[Crustacea • 2025] Mysidopsis canariensis • A New Dpecies of Mysidopsis (Mysida: Mysidae) from the Canary and Cape Verde Archipelagos

Mysidopsis canariensis   

Wittmann, 2025

 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e139475

In-situ photos by Dennis Rabeling and Sabina López Suárez

Abstract

Background: Within the subfamily Leptomysinae (Family Mysidae), the tribe Mysidopsini has five here acknowledged genera and 74 extant species. It embraces the genera Americamysis with six species from the coasts of the NW-Atlantic (Narragansett Bay to Florida), the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico; Brasilomysis with two species from the SW-Atlantic off Brazilian shores and from the Pacific coast of Ecuador; Cubanomysis with three species from the Caribbean, Gulf of California and southern California; Metamysidopsis with ten species from the Atlantic coasts of the USA to Brazil, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and E-Pacific from California to Panama; and, finally, the globally occurring Mysidopsis. Not counting the below-described new species and one fossil species, the latter genus comprises 53 extant species and one non-nominotypical subspecies. With regard to the great number of species, this genus is comparatively homogeneous, not considering the monotypic subgenera Pseudomysidopsis and Mysidopsoides.

New information: Mysidopsis canariensis sp. nov. is described from five islands of the Canaries and two islands of the Cape Verdes (NE-Atlantic). Records are from depths of 5 to 30 m, mainly over sand, also on stones and rock. It differs from the remaining NE-Atlantic and Mediterranean congeners amongst other features by the lateral margins of the telson distally having a longer bare portion. Amongst these species, it differs from its northern vicariants M. iluroensis and M. gibbosa in addition by fewer spines on the endopod of uropods. In-situ-photos of M. canariensis sp. nov. document at least six strongly different colour variants, four of which are strikingly similar to corresponding variants of M. jenseni from the NE-Pacific coast. The latter differs from all species of the E-Atlantic, including the new one, by a mid-dorsal lappet near the caudal margin of the female carapace. A key to the species of Mysidopsis from the E-Atlantic and Mediterranean is given.

Keywords: taxonomy, first description, colour variants, key to species, East Atlantic, Macaronesian islands

Habitus and colour variants in adult females of Mysidopsis canariensis sp. nov. from shallow sandy bottoms in Lanzarote (A, C) and Gran Canaria (B).

In-situ photos by Dennis Rabeling (A, C) and Sabina López Suárez (B), with permission.

 Karl J. Wittmann. 2025. A New Dpecies of Mysidopsis (Crustacea, Mysida) from the Canary and Cape Verde archipelagos. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e139475. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e139475

[Botany • 2025] Orobanche andryalae (Orobanchaceae) • A New Species from the Canary Islands

 

Orobanche andryalae C.J.Thorogood, M. Hernández González, Rumsey & Reyes-Bet.,

in Thorogood, Hernández González, Rumsey et Reyes-Betancort, 2025. 

 DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.252.141300

Abstract

A new species of Orobanche is described from the Canary Islands. The plant belongs to the complicated Subsection Minores and has a distinct combination of morphological features, ecology, and host specificity. The markedly cernuous corolla, high filament insertion and colouration distinguishes Orobanche andryalae from closely related species with which it has been previously confused, and which do not occur in the Canary Islands, including O. amethystea subsp. castellana and O. calendulae; these features remain stable in cultivation. Orobanche andryalae appears to be parasitic almost exclusively on Andryala spp., and occurs on thermophilus volcanic substrates in northern Lanzarote, northwest Tenerife and Jandía in Fuerteventura. An updated key to the Orobanche of the Canary Islands is presented, including the new taxon we describe here.

Key words: Andryala, broomrape, endemism, Macaronesia, parasitic plant

Orobanche andryalae 
A habit B lower stem C corolla D corolla cross section E carpel F stamen G calyx lobe H bract.

A Orobanche andryalae in cultivation at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden B O. amethystea in the Algarve, Portugal C O. calendulae in the Algarve, Portugal
D the habitat of O. andryalae in Lanzarote: volcanic cliffs (Famara area, northern Lanzarote) E O. andryalae in Lanzarote, with its host plant Andryala perezii F O. andryalae collected from Fuerteventura (putatively parasitising Asteriscus sericeus) G, H O. andryalae in northwest Tenerife growing on Andryala pinnatifida (the corolla dorsal line of the specimen in H is atypical in being less conspicuously cernuous).

