Haematological observations on a hibernating tuatara,Sphenodon punctatus

Abstract

Quantitative and biochemical observations were made on the peripheral blood of a hibernating female tuatara. The packed red cell volume (haematocrit) was 30%. There were about 260 000 erythrocytes and 5000 leucocytes per mm³ blood. Lymphocytes and neutrophils were the predominant leucocytes, followed by monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Haemoglobin, plasma protein, glucose, sodium, potassium, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were determined. These haematological data are compared with data from the same animal obtained during the active summer period.     

A new weevil genus of the tribe Metrioxenini (Coleoptera: Belidae) in Eocene Baltic amber

A new genus, Succinometrioxena n. gen., and a new species, S. poinari n. sp. (Metrioxenini: Oxycoryninae), are described from Baltic amber. This new genus resembles the recent genus Wallacexena Legalov, 2009 but differs from it by the frons with horn-like tubercles on either side, the absence of a middle pronotal carina, teeth on the side of the pronotum, the anterior margin of the pronotum lacking teeth and two long carinae on the elytra. From the fossil genus Paltorhynchus Scudder, 1893 the present fossil differs by possessing a frons with horn-like tubercles on either side, the absence of a middle pronotal carina, teeth on the sides of the pronotum, two long carinae on the elytra and short temples. From the fossil genus Archimetrioxena Voss, 1953, the new genus differs by the frons with horn-like tubercles on either side, the absence of the two truncated elytral carinae, the sides of the pronotum with teeth, short temples and a larger body size.     

Generation of RNA pseudoknot structures with topological genus filtration

In this paper we present a sampling framework for RNA structures of fixed topological genus. We introduce a novel, linear time, uniform sampling algorithm for RNA structures of fixed topological genus g  , for arbitrary g>0$g>0$. Furthermore we develop a linear time sampling algorithm for RNA structures of fixed topological genus g   that are weighted by a simplified, loop-based energy functional. For this process the partition function of the energy functional has to be computed once, which has O(n²)$O(n^2)$ time complexity.     

Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel‐web spiders of the Tegenaria−Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data

The taxonomy and systematics of European house spiders, currently constituting the ill‐defined Tegenaria?Malthonica complex (including Aterigena) in the family Agelenidae, are revised. In Europe four monophyletic genera and 81 species are defined. One genus, Eratigena gen. nov. , and seven species are described as new; at species level 17 new synonyms and 20 new combinations are proposed, and the original combination of 14 species is reinstated. Five species could not be placed (incertae sedis) because of insufficient material and one taxon is regarded as ‘nomen dubium’. On the basis of a detailed morphological assessment, 88 characters were chosen for a cladistic analysis. Phylogenetically informative characters include mostly spination patterns as well as spinneret and genital structures. In addition to morphology, three gene sections [cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 (NADH1) 28S] were analysed. Morphological and molecular analyses were performed individually and in combination applying maximum parsimony and Bayesian tree search methods. In all resulting trees Malthonica and Tegenaria in their present composition are either polyphyletic or paraphyletic. Consequently, we redefined the two genera and erected a new genus, Eratigena gen. nov. Identification keys are provided for the European agelenid genera as well as for the European species of Tegenaria and Eratigena gen. nov. The genera and most of the constituent species are described and illustrated. The new classification has also been applied to some extra European members of the Tegenaria‐Malthonica complex resulting in additional three new synonyms, seven reversals to the original combination, and four new combinations. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Hispanothrips from Early Cretaceous Spanish amber,a new genus of the resurrected family Stenurothripidae (Insecta: Thysanoptera)

During a palaeontological excavation of amber at the site named San Just, in the Utrillas-Escucha area of Teruel Province, northeastern Spain, a rich fauna from the Albian (Early Cretaceous) was discovered. Among it, three specimens of Thysanoptera were found that are here attributed to the new genus Hispanothrips n. gen. in the family Stenurothripidae Bagnall 1923. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted that support the resurrection of the family Stenurothripidae and its replacement for Adiheterothripidae Shumsher 1946.     

The first Praesiricidae (Hymenoptera) from Northeast China

A new subfamily Rudisiricinae Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. subfam. and a new genus Rudisiricius Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. gen. with three new species R. belli Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih n. sp., R. crassinodus Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. sp., and R. celsus Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. sp. are described and illustrated from the family Praesiricidae. The type specimens were collected from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, northeastern China. The new subfamily also includes Aulidontes Rasnitsyn from the Upper Jurassic of Karatau in Kazakhstan. This is the first record of Praesiricidae in China. These well-preserved nearly-complete new fossils reported here provide additional material and structure characters about this family, which helps filling some gap in the evolution of Lower Hymenoptera.     

The larval morphology and ecology of a new species of Ecnomus from lake Naivasha,Kenya (Trichoptera: Ecnomidae)

Ecnomus mennelli sp.n. from Lake Naivasha, Kenya, belongs to the natalensis‐group. E. thomasseti was also found at the lake, and these are the first records of Trichoptera from Naivasha. Adults and larvae of both species were collected, and an analysis of the gut contents of the larvae showed them to be mainly predator y on small invertebrates. The ecological requirements and distribution of the African species of Ecnomus are discussed.     

中国蝗虫一新属一新种(直翅目,癩蝗科,癩蝗亚科)

记述了采自中国山东泰山癩蝗科癩蝗亚科1新属驼笨蝗属Humphaplotropis gen.nov.,1新种,泰山驼笨蝗Humphaplotropis taishanensis sp.nov.,新属近似笨蝗属Haplotropis Saussure,1888,区别特征为雄性前胸背板沿中隆线呈驼背隆起;前缘中央呈尖角形突出,其顶端几乎到达两复眼之间的中部;后缘中央呈尖角形突出,其顶端到达第1腹节的中部模式标本保存于山东农业大学植物保护学院,山东泰安.驼笨蝗属,新属Humphaplotropis gen.nov.(图1～4)词源:新属属名源自Hump-驼状隆起,-haplotropis为近似属笨蝗属Haplotropis Saussure,1888.意为前胸背板呈强烈驼背隆起的驼笨蝗属.泰山驼笨蝗,新种Humphaplotropis taishanensis sp.nov.(图1 ～4)正模♂,山东泰山(36°15′N,117°07′E),1981-06-23,采集者不明.词源:新种种名源自模式标本产地地名.     

中国西藏凹距飞虱族一新属和新种记述(半翅目,飞虱科,飞虱亚科)

记述了飞虱科1新属和1新种:西藏宽唇飞虱Latidypenus tibetensis gen.et sp.nov..该属根据后足胫距和雄虫阳茎构造特征,应归属于飞虱亚科中的凹距飞虱族,其亲缘关系接近于圆翅飞虱属Yuanchia Chen et Tasi和奇节飞虱属Mirocauda Chen,但可根据下列的特征与后两者相区别:1)后唇基基部膨大,向两侧扩张,明显宽于额的端部(后者为常态,仅稍宽于额的端部),侧面观,前唇基基部明显低于后唇基的端部,呈阶梯型(后者在同一线上);2)后足刺式为5-8-4(后者为5-6-4);3)后翅ⅡA1脉在端部分岔,A脉分为4支伸达后缘(后者ⅡA1脉在端部不分岔,A脉分为3支伸达后缘).模式种为西藏宽唇飞虱Laticlypenus tibetensis sp.nov..标本采自西藏墨脱上亚东村,灯光诱集.新种模式标本保存在南京农业大学昆虫标本室.