Xenococconeis opunohusiensis gen. et sp. nov. and Xenococconeis neocaledonica comb. nov. (Bacillariophyta) from the tropical South Pacific

During a survey of the coral reef diatoms of Moorea Island (Society Archipelago, South Pacific) a small‐sized member of the order Achnanthales was studied using a light microscope (LM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This marine taxon has: a raphe valve (RV) with a non‐crenulate edge; a high cingulum; a sternum valve (SV) often irregularly striated and areolae with concave hymenate pore occlusion; a thick and plain SV valvocopula (SVVC), ring‐shaped, composed of large fused fimbriae, with a central elliptic foramen bordered by the peg‐like edge of the fimbriae. On abvalvar side, the SVVC bears radiate concave and robust transapical ribs, interlinking with short elevated transverse ribs of the RV valvocopula (RVVC). Large marginal fenestrae of the RVVC give access to pseudoloculi. One oblong, unique and striated papilla is located on each RVVC rib. Given this unique set of features, we describe Xenococconeis opunohusiensis gen. et sp. nov. as a new taxon belonging to the Achnanthales. The characteristics of the new taxon are compared with Campyloneis Grunow and Cocconeis Ehrenberg. From New Caledonia, Cocconeis neocaledonica Maillard ex Lange‐Bertalot et Steindorf, a freshwater diatom, was described with two internal septa with marginal pseudoloculi. Based on subsequent SEM illustrations and remarks, we propose the transfer of C. neocaledonica to the new genus, and compare it to the type species, Xenococconeis opunohusiensis.     

Gogorevia,a New Monoraphid Diatom Genus for Achnanthes exigua and Allied Taxa (Achnanthidiaceae) Described on the Basis of an Integrated Molecular and Morphological Approach

A new diatom genus, Gogorevia, is described on the basis of an integrated molecular and morphological investigation. Two species are described from Vietnam: the generitype, G. rinatii sp. nov., and G. ovalis sp. nov. These species share many morphological features with Achnanthes exigua and allied taxa that were previously transferred to the genera Achnanthidium or Lemnicola. Our current molecular investigation shows that Gogorevia is distinct and phylogenetically removed from the above-mentioned genera. Morphologically, Gogorevia differs from Achnanthidium and Lemnicola by the shape of the valves, possessing uniseriate striae, raphe morphology, and the presence of an evident sternum. The recently described species Lemnicola uniseriata is transferred to Gogorevia on the basis that it possesses the same morphological features and phylogenetic position as other members of the genus.     

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Thalassiosira sinica sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta) with delicate areolae and fultoportulae pattern

Thalassiosira Cleve is one of the most species-rich marine diatom genera. Previous studies have mainly focused on polar and temperate areas, but recent studies on material from Asian waters suggested that a high and undescribed species diversity of Thalassiosira occurs in Asia. On the basis of plankton samples collected from the South China Sea, a new species, T. sinica sp. nov. Y. Li & Y. Q. Guo is described. The morphology of the cells was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The hypervariable region of the nuclear large-subunit ribosomal DNA and the relatively conserved region of the nuclear small-subunit ribosomal DNA were sequenced for information on phylogenetic relationships. The living cells are usually solitary and drum-shaped. The areolae on the valve are delicate, small and arranged in fascicles. In addition to a regular ring of marginal fultoportulae on the valve edge, T. sinica possesses one central fultoportula and a number of fultoportulae arranged into 2–3 irregular rings on the valve face. A rimoportula located inside the ring of marginal fultoportulae possesses a long and strong external tube. The valvocopula and the copulae have rows of pores, but the pores on the valvocopula are larger than those on the copulae. Thalassiosira sinica appears to be included in subgroup C sensu Gedde because of a rimoportula with a distinct external tube located on the valve face. The molecular phylogeny, inferred from both SSU and LSU sequences, does, however, not support the validity of subgroup C, as the closest allies of T. sinica here turned out to be T. diporocyclus and T. lundiana, species in which the rimoportulae are located on the valve margin.     

Three new species ofAphytis [Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae], parasites ofPseudaulacaspis spp. [Homoptera: Diaspididae] in India and Australia

Three new species ofAphytis Howard, parasitic upon species ofPseudaulacaspis MacGillivray, are described and illustrated:A. bangalorensis sp. nov. exP. barberi (Green) from India.A. sankarani sp. nov. exP. cockerelli (Cooley) from India, andA. landii sp. nov. ex an undescribedPseudaulacaspis sp. from Australia.

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Résumé Trois nouvelles espèces d'Aphytis Howard, parasites d'espèces du genrePseudaulacaspis MacGillivray, sont décrites et représentées:A. bangalorensis sp. nov. exP. barberi (Green) en provenance de l'Inde;A. Sankarani sp. nov. exP. cockerelli (Cooley) en provenance de l'Inde, etA. landii sp. nov. ex espèce non décrite dePseudaulacaspis spp. en provenance d'Australie.

