The Cascade Frog genus Amolops, currently comprising 95 described species, is a taxonomically challenging group of Asian frogs. Although the genus has been studied extensively across most of its range, the Indian members remain poorly understood, with sporadic species descriptions and no comprehensive taxonomic revision to date. Additionally, the current taxonomy of Amolops in India remains in flux; the true species diversity is potentially underestimated due to insufficient sampling efforts, misidentifications arising from limited investigations, and lack of a comprehensive comparative framework. In this study, we addressed these gaps through extensive sampling of Amolops across their range in India and by using an integrative morphological and molecular approach to investigate existing diversity. By using a multilocus data set of mitochondrial (16S, CO1, ND2) and nuclear (RAG1, TYR) markers, we present the first comprehensive Amolops phylogeny, including all known Indian species, which enables us to confidently establish species boundaries and infer evolutionary relationships. By assigning available names to well-supported lineages and testing multiple species-delimitation hypotheses, we identified a high level of undescribed cryptic diversity in the genus. Integrative analyses confirm three distinct unnamed lineages, which are formally described here as Amolops ammachi sp. nov., Amolops bella sp. nov., and Amolops sendenyu sp. nov. In addition, we report five new country records for India: three genetically conspecific with Amolops afghanus, Amolops nepalicus, and Amolops wangyali, and two shallowly divergent populations of A. medogensis and A. bellulus. Conversely, five nominal species do not represent distinct taxa and are here treated as junior subjective synonyms: Amolops chanakya synonym of Amolops wangyali; Amolops mahabharatensis synonym of Amolops jaunsari; Amolops senchalensis synonym of Amolops formosus; Amolops shillong synonym of Amolops assamensis; and Amolops terraorchis synonym of Amolops gerbillus. Molecular species delimitation reveals six additional candidate species from India; these lineages are left unnamed due to shallow divergence from established species and warrant further taxonomic investigation. Our time-calibrated phylogenetic analyses suggest that Amolops diversification began around the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, with a mean age of 31.5 Mya (median age: 32.5 Mya; 95% highest posterior density: 28.12–36.67 Mya). The most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of extant Amolops was widely distributed across Southeast China, mainland Southeast Asia, and the Malayan Peninsula during the early Oligocene. Through subsequent range contraction, subdivision, and jump dispersal, they spread into adjacent regions with dramatic rapid diversification toward the late Miocene. Biogeographic analyses suggest multiple waves of east-to-west colonization and highlight the role of early Himalayan uplift in mediating a complex “into-and-out-of-Himalaya” dynamic in structuring the contemporary distribution and high cryptic diversity in the genus. Mitochondrial haplotypes also show strong geographic structuring, indicating historical allopatric divergence by secondary contact among regions. These findings additionally improve our broader understanding of diversification and distribution patterns in this unique group.
In 2019, the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology acquired The R. Glenn Northcutt Collection of Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy and Embryology, which comprises an estimated 500,000 histologic sections and whole mounts prepared and mounted on glass slides. Assembled by Professor Northcutt between 1963 and 2014 to reveal the microscopic anatomy of the nervous system and related tissues, the collection additionally includes valuable slide series prepared by other neuroanatomists, including John Black Johnston, Othmar Solnitzky, and David Senn. Most included specimens are serially sectioned whole or partial brains for comparative cytoarchitectonic studies. There also are series of entire heads and hundreds of serially sectioned embryos representing 22 genera for studies of the development of sensory systems and cranial nerves. The collection is scientifically unique in its taxonomic breadth: the more than 240 genera and 270 species included represent all major groups of living vertebrates as well as two key out-groups, acorn worms and cephalochordates. Particular strengths include hagfishes, lampreys, chondrichthyans, basal actinopterygians, basal sarcopterygians (including all genera of lungfishes and the coelacanth, Latimeria), amphibians, and tuatara (Sphenodon), and many families of squamates, turtles, crocodilians, marsupials, and primates. Ongoing curatorial activities are generating digital whole-slide images of most of the collection, which are accessible via the Internet. Here we briefly describe the history of the collection and its scientific importance, methods used to prepare slides, ancillary materials, doctoral and postdoctoral students and visiting scientists who utilized it in their studies, a partial list of publications based on the slides and, finally, a taxonomic inventory of the collection and related information that will facilitate its use in research and education.
