近日,中国科学院水生生物研究所系统与流域生态学学科组关于神农架地区蜻蜓目研究的新种论文Three new Cephalaeschna species from central China with descriptions of the hitherto unknown sex of related species (Odonata: Aeshnidae)在《国际蜻蜓学报》(International Journal of Odonatology)第16卷第2期正式发表。该文描述了新发现的产自神农架地区的蜻蜓目(Odonata)蜓科(Aeshnidae)头蜓属(Cephalaeschna)3个新种:异色头蜓 (C. discolor), 马蒂头蜓 (C. mattii) 和独行头蜓 (C. solitaria)。
头蜓属是分布于亚洲的一个古老蜻蜓类群,大多栖息于植被茂盛的森林小溪,通常在中高海拔的山区生活,是珍稀的蜻蜓类群。成虫晚季节发生,在8至11月(秋季至初冬季节)较常见。全世界已知的头蜓属约20种,中国已知8种, 全部为中国特有,主要分布于华中、华南和西南等地。2012年,水生所系统与流域生态学学科组在对湖北神农架地区进行野外调查时,发现该属6个物种,其中有异色头蜓、马蒂头蜓和独行头蜓3个新种,至此,中国已知的头蜓属物种升至11个。
在此之前,对本属的认识仅局限在中国东部和华南地区,由于华中地区的气候条件不如华南地区优越,而且缺乏野外考察,所以对该区域蜻蜓状况了解甚少。通过神农架地区头蜓新种的发现,填补了该属间断分布的空白,也充分说明华中地区的蜻蜓目资源丰富,区域特色显著。神农架地区的3个头蜓新种均是中国中部的特有物种,其发现具有较高的科学价值。同时,由于其稚虫仅在清澈的林间小溪生活而无法忍耐受污染的水环境,该类群也可作为水质监测的指标。(生物谷 Bioon.com)
生物谷推荐的英文摘要
International Journal of Odonatology DOI:10.1080/13887890.2013.782530
Haomiao Zhang, Qinghua Cai* & Mingyao Liao
Three new Cephalaeschna species from central China with descriptions of the hitherto unknown sex of related species (Odonata: Aeshnidae)
Three new Cephalaeschna species, C. discolor sp. nov. (holotype male; Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, Shennongjia City, Hubei province, China, 16 August 2012), C. mattii sp. nov. (holotype male; Lujiahe River, Zigui County, Hubei province, China, 18 September 2012) and C. solitaria sp. nov. (holotype male; Dalongtan in Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, Shennongjia City, Hubei province, China, 19 July 2012) are described, illustrated in color and compared with the known Chinese Cephalaeschna. All the holotypes are deposited in the Collection of Aquatic Animals, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The hitherto unknown male of C. obversa and female of C. patrorum are also described and illustrated. Brief notes on biology of each species are also provided.