Twelve species of deep-water cheilostome Bryozoa are reported from an incidental deep-water collection from the south coast of South Africa. The collection represents nine families and ten genera. One species, Arthropoma lioneli sp. nov., is new to science. The results reinforce the need for targeted sampling of South Africa's poorly known deep-water benthic fauna to assist the assignment of offshore marine protected areas within its Exclusive Economic Zone. With the addition of the new species, the bryozoan fauna of South Africa comprises no fewer than 271 valid marine species.
A new species of Escharinidae, Taylorius nyembezi sp. nov., is described and illustrated from material collectedby the R.V. Meiring Naude cruises at 90 m depth off the east coast of South Africa in 1979 and lodged in the collections of the Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town and The Natural History Museum, London. The specimens were previously reported as conspecific with recent and fossil specimens from New Zealand and misidentified as Escharina waiparaensis (Brown, 1952) by Hayward & Cook (1983). Subsequently Gordon (2014) clarified the taxonomic status of the unique species that constitutes Escharina waiparaensis. In this paper we erect Taylorius nyembezi sp. nov., for the South African specimens based on its unique anter and sinus shape, metrics of its zooids and orifices, and the large size and position of the spine bases.
Ophiuroid research in South Africa has not kept pace with global taxonomic research with the last major taxonomic review of the group being published in 1976. This paper documents all new records of Ophiuroidea from South Africa since (and including) 1977. These records originate from specimens housed in five zoological collections, from photographic records and from reports published in the non-taxonomic literature. A short review of the history of ophiuroid taxonomy in South Africa is also given and for each new record, key references, distribution, ecology, additional notes and, where possible, photographs, are presented. This has resulted in an additional 24 species being recorded within the mainland Exclusive Economic Zone of South Africa, elevating the total known number of ophiuroid species reported in the region to 137.
The cosmopolitan ammonite genus Douvilleiceras de Grossouvre, 1894, is the commonest ammonite in the Lower and lower Middle Albian in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Two variable, dimorphic species, D. mammillatum (Schlotheim, 1813) and D. inaequinodum (Quenstedt, 1849) are recognized, of which the majority of previously named taxa referred to the genus are regarded as synonyms.
Three new species of Mysidae are described, taken by hand-net, using SCUBA, from reef habitats in 20-40 m water depth on the KwaZulu-Natal shelf. Idiomysis robustus is the fifth described member of this curious genus, and shares the peculiar body shape of all the other known Idiomysis species. The species is found in small shoals, over low-profile, scattered reef. Koinommatomysis zuluensis is the third described species in this genus. Observations suggest this species does not swarm conspicuously, and it has only been collected by sweeping a handnet among gorgonians and seaweeds. Australerythrops africanus is only the second described species of this genus. It has not been seen over open reef, but is commonly found in small to medium-sized caves, or hovering around the entrance to a cave, in swarms containing hundreds, and sometimes thousands of individuals.
We revise the Afrotropical genus Phorotrophus. Thirty-three species are recognized, including eight new synonyms and eight newly described species: P. cyranodebergeraci sp. nov., P. fernando sp. nov., P. frodoni sp. nov., P. hephaistosi sp. nov., P. problematicus sp. nov., P. vulcani sp. nov., P. youpi sp. nov., and P. zoutpansbergensis sp. nov. The following are considered junior synonyms: P. elevatus Benoit of P. alcides (Wilkinson); P. caffrariae Benoit of P. bivittatus (Morley); P. trimaculatus (Tosquinet) of P. capensis (Holmgren); P. katangensis Benoit and P. maynei Benoit of P. congoensis Benoit; P. basilewski Benoit, P. limpidus Benoit and P. nigromaculatus Benoit of P. mameti Benoit. New distribution records are included for P. alcides, P. bivittatus, P. congoensis, P. ealensis Benoit, P. kaluleus, P. mameti, P. perplexus Benoit and P. stictor Benoit. An illustrated dichotomous key to species is provided, and interactive dichotomous and matrix Lucid keys are also available at www.waspweb.org.
The last major taxonomic review of the South African Echinoidea was published in 1976 and there have been very few additions to the fauna since that time, although numerous unidentified samples have continued to accumulate in the Iziko South African Museum. This study documents all additions to the fauna reported since the late 1970s. Most of these derive from our examination and identification of specimens in the Iziko South African Museum collections. Also included, though, are new records reported via the EchinoMap Virtual Museum, those published in the non-taxonomic literature and those derived from taxonomic revisions. For each new record we present an image of the species, key references, a brief diagnosis and detailed locality records. These sources together have resulted in 19 additions to the regional echinoid fauna, raising the total number of echinoid species known from the South African Exclusive Economic Zone to 71.
