Prince Albert II centipede (Endogeophilus alberti), a new species in the extremely rare genus

NEWS - Geophilid centipede, Prince Albert II centipede (Endogeophilus alberti), was described based on a single specimen collected from Provence, southern France, which is similar to E. ichnusae Bonato, Zapparoli, Drago & Minelli, 2016, and is known by only three specimens from southwestern Sardinia as the only species in the genus Endogeophilus.

Both species have a very narrow body, very short setae, numerous outer legs and are relatively stout. All these traits are rare among geophilids and suggest an endogeic lifestyle. The two species differ in the shape of the pretarsi of the second maxilla and the shape of the forcipules, although specimens are very few and it is difficult to distinguish between species from intraspecific variation.

Provence is one of the most surveyed areas in Europe for centipedes, but some sectors are still poorly studied. The new species was discovered in southern Provence, about 2 km from the coast, while the known range of E. ichnusae is limited to southwestern Sardinia. The two areas are more than 450 km apart and separated by a wide sea channel.

E. alberti is only known from the type site and a single specimen collected in the shaded maquis by Arbutus unedo L., 1753 and several large Quercus suber L., 1753. It was found after sieving with a Winkler tool at a depth of 10-20 cm in the soil. The species is dedicated to Prince Albert II de Monaco whose foundation has supported the fieldwork of this research.

E. alberti is found in the marginal area (“zone d’adhésion”) of the Port-Cros National Park which was poorly studied before 2022, except for coastal habitats. It appears that E. alberti has a narrow distribution, probably restricted to the Maures mountains and its surroundings, which means that detections are very low compared to most other centipedes.

This renowned biodiversity hotspot in Europe is seriously threatened by demographic pressures and various human impacts, in particular the habitats in the southern Maures have been disturbed by urbanization, artificialization and forest fires. This impact also concerns several species of centipedes (Chilopoda) which are already considered endangered.

Original research

Iorio É, Bonato L (2024). A new species of the rare genus Endogeophilus from southern France, with a key to the European genera of Geophilidae s.l. (Chilopoda). ZooKeys 1213: 199-224, DOI:10.3897/zookeys.1213.133171

Dlium theDlium

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Purhepecha oak (Quercus purhepecha), new species of shrub oak endemic to the state of Michoacán, Mexico

NEWS - In Mexico, several Quercus shrubby species are taxonomically very problematic including 8 taxa with similar characteristics. Now researchers report the purhepecha oak ( Quercus purhepecha De Luna-Bonilla, S. Valencia & Coombes sp. nov.) as a new tomentose shrubby white oak species with a distribution only in the Cuitzeo basin in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). Quercus Linnaeus (1753) subdivided into 2 subgenera and 8 sections of which section Quercus (white oaks) has the widest distribution in the Americas, Asia and Europe. This section is very diverse in Mexico and Central America with phylogenomic evidence indicating recent and accelerated speciation in these regions. The number of shrubby oak species in Mexico is still uncertain. De Luna-Bonilla of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and colleagues found at least 3 taxa in the TMVB, specifically Quercus frutex Trelease (1924), Quercus microphylla Née (1801) and Quercus repanda Bonpland (1809). In 2016,...

Cempaki (Termitomyces microcarpus)

Cempaki ( Termitomyces microcarpus ) is a species of fungus in the Lyophyllaceae family. It grows wild in tropical Asian forests near termite nests. It is rarely reported in urban areas. It is edible and known for its deliciousness, high nutritional value, and difficulty in cultivating. In Indonesia, it is used as an alternative food ingredient. T. microcarpus is the smallest of the Termitomyces species, umbrella-shaped, plain white, measuring 5 cm tall and 2.5 cm wide. It grows in dense clusters on surfaces and forms a mutualistic relationship, requiring the metabolic activity of termites as a substrate for growth. This species is known for its deliciousness, rich in nutrients, and has potential bioactive properties, such as helping lower cholesterol and acting as a tonic. Currently, it is difficult to cultivate on a large scale, and people rely solely on wild harvests. This mushroom is highly favored for its savory, delicious flavor and soft, chewy texture. It is often stir-fried ...

Dlium