A CAGARRA


Newsletter of the Zoological Society of Cape Verde
Boletim de Sociedade Caboverdiana de Zoologia

Edited by | Editado por Cornelis J. Hazevoet cjhazevoet at gmail.com

No. 10 - JUNE / JUNHO DE 2015




Have you seen, heard or read something of zoological interest? Let us know!

Viu, leu ou ouviu algo com interesse zoológico recentemente? Informe-nos!

    


Bluntnose sixgill sharks Hexanchus griseus landed at Praia


Local fishermen landed two bluntnose sixgill sharks Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788) at Quebra Canela beach, Praia, 31 March 2015. One of the sharks contained seven fully grown embryos and was apparently close to giving birth. The two animals were quickly butchered on the beach and the meat sold. No (part of a) specimen was preserved, but a number of snapshots and a video were made at the landing location. No measurements were taken, but the photos allowed for an estimate of 3 to 3.5 m for one of the animals. Although precise information on the distribution of sharks in Cape Verde waters is well-nigh non-existent and hard to come by, a landing of Hexanchus griseus does not appear to be a common event.
    Bluntnose sixgill shark is widespread in temperate and tropical seas. In the eastern Atlantic it ranges from Norway to Senegal and has also been recorded from Angola and Namibia. Adult females (which average larger than males) can reach a total length of at least 4.82 m and probably 5.5 m. These heavy-bodied and broad-headed sharks are slow but strong swimmers and while adults are passive, even reported docile by divers, young are aggressive when captured. Habitat is described as shelves and slopes of continents, islands, seamounts and mid-ocean ridges, usually at depths of 500-1100 m, to at least 1875 m. Young may occur close inshore and adults in shallow water close to submarine canyons (Compagno et al. 2005). Dossa et al. (2011) listed Hexanchus griseus for the Cape Verde Islands without reference to the source of their information. It was not included by Wirtz et al. (2013), but it is unclear whether this was meant to indicate a genuine absence of records from Cape Verde waters or because it was judged to be not a coastal taxon. CJH
.

References
-- Compagno, L., M. Dando & S. Fowler, 2005. Sharks of the world. Princeton University Press, Princeton & Oxford. 368 pp.
-- Dossa, S.J., M.S. Diop, L. Harrison & N. Dulvy, 2011. Statut et occurrence des espèces de raies et requins identifiées dans les débarquements dans les sept pays de la Commission Sous Régionale des Pêches (CSRP), Afrique de l’Ouest. Poster presented at the Coloque International sur les Requins, Dakar, Sénégal, 25-27 julliet 2011.
-- Wirtz, P., A. Brito, J.M. Falcón, R. Freitas, R. Fricke, V. Monteiro, F. Reiner & O. Tariche, 2013. The coastal fishes of the Cape Verde Islands – new records and an annotated check-list. Spixiana 36: 113-142.


Bluntnose sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus, Quebra Canela beach, Praia, 31 March 2015 (© José Pereira).




The Boa Vista humpback season in 2015

 

BIOS.CV conducted humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae monitoring activities off NW Boa Vista from 17 March to 20 May 2015. Because of adverse weather conditions and/or lack of guests to participate in the whale tours, we only sailed on 47 days, totalling 65 trips. Fieldwork effort was 172 hours of navigation during which we travelled a distance of 1,437 km. A total of 48 humpback sightings were reported, involving approximately 60-70 different individual humpback whales. More than half of these have already been recognized by their ventral fluke pattern and/or dorsal fin as frequent visitors to the waters of Sal Rei Bay, while the rest are awaiting further photo-identification analysis. Preliminary results indicate that at least five different mother/calf pairs were sighted. Some resightings once again confirmed the link between the Cape Verde breeding grounds and northern latitude feeding areas in the central-eastern North Atlantic. Six whales had previously been photographed off Norway, two off Azores, one off both Norway and Azores and one off Iceland. This has probably been the poorest whale season in the last five years in terms of sightings and number of whales, mostly due to strong trade winds and rough seas. Other research teams working in the eastern Caribbean islands have reported similar ‘windy weather’ conditions with few sightings and a low number of whales. We would like to thank Boa Vista Tours, Cabokaitours, Giggling-gecko Adventures, Maximus Sailing Catamaran and Seara Real Lda. for their help and support during the whale season. Research and monitoring activities were conducted under permit Nº7/2005 issued by the National Directorate for the Environment (DGA) of Cape Verde.



