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Animals evolve their sensory systems and foraging behaviors to adapt and colonize new and challenging habitats such as the dark cave environment. Vibration attraction behavior (VAB) gives fish the ability to locate the source of a water disturbance in the darkness. VAB evolved in the blind Mexican cave tetra, Astyanax mexicanus. VAB is triggered in cavefish by vibration stimuli peaking at 35 Hz, which is within the main spectrum of water fluctuations produced by many prey crustaceans and insects. VAB has a genetic component and is correlated to an increased number of head mechanosensory neuromasts in the eye orbital region when compared to surface fish. Previous competitive prey capture assays have supported the advantage of VAB for foraging in the dark. Despite its putative adaptive function, VAB has been described as absent in some Astyanax cave populations (Tinaja and Molino) but present in others (Pachón, Piedras, Toro and Sabinos). Here we have tested the occurrence of VAB in the field and in multiple cave populations using a vibrating device in natural pools. Our results confirmed the presence of VAB in caves such as Pachón, Toro and Sabinos but showed that VAB is also present in the Tinaja and Molino cave populations, previously reported as VAB‐negative in laboratory experiments. Thus, VAB is available throughout the range of hypogean A. mexicanus. However, and most notably, within a given cave the levels of VAB were highly variable among different pools. Fish at one pool may express no VAB, while fish at another nearby pool of the same cave may actively show VAB. While a variety of environmental conditions may foster this diversity, we found that individuals inhabiting pools with a high abundance of organic matter have reduced expression of VAB. In contrast, in pools with little organic debris where fish probably depend more on hunting than on scavenging, VAB is enhanced. Our results suggest that expression of VAB is a plastic trait whose variability can depend on local conditions. Such plasticity may be required within and among caves where high environmental variability between pools result in a diverse availability of food. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Luis Espinasa; Carly Heintz; Sylvie Rétaux; Masato Yoshisawa; François Agnès; Patricia Ornelas‐Garcia; Robert Balogh‐Robinson. Vibration attraction response is a plastic trait in blind Mexican tetra ( Astyanax mexicanus ), variable within subpopulations inhabiting the same cave. Journal of Fish Biology 2020, 98, 304 -316.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Carly Heintz, Sylvie Rétaux, Masato Yoshisawa, François Agnès, Patricia Ornelas‐Garcia, Robert Balogh‐Robinson. Vibration attraction response is a plastic trait in blind Mexican tetra ( Astyanax mexicanus ), variable within subpopulations inhabiting the same cave. Journal of Fish Biology. 2020; 98 (1):304-316.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Carly Heintz; Sylvie Rétaux; Masato Yoshisawa; François Agnès; Patricia Ornelas‐Garcia; Robert Balogh‐Robinson. 2020. "Vibration attraction response is a plastic trait in blind Mexican tetra ( Astyanax mexicanus ), variable within subpopulations inhabiting the same cave." Journal of Fish Biology 98, no. 1: 304-316.
The Astyanax species complex has two morphs: a blind, depigmented morph which inhabits caves in México and an eyed, pigmented surface-dwelling morph. The eyed morph can also be found in a few caves, sometimes hybridizing with the cave morph. This species complex has arguably become the most prominent model system among cave organisms for the study of evolutionary development and genomics. Before this study, 32 caves were known to be inhabited by the cave morph, 30 of them within the El Abra region. The purpose of this study was to conduct new surveys of the area and to assess some unconfirmed reports of caves presumably inhabited by troglomorphic fish. We describe two new localities, Sótano del Toro #2 and Sótano de La Calera. These two caves comprise a single hydrologic system together with the previously described cave of Sótano del Toro. The system is inhabited by a mixed population of troglomorphic, epigeomorphic, and presumably hybrid fish. Furthermore, Astyanax cavefish and the mysid shrimp Spelaeomysis quinterensis show a phylogeographic convergence that supports the notion that the central Sierra de El Abra is a biogeographical region that has influenced the evolutionary history of its aquatic community across species. The presumptive location of the boundaries of this biogeographical region are identified.
Luis Espinasa; Claudia Patricia Ornelas-García; Laurent Legendre; Sylvie Rétaux; Alexandra Best; Ramses Gamboa-Miranda; Hector Espinosa-Pérez; Peter Sprouse. Discovery of Two New Astyanax Cavefish Localities Leads to Further Understanding of the Species Biogeography. Diversity 2020, 12, 368 .