Abstract. Photographs of the webs of approximately 113 species in 52 genera show that the web architecture of linyphioid spiders (Linyphiidae and Pimoidae) present many variations on a single basic pattern. Nearly all species built webs with a more or less horizontal, continuous sheet with an open space just below the sheet. However, the details in the designs showed great diversity; we recognized >50 web traits, including positions relative to the ground or large objects; sheet shapes and orientations; secondary sheets; “slime” on the sheet; patterns and densities of lines in sheets; visible droplets on sticky lines; upward and downward directed dimples in the sheet with tensor lines; primary and secondary frame lines; retreats; and the presence, location, and designs of associated tangles. This survey probably substantially underestimates both intraspecific and intrageneric diversity of web forms. Intrageneric comparisons in just over 20 genera documented varying degrees of intrageneric variation; some genera show striking differences. Several web designs were widely distributed: sheets with dense tangles above commonly had arrays of lines attached to the sheet's upper surface; downward dimples in sheets commonly occurred at sites where the sheet curved upward, but upward-directed dimples were rare and small; and sheets built next to the surface of the ground almost always lacked extensive tangles above them. New web patterns not previously reported for linyphiid webs include: sandwich webs (pairs of closely spaced, otherwise naked sheets); extensive vertical sheets next to tree trunks; tubular retreats at the edges of the sheet where the spider rests; trough-like sheets just above the upper surface of a curled leaf; sizeable, apparently sticky droplets densely covering many lines that were apparently placed in pairs in the sheet; long sheet lines that converge at one corner; runways to a sheltered site where the spider waits beyond the sheet's edge; and apparent skeleton lines in the sheet (probably from early stages of construction). Patterns of lines within the sheet may reflect patterns of movement during sheet construction behavior. We propose that some webs on the substrate function to extend the spider's sensory field rather than detain prey and that some tangles below and perhaps some above the sheet may function to defend the spider from enemies. A suite of linyphiid traits, including leg, chelicera, and spinneret morphology; details of web design, such as numerous small upward-directed dimples in dome-shaped sheets but fewer, large downward-directed dimples in cup-shaped sheets; and attack behavior, appears to function to increase the speed with which spiders attack prey. The functions of many architectural features remain obscure.
We describe the only known tetraploid parthenogenetic species of amniote that has haploid genomes from four distinct ancestral bisexual (gonochoristic) species. These genomes were brought together through three hybridization events that occurred over a time span of hundreds or thousands of years, the last of which occurred recently in captivity without any experimental manipulation. Inheritance of alleles at seven microsatellite deoxyribonucleic acid loci and DNA sequence data for adenosine deaminase intron 9 in the new tetraploid species confirms its parentage and, together with DNA quantification, demonstrates that tetraploidy and high heterozygosity are maintained parthenogenetically generation after generation. Comparisons of univariate and multivariate variation in scalation between the tetraploids and their parental taxa reveal a strong maternal similarity in morphological characters, with little to no significant differences, suggesting that such tetraploid females may exist in old museum samples misidentified as the maternal ancestor. This research on specimens of known parentage adds support to earlier papers that provide important insights for taxonomic treatment of many parthenogenetic clones of teiid lizards that occur in the Western Hemisphere.
A joint expedition between the Museum of Comparative Zoology of Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) and the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales (Buenos Aires, Argentina) explored outcrops in west-central Argentina during autumn of 1958. The team led by Alfred S. Romer collected fossils from several Cenozoic outcrops from Mendoza, San Juan, and La Rioja provinces. Some of the recovered fossils were previously published, including gastropods, birds, turtles, and mammals. However, other specimens, which belong to the Vertebrate Paleontology collection at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, remained unknown and even uncatalogued until the present contribution. Here, we present this peculiar collection for the first time, providing an updated taxonomic list of the vertebrate remains. Based on the studied material, we identified 1) Glyptodontidae (cf. Propalaehoplophorus), Dasypodidae (Stenotatus sp.), Mesotheriidae (cf. Altitypotherium), Macraucheniidae (Cramaucheniinae gen. et sp. indet.) and Rodentia indet. in the Aisol Fm.; 2) Megatheriidae (Pyramiodontotherium sp.) and Macraucheniidae (Macraucheniinae gen. et sp. indet.) in the Tunuyán Fm.; 3) Dasypodidae indet. in the Mariño Fm.; 4) Hegetotheriidae (Hemihegetotherium sp., Pachyrukhinae gen sp. indet., Paedotherium sp.) and Rodentia indet. in the Pilona Fm.; and 5) Cingulata indet., Mesotheriidae (Pseudotypotherium sp.), Hegetotheriidae (Tremacyllus sp.), Chinchiliidae indet., and Hydrochoeridae indet. in the Huachipampa Fm. The reports of the Romer collection from Argentina allow the establishment of biochronological correlations between the lesser-known faunas from west-central Argentina and faunas from other areas of South America.