New book: Biodiversity of Boa Vista

Under the title Bio Diversidad/Diversité Boa Vista, the ever active ngo BIOS.CV (Association for Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development in Cape Verde) has published an attractive 175 page booklet, lavishly illustrated with high quality colour photos. The main text is in Spanish and French, with summaries in English and Portuguese. There are chapters on marine mammals, birds, sea turtles, marine life, vegetation, cultural heritage and fisheries. Although the book appears to be primarily aimed at promoting environmental awareness among the ever increasing influx of tourists spending holidays on the beaches of Boa Vista, the generous number of colour photos make it an attractive publication for everyone, including the domestic audience in Cape Verde. BIOS.CV is to be congratulated with this initiative.

Séverine Roques, Elena Abella & Pedro López Suárez, 2014. Bio | Diversidad Diversité | Boa Vista. Published by BIOS.CV.
ISBN 978-84-617-1575-6.






ZOOLOGICAL NEWS FROM THE NEWSPAPERS
NOTÍCIAS ZOOLÓGICAS DE JORNAIS

 

Biólogos condenam matança de tubarões em Cabo Verde

 

As imagens de um casal de tubarões tigre, espécie protegida a nível mundial, expostos no passado fim-de-semana no Pontão de Santa Maria chocam especialistas de todo o mundo que condenam a pesca desregrada de tubarões em Cabo Verde. Para muitos especialistas é ainda mais grave que esta matança de tubarões protegidos mundialmente seja objecto de divertimento de turistas. Os visitantes são encorajados pelos pescadores e guias a tirar ao lado dos animais envoltos em sangue como se fossem troféus. “Esta situação foi trazida à minha atenção pelos horrorizados hóspedes de um navio de cruzeiro que eu conheci naquela noite. Os turistas só copiaram aquilo que vem sendo feito”. “Eles são encorajados a isso. Isto não é nem perto do mais grave que eu já vi o que é trágico”, assevera Jacquie Cozens, presidente da ONG, SOSTartarugas. “Isso acontece o tempo todo, e às vezes há muito pior, como tubarões grávidas serem mortos e os filhotes retirados do útero para os turistas para verem” acrescenta Cozens.
    “São tubarões tigre, uma espécie protegida a nível internacional, com uma reprodução muito lenta e por isso mesmo estão em grande declínio”, avança Tommy Melo, o Presidente da ONG nacional, Biosfera I. Melo pede o engajamento de biólogos a nível mundial para em conjunto condenar este acto criminoso em Cabo Verde. Há alguns meses atrás, o director-geral das Pescas, Juvino Vieira prometia um Plano de Conservação e Gestão do Tubarão. Em declarações à Inforpress, este responsável dizia em Agosto do ano passado que o objectivo desse plano será evitar o estado de “sobre-exploração” do tubarão em Cabo Verde. Segundo Juvino Vieira, no caso do tubarão, mesmo existindo espécies que possam ser pescados, é preciso ter em conta que existem outras que estão em vias de extinção e que por isso devem ser protegidas. A falta de fiscalização por parte das entidades competentes é vista como a principal causa deste problema.

Ocean Press, 7 de Abril 2015


Tourists and their local guide entertain themselves with globally endangered tiger sharks Galeocerdo cuvier at
Santa Maria, Sal (© Eldon Monteiro).