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Claudia Patricia Ornelas-García, Laurent Legendre, Sylvie Rétaux, Alexandra Best, Ramses Gamboa-Miranda, Hector Espinosa-Pérez, Peter Sprouse. Discovery of Two New Astyanax Cavefish Localities Leads to Further Understanding of the Species Biogeography. Diversity. 2020; 12 (10):368.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Claudia Patricia Ornelas-García; Laurent Legendre; Sylvie Rétaux; Alexandra Best; Ramses Gamboa-Miranda; Hector Espinosa-Pérez; Peter Sprouse. 2020. "Discovery of Two New Astyanax Cavefish Localities Leads to Further Understanding of the Species Biogeography." Diversity 12, no. 10: 368.
The Astyanax species complex has two morphs: a blind, depigmented morph which inhabits caves in México and an eyed, pigmented surface-dwelling morph. The eyed morph can also be found in caves, sometimes hybridizing with the cave morph. This species complex has arguably become the most prominent model system among cave organisms for the study of evolutionary development and genomics. Before this study, 32 caves were known to be inhabited by the cave morph, 30 of them within the El Abra region. The purpose of this study was to conduct new surveys of the area and to assess some unconfirmed reports of caves presumably inhabited by troglomorphic fish. We describe two new localities, Sótano del Toro #2 and Sótano de La Calera. These two caves make a single hydric system together with the previously described cave of Sótano del Toro. The system is inhabited by a mixed population of troglomorphic, epigeomorphic and presumably hybrid fish. Furthermore, Astyanax cavefish and the mysid shrimp Spelaeomysis quinterensis show a phylogeographic convergence that supports the notion that the central Sierra de El Abra is a biogeographical region that has influenced the evolutionary history of its aquatic community across species. The presumptive location of its boundaries, which may limit cave-to-cave or surface-to-cave gene flow, are identified.
Luis Espinasa; Claudia Patricia Ornelas-García; Laurent Legendre; Sylvie Rétaux; Alexandra Best; Ramses Gamboa-Miranda; Hector Espinosa-Pérez; Peter Sprouse. Two New Localities of Astyanax Cavefish Plus Revision of its Biogeography. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Claudia Patricia Ornelas-García, Laurent Legendre, Sylvie Rétaux, Alexandra Best, Ramses Gamboa-Miranda, Hector Espinosa-Pérez, Peter Sprouse. Two New Localities of Astyanax Cavefish Plus Revision of its Biogeography. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Claudia Patricia Ornelas-García; Laurent Legendre; Sylvie Rétaux; Alexandra Best; Ramses Gamboa-Miranda; Hector Espinosa-Pérez; Peter Sprouse. 2020. "Two New Localities of Astyanax Cavefish Plus Revision of its Biogeography." , no. : 1.
Samples of Nicoletiidae (order Zygentoma = Thysanura s. str.) collected in two localities from Puerto Rico belonging to the genus Anelpistina Silvestri, 1905 are studied. One of them, collected in the same cave where A. puertoricensis Espinasa and Baker Alpheis, 2003 was found, allows for the description of the female of this species, together with some additional information on the variability and postembryonic development of this troglobitic insect. The second consists of specimens collected in litter of the islet of Palominos, near the northeastern coast of the main island of Puerto Rico; these specimens are identified as a new species. This species, named Anelpistina naarae sp. nov., is described and compared with related species. A genetic analysis of its DNA and 16S rRNA compared with the available data of the remaining species points to the chronology of the lineages of Anelpistina in this island and their relationships with continental species of the genus.
R Molero-Baltanás; L Espinasa; M Gaju-Ricart. The Genus Anelpistina (Insecta, Zygentoma, Nicoletiidae) in Puerto Rico, with the Description of a New Species. Neotropical Entomology 2019, 49, 62 -72.
AMA StyleR Molero-Baltanás, L Espinasa, M Gaju-Ricart. The Genus Anelpistina (Insecta, Zygentoma, Nicoletiidae) in Puerto Rico, with the Description of a New Species. Neotropical Entomology. 2019; 49 (1):62-72.
