Insectivora

A new method of studying the activity of European mole Talpa europaea (Linnaeus, 1758) with use of digital portable voice recorders is developed. European mole demonstrates polyphasic activity pattern-three peaks of activity alternate three peaks of relative rest. Moles are found to have activity peaks from

The subfamilies Erinaceinae and Galericinae of the extant family Erinaceidae are the only living representatives of the once diverse taxon Erinaceomorpha. In the present study, we performed the first multilocus analysis of phylogenetic relationships among genera of Erinaceidae and estimated the split times between and within the two subfamilies. The analyses of five nuclear and two mitochondrial genes produced a well-resolved molecular phylogeny. Generally, the molecular tree is compatible with the morphology-based taxonomy proposed by Frost, Wozencraft & Hoffmann with the exception of the position of Mesechinus, which is placed as the closest sister taxon of Hemiechinus. Another point of contradiction between molecular and morphological phylogenies is the position of Hylomys megalotis, which was consistently placed as the most basal branch among all gymnures in molecular analyses. Genetic relationships between Erinaceus and Atelerix remain unclear, suggesting a hard trichotomy among these two lineages and Hemiechinus + Paraechinus. Molecular dating suggests an ancient origin of the extant gymnure lineages, which date back to the late Eocene to early Oligocene. The age of the basal split within spiny hedgehogs is relatively recent and corresponds to the Miocene–Pliocene boundary. Possible changes to the erinaceid taxonomy are considered.

Colour variation in the peppered moth Biston betularia was long accepted to be under strong natural selection. Melanics were believed to be fitter than pale morphs because of lower predation at daytime resting sites on dark, sooty bark. Melanics became common during the industrial revolution, but since 1970 there has been a rapid reversal, assumed to have been caused by predators selecting against melanics resting on today's less sooty bark. Recently, these classical explanations of melanism were attacked, and there has been general scepticism about birds as selective agents. Experiments and observations were accordingly carried out by Michael Majerus to address perceived weaknesses of earlier work. Unfortunately, he did not live to publish the results, which are analysed and presented here by the authors. Majerus released 4864 moths in his six-year experiment, the largest ever attempted for any similar study. There was strong differential bird predation against melanic peppered moths. Daily selection against melanics (s 0.1) was sufficient in magnitude and direction to explain the recent rapid decline of melanism in post-industrial Britain. These data provide the most direct evidence yet to implicate camouflage and bird predation as the overriding explanation for the rise and fall of melanism in moths.

The distribution of S. etruscus in South-East Bulgaria was traced on the basis of Barn Owl pellet collections. The species was found at 39 out of the 41 collecting sites. The effect of eight environmental variables, describing the proportion of the main habitat types within the owl’s hunting territory and the climatic and landscape context, on the structure of the shrew prey spectra was investigated by means of redundancy analysis. It has been found out that the percentage of moist areas within the hunting territory and the temperature sums affect significantly the structure of the shrew prey spectra. The percentages of S. etruscus were positively related to the temperatures. On the basis of the obtained results and comparisons with published data, it was hypothesized that S. etruscus was a recent invader in the area. The spreading route probably follows the valleys of the Maritsa and the Tundzha rivers and curves eastward north of the Sakar and Strandzha Mountains reaching the Blac...

