Novel taxa of Cheilostomata Bryozoa discovered in the historical backlogs of the Iziko South African Museum

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4820 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-133
Author(s):  
MELISSA K. BOONZAAIER-DAVIDS ◽  
WAYNE K. FLORENCE ◽  
MARK J. GIBBONS

Non-studied museum collections are hidden treasures—a source of information for various research fields. The novel taxa presented here were discovered during taxonomic examination of the backlogs of Bryozoa (Cheilostomata) from the Iziko South African Museum. We describe one new genus, Khulisa n. gen., and nine new species of bryozoans from South Africa. The new species are: Biflustra adenticulata n. sp., Aspidostoma sarcophagus n. sp., ?Micropora erecta n. sp., Trypostega richardi n. sp., Khulisa carolinae n. gen. et n. sp., Adeonella assegai n. sp., Hippomonavella lingulata n. sp., Phidolopora chakra n. sp. and Reteporella ilala n. sp. Three genera, Biflustra, Phidolopora and Triphyllozoon, are recorded for the first time from South Africa. This study highlights the importance of examining existing backlogged material lodged in museum collections.

2021 ◽  
pp. 133-144
Author(s):  
Sandra Ölen

Twenty multicultural youth novels published in South Africa in English from 1994 to 1997 are analysed to determine how they reflect cultural values and social changes. This period is significant because for the first time a majority govemment is in power and 'apartheid' is being dismantled. The novel deal with topics such as integration in schools and communities, poverty, homelessness, drug and child abuse, crime and violence, illegal immigrants, sexual relationships and different cultural values. Works by African authors reflect township life and raise the issue of the often unquestioning acceptance of many Western cultural values by young Africans.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4582 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
ZINGISILE MBO ◽  
CHARLES R. HADDAD

The genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 is one of four Afrotropical genera of Gallieniellidae, and is presently represented by seven species, all endemic to South Africa. The type material of six of the described species was studied and they are redescribed from both sexes: D. melana Tucker, 1923, D. quinquelabecula Tucker, 1923, D. salisburyi Hewitt, 1916, D. septemmaculata (Strand, 1909), D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1938 and D. vasivulva Tucker, 1923. Of these, the males of D. melana, D. tenebrosa and D. vasivulva are described for the first time. Recent field work yielded additional females of D. purcelli Tucker, 1923 from the vicinity of the type locality, and this sex is redescribed; the male remains unknown. A further 12 new species are recognized: D. amatola sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. aurostriata sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. baviaans sp. nov. (♂), D. flava sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. guttata sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. lotzi sp. nov. (♀), D. maculata sp. nov. (♀), D. montana sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. tolkieni sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. trilineata sp. nov. (♀), D. transversa sp. nov. (♀ ♂) and D. venda sp. nov. (♀ ♂). Based on the genitalic structures, there appear to be two distinct species groups. The D. melana species group, which includes D. melana, D. tenebrosa and eight new species mainly distributed in eastern and northern South Africa, is characterised by very conservative genitalic morphology in both sexes. The D. salisburyi species group, with considerable variation in the structure of the copulatory organs and distributed in the southern half of South Africa, includes the remaining nine species, of which four are new. Although D. tenebrosa represents an intermediate between the two groups, with palpal morphology more typical of the D. melana species group and epigynal morphology typical of the D. salisburyi group, it is placed in the former species group based on its distribution in eastern South Africa. The biology, habitat preferences and biogeography of Drassodella are briefly discussed. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3183 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
OTTILIE C. NESER

The genus Astichus Förster (Eulophidae: Entiinae) is recorded for the first time from sub-Saharan Africa and four newspecies are described from South Africa: A. micans n. sp., A. silvani n. sp., A. gracilis n. sp. and A. naiadis n. sp. .Astichusspecies are known as parasitoids of Ciidae (Coleoptera) tunnelling and living in bracket fungi. The South African speciesemerged together with Ciidae from a variety of bracket fungi from many localities in the region. They are easily separatedfrom known Astichus species from other regions in the world by their distinctive colour and patterning. A key to the SouthAfrican Astichus species, distribution maps, and notes on biology are included, as well as identifications of Ciidae and bracket fungus specimens encountered in the study.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 666
Author(s):  
Sergey G. Ermilov ◽  
Elizabeth A. Hugo-Coetzee ◽  
Alexander A. Khaustov

The genus Lohmannia (Oribatida, Lohmanniidae) is recorded for the first time in South Africa. A new species of Lohmannia is described from the nest of termites of the Franklin Game Reserve on Naval Hill, Bloemfontein, based on the adult and tritonymphal instar. Lohmannia (Lohmannia) lerallana sp. nov. differs from L. (Lohmannia) turcmenica Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1960 by the presence of distinct macrofoveolate ornamentation on the body, setiform subcapitular setae m1 and long lateral and posterior notogastral setae. A supplementary description of Papillacarus angulatus Wallwork, 1962 is presented based on the South African specimens. Information on distribution and ecology of known lohmanniids in South Africa is provided.


2009 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Caldara ◽  
Enzo Colonnelli ◽  
Giuseppe Osella

Seventy one species of Tychiini Tychiina and Mecinini collected in South Africa are here reported, among which seven are new: <em>Tychius densevestitus</em> Caldara n. sp.; <em>Tychius saetosipennis</em> Caldara n. sp.; <em>Sibinia incompta</em> Caldara n. sp.; <em>Gymnetron</em> <em>claviger</em> Caldara n. sp.; <em>Gymnetron globiscapus</em> Caldara n. sp.; <em>Gymentron filum</em> Caldara n. sp.; <em>Gymnetron hybridum</em> Caldara n. sp. were collected females of two species previously known only from males, <em>Tychius helenae</em> Caldara, 1989 and c<em>Sibinia youngai</em> Caldara, 1993. The presumable host plant of 18 species is reported for the first time. New data on distribution of several species are also given. The palaearctic species <em>Mecinus</em> <em>pascuorum</em> (Gyllenhal, 1813) is reported for the first time from the Afrotropical region.


