Redescription and molecular identification of Isospora feroxis Berto,Luz, Flausino,Ferreira & Lopes, 2009 (Eimeriidae) from tyrant-flycatchers (Tyrannoidea) in South America

Systematic Parasitology - In the present study Isospora feroxis Berto, Luz, Flausino, Ferreira & Lopes, 2009 is redescribed from the photosyntypes and from new samples from a short-crested...     

The vulnerable Sporophila frontalis (Verreaux) and Haplospiza unicolor Cabanis as new hosts for Isospora sporophilae Carvalho-Filho,Meireles, Ribeiro & Lopes, 2005 (Eimeriidae) in Brazil

Systematic Parasitology - Isospora sporophilae Carvalho-Filho, Meireles, Ribeiro & Lopes, 2005 was morphologically and molecularly identified from the double-collared seedeater Sporophila...     

New Species and New Records of Dexosarcophaga Townsend (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) from Brazil with a Key to Species of the Subgenus Bezzisca

Dexosarcophaga tupinamba n. sp. is described based on male specimens from the Brazilian states of Pará and Maranhão; Dexosarcophaga bermudezi Silva & Mello-Patiu is newly recorded from Pará and South America; and Dexosarcophaga avispaensis Mello is newly recorded from Pará (new to Brazil). The Brazilian species Dexosarcophaga limitata (Lopes) and Dexosarcophaga pusilla (Lopes) are both recorded from Pará, which are new records from the Brazilian Amazon, Dexosarcophaga aurifacies (Lopes) is newly recorded from the state of Alagoas and Dexosarcophaga carvalhoi (Lopes) is newly recorded from the states of Mato Grosso, Maranhão, and Pará. A key to the identification of males of the subgenus Bezzisca is provided.     

A new species of Litopeltis Hebard, 1920 from Rio de Janeiro,Brazil (Blattodea,Blaberidae, Epilamprinae) with a key to males and geographical distribution of the remaining species of the genus

This contribution describes a new species of Litopeltis from Brazil, L. teresopolitensis sp. n., which shows similarities with L. paineirensis Lopes & Oliveira, 2010 and L. ribeiropretano Lopes & Oliveira, 2010. It differs in characters of morphology genitalia and configuration, with the median sclerite bearing microspines on the sclerotic apex. A map showing the geographic distribution of the Brazilian species and a key to males of the other species of the genus are also presented.     

Wing morphometric analysis of Australian Sarcophaginae (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Phenetic affinities of thirty-two species of Australian Sarcophaginae are described. A set of wing morphometric characters was analysed using canonical variate analysis and clustering of generalized distances. The results were compared to classifications of Roback (1954) and to that of Souza Lopes (1954, 1958a, b, 1959). There was substantially more agreement with the classification of Roback than with that of Souza Lopes. Thus the subfamily appears to consist of a reduced number of minor genera (Heteronychia, Blaesoxipha, Tricharaea and possibly Sarcosolomonia/Fergusonimyia) and a large complex consisting of species of Sarcophaga sensu lato.     

Redescription and molecular characterisation of Allogastrocotyle bivaginalis Nasir & Fuentes Zambrano, 1983 (Monogenea: Gastrocotylidae) from Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich) (Perciformes: Carangidae) off the Algerian coast,Mediterranean Sea

Systematic Parasitology - Allogastrocotyle bivaginalis Nasir & Fuentes Zambrano, 1983, the sole species of Allogastrocotyle Nasir & Fuentes Zambrano, 1983, was described from...     

A neoselachian fauna (Vertebrata,Pisces) from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of Höver,near Hannover (NW Germany)

A neoselachian fauna from the Early Campanian of Höver near Hannover (NW Germany) comprises 12 taxa: Hexanchus gracilis Davis 1887?, Squalus? vondermarcki MÜller & SchÖllmann 1989, Deania? n. sp., Eoetmopterus supracretaceus MÜller & SchÖllmann 1989, Palaeomicroides ursulae n. g. et n. sp., Cretascymnus westfalicus MÜller & SchÖllmann 1989, Centroscymnus praecursor MÜller & SchÖllmann 1989, Squatina baumbergensis Von der Marck 1885?, Hemiscyllium n. sp., Cretolamna appendiculata (Agassiz 1843), Palaeogaleus havreensis Herman 1977, and Paratriakis decheni (Von der Marck 1863)?. Being dominated by squalomorph sharks the fauna shows closer relations to the Late Campanian neoselachian fauna of the Münster basin (NW Germany) than to the Early Campanian fauna of the Aachen area (W Germany). The dominance of squalomorphs indicates that the Early Campanian sea reached a considerable depth (probably several hundred meters) at Höver.     

