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Biodiversity Journal 2019, 10 (1): 1-68

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 001-002
    Paolo Balistreri
    The vermetid reef
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.1.I.II
  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 003-006

    Mauro Grano & Cristina Cattaneo
    First evidence for the snake-eyed skink Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron et Bory de Sant-Vincent, 1833) (Sauria Scincidae) in Astypalea Island (Dodecanese, Greece)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.1.3.6

    ABSTRACT
    The first documentation (also with photos) on the presence of the snake-eyed skink Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron et Bory de Saint-Vincet, 1833) (Sauria Scincidae) in Astypalea Island (Dodecanese, Greece) is provided here. Until now, only five specimens in the Natural History Museum of Crete were known.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 007-012

    Andrea Corso, Ottavio Janni, Lorenzo De Lisio & Carlo Fracasso
    Update to the status of Lindeni tetraphylla (Vander Linden, 1825) (Odonata Gomphidae) in Italy, with special reference to the Molise regions
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.1.7.12

    ABSTRACT
    Data concerning a new reproductive population of Lindenia tetraphylla (Vander Linden, 1825 (Odonata Gomphidae), found by the authors in Molise, Central Italy, between 2012 and 2018, are here reported. The species was recorded in some artificial farm ponds of the inland agricultural area, where localized but conspicuous reproductive populations are annually found. A single sighting from 2017 is also reported from the Abruzzo region, where the species has never been recorded before. The data here discussed update the status for Italy and enlarge the known distribution area. All the sites where the species is found in Molise are listed and mapped, brief data concerning habitat used are also reported.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 013-020

    Souheila Azzouz, Lyamine Mezedjri & Ali Tahar
    Reproductive cycle of the pelagic fish Saurel Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Perciformes Carangidae) Caught in the Gulf of Skikda (Algerian East Coast)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2018.10.1.13.20

    ABSTRACT
    The present study focuses on the reproductive biology of the small pelagic fish Saurel Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Perciformes Carangidae), fished in the Gulf of Skikda on the Algerian east coast on an annual cycle from July 2014 to June 2015. The study of average sex ratio variations gave an average annual value of 49.98% in favor of males. The gonado-somatic ratio and the macroscopic examination of the gonads allowed us to locate the period of reproduction between December and April. This report highlights a sexual cycle composed of three successive phases; a slow maturation started from July to November, a phase of significant sexual activity corresponding to the laying period (December-April) and a phase of sexual rest coinciding with the month of May when the gonads recover their masses. On a monthly basis, the evolution of the hepatosomatic ratio values is similar to that observed in the gonado-somatic ones, which leads us to believe that the origin of the energy reserves of the gonads is not the liver and that Saurel is a fat fish, i.e. lipid accumulation occurs in the muscles. The study of mesenteric reserves confirmed the origin of gonadal energetic deposits. The size of the first sexual maturity in males and females is respectively 14 cm and 13.65 cm.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 021-024

    R. Trevor Wilson
    The Ctenodactylidae (Rodentia) in northern Africa and a new location record for Pectinator spekei Blyth, 1856 in Afar National Regional State, Ethiopia
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.1.21.24

    ABSTRACT
    The Ctenodactylidae is a small family of rodents comprising only five species in four genera. Four of the species are confined to North Africa in Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Senegal, Mali, Chad, and Niger. The fifth, Pectinator spekei, is the only one of the family that is found in the northeastern Horn of Africa. Earlier records have shown its presence in Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and eastern Ethiopia at altitudes below 1,200 meters. Sightings of this species in early November 2018 were at 13°17’47.7”N, 39°49’32.8”E at an altitude of 1,560 meters. This location is more than 300 km horizontally and almost 400 meters vertically from previous records. The IUCN Red List classification of least concern is strengthened by this new record in an area little disturbed by humans.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 025-036

    Weicai Chen, Xiaowen Liao, Shichu Zhou & Yunming Mo
    First record of Theloderma lateriticum Bain, Nguyen et Doan, 2009 (Anura Rhacophoridae) from China with redescribed morphology
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.1.25.36

