New and rare snailfishes (Liparidae,Scorpaeniformes) with the description of four new species from the Southern Hemisphere and tropical east Pacific

New and rare liparid fishes (Liparidae, Scorpaeniformes) are found and described. Careproctus armatus Andriashev, 1991 sampled off the South Sandwich Islands (at a depth 2281–2369 m); it is the second record of the species. Four species are collected in the vicinity of the South Shetland Islands: Careproctus parini Andriashev et Prirodina, 1990 (off King George Island, 573–861 m), Paraliparis meganchus Andriashev, 1982 (off Elephant Island, 559 m), P. monoporus Andriashev et Neyelov, 1979 (off Elephant Island, 559 m) and Paraliparis specimens, most similar to P. tompkinsae Andriashev, 1992 (off King George Island, 766–861 m). Paraliparis charcoti Duhamel, 1992 recorded at the eastern part of the Weddell Sea (475–633 m). Paraliparis, most similar to P. tetrapteryx Andriashev et Neelov, 1979, found in the Southwestern Atlantic (1200 m). Four new species are described. Paraliparis porcus sp. nov. based on one male SL 85 mm from off the South Shetland Islands (Elephant Island, 332–374 m). Paraliparis acutidens sp. nov. described from the juvenile SL 115 mm, sampled in the western part of the Scotia Sea (3721–3723 m). Paraliparis kocki sp. nov. known from 3 adults caught in the depression of the Bransfield Strait (1914–1920 m), isolated from the Weddell Sea by shallower waters. The only specimen of the Paraliparis mexicanus sp. nov. collected in the tropical Pacific off Mexico at depth not more than 900 m.     

Regulation of splenic contraction persists as a vestigial trait in white-blooded Antarctic fishes

In fishes, the spleen can function as an important reservoir for red blood cells (RBCs), which, following splenic contraction, may be released into the circulation to increase haematocrit during energy-demanding activities. This trait is particularly pronounced in red-blooded Antarctic fishes in which the spleen can sequester a large proportion of RBCs during rest, thereby reducing blood viscosity, which may serve as an adaptation to life in cold environments. In one species, Pagothenia borchgrevinki, it has previously been shown that splenic contraction primarily depends on cholinergic stimulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the regulation of splenic contraction in five other Antarctic fish species, three red-blooded notothenioids (Dissostichus mawsoni Norman, 1937, Gobionotothen gibberifrons Lönnberg, 1905, Notothenia coriiceps Richardson 1844) and two white-blooded “icefish” (Chaenocephalus aceratus Lönnberg, 1906 and Champsocephalus gunnari Lönnberg, 1905), which lack haemoglobin and RBCs, but nevertheless possess a large spleen. In all species, splenic strips constricted in response to both cholinergic (carbachol) and adrenergic (adrenaline) agonists. Surprisingly, in the two species of icefish, the spleen responded with similar sensitivity to red-blooded species, despite contraction being of little obvious benefit for releasing RBCs into the circulation. Although the icefish lineage lost functional haemoglobin before diversifying over the past 7.8–4.8 millions of years, they retain the capacity to contract the spleen, likely as a vestige inherited from their red-blooded ancestors.     

A new species of eel cods Muraenolepis trunovi sp. nova (Muraenolepididae) from the Lazarev Sea with redescription of lectotypes Muraenolepis marmorata Günther, 1880 and M. microps (Lönnberg, 1905)

A new species of eel cods Muraenolepis trunovi sp. nova (Muraenolepididae) from the Lazarev Sea is described. The type specimen is caught at the depth 730–860 m. The new species differs from all known species in very elongated first dorsal and pectoral fins. With respect to the body proportions and the number of rays in the second dorsal fin and the anal fin, it is related to M. marmorata but clearly differs from the latter in a greater number of vertebrae (73 vs. 67–69), in the reduced upper lateral line (to one sensory tube), and in complete absence of the lower lateral line on the body. The lectotypes of Muraenolepis marmorata Günther, 1880 (British Natural History Museum, BNHM) and M. marmoratus microps (Lönnberg, 1905) (Naturhistoriska Riksmuseum, NRM) are redescribed.     

Clestobothrium neglectum (Lönnberg, 1893) n. comb. (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidae) from the tadpole fish Raniceps raninus (L.) (Gadidae) from Sweden

Clestobothrium neglectum (Lönnberg, 1893) n. comb. is redescribed from specimens previously deposited in The Natural History Museum, London, UK by Dr David I. Gibson obtained from the intestine of the tadpole fish Raniceps raninus (Gadidae) collected from off the western coast of Sweden, near Kristineberg. C. neglectum resembles C. crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819), the type- and only species currently recognised in the genus, but differs in having fine spiniform-like structures that are likely microtriches covering the posterior fourth of the scolex and all proglottids, a highly folded tegument forming numerous longitudinal ridges on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the proglottids giving them a scalloped appearance, a somewhat smaller egg (68 × 35 vs 75 × 40 μm), a U-shaped rather than H-shaped ovary and more testes (70–85 vs 40–50 per proglottid). C. neglectum is also compared to two species with similar scoleces that were previously assigned to Clestobothrium, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934 and B. kivuensis Baer &; Fain, 1958 (considered to be synonymous with B. acheilognathi by Pool, 1987). This is the first report of a species of Clestobothrium Lühe, 1899 (Bothriocephalidae) from a gadid fish.     

Interannual variability in the feeding of ice fish (Notothenioidei, Channichthyidae) in the southern Scotia Arc and the Antarctic Peninsula region (CCAMLR Subareas 48.1 and 48.2)

We have studied the annual variation in food intake of three sub-Antarctic ice fish species (Champsocephalus gunnari, Chaenocephalus aceratus, and Pseudochaenichthys georgianus) and three high-Antarctic ice fish species (Chionodraco rastrospinosus, Cryodraco antarcticus, and Chaenodraco wilsoni). Stomach content analyses were conducted during bottom trawl surveys around the South Shetland Islands in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2007, the South Orkney Islands in 1999 and 2009, and off the north-western Antarctic Peninsula in 2002, 2006, and 2006/2007 in order to obtain further insight into the amount of food of Antarctic demersal fish consume during summer. Annual variation in food intake was comparatively low within an area in the krill-feeding species C. gunnari and C. wilsoni. Food intake was much more variable, by a factor of 2 or 3 among years and areas, in larger C. aceratus and C. antarcticus, which rely heavily on fish as their dietary source. Food consumption was intermediate in the two species P. georgianus and C. rastrospinosus, which rely on both krill and fish.     

Phylogeny and maternal donors of the tetraploid species with St genome (Poaceae: Triticeae) inferred from CoxII and ITS sequences

Mitochondrial CoxII and ITS sequences of 29 tetraploid species with St genome were compared with their related genera and species of Pseudoroegneria (Nevski) Á. Löve (St), Hordeum L. (H), Thinopyrum bessarabicum (Savul. & Rayss) Á. Löve (E^b), Lophopyrum elongatum (Host) Á. Löve (E^e), Agropyron Gaertner (P), Australopyrum (Tzvelev) Löve (W) and Psathyrostachys Nevski (Ns). The results indicate that: (1) the maternal donors of North American and Eurasian StStHH tetraploid species may have acquired their St genome from distinct Pseudoroegneria gene pools, with Pse. spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve potentially the maternal donor of North American species; (2) Lophopyrum is the maternal donor of StStE^eE^e tetraploid species, hence, Pse. geniculata ssp. scythica (Nevski) Á. Löve, Elytrigia caespitosa (K. Koch) Nevski and El. caespitosa ssp. nodosa (Nevski) Tzvelev should be identified as species of Trichopyrum Á. Löve; (3) tetraploid species with the same maternal donors were more closely related to each other than those with different maternal donors.     

Studies on protozoan parasites of Australian fishes. Notes on coccidian parasites with description of three new species

In 1990 several species of the generaEimeria andGoussia were found during the examination of some marine and freshwater fishes in New South Wales for protozoan parasites. In freshwater hosts,Goussia carpelli (Léger & Stankovitch, 1921) was found inCarassius auratus from a fish farm andEimeria anguillae Léger & Hollande, 1922 inAnguilla australis from feral eels. A new species,G. piekarskii n. sp., is described from the small intestine of feralGambusia holbrooki. Spherical or subspherical oöcysts average 9.2 μm in diameter, the average size of sporocysts being 7.6 × 4.2 μm. From coastal marine fishes,Goussia thelohani labbé, 1896 was identified in the liver parenchyma ofAcanthopagrus australis andRhabdosargus sarda. G. cruciata (Thélohan, 1892) Labbé, 1896 was found in the liver parenchyma ofPseudocaranx dentex. Both species were found for the first time outside the European area and in completely different hosts.Eimeria sillaginis Molnár & Rohde, 1988 is redescribed from the intestine ofSillago ciliata, and includes a new structure on its sporocyst wall.E. nesowai n. sp. is described from the pyloric caeca and intestine ofGerres ovatus. Subspherical oöcysts average 12.9 μm in diameter, the average size of sporocysts being 7 × 4.2 μm.E. rohdei n. sp. was found to infect the pyloric caeca ofMonacanthus chinensis. The average sizes of oöcysts and sporocysts are 7.5 μm diameter and 5.1 × 3 μm, respectively.     