     

A polyphasic approach to the study of the genus Nitzschia (Bacillariophyta): three new planktonic species from the Adriatic Sea

The paraphyletic diatom genus Nitzschia comprises over 1000 morphologically distinct pennate taxa, known from the benthos and plankton of freshwater, brackish, and marine environments. The principal diagnostic characters for delimitation of Nitzschia species include valve shape, the position and structure of the raphe, presence/absence and shape of the proximal raphe endings and terminal raphe fissures, areola structure, and specific morphometric features such as cell size, and stria and fibula density. In this study, we isolated 12 diatom strains into culture from samples collected at the surface or greater depths of the southeastern Adriatic Sea. Morphological analyses included LM, SEM, and TEM observations, which, along with specific morphometric features, allowed us to distinguish three new Nitzschia species. These findings were congruent with the results of phylogenetic analyses performed on nuclear‐encoded SSU (18S) rDNA and chloroplast‐encoded rbcL and psbC genes. One of the new species (Nitzschia dalmatica sp. nov.) formed a lineage within a clade of Bacillariaceae containing members of the Nitzschia sect. Dubiae, which was sister to Psammodictyon. A second lineage was part of a novel clade that is significantly distinct from other Nitzschia species sequenced so far and includes Nitzschia adhaerens sp. nov. and N. cf. adhaerens. A further new species was found, Nitzschia inordinata sp. nov., which appeared as the sister group to the N. adhaerens clade and the conopeoid Nitzschia species in our phylogenetic trees. Our findings contribute to the overall diversity of genus Nitzschia, especially in identifying some deep branches within the Bacillariaceae, and highlight under‐scoring of this genus in marine plankton.     

Zwei neue gezüchtete Braconiden (Hymenoptera)

Résumé Dans le présent travail, l'auteur décrit deuxBraconides nouveaux,Macrocentrus argyroploceus n. sp., de Madagascar, obtenu deArgyroploce wahlbergiana Zell. (Lep., Olethreutidae), etMicrogaster procris n. sp. d'Autriche, élevé deProcris notata z. (Lep., Zygaenidae). Leur position taxonomique est discutée en relation avec les espèces voisines.      

Microcostatus schoemanii sp. nov., M. cholnokyi sp. nov. and M. angloensis sp. nov. three new terrestrial diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) from South Africa

The terrestrial diatom Microcostatus schoemanii sp. nov. is described from dry soils of the Faan Meintjies Nature Reserve (North‐West Province, South Africa). Microcostatus cholnokyi sp. nov. and Microcostatus angloensis sp. nov. are described from sandy soils at a colliery near the town of Kriel (Mpumalanga Province, South Africa). The morphology of these taxa is examined using both light and scanning electron microscopy and new taxa are compared with similar species. In M. schoemanii the density of the striae combined with the valve outline and the distance between the central raphe endings are the main distinguishing morphological features. M. cholnokyi is differentiated by the presence of a conopeum and the distinct structure of the microcostae. M. angloensis is similar to M. schoemanii but differentiated by the shape of the cell and the apices, the angle of striation and the distance in between the proximal raphe endings.     

Taxonomic revision of three diatoms found in Lake Malawi: Afrocymbella brunii (Fricke) comb. nov., Afrocymbella rossii (Kociolek & Stoermer) comb. nov., and Aulacoseira euareolata (O.Müller) comb. nov. et nom. nov

Based on epilithic diatom samples collected from the rocky littoral zone of Lake Malawi (102 diatom taxa belonging to 34 genera were listed in the Supporting Information) we proposed the transfer of three taxa to new genera. Afrocymbella brunii (Fricke) comb. nov. was transferred from Gomphonema because of its dorsiventral valve and its transapically elongated dorsal stigma. Afrocymbella rossii (Kociolek & Stoermer) comb. nov. was also transferred from Gomphocymbella, which is actually a synonym of Gomphonema. Aulacoseira euareolata (O.Müller) comb. nov. et nom. nov. was transferred from Melosira because of the presence of linking spines and mantle areolae, and its specific epithet was replaced because of homonymy with Aulacoseira areolata Moisseeva.     

