ALBERT

Description: The nervous system in the tentacles of the sea anemones Tealia felina, Anemonia sulcata, Metridium senile and Cerianthus membranaceus was studied using light microscopic and electron microscopic techniques. \nBecause of the small dimensions of the nerve cells (6\xe2\x80\x947 \xc2\xb5m) and of the neurites (diameter 〈 1 \xc2\xb5m) satisfactory information could not be obtained using conventional histological techniques. \nElectron microscopic investigation showed that the nervous system can be divided into three parts: the plexus round the mesogloea, a nervous system between the muscles (obviously connected with the plexus) and sensory cells in the outer layer of the tentacle connected to the plexus by nerve fibres. The latter nerve cells with their fibres are arranged radially in the tentacle ectodermis. These are the only sensory cells discovered in the tentacles of the sea anemones. \nIn these radial neurites and in a number of neurites in the plexus, dense core granules are found. In the nervous system between the muscles and in a number of neurites in the plexus, opaque granules are found. Neurites containing dense core as well as opaque granules were never observed. Only in the radial neurites and in the plexus a yellow F(ormol) I(nduced) F(luorescence) was observed. Analysis of the emission spectrum showed that the F.I.F. had developed from a catecholamine (most probably noradrenalin). Therefore the dense core granules contain a catecholamine. \nOn the basis of morphological similarity, the neurites containing opaque granules may be identified as purinergic as proposed by Burnstock (1972), since the innervation of the muscles in the sea anemones very much resembles the innervation of smooth muscles in vertebrates. \nSynapses as described by a.o. Westfall (1973a) could not be demonstrated. However, desmosome-like structures were found between the epithelial cells and between the muscles, so that a non-neural conduction (c.q. myoepithelial conduction) is probable. This myoepithelial conduction may explain the presence of a \xe2\x80\x9csecond nervous system\xe2\x80\x9d postulated by Bullock & Horridge (1965) which is supposed to be a slowconductive system. A morphological indication for a \xe2\x80\x9csecond nervous system\xe2\x80\x9d has never been found. \nThe two transmitter substances mentioned (no indication was found for the presence of GABA and acetylcholine), i.e. a catecholamine, most probably noradrenalin, and a purine derivate, both have an excitatory function. The possible role of glutamate as an inhibitor has been discussed. Glutamate acts as a possible inhibitor, since it is released from contracting muscles and inhibits the contraction via an unknown mechanism. \nHydra was investigated and the findings were discussed in relation to the existing literature. Only the existence of synapses was discrepant, since these structures could not be demonstrated. \nRegarding the possible transmitters a catecholamine could be demonstrated with the F.I.F. method. A purinergic muscle innervation is possible in view of our experience with sea anemones.

Description: The study of some newly collected material from the West Indies may justify a fourth paper on Caribbean Tenebrionidae in these \xe2\x80\x9cStudies\xe2\x80\x9d. Thanks to dr. P. WAGENAAR HUMMELINCK\xe2\x80\x99S collecting work, the Tenebrionid fauna of the Antilles and the adjacent South American mainland shores may be considered to be pretty well known \xe2\x80\x94 at least as far as the Melasomes are concerned. Thus zoogeographical conclusions \xe2\x80\x94 though not differing essentially from those published in 1962 \xe2\x80\x94 appear to have a rather solid basis. Unfortunately much less is known about planticolous Tenebrionids, which anyhow are relatively less interesting for zoogeographical purposes, than the geophilous ones.\nWe also had the privilege of consulting the collections of the I.N.R.A. at Guadeloupe (see MARCUZZI & D\xe2\x80\x99AGUILAR 1971) which considerably increased our knowledge of the Tenebrionid fauna of that and neighbouring islands. Several specimens on hand at the Institute of Marine Biology, Mayag\xc3\xbcez, proved extremely useful for obtaining a better knowledge of the Tenebrionid fauna of the old, sedimentary island of Puerto Rico. In a few single cases material from other sources (British Museum, Museum G. Frey and the private collection of the author) has been used.

Description: In many studies on mammalian distribution, vegetation is considered in particular as a source of food and its importance in terms of habitat has been neglected. The type of vegetation cover is a limiting factor only in the choice of ecological niches but does not in general affect the overall distribution. On the contrary, the density of mammals is in many cases associated with the morphology of the plant cover, especially in the case of granivores (rodents), less for insectivores and small carnivores. In the paper several examples are given concerning mammals of Europe and North Africa and the importance of vegetation morphology for nests, cover and landmarks, as well as exceptions and adaptations, especially on islands.

