A new species of the cardinalfish genus Gymnapogon (Perciformes, Apogonidae) from the Red Sea

 A new cardinalfish species, Gymnapogon melanogaster, is described from two specimens collected at night in the Gulf of Aqaba, Eilat, Israel. This species is characterized by having 9 dorsal and 8 anal fin soft rays; 14–15 pectoral fin rays; 2 + 11 gill rakers; a flat, bifurcated preopercular spine; a naked body without a papillae network; black pelvic fins; and a black stomach. It is similar to Gymnapogon vanderbilti (Fowler, 1938) that is known only from the Line Islands of the Central Pacific Ocean. Received: December 26, 2001 / Revised: June 10, 2002 / Accepted: June 24, 2002 Acknowledgments We thank D. Didier and M. Sabaj of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, for loans of and for taking data from type specimens; T.H. Fraser of the Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, kindly provided data on type specimens. We are grateful to E. Heemstra of the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa, for the artwork presented in this article and to A. Lerner of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, for his assistance in collecting the specimens. Correspondence to:Ofer Gon     

草麻黄雌性生殖器官的个体发生和畸形式样研究

用扫描电镜观察并分析了草麻黄（Ephedra sinica Stapf)雌性生殖器官的个体发生及畸形式样。该种雌球花个体发生式样与麻黄属其他具双胚朱球果的类群基本一致。外珠被以一对近轴侧突起物出现以及该突起物与苞片成交互排列的发育式样支持前人关于该构造叶性本质的论述,而内珠被与珠心的发育相关,因此可能是真正的珠被,基于返祖性畸形三胚珠球花的出现及其他形态特征,认为麻黄属胚珠数目减少是该属内物种特化的一个趋势;利用雌球花发育的畸形现象及外珠被的形态学本质提出麻黄属的雌球果为复轴性构造,雌性生殖单位是由类似于科达类的次级生殖枝构造经系统发育变态,融合,简化成现存的生胚珠构造式样,每一可育苞片及其腋内雌性生殖单位共同组成了麻黄属的苞鳞－种鳞复合体。     

Early maternal, genetic and environmental components of antioxidant protection, morphology and immunity of yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) chicks

Maternal effects mediated by egg quality are important sources of offspring phenotypic variation and can influence the course of evolutionary processes. Mothers allocate to the eggs diverse antioxidants that protect the embryo from oxidative stress. In the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), yolk antioxidant capacity varied markedly among clutches and declined considerably with egg laying date. Analysis of bioptic yolk samples from clutches that were subsequently partially cross-fostered revealed a positive effect of yolk antioxidant capacity on embryonic development and chick growth, but not on immunity and begging behaviour, while controlling for parentage and common environment effects. Chick plasma antioxidant capacity varied according to rearing environment, after statistically partitioning out maternal influences mediated by egg quality. Thus, the results of this study indicate that egg antioxidants are important mediators of maternal effects also in wild bird populations, especially during the critical early post-hatching phase.     

Studies on skeleton formation in reptiles, v. Patterns of ossification in the skeleton of Alligator mississippiensis DAUDIN (Reptilia, Grocodylia)

Patterns of ossification are described in the endo-and exoskeleton of Alligator mississippiensis. The occurrence of a dermo-supraoccipital is discussed in light of the independence of dermal and endochondral bone. The development of the bony secondary palate is discussed in light of Haeckelian recapitulation. The sequence of ossification in the limb skeleton is shown to differ from the sequence of chondrification of the cartilaginous precursors. Patterns of ossification in Alligator are compared to lepidosaurs in terms of sequence and timing. Important differences relate to ossification patterns in the limb skeleton: lepidosaurs show a dominance of digit III > IV > II > I > V, whereas Alligator shows a dominance of digits III > II> IV > I > V in the ossification process. Ontogenetic repatterning in the ossification of the axial skeleton is discussed as it bears on the serial homology of dorsal ribs, sacral ribs and caudal ribs (transverse processes).     

Reproductive Biology of the Rock Lizard (Darevskia saxicola,Reptilia, Lacertidae)

Biology Bulletin - Data on the reproduction of the rock lizard (Darevskia saxicola (Eversmann 1834)) in the gorges of Bol’shaya Laba (Karachay-Cherkessia) and Malaya Laba (Krasnodar...     

Reproductive Biology of the Distylous Manettia luteo-rubra (Rubiaceae)

The reproductive biology of Manettia luteo-rubra was studied in the coastal montane Atlantic rain forest of southeastern Brazil. This Rubiaceae is a perennial vine that flowers all the year round, but has a flowering peak during the dry season. It presents reciprocal herkogamy, thus the plants are morphologically distylous. The morphs occur in a 1:1 ratio, and pollen diameter and corolla length vary between short and long-styled flowers. Manettia luteo-rubra displays typical heterostylous self-incompatibility and sets almost no fruits from self- or intramorph pollinations. The flowers are tubular, red with yellow lobes, and odourless. Anthesis is asynchronous, and the flowers last about four days. Concentration of sugars in nectar is similar in both morphs, ca. 24%, this concentration being typical for hummingbird flowers. Three species of hummingbirds are the major pollinators of the flowers of M. luteo-rubra at the study site: the hermits Phaethornis eurynome and P. squalidus, and the trochiline Thalurania glaucopis. Three species of Heliconius butterflies act as minor pollinators. Both morphs of M. luteo-rubra exhibit natural fruit-set of about 80%, this reproductive output being maintained throughout the year by the pollinators' constancy to the flowers.     

Reproductive morphology, mating behavior, and spawning ecology of cephalaspid sea slugs (Aglajidae and Gastropteridae)

Abstract. Several recent experimental studies have assessed the behavioral reproductive ecology of four opisthobranch species belonging to the families Aglajidae and Gastropteridae (Cephalaspidea). In order to extend the scope of this earlier work, here we document the reproductive morphology and behavior of 36 taxa belonging to the same two sea slug families. Measurements focus on insemination patterns, spawning characteristics, as well as the size and shape of male and female reproductive organs (i.e., prostate, penis, bursa copulatrix, seminal receptacle). We found that behavioral and morphological traits vary considerably between species, even between closely related taxa. Mating behavior covers the full spectrum from unilateral to simultaneously reciprocal insemination and includes putatively antagonistic mechanisms such as hypodermic injection in some cases. With respect to morphology, particularly great variation was present in traits related to the male sexual function, such as prostate size and penis type. In traits associated with the female function, noticeable variation in those traits accessible for measurement was limited to the relative size of the sperm‐digesting bursa copulatrix. These data provide the basis for future comparative analyses on the evolution of reproductive characters in a phylogenetic context. We further explore the relationship between characteristics and body size. Our data corroborate previous findings that in species with exclusively planktotrophic development, investment per embryo (using mean egg diameter per species as a proxy) is independent of mean species body size. In contrast to egg size, spawn weight and the number of eggs per spawn tightly increased with body size, both within and among species. Hence, larger individuals among planktotrophs increased reproductive investment by increasing offspring quantity rather than investing more into each single offspring. Comparably large eggs with few eggs per spawn in our only two species with facultatively intracapsular metamorphosis are also consistent with findings in other opisthobranchs.     

Early development of dorsal and pelvic fins and their supports in hatchery-reared red-spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara (Perciformes: Serranidae)

Early morphogenesis of dorsal and pelvic fins and their supports in the larval and juvenile red-spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara, was examined using a hatchery-reared series. The dorsal spine anlage first appeared suspended in the middle part of the finfold at ca. 2.5 mm TL. Dorsal and pelvic supports appeared by the time the fish reached ca. 3 mm and started to ossify at ca. 3.5 mm. Elongated spines and their supports developed synchronously in both dorsal and pelvic fins. The formation of dorsal fin supports proceeded from anterior to posterior. The ossification of supports was completed by ca. 33 mm. Spinelets on the second dorsal spine and pelvic spine appeared by ca. 3 mm. In specimens larger than 36 mm, all spinelets on the second dorsal spine and pelvic spine had disappeared. The maximum size of the second dorsal spine and pelvic spine lengths relative to TL were ca. 45% and 44% at 3.3 mm in fish size, respectively. Thereafter, their proportions decreased gradually. Considering the order of development of the elongated spines and mucous cells in the early life stages, the elongated spines might function as antipredator devices. Received: June 20, 2000 / Revised: April 28, 2001 / Accepted: June 11, 2001     

