Long-term monitoring of the hypogeal Etruscan Tomba degli Scudi, Tarquinia, Italy. Early detection of black spots, investigation of fungal community, and evaluation of their biodeterioration potential.

AIMS: Hypogeal environments with cultural heritage interest pose a real challenge for their preservation and conservation. The ancient Etruscan Necropolis of Tarquinia, Italy, consists of 200 tombs decorated with extraordinary mural paintings, of great artistic and historical value. Since the beginning of the restoration campaign in 2016, a regular microbiological survey has been performed in the Tomba degli Scudi. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of an expansion of black spots on the pictorial layers recently observed. METHODS AND RESULTS: To determine the origin of the black spots in the atrium chamber of the Tomba degli Scudi, the fungal community was sampled using various techniques: cellulose discs, swabs, and nylon membranes and investigated by a multi-analytical approach. The obtained results suggest that the identified fungal strains (e.g. Gliomastix murorum and Pseudogymnoascus pannorum) are common to many subterranean environments around the world, such as Lascaux cave. CONCLUSIONS: The continuous and long-term monitoring made it possible to detect alterations at an early stage and assess the harmfulness of different fungal strains. This work is a demonstration of the effectiveness of prevention and monitoring actions within these fragile and valuable environments.

Baseline survey of environmental parameters, radiation, and drip water hydrochemistry in Niah Caves (Sarawak, Malaysia).

Relict caves in fenglin karst may typically have numerous entrances and openings. Hence, they host a variety of environments in which parameters such as light, airflow, humidity, and temperature may vary significantly over short distances. Similarly, drip water hydrochemistry, including isotopic values, may vary due to different contributions of various sources and residence time in the karst. This study investigated environmental parameters, including radiation, using hand-held instruments, along a transect within several major caves in the Niah karst of Sarawak (Malaysia). This has led to a baseline data set which showed an inverse relationship between humidity and temperature, gamma radiation levels that are about 25% of that in surrounding non-karst region, and high percentages of twilight zones in the studied caves. Airflow was found to be variable, with high values of 530 m3/s in Painted Cave and 122 m2/s in parts of Gan Kira passage, with flow towards the southeast at the time of the study. The hydrochemistry of the drip water and surface water was also analyzed and found to be dominantly Ca-Mg-Cl water type which indicates dissolution of minerals through water-rock interaction. In addition, the cave environment, particularly air temperature, humidity, and ventilation, also influences the drip water composition and isotopic values. Three different origins (precipitation, evaporation, and paleo-recharge) of drip water have been identified through the δ18O-δ2H diagram. Enriched isotopic values were observed in the cave entrance due to increased evaporation caused by lower humidity and higher air temperature. Factor analysis identifies the key geochemical processes responsible for the drip water chemistry. The outcome of this study provides the first baseline environmental data for the Niah caves, which could support future initiatives for sustainable management of this famous archeological site in southeast Asia.

Curated character of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic lithic artefact assemblages in Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria).

The dispersal of Homo sapiens across Eurasia during MIS 3 in the Late Pleistocene is marked by technological shifts and other behavioral changes, known in the archaeological record under the term of Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP). Bacho Kiro Cave in north Bulgaria, re-excavated by us from 2015 to 2021, is one of the reference sites for this phenomenon. The newly excavated lithic assemblages dated by radiocarbon between 45,040 and 43,280 cal BP and attributed to Homo sapiens encompass more than two thousand lithic artifacts. The lithics, primarily from Layer N1-I, exist amid diverse fauna remains, human fossils, pierced animal teeth pendants, and sediment with high organic content. This article focuses on the technological aspects of the IUP lithics, covering raw material origin and use-life, blank production, on-site knapping activities, re-flaking of lithic implements, and the state of retouched lithic components. We apply petrography for the identification of silicites and other used stones. We employ chaîne opératoire and reduction sequence approaches to profile the lithics techno-typologically and explore the lithic economy, particularly blade production methods, knapping techniques, and artifact curation. Raw material analysis reveals Lower Cretaceous flints from Ludogorie and Upper Cretaceous flints from the Danube region, up to 190 km and 130 km, respectively, from Bacho Kiro Cave, indicating long-distance mobility and finished products transport. Imported lithic implements, were a result of unidirectional and bidirectional non-Levallois laminar technology, likely of volumetric concept. Systematic on-anvil techniques (bipolar knapping) and tool segmentation indicate re-flaking and reshaping of lithic implements, reflecting on-site curation and multifaceted lithic economy. A limited comparison with other IUP sites reveals certain shared features and also regional variations. Bacho Kiro Cave significantly contributes to understanding the technological and behavioral evolution of early Homo sapiens in western Eurasia.

Biomolecules in Pleistocene fossils from tropical cave indicate fossil biofilm.

Finding biomolecules in fossils is a challenging task due to their degradation over time from physical, chemical, and biological factors. The primary hypothesis for explaining the presence of biomolecules in fossilized bones tissues suggests their survival in the fossilization process. In contrast, some of these biomolecules could either derive from bacteria biofilm, thus without a direct relationship with the fossil record or could be an artifact from measurement procedures. Raman spectroscopy studies across various fossil ages and environments have detected multiple bands ranging from 1200 to 1800 cm-1 associative of organic compounds. However, the significance of these bands remains elusive. Our research aims to address this issue through a deep Raman spectroscopy investigation on Pleistocene teeth from Tayassu and Smilodon populator. These fossils were obtained from a well-preserved stratigraphic succession in Toca de Cima do Pilão cave, near the National Park of Serra da Capivara in semiarid Brazil. We propose two hypotheses to explain the presence of organic compounds related to 1200 to 1800 cm-1 Raman spectral range in fossil tissues: (i) these bands are biological signatures of preserved fossil biomolecules, or (ii) they are exogenous biological signatures associated with the bacterial biofilm formation during post-depositional processes. Our results align with the latter hypothesis, followed by biofilm degradation. However, the specific mechanisms involved in the natural biofilm degradation in fossil records remain unexplored in this study. In our case, the formation of biofilm on fossil bones is attributed to the oligotrophic conditions of the cave sediment matrix. We present a comprehensive model to elucidate the existence of biofilm on fossilized tissues, emphasizing the pivotal role of post-depositional processes, especially water action, in the cave environment. As the fossils were discovered in a cave setting, post-depositional processes significantly contribute to the formation of the biofilm matrix. Although our study provides insights into biofilm formation, further research is needed to delve into the specific mechanisms driving natural biofilm degradation in fossils.

Biodiversity of a temperate karst landscape-ice cave collapse doline supports high α-diversity of the soil mesofauna.

Caves represent a specific environment with a special microclimate and fauna adapted to it. However, we have still a restricted knowledge on soil fauna communities in an environments with a marked microclimate gradient at the interface between cave and surface habitats. In the present study, we investigated the community patterns of dominant soil microarthropod group, oribatid mites, and their relationship to environmental factors across the microclimate gradient along a transect with seven study sites from cold and wet cave entrance zone to warm and drier deciduous forest. The cold and wet sites showed low oribatid abundances and a high spatial clustering of individuals in comparison to the warm sites. The oribatid mites showed significantly higher abundance and species richness at warm forest sites. Indicator species analysis indicated specific cold-tolerant species that dominated at cold sites of the gradient, but which were absent at the warmest sites. Variance analysis clarified that community composition at sites were significantly driven by environmental factors: temperature, soil moisture, pH and C/N ratio. The study underlines the importance of ice cave entrances as sources of high α-diversity of soil mesofauna and thus the conservation priority of these valuable habitats.

Unveiling the menace of lampenflora to underground tourist environments.

Permanent artificial lighting systems in tourist underground environments promote the proliferation of photoautotrophic biofilms, commonly referred to as lampenflora, on damp rock and sediment surfaces. These green-colored biofilms play a key role in the alteration of native community biodiversity and the irreversible deterioration of colonized substrates. Comprehensive chemical or physical treatments to sustainably remove and control lampenflora are still lacking. This study employs an integrated approach to explore the biodiversity, eco-physiology and molecular composition of lampenflora from the Pertosa-Auletta Cave, in Italy. Reflectance analysis showed that photoautotrophic biofilms are able to absorb the totality of the visible spectrum, reflecting only the near-infrared light. This phenomenon results from the production of secondary pigments and the adaptability of these organisms to different metabolic regimes. The biofilm structure mainly comprises filamentous organisms intertwined with the underlying mineral layer, which promote structural alterations of the rock layer due to the biochemical attack of both prokaryotes (mostly represented by Brasilonema angustatum) and eukaryotes (Ephemerum spinulosum and Pseudostichococcus monallantoides), composing the community. Regardless of the corrosion processes, secondary CaCO3 minerals are also found in the biological matrix, which are probably biologically mediated. These findings provide valuable information for the sustainable control of lampenflora.

