suggest that air breathing increases the resistance offish to toxins by permitting a decrease in the rate of gill ventilation and hence the rate at which toxins are absorbed.     

Recruitment and growth of juvenile yellowfin bream, Acanthopagrus australis Günther (Sparidae), in an Australian intermittently open estuary

Recruitment and growth of juvenile yellowfin bream, Acanthopagrus australis Günther (Sparidae), an economically important species, were examined in an intermittently open Australian estuary for 13 months. Fish had a mean fork length of 77.9 (± SE 9.5) mm after 1 year. Growth rates were faster than those found in previous studies in permanently open estuaries and appeared to be dependent upon the water temperature, which ranged from 0.04 mm/day in winter to 0.67 mm/day during summer. However, periods of slower growth may also reflect the emigration of larger fish from the cohort when the estuary was open and which coincided with lower water temperatures. Growth and length-at-age of fish using length-frequency data may be estimated more accurately in intermittently open estuaries because the time of recruitment can be determined, especially when the estuary opening period is short.     

The growth of charr, Salvelinus willughbii Günther, in Windermere

The growth of charr ( Salvelinus willughbii Günther ) caught in Windermere from 1941–1952 has been studied. Scales were used for determination of age and back-calculation of length for age. Autumn and spring spawners, males and females, and charr of normal and dwarf growth were treated separately. In fish of normal growth, the spring spawners were significantly smaller than the autumn spawners at ages 1 and 2 years, and significantly larger from age 4 years onwards. There was little difference in growth between males and females within the two spawning populations. Charr of lengths of less than 200 mm at age 4 years were considered to be dwarfs. Mean lengths at capture of male charr were: autumn spawners normal growth 272 mm, dwarf 218 mm; spring spawners normal growth 327 mm, dwarf 194 mm. The oldest recorded age was 8 years.     

An anomalous specimen of Rhamdia guatemalensis (Günther, 1864)

In March of 1984 an immature Rhamida guatemalensis (Günther, 1864) lacking the right pectoral fin (Fig. 1) was captured in the Sangregado sector, Arenal Dam, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (10°28' N, 84°46'W) The body colouration and morphometric characteristics were as described for this species (Bussing 1966; Zúñga, 1980). X-ray examination revealed the absence of the radial bones and the fin rays of the right peoctoral fin. External examination of the tegument of this region showed no scars or evidence of accidental loss of the appendage, indicating that the fin had never developed.
Morphometric data from this abnormal specimen are: total length, 14.25 cm, standard length, 11.98cm; maximum height of body, 22.35 cm; maximum width of body, 2.40 cm, caudal peduncle width, 1.27 cm; head length, 3.00cm.     

The endurance of endemism: the Mediterranean freshwater gobies and their prospects for survival

Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae), spawning in fresh waters of the Mediterranean catchment area, are listed, and their diagnostic features and relationships summarized. The species, by zoogeographic category, include (i) Mediterranean: Padogobius martensii (Günther, 1861) and P. nigricans (Canestrini, 1867) from the northern Adriatic and west-central Italy, (ii) West Balkanian: Economidichthys pygmaeus (Holly, 1929) and E. trichonis Economidis & Miller, 1990, and (iii) Ponto-Caspian: Prorerorhinus marmoratus (Pallas, 1811) and Knipowitschia caucasica (Kawrajsky, in Berg, 1916), from the northern Aegean area but otherwise widespread in the Ponto-Caspian region, and the endemic Mediterranean K. punctatissima (Canestrini, 1864) (north-eastern Italy) and K. thessala (Vinciguerra, 1921) (Thessaly). Scenarios for differentiation following the late Miocene Messinian salinity crisis are outlined. The vulnerability of these species is discussed, and their present status reviewed. Populations no longer exist at the precise type localities of E. pygmaeus (Lefkas) and K. thessala (Hasabali spring, Pinios river system). Special features of scientific and cultural interest are noted, and the biological capability for species recovery is assessed.     

