查看更多>>摘要：Stumira perla, the new species described herein, is diagnosed as an independent phylogenetic lineage in hypotheses derived from mitochondrial sequences, and shows acceptable distances in terms of genetic divergence. This description also relies on thestatistical interpretation of morphological dissimilarity and overlap, and avoids qualitative judgments of character variation. Overall, this new species is characterized by a spherical skull, noticeable round and robust, with pronouncedly curved zygomatic arches. Statistical evidence that supports the discrimination of other species in Stumira, based on extemal characters such as pelage coloration or number of hairs, is absent in the literature. In this sense, the geometry of the skull for this newlydescribed species shows the sharpest morphological boundaries, relative to other closely related and sympatric taxa. This new species is likely endemic to the Choco forest, specially at its southem limits. This is an area known for its high levels of endemism. The magnitude of environmental disruption in the Choco and the potential rarity of this new species may be negatively affecting its probability of survival.
Paterson, Gordon L. J. [AuthorE-mail: g.paterson@nhm.ac.uk]Cabrinovic, Andrew [AuthorE-mail: a.cabrinovic@nhm.ac.uk]...
26页
查看更多>>摘要：The Ophiuroidea collected from mud volcanoes and adjacent bathyal environments from the Gulf of Cadiz are reviewed. Thirteen species from six families-Ophiacanthidae, Ophiactidae, Amphiuridae, Amphilepididae, Ophiuridae and Ophiolepididae-were identified. A direct relationship to the chemosynthetic assemblages has not been established as the ophiuroids found in the mud volcanoes do not appear to have novel morphological adaptations and also occur in non-reducing environments. The ophiuroid fauna from the Gulf of Cadiz differs from other cold seep regions not only by the high species richness but also because members of Amphiuridae are dominant both in number of species and abundance. One species previously unknown, Ophiopristis gadensis sp. nov., (Ophiacanthidae) was collected from a dead cold-water coral thicket at the flank of a mud volcano and differs from its congeners in the type of disk spines which are more rugose and not smooth as in most of the other species, the presence of the thickened integument in larger specimens and the distinct separation between the oral papillae and the second oral tentacle scales.
查看更多>>摘要：A new species of Cubozoa found in an aquarium at Hagenbecks Tierpark (Zoo), Hamburg, Germany, is described herein as Carybdea morandinii. The species is distinguished from all known cnidarians in the anatomy of its polyp stage. The gastric cavity of the cubopolyp is divided horizontally into two chambers by a shutter-lens-like diaphragm. Metamorphosis was total and resulted in a single, four-tentacled medusa as in other known cubozoans. Both polyp and medusa stages bear zooxanthellae, which seemed important in the metamorphic process.
GUSTAVO AUGUSTO LACORTEIVO DE SENA OLIVEIRACLEUSA GRACA DA FONSECA
9页
查看更多>>摘要：The taxonomy and phylogeny of Onychophora (velvet worms), in particular of the neotropical Peripatidae, are understudied, due to a low number of useful morphological characters. In this paper, we use mitochondrial DNA markers to investigate the evolutionary relationships among the Epiperipatus lineages from the Minas Gerais State of Brazil. Our phylogenetic analyses of two fragments of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and small ribosomal subunit RNA genes (12S rRNA) provide evidence of three major monophyletic clades and indicate cryptic speciation among specimens from different geographic localities. Our findings highlight the utility of molecular methods for studies of cryptic speciation, phylogeography, and evolutionary history of Onychophora.
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