Zur systematischen Stellung der Amphisbanen (Reptilia: Squamata), mit besonderer Beriicksichtigung der Morphologie des Hemipenis

On the systematic position of the amphisbaenians The hemipenis of amphisbaenians has scincomorph characteristics, e. g. plicae and microscopic spiny epithelium. In plesiomorph forms (Bipes, Blanus) the apex is simple, in apomorph forms (Trogonophis) it is forked. The genus Amphisbaena has a variable hemipenis morphology. The species from the Antilles are clearly differentiated from those of the continent, the latter resemble Leposternon more than their Caribbean congeners. The resemblance between hisbaenians and scincomorph lizards, especiall teiids, in mode of development of the orbitosplenoid (Bacbia: Bellairs and Gans 1983) and in the mode of lung reduction (Bacbia: hoc loco) is congruent with resemblance in hemipenis characters. These resemblances are considered to be synapomorphic, not convergent.     

A synthesis of the theories and concepts of early human evolution

Current evidence suggests that many of the major events in hominin evolution occurred in East Africa. Hence, over the past two decades, there has been intensive work undertaken to understand African palaeoclimate and tectonics in order to put together a coherent picture of how the environment of Africa has varied over the past 10 Myr. A new consensus is emerging that suggests the unusual geology and climate of East Africa created a complex, environmentally very variable setting. This new understanding of East African climate has led to the pulsed climate variability hypothesis that suggests the long-term drying trend in East Africa was punctuated by episodes of short alternating periods of extreme humidity and aridity which may have driven hominin speciation, encephalization and dispersals out of Africa. This hypothesis is unique as it provides a conceptual framework within which other evolutionary theories can be examined: first, at macro-scale comparing phylogenetic gradualism and punctuated equilibrium; second, at a more focused level of human evolution comparing allopatric speciation, aridity hypothesis, turnover pulse hypothesis, variability selection hypothesis, Red Queen hypothesis and sympatric speciation based on sexual selection. It is proposed that each one of these mechanisms may have been acting on hominins during these short periods of climate variability, which then produce a range of different traits that led to the emergence of new species. In the case of Homo erectus (sensu lato), it is not just brain size that changes but life history (shortened inter-birth intervals, delayed development), body size and dimorphism, shoulder morphology to allow thrown projectiles, adaptation to long-distance running, ecological flexibility and social behaviour. The future of evolutionary research should be to create evidence-based meta-narratives, which encompass multiple mechanisms that select for different traits leading ultimately to speciation.     

Metacercariae of new trematode species of the genus Diplostomum (Trematoda,Diplostomidae) from fishes of Lake Tana,Ethiopia

Four new species of trematodes of the genus Diplostomum are described from metacercariae found in fishes from Lake Tana in Ethiopia: Diplostomum garrae sp. n. from the lens of Garra dembecha, D. longicollis sp. n. from the lens of Barbus humilis, D. montanum sp. n. from the lens of Barbus humilis, and D. tilapiae sp. n. from the vitreous body of Oreochromis niloticus. The metacercariae of the new species considerably differ in morphology and size from those of all known Holarctic species. It is the first African record of metacercariae of the genus Diplostomum in fish.     

NewProconsul (Xenopithecus) from the Miocene of Kenya

A maxillary fragment with M^2–3 from the middle Miocene of Lothidok Hill, northwestern Kenya represents a new species ofProconsul—the typical East African early and middle Miocene hominoid species group. M² inProconsul (Xenopithecus)hamiltoni sp. nov. is about 50% larger than in Kenyan lower MioceneP. (X.)koruensis. Xenopithecus is revived as a subgenus ofProconsul because its species are less derived than typical species of that genus in having small—unexpanded—trigons, in possessing an M² with a significantly lower relative length, and in lacking a hypocone and large metacone on M³; however, xenopithecines share with proconsulines welldefined trigon ridges on M^1–3, large hypocones on M^1–2, greater relative height of M^2–3, and crenulated cingula on M^1–3 four character complexes derived over those of plesiomorphous East African early and middle MioceneLimnopithecus. An upper canine from Lothidok Hill represents a second species ofProconsul, P. (Proconsul)major. This identification confirms earlier records of that species from Lothidok.     

