New insights into the systematics of the afrotropical Amblyomma marmoreum complex (Acari: Ixodidae) and the genome of a novel Rickettsia africae strain using morphological and metagenomic approaches.

The Amblyomma marmoreum complex includes afrotropical species, such as Amblyomma sparsum, a three-host tick that parasitizes reptiles, birds, and mammals, and is a recognized vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium. However, the lack of morphological, genetic and ecological data on A. sparsum has caused considerable confusion in its identification. In this study, we used microscopy and metagenomic approaches to analyze A. sparsum ticks collected from a puff adder snake (Bitis arietans) in southwest Senegal (an endemic rickettsioses area) in order to supplement previous morphological descriptions, provide novel genomic data for the A. marmoreum complex, and describe the genome of a novel spotted fever group Rickettsia strain. Based on stereoscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphological evaluations, we provide high-quality images and new insights about punctation and enameling in the adult male of A. sparsum to facilitate identification for future studies. The metagenomic approach allowed us assembly the complete mitochondrial genome of A. sparsum, as well as the nearly entire chromosome and complete plasmid sequences of a novel Rickettsia africae strain. Phylogenomic analyses demonstrated a close relationship between A. sparsum and Amblyomma nuttalli for the first time and confirmed the position of A. sparsum within the A. marmoreum complex. Our results provide new insights into the systematics of A. sparsum and A. marmoreum complex, as well as the genetic diversity of R. africae in the Afrotropical region. Future studies should consider the possibility that A. sparsum may be a vector for R. africae.

A new systematic arrangement for the blister beetle genus Eurymeloe (Meloini, Meloidae, Coleoptera) with the description of a new species from Spain.

The taxonomic status and subgeneric arrangement of the genus Eurymeloe have been debated for decades. In this work, the internal taxonomy of Eurymeloe is redefined by recognising three subgenera: Eurymeloe for the former Eurymeloebrevicollis species group, Coelomeloe for Eurymeloetuccia, and Bolognaia Ruiz, García-París, Sánchez-Vialas & Recuero, subgen. nov., to accommodate the species of the formerly recognised Eurymeloerugosus species group. Additionally, a new species of the newly described subgenus Bolognaia is described from the Iberian Peninsula based on molecular and morphological traits. The new species, Eurymeloe (Bolognaia) orobatessp. nov., can be distinguished from all other species of Eurymeloe by the following combination of morphological traits: dispersed brownish setae over the body that are arranged in small tufts on the abdominal terga; a small, very transverse pronotum that presents a unique macrosculpture; a deeply and densely punctured integument of the head and pronotum; and the very rugose elytra. The characters displayed by E.orobates suggest that the species groups that were previously defined and recognised for Eurymeloe, and that are now integrated within the newly erected subgenus Bolognaia, are non-monophyletic.

Diversity and distribution of Anostraca in temporary ponds in Western Africa with description of a new species of Streptocephalus Baird, 1852 (Pancrustacea: Branchiopoda: Streptocephalidae).

Three genera of Anostraca have been recorded so far in Senegal: Streptocephalus Baird, 1852, Branchinella Sayce, 1903 and Artemia Leach, 1819. The occurrence of the previously recorded freshwater species in Senegal have been confirmed in this work, namely Streptocephalus zeltneri Daday, 1910, S. sudanicus Daday, 1910 and Branchinella (Branchinellites) chudeaui (Daday, 1910). New records and the description of a new species are given. The new species, Streptocephalus wolof sp. nov., has been recognized through molecular (mitochondrial and nuclear markers) and morphological (egg shape) data. The adult stage of this new species is morphologically indistinguishable to its closely related species Streptocephalus zeltneri, suggesting the existence of two cryptic species in Senegal. Finally, some taxonomic comments on the genus Streptocephalus are presented.

Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea.

We present a comprehensive catalogue of the reptiles of Equatorial Guinea, consisting of 118 species belonging to 67 genera and 22 families. There are two species of Crocodylia, ten of Testudines and 106 of Squamata; this last taxon is represented by 62 species of snakes, two amphisbaenians and 42 lizards. Of these 118 species, seven are present only in Annobon, seven only in Bioko, 47 only in Río Muni, 53 occur both in Bioko and Río Muni (or Bioko, Río Muni and other islands), and four are sea turtles. Despite its high diversity, the level of endemism of Bioko is relatively low, with only four endemic species out of the 60 species reported for the island. In contrast, despite its low diversity, Annobon has the highest endemicity level, with five endemic species (and two introduced). No endemic species are known for the rest of the regions of Equatorial Guinea, which contain 100 species. We reveal several new country and species records, and point to some pending taxonomic questions to be addressed. Among the new species records, we highlight the presence of Cyclanorbis elegans, which represents the most meridional known population of the genus. Additional species are expected to be found in Equatorial Guinea as further field and taxonomic work is developed.