A study on the diversity of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) in karstic limestone areas in Vientiane Province, Laos, with a description of two new species of Sergentomyia França and & Parrot.

BACKGROUND: Southeast Asia is well known as a hotspot of biodiversity. However, very little is known about cave-dwelling hematophagous insects that are medically important. Taxonomic knowledge and ecology of phlebotomine sand flies are very poorly studied in Laos, as well as in other countries in the region. Herein, we report species diversity data and some notes on the ecology of the detected species from these karstic limestone areas of Laos. METHODS: Phlebotomine sand flies were collected using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps from limestone cave locations in three districts of Vientiane Province, Laos. Both morphological and molecular techniques were used for sand fly identification. Species diversity and abundance were analyzed according to sites, locations, collection seasons, and trapping positions. RESULTS: A total of 6564 sand flies, of which 5038 were females and 1526 were males, were morphologically identified into 20 species belonging to five genera (Chinius, Idiophlebotomus, Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia, and Grassomyia). The most abundant species were Chinius eunicegalatiae, Phlebotomus stantoni, Sergentomyia hivernus, Se. siamensis, and Idiophlebotomus longiforceps. Cytochrome b analysis results supported the morphological identification and revealed that Se. siamensis was separated from other members of the Se. barraudi group. Two new species, Se. dvoraki n. sp. and Se. marolii n. sp., were described. Sand fly density was generally high except in a cave in Vangvieng, with species richness ranging from 14 to 18 across different caves. Outside caves had higher species richness (R = 20) and diversity (H = 2.50) than cave entrances (R = 18, H = 2.41) and interiors (R = 16, H = 2.13). Seasonal variations showed high sand fly density in Feung and Hinheup during both dry and rainy seasons, while Vangvieng had a notable decrease in density during the dry season (D = 6.29). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the diversity of phlebotomine sand fly fauna in Laos, particularly in karstic limestone areas, is greater than previously known. However, the taxonomic status of many species in Laos, as well as Southeast Asia, still needs more in-depth study using both morphological characters and molecular methods. Many species could be found from inside, at the entrance, and outside of caves, indicating a wide range of host-seeking behavior or possible natural breeding in the karstic cave areas.

Genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. among cave-dwelling bats from Colombia.

Bartonella is a bacterial genus that comprises arthropod-borne microorganisms. Several Bartonella isolates have been detected from bats worldwide, which are thought to be undescribed species. We aimed to test the presence of Bartonella spp. among bats from Colombia, and evaluate the genetic diversity of bat-associated Bartonella spp. through phylogenetic analyses. A total of 108 bat blood samples were collected from three bat species (Carollia perspicillata, Mormoops megalophylla, and Natalus tumidirostris) that inhabit the Macaregua cave. The Bartonella ssrA gene was targeted through real-time and end-point PCR; additionally, the gltA and rpoB genes were detected by end-point PCR. All obtained amplicons were purified and bidirectionally sequenced for phylogenetic analysis using a concatenated supermatrix and a supertree approaches. A detection frequency of 49.1 % (53/108) for Bartonella spp. was evidenced among bat blood samples, of which 59.1 % (26/44), 54.3 % (19/35) and 27.6 % (8/29) were identified in Carollia perspicillata, Natalus tumidirostris and Mormoops megalophylla respectively. A total of 35 ssrA, 5 gltA and 4 rpoB good-quality sequences were obtained which were used for phylogenetic analysis. All obtained bat sequences clustered together with sequences obtained from Neotropical bat species into two bat-restricted clades namely clade A and clade N. We detected the presence of Bartonella spp. that clustered within two different bat-associated Bartonella clades, giving the first data of the genetic diversity of these bacteria among bats from Colombia.

Tip-Tugai Cave, the First Cave Hyena Crocuta spelaea (Goldfuss, 1823) Den Found in the Urals.

The Tip-Tugai Cave (52°59'28.6″ N, 57°00'22.3″ E) is described as a new site with cave hyena Crocuta spelaea fossils. The bone-bearing layer was dated to marine isotope stage (MIS) 3 based on the species composition of the fauna of large and small mammals. Finds of abundant remains of cave hyenas of different ages and bones of large herbivores with hyena gnaw marks indicated that the Tip-Tugai Cave was used as a hyena den in the Late Pleistocene. This is the first cave hyena den described in the Urals.

Cheetah Acinonyx pardinensis (Felidae, Carnivora) from the Early Pleistocene of Crimea (Taurida Cave).

A mandible fragment of Acinonyx pardinensis (Croizet et Jobert, 1828) is described from the Early Pleistocene locality in the Taurida cave (Crimea, Late Villafranchian, about 1.8-1.5 Ma). This is the first discovery of the genus Acinonyx in the Pleistocene of Crimea. Along with other felids, such as Homotherium, Megantereon, Panthera, Lynx, and Puma, cheetahs were typical representatives of the Late Villafranchian faunas of Eurasia. In the Taurida locality, Acinonyx pardinensis is co-occurred with Homotherium crenatidens, Megantereon adroveri, and Lynx issiodorensis.

Divergent patterns of locomotor activity in cave isopods (Oniscidea: Styloniscidae) in Neotropics.

In cave environments, stable conditions devoid of light-dark cycles and temperature fluctuations sustain circadian clock mechanisms across various species. However, species adapted to these conditions may exhibit disruption of circadian rhythm in locomotor activity. This study examines potential rhythm loss due to convergent evolution in five semi-aquatic troglobitic isopod species (Crustacea: Styloniscidae), focusing on its impact on locomotor activity. The hypothesis posits that these species display aperiodic locomotor activity patterns. Isopods were subjected to three treatments: constant red light (DD), constant light (LL), and light-dark cycles (LD 12:12), totaling 1656 h. Circadian rhythm analysis employed the Sokolove and Bushell periodogram chi-square test, Hurst coefficient calculation, intermediate stability (IS), and activity differences for each species. Predominantly, all species exhibited an infradian rhythm under DD and LL. There was synchronization of the locomotor rhythm in LD, likely as a result of masking. Three species displayed diurnal activity, while two exhibited nocturnal activity. The Hurst coefficient indicated rhythmic persistence, with LD showing higher variability. LD conditions demonstrated higher IS values, suggesting synchronized rhythms across species. Significant individual variations were observed within species across the three conditions. Contrary to the hypothesis, all species exhibited synchronization under light-dark conditions. Analyzing circadian activity provides insights into organism adaptation to non-cyclical environments, emphasizing the importance of exploring underlying mechanisms.

Ecotoxicological and Microbiological Risk Assessment of Groundwater from Dimba Cave, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Dimba Cave is a large array of natural galleries in limestone mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo that contains highly valued pre-historic archaeological artifacts. The cave attracts a high number of tourists every year and is used by local populations as a water supply source. The main objective of the research undertaken in Dimba Cave consisted of assessing the quality of water and sediments from Dimba Cave ponds through evaluating contamination by heavy metals (15 elements analyzed, including As, Cd, Pb, and Hg) and by microbial populations (including Escherichia coli and total coliforms) in order to estimate the ecotoxicological risk to humans and to non-human biota. All water samples collected in the cave ponds showed very high metal concentrations exceeding the internationally recommended limits for drinking water, particularly for Cr, Mn, As, Pb, and Hg. Most sediment samples from cave ponds also displayed high heavy metal concentrations. The calculated pollution parameters, such as the enrichment factor (EF), and ecological risk parameters, such as the ecological risk index (Eri), indicated that the sediment may be toxic to aquatic biota. Furthermore, the microbiological analysis of pond waters indicated a widespread contamination with bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., total coliforms, and Pseudomonas spp., probably from anthropogenic and/or animal sources. Therefore, the consumption of Dimba Cave water as a drinking water represents a threat to public health. Urgent management measures should be enforced to protect public health and the cave ecosystem.

Hypoxia-sonic hedgehog axis as a driver of primitive hematopoiesis development and evolution in cavefish.