Behavioural correlates with hemipenis morphology in New World natricine snakes

Copulatory organs (hemipenes) of male snakes vary markedly among species in shape and ornamentation. We suggest that sexual conflict over copulation duration may have shaped the evolution of hemipenis morphology, favouring more elaborate organs in species in which a long duration of copulation is especially beneficial to males, despite the associated costs to females. To test this proposition, we compare mating behaviour between two species of gartersnakes differing in hemipenis morphology. In addition, we review data on copulation duration and hemipenis morphology and relate hemipenis morphology to phylogeny among of New World natricines. As predicted, copulation duration was significantly shorter in the common gartersnake ( Thamnophis sirtalis ), a species with simple subcylindrical hemipenes, than in the plains gartersnake ( Thamnophis radix ), a species with more complex, bilobed organs. Furthermore, female T. radix frequently exhibited vigorous body rolls during copulation, a behaviour associated with copulation termination, whereas female T. sirtalis never exhibited this behaviour. Copulations were of shorter duration when female T. radix (but not T. sirtalis ) more greatly exceeded males in body size, suggesting that females can more easily disengage from small males. Our review of New World natricines provides only weak evidence for an association between copulation duration and hemipenis morphology. Our mapping of hemipenis morphology onto the New World natricine phylogeny suggests that hemipenis morphology is evolutionarily plastic; both simple and bilobed hemipenes occur in all three major natricine clades, as well as in two of three gartersnake subclades and several sister-species pairs.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 98 , 110–120.     

Major components in the hairpencil secretions of Danaid butterflies from Far East Asia

A survey of the components in the hairpencil secretions of 10 species of danaid butterflies from Japan and Formosa has been carried out to indicate whether they provide information of taxonomic significance compared to American, African and Australian species. The Far East species contained hydroxydanaidal and/or danaidone and the genus Euplosa contained trans-β-ocumene and linalool in addition. These results suggest that the components of the secretion of Far East species are very similar to those in danaids from Australia.     

New species and distinctive geographical divergences of the genus Sparassis (Basidiomycota): evidence from morphological and molecular data

Species of the genus Sparassis in East Asia were investigated using morphology and DNA sequences data. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the nuclear gene coding for the ribosomal large subunit (nLSU) and partial gene coding RNA polymerase subunit II (rpb2) strongly supported lineages corresponding to morphological features. Three taxa, S. subalpina, S. cystidiosa f. flabelliformis and S. latifolia were recognized from East Asia, and the former two taxa are new to science. The occurrence of S. latifolia in Japan and in the Russian Far East was confirmed. Geographical divergences of Sparassis in the Holarctic were observed. Most species have relatively narrow distribution ranges, and taxa with intercontinental distributions were not detected. Divergence of species in the Northern Hemisphere in different clades appears to have taken place at different times: the S. latifolia-crispa-radicata species complex appears to have undergone a recent radiation, while the S. subalpina-brevipes-spathularia species complex represents a relatively ancient speciation.     

A new dicynodont (Anomodontia, Eotherapsida) from the Upper Permian of Tatarstan

A new dicynodont genus and species, Idelesaurus tataricus sp. nov. (Cryptodontidae), from the Semin Ovrag locality (Tatarstan, Tetyushinskii District; Upper Permian, Upper Tatarian Substage, Severodvinian Horizon) is described. The skull patterns of the East European and South African Cryptodontidae and Aulocephalodontidae are compared from the morphofunctional point of view.     

New species of Cercopithecoides from Haasgat, North West Province, South Africa

Analyses of new cercopithecid fossil specimens from the South African site of Haasgat point to craniofacial affinities with the genus Cercopithecoides. Detailed metric and non-metric comparisons with South African Cercopithecoides williamsi, and other East African Cercopithecoides species, Cercopithecoides kimeui, Cercopithecoides meaveae, Cercopithecoides kerioensis, and Cercopithecoides alemyehui demonstrate that the Haasgat fossils have distinct craniofacial morphology and dental metrics. Specifically, material from Haasgat probably represents one of the smaller Cercopithecoides, differing from the others in its particular suite of features that vary within the genus. It is unique in its more vertical ramus, associated with a relatively lengthened mandibular body. Haasgat Cercopithecoides has a particularly narrow interorbital region between relatively larger ovoid orbits, with articulation of the maxillary bones at a suture above the triangular nasal bones. Furthermore, the maxillary arcade is more rounded than other Cercopithecoides, converging at the M² and M³. The conclusion drawn from this analysis is that the Pleistocene Haasgat fossils are colobines representing a distinct taxon of Cercopithecoides, Cercopithecoides haasgati, thus adding a second species of the genus to southern Africa.     

Molecular phylogeny and speciation patterns in host-specific monogeneans (Cichlidogyrus,Dactylogyridae) parasitizing cichlid fishes (Cichliformes,Cichlidae) in Lake Tanganyika

Cichlidogyrus (including Scutogyrus) is the most speciose dactylogyridean monogenean genus known from African and Levantine cichlid fishes (Cichlidae). While its taxonomy is well established, little is known about the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of this ectoparasite, especially from hosts belonging to one of the most impressive vertebrate radiations, the cichlid fishes from the East African Great Lakes and surrounding hydrological systems. Phylogenetic inference based on DNA sequences of the nuclear 18S, internal transcribed spacer 1 and 28S rDNA genes revealed that Cichlidogyrus parasitizing mainly West African cichlid tribes is paraphyletic with respect to species parasitizing hosts belonging to the East African cichlid radiation, which constitute a well-supported monophylum. Members of Cichlidogyrus from tylochromine and oreochromine hosts that colonised Lake Tanganyika only recently, cluster with their non-Lake Tanganyika relatives, indicating that they colonised Lake Tanganyika with their current host species, and did not jump over from any of the many cichlid species already present in the lake. The diversification of Cichlidogyrus in Lake Tanganyika seems to be driven by failure to diverge in old lineages of cichlids, cospeciation in more recently evolved ones, and host switching followed by parasite duplication at the level of the various host tribes. Evaluation of host specificity and structural evolution of haptoral and reproductive organs in Lake Tanganyika Cichlidogyrus revealed that strict specialist species together with larval hook size represent the ancestral state of haptor configuration, suggesting that members of Cichlidogyrus in this system evolved from a very simple form to a more complex one similarly to their West African congeners. Generalist species among Cichlidogyrus with a sclerotized vagina parasitizing ancient Lake Tanganyika lineages seem to have developed a different hook configuration, most probably to ensure successful colonisation of new, phylogenetically unrelated hosts.     

The genus Kepplerites Neumary et Uhlig (Kosmoceratidae,Ammonoidea) in the Bathonian-Callovian beds (Middle Jurassic) of the Russian Platform

The succession of early species of the genus Kepplerites is established in the Upper Bathonian-Lower Callovian beds of Central Russia and compared with the ammonoid succession of East Greenland and Western Europe. Late Bathonian members of the genus Kepplerites from the Middle Volga Region are generally similar, though not identical to those from Greenland, whereas the Early Callovian Kepplerites species and their immediate Bathonian ancestors are represented by species common to all three regions. The analysis of the ammonoid distribution suggests a connection between the East Greenland and Central Russian marine basins in the Early and Middle Bathonian and in the Early Callovian, and their short-term isolation in the Late Bathonian. A new species, Kepplerites (Kepplerites) aigii sp. nov., is described from the Upper Bathonian (keuppi Zone) of the Alatyr River basin (Middle Volga Region).     

Cercopithecidae from the Pliocene Chiwondo beds, Malawi-rift

There are a total of 16 fossil cercopithecid specimens, representing at least 10 individuals, from the Chiwondo Beds of northern Malawi. The majority of this material is derived from the Middle Pliocene Unit 3A, but one specimen is from the Early Pliocene Unit 2. This latter specimen is from a papionin of indeterminate genus similar in size to Parapapio ado and Pliopapio alemui. Among the specimens from Unit 3A, two species can be diagnosed: an indeterminate species of Theropithecus, and a species of Parapapio similar in dental size to P. broomi. Neither of the genera from Unit 3A are exclusive to either East Africa or South Africa. Their relative abundances, however, are more similar to Middle Pliocene South African sites where Parapapio is the most common primate genus, and Theropithecus is comparatively rare. This is in contrast to similarly-aged East African sites where Theropithecus is by far the most abundant genus.     

A Taxonomic Study of European and East African Species of the Genera Pelecopsis and Trichopterna (Araneae, Linyphiidae), with Descriptions of a New Genus and Two New Species of Pelecopsis from Kenya

On the basis of the results of an analysis primarily of the morphology of the male palps and palpal organs the delimitation of the erigonine genera Pelecopsis Simon and Trichopterna Kulczyński and the phylogenetic relationships between European and East African species of these genera are discussed. For the East African species Pelecopsis convexa (Holm), and P. bacelarae (di Caporiacco), together with two undescribed species from Nigeria, the new genus Locketia is established. Pelecopsis humiliceps sp.n. and P. albifrons sp.n., both from Kenya, are described and P. tenera (Holm, 1962), preocc. P. tenera (Schenkel, 1927), is replaced by P. tenuipalpis nom.n. Viewpoints are presented on evolutionary trends and phylogeny of European and East African Pelecopsis species.     

Fragilidium duplocampanaeforme sp. nov. (Dinophyceae): a new phagotrophic dinoflagellate from the French Atlantic coast

A new species of the genus Fragilidium, F. duplocampanaeforme sp. nov., is described from examinations by LM and SEM. This species has been recorded in summer on the French Atlantic coast, over a number of years. It was never abundant in the plankton and was very often associated with Fragilidium subglobosum, Pyrophacus horologium and also with toxigenic species of the genera Alexandrium and Dinophysis. Phagotrophy of F. duplocampanaeforme on Dinophysis prey is shown, and sexual reproduction is suggested by the observation of gamete-like small forms. The size and the peculiar shape of its cells do not correspond to any known taxon, but the plate arrangement fits the genus Fragilidium. The plate formula is Po, Pc, 4′, 8″, 10c, 6s?, 7?, 2?, 1p. A close examination of the plate morphology reveals an apical closing platelet Pc and significant differences from known Fragilidium species. Plate ornamentation is complex. A longitudinal fold and an unusual optional pore are seen on the antapical plate 2?. Other distinctive morphological features are emphasized which discriminate this new species from others of the genus Fragilidium.     