Sal – Sete das 23 baleias que deram à costa na Murdeira foram salvas

 

Apenas sete das vinte e três baleias que deram à costa nesta manhã de quinta-feira em Murdeira, ilha do Sal puderam ser salvas. Ambientalistas e biólogos contaram com o apoio de pescadores, embarcações e população local na operação de salvamento. Em entrevista ao Ocean Press, a partir da praia de Jorge Fonseca, na Murdeira, o responsável do Gabinete de Áreas Protegidas da Ilha do Sal disse que ainda são desconhecidas as causas do desnorteio de um grupo de Baleias Piloto nas praias de Jorge Fonseca e Calheta Funda, do Sal.
        As autoridades estão ainda a apurar os factos, no entanto, a nossa fonte explica que entre as causas prováveis que podem ter levado as baleias a desnortear-se podem estar a desorientação, doença entre outras. Euclides Gonçalves, responsável do ambiente da Câmara Municipal do Sal adiantou à nossa equipa no local que os mamíferos poderiam estar a seguir um líder pelo que o trabalho dos especialistas passou pela tentativa de o localizar para que este pudesse ser seguido pelo grupo de mais de duas dezenas de mamíferos, de volta para o mar aberto. Edélcio Gomes, membro da proteção civil da ilha do Sal lamenta que das 23 baleias-piloto que deram à costa, apenas sete sobreviveram. Estas foram devolvidas com sucesso. Quanto às que não foi possível salvar o procedimento agora é enterrá-las de forma a que não constituam perigo ambiental e também para evitar que algumas pessoas queiram consumir a sua carne. As Forças Armadas também colocaram vários militares no local que trabalharam incessantemente ao lado de civis e ambientalistas durante várias horas na operação de salvamento das baleias. Apesar de ser um fenómeno que ocorre com alguma frequência um pouco por todo o arquipélago nesta altura do ano, os especialistas afirmam que é a primeira vez que morrem tantos mamíferos nas praias da ilha do Sal.

Ocean Press, 1 de Maio 2015. See also TCV Jornal de Noite de 30 de Abril 2015.


Short-finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus, Murdeira, Sal Island, 30 April 2015 (© Ocean Press).



Capital de Cabo Verde sob vigilância apertada por causa da dengue

 

A capital de Cabo Verde está sob "vigilância apertada" de dengue, devido ao aumento de casos da doença no Brasil e ao aproximar da época das chuvas no arquipélago. A informação foi avançada pelo Delegado de Saúde. "Vamos entrar na época das chuvas e os mosquitos vão aumentando de intensidade. Por agora, estamos reforçar a vigilância", disse Domingos Teixeira, lembrando que Cabo Verde foi afetado, em 2009, por uma epidemia que, segundo dados oficiais, registou 20 mil casos e seis óbitos. As orientações vão no sentido de se reforçar as acções contra a proliferação dos mosquitos transmissores e manter uma vigilância nos casos suspeitos para um diagnóstico rápido, seguido de tratamento. Igualmente vai ser reforçada a vigilância nos pontos de entrada no país, sobretudo nos aeroportos e portos, para evitar que casos de outras paragens, sobretudo do Brasil onde se registaram já dezenas de milhares de casos, cheguem ao arquipélago. Teixeira lembra que existem ligações aéreas diretas entre algumas capitais do Brasil e a Cidade da Praia. O delegado de Saúde adianta que, nesse sentido, estão em curso preparativos para o lançamento de campanhas em todo o país, com particular destaque na cidade da Praia, a maior região sanitária do país. Em 2009, a epidemia que afetou o arquipélago causou mais de 20 mil casos suspeitos e seis óbitos por complicações da febre hemorrágica. Fados do Ministério da Saúde indicam que 78% dos casos da dengue então registados aconteceram na ilha de Santiago, a maior parte na Cidade da Praia, o principal centro urbano do arquipélago. Além da dengue, acrescentou Teixeira, há a preocupação com doenças próprias da época quente, como as do foro diarreicas e surtos de gripe, que costumam aumentar antes do início da época das chuvas, em que as temperaturas sobem e a humidade é elevada.

A Semana, 24 de Maio 2015



Recent publications on Cape Verde zoology
Publicações recentes sobre zoologia Caboverdiana


Recent publications on Cape Verde zoology are listed and an abstract – if available – is given. Should you know of any omissions in this (or previous) listing(s), please let us know. We appreciate receiving copies of your latest publications for inclusion in future editions. Please contact cjhazevoet at gmail.com or rui.freitas at docente.unicv.edu.cv


Community-based conservation: the key to protection of marine turtles on Maio Island, Cape Verde. Amanda Dutra & Franziska Koenen, 2014. Oryx 48 (3): 325;
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0030605314000209

No abstract, but the complete (half a page) text can be read using the doi link above.