Chicago/Turabian StyleR Molero-Baltanás; L Espinasa; M Gaju-Ricart. 2019. "The Genus Anelpistina (Insecta, Zygentoma, Nicoletiidae) in Puerto Rico, with the Description of a New Species." Neotropical Entomology 49, no. 1: 62-72.
Graeme B. Smith; Andrew Mitchell; Timothy R. C. Lee; Luis Espinasa. DNA barcoding and integrative taxonomy of the Heterolepisma sclerophylla species complex (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae: Heterolepismatinae) and the description of two new species. Records of the Australian Museum 2019, 71, 1 -32.
AMA StyleGraeme B. Smith, Andrew Mitchell, Timothy R. C. Lee, Luis Espinasa. DNA barcoding and integrative taxonomy of the Heterolepisma sclerophylla species complex (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae: Heterolepismatinae) and the description of two new species. Records of the Australian Museum. 2019; 71 (1):1-32.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGraeme B. Smith; Andrew Mitchell; Timothy R. C. Lee; Luis Espinasa. 2019. "DNA barcoding and integrative taxonomy of the Heterolepisma sclerophylla species complex (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae: Heterolepismatinae) and the description of two new species." Records of the Australian Museum 71, no. 1: 1-32.
Luis Espinasa; Geoffrey Hoese; Theofilos Toulkeridis; Rickard Toomey. Corroboration that the Mc1r Gly/Ser mutation correlates with the phenotypic expression of pigmentation in Astroblepus. Developmental Biology 2018, 441, 311 -312.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Geoffrey Hoese, Theofilos Toulkeridis, Rickard Toomey. Corroboration that the Mc1r Gly/Ser mutation correlates with the phenotypic expression of pigmentation in Astroblepus. Developmental Biology. 2018; 441 (2):311-312.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Geoffrey Hoese; Theofilos Toulkeridis; Rickard Toomey. 2018. "Corroboration that the Mc1r Gly/Ser mutation correlates with the phenotypic expression of pigmentation in Astroblepus." Developmental Biology 441, no. 2: 311-312.
Cave organisms are often characterized by reduced pigmentation, eyesight, and enhanced mechanosensory functions. The stygobitic catfish Astroblepuspholeter is found within some subterranean drainages in Ecuador. The species was first described in 1962 with specimens that were all highly depigmented and troglomorphic. The next observations in the field occurred until 2011, 2015 and 2018. At such dates, specimens examined progressively displayed more surface-like appearance. Appendages in these individuals were progressively shorter and pigmentation levels are now as high as some surface Astroblepus. Based on sampled specimens, it would appear that since 1962, the population has been progressively composed of less troglomorphic individuals. One possibility is that the population has undergone introgressive hybridization in recent years as surface Astroblepus are known to enter the caves and cohabitate with the troglomorphic Astroblepus. Lastly, we report that Individuals are able to detect and respond to light. Histological analyses show that A.pholeter’s eyes have all of the major ocular structures (lens, optic nerve, and all retinal layers).
Luis Espinasa; Jenna Robinson; Daphne Soares; Geoffrey Hoese; Theofilos Toulkeridis; Rickard Toomey Iii. Troglomorphic features of Astroblepus pholeter, a cavefish from Ecuador, and possible introgressive hybridization. Subterranean Biology 2018, 27, 17 -29.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Jenna Robinson, Daphne Soares, Geoffrey Hoese, Theofilos Toulkeridis, Rickard Toomey Iii. Troglomorphic features of Astroblepus pholeter, a cavefish from Ecuador, and possible introgressive hybridization. Subterranean Biology. 2018; 27 ():17-29.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Jenna Robinson; Daphne Soares; Geoffrey Hoese; Theofilos Toulkeridis; Rickard Toomey Iii. 2018. "Troglomorphic features of Astroblepus pholeter, a cavefish from Ecuador, and possible introgressive hybridization." Subterranean Biology 27, no. : 17-29.
