Browsing by Author "Matojo, Nicodemus D."
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Item Anatomic Morphometrics of the “Senene” Tettigoniid Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera: Conocephalidae) from North-West Tanzania(2013) Matojo, Nicodemus D.; Yarro, Jacob G.The morphometrics of Ruspolia differens (order: Orthoptera; family: Conocephalidae), the longhorn grasshopper that is widely known as senene by its Kiswahili name, was largely unclear although the species serves broadly as a delicacy relish snack. In this study, the anatomic morphometrics of this insect was critically inferred based on the samples that were collected from North-west Tanzania in April-May 2009. R. differens was revealed to have a number of unique anatomic features that can essentially serve in its diagnosis. These include the paired male metathoracic flaps, finger-like prosternal protuberances, hind femoral spines, subequal tibial black markings, and an obvious male biased antennal dimorphism.Item Anatomic Morphometrics of the “Senene” Tettigoniid Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera: Conocephalidae) from North-West Tanzania(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2012-12-20) Matojo, Nicodemus D.; Jacob, G. Yarroe morphometrics of Ruspolia differens (order: Orthoptera; family: Conocephalidae), the longhorn grasshopper that is widely known as senene by its Kiswahili name, was largely unclear although the species serves broadly as a delicacy relish snack. In this study, the anatomic morphometrics of this insect was critically inferred based on the samples that were collected from North-west Tanzania in April-May 2009. R. differens was revealed to have a number of unique anatomic features that can essentially serve in its diagnosis. ese include the paired male metathoracic faps, finger-like prosternal protuberances, hind femoral spines, subequal tibial black markings, and an obvious male biased antennal dimorphism.Item Bionomics and Morphometrics of the Tanzanian Muller's Clawed Frog Xenopus muelleri Peters (Anura: Pipidae) Corroborates Holotype with Monophyletic Oversized Lungs(SCIENCEDOMAIN international, 2015-02-20) Matojo, Nicodemus D.The pipoid frogs belonging to the super family Pipoidea of the order Anura are mostly represented in fossil forms with only limited data from the extant materials. Pipidae is a pipoid family of the clawed, tongueless and toothless aquatic frogs with pertinent morphological characters that include the lateral line system. They bridge an evolutionary gap between fish species and the semi-aquatic amphibians, the latest precursors of the terrestrial vertebrates. The bionomics and morphometrics of a less described Tanzanian type material of the Muller's clawed frog Xenopus muelleri (Peters, 1844) are here characterised, elucidating its taxonomic status and habitat sustenance. The species corroborates a holotype material with notable affinity to the African Clawed Frog, X. laevis. Its vulnerability to dry habitats alarms for deliberate intervention to rescuing it from massive mortality and deterioration in that period. However, X. muelleri demonstrates great tolerance to hypoxia mainly due to its high respiratory efficiency, indicating pronounced flexibility to inhabiting a wide range of aquatic environments hence cosmopolitan. This is largely attributed to its monophyletic oversized saclike lungs here reported for the first time. Effective husbandry of the species as a domestic pet or laboratory animal is highly encouraged alongside strategic conservation of freshwater habitats for supporting its sustainability.Item Histopathology of gills and gut of the edible cockle Anadara Antiquata (Bivalvia: Arcidae) exposed to acute level of Ammonium sulfate(2009) Matojo, Nicodemus D.; Pratap, Harish B.Toxicity studies with ammonium sulfate were scanty. Based on standard procedures, we estimated the 96 h acute toxicity of this agrochemical on the edible cockle, Anadara antiquata Linnaeus (Bivalvia: Arcidae), in a static in vitro bioassay at mean pH 8, temperature 28±1° C, salinity 33% and DO 6 mg/L. The LC50 was estimated at 270 mg/L±0.3 and mortality was 33.08% (4.56 probits), both at 95% significance level. Although the exposure was not acutely toxic, some uncontrolled massive deformities evidenced in the victims over 336 h. These postexposure injuries promoted mortality to 61.6% (5.3 probits) in which all samples exposed to 200 mg/L and above died. Stress manifestations involved excessive shell gaping, foot protrusion, mucus secretion coupled by necrosis, hyperplasia, cilial shortening, lamellar shrinkage, abscess formation and eventual epithelial ruptures and proliferations in the gills and gut. Prior to death, the victims lost mobility and sensitivity and their shell gaps were abnormally expanded. However, around 