 Orobanche andryalae C.J.Thorogood, M. Hernández González, Rumsey & Reyes-Bet., sp. nov.

Description: Stems 6–16(25) cm, glandular-hairy, pale orange to light reddish-brown. Stem scarcely swollen below; subterranean bracts broadly triangular, yellow; those above (reduced leaves) rather sparse, brown, 8–15 mm. Flowers 5–15(20), arranged on the upper quarter or third of the stem, lax. Bracts 10–12 mm, rather shorter than the corolla, broadly triangular, brown, glandular-hairy. Calyx 5–7 mm with segments fused, strongly unequal (rarely entire), not exceeding the corolla tube. Corolla 10–15 mm, pale yellow with faint reddish veins and scattered glandular hairs, strongly cernuous when mature, remaining so in fruit, sometimes abruptly geniculate; upper lip bilobed; lower lip 3-lobed, the lateral lobes slightly exceeding the central; all lobes minutely-toothed. Filaments sparsely hairy below, glabrous above; inserted conspicuously (c.5 mm) above the corolla base; anthers ± glabrous. Stigma lobes touching, mid to dark red-orange.

Etymology. Orobanche andryalae is named in accordance with its main host species, Andryala perezii.

 Chris J. Thorogood, Matías Hernández González, Fred J. Rumsey and Jorge Alfredo Reyes-Betancort. 2025. Orobanche andryalae (Orobanchaceae): A New Species from the Canary Islands. PhytoKeys. 252: 275-285. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.252.141300

[Ornithology • 2020] Unforeseen Diversity of Quails (Galliformes: Phasianidae: Coturnix) in Oceanic Islands provided by the Fossil Record of Macaronesia

[A] Coturnix lignorum, [B] C. alabrevis & [C] C. centensis  

Rando, Alcover, Pieper, Olson, Hernández & López-Jurado. 2020. 

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz107 

 twitter.com/ZoolJLinnSoc 

 Artwork by Pau Oliver. 

Abstract

The original bird fauna of most oceanic islands has been affected by recent extinction processes associated with human arrival and its subsequent impacts. In the volcanic Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands and Cape Verde), in the North Atlantic, the Late Quaternary fossil record indicates that there was formerly a higher avian diversity, including a high number of now extinct endemic species. This assemblage of extinct birds includes endemic insular quails (Galliformes: Phasianidae). In this study, we describe three newly discovered extinct species of quails, two of which inhabited the archipelago of Madeira (Coturnix lignorum sp. nov. from Madeira Island and Coturnix alabrevis sp. nov. from Porto Santo Island) and one from Cape Verde (Coturnix centensis sp. nov.). The fossil record also indicates the presence of additional species of extinct endemic quails on other Macaronesian islands. These birds plus the extinct Canary Island quail (Coturnix gomerae) indicate a high former endemic diversity of this genus in Macaronesia, a feature unique among oceanic archipelagos. Anatomical traits show that the new taxa were flightless ground dwellers, making them vulnerable to human interference, with their extinction being linked to human arrival and subsequent habitat alterations and the introduction of invasive species.

Keywords: anatomy, extinction, fossil birds, island biogeography, morphometrics, Quaternary

SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY 

Galliformes Temminck, 1820 

Phasianidae Horsfield, 1821 

Coturnix Garsault, 1764

Figure 3. Premaxilla, coracoid, scapula, sternum and synsacrum of Coturnix lignorum from Madeira (A1 –A5), Coturnix alabrevis from Porto Santo (B1 , B2), Coturnix coturnix (C1 –C5), Coturnix gomerae from La Gomera (D2 ), Coturnix sp. A from Bugio (E2 ) and Coturnix sp. C from Graciosa (F2 ).
 A1 –C1 , premaxilla dorsal view (top) and left lateral view (bottom). A2 –F2 , coracoid, dorsal view. A3 , C3 , scapula, left lateral view. A4 , C4 , sternum ventral view (top) and left lateral view (bottom) (the high of apex carinae is shown). A5 , C5 , synsacrum ventral view. Scapulas and coracoids are from the left side, except for E2 . A1 , MMF 47329; B1 , MMF 47413; C1 , IMEDEA 106905; F1 , MCMa 2354.018; A2 , MMF 47325; B2 , MMF 47411; C2 , IMEDEA 106904; D2 , DZUL 1830; E2 , MMF 47416; F2 , MCMa FC-1368; A3 , MMF 47330; C3 , IMEDEA 106907; A4 , MMF 47328; C4 , IMEDEA 106905; A5 , MMF 47327; C5 , IMEDEA 106906.