In this study, we report evidence of a novel duplication of Melanocortin receptor 1 (Mc1r) in the cavefish genome. This locus was discovered following the observation of excessive allelic diversity in a ∼820 bp fragment of Mc1r amplified via degenerate PCR from a natural population of Astyanax aeneus fish from Guerrero, Mexico. The cavefish genome reveals the presence of two closely related Mc1r open reading frames separated by a 1.46 kb intergenic region. One open reading frame corresponds to the previously reported Mc1r receptor, and the other open reading frame (duplicate copy) is 975 bp in length, encoding a receptor of 325 amino acids. Sequence similarity analyses position both copies in the syntenic region of the single Mc1r locus in 16 representative craniate genomes spanning bony fish (including Astyanax) to mammals, suggesting we discovered tandem duplicates of this important gene. The two Mc1r copies share ∼89% sequence similarity and, within Astyanax, are more similar to one another compared to other melanocortin family members. Future studies will inform the precise functional significance of the duplicated Mc1r locus and if this novel copy number variant may have adaptive significance for the Astyanax lineage.
Joshua B. Gross; James Weagley; Bethany A. Stahl; Li Ma; Luis Espinasa; Suzanne E. McGaugh. A local duplication of the Melanocortin receptor 1 locus in Astyanax. Genome 2018, 61, 254 -265.
AMA StyleJoshua B. Gross, James Weagley, Bethany A. Stahl, Li Ma, Luis Espinasa, Suzanne E. McGaugh. A local duplication of the Melanocortin receptor 1 locus in Astyanax. Genome. 2018; 61 (4):254-265.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoshua B. Gross; James Weagley; Bethany A. Stahl; Li Ma; Luis Espinasa; Suzanne E. McGaugh. 2018. "A local duplication of the Melanocortin receptor 1 locus in Astyanax." Genome 61, no. 4: 254-265.
Life in the darkness of caves is accompanied, throughout phyla, by striking phenotypic changes including the loss or severe reduction in eyes and pigmentation. On the other hand, cave animals have undergone constructive changes, thought to be adaptive, to survive in this extreme environment. The present study addresses the question of the evolution of growth in caves, taking advantage of the comparison between the river-dwelling and the cave-dwelling morphs of the Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus. A sclerochronology approach was undertaken to document the growth of the species in these two very distinct habitats. Scales from 158 wild Astyanax mexicanus specimens were analyzed from three caves (Pachón, Tinaja and Subterráneo) and two rivers (Rio Gallinas and Arroyo Lagarto) in San Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas, Mexico. A 10–13% reduction in scales size was observed in the cave morphs compared to the surface morphs. Age could be reliably inferred from annual growth increments on the scales from the two morphs of the species. Further comparisons with growth curves in laboratory conditions, obtained using the von Bertalanffy growth model, were also performed. In the wild and in the laboratory, cavefish originating from the Pachón cave reached smaller sizes than surface fish from three different locations: Rio Gallinas and Arroyo Lagarto (wild sampling) and Texas (laboratory population), respectively. Wild Pachón cavefish also seemed to grow to smaller sizes than the two other wild cavefish populations studied, Tinaja and Subterráneo. Finally, growth in the laboratory was faster than in the wild, particularly in the two first years of life. These data suggest that cavefish originating from the Pachón cave are subjected to an intrinsic limitation of their final size, which is at least in part independent from energy/food availability. This growth limitation may be an advantageous way of limiting energy expenditure and food needs in the cave environment. Moreover, growth regulation evolved differently in independently evolved cave populations. These results are discussed with regard to the sources of energy or general ecological conditions present in caves, and to the differences in behavior or feeding skills known in cavefish.
Victor Simon; Romain Elleboode; Kélig Mahé; Laurent Legendre; Patricia Ornelas-Garcia; Luis Espinasa; Sylvie Rétaux. Comparing growth in surface and cave morphs of the species Astyanax mexicanus: insights from scales. EvoDevo 2017, 8, 1 -13.
AMA StyleVictor Simon, Romain Elleboode, Kélig Mahé, Laurent Legendre, Patricia Ornelas-Garcia, Luis Espinasa, Sylvie Rétaux. Comparing growth in surface and cave morphs of the species Astyanax mexicanus: insights from scales. EvoDevo. 2017; 8 (1):1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVictor Simon; Romain Elleboode; Kélig Mahé; Laurent Legendre; Patricia Ornelas-Garcia; Luis Espinasa; Sylvie Rétaux. 2017. "Comparing growth in surface and cave morphs of the species Astyanax mexicanus: insights from scales." EvoDevo 8, no. 1: 1-13.
