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"Author Gordon Rodda has created the first comprehensive compilation of the natural history and ecology of all the world's lizards. He presents an alternative taxonomic understanding of lizards that will challenge received wisdom. This unparalleled informational source will be an essential reference work for reptile scientists and students of herpetology"--

Animals --- Lizards --- Lacertilia --- Lacertilian reptiles --- Lacertilians --- Sauria --- Squamata --- Animal classification --- Animal systematics --- Animal taxonomy --- Classification --- Systematic zoology --- Systematics (Zoology) --- Taxonomy, Animal --- Zoological classification --- Zoological systematics --- Zoological taxonomy --- Zoology --- Lizards - Identification --- Animals - Classification

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The owl is a magical creature: it exudes an ambivalent fascination that can trigger completely antithetical responses. On the one hand, there is something unsettling about the owl’s soundless flight, eerie call, and nocturnal activity that can result in its demonization as a messenger of darkness. On the other hand, however, its masklike visage and seemingly penetrating gaze prove - thralling, and this may have contributed to the deification of the owl as the companion spirit of an omniscient mother earth. In addition, the highly s- cialized captor of prey aroused the competitive envy of hunting parties, even provoking a bit of resentment when they lost out to owls in their hunt for small game. Moreover, the excrement and pellets (hairballs) they deposited in barns and church towers contributed to their reputation as undesirables or even pests. With the overcoming of superstition and suspicion, our relati- ship with these creatures of the night has now become one of unreserved - miration. They grant us insights into the rich diversity of adaptation to n- turnal hunting as well as into sound inventories, brooding biology, and ne- ling development. In a complete transformation of what was once a symbol of fear and hatred, charismatic owls now enjoy an almost singular popularity in large parts of the population.

Owls --- Striges --- Strigiformes --- Birds --- Zoology. --- Vertebrates. --- Biodiversity. --- Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography. --- Biological diversification --- Biological diversity --- Biotic diversity --- Diversification, Biological --- Diversity, Biological --- Biology --- Biocomplexity --- Ecological heterogeneity --- Numbers of species --- Vertebrata --- Chordata --- Natural history --- Animals --- Animal systematics. --- Animal taxonomy. --- Animal classification --- Animal systematics --- Animal taxonomy --- Classification --- Systematic zoology --- Systematics (Zoology) --- Taxonomy, Animal --- Zoological classification --- Zoological systematics --- Zoological taxonomy --- Zoology

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This summary of the results of chromosomal analysis of various groups of parasitic wasps will be essential reading for those working in the field. It is the second edition of a monograph that was first published in Russian, and has been substantially updated with new data, conclusions and references. The goal of this ground-breaking work is to document the author’s study of the karyotype structure and chromosomal evolution of parasitic Hymenoptera. It also interprets the results obtained, from both routine and differential chromosome staining, for systematic and phylogenetic purposes. Despite the huge importance of parasitic wasps, many problems of their taxonomy remain insufficiently studied. This is a situation that needs rectifying, as Hymenoptera are one of the largest and most taxonomically complicated groups of insects and they play a very important role in food chains as parasitoids of the overwhelming majority of insects and other arthropods. Parasitic wasps attack many pests of agriculture and forestry as well as certain beneficial insects. In addition, some secondarily phytophagous Hymenoptera damage certain cultivated plants. The renowned entomologist and author of this volume, Vladimir Gokhman, has himself developed a particular technique for obtaining chromosomal preparations from adult parasitic wasps. This allowed the inclusion of a wide range of those insects into the study. The karyotypic features of the majority of superfamilies and families as well as many lower taxa of parasitic Hymenoptera are listed, while the plesiomorphic and apomorphic character states of chromosome sets of parasitic wasps are revealed. The structural features of karyotypes used for identifying and discriminating sibling species and similar forms are shown, as are the data on chromosome sets of about 400 species of parasitic Hymenoptera (including more than 200 micrographs). Also included is a comprehensive phylogenetic and taxonomic analysis of karyotypic information. This book is unique because it demonstrates a range of karyotypic data for an insect group that seemed unattainable in this respect not so long ago. Rich in new facts, techniques and ideas, it will be of use to all those interested in karyology and Hymenoptera.

