http://www.collembola.org/publicat/collegyp.htm - Last updated on 2000.08.23 by Frans Janssens
Checklist of the Collembola: Nomina Collembola Egyptica, second iteration

Abdel-Nasser, H. A., Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Moharrem Bey, Alexandria, Egypt

Preamble

This is the second iteration and completely revised edition of the checklist of the Collembola of Egypt, compiled by Dr Abdel-Nasser.

The first provisional version was provided on 2000.06.15.

Frans Janssens

2000.08.15

ABSTRACT

Few studies were concerned with the ecology and systematic of the collembolan fauna in the Egyptian soils. The total number of the collembolan species recorded in Egypt from 1906 till now is 44 species with some records having wrong citations or systematic positions. The present annotated classified list aims at updating the systematic status of the Collembola of Egypt. The total number of species is 39 belonging to 16 families, in addition to 2 species of uncertain identity. The species belonging to Isotomidae [10 species] and Entomobryidae [8 species] constitute the largest percent of the total recorded species.

INTRODUCTION

Much of the Egyptian habitats have been subjected to human impacts which alter the habitat characteristics and consequently the associated flora and fauna (Stanley & Warne, 1998). A call for the establishment of a Biodiversity Data Bank for the Egyptian fauna must be a priority.

Few studies were concerned with the ecology and systematic of the collembolan fauna in the Egyptian soils. Most of these studies were conducted in the Nile Delta and the northwestern Mediterranean Coast of Egypt. These studies began in 1906 when Wahlgren recorded 8 collembolan species. Stach (1935 & 1947), Paclt (1959), El-Kifl et al. (1974), Tadros (1981), Moursi et al. (1983a), Dekinesh (1991a), Dekinesh et al. (1992 a), El-Kady et al. (1994) and Badr et al. (1996) added much to our knowledge of Collembola of Egypt. On the other hand, El-Kifl (1957 & 1959), Nassar et al. (1967), Moen et al. (1974), Hegazi et al. (1981), Tadros (1981), Moursi et al. (1983b), Dekinesh (1991b), Dekinesh et al. (1992b,c), Al-Assiuty et al. (1993), Aly (1995) and Aly et al. (1999) investigated the ecological status of the collembolan fauna in the Egyptian soils.

There is a great confusion among the previously cited literature concerning the records of the species of Collembola. Some studies followed Gisin (1960), while others did not. Also, some species and their synonyms were considered as separate ones, in addition to the wrong records of systematic positions of other species.

 

 

The present study aims at presenting an updated checklist of Collembola of Egypt based upon the most recent and acceptable outline of the systematic of Collembola. The list will be arranged according to The Checklist of The Collembola of the World (Janssens, 1997-2000) who referred to Salmon (1964) as a basic source for references in most cases.

An Annotated Classified Checklist of Collembola from Egypt

The higher classification of class Collembola in the present checklist is that compiled and modified from Soto-Adames (1996) in Janssens (1997-2000). For more information about the higher systematic, phylogenetic relationships of Collembola, synonyms, and world biogeographical distribution of the recorded species see Janssens (1997-2000). Record of the species in Gisin (1960) is listed if it was different from the present name for easier reference to the records in the Egyptian literature that followed Gisin (1960). The species of uncertain identity or doubtful occurrence in Egypt are marked with (?).

For more information you can contact Dr Abdel-Nasser.

PROVISIONAL CHECKLIST OF THE COLLEMBOLA OF EGYPT

Order: Poduromorpha

Family: Hypogastruridae [5 species]

1] Hypogastrura sp. close to crassaengranulata Stach, 1949

Records in Egypt: El-Kady et al. (1994)

Dr. K. A. Christiansen (USA) identified this species from soil samples underneath rabbit carcasses in a botanical garden in Alexandria. It seems that it is a European species and not recorded before in the Mediterranean region or Africa.

2] Hypogastrura manubrialis (Tullberg, 1869)

Records in Egypt: Paclt (1959), Tadros (1981)

3] Ceratophysella armata (Nicolet, 1842)

{Hypogastrura armata (Nicolet, 1841) in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Paclt (1959), Tadros (1981)

4] Ceratophysella denticulata (Bagnall, 1941)

{Hypogastrura denticulata (Bagnall, 1941) in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Al-Assiuty et al. (1993), Aly et al. (1999)

5] Choreutinula inermis (Tullberg, 1871)

{Hypogastrura inermis (Tullberg, 1871) in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Al-Assiuty et al. (1993), Aly et al. (1999)

Family: Odontellidae [one species]

6] Xenyllodes armatus Axelson, 1903

{Odontella armata Axelson, 1903 in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh (1991a)

Family: Brachystomellidae [one species]

7] Brachystomella parvula (Schäffer, 1896)

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh (1991a)