Interspecific variation in temperature dependence of egg development of five congeneric stonefly species (Protonemura Kempny, 1898, Nemouridae,Plecoptera)

Embryonal development of the five congeners Protonemura auberti Illies, 1954, P. hrabei Rauser, 1956, P. meyeri (Pictet, 1841), P. nitida (Stephens, 1835), and P. praecox (Morton, 1894) was studied under various laboratory temperatures and different photoperiods.Mean number of eggs in field collected batches was between 470 (P. praecox) and 1211 (P. auberti). Spring species had smaller egg batches than autumn species (Table 1). Mean hatching success in the laboratory was 50–100% at 2–18 °C. In most species hatching success decreased slightly with increasing temperature (Figs. 1a-e). None of the eggs incubated at 24 °C developed. Hatching pattern followed an asymmetric frequency distribution. In general, the hatching periods were the shorter the higher the incubation temperature.Embryonic development of all five species was inversely temperature dependent (Figs. 2a-e), and well described by a power law relationship (Figs. 3a-e). Interspecific differences in incubation periods were notable at nearly all temperatures (Fig. 4). There was a distinct interspecific sequence in length of incubation period (with steps of about 4 days), which was the same as can be seen in the flight periods: The later the species flies the longer the incubation period. Temperature fluctuations and variations in photoperiod had no influence on incubation and hatching periods or hatching success.The thermal demand of the egg stage neither explains the recent geographical distribution of the Protonemura species, nor does it directly correspond to the field temperatures common during their egg development. However, it is optimal in respect to resource partitioning between the five species, with the consequence of temporal displacement of life cycles.Derived from Brittain's (in press) proposal to compare the two constants a and b of the regressions describing the temperature dependence of embryonal development, a new index (Integral Development Time, IDT) indicating the thermal demand was created for easier comparison of numerous species (Table 2). Evaluation of the IDT for various species of Plecoptera (Fig. 5) suggests that species belonging to the family group Systellognatha generally have higher thermal requirements in the egg stage than species belonging to the Euholognatha.     

The osteology of Ilyophis blachei and its contribution to a diagnosis of the Synaphobranchidae (Pisces, Anguilliformes)

The osteology of Ilyophis blachei was described and shown to conform largely with that of its congeners, I. arx and I. brunneus . In detail, however, I. blachei revealed a new combination of features. It bears fused frontals, a rod-like pterygoid inserted on the almost vertical suspensorium, a third pair of posteriorly directed cartilaginous hypobranchials, a single pair of pharyngobranchials and a tube-like preoperculum. The new information was used to augment a preliminary diagnosis of this morphologically variable family with osteological characters.     

The Systematics and Reproductive Biology of the Galeus arae Subspecific Complex (Chondrichthyes: Scyliorhinidae)

Galeus arae is currently classified as a complex of three subspecies (Galeus arae arae, Galeus arae antillensis, and Galeus arae cadenati). Morphometric and meristic analyses, size at maturity, and variation in color patterns, support the recognition of these taxa as distinct species. All species have well-developed nidamental glands and are oviparous. Galeus arae comprises two geographically disjunct populations that are not distinguishable by the characters we examined. A northern population occurs along the east and Gulf coasts of North America from South Carolina to the Mississippi delta, and the northern coast of Cuba to the north-eastern tip of the Yucatan. A southern population occurs along the Caribbean coasts of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, and some neighboring islands. Galeus antillensis occurs on the northern coasts of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, and off many of the Leeward Islands. Galeus cadenati occurs off the Caribbean coasts of Panama and Colombia. Distributional data suggest that the three species are distributed allopatrically.     

