摘要:

Four new species in the hermatypic scleractinian coral genusAcropora artdescribed from southeast Africa. Two species,A. natalensissp. nov.andA. mossambicasp. nov., occur in both South Africa and Mozambique. Two species,A. sordiensissp. nov., andA. branchisp. nov., are only known from northern Natal in South Africa.A. branchisp. nov.andA. mossambicasp. nov.are intertidal species and were collected from permanent tidal pools.A. sordiensissp. nov.andA. natalensissp. nov.are strictly subtidal species.

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1995.tb00934.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

All species of the scleractinian coral genusAcroporapresently known to occur in south‐east Africa (denoting the African coast south of the Tropic of Capricorn, and including the atoll Bassas da India in the Mozambique channel) are reviewed. Twenty‐three species are discussed, most of which are of wide Indo‐Pacific distribution. Field and laboratory characteristics of all species are described in detail. Species richness in southern Mozambique is much higher (23 species) than in South Africa (14 species), probably due to the higher ecological differentiation of Mozambiquan reefs. TheAcroporafauna of the atoll Bassas da India is similar to that of Mozambique but with two additional speciesA. paniculataandA.cf.striata.Compared to other coral reef areas in similar latitudes, the south‐east AfricanAcroporafauna is of average diversity. An identification key to all species is p

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1995.tb00935.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Although the biology of the reptantian Decapoda has been much studied, the last comprehensive review of reptantian systematics was published more than 80 years ago. We have used cladistic methods to reconstruct the phylogenetic system of the reptantian Decapoda. We can show that the Reptantia represent a monophyletic taxon. The classical groups, the ‘Palinura’, ‘Astacura’ and ‘Anomura’ are paraphyletic assemblages. The Polychelida is the sister‐group of all other reptantians. The Astacida is not closely related to the Homarida, but is part of a large monophyletic taxon which also includes the Thalassinida, Anomala and Brachyura. The Anomala and Brachyura are sister‐groups and the Thalassinida is the sister‐group of both of them. Based on our reconstruction of the sister‐group relationships within the Reptantia, we discuss alternative hypotheses of reptantian interrelationships, the systematic position of the Reptantia within the decapods, and draw some conclusions concerning the habits and appearance of the rept

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1995.tb00936.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

A highly distinctive rodent from the highlands of Ethiopia is currently being confused with a very different mouse from the Zaire Basin. The Ethiopian water mouse,NilopegamysOsgood 1928, can be distinguished fromColomysand all other African murids by external, cranial, post‐cranial and dental characters. Adaptations ofMlopegamysfor swimming are more extreme than those of any other African murid; as noted by Osgood, it is the only one with specializations reminiscent of Neotropical ichthyomyines or Australasian hydromyines. However, the African miceColomys, Malacomys, andDeomysalso exhibit varying degrees of semi‐aquatic specializations. These genera constitute a previously unrecognized guild of ‘waders’. Without swimming and while perched on elongate hind feet, all three consume insects and other small animals in shallow forest streams and pools. Both waders and swimmers show neurological adaptations to life in water, butNilopegamysredefines certain extremes of cerebral development among African murids. Resurrected from synonymy withColomys, this genus further accentuates the distinctiveness and imperilled status of the Ethiopian highlan

ISSN:0024-4082    

DOI:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1995.tb00937.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY