An integrative study of the Indo-Burmese Geometridae in the collection of the Russian Museum of B... more An integrative study of the Indo-Burmese Geometridae in the collection of the Russian Museum of Biodiversity Hotspots (RMBH, Russia) revealed six newly recorded species for the fauna of Myanmar, i.e., Plutodes costatus (Butler , 1886), Pogonopygia nigralbata Warren, 1894, Mixochlora vittata (Moore, 1867), Pelagodes bellula Han & Xue, 2011, Agathia carissima Butler, 1878 and A. codina Swinhoe, 1892. The occurrence of P. bellula is the first record of this taxon outside the Tibetan Plateau. Our findings highlight that the distribution of several Oriental geometrids could be broader than was previously suggested.
The taxonomy and biogeographic history of the bivalve family Margaritiferidae are controversial b... more The taxonomy and biogeographic history of the bivalve family Margaritiferidae are controversial because previous molecular studies did not provide a well-resolved phylogenetic framework for these enigmatic freshwater mussels that have extensive but disjunct distribution in North America, Eurasia and North Africa. In this study, we present a new, fossil-calibrated phylogenetic hypothesis based on five molecular markers ($4 kb of total length) for ten species. Our results indicate that all recent margaritiferids are in the single genus, Margaritifera Schumacher, 1816. Additionally, we identified three relatively well-supported phylogenetic clades that are valid subgenera, i.e., Margaritifera s. str. (Holarctic), Margaritanopsis (=Cumberlandia) (southeast North America-southeast Asia disjunct) and Pseudunio (Mediterranean). We suggest that the crown lineage of the Margaritiferidae most likely originated in the Cretaceous (mean age 93 Ma, 95% CI 66–126 Ma). The combined results of ancestral area reconstructions based on the three different approaches (S-DIVA, DEC and S-DEC) showed that ancient vicariance events could have played an important role in speciation within the family. The rates of mitochondrial evolution of margaritiferids are notably slow, which may be associated with their longevity, long generation time and low metabolic rates. Our findings highlight the complex biogeographic history of the Margaritiferidae as an intermixing of ancient vicariance and dispersal events, which were most likely associated with some inland barriers, continental movements and a sea level dynamic.
In this paper we present the first ecological data of Indochinese freshwater pearl mussel, Margar... more In this paper we present the first ecological data of Indochinese freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera laosensis populations. We also provide a comparative study of the ecology of this tropical species with populations of other Margaritiferidae. We conducted surveys in ten tributaries of the River Nam Ou (Middle Mekong Drainage, Northern Laos). Reproductively viable populations were found only in the Nam Long and Nam Pe rivers, which are two of the only three known viable populations of this species in the world. The habitats of M. laosensis include mountainous oligotrophic rivers with circumneutral pH. Optimal mesohabitats are riffles and runs with a median depth of 0.2 m and median current velocity of 0.3 ms-1. Pearl mussels were more common in gravel and fine gravel riverbed substrates. Surveys revealed 252 specimens, but only 78 (31.0%) were alive. The largest mussels observed were 110 mm in length and only 11-12 years of age. The presence of smaller-sized mussels indicates recent recruitment in both populations. The most significant threats to M. laosensis populations are harvest by local people and land development in the River Nam Ou Basin.
The discussed record marks presence of the genus Aethalida Walker, 1865 in East Nusa Tenggara (Fl... more The discussed record marks presence of the genus Aethalida Walker, 1865 in East Nusa Tenggara (Flores Island, Indonesia) for the first time. We have found that a specimen from Flores Island shows great similarity with A. owadai Dubatolov & Kishida, 2005, an endemic species of Selayar Island. Comparing external morphology of A. owadai and the discussed specimen, we were able to highlight some key differences in structure of the male genitalia and in the markings pattern. The given morphological features are sufficient to establish a new subspecies, A. owadai floresiensis ssp. n.
The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all lis... more The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all listed by IUCN as endangered or vulnerable taxa. In this study, an extensive spatial sampling of Margaritifera spp. across the Russian Far East (Amur Basin, Kamchatka Peninsula, Kurile Archipelago and Sakhalin Island) was conducted for a revision of their taxonomy and distribution ranges. Based on their DNA sequences, shell and soft tissue morphology, three valid species were identified: Margaritifera dahurica (Middendorff, 1850), M. laevis and M. middendorffi (Rosén, 1926). M. dahurica ranges across the Amur basin and some of the nearest river systems. M. laevis is distributed in Japan, Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Archipelago. M. middendorffi was previously considered an endemic species of the Kamchatka. However, it is widespread in the rivers of Kamchatka, Sakhalin Island, the Kurile Islands (across the Bussol Strait, which is the most significant biogeographical boundary within the archipelago), and, likely, in Japan. The Japanese species M. togakushiensis Kondo & Kobayashi, 2005 seems to be conspecific with M. middendorffi because of similar morphological patterns, small shell size (<100 mm long) and overlapped ranges, but it is in need of a separate revision. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that two NW Pacific margaritiferid species, M. laevis and M. middendorffi, formed a monophyletic 18S rDNA clade together with the North American species M. marrianae and M. falcata. The patterns that were found in these Margaritifera spp. are similar to those of freshwater fishes, indicating multiple colonizations of Eastern Asia by different mitochondrial lineages, including an ancient Beringian exchange between freshwater faunas across the Pacific.
Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the larges... more Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the largest geothermal areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of approximately 150 l×sec. -1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width. This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive system ). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.) hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix . The last whorl is large, 0.86-0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.15-0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl is large, 0.85-0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2-0.25 of the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key , the main diagnostic feature is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.
During 24-25 March 2014, a small survey of Anatidae of Indawgyi Lake (Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary... more During 24-25 March 2014, a small survey of Anatidae of Indawgyi Lake (Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kachin State, Myanmar) was provided. Based on these field observations, we recorded the northern shoveler Anas clypeata (15 individuals) from the lake for the first time. In addition, the following species were recorded: Dendrocygna javanica (532 individuals), Aythya fuligula (404 individuals), Tadorna ferruginea (75 individuals) and an unidentified Anas species (most likely, a female specimen of Anas crecca).
Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the larges... more Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the largest geothermal areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of approximately 150 l×sec.-1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width. This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Kruglov 2005). These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive system (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Starobogatov et al. 2004). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.) hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. The last whorl is large, 0.86–0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.15–0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl is large, 0.85–0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2–0.25 of the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key (Starobogatov et al. 2004), the main diagnostic feature is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.
We report the first record of Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788) and N. carissima (Swinhoe, 189... more We report the first record of Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788) and N. carissima (Swinhoe, 1891) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) from Kachin state, northern Myanmar.
The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all lis... more The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all listed by IUCN as endangered or vulnerable taxa. In this study, an extensive spatial sampling of Margaritifera spp. across the Russian Far East (Amur Basin, Kamchatka Peninsula, Kurile Archipelago and Sakhalin Island) was conducted for a revision of their taxonomy and distribution ranges. Based on their DNA sequences, shell and soft tissue morphology, three valid species were identified: Margaritifera dahurica (Middendorff, 1850), M. laevis (Haas, 1910) and M. middendorffi (Rosén, 1926). M. dahurica ranges across the Amur basin and some of the nearest river systems. M. laevis is distributed in Japan, Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Archipelago. M. middendorffi was previously considered an endemic species of the Kamchatka. However, it is widespread in the rivers of Kamchatka, Sakhalin Island, the Kurile Islands (across the Bussol Strait, which is the most significant biogeographical boundary within the archipelago), and, likely, in Japan. The Japanese species M. togakushiensis Kondo & Kobayashi, 2005 seems to be conspecific with M. middendorffi because of similar morphological patterns, small shell size (<100 mm long) and overlapped ranges, but it is in need of a separate revision. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that two NW Pacific margaritiferid species, M. laevis and M. middendorffi, formed a monophyletic 18S rDNA clade together with the North American species M. marrianae and M. falcata. The patterns that were found in these Margaritifera spp. are similar to those of freshwater fishes, indicating multiple colonizations of Eastern Asia by different mitochondrial lineages, including an ancient Beringian exchange between freshwater faunas across the Pacific.
Pisidium nevillianum Theobald, 1876, a common pea clam species that widely ranged from India to I... more Pisidium nevillianum Theobald, 1876, a common pea clam species that widely ranged from India to Indochina, was recorded in the Indawgyi Lake, Northern Myanmar for the first time. These specimens share the same or very similar 16S rRNA haplotypes as specimens from Nepal (geographic distance of over 1,400 km), which could reveal a high dispersal rate of the species, likely via water birds. Same high dispersal possibilities were observed for many other sphaeriid species.
