Zoological Science最新文献

A New Heteronemertean Genus with Variable Potential of Anterior Regeneration for Species Formerly Belonging to Lineus (Nemertea: Pilidiophora).

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240071

Jumpei Ikenaga, Svetlana A Maslakova, Manabu Yoshida, Hiroshi Kajihara

{"title":"A New Heteronemertean Genus with Variable Potential of Anterior Regeneration for Species Formerly Belonging to Lineus (Nemertea: Pilidiophora).","authors":"Jumpei Ikenaga, Svetlana A Maslakova, Manabu Yoshida, Hiroshi Kajihara","doi":"10.2108/zs240071","DOIUrl":"10.2108/zs240071","url":null,"abstract":"The heteronemertean genus Lineus Sowerby, 1805, currently accommodating about 100 species, is known to be non-monophyletic and is in a desperate need of taxonomic revision. In this article, we focus on a group of species including L. caputornatus Takakura, 1898, L. grubei (Hubrecht, 1879) auct., L. pictifrons Coe, 1904, and L. subcingulatus Takakura, 1898. These four morphologically similar species formed a clade to the exclusion of the type species, L. longissimus (Gunnerus, 1770), on a molecular phylogeny based on partial sequences of the 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, and histone H3 genes. For this clade we propose the name Bilucernus gen. nov. We redescribe L. grubei auct. from Japan as Bilucernus takakurai sp. nov. Bilucernus clade was nested within a larger clade that also contained members of Kulikovia Chernyshev, Polyakova, Turanov, and Kajihara, 2017, Lineopselloides Gibson, 1990, Siphonenteron Renier in Meneghini, 1847, and Tenuilineus Riser, 1993. We observed that body fragments from the intestinal region regenerated a head in B. caputornatus comb. nov. and B. subcingulatus comb. nov., but did not in B. takakurai sp. nov. The type specimen of Lineus bipunctatus Takakura, 1898 was most likely a regenerating individual of B. caputornatus comb. nov. We synonymize L. bipunctatus with L. caputornatus, giving nomenclatural priority to the latter. In addition, Lineus albifrons Coe, 1934 is herein also synonymized with L. caputornatus. We speculate that the unusually wide geographic distribution of B. caputornatus comb. nov. is related to its ability to regenerate head from fragments of body.","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":"42 2","pages":"228-239"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Loss of Photoperiodic Control of Juvenile-Hormone Signaling Pathway Underlying the Evolution of Obligate Parthenogenesis in the Pea Aphid.

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240075

Asano Ishikawa, Hiroki Gotoh, Kota Ogawa, Takashi Kanbe, Shin-Ichi Akimoto, Toru Miura

{"title":"Loss of Photoperiodic Control of Juvenile-Hormone Signaling Pathway Underlying the Evolution of Obligate Parthenogenesis in the Pea Aphid.","authors":"Asano Ishikawa, Hiroki Gotoh, Kota Ogawa, Takashi Kanbe, Shin-Ichi Akimoto, Toru Miura","doi":"10.2108/zs240075","DOIUrl":"10.2108/zs240075","url":null,"abstract":"Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of organisms to change their phenotype depending on external stimuli, enables their survival in fluctuating environments. An extreme example is polyphenism, in which a single genotype produces discrete phenotypes in response to external cues. However, under persistent environmental conditions, natural selection would favor reduced plasticity. This study focused on the loss of reproductive polyphenism and revealed the underlying mechanism in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. Although most populations exhibit reproductive polyphenism, known as cyclical parthenogenesis, with a seasonal shift between parthenogenesis and sexual reproduction, some exhibit obligate parthenogenesis. To investigate the potential role of changes in the environmental sensitivity of the juvenile hormone (JH) pathway during this evolutionary shift, we analyzed the expression of genes involved in JH synthesis and degradation. We found that five of seven JH-related genes exhibited photoperiodic responses in one cyclical-parthenogenetic strain, whereas none of them responded to photoperiod in the two obligate-parthenogenetic strains. Notably, CYP15A and JHEH genes, which are involved in the final step of JH synthesis and in the initiation of JH degradation, respectively, showed strong photoperiodic responses in the cyclical-parthenogenetic strain but showed no responses in the obligate-parthenogenetic strains. Acetone treatment induces male production in obligate-parthenogenetic strains, suggesting that the developmental pathway for male production remains functional in these strains. These results suggest that the loss of the photoperiodic response in both JH synthesis and degradation pathways is a key mechanism underlying the elimination of the sexual phase, resulting in the loss of reproductive polyphenism in aphids.","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":"42 2","pages":"186-195"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Not Ancient But Neotenic: Neotenactis amateras gen. et sp. nov., the First Record of a Gonactiniid Anemone from the North Pacific (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Enthemonae).

