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Étude de l’habitat et des exigences écologiques du Vertigo geyeri Lindholm, 1925 dans le Massif jurassien

Naturae 2021 (2)

A nearly complete skeleton of the oldest definitive erycine boid (Messel, Germany)

Geodiversitas 43 (1)

A nearly complete skeleton of an erycine boid is described from the Ypresian-Lutetian (early-middle Eocene) site of Messel, Germany, for which we propose the name Rageryx schmidi n. gen., n. sp. The animal had a total length of c. 52 cm, with c. 258 vertebrae. In skull proportions it is similar to ungaliophiine boids, especially Ungaliophis, and to Tropidophis. The proportions and distinctive accessory processes of the distal caudal vertebrae that are common to all living erycine boids are present in the specimen, although the processes are not as elaborate as in many extant species.

Revision of the Traumatomutilla gemella species-group (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) with the description of its hitherto unknown males

Zoosystema 43 (1)

Traumatomutilla André, 1901 is a genus of Mutillidae Latreille, 1802 with 14 species-groups, of which the T. gemella group is one of the most poorly known. The hitherto unknown males of Traumatomutilla diophthalma (Klug, 1821), T. chuza Casal, 1969, and T. gemella André, 1906 are described and illustrated. The females of T. andrei (Cresson, 1902), T. angustata (André, 1906), T. chuza Casal, 1969, T. diopthalma (Klug, 1821), and T. gemella (André, 1906) are redescribed. A new species, T. peismatara Bartholomay & Cambra, n. sp. (female from Peru, male from Brazil) is described. Two host records (Podium sp. from Sphecidae Latreille, 1802 and Trypoxylon sp.

Early human occupations in Northwest Iberia: the archaeological record of the Lower Miño basin during the second half of the Middle Pleistocene

Comptes Rendus Palevol 20 (1)

The Miño River is one of the main Atlantic basins of Iberia and preserves extensive Pleistocene deposits. However, there is presently limited information concerning the first human occupation history of this region. Existing research undertaken across the region has identified a significant number of Large Flake Acheulean (LFA) sites with African affinities. These sites are associated with former fluvial environments and are now preserved as a sequence of fluvial terraces along the Miño River, located between relative elevations of + 40 m and + 20 m, and dated to between Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 9 and 6.

Histoire de la petite mangouste indienne Urva auropunctata (Hodgson, 1836) dans les Antilles : une introduction aux conséquences sociétales et écologiques majeures

Anthropozoologica 56 (1)

Between 1870 and 1900, planters introduced the small Indian mongoose, Urva auropunctata (Hodgson, 1836), in sugar-producing islands of the West Indies to control rats as well as venomous snakes in the two islands where they were present. Today, this species is part of ecosystems and agrosystems of a large number of islands. Here, we reviewed the history of its introductions to Trinidad, Jamaica and the French West Indies, through reading available documents. We corrected or specified some dates of introduction. After claiming introduction of mongoose, West Indian colonial societies soon denounced negative consequences, relating to its presence and looked for effective control methods.

Comparaison de la biodiversité floristique entre berge et île de Loire. Étude de cas dans la réserve naturelle nationale de Saint-Mesmin (45)

Naturae 2021 (1)

We compared the floristic biodiversity on two wooded islands with the biodiversity in the riparian forest along the nearby riverbank. Our hypothesis was that the riverbank, which undergoes more anthropic pressure, would host a more altered biodiversity. We carried out floristic surveys within the National Nature Reserve (RNN) of Saint-Mesmin (France), on the Loire, slightly downstream from the city of Orléans. Measurements were taken on areas of about two ha, three times per year from 2013 to 2016. The riverbank and each island had almost the same total species richness (about 310). However, there were moderate differences in composition. First, there were more oligotrophic species on the island beaches and grasslands, and more eutrophic species on the bank.

Cranial anatomy of Andinodelphys cochabambensis, a stem metatherian from the early Palaeocene of Bolivia

Geodiversitas 42 (30)

Andinodelphys cochabambensis Marshall & Muizon, 1988 is one of the best preserved metatherian species from the early Palaeocene fauna of Tiupampa (Bolivia). It is represented by five almost complete skulls, three of them being securely associated to sub-complete to partial skeleton. Four skulls could be extracted from a block including several intermingled skeletons. The present paper provides a thorough description of the dental, cranial, and dentary anatomy of A. cochabambensis. The cranial anatomy of A. cochabambensis is similar to that of Pucadelphys andinus. The skull of Andinodelphys however differs from that of Pucadelphys in its larger size and proportionally longer rostrum.

On the status of the giant mylodontine sloth Glossotherium wegneri (Spillmann, 1931) (Xenarthra, Folivora) from the late Pleistocene of Ecuador

Comptes Rendus Palevol 19 (12)

The late Pleistocene mylodontine sloth Glossotherium wegneri (Spillmann, 1931) (Interandean ­region, Ecuador) has been assigned to Glossotherium Owen, 1839 and Oreomylodon Hoffstetter, 1949 (the latter ranked as a subgenus or genus), and synonymized with G. robustum (Owen, 1842). However, the phylogenetic and comparative analyses conducted here, which include previously undescribed remains, strongly suggest specific distinction for G. wegneri and that there is little, if any, support for generic or subgeneric distinction for Oreomylodon.

Phalangopsidae crickets (Orthoptera, Grylloidea) from the Mitaraka biological survey, French Guiana

Zoosystema 42 (32)

The long-legged crickets (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Phalangopsidae Blanchard, 1845) collected during the ‘Our Planet Reviewed’ expedition of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, and Pro-Natura International in 2015 in the Mitaraka region (Tumuc-Humac mountains, French Guiana) are studied. Among the 105 specimens, all collected by sight, 21 species (14 genera) have been identified. They include two new genera and eight new species, all described here: Aracopsis hugeli Desutter-Grandcolas, n. gen., n. sp., which calling song is described, close to Phalangopsis Serville, 1831 and Philippopsis Desutter-Grandcolas, 1992; Mellomima guyanensis Desutter-Grandcolas, n. gen., n. sp.

Book reviews

Adansonia 42 (20)

Vande weghe J. P., Bidault E. & Stévart T. 2016. — Les plantes à fleurs du Gabon. Une introduction à la flore des angiospermes. ANPN, Libreville, 792 p., 2244 figs.
ISBN : 979-10-94862-00-1.
Format : 23 × 20 × 3,5 cm.
Price: 75 €.

Clayton D. 2017. — Charles Parish-Plant Hunter and Botanical Artist in Burma. Vol. 179. The Ray Society (in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew), 278 p., 148 pls, 30 figs, 7 maps, 3 appendices.
ISBN: 978-0-903874-50-2.
Format: 30.5 × 22 × 2.5 cm.
Price: 141.24 €.

La prise en compte de la malacofaune continentale comme indicateur des changements globaux

Naturae 2020 (16)

Understanding and predicting the consequences of global environmental changes (climate and land use change, atmospheric deposition, alien invasions) on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are among the main scientific research topics. In the Alps, the rise in temperatures currently observed is twice as great as that observed in the plains. The monitoring of these modifications is to be favored in protected areas. The long-term survival of national parks and the presence of qualified agents on the territory are elements facilitating the implementation of operational studies on these exceptional territories.