A study of the Southeast Asian moles of the genus Euroscaptor based on a combined approach, viz. DNA sequence data combined with a multivariate analysis of cranial characters, has revealed a high cryptic diversity of the group. An analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and five nuclear genes has revealed two deeply divergent clades: the western one (E. klossi + E. malayana + E. longirostris from Sichuan + Euroscaptor spp. from northern Vietnam and Yunnan, China), and the eastern one (E. parvidens s.l. + E. subanura). The pattern of genetic variation in the genus Euroscaptor discovered in the present study provides support for the existence of several cryptic lineages that could be treated as distinct species based on their genetic and morphological distinctness and geographical distribution. The moles from southern China and northern Vietnam form three distinct groups. The specimens from Sichuan (including the one collected from the type locality of E. longirostris) were clearly distinct from the northwestern Vietnam and Yunnan samples that were previously attributed to this species. We argue that the real distribution of E. longirostris is restricted to Sichuan, northward of Yangtze River, whereas the populations occurring southward of this isolation barrier evidently represent a new species Euroscaptor orlovi sp. nov. (northwestern Vietnam and Yunnan, southern China). Moreover, Red River that divides the western and eastern parts of northern Vietnam beyond doubt separates the population of E. orlovi from the moles occurring in northeastern Vietnam (Vinh Phuc and Cao Bang provinces); the latter are described here as Euroscaptor kuznetsovi sp. nov. Yet, genetic data are in favour of a close affinity of E. subanura with E. parvidens. A combined analysis of both genetic and morphological data has revealed a strong geographic segregation of E. parvidens samples. The populations from Dalat Plateau (southern Vietnam), including the moles from Loc Bao, Bi Dup and Chu Yang Sin, form a well-supported clade and can be considered true E. parvidens. The specimens from central Vietnam (Kon Tum and Quang Nam provinces) are significantly different from them, yet their monophyly has been supported by the mtDNA only. The moles from central Vietnam have been described here as a new subspecies Euroscaptor parvidens ngoclinhensis ssp. nov. All the studied samples of E. subanura have shown a low genetic and morphological variability despite their wide geographic range.

Background: Species with strict ecological requirements may provide new insights into the forces that shaped the geographic variation of genetic diversity. The Pyrenean desman, Galemys pyrenaicus, is a small semi-aquatic mammal that inhabits clean streams of the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula and is endangered in most of its geographic range, but its genetic structure is currently unknown. While the stringent ecological demands derived from its aquatic habitat might have caused a partition of the genetic diversity among river basins, Pleistocene glaciations would have generated a genetic pattern related to glacial refugia. Results: To study the relative importance of historical and ecological factors in the genetic structure of G. pyrenaicus, we used mitochondrial and intronic sequences of specimens covering most of the species range. We show, first, that the Pyrenean desman has very low levels of genetic diversity compared to other mammals. In addition, phylogenetic and dating analyses of the mitochondrial sequences reveal a strong phylogeographic structure of a Middle Pleistocene origin, suggesting that the main lineages arose during periods of glacial isolation. Furthermore, both the spatial distribution of nuclear and mitochondrial diversity and the results of species distribution modeling suggest the existence of a major glacial refugium in the northwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. Finally, the main mitochondrial lineages show a striking parapatric distribution without any apparent exchange of mitochondrial haplotypes between the lineages that came into secondary contact (although with certain permeability to nuclear genes), indicating incomplete mixing after the post-glacial recolonization. On the other hand, when we analyzed the partition of the genetic diversity among river basins, the Pyrenean desman showed a lower than expected genetic differentiation among main rivers.

The study on some toothmarks on the medial surface of the right ulna of a middle sized carnivore mammal are present in this paper. It is shown here as a possible taphonomical evidence of carrion-eating diet of the Late Miocene  Crusafontina endemica GIBERT, 1974 shrew (Mammalia, Soricidae) from Sümeg locality (Western Hungary). Also other
palaeoecological relations (nutrition and ecotype preference) of the giant shrews (the members of Anourosoricini and Beremendiini tribes of family Soricidae) from the Late Miocene to Middle Pleistocene age of the Carpathian Basin are overviewed in the present article.