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240076

Takato Izumi, Takeya Moritaki

引用次数: 0

Feeding Strategy of Wild Japanese Martens (Martes melampus) in Northern Japan.

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240072

Sota Abe, Yamato Tsuji

{"title":"Feeding Strategy of Wild Japanese Martens (Martes melampus) in Northern Japan.","authors":"Sota Abe, Yamato Tsuji","doi":"10.2108/zs240072","DOIUrl":"10.2108/zs240072","url":null,"abstract":"Mustelids are omnivorous-frugivorous and exhibit temporal dietary switching and specialism; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We studied the feeding strategy of the Japanese marten (Martes melampus) in northern Japan by examining the relationship between dietary composition and abundance of main dietary items (fruits, mammals, and arthropods). The percentage of fruits in fecal samples over the study period (2020-2022) was much higher (65% in terms of the area percentage of the point-frame method) than that of arthropods (13%, with a higher proportion in spring) and mammals (11%, with a higher proportion in summer). The percentage of fruits in marten diets increased when abundance of arthropods and mammals was lower, which implies that Japanese martens are opportunistic feeders while being fruit-dependent. Different from other Martes species in boreal regions that depend more on small mammals, Japanese martens use a dietary switching strategy and prefer to eat fruits when they are seasonally available. The long-term variation in marten food habits implies that the ecological role of martens, such as controlling populations of prey animals and seed dispersal agents, can change transiently; therefore, monitoring the food environment is necessary to address inter-specific interactions in forest ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":"42 2","pages":"178-185"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Cold Tolerance Variation in Local Populations of Hemidactylus frenatus: Acclimation or Adaptation?

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240040

Shan-Dar Tao, Mamoru Toda

{"title":"Cold Tolerance Variation in Local Populations of Hemidactylus frenatus: Acclimation or Adaptation?","authors":"Shan-Dar Tao, Mamoru Toda","doi":"10.2108/zs240040","DOIUrl":"10.2108/zs240040","url":null,"abstract":"Tropical reptiles colonizing temperate regions face distinct physiological challenges due to thermal stress. Their long-term survival hinges on physiological acclimatization or adaptation to these novel thermal environments. Previous research on cold tolerance in introduced high-latitude Hemidactylus frenatus revealed that rural populations on Okinawajima Island, Japan exhibited significantly lower critical thermal minimum (CTmin) compared to their urban counterparts. However, whether this variation stems from acclimation or genetically fixed physiological differences remains unclear. To address this issue, we re-examined the cold tolerance of rural and urban populations after subjecting them to 2-week acclimation periods under high and low temperatures. Our experiments revealed that urban geckos exposed to the high-temperature treatment exhibited the highest CTmin, while rural geckos in the low-temperature treatment displayed the lowest CTmin. Urban geckos in the low-temperature treatment and rural geckos in the high-temperature treatment displayed intermediate CTmin values. These findings suggest that both acclimation and genetic differences contribute to the observed variations in cold tolerance among H. frenatus populations. The urban and rural populations are only 10 km apart, highlighting that evolutionary responses to thermal stress can occur rapidly over surprisingly small geographical scales in this species.","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":"42 2","pages":"171-177"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Seasonal and Sex Differences in Arm Loss Frequency in Two Small Coastal Octopus Species (Octopus parvus and Hapalochlaena cf. fasciata).

