Robert Perger - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Robert Perger

A new ant-resembling spider species of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus mazaxoides sp. ... more A new ant-resembling spider species of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus mazaxoides sp. nov., from the Sub-Andean area of the Bolivian orocline is described. Adults of M. mazaxoides sp. nov. resemble the carpenter ant Camponotus cf. melanoticus Emery, 1894 and were observed on the ground of savanna-like habitats close to the entrances of formicaries of this ant. This study is the first to report a ground-dwelling species of Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894; all the other species are arboreal.

Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckha... more Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, is described. It comprises five species: the type species,

Synemosyna aurantiaca and S. nicaraguaensis are recorded for Bolivia for the first time and the p... more Synemosyna aurantiaca and S. nicaraguaensis are recorded for Bolivia for the first time and the previously unknown male of S. nicaraguaensis is described and illustrated. The habitus and the genitalia of the female of S. myrmeciaeformis are illustrated for the first time. Synemosyna aurantiaca occurs in semi-deciduous forests south of 18° S and S. myrmeciaeformis in the Bolivian Yungas forest and ecoregions of the Amazon biome north of 16° S. Synemosyna nicaraguaensis is possibly an Andean species that enters into the moist Isthmian forests of Central America. Several potential mimicry complexes with two broad patterns were observed: sex-specific polychromatic mimicry (S. nicaraguaensis), and transformational mimicry involving smaller orange and larger brown to dark-brown forms (S. aurantiaca and S. myrmeciaeformis).

A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi ... more A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi sp. nov. is described from the Sub-Andean area at the Bolivian orocline. The species was collected from low herbaceous vegetation along the edges of the Chiquitano and Cerradao forest.

is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any nonmar... more is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any nonmarine arthropod. Topics considered for publication include systematics, taxonomy, nomenclature, checklists, faunal works, and natural history. Insecta Mundi will not consider works in the applied sciences (i.e. medical entomology, pest control research, etc.), and no longer publishes book reviews or editorials. Insecta Mundi publishes original research or discoveries in an inexpensive and timely manner, distributing them free via open access on the internet on the date of publication. Insecta Mundi is referenced or abstracted by several sources, including the Zoological Record and CAB Abstracts. Insecta Mundi is published irregularly throughout the year, with completed manuscripts assigned an individual number. Manuscripts must be peer reviewed prior to submission, after which they are reviewed by the editorial board to ensure quality. One author of each submitted manuscript must be a current member of the Center for Systematic Entomology.

Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckha... more Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, is described. It comprises five species: the type species,

A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi ... more A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi sp. nov. is described from the Sub-Andean area at the Bolivian orocline. The species was collected from low herbaceous vegetation along the edges of the Chiquitano and Cerradao forest.

Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckha... more Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, is described. It comprises five species: the type species,

is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any nonmar... more is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any nonmarine arthropod. Topics considered for publication include systematics, taxonomy, nomenclature, checklists, faunal works, and natural history. Insecta Mundi will not consider works in the applied sciences (i.e. medical entomology, pest control research, etc.), and no longer publishes book reviews or editorials. Insecta Mundi publishes original research or discoveries in an inexpensive and timely manner, distributing them free via open access on the internet on the date of publication. Insecta Mundi is referenced or abstracted by several sources, including the Zoological Record and CAB Abstracts. Insecta Mundi is published irregularly throughout the year, with completed manuscripts assigned an individual number. Manuscripts must be peer reviewed prior to submission, after which they are reviewed by the editorial board to ensure quality. One author of each submitted manuscript must be a current member of the Center for Systematic Entomology.

Synemosyna aurantiaca and S. nicaraguaensis are recorded for Bolivia for the first time and the p... more Synemosyna aurantiaca and S. nicaraguaensis are recorded for Bolivia for the first time and the previously unknown male of S. nicaraguaensis is described and illustrated. The habitus and the genitalia of the female of S. myrmeciaeformis are illustrated for the first time. Synemosyna aurantiaca occurs in semi-deciduous forests south of 18° S and S. myrmeciaeformis in the Bolivian Yungas forest and ecoregions of the Amazon biome north of 16° S. Synemosyna nicaraguaensis is possibly an Andean species that enters into the moist Isthmian forests of Central America. Several potential mimicry complexes with two broad patterns were observed: sex-specific polychromatic mimicry (S. nicaraguaensis), and transformational mimicry involving smaller orange and larger brown to dark-brown forms (S. aurantiaca and S. myrmeciaeformis).