Representatives of 20 species of the ammonite subfamily Puzosiinae Spath, 1922 are described from the Barremian and Aptian Makatini Formation, the Albian and Cenomanian Mzinene Formation, and the Coniacian part of the St Lucia Formation of northern KwaZulu-Natal, and the Santonian to Lower Campanian Mzamba Formation of northern Eastern Cape Province. The following are recognized: Valdedorsella akuschaensis (Anthula, 1899), Pseudohaploceras matheroni (d'Orbigny, 1841), Puzosia mayoriana (d'Orbigny, 1841), Puzosia provincialis (Parona & Bonarelli, 1897), Puzosia furnitana Pervinquiere, 1907, Puzosia compacta Crick, 1907, Puzosia natalensis Crick, 1907, Puzosia compressa Kossmat, 1898, Puzosia manasoaensis Collignon, 1961, Puzosia eboroensis Collignon, 1961, Bhimaites bhima (Stoliczka, 1865), Bhimaites stoliczkai (Kossmat, 1897), Bhimaites pinguis (Crick, 1907), Bhimaites subtilis (Crick, 1907), Bhimaites gortanii Venzo, 1936), Parapuzosia (Parapuzosia) haughtoni Spath, 1922, Parapuzosia (Parapuzosia)? truteri (Van Hoepen, 1968), Parapuzosia (Austiniceras) subcompressa (Crick, 1907), Parapuzosia (Austiniceras) beantalyense Collignon, 1961, and Pachydesmoceras pachydiscoide Matsumoto, 1954 (=?Matsumotoceras donlisteri Van Hoepen, 1968).
Three species of marine Amphipoda, Peramphithoe africana, Varohios serratus and Ceradocus isimangaliso, are described as new to science and an additional 13 species are recorded from South Africa for the first time. Twelve of these new records originate from collecting expeditions to Sodwana Bay in northern KwaZulu-Natal, while one is an introduced species newly recorded from Simon's Town Harbour. In addition, we collate all additions and revisions to the regional amphipod fauna that have taken place since the last major monographs of each group and produce a comprehensive, updated faunal list for the region. A total of 483 amphipod species are currently recognized from continental South Africa and its Exclusive Economic Zone. Of these, 35 are restricted to freshwater habitats, seven are terrestrial forms, and the remainder either marine or estuarine. The fauna includes 117 members of the suborder Corophiidea, 260 of the suborder Gammaridea, 105 of the suborder Hyperiidea and a single described representative of the suborder Ingolfiellidea.
Three species of Desmoceratinae are described from KwaZulu-Natal/Eastern Cape Province. Desmoceras (Desmoceras) latidorsatum (Michelin, 1838) occurs in the Middle Albian to Middle Cenomanian of northern KwaZulu-Natal. Desmophyllites diphylloides (Forbes, 1846), and Damesites sugata (Forbes, 1846) occur in the Santonian to Lower Campanian Mzamba Formation of northern Eastern Cape Province. The latter also occurs in the Coniacian-Santonian part of the St Lucia Formation in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The representatives of the ammonite subfamily Stoliczkaiinae Breistroffer, 1953, from the Upper Albian and Lower Cenomanian part of the Mzinene Formation of northern KwaZulu-Natal are described, and the following species recognized; Neophlycticeras (Neophlycticeras) brottianum (d'Orbigny, 1841), N. (Protissotia) itierianum (d'Orbigny, 1841), Stoliczkaia (Stoliczkaia) clavigera Neumayr, 1875, S. (Lamnayella) tetragona Neumayr, 1875, S. (L.) crotaloides (Stoliczka, 1864), S. (L.) sanctaecatherinae Wright & Kennedy, 1978, S. (L.) chancellori Wright & Kennedy, 1984, S. (Shumarinaia) australe sp. nov., Cenisella bonnetiana (Pictet, 1847), Zuluscaphites orycteropusi van Hoepen, 1955, Z. grandidieri (Boule, Lemoine & Thevenin, 1907), and Z. cf. helveticus Kennedy & Delamette, 1994b. Relevant representatives of the subfamily described from Madagascar are also discussed and illustrated.
Records of two ammonite species Pseudokossmaticeras pacificum (Stoliczka, 1866) and Brahmaites (Brahmaites) mikobokensis Collignon, 1971, from the St Lucia Formation of northern KwaZulu-Natal are dated as Late Maastrichtian on the basis of associated inoceramid faunas. These records suggest that the Madagascan 'Early' Maastrichtian 'Zone a Pachydiscus neubergicus et Pachydiscus gollevillensis', in which these species also occur, is in part Late Maastichtian.
Recent genetic studies have shown that the South African crown crab, Hymenosoma orbiculare, in fact represents five distinct species, three of which are new to science and one of which needs to be resurrected. Three of these species occur in the southwestern Cape, the remaining two being found in estuaries on the South East and East coasts of South Africa. Based on genetic evidence and morphological analyses, H. geometricum Stimpson, 1858 is no longer considered a junior synonym of H. orbiculare, and is resurrected as a full species. A deeper-water species from False Bay, H. trilobatum sp. nov. as well as two East coast species, H. longicrure sp. nov. and H. projectum sp. nov., are described. The true H. orbiculare ranges from Walvis Bay in Namibia to the Gqunube Estuary near East London. H. geometricum and H. trilobatum sp. nov. are both found in deeper water and are currently known only from False Bay. H. longicrure sp. nov. is found from the Qolora Estuary to the Mngazi Estuary in the Eastern Cape and H. projectum sp. nov. along the east coast from the Mzimvubu Estuary to Lake Sibaya and Kosi Bay. The size and shape of the rostrum and ornamentation of the carapace are the main features distinguishing species. H. orbiculare has a smooth, simple rostrum and only two pairs of plain teeth on the carapace; H. geometricum has a very complex, long, trilobate rostrum and three pairs of complex, granulate teeth on the carapace; H. trilobatum sp. nov. has a less complex, extended, trilobate rostrum with smooth margins and granulate surface, with only two pairs of teeth on the carapace; H. longicrure sp. nov. and H. projectum sp. nov. both have a simple rostrum, little ornamentation on the carapace and unusual abdominal projections.
