Bavarian State Collection of Zoology

Recently, a new monotypic geometrid moth genus and species, Mirlatia arcuata Hausmann, László, Mayr & Huemer, 2023, were described from Croatia. The description was based on a single male collected in 1983, and a single female collected in 1982. The discovery of an isolated lineage in Europe was unexpected because the Geometridae fauna of the continent is likely the best explored in the world. Upon description, the systematic position of Mirlatia arcuata remained unresolved due to its peculiar morphology and lack of suitable molecular data to study its phylogenetic position. Based on a new specimen collected in 2024, we studied its phylogeny, including it in a maximum likelihood multi-gene global phylogenetic dataset of 1206 taxa, and comparative morphological analysis. Based on the results of our integrative approach, we propose to classify this enigmatic species in a monotypic tribe Mirlatiini Sihvonen & Hausmann, tribe nov. within the basal Larentiinae as the sister to Brabirodini. Other proposed taxonomic changes include reclassification of Brabira Moore, 1888 in Brabirodini and Tyloptera Christoph, 1881 in Larentiinae: incertae sedis. We illustrate closely related genera in Mirlatiini, Brabirodini and Dyspteridini, for taxonomic clarity.

Abstract This study investigates the phylogenetic relationships of extant crocodiles and the population structure of the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). We combined mitochondrial genomes from museum specimens with genetic data from modern samples to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the saltwater crocodile and clarify the identity of the extinct Seychelles crocodile. Mitochondrial genomes were sequenced for 11 museum specimens of Crocodylus halli, C. niloticus, C. novaeguineae, C. palustris and C. porosus, including the Seychelles crocodile. In addition, the mitochondrial control and ND4 regions were analysed for 187 and 13 C. porosus individuals, respectively. This study provides the most comprehensive Crocodylus phylogeny to date, establishes the phylogenetic placement of the extinct Seychelles crocodile as a distant population of the saltwater crocodile and provides no mitochondrial support for C. halli as a distinct species from C. novaeguineae. Nineteen haplotypes were identified among C. porosus samples, showing no clear mitochondrial geographic structure. However, this probably reflects the limited resolution of mitochondrial DNA rather than true genetic homogeneity, consistent with nuclear genomic studies revealing strong regional differentiation. Our results highlight the need for conservation strategies that recognize the broad genetic connectivity of C. porosus populations rather than emphasizing subspecies distinctions.

The role of regional diversification versus the effect of migration in generating local species assemblages remains poorly known. Here, we contribute to the understanding of the role of colonisation and in situ diversification by studying an assemblage of miniaturised microhylid frogs of the genus Stumpffia Boettger, 1881, of which six species have been known to occur on Montagne d’Ambre, a volcanic mountain in the north of Madagascar. These six species are distributed over different, partly overlapping elevational levels. We examined this assemblage based on molecular data (16S mtDNA and Rag1 nDNA), new data on the elevational distribution among local Stumpffia species, and differences in advertisement calls. Our results revealed several genetic lineages constituting distinct species, including another species record for the mountain, S. mamitika Rakotoarison et al., 2017, as well as the new candidate species Stumpffia sp. aff. angeluci . This brings the total number of described species known to occur on the mountain to seven, four of which are micro-endemic. Our data indicate that one clade, consisting of four species, has arisen in situ as a microendemic radiation. We discuss alternative evolutionary scenarios for the biogeographic origin of the observed Stumpffia species.

The current global biodiversity loss crisis affects not only avifauna but also associated parasites. Studies on museum specimens of extinct birds provide valuable insights into the species diversity, ecology, and evolution of parasitofauna, as well as determining whether specific parasite species have survived or become extinct alongside their hosts. In this study, we present the results of the examination of museum dry skins of the Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius (Linnaeus) (Columbiformes: Columbidae), which had been extremely common in North America until its extinction at the beginning of the 20th century. Studies revealed the presence of the representative of the family Syringophilidae, Meitingsunes zenadourae Clark (Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea), within the quill feathers of this host. This quill mite is a well-known parasite of multiple pigeon species across different genera of the order Columbiformes. The stenoxenic nature of M. zenadourae has likely contributed to its survival despite the extinction of E. migratorius.

Quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) are one of the most species-rich groups of mite ectoparasites permanently associated with birds, characterised by high host specificity and strict microhabitat preferences. In this study, we examined 179 individuals representing 19 species of the genus Corvus (Passeriformes: Corvidae) to investigate the prevalence and host associations of syringophilid mites. Quill mites were detected in 31 hosts from 11 host species, with infestations restricted exclusively to the wing coverts and involving two species: Syringophiloidus glandarii and Corvisyringophilus krummi. These mites exhibited mutually exclusive host distributions, with the vast majority of corvid species infested by only one of the two mite species. The phylogenetic distribution of these mites across Corvus hosts, combined with their shared microhabitat and lack of co-occurrence, strongly supports historical interspecific competition and subsequent host specialisation, in accordance with the Competitive Exclusion Principle. S. glandarii appears to be the dominant lineage, infecting nine Corvus, while C. krummi was restricted to only three hosts. Only in Corvus albicollis were both mite species detected, though a limited sample size precludes definitive conclusions about stable co-occurrence. These findings highlight how ecological interactions, such as competition, can shape parasite distributions and drive specialisation, even among permanent and highly host-specific parasites. They provide insights into the factors governing host specificity and have implications for understanding ecological and evolutionary patterns in host-parasite systems.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-17527-8.

