The genus Cletocamptus (Harpacticoida, Canthocamptidae): a reappraisal, with proposal of a new subfamily, a new genus, and a new species

A new species of Cletocamptus closely related to C. helobius was found in sediment samples taken from a polluted estuarine system in north-western Mexico. The genus Cletocamptus was relegated to species incertae sedis in 1986, and this finding prompted us to evaluate the current taxonomic position of the genus within the Canthocamptidae. The latter has been subdivided in several, seemingly unnatural subfamilies in the past to better understand the relationships between its constituent taxa. In this study we propose a new subfamily, the Cletocamptinaesubfam. nov. for Amphibiperita, Cletocamptus, and Cletocamptoides gen. nov., defined by the synapomorphic subdistal ventral spinules on the rostrum. The genus Cletocamptoidesgen. nov. is proposed for C. helobius, C. merbokensis, and C. biushelosp. nov., and is supported by the ‘cletodid’ shape of the body and the reduced one-segmented endopod of the fourth swimming leg. Cletocamptus includes all the other species with long slender spinules on the posterior margin of prosomites and with the sexually modified inner spine on the second endopodal segment of the second swimming leg in the males. Amphibiperita retained the primitive female fifth leg with exopod and baseoendopod separated, and the primitive prehensile endopod of the first leg, but is defined by the loss of the antennary exopod. Other (syn)apomorphies are given, and the evolution of the mandibular palp is briefly discussed. Additionally, a diagnosis for the new subfamily, Cletocamptinaesubfam. nov., an amended narrower diagnosis for Cletocamptus, the diagnosis for Cletocamptoidesgen. nov., and a phylogenetic analysis supporting the proposal of these new taxa, are given.

THE COMPARISON OF HOUSE MODELS FOUND IN PREHISTORIC AND ANCIENT TOMBS – THE EVIDENCE OF ARCHITECTURAL AND INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Almost all over the world, archaeological museums present collections of prehistoric small houses made of clay, bronze and wood. These artefacts were part of tombs equipment, some of high artistic level. Models discussed in the article represent five different cultures from distant geographic regions: Egypt, Italy, Northern Poland, Western Mexico, and Honshu in Japan. Since these cultures were additionally separated on a timeline this excluded interaction between them. A number of articles published contains information about such artefacts. However, according to the best knowledge of the author none has tried to juxtapose and compare the oldest architectural models.

Pelagic amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea) in western Mexico. 6. Superfamily Vibilioidea. Families Paraphronimidae and Vibiliidae

Ten species belonging to the families Paraphronimidae and Vibiliidae were collected during a deep-water survey off western Mexico: two species of Paraphronima and eight species of Vibilia. This represents about 40% of all known species of these two genera world-wide. A total of 419 males and 607 females were obtained in 39 samples from localities in the Gulf of California (33) and off southwestern Mexico (6). Vibilia armata was by far the most frequently (32 localities) and most abundantly (687 specimens, 67% of the total) collected species, followed by V. longicarpus (231 specimens in nine localities) and P. crassipes (35 specimens in 9 localities). Co-ocurrence of species of Vibilioidea in our samples was very low, with maxima of seven and five species collected in the same sample, once each. Considering previous records, a total of 16 species of Vibilioidea (almost 70% of all known species) have now been reported from western Mexico: two species of Paraphronima and 14 species of Vibilia, including V. australis occasionally reported in the area as its junior synonym, V. wolterecki.

Cormocephalus (Cormocephalus) guildingii Newport, 1845 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha): a composite description, new samples from Western Mexico and a new species subgroup of Neotropical Cormocephalus (Cormocephalus)

Cormocephalus (C.) guildingii Newport, 1845—one of the oldest names in this genus—is described in detail for the first time, based on material from Western Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic; the range of this species is much expanded. Synonymy of C. impressus Porat, 1876 under C. guildingii is analyzed and confirmed. Relations between the latter and both C. ungulatus (Meinert, 1886) and C. andinus (Kraepelin, 1903) are analysed in detail. Both C. mundus Chamberlin, 1955 and C. (Cupipes) tingonus Chamberlin, 1957 are junior synonyms of C. ungulatus (Meinert, 1886). Cormocephalus mediosulcatus Attems, 1928 is suggested to be transferred to the genus Scolopendropsis as S. thayeri (Meinert, 1886) syn. nov. A new subclade (designated as the “guildingii-subgroup”) is established within the Neotropical clade of the genus Cormocephalus. It includes most Neotropical representatives of the gervaisianus species-group (sensu Schileyko & Stagl 2004) united by nine diagnostic synapomorphies. Relations within the new subclade are analysed and its diagnosis is given.