scholarly journals Unrecognized Ant Megadiversity in Monsoonal Australia: Diversity and Its Distribution in the Hyperdiverse Monomorium nigrius Forel Group

Diversity ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Alan N. Andersen ◽  
François Brassard ◽  
Benjamin D. Hoffmann

We document diversity and its distribution within the hyperdiverse Monomorium nigrius Forel group of the Australian monsoonal tropics, an unrecognized global centre of ant diversity. The group includes a single described species, but several distinct morphotypes each with multiple clearly recognizable taxa are known. Our analysis is based on 401 CO1-sequenced specimens collected from throughout the Australian mainland but primarily in the monsoonal north and particularly from four bioregions: the Top End (northern third) of the Northern Territory (NT), the Sturt Plateau region of central NT, the Kimberley region of far northern Western Australia, and far North Queensland. Clade structure in the CO1 tree is highly congruent with the general morphotypes, although most morphotypes occur in multiple clades and are therefore shown as polyphyletic. We recognize 97 species among our sequenced specimens, and this is generally consistent (if not somewhat conservative) with PTP analyses of CO1 clustering. Species turnover is extremely high both within and among bioregions in monsoonal Australia, and the monsoonal fauna is highly distinct from that in southern Australia. We estimate that the M. nigrius group contains well over 200 species in monsoonal Australia, and 300 species overall. Our study provides further evidence that monsoonal Australia should be recognized as a global centre of ant diversity.

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2715 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIAN V. TIMMS

The Australian anostracan fauna is generically depauperate, but species-rich due to radiation within Branchinella and also Parartemia. Most Parartemia, including the six new species, occur in Western Australia, with P. boomeranga sp. nov. in the inner Wheatbelt, P. mouritzi sp. nov. in the eastern Wheatbelt, P. purpurea sp. nov. in the Esperance hinterland, P. veronicae sp. nov. in the Goldfields, P. bicorna sp. nov. in Lake Carey in the northern Goldfields and P. laticaudata sp. nov. in the far north and the Northern Territory. All species use lock and key amplexus meaning that the second antennae of males are highly differentiated and in females the last few thoracomeres are variously modified and the 10th, and especially 11th, thoracopods much reduced. Although many of the new species occur in remote salinas, some are endangered due to anthropogenic salinisation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 145-150
Author(s):  
Patrick Webster ◽  
◽  
Henry Stoetzel ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  

The Chestnut-backed Button-quail Turnix castanotus is widely distributed in monsoonal tropical woodland but previously known only from the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Here we provide the first verified record in Queensland. We observed at least eight birds during October and November 2020 at Westmoreland Station, which is located in far north-western Queensland. These observations represent a significant (~215 km) easterly range extension and are the first confirmed records of this species for Queensland. Chestnut-backed Button-quail had gone undetected in Queensland likely owing to the difficulty in locating and identifying button-quail generally and the low number of birdwatchers in the region. A potential record made by W.R. McLennan in 1910 may represent a previously unreported record of this species in Queensland. Here we describe our observations in 2020 and the habitat where the species was recorded.


Zootaxa ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 685 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEAN C. THORBURN ◽  
DAVID L. MORGAN

Seven specimens of Glyphis sp. C were collected from macrotidal mangrove systems near the town of Derby in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, which represents the first capture in this state. The five males and two females ranged in length from 906 to 1418 mm TL, weighed between 5150 and 18640 g and had a vertebral count range outside that previously reported for the species, i.e. 140 151 cf 147 148. The unusually high incidence of fused vertebrae and spinal deformation may suggest a small gene pool in this population. Previous occurrences of this species were restricted to rivers in the Northern Territory (Australia) and Papua New Guinea. The presence of a small eye (mean diameter 0.87% of total length), large dorsal and pectoral fins, and well defined sensory ampullae may be reflective of living in an environment subjected to extreme turbidity and flows.


1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 691 ◽  
Author(s):  
GP Fitt

A newly discovered species of tephritid, Dacus (Bactrocera) opiliae Drew & Hardy, is almost indistinguishable morphologically from the Oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis. and was originally believed to represent an invading population of that species. Breeding by D. opiliae is virtually restricted to the fruit of the native vine Opilia amentacea throughout coastal areas of the Northern Territory and the Kimberleys region of Western Australia. The phenology of the host and aspects of its utilization by D. opiliae are described. Fruit suitable for oviposition is available only for a short period each year from late November to early January. It is shown that D, opiliae is effectively univoltine. Although it was able to infest various cultivated fruits in the laboratory, no evidence of such infestations by natural populations of D. opiliae was recorded during this study and the species seem to present no threat to Australia's fruit-growing industries. Information on host relations of D. jarvisi (Tryon), D. aquilonis (May) and D. tenuifascia (May) is also presented.


2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Dwyer

I would like to begin by providing a context that can be used to place my discussion about experiences at a remote school in the Northern Territory (NT) into perspective.In the NT 53% of schools are located in remote areas and these cater for up to 23% of NT students (Combe, 2000). The NT has the highest proportion of Indigenous students enrolled in schools with 35.2% of the overall student population identifying as Indigenous Australian (Collins, 1999). The next closest state is Western Australia with an Indigenous student enrollment average of 5.1 %, this is compared with a national average of 3.2%.


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