While many cave-adapted organisms tend to be endemic to single locations or restricted to single karstic regions, the troglobitic silverfish insects of genus Texoreddellia can be found in scores of different cave localities that cover a range of nearly 160,000 km2. They are among the most important and common representatives of the cave-adapted fauna of Texas and Coahuila, in northern Mexico. Using morphological and mitochondrial gene sequence data, we have corroborated the presence of at least six different species within the genus and provided species identifications to populations inhabiting 153 different cave locations. Results show that species ranges are larger than previously reported and that ranges tend to greatly overlap with each other. We have also found that different species of Texoreddellia commonly inhabit the same cave in sympatry. Data supports that some species of Texoreddellia can easily disperse through the extensive network of cracks, fissures and smaller cavities near the surface and epikarst.
Luis Espinasa; Nicole D. Bartolo; Danielle M. Centone; Charisse S. Haruta; James R. Reddell. Revision of genus Texoreddellia Wygodzinsky, 1973 (Hexapoda, Zygentoma, Nicoletiidae), a prominent element of the cave-adapted fauna of Texas. Zootaxa 2016, 4126, 221 -239.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Nicole D. Bartolo, Danielle M. Centone, Charisse S. Haruta, James R. Reddell. Revision of genus Texoreddellia Wygodzinsky, 1973 (Hexapoda, Zygentoma, Nicoletiidae), a prominent element of the cave-adapted fauna of Texas. Zootaxa. 2016; 4126 (2):221-239.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Nicole D. Bartolo; Danielle M. Centone; Charisse S. Haruta; James R. Reddell. 2016. "Revision of genus Texoreddellia Wygodzinsky, 1973 (Hexapoda, Zygentoma, Nicoletiidae), a prominent element of the cave-adapted fauna of Texas." Zootaxa 4126, no. 2: 221-239.
Anelpistina taninuli sp. nov. (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae), a species from Taninul, Sierra de El Abra, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, is described. We also report the 16S rRNA sequence of this new species.
Luis Espinasa; Nicole Bartolo; Solomon Sloat. A new epigean species of the genus Anelpistina (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from Sierra de El Abra, Taninul, Mexico. European Journal of Taxonomy 2015, 1 .
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Nicole Bartolo, Solomon Sloat. A new epigean species of the genus Anelpistina (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from Sierra de El Abra, Taninul, Mexico. European Journal of Taxonomy. 2015; (156):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Nicole Bartolo; Solomon Sloat. 2015. "A new epigean species of the genus Anelpistina (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from Sierra de El Abra, Taninul, Mexico." European Journal of Taxonomy , no. 156: 1.
Luis Espinasa; Emily Collins; Mary Botelho. Two new nicoletiid species (Insecta: Zygentoma) from the Yucatan Peninsula, México. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 2014, 127, 473 -482.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Emily Collins, Mary Botelho. Two new nicoletiid species (Insecta: Zygentoma) from the Yucatan Peninsula, México. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 2014; 127 (3):473-482.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Emily Collins; Mary Botelho. 2014. "Two new nicoletiid species (Insecta: Zygentoma) from the Yucatan Peninsula, México." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 127, no. 3: 473-482.
Luis Espinasa; Kimberly Socci. A new species of Anelpistina (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from the rainforest of Selva Lacandona, Mexico. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 2014, 127, 466 -472.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Kimberly Socci. A new species of Anelpistina (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from the rainforest of Selva Lacandona, Mexico. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 2014; 127 (3):466-472.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Kimberly Socci. 2014. "A new species of Anelpistina (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from the rainforest of Selva Lacandona, Mexico." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 127, no. 3: 466-472.