拟爪绵蚜新属及三新种记述 (同翅目:蚜总科:瘿绵蚜科)

该文记述了瘿绵蚜科一新属拟爪绵蚜属ＳｉｃｉｕｎｇｕｉｓＺｈａｎｇｅｔＱｉａｏｇｅｎ．ｎｏｖ．和这个属的二个新种,即十绵蚜Ｓ．ｄｅｃｉｍａＺｈａｎｇｅｔＱｉａｏ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,九绵蚜Ｓ．ｎｏｖｅｎａＺｈａｎｇｅｔＨｕ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,另外还记述了爪绵蚜属ＡｐｈｉｄｏｕｎｇｕｉｓＴａｋａｈａｓｈｉ,１９６３一个新种,苹果根爪绵蚜Ａ．ｐｏｍｉｒａｄｉｃｏｌａＺｈａｎｇｅｔＨｕ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,模式标本存放在中国科学院动物研究所．拟爪绵蚜新属ＳｉｃｉｕｎｇｕｉｓＺｈａｎｇｅｔＱｉａｏｇｅｎ．ｎｏｖ．模式种：十绵蚜ＳｉｃｉｕｎｇｕｉｓｄｅｃｉｍａＺｈａｎｇｅｔＱｉａｏ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．本新属与爪绵蚜属ＡｐｈｉｄｏｕｎｇｕｉｓＴａｋａｈａｓｈｉ,１９６３和绵蚜属ＥｒｉｏｓｏｍａＬｅａｃｈ,１８１８有较近的亲缘关系,不同在于：有翅孤雌蚜腹管位于腹部背片Ⅵ,隆起,周围有毛环绕（前者：位于背片Ⅵ,不隆起,无毛环绕;后者：位于背片Ⅴ,隆起,有毛环绕）;触角稍长,至少为体长０．３５,具有线形次生感觉圈;后者：稍长,至少为体长０．４０,具有环形次生感觉圈）。十绵蚜ＳｉｃｉｕｎｇｕｉｓｄｅｃｉｍａＺｈａｎｇｅｔＱｉａｏ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ     

Cocconeis hauniensis sp. nov., a new epipsammic diatom from Puck Bay (Southern Baltic Sea), Poland

A new taxon Cocconeis hauniensis sp. nov., is described from the bottom deposits of Puck Bay, a shallow water embayment in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. Light and electron microscope studies revealed that C. hauniensis is characterized by a finely silicified raphe valve and a robust araphid valve. The raphe valve possesses a straight to slightly sigmoid raphe, indistinct striae and a submarginal hyaline ring. The araphid valve possesses distinct punctate striae and an irregularly widened axial area. The raphe valve morphology of C. hauniensis shows some similarity to C. placentula Ehrenberg and C. scutellum Ehrenberg. However, the araphid valve of C. hauniensis is quite different.     

New ammonoid taxa from the Lower Cretaceous Giumal Formation of the Tethyan Himalaya (Northern India)

Knowledge of the Early Cretaceous ammonoids of the NW‐Himalayas was poor until recent discoveries. Intense sampling from the Giumal Formation exposed near the village of Chikkim (Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India) led to the recognition of a new Early Cretaceous ammonoid fauna. The succession consists of arenitic sandstone interbedded with shale that was deposited by turbidity currents on an unstable shelf in the Early Cretaceous. Ammonoids have been obtained only from sandstone beds in the lower one‐third and close to the top of the c. 350‐m‐thick section. Eight new ammonoid taxa (1 genus and 7 species) are described: Sinzovia franki sp. nov. (rare), Giumaliceras giumaliense gen. et sp. nov. (abundant), Giumaliceras bhargavai gen. et sp. nov. (rare), Neocomites (Eristavites) platycostatiformis sp. nov. (rare), Cleoniceras oberhauseri sp. nov. (abundant), Australiceras himalayense sp. nov. (rare) and Deshayesites fuchsi sp. nov. (rare). Sinzovia and Deshayesites are reported for the first time from the Tethyan Himalaya. According to the biostratigraphic relevance of some ammonoid taxa described here, the age of the Giumal Formation can be constrained from Berriasian (Giumaliceras assemblage) to Aptian (Cleoniceras assemblage). The discovery of the new fauna substantiates the significance of the Giumal Formation around Chikkim and facilitates comparison with faunal assemblages from other regions in the Tethys Ocean and beyond.     

On Sea Turtle‐associated Craspedostauros (Bacillariophyta), with Description of Three Novel Species

The current study focuses on four species from the primarily marine diatom genus Craspedostauros that were observed growing attached to numerous sea turtles and sea turtle‐associated barnacles from Croatia and South Africa. Three of the examined taxa, C. danayanus sp. nov., C. legouvelloanus sp. nov., and C. macewanii sp. nov., are described based on morphological and, whenever possible, molecular characteristics. The new taxa exhibit characters not previously observed in other members of the genus, such as the presence of more than two rows of cribrate areolae on the girdle bands, shallow perforated septa, and a complete reduction of the stauros. The fourth species, C. alatus, itself recently described from museum sea turtle specimens, is reported for the first time from loggerhead sea turtles rescued in Europe. A 3‐gene phylogenetic analysis including DNA sequence data for three sea turtle‐associated Craspedostauros species and other marine and epizoic diatom taxa indicated that Craspedostauros is monophyletic and sister to Achnanthes. This study, being based on a large number of samples and animal specimens analyzed and using different preservation and processing methods, provides new insights into the ecology and biogeography of the genus and sheds light on the level of intimacy and permanency in the host–epibiont interaction within the epizoic Craspedostauros species.     

