Gábor Csorba

Multiple host-switching of Haemosporidia parasites in bats

BackgroundThere have been reported cases of host-switching in avian and lizard species of Plasmodium (Apicomplexa, Haemosporidia), as well as in those infecting different primate species. However, no evidence has previously been found for host-swapping between wild birds and mammals.MethodsThis paper presents the results of the sampling of blood parasites of wild-captured bats from Madagascar and Cambodia. The presence of Haemosporidia infection in these animals is confirmed and cytochrome b gene sequences were used to construct a phylogenetic analysis.ResultsResults reveal at least three different and independent Haemosporidia evolutionary histories in three different bat lineages from Madagascar and Cambodia.ConclusionPhylogenetic analysis strongly suggests multiple host-switching of Haemosporidia parasites in bats with those from avian and primate hosts.

Is Evolution of Blind Mole Rats Determined by Climate Oscillations

The concept of climate variability facilitating adaptive radiation supported by the “Court Jester” hypothesis is disputed by the “Red Queen” one, but the prevalence of one or the other might be scale-dependent. We report on a detailed, comprehensive phylo-geographic study on the ∼4 kb mtDNA sequence in underground blind mole rats of the family Spalacidae (or subfamily Spalacinae) from the East Mediterranean steppes. Our study aimed at testing the presence of periodicities in branching patterns on a constructed phylogenetic tree and at searching for congruence between branching events, tectonic history and paleoclimates. In contrast to the strong support for the majority of the branching events on the tree, the absence of support in a few instances indicates that network-like evolution could exist in spalacids. In our tree, robust support was given, in concordance with paleontological data, for the separation of spalacids from muroid rodents during the first half of the Miocene when open, grass-dominated habitats were established. Marine barriers formed between Anatolia and the Balkans could have facilitated the separation of the lineage “Spalax” from the lineage “Nannospalax” and of the clade “leucodon” from the clade “xanthodon”. The separation of the clade “ehrenbergi” occurred during the late stages of the tectonically induced uplift of the Anatolian high plateaus and mountains, whereas the separation of the clade “vasvarii” took place when the rapidly uplifting Taurus mountain range prevented the Mediterranean rainfalls from reaching the Central Anatolian Plateau. The separation of Spalax antiquus and S. graecus occurred when the southeastern Carpathians were uplifted. Despite the role played by tectonic events, branching events that show periodicity corresponding to 400-kyr and 100-kyr eccentricity bands illuminate the important role of orbital fluctuations on adaptive radiation in spalacids. At the given scale, our results supports the “Court Jester” hypothesis over the “Red Queen” one.

A new species of Kerivoula (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Southeast Asia

ABSTRACT A new species of Kerivoula is described from Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area, Cambodia. It is widely distributed in mainland Southeast Asia, with referred material from 12 additional localities in Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR and Vietnam. Superficially similar to Kerivoula flora, it is distinguished by its flattened skull, a character shared with the larger, recently described, Kerivoula kachinensis. It is known from a variety of habitat types, both pristine and disturbed, including deciduous dipterocarp forest, moist evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, forest on limestone karst and upper montane forest.

Revealing cryptic bat diversity: three new Murina and redescription of M. tubinaris from Southeast Asia

Based on a series of specimens collected in Cambodia and Vietnam, this paper describes 3 new species of tube-nosed bats belonging to the Murina “suilla-group” (Vespertilionidae: Murininae). We provide detailed accounts of their external and craniodental morphology, including a suite of standard measurements, and compare the new taxa with all other members of the group currently recognized in Southeast Asia. The 1st new species was previously included in M. tubinaris (Scully, 1881) but is considered distinct due to differences in external and craniodental features. This new species is widespread in continental Southeast Asia and relatively well represented in museum collections, whereas the other new species are known only from a few specimens collected at scattered localities. The new taxa are known only from forested areas, which highlights the incompleteness of existing knowledge and strong potential for further discoveries in the region.

Description of a New Species Belonging to the Murina ‘suilla-group’ (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murininae) from North Vietnam

Based on a series of 11 specimens collected in north Vietnam between 2006 and 2007, a new species of tube-nosed bat belonging to the genus Murina is described. Externally similar to Murina aurata Milne-Edwards, 1872, from which it differs primarily in dental characteristics, the new species is distinguished from all other existing species of Murina by a combination of its small size, pelage and craniodental features. It is currently known from three localities in north Vietnam, all of which include significant areas of forest over limestone karst.

Description of a new species of Murina from Cambodia (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murininae)

ABSTRACT A new species of Murina, which belongs to the ‘cyclotis-group’, is described from Cambodia. It is characterised by the attachment point of the plagiopatagium, its large skull size, the distinctive shape of the rostrum, and the relative sizes of the upper incisors. To date, it is only known from Kirirom National Park, where it was collected in disturbed semi-evergreen gallery forest, which had many immature trees.

Three New Species of Murina (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Taiwan

Abstract We report 3 new species of bats of the genus Murina from Taiwan. One is a larger species that closely resembles Murina leucogaster and Murina rubex both externally and cranially. However, this new species differs from either or both of the latter 2 species in the color of the face and the dorsum, the attachment point of the plagiopatagium, the shape of the upper canine, and dimensions of the skull. The other 2 new species are smaller and differ from each other in the dorsal coloration, brightness of the pelage and the face, the shape of the basioccipital pit, the shape of the 1st upper premolar, and dimensions of the skull. These 2 new species can be distinguished from all known species of Murina by either the body size, the pelage coloration, the shape of the ear, or relative sizes and shapes of various teeth in both upper and lower toothrows, or a combination of these characters.

Setting priorities for the conservation of terrestrial vertebrates in Hungary

The first step towards the preservation of endangered species is to establish an appropriate ranking system, which assigns different nature conservation priority scores to different taxa. The system developed by Millsap et al. (Wildlife Monograph 1990, 111: 1–57) has been modified and applied to the mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian species of Hungary. Three variable groups have been compiled, including eight (measuring biological characteristics), three (features of the Hungarian population) and five (evaluation of research and conservation actions) variables, respectively. In cooperation with several experts, we gave scores to all 379 taxa considered. The most endangered taxon proved to be the Hungarian Meadow Viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis), which occurs only in Hungary with just a few hundred individuals. The species rank depends on the availability and quality of data, so it is urgent to devote more effort to survey and monitoring projects. We present a possible application of the species list, where the taxa are grouped according to their legal status in Hungary (strictly protected, protected, partly protected and not protected), and the validity of this categorisation was tested by applying multivariate discriminant analysis. Only 58.36% of the species were correctly classified. The reasons for stronger than expected protection include popularity, attractiveness, and local rarity, while reasons for lower protection include preference for hunting and control of predators and pests.

The definition of Harpiola (Vespertilionidae: Murininae) and the description of a new species from Taiwan

ABSTRACT A new species of Harpiola from Taiwan is described based on 11 specimens collected between 1998 and 2004. Careful examination of these specimens and those of the genus Murina, revealed the valid characters distinguishing Harpiola from Murina, including the enlarged upper incisors, the well developed first premolars in both toothrows with their bulk subequal to canines and the second premolars in the corresponding toothrow, and the strongly bifid lower canine. The new species from Taiwan can be distinguished from Harpiola grisea in India by having different shape of second upper premolar and different structure of first upper molar.

European rodent on the edge: status and distribution of the Vojvodina blind mole rat

Recent research of blind mole rats of the species complex Nannospalax (superspecies leucodon) identified a small and fragmented population of these rodents on both sides of the Hungarian-Serbian border. Cytogenetic investigations proved that this population karyologically identical with the Vojvodina blind mole rat described earlier as Nannospalax (leucodon) montanosyrmiensis. Based on cytochrome b gene sequences obtained from three specimens originating from separate locations, these blind mole rats form a discrete phylogenetic clade which, with a difference of about 10%, is well separated from other blind mole rat taxa inhabiting the Carpathian Basin. The taxon has only two extant populations that are 150 km apart from each other. The combined occupied area is estimated to be less than 10 km2, and the total estimated number of individuals is less than 300. These two remaining populations are heavily fragmented and under imminent threat by the establishment of tree plantations, small-scale and agro-industrial farms and land development. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that 80% of the individuals inhabit unprotected areas. A study of the landscape history of the wider area surrounding one of the populations - based on military maps spanning over the last 200 years - has shown a drastic decrease in the extent and quality of potential habitats. Based on our present knowledge, the Vojvodina blind mole rat is one of the most seriously threatened, rarest mammal in Europe, the remaining population of which can be wiped out within years unless immediate conservation action is taken.