Figure 1. Map of the Macaronesian Islands. Silhouettes indicate specimen records discussed in this paper: (1) Coturnix lignorum; (2) Coturnix alabrevis; (3) Coturnix centensis; (4) C. gomerae; and (5–7) Coturnix sp.

Figure 7. Artistic reconstruction of: A, Coturnix lignorum; B, Coturnix alabrevis; C, Coturnix centensis; and D, the silhouette of the common quail Coturnix coturnix for comparison, based on bone measurements, when available (wing and leg bones of the three species, sternum of C. lignorum, and premaxillae of C. lignorum and Coturnix alabrevis). Colours are speculative. All drawings are depicted at the same scale. Artwork by Pau Oliver.

Coturnix lignorum Rando, Alcover, Pieper, Olson, Hernández & López-Jurado sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific name lignorum is derived from from the Latin genitive plural of lignum, wood, a direct translation of the Portuguese madeira.

Coturnix alabrevis Rando, Alcover, Pieper, Olson, Hernández & López-Jurado sp. nov.

Etymology: From Latin ala, wing, and brevis, short, in reference to the small size of the forelimb (wing) bones.

Coturnix centensis Rando, Alcover, Pieper, Olson, Hernández & López-Jurado sp. nov.

Etymology: In the Portuguese-based creole language spoken in Cape Verde, the island of São Vicente is called ‘Son Cent'. We based our epithet on this, adding the Latin locative suffix -ensis.

Juan C. Rando, Josep A. Alcover, Harald Pieper, Storrs L. Olson, C. Nayra Hernández and L. Felipe López-Jurado. 2020. Unforeseen Diversity of Quails (Galliformes: Phasianidae: Coturnix) in Oceanic Islands provided by the Fossil Record of Macaronesia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 188(4); 1296–1317. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz107

  twitter.com/ZoolJLinnSoc/status/1247507061753155585

     

[Botany • 2019] Dichotomous Keys to the Species of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) in continental Africa, Madagascar (incl. the Indian Ocean islands), Macaronesia and the Cape Verde Islands

A Solanum terminale Forssk. (African non-spiny Clade) B Solanum madagascariense Dunal (African non-spiny Clade) C Solanum mauritianum Scop. (Brevantherum Clade) D Solanum laxum Spreng. (Dulcamaroid Clade) E Solanum trisectum Dunal (Normania Clade) F Solanum diphyllum L. (Geminata Clade) 

in Knapp, Vorontsova & Särkinen, 2019. 

 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.127.34326 

 Photos A, C, D, E, F, by S. Knapp B by M.S. Vorontsova.

Abstract

Solanum L. (Solanaceae) is one of the largest genera of angiosperms and presents difficulties in identification due to lack of regional keys to all groups. Here we provide keys to all 135 species of Solanum native and naturalised in Africa (as defined by World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions): continental Africa, Madagascar (incl. the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, La Réunion, the Comoros and the Seychelles), Macaronesia and the Cape Verde Islands. Some of these have previously been published in the context of monographic works, but here we include all taxa. The paper is designed to be used in conjunction with the web resource Solanaceae Source (www.solanaceaesource.org) and hyperlinks provide access to online descriptions, synonymy and images (where available) of each species. All taxa treated and specimens seen are included in searchable Suppl. material 1, 2.

Keywords: Africa, Aldabra, Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Comoros, cultivated plants, identification, keys, Madagascar, Madeira, Mauritius, La Réunion, Seychelles, Solanum, weeds

Figure 2. A, B Solanum wendlandii Hook.f. (Allophyllum-Wendlandii Clade) C Solanum tarderemotum Bitter (Morelloid Clade) D Solanum scabrum Mill. (Morelloid Clade) E Solanum pyracanthos Lam. (Leptostemonum Clade) F Solanum aculeastrum Dunal (Leptostemonum Clade) G Solanum nigriviolaceum Bitter (Leptostemonum Clade) H Solanum usambarense Bitter & Dammer (Leptostemonum Clade).