The teleost Astyanax mexicanus consists of surface dwelling (surface fish) and cave dwelling (cavefish) forms. Cavefish have evolved in subterranean habitats characterized by reduced oxygen levels (hypoxia) and exhibit a subset of phenotypic traits controlled by increased Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling along the embryonic midline. The enhancement of primitive hematopoietic domains, which are formed bilaterally in the anterior and posterior lateral plate mesoderm, are responsible for the development of more larval erythrocytes in cavefish relative to surface fish. In this study, we determine the role of hypoxia and Shh signaling in the development and evolution of primitive hematopoiesis in cavefish. We show that hypoxia treatment during embryogenesis increases primitive hematopoiesis and erythrocyte development in surface fish. We also demonstrate that upregulation of Shh midline signaling by the Smoothened agonist SAG increases primitive hematopoiesis and erythrocyte development in surface fish, whereas Shh downregulation via treatment with the Smoothened inhibitor cyclopamine decreases these traits in cavefish. Together these results suggest that hematopoietic enhancement is regulated by hypoxia and Shh signaling. Lastly, we demonstrate that hypoxia enhances expression of Shh signaling along the midline of surface fish embryos. We conclude that hypoxia-mediated Shh plasticity may be a driving force for the adaptive evolution of primitive hematopoiesis and erythrocyte development in cavefish.

What we know and do not know after the first decade of Homo naledi.

It has been just over 10 years since the first fossils attributed to Homo naledi were recovered from the Rising Star Cave system in South Africa's Cradle of Humankind. The hominin fossil evidence for H. naledi displays a distinctive combination of primitive and derived morphology, yet for a time-averaged fossil sample it is remarkable for its relatively low level of variation. Thus-unusually for palaeoanthropology-there has been little pushback against the decision to recognize a single novel taxon for all of the material recovered from the Rising Star Cave system. However, almost everything else claimed about H. naledi-its age, burial context and behaviour-has been controversial. Here we examine the strength of the evidence for these claims.

Molecular Screening for Cyanobacteria and Their Cyanotoxin Potential in Diverse Habitats.

Cyanobacteria are adaptable and dominant organisms that exist in many harsh and extreme environments due to their great ecological tolerance. They produce various secondary metabolites, including cyanotoxins. While cyanobacteria are well studied in surface waters and some aerial habitats, numerous other habitats and niches remain underexplored. We collected 61 samples of: (i) biofilms from springs, (ii) aerial microbial mats from buildings and subaerial mats from caves, and (iii) water from borehole wells, caves, alkaline, saline, sulphidic, thermal, and iron springs, rivers, seas, and melted cave ice from five countries (Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Serbia, and Slovenia). We used (q)PCR to detect cyanobacteria (phycocyanin intergenic spacer-PC-IGS and cyanobacteria-specific 16S rRNA gene) and cyanotoxin genes (microcystins-mcyE, saxitoxins-sxtA, cylindrospermopsins-cyrJ), as well as amplicon sequencing and morphological observations for taxonomic identification. Cyanobacteria were detected in samples from caves, a saline spring, and an alkaline spring. While mcyE or sxtA genes were not observed in any sample, cyrJ results showed the presence of a potential cylindrospermopsin producer in a biofilm from a sulphidic spring in Slovenia. This study contributes to our understanding of cyanobacteria occurrence in diverse habitats, including rare and extreme ones, and provides relevant methodological considerations for future research in such environments.

Identification of Late Pleistocene and Holocene fossil lizards from Hall's Cave (Kerr County, Texas) and a primer on morphological variation in North American lizard skulls.

Fossil identification practices have a profound effect on our interpretation of the past because these identifications form the basis for downstream analyses. Therefore, well-supported fossil identifications are necessary for examining the impact of past environmental changes on populations and communities. Here we apply an apomorphic identification framework in a case study identifying fossil lizard remains from Hall's Cave, a late Quaternary fossil site located in Central Texas, USA. We present images and descriptions of a broad comparative sample of North American lizard cranial elements and compile new and previously reported apomorphic characters for identifying fossil lizards. Our fossil identifications from Hall's Cave resulted in a minimum of 11 lizard taxa, including five lizard taxa previously unknown from the site. Most of the identified fossil lizard taxa inhabit the area around Hall's Cave today, but we reinforce the presence of an extirpated species complex of horned lizard. A main goal of this work is to establish a procedure for making well-supported fossil lizard identifications across North America. The data from this study will assist researchers endeavoring to identify fossil lizards, increasing the potential for novel discoveries related to North American lizards and facilitating more holistic views of ancient faunal assemblages.

