Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) are an even-toed ungulate in the family Giraffidae, and are endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Very little is known about okapi ecology in the wild. We used non-invasive genetic methods to examine the social structure, mating system and dispersal for a population of okapi in the Réserve de Faune à Okapis, DRC. Okapi individuals appear to be solitary, alt...

The occurrence of metatarsal splint bones was examined in 21 ruminant species. Lateral metatarsal splint bones were found in 75% of metatarsal specimens from mature moose (Alces alces) on Isle Royale, MI, USA, and 95% of specimens from Alaska and other North American locations. Lateral splints were found in 94% of fossil specimens of A. alces from Alaska and in 100% of fossil specimens of Cerva...

Giraffa sivalensis occurred during the Plio-Pleistocene period and probably represents the terminal species of the genus in Southern Asia. The holotype is an almost perfectly preserved cervical vertebra of disputed anatomical location. Although there is also uncertainty regarding this animal's size, other specimens that have been assigned to this species include fragments of two humeri, a radiu...

A simple technique was developed to measure the bacteriolytic activities of the digestive fluids of the deposit-feeding polychaete Arenicola manna. Lysis of a cultured environmental isolate. incubated with extracts of gut lumina1 contents, was monitored spectrophotometrically. Concurrent direct counts were used to verify cell lysis. The ability of extracts from 8 longitudinal sections of the gu...

the predatory mites of suborder prostigmata are important natural enemies of spider mites. in this study abundance and biodiversity of predatory mites of super families of raphignathoidea, bdelloidea and erythraeoidea in pomefruit orchards of mashhad) educational orchard of agricultural college of ferdowsi unuversity of mashhad, agricultural research centre of torogh and laeen, torghabe and sha...