Variation in body size and sexual dimorphism across geographical and environmental space in the frogs Limnodynastes tasmaniensis and L. peronii

This study aimed to identify potential factors responsible for geographically structured morphological variation within the widespread Australian frogs Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Günther and L. peronii Duméril & Bibron. There was support for James's rule, and both latitude and present climate explained large amounts of the variation in body size and shape (particularly in L. peronii ). There was also some support for the influence of several biogeographical barriers. Finally, both species were sexually dimorphic for body size and the degree of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) varied geographically. Climate was an important explanation for SSD variation in L. peronii , while latitude was most important for L. tasmaniensis . Geographical variations in sexual selection via male–male physical competition and climate-related resources are suggested as potential explanations for SSD variation in L. peronii .  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 82 , 39–56.     

Age structure, growth and reproduction of Leuciscus pyrenaicus in an intermittent stream in the Guadalquivir river basin, southern Spain

The age, growth and reproduction of Leuciscus pyrenaicus (Günther, 1868), an endemic cyprinid from the Iberian Peninsula, was studied from November 1987 to September 1989 in a small seasonal tributary of the Guadalquivir river basin. Maximum fork lengths observed were a 160 mm male with six scale annuli and a 171 mm female aged 7 +. Maximum ages observed were 7 + in males and 8 + in females. There were no significant differences in the annual growth increments between sexes. Seasonal growth period started in March and continued for 5 to 6 months. Mean lengths of 1 + specimens onwards diminished during summer and/or autumn. Males and females matured in their third and fourth year of life respectively. The overall sex ratio (272 males: 310 females) differed significantly from equality. Spawning began in May and ended in July. L. pyrenaicus is a multiple spawner that releases a minimum of two batches of eggs per female each year. Eggs in each batch were similar in both size (egg diameter) and number released. The relationship between fecundity (Fee) and fork length (mm) was represented by the formula: Fec=1.96 10⁻³ L^2.50.     

A reinterpretation of Rangea schneiderhoehni and the discovery of a related new fossil from the Nama Group, South West Africa

Two new specimens of Rangea schneiderhoehni Gürich 1930 and a new fossil are here described from the Nama Group of South West Africa. A careful study of the two Rangea specimens and a reexamination of the holotype shows that R. schneiderhoehni forma plana and R. schneiderhoehni forma turgida are the same species as already suggested by Gürich, Richter, and Pflug, that the puzzling outer flange of forma plana is part of an underlying second leaf-like body, and that the Ediacara 'Rangea' does not belong to the genus Rangea . Here, therefore, it is introduced as the genus Glaessnerina . The new fossil, Nasepia altae , is related to Pteridinium simplex Gürich 1930 and Rangea schneiderhoehni Gürich 1930, and also to the problematic fossil Namalia villiersiensis Germs 1968.     

Age and growth of the striped mullet, Mugil platanus (Actinopterygii, Mugilidae), in a southwestern Atlantic coastal lagoon (37°32'S–57°19'W): a proposal for a life-history model

Species of Mugilidae are an important economic resource supporting several small communities in Argentina and Brazil through fishing. The growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy model, age limit ( t _0.95) and natural mortality ( M ) for the striped mullet ( Mugil platanus ) Günther, 1880, in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (37°32'S–57°19'W) were estimated. These results constitute the first estimated values for the species as: L _∞ (cm) = 563.82; K (years⁻¹) = 0.30; t ₀ (years) = −0.057 (age groups 1–8); t _0.95 = 10.07 years and M  = 0.30. Moreover, a hypothetical model is proposed for the life history of the adult stock of M. platanus from the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon based on CPUE data, environmental parameters, ovarian maturity stages, gonadosomatic indexes, the allometric growth coefficient b and deposition of hyaline or opaque rings in the otholiths. Mugil platanus is therefore regarded as a species of moderate to rapid growth rate, with a relatively low longevity and a high natural mortality rate, compared to other species of Mugilidae.     