A new Early Miocene genus of the family Sciaenidae (Teleostei, Perciformes) from the eastern Paratethys

A new genus of sciaenid fish Caucasisciaena is erected to accommodate the Early Miocene eastern Paratethys species Perca ignota Smirnov, 1936, which, subsequently, was variously attributed to the modern genera, either Larimus or Otolithoides. The materials examined include 32 specimens from four Caucasian and Crimean localities of Sakaraulian age (Lower Burdigalian). The new genus is based on a unique combination of features, including: parasphenoid with a dorsal rounded bony flange; basisphenoid present; premaxilla with short ascending process forming obtuse angle with alveolar process and ascending/alveolar process ratio about 0.17; anterior premaxillary teeth enlarged; posttemporal with few robust spines along its posterior margin; presence of 25 vertebrae; presence of three tiny supraneurals; dorsal fin with 11 spines plus 22–24 soft rays; anal fin with two spines and 7–8 soft rays; second anal-fin spine long and massive; pectoral fin elongate; scales ctenoid on body and cycloid on head (except for one or two rows of ctenoid scales on the cheek). Paleoecological considerations suggest that Caucasisciaena probably was a predatory fish that inhabited the coastal waters of the eastern sector of the Paratethyan basin.     

Reproductive Biology and Behavior of Rhabditis pellio, (Schneider) (Rhabditida: Rhabditidae)

Laboratory studies were conducted on the mating behavior of Rhabditis pellio males and females, which were maintained on a culture of Flavobacterium sp. bacteria isolated from earthworms. The mean time that elapsed between first contact of the sexes and their ultimate separation was 23.2 min. However, only 5.0 min were required for copulation (the interval during which male spicules were inserted into the female vagina). Three-day-old females that were permitted to mate once on their first day of adult life produced only one-third as many larvae as did females that were permitted unlimited mating. However, the longevity of females was found to decrease with an increase in the number of matings. Both males and females that were permitted to mate daily produced the greatest number of offspring when they were 4 days old. When the initiation of mating was delayed beyond their third day of life, the number of larvae produced by females decreased. In approximately one-half of the copulations, males failed to inseminate their female partners.     

Reproductive behavior and spawning success of female Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster (Pisces: Pomacentridae) from the Red Sea

The reproductive behavior of female whitebelly damselfish, Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster, was investigated in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea over two breeding seasons. Females were promiscuous, mating with 7–10 different males throughout the season. Females lay eggs in distinct batches, defined as the total number of eggs laid in a day. Generally females deposit a batch of eggs with one male (87.2%) and are capable of laying a new batch every other day. Egg batch size averaged 4009 eggs and females laid from 2 to 22 egg batches per season. The variation in spawning success was not correlated to body size. Females preferred to deposit eggs in nests that already contained early stage eggs (0–2 days old). Within a nest, females chose to lay eggs contiguous to the youngest egg batch, regardless if the nest contained either a single batch or multiple batches of different ages. Female within-nest spawning patterns appear to be a consequence of between nest preferences for nests with young eggs. It is proposed that the strong within-nest preference is a consequence of mate selection where females may use new egg batches as a visual cue as part of a copying style. Such a style may reduce the risk of predation and increase feeding opportunities, because less time is expended in mate selection, which would provide additional resources for egg production and ultimately increase female spawning success over the breeding season. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Aspects of the Feeding and Reproductive Biology of the Lake Tanganyikan Cichlid, Lamprologus ornatipinnis (Pisces, Cichlidae)

This project investigated the reproductive and feeding biology of Lamprologus ornatipinnis. Specimens were collected monthly from North Bay, Mbita Island, Zambia for a year. Dentition was examined under a scanning electron microscope, stomach contents were analysed using the Index of Relative Importance (IRI) and mean Gonado-somatic Indices (GSI) were calculated for each month to reveal spawning peaks. Both males and females possess an outer row of six (premaxilla) and eight (dentary) enlarged canines. The remaining inner rows consist of small, recurved canine-like teeth. The lower pharyngeal bone possesses enlarged centrally placed molars with an increasing number of smaller bevelled teeth laterally. This dentition is very similar to a typical benthic arthropod and mollusc eater. Stomach content analysis revealed that L. ornatipinnis feeds predominantly on Chironomidae, Copepoda and Ostracoda. The importance of these prey items in the diet differed significantly between the months sampled. Percentage volume of Copepoda and Cyclopoida was greater in female stomachs than males and the % number of Chironomidae greater in males than females. Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) values indicated males and females breed throughout the year. Females, however have a significant peak (p<0.05) in breeding activity from July to October that coincides with the increased abundance of plankton at this time.     