Biodiversity hotspots and associated endemism are ideal systems for the study of parasite diversity within host communities. Here, we investigated the ecological and evolutionary forces acting on the diversification of an emerging bacterial pathogen, Leptospira spp., in communities of endemic Malagasy small mammals. We determined the infection rate with pathogenic Leptospira in 20 species of sympatric rodents (subfamily Nesomyinae) and tenrecids (family Tenrecidae) at two eastern humid forest localities. A multilocus genotyping analysis allowed the characterization of bacterial diversity within small mammals and gave insights into their genetic relationships with Leptospira infecting endemic Malagasy bats (family Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae). We report for the first time the presence of pathogenic Leptospira in Malagasy endemic small mammals, with an overall prevalence of 13%. In addition, these hosts harbour species of Leptospira (L. kirschneri, L. borgpetersenii and L. borgpetersenii group B) which are different from those reported in introduced rats (L. interrogans) on Madagascar. The diversification of Leptospira on Madagascar can be traced millions of years into evolutionary history, resulting in the divergence of endemic lineages and strong host specificity. These observations are discussed in relation to the relative roles of endemic vs. introduced mammal species in the evolution and epidemiology of Leptospira on Madagascar, specifically how biodiversity and biogeographical processes can shape community ecology of an emerging pathogen and lead to its diversification within native animal communities.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of two microbats, the horseshoe bat Rhinolophus pumilus, and the Japanese pipistrelle Pipistrellus abramus, and that of an insectivore, the long-clawed shrew Sorex unguiculatus, were sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically by a maximum likelihood method in an effort to enhance our understanding of mammalian evolution. Our analysis suggested that (1) a sister relationship exists between moles and shrews, which form an eulipotyphlan clade; (2) chiropterans have a sister-relationship with eulipotyphlans; and (3) the Eulipotyphla/Chiroptera clade is closely related to fereuungulates (Cetartiodactyla, Perissodactyla and Carnivora). Divergence times on the mammalian tree were estimated from consideration of a relaxed molecular clock, the amino acid sequences of 12 concatenated mitochondrial proteins and multiple reference criteria. Moles and shrews were estimated to have diverged approximately 48 MyrBP, and bats and eulipotyphlans to have diverged 68 MyrBP. Recent phylogenetic controversy over the polyphyly of microbats, the monophyly of rodents, and the position of hedgehogs is also examined.

One hedgehog (Erinaceus cf. lechei), two moles (Talpa cf. levantis and "Scalopoides" cf. copernici), one shrew-mole (Quyania aff. polonica), and one desman (Desmana cf. polonica) are described from a Late Pliocene (MN17) karst fissure filling near the city of Varshets. Although the material is relatively well preserved, the exact determination was not possible because of the small samples and the fact that the taxonomy of the fossil forms from these groups is in a state of confusion. Up to now Late Pliocene remains of "Scalopoides" copernici and Quyania polonica have been known from Poland only. The occurrence of similar forms in Bulgaria during the Villanyian is considered as a relic situation, due to locally favorable conditions. The described insectivore assemblage is indicative of a temperate and humid climate, similar to the present-day conditions in SE Bulgaria.

Sesé, C. 2016.  Interpretación paleoambiental de los micromamíferos de los yacimientos del final del Pleistoceno superior de la cueva de Cualventi, cueva de El Linar y cueva de Las Aguas  (Cantabria, norte de España). En: Lasheras Corruchaga, J. A.  (Dir.): Proyecto de investigación Los tiempos de Altamira. Actuaciones arqueológicas en las cuevas de Cualventi, El Linar y Las Aguas (Alfoz de Lloredo. Cantabria). Monografías del Museo Nacional y Centro de Investigación de Altamira, nº 26, Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte: 287-319.

