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Article Reference Human-Induced Expanded Distribution of Anopheles plumbeus, Experimental Vector of West Nile Virus and a Potential Vector of Human Malaria in Belgium
For the majority of native species, human-created habitats provide a hostile environment that prevents their colonization. However, if the conditions encountered in this novel environment are part of the fundamental niche of a particular species, these low competitive environments may allow strong population expansion of even rare and stenotopic species. If these species are potentially harmful to humans, such anthropogenic habitat alterations may impose strong risks for human health. Here, we report on a recent and severe outbreak of the viciously biting and day-active mosquito Anopheles plumbeus Stephens, 1828, that is caused by a habitat shift toward human-created habitats. Although historic data indicate that the species was previously reported to be rare in Belgium and confined to natural forest habitats, more recent data indicate a strong population expansion all over Belgium and severe nuisance at a local scale. We show that these outbreaks can be explained by a recent larval habitat shift of this species from tree-holes in forests to large manure collecting pits of abandoned and uncleaned pig stables. Further surveys of the colonization and detection of other potential larval breeding places of this mosquito in this artificial environment are of particular importance for human health because the species is known as a experimental vector of West Nile virus and a potential vector of human malaria.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference A new species of Kriptobaatar (Multituberculata): the first Late Cretaceous mammal from Inner Mongolia (P.R. China)
Multituberculates are the best represented mammals of the Late Cretaceous in Asia and most of them are from Outer Mongolia. The djadochtatherioidean multituberculate Kr)ptobaut~im- andihuensis n. sp. is described on the basis of two skulls froin the Upper Cretaccous localiiy of Bayan Mandaliu (Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China). The main characters that differentiate it from tlie type species K. dashzevegi Kielan-Jaworowska, 1970 are: the base of the zygomatic arch situated at the level of tlie anterior root of the P4 and the narrow anterior extent of the orbit, the "V" shape of the palatoinaxillary suture between the tlvo major palatine fonmina, the high and thick part of the dentary under the mandibular diastema. the long and low part of the dentary iinder the mandibular notch, the anteroposteriorly short coronoid process. the presence of 5 cusps on the middle row of Ml and on the labial row of ml, the long p4. the Iiigh ratio p4:ml length, and the robust il. The presence of this species in lnner Mongolia extends the palacogeographical distribution area of the djadochtatherioideans to the soutliern part of the Gobi Basin. Neveiiheless, morphological differences between K. tnandahitensis from lnner Mongolia and K. dushzevegi from Outer Mongolia suggest a palaeogeographical isolation within the Djadochtatherioidea group during the Campanian.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Macrocranion germonprae n. sp., insectivore proche de la limite Paléocène-Eocène en Belgique
La nouvelle espèce Macrocranion germonpreae du Membre de Dormaal (Groupe de Landen, Belgique) est décrite sur la base de dents jugales isolées. Cet insectivore érinacéomorphe est comparé aux autres espèces du genre Macrocranion d'Europe et d'AmCrique du Nord. M. germonpreae possède les caractères morphologiques d'un Dormaaliinae primitif.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Diacodexis gigasei n. sp., le plus ancien Artiodactyle (Mammalia) belge, proche de la limite Paléocène-Eocène
Les données acquises au cours de fouilles récentes ainsi que la mise en commun du matériel de plusieurs collections du gisement de Dormaal (localitt de référence du Niveau-Repère MP 7) ont permis de rassembler une douzaine de dents jugales de Diacodrxis. L'étude de ce matériel et sa comparaison avec diverses espèces primitives de Diacodrxis de I'Eocène inftrieur d'Europe, d'Amtrique du Nord et d'Asie ont permis de définir la nouvelle espèce, Diacodexis gigasri. Une position phylogénttique est proposée pour cette nouvelle espèce.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference The earliest Eocene mammal fauna of the Erquelinnes Sand Member near the French-Belgian border