New and rare records of teleost fishes from the Cape Verde Islands (eastern-central Atlantic Ocean). José A. González, Albertino Martins, José I. Santana, Raúl Triay-Portella, Carlos Monteiro, Verónica García-Martín, Sebastián Jiménez, Gustavo González-Lorenzo, José G. Pajuelo, José M. Lorenzo & Manuel Biscoito, 2014. Cybium 38 (4): 289-300.

ABSTRACT  As a result of six exploratory surveys and several opportunistic catches in the Cape Verde Islands from a few metres to about 1000 m of depth, a list of 66 species of teleost fishes is given, six of which are first records from the archipelago: Gnathophis mystax (Congridae), Nezumia africana, Nezumia duodecim (Macrouridae), Ectreposebastes imus (Scorpaenidae), Paraliparis sp. (Liparidae) and Lappanella fasciata (Labridae). Additionally, data on six poorly-known species is also given: Myroconger compressus (Myrocongridae), Myrichthys pardalis, Phaenomonas longissima (Ophichthidae), Sphagemacrurus hirundo (Macrouridae), Gadella imberbis and Physiculus cyanostrophus (Moridae). Data includes distribution, habitat, morphometry and reproduction.


Structure and zonation of demersal and deepwater fish assemblages off the Cape Verde archipelago (northeast-Atlantic) as sampled by baited longlines. Gui M. Menezes, Oksana Tariche, Mario R. Pinho, Michael F. Sigler & Helder M. Silva, 2015. Deep-Sea Research Part 1;
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.04.013

ABSTRACT  The assemblages of the demersal and deep-water fish assemblages of the Cape Verde archipelago are described for the first time from a total of 20 longline hauls that extends from coastline to 1200 m water depth. A total of 97 species from 49 different families were caught, and despite the changes of biogeographic affinities with depth, the majority of the species are from a Subtropical and Tropical origin or have a broad geographic distribution (Wide and Amphi-Atlantic distributions) with limited affinities with the Macaronesian islands and the Mediterranean. Depth distribution profiles show a clear turnover of species with depth and an increase in the depth distribution range of the deeper living species. Furthermore, the indices of species abundance, biomass and the number of species caught, significantly decreased with increasing depth. Four main fish assemblages in a depth-aligned structure are proposed in the present work. A shelf assemblage mainly distributed above the 150 m depth strata, a shelf-break/upper-slope assemblage mainly between the 150–350 m depth strata, a deep/upper-slope assemblage between the 300-600 m depth strata, and a mid-deep/mid-slope assemblage mainly distributed below the 600 m. Species abundances and diversity found below 200 m is relatively low compared with shallow waters. The observed depth zonation of the slope assemblages, roughly agrees with the expected occurrence or influence of different water masses: shelf and surface mixing and seasonal thermocline depth zone, the depth range of occurrence of the intermediate waters (North Atlantic Central Water - NACW), the South Atlantic Central Water - SACW) and Atlantic Equatorial Water -AEW), a mixing or overlapping zone of previous intermediate water masses with the Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) and the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW), and a deeper zone where the AAIW predominate.


New species of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) from Cape Verde. Tomáš Soldáni & Jindřiška Bojková, 2015. Zootaxa 3926 (4): 561-575; http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3926.4.6

ABSTRACT  To date, no mayflies have been described from Cape Verde, an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Based on the material collected on two islands, Santo Antão and Santiago, two species of the genus Cloeon Leach, 1815 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) are described based on larvae and imagines. Cloeon morna sp. n., collected in Santo Antão, and C. sidadi sp. n., collected in Santiago, have 3-segmented maxillary palps and tapered labial palps of larvae. The new species can be distinguished from each other and from other West-African species of the genus mainly according to details of the lateral spines on larval abdominal segments and characteristic colourations of vitta and terga in female imagines and colours of male turbinate eyes. Affinities to the West African species of the genus are discussed.


Larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti of Foeniculum vulgare essential oils from Portugal and Cape Verde. D.K. Rocha, O. Matosc, M.T. Novoa, A.C. Figueiredo, M. Delgado & C. Monteiro, 2015. Natural Product Communications 10 (4): 677-682.