Redescription of Flexophora ophidii Prost & Euzet, 1962 (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) from Ophidion barbatum (Ophidiidae) off the Algerian coast,Mediterranean Sea

Systematic Parasitology - The diclidophorid Flexophora ophidii Prost & Euzet, 1962, the type- and only species of the genus Flexophora Prost & Euzet, 1962, has never been...     

New species of Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 (Monogenea,Ancyrocephalidae) from the gills of Sarotherodon occidentalis (Daget) (Osteichthyes,Cichlidae) in Guinea and Sierra Leone (West Africa)

The examination of gill parasites from èSarotherodon occidentalisè (Daget) (Pisces, Cichlidae) in Guinea and Sierra Leone (West Africa) revealed the presence of seven species of Monogenea. Two of them have previously been described: ichlidogyrus halli; (Price & Kirk, 1967) and Scutogyrus ecoutini Pariselle & Euzet, 1995. Five are considered as new species, all belonging to Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960. They are C. bouvii n. sp., C. fontanai n. sp., C. guirali n. sp., C. paganoi n. sp. and C. sanjeani n. sp.Résumé L'examen des parasites branchiaux de Sarotherodon occidentalis (Daget) (Pisces, Cichlidae) en Guinée et en Sierra Leone (Afrique de l'Ouest) a révélé la présence de sept espèces de Monogènes. Deux ont déjàè été décrites: Cichlidogyrus halli (Price & Kirk, 1967) et Scutogyrus ecoutini Pariselle & Euzet, 1995. Cinq, appartenant toutes au genre Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960, sont considérées comme nouvelles, C. bouvii n. sp., C. fontanai n. sp., C. guirali n. sp., C. paganoi n. sp. et C. sanjeani n. sp.     

Isothecium myosuroides var. brachythecioides (Dixon) Braithw. reinstated as a species,I. interludens Stirt.

The taxon currently known as Isothecium myosuroides var. brachythecioides (Dixon) Braithw. is reinstated as a species, I. interludens Stirt., the name originally assigned by Stirton when it was first described. The morphological characters separating I. myosuroides s.s. and I. interludens are summarised. The sporophytes of I. interludens, described here for the first time, differ in shape, and pattern of exothecial cells from those of I. myosuroides. A molecular analysis based on variation of the ITS region shows that I. holtii Kindb. and I. alopecuroides (Lam. ex Dubois) Isov. are not monophyletic, calling for a re-assessment of these species, whereas the monophyly of the other species, including I. interludens, cannot be rejected. The analysis failed, however, to yield molecular synapomorphies for I. interludens and other species within I. myosuroides s.l., which we interpret as the incomplete sorting of alleles among recently evolved species. Isothecium interludens is a European endemic with a hyperoceanic temperate distribution. Its nested position within a clade including the two Macaronesian endemics I. prolixum (Mitt.) M.Stech and I. montanum Draper, Hedenäs, M.Stech, T.Lopes & Sim-Sim is suggestive of a Macaronesian origin, in line with the idea that the European Atlantic fringe flora assembled during the course of the last interglacial from Macaronesian ancestors. Isothecium therefore offers a model of prime importance for the study of ongoing speciation in mosses.     

A new acroeimerian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in spotted house gecko,Gekko monarchus (Schlegel) (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Systematic Parasitology - A new species of Acroeimeria Paperna & Landsberg, 1989 is described from the spotted house gecko, Gekko monarchus (Schlegel) from Peninsular Malaysia. Oöcysts...     

ChiloKey,an interactive identification tool for the geophilomorph centipedes of Europe (Chilopoda,Geophilomorpha)

ChiloKey is a matrix-based, interactive key to all 179 species of Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda) recorded from Europe, including species of uncertain identity and those whose morphology is known partially only. The key is intended to assist in identification of subadult and adult specimens, by means of microscopy and simple dissection techniques whenever necessary. The key is freely available through the web at: http://www.biologia.unipd.it/chilokey/ and at http://www.interactive-keys.eu/chilokey/.     