The earliest Eocene Erquelinnes site was discovered in 1880, but its mammal fauna has been frequently ignored. This paper provides the first detailed overview of the Erquelinnes mammals since 1929. The new faunal list doubles the known diversity at Erquelinnes to a total of 16 species, now also including amphilemurids, hyaenodontids, mesonychids, louisinids, equids and diacodexeids. The majority of the Erquelinnes species is also present in the earliest Eocene Dormaal MP7 reference fauna, with as most notable exceptions the presence of a potentially dwarfed specimen of Dissacus, and of two perissodactyl taxa at Erquelinnes. The ceratomorph perissodactyl Cymbalophus cuniculus is also known from the earliest Eocene of England, but a specimen identified as cf. Sifrhippus sandrae is closely similar to contemporaneous primitive North American equids. This specimen represents the oldest unambiguous European equid and highlights faunal similarities between Europe and North America during this time interval. Faunal differences between Erquelinnes and Dormaal seem mostly due to depositional differences, and the Erquelinnes fauna represents a typical earliest Eocene fauna, closely similar to other MP7 and PEI faunas in Europe.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference A new species of Archaeoryctes from the Middle Paleocene of China and the phylogenetic diversification of Didymoconidae
Didymoconidae are an enigmatic group of Asian endemic insectivorous mammals. We describe the new didymoconid species Archaeoryctes wangi sp. nov. from the Upper Member of the Wanghudun Formation (Middle Paleocene). This new species from the Qianshan Basin (Anhui Province, China) forms an interesting geographical intermediate between A. notialis from South China and A. borealis and A. euryalis from the Mongolian Plateau. To better understand the origin and evolutionary diversification of Didymoconidae, we performed a cladistic and stratocladistic study of the Didymoconidae and various outgroups. This study of dental material did not resolve the higher level affinities of Didymoconidae, but confirms the validity of the family and its distinctiveness from the morphologically similar Sarcodontidae. Moreover, our results corroborate the current didymoconid classification with the distinction of three subfamilies: “Ardynictinae”, Kennatheriinae and Didymoconinae; “Ardynictinae” are a paraphyletic stemgroup for the two other subfamilies. Our results suggest three distinct didymoconid radiations: (1) primitive ardynictines appeared in South China from the start of the Nongshanian; their evolution continues on the Mongolian Plateau with (2) the radiation of more evolved ardynictines and kennatheriines at the start of the Middle Eocene Arshantan and (3) the origin of didymoconines at the start of the Late Eocene Ergilian.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference High diversity of acrodontan lizards in the Early Eocene Vastan Lignite Mine of India
The Ypresian Cambay Formation at Vastan Mine in Gujarat, western India, has yielded a rich herpetological fauna including snakes, lizards and amphibians, but strangely, lizards are only represented by Acrodonta. Here we describe the acrodontan assemblage based on numerous, diverse and well-preserved dentaries, premaxillae, and maxillae. Among the five taxa described one new genus and species characterised by a short splenial represents the youngest occurrence of the extinct family Priscagamidae. The other four taxa belong to the extant family Agamidae. Two of them previously known, Vastanagama susanae and Tinosaurus indicus, are here revised. The two other taxa are new. The first one, Suratagama neeraae gen. and sp. nov., is characterised by the presence of six small pleurodont teeth with a nearly cylindrical shaft and an obtusely pointed apex. The second one, Indiagama gujarata gen. and sp. nov., has rectangular teeth in lateral view, unicuspid crowns forming a nearly horizontal cutting edge, and wear facets on both the lingual and labial sides of the dentary. Our results confirm that Acrodonta is the only lizard group present in Vastan, whereas many other groups are already present from the beginning of the Early Eocene on the other continents. The diversity of the agamids in Vastan and the absence of non-acrodontan lizard in India tentatively support the Out-of-India hypothesis for agamids.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Booklet Reference The diet of harbour porpoises bycaught or washed ashore in Belgium, and relationship with relevant date from the strandings database.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Apports récents sur l'anthropologie des Mésolithiques et des Néolithiques mosans
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Hominid remains from the Northern European Plain: and up-date to the catalogue of fossil hominids
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications