Subspecies embody the evolution of different phenotypes as adaptations to local environmental differences in keeping with the concept of the Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). Sri Lankan mammals, being mostly of Indian-Indochinese origins, were honed, in part, by the events following the separation of Sri Lanka from Gondwana in the late Miocene. The emerging new Sri Lankan environment provide...

Three new species and six new subspecies of the genus Cobitis from the western part of the Japanese archipelago are described: Cobitis kaibarai sp. nov., Cobitis magnostriata sp. nov., Cobitis minamorii sp. nov., Cobitis striata fuchigamii subsp. nov., Cobitis striata hakataensis subsp. nov., Cobitis minamorii oumiensis subsp. nov., Cobitis minamorii tokaiensis subsp. nov., Cobitis minamorii sa...

The resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is an endemic Mesoamerican bird species of conservation concern. Within this species, the subspecies P. m. costaricensis and P. m. mocinno, have been recognized by apparent morphometric differences; however, presently there is no sufficient data for confirmation. We analyzed eight morphometric attributes of the body from 41 quetzals: body length, t...

When hybridisation carries a cost, natural selection is predicted to favour evolution of traits that allow assortative mating (reinforcement). Incipient speciation between the two European house mouse subspecies, Mus musculus domesticus and M.m.musculus, sharing a hybrid zone, provides an opportunity to understand evolution of assortative mating at a molecular level. Mouse urine odours allow su...

The existing taxonomy of oral treponemes is not satisfactory. This is due to the fact that these strict anaerobic bacteria are not easily cultivated or differentiated. Therefore, new techniques that can contribute to improved cultivation, classification, and identification of these fastidious organisms should be welcomed. In the present study capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was used to dis...

Three migratory subspecies of sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) occur in North America: greater (G. c. tabida), Canadian (G. c. rowani), and lesser (G. c. canadensis). These subspecies vary clinally in size from the large tabida to the small canadensis. All 3 subspecies co-occur during the nonbreeding season, but field identification is challenging and census efforts typically do not even attemp...

Aims Existing methods for the identification of subspecies Xylella fastidiosa are time-consuming which can lead to delays in diagnosis and associated plant health response outbreaks interceptions. Methods Results Diagnostic markers were identified using a comparative genomics approach allow fine differentiation very closely related subspecies. Five qPCR assays designed specific detection X. sub...

The second subspecies of Coladenia buchananii (de Nicéville, 1889), viz. Coladenia buchananii separafasciata Xue, Inayoshi & Hu, ssp. n., is discovered from south Jiangxi Province and west Fujian Province, southeast China. External and genital characters of both male and female of this new subspecies are illustrated and described. Coladenia neomaeniata Fan & Wang, 2006, syn. n. is proposed to b...

This study is an attempt to classify all described species of African Biomphalaria and Bulinus. It is based upon the author's examination of a great number of specimens collected from many parts of Africa. The variations attributable to age, environment and genetic factors which may be noted in the taxonomic characters are discussed, and some new species and subspecies are established. For each...

An insular population of Talicada nyseus was discovered from Hainan Island, representing a butterfly species unrecorded in China. Materials of this species from Hainan were compared with the races from other regions, revealing that the wing pattern is distinct from that of other subspecies, and is hereinto described as T. nyseus lami ssp. nov.. Information on immature stage and host association...