ABSTRACT  Dengue is a potentially fatal mosquito-borne infection with 50 million cases per year and 2.5 billion people vulnerable to the disease. This major public health problem has recurrent epidemics in Latin America and occurred recently in Cape Verde and Madeira Island. The lack of anti-viral treatment or vaccine makes the control of mosquito vectors a high option to prevent virus transmission. Essential oil (EO) constituents can affect insect's behaviour, being potentially effective in pest control. The present study evaluated the potential use of Foenicultm vulgare (fennel) EO in the control of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. EOs isolated from fennel aerial parts collected in Cape Verde and from a commercial fennel EO of Portugal were analysed by NMR, GC and GC-MS. trans-Anethole (32 and 30%, respectively), limonene (28 and 18%, respectively) and fenchone (10% in both cases) were the main compounds identified in the EOs isolated from fennel from Cape Verde and Portugal, respectively. The larvicidal activity of the EOs and its major constituents were evaluated, using WHO procedures, against third instar larvae of Ae. aegypti for 24 h. Pure compounds, such as limonene isomers, were also assayed. The lethal concentrations LC50, C90 and LC99 were determined by probit analysis using mortality rates of bioassays. A 99% mortality of Ae. aegypti larvae was estimated at 37.1 and 52.4 µL L-1 of fennel EOs from Cape Verde and Portugal, respectively. Bioassays showed that fennel EOs from both countries displayed strong larvicidal effect against Ae. aegypti, the Cape Verde EO being as active as one of its major constituents, (-)-limonene.


Patterns and intensity of ghost crab predation on the nests of an important endangered loggerhead population. Adolfo Marco, Jesemine da Graça, Rosa García-Cerdá, Elena Abella & Rui Freitas, 2015. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 468: 74-82; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2015.03.010
 
ABSTRACT  Predation is one of the most important threats to early life stages of most of endangered vertebrates. In small oceanic islands that host very important rookeries of endangered sea turtle populations, ghost crabs are the main nest predators and can cause significant egg mortality. This ecological interaction has been evaluated in the island of Boa Vista (Cabo Verde) which hosts around 75% of nesting of one of the world’s most endangered loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta populations. In an extensive survey around the island, egg mortality significantly varied among beaches and average 70%. One of the main causes of egg mortality was predation by ghost crabs Ocypode cursor that stole an average of 33 eggs per nest (0-100%). No other relevant egg predator was observed during the study. In an intensive field experiment where crab predation was totally excluded on control nests, ghost crabs predated an average of 50% of the eggs, while egg mortality of non-protected nests was 80%. Though immediately after egg laying, female tracks on the beach are very conspicuous, very few nests were predated at this period. However, most nests were predated at the end of incubation (after day 40), when female tracks are not visible on the beach. Nests predated by larger crabs suffered lower predation rate, suggesting the defense of predated nests by the large dominant crabs. The on-beach relocation of nests had no significant influence on reducing egg predation. Females preferred nesting beaches with higher hatching success though were not able to assess predation risk.


Phylogeography of a marine insular endemic in the Atlantic Macaronesia: The Azorean barnacle, Megabalanus azoricus (Pilsbry, 1916). Javier Quinteiro, Pablo Manent, Lois Pérez-Diéguez, José A. González, Corrine Almeida, Evandro Lopes, Ricardo Araújo, Gilberto P. Carreira, Manuel Rey-Méndez & Nieves González-Henríquez, 2015. PLoS ONE 10(4): e0124707 (23 pp.); http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124707