A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi ... more A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi sp. nov. is described from the Sub-Andean area at the Bolivian orocline. The species was collected from low herbaceous vegetation along the edges of the Chiquitano and Cerradao forest.

Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckha... more Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, is described. It comprises five species: the type species,

Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 2015

In this contribution, the first observations of euglossine bee species from the Bolivian Prepuna ... more In this contribution, the first observations of euglossine bee species from the Bolivian Prepuna are reported. Euglossa melanotricha Moure, Eufriesea mariana (Mocsáry) and Exaerete dentata (L.) were observed at an elevation of 2640 m in a garden located in San Joaquin, Salancachi (Chuquisaca department, annual precipitation 400-500 mm). This is the highest known record for a population of Euglossa and Eufriesea to date. All of the euglossine bees were observed exclusively on introduced plants. The distributional patterns, biological associations and ecological significance of the observed euglossine bees are discussed.

An additional 137 species and two tribes are added to the cerambycid fauna of Bolivia while 12 sp... more An additional 137 species and two tribes are added to the cerambycid fauna of Bolivia while 12 species are deleted. This brings the total number of species known from Bolivia to 1,561. Comments and statistics regarding the growth of knowledge on the Bolivian Cerambycid fauna and species endemicity are included.

Marine Biology

Shrimps are economically and ecologically very important, yet a lack of ageing techniques and hen... more Shrimps are economically and ecologically very important, yet a lack of ageing techniques and hence unknown growth rates often impairs analytical assessments and management. A new method for the determination of in situ growth rates of shrimps is presented, based on dry weight condition. Since this index oscillates from low values directly after moult to highest values prior to moult in constantly feeding shrimp, the lowest observed pre-moult condition followed by a moult was introduced as a reference value to separate growing and starving individ-uals in field data. Experiments with Crangon crangon confirmed that (1) post-moult condition varies in a narrow physiologically optimal range, regardless of recent growth increments, and (2) dry weight condition prior to moult is closely related to the subsequent length increment. The method was applied to estimate growth increments from in situ dry weight condition data of C. crangon. The new method can easily be applied to other related ...

Biodiversity data journal, 2015

The jewel beetle species Chrysobothrisdesmaresti (Laporte & Gory, 1836) and Hiperanthastempelmann... more The jewel beetle species Chrysobothrisdesmaresti (Laporte & Gory, 1836) and Hiperanthastempelmanni Berg, 1889, have been recorded in Bolivia for the first time. Both species were collected on xeric Acacia trees. As indicated by their presence on Acacia and previous records, both species may be endemic to the arid intermountain valleys of the Southern Bolivian and Northern Argentinean Andes as well as the Chaco lowland forests.

ZooKeys, 2014

In this contribution a new species of the land crab genus Gecarcinus Leach, 1814, from the Neotro... more In this contribution a new species of the land crab genus Gecarcinus Leach, 1814, from the Neotropical Pacific coast of South America is described and illustrated. In addition to its unique body color, Gecarcinus nobilii sp. n. is distinguished from congeners by a distinctly wider carapace front and differences in the shape of the infraorbital margin. The new species is not isolated from Gecarcinus populations from the Pacific coast of Central America by an insurmountable geographic barrier. Considering the closure of the Panamanian Isthmus as a calibration point for morphological divergence between the trans-isthmian mainland populations of Gecarcinus, the virtual lack of morphological differentiation (other than color) between them and the distinctness of G. nobilii sp. n. suggests that G. nobilii sp. n. evolved from a common ancestor before the Isthmus closed.

