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Revisiting the Bryophyte Checklist of Algeria: Exploring Diversity and Distribution

Cryptogamie, Bryologie 45 (5)

A new, updated checklist of the bryophytes of Algeria was compiled from the literature. Reports were made mainly by French botanists in the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries and include a total of 498 taxa, of which 477 are at species level and the rest are at infraspecific rank. It comprises three hornwort species, 118 liverwort taxa (113 species), and 377 moss taxa (361 species). For each taxon, literature records and localities explored in the country are provided. The analysis of the current data reveals that Algeria is the Maghreb country with the second-largest number of bryophyte taxa, behind Morocco. As in other Mediterranean countries, hornworts and liverworts are scarce (24.3%), and mosses are dominant (75.7%).

Amphibians of Togo: taxonomy, distribution and conservation status

Zoosystema 46 (25)

In 2007, a commented list of the amphibians of Togo, elaborated from the available literature, reported 49 species for the country. On the basis of that first paper, we herein add further museum vouchers and field data, and report the presence of 50 amphibian species in Togo. Three species are removed from the former list: Phrynobatrachus sp. aff. calcaratus (sensu Rödel & Agyei, 2003), Ptychadena ­longirostris (Peters, 1870) and Ptychadena tournieri (Guibé & Lamotte, 1955). Four species are added: Hyperolius laticeps Ahl, 1931, Kassina schioetzi Rödel, Grafe, Rudolf & Ernst, 2002, Ptychadena arnei Perret, 1997 and Geotrypetes seraphini (Duméril, 1859).

Revisiting the validation of the name Magnolia champacifolia J. E. Dandy ex F. Gagnepain, sp. nov. (Magnoliaceae)

Adansonia 46 (17)

A previously invalid name, Magnolia champacifolia J. E. Dandy ex F. Gagnepain, was validated by Vu et al. in 2015. However the authors, instead of designating the holotype, erroneously designated a lectotype, that cannot be corrected to holotype, following Art. 9.10 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code). As the Art. 40.6 no longer allows, since the 1st January 1990, the designation of a “lectotype” in naming a new species, the name is still invalid. As the species is worthy of recognition, M. champacifolia is validated here by choosing the specimen Poilane 6472 with barcode P00203965 kept at the herbarium P as the holotype.

Antaganides n. gen., a new genus of Middle Jurassic nautiloid, ancestor of Pseudaganides Spath, 1927, with discussion on the phyletic origin of the family Pseudonautilidae

Geodiversitas 46 (14)

An important collection of nautiloids from the Middle Jurassic of western France has enabled a revised understanding of the origin and evolutionary progression of the genus Pseudaganides Spath, 1927, a genus characterised by a particularly sinuous suture line. This study describes and introduces a new genus, Antaganides n. gen. at the origin of the family Pseudonautilidae. Progressive deepening of the lateral lobe and appearance of a laterodorsal saddle are the major elements of the evolutionary mode within this family. Of the species described herein, six are new. Three are related to Antaganides n. gen.: A. sauvageti n. gen., n. sp., A. fournieri n. gen., n. sp. and A. grulkei n. gen., n. sp.

Molecular phylogeny and morphology reveal a new species of genus Rhodocybe sensu stricto Maire (Entolomataceae; Agaricales) from Pakistan

Cryptogamie, Mycologie 45 (10)

This study describes a new species of genus Rhodocybe (Fr.) Maire, R. pakistanica sp. nov., from Pakistan. The novel species can be recognized morphologically by convex to hemispherical or applanate to planoconvex and centrally depressed pileus which is dull reddish brown at the center and dull orange pale at margins having bright patches, light yellow to orange or light to gray lamellae, dull to pale reddish or light reddish gray to grayish red stipe having whitish fibrillose surface and basal mycelial threads.

Unraveling the monotypy of Vesubia Simon, 1909 and its relationships to Alopecosa Simon, 1885 (Araneae, Lycosidae)

Zoosystema 46 (24)

The genus Vesubia Simon, 1909 currently comprises two species, Vesubia jugorum (Simon, 1881) from the French and Italian SW Alps and V. caduca (Karsch, 1880) from Maoui, Hawaii. The position of V. caduca has been previously questioned, but both species are still clssified in the genus. In this paper we redescribe V. jugorum, update the diagnosis of the genus after examination of the type specimens and propose the transference of V. caduca to Hogna Simon, 1885 leading to the genus Vesubia being solely represented by V. jugorum, thus monotypic.

