Zoology Commons^™

Contributions To Scorpion Systematics. I. On Recent Changes In High-Level Taxonomy, Victor Fet, Michael E. Soleglad

Euscorpius

Prendini & Wheeler (2005) criticized the methods of phylogenetic analyses by Soleglad, Fet, and their coauthors, and executed an unprecedented taxonomic action: without analyzing any of these taxa, they performed a wholesale synonymization of four parvorders, eight superfamilies, one family, 11 subfamilies, eight tribes, two subtribes, and three genera (in total, 37 taxa) of scorpions, and made other taxonomic changes. No alternative new classification has been proposed (instead, they revert to a previous classification), and no results of original work on this subject by Prendini & Wheeler (2005) have been presented. Here, we reverse all taxonomic changes performed by Prendini …

Etudes On Iurids, Ii. Revision Of Genus Calchas Birula, 1899, With The Description Of Two New Species (Scorpiones: Iuridae), Victor Fet, Michael E. Soleglad, František Kovařík

Euscorpius

The relict, phylogenetically important scorpion genus Calchas Birula, 1899 (Iuridae) remained monotypic since its description. Its sole species, Calchas nordmanni Birula, 1899, was known only from northeastern Turkey until Kinzelbach (1980) published first records from southern and southeastern Turkey. A few more localities have been reported from Turkey; the species was also found on two Greek islands, Samos and Megisti. We analyzed significant material (63 specimens, including a previously unpublished large series from Naturhistorisches Museum Wien), and concluded that three distinct, disjunct species exist rather than one widespread species as previously thought. Two new species are described: Calchas birulai sp. …

Ecological Niche Modeling Of Two Scorpion Species Mesobuthus Eupeus (C. L. Koch, 1839) And M. Phillipsii (Pocock, 1889) From The Iranian Plateau And Zagros Region (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Omid Mirshamsi

Euscorpius

Ecological niche modeling has allowed several advances in the process of species delimitation. In the present study, I used this method to evaluate the climatic divergence between two scorpion species, Mesobuthus eupeus and M. phillipsii. The ecological niche models (ENMs) were created based on presence-only data with the maximum entropy method. The created models, results of spatial analysis (PCA and Hotelling discriminant), and an identity test suggested that the divergence between these two species is associated with significant divergence in their ecological niches. The results of this study provide additional support for the taxonomic validity the studied species.

A New Species Of Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Dominican Amber, Wilson R. Lourenço

Euscorpius

Tityus azari sp. n., a new species of fossil scorpion belonging to the genus Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 is described based on a specimen in amber from the Dominican Republic. Although the new species can be associated with the extant fauna of the Neotropical region, it presents some particular morphological features such as the presence of sharp denticles on the edge of pedipalp fingers. Due to the incompleteness of the specimen it cannot be assigned to any precise extant subgenera. Once again, this discovery attests to a considerable degree of diversity in the Dominican amber-producing forests.

The Cretaceous Scorpion Genus, Archaeobuthus, Revisited (Scorpiones: Archaeobuthidae), Chris Baptista, Jorge A. Santiago-Blay, Victor Fet, Michael E. Soleglad

Euscorpius

No abstract provided.

The Scorpions Of Hainan Island, China (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Zhi-Yong Di, Zhi-Jian Cao, Ying-Liang Wu, Lin Zhu, Hui Liu, Wen-Xin Li

Euscorpius

The redescriptions and illustrations of three species, Isometrus (Isometrus) maculatus (DeGeer, 1778), Lychas mucronatus (Fabricius, 1798) (Buthidae), and Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiscorpiidae) from Hainan Island, China are presented. Distribution data and updated key of Hainan scorpions are provided.

Review Of The Subgenus Pandinurus Fet, 1997 With Descriptions Of Three New Species (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae, Pandinus)., František Kovařík

Euscorpius

Pandinus (Pandinurus) awashensis sp. n. from Ethiopia, P. (P.) somalilandus sp. n. from Somaliland, and P. (P.) lowei sp. n. from Democratic Republic of Congo are described and compared with other species of the subgenus. P. (P.) sudanicus Hirst, 1911 stat. n. previously considered a synonym of P. (P.) magrettii Borelli, 1901 is recognized as a valid species. New data on taxonomic characters and distribution of the subgenus Pandinurus are presented. Also presented are a map of distribution, photos of the localities and a key to species using hitherto unpublished characters of the tarsomere spination formula and sexual …

An Experimental Investigation Of Nest Reuse And Nest Site Selection In An Open-Cup Nesting Passerine, Sarah A. Cancellieri

Dissertations and Theses

Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) breed from coast to coast in North America and build open-cup nests in trees. They have been extensively studied across most of their range and have only on occasion been documented to reuse a nest from a previous season. However, at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR), located in southeastern Oregon, ~10 % of female Eastern Kingbirds reuse old nests of mainly American Robins (Turdus migratorius). In an attempt to address why nest reuse is so common at MNWR, I used artificial nests to evaluate two hypotheses as to why nest reuse is common in this breeding …

A Comparison Of Relative Ear Length Between Two Neighboring Populations Of Peromyscus Maniculatus, Joshua S. Willems

Biological Sciences

This study attempts to determine if a significant difference in relative ear length exists between two neighboring populations of Peromyscus maniculatus on the central coast of California. Data was collected from individuals trapped at two plots in the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge and two plots near Black Lake, under the supervision of Francis X. Villablanca, Ph. D. of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. A total of 98 individuals were captured over the course of three nights of trapping. A regression analysis was performed comparing the ear lengths of each population relative to body size. The analysis of …

Prevalence And Comparative Analysis Of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In Dargai Region In Pakistan, Clarence Lee

