Two new species of Pupulina van Beneden, 1892 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) from mobulid rays off South Africa

The caligid genus Pupulina van Beneden, 1892 currently has three accepted species. Two new species, Pupulina cliffi n. sp. and P. merira n. sp., are described from Mobula kuhlii (Müller & Henle) and M. eregoodootenkee (Bleeker) (Mobulidae) caught along the east coast of South Africa. Pupulina cliffi can be distinguished from all the other species by the absence of posterolateral processes on the genital complex, whereas P. merira has very short, rounded posterolateral processes on the genital complex compared to the three previously known species. Additionally, P. merira is the only species with the abdomen only about two-thirds the length of the genital complex and the caudal rami about the same length as the abdomen. A dichotomous key to distinguish the five species of Pupulina is provided.     

Length–weight relationship of Rhinobatos horkelii Müller & Henle, 1841 and Zapteryx brevirostris (Müller & Henle, 1841) off Brazil,southwestern Atlantic Ocean

This study reports the length–weight relationships (LWRs) for two elasmobranch species, Rhinobatos horkelii Müller & Henle, 1841 and Zapteryx brevirostris (Müller & Henle, 1841) collected from the southwestern Atlantic, off Brazil. Both are considered endangered species. The LWR data can be taken into consideration for further management and conservation plans.     

The South American catfish genus Auchenipterus Valenciennes, 1840 (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae): monophyly and relationships, with a revisionary study

The Neotropical catfishes of the genus Auchenipterus Valenciennes (1840) are reviewed. The genus is hypothesized to be a monophyletic assemblage on the basis of the shared presence of grooves in the ventral surface of the head that accommodate adducted mental barbels. A possible second synapomorphy, the presence of papillae on the dorsal and medial surface of the ossified maxillary barbel of mature males, is tentatively advanced pending discovery of adult males of three species. Contrary to previous hypotheses which considered Auchenipterus to consist of a maximum of five species, we recognize 11 species, including two previously undescribed forms, A. britskii and A. menezesi: Auchenipterus is broadly distributed through the Rio Orinoco, Rio Amazonas, and Rio de La Plata basins, and the coastal drainages of the Guianas, with one species in the Rio Pindare-Mirim and Rio Parnaiba basins of northeastern Brazil. Auchenipterus nuchalis, previously thought to be broadly distributed across the range of the genus, is found to rather have a restricted distribution in the eastern portions of the Amazon basin, the lower portions of the Rio Tocantins, and lower courses of some rivers in Suriname and French Guiana. Citations of A. nuchalis from elsewhere in the range of the genus are of other species. Euanemus Müller & Troschel (1842) and Ceratocheilus Miranda Ribeiro (1918) are considered synonyms of Auchenipterus. Euanemus colymbetes Müller & Troschel (1842) is considered a synonym of Auchenipterus (fen/ata Valenciennes (1840), and A. paysanduanus Devincenzi (1933) is placed into the synonymy of A. nigripinnis Boulenger (1895). A neotype is designated for Hypopthalmus nuchalis Spix & Agassiz (1829). Lectotypes are designated for Euanemus colymbetes and Auchenipterus nigripinnis.     

A new genus and species of cestode (Rhinebothriidea) from Mobula kuhlii (Rajiformes: Mobulidae) from Malaysian Borneo

The cestode fauna of the shortfin devilray, Mobula kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841) was examined for the first time. The work resulted in the discovery of a new genus and species of rhinebothriidean tapeworm. Crassuseptum pietrafacei, n. gen. n. sp. is erected here on the basis of its unique scolex and proglottid morphology. Histological sections and examination by light and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that this new genus differs from all other rhinebothriidean genera in its possession of bothridia in which the proximal and distal sides are confluent, i.e., not separated by a rim of tissue, and in its possession of testes that extend to the posterior margin of the ovary. This new species is characterized in part by its possession of stalked, elongate bothridia lacking lateral constrictions, with 13-15 prominent transverse bothridial septa and 4 reduced transverse septa, craspedote proglottids, each with 2-3 layers of testes in cross section, and a vas deferens that joins the cirrus sac at its anterior margin. Histological and optical sections through bothridial septa revealed that the transverse septa are formed by septal muscles separate from bothridial radial musculature, extending from the anterior side to the posterior side of each septum. This is only the second species rhinebothriidean cestode reported from mobulids. This study adds to the number of new species and genera of elasmobranch cestodes discovered off of the island of Borneo.     

