Matabelea fuhrmanni (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea, Paruterinidae): redescription, synonymy and systematic position

Matabelea fuhrmanni (Southwell. 1925) comb. n. [syns Lateriporus fuhrmanni Southwell. 1925: Culcitella fuhrmanni (Southwell) Baer in Fuhrmann, 1932; Matabelea aetodex Mettrick. 1963. new synonym] is redescribed on the basis of the type-specimens of L. fuhrmanni and M. aetodex plus additional specimens from African birds of prey. Matabelea Mettrick. 1963 is regarded as a monotypic genus of the family Paruterinidac and not of the family Dilepididae. where it was originally placed. The host range of M. fuhrmanni includes the African falconiform birds Cireaetus cinereus. Melierus metabates and Aquila rapax (Accipitridac) plus Falco biarmicus (Falconidae).     

Taxonomic revision of Joyeuxilepis Spassky, 1947 (Cestoda: Amabiliidae): redescriptions of J. biuncinata (Joyeux & Baer, 1943), J. decacantha (Fuhrmann, 1913) and J. pilatus Borgarenko & Gulyaev, 1991

Two species of Joyeuxilepis Spassky, 1947 are redescribed from Tachybaptus ruficollis in Bulgaria: J. biuncinata (Joyeux & Baer, 1943) and J. pilatus Borgarenko & Gulyaev, 1991. The syntypes of J. decacantha (Fuhrmann, 1913) from Podiceps cristatus in Sweden and voucher specimens of J. pilatus (identified as 'Tatria decacantha') from T. ruficollis in England (new geographical record) from the British Museum (Natural History) Collection are also re-described. The voucher specimens and cysticercoids of Tatria spp. from dragonfly nymphs in Wales recorded by Rees (1973) were re-examined. Previous records of J. biuncinata, J. decacantha and J. pilatus are critically analysed in view of the present results. The major reliable diagnostic characters for species of Joyeuxilepis are presented and the distinguishing criteria for the three species studied are re-evaluated.     

Taxonomic revision of Tatria Kowalewski, 1904 (Cestoda: Amabiliidae): redescriptions of T. biremis Kowalewski, 1904 and T. minor Kowalewski, 1904, and the description of T. gulyaevi n. sp. from Palaearctic grebes

Two species of Tatria Kowalewski, 1904 are redescribed from grebes in Bulgaria: T. biremis Kowalewski, 1904 (specimens from Podiceps nigricollis) and T. minor Kowalewski, 1904 (specimens from P. cristatus and P. nigricollis). T. mircia Gulyaev, 1990 is synonymised with T. minor. The previous records of T. biremis, T. minor and T. mircia are critically analysed in view of the present results. T. gulyaevi n. sp. is described from P. nigricollis from Bulgaria and the Czech Republic and from an unidentified grebe species from Turkey. Some of the previous records of T. minor and T. biremis are recognised as belonging to T. gulyaevi. One specimen illustrated by Kowalewski (1904) is designated as a lectotype of T. minor in order to stabilise the nomenclatural standing of this species.     

Taxonomic status of a salamander species allied to Hynobius naevius and a reevaluation of Hynobius naevius yatsui (Amphibia, Caudata)

A Japanese small salamander, Hynobius naevius (Temminck and Schlegel, 1838), has recently proven to include two species (larger [A] and smaller [B]) that are reproductively isolated and are genetically and morphologically distinct from each other. Of these two species, Species A is considered to correspond to true H. naevius. To determine the name of Species B, we investigated five specimens stored at Kyushu University and concluded from the locality and date of collection that they represent syntypes of H. n. yatsui Oyama, 1947. Results of morphological comparisons indicated that the syntypes are identical with Species B. Because this species is distinct from Hynobius naevius at the species level, subspecies H. n. yatsui is elevated to full species rank as H. yatsui. To avoid taxonomic confusion, we designated one male among the syntypes as the lectotype and redescribed the species.     

Direct and indirect racial discrimination of Roma people in Bulgaria,the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation

In this article, a methodological approach to the topic of the racial discrimination of Roma people in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation draws on three models of modus vivendi between Roma people and the majority, including the concepts and forms of direct and indirect discrimination. The core methodology employed in this article is the legal and sociological analysis of various national and international statistics as well as practices of the courts, which are focused upon throughout. The fieldwork within this article deals with the various attitudes of Roma parents to the introduction of Roma assistants in primary schools in the Czech Republic and is enriched with in-depth interviews conducted with Roma teaching assistants. Data from original research in three Czech elementary schools are compared with forms of discrimination in Bulgaria and in the Russian Federation regarding their educational systems.     

Taxonomic revision of Tatria Kowalewski, 1904 (Cestoda: Amabiliidae): redescriptions of T. appendiculata Fuhrmann, 1908 and T. duodecacantha Olsen, 1939, a key and an amended diagnosis of Tatria (sensu stricto)

Tatria appendiculata Fuhrmann, 1908 is redescribed on the basis of syntypes from Tachybaptus dominicus in Brazil and voucher specimens from the same host species in Cuba previously recorded by Rysavy & Macko (1971). Paratypes of T. duodecacantha Olsen, 1939 from Podilymbus podiceps in the USA are also redescribed and, in contrast with the opinion of Ryzhikov & Tolkacheva (1981), the species is recognised as valid. The major reliable diagnostic characters of Tatria and the distinguishing criteria applicable at the species level are re-evaluated. An amended generic diagnosis of Tatria (sensu stricto) and an identification key to its constituent species are presented.     

Cytogeographical survey ofEleocharis subser.Eleocharis in Europe 1:Eleocharis palustris

Chromosome numbers forEleocharis palustris subsp.palustris (based on 70 samples from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden) andEleocharis palustris subsp.vulgaris (based on 74 samples from Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden) are given. Also the chromosome number estimates based on relative DNA contents of plants from 8 localitiesE. palustris subsp.palustris from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Israel, and Slovenia, and from 18 localities ofE. palustris subsp.vulgaris from the Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden are included. InE. palustris subsp.palustris, 2n=16 prevailed, the mixoploid 2n=15, 16 was rare and a lone hypoploid 2n=15 was detected. InE. palustris subsp.vulgaris 2n=38 was most frequently detected, the hyperploid 2n=39 and mixoploid 2n=38, 39 were common, and the hypoploid 2n=36 and mixoploids in which 2n ranges from 36 to 42 were rarer. Distribution maps based on plants investigated either by chromosome counting or by flow cytometry, augmented by similar data from published sources are given for both subspecies in Europe.     

The genus Biuterina Fuhrmann, 1902 (Cestoda,Paruterinidae) in the Old World: redescriptions of four species from Afrotropical Passeriformes

Four species of Biuterina Fuhrmann, 1902 (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea, Paruterinidae), originally described from Afrotropical passeriform birds, are redescribed and figured on the basis of their type-specimens. These are B. pentamyzos (Mettrick, 1960) from Prionops plumata (Laniidae) in Zimbabwe, B. quelea (Mettrick, 1963) from Quelea quelea (Ploceidae) in Zimbabwe, B. ugandae Baylis, 1919 from Chalcomitra senegalensis (Nectariniidae) in Uganda and B. zambiensis (Mettrick, 1960) from Campephaga flava (Campephagidae) in Zimbabwe. The rostellum of B. quelea is a spherical structure filled with strongly-developed glandular tissue and possessing a weak musculature. The remaining three species have a sucker-like rostellar apparatus with moderately developed glandular tissue in the rostellum and around it. It is considered that the glandular elements are an inherent part of the rostellar apparatus of the paruterinids. An armament consisting of fine, punctiform, spine-like structures arranged in transverse rows on the inner surface of suckers is observed in B. pentamyzos. This is the first record of sucker armature in the Paruterinidae.     

New and little-known species of Rhagidiidae from talus ecosystems, in the Czech Republic and Austria

Two new species of mites, Foveacheles (Proxistella) simulata n.sp. and Rhagidia longiseta n.sp., are described, and the little-known Foveacheles (Proxistella) terricola (C. L. Koch) is redescribed. All species were found inhabiting underground spaces in talus formations in the Czech Republic and Austria.     

Species of Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from Epinephelus fasciatus and E. merra (Perciformes: Serranidae) off New Caledonia and other parts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, with a comparison of measurements of specimens prepared using different methods, and a description of P. caledonicus n. sp.

