摘要:

The defensive display behaviour is described in 34 species of snakes and 3 species of pygopodid lizards based upon field and laboratory observations. Various aspects of the behaviour are categorized and their significance discussed in relation to survival value.

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1975.tb00269.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1975

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Thermoregulation was investigated in the Papuan‐New Guinean boids,Candoia carinataandC. aspera, and the arboreal colubrid,Boiga irregularis, based upon radiant and solar heating with thermocouple implants in the head and mid‐body. Significant differences were found between head and body thermal preferenda values with either grouped data or between specimens inC. carinataandB. irregularis, but not inC. aspera, although higher temperatures were tolerated by the body than the head in all species examined. Less diversity in thermal control methods was found in this study than in previous investigations on some Australian pythons and elapid snakes, suggesting that possibly there is less need for such diversity in tropical rainforest snakes, as compared to those living in more temperate or arid environme

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1975.tb00270.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1975

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The males ofTriturus vulgarisandTriturus helveticuscan be differentiated by a number of morphological characters whose biological function is unknown. It is suggested that these characters enhance the effectiveness of male displays performed during sexual behaviour. This hypothesis is discussed in relation to the taxonomic and genetic relationships between the two species.

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1975.tb00271.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1975

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The araneid spiderPasilobussp., common in the Morobe District, New Guinea, builds its web at night close to bushes and small trees. The more‐or‐less horizontal web has a triangular frame that is divided into halves by a midline thread running from the apical angle to bisect the base. From the midline thread hang 4–11 pairs of widely spaced spanning threads; these are the only adhesive elements in the web. The spanning threads are viscid for only part of their length and are strongly attached to the webonlyat their junction with the midline thread. The outer end of each spanning thread forms an easily ruptured, low‐shear joint with the lateral frame thread of the web. When a flying insect strikes a spanning thread, the low‐shear joint breaks and the thread drops below the web, leaving the insect tethered to the midline. The insect may continue to fly, on the tether, or may spin down to motionlessness. The spider rushes to the midline thread end of the tether, hauls up the spanning thread and then bites the insect. Experimental investigations of the low‐shear joints and the adhesiveness and elasticity of the spanning thread are described and the results analysed. The web‐building behaviour ofPalilobusdiffers in several ways from that of most araneids and is described and compared with that ofGasteracanthaand other species. The possible evolutionary origins of thePasilobusweb

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1975.tb00272.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1975

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Descriptions are given of five new species of enchytraeid from Ireland.Cernosvitoviella sphaerothecasp. nov. has a long spermathecal duct and cylindrical sperm funnel.Cernosvitoviella goodhuisp. nov. is closely related toC. aggtelekiensis. Cognettia hibernicasp. nov. is a small species resemblingC. lapponicabut the transition between oesophagus and intestine is abrupt, a character not previously observed in this genus. An emended diagnosis of the genusCognettiais given. The distinguishing feature ofFridericia disciferasp. nov. is a very large spermathecal ampulla with two disc‐shaped diverticula.Marionina minutissimasp. nov. has conspicuous cutaneous glands and lacks posterior dorsal setae.Cernosvitoviella sphaerothecaandCognettia hibernicaare common and widespread in Ireland. The taxonomic relationships of the species and other members of their genera are discusse

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1975.tb00273.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1975

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The cuticles of the crayfishAustropotamobius pallipes(Lereboullet), and the crabsCancer pagurusL. andCarcinus maenas(L.), have been examined with the scanning electron microscope. Laminae are composed of sheets of horizontal fibres which subsequently are into the inter‐laminae. The inter‐laminae contain sheets of fibres which are at a slight angle from the horizontal between sucessive laminae. The disposition of the pore canals is clearly related to fibre pattern. The sinuous macrofibres described by Dennell (1973) are discrete from the pore can

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1975.tb00274.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1975

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The fossil record of the extinct family Deinotheriidae is restricted to Neogene and early Quaternary faunas of the Old World. The family is assigned to the Order Proboscidae but the nature of its relationship to other proboscidean families is still uncertain. Deinotheres are rendered unique by the retention of a single pair of lower tusks and by the morphology of the cheekteeth.The earliest recorded deinotheres exhibiteo morphological adaptations for a proboscis. In terms of length and prehensibility, the proboscises of the early deinotheres were more tapir‐like than elephantine. Later representatives had larger and more powerful but not necessarily longer proboscises.It is unlikely that the tusks were used for digging and the most probable functions were for stripping vegetation, for providing a source of purchase for the proboscis, and in providing a means of recognition of the individual.The cheek teeth were deployed in two distinct functional batteries: an anterior crushing battery and a posterior shearing battery. The anterior molar acted initially as part of the shearing battery but, on becoming worn, subscribed to the crushing function of the anterior battery.Deinotheres were “shearing browsers” and replaced barytheres in the African Paleogene faunas. Evolutionary trends in the known representatives afford some indication of the nature of pre‐Miocene adap

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1975.tb00275.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1975

数据来源: WILEY