Description: In the second half of the 19th century, the rhinoceros occurred throughout Borneo except southern Sarawak, northwestern Kalimantan and some parts of southern Kalimantan. The animal was extinct in the coastal and other populated areas in about 1930, especially in the southern part of Kalimantan. Presently some small populations remain, scattered over the Sarawak interior (if the rhinoceros survives at all there), northeastern Sabah, possibly also southern Sabah and around Mt. Kinabalu, and the interior of Central and East Kalimantan. It is estimated that some 15 to 25 rhinos are still alive in Borneo.

Description: Macquarie Island (54\xc2\xb037\'S 158\xc2\xb054\'E) has been investigated for the occurrence of freshwater macroturbellarians. Twenty sites were examined but only one species, here ascribed to the genus Minona sensu lato of the Monocelididae, was found and it is described as Minona amnica sp. nov. Its closest taxonomic relationships seem to be with M. istanbulensis Ax from the Black Sea, and M. mica Marcus from Brasil. The new species is unusual in that it occurs throughout the fresh waters of the island even though it is a member of a predominantly marine group. Minona amnica occurs from windswept plateau lakes down to brackish water near the sea and data concerning the distribution and relative abundance of the species in various habitats are presented and discussed.

Description: Unter Anemonenfischen verstehen wir haupts\xc3\xa4chlich Arten der indopazifischen Gattung Amphiprion (Riffbarsche, Pomacentridae), die in Seeanemonen leben. Mariscal (1966) und neuerdings Allen (1975) haben die vielen Untersuchungen dieser Beziehung zusammengefasst. Aus der Literatur sind andere Anemonenfische kaum bekanntes handelt sich um einen Gobiiden aus dem Mittelmeer (Abel, I960) und ungef\xc3\xa4hr 14 Arten aus dem gleichen Lebensraum wie Amphiprion, darunter Pomacentriden (Stevenson, 1963), Cirrhitiden (Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1964), Labriden, Blenniiden, Apogoniden, Anthiiden (Graefe, 1964). Bei all diesen Arten ist der Kontakt der Fische mit den Tentakeln der Anemone bei weitem nicht so deutlich ausgepr\xc3\xa4gt wie bei Amphiprion. Es scheint, dass die sch\xc3\xbctzende N\xc3\xa4he der Tentakeln zwar aufgesucht, direkter Kontakt aber meistens gemieden wird.\nNeuerdings werden Anemonenfische auch in der Karibischen See gefunden (siehe Karte). Smith (1973) beschreibt einen Cliniden von Panama. Hannau & Mock (1974) illustrieren eine zweite Clinidenart von den Bahamas. Colin & Heiser (1973) beschreiben zwei Apogoniden von Jamaica und Cura\xc3\xa7ao. Hanion & Kaufman (1976) f\xc3\xbcgen aus den Bahamas, von Jamaica und Honduras sechs weitere Arten hinzu: drei Cliniden, einen Gobiiden, einen Labriden und einen Pomadasyiden. Der vorliegende Bericht beschreibt 31 Anemonenfischarten aus 12 Familien von Cura\xc3\xa7ao, drei Viertel davon neu in dieser Hinsicht. Der Kontakt mit Anemonententakeln st\xc3\xb6rt all diese Fische nicht. Sie scheinen den Kontakt z.T. aufzusuchen. Ob die Vergesellschaftung eine Symbiose ist, ist noch nicht deutlich; sicher ist die Vergesellschaftung nicht so auff\xc3\xa4llig wie bei Amphiprion.

Description: As a working hypothesis it is supposed that in the teleost Brachydanio rerio, the muscle contractions, the growth, and probably some other factors, cause the first changes in the shape of the somites. Furthermore, the movements of the embryo could yield the forces by which the somites are brought to their theoretically optimal shape.\nIn order to test this hypothesis, we investigated the somite shape and structure of spontaneously immobile embryos. Although the results are difficult to interpret, they certainly do not contradict the hypothesis.\nFor further analysis we applied two kinds of lesions in order to immobilize early embryos: removal of the brain, and damage to the midbody somites. The results of these experiments indicate that both the development of the shape of the somite and the arrangement of the muscle fibres are dependent on movements of the embryo.

