scholarly journals Natural history of neotropical Ericaceae, 1

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-392
Author(s):  
James L. Luteyn ◽  
Daniel Mauricio Díaz-Rueda
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Colombian Andes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Species Descriptions

Gonocalyx pulcher (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae) has been rediscovered in the northeastern Colombian Andes after a lapse of over 135 years. Recent collections herein reported represent the only collections made since the type gathering by Schlim in 1851. The history of collections, cultivation, taxonomy, and nomenclature is re-viewed. Generic and species descriptions for G. pulcher are updated and photographic illustrations are provided. The vegetation in which G. pulcher occurs, a list of its commonly associated Ericaceae, and its conservation status are briefly described. A new second-step lectotypification is made and the associated type herbarium specimens are illustrated. A key to all 11 species of Gonocalyx is provided.

Correspondence between Adolphe Brongniart and Robert Schomburgk: trading natural history collections for honours

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-336
Author(s):  
PIOTR DASZKIEWICZ ◽  
MICHEL JEGU
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
British Guiana ◽  
Natural History Collections ◽  
History Of ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
German Naturalist

ABSTRACT: This paper discusses some correspondence between Robert Schomburgk (1804–1865) and Adolphe Brongniart (1801–1876). Four letters survive, containing information about the history of Schomburgk's collection of fishes and plants from British Guiana, and his herbarium specimens from Dominican Republic and southeast Asia. A study of these letters has enabled us to confirm that Schomburgk supplied the collection of fishes from Guiana now in the Laboratoire d'Ichtyologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. The letters of the German naturalist are an interesting source of information concerning the practice of sale and exchange of natural history collections in the nineteenth century in return for honours.

scholarly journals REDESCRIPTION OF Minervarya nicobariensis (STOLIZKA, 1870) (AMPHIBIA: DICROGLOSSIDAE) WITH A NEOTYPE DESIGNATION

2020 ◽  
pp. 205-209
Author(s):  
S.R. Chandramouli ◽  
K.V. Devi Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Larval Morphology ◽  
Frog Species ◽  
History Of ◽  
New Material ◽  
Insular Endemic

The poorly-known, insular endemic frog species, Minervarya nicobariensis (Stoliczka, 1870) is re-described based on new material from the Nicobar Archipelago. A neotype is designated as its holotype had been lost. Novel data on biology, ecology, distribution and natural history of this poorly known species are provided. Breeding biology and larval morphology are described in detail. Potential threats to the species are discussed and an assessment of its conservation status is attempted.

Taxonomy, natural history, and conservation of the Great-billed Seed-Finch Sporophila maximiliani (Cabanis, 1851) (Thraupidae, Sporophilinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4442 (4) ◽  
pp. 551 ◽  
Author(s):  
FLÁVIO KULAIF UBAID ◽  
LUÍS FABIO SILVEIRA ◽  
CESAR A. B. MEDOLAGO ◽  
THIAGO V. V. COSTA ◽  
MERCIVAL ROBERTO FRANCISCO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
South America ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphometric Characters ◽  
History Of

Seed-finches are small-sized Neotropical granivorous birds characterized by extremely strong and thick beaks. Among these birds, the Great-billed Seed-Finch Sporophila maximiliani has been selectively and intensively trapped to the extent that has become one of the most endangered bird species in South America, yet its taxonomy remains complex and controversial. Two subspecies have been recognized: S. m. maximiliani (Cabanis, 1851), mainly from the Cerrado of central South America, and S. m. parkesi Olson (= Oryzoborus m. magnirostris), from northeastern South America. Originally, S. m. parkesi was diagnosed as being larger than the Large-billed Seed-Finch, S. c. crassirostris (Gmelin, 1789), but proper comparisons with S. m. maximiliani, which is larger than S. c. crassirostris, were never performed. Here we provide a review of the taxonomic and nomenclatural history of S. maximiliani, reevaluate the validity and taxonomic status of the subspecies based on morphological characters, and significantly revise its geographic distribution. Analyses based on plumage patterns and a Principal Component Analysis of morphometric characters indicated that S. m. parkesi is most appropriately treated as a synonym of the nominate taxon, which results in a monotypic S. maximiliani comprising two disjunct populations. Further, we conducted systematic searches for S. maximiliani in Brazil, in an attempt to obtain natural history information. After more than 6,000 hours of fieldwork in 45 areas of potential and historical occurrence, S. maximiliani was located only in two sites, in marshy environments called veredas, confirming the critical conservation status of this species, at least in Brazil. We discuss the conservation potential for, and the problems involved with, captive breeding of S. maximiliani for reintroduction into the wild. 

Taxonomic revision of Sabicea subgenus Anisophyllae (Ixoroideae, Rubiaceae) from Tropical Africa, with four new species

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
LISE A. ZEMAGHO ◽  
SIGRID LIEDE-SCHUMANN ◽  
OLIVIER LACHENAUD ◽  
STEVEN DESSEIN ◽  
BONAVENTURE SONKE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Tropical Africa ◽  
Center Of Diversity ◽  
Infraspecific Taxa ◽  
Group A ◽  
Species Descriptions

A taxonomic revision of Sabicea subgenus Anisophyllae (Rubiaceae), a group restricted to Central and East Africa, is presented here. This work, based on a study of herbarium specimens and field observations in Cameroon and Gabon, includes a survey of the morphological features of the group, a key to the species, descriptions of all the taxa, and IUCN conservation status assessments. Fifteen species are recognised, four of which are described as new (Sabicea mapiana, S. ndjoleensis, S. parmentierae, S. sciaphilantha), three former varieties are raised to species rank (S. crystallina, S. jacfelicis, S. tersifolia), and one species previously sunk into synonymy is restored (S. bequaertii). Two new infraspecific taxa are also described, Sabicea crystallina subsp. engongensis and S. sciaphilantha subsp. hirsuta. The group has its center of diversity in Gabon, where 10 of the 15 species occur, three of them being endemic to the country.

scholarly journals Reptile diversity and community composition in the Puyango dry forest

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Acosta Vásconez Ana ◽  
Cisneros-Heredia Diego ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Tropical Dry Forests ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
History Of ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest

Reptiles are key animals in vertebrate communities in most ecosystems. However, there is little information on their diversity and abundance in dry forests of Ecuador. Between 2013 and 2014 we studied the reptile diversity and natural history of the Puyango Protected Forest, on the border between the province of Loja and El Oro, Ecuador. This area protects relicts of dry deciduous forest in hills and patches of semi-deciduous forest around ravines. We used belt transects in three different streams and irregular band transects in trails, together with pitfall traps, funnel traps, and litter quadrants. The richness of the Puyango Protected Forest represents a small percentage of the Ecuadorian reptile diversity, but covers much of the representative phylogenetic groups of tropical dry forests of the world. Sampling was effective to determine saurian diversity, but more sampling is needed to estimate snake diversity. Evidence of the presence of 21 species, divided into 10 families, was obtained; of which 14 are snakes (including a potential new species of the genus Epictia) and seven are lizards. Natural history is described for each species, including time and space use, and their conservation status is analyzed. The reptile community is characterized by a relative homogeneity over the vegetation remnants and the highest abundances correspond to saurian species.

scholarly journals Notes on some Glass Frogs (Anura: Centrolenidae) from Western Ecuador: Taxonomy, natural history and conservation status, with the description of a new species

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego F Cisneros-Heredia ◽  
Roy W. McDiarmid
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Science Center ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
History Of

Ecuador has the biggest number of amphibian species per unit of area in the world (425 species in 283,560 km2). In the last decade, conservative estimates indicate that at least 26 species of Ecuadorian amphibians have declined or gone extinct. The reasons for this crisis are not clear but have been related to habitat destruction, climate change, and/or diseases, such as chytridiomycosis. The Río Palenque Science Center (RPSC) was among the last remnants of tropical rainforest in the western lowlands of Ecuador. Twenty years ago, investigations done by R. McDiarmid, Ken Miyata and others lead to the discovery of an amazing herpetofauna, including several undescribed species. However, the expansion of the agricultural frontier and transformation of the forest remnants into oil palm and banana plantations destroyed this site. Among the species identified from RPSC were five species of glass frogs (family Centrolenidae): Centrolene prosoblepon, Cochranella spinosa, Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni, Hyalinobatrachium sp. (cf. valerioi), and an undescribed species of the genus Centrolene. This research analyzed the morphological characters and natural history of the five glass frogs of RPSC in order to describe the new species of Centrolene from RPSC, which seems to be critically endangered, if not extinct. The new species is characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) distinctive coloration in life with dark flecks and yellow dorsolateral stripes on a green dorsum; 2) parietal peritoneum white, covering about ½ of the venter, pericardium white, liver and stomach without guanophores, large intestine with guanophores; 3) presence of exposed prepollical spines; 4) humeral spines in males; 5) unique glandular nuptial pad between fingers I and II; and 5) reddish iris.