Evidence of brain-warming in the mobulid rays, Mobula tarapacana and Manta birostris (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii: Batoidea: Myliobatiformes)

The presence of cranial retia mirabilia in rays of the genus Mobula is well established. Although previously regarded as consisting exclusively of arteries, the presence of veins has now been established in gross dissections of the rete in the mobulid, Manta birostris. Histological examination of the retia in Manta birostris and Mobula tarapacana confirms the presence of veins. These findings suggest the presence of a counter-current heat-exchanger that warms the brain.     

中国迷蚜蝇属Milesia厘订（双翅目：食蚜蝇科）

中国原记载分布有14种迷蚜蝇。本文通过对我国迷蚜蝇馆藏标本的收集、整理、鉴定,发现有6个新异名：瑞丽迷蚜蝇M.ruiliana Yang et Cheng和清华迷蚜蝇M.tachina Yang et Cheng为黄带迷蚜蝇M.cretosa Hippa的异名,茂兰迷蚜蝇M.tachina Yang et Cheng为锈色迷蚜蝇Mferruginosa的异名,黑色迷蚜蝇M.atricorporis Yang et Cheng为黑色迷蚜蝇M.quantula Hippa的异名,拟蜂迷蚜蝇M.vesparia Shiraki和隆顶迷蚜蝇M.turgidiverticis Yang et Cheng为隆顶迷蚜蝇M.verticalis Brunetti的异名。并首次报道杂色迷蚜蝇M.variegata Brunetti在中国有分布。到目前为止,我国实际有分布的迷蚜蝇共13种(其中,棕缘迷蚜蝇M.fuscicosta (Bigot)分布在我国南海,未见标本)。本文提供了每种的腹部特征图,并列出所有中国种类的分类检索表,同时附有地理分布图。中国迷蚜蝇种类如下：闽小迷蚜蝇M.apsycta Seguy、玉带迷蚜蝇M.balteata Kertesz、黄带迷蚜蝇M.cretosa Hippa、锈色迷蚜蝇M.ferruginosa Brunetti、裂翅迷蚜蝇M.fissipennis Speiser、非凡迷蚜蝇M.insignis Hippa、马氏迷蚜蝇M.maai Hippa、桔斑迷蚜蝇M.variegata Brunetti、寡斑迷蚜蝇M.paucipunctata Yang et Cheng、黑色迷蚜蝇M.quantula Hippa、中华迷蚜蝇M.sinensis Curran、隆顶迷蚜蝇M.verticalis Brunetti和棕缘迷蚜蝇M.fuscicosta Bigot。     

The systematics of the radula-less gastropod Clathromangelia (Caenogastropoda, Conoidea)

On the basis of foregut anatomy and embryonic/larval shell morphology, the radula-less conoidean gastropod genus Clathromangelia Monterosato, 1884 is transferred to the subfamily Daphnellinae (family Turridae). The Lower Pliocene to Recent species arc reviewed. The type species is Pleurotoma granum Philippi, 1844, Recent from Sicily. C. quadrillum Dujardin, 1837 a fossil species described from the Miocene (and ranging to the Lower Pliocene) is here considered a distinct species, with planktotrophic larval development. Clathromangelia strigillata Pallary, 1904 from the Gulf of Gabè (Tunisia) is figured and redescribed. Clathromangelia loiselieri Oberling, 1970 (lectotype here selected) is a senior synonym of C. fehrae (emend. pro C. fehri ) Aartsen & Zenetou, 1987. Three new species are described and figured from the Italian Pliocene: C. tavianii sp. n., C. elvirae sp. n. and C. marinae sp. n.     

The Order Euplotida (Ciliophora): Taxonomy, with Division of Euplotes into Several Genera

ABSTRACT. The order Euplotida represents a monophyletic order of five families of hypotrich ciliates united by morphology, stomatogenesis, ultrastructure, cyst structure, and behavior. A review of variability of ciliation and nuclei among the 14 genera suggests that lines of evolution may have involved both the loss of cirri and nuclear simplification. We present a binary key to genera in the families Aspidiscidae ( Aspidisca and Euplotaspis ), Certesiidae n. fam. ( Certesia ), Gastrocirrhidae ( Cytharoides, Euplotidium , and Gas-trocirrhus ), Uronