Planigales (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae) of eastern Australia's interior: a comparison of morphology, distributions and habitat preferences, with particular emphasis on South Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Blacket ◽  
Catherine Kemper ◽  
Robert Brandle
Keyword(s):  
Species Identification ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Character Displacement ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Dental Morphology ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Ecological Habitat

Correct species identification is an essential step in characterising an organism’s geographic range and ecological requirements. In this study the morphology, distribution and habitat preferences of eastern Australia’s three species of inland planigales, Planigale ingrami, P. tenuirostris and P. gilesi, were compared, particularly to establish consistent differences between the morphologically similar Planigale ingrami and P. tenuirostris, which earlier molecular evidence had suggested were easily misidentified. Specimens that had previously been characterised genetically were examined to find diagnostic morphological characters for each species. External measurements indicated that P. tenuirostris was larger than P. ingrami, but size ranges overlap considerably. Several external characters, including basal width of the supratragus and foot morphology, differentiate each species; however tail length was not a reliable distinguishing character. Bivariate plots of several skull characters also enabled species identification. Competition within each species may be reduced by sexual dimorphism in dental morphology, while differences in skull shape may indicate past character displacement between Planigale species. In South Australia P. ingrami and P. tenuirostris are broadly sympatric with P. gilesi but not with each other. There appears to be ecological habitat separation between all three species, with P. ingrami being the most restricted in distribution and habitat requirements, P. gilesi occurring in similar habitats but in a wider range of vegetation communities, and P. tenuirostris being the least tied to flood-prone habitats.

scholarly journals Mice of the genus Mus in the Crimea: species diagnostics, distribution, and ecology

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (21) ◽  
pp. 37-53
Author(s):  
Igor Evstafiev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
House Mouse ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Mus Spicilegus ◽  
The Crimea

The paper presents the first detailed summary of the current state of mice of the genus Mus in the Crimea, namely of the house mouse (Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758) and steppe mouse (Mus spicilegus Petenyi, 1882). Morphological structures of the house mouse and steppe mouse are characterized and external and craniometrical features important for species diagnostics are presented. Most of the morphological characters tend to vary within the entire geographic range of both species. Body length of house mice is significantly greater compared to that of steppe mice. Tail length in house mice is greater than in steppe mice, but the tail index is greater in the latter. Therefore, house mice look more ‘short-tailed’, and this feature can be used as an additional diagnostic character. In steppe mice, the tail becomes thinner gradually from base to tip and thus it is awl-shaped. The tail of fit house mice, especially of autumn-winter generations, often has a thickened base, which increases the visual effect of a short tail. Among internal characters, the most significant are the differences between testicles size of mature males. For species diagnostics of mice of the genus Mus, the size and shape of the following cranial structures can be used: location of the root and frontal wall of the crown of the first upper molar (M1) in relation to the diastema; zygomatic process of the maxilla and zygomatic arch; palatine foramens foramina palatinum, and others. These are reliable characters for morphological identification of M. musculus and M. spicilegus in the territory of the Crimea, in the zone of their sympatry. Reliable diagnostic characters are the dimensions of palatine foramens. In general, the entire complex of characters analysed in this study should be used for correct morphological diagnostics of these species. Features of distribution and population dynamics of the house mouse and steppe mouse in the Crimea are studied. It has been revealed that both the house mouse and the steppe mouse are distributed mainly in the lowland part of the Crimea and the forest-steppe belt of the foothills. Data on the ecology of species are presented, including specifics of reproduction and habitat preferences. The place and role of house mice in small-mammal assemblages of various landscape and ecological zones are estimated.

Schistonchus molochi sp. n. and S. athertonensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) from Ficus watkinsiana (Moraceae) in Australia

Nematology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerrie A. Davies ◽  
Faerlie Bartholomaeus ◽  
Natsumi Kanzaki ◽  
Robin M. Giblin-Davis
Keyword(s):  
Excretory Pore ◽  
New South ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Nerve Ring ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Pore Opening ◽  
Tail Tip