Resumen: Se realiza la síntesis de los micromamíferos de los yacimientos de la cueva de Cualventi (con el nivel E datado entre 14.580 y 15.950 BP), cueva de El Linar (con niveles datados entre 14.000 y 19.700 BP) y cueva de Las Aguas (con niveles datados entre 14.440 y 17.630 BP) fundamentalmente desde el punto de vista paleoambiental. Las asociaciones faunísticas de los tres yacimientos tienen la mayoría de los taxones comunes: el género Apodemus (en el yacimiento de la cueva de Cualventi se ha identificado la especie Apodemus cf. flavicollis), Arvicola terrestris, Microtus arvalis-Microtus agrestis, Microtus oeconomus, Microtus lusitanicus, Chionomys nivalis, Sorex araneus, Neomys fodiens (determinado como Neomys cf. fodiens en la cueva de El Linar), Talpa europaea, Erinaceus europaeus y cf. Lepus sp., entre los que se encuentran algunos de los que suelen ser los más abundantes. Los taxones que faltan en alguno de los tres yacimientos o solo están en uno de ellos: Glis glis (se registra en la cueva de Cualventi pero sin contexto estratigráfico seguro), Clethrionomys glareolus (en la cueva de El Linar), Sorex minutus (en la cueva de Cualventi y la cueva de El Linar), Crocidura russula (en la cueva de Cualventi y la cueva de Las Aguas) y Miniopterus schreibersii (en la cueva de Las Aguas) son, por el contrario, muy escasos en los niveles de los yacimientos en los que aparecen. La mayoría de los taxones que se registran en los tres yacimientos presentan una gran continuidad en los distintos niveles y sondeos. Es decir que no hay un cambio faunístico apreciable que refleje a su vez ningún cambio paleoambiental significativo entre los distintos niveles de los tres
yacimientos. Solo dos de los taxones que se registran en estos yacimientos no están actualmente presentes en la fauna de la región cantábrica: Sorex araneus, cuya distribución se ha reducido en la península ibérica al norte de Cataluña y Microtus oeconomus que no está en España sino en regiones más septentrionales de Eurasia. Del estudio de las asociaciones de micromamíferos de los tres yacimientos se deducen unas condiciones paleoambientales de un medio abierto húmedo y un clima frío.

Palabras clave: micromamíferos, roedores, insectívoros, lagomorfos, quirópteros, yacimiento de la cueva de Cualventi, yacimiento de cueva de El Linar, yacimiento de la cueva de Las Aguas, final del Pleistoceno superior, interpretación paleoambiental, paleoclimatología, Cantabria, norte de España.

Abstract: It is made here a synthesis of the micromammals from the sites of the cave of Cualventi (with the level E dated between 14.580 and 15.950 BP), cave of El Linar (with some levels dated between 14.000 and 19.700 BP) and cave of Las Aguas (with some levels dated between 14.440 and 17.630 BP) mainly from the paleoenvironmental point of view. The faunal assemblages of the three sites have in common the majority of the taxa: the genus Apodemus (in the Cualventi cave site has been identified the species Apodemus cf. flavicollis), Arvicola terrestris, Microtus arvalis-Microtus agrestis, Microtus oeconomus, Microtus lusitanicus, Chionomys nivalis, Sorex araneus, Neomys fodiens (determined as Neomys cf. fodiens in the Linar cave site), Talpa europaea, Erinaceus europaeus and cf. Lepus sp., some of which are also the most abundant. The taxa that are absent in some of the sites or that are only in one of them: Glis glis (registered in the cave of Cualventi but without a secure stratigraphical context), Clethrionomys glareolus (in the cave of El Linar), Sorex minutus (in the cave of Cualventi and the cave of El Linar), Crocidura russula (in the cave of Cualventi and the cave of Las Aguas) and Miniopterus schreibersii (in the cave of Aguas), are, by contrary, very scarce in the levels of the sites in which they appear. The majority of the taxa that are registered in the three sites have a great continuity in the different drillings and levels. It is to say that there is not an appreciable faunal change that shows any significant paleoenvironmental change between the different drillings and levels of the three sites. From all these taxa that are registered in the three sites, only two are not nowadays in the cantabrian region: Sorex araneus which distribution in the Iberian Peninsula has reduced to the north of Catalonia and Microtus oeconomus that is not in Spain but in northern Euroasiatic regions. From the study of the micromammal assemblages of the three sites, are deduced a mainly open and humid environment
and a cold climate.

