Re-description and range extension of the Afrotropical mayfly Cloeon perkinsi (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae)

Abstract

Cloeon perkinsi was described from South Africa in 1932 by Barnard. Despite being relatively common in Africa, it was mentioned in the literature quite rarely, and its known distribution to date includes most of sub-Saharan Africa. Material collected recently in Ethiopia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen extends its distribution in East Africa, Arabian Peninsula and the Levant. We examined this material, and provide a re-description of adults (females and males) and nymphs of the species. It represents a much-needed urge mainly due to inconsistencies in literature reports regarding colouration, and sometimes incomplete morphological description of all stages. We demonstrate the intraspecific morphological variability that we have witnessed, and provide information regarding the range of habitats colonised by C. perkinsi. Based on geological and climatic history of the studied region, taken together with among countries genetic distances of the mitochondrial barcoding gene COI, we propose colonisation mechanisms for the north-easternmost limit of distribution. The fragmented distribution pattern of the species highlights the conservation importance of isolated aquatic habitats in the region, as well as current knowledge gaps.

New data on Garra makiensis (Cyprinidae, Labeoinae) from the Awash River (Ethiopia) with remarks on its relationships to congeners on the Arabian Peninsula

“…Biogeographical similarities between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula are evident for different animal groups (e.g., Pook et al 2009;Zinner et al 2009;Portik and Papenfuss 2012;Šmíd et al 2013;Gilbert et al 2014;Garcia-Alix et al 2016;Yanai et al 2020). Though dispersal routes across the Bab-al-Mandab Strait have been proposed by several studies (Šmíd et al 2013;Stewart and Murray 2017), the exact timing is still controversial (Fernandes et al 2006).…”

The first Western Palearctic record of Euprosthenops Pocock (Araneae, Pisauridae), with description of a new species from Israel

“…In the mayfly family Baetidae (Ephemeroptera), Cloeon perkinsi Barnard, 1932, previously known only from the western, eastern and southern regions of the mainland Africa, has been very recently found in Yemen, western Saudi Arabia and Israel (Yanai et al 2020).…”

Rediscovery of a lost semi-aquatic Leaf Beetle in the Hula Valley, Israel (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae)

“…For example, Tristam (1884) stated that ~ 30% of the mammal species of the Hula were Afrotropical species and Kugler and Wool (1968) thought ~ 50% of the midge ( Diptera : Chironomidae ) species were Afrotropical. Other more recent examples can be found in Dumont (1991) for Odonata and Yanai et al (2020) for Ephemeroptera . One of the dominant plants in the Hula is Papyrus ( Cyperus papyrus Linnaeus, Cyperaceae ), an Afrotropical species; the Hula is the only place outside Africa where this plant is found naturally.…”