Ficus watkinsiana (sub-genus Urostigma, Section Stilpnophyllum) is endemic to Australia, growing in two disjunct populations, one in north-eastern Queensland and the other in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Schistonchus molochi sp. n. is described from F. watkinsiana in Queensland, Australia, and differentiated from other species of Schistonchus by a combination of morphological characters including having the excretory pore opening near the nerve ring, a broad head, a large, strongly sclerotised, stylet, a distinct lip sector disc with raised edges, a long post-uterine sac, rose-thorn-shaped spicule, no gubernaculum, three pairs of subventral papillae on the tail (one pair pre-cloacal on the anterior lip, one pair adcloacal on the posterior lip, and one slightly posterior to mid-tail) and bluntly rounded tail tip, and apparent biogeographical range. Presence of the lip sector disc suggests that it is closest to S. macrophylla. Schistonchus athertonensis sp. n. is also described from F. watkinsiana in Queensland and is characterised by a combination of morphological characters, including having the excretory pore opening near the nerve ring, a medium length post-uterine sac, presence of vulval flap in some specimens, rose-thorn-shaped spicule, no gubernaculum, and three pairs of subventral papillae on the tail (one pair adcloacal on the posterior lip, one at three to four-fifths of the tail length and one near the tip), a narrowly rounded tail tip, and apparent biogeographical range. Morphospecies 8, originally collected from F. obliqua, was also collected from F. watkinsiana in Queensland, and S. altermacrophylla was found with it in South Australia. These collections are further evidence of host-switching within Schistonchus.

scholarly journals Addressing widespread misidentifications of traditional medicinal mushrooms in Sanghuangporus (Basidiomycota) through ITS barcoding and designation of reference sequences

IMA Fungus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Shen ◽  
Shi-Liang Liu ◽  
Ji-Hang Jiang ◽  
Li-Wei Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Species Identification ◽  
Rolling Circle Amplification ◽  
Practical Method ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Its Sequences ◽  
Commercial Development ◽  
Medicinal Mushrooms ◽  
Rolling Circle ◽  
Reference Sequences ◽  
Its Barcoding

Abstract“Sanghuang” refers to a group of important traditionally-used medicinal mushrooms belonging to the genus Sanghuangporus. In practice, species of Sanghuangporus referred to in medicinal studies and industry are now differentiated mainly by a BLAST search of GenBank with the ITS barcoding region as a query. However, inappropriately labeled ITS sequences of “Sanghuang” in GenBank restrict accurate species identification and, to some extent, the utilization of these species as medicinal resources. We examined all available 271 ITS sequences related to “Sanghuang” in GenBank including 31 newly submitted sequences from this study. Of these sequences, more than half were mislabeled so we have now corrected the corresponding species names. The mislabeled sequences mainly came from strains utilized by non-taxonomists. Based on the analyses of ITS sequences submitted by taxonomists as well as morphological characters, we separate the newly described Sanghuangporus subbaumii from S. baumii and treat S. toxicodendri as a later synonym of S. quercicola. Fourteen species of Sanghuangporus are accepted, with intraspecific distances up to 1.30% (except in S. vaninii, S. weirianus and S. zonatus) and interspecific distances above 1.30% (except between S. alpinus and S. lonicerinus, and S. baumii and S. subbaumii). To stabilize the concept of these 14 species of Sanghuangporus, their taxonomic information and reliable ITS reference sequences are provided. Moreover, ten potential diagnostic sequences are provided for Hyperbranched Rolling Circle Amplification to rapidly confirm three common commercial species, viz. S. baumii, S. sanghuang, and S. vaninii. Our results provide a practical method for ITS barcoding-based species identification of Sanghuangporus and will promote medicinal studies and commercial development from taxonomically correct material.

scholarly journals Nothing in (sponge) biology makes sense – except when based on holotypes

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Erpenbeck ◽  
Merrick Ekins ◽  
Nicole Enghuber ◽  
John N.A. Hooper ◽  
Helmut Lehnert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Reference Material ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Reference Sequences ◽  
Species Descriptions ◽  
Preservation History

Sponge species are infamously difficult to identify for non-experts due to their high morphological plasticity and the paucity of informative morphological characters. The use of molecular techniques certainly helps with species identification, but unfortunately it requires prior reference sequences. Holotypes constitute the best reference material for species identification, however their usage in molecular systematics and taxonomy is scarce and frequently not even attempted, mostly due to their antiquity and preservation history. Here we provide case studies in which we demonstrate the importance of using holotype material to answer phylogenetic and taxonomic questions. We also demonstrate the possibility of sequencing DNA fragments out of century-old holotypes. Furthermore we propose the deposition of DNA sequences in conjunction with new species descriptions.