Photos A, B, F, G H by M.S. Vorontosova C, D, E by S. Knapp. 

Figure 3. A Solanum terminale Forssk. (African non-spiny Clade) B Solanum madagascariense Dunal (African non-spiny Clade) C Solanum mauritianum Scop. (Brevantherum Clade) D Solanum laxum Spreng. (Dulcamaroid Clade) E Solanum trisectum Dunal (Normania Clade) F Solanum diphyllum L. (Geminata Clade) G Solanum tuberosum L. (Potato Clade) H Solanum laciniatum Aiton (Archaeosolanum Clade).

 Photos A, C, D, E, F, G, H by S. Knapp B by M.S. Vorontsova.

 Sandra Knapp, Maria S. Vorontsova and Tiina Särkinen. 2019. Dichotomous Keys to the Species of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) in continental Africa, Madagascar (incl. the Indian Ocean islands), Macaronesia and the Cape Verde Islands. PhytoKeys. 127: 39-76. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.127.34326

[Entomology • 2019] Revision of the Genus Dziriblatta Chopard, 1936 (Blattodea, Ectobiidae, Ectobiinae) from North Africa, Spain, and the Macaronesian Islands. I. The Nine Subgenera of the Genus

 Dziriblatta (Pauciscleroblatta) galilaeana

in Bohn, 2019. 

   DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4610.1.1

Abstract

An initial contribution to the revision of the genus Dziriblatta Chopard, 1936a, formerly synonymized erroneously with Lobolampra Houlbert, 1927, is presented. The species of the genus, hitherto placed in the subgenera Phyllodromica, Arbiblatta Chopard, 1936a and Lobolampra Houlbbert, 1927, of the genus Phyllodromica Fieber 1853, are distributed on the northern Macaronesian Islands, in southern Spain, North Africa, and the Near East (Israel, Cyprus). The genus is divided into nine new subgenera: Autumnoblatta subgen. nov., Blattantis subgen. nov., Discleroblatta subgen. nov., Dziriblatta subgen. nov., Macaroblatta subgen. nov., Monoscleroblatta subgen. nov., Pauciscleroblatta subgen. nov., Sculptoblatta subgen. nov., and Sulcoblatta subgen. nov.. The characteristics of the genus and its subgenera are described including also a determination key which allows the discrimination of the subgenera in both sexes. The presumable phylogenetic position of the genus and the relationships between the subgenera are discussed and shown in cladograms. The described species and their distribution are shown in numerous figures and distribution maps, respectively.

Three new species are described: Dziriblatta (Sculptoblatta) prisca spec. nov., Dziriblatta (Autumnoblatta) nasuta spec. nov., and Dziriblatta (Macaroblatta) dendroglandulosa spec. nov. Nomenclatory changes: The species Blatta carpetana Bolívar, 1873, is designated as lectotype for the subgenus Lobolampra Houlbert, 1927. New synonyms: Aphlebia cazurroi Bolívar, 1885, is a junior synonym of Dziriblatta algerica (Bolívar, 1881); Dziriblatta theryi Chopard, 1936a, Hololampra finoti Bolívar, 1914, and Lobolampra adelungi Chopard, 1943, are synonyms of Dz. (Pauciscleroblatta) kroumiriensis (Adelung, 1914); Dz. vicina Chopard, 1936b, is a synonym of Dz. (Monoscleroblatta) merrakescha (Adelung, 1914).

Keywords: Blattodea, new subgenera, new combinations, new synonyms, designation of a lectotype, phylogeny

female of Dziriblatta (Pauciscleroblatta) galilaeana carrying an ootheca, in dorsal view. Notice orientation of the keel (arrow) forming an angle of about 45° to the longitudinal axis. 

Dziriblatta (Pauciscleroblatta) subgen. nov.

Horst Bohn. 2019. Revision of the Genus Dziriblatta Chopard, 1936 (Blattodea, Ectobiidae, Ectobiinae) from North Africa, Spain, and the Macaronesian islands. I. The Nine Subgenera of the Genus.  Zootaxa. 4610(1); 1-73.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4610.1.1