Since his publication of Monographie der Echinodermen des Eifler Kalkes (Schultze, 1866), separate from the journal article of the same name (Schultze, 1867), Dr. phil. Ludwig Johann Theodor Schultze has been well known among paleontologists and, especially, echinoderm researchers. His work applies mainly to the upper to middle Eifelian and lower Givetian Crinoidea from the Rhenish Massif. Crinoids are a class of echinoderms for which almost no German language treatise exists without citing the Schultze monograph (see Bohatý, 2001, 2004a,b, 2005a,b, 2006a,b,c,d, 2007, 2008, 2009a,b,c,d, 2010a,b, 2011a,b; Bohatý and Herbig, 2007; Bohatý and Hein, 2013; Bohatý et al., 2014; Bohatý and Ausich, in press). As well known as his work is, a biography has not been written to document the size of his former fossil collection, his other areas of collection, and his commercial trade with other collectors and dealers. He collected Devonian fossils from almost all animal groups and regions, recent conch shells, and artifacts, as well as coins, medals, and banknotes. The present article sheds light on previously unknown details on the background to the whereabouts of the collection and, thus, complements the information provided by the late Bonn paleontologist Prof. Dr. Wolfhart Langer (1933–2017) in the Nachrichtenblatt zu Geschichte der Geowissenschaften (Langer, 2009: 65–68). Langer began but did not complete a biography of Schultze. The present English-language biography is based on a German-language version, for which various addresses, registry office and university registers, association and member documents, estate documents, auction catalogs, and sales lists were searched. Furthermore, a total of eight S€ utterlin handwritten letters from the Bavarian State Library in Munich, the library of the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, the State Archive of Schwerin (State Office for Culture and Monument Preservation), and the Entomological Library (Senckenberg German Entomological Institute) were transcribed by Bohatý and Sander (in press).
John James Audubon, the self-trained artist and naturalist, is best known for The Birds of America. Although his life has been widely studied in biographies, his birth mother and the confusing series of names assigned to him during the early decades of his life have never been satisfactorily explained, leading to many misconceptions and controversies. New documentary evidence, including an important unpublished letter, allows us in the first part of this article to connect the historical dots to firmly establish his ancestry and to counter misunderstandings about it. The documents analyzed in the second part clear up the mysteries surrounding his early identities and pseudonyms, which prove to have been both intentional and strategic, and also underline that Jeanne Rabine was his mother. In the process, the study will also illuminate elements in the large cache of Audubon's early ornithological pastels and the manuscript of his earliest autobiography held by the Ernst Mayr Library and Archives of the Museum of Comparative Zoology and Houghton Library of Harvard University.
Despite being among the largest and most conspicuous geckos across southern and eastern Africa, the toe-padded species of Chondrodactylus have remained one of the most taxonomically difficult groups of African lizards, due chiefly to their overall morphological conservativeness accompanied by high intraspecific variation. Current recognition of taxa is based on recent molecular phylogenetic analyses, but the application of the currently recognized nomina to particular populations has not yet been presented. We present a much-expanded multigene analysis of 234 representatives of the genus Chondrodactylus that supports the recognition of 6 species-level taxa, one without toepads, C. angulifer, as sister to five with pads: C. bibronii, C. turneri, C. laevigatus, C. pulitzerae, and C. fitzsimonsi. In general, the species can be recognized on the basis of the relative size of chin and gular scales, dorsal scalation, and head shape. However, the most widespread species, C. laevigatus is only very subtly distinct from C. turneri, with which it is likely parapatric in East Africa (although western populations of C. laevigatus are unambiguously diagnosable from all other congeners). Intraspecific divergences are high in some of the species. In C. fitzsimonsi there is evidence of shared nuclear haplotypes with C. pulitzerae and potential morphological evidence for hybridization or introgression with C. laevigatus. Chondrodactylus turneri exhibits a mitochondrial gene rearrangement that is unique among all geckos followed by an insertion of roughly 200 base pairs that do not correspond to known sequences. Most Chondrodactylus species are primarily distributed in arid to semiarid southwestern Africa, where as many as 4 species occur in sympatry in northern Namibia. In contrast, C. turneri is limited to the lowlands of the southeast and C. laevigatus follows the "arid-corridor" traversing sub-Saharan Africa southwest to northeast.
Abstract. Squamates (lizards, snakes, and their kin such as amphisbaenians, or “worm lizards”) represent the world's most diverse clade of terrestrial vertebrates with ∼11,000 described extant species, representing key components in many of the world's most diverse ecosystems. With an evolutionary history dating back at least to the Middle Triassic at 242 Ma, the squamate Tree of Life also features numerous diverse but extinct branches, with hundreds of fossil species found all over the world. Despite their biological relevance both today and in the geological past, there remains a centuries-old controversy on how the major lineages of squamates are related to each other, with a direct impact on studies in ecology, evolution, paleontology, toxinology, and other fields. Here, we provide a historical overview of this long research tradition, from 19th century naturalists to 21st century phylogenomics, with special emphasis on several recent advances over the last two decades. These insights have had a dramatic effect on our understanding of the squamate Tree of Life and clarify several possible future research agendas. We provide an integrative perspective derived from genomics, morphology, and the fossil record and propose several points of synthesis in our current knowledge of broadscale squamate evolution and systematics. Key topics of interest include dating the origin and early evolution of lizards, the phylogenetic origin of snakes, the evolution of venom, recent agreements between morphological and molecular squamate evolutionary trees, genomic patterns of evolution, and the integration of morphological and molecular data sets. We conclude by providing perspectives on possible advancements in the field, directing researchers to promising future lines of investigation that are necessary to further expand our synthetic knowledge of squamate evolution.
Andrew Garrett, a self-taught naturalist and artist best known for his work as a conchologist and ichthyologist, spent his entire adult life documenting the flora and fauna of the Pacific Islands. Although he focused primarily on molluscs and fishes, he collected and described many other organisms, both marine and terrestrial. He also made hundreds of watercolor drawings, primarily of fishes but also molluscs and other marine invertebrates, most of which have never been published. Although he produced a number of publications on his own, his greatest legacy lies in documenting the rich faunas of these islands, which have since suffered high rates of extinction, and in making vast amounts of zoological specimens available to others who later published on his material, describing countless numbers of new species.
Wilmot W. Brown (1870?–1953) collected birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles from 1890 until his death in 1953, amassing a collection that forms the core of knowledge of the distribution and taxonomy of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Central and South America. His collection of more than 18,000 bird specimens is spread over 25 institutions, although his longest collaboration was with Outram Bangs and John Thayer of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. He collected throughout the Caribbean; northern South America, including Colombia and Panama; and principally throughout Mexico, where he was based for more than 40 years, forming one of the most important collections ever amassed for that country. He collected more than 750 specimens now classified as some form of type specimen, and at least eight taxa are named in his honor, including two reptiles, a mammal, and five birds. Although he sent regular, detailed correspondence back to his benefactors in the United States, he never published a single professional article, and no field journal has been located, leaving his legacy obscured. In an era of lax data collection and fraudulent collectors, Brown's specimens and associated data have proven to be of high quality and help form the basis for our current understanding of New World biodiversity, although his legacy is marred by his disregard for the conservation plight of the species he collected.
The herpetological collections of the Museu do Dundo in Lunda Norte Province, northeast Angola, are among the most important in southern Africa and represent one of the largest collections of Angolan amphibians and reptiles in the world. The collection comprises more than 2,750 preserved specimens, including type specimens of taxa described by Raymond F. Laurent during the 1950s and 1960s, when he was affiliated with the Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale (RMCA) in Tervuren, Belgium, and the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where portions of these type series were also deposited. We provide details for all type specimens and summarize the history and taxonomy for each species represented in the type collection. The collections contain type specimens of 28 amphibian and reptile species, including seven snakes: Typhlops praeocularis lundensis, Dispholidus typus punctatus, Lycodonomorphus subtaeniatus, Lycophidion hellmichi, Gonionotophis brussauxi prigoginei, Prosymna ambígua brevis, and Elapsoidea decosteri huilensis; 13 lizards: Rhoptropus boultoni montanus, Rhoptropus taeniostictus, Hemidactylus nzingae, Lygodactylus tchokwe, Cordylus vittifer machadoi, Chamaesaura anguina oligopholis, Gerrhosaurus bulsi, Nucras scalaris, Ichnotropis bivittata pallida, Mabuya bayonii huilensis, Mabuya ivensii septemlineata, Trachylepis raymondlaurenti, and Eumecia anchietae major; one amphisbaenian: Monopeltis vanderysti vilhenai; and seven frogs: Hyperolius machadoi, Hyperolius marmoratus alborufus, Hyperolius vilhenai, Ptychadena grandisonae, Ptychadena loveridgei, Ptychadena perplicata, and Ptychadena upembae machadoi. The type specimens of the snake Xenocalamus bicolor machadoi were not found in the collections. A brief history of the museum and remarks on the overall herpetological collections are also provided. We also note additional information about the related type material of these taxa at the MCZ.
Abstract. As a part of an ongoing revision of Sri Lankan scincid lizards, I review the genus Lankascincus Greer on the basis of their morphology and morphometric data. I demonstrate that the long-disputed Sphenomorphus megalops (Annandale) is in fact a Lankascincus species, and a neotype is designated. Lankascincus deraniyagalae Greer and L. munindradasai Wickramasinghe, Rodrigo, Dayawansa, and Jayantha are shown to be junior subjective synonyms of L. fallax (Peters) and L. taprobanensis (Kelaart), respectively. Lankascincus deignani (Taylor) is confined to the forests around Kandy and does not extend to Nuwaraeliya and its environs. Previous records of L. deignani from Nuwaraeliya and surrounding localities are reidentified as L. sripadensis Wickramasinghe, Rodrigo, Dayawansa, and Jayantha. Three groups of Lankascincus species are identified on the basis of their morphology and breeding biology: the fallax, taprobanensis, and dorsicatenatus groups. Each group has a unique combination of characters. Lankascincus taprobanensis is restricted to high-elevational regions (≥1,500 m above mean sea level). Previous records from lower elevations (Sinharaja, Knuckles Range, and Peradeniya) are based on misidentified specimens of other Lankascincus spp. Lankascincus fallax has a wide distribution in Sri Lanka. Lankascincus deignani is restricted to Gannoruwa Forest Reserve and the Ambagamuwa area and is the most endangered skink in Sri Lanka. Ecologically, Lankascincus comprises a largely forest-dwelling species group (L. deignani, L. dorsicatenatus (Deraniyagala), L. gansi Greer, L. greeri Batuwita and Pethiyagoda, L. megalops new combination, and L. taprobanensis) and a group of species that live in altered habitats (L. sripadensis, L. fallax, and L. taylori). The present study confirms that the genus Sphenomorphus Fitzinger is not represented in Sri Lanka. Because of a lack of comprehensive genetic data to support a previously described new family, Ristellidae Hedges for Lankascincus and Ristella Gray, here I assign both genera into a new tribe, Ristellini. Phylogenetic relationships of Lankascincus and Ristella remain unresolved.