Molecular evidence for the hybrid origin of Rosa lichiangensis (Rosaceae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 222 (3) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhangming Zhu ◽  
Xinfen Gao
Keyword(s):  
Significant Role ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Natural Hybridization ◽  
Hybrid Origin ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Nuclear Marker

Natural hybridization was assumed to play a significant role in the diversification of Rosa. Rosa lichiangensis was suspected to be of hybrid origin based on its intermediate morphological characters between R. soulieana and R. multiflora var. cathayensis. In this study, four chloroplast regions (ndhC-trnV, ndhF-rpl32, ndhJ-trnF, and psbJ-petA) and a single copy nuclear marker (GAPDH) were used to test the hybrid origin of R. lichiangensis. The results from molecular data supported the hybrid origin of R. lichiangensis and further identified R. soulieana as its maternal progenitor and R. multiflora var. cathayensis as the paternal progenitor.

Steinernema borjomiense n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from Georgia

Nematology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 653-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg Gorgadze ◽  
Elena Fanelli ◽  
Manana Lortkhipanidze ◽  
Alberto Troccoli ◽  
Medea Burjanadze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
18S Rrna ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematode ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
18S Rrna Gene ◽  
The Body ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
A New Species

Summary A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema borjomiense n. sp., was isolated from the body of the host insect, Oryctes nasicornis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in Georgia, in the territory of Borjomi-Kharagauli. Morphological characters indicate that the new species is closely related to species of the feltiae-group. The infective juveniles are characterised by the following morphological characters: body length of 879 (777-989) μm, distance between the head and excretory pore = 72 (62-80) μm, pharynx length = 132 (122-142) μm, tail length = 70 (60-80) μm, ratio a = 26.3 (23.0-29.3), H% = 45 (40-51), D% = 54 (47-59), E% = 102 (95-115), and lateral fields consisting of seven ridges (eight incisures) at mid-body. Steinernema borjomiense n. sp. was molecularly characterised by sequencing three ribosomal regions (the ITS, the D2-D3 expansion domains and the 18S rRNA gene) and the mitochondrial COI gene. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that S. borjomiense n. sp. differs from all other known species of Steinernema and is a member of the monticolum-group.

scholarly journals Endemic Cyprus Scops Owl Otus cyprius Readily Breeds in Artificial Nest Boxes

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1775
Author(s):  
Savvas Iezekiel ◽  
Reuven Yosef ◽  
Constantinos Themistokleus ◽  
Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis ◽  
Christos G. Vlachos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Breeding Parameters ◽  
Island Endemic ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Old Trees

As is well-known, endemic island bird species are especially vulnerable to extinction from anthropogenic environmental change and reduced fitness compared with mainland taxa. The Cyprus Scops Owl, Otus cyprius, is a recently recognized island endemic species whose ecology and breeding biology have not been studied. It nests mainly in holes in trees and buildings, so the felling of old trees, modern architectural practices, and the renovation of old houses in villages may reduce nest site availability. Its population trend is also unknown. Therefore, to better determine its ecological requirements and habitat preferences we placed nest boxes in rural areas adjacent to the forest, in the forest, and in the ecotone between them, and used breeding success as our indicator of habitat suitability. We found that breeding parameters like laying date, clutch size, length of the incubation period, hatching day, hatching success, and number of nestlings did not differ between the three habitats. Despite the low level of nest box occupancy rate (5–11%) the endemic Cyprus Scops Owl readily breeds in artificial nests. Therefore, although we are unaware of any current threats to the Cyprus Scops Owl, we recommend that its conservation be prioritized, including studies, monitoring, habitat conservation, and the provision of nest boxes.

scholarly journals Pupae of the Nearctic species of Culicoides Latreille subgenus Monoculicoides Khalaf (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4504 (4) ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
PHILLIP SHULTS ◽  
ART BORKENT
Keyword(s):  
Species Identification ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Biogeographic Region ◽  
Nearctic Region

There are 160 valid species of Culicoides Latreille described from the Nearctic Region, but many are unknown as immatures or, although partially described, cannot be readily identified. We provide pupal diagnoses, descriptions, and a key to all seven known species of Culicoides subgenus Monoculicoides Khalaf occurring in the Nearctic biogeographic region. A diagnosis of several characters unique to this subgenus is provided to allow for the recognition of the included species from those of other subgeneric groupings. Microphotography of important morphological characters for both the key and descriptions are provided. This study highlights the usefulness of examining the pupae of Culicoides as a tool for species identification. The pupae of Culicoides grandensis Grogan & Phillips, C. occidentalis Wirth & Jones, and C. shemanchuki Grogan & Lysyk are newly described and those of C. riethi Kieffer, C. stigma (Meigen), and C. variipennis Wirth & Jones are redescribed in detail. The seventh species, C. sonorensis, was fully described recently. 

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document