摘要:

Seven species ofParacilicaeaare recorded from intertidal habitats on the coasts of Somalia and the Yemen, Western Indian Ocean.Paracilicaea falcatan. sp.,P. mirabilisn. sp.,P. nodosan. sp.,P. peniculatan. sp. andP. uncinatan. sp. are described. The genusParacilicaeaStebbing 1910 from the Indo-Pacific region is revised and redefined. Four species are excluded fromParacilicaeaand are here regarded as “incertae sedis”:P. dakini(Tattersall 1922),P. fimbriataKussakin et al. 1990,P. hamata(Baker 1908) andP. septemdentata(Baker 1910). A key to the species of the genus is given, together with a synoptic list of all species, with their synonymy and distribution.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.2000.10531132

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:2000

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

Rodent communities were live-trapped at five sites in coastal Kenya during January and February 1995. Six species were found, and species richness was higher in the tree-covered habitats than in the tree-less ones. Rodent species were segregated at the microhabitat level. Cover by tree, by shrub, and by grass, were the most important habitat characteristics affecting species distribution. Species living in tree-covered habitats differed from those of the original coastal forests. These preliminary results support the conclusion that forest reclamation in coastal Africa leads to an increase in generalist species of rodents at the expense of the specialists.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.2000.10531133

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:2000

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

An estimate of the number of elephantsLoxodonta africana(Blumenbach 1797) was made in the Mago National Park, Ethiopia, from June 1997 to April 1998. The population size was estimated indirectly from the droppings using line transects within an area of 1,564 km2. The estimate of the elephant population for the Mago National Park was between 387 and 575. The observed density for the whole park was 0.22 elephant/km2. The maximum number in a herd from a total of seven sightings was 182. The available data from field observations and knowledge of the local people were used to assess the extent of poaching. Between August 1997 and April 1998, 26 elephants were killed mainly for ivory. Most of the poaching activities took place in the dry season. There are about 10,000 beehives in the park. Differentiating true honey gatherers from poachers is a problem. The elephants of Mago belong to a very small population that may be approaching the critical lower limit for long-term survival. Possible solutions to the current conservation problems are discussed.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.2000.10531134

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:2000

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

Surface activity and foraging behaviour of the carnivorous mudskipperPeriophthalmus waltoniKoumans 1941, was investigated in relation to environmental conditions on the mudflats of Sulaibikhat Bay, Kuwait. Fish occupied several burrows systems within a 2–3 m2home range. Foraging activity was largely independent of environmental conditions only being inhibited by high wind speeds and surface temperatures below 15 °C. Hunting forays were longer than other surface activity, but once prey was caught, the mudskippers quickly returned to a pool of water or a burrow. To increase their hunting efficiency, successive hunts were spatially well separated because of the long surface return times of the ocypodid crabs following a hunt in their vicinity. For a variety of physiological requirements mudskippers exhibit considerable behavioural homeostasis in a harsh environment creating a unique system in which to investigate mechanisms of optimal foraging.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.2000.10531135

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:2000

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

From 1970 to 1997, 482 Portunidae were collected from various intertidal environments along the southern Somalian coast and, to a lesser extent, from Kenya and the Mascarene Islands. The material belongs to 39 species of which 13 are new for the Somalian coast, 5 for the East African coast and 2 for the western Indian Ocean:Charybdis hawaiensisEdmondson 1954 previously known only for Hawaii andCarupella banlaensisTien 1969 only known for the Tonkin Gulf.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.2000.10531136

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:2000

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

The holotype of the enigmatic Philippine snake,Lycodon tessellatusJan 1863, not examined by any snake taxonomist after its original and supplementary descriptions in the middle-late 19th century, was located in the collection of the Naturhistorischen Museums in Vienna. Examination of this specimen refuted the undivided state of its nasal, which has long been believed to be an important diagnostic character of the species. A revised definition ofL. tessellatusis given together with a detailed description of the holotype. The species most resemblesL. aulicus(Linnaeus 1758), from which it differs in having three series of prominent alternating black spots on the dorsum in at least anterior part of the body. A key to Philippine species ofLycodonBoie 1826 is also revised accordingly.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.2000.10531137

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:2000

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

The African spider speciesMessapus martiniSimon 1898,Thysanina sericaSimon 1910,Arushina dentichelisDi Caporiacco 1947,Cambalida coriaceaSimon 1909 andLessertina muticaLawrence 1942 are redescribed. The male ofCambalida coriaceaand the female ofLessertina muticaare described for the first time. Based on the redescriptions, the generaMessapusSimon 1898,ThysaninaSimon 1910,ArushinaDi Caporiacco 1947 andCambalidaSimon 1909 are transferred to Corinnidae.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.2000.10531138

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:2000

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

The authors point out that the grammatical gender of the generaPodarcis(Reptilia Sauria Lacertidae),Pelamis(Reptilia Serpentes Hydrophiidae) andUropeltis(Reptilia Serpentes Uropeltidae) is feminine.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.2000.10531139

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:2000

数据来源: Taylor