Biodiversity data journal, 2014

The land crab Johngarthiaplanata (Stimpson, 1860) has been reported from the Baja California Peni... more The land crab Johngarthiaplanata (Stimpson, 1860) has been reported from the Baja California Peninsula and several oceanic islands in the Eastern Pacific as well as inshore islands of the Mexican, Costa Rican and Colombian coast. However, the species has not been observed on the continental mainland, as it is likely that the high diversity of terrestrial predators/competitors make the establishment of mainland populations nearly impossible. In this contribution, several new records of this species that have been observed in urban areas along the continental Pacific coast of Mexico are reported. These records demonstrate that the presence of humans does not necessarily have a negative impact on land crab species. Indeed, the presence of humans may actually discourage the presence of native crab predators/competitors and hence increase the likelihood of a successful mainland settlement of land crab species that are otherwise island and peninsula restricted. The presence of Johngarthia...

Journal of Sea Research, 2010

Dry weight condition (dry weight at length), caloric content and RNA∙DNA − 1 -ratio of brown shri... more Dry weight condition (dry weight at length), caloric content and RNA∙DNA − 1 -ratio of brown shrimp Crangon crangon were monitored in temperature controlled starvation experiments and field samples. A significant decrease of dry weight and RNA∙DNA − 1 was observed ...

ZooKeys, 2013

The genera Parandrocephalus Heller, 1916 and Hexamitodera Heller, 1896 are reviewed and redescrib... more The genera Parandrocephalus Heller, 1916 and Hexamitodera Heller, 1896 are reviewed and redescribed. Based on the combination of chromatic sexual dimorphism, velvety pubescence on the whole dorsal body and distinctly developed carina on the elytra, Parandrocephalus blairi Bentanachs & Vives, 2009 is transferred to Hexamitodera. A new subgenus, Sulcognatha Perger, is instituted to accommodate mandible, head and metasternal modifications in H. blairi comb n.. that are lacking in the type species of Hexamitodera, H. semivelutina. As indicated by fundamental structural differences in the mandibles of Parandrocephalus and H. (Sulcognatha) blairi comb. n., the exaggerated secondary sexual traits and open procoxal cavities in both taxa are presumably the result of convergent evolution. Contrary to Bentanachs & Vives (2009), the presence of the two Parandrocephalus species in Sundaland and the endemism of Hexamitodera on Sulawesi agree well with the zoogeographical separation of both areas by the Wallace line.

A new ant-resembling spider species of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus mazaxoides sp. ... more A new ant-resembling spider species of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus mazaxoides sp. nov., from the Sub-Andean area of the Bolivian orocline is described. Adults of M. mazaxoides sp. nov. resemble the carpenter ant Camponotus cf. melanoticus Emery, 1894 and were observed on the ground of savanna-like habitats close to the entrances of formicaries of this ant. This study is the first to report a ground-dwelling species of Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894; all the other species are arboreal.

Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckha... more Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, is described. It comprises five species: the type species,

Synemosyna aurantiaca and S. nicaraguaensis are recorded for Bolivia for the first time and the p... more Synemosyna aurantiaca and S. nicaraguaensis are recorded for Bolivia for the first time and the previously unknown male of S. nicaraguaensis is described and illustrated. The habitus and the genitalia of the female of S. myrmeciaeformis are illustrated for the first time. Synemosyna aurantiaca occurs in semi-deciduous forests south of 18° S and S. myrmeciaeformis in the Bolivian Yungas forest and ecoregions of the Amazon biome north of 16° S. Synemosyna nicaraguaensis is possibly an Andean species that enters into the moist Isthmian forests of Central America. Several potential mimicry complexes with two broad patterns were observed: sex-specific polychromatic mimicry (S. nicaraguaensis), and transformational mimicry involving smaller orange and larger brown to dark-brown forms (S. aurantiaca and S. myrmeciaeformis).

A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi ... more A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi sp. nov. is described from the Sub-Andean area at the Bolivian orocline. The species was collected from low herbaceous vegetation along the edges of the Chiquitano and Cerradao forest.

is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any nonmar... more is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any nonmarine arthropod. Topics considered for publication include systematics, taxonomy, nomenclature, checklists, faunal works, and natural history. Insecta Mundi will not consider works in the applied sciences (i.e. medical entomology, pest control research, etc.), and no longer publishes book reviews or editorials. Insecta Mundi publishes original research or discoveries in an inexpensive and timely manner, distributing them free via open access on the internet on the date of publication. Insecta Mundi is referenced or abstracted by several sources, including the Zoological Record and CAB Abstracts. Insecta Mundi is published irregularly throughout the year, with completed manuscripts assigned an individual number. Manuscripts must be peer reviewed prior to submission, after which they are reviewed by the editorial board to ensure quality. One author of each submitted manuscript must be a current member of the Center for Systematic Entomology.

Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckha... more Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, is described. It comprises five species: the type species,

A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi ... more A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi sp. nov. is described from the Sub-Andean area at the Bolivian orocline. The species was collected from low herbaceous vegetation along the edges of the Chiquitano and Cerradao forest.

Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckha... more Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, is described. It comprises five species: the type species,

is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any nonmar... more is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any nonmarine arthropod. Topics considered for publication include systematics, taxonomy, nomenclature, checklists, faunal works, and natural history. Insecta Mundi will not consider works in the applied sciences (i.e. medical entomology, pest control research, etc.), and no longer publishes book reviews or editorials. Insecta Mundi publishes original research or discoveries in an inexpensive and timely manner, distributing them free via open access on the internet on the date of publication. Insecta Mundi is referenced or abstracted by several sources, including the Zoological Record and CAB Abstracts. Insecta Mundi is published irregularly throughout the year, with completed manuscripts assigned an individual number. Manuscripts must be peer reviewed prior to submission, after which they are reviewed by the editorial board to ensure quality. One author of each submitted manuscript must be a current member of the Center for Systematic Entomology.

Synemosyna aurantiaca and S. nicaraguaensis are recorded for Bolivia for the first time and the p... more Synemosyna aurantiaca and S. nicaraguaensis are recorded for Bolivia for the first time and the previously unknown male of S. nicaraguaensis is described and illustrated. The habitus and the genitalia of the female of S. myrmeciaeformis are illustrated for the first time. Synemosyna aurantiaca occurs in semi-deciduous forests south of 18° S and S. myrmeciaeformis in the Bolivian Yungas forest and ecoregions of the Amazon biome north of 16° S. Synemosyna nicaraguaensis is possibly an Andean species that enters into the moist Isthmian forests of Central America. Several potential mimicry complexes with two broad patterns were observed: sex-specific polychromatic mimicry (S. nicaraguaensis), and transformational mimicry involving smaller orange and larger brown to dark-brown forms (S. aurantiaca and S. myrmeciaeformis).

A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi ... more A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi sp. nov. is described from the Sub-Andean area at the Bolivian orocline. The species was collected from low herbaceous vegetation along the edges of the Chiquitano and Cerradao forest.

Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckha... more Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, is described. It comprises five species: the type species,

Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 2015

In this contribution, the first observations of euglossine bee species from the Bolivian Prepuna ... more In this contribution, the first observations of euglossine bee species from the Bolivian Prepuna are reported. Euglossa melanotricha Moure, Eufriesea mariana (Mocsáry) and Exaerete dentata (L.) were observed at an elevation of 2640 m in a garden located in San Joaquin, Salancachi (Chuquisaca department, annual precipitation 400-500 mm). This is the highest known record for a population of Euglossa and Eufriesea to date. All of the euglossine bees were observed exclusively on introduced plants. The distributional patterns, biological associations and ecological significance of the observed euglossine bees are discussed.

An additional 137 species and two tribes are added to the cerambycid fauna of Bolivia while 12 sp... more An additional 137 species and two tribes are added to the cerambycid fauna of Bolivia while 12 species are deleted. This brings the total number of species known from Bolivia to 1,561. Comments and statistics regarding the growth of knowledge on the Bolivian Cerambycid fauna and species endemicity are included.

Marine Biology

Shrimps are economically and ecologically very important, yet a lack of ageing techniques and hen... more Shrimps are economically and ecologically very important, yet a lack of ageing techniques and hence unknown growth rates often impairs analytical assessments and management. A new method for the determination of in situ growth rates of shrimps is presented, based on dry weight condition. Since this index oscillates from low values directly after moult to highest values prior to moult in constantly feeding shrimp, the lowest observed pre-moult condition followed by a moult was introduced as a reference value to separate growing and starving individ-uals in field data. Experiments with Crangon crangon confirmed that (1) post-moult condition varies in a narrow physiologically optimal range, regardless of recent growth increments, and (2) dry weight condition prior to moult is closely related to the subsequent length increment. The method was applied to estimate growth increments from in situ dry weight condition data of C. crangon. The new method can easily be applied to other related ...

Biodiversity data journal, 2015

The jewel beetle species Chrysobothrisdesmaresti (Laporte & Gory, 1836) and Hiperanthastempelmann... more The jewel beetle species Chrysobothrisdesmaresti (Laporte & Gory, 1836) and Hiperanthastempelmanni Berg, 1889, have been recorded in Bolivia for the first time. Both species were collected on xeric Acacia trees. As indicated by their presence on Acacia and previous records, both species may be endemic to the arid intermountain valleys of the Southern Bolivian and Northern Argentinean Andes as well as the Chaco lowland forests.

ZooKeys, 2014

In this contribution a new species of the land crab genus Gecarcinus Leach, 1814, from the Neotro... more In this contribution a new species of the land crab genus Gecarcinus Leach, 1814, from the Neotropical Pacific coast of South America is described and illustrated. In addition to its unique body color, Gecarcinus nobilii sp. n. is distinguished from congeners by a distinctly wider carapace front and differences in the shape of the infraorbital margin. The new species is not isolated from Gecarcinus populations from the Pacific coast of Central America by an insurmountable geographic barrier. Considering the closure of the Panamanian Isthmus as a calibration point for morphological divergence between the trans-isthmian mainland populations of Gecarcinus, the virtual lack of morphological differentiation (other than color) between them and the distinctness of G. nobilii sp. n. suggests that G. nobilii sp. n. evolved from a common ancestor before the Isthmus closed.

Biodiversity data journal, 2014

The land crab Johngarthiaplanata (Stimpson, 1860) has been reported from the Baja California Peni... more The land crab Johngarthiaplanata (Stimpson, 1860) has been reported from the Baja California Peninsula and several oceanic islands in the Eastern Pacific as well as inshore islands of the Mexican, Costa Rican and Colombian coast. However, the species has not been observed on the continental mainland, as it is likely that the high diversity of terrestrial predators/competitors make the establishment of mainland populations nearly impossible. In this contribution, several new records of this species that have been observed in urban areas along the continental Pacific coast of Mexico are reported. These records demonstrate that the presence of humans does not necessarily have a negative impact on land crab species. Indeed, the presence of humans may actually discourage the presence of native crab predators/competitors and hence increase the likelihood of a successful mainland settlement of land crab species that are otherwise island and peninsula restricted. The presence of Johngarthia...

Journal of Sea Research, 2010

Dry weight condition (dry weight at length), caloric content and RNA∙DNA − 1 -ratio of brown shri... more Dry weight condition (dry weight at length), caloric content and RNA∙DNA − 1 -ratio of brown shrimp Crangon crangon were monitored in temperature controlled starvation experiments and field samples. A significant decrease of dry weight and RNA∙DNA − 1 was observed ...

ZooKeys, 2013

The genera Parandrocephalus Heller, 1916 and Hexamitodera Heller, 1896 are reviewed and redescrib... more The genera Parandrocephalus Heller, 1916 and Hexamitodera Heller, 1896 are reviewed and redescribed. Based on the combination of chromatic sexual dimorphism, velvety pubescence on the whole dorsal body and distinctly developed carina on the elytra, Parandrocephalus blairi Bentanachs & Vives, 2009 is transferred to Hexamitodera. A new subgenus, Sulcognatha Perger, is instituted to accommodate mandible, head and metasternal modifications in H. blairi comb n.. that are lacking in the type species of Hexamitodera, H. semivelutina. As indicated by fundamental structural differences in the mandibles of Parandrocephalus and H. (Sulcognatha) blairi comb. n., the exaggerated secondary sexual traits and open procoxal cavities in both taxa are presumably the result of convergent evolution. Contrary to Bentanachs & Vives (2009), the presence of the two Parandrocephalus species in Sundaland and the endemism of Hexamitodera on Sulawesi agree well with the zoogeographical separation of both areas by the Wallace line.