We report the first record of Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788) and N. carissima (Swinhoe, 189... more We report the first record of Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788) and N. carissima (Swinhoe, 1891) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) from Kachin state, northern Myanmar.
Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the larges... more Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the largest geothermal areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of approximately 150 l×sec. -1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width. This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive system ). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.) hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix . The last whorl is large, 0.86-0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.15-0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl is large, 0.85-0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2-0.25 of the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key , the main diagnostic feature is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.
The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all lis... more The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all listed by IUCN as endangered or vulnerable taxa. In this study, an extensive spatial sampling of Margaritifera spp. across the Russian Far East (Amur Basin, Kamchatka Peninsula, Kurile Archipelago and Sakhalin Island) was conducted for a revision of their taxonomy and distribution ranges. Based on their DNA sequences, shell and soft tissue morphology, three valid species were identified: Margaritifera dahurica (Middendorff, 1850), M.laevis (Haas, 1910) and M.middendorffi (Rosén, 1926). M. dahurica ranges across the Amur basin and some of the nearest river systems. M.laevisis distributed in Japan, Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Archipelago. M. middendorffi was previously considered an endemic species of the Kamchatka. However, it is widespread in the rivers of Kamchatka, Sakhalin Island, the Kurile Islands (across the Bussol Strait, which is the most significant biogeographical boundary within the archipelago), and, likely, in Japan. The Japanese species M.togakushiensis Kondo&Kobayashi, 2005 seems to be conspecific with M.middendorffi because of similar morphological patterns, small shell size (<100mm long) and overlapped ranges,but it is in need of a separate revision. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that two NW Pacific margaritiferid species, M.laevisand M.middendorffi, formed a monophyletic 18S rDNA clade together with the North American species M.marrianae and M.falcata. The patterns that were found in these Margaritifera spp. are similar to those of freshwater fishes, indicating multiple colonizations of Eastern Asia by different mitochondrial lineages, including an ancient Beringian exchange between freshwater faunas across the Pacific.
Pisidium nevillianum Theobald, 1876, a
common pea clam species that widely ranged from India
to I... more Pisidium nevillianum Theobald, 1876, a common pea clam species that widely ranged from India to Indochina, was recorded in the Indawgyi Lake, Northern Myanmar for the first time. These specimens share the same or very similar 16S rRNA haplotypes as specimens from Nepal (geographic distance of over 1,400 km), which could reveal a high dispersal rate of the species, likely via water birds. Same high dispersal possibilities were observed for many other sphaeriid species.
Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the larges... more Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the largest geothermal areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of approximately 150 l×sec.-1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width. This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Kruglov 2005). These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive system (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Starobogatov et al. 2004). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.) hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. The last whorl is large, 0.86–0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.15–0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl is large, 0.85–0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2–0.25 of the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key (Starobogatov et al. 2004), the main diagnostic feature is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.
An integrative study of the Indo-Burmese Geometridae in the collection of the Russian Museum of B... more An integrative study of the Indo-Burmese Geometridae in the collection of the Russian Museum of Biodiversity Hotspots (RMBH, Russia) revealed six newly recorded species for the fauna of Myanmar, i.e., Plutodes costatus (Butler , 1886), Pogonopygia nigralbata Warren, 1894, Mixochlora vittata (Moore, 1867), Pelagodes bellula Han & Xue, 2011, Agathia carissima Butler, 1878 and A. codina Swinhoe, 1892. The occurrence of P. bellula is the first record of this taxon outside the Tibetan Plateau. Our findings highlight that the distribution of several Oriental geometrids could be broader than was previously suggested.
The taxonomy and biogeographic history of the bivalve family Margaritiferidae are controversial b... more The taxonomy and biogeographic history of the bivalve family Margaritiferidae are controversial because previous molecular studies did not provide a well-resolved phylogenetic framework for these enigmatic freshwater mussels that have extensive but disjunct distribution in North America, Eurasia and North Africa. In this study, we present a new, fossil-calibrated phylogenetic hypothesis based on five molecular markers ($4 kb of total length) for ten species. Our results indicate that all recent margaritiferids are in the single genus, Margaritifera Schumacher, 1816. Additionally, we identified three relatively well-supported phylogenetic clades that are valid subgenera, i.e., Margaritifera s. str. (Holarctic), Margaritanopsis (=Cumberlandia) (southeast North America-southeast Asia disjunct) and Pseudunio (Mediterranean). We suggest that the crown lineage of the Margaritiferidae most likely originated in the Cretaceous (mean age 93 Ma, 95% CI 66–126 Ma). The combined results of ancestral area reconstructions based on the three different approaches (S-DIVA, DEC and S-DEC) showed that ancient vicariance events could have played an important role in speciation within the family. The rates of mitochondrial evolution of margaritiferids are notably slow, which may be associated with their longevity, long generation time and low metabolic rates. Our findings highlight the complex biogeographic history of the Margaritiferidae as an intermixing of ancient vicariance and dispersal events, which were most likely associated with some inland barriers, continental movements and a sea level dynamic.
