scholarly journals Hermann Karsten (1817–1908): a German naturalist in the Neotropics and the significance of his paleovertebrate collection

Fossil Record ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Domingo Carrillo-Briceño ◽  
Eli Amson ◽  
Alfredo Zurita ◽  
Marcelo Ricardo Sánchez-Villagra
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Taxonomic Study ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Living Plant ◽  
Provenance Information ◽  
New Granada ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Historical Importance ◽  
German Naturalist

Abstract. During the mid-19th century, the German naturalist Hermann Karsten conducted a 12-year exploration (1844–1856) in the territories of Ecuador, New Granada (now Colombia) and Venezuela, allowing him to produce important botanic, geographic and geologic descriptions with valuable information that permits us to refer to him as a pioneer in many of these topics. With his return to Europe, abundant geological, paleontological and living plant specimens were brought and housed in European museums and botanical gardens. The Karsten collection included an important invertebrate collection from the Cretaceous of the Andes of Colombia and Venezuela, which was studied and published by himself and the renowned German paleontologist Leopold von Buch, filling a large void in the knowledge about ancients faunas. H. Karsten's vertebrate collection was never illustrated or subjected to a detailed taxonomic study, being mentioned in scientific publications in a repetitive manner and with incorrect taxonomic and provenance information. More than 160 years after they were collected, we carried out a taxonomic revision of all H. Karsten's vertebrate specimens from Colombia and Venezuela, which are housed in the Museum of Natural History in Berlin. These specimens are represented by cranial and postcranial elements of megafauna, which include Megatheriidae, Mylodontidae and Glyptodontidae (Xenarthra), Toxodontidae (Notoungulata), Gomphotheriidae (Proboscidea), and many other indeterminate mammal remains. This revision is intended to clarify the taxonomy and provenance of the specimens, emphasizing the historical importance of this fossil collection and its significance for the paleontology of the region.

Correspondence between Adolphe Brongniart and Robert Schomburgk: trading natural history collections for honours

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-336
Author(s):  
PIOTR DASZKIEWICZ ◽  
MICHEL JEGU
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
British Guiana ◽  
Natural History Collections ◽  
History Of ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
German Naturalist

ABSTRACT: This paper discusses some correspondence between Robert Schomburgk (1804–1865) and Adolphe Brongniart (1801–1876). Four letters survive, containing information about the history of Schomburgk's collection of fishes and plants from British Guiana, and his herbarium specimens from Dominican Republic and southeast Asia. A study of these letters has enabled us to confirm that Schomburgk supplied the collection of fishes from Guiana now in the Laboratoire d'Ichtyologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. The letters of the German naturalist are an interesting source of information concerning the practice of sale and exchange of natural history collections in the nineteenth century in return for honours.

scholarly journals An elusive new species of gymnophthalmid lizard (Cercosaurinae, Selvasaura) from the Andes of northern Peru

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-187
Author(s):  
Lourdes Y. Echevarría ◽  
Pablo J. Venegas ◽  
Luis A. García-Ayachi ◽  
Pedro M. Sales Nunes
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
The Other ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
The Andes ◽  
New States ◽  
Northern Peru ◽  
A New Species

We describe a new species of Selvasaura from the montane forests of the eastern slopes of the Andes in northern Peru, based on external and hemipenial morphological characters and previous phylogenetic analyses. The new species can be differentiated from the other two Selvasaura species in having keeled dorsal scales usually flanked by longitudinal striations, in adults and juveniles; adult males with a yellow vertebral stripe bordered by broad dark brown stripes on each side and a unilobed hemipenis surrounded by the branches of the sulcus spermaticus. The description of the new species contributes information about new states of diagnostic characters of Selvasaura and natural history.

Exotica and Europe

2020 ◽  
pp. 77-109
Author(s):  
Karen Polinger Foster
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
New World ◽  
Living Plant

This chapter focuses on exotica in Europe. Many of the botanical and zoological aspects of Versailles were supported by increasingly rigorous scientific studies being carried out in Paris. Since the early 1500s, France’s botanists had sought a permanent facility where living plant specimens could be studied. Indeed, the French were eager to establish a counterpart to the successful research gardens organized in Padua and Pisa. The Jardin du Roi in Paris was meant to make the capital, and by extension France, the world’s pre-eminent center for natural history. Elsewhere in Europe, it was the major banking houses and trading companies that brokered shipments of exotica along with spices, textiles, and other goods. In Italy, wealthy banker and merchant families vied to obtain the latest New World and tropical wonders for their private gardens. The Dutch went further, cannily marketing the entire globe as a rich, alluring repository of exotica, whose possession by nonroyal persons would confer pure delight, free of the burdens of statecraft. From transit pens at the ports of Antwerp and Amsterdam, exotica were sent on to both private and royal customers.

