Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution Of Generic Diagnostic Morphological Features In The Doryctine Wasp Tribe Rhaconotini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Publication date: Available online 18 February 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Jovana M. Jasso-Martínez, Sergey A. Belokobylskij, Alejandro Zaldívar-RiverónAbstractThe doryctine tribe Rhaconotini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a cosmopolitan group of parasitoid wasps that currently comprises 13 valid genera. Despite the extensive taxonomic studies carried out for this tribe, its generic limits are still unclear due to the considerable variation of its diagnostic morphological features. Here we assessed the evolutionary relationships among representative species of eight rhaconotine genera based on mitochondria...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - February 20, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Characterization of tongue worm (Pentastomida) chitin supports α- rather than β-chitin
In this study, we extracted high-quality chitin from the pentastomid, Leiperia cincinnalis, and carried out diagnostic analyses. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and ThermoGravimetric Analysis (TGA) demonstrated the conspicuous features of α-chitin but not β-chitin. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the cuticle of the anterior part of a specimen revealed nanofibres organized largely in a parallel configuration and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of isolated cuticular chitin exhibited well-defined chitin bundles, these observations being more consistent with the known characteristics...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - February 13, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Testis structure and sperm packet formation in the phylogenetically basal teleost Pantodon buchholzi
Publication date: March 2019Source: Zoologischer Anzeiger, Volume 279Author(s): Anna Dymek, Anna PecioAbstractPantodon buchholzi is the only extant member of a primitive group within the fish order Osteoglossiformes producing complex sperm and sperm bundles, but neither mode of sperm bundle formation nor testis structure was previously described, therefore our studies provide more details on the reproductive biology of this species' testes based on light and electron microscopy (TEM, SEM).Males of P. buchholzi possess paired testes divided into anterior spermatogenic and posterior aspermatogenic regions modified into test...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - February 11, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Characterization of tongue worm (Pentastomida) chitin supports α-rather than β-chitin
In this study, we extracted high-quality chitin from the pentastomid, Leiperia cincinnalis, and carried out diagnostic analyses. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and ThermoGravimetric Analysis (TGA) demonstrated the conspicuous features of α-chitin but not β-chitin. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the cuticle of the anterior part of a specimen revealed nanofibres organized largely in a parallel configuration and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of isolated cuticular chitin exhibited well-defined chitin bundles, these observations being more consistent with the known characteristics...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - February 7, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Comparing cnidocyst sizes among populations of Bunodosoma (Cnidaria: Actiniaria: Actiniidae) from the South Atlantic west Coast
Publication date: Available online 7 February 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): J.S. Beneti, A. Garese, F.H. Acuña, A.C. MorandiniAbstractThe simplicity of a sea anemone polyp hinders the differences between species and populations, as very few external and internal morphological characters vary enough to distinguish closely related groups. Variations in size of different cnidocyst types could be an important way to characterize populations of sea anemones. We aim to identify which cnidocyst types could be useful to distinguish the variation between sea anemone populations, tested for two species of genus Bunodo...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - February 7, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
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Publication date: January 2019Source: Zoologischer Anzeiger, Volume 278Author(s): (Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology)
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - February 2, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Morphology and gut contents of anguillid and marine eel larvae in the Sargasso Sea
Publication date: Available online 2 February 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Michael J. Miller, Lasse Marohn, Klaus Wysujack, Marko Freese, Jan-Dag Pohlmann, Håkan Westerberg, Katsumi Tsukamoto, Reinhold HanelAbstractThe head morphology and body shapes of anguilliform larvae (leptocephali) vary widely by having fewer, much longer teeth in the small larvae and more numerous, but relatively smaller teeth in larger developmental stages. The feeding ecology of leptocephali has been difficult to understand because they do not appear to feed on typical zooplankton like other fish larvae but are mostly found with am...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - February 2, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Testis structure and sperm packet formation in the phylogentically basal teleost Pantodon buchholzi
Publication date: Available online 1 February 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Anna Dymek, Anna PecioAbstractPantodon buchholzi is the only extant member of a primitive group within the fish order Osteoglossiformes producing complex sperm and sperm bundles, but neither mode of sperm bundle formation nor testis structure was previously described, therefore our studies provide more details on the reproductive biology of this species` testes based on light and electron microscopy (TEM, SEM).Males of P. buchholzi possess paired testes divided into anterior spermatogenic and posterior aspermatogenic regions modified ...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - February 1, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Introducing a new Austropotamobius crayfish species (Crustacea, Decapoda, Astacidae): a Miocene endemism of the Apuseni Mountains, Romania