In this paper we present the first ecological data of Indochinese freshwater pearl mussel, Margar... more In this paper we present the first ecological data of Indochinese freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera laosensis populations. We also provide a comparative study of the ecology of this tropical species with populations of other Margaritiferidae. We conducted surveys in ten tributaries of the River Nam Ou (Middle Mekong Drainage, Northern Laos). Reproductively viable populations were found only in the Nam Long and Nam Pe rivers, which are two of the only three known viable populations of this species in the world. The habitats of M. laosensis include mountainous oligotrophic rivers with circumneutral pH. Optimal mesohabitats are riffles and runs with a median depth of 0.2 m and median current velocity of 0.3 ms-1. Pearl mussels were more common in gravel and fine gravel riverbed substrates. Surveys revealed 252 specimens, but only 78 (31.0%) were alive. The largest mussels observed were 110 mm in length and only 11-12 years of age. The presence of smaller-sized mussels indicates recent recruitment in both populations. The most significant threats to M. laosensis populations are harvest by local people and land development in the River Nam Ou Basin.
The discussed record marks presence of the genus Aethalida Walker, 1865 in East Nusa Tenggara (Fl... more The discussed record marks presence of the genus Aethalida Walker, 1865 in East Nusa Tenggara (Flores Island, Indonesia) for the first time. We have found that a specimen from Flores Island shows great similarity with A. owadai Dubatolov & Kishida, 2005, an endemic species of Selayar Island. Comparing external morphology of A. owadai and the discussed specimen, we were able to highlight some key differences in structure of the male genitalia and in the markings pattern. The given morphological features are sufficient to establish a new subspecies, A. owadai floresiensis ssp. n.
The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all lis... more The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all listed by IUCN as endangered or vulnerable taxa. In this study, an extensive spatial sampling of Margaritifera spp. across the Russian Far East (Amur Basin, Kamchatka Peninsula, Kurile Archipelago and Sakhalin Island) was conducted for a revision of their taxonomy and distribution ranges. Based on their DNA sequences, shell and soft tissue morphology, three valid species were identified: Margaritifera dahurica (Middendorff, 1850), M. laevis and M. middendorffi (Rosén, 1926). M. dahurica ranges across the Amur basin and some of the nearest river systems. M. laevis is distributed in Japan, Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Archipelago. M. middendorffi was previously considered an endemic species of the Kamchatka. However, it is widespread in the rivers of Kamchatka, Sakhalin Island, the Kurile Islands (across the Bussol Strait, which is the most significant biogeographical boundary within the archipelago), and, likely, in Japan. The Japanese species M. togakushiensis Kondo & Kobayashi, 2005 seems to be conspecific with M. middendorffi because of similar morphological patterns, small shell size (<100 mm long) and overlapped ranges, but it is in need of a separate revision. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that two NW Pacific margaritiferid species, M. laevis and M. middendorffi, formed a monophyletic 18S rDNA clade together with the North American species M. marrianae and M. falcata. The patterns that were found in these Margaritifera spp. are similar to those of freshwater fishes, indicating multiple colonizations of Eastern Asia by different mitochondrial lineages, including an ancient Beringian exchange between freshwater faunas across the Pacific.
Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the larges... more Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the largest geothermal areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of approximately 150 l×sec. -1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width. This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive system ). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.) hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix . The last whorl is large, 0.86-0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.15-0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl is large, 0.85-0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2-0.25 of the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key , the main diagnostic feature is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.
During 24-25 March 2014, a small survey of Anatidae of Indawgyi Lake (Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary... more During 24-25 March 2014, a small survey of Anatidae of Indawgyi Lake (Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kachin State, Myanmar) was provided. Based on these field observations, we recorded the northern shoveler Anas clypeata (15 individuals) from the lake for the first time. In addition, the following species were recorded: Dendrocygna javanica (532 individuals), Aythya fuligula (404 individuals), Tadorna ferruginea (75 individuals) and an unidentified Anas species (most likely, a female specimen of Anas crecca).
Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the larges... more Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the largest geothermal areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of approximately 150 l×sec.-1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width. This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Kruglov 2005). These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive system (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Starobogatov et al. 2004). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.) hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. The last whorl is large, 0.86–0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.15–0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl is large, 0.85–0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2–0.25 of the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key (Starobogatov et al. 2004), the main diagnostic feature is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.
We report the first record of Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788) and N. carissima (Swinhoe, 189... more We report the first record of Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788) and N. carissima (Swinhoe, 1891) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) from Kachin state, northern Myanmar.
The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all lis... more The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all listed by IUCN as endangered or vulnerable taxa. In this study, an extensive spatial sampling of Margaritifera spp. across the Russian Far East (Amur Basin, Kamchatka Peninsula, Kurile Archipelago and Sakhalin Island) was conducted for a revision of their taxonomy and distribution ranges. Based on their DNA sequences, shell and soft tissue morphology, three valid species were identified: Margaritifera dahurica (Middendorff, 1850), M. laevis (Haas, 1910) and M. middendorffi (Rosén, 1926). M. dahurica ranges across the Amur basin and some of the nearest river systems. M. laevis is distributed in Japan, Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Archipelago. M. middendorffi was previously considered an endemic species of the Kamchatka. However, it is widespread in the rivers of Kamchatka, Sakhalin Island, the Kurile Islands (across the Bussol Strait, which is the most significant biogeographical boundary within the archipelago), and, likely, in Japan. The Japanese species M. togakushiensis Kondo & Kobayashi, 2005 seems to be conspecific with M. middendorffi because of similar morphological patterns, small shell size (<100 mm long) and overlapped ranges, but it is in need of a separate revision. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that two NW Pacific margaritiferid species, M. laevis and M. middendorffi, formed a monophyletic 18S rDNA clade together with the North American species M. marrianae and M. falcata. The patterns that were found in these Margaritifera spp. are similar to those of freshwater fishes, indicating multiple colonizations of Eastern Asia by different mitochondrial lineages, including an ancient Beringian exchange between freshwater faunas across the Pacific.
Pisidium nevillianum Theobald, 1876, a common pea clam species that widely ranged from India to I... more Pisidium nevillianum Theobald, 1876, a common pea clam species that widely ranged from India to Indochina, was recorded in the Indawgyi Lake, Northern Myanmar for the first time. These specimens share the same or very similar 16S rRNA haplotypes as specimens from Nepal (geographic distance of over 1,400 km), which could reveal a high dispersal rate of the species, likely via water birds. Same high dispersal possibilities were observed for many other sphaeriid species.
We report the first record of Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788) and N. carissima (Swinhoe, 189... more We report the first record of Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788) and N. carissima (Swinhoe, 1891) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) from Kachin state, northern Myanmar.
Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the larges... more Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the largest geothermal areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of approximately 150 l×sec. -1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width. This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive system ). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.) hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix . The last whorl is large, 0.86-0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.15-0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl is large, 0.85-0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2-0.25 of the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key , the main diagnostic feature is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.
The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all lis... more The freshwater pearl mussel family Margaritiferidae includes 13 extant species, which are all listed by IUCN as endangered or vulnerable taxa. In this study, an extensive spatial sampling of Margaritifera spp. across the Russian Far East (Amur Basin, Kamchatka Peninsula, Kurile Archipelago and Sakhalin Island) was conducted for a revision of their taxonomy and distribution ranges. Based on their DNA sequences, shell and soft tissue morphology, three valid species were identified: Margaritifera dahurica (Middendorff, 1850), M.laevis (Haas, 1910) and M.middendorffi (Rosén, 1926). M. dahurica ranges across the Amur basin and some of the nearest river systems. M.laevisis distributed in Japan, Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Archipelago. M. middendorffi was previously considered an endemic species of the Kamchatka. However, it is widespread in the rivers of Kamchatka, Sakhalin Island, the Kurile Islands (across the Bussol Strait, which is the most significant biogeographical boundary within the archipelago), and, likely, in Japan. The Japanese species M.togakushiensis Kondo&Kobayashi, 2005 seems to be conspecific with M.middendorffi because of similar morphological patterns, small shell size (<100mm long) and overlapped ranges,but it is in need of a separate revision. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that two NW Pacific margaritiferid species, M.laevisand M.middendorffi, formed a monophyletic 18S rDNA clade together with the North American species M.marrianae and M.falcata. The patterns that were found in these Margaritifera spp. are similar to those of freshwater fishes, indicating multiple colonizations of Eastern Asia by different mitochondrial lineages, including an ancient Beringian exchange between freshwater faunas across the Pacific.