A new distinctive species of Barydesmus (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Platyrhacidae) from Ecuador, with an annotated bibliographical checklist of the American Platyrhacidae.

Currently with 85 named species, the family Platyrhacidae in America is still poorly studied, particularly regarding Barydesmus Cook, 1896, the most diversified among the American genera. The center of diversification of Barydesmus lies in the northern third of the Andes Mountains, a megadiverse region where surely more species of these large, conspicuous diplopods await description. Here we present a new species, Barydesmus nangaritza sp. nov., easily diagnosable by the shape of the paranota, unique among the American Platyrhacidae. We provide also an updated bibliographical, annotated checklist of the whole family in America, with the aim of encouraging further studies in the group. The checklist includes the following new combinations under the genus Barydesmus: Barydesmus acanthopleurus (Hoffman, 1960) comb. nov., B. acanthosternus (Brölemann, 1900) comb. nov., B. acompus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. aequinoctius (Attems, 1914) comb. nov., B. affinis (Brölemann, 1919) comb. nov., B. andinus (Cook, 1896) comb. nov., B. azulae (Kraus, 1956) comb. nov., B. balsapuertus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. bifasciatus (Silvestri, 1897) comb. nov., B. bombonus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. broelemanni (Attems, 1914) comb. nov., B. brunnior (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. celinus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. chuncho (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. clathratus (Gervais, 1847) comb. nov., B. comptus Cook, 1896 comb. nov., B. contayus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. dunalii (Gervais, 1847) comb. nov., B. exsul (Cook, 1896) comb. nov., B. festae (Silvestri, 1897) comb. nov., B. fuscatus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. helophorus (Attems, 1899) comb. nov., B. incus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. javarynus (Schubart, 1950) comb. nov., B. leucus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. loretus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. manserichus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. medius (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. obscurus (Kraus, 1955) comb. nov., B. orellanus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. pococki (Brölemann, 1911) comb. nov., B. retentus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. riparius (Carl, 1902) comb. nov., B. rufipes (Koch, 1847) comb. nov., B. scaber (Koch, 1847) comb. nov., B. socius (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. strenuus (Silvestri, 1897) comb. nov., B. tambonus (Chamberlin, 1952) comb. nov., B. tapichus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. trichotypus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov., B. utoquinius (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov. and B. zygethus (Chamberlin, 1941) comb. nov.

The taxonomic status of Petropedetes newtonii (Amphibia, Anura, Petropedetidae).

The taxon Petropedetes newtonii was described in 1895 by Bocage, from Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea). This taxon, whose holotype is lost, has been misidentified since Boulenger's revision of the genus in 1900 and its relationships with other taxa (P. vulpiae and P. johnstoni) is confusing. Currently, P. newtonii is considered a synonym of P. johnstoni. In this work, by revising morphological characters of non-webbed Petropedetes of Bioko, we demonstrate the morphological singularity of these specimens with respect to P. johnstoni and P. vulpiae and their association with the name Petropedetes newtonii. Consequently, we provide the subsequent designation of a neotype of P. newtonii and revalidate this species from its synonym with P. johnstoni.

Habitat use in south-west European skinks (genus Chalcides).

BACKGROUND: Congeneric species of reptiles frequently exhibit partitioning in terms of their use of habitats or trophic resources in order to reduce competition. In this study, we investigated habitat use by two species of European skinks: Chalcides bedriagai and Chalcides striatus, based on 49 records from southern France, Spain, and Portugal. METHODS: We measured three levels of niche descriptors: macroscale (climate, topography, and substrate), mesoscale (plant associations), and microscale (vegetation cover and shelters). We assessed the associations between these environmental descriptors and the occurrence of the skinks. RESULTS: Our results showed that the two species occupied opposite extremes of the ecological gradient i.e., C. bedriagai in semi-arid environments and C. striatus in temperate-oceanic environments, but there was broad ecological overlap in transitional climates at all of the habitat scales examined. This overlap was demonstrated by the presence of syntopy in geographically distant sites with different environmental characteristics. DISCUSSION: The morphological differences between the two species, and possibly their different use of microhabitats, might favor this mesoscale overlap between congeneric species, which is relatively unusual in Mediterranean lizards.

Ptychadena in Mauritania and the first record of Ptychadena schillukorum.

The study of specimens of the genus Ptychadena of the herpetological collection of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid reveals the first record of Ptychadena schillukorum from Mauritania, extending the known distribution range of the species in West Africa more than 450 km northwards. A key is provided for the four Mauritanian species of Ptychadena to solve problems in identification encountered in previous studies.