Anelaphus villosus (Fabricius) and A. parallelus (Newman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) can be accurately distinguished using body measurements and DNA barcoding

Abstract Anelaphus villosus (Fabricius) and A. parallelus (Newman) are longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Elaphidiini) that closely resemble each other in appearance. In practice, if antennomere 3 is distinctly longer than antennomere 4, the specimen is considered to be A. villosus, but the accuracy of this methodology is unknown. Authorities disagree about the ease of separating these two species based on morphological traits, and recent work hypothesises that they should be synonymised due to the difficulty of distinguishing them by either morphology or natural history. Assuming correct initial species determinations of curated specimens, as well as of those determined with DNA barcoding and by the primary author, data from 23 body measurements were collected from 50 A. villosus and 60 A. parallelus specimens. Stepwise discriminant analyses and discriminant functions were used to evaluate the ability to distinguish these species based on morphology. Species assignments from discriminant functions were very accurate and were supported by assignments determined with DNA barcoding. The ability to distinguish A. villosus and A. parallelus based on morphological and molecular differences provides evidence against the taxonomic hypothesis of synonymy under one species. A need for greater ecological understanding of these species remains.

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Two kinds of theory: What psychology can learn from Einstein

Theory & Psychology ◽

10.1177/0959354320937804 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (5) ◽

pp. 674-689 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marek McGann ◽

Craig P. Speelman

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Recent Work ◽

Scientific Practice ◽

History Of Psychology ◽

Theoretical Development ◽

Theory Formation ◽

History Of

A century ago, Einstein distinguished between two kinds of theory—theories of principle and constructive theories. These have separate but complementary roles to play in the advancement of knowledge, in the manner in which they relate to data and in how they are developed. The different kinds of theory carry implications for what kinds of data we produce and for how they are put to use. We outline Einstein’s distinction and the model of theory formation that it involves. We then use the distinction to look at some of the discussion of scientific practice in psychology, particularly recent work on the need for more theoretical, rather than purely methodological, sophistication. We argue in agreement with Einstein that the distinction is a useful one and that adopting it as a tenet of theoretical development requires a renewed commitment to a natural history of psychology.

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Body of evidence: forensic use of baseline health assessments to convict wildlife poachers

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr13056 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 261 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Brian T. Henen ◽

Margaretha D. Hofmeyr ◽

Ernst H. W. Baard

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Haemoglobin Concentration ◽

Wildlife Trade ◽

Reference Ranges ◽

Discriminant Functions ◽

Field Equipment ◽

Composite Indices ◽

Health Assessments ◽

Discriminant Analyses

Context Given the immense impact of wildlife trade, disease and repatriations on populations, health assessments can provide powerful forensic material to help convict wildlife poachers and minimise risks of releasing unhealthy wildlife. Aims We aimed to use reference ranges to assess the health of confiscated tortoises, to illustrate forensic application of these ranges, and to advance analyses for future applications. Methods We used analyses of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA), and composite indices, to compare wild and confiscate tortoise body condition, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration of males and females of three tortoise species. Subsequently, we used multivariate statistics (e.g. discriminant analyses) to evaluate the relative importance of species, sex and group (wild or confiscate) on tortoise condition and haematology. Key results Our initial statistical tests demonstrated, at P < 0.05 to P < 0.0005, that confiscate body condition and haematology were compromised compared with that of wild tortoises. Subsequently, discriminant analyses strongly discriminated between most wild and confiscate groups (P < 0.0001), correctly classified individual health as wild or confiscate 80–90% of the time, indicated that species and sex effects were stronger than was the wild-confiscate category, and provided discriminant functions for use on other taxa and studies. Conclusions The health assessments discriminated well between wild and confiscate tortoises. The results had considerable forensic value, being relevant, quickly generated using portable field equipment, reliable, accurate, easy to explain and convey in terms of likelihood in a court of law, synergistically consistent among variables and groups, a strong rebuttal to the poachers’ specific statements, and consistent with other types of evidence. Multivariate analyses were consistent with, and more prudent and powerful than, the original statistical analyses. Discriminant functions can be applied in future studies and on other chelonian species, and should be developed for other wildlife species. Implications Reference ranges provide considerable value for forensics, diagnostics and treatment. Given the disease risks resulting from the massive scale of wildlife trade and release, reference ranges should be developed for more species.