Taxonomic revision of the “mexicanus” group of the genus Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4596 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
CONTRERAS-FÉLIX GERARDO A. ◽  
FRANCKE B. OSCAR F.
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
The Other ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
First Time

Within the scorpion genus Vaejovis C.L. Koch, the “mexicanus” group is composed of species distributed in the mountains of México. This group presents taxonomic problems, because its characterization and the species included in the group have varied through the years. In the present work, we redefine this group based on several morphological characters, and we differentiate it from the other two species groups within the genus: “vorhiesi” and “nit dulus+nigrescens”. Additionally, five new species are described: Vaejovis ceboruco sp. nov., Vaejovis nanchititla sp. nov., Vaejovis santibagnezi sp. nov., Vaejovis talpa sp. nov. and Vaejovis tapalpa sp. nov; the males of three species are described for the first time (V. dugesi, V. nigrofemoratus and V. tesselatus); and the updated diagnosis for all species is included. Keys for the identification of males and females of the 30 species included in this group are given. Lastly, notes on the natural history and distribution of some species are provided, with maps of known distribution for all the species.

Juan Cristóbal Gundlach's contributions to the knowledge of Puerto Rican birds and his influence on the development of natural history in Puerto Rico

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Wiley ◽  
Sylke Frahnert ◽  
Rafaela Aguilera Román ◽  
Pascal Eckhoff
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Puerto Rican ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Natural History Museums ◽  
History Museum ◽  
History Museums ◽  
German Naturalist

The German naturalist, Juan Cristóbal Gundlach (1810–1896), resided in Cuba for the last 57 years of his life, except for two expeditions to Puerto Rico in 1873 and 1875–1876, when he explored the southwestern, western, and northeastern regions. Gundlach made representative collections of the island's fauna, which formed the nucleus of the first natural history museum in Puerto Rico. He substantially increased the number of species known from the island, and was the first naturalist to make meticulous observations and produce detailed reports of the island's natural history. Gundlach greatly influenced other naturalists in the island, so that a period of concerted advancement in knowledge of natural history occurred in the 1870s. That development coincided with the establishment of the first higher education institutions in the island, including the first natural history museum. The natural history museums eventually closed, and only a few of their specimens were passed to other institutions, including foreign museums. None of Gundlach's and few of his contemporaries’ specimens have survived in Puerto Rico.

The type localities of Anolis aequatorialis Werner, 1894 (Sauria: Iguania: Dactyloidae) and Pristimantis appendiculatus (Werner, 1894) (Amphibia: Anura: Craugastoridae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4216 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
DIEGO F. CISNEROS-HEREDIA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
The Andes

The eminent Austrian zoologist Franz Werner described several new species of amphibians and reptiles from America, including Anolis aequatorialis Werner, 1894 and Hylodes appendiculatus Werner, 1894. Both species were described based on single specimens, with no more specific type localities than “Ecuador” (Werner 1894a,b). After its description, A. aequatorialis remained unreported until Peters (1967) and Fitch et al. (1976) published information on its distribution and natural history. Anolis aequatorialis is currently known to inhabit low montane and cloud forest on the western slopes of the Andes from extreme southern Colombia to central Ecuador, between 1300 and 2300 m elevation (Ayala-Varela & Velasco 2010; Ayala-Varela et al. 2014; Lynch et al. 2014; D.F. Cisneros-Heredia pers. obs.). Likewise, Hylodes appendiculatus (now Pristimantis appendiculatus) remained only known from its type description until Lynch (1971) and Miyata (1980) provided certain localities and information on its natural history. Pristimantis appendiculatus is currently known to occur in low montane, cloud, and high montane forests on the western slopes of the Andes from extreme southern Colombia to northern Ecuador between 1460 and 2800 m elevation (Lynch 1971; Miyata 1980; Lynch & Burrowes 1990; Lynch & Duellman 1997; Frost 2016). To this date, the type localities of both species remain obscure. The purpose of this paper is to restrict the type localities of Hylodes appendiculatus Werner, 1894 and Anolis aequatorialis Werner, 1894 based on analyses of the travel journals of their original collector. 