The blind Mexican tetra fish, Astyanax mexicanus, has become the most influential model for research of cave adapted organisms. Many authors assume that the Sierra de Guatemala populations and the Sierra de El Abra populations are derived from two independent colonizations. This assumption arises in part from biogeography. The 100 m high, 100 m wide Servilleta Canyon of the Boquillas River separates both mountain ranges and is an apparent barrier for troglobite dispersion. Anelpistina quinterensis (Nicoletiidae, Zygentoma, Insecta) is one of the most troglomorphic nicoletiid silverfish insects ever described. 16S rRNA sequences support that this species migrated underground to reach both mountain ranges within less than 12,000 years. Furthermore, literature shows a plethora of aquatic and terrestrial cave restricted species that inhabit both mountain ranges. Thus, the Servilleta canyon has not been an effective biological barrier that prevented underground migration of troglobites between the Sierra de Guatemala and the Sierra de El Abra. The Boquillas River has changed its course throughout time. Caves that in the past connected the two Sierras were only recently geologically truncated by the erosion of the new river course. It is likely that, with the geological changes of the area and throughout the 2-8 million years of evolutionary history of cave Astyanax, there have been opportunities to migrate across the Servilleta canyon.
Luis Espinasa; Nicole Bartolo; Catherine E. Newkirk. DNA sequences of troglobitic nicoletiid insects support Sierra de El Abra and the Sierra de Guatemala as a single biogeographical area: Implications for Astyanax. Subterranean Biology 2014, 13, 35 -44.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Nicole Bartolo, Catherine E. Newkirk. DNA sequences of troglobitic nicoletiid insects support Sierra de El Abra and the Sierra de Guatemala as a single biogeographical area: Implications for Astyanax. Subterranean Biology. 2014; 13 ():35-44.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Nicole Bartolo; Catherine E. Newkirk. 2014. "DNA sequences of troglobitic nicoletiid insects support Sierra de El Abra and the Sierra de Guatemala as a single biogeographical area: Implications for Astyanax." Subterranean Biology 13, no. : 35-44.
Enhanced food-finding efficiency is an obvious adaptive response to cave environments. Here, we have compared the food-finding abilities of Astyanax surface fish and blind cavefish young larvae in their first month of life, in the dark. Our results show that enhanced prey capture skills of cavefish are already in effect in fry soon after the yolk is depleted and the young larvae must find food for themselves. Moreover, using prey capture competition assays on surface fish fry with lensectomies, we showed that eye-dependent developmental processes are not the main determinant for enhanced prey capture skills. Finally, using F2 hybrid larvae resulting from crosses between surface fish and cavefish, we found that reduced eyes do not confer a selective advantage for prey capture by fry in the dark. We discuss these data with regards to our current developmental and genetic understanding of cavefish morphological and behavioral evolution.
Luis Espinasa; Jonathan Bibliowicz; William R Jeffery; Sylvie Rétaux. Enhanced prey capture skills in Astyanax cavefish larvae are independent from eye loss. EvoDevo 2014, 5, 35 -35.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Jonathan Bibliowicz, William R Jeffery, Sylvie Rétaux. Enhanced prey capture skills in Astyanax cavefish larvae are independent from eye loss. EvoDevo. 2014; 5 (1):35-35.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Jonathan Bibliowicz; William R Jeffery; Sylvie Rétaux. 2014. "Enhanced prey capture skills in Astyanax cavefish larvae are independent from eye loss." EvoDevo 5, no. 1: 35-35.
Due to the difficulty in collecting specimens, the genus Squamigera (Insecta: Nicoletiidae: Cubacubaninae) remains one of the least studied groups of the American nicoletiid insects. before this investigation, only six specimens were available for study. Furthermore, previous assessments of its phylogenetic relationship within the Cubacubaninae used incomplete 16S rRNA sequences that had ambiguous bases from only a single Squamigera specimen, thus reducing the resolution. We describe here a new species of Squamigera and provide for future studies, a more complete 16S rRNA sequence for the genus using this new species. Key words: Silverfish, bristletails, thysanura, morphology, molecular data.
Luis Espinasa; Mary Botelho; Kimberly Socci. A new species of genus Squamigera (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from the Mayan ruins of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. Journal of Entomology and Nematology 2013, 5, 24 -28.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Mary Botelho, Kimberly Socci. A new species of genus Squamigera (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from the Mayan ruins of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. Journal of Entomology and Nematology. 2013; 5 (2):24-28.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Mary Botelho; Kimberly Socci. 2013. "A new species of genus Squamigera (Insecta: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from the Mayan ruins of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico." Journal of Entomology and Nematology 5, no. 2: 24-28.
