Contributions to the Mammalogy of Mongolia, with a Checklist of Species for the Country

We present accounts for 40 species of mammals collected from 15 localities in the Mongolian People\u27s Republic. Accounts include taxonomic, morphometric, reproductive and ecological information, as well as trap effort and success. In addition, we include a brief history of mammalogical work within Mongolia, a taxonomically updated species list for the country, and a list of institutions with holdings of Mongolian mammals

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

Helminths of Small Mammals (Chiroptera, Insectivora, Lagomorpha) from Mongolia with a Description of a New Species of \u3ci\u3eSchizorchis\u3c/i\u3e (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae)

Fifty-eight individuals belonging to 10 species of bats, insectivores, and pikas were examined for helminths from 4 collection sites in Mongolia in 1999. Two species of bats (Vespertilio murinus and Eptesicus gobiensis) were infected with a single species of trematode (Plagiorchis vespertilionis), which represents a new record for the country. One individual of E. gobiensis also harbored 1 unidentified filaroid nematode. The acanthocephalan Moniliformis moniliformis was found in the hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus. Cestodes in the genus Catenotaenia and the herein described Schizorchis mongoliensis n. sp. were recovered from pikas belonging to the species Ochotona alpina. Schizorchis mongoliensis n. sp. is distinguished from other members of the genus by shorter strobila length accompanied by earlier maturation of proglottids, as well as a distinct vaginal valve and secondary lateral seminal receptacle

Integrative studies in Mongolian small mammal parasite biodiversity

Located in the heart of central Asia, Mongolia is a country of great cultural, geological, and biological diversity. Twice the size of Texas, Mongolia contains all the major biomes and associated ecosystems and animal life zones of Eurasia The combination of mountain, steppe, and desert habitat, elevational variability, and extreme ranges in temperature, supports a unique faunal community. Despite this fact, Mongolia is currently grossly under-represented in the mammalian literature when compared to other regions in Asia and, much less is known of the endoparasites and their associated ecology than of their vertebrate hosts. Although a baseline data of small mammal/ parasite biodiversity may have been established, a more complete knowledge of its fauna may enhance our overall understanding of Holarctic mammal-parasite diversification. The following works were carried out in order to better understand the biodiversity of this area, document the distribution of hosts and their parasites, and discover new species from this region. Among the results are the descriptions of 6 new species of parasite, the documentation of 11 new records for the country, as well as 17 new locality records. The results of the research presented here adds considerably to the existing knowledge of the small mammal parasite fauna within Mongolia as well that of Eurasia. It is also indicative of the considerable amount of work still needed to adequately document the fauna of the planet. The work herein is not issued for public and permanent scientific record, or for purposes of zoological nomenclature, is not published within the meaning of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

Helminths of Small Mammals (Erinaceomorpha, Soricomorpha, Chiroptera, Rodentia, and Lagomorpha) of Mongolia

Ninety-eight species of small mammal, excluding carnivores and ungulates, are currently recognized in the fauna of Mongolia. A list of species of helminths known to infect these species, both within Mongolia and across their range, is presented in an effort to aid in their study. A detailed bibliography of pertinent survey and related publications is provided. The publication is the result of the Mongolian Vertebrate Parasite Project, made possible by NSF grants DEB-0717214, DBI-0646356, DBI-9631295, and DBI-9411976

Helminths of Squirrels (Sciuridae) from Mongolia

Two species of ground squirrels, Urocitellus undulatus and Spermophilus alashanicus, were collected and examined for parasites from two localities in Mongolia in 1999. A total of 24 individuals of U. undulatus were examined resulting in a total of six taxa of helminths found, including: Ascaris tarbagan, Physaloptera massino, Streptopharagus kutassi, Anoplocephaloides transversaria, Hymenolepis suslica, and Moniliformis sp. This represents four new species records and an additional host record for the country. Two individuals of S. alashanicus were examined and found to be uninfected

Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from \u3ci\u3eVespertilio murinus\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eEptesicus gobiensis\u3c/i\u3e (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Mongolia and How Many Species of Coccidia Occur in Bats?