ABSTRACT  The Azorean barnacle, Megabalanus azoricus (Pilsbry, 1916), is a Macaronesian endemic whose obscure taxonomy and the unknown relationships among forms inhabiting isolated
Northern Atlantic oceanic islands is investigated by means of molecular analysis herein. Mitochondrial data from the 16S rRNA and COX1 genes support its current species status, tropical ancestry, and the taxonomic homogeneity throughout its distribution range. In contrast, at the intraspecific level and based on control region sequences, we detected an overall low level of genetic diversity and three divergent lineages. The haplogroups α and γ were sampled in the Azores, Madeira, Canary, and Cabo Verde archipelagos; whereas haplogroup β was absent from Cabo Verde. Consequently, population analysis suggested a differentiation of the Cabo Verde population with respect to the genetically homogenous northern archipelagos generated by current oceanographic barriers. Furthermore, haplogroup α, β, and γ demographic expansions occurred during the interglacial periods MIS5 (130 Kya - thousands years ago -), MIS3 (60 Kya), and MIS7 (240 Kya), respectively. The evolutionary origin of these lineages is related to its survival in the stable southern refugia and its demographic expansion dynamics are associated with the glacial-interglacial cycles. This phylogeographic pattern suggests the occurrence of genetic discontinuity informative to the delimitation of an informally defined biogeographic entity, Macaronesia, and its generation by processes that delineate genetic diversity of marine taxa in this area.


Evolution at a different pace: distinctive phylogenetic patterns of cone snails from two ancient oceanic archipelagos. Regina L. Cunha, Fernando P. Lima, Manuel J. Tenorio, Ana A. Ramos, Rita Castilho & Suzanne T. Williams, 2014. Systematic Biology 63 (6): 971-987; http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syu059

ABSTRACT  Ancient oceanic archipelagos of similar geological age are expected to accrue comparable numbers of endemic lineages with identical life history strategies, especially if the islands exhibit analogous habitats. We tested this hypothesis using marine snails of the genus Conus from the Atlantic archipelagos of Cape Verde and Canary Islands. Together with Azores and Madeira, these archipelagos comprise the Macaronesia biogeographic region and differ remarkably in the diversity of this group. More than 50 endemic Conus species have been described from Cape Verde, whereas prior to this study, only two non-endemic species, including a putative species complex, were thought to occur in the Canary Islands. We combined molecular phylogenetic data and geometric morphometrics with bathymetric and paleoclimatic reconstructions to understand the contrasting diversification patterns found in these regions. Our results suggest that species diversity is even lower than previously thought in the Canary Islands, with the putative species complex corresponding to a single species, Conus guanche. One explanation for the enormous disparity in Conus diversity is that the amount of available habitat may differ, or may have differed in the past due to eustatic (global) sea level changes. Historical bathymetric data, however, indicated that sea level fluctuations since the Miocene have had a similar impact on the available habitat area in both Cape Verde and Canary archipelagos and therefore do not explain this disparity.We suggest that recurrent gene flow between the Canary Islands and West Africa, habitat losses due to intense volcanic activity in combination with unsuccessful colonization of new Conus species from more diverse regions, were all determinant in shaping diversity patterns within the Canarian archipelago. Worldwide Conus species diversity follows the well-established pattern of latitudinal increase of species richness from the poles towards the tropics. However, the eastern Atlantic revealed a striking pattern with two main peaks of Conus species richness in the subtropical area and decreasing diversities toward the tropical western African coast. A Random Forests model using 12 oceanographic variables suggested that sea surface temperature is the main determinant of Conus diversity either at continental scales (eastern Atlantic coast) or in a broader context (worldwide). Other factors such as availability of suitable habitat and reduced salinity due to the influx of large rivers in the tropical area also play an important role in shaping Conus diversity patterns in the western coast of Africa.


Recent findings from the islands of Maio and Boa Vista in the Cape Verde Archipelago, West Africa: description of three new Africonus species (Gastropoda: Conidae). Carlos M.L. Afonso & Manuel J. Tenorio, 2014. Xenophora Taxonomy 3: 47-57.

ABSTRACT  Three new species endemic to the Cape Verde Archipelago are described: Africonus santanaensis sp. nov. and Africonus gonsaloi sp. nov. from Maio Island, and Africonus condei sp. nov. from Boa Vista Island. A. santanaensis sp. nov. inhabits the northwest coast of Maio Island, and is compared with the taxa A. longilineus, A. grahami, A. infinitus and A. cf. claudiae. A. gonsaloi sp. nov. lives on the east coast of Maio Island, and is compared with A. raulsilvai, A. infinitus, A. damottai galeao and A. roeckeli. The new species A. condei sp. nov. has been found in the north coast of Boa Vista Island in Derrubado. It is compared with A. evorai and A. crotchii. Details on radula, living animal and morphometric analysis of the shells are provided.