In blind cave-dwelling populations of Astyanax mexicanus, several morphological and behavioral shifts occurred during evolution in caves characterized by total and permanent darkness. Previous studies have shown that sensory systems such as the lateral line (mechanosensory) and taste buds (chemosensory) are modified in cavefish. It has long been hypothesized that another chemosensory modality, the olfactory system, might have evolved as well to provide an additional mechanism for food-searching in troglomorphic Astyanax populations.
Jonathan Bibliowicz; Alexandre Alié; Luis Espinasa; Masato Yoshizawa; Maryline Blin; Hélène Hinaux; Laurent Legendre; Stéphane Père; Sylvie Rétaux. Differences in chemosensory response between eyed and eyeless Astyanax mexicanus of the Rio Subterráneo cave. EvoDevo 2013, 4, 25 -25.
AMA StyleJonathan Bibliowicz, Alexandre Alié, Luis Espinasa, Masato Yoshizawa, Maryline Blin, Hélène Hinaux, Laurent Legendre, Stéphane Père, Sylvie Rétaux. Differences in chemosensory response between eyed and eyeless Astyanax mexicanus of the Rio Subterráneo cave. EvoDevo. 2013; 4 (1):25-25.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJonathan Bibliowicz; Alexandre Alié; Luis Espinasa; Masato Yoshizawa; Maryline Blin; Hélène Hinaux; Laurent Legendre; Stéphane Père; Sylvie Rétaux. 2013. "Differences in chemosensory response between eyed and eyeless Astyanax mexicanus of the Rio Subterráneo cave." EvoDevo 4, no. 1: 25-25.
Recent studies on the American nicoletiid insects (“silverfish”) of the subfamily Cubacubaninae have shown that the group is more species rich than previously recognized. It has become common to find that a single locality is inhabited by more than one species of nicoletiid. In previous studies, a species from genus Squamigera had been described from the rainforest surrounding the Mayan ruins of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. We report here the presence of two more species of nicoletiids in the same locality and we describe here a new species of genus Anelpistina. DNA sequence data and morphology are provided to differentiate these species.
Luis Espinasa; Emily Collins; Kimberly Socci. A New Species of Genus Anelpistina and the Second Described Nicoletiid (Zygentoma: Insecta) Species from the Mayan Ruins of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. ISRN Zoology 2012, 2012, 1 -4.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Emily Collins, Kimberly Socci. A New Species of Genus Anelpistina and the Second Described Nicoletiid (Zygentoma: Insecta) Species from the Mayan Ruins of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. ISRN Zoology. 2012; 2012 ():1-4.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Emily Collins; Kimberly Socci. 2012. "A New Species of Genus Anelpistina and the Second Described Nicoletiid (Zygentoma: Insecta) Species from the Mayan Ruins of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico." ISRN Zoology 2012, no. : 1-4.
Luis Espinasa; Kimberly Socci; Sean McCaffery; Amy Cahill. A New Species of Anelpistina (Nicoeltiidae: Zygentoma) from Sumidero Canyon National Park, in Chiapas, Mexico. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 2012, 114, 285 -292.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Kimberly Socci, Sean McCaffery, Amy Cahill. A New Species of Anelpistina (Nicoeltiidae: Zygentoma) from Sumidero Canyon National Park, in Chiapas, Mexico. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 2012; 114 (3):285-292.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Kimberly Socci; Sean McCaffery; Amy Cahill. 2012. "A New Species of Anelpistina (Nicoeltiidae: Zygentoma) from Sumidero Canyon National Park, in Chiapas, Mexico." Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 114, no. 3: 285-292.
Luis Espinasa; Robert Pape; Alanna Henneberry; Christopher Kinnear. A new species of Nicoletiidae (Insecta: Zygentoma) from Kartchner Caverns State Park, Arazona. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 2012, 74, 82 -89.
AMA StyleLuis Espinasa, Robert Pape, Alanna Henneberry, Christopher Kinnear. A new species of Nicoletiidae (Insecta: Zygentoma) from Kartchner Caverns State Park, Arazona. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies. 2012; 74 (1):82-89.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Espinasa; Robert Pape; Alanna Henneberry; Christopher Kinnear. 2012. "A new species of Nicoletiidae (Insecta: Zygentoma) from Kartchner Caverns State Park, Arazona." Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 74, no. 1: 82-89.