Reproductive biology of the fire-bellied toads, Bombina bombina and B. variegata (Anura: Discoglossidae): egg size, clutch size and larval period length differences

Clutch size, egg size, larval size and duration of larval period were estimated for samples of Bombina bombina and B. variegata from several populations. Bombina variegata lays fewer eggs per batch (mean 17.4) than B. bombina (mean 32.5). The volume of B. variegata eggs is 2.4 times greater and the dry weight 2.3 times greater than that of B. bombina. As a consequence, the volume of B. variegata hatchlings and their dry weight are respectively 1.9 times and 2.5 times greater than that of B. bombina. Analysis of variance showed that variation of egg size in B. variegata is significantly greater than in B. bombina. When reared under laboratory conditions freshly metamorphosed individuals of both species showed no difference in body size or weight. Although growth rates are equal, tadpoles of B. variegata reached metamorphosis 14 days earlier than B. bombina tadpoles because of differences in size of hatchlings. Differences in reproductive parameters found for the two European Bombina species can be interpreted as adaptations to contrasting environments in which they breed.     

Ontogeny of the mandarinfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Siniperca chuatsi</Emphasis> (Perciformes: Sinipercidae) reared in aquarium

Early-stage morphologies of the mandarinfish Siniperca chuatsi are described on the basis of an ontogenetic series of reared specimens in an aquarium. Spherical eggs (diameter 1.70–1.82mm) with a single oil globule (0.40–0.48mm) were free-demersal and easily floated when agitated. Hatching occurred about 3 days after spawning at about 24°C. Newly hatched larvae (3.8–4.2mm in notochord length: NL) had many melanophores on the yolk sac. After reaching ca. 5.5mm NL (8–9+19–20=27–28 myomeres), larvae had almost completely absorbed the yolk, possessed a large mouth and sharp teeth, and were starting to prey on other fish larvae. Three large preopercle spines appeared at ca. 5.5mm NL, five spines by ca. 8.5mm NL, and eight by ca. 21mm in standard length (SL). The interopercle bore a single spine at ca. 8.5mm NL and two spines at ca. 13.5mm SL. A single spine appeared at the supracleithrum and another at the opercle at ca. 10mm SL. Dorsal fin spines and pelvic, anal, and caudal fins were completed at ca. 10mm SL. Dorsal fin rays and pectoral fins were completed at ca. 13.5mm SL. Four ontogenetic characters (free-demersal eggs, large jaws with large teeth, conspicuous head spination, and precocious completion of dorsal fin spines) are rare among freshwater percoids.     

Cladistic analysis and osteological descriptions of the frog species in the Leptodactylus fuscus species group (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

The genus Leptodactylus is predominantly Neotropical (a few species have colonized the southern Neartic region) and is distributed from Texas to Argentina and on certain Caribbean islands. Leptodactylus was divided into five groups of species: Leptodactylus melanonotus , Leptodactylus ocellatus, Leptodactylus fuscus , Leptodactylus pentadactylus and Leptodactylus marmoratus . Among these, the L. fuscus group is the one with most species, with 27 taxa. Characters unverified in most of the species are used to define the L. fuscus group. However, the monophyly of the group has never been tested rigorously in a quantitative phylogenetic context. Thus, the main goal of this study was to test such monophyly and to construct a phylogeny of the L. fuscus group. A matrix of 114 characters scored across 43 taxa was constructed, with 31 characters taken from external morphology, 58 from adult skeletons, 16 from larval chondrocranium, 5 from ethology and 4 from morphometric data were included. Out of all the species examined, 23 belonged to the ingroup and 20 to the outgroup. The data set was analysed with implied weights, by using TNT software. The monophyly of the group was strongly supported in the fittest cladogram obtained. The optimizations of some characters on this hypothesis support traditional evolutionary hypotheses. The optimizations also suggest the presence of paedomorphic character states in some species, which is also discussed.