Variance in reproductive success and the opportunity for selection in a serially monogamous species: simulations of the mating system of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tropheus</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

Sexual selection is believed to play a major role in speciation processes of cichlid fishes in the East African Great Lakes, in particular Lakes Malawi and Victoria, by driving diversification in male nuptial coloration. In Lake Tanganyika, a high rate of color pattern diversification is found in the genus Tropheus, where more than 100, mostly allopatric, color morphs have been described. Whether color pattern differentiation in Tropheus could follow from sexual selection as well, has not yet been conclusively shown. Unlike typical sexually selected species, Tropheus are sexually monomorphic, establish temporary pair bonds and spawn monogamously. Variance in mating success among individuals would still allow for sexual selection, but due to their high population census sizes, parentage data from natural populations are difficult to obtain. Simulations designed according to existing data on mating behavior in Tropheus suggested that variance in male reproductive success can be substantial and lead to levels of opportunity for selection, which are similar to values estimated, for example, from natural populations of sexually dimorphic songbirds. Variance in male success was mostly affected by the way females perceived and reacted to differences between males, and to a lesser extent by the duration of components of the reproductive cycles of males and females. These results indicate that future work on the importance of sexual selection in Tropheus should concentrate on mate choice cues and female mate choice behavior, but does not depend critically on the acquisition of more detailed life history data.     

Extinct large colobines from the Plio-Pleistocene of Africa

Three genera and six species of extinct African Plio-Pleistocene Colobinae are discussed. One new genus, Rhinocolobus and three new species, R. turkanaensis, Cercopithecoides kimeui and Paracolobus mutiwa are named. These colobines show a diversity in postcranial and dental morphology not seen among extant species. Rhinocolobus was most similar to extant Colobus in postcranial morphology and had similar high-cusped shearing teeth. Cercopithecoides shows a number of postcranial skeletal features typical of terrestrial cercopithecid species and has lower cusped teeth. Paracolobus, while generally more similar to Rhinocolobus than to Cercopithecoides, is intermediate in some features of its postcranial morphology. The distribution of the various taxa among East and South African sites with different palaeoenvironments is generally consistent with the morphological interpretation. With the exception of Cercopithecoides kimeui, which persisted a little longer, these large colobines disappear from the fossil record about 1.8 million years ago. Their disappearance coincides with an interval of increasing aridity documented at Olduvai Gorge, the Omo Valley, and East Turkana.     

Sexual Size Dimorphism in the Color Pattern Elements of Two Mimetic Heliconius Butterflies

Sexual dichromatism and sexual dimorphism of body size are reasonably well studied in butterflies. Sexual size dimorphism of color pattern elements, however, is much less explored. The object of this study is Heliconius, a genus of butterflies well known for the coevolution between mate color preferences and mimicry. Given the sexual role of wing coloration, we investigated the existence of sexual size dimorphism in the wing color elements of a mimetic pair—Heliconius erato phyllis Fabricius and Heliconius besckei Ménétriés—and analyzed the allometric patterns of these traits. Correlation between size of elements in the dorsal and ventral wing surfaces were also estimated. In both species, three out of four elements were larger in males, but the non-dimorphic element was not the same. With regard to the allometric patterns, our most important finding was that smaller males of one species have proportionally larger yellow bars. This is the first study specifically concerning quantitative sexual dimorphism in the coloration of this well-known genus of butterflies and it opens new prospects to investigate sex-related natural selection and sexual selection of color pattern elements.     

Ougandatherium napakense nov. gen. nov. sp., le plus ancien Rhinocerotidae Iranotheriinae d’Afrique

Ougandatherium napakense nov. gen. nov. sp., the earliest Rhinocerotidae Iranotheriinae from Africa. The Uganda Palaeontology Expedition discovered an exceptionally rich fossiliferous channel deposit at Napak I, Karamoja, in 1999, which yielded two partial skeletons of a new genus and species of early Miocene Rhinocerotidae, together with various other mammals and gastropods typical of Faunal Set I of East Africa. The age of the deposits on the basis of both faunal correlation (biochronology) and radio-isotopic dating is ca 19–20 Ma. The new genus and species is a hornless rhinoceros about the size of a small horse, with long slender limb bones and metapodials and hypsodont upper cheek teeth whose enamel is undulate, and fossettes cement-filled. Upper premolars possess an inner wall; this is clearly an iranotheriine morphology. As such it is the earliest known African member of this subfamily, close to the oldest member of the subfamily recently discovered at Bugti in Pakistan, a site whose age is about the same.