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Revision, phylogeny and natural history of Cotithene Voss (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1782.1.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1782 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

NICO M. FRANZ

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Natural History ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Anterior Margin ◽

Narrow Range ◽

Cladistic Analysis ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Closely Related Species ◽

Host Shifts ◽

History Of

Cotithene Voss, a previously monotypic genus of Neotropical derelomine flower weevils (Curculionidae: Derelomini), is revised, with provision of a key to the species, cladistic analysis and notes on its natural history. The following six new species are described: C. anaphalanta (Costa Rica), C. dicranopygia (Costa Rica), C. leptorhamphis (Costa Rica, Panama), C. melanoptera (Venezuela), C. stratiotricha (Costa Rica) and C. trigaea (Costa Rica). The monophyly of Cotithene is supported by the characters of a dorsomedially expanded, carinate rostrum, ventrally angulate head, long and anteriorly directed setation on the anterior margin of the prosternum and an apicodorsally expanded aedeagus with paired sclerites in the male, and subcontiguous to separated procoxal cavities in the female. Particularly the males of several species have intriguing and allometrically scaled modifications on the head (triangular projections, long setae) and pronotum (expansion, tumescences), which possibly play a role in male-to-male conflicts. Cotithene species are specialized to visit and reproduce on a narrow range of typically closely related species of Cyclanthaceae. The adults do not function as pollinators, and the herbivorous larvae develop in the fruiting organs of their hosts, frequently triggering the abortion of infructescences. An analysis of 12 taxa (5 outgroup, 7 ingroup) and 32 morphological characters yielded a single most parsimonious cladogram (L = 38, CI = 89, RI = 93) with the topology (C. dicranopygia, (C. stratiotricha, ((C. leptorhamphis, C. trigaea), (C. globulicollis Voss, (C. anaphalanta, C. melanoptera))))). The evolution of morphological traits and host shifts is examined in light of the proposed phylogeny.

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Wing polymorphism in Dorypteryx domestica (Smithers) (Psocoptera: Psyllipsocidae)

Insect Systematics & Evolution ◽

10.1163/187631298x00069 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 451-457 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zuzana Kučerová

Keyword(s):

Morphological Traits ◽

Wing Length ◽

Laboratory Culture ◽

Body Measurements ◽

Wing Morphology ◽

Wing Polymorphism

AbstractNew wing morphs of the synanthropic psocid Dorypteryx domestica are described, including wing morphology and body measurements. These forms are intermediate in wing length and other morphological traits between normal brachypterous and fully macropterous morphs. These individuals were reared from brachypterous parents in a laboratory culture. Aspects of alary polymorphism are discussed.

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Extreme diversity of tropical parasitoid wasps exposed by iterative integration of natural history, DNA barcoding, morphology, and collections

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.0805319105 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 105 (34) ◽

pp. 12359-12364 ◽

Cited By ~ 376

Author(s):

M. A. Smith ◽

J. J. Rodriguez ◽

J. B. Whitfield ◽

A. R. Deans ◽

D. H. Janzen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Dna Barcoding ◽

Parasitoid Wasps ◽

Iterative Integration

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Zoometrical index analysis of Nigerian indigenous goat populations

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v44i2.1117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 18-24

Author(s):

M. A. Popoola ◽

A. O. Adekanbi

Keyword(s):

Morphological Traits ◽

West African ◽

Body Measurements ◽

West African Dwarf ◽

Index Analysis ◽

Indigenous Goat ◽

Indigenous Goats ◽

Functional Indices ◽

Meat Type

The study was conducted to assess the zoometrical index analyses of Nigerian indigenous breeds of goats. The sampled populations of goat included 100 from each of three populations of goat in Nigeria; Red Sokoto, West African dwarf (WAD) and Sahel to give a total of 300 animals. .Nine body measurements were taken on these goats, which were used to estimate the ethnological indices and functional indices (as the zoometrical index) of the animals. There was significant effects (p<0.05) of breeds on morphological traits of these animals. The functional and ethnological traits of these goat populations were significantly affected by breeds (p<0.05) except pelvic and corporal. Based on the results of this study, Nigerian indigenous goats are medium-sized and their conformation corresponds to the meat type animals.