Keywords: Micromammals, Rodentia, Insectivora, Lagomorpha, Chiroptera, Cualventi cave site, El Linar cave site, Las Aguas cave site, late Upper Pleistocene, paleoenvironmental interpretation, paleoclimatology, Cantabria, North of Spain.

Network theory is gaining momentum as a descriptive tool in community ecology. Because organisms with the same lifestyle can still exhibit ecological differences, it is crucial to determine the scale at which networks should be described. Here we show that networks of hosts (mammals) and parasites (ectoparasitic gamasid mites) differ when either facultative or obligatory parasites only are considered. More importantly, the structure of these networks is opposed, with obligatory parasites networks being more modular, and facultative parasites networks being more nested. Our results have consequences for the way we define which species to include in ecological networks, which we discuss in the light of community ecology and epidemiology.

Beremendia fi ssidens and B. minor remains of the late Early Pleistocene vertebrate fauna of the Somssich Hill 2 locality are described. B. minor is reported here as new element in the site. Th is record emended the stratigraphic range of this species to the Early Biharian Stage, Nagyharsányhegy Phase (ca. 900 ka). Th e detailed morphological and morphometrical studies gave a chance to make a new diff erential diagnosis between the two forms. Both of them might have been characterized by special nutrition strategy (poisoning snails and other small animals by their grooved lower incisor and storing them in their pits) and they could have lived in forest- and bushcovered lake-, or riversides. Th e European stratigraphic and palaeobiogeographical occurrences of the genus are summarized on the basis of published literature.

The ultrastructure of the pinealocytes of the golden mole (Amblysornus hottentotus), a blind subterranean mammal living in complete darkness, was examined and compared with that of pinealocytes of other mammals. On the basis of the presence of granular vesicles and glycogen granules, only one population ofpinealocyteswas found. Large mitochondria, ribosomes, lipid inclusions and scarce lysosomes were observed in the perikaryon. Numerous glycogen granules, often forming typical accumulations, were frequently found to be associated with typical vacuoles. An extraordinary large number of granular vesicles is characteristic of the golden mole pinealocyte. Phenomena of excretion of compound(s) stored in the granular vesicles were identified. Morphologically this is characterized bydissociation of its granular core in situ while its limiting membrane is preserved. The physiological significance of the secretory process characterized by the formation of these granular vesicles is discussed.

The present study was conducted on bats from different locations in Turkey. Of 33 bats, belonging to 10 species, 10 individuals (30.3%) of four species were infected with gamasine mites. Fifty-three mites belonging to 2 families (Spinturnicidae and Macronyssidae) were collected. The spinturnicid Spinturnix myoti (Kolenati) was the most abundant species (27 specimens) and only recorded n Myotis nattereri (Kuhl). The species Steatonyssus periblepharus (Kolenati) and the genera Steatonyssus, Macronyssus and Ancystropus are reported from Turkey for the first time, while new host and distributional data are presented.

Recent investigations of Southeast Asian white toothed shrews belonging to the genus Crocidura have revealed discrepancies between the results of morphological and molecular studies. The following study concerns three species of Crocidura occurring in Vietnam, namely C. attenuata, C. tanakae and C. wuchi-hensis, and an undescribed fourth species revealed by molecular analysis. For many years Crocidura at-tenuata has been known to occur in Vietnam but, until very recently, the morphologically similar and comparably sized C. tanakae was believed to be restricted to Taiwan. Following several molecular studies over the last few years, this species is now believed to be considerably more widespread and recognised as occuring also in Vietnam. The results of one of these recent molecular studies also revealed the presence

Hantavirus activity in 39 National Parks in the eastern and central United States was surveyed by testing 1,815 small mammals of 38 species for antibody reactive to Sin Nombre virus. Antibody-positive rodents were found throughout the area sampled, and in most biotic communities. Antibody was detected in 7% of 647 deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), 2% of 590 white-footed mice (P. leucopus), 17% of 12 rice rats (Oryzomys palustris), 3% of 31 cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), and 33% of 18 western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis). Antibody was also found in three of six species of voles, and in one of 33 chipmunks (Tamias minimus). Prevalence among Peromyscus was highest in the northeast. Although few cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome have been identified from the eastern and central regions, widespread infection in reservoir populations indicates that potential exists for human infection throughout much of the United States.