1983 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Boucot ◽  
C. H. C. Brunton ◽  
J. N. Theron

SummaryThe Devonian brachiopod Tropidoleptus is recognized for the first time in South Africa. It is present in the lower part of the Witteberg Group at four widely separated localities. Data regarding the stratigraphical range of the genus elsewhere, combined with information on recently described fossil plants and vertebrates from underlying strata of the upper Bokkeveld Group, suggest that a Frasnian or even Givetian age is reasonable for the lower part of the Witteberg Group. The recognition of Tropidoleptus in a shallow water, near-shore, molluscan association, at the top of the South African marine Devonian sequence, is similar to its occurrence in Bolivia, and suggests a common Malvinokaffric Realm history of shallowing, prior to later Devonian or early Carboniferous non-marine sedimentation. It is noteworthy that Tropidoleptus is now known to occur in ecologically suitable environments around the Atlantic, but is absent from these same environments in Asia and Australia. Tropidoleptus is an excellent example of dispersal in geological time — first appearing in northern Europe and Nova Scotia, then elsewhere in eastern North America and North Africa, followed by South America and South Africa, while continuing in North America.


Author(s):  
Carol Simon ◽  
Guillermo San Martín ◽  
Georgina Robinson

Two new species of South African Syllidae of the genusSyllisLamarck, 1818 are described.Syllis unzimasp. nov. is characterized by having unidentate compound chaetae with long spines on margin, a characteristic colour pattern and its reproduction by vivipary. Vivipary is not common among the polychaetes, but most representatives occur in the family Syllidae Grube, 1850 (in five otherSyllisspecies, two species ofDentatisyllisPerkins, 1981 and two species ofParexogoneMesnil & Caullery, 1818).Syllis unzimasp. nov. differs from the other viviparous species in having large broods (>44 juveniles) which develop synchronously. Development of the juveniles is similar to that of free-spawningSyllisspecies, but the appearance of the first pair of eyespots and the differentiation of the pharynx and proventricle occur later inS. unzima.Syllis amicarmillarissp. nov., is characterized by having an elongated body with relatively short, fusiform dorsal cirri and the presence of one or two pseudosimple chaeta on midbody parapodia by loss of blade and enlargement of shaft.Syllis unzimasp. nov. was found in high densities on culturedHolothuria scabraJaeger, 1833 with single specimens found on a culturedCrassostrea gigasThunberg, 1793 and on coralline algae, respectively, whileS. amicarmillariswas found mainly in sediment outside an abalone farm and less frequently on culturedHaliotis midaeLinnaeus, 1758. We discuss the possible benefits of the association withH. scabratoS. unzimasp. nov.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 177 (5) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil R. Crouch ◽  
Mario Martínez-Azorín ◽  
Angela J. Beaumont ◽  
David Styles

A new South African endemic species, Stellarioides littoralis is described and illustrated, with data provided on morphology, ecology and distribution. The species appears to be closely related to S. longibracteata and whilst it shares in common an epigeal habit of the bulb with the latter species, several reproductive and vegetative morphological features clearly distinguish it. The affinities and divergences with other close allies are also discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 113 (7/8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson A. F. Miranda ◽  
Nasreen Peer ◽  
Renzo Perissinotto ◽  
Nicola K. Carrasco ◽  
Salome Jones ◽  
...  

The thick-shelled clam Meretrix morphina, previously referred to as Meretrix meretrix, now occurs in the west Indian Ocean region, along the eastern seaboard of Africa, from the Red Sea to the Mlalazi Estuary, close to the Tugela River. Its presence in South Africa is only of recent recording. Meretrix morphina was detected for the first time in Lake St Lucia in 2000. The population declined and was not detected from 2005 until 2011, most likely as a result of a severe drought that resulted in widespread desiccation and hypersalinity in the lake. The system then experienced increased freshwater input resulting in lower salinities from 2011 until 2014, during which time M. morphina reappeared and their population gradually increased. In 2015, M. morphina became abundant in St Lucia, attaining unprecedented densities of 447 ind./m2. Biomass, expressed as a fresh weight, varied in the different basins of St Lucia, ranging from 195 g/m2 at Lister’s Point to 1909.8 g/m2 at Catalina Bay. However, in 2016, when drought conditions returned, M. morphina disappeared. This species appears to thrive under brackish salinities and high temperatures. It is able to establish large populations with high biomass and can become dominant. However, M. morphina is sensitive to desiccation and hypersaline conditions. This clam has substantial commercial value and is exploited along the African east coast, particularly in Mozambique. In future, it may feature more prominently in South African estuaries. However, the ecology of M. morphina is still largely unknown.


1906 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 301-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Cowper Reed

A Small collection of fossils from the Bokkeveld Beds has recently been sent to me for identification by the South African Museum, and some of them have been generously presented to the Sedgwick Museum. Amongst this material it is interesting to find some genera not previously recorded from the Cape and some new species. The majority of the specimens are in the condition of internal casts, and hence present especial difficulties in their determination, so that in a few cases some uncertainty must remain as to the generic position of the fossils. However, I am able to record for the first time from these beds the occurrence of the well-known lamellibranchiate genus Buchiola, and of a shell which may be identified with Nyussa arguta, Hall, of the North American Devonian. The genus Buchiola occurs in argillaceous nodules from the Zwartberg Pass crowded with individuals of the species which I have named B. subpalmata and with a few examples of an undetermined species. No other associated fossils can be recognised in these nodules, but I am informed that an abundant fauna is found in the beds at this locality.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document