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240042

Yuta Yamate, Keijiro Haruki, Takumi Ohya, Toshifumi Wada, Takeshi Takegaki

{"title":"Seasonal and Sex Differences in Arm Loss Frequency in Two Small Coastal Octopus Species (Octopus parvus and Hapalochlaena cf. fasciata).","authors":"Yuta Yamate, Keijiro Haruki, Takumi Ohya, Toshifumi Wada, Takeshi Takegaki","doi":"10.2108/zs240042","DOIUrl":"10.2108/zs240042","url":null,"abstract":"Cephalopods, as prey for predators of various taxa, frequently experience arm loss. Arm loss in octopods may arise not only from predation pressure but also species-specific reproductive ecology. Therefore, investigating the occurrence of arm loss may provide insights into various aspects of octopods' reproductive ecology. In this study, we explored the seasonal and sexual differences in arm loss occurrences in two small octopus species, the Japanese pygmy octopus, Octopus parvus, and the Japanese blue-lined octopus, Hapalochlaena cf. fasciata. Notably, O. parvus exhibited a higher arm loss rate compared with previously studied species, potentially attributable to its relatively small size and sublethal predation by large crabs sharing the species' intertidal habitat. Regarding H. cf. fasciata, arm loss in males and females tended to increase toward the spawning season, with males experiencing a more rapid increase. The smaller size of males and arm loss due to male-male conflict related to reproduction and sexual cannibalism during copulation are likely contributing factors. Additionally, the impact of arm loss on egg retention and protective measures may prompt females to adopt behaviors minimizing the risk of arm loss.","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":"42 2","pages":"165-170"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Three New Earthworm Species of the Genera Amynthas and Metaphire (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) From Leshan, China.

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240010

Jiuzhuolin Ren, Yiting Liu, Shilin Zhang, Chengli Zheng, Youli Tan, Cheng Peng, Jihai Gao, Feixia Hou

{"title":"Three New Earthworm Species of the Genera Amynthas and Metaphire (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) From Leshan, China.","authors":"Jiuzhuolin Ren, Yiting Liu, Shilin Zhang, Chengli Zheng, Youli Tan, Cheng Peng, Jihai Gao, Feixia Hou","doi":"10.2108/zs240010","DOIUrl":"10.2108/zs240010","url":null,"abstract":"Based on morphological and molecular evidence, three new earthworm species of the genera Amynthas Kinberg, 1867 and Metaphire Sims and Easton, 1972 from Leshan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province were identified in this study. They are named Amynthas agenesis sp. nov., Metaphire jinhensis sp. nov., and M. ebianensis sp. nov. All three new species have a large size (the dimensions of the adult body are more than 200 mm × 10 mm) and three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7-8/9. Although these three new species are morphologically somewhat similar to the other species in the same group, they are distinguishable in several morphological characteristics. Metaphire jinhensis sp. nov. has paired and bunchy ovaries that are attached to septa 12/13. Metaphire ebianensis sp. nov. has large and well-developed prostate glands, and each of its seminal vesicles has a dorsal lobe. Amynthas agenesis sp. nov. has accessory glands in spermathecae, prostate, and intestinal caeca regions. The maximum likelihood tree was constructed based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene, and it showed that the three new species are clustered on different branches. Besides, phylogenetic trees also suggested that the genera Amynthas and Metaphire did not evolve separately within their respective taxa and thus were not monophyletic. This study provides a detailed taxonomic characterization of three new species and helps to better understand the species diversity of earthworms, which is urgently needed to ensure the ecological stability of wild earthworms.","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":"42 2","pages":"206-218"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

A New Species of Prosadenoporus (Nemertea: Eumonostilifera) from the North-East Coast of the Bay of Bengal, India.

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240094

Jhumpa Majhi, Soumik Dhara, Sudipta Kumar Ghorai

引用次数: 0

Characterization of Anthozoan-Specific Opsins from a Reef-Building Coral, Acropora tenuis, as Gq-Coupled Opsins.