A new species of deepwater snake-eel,ophichthus aphotistos, with comments onneenchelys retropinna (anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from taiwan

Ophichthus aphotistos, a new species of snake-eel, subfamily Ophichthinae, is described from three specimens trapped in deep water (700–800 m) off southwestern Taiwan. It is most similar toO. cruentifer but differes from it and other elongate, deep water species ofOphichthus in its vertebral number (158–162), posterior dorsal-fin origin, biserial dentition, and dark coloration. A poorly known species,Neenchelys retropinna Smith &; Böhlke, is reported from the South China Sea for the first time.     

Preliminary assessment of population structure in the mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari)

The mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari Lönnberg E (1905) The Fishes of the Swedish South Polar Expedition. Wiss. Ergebnisse Schwedische Südpol- Exped. 1901–1903, vol 5, p 37 is widely distributed south of the Antarctic convergence and over shelf areas surrounding sub-Antarctic Islands. In order to evaluate global population structure in this species, we examined DNA sequence variation in four mitochondrial regions and four nuclear genes in icefish from four locations in the Atlantic Ocean sector and one location in the Indian Ocean. Despite small sample sizes, mitochondrial and nuclear gene data indicated the existence of at least three genetically distinct stocks: Heard Island, South Shetland Islands, and the remaining Atlantic populations (Shag Rocks, South Georgia, and Bouvet Island). The mitochondrial and nuclear SNP markers developed here will be useful for more extensive analyses of population structure in this species.     

Description of Harpagifer permitini sp. nova (Harpagiferidae) from the sublittoral zone of South Georgia and redescription of the littoral H. georgianus Nybelin

Comparative morphology of Antarctic spiny plunderfishes of the genus Harpagifer from the littoral and sublittoral zones off South Georgia (Scotia Sea) is investigated. A new species H. permitini from the depth 65–80 m is described and the littoral H. georgianus Nybelin, 1947 is redescribed. The significant differences in their morphology are shown. Two morphological and bathopathic forms (“soft” and “spiny”) of spiny plunder-fishes are characterized.     

Resistance to desiccation in aquatic invasive snails and implications for their overland dispersal

At least 30 species of nonindigenous freshwater snails have invaded North America. The risk of these snails invading new lakes depends upon their ability to survive overland transport. We first reviewed published laboratory experiments using freshwater snails, which show numerous species are able to tolerate days of air exposure. We then tested tolerance to drying of three species of invasive aquatic snails that are widespread in Wisconsin: Bithynia tentaculata, Cipangopaludina chinensis, and Viviparus georgianus. In a series of seven experiments, we simulated boater transport by placing snails individually in mesh bags, hung outdoors, and confined in a screen tent. The screen roof allowed exposure to both sun and rain, and an on-site weather station recorded temperature, precipitation, and humidity. All three species exhibited high survivorship, with some individuals alive at the end of most experiments: 42 days for B. tentaculata and V. georgianus and 63 days for C. chinensis. Viable young were released by C. chinensis after 54 days of exposure. Overall, our results indicate that these invasive snails should readily survive long periods of transport overland, indicating a need for continued vigilance of recreational boaters entering lakes.     

Morphological and phylogenetic studies of Cytospora (Valsaceae,Diaporthales) isolates from Chinese scholar tree,with description of a new species

Cytospora species are the most serious and widespread pathogens associated with canker disease on multiple plants. In this study, three species, i.e., Cytospora sophoricola, C. chrysosperma, and C. sophorae, which were isolated from Sophora in China, are described and illustrated based on their morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses. Cytospora sophoricola was distinguished clearly by its larger disc, multiple ostioles, cystic and multiple locules, and specific cultural characteristics, i.e., protruding fruiting bodies. Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis showed that it did not cluster with any known species of Cytospora, so it is described as a new species. Cytospora sophorae is a previously reported species from Sophora, which is redescribed based on new isolates and additional observations. Another species was identified as C. chrysosperma, which is reported for the first time on Sophora, so Papilionaceae is shown to be a new host family for C. chrysosperma. The morphological affinities of these species with related taxa are discussed, while the phylogenetic relationships of these species with other fungus in the genus Cytospora were elucidated based on their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA region sequences.