A revision of the genus Trithrinax (Cryosophileae, Coryphoideae, Arecaceae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
ÁNGELA CANO ◽  
MATHIEU PERRET ◽  
FRED W. STAUFFER
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Literature Research ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Area Of Occupancy ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Species Descriptions

The palm genus Trithrinax is revised and three species and four varieties are accepted (T. brasiliensis var. brasiliensis, T. brasiliensis var. acanthocoma, T. campestris, T. schizophylla var. schizophylla and T. schizophylla var. biflabellata comb. nov.). This taxonomic treatment presents detailed and complete description of all taxa, based on the studies of natural populations in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, the morphological analysis of herbarium specimens (including all available types) and an exhaustive literature research. Illustrations are presented for all taxa and identification keys to the species and varieties are proposed. Species descriptions include updated distribution maps, information about their ecology, taxonomic notes and a compilation of common names and uses. The conservation status assessment reveals an important level of threatening for all taxa, ranging from vulnerable (VU) to endangered (EN), mainly due to the decline of the area of occupancy and the quality of habitat.

Corrosive sublimate and its introduction as an insecticide for preserving natural history specimens in the eighteenth century

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-41
Author(s):  
Stanislav Strekopytov
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Mercuric Chloride ◽  
Corrosive Sublimate ◽  
Cimex Lectularius ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Natural History Collections ◽  
History Of

By the mid-eighteenth century, the need to protect zoological and botanical collections from attacks of insects became pressing for the community of naturalists. Living ornamental and economically important plants and their seeds also needed to be protected from insects when transported by sail. John Ellis ( c.1710–1776), one of the pioneers of plant transportation, was instrumental in disseminating the knowledge of insecticidal properties of corrosive sublimate (mercury(II) chloride or mercuric chloride, HgCl2). Although the use of corrosive sublimate for the protection of zoological collections had been proposed by John Woodward (1665–1728) in 1696, it was probably not widely used by naturalists until Ellis had published his Directions for bringing over seeds in 1770, recommending this substance for the protection of living plants, seeds and specimens during transport. Ellis possibly learned about the insecticidal properties of corrosive sublimate from the emerging use of this compound to control bedbugs ( Cimex lectularius). The history of bedbug management in eighteenth-century London, and some early exterminators, including John Southall ( fl.1726–1738), George Bridges ( c.1695–1768) and Thomas Tiffin ( fl.1760–1783), are discussed. Only a few days after the Directions was printed, Ellis asked Thomas Davies ( c.1737–1812) to publish a method of preparing bird skins that involved corrosive sublimate and was probably involved in drafting it. Following these two publications, corrosive sublimate was frequently used for the preservation of natural history collections including bird skins and herbarium specimens.

scholarly journals A review of the Malagasy Pachypanchax (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae), with descriptions of four new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1366 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAUL V. LOISELLE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Type Specimen ◽  
Additional Material ◽  
Unique Type ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
History Of

The history of the genus Pachypanchax Myers, 1933 in the literature is reviewed and the utility of the diagnostic characters proposed by various authors is evaluated. On the basis of five synapomorphies, four skeletal and one squamational, six of the seven presently known Malagasy aplocheilids are found to be unambiguously referable to the genus Pachypanchax. The seventh, Poecilia nuchimaculata Guichenot 1866, known only from the unique type specimen, displays several peculiar skeletal and squamational features. Pending the acquisition of additional material, it is tentatively assigned to the genus. Of the six species treated here, Pachypanchax omalonotus (Duméril, 1861) and P. sakaramyi (Holly, 1828) are redescribed from recently collected topotypical material; and the following four are described as new: P. varatraza., P. patriciae, P. sparksorum, and P. arnoulti. Data on life colors, distribution, natural history and conservation status on all six Malagasy Pachypanchax species are presented.

scholarly journals A taxonomic revision of the African genus Desplatsia Bocq. (Malvaceae – Grewioideae)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Wellsow ◽  
Michelle Hart ◽  
Peter Wilkie ◽  
David J. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
West And Central Africa ◽  
Species Descriptions ◽  
First Time ◽  
Trees And Shrubs ◽  
African Genus

A taxonomic revision of Desplatsia Bocq. (Malvaceae s. lat. Juss., subfamily Grewioideae Hochr., tribe Grewieae Endl.) based on about 800 herbarium specimens is presented. Desplatsia is a genus of trees and shrubs found in tropical West and Central Africa and is characterized by subulately divided stipules, the absence of an androgynophore, stamens that are fused to a tube at the base, and large and distinctive fruits that are dispersed by elephants. Four species are recognized (D. subericarpa Bocq., D. chrysochlamys (Mildbr. & Burret) Mildbr. & Burret, D. dewevrei (De Wild. & T.Durand) Burret and D. mildbraedii Burret) and 12 species names are placed into synonymy, two of which have been put into synonymy for the first time: D. floribunda Burret syn. nov. and D. trillesiana (Pierre ex De Wild.) Pierre ex A.Chev. syn. nov. All four species are widely distributed and their conservation status is assessed as Least Concern (LC). A key to the species, full species descriptions, illustrations, a specimen citation list and distribution maps are provided.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document