The article presents the results of a study conducted to determine the ecological niche differentiation features of the most common species of herbivores (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) living in the Northern Tien Shan. In the Northern Tien Shan, 129 species of geometrid moths inhabit the region, of which 25 species were found to be dominant. The phenological characteristics of the dominant species, their distribution in biotopes, and their dietary specialization were investigated. The analysis of the frequently encountered species of herbivores showed that despite having similar feeding relationships, species inhabiting the same biotope can coexist. According to our results, a reason for the reduction of interspecific competition within the herbivore community in the Northern Tien Shan is the manifestation of several forms of ecological niche differentiation simultaneously. The results indicated that the majority of coexisting species differ based on two important criteria, while a smaller portion exhibited only one difference according to the parameters considered for ecological niche differentiation. This serves as a basis for the optimal coexistence of species within a single biotope. We believe that the possibility of species cohabitation is due to such parameters. It is noteworthy that interspecific competition for food resources is low because the nutritional space in the biotope is not fully occupied. В статье представлены результаты исследования, проведённого с целью выявления особенностей дифференциации экологических ниш у наиболее распространённых видов пядениц (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), обитающих в Северном Тянь-Шане. В Северном Тянь-Шане обитает 129 видов пядениц, из которых 25 видов являются доминирующими. Изучены фенологические особенности доминирующих видов, их распределение по биотопам и пищевая специализация. Анализ часто встречающихся видов пядениц показал, что виды, обитающие в одном биотопе, способны сосуществовать, несмотря на сходство в пищевых связях. Согласно полученным результатам, в условиях Северного Тянь-Шаня основной причиной снижения межвидовой конкуренции в сообществе пядениц является реализация сразу нескольких форм дифференциации экологических ниш. Полученные данные показали, что большинство сосуществующих видов различаются по двум важным критериям, меньшая часть — лишь по одному параметру, связанному с разделением экологической ниши, что обеспечивает их оптимальное существование в одном биотопе. Мы считаем, что возможность сосуществования видов обеспечивается именно такими параметрами. Следует отметить, что в биотопе кормовое пространство не используется полностью, что также снижает межвидовую конкуренцию за пищевые ресурсы.

ABSTRACT Heterobranchia is a subclass of Gastropoda for which phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial gene sequences have not been entirely successful. Here, we report a complete mitochondrial genome of an ellobiid snail, Marinula pepita (Euthyneura: Eupulmonata: Ellobioidea), and its wholesale gene rearrangements from the presumed ancestral order for Heterobranchia. Our phylogenetic reconstruction based on this new genome and the available mitogenomic sequences recovered two sister clades in the superfamily Ellobioidea. Six genera with the ancestral gene order and short branches formed one of the clades (Trimusculus, Carychium, Ovatella, Ellobium, Leucophytia and Auriculastra). Four ellobiid genera with rearranged gene orders and long branches formed the other clade (Marinula, Pedipes, Melampus and Myosotella), regardless of their subfamilial assignments, thereby strongly questioning this topology [long branch attraction (LBA)]. A separate phylogenetic tree inferred from near-complete sequences of the nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA genes, on the other hand, was largely consistent with the conventional, morphology-based classification although suggesting the need of a new subfamily for Marinula. Mitochondrial sequences can be useful for inferring shallow divergences among certain ellobioid genera and species, provided that particular attention is paid to avoid LBA artefacts.

Bone collagen of terrestrial and marine animals (n = 218) recovered from Ottoman period contexts at Aqaba Castle, Jordan (16th–19th centuries CE), were analyzed for δ13C, δ15N, and δ2H isotope ratios. While δ13C and δ15N values showed considerable overlap among species in the hyperarid environment, δ2H values exhibited less overlap, enhancing stable isotopic niche differentiation. In domesticates, δ2H values show trophic enrichments of +18.4‰ from herbivores to omnivores (dogs), and +26‰ to cats which had the highest δ2H values. Fish δ2H values show a positive relationship with increasing trophic level but also moderately correlate with body size (r = 0.61, R2 = 0.37). The offset between collagen δ2H and rainfall (δ2Hmw) values is smaller for camels (−1.4‰), sheep (−4.5‰), and goats (+6.8%), than for chickens (−18.5‰) and cattle (−27.0‰) due to more frequent consumption of 2H-depleted groundwater by the latter species, because of their higher water requirements. Similarities between local precipitation and bone collagen δ2H values for most terrestrial herbivores suggest the utility of δ2H values for geographic provenancing. This is explored by overlapping gazelle and chukar collagen δ2H values over a regional δ2Hmw isoscape, tentatively suggesting these species inhabited the water-stressed highland environments surrounding Aqaba Castle. This study demonstrates the advantages of incorporating bone collagen δ2H values alongside δ13C and δ15N values as a useful environmental proxy, enhancing interpretations of animal dietary behaviour, trophic levels, water sources, and wild animal home ranges.