scholarly journals Taxonomic revision of Galeocharax (Characiformes: Characidae: Characinae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Giovannetti ◽  
Mônica Toledo-Piza ◽  
Naércio A. Menezes

ABSTRACT The taxonomy of Galeocharax, a genus of freshwater fishes distributed in most South American cis-Andean river systems, except the rio Negro, rio São Francisco and rio Xingu basins and the eastern drainages of Brazil, is herein revised. A total of 1229 specimens were examined from which 680 had meristic and morphometric data taken. Osteological and morphological features were also examined through radiographs, scanning electron microscopy and in cleared and stained specimens. Three of the four species previously considered as valid are herein recognized: Galeocharax humeralis from rio Paraguay and lower rio Paraná basins; Galeocharax goeldii, from rio Madeira basin, with records of geographical distribution expanded to the río Madre de Dios, río Beni, rio Mamoré and rio Guaporé basins and Galeocharax gulo, which is widespread throughout rio Amazonas, río Orinoco, rio Tocantins, and upper rio Paraná basins. Galeocharax knerii is herein considered a junior synonym of Galeocharax gulo. A key to species of Galeocharax is presented.

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olena M. Peregrym ◽  
Zoya M. Tsymbalyuk ◽  
Sergei L. Mosyakin

Abstract Pollen grains of 10 species of Pedicularis occurring in Ukraine were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Palynological data on 6 species are reported for the first time. General pollen morphology of the genus Pedicularis is presented. Three types of apertures (2-syncolpate, 3-colpate, and 3-syncolpate) and seven subtypes of sculpture (3-syncolpate pilate, 3-syncolpate microscabrate-tubeculate, 2-syncolpate microscabrate, 2-syncolpate microscabrate-tubeculate, 2-syncolpate microscabrate-tubeculate-perforate, 2-syncolpate microfoveolate, and 2-syncolpate microscabrate-perforate) are indentified. The subgenus Pedicularis is heterogeneous in its types of apertures and sculpture of the surface, which indicates the need of further taxonomic revision of the group.


2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (7) ◽  
pp. 1511-1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzi M. Ribeiro ◽  
Guilherme Muricy

The taxonomy of the genus Tethya from Brazil is revised. Five species are described, four of which are new to science: Tethya maza, T. beatrizae sp. nov., T. nicoleae sp. nov., T. parvula sp. nov., and T. solangeae sp. nov. Five earlier records of Tethya from Brazil (T. aurantium, T. diploderma, T. maza, T. japonica and T. seychellensis) are re-evaluated and only T. maza is confirmed. The other previous records of Tethya from Brazil, viz., Tethya brasiliana, T. cyanae, T. ignis and T. rubra, have been recently described in detail using scanning electron microscopy and are also considered valid. An amendment to the nomenclature of micrasters is made, recognizing at least two different morphologies of each type of micraster (strongylasters types 1 and 2, tylasters types 1 and 2, and oxyasters types 1, 2 and 3). A neotype was designated for T. maza. With four new species described here and four previous records considered invalid the known diversity of Tethya in Brazil still remains nine species. However, its rate of endemism has increased from 44% to 89%.


Author(s):  
Rudi Lallo ◽  
Roberto Testi ◽  
Massimo Massimelli ◽  
Raffaella Bianucci ◽  
Rosa Boano ◽  
...  

The embalmed head of a young South American man is housed in the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the University of Turin. This man, who suffered a violent facial trauma, was intentionally beheaded after his death, and his head was embalmed.   The aim of this study was to determine the age at death, the cause of death and the embalming techniques by means of CT scanning, 3D reconstruction, X-rays, histology, endoscopy and scanning electron microscopy followed by microanalysis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.B. Ederli ◽  
F.C.R. Oliveira