Designation of a neotype of Africonus maioensis (Trovão, Rolán & Félix-Alves, 1990). António Monteiro, Carlos M.L. Afonso & Gonçalo D. Rosa, 2014. Xenophora Taxonomy 4: 29.

COMPLETE (SLIGHTLY EDITED) TEXT  Africonus maioensis (Trovão, Rolán & Félix-Alves, 1990) was described in Publicações Ocasionais da Sociedade Portuguesa de Malacologia 15: 69-78, where it is stated that the holotype is deposited in the Museu Bocage (currently Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência), Lisbon, Portugal, under the register number 15459. However, the holotype cannot be found in the museum’s collections and the museum does in fact not possess a single specimen of A. maioensis. Moreover, the register number 15459 actually corresponds to a specimen of wolf (Mammalia, Canidae). Hence, we conclude that the holotype has been lost. As neotype for A. maioensis, we designate paratype 24 (size: 24.5 mm), previously in the collection of the Instituto Português de Malacologia, Zoomarine, Albufeira, Portugal. The neotype is deposited in the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid, Spain.


THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS  - PURPORTEDLY DESCRIBING ALTOGETHER 24 NEW TAXA OF CONE SNAILS CONIDAE - ARE INCLUDED HERE FOR THE SAKE OF COMPLETENESS ONLY. ALL ARE IN NEED OF CRITICAL EVALUATION AS TO THE VALIDITY OF THE TAXA PROPOSED.

Dieci nuovi coni da Capo Verde. Tiziano Cossignani, 2014. Malacologia Mostra Mondiale 82: 18-29. RIASSUNTO  Vengono esaminati alcuni lotti di coni provenienti da varie parti dellʼArcipelago di Capo Verde e vengono individuate 10 nuove entità specifiche e diverse dalle congeneri descritte e note.

Quattro nuovi coni da Capo Verde. Tiziano Cossignani & Ramiro Fiadeiro, 2014. Malacologia Mostra Mondiale 83: 14-19. RIASSUNTO Vengono esaminati alcuni lotti di coni provenienti dalle isole di Maio e Boa Vista dellʼArcipelago di Capo Verde e vengono individuate 4 nuove entità specifiche e diverse dalle congeneri descritte e note.

Cinque nuovi coni da Capo Verde. Tiziano Cossignani & Ramiro Fiadeiro, 2014. Malacologia Mostra Mondiale 83: 21-27. RIASSUNTO Vengono esaminati nuovi lotti di coni provenienti dalle isole dellʼArcipelago di Capo Verde e vengono individuati 5 nuovi coni attribuiti al genere Africonus Petuch, 1975 e vengono confrontati con gli appartenenti alle specie morfologicamente simili e già noti alla comunità scientifica in quanto descritti.

Tre nuovi coni da Capo Verde. Tiziano Cossignani & Ramiro Fiadeiro, 2015. Malacologia Mostra Mondiale 86: 17-21. RIASSUNTO Vengono esaminati nuovi lotti di coni provenienti dalle isole dellʼArcipelago di Capo Verde e vengono individuati 3 nuovi coni attribuiti al genere Africonus Petuch, 1975 e vengono confrontati con gli appartenenti alle specie morfologicamente simili e già noti alla comunità scientifica in quanto descritti.

Due nuovi coni da Capo Verde. Tiziano Cossignani & Ramiro Fiadeiro, 2015. Malacologia Mostra Mondiale 87: 3-5. RIASSUNTO  Vengono esaminati nuovi lotti di coni provenienti dalle isole dellʼArcipelago di Capo Verde e vengono individuati altri 2 nuovi coni attribuiti al genere Africonus Petuch, 1975 1975 e vengono confrontati con gli appartenenti alle specie morfologicamente simili e già noti alla comunità scientifica in quanto descritti.






Death's-head Hawk moth Acherontia atropos, Boa Vista, 16 April 2013 (© Mike King)
Hexanchus griseus
, Praia, 31 March 2015 (© José Pereira)