Abstract. As a part of an ongoing revision of Sri Lankan scincid lizards, I review the genus Lankascincus Greer on the basis of their morphology and morphometric data. I demonstrate that the long-disputed Sphenomorphus megalops (Annandale) is in fact a Lankascincus species, and a neotype is designated. Lankascincus deraniyagalae Greer and L. munindradasai Wickramasinghe, Rodrigo, Dayawansa, and Jayantha are shown to be junior subjective synonyms of L. fallax (Peters) and L. taprobanensis (Kelaart), respectively. Lankascincus deignani (Taylor) is confined to the forests around Kandy and does not extend to Nuwaraeliya and its environs. Previous records of L. deignani from Nuwaraeliya and surrounding localities are reidentified as L. sripadensis Wickramasinghe, Rodrigo, Dayawansa, and Jayantha. Three groups of Lankascincus species are identified on the basis of their morphology and breeding biology: the fallax, taprobanensis, and dorsicatenatus groups. Each group has a unique combination of characters. Lankascincus taprobanensis is restricted to high-elevational regions (≥1,500 m above mean sea level). Previous records from lower elevations (Sinharaja, Knuckles Range, and Peradeniya) are based on misidentified specimens of other Lankascincus spp. Lankascincus fallax has a wide distribution in Sri Lanka. Lankascincus deignani is restricted to Gannoruwa Forest Reserve and the Ambagamuwa area and is the most endangered skink in Sri Lanka. Ecologically, Lankascincus comprises a largely forest-dwelling species group (L. deignani, L. dorsicatenatus (Deraniyagala), L. gansi Greer, L. greeri Batuwita and Pethiyagoda, L. megalops new combination, and L. taprobanensis) and a group of species that live in altered habitats (L. sripadensis, L. fallax, and L. taylori). The present study confirms that the genus Sphenomorphus Fitzinger is not represented in Sri Lanka. Because of a lack of comprehensive genetic data to support a previously described new family, Ristellidae Hedges for Lankascincus and Ristella Gray, here I assign both genera into a new tribe, Ristellini. Phylogenetic relationships of Lankascincus and Ristella remain unresolved.
On West Indian islands, as elsewhere in the world, ants are a very important component of virtually every terrestrial ecosystem. Nonetheless, the ants of most West Indian islands have remained largely unknown and unstudied. Now several destructive exotic ant species are spreading through the region, threatening native biodiversity. Here, we have compiled published and unpublished ant records and collected new specimens to document the diversity of ants on the island of Grenada. Our investigations increased the list of ant taxa known from the island to 82 (65 New World and 17 Old World species). Of these, 71 species are represented among specimens we collected, whereas 11 are New World species known from Grenada solely on the basis of earlier records. Some species recorded earlier, including at least nine not seen for more than 100 years, may now be extinct on Grenada. Grenada has more New World ant species than are known for Barbados (46), a neighboring island that has 34% more land area. Factors that may contribute to this difference include: 1) during low sea levels 15,000 years ago, Grenada was part of a larger island about 10 times Grenada's current size; 2) Grenada is more mountainous than Barbados; and 3) Grenada has more remaining forest cover than Barbados (50.0% vs. 14.7%). Conversely, Grenada has fewer Old World ant species than are known for Barbados (24). Factors that may contribute to this difference include: 1) lower human population density, 2) lower levels of imported lumber products, and 3) lower tourism levels. Records for only four of the 17 Old World exotic ants found in Grenada date to before 1995. Major tramp ant species that are known from the West Indies but have not yet been recorded from Grenada include Old World species such as the pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis), the African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala), and the difficult white-footed ant (Technomyrmex difficilis), as well as the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta).
This study presents what is known about the extant ant (Formicidae) fauna of the island of Hispaniola. Specimen-based occurrence records, published accounts, and newly collected data are synthesized here to provide a synopsis of the fauna: the species present, their known distribution, and details about their natural history. This study represents the only contemporary study of the ant fauna of one of the larger Caribbean islands. Forty-three genera and 144 named species and subspecies are now known from Hispaniola. Additional undescribed species, known from existing museum specimens, would readily add between 15 to 20 new endemic species to this total. Approximately half (61) of the native species (126) are island endemics. The discovery of novel species, both undescribed species and named species that were previously not know to occur on the island, is likely as further studies explore areas of the island that have yet to be sampled for ants.
The Malagasy species of the filistatid spider genus Andoharano Lehtinen are revised. The four previously known species, all from caves, are redescribed and have their type material illustrated. The paratypes of A. milloti Legendre are not conspecific with its holotype and are herein described as A. rollardae sp. nov. The first epigean representatives of the genus on the island are recorded, and a further six species are described: A. simoni sp. nov., A. zonsteini sp. nov., A. woodae sp. nov., A. lehtineni sp. nov., A. griswoldi sp. nov., and A. ramirezi sp. nov. Interestingly, each of the species occurring in caves is morphologically similar to a different epigean species, suggesting repeated invasions of the subterranean realm. The fine morphology of the genus is illustrated, including the first scanning electron microscopy images of genitalia, spinnerets, and other structures.