Mojsisovicsia ventanillensis (Gabb, 1877), Dipoloceroides delaruei (d'Orbigny, 1841), D. semicornutum (Spath, 1931), D. cornutum (Pictet, 1847) and Falloticeras proteus (d'Orbigny, 1842) are described from the Middle Albian Mzinene Formation of northern KwaZulu-Natal. The interpretation of micromorph species associated with these taxa is reviewed, and duerfeldi of Steinmann, 1881, is interpreted as the microconch of ventanillensis as a working hypothesis. The status of proteus as either microconch or micromorph is unresolved
Three taxa of desmoceratoid ammonites are recognized in the Lower Albian of northern KwaZulu-Natal, all of them previously known only from Madagascar: Moretella sp., Beudanticeras komihevitraense Collignon, 1950, and Aioloceras besairiei (Collignon, 1949). Madagascan type and figured material, much of it difficult to interpretfrom the original figures is re-illustrated, and the intraspecific variation and dimorphism in Moretella and Aioloceras are documented.
The distinctive Santonian-Campanian ammonite genus Eulophoceras Hyatt, 1903, is revised and assigned to the subfamily Lenticeratinae. Pelecodiscus Van Hoepen, 1921, and Spheniscoceras Spath, 1921, are junior synonyms. Praelibycoceras H. Douville, 1912, regarded as a junior synonym by previous authors, is regarded as a separate taxon. All seven species previously recorded from the Mzamba Formation of the Eastern Cape Province are assigned to a variable, dimorphic Eulophoceras natalense Hyatt, 1903, which is also recorded from the St Lucia Formation of KwaZulu-Natal, as is a second species, Eulophoceras bererense Hourcq, 1949. The Madagascan representatives of the genus are described and illustrated for comparison, and the status of other species referred to the genus reviewed.
Ten species of the distinctive oxycone ammonite Oxytropidoceras are described from the Middle and lower Upper Albian Mzinene Formation of northern KwaZulu-Natal. Oxytropidoceras (O.) alticarinatum (Spath, 1922) was originally described from western Europe. O. (Manuaniceras) manuanense (Spath, 1921), O. (M.) falcatum sp. nov. and O. (Venezoliceras) umsinenense (Van Hoepen, 1931) are only known from northern KwaZulu-Natal. The following species were previously recorded from Madagascar: O. (O.) basseae (Besairie, 1936), O. (O.) hoepeni Collignon, 1936, O. (Adkinsites) multitubercuiatus Collignon, 1936, O. (Mirapelia) hourcqi Collignon, 1936, and O. (M.) colconapi Collignon, 1936. O. (Venezoliceras) madagascariense Collignon, 1949, was recorded from Madagascar, southern Mozambique and Venezuela.
The ammonite genus Grandidiericeras Collignon, 1961 was previously known from two species, based on six described specimens, three of which, referred to Grandidiericeras grandidierorum Collignon, 1961, are from the Middle Campanian of Madagascar, and three, referred to Grandidiericeras nagaoi Matsumoto & Saito, 1987, from the Coniacian of Japan. A single specimen from the Upper Santonian to Lower Campanian of Lake St Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal represents a new species, Grandidiericeras corrugatum.
Additional specimens of the Campanian ammonite Hoplitoplacenticeras (H.) howarthi Collignon, 1970, as well as examination of Collignon's (1970) Madagascan specimens of Hoplitoplacenticeras allow us to discuss the intraspecific variation, probable dimorphism and affinities of the species.
This paper provides a basis for conservation work by detailing the micromammalian taxa occurring in the Northern Cape Province. It presents new evidence from 30 barn owl pellet collections, augmented by previously published material from trapping or observation (here called 'conventional' reports) and owl roosts, divided into pre- 1930, 1930-1979 and 1980 and newer as an indication of continuity of occurrence. A historical perspective is added by the inclusion of material from two archaeological sites dating to the Pleistocene (before about 10 000 years ago) and 11 from the Holocene (after about 10 000 years ago). Northern Cape Province synonymies are provided as an aid to equating older records with modern taxonomy. In all, 77 currently recognized micromammalian species have been recorded from the province. These comprise five Afrosoricida (golden moles), six Macroscelidea (elephant shrews), eight Soricomorpha (forest shrews), 16 Chiroptera (bats), and 42 Rodentia (rodents).