Taxonomic study of the fern genera Abrodictyum C.Presl and Trichomanes L. (Hymenophyllaceae, Polypodiidae) in the western Indian Ocean, and description of a new Abrodictyum species for Madagascar

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 327 (3) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
JEAN-YVES DUBUISSON ◽  
LUCIE BAURET ◽  
AURELIE GRALL ◽  
BRUNO SENTERRE ◽  
AHAMADA H. SAID ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Molecular Phylogeny ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Taxonomic Study ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
Morphological Investigations

Recent studies on both genera Abrodictyum and Trichomanes (Hymenophyllaceae) in western Indian Ocean (Madagascar and neighbouring islands) resolved many taxonomic problems and led to the identification of new species. We propose here to finalize the taxonomic revision of both genera for the region, by completing and combining an expanded rbcL molecular phylogeny with morphological investigations and field observations on all the recognized species. Our results confirm the distinction of the supposedly six species of Abrodictyum and three species of Trichomanes. They also reveal the polyphyly of the highly polymorphic A. meifolium. Additional investigations on A. meifolium suggest the existence of at least two distinct taxa: the true highly variable and widespread A. meifolium which is renamed A. parviflorum comb. nov. and the newly described A. cylindratum sp. nov. restricted to Madagascar. A key and updated descriptions (including new diagnostic characters for A. tamarisciforme) are provided for the seven Abrodictyum and three Trichomanes species present in the western Indian Ocean.

Lectotypification of Psyllocarpus schwackei (Spermacoceae, Rubiaceae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 329 (2) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOÃO A.M. CARMO ◽  
VIVIANE R. SCALON ◽  
MARIA F. CALIÓ ◽  
ANDRÉ O. SIMÕES
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Second World War ◽  
World War ◽  
Negative Number ◽  
Serra Do Cipó ◽  
Botanical Museum ◽  
Minas Gerais State ◽  
Second World

Psyllocarpus schwackei was described by Schumann (1898: 18), for which he cited a single collection, “in Brasiliae civitate Minas Geraes, locis arenosis in Serra do Cipo: Schwacke n, 8089, floret Aprili”. In a taxonomic revision of the genus, Kirkbride (1979) stated that the material studied by Schumann at the Botanical Museum in Berlin had been destroyed during the Second World War (Hiepko 1987), and that he was unable to locate any duplicates of this collection. He consulted a photograph of the specimen available in the Field Museum of Natural History type photograph series, negative number 896. Therefore, based upon the original description of the species, the photograph he analysed, and his experience at the type locality, the Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais state, Kirkbride (1979) selected as neotype the collection “Serra do Cipó, elev. ca. 1125 m, Anderson et al. 36254 (neotype US; isoneotypes NY, UB)”.

scholarly journals Distribution and natural history notes on Tachymenis chilensis chilensis (Schlegel, 1837) (Reptilia: Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Argentina

Check List ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro R. Giraudo ◽  
Félix Vidoz ◽  
Vanesa Arzamendia ◽  
Santiago J. Nenda
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Barrier Effect ◽  
History Data ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Distribution Limit ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Northern Distribution ◽  
First Time ◽  
Latitudinal Range ◽  
Prey Items

We revisit the distribution and natural history data of Tachymenis chilensis chilensis (Schlegel, 1837) in Argentina based on compiled and novel records, extending its northern and southern distribution from the previously known localities in Argentina. We recorded two prey items in Argentinean populations: Rhinella rubropunctata, reported for the first time, and Liolaemus pictus. Tachymenis c. chilensis is mainly found in forested habitats, generally near wetlands with abundant populations of amphibians. The latitudinal range occupied by T. c. chilensis in Argentina is similar to that in Chile, but its northern distribution limit reaches the lowest latitudes in Chile. This is probably due to the higher humidity levels in the western slopes of the Andes and the barrier effect of the highest mountain ranges in this area.

scholarly journals Taxonomic study of the genus Oritrophium (Astereae, Compositae) in Ecuador

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 094
Author(s):  
Itziar Arnelas ◽  
Jorge L. Armijos-Barros ◽  
Joel Calvo
Keyword(s):  
Disjunct Distribution ◽  
Taxonomic Study ◽  
Guiana Shield ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Dichotomous Key

Oritrophium (Kunth) Cuatrec. is a neotropical genus with a disjunct distribution in the Andes (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela), the center of Mexico, and the mountains of the Guiana Shield in Venezuela, with a remarkable diversity in Ecuador. We present a taxonomic study for Ecuador that represents the first modern and exhaustive revision of this genus in this country. We recognize eight species and four subespecies. We provide a dichotomous key, descriptions, synonyms, morphological and nomenclatural notes, distribution maps, and photographs of living plants. Three names are lectotypified and two names are neotypified.

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