Abstract A comprehensive search was conducted to ascertain the fate of the weevils named and described by the early North American naturalist Thomas Say. The historical context of each of his weevil papers is given along with the approximate date of publication. At least 117 extant type specimens were located for 92 (possibly 98) of his 132 nominal species in museum collections in Berlin, Cambridge, Halle, and Stockholm. Supporting evidence for their authenticity is presented. Actions are taken to stabilize eight genus group names. Species names are fixed when reasonably sound taxonomic revisions are available. Primary homonyms found are Baridius sulcipennis Brisout, 1870 (not Heyden, 1868), and Lixus marginatus Say, 1832 (not Beck, 1817). Lectotypes are designated for Balaninus nasicus Say, 1832; B. rostratus Gyllenhaal, 1835; Cleonus trivittatus Say, 1832; Cryptorhynchus umbrosus Boheman, 1837; Liparus tessellatus Say, 1824; L. vittatus Say, 1824; Rhynchaenus constrictus Say, 1824; Rhynchites aeratus Say, 1831; Rhynchophorus immunis Say, 1832; R. placidus Say, 1832; R. venatus Say, 1832; and Tanymecus confusus Say, 1832. The holotype of B. sulcipennis Heyden is designated as neotype for Baridius transversus Say, 1832. Resurrected names are (formerly used names in square brackets) Curculio auctus Casey, 1910 [ante: C. nasicus auctt.]; Pseudobaris crenata (Boheman, 1836) [ante: Craptus undatus auctt.]; Aramigus durius (Germar, 1823) [ante: A. tessellatus auctt.]; Sphenophorus compressirostris Germar, 1823 [ante: S. germari Horn, 1873]; S. cultrirostris Gyllenhaal, 1838 [ante: S. compressirostris (Say, 1824)]; S. immunis (Say, 1832) and S. placidus (Say, 1832) [ante: S. venatus auctt.]; Dorytomus rufus (Say, 1832) [ante: Ellescus ephippiatus (Say, 1832)]; Cryptorhynchus umbrosus Boheman, 1837 [ante: C. obliquus auctt.]; and Tanymecus confertus Gyllenhaal, 1834 [ante: T. confusus auctt.]. New or reestablished combinations are Aracanthus tessellatus (Say, 1824) [from Aramigus Horn], Auleutes curtus (Say, 1832) [from Acanthoscelidius Hustache], Dorytomus rufus (Say, 1832) [from Ellescus Dejean], and Onychobaris undata (Say, 1832) [from Craptus Casey]. New or reestablished junior synonyms are Aramigus tessellatus pallidus Horn, 1876, Asynonychus santafecinus Lanteri, 1987, A. viridipallens Hustache, 1947, Eurymetopus chevrolati Voß, 1934, E. griseus Voß, 1934, and Pantomorus biseriatus Hustache, 1947 [all of Aramigus durius (Germar, 1823)]; Baridius sulcipennis Heyden, 1868, B. sulcipennis Brisout, 1870, and B. strenuus LeConte, 1869 [all of Baris transversa (Say, 1832)]; Balaninus nasicus Say, 1832 [of Curculio proboscideus Fabricius, 1775]; B. ordinatus Casey, 1910 [of Curculio auctus (Casey, 1910)]; Cryptorhynchus fuscatus LeConte, 1876 [of C. obliquus Say, 1832]; C. palmacollis Say, 1832 [of Rhyssomatus palmicollis (Say, 1832)]; Deracanthus pallidus Say, 1832 [of Aracanthus tessellatus (Say, 1824)]; Dorytomus squamosus LeConte, 1876 [of D. rufus (Say, 1832)]; Otidocephalus myrmecodes Chevrolat, 1833, and O. chevrolatii Horn, 1873 [of Myrmex myrmex (Herbst, 1797)]; Sphenophorus destructor Chittenden, 1906 [of S. venatus (Say, 1832)]; S. parvulus Gyllenhaal, 1838 [of S. interstitialis (Say, 1832)]; S. sayi Gyllenhaal, 1838 [of S. immunis (Say, 1832)]; Tanymecus confusus Say, 1832 [of Hylobius pales (Herbst, 1797)]; and Tyloderma capitaloides Wibmer, 1981 [of T. aereum (Say, 1832)]. Tyloderma wibmeri new species is proposed for T. aereum auctt.