Family: Neanuridae [2 species]

8] Friesea claviseta Axelson, 1900

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Dekinesh et al. (1992b), Al-Assiuty et al. (1993), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

9] Neanura muscorum (Templeton, 1835)

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh et al. (1992a,b), Aly (1995)

Family: Onychiuridae [one species]

10] Archaphorura absoloni (Börner, 1901)

{Onychiurus absoloni (Börner, 1901) in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Dekinesh et al. (1992b), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

Family: Tullbergiidae [one species]

11] Paratullbergia callipygos (Börner, 1903)

[Tullbergia callipygos Börner, 1902 in Gisin [960]}

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Dekinesh et al. (1992b), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

Order: Metaxypleona

Family: Poduridae [one species]

12] Podura aquatica Linnaeus, 1758

{Podura aquatica Linné, 1758 in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: El- Kifl (1974), Tadros (1981)

Order: Entomobryomorpha

Family: Isotomidae [10 species]

13] Pseudanurophorus binoculatus (Kseneman, 1934)

{Anurophorus binoculatus (Kseneman,1934) in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh et al. (1992a,b), Aly (1995)

14] Folsomides parvulus Stach, 1922

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Dekinesh et al. (1992b), Aly (1995)

15] Cryptopygos orientalis (Stach, 1947)

{Isotomina orientalis Stach, 1947 in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh et al. (1992a,b,c), Aly (1995)

16] Cryptopygos thermophilus (Axelson, 1900)

{Isotomina thermophila (Axelson, 1900) in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Dekinesh (1991b), Dekinesh et al. (1992b,c), Al-Assiuty et al. (1993), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

17] Archisotoma besselsi (Packard, 1877)

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh et al. (1992a,b), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

18] Proisotoma minuta (Tullberg, 1871)

Records in Egypt: Wahlgren (1906?), Stach (1947), Paclt (1959), Tadros (1981), Dekinesh (1991a)

Stach (1947) recorded P. minuta for the first time from Egypt. Paclt (1959) reported that " the doubtful species I. Lineata described by Wahlgren (1906) from Egypt, may be in the reality P. minuta (Tullberg, 1871)". Gisin (1960) reported that Isotoma lineata Wahlgren, 1906 is of doubtful occurrence. P. minuta was wrongly cited as a first record for Egypt by Dekinesh (1991a). P. Bellinger (personal communication) reported that "I. lineata (Wahlgren) is of uncertain identity; according to Stach (1947), it may be in Isotomina (=Cryptopygus), but I don’t know why he thought that. It was keyed in Proisotoma by Denis (1931) [Boll. Lab. Zool. Portici., 25:119]. In any case that name is an invalid junior homonym of Isotoma lineata Lubbock, 1862."

19] Isotomurus palustris (Müller, 1776)

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Dekinesh et al. (1992b), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

20] Isotoma viridis Bourlet, 1839

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh et al. (1992a,b), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

21] Isotomiella minor (Schäffer, 1896)

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh (1991a)

22] Parisotoma notabilis (Schäffer, 1896)

{Isotoma notabilis Schäffer, 1896 in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh et al. (1992a,b), Aly (1995)

 

Family: Entomobryidae [8 species]

23] Entomobrya atrocincta Schött, 1896

Records in Egypt: Badr et al. (1996)

24] Entomobrya lanuginosa (Nicolet, 1842)

Records in Egypt: Badr et al. (1996)

25] Entomobrya lindbergi Stach, 1960

Records in Egypt: El-Kady et al. (1994)

Dr. K. A. Christiansen (USA) identified this species from soil samples underneath rabbit carcasses in a botanical garden in Alexandria.

26] Mesentotoma dollfusi (Denis, 1924)

{Entomobrya dollfusi Denis, 1924 in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh et al. (1992a,b), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

27] Prodrepanura musatica (Stach, 1935)

{Entomobrya musatica Stach, 1935 in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Stach (1935), Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Al-Assiuty et al. (1993), Aly et al. (1999)

28] Seira traegaardhi (Wahlgren, 1906)

Records in Egypt: Wahlgren (1906), Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Aly et al. (1999)

29] Lepidocyrtus l. cyaneus Tullberg, 1871

{Lepidocyrtus cyaneus Tullberg, 1871 in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Wahlgren (1906), Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Al-Assiuty et al. (1993), Aly et al. (1999)

30] Pseudosinella octopunctata Börner, 1901

Records in Egypt: Wahlgren (1906), Paclt (1959), Tadros (1981), Dekinesh et al. (1992a,b), Aly (1995)

Paclt (1959) cited that L. decem-oculatus is a synonym of P. octopunctata. This species was wrongly cited as a first record to Egypt by Dekinesh et al. (1992a).