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240085

Makoto Iwasaki, Yusuke Sakai, Taishi Shirata, Tomohiro Sugihara, Mitsumasa Koyanagi, Akihisa Terakita

{"title":"Characterization of Anthozoan-Specific Opsins from a Reef-Building Coral, Acropora tenuis, as Gq-Coupled Opsins.","authors":"Makoto Iwasaki, Yusuke Sakai, Taishi Shirata, Tomohiro Sugihara, Mitsumasa Koyanagi, Akihisa Terakita","doi":"10.2108/zs240085","DOIUrl":"10.2108/zs240085","url":null,"abstract":"Most animals capture light through opsins, which are light-sensitive G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Recent genome analyses of anthozoans, including corals and sea anemones, have identified novel opsins that are phylogenetically classified into two groups distinct from previously known opsin groups. Despite their significance in clarifying biological functions, the specific molecular properties of these opsins remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the G protein activations and biochemical responses light-dependently induced by two anthozoan opsins, Antho2a and Antho2d, obtained from the reef-building coral Acropora tenuis, in mammalian cultured cells. Using jumping spider Rh1 (SpiRh1), which belongs to a known Gq-type G protein (Gq)-coupled opsin group as a control, we observed that Antho2a and Antho2d elicited light-dependent increases in Ca2+ levels in cultured cells. This response was inhibited by a Gq inhibitor, indicating that these opsins activated Gq in a light-dependent manner. Interestingly, Antho2d also activated the Gi-type G protein (Gi), similar to SpiRh1, while Antho2a showed limited or negligible Gi activation. We also found that Gi activation additionally contributed to the Ca2+ elevation, suggesting it enhances Gq-dependent Ca2+ elevation in Antho2d- and SpiRh1-expressing cells. In contrast, Antho2a demonstrated a higher specificity for Gq activation compared to SpiRh1 and was nearly equivalent to hM3Dq, a GPCR known for its strong Gq specificity and widely used as a chemogenetic tool for manipulating Gq activation. Our results suggest that this new anthozoan opsin group consists of Gq-coupled opsins with varying levels of Gi activation, demonstrating their potential for optogenetic applications.","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":"42 2","pages":"196-205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Japanese Serow (Capricornis crispus) in Gunma Prefecture Based on Mitochondrial DNA Control Region Sequences.

IF 0.9 4区生物学

Zoological Science Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI: 10.2108/zs240006

Kazuaki Tanaka, Mei Nagatomo, Riki Oouchi, Masato Minami, Koh Nomura, Shingo Kaneko, Yuji Isagi, Jyun-Ichi Kitamura, Hideki Noguchi, Tomoko Anezaki

{"title":"Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Japanese Serow (Capricornis crispus) in Gunma Prefecture Based on Mitochondrial DNA Control Region Sequences.","authors":"Kazuaki Tanaka, Mei Nagatomo, Riki Oouchi, Masato Minami, Koh Nomura, Shingo Kaneko, Yuji Isagi, Jyun-Ichi Kitamura, Hideki Noguchi, Tomoko Anezaki","doi":"10.2108/zs240006","DOIUrl":"10.2108/zs240006","url":null,"abstract":"The Japanese serow, Capricornis crispus, is a species endemic to Japan, residing in the mountainous forests of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Gunma Prefecture, situated in central Honshu, is one of its habitats. To evaluate the genetic diversity and interrelationships among local populations in Gunma Prefecture, we examined the mitochondrial DNA control region sequences of 364 individuals. Our analysis, using all accessible Japanese serow sequences, revealed that they can be broadly categorized into four clades, labeled I to VI. Within Gunma Prefecture, we identified 15 distinct haplotypes, which can be classified into three haplogroups: G1, G2, and G3. G1, included in clade I, is associated with those reported in northeastern Honshu. G2, which forms clade IV on its own, is predominantly endemic to Gunma Prefecture, with a frequency of 90% in Showa Village at the western base of Mt. Akagi. In contrast, G3, included in clade V, forms a sister group to the haplotype discovered in the Japanese Alps. The haplotype composition exhibited a stark contrast between the regions on the west and east sides of the Kanto Plain, indicating that the Kanto Plain serves as a dividing line for Japanese serow populations. In Tsumagoi Village, 134 out of 144 animals shared the same haplotype, resulting in extremely low haplotype diversity, as indicated by a significant negative value in neutrality tests. This finding aligns with the observed rapid increase in serow in Tsumagoi.","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":"42 2","pages":"153-164"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0