Mountain caves of the central region of Veracruz: A vertebrate biodiversity reservoir in a Neotropical hotspot.

The mountain region of central Veracruz, Mexico hosts a large system of karst and volcanic caves that are unexplored. In particular, the vertebrates that inhabit these subterranean ecosystems are unknown. This study evaluated the diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish in three environments (euphotic, disphotic, and aphotic) of 16 caves of different geological origin (12 karst caves and 4 volcanic caves) distributed along an altitudinal gradient (300-2400 m a.s.l.). We found a richness of 242 vertebrate species (184 birds, 30 mammals, 15 reptiles, 12 amphibians, and 1 fish) and an abundance of a total of 11,323 individuals (4,969 mammals, 6,483 birds, 36 reptiles, 27 amphibians, and 5 fish). The richness of all vertebrate classes was higher in karst than in volcanic caves. Vertebrate diversity was also higher at mid-altitudes between 600-899 m a.s.l. Diversity varied between environments, where bird and reptile richness was higher in the euphotic environment, while mammal and amphibian diversity was higher in the aphotic environment. The similarity in the composition of vertebrate species does not depend on the distance between karstic and volcanic caves. Volcanic and karst caves shared on average up to 70% and 55% of vertebrate species, which indicates that only 30% and 45% of species, respectively, is different in each cave type. Given the vulnerability and fragility of these subterranean ecosystems, as well as the important diversity that they contain, we recommend including the caves of the central region of Veracruz in the conservation agenda of local governments and communities. Community-based conservation can help ensure the presence of vertebrate species in the caves of this region.

The spatiotemporal and genetic architecture of extraoral taste buds in Astyanax cavefish.

Intense environmental pressures can yield both regressive and constructive traits through complex evolutionary mechanisms. Although regression is well-studied, the biological bases of constructive features are less well understood. Cave-dwelling Astyanax fish harbor prolific extraoral taste buds on their heads, which are absent in conspecific surface-dwellers. Here, we present novel ontogenetic data demonstrating extraoral taste buds appear gradually and late in life history. This appearance is similar but non-identical in different cavefish populations, where patterning has evolved to permit taste bud re-specification across the endoderm-ectoderm germ layer boundary. Quantitative genetic analyses revealed that spatially distinct taste buds on the head are primarily mediated by two different cave-dominant loci. While the precise function of this late expansion on to the head is unknown, the appearance of extraoral taste buds coincides with a dietary shift from live-foods to bat guano, suggesting an adaptive mechanism to detect nutrition in food-starved caves. This work provides fundamental insight to a constructive evolutionary feature, arising late in life history, promising a new window into unresolved features of vertebrate sensory organ development.

Population affinities in pre-colonial West Africa: The case of the burial cave Iroungou (Gabon, 14th-15th century CE).

INTRODUCTION: Our knowledge of the populations of sub-Saharan Africa in the periods before European colonization is limited. Few archeological sites containing human remains have been identified, and written sources for these periods are rare. The discovery in 2018 of the Iroungou sepulchral cave (Gabon), whose use predates the arrival of the Portuguese (14th-15th centuries CE), is an exceptional source of information: at least 28 individuals associated with numerous metal artifacts were found there. The anthropobiological remains were left in situ, but the eight best preserved crania were digitized. OBJECTIVES: This study focuses on the population affinities of these crania, whose morphology was described using 237 landmarks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Geometric morphometric analyses were used to compare the eight Iroungou specimens with 154 individuals representing 12 well-defined African populations. After alignment (Generalized Procrustes Analysis), morphological affinity was assessed using Euclidean and Mahalanobis distances, and posterior probabilities of population membership (discriminant analysis). RESULTS: Results indicate that the eight Iroungou crania have, on average, more affinity with Bayaka Pygmy, followed by Central African Bantu. Nevertheless, individually, the Iroungou specimens show an important morphological variation and the eight crania can be separated into different affinity groups: Bayaka and Central African Bantu, KhoeSan, and East-African Bantu. Finally, one individual presents strong affinity with Somalis. CONCLUSION: This phenetic mapping of the Iroungou sample raises questions about the profile of the individuals deposited in the cave in a geographical area known for the Loango pre-colonial kingdom, which ruling class seemed to have had privileged relationships with the Pygmy populations.

INTRODUCTION: Nos connaissances sur les populations d'Afrique sub­saharienne des périodes précédant la colonisation européenne sont limitées. Peu de sites archéologiques contenant des restes humains ont été identifiés, et les sources écrites pour ces périodes sont rares. La découverte en 2018 de la grotte sépulcrale d'Iroungou (Gabon), dont l'utilisation remonte au XIVe­XVe siècles de notre ère, avant l'arrivée des Portugais, constitue une source d'information exceptionnelle: au moins 28 individus associés à de nombreux artefacts métalliques y ont été retrouvés. Les restes anthropobiologiques ont été laissés in situ, néanmoins, les huit crânes les mieux préservés ont été numérisés. OBJECTIFS: Cette étude s'intéresse aux affinités populationnelles de ces crânes, dont la morphologie a été décrite à l'aide de 237 points­repères répartis sur le massif facial supérieur et le calvarium. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODES: Des analyses par morphométrie géométrique ont permis de comparer les spécimens d'Iroungou avec 154 individus représentants 12 populations africaines bien définies. Après alignement des conformations (analyse Procrustes généralisée), l'affinité morphologique a été évaluée à l'aide des distances procrustes, euclidienne et mahalanobis, ainsi que des probabilités postérieures d'appartenance à une population (analyse discriminante). RÉSULTATS: Les résultats indiquent que les huit crânes d'Iroungou présentent en moyenne plus d'affinités avec les populations pygmées Bayaka, suivies des Bantus d'Afrique centrale. DISCUSSION: Cette affinité moyenne recouvre une réalité complexe: la population d'Iroungou est la plus hétérogène de notre échantillon et les huit crânes peuvent être séparés en différents groupes d'affinités: avec les Bayakas et les Bantus d'Afrique Centrale, les KhoeSan, et avec les Bantus d'Afrique de l'est. Enfin, un individu présente une affinité très forte avec les Somalis de notre échantillon. Cette cartographie phénétique de la population d'Iroungou interroge sur le profil des individus déposés dans la grotte dans une zone géographique connue le royaume précolonial Loango dont la classe dirigeante semble avoir eu des relations privilégiées avec les populations pygmées.

Schistura sonarengaensis, a new species of cave-dwelling loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from Meghalaya, northeast India.

A new species of nemacheilid loach, Schistura sonarengaensis sp. nov., is described from three cave-dwelling populations (Barak-Surma-Meghna drainage) in the South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India. The new species possesses prominent eyes but is easily distinguished from all the congeners of the genus Schistura from Barak-Surma-Meghna and adjacent rivers drainages of northeast Indian (except S. syngkai) in having 13-26 vertically elongated to circular mid-lateral black blotches (brownish in life) overlayered on a grayish-black mid-lateral stripe on a dull white or pale-beige (golden brown in life) body. However, it can be easily distinguished from S. syngkai in having a complete (vs. incomplete) lateral line with more 72-89 (vs. 19-42) lateral-line pored scales, greater pre-dorsal length (48.5-53.1 vs. 41.9-44.1 %SL), a wider body at dorsal-fin origin (11.3-16.7 vs. 9.4-10.3 %SL), greater dorsal (18.1-21.1 vs. 15.1-17.0 %SL) and lateral (20.9-24.1 vs. 17.4-18.9 %SL) head length, a wider head (14.5-18.5 vs. 11.6-13.3 %SL), and moderately forked (vs. emarginated) caudal fin. Further, molecular analysis confirms the distinctiveness of S. sonarengaensis sp. nov. from its congeners found in northeast India by significant divergences with uncorrected genetic distance ranging from 3.7% to 17.3% in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene dataset. The phylogenetic position of the new species with its sister species was evaluated using maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis. The species delimitation approaches assemble species by automatic partitioning (ASAP) and Poisson tree processes (PTP) utilized for testing species assignments consistently identified our test group as a distinct species from its sister species. Although the new species lacks typical morphological adaptations usually associated with a subterranean life, such as complete absence (or vestigial presence) of eyes and pigmentation, it exhibits a reduction of pigmentation when compared to the epigean congeners.