AbstractThe family Deletrocephalidae consists of three species, from two genera: Deletrocephalus dimidiatus, D. cesarpintoi and Paradeletrocephalus minor, which differ from one another in terms of the buccal capsule structure, the dorsal ray from the male copulatory bursa and the length of the vagina in the female. All these species are parasites of the gastrointestinal tract of the rhea, Rhea americana. Only D. dimidiatus was reported to be a parasite of the other rhea species, Darwin's rhea, R. pennata. Currently, there are no studies on the ultrastructure and biology of these parasites or their pathogenicity in these birds. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the ultrastructure and add more details of the morphology of D. dimidiatus from R. americana. Four adult rheas were necropsied, and the gastrointestinal tract was collected and examined for the presence of parasites. Nematodes were analysed by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All birds were parasitized by D. dimidiatus. Some morphological and morphometric characters were observed that differ from reports of other studies of this species by other authors. In addition, new details were added, well described by SEM, and a key to the species of the subfamily Deletrocephalinae is given.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Fontenelle ◽  
Marcelo Knoff ◽  
Nilza Nunes Felizardo ◽  
Eduardo José Lopes Torres ◽  
Edilson Rodrigues Matos ◽  
...  

Abstract In November 2014 and May 2015, a total of 44 specimens of the South American silver croaker Plagioscion squamosissimus were collected: 30 in Marajó Bay and 14 in the Tapajós River, state of Pará, Brazil. The aim was to investigate the presence of anisakid nematodes and determine their parasitism indices and sites of infection, because of their importance regarding health inspection. Sixty-nine Anisakis sp. larvae were found; among them, 16 larvae in seven fish collected in Marajó Bay and 53 larvae in four fish in the Tapajós River. The parasitism indices of the nematodes collected from the fish in Marajó Bay comprised prevalence (P) of 23%, mean infection intensity (MI) of 2.28, mean abundance (MA) of 0.53, range of infection (RI) of 1-4, and infection site (IS) in the mesentery. The fish from the Tapajós River showed P = 28%, MI = 13.2, MA = 3.8, RI = 1-22, and IS = mesentery and intestine. To assist in taxonomic identification, images of the specimens obtained through optical microscopy with Nomarski's interferential contrast system and scanning electron microscopy were used. This is the first record of Anisakis sp. parasitizing P. squamosissimus.


Kew Bulletin ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salwa Shahimi ◽  
Maria Conejero ◽  
Christina J. Prychid ◽  
Paula J. Rudall ◽  
Julie A. Hawkins ◽  
...  

SummaryThe rattan genus Korthalsia Blume (Arecaceae: Calamoideae: Calameae) is widespread in the Malesian region. Among the 28 accepted species are 10 species that form intimate associations with ants. The ants inhabit the conspicuous ocreas that are produced by these species, using them as domatia to care for their young and aphids. As a foundation for future work, we present here a taxonomic treatment of the myrmecophilous Korthalsia species, based on extensive research pursued both in the herbarium and the field. In addition, we conduct detailed morphological characterisation of the structure and development of ocrea using light and scanning electron microscopy. Descriptions, illustrations, keys and distribution maps are presented for all 10 species, along with microscopic images of ocrea morphology and development for selected species.


Lankesteriana ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward E. Besi ◽  
Lam S. Jia ◽  
Muskhazli Mustafa ◽  
Christina S. Y.  Yong ◽  
Rusea Go

