The wild-type functions of the Wnt family of genes are still little understood (for review see Nusse and Varmus, Cell 69, 1073-1087, 1992). In Drosophila, the wingless (D-Wnt-1) protein is expressed in segmental stripes: its absence leads to a complete failure of segmentation, loss of engrailed expression and lack of pattern in the cuticle. A predominating hypothesis is that the spatial distrib...

Onychophorans, or velvet worms, are poorly known and rare animals. Here we report the discovery of a new species that is also the largest onychophoran found so far, a 22 cm long female from the Caribbean coastal forest of Costa Rica. Specimens were examined with Scanning Electron Microscopy; Peripatus solorzanoi sp. nov., is diagnosed as follows: primary papillae convex and conical with rounded...

Macrobrachium snpurii sp. nov., collected from the Karamana River, in the lower reaches of Western Ghats, is described and illustrated. DNA barcoding using Cytochrome B gene sequences has elucidated the taxonomic status of the new species and the NJ tree reveals that M. snpurii sp. nov., is phylogenetically close to M. idella idella. However, morphometric and meristic features of the species sh...

Introduction: When it comes to pathological calcification one cannot avoid the fact that the extensive calcification in the plaque of the arteries is of special interest since it is considered to be one the most threatening diseases. Purose: The intention of the study is suggest through a review of the importance of denticles in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Materials and methods: The ...

Cycloneuralians form a rich and diverse element within Cambrian assemblages of exceptionally preserved fossils. Most resemble priapulid worms whereas other Cycloneuralia (Nematoda, Nematomorpha, Kinorhyncha, Loricifera), well known at the present day, have little or no fossil record. First reports of Sirilorica Peel, 2010 from the lower Cambrian Sirius Passet fauna of North Greenland described ...

An identification key of the Phlebotomus in Madagascar is proposed as well as the description of the male and female Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) vaomalalae n. sp. from Mikea Forest in the south-west of Madagascar. The assignation of this new species to the genus Phlebotomus is based on the presence of mesanepisternal setae. Its inclusion in the subgenus Anaphlebotomus is based on the males on ...

Tityus gonzalespongai n. sp. is a species endemic to the high mountains of Anzoátegui State, Venezuela. It is found between 1,600 and 2,200 m in “La Laguna” mountain. Its habitat includes the area of “Bosque Húmedo Montano Bajo” with the type of vegetation of “Bosque Ombrófilo Montano Siempreverde” (“Bosques Nublados Costeros” that includes the “Subpáramos Arbustivos”). It is distinguished from...

Novadessus viracochagen. n. and sp. n. is described from Peru. The genus distinctly is characterized by having the following combination: (1) a transverse occipital line absent on the head; (2) the anterior clypeal margin not modified; (3) a pair of basal pronotal striae present; (4) the basal elytral stria absent; (5) the elytral sutural stria absent; (6) the elytron without longitudinal carin...

Identification of relevant taxonomic and evolutionary units is a recurrent issue in the fossil record, all more for ancient fossils devoid modern equivalents such as conodonts. Extensive morphological variation has often led to description numerous species, subspecies or morphotypes, which may correspond end-member morphologies reached through ontogeny. The platform elements Late Devonian conod...