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

In the present study, 102 samples of exudates from cutaneous leishmanial lesions were collected from local Pakistanis and Afghan refugees residing in Dargai Tehsil of Malakand Agency Pakistan, and were analyzed. The lesions were more prevalent among the locals (60.79%) compared to refugees (49.21%), and 70.58% male compared to 30.42% female were infected with Leishmania. Infection was more prevalent among youth's ages of 11-20 year old (34.32%) compared to older adults. Exposed parts of the body (face, hands, legs, neck, ears and feet) were the main affected areas. Faces experienced more bites (36.28%), followed by legs (26.48%), and hands (21.57%). …

American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus Americanus): Species Conservation Assessment, Melissa J. Panella

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Publications

The primary goal in development of at-risk species conservation assessments is to compile biological and ecological information that may assist conservation practitioners in making decisions regarding the conservation of species of interest. The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project recognizes the American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) as a Tier I at-risk species of high conservation priority. Indeed, the American Burying Beetle (ABB) is a species of conservation need throughout its range. Here, I provide some general management recommendations regarding ABB; however, conservation practitioners will need to use professional judgment for specific management decisions based on objectives, location, and site-specific conditions. This resource …

Winter Field Report, December 2012 To February 2013, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This winter was notable for its lack of snow cover and above-normal temperatures, which allowed a large variety of species to remain in the state for at least the first half of the period. Notable among these species were waterfowl and native sparrows, but additional observations tended to confirm the mildness of the winter: Blue-winged Teal lingering into Dec, Sandhill Cranes wintering again in central Nebraska, a record early egg date for Great Horned Owl, a Sandhills midwinter Loggerhead Shrike, and wintering Green-tailed Towhee and Dickcissel.

The most significant event was the Common Redpoll invasion; these birds were reported statewide …

2012–2013 Christmas Bird Counts, Don Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

Fifteen counts were held during the 2012–2013 season. The weather was seasonable and mostly dry with some open water. The total species count of 139 was the same as last year, but less than the record total of 149 counted in 2010–2011. In all, 23 species set new or tied previous high counts, including a new species for Nebraska counts, a single Bewick's Wren at Scottsbluff. The incredible number of European Starlings (250,444) found in the North Platte circle was largely responsible for the new high count (268,232) of that species and pushed the overall number of individuals for all …

An Unexpected Sandhill Crane Experience, Clem Klaphake

Nebraska Bird Review

On April 24, 2012, I spent some time birding in Saunders County at Memphis SRA, Lake Wanahoo, and various other lakes in the Malmo, Nebraska, area. . . . I headed over to Redtail WMA in Butler County. While watching . . . activity, I was facing north on a north-facing hillside. I briefly stopped to turn around and look behind me to the south, and I saw a large bird . . . and realized it was a Sandhill Crane. It came in on quite a high flight, and I quickly put my spotting scope on it. I realized …

Color Photo Section [March 2013, Pp. 21–28]

Nebraska Bird Review

Photographs of Hoary Redpolls, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Sage Thrashers (p. 21); Red Crossbills, Hooded Oriole, Golden-winged Warbler (p. 21); Double-crested Cormorant, Burrowing Owl, American Kestrel, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eared Grebes (p. 23); Western Kingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Cliff Swallows, Say’s Phoebe (p. 24); Northern Flicker (nest scenes), Eastern Screech Owl, House Wren (p. 25); Wilson’s Snipe, White-rumped Sandpiper, Willet, Piping Plover, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper (p. 26); Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Glaucous-winged Gull, Laughing Gull, Sabine’s Gull (p. 27); Canada Geese (one leucistic), hybrid Canada/domestic Greylag Goose, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Eastern-Screech Owl (p. 28).

First Documented Nebraska Record Of Black-Chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus Alexandri), Kathy Delara, Marie Smith

Nebraska Bird Review

On the morning of May 7, 2012, I . . . saw a post on Jane's Greenhouse [Facebook] wall about a hummingbird that was in one of their greenhouses. . . . Jane's Greenhouse is a small retail greenhouse located on the west edge of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Fully expecting to see a Broad-tailed Hummingbird, I went inside to see if it was still there. . . . and saw the hummingbird flitting around the flowers in the hanging baskets that were for sale. . . . I watched it for a minute or so and saw that it was a …

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Treasurer’S Report, December 31, 2012

Nebraska Bird Review

One-page spreadsheet constituting the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union treasurer's report at year end (December 31) of 2012. The grand total is $56,779.43.

Subscription And Organization Information [March 2013]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $15 in the United States, $18 in Canada and $30 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4 each, postpaid, in the United States, $5 in Canada, and $8 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): Active Household …

Nebraska Bird Review (March 2013) 81(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Winter Field Report, December 2012–February 2013 ... 2

An Unexpected Sandhill Crane Experience … 29

First Documented Nebraska Record of Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) … 30

2012–2013 Christmas Bird Counts in Nebraska ... 32

NOU Annual Treasurer’s Report for 2012 ... 46

Subscription and Organization Information ... 47

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius Ludovicianus): Species Conservation Assessment, Melissa J. Panella

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Publications

The primary goal in the development of at-risk species conservation assessments is to compile biological and ecological information that may assist conservation practitioners in making decisions regarding the conservation of species of interest. The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project recognizes the Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) as a Tier I at-risk species. Here, I provide some general management recommendations regarding Loggerhead Shrikes. However, conservation practitioners will need to use professional judgment for specific management decisions based on objectives, location, and site-specific conditions. This resource provides available knowledge of Loggerhead Shrikes that may aid in the decision-making process or in identifying research needs …