Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA)’s Post

Happy #FossilFriday #ForamFriday everybody! This week's #ForamFact: Forams come in more than one colour! There are some species of planktonic foraminifera which have a red/pink pigmentation within their tests! The three known species, Globigerinoides ruber, Globoturborotalita rubescens, and the newly discovered Globigerinoides rublobatus are all found in the relatively recent sediment record, and the function and mechanisms behind the pigmentation are not fully understood. They are very useful to study though, and also very pretty! You can learn more about them here: Latas, M., Pearson, P. N., Poole, C. R., Fabbrini, A., and Wade, B. S.: Globigerinoides rublobatus – a new species of Pleistocene planktonic foraminifera, J. Micropalaeontol., 42, 57–81, https://lnkd.in/epPbpWuu, 2023.

Highly recommended. It is a great synthesis that packs a lot of information!

Chatty Crocodiles 🐊 A structural analysis of American (Crocodylus acutus) and Morelet's crocodiles (C. moreletii) vocalizations in Belize. "Some research on vocalization in C. acutus has been carried out (Boucher et al. 2020), but there is little known about the call structure of C. moreletii. This research aimed to provide a better understanding of vocalization structures in C. acutus, C. moreletii and hybrids of the two species, that could be used to: 1) understand differences in vocalizations between these species and hybrids; and, 2) possibly implement PAM distribution surveys in future research. In addition to looking at differences between species, differences between individuals were also examined. Read more here: https://buff.ly/3G7FpEg Photo from St Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park for the Belize CSG Regional meeting in 2019.

We identified 17 species of sandfly from the cave and surrounding karst systems, including a new record for Colombia (Bichromomyia olmeca), and provide the first karstic reports for four other species (Lutzomyia gomezi, Lutzomyia hartmanni, Pintomyia ovallesi, and Psychodopygus panamensis). First, that sandfly diversity in Neotropical caves is richest nearer to the equator, and second that there is a phylogenetic signal of karstic habitat use in sandflies. Counter to our predictions, we found no evidence that diversity follows a latitudinal gradient. Diversity of cave Phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) from a Colombian cave https://lnkd.in/eGTN936k

I'm pleased to share that my article, "Latrine site selection by African clawless otters, Aonyx capensis, and their behavior during latrine visitations," was published in the Journal of Mammalogy earlier this year. African clawless otters are elusive and fascinating creatures, known for their adaptability and social dynamics. This study investigated latrine site selection at both micro- and macroscale levels, assessed environmental predictors, and recorded behavioral patterns through camera trap technology. By analyzing 38 latrine sites across two distinct habitats in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the research revealed important early insights into the ecological roles these latrine sites play in olfactory communication, territoriality, and social interactions What factors drove their site selection? Discover the findings and implications of this research by reading the full article here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dMKTDkFU #Mammalogy #WildlifeResearch #Otters #SouthAfrica #JournalOfMammalogy     📸 African clawless otter (© Frans Vandewalle). Source: Flickr

Palleon is a genus of chameleon endemic to Madagascar that currently contains only two species. Both member of this genus were originally described as Brookesia species, with one species later classified in the genus Evoluticauda (the second species was not yet described at this point) before that genus was synonymized with Brookesia again. The Palleon genus was split from the Brookesia genus on the basis of the deep divergence between this lineage and remaining Brookesia species, which dates back to either the Cretaceous or Palaeocene. This divergence was earlier than all other extant chameleon clades that are otherwise recognized as distinct genera and the two speceis included in Palleon also exhibit distinct morphology from the remaining Brookesia species. #InternationalChameleonDay #ShowYourColors #ChameleonDay2024 #ChameleonDay

10 Fascinating Facts About Maidenhair Trees: Uncovering the Secrets of This Enchanting Species 10 Fascinating Facts About Maidenhair Trees: Uncovering the Secrets of This Enc... Read More - https://lnkd.in/dDddmYPc

We highlight as our #insectoftheweek, Calymmochilus, a small yet captivating genus of #ParasitoidWasps within the vast Eupelmidae family! With over 900 species in Eupelmidae, Calymmochilus stands out with its beauty and intrigue. Dr. Gary Gibson, the world expert on Eupelmidae reports that he has seen undescribed species from the Australian, Palearctic, Oriental and Afrotropical regions. Our recent expeditions have led us to uncover specimens of Calymmochilus in two diverse sites: Ungoye Forest, a seasonally swampy forest on the shores of Lake Victoria, and on the other side of the country in Muhaka, a wet forest in coastal Kenya. While much remains unknown about their biology, fascinating host records provide insight into their interactions with other organisms. There are two host records from Europe of Calymmochilus (C. russoi). This species was found to parasitize the wood-boring beetle Phloeotribus scarabaeoides (Family Scolytidae), and more recently to attack the Gelechiidae moth Parapodia sinaica that is responsible for gall formation on the stems of Tamarix (Tamariceae). Lastly, and most interestingly, Calymmochilus longbottomi stands out for its remarkable parasitisation of a pseudoscorpion. A rare event, being the only known record of any hymenopteran parasitoid using a pseudoscorpion as a host. Speaking of pseudoscorpions, they are closely related to the Solifugae, also known as “sun spiders”. These formidable predators, resembling scorpions without a tail, are rarely seen but seek shelter in xeric habitats like deserts and savannas. Next time you're exploring rocky terrain like Olorgesailie, keep an eye out for these intriguing creatures! Special thanks to Dr. Lucian Fusu for his invaluable insights into the world of Calymmochilus and Eupelmidae. Sida Read more: https://lnkd.in/dAVWYmju

A few weeks ago, Mathijs de Koning and I published an article in the journal 'Brachytron' by the Flemish and Dutch Dragonfly Societies. In this article, we describe our observation of oviposition behaviour by a Vagrant Emperor near Hook of Holland. This dragonfly species is abundant in Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa, where it is known for its long-distance migration. The species occasionally finds its way to Western Europe, where it is extremely rare with only a few individuals found each year. The only known successful reproduction in the Netherlands occurred after a spring influx of several dozen Vagrant Emperors in 2019. On the first of October, during the peak of 'Vagrant Emperor-season' and with favourable weather conditions, Mathijs and I set out to look for the elusive Vagrant Emperors. We were fortunate enough to find a female Vagrant Emperor laying her eggs. This phenomenon is very rare in this part of Europe and it is only the fourth year ever that this has been seen in the Netherlands. Unfortunately hese eggs will most likely not make it through winter, as they cannot survive the cold weather conditions. In the Netherlands, the North Sea coast is the best region to find Vagrant Emperors, and the Kapittelduinen area near Hook of Holland is especially popular by this species. This publication once again shows the great importance of this location for the diversity of the Dutch dragonfly fauna. We will have to wait for what the coming years will bring for this species and if there will possibly be emerging Vagrant Emperors once again!

Polygonia butterflies are usually referred to as Commas or Question marks, based on the white punctuation marks on the ventral sides of their hindwings. I compare and contrast the white markings on some of the different Polygonia species. https://lnkd.in/drdfMTZs