Family: Cyphoderidae [one species]

31] Cyphoderus bidenticulatus Parona, 1888

{Cyphoderus bidenticulatus (Parona,1888) in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Al-Assiuty et al. (1993)

Parona created bidenticulatus as a variant of Cyphoderus albinos. Börner in 1903 raised bidenticulatus to species rank, and therefore the parentheses of the name in Gisin (1960) must be removed since it is a case of intraspecific rank recombinations and not a case of new genera-species recombinations (Janssens, F. personal communication).

Family: Tomoceridae [one species]

32] Pogonognathellus flavescens (Tullberg, 1871)

{Tomocerus flavescens (Tullberg, 1871) in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh (1991a )

Order: Symphypleona

Family: Sminthurididae [one species]

33] Sphaeridia pumilis (Krausbauer, 1898)

{Sminthurides pumilis (Krausbauer, 1898) in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Dekinesh et al. (1992b), Al-Assiuty et al. (1993), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

Family: Katiannidae [3 species]

34] Sminthurinus bimaculatus Axelson, 1902

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh (1991a ), Dekinesh et al. (1992b), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

35] Sminthurinus elegans (Fitch, 1862)

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh (1991a )

36] Sminthurinus niger (Lubbock, 1867)

Records in Egypt: Wahlgren (1906)

 

Family: Arrhopalitidae [one species]

37] Arrhopalites acanthophthalmus Gisin, 1958

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh et al. (1992a,b), Aly (1995)

Family: Bourletiellidae [one species]

38] Bourletiella hortensis (Fitch, 1862)

Records in Egypt: Dekinesh (1991a )

Family: Sminthuridae [one species]

39] Sphyrotheca multifasciata (Reuter, 1881)

{Sminthurus multifasciatus Reuter, 1878 in Gisin [1960]}

Records in Egypt: Moursi et al. (1983a,b), Dekinesh et al. (1992b), Aly (1995), Aly et al. (1999)

(?) Species of doubtful occurrence or uncertain identity and recorded from Egypt:

Family: Neanuridae

1] Pseudachorutes niloticus Wahlgren, 1906

Records in Egypt: Wahlgren (1906)

This species was considered of doubtful occurrence in Egypt due to the following:

    1. It was only recorded by Wahlgren in 1906 and never recorded again since this date.

    2. According to the recorded world distribution in Janssens (1997-2000), it is of doubtful occurrence in most African regions.

Family: Entomobryidae

2] Seira squamoornata (Scherbakov, 1898)

Records in Egypt: Paclt (1959), Tadros (1981)

This species was considered of doubtful occurrence in Egypt due to the following contradicted views:

    1. Paclt (1959) reported that El-Kifl (1957) recorded Seira (Mesira) squamoornata under a synonym Lepidocyrtus incertus Handsch. He added that Wahlgren (1906) who identified it as a different species of the genus Lepidocyrtus, which may be incolorata, recorded this species already from Egypt.

    2. Frans Janssens (personal communication) reported that "Handschin 1942. lists both incolorata and incerta as subspecies of S. squamoornata". This means that the three species can be now considered as one species having two subspecies.

    3. The most important point is that Dr. Peter Bellinger (personal communication) reported that S. squamoornata is a European species and all records from Africa are incorrect. He added that L. incertus Handschin and S. incolorata (Wahlgren) are of uncertain identity since records from Africa by Paclt and Salmon precede the use of chaetotaxy for species recognition.

Discussion

The present study revealed the systematic status of the collembolan fauna in the Egyptian soils. It updated the outline of systematic and presented an annotated classified checklist of Collembola of Egypt. Badr et al. (1996) listed 42 species, but some showed some mistakes. There were two other species that were not included in Badr et al. (1996). These are Lepidocyrtinus incertus recorded by El-Kifl (1957) and Tadros (1981), and Hypogastrura sp. close to crassaengranulata Stach, 1949 recorded by El-Kady et al. (1994). This brings the total number to 44 species. The present checklist excluded four species of doubtful occurrence or uncertain identity [Pseudachorutes niloticus and Seira squamoornata complex], and one species synonym to another one [Isotoma lineata]. Therefore the final list recorded 39 collembolan species. Most of the recorded species are inhabitants of the Mediterranean Biogeographical Region . The species belonging to Isotomidae [10 species] and Entomobryidae [8 species] constitute the largest percent of the total recorded species. The previously cited studies covered only about 1/30 of the total area of Egypt. Therefore more efforts should be carried out for surveying the collembolan fauna in Egypt .

 

Acknowledgments

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to F. Janssens (Department of Biology, University of Antwerp [RUCA], Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium) and Dr. P. Bellinger (Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USA) for their comments during the preparation of the checklist. I am grateful to Dr. A. A. El-Moursy (Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University) for his helpful discussion and criticism during the revision of the manuscript.

References

 

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