ABSTRACT
A new species of Pomponia Stl, 1866 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from the P. linearis group is described from the Western Ghats of southern India. The hitherto unknown species, P. pseudolinearis sp. nov., is easily diagnosed from the other Pomponia species of the Western Ghats based on the unique structure of its male genitalia, low to mid-altitudinal distribution, and the characteristic male song. The new taxon is a member of the P. linearis species group according to its morphology and the distinctly protruding paramedian basal pygofer lobe suggests its affiliation to the linearis species complex inside the P. linearis species group. The divergent basal lobes of pygofer of males of this species are the critical characteristic feature that can be used to distinguish it from all the other members of the P. linearis species complex. It appears that this cryptic, common, and widespread species of the southern Western Ghats region was confused with P. linearis in the past. Pomponia linearis may not occur in the Western Ghats and its records are possibly a result of erroneous identification due to species lumping with similar taxa of linearis species complex distributed from Northeast India to Vietnam. In addition, some new morphometric indices are introduced. Notes on other known Pomponia species of the Western Ghats, namely P. cyanea Fraser, 1948 and P. zebra Bliven, 1964 are also provided with P. folei Fraser, 1948 treated as a nomen nudum.
Subject(s)
Hemiptera , Animals , India , MaleABSTRACT
Arteriovenous fistulas are an important means of vascular access for long-term haemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We evaluated the outcome of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas (RCAVFs) in 55 patients operated upon in our hospital in southern India. We studied the outcome of RCAVF surgery with the demographic factors, duration of diabetes, the diameter of the radial artery and cephalic vein, and any signs of atherosclerosis in the radial artery. We found that a small cephalic vein size of ≤ 2 mm, a negative cephalic vein tap test, a thickened, non-compressible, calcified radial artery on palpation, and evidence of atherosclerosis on radiological investigations were associated with a significant chance of RCAVF failure. A clinico-radiological grading of atherosclerosis for peripheral arteries is also proposed. Any patient presenting to the microsurgeon with a small cephalic vein size, a negative cephalic vein tap test, a thickened, non-compressible, calcified vessel on palpation, and tram-track calcification or whole vessel calcification or severely atherosclerotic vessel on radiological evaluation must be approached with caution regarding RCAVF creation and must be prepared for an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation at a higher level.
ABSTRACT
A new classification for acquired split earlobes based on surgical implications is proposed here. Numerous techniques have been described and the choice of the surgery is a difficult one so a simplified approach to the choice of the repair method is provided. Any surgical repair, to stand the test of time must be simpler to perform and should serve the purpose of aesthetics as well as function. The composite method of earlobe repair described here incorporates an upper triangular flap preserving the perforation; the undermining of cleft margins to prevent suture line grooving, and a lower L-plasty to prevent inferior notching. This technique is easy to understand and perform, and avoids a second appointment and visit for ear piercing.
ABSTRACT
A new species of Cyclogomphus Selys, 1854 is described from the Western Ghats of India based on male and female specimens collected from Goa and Kerala states. The new species differs from all the known species of Cyclogomphus in the shape of the anal appendages as well as the thoracic and abdominal markings. We also provide here an updated key to the Cyclogomphus species and comment on the status of Cyclogomphus vesiculosus Selys, 1873.
Subject(s)
Odonata , Animals , Female , India , Insecta , MaleABSTRACT
We here describe Sitana attenboroughii sp. nov., a new species of fan-throated lizard of the genus Sitana Cuvier, 1829 from coastal Kerala in southern India. The new species morphologically is closer to Sitana visiri Deepak, 2016 (in Deepak et al. 2016a), however, differs in having higher numbers of ventral scales and a comparatively short but richly colored dewlap. Genetically the new species shows affinity to Sitana marudhamneydhal Deepak, Khandekar, Varma Chaitanya, 2016 from which it differs in an uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence of 2.2% for a fragment of mitochondrial Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (NADH) subunit 2 gene.
Subject(s)
Lizards , Animals , India , Mitochondria , PhylogenyABSTRACT
A new species of Tyrannomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), T. alii sp. nov., is described from the Western Ghats of Kerala State in southern India. This new species can be distinguished from other Tyrannomyrmex species using morphological characters, from T.dux by the petiolar shape, and from T. legatus and T.rex by surface sculpture and pilosity. The gyne of the genus is described for the first time. We provide detailed morphological descriptions of the gyne and worker castes, images from scanning electron microscopy, a key to all four known species of Tyrannomyrmex, and a note on the ecology of this rare genus.