New taxa ofCosmarium Corda (Desmidiaceae) from Karnataka State,India

Six new taxa including two new species (Cosmarium bourrellyi Bongale sp. nov. andC. desikacharyi Bongale sp. nov.) and four new varieties (C. auriculatum var.protrusum Bongale var. nov.,C. pachydermum var.inflatum Bongale var. nov.,C. pseudoconnatum var.tuberculans Bongale var. nov. andC. quadrum var.rotundatum Bongale var. nov.) are reported. Algae were collected from a paddy field at Belgaum.     

New Trigonioidoidea (Bivalvia; Unionoida) from the Early Cretaceous of Spain

Abstract: Two taxa belonging to the Trigonioidoidea (Order Unionoida) are described from the Early Cretaceous of Spain. Nippononaia (Paranippononaia) camerana subgen. et sp. nov. is described from the Aptian of the Cameros Basin of the north‐west Iberian Range. Subnippononaia fordi Barker et al., 1997 is described from new material from the Calizas de la Huérguina Formation (Late Barremian) from Las Hoyas and Buenache de la Sierra, Cuenca Province, and Subnippononaia is raised to generic status. The stratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of the Cornago G exposure of the Enciso Group where Nippononaia (Paranippononaia) camerana originates is interpreted as a fresh to brackish water system.     

NINE NEW SPECIES OF PEMPHIGINAE (HOMOPTERA:PEMPHIGI-DAE) FROM CHINA*

Abstract The present paper describes 9 new species of Pemphiginae from China, vizr Mimeuria graminiradicis Zhang sp. nov., Pachypappa, aigkros Zhang sp, nov., P. tortuosae Zhang sp. nov., Pachypapella diquiplla Zhang sp. nov., Pemphigus turritus Zhang sp. nov., P. wuduenris Zhang sp. nov., Prociphilus aurus Zhang et Qiao sp. nov., P. emeiensis Zhang, sp. nov. and P. trinus Zhang sp. nov. All type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica.     

EFFECTS OF CHIRONOMID (INSECTA: DIPTERA) TUBE-BUILDING ACTIVITIES ON STREAM DIATOM COMMUNITIES1,2

Chironomid retreats, constructed out of sand grains upon submerged wood debris, increase the surface area available for diatom colonization. The three dimensional substratum afforded by chironomid tubes supports up to twelve times the diatom biavolume found upon adjacent, unmodified substratum in a northern Michigan stream. Diatom enumeration within scrapings from small defined areas on artificial substrata, combined with examination of intact natural substrata through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), reveals distinct, microdistribution patterns. The larval retreats of two major taxa of tube-dwelling chironomid's (Micropsectra sp. and Pseudodiamesa cf. pertinax Garrett) display significantly different diatom communities relative to adjacent masonite substratum. Substratum without chironomid tubes is primarily colonized by Achnanthes minutissima Kütz. and Cocconeis placentula Ehr., exhibiting the lowest species diversity of microhabitats examined. The diatom flora upon sand tubes of Micropsectra sp. is dominated by Opephora martyi Herib., as is the flora of sand grains collected from the stream sediment load. These two micro-habitats exhibit a high community similarity (SIMI). The SIMI index also suggests that the flora of P. pertinax tubes is highly similar to that of sand grains. Diversity, however, is almost three times greater on P. pertinax tubes and SEM observations reveal that this microhabitat is characterized by a more spatially complex flora; Nitzschia and Navicula spp. dominate the upperstory, and O. martyi is located on underlying sand grains. Results indicate that tube-building chironomids in Carp Creek affect diatom microdistribution by: (1) stabilizing sand grains and associated flora within their retreats, (2) providing a ‘refugium’ for upperstory diatom taxa from the mayfly grazer, Baetis vagans McDunnough (Insecta: Ephemeroptera), and (3) through local nutrient enrichment.     

A new cardiid bivalve from the Pliocene Baklan Basin (Turkey) and the origin of modern Ponto‐Caspian taxa

Abstract: We present the first record of the cardiid genus Monodacna from the Pliocene of Anatolia, Turkey. Monodacna imrei sp. nov. was found in the Pliocene Killik Formation from the western margin of the Baklan Basin, in very marginal brackish to freshwater lacustrine deposits. The new record extends the stratigraphic range of the modern Ponto‐Caspian genus back into the Pliocene and adds to earlier evidence that modern Ponto‐Caspian taxa originated in the Pliocene of south‐western Turkey.