While the genus Korinnis had recently undergone multi-loci phylogenetics and the description of numerous new species, significant gaps persist in our understanding of its distribution, taxonomic revision of Himalayan species, and a robust phylogenetic framework. In this study, the female of Korinnis xizangensis is formally described for the first time and the key to female of this genus is provided. The holotype of Korinnis notata is re-examined and illustrated. Through observations recorded on citizen science platforms, the distribution range of this genus has been further expanded and confirmed — the southern foothills of the Himalayas and the Gaoligong Mountains. We present the first complete mitochondrial genome for the genus, and a subsequent phylogenetic analysis once again suggested that it may be closely related to those species within the Necrosciinae that glued their eggs to the surface of the substrate. Our findings suggest that the Himalayan uplift may constitute a geographical barrier for this genus, as well as the potential diversity in regions such as the Indochinese Peninsula, northern Myanmar, and northeastern India.
Ophthalmology has become a valuable tool for studying birds, both wild and captive, particularly for ophthalmic examinations used to screen individuals intended for reintroduction into natural habitats. Avian eyes are essential for detecting and capturing prey; among birds, aquatic species stand out in the global avifauna for inhabiting high-light environments. However, studies on their visual morphology remain scarce, making this a key area of morphological research. In this context, this descriptive post-mortem study conducted macroscopic and imaging analyses (including microscopy) of the eyeball of Phalacrocorax brasilianus, a bird found in the Amazon region. The study used eight specimens found dead after being trapped in fishing nets or traps. The diagnostic imaging techniques employed included radiography and computed tomography; macroscopic examination relied on mesoscopic dissection, maceration, and 3D analysis. We describe here, for the first time, the extraocular musculature, scleral ossicles (including their classification), histological and scanning electron microscopy analyses, and three-dimensional illustrations. The results were largely consistent with existing literature on avian species. This study highlights the importance of describing the macroscopic, imaging, histological, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and three-dimensional anatomical characteristics of the eye and selected ocular adnexa of P. brasilianus, providing reference anatomical data that can support future investigations in veterinary ophthalmology.
Large tube-dwelling polychaetes of the genus Spirobranchus, popularly known as Christmas tree worms, are predominantly known as coral associates on tropical shallow reefs. In temperate seas, species are generally smaller and mostly occur on hard substrates, as solitary individuals or colonial aggregations. Coral-associated Spirobranchus species have been recorded from a broad host range and occasionally from non-coral substrates, indicating a generalist strategy in terms of host selection. Other Spirobranchus taxa display preferences for abiotic substrates or scleractinian host species. This raises the question whether their substrate preferences are phylogenetically determined and if there is a biogeographical component herein. This study infers phylogenetic relationships from 165 newly sequenced specimens analysed with ITS2 and cytochrome b markers, complemented by publicly available sequences, and integrates substrate types and host-coral taxa by projecting them onto the resulting trees alongside their geographic records. This represents one of the largest phylogenetic datasets available for Spirobranchus. Using a family-level framework, coral association vs. abiotic substrate is evaluated as a sessile strategy in an evolutionary context. Two principal Spirobranchus clades were recovered, both represented by Atlantic and Indo-Pacific species, with coral association occurring as a polyphyletic trait next to alternative substrate preferences. The Indo-Pacific Spirobranchus corniculatus and the Atlantic Spirobranchus giganteus occupy broad ranges of host species, with S. giganteus appearing to be the most generalist of the two. The most common species on Caribbean reefs, S. giganteus, reveals minimal genetic variation, whereas S. corniculatus, which is dominant on Indo-Pacific reefs, comprises multiple lineages that correspond to their geographic localities.