Background: Malagasy tenrecs belong to the Afrotherian clade of placental mammals and comprise three subfamilies divided in eight genera (Tenrecinae: Tenrec, Echinops, Setifer and Hemicentetes; Oryzorictinae: Oryzorictes, Limnogale and Microgale; Geogalinae:Geogale). The diversity of their morphology and incomplete taxon sampling made it difficult until now to resolve phylogenies based on either morphology or molecular data for this group. Therefore, in order to delineate the evolutionary history of this family, phylogenetic and dating analyses were performed on a four nuclear genes dataset (ADRA2B, AR, GHR and vWF) including all Malagasy tenrec genera. Moreover, the influence of both taxon sampling and data partitioning on the accuracy of the estimated ages were assessed.

The Paleocene-Eocene boundary is of particular importance for the evolution of mammals and the poorly known Asian mammal faunas from this period have received much attention. The late Paleocene Subeng site in Inner Mongolia (China) has come under study only recently, and here we present the first complete description of its mammal fauna. Two new species are described, the neoplagiaulacid multituberculate Mesodmops tenuis sp. nov. and the praolestine nyctitheriid Bumbanius ningi sp. nov., representing stratigraphic range extensions of the respective genera into the Paleocene. Previ− ously unknown parts of the dentition are described here for the eurymylid Eomylus bayanulanensis, the sarcodontid Hyracolestes ermineus, the cimolestid Tsaganius ambiguus, the carpolestid Subengius mengi, as well as the femur of the mesonychid Dissacus serratus. For most taxa, the new specimens from Subeng provide new phylogenetic and/or biostratigraphic information. We confirm the inclusion of Hyracolestes in the Sarcodontinae and elevate this group to the rank of family, the Sarcodontidae, separate from Micropternodontidae. In the case of Subengius mengi an updated cladistic analysis of carpolestids supports the hypothesis that Subengius is derived from an evolved Elphidotarsius−like ancestor in the early to middle Tiffanian of North America. A total of 17 species is identified, including well−known biostratigraphic markers for the late Paleocene Gashatan Asian Land Mammal Age such as Lambdopsalis bulla, Prionessus sp., Palaeostylops iturus, Pseudictops lophiodon, Tribosphenomys minutus, and Dissacus serratus. We pro− pose that the Gashatan faunas are less endemic than previously thought, and result from a significant exchange with North American faunas from the late Paleocene.

The rich and well-preserved bone material of six shrew species extracted from the filling of a karstic cavity near the town of Varshets (Prebalkan region, North Bulgaria) is described. The samples of Beremendia fissidens, Asoriculus gibberodon, Sorex cf. minutus and S. runtonensis represent relatively large forms of these species, while Petenyia hungarica does not grately differ from the other European populations. The Varshets record of S. runtonensis extends the stratigraphical range of the species into the Late Pliocene. The skull fragments determined as Mafia aff. csarnotensis show that this species has four upper antemolars; this number has not so far been known and the studied material contributes to the characteristic of this poorly known genus. The position of the Varshets assemblage within the context of the temporal and spatial variation of the species composition and structure of 23 Pliocene and Early Pleistocene shrew associations from Europe is assessed by correspondence analysis. The results point to a mosaic environment under a relatively warm and dry climate. On the basis of this analysis the ecological interpretation of Asoriculus gibberodon as a strict dweller in wet forests is questioned. The comparisons indicate that it tends to occur in shrew associations related to mosaic landscapes dominated by shrubby and open habitat patches.