Description: INTRODUCTION\nAt the request of Dr. Dennis M. Devaney, Invertebrate Zoologist, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, I investigated a number of Polynesian soft corals kept in the Museum mentioned.\nAt the same time Professor Paul J. Scheuer, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Chemistry, Honolulu, Hawaii, asked me to identify some octocorals from Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Is.) and from Ponape Island (Carolines).\nThese collections include several well-known species which are not described in the present paper. I only mention their names with the localities added in parentheses: Cladiella pachyclados (Klunzinger, 1877) (American Samoa); Lobophytum borbonicum (Von Marenzeller, 1886) (Enewetak); Lobophytum pauciflorum (Ehrenberg, 1834) (Enewetak, Wake I., Kingman Reef, Cook Is.); Lobophytum schoedei Moser, 1919 (Wake I.); Sarcophyton acutangulum (Von Marenzeller, 1886) (American Samoa, Cook Is.); Sarcophyton crassocaule Moser, 1919 (Christmas I.); Sarcophyton ehrenbergi Von Marenzeller, 1886 (Fiji Is.); Sarcophyton glaucum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) (American Samoa, Enewetak); Sarcophyton trocheliophorum Von Marenzeller, 1886 (Fanning Atoll, Enewetak, Wake I., Washington L, Kingman Reef); Sinularia flexibilis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) (Fiji Is.); Sinularia leptoclados (Ehrenberg, 1834) (Gambier Is., Fanning Atoll, Enewetak); Sinularia macrodactyla Kolonko, 1926 (Fiji Is.); Sinularia polydactyla (Ehrenberg, 1834) (Fiji Is., Guam, Samoa); Xenia crassa Schenk, 1896 (Fiji Is.); Xenia lillieae Roxas, 1933 (Fiji Is.); Xenia membranacea Schenk, 1896 (Carolines); Dendronephthya (Roxasia) mirabilis

Description: Die hier bearbeitete Sammlung enth\xc3\xa4lt zehn Arten. Von diesen waren acht Arten bekannt, eine Art wird als neu f\xc3\xbcr die Wissenschaft beschrieben und eine Art konnte nur bis zu der Gattung bestimmt werden.\nGuinot (1967) nennt in einer zusammenfassenden Liste der Brachyuren des westlichen Indischen Ozeans und des Roten Meeres elf Arten von Dromiiden aus dem Roten Meer. Zu dieser Zusammenfassung l\xc3\xa4sst sich jetzt folgendes sagen: Das Vorkommen von sechs Arten kann ohne Ver\xc3\xa4nderung best\xc3\xa4tigt werden, n\xc3\xa4mlich: Dromidia unidentata (R\xc3\xbcppell), Cryptodromia canaliculata Stimpson, C. granulata (Kossmann), C. hilgendorfi De Man, C. gilesii (Alcock) und C. bullifera (Alcock). Zwei der von Guinot genannten Arten sind bis jetzt nicht im Roten Meer gefunden worden, Dromidiopsis dormia (Linnaeus) und Cryptodromia pentagonalis (Hilgendorf). Bez\xc3\xbcglich Dromidiopsis dormia konnte hier nachgewiesen werden, dass alle diesbez\xc3\xbcglichen Angaben aus dem Roten Meer zu Dromia dehaani Rathbun, geh\xc3\xb6ren.\nCryptodromia pentagonalis wird von Nobili (1906: 146) genannt und er schreibt dort unter anderem \xe2\x80\x9eNouvelle pour la mer Rouge". Der Fundort des von Nobili beschriebenen Weibchens ist jedoch Aden und liegt daher ausserhalb des Roten Meeres. Immer wieder muss darauf hingewiesen werden, dass ein Teil des von Nobili (1906) bearbeiteten Materials nicht aus dem Roten Meer stammt, sondern aus dem Golf von Aden. Die von Guinot genannte Art Cryptodromia tomentosa (Heller) wurde schon von De Man (1888) mit C. canaliculata Stimpson, synonymisiert. Pseudodromia integrifrons Henderson, wurde von Balss (1922) mit P. caphyraeformis (Richters) synonymisiert. Pseudodromia murrayi Gordon, wird in dieser Arbeit ebenfalls mit P. caphyraeformis synonymisiert.

Description: A sirenian skeleton, the major part of which was excavated from Miocene deposits at Eibergen near Winterswijk, belongs to Metaxytherium. The temporal crests on the parietals are well separated. The foramen magnum is pointed above. The mandible has a downturned symphysial body with four shallow alveoli on each side. The wide mandibular canal opens some distance behind the alveolus of M3. There are alveoli for one premolar (P4) and for three molars (M1-M3). Only M2 dext. is preserved; it has four main cusps and some accessory cusplets. The humerus, the shaft portion of which is missing, has a wide and marked bicipital groove. The vertebrae, with the exception of the atlas, are fragmentary. The spinous processes are solid, the centra porous. The ribs, a few of which have been reassembled rather completely from fragments, are solid except for their vertebral ends. The distal, or sternal, ends may show a porous structure internally. In the sternum, the manubrium is separate, whereas corpus and ensiform process are co-ossified. The Eibergen sirenian appears indistinguishable from Metaxytherium medium (Desmarest) from the Helvetian of France.