38.4% of all specimens survived this acute exposure, and the overall injury ranged between acute and chronic levels hence was subchronic. These results are indicating that A. antiquata has great potential of biomonitoring the toxicity of ammonium sulfate. A necessity for handling this agrochemical conscientiously is also justified.Item Morphological Variation Of The Tanzanian Tailed Net-Winged Beetle Lycus Trabeatus Guérin-Méneville (Coleoptera: Lycidae) Connotes Subspecific Delimitation(INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, 2014-11) Matojo, Nicodemus D.Two morphotypes of the Tailed Net-winged Beetle Lycus trabeatus Guérin-Méneville, 1835 (Lycidae; Coleoptera), currently listed as a monotypic form, were identified and collected from the field in the southern highlands of Tanzania, where they were uncommon. One category was identified as a holotype female and the other one appeared to be a less described paratype female. Their morphological analysis reveals significant variation that connotes subspecific delimitation. The landmarks here reported as the basis for sub-categorization of L. trabeatus are mainly associated with the elytra upon which two new subspecies namely Lycus t. trabeatus and Lycus t. matojoi are proposed. The findings also expand the biogeographic docket of this insect.Item Phylogenetic Relationship of the Longhorn Grasshopper Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from Northwest Tanzania Based on 18S Ribosomal Nuclear Sequences(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2013-04-20) Matojo, Nicodemus D.; Hosea, Keneth M.Previously, the biology of the longhorn grasshopper Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) fromnorthwest Tanzania was mainly inferred based on the morphological and behavioural characters with which its taxonomic status was delineated. The present study complements the previous analysis by examining the phylogenetic relationship of this insect based on the nuclear ribosomal molecular evidence. In the approach, the 18S rDNA of this insect was extracted, amplified, sequenced, and aligned, and the resultant data were used to reconstruct and analyze the phylogeny of this insect based on the catalogued data.Item Rastapodidae fam. nov. of “Harrowfoot Frogs” (Anura: Neobatrachia) inferred from Breviceps mossambicus re-description (formerly in Brevicipitidae) from Tanzania(International Knowledge Press, 2015-11-24) Matojo, Nicodemus D.A new family comprising “Harrowfoot Frogs” (Anura: Neobatrachia) has been inferred from the Mozambique rain frog, Breviceps mossambicus, also known as flat-faced frog, re-described from Tanzania. Members have football-shaped eyes, horizontal pupils and smooth skin with no paratoid glands, typically like Hemisotidae – the shovelnose frogs also known as snout burrowers. Most importantly, the new family has a distinct heavy framework of keratinous harrow-like digging device on hind foot, correlating to one or two lesser foot tubercles known in the spadefoot toads (Pelobatidae and Scaphiopodidae) and true toads (Bufonidae), respectively. The identified harrow is made up of three forklets trifurcated on metatarsal 2 to 4 of each foot. All frogs with this homology fall under their own group, Rastapodidae fam. nov., native to Africa. The analysis also elucidates the taxonomic status of B. mossambicus, formerly included in Brevicipitidae with no clear morphological delineation.Item Variability in Polymorphism and Sex Ratio of the Conehead Ruspolia Differens Serville (Orthoptera: Conocephalidae) in North-West Tanzania(2010) Matojo, Nicodemus D.; Yarro, Jacob G.We scrutinized variability in colour polymorphism and sex ratio of the cone-headed tettigoniid Ruspolia differens (Orthoptra: Conocephalidae) in north-west Tanzania during periods of swarms and of non-swarming phase. Six key colour morphs were characterized together with their continuous and discontinuous sub-morphs. Seasonal weather alterations evidenced to alter the relative frequency and sex-ratio biasness of these morphs. During dry season the equilibrium of colour polymorphism favours the frequency of the browns and the population is chiefly male-biased, but during wet season the greens are favoured and the population is female-biased. This implies that these traits are directly governed by weather conditions and are subjects to vary with geographical regions. Tegmina coloration showed to be a sex-linked trait as brownness was associated with maleness whereas greenness was associated with femaleness. Further, tegmen speckles are a useful biomarker of inheritance of the browns and the greens are dominant over the browns. It was apparent that the distinct variability in colour polymorphism and sex ratio of this insect is its interactive strategy for inhabiting different weather and environments.