Long-term dynamics analysis of small mammals in the Republic of Mordovia is given in this paper. Ecological studies on the small mammals at Republic of Mordovia were made during the years 2006-2019.There are altogether 17 species. Among the 23,780 captures. A 3-4-year cycle in population fluctuations was revealed for the conditions of this region. It is shown that in unfavorable years under the conditions of temperature and humidity (2010 and 2012), small mammals recovered their population numbers by the end of the growing season due to the existing areas of settlement and concentration centers. The sex ratio of most species over the research average period is almost always biased in the direction of males.

Hantaviruses are emerging viruses carried by rodents, soricomorphs (shrews and moles) and bats. In Finland, Puumala virus (PUUV) was for years the only hantavirus detected. In 2009, however, Seewis virus (SWSV) was reported from archival common shrew (Sorex araneus) samples collected in 1982 in Finland. To elucidate the diversity of hantaviruses in soricomorphs in Finland, 180 individuals were screened, representing seven species captured from 2001 to 2012: hantavirus RNA was screened using RT-PCR, and hantaviral antigen using immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies raised against truncated SWSV nucleocapsid protein. The overall hantavirus RNA prevalence was 14% (26/180), antigen could be demonstrated in 9 of 20 SWSV RT-PCR positive common shrews. Genetic analyses revealed that four soricomorph-borne hantaviruses circulate in Finland, including Boginia virus (BOGV) in water shrew (Neomys fodiens) and Asikkala virus (ASIV) in pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus). Interestingly, on two study sites, common shrews harbored strains of two different hantaviruses: Seewis virus and a new distinct, genetically distant (identity 57% at amino acid level) virus (Altai-like virus) which clusters together with viruses in the basal phylogroup I of hantaviruses with 62-67% identity at amino acid level. This is the first evidence of coexistence of two clearly distinct hantavirus species circulating simultaneously in one host species population. The findings suggest an ancient host-switching event from a yet unknown host to S. araneus. In addition, phylogenetic analyses of partial S and M segment sequences showed that SWSV in Finland represents a unique genotype in Europe.

VIII Encuentro de Jóvenes Investigadores en Paleontología VOLUMEN DE ACTAS Referencia a este artículo: Furió, M., Ruiz-Sánchez, F. J., Crespo-Roures, V. D., Freudenthal, M.y Montoya, P. Primer hallazgo de un dimílido (Dimylidae, Insectivora, Mammalia) en el Aragoniense inferior (MN 4, Mioceno Inferior) de la Península Ibérica. En: Moreno-Azanza, M., Díaz-Martínez, I., Gasca, J.M., Melero-Rubio, M., Rabal-Garcés, R. y Sauqué, V. (coords). Cidaris, número 30, VIII Encuentro de Jóvenes Investigadores en Paleontología, volumen de actas, 125-128.

This study used a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of Suncus pygmy shrews and to help clarify the taxonomic status of the Malayan pygmy shrew (S. malayanus) and the Malagasy pygmy shrew (S. madagascariensis). Phylogenetic reconstructionswere performed using neighbour-joining and Bayesian analysis methods and revealed that S. malayanus is related to, but distinct from S. etruscus. The K2P-corrected genetic distance among the Malaysian taxon and other pygmy shrews for the cytochrome b gene was between 6.1 and 8.5%, supporting recognition that S. malayanus represents a distinct species from the geographically widespread S. etruscus species complex. A close (1.5% K2P distance) sister-group relationship was revealed between S. etruscus from Sri Lanka and S. madagascariensis from Madagascar, which has been considered an island endemic, and suggests that these animals are not specifically distinct. The Malagasy population of this ...

