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Historical note on the taxonomy of the genus Delphinium L. (Ranunculaceae) with an amended description of its floral morphology

Adansonia 43 (2)

Since its first valid description by Linnaeus in 1753, the genus Delphinium L. has undergone numerous taxonomical changes that we synthesize here. The knowledge of the taxonomic history of the genus is essential to clarify its circumscription. For this purpose, we outline its pre-Linnaean taxonomic history, from Dioscorides’ translated works dating back to the 16th century to Tournefort’s classification in 1694. Regarding its post-Linnaean history, we discuss the three different lectotypifications proposed during in the 20th century. In addition, we amend the description of the typical flower of Delphinium by including the characteristics of the species D. ecalcaratum S.Y. Wang & K.F.

Notaferrum n. gen. (Coleoptera: Ptinidae): the first known spider beetle associated with weaver ants

Zoosystema 43 (2)

A new genus name Notaferrum n. gen. is proposed for Ptinus natalensis Pic, 1906. The taxon is diagnosed and described and the only known species redescribed. This taxon, well outside the concept of the genus Ptinus Linnaeus, 1766, is most distinctly characterized by a pair of longitudinal and vertically oriented blade-like ridges located medially on the pronotum, a previously unknown feature in the spider beetles and the more inclusive Bostrichoidea Latreille, 1802. This species is a probable symphile of the African species of weaver ant (Oecophylla longinoda Latreille, 1802), based on both a collection record from inside an ant nest as well as the presence of distinct trichomes on the pronotum.

The first representative of the trap-jaw ant genus Anochetus Mayr, 1861 in Neogene amber from Sumatra (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Comptes Rendus Palevol 20 (2)

The ponerine ant Anochetus miosumatrensis Ngô-Muller, Garrouste & Nel, n. sp. is described from a fossil alate female preserved in amber of Sumatra which is reputedly of Miocene age. On the basis of the general morphology, the fossil could be attributed to the extant Sumatran species group risii Brown, 1978. By comparing with the living environment of the extant species, this ant probably lived in a warm humid forest where it was trapped in dipterocarpacean resin during nuptial flight. Until now, the known Cenozoic distribution of the genus Anochetus was restricted to the Neotropical region. Thus A. miosumatrensis Ngô-Muller, Garrouste & Nel, n. sp. brings the first record of the genus from Indomalaya biogeographic region.

Hyptidendron pulcherrimum Antar & Harley, sp. nov. (Hyptidinae, Lamiaceae), a new narrowly endemic species from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Adansonia 43 (1)

Hyptidendron Harley, one of the 19 genera recognized for the subtribe Hyptidinae, has some of its species with a narrow campos rupestres (a Brazilian vegetational formation) distribution, often restricted to a single mountain range. We report a new species, Hyptidendron pulcherrimum Antar & Harley, sp. nov., endemic to a single mountain in the Serra do Padre Ângelo, a disjunct area of campos rupestres from where some new angiosperm species have been recently described.

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.