Publication date: Available online 1 February 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Lucian PÂRVULESCUlAbstractRecent phylogeographic study pointed to the existence of highly divergent and endemic populations of the crayfish genus Austropotamobius in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania. These populations may have split ∼15 Ma from the Dinarides and evolved in isolation due to the tectonic north-eastern movement of the Tisza-Dacia mega-unit (including the Apuseni Mountains) through the Pannonian Basin during the Miocene. Molecular and morphological evidence supports that these populations are a new species of crayfish, A...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - February 1, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
A new species of Parasesarma (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae) from northern Australian mangroves and its distinction from morphologically similar species
Publication date: Available online 29 January 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Adnan Shahdadi, Peter J.F. Davie, Christoph D. SchubartAbstractA new species of mangrove crab, Parasesarma austrawati, is described from northern Australian mangroves. The new species is genetically distinct from all congeners, based on three mitochondrial (Cox1, ND1, 16S), and one nuclear (NaK) DNA markers. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to P. samawati, P. longicristatum and P. semperi with 7 or 8 rounded, well developed chelar dactylus tubercles, and appears to have been previously misidentified as P. longicristatu...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - January 29, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Ultrastructure of the fat body in the soil centipedes Lithobius forficatus (Lithobiidae) and Geophilus flavus (Geophilidae) according to their seasonal rhythms
Publication date: Available online 29 January 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): K. Kamińska, S. Lipovšek, Kaszuba F., M. Rost-RoszkowskaAbstractThe behavior, metabolism and physiology of animals are regulated by seasonal and/or circadian rhythms. The main aim of this study was to describe all of the alterations that are connected with the structure, ultrastructure and histochemistry in the fat body according to the seasonal cycles in centipedes. We selected the common European and long-living centipedes Lithobius forficatus and Geophilus flavus (Myriapoda, Chilopoda) as the material for this study. The fat body...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - January 29, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Complex abnormality combinations between the scleritome and the sclerites of Chiton articulatus (Mollusca: Polyplacophora): new findings to the teratological classification
Publication date: Available online 26 January 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Omar Hernando Avila-Poveda, Brenda Paola Ramirez-Santana, Pedro Martinez-Diaz, Jorge Saul Ramirez-Perez, Nancy C. Saavedra-Sotelo, Bibiana Vargas-Trejo, Carlos Alberto Amezcua-Gomez, Carlos Melendez-GaliciaAbstractTeratological diagnosis in polyplacophorans has mostly been based on primary structure (Chiton scleritome) with four types (hypermerism, hypomerism, coalescence and splitting), including some deformities in plates; however, diagnoses are hardly detailed for each sclerite. As part of a monthly research campaign conducted by a...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - January 26, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Wing vein shape signal in Culicoides oxystoma (Schultzei group) in Nigeria – Tool for discrimination (diptera: Ceratopogonidae) using geometric approach
This study utilized landmark-based geometric morphometric approach in differentiating wing venation patterns of C. oxystoma, C. enderleini, C. schultzei and C. subschultzei, thus providing baseline data for classification of biting midges in Nigeria. The wing shape of C. oxystoma revealed specific variability with at least two morphologic variants that were hitherto unclassified. Landmarks on the first dorsal and cubital veins contributed 68% and 92% of all variations and distinguished C. oxystoma from others in the group; both shape and size elements were found responsible for species discriminations. Only one morpho...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - January 26, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Two new species of land planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplanidae) from protected areas in the southern extreme of the Paranaense Rainforest, Argentina
Publication date: Available online 18 January 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Lisandro Negrete, Rafael Díaz Gira, Francisco BrusaAbstractHere, we describe two new flatworm species of the genera Obama Carbayo et al., 2013 and Notogynaphallia Ogren & Kawakatsu, 1990 (Geoplaninae) found in riverine forests of central-eastern Argentina. Obama maculatentis sp. nov., which is about 50 mm in length, is characterized by black olive pigmentation on the dorsum, with two irregular rows of black spots, and light grey ventral surface. The eyes, with clear halos, extend to the dorsal surface. The foremost features of the co...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - January 20, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Spermatogenesis and gonadal cycle in male Tamoya haplonema and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus (Cnidaria, Cubozoa)
Publication date: Available online 19 January 2019Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Gisele R. Tiseo, Jimena Garcia-Rodriguez, Fernando J. Zara, Cheryl Lewis Ames, Antonio C. Marques, André C. MorandiniAbstractSpermatogenesis has been little studied in cubozoans. This work describes spermatogenesis of two cubozoan species from Brazil, Tamoya haplonema and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus, using light microscopy and histochemical techniques to highlight and contrast stages of the gonadal cycle. Specimens were collected by hand at the water surface or with shrimp trawls in three areas in the state of São Paulo (SE Brazil): Ca...
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - January 20, 2019 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