    ABSTRACT
    Theloderma lateriticum Bain, Nguyen et Doan, 2009 (Anura Rhacophoridae) is recorded for the first time outside of Vietnam. The new locality record is from Shiwandashan National Nature Reserve, southern Guangxi, China, adjoining to Vietnam. We complemented and improved the morphological characters, including tadpole’s morphology and advertisement calls.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 037-046

    Marlon dL. Suba, Axel H. Arriola & Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro
    A preliminary checklist of vascular plants of Mt. Arayat National Park, Pampanga, Philippines
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.1.37.46

    ABSTRACT
    The Mt. Arayat National Park (MANP) is one of the oldest national parks and protected areas in the Philippines. However, very few published studies have been carried out despite its speculated high potential of biodiversity. Therefore, this paper intends to provide a preliminary checklist of vascular plants in MANP with emphasis on their conservation status. Several floristic surveys were conducted in the South and North peaks of MANP. A total of 98 species belonging to 92 genera and 43 families were identified. Of them, Leguminosae was the largest family which contributed 10 species, followed by Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae with 7 species each. The most dominated genera were: Ficus with 3 species, and Artocarpus, Litsea, and Macaranga with 2 species each. Based on IUCN criteria and DENR records, a total of 10 species were threatened while only 8 were least concern and the rest were not evaluated. Among those threatened plants, Cycas riuminiana was the most notable due to its endemicity in MANP. The slash-and-burn farming was one the several threats witnessed in the mountain. Thus, this checklist is vital as it provides a scientific information on MANP’s plant diversity and distribution which is a useful starting point for further ecological and bio-prospective research in the area.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 047-056

    Shem Unger, Zeb Hull & Mark Rollins
    Diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate scavenging communities of reptile carcasses in the piedmont of North Carolina, USA
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.1.47.56

    ABSTRACT
    Scavenging of animal carcasses (carrion) is an important ecological process, which occurs when insects and vertebrates either aid in decomposition or removal of carcasses. However, very little is known regarding which species typically scavenge or which forensically important insects colonize recently deceased reptile carrion and in what relative frequencies. To this end, we deployed three reptile carcasses, a box turtle (Terrapene carolina), a snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), and black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus) near a road and monitored vertebrate and invertebrate scavengers visiting carcasses with non-invasive camera traps and manual collection of insects visiting carcasses during the Spring of 2018 near Wingate, North Carolina, USA. In total, we collected 233 invertebrates present on the carcass by hand net capture representing 14 taxonomic insect groupings and observed 16 vertebrate species (mammals and birds) from 86 observations scavenging on the remains, with white-footed deer mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), and Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) being the most frequent vertebrate scavengers detected on camera traps. Carcasses were colonized by several insects including the orders Coleoptera from families Silphidae carrion beetles (Oiceoptoma noveboracense and Oiceoptoma inequale) and Staphylinidae (Platydracus sp.), the order Diptera representing families Piophilidae (Prochyliza sp.), Calliphoridae (Calliphora sp. and Luicilla sp.), Muscidea (Musca sp.), and Stratiomyidae (Hermetia sp.) and order Hymenoptera family Formicidae (Prenolepsis sp.). This report adds to our knowledge on the biodiversity of both invertebrate and vertebrate scavenging guild communities which rely on reptile carrion as an ecological resource in terrestrial semi-forested environments.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (1): 057-066

    Riccardo Giannuzzi-Savelli, Francesco Pusateri & Stefano Bartolini
    A revision of the Mediterranean Raphitomidae, 8: on two poorly known species of Raphitoma Bellardi, 1847: R. pumila (Monterosato, 1890) and R. hispidella nomen novum (Gastropoda Conoidea)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.1.57.66

    ABSTRACT
    Two poorly known species of genus Raphitoma Bellardi, 1847 (Gastropoda Conoidea) are revised. Raphitoma pumila (Monterosato, 1890) is redescribed and Cordieria cordieri var. hispida, Monterosato, 1890 is raised to species level and transferred to the genus Raphitoma, hence requiring the creation of a replacement name (R. hispidella nomen novum) due to secondary homonymy with R. hispida Bellardi, 1877.