We analysed data on the abundance and distribution of 26 species of mesostigmate mites with different feeding habits collected from bodies of small mammalian hosts in 2 geographical regions (West Siberia and Argentina). We tested whether prevalence of a mite can be reliably predicted from a simple epidemiological model that takes into account mean abundance and its variance. We theorized that the difference between prevalence predicted from the model and observed prevalence would be smallest in obligatory haematophagous mites, intermediate in facultatively haematophagous mites and greatest in non-haematophagous mites. We also theorized that prevalence of mites from the region with sharp seasonality (Siberia) would be predicted accurately only if host number would be taken into account. We found that the success of a simple epidemiological model to predict prevalence in mites was similar to that reported earlier for other ectoparasitic arthropods. Surprisingly, the model predicted prevalence of obligatory exclusively haematophagous mites less successfully than that of mites with other feeding habits. No difference in the model performance between mites occurring in the 2 geographical regions were found independent of whether the model took the number of hosts into account.

To determine the extent of hantavirus infection in Singapore, serological studies using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test were conducted on commensal rodents and on human patients in 4 diagnostic groups. Virus isolation using a Vero E6 cell line was performed on hantaviral antigen-positive rodent lung tissue. Of 142 rodents and 3 insectivores studied, 37 (26%) were seropositive for IFA. Rattus norvegicus was the predominant species captured, with the highest species-specific seropositive rate of 32% (36 of 113). A hantavirus strain, R36, was isolated from one R. norvegicus. Seropositive rates for human patients were: 8% respectively for dengue haemorrhagic fever suspects and for non-A non-B hepatitis patients, 3% for leptospirosis suspects and 2% for acute nephritis patients. 2 patients had marked liver dysfunction but mild renal involvement. This hepatitis-like manifestation appears to be a clinical variant of hantavirus infection.

A new genus of Myobiidae, Hylomysobia gen. n. with two new species, H. mikhailzaitzevi sp. n. (type species) and H. chinensis sp. n., is described from gymnures of the genus Hylomys Müller (Eulipotyphla: Erinaceidae). The two species parasitize Hylomys suillus Müller from Cambodia and Vietnam, and Hylomys sinensis (Trouessart) from China, respectively. These species represent the first records of myobiid mites from species in the family Erinaceidae. The new genus differs from the closely related Eutalpacarus Jameson, 1949 by the following features: in both sexes, coxae I have a triangular process, setae ve are about three times wider than sce and c2, and coxae II bear two pairs of setae; in females, setae sci are lanceolate, setae ag1 and ag3 are absent, and the vulvar lobes are weakly developed; in males, setae e2 are absent, and setae c1, d1, d2 and e1 are situated on the genital shield. The life cycle of Hylomysobia spp. includes egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adults, male and female. In contrast to the most other myobiid genera possessing the tritonymphal stage, the deutonymphs of Hylomysobia moult directly to adults, and the tritonymphs are absent. Based on the restricted distribution of Hylomysobia species on hosts of this family (only on species of the genus Hylomys) and close morphological similarities to myobiids from Soricidae and Talpidae, it is suggested that the ancestor of this genus secondarily colonized the ancestor of Hylomys from moles or shrews.

The distribution of S. etruscus in South-East Bulgaria was traced on the basis of Barn Owl pellet collections. The species was found at 39 out of the 41 collecting sites. The effect of eight environmental variables, describing the proportion of the main habitat types within the owl's hunting territory and the climatic and landscape context, on the structure of the shrew prey spectra was investigated by means of redundancy analysis. It has been found out that the percentage of moist areas within the hunting territory and the temperature sums affect significantly the structure of the shrew prey spectra. The percentages of S. etruscus were positively related to the temperatures. On the basis of the obtained results and comparisons with published data, it was hypothesized that S. etruscus was a recent invader in the area. The spreading route probably follows the valleys of the Maritsa and the Tundzha rivers and curves eastward north of the Sakar and Strandzha Mountains reaching the ...