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Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical ant genus Hylomyrma Forel, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), with the description of fourteen new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.5055.1.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5055 (1) ◽

pp. 1-137

Author(s):

MÔNICA ANTUNES ULYSSÉA ◽

C.R.F. BRANDÃO

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

High Resolution ◽

Natural History ◽

Species Distribution ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Geographical Data ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

History Information ◽

First Time

This paper provides a taxonomic revision of the Neotropical ant genus Hylomyrma Forel (1912) (Myrmicinae: Pogonomyrmecini). Morphological traits combined with geographical data and natural history information led to the recognition of 30 species, fourteen of them described here as new: Hylomyrma adelae sp. n., Hylomyrma dandarae sp. n., Hylomyrma jeronimae sp. n., Hylomyrma lispectorae sp. n., Hylomyrma lopesi sp. n., Hylomyrma macielae sp. n., Hylomyrma margaridae sp. n., Hylomyrma mariae sp. n., Hylomyrma marielleae sp. n., Hylomyrma mitiae sp. n., Hylomyrma peetersi sp. n., Hylomyrma primavesi sp. n., Hylomyrma virginiae sp. n. and Hylomyrma wachiperi sp. n. Lectotypes for H. speciosa (junior synonym of H. balzani) and H. reitteri are here designated from syntypes to improve nomenclatural stability. Except for the three species most recently described (H. montana, H. plumosa, and H. villemantae), the external morphology of workers is described or redescribed, as well as for the known males and queens, most described here for the first time. Of the 30 recognized species herein, 11 present intercastes; at least three of them present female specimens with queen-like traits that may be understood as ergatoids. An updated identification key for Hylomyrma workers is provided, as well as high resolution photographs of all known sexes and castes, species distribution maps, and a summary of what is known from the biology of all species.

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Diversity of biometric and morphological traits among sheep breeds in Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v47i2.51 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 13-25

Author(s):

R. O Okeke ◽

B. I Nwagu ◽

A. O Iyiola-Tunji ◽

P. A. John

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Discriminant Analysis ◽

Genetic Distance ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Principal Component ◽

The Body ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽

Body Measurements ◽

Linear Body

Towards assessment of variations within and between sheep; biometric and morphological data of the four breeds of sheep found in Nigeria were collected using multi-stage samplin method. A total of 46 Balami, 30 Uda, 36 Yankasa and 37 WAD were sampled. Stepwise multiple regression procedure was used to find the best linear combination of metric variables that best predict the body weight. Principal component analysis of biometric and morphological traits was carried out. Simple discriminant analysis procedure was used to classify the breeds. Cluster analysis was done using the model building specificationinterface. Head length (HL), chest girth (CG), leg length (LL), and tail length were the only linear body measurements that were significant (P<0.01) in predicting body weight of sheep in the overall prediction equation. Body weight and all the linear body measurements had their highest loadings on principal component 1 (PC1). Tassel was the only variable that had its highest loading on PC2. Tail type and state (location) were the variables that bestdescribes the third component (PC3). Sex and hair type were variables that best described the forth component (PC4). Discriminant analysis showed that 70.59% of sheep sampled as Balami were classified as pure breed. Sheep sampled as WAD and Yankasa had 100% conformation while Balami and Uda had 70.59% and 60%, respectively in conformation to the classifying features of their breed based on discriminant analysis. The farthest genetic distance (5.48) was observed between Balami and WAD while the shortest genetic distance (1.26) was observed between Balami and Uda. Improvement of growth traits of sheep breedsin Nigeria is recommended through the use of either Balami or Uda as sire and either WAD or Yankasa as dam.

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A redescription and a synonym in the South Asian millipede genus Xenobolus Carl, 1919 (Spirobolida, Pachybolidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4780.1.8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4780 (1) ◽

pp. 165-179

Author(s):

PRADEEP M. SANKARAN ◽

POTHALIL A. SEBASTIAN

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Dna Barcoding ◽

South Asian ◽

Current Distribution ◽

The South ◽

History Of

The South Asian spiroboloid species Xenobolus carnifex (Fabricius, 1775) is redescribed and illustrated in detail. The genus Xenobolus Carl, 1919 is diagnosed and its relationship and subfamily placement within Pachybolidae Cook, 1897 are discussed. The species Xenobolus acuticonus Attems, 1936 is synonymised with X. carnifex based on morphological and DNA barcoding data. Information on the natural history of X. carnifex is provided and its current distribution is mapped.

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