Species of Pseudorhabdosynochus were studied from fresh specimens collected from Epinephelus fasciatus and E. merra off New Caledonia, South Pacific, and specimens deposited in Museums. Experiments on two species demonstrated that the sclerotised hollow organs, such as the quadriloculate male copulatory organ and the vagina, may show differences in measurements of up to 50% when flattened. P. caledonicus n. sp. is described from E. fasciatus in New Caledonia, on which it is relatively rare; it is distinguished on the basis of the quadriloculate organ, which has a very thin anterior wall, the sclerotised parts of the vagina in form of a straight tube with a star-shaped lateral structure, and the squamodiscs composed of 11 open rows of rodlets. P. cupatus (Young, 1969) is redescribed from abundant material from E. fasciatus off New Caledonia (new geographical record) and compared with paratype specimens from Australia (from E. fasciatus and E. merra) and specimens from E. fasciatus in the Red Sea (both herein redescribed and figured); a specimen was also found on a slide from E. merra off Vanuatu. P. melanesiensis (Laird, 1958) is redescribed from material from E. merra off New Caledonia (new geographical record) and compared with type-specimens (herein redescribed and figured) from the same host off Vanuatu. The structure of the sclerotised vagina in P. cupatus and P. melanesiensis is very similar, with a thin-walled tube and a heavily sclerotised structure with three loculi. P. vagampullum (Young, 1969) is redescribed from the paratypes from E. merra from Australia, but was not found in New Caledonia; specimens included among its paratypes (from E. merra in Australia), but different, are herein attributed to Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 3. P. lantauensis (Beverley-Burton & Suriano, 1981) is redescribed from the paratype specimens from E. longispinis off Hong-Kong. A specimen found among the paratypes of P. cupatus belongs to a different species, herein designated as Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 1. Specimens from E. longispinis off Hong-Kong, previously attributed to P. cupatus, are attributed to another species, Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 2. The three species P. cupatus, Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 1 and Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 2 have in common a 'lamellosquamodisc' composed of central telescopic lamellae and peripheral rows of rodlets; they can be distinguished by the shape of the sclerotised vagina and measurements of the haptoral hard-parts. Specimens from E. longispinis off Hong-Kong, previously attributed to P. vagampullum, probably belong to a different species. Consequently, after these modified determinations, P. cupatus parasitises only E. fasciatus and E. merra, and P. melanesiensis and P. vagampullum parasitise only E. merra. With their wide geographical distribution and different species of Pseudorhabdosynochus in different localities, E. fasciatus and E. merra appear to represent excellent models for investigating monogenean biogeography in the Indo-Pacific Ocean.     

Resurrection and redescription of Pomponia bullata Schmidt, 1924 stat. rev. (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadini)

Pomponia bullata Schmidt, 1924 stat. rev. from Java is resurrected from junior synonymy with Pomponia picta (Walker, 1870) from Sumatra and redescribed. The only male specimen out of three syntypes is designated as the lectotype.     

Redescriptions of Aphanurus stossichii (Monticelli, 1891) and A. virgula Looss, 1907 (Digenea: Hemiuridae)

Aphanurus stossichii (Monticelli, 1891) is redescribed from Boops boops (L.) from various localities in the NE Atlantic region (off Spain), the Mediterranean (off Spain and Turkey) and the Black Sea (off Bulgaria). The material from the Atlantic coast of Spain showed differences in egg-size and shape and a characteristic ornamentation of the anterior third of the hermaphroditic duct. A comparison with samples from B. boops collected off Antalya (Turkey) and off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast revealed a considerable size variation and confirmed the presence of tubercles in the terminal part of the hermaphroditic duct. A. virgula Looss, 1907, previously considered a synonym of A. stossichii, is redescribed on the basis of voucher material from Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus Alexandrov collected off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and previously identified as A. stossichii. A. virgula can be distinguished from A. stossichii by its smaller size and substantially lower range limits for all metrical features, the more posterior position of the base of sinus-sac, and the eggs being less numerous and larger in relation to the size of the body and gonads.     

A partial skeleton of Prodeinotherium bavaricum (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from the Middle Miocene of Unterzolling (Upper Freshwater Molasse, Germany)

Here, a partial skeleton of Prodeinotherium bavaricum from Unterzolling (Southern Germany) is documented. The following elements are preserved and described for the first time: cervical vertebrae 1-2 and 5-7, the first thoracic vertebra, one lumbar vertebra, trapezium, metacarpals 1-5, tibia, calcaneus, endo- and mesocuneiform, cuboid, the fourth metatarsal, and some phalanges. Comparisons with the skeletons of P. bavaricum from Franzensbad (Czech Republic) and Deinotherium giganteum from Eserovo (Bulgaria) show osteological differences that are described and discussed.     

Redescription of Stenolophus thoracicus Casey (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Harpalini), a valid species

Stenolophus thoracicus Casey is revalidated. The species is redescribed based on a study of the syntypes and of several conspecific specimens from eastern North America. The species differs from the other eastern species of the subgenus Agonoleptus in having the metasternum shorter and the wings reduced to tiny stubs. The dorsal habitus and median lobe of the aedeagus, along with the structures of the internal sac, are illustrated.     

Redescriptions of Monosertum parinum (Dujardin, 1845) and M. mariae (Mettrick, 1958) n. comb. from European passerine birds, with an amended generic diagnosis of Monosertum Bona, 1994 (Cestoda: Dilepididae)

The type-species of Monosertum Bona, 1994, M. parinum (Dujardin, 1845), is redescribed on the basis of the neotype designated by Bona (1994). M. mariae (Mettrick, 1958) n. comb. (originally Paricterotaenia mariae Mettrick, 1958) is recorded and redescribed from Erithacus rubecula L. (Passeriformes: Turdidae) in the Kaliningradskaya Oblast', Russia (new geographical record). An amended generic diagnosis of Monosertum is presented.