Pisidium nevillianum Theobald, 1876, a
common pea clam species that widely ranged from India
to I... more Pisidium nevillianum Theobald, 1876, a common pea clam species that widely ranged from India to Indochina, was recorded in the Indawgyi Lake, Northern Myanmar for the first time. These specimens share the same or very similar 16S rRNA haplotypes as specimens from Nepal (geographic distance of over 1,400 km), which could reveal a high dispersal rate of the species, likely via water birds. Same high dispersal possibilities were observed for many other sphaeriid species.
Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the larges... more Khodutka geothermal area is located near Khodutka and Priemysh volcanoes and is one of the largest geothermal areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of approximately 150 l×sec.-1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width. This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Kruglov 2005). These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive system (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Starobogatov et al. 2004). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.) hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. The last whorl is large, 0.86–0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.15–0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl is large, 0.85–0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2–0.25 of the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key (Starobogatov et al. 2004), the main diagnostic feature is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.
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Papers by Nikita Bolotov
possibilities were observed for many other sphaeriid species.
common pea clam species that widely ranged from India
to Indochina, was recorded in the Indawgyi Lake,
Northern Myanmar for the first time. These specimens
share the same or very similar 16S rRNA haplotypes as
specimens from Nepal (geographic distance of over
1,400 km), which could reveal a high dispersal rate of
the species, likely via water birds. Same high dispersal
possibilities were observed for many other sphaeriid
species.
areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of
this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of
approximately 150 l×sec.-1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width.
This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two
local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae
Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 (Kruglov &
Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Kruglov 2005). These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive
system (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Starobogatov et al. 2004). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.)
hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical
proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to
phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. The last
whorl is large, 0.86–0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is
0.15–0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short
bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl
is large, 0.85–0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2–0.25 of
the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key (Starobogatov et al. 2004), the main diagnostic feature
is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in
the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected
topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.
possibilities were observed for many other sphaeriid species.
common pea clam species that widely ranged from India
to Indochina, was recorded in the Indawgyi Lake,
Northern Myanmar for the first time. These specimens
share the same or very similar 16S rRNA haplotypes as
specimens from Nepal (geographic distance of over
1,400 km), which could reveal a high dispersal rate of
the species, likely via water birds. Same high dispersal
possibilities were observed for many other sphaeriid
species.
areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Vakin (2003) described geological, geochemical and geothermic conditions of
this geothermal area in detail. The main thermal water sources have temperatures up to 87°C and a discharge of
approximately 150 l×sec.-1 are flows out into the warm lake with dimensions of ca. 250 m length and 80 m width.
This warm river is ca. 20 m in width beginning from the lake and flows to the Bolshaya Khodutka River basin. Two
local endemic Radix species were described from this geothermal area, especially Lymnaea (Radix) hadutkae
Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 and L. (R.) thermokamtschatica Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989 (Kruglov &
Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Kruglov 2005). These species were separated using proportions of shell and reproductive
system (Kruglov & Starobogatov 1989, 1993; Starobogatov et al. 2004). According to the diagnosis, L. (R.)
hadutkae differs in the ear-shape shell, a form of the provaginal duct with cylindrical distal part and conical
proximal part, and larger value of the index of the copulatory apparatus (ICA: proportion of the preputium to
phallotheca is 1.27) from other species within the section Thermoradix Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1989. The last
whorl is large, 0.86–0.89 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is
0.15–0.16 of the aperture height. L. (R.) thermokamtschatica has the cylindrical provaginal duct, relatively short
bursa duct (1.5X longer than the bursa copulatrix diameter) and very long phallotheca (ICA is 0.77). The last whorl
is large, 0.85–0.87 of the shell height; an excess of the last whorl over upper margin of the aperture is 0.2–0.25 of
the aperture height. In accordance with an identification key (Starobogatov et al. 2004), the main diagnostic feature
is an excess of the last whorl over the shell aperture, which has ≤0.78 and ≥0.80 of the penultimate whorl width in
the first and second species, respectively. In the present paper, we revised these taxa using newly collected
topotypes and additional Radix spp. specimens from other areas of the Russian Far East.