An Ichthyophonus-typefungus in the deep-sea pelagic fish Scopelogadus beanii (Günther) (Pisces: Melamphaidae)pathology, geographic distribution and ecological implications

Parasitological examination of 400 specimens of the lower mesopelagic-bathypelagic melamphaid fish Scopelogadus beanii (Günther) collected from throughout the species'geographic range in the Atlantic Ocean revealed cysts ranging in size from 1 to > 20 mm diameter in the livers of 50 individuals (12.5%). Histological preparations showed that the encysted material was an Ichthyophonus-type fungus, which destroyed the liver tissue in infected individuals by progressive necrosis, the extent of which varied with cyst number and size. Infections were found primarily in individuals > 80 mm s.l . (size of sexual maturity in S. beanii ), with a significantly higher rate of infection among females. Liver weight was significantly reduced in infected fishes. Body wet weights tended to be lower in infected females. Fish from the western Atlantic showed a significantly greater prevalence of infection (17.0%) than those from either the eastern (1.1%) or South Atlantic (7.1 %). Within the western Atlantic, individuals collected from the slope waters of the Mid-Atlantic Bight showed a significantly higher percentage of infected individuals than those collected from more northerly areas (27.8% v. 9.9%, respectively); regional variations may be accounted for by differences in habitat and diet of S. beanii among these regions. The high percentage of infected individuals in the western North Atlantic, coupled with the pathogenic nature of the fungus, suggests the possible loss of reproductively competent individuals from the population of this region.     

Reproductive biology of Gambusia affinis holbrooki Baird and Girard, Xiphophorus helleri (Gunther) and X. maculatus (Heckel) (Pisces; Poeciliidae) in Queensland, Australia

The reproductive biology of three introduced Poeciliidae, Gambusia affinis holbrooki Baird and Girard, Xiphophorus helleri (Günther) and X. maculatus (Heckel) was studied over a 14-month period in Brisbane, Queensland. Photoperiod and water temperature determined the length of the breeding season in G. affinis , which produced up to nine broods between August and March, with the peak of reproductive activity in October. Fecundity was linearly related to body weight in G. affinis (mean fecundity = 22.78 ± 1.02, range = 3–108 offspring per brood).
Xiphophorus helleri bred from August to May, producing eight to nine broods, with peak reproductive activity from October to December. Fecundity was curvilinearly related to body weight (mean fecundity = 60.15 ± 3.8, range = 7–183 offspring per brood. Xiphophorus maculatus bred between September and March, producing five to six broods during the study period. Fecundity was linearly related to standard length (s.l.) (mean fecundity = 27.27 ± 2.4, range = 3–92 offspring per brood). Although the reproductive strategy of the three species differs, all have the capacity to build up large populations in south-eastern Queensland. Their present distributions and relative abundance are discussed.     

Phylogenetic relationships among Rhacophorinae (Rhacophoridae, Anura, Amphibia), with an emphasis on the Chinese species

The partial nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes was determined for 23 Chinese species of Rhacophoridae (Amphibia: Anura), representing four of the eight recognized genera. Using Buergeriinae as the outgroup, phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference) were performed in combination with already published mitochondrial 12S and 16S sequences of Rhacophorinae frogs. In all cases, Philautus romeri Smith, 1953 is recovered as the sister taxon to all other Rhacophorinae, although the support values are weak. Chirixalus doriae Boulenger, 1893 is closer to Chiromantis [ Chiromantis rufescens (Günther, 1868) and Chiromantis xerampelina Peters, 1854] than to Chirixalus vittatus (Boulenger, 1887). The clade { Philautus odontotarsus Ye & Fei, 1993, [ Philautus idiootocus (Kuramoto & Wang, 1987), Kurixalus eiffingeri (Boettger, 1895)]} is recovered with strong support. The monophyly of Theloderma and Rhacophorus rhodopus Liu & Hu, 1959 is not supported. It is suggested that Philautus albopunctatus Liu & Hu, 1962 should be placed into the synonymy of Theloderma asperum (Boulenger, 1886), and that Philautus rhododiscus Liu & Hu, 1962 should be assigned to Theloderma , so as to correct the paraphyly. Additionally, the monophyly of ' Aquixalus ' is not supported, and this requires further examination. Results also indicate that the Rhacophorus leucomystax (Gravenhorst, 1829)/ Rhacophorus megacephalus (Hallowell, 1861) complex needs further revision. Studies employing broader sampling and more molecular markers will be needed to resolve the deep relationships within the subfamily Rhacophorinae.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153 , 733–749.