Redescription of Echinostoma trivolvis (Cort, 1914) (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) with a discussion on its identity

The life-cycle of Echinostoma trivolvis (Cort, 1914) has been completed experimentally and the validity and identity of this species are discussed. Synonyms for cercariae and adults of E. trivolvis are as follows: Cercaria trivolvis Cort, 1914, C. trisolenata Faust, 1917, C. acanthostoma Faust, 1918, C. complexa Faust, 1919; Distoma echinatum Zeder, 1803, of Leidy (1888, 1904) and Hassall (1896); E. echinatum (Zeder, 1803) of Hassall (1896), Stiles & Hassall (1895), Barker & Laughlin (1911), Barker (1916) and Swales (1933); E. revolutum (Frölich, 1802) Dietz, 1909 of Johnson (1920), Fallis (1934), Beaver (1937) and Fried & co-workers (1968–1989); E. armigerum Barker & Irvine, 1915; E. coalitum Barker & Beaver, 1915; E. callawayensis Barker & Noll, 1915; E. paraulum Dietz, 1909 of Miller (1937); E. multispinosum Vigueras, 1944; and Echinoparyphium contiguum Barker & Bastron, 1915. The first intermediate host is the planorbid snail Helisoma trivolvis. Second intermediate hosts are various pulmonate and prosobranch snails, mussels, planarians, fishes, frogs, tadpoles and freshwater turtles. Final hosts are various birds and mammals. E. trivolvis occurs only in North America.     

Postembryonic development of Phyllodiaptomus blanci (Guerne & Richard, 1896) (Copepoda,Calanoida)

All the postembryonic developmental instars of Phyllodiaptomus blanci (Guerne & Richard, 1896), reared in the laboratory, are described and illustrated. The larval affinities of this species vis-a-vis certain other diaptomid species are mentioned.     

Online database for mosquito (Diptera,Culicidae) occurrence records in French Guiana

A database providing information on mosquito specimens (Arthropoda: Diptera: Culicidae) collected in French Guiana is presented. Field collections were initiated in 2013 under the auspices of the CEnter for the study of Biodiversity in Amazonia (CEBA: http://www.labexceba.fr/en/). This study is part of an ongoing process aiming to understand the distribution of mosquitoes, including vector species, across French Guiana. Occurrences are recorded after each collecting trip in a database managed by the laboratory Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), Toulouse, France. The dataset is updated monthly and is available online. Voucher specimens and their associated DNA are stored at the laboratory Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (Ecofog), Kourou, French Guiana. The latest version of the dataset is accessible through EDB’s Integrated Publication Toolkit at http://130.120.204.55:8080/ipt/resource.do?r=mosquitoes_of_french_guiana or through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility data portal at http://www.gbif.org/dataset/5a8aa2ad-261c-4f61-a98e-26dd752fe1c5 It can also be viewed through the Guyanensis platform at http://guyanensis.ups-tlse.fr     

Description of a new species of Dermoergasilus Ho & Do, 1982 (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) from the redbelly tilapia Coptodon zillii (Gervais) (Perciformes: Cichlidae) in Basrah,southern Iraq

Systematic Parasitology - A new species of Dermoergasilus Ho & Do, 1982 (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) parasitic on the gills of the redbelly tilapia Coptodon zillii (Gervais) from Basrah,...     

Life-history responses of larviparous Boettcherisca formosensis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) to larval competition for food, including comparisons with oviparous Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Calliphoridae)

Abstract. 1 The effect of larval rearing density on life-history parameters of Boettcherisca formosensis Kirner & Lopes (Sarcophagidae) was investigated. Increases in rearing density resulted in lowered larval survivorship, shortened larval development time and production of smaller, shorter-lived adults with reduced fecundity.
2. B. formosensis is larviparous. Average brood size was 17.5±1.0 (mean±M) larvae, which was much less than the average number of mature larvae inside gravid females. Females apparently produced a series of small broods, distributing their offspring over a number of carcasses.
3. Compared with the oviparous species Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann) (Calliphoridae), B. formosensis adults were larger and longer-lived, with a longer larval development time but shorter larval feeding period. However, females had a shorter pre-reproductive period, were less fecund, and had a lower life time reproductive investment.
4. B. formosensis had lower relative performance (measured by the composite index of performance, r') than H. ligurriens over the larval rearing density range, and was more sensitive to increases in density. Although the r' values suggest that the sarcophagid may be a competitively inferior species, other features which are not included in the index (such as larvipary, short larval feeding period and spreading of offspring from a single brood among carcasses) may be of significant adaptive value to B. formosensis.     

Supplement to the description of Longistrongylus thalae (Troncy & Graber, 1973) Gibbons, 1981 (Nematoda: Ostertagiinae)

Longistrongylus thalae (Troncy & Graber, 1973) Gibbons, 1981 is briefly re-described. The synlophe, the spicules and the apical cephalic structures, previously either inadequately or not figured, are illustrated. The authors concur with Gibbons (1981) that this nematode belongs to the genus Longistrongylus Le Roux, 1931, but consider the degree of asymmetry of the ovejector, as depicted by Troncy & Graber (1973), as not being representative of the species.