An examination of the feces from 28 bats collected in 1999 and from 12 bats collected in 2009, all from Mongolia, revealed the presence of two new species of coccidian parasites of the genus Eimeria. Bats representing two species assigned to different genera were studied including: Vespertillio murinus and Eptesicus gobiensis. Oocysts of Eimeria stubbei n. sp. from V. murinus collected in 1999 are ellipsoid, average length and width of 22.4 x 18.7 μm, with a 1.5 μm thick double layered wall and a single polar granule. Sporocysts of this species are ovoid, 10.0 x 7.2 μm in length and width, with a Steida body and a sporocyst residuum consisting of 2–3 globules. Oocysts of Eimeria samiyai n. sp., from E. gobiensis collected in 2009 are ellipsoid, 26.3 x 19.9 μm in average length and width, with a 1.6 μm thick double layered wall and a single polar granule. Their sporocysts are ovoidal, with a length and width of 11.9 x 7.7 μm with a prominent Steida body and a sporocyst residuum

New Species of \u3ci\u3eEimeria\u3c/i\u3e (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from \u3ci\u3eOchotona hyperborea\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eOchotona pallasi\u3c/i\u3e (Lagomorpha, Ochotonidae) in Mongolia

An examination of the feces from 8 pikas collected in 1999 and from 17 pikas collected in 2009 in Mongolia revealed the presence of 3 new eimerian species. Four of the 5 species of pikas present in Mongolia were studied including: Ochotona alpina, O. dauurica, O. pallasi, and O. hyperborea. Oocysts of Eimeria dunnumi n. sp. from O. hyperborea collected in 1999 are ellipsoid, average length and width of 31.4 x 20.8 μm, with a 1.4 μm thick double layered wall, lacking a micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule. Sporocysts of this species are ellipsoid, 12.8 x 8.1 μm in length and width, with a steida body and a compact sporocyst residuum. Oocysts of Eimeria burti n. sp., from O. pallasi collected in 2009 are ovoid, 26.3 x 21.1 μm in average length and width, with a 1.6 μm thick double layered wall with an oocyst residuum. Their sporocysts are ellipsoidal, with a length and width of 11.4 x 7.8 μm with a prominent steida body. Oocysts of Eimeria salazarbravoi n. sp., from O. pallasi collected in 2009 are ovoidal, 26.6 x 20.5 μm in average length and width, with a 1.6 μm thick double layered wall, with a micropyle. Their sporocysts are ellipsoidal, with a length and width of 11.6 x 7.6 μm with a prominent Steida body and a compact sporocyst residuum. Species of Ochotona, pikas, are found in habitats ranging from semi-desert to taiga and high mountains across the Holarctic. The majority of the 30 currently recognized species occur in Asia, with only 2 species occurring in North America (HOFFMANN & SMITH 2005). Five of the Asian representatives of this genus occur in Mongolia. Ochotona hyperborea (PALLAS, 1811), the northern pika, has a broad distribution across Asia, from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific and south into northern Mongolia and China. In Mongolia they are common in the talus slopes and mountain steppe habitats of the northern part of the country. PALLAS’ pika, Ochotona pallasi (GRAY, 1867), has a disjunct distribution, with populations of this species ranging from Kazakhstan east through the Altai Mountains, across Mongolia into the Tuva region of Russia, and Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia of China. This species is found in the southern region of Mongolia in the southern Khangay Mountains and along the stretch of the Gobi Altai and Mongolian Altai Mountains. The alpine pika, Ochotona alpina (PALLAS, 1773), is found from northwestern Afghanistan across southern Russia, northern Mongolia, and China. In Mongolia this species ranges across the Mongolian Altai and the Khentey and Khangay Mountains. Ochotona dauurica (PALLAS, 1776), the Daurian pika, has a range extending east from the Altai Mountains of Russia across Tuva and Transbaikalia, and south into Mongolia and China. They occupy suitable habitat through the Mongolian and Gobi Altai Mountains as well as steppe habitats in the northern part of Mongolia. HOFFMANN’s pika, Ochotona hoffmanni (FORMOZOV et al., 1996), has the smallest geographic distribution, occurring only in the northern Khentey Mountains and bordering areas of the Transbaikal region of Russia (TINNIN et al. 2002, HOFFMANN & SMITH 2005, BATSAIKHAN et al. 2010, TINNIN et al. 2011a). Recent papers have addressed the apicomplexan parasites of pikas from Beringia and northern China (LYNCH et al. 2007, CAO et al. 2009). To date there have been 18 species of Eimeria described from 7 species of Ochotona from scattered localities ranging across the Holarctic from Turkmenistan to Colorado (LYNCH et al. 2007, CAO et al. 2009). There have been, however, no reports of Eimeria from Mongolian pika, although we have contributed previous data from other Mongolian host species (GARDNER et al. 2009, TINNIN et al. 2011b). Herein we continue our efforts to report on Mongolian Apicomplexa represented by the description of 3 new species of Eimeria

Helminths of squirrels (sciuridae) from Mongolia /

no.303 (2011