Abstract. The floral micromorphology of critically endangered Paphiopedilum Pfitzer [P. barbatum (Lindl.) Pfitzer, P. callosum var. sublaeve (Rchb.f.) P.J.Cribb and P. niveum (Rchb.f.) Stein] were analyzed concerning either infrageneric taxonomy or physioecological demands. The first two species are phylogenetically close and superficially identical but occur with distinct phytogeographical distributions in the region. The third species is a phylogenetically distant congener that inhabits limestone areas in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we investigated the surface of the dorsal sepal, synsepal, lateral petals, pouch or labellum, and staminode. Amongst the investigated features were epicuticular waxes, epicuticular ornamentation, trichome distribution and type, pustular glands, and papillae. Our study supports the distinction of P. barbatum from P. callosum var. sublaeve, which belong to subgenus Paphiopedilum, and from P. niveum, a species belonging to subgenus Brachypetalum, a separated monophyletic clade. Comparatively, P. barbatum has Type III non-glandular trichomes on the margin of its lateral petals, which are absent in P. callosum var. sublaeve. Paphiopedilum callosum var. sublaeve and P. niveum are distinguishable from P. barbatum by a confined distribution of papillae. The epicuticular ornamentation and distribution of trichomes on staminode discriminate between P. barbatum and P. callosum var. sublaeve and differentiates them from P. niveum. Compared to P. barbatum and P. niveum, stomata in P. callosum var. sublaeve were superficial with prominently raised guard cells. From the physioecological view, the absence of glandular trichomes, and the low occurrence of papillae and stomata on the floral parts explain the unscented flowers of P. barbatum and P. callosum var. sublaeve. A combination of the features examined is taxonomically valuable for delimitation of the species at the infrageneric level, although the diagnostic characters are far inadequate for a generic taxonomic revision. A study with a more extensive sampling from the three subgenera of Paphiopedilum, including subgenus Parvisepalum, is anticipated to elucidate the level of variation of the analyzed microcharacters. Key Words: physioecological importance, Peninsular Malaysia, subgenus Brachypetalum, subgenus Paphiopedilum, scanning electron microscopy, taxonomic delimitation


2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Szkudlarz

Variation in seed morphology in the genusEricaL. (Ericaceae)Seed morphology was studied in 136 species ofErica, including 123 from South Africa (Cape Floristic Region), 5 from tropical Africa, and 8 from Europe. Seed anatomy was studied in 13 selected species by light and scanning electron microscopy. Seed morphology of each species was described and documented by SEM micrographs. Ten major diagnostic features were selected, concerning seed shape, primary sculpture, and fine relief. On the basis of these features, the species were divided into 14 groups. Within them, 40 morphologically homogeneous subgroups were distinguished, which could possibly be used in future revisions of the genus. A key to species identification has been developed on the basis of seed characteristics. A very close similarity was observed between seeds of someEricaspecies from distant parts of the distribution range of this genus.


Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 605
Author(s):  
Daniel Stec

To date, 34 tardigrade taxa have been recorded from Vietnam and this includes only two macrobiotid species belonging to the genus Mesobiotus. In this paper, two additional species of this genus, one of the M. harmsworthi group and one of the M. furciger group, are reported and described as new for science (Mesobiotus imperialis sp. nov., Mesobiotus marmoreus sp. nov.). Both descriptions have an integrative character providing detailed morphological and morphometric data collected by phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy that are linked to genetic data. The latter constitute DNA sequences of molecular markers that are commonly used in tardigrade taxonomy. The genus phylogeny is also provided, elucidating the phylogenetic position of the newly discovered taxa.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. e46667
Author(s):  
Edison Cardona Medina ◽  
Marisa Santos ◽  
Rubens Onofre Nodari

Escobedia grandiflora (L.f.) Kuntze is a wild hemiparasitic plant with orange roots. Little is known about the development of initial parasitism with the host, despite the significant value of roots for Central and South American communities. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize post-seminal structure and development of E. grandiflora in Pennisetum purpureum host. To analyze the structure and development of E. grandiflora, seedlings, stems and roots samples were processed and examined under light, confocal and scanning electron microscopy. Escobedia grandiflora seeds are composed of seed coat, perisperm, and embryo. Emergence of the radicle began eleven days after imbibition. Seedlings showed a root hair collar encircling the axis at the root-hypocotyl junction with elongation of internal cortical cells. Seedlings formed haustoria and successfully reached of the host roots 22 days following root emergence. In the root many starch grains were observed, albeit more scarce in the hypocotyl. After 43 days of root emergence, the seedling stage was finished with the formation of the definitive leaves, and star of the plant stage. After 64 days, root ramification, amount of starch, and orange pigmentation increased with formation of haustoria. The developmental pattern of E. grandiflora plants was slow, but the roots grew faster than the stem. Escobedia grandiflora seeds were not endospermic and have limited nutritional value. After root emergence, the young seedling must develop roots and starch storage towards to haustorium formation and attachment to host roots.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document