A new jawfish of the genus Opistognathus (Perciformes: Opistognathidae) from Japan

A new species of jawfish, Opistognathus ocellicaudatus, is described based on a single specimen collected at 67 m depth in Sagami Bay (near the mouth of Tokyo Bay), Honshu Island, Japan. The new species can be separated from all other Indo-West Pacific jawfish species in having 3 longitudinal dark brown stripes on the body, a large dark whitish-rimmed ocellus on the caudal fin, a small black blotch on the opercular flap, the dorsal fin with 11 spines and 11 soft rays, the anal fin with 2 spines and 11 soft rays, 21 pectoral-fin soft rays, 26 vertebrae, 42 oblique scale rows, and 2 supraneurals. The holotype is a female containing mature eggs, suggesting summer spawning. The type locality was close to the northern distributional limit of Opistognathidae in the Indo-West Pacific. [http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:00DCADDA-BE92-4C33-B7EB-1DA8348BA02A]

Mesoscale-dependent near-inertial internal waves and microscale turbulence in the Tsushima Warm Current

This study examined characteristics of near-inertial internal waves (NIWs) associated with the background mesoscale field near the Tsushima Warm Current. Observational stations off Sado Island were visited recurrently to assess spatiotemporal changes of fine-scale and microscale properties of seawater. Also, NIWs were inspected in terms of relative vorticity and total strain in surface geostrophic motion. During summer expeditions in 2019, current and hydrographic surveys at the rim of an anticyclonic eddy provided clear evidence of downward-travelling NIWs, which were most amplified near the depth of lower pycnocline. The amplification of NIW coincided with elevation in the dissipation rates of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and microscale variation of temperature. The fall 2019 expedition found details of wave and turbulence properties associated with the mesoscale structure of paired vortices, where a cyclone and anticyclone were, respectively, adjacent to the east and west. Amplified signals of NIW-related vertical shear and TKE dissipation were found at isopycnals between the dipole cores. From the theoretical perspective of internal wave, the baroclinic term attributable to vertical shear of geostrophic current was interpreted as inducing downward travel of NIW through the lower pycnoclines between the dipole cores. It is also noted that cyclones, passing through the central part of Sea of Japan, can deliver kinetic energy into 10-km scale internal waves as a consequence of interaction between easterly wind and mountainous topography in the Honshu Island.

“A Thousand Mounds”: Original Sites of Ancient Japan and Korea (Materials for Educational Course “Archaeology of Foreign Asia”)

Purpose. The term kofungun is used in Japan for the mounded tomb groups of the Kofun Period (3rd – 4th centuries), which corresponds to the concept of a burial mound complex. Packed tumuli clusters or senzuka-type burial mound groups are located mainly in the central part of Honshu Island. Similar burial grounds are also known in the South of the Korean Peninsula. This theme is associated with the importance that cultural contacts of island and continental population and their cultural traditions bring to the development of the region as a whole, and Japan and Korea separately. The aim of the research is to study groups of senzuka-type mounded burial groups in Japan and their analogies in Korea. Results. Packed tumuli clusters of Late Kofun are generally located in the center of Honshu Island. Common findings include sue and haji ware, armors and weapons, ornaments. Among the grave goods, a fairly noticeable number of items of Korean origin are found. Some parts of packed tumuli clusters are considered to belong to immigrant clans. Ceramic rice-cookers and Korean-type armors and weapons can often be found in such mounded tombs. Senzuka-type tumuli clusters found on the Korean Peninsula are located in the territory of the ancient Gaya state. The findings include hard ceramic pots, armors and weapons, ornaments, and so on. The Marisan tumuli cluster contains a special type of findings: some mounded tombs were decorated with ceramic figures similar to the Japanese haniwa. Conclusion. The appearance of large sized mounded tombs, surrounded by many small ones in the second half of the Kofun Period, may indicate the emergence of a broad social support of the ruling elite. The presence of items made on the territory of the Japanese islands using Korean technologies among the grave goods allows us to assume the resettlement of artisans from the Korean Peninsula to the Japanese islands. The materials of this research could be useful for students studying archaeology of East Asia.

Life history traits of five ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) species common in Honshu Island, Japan

Ground beetles have been used as bioindicators for monitoring environmental changes. However, to interpret monitoring results, we need further information on their life history traits. We selected Harpalus griseus, H. eous, H. tridens, Synuchus cycloderus and Carabus procerulus, species common in Honshu Island, Japan. We examined their hind wings, flight muscles, gut contents and ovarian eggs to understand their flight activity, feeding traits and reproductive strategies. The three Harpalus species showed wing length / body length ratios (W/B) of 0.88 - 0.99. In H. tridens, the proportion of individuals with flight muscles and caught in aerial traps was lower than in the other two. S. cycloderus was macropterous with a W/B ratio of 0.75, but no individuals were caught in aerial traps, and none possessed flight muscles. C. procerulus was brachypterous. The three Harpalus species fed mainly on seeds and partly on arthropods. S. cycloderus was a generalist predator. Gut contents of C. procerulus consisted of amorphous fluid, suggesting extra-oral digestion. Egg type was categorized by the number and size of ovarian eggs. S. cycloderus had many-small eggs, while the other four had few but large eggs.