Identité d’Amphorkis inermis Thouars et d’Arnottia mauritiana A.Rich. : deux espèces distinctes, traitées en synonymie comme Cynorkis inermis (Thouars) Hermans & P. J. Cribb dans la Flore des Mascareignes

Adansonia 46 (16)

The first volume of the Orchidaceae family of the “Flore des Mascareignes” groups two species (Amphorkis inermis and Arnottia mauritiana) under the name Cynorkis inermis. The study of the literature and herbarium material available at CBNM, MARS, MAU, MPU, P, and REU, led us to the conclusion that Amphorkis inermis Thouars and Arnottia mauritiana A.Rich. are not synonyms but two distinct species that we propose to recognize respectively under the binomials Cynorkis inermis and Cynorkis mauritiana comb. nov. Comparing the types and diagnoses of the two species makes it possible to establish that Cynorkis inermis differs from Cynorkis mauritiana comb. nov. by its resupinate flowers and by the smaller size of its floral parts.

The first lacertid and partly articulated snake from the Middle Miocene of the Devínska Kobyla Hill in Slovakia, from the type locality of the earliest known seal

Comptes Rendus Palevol 23 (24)

I here describe lacertid and snake remains from the classic Middle Miocene (MN 6) locality Bonanza of the Devínska Kobyla Hill near Bratislava (Slovakia). The locality is famous for being a type locality of an early seal Devinophoca Koretsky & Holec, 2002. During the Middle Miocene, the area of Devínska Nová Ves was part of an archipelago in the western part of the Central Paratethys in the northern part of the Vienna basin. The fossils described here comprise an incomplete left maxilla of a lacertid lizard and an articulated portion of a vertebral column of a small colubrid snake with several ribs still attached.

Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) subsection Roseinae “down under”

Cryptogamie, Mycologie 45 (9)

The present contribution discusses species of Russula subsection Roseinae Singer ex Sarnari from the southern hemisphere. Russula incrustata Buyck, sp. nov. and R. koniamboensis Buyck, sp. nov. are described from New Caledonia, R. purpureotincta R.F.R. McNabb from New Zealand is redescribed based on new collections and two sequestrate species, R. albobrunnea T.Lebel from Australia and R. kermesina (R.F.R. McNabb) T.Lebel from New Zealand are shown to be the first known sequestrate taxa in Roseinae. The systematic placement and originality of these southern taxa is discussed. The definition of subsection Roseinae is emended.

Biosécurité en milieu humide : bonnes pratiques d’intervention sur les amphibiens sauvages

Naturae 2024 (14)

Amphibians are the class of vertebrates declining the most on Earth. The causes of these declines include climate change, habitat destruction, pollution and emerging infectious diseases. Monitoring amphibian populations often requires human interventions in their natural habitat (usually including wetlands), sometimes involving the manipulation of individuals. These interventions can have deleterious consequences in terms of both animal welfare and health, given the non-negligible risks of anthropogenic propagation of infectious agents to amphibians or other organisms inhabiting the same environments. Operators are also at risk of contracting a zoonosis or a disease with an environmental water reservoir (e.g., leptospirosis, salmonellosis).

Identity of the freshwater crab Indochinamon beieri (Pretzmann, 1966), with the description of a new genus and four new species from northeastern India (Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamidae)

Zoosystema 46 (23)

The precise identity of the potamid freshwater crab, Indochinamon beieri (Pretzmann, 1966), is ascertained, diagnosed and illustrated after examining the type material from Myanmar. The diagnosis/description of the species and subsequent accounts were based on a wrongly identified and illustrated specimen, probably from Nagaland in northeastern India, which caused substantial confusion among carcinologists, who referred to different taxa as I. beieri. Two such taxa from northeastern India are referred to herein as new species of a new genus, Capitamon n. gen., i.e., C. mizoramense n. gen., n. sp. from Mizoram and C. clarki n. gen., n. sp. probably from Nagaland. Capitamon n. gen.