Hymenoptera --Genetics. --- Karyotypes. --- Parasitic wasps --Genetics. --- Parasitic wasps --- Karyotypes --- Hymenoptera --- Invertebrates & Protozoa --- Zoology --- Health & Biological Sciences --- Genetics --- Hymenoptera. --- Symphyta --- Life sciences. --- Animal genetics. --- Entomology. --- Life Sciences. --- Animal Genetics and Genomics. --- Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography. --- Insects --- Chromosome abnormalities --- Chromosomes --- Cytotaxonomy --- Animal systematics. --- Animal taxonomy. --- Animal classification --- Animal systematics --- Animal taxonomy --- Classification --- Systematic zoology --- Systematics (Zoology) --- Taxonomy, Animal --- Zoological classification --- Zoological systematics --- Zoological taxonomy --- Animals

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This volume merges all geographical and paleogeographical data on all groups of the arachnofauna. The book features topics such as the ecological factors, climate and other barriers that influence the distribution of arachnida. It also elaborates on the characteristics of the distribution such as arachnida at high altitude (e.g. Himalaya), in caves, in polar regions and highlights differences between the arachnofauna of e.g. Mediterranean regions vs Central Europe, West African vs Indomalayan and more. Furthermore, amongst other topics the volume also includes chapters on the systems of arachnida, fossil orders, dispersal and dispersion, endemics and relicts, regional arachnogeography, cave and high altitude arachnida.

Arachnida --- Geographical distribution. --- Arachnids --- Arthropoda --- Entomology. --- Vertebrates. --- Animal ecology. --- Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography. --- Animal Ecology. --- Animals --- Zoology --- Ecology --- Vertebrata --- Chordata --- Insects --- Animal systematics. --- Animal taxonomy. --- Animal classification --- Animal systematics --- Animal taxonomy --- Classification --- Systematic zoology --- Systematics (Zoology) --- Taxonomy, Animal --- Zoological classification --- Zoological systematics --- Zoological taxonomy

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This work was begun to provide keys to the aquatic insect species known from Brazil. The original goal was to include all genera known from South America and all species from Brazil, but for most groups, the scope was expanded to encompass all species in South America, and, in some cases, to include terrestrial species of orders that include both terrestrial and aquatic taxa. In no case is a taxonomic revision of any group undertaken, although recommendations for such revisions are included where appropriate, and the probable synonymy of nominal species still treated as valid in the literature is noted. Two different approaches will be employed according to the taxon being treated. For phylogenetic groups encompassing overwhelmingly or exclusively aquatic species, such as the orders Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera or the families Dytiscidae and Culicidae, keys are provided to distinguish all genera and species known to occur in South America. An effort has been made to include every identifiable species so that the user of the key can determine with reasonable certainty whether or not his specimen belongs to a species that has already been described or whether it is one that is not yet known to science. Where feasible, complete keys will be prepared for groups containing both aquatic and terrestrial species that do not encompass an extraordinarily large number of species. This has already been done for the order Collembola.

Aquatic insects --- Damselflies --- Damsel flies --- Zygoptera --- Odonata --- Insects, Aquatic --- Water insects --- Aquatic invertebrates --- Insects --- Entomology. --- Zoology. --- Aquatic biology. --- Animal ecology. --- Freshwater & Marine Ecology. --- Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography. --- Animal Ecology. --- Animals --- Zoology --- Ecology --- Hydrobiology --- Water biology --- Aquatic sciences --- Biology --- Natural history --- Aquatic ecology . --- Animal systematics. --- Animal taxonomy. --- Animal classification --- Animal systematics --- Animal taxonomy --- Classification --- Systematic zoology --- Systematics (Zoology) --- Taxonomy, Animal --- Zoological classification --- Zoological systematics --- Zoological taxonomy --- Aquatic biology