Settlement Complexes of the Middle Jōmon in Tohoku: Common Features, Local Specifics and Terms

Over the past decade, the data on the archaeological cultures of the Japanese archipelago, from the Paleolithic to the Kofun period, have been actively introduced into the Russian archaeology. These materials concern various aspects of the subsistence life of local tribal formations. This study discusses features of the internal structure of the Middle Jōmon settlements from the Tohoku region. The article presents the data from archaeological reports of the most significant sites of this period. Some materials about Middle Jōmon sites (such as Sannai Maruyama, Goshono) were previously published in Russian periodicals, however, the overwhelming majority of data have been presented for the first time. The main attention is paid to the description of the site location, the characteristics of pit-dwellings and raised-floor buildings, household and ritual objects, their location relative to each other, with a short mention of the discovered artifacts. The article was based on materials of the author’s PhD dissertation research “The Middle Jōmon period of Honshu island (5–4 thousand years ago): general characteristics and local features” [Ivanova, 2018].

GEBCO GRIDDED BATHYMETRIC DATASETS FOR MAPPING JAPAN TRENCH GEOMORPHOLOGY BY MEANS OF GMT SCRIPTING TOOLSET

The study investigated geomorphology of the Japan Trench located east of Japan, Pacific Ocean. A high-resolution GEBCO Gridded Bathymetric Dataset was used for modeling, mapping and visualization. The study aimed to compare and analyse variations in the geomorphic structures of the two parts of the trench and to visualize variations in the geological, geophysical and bathymetric settings. Technically, the cartographic work was performed using scripting based on the Generic Mapping Toolset (GMT). Modelled cross-sectioning orthogonal profiles transecting the trench in a perpendicular direction were automatically digitized and graphed in the two segments. The results of the bathymetric analysis shown that the southern part is shallower: with deeper values in absolute (139 samples between –7000 to –8000 m) and statistical records (the most frequent values are within –5500 to –5800 m) comparing to the northern segment (–5300 to –5500 m). The geomorphological analysis shows a more complicated relief in the northern part of the trench, which has a higher seismic activity. The southern part has a gentler slope on the Honshu island side. The geoid modeling along the trench ranges in 0–20 mGal. The highest values are recorded by the Honshu Island (>40 mGal). The rest of the area has rather moderate undulations (20–40 mGal). The free-air marine gravity of the Sea of Japan is <40 mGal. The results include 2D and 3D graphical models, thematic cartographic maps, spatial and statistical analysis of the Japan Trench geomorphology. Tested GMT functionality can be applied to future regional bathymetric modeling of the ocean trenches. All presented maps and graphs are made using GMT scripting toolset.

The identity of Psychomyia nipponica Tsuda (Trichoptera: Psychomyiidae), with descriptions of five allied new species from Japan

Psychomyia nipponica Tsuda is a commonly occurring species in Japan, and widely distributed throughout Honshu Island and southwestern Hokkaido Island. The male has very characteristic genitalia that allow its easy separation from other species of the genus. My recent study on the Japanese Psychomyia, however, revealed the presence of several undescribed species closely similar to and possibly confused with P. nipponica. In this paper I redescribe P. nipponica to resolve taxonomic confusion and describe five new species of the genus from Japan: P. pseudonipponica sp. nov., P. curvicacumen sp. nov., P. incisa sp. nov., P. serrata sp. nov. and P. quadridentata sp. nov.

Scleria parvula subsp. tumanganica (Cyperaceae), a new taxon from the Russian Far East

Scleria parvula subsp. tumanganica is described as a new subspecies from the Russian Far East. A description and digital images of the whole plants, nutlets, and inflorescence are here presented. The new subspecies differs from the type subspecies by subrounded disc-lobes, distinctly not separated, margin entire, not reflexed, and rounded shallow sinuses. Also, it is characterized by an isolated geographical range. The disjunction of S. parvula subsp. tumanganica range in Primorsky Krai from the finds of S. parvula in the central parts of Honshu Island, Japan, and North Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea, constitutes of 700–900 km. This new taxon resembles S. rugosa, S. mikawana, S. novae-hollandiae, S. thwaitesiana, and S. tessellata in habit, structure of inflorescence, nutlet size and shape, and disc form and its lobes. A comparative study of these species has been carried out. We uphold the recognized taxa S. parvula and S. tessellata as species, and provide an identification key.

A new species of bristletails of the genus Petrobiellus (Microcoryphia: Machilidae) from Sakhalin

Petrobiellus sachalinensis sp. nov. from the northwest of Sakhalin Island (Russia) is described and illustrated. It is compared with the three other known species of the genus, P. takunagae Silvestri, 1943 from Honshu Island (Japan), P. curvistylis Uchida, 1954 from Hachijo-jima Island (Japan), and P. kusakini Kaplin, 1980 from Simushir Island (Russia). The new species can be distinguished from the congeners by the colour of body and scales, by distribution of pigment, by colour and shape of paired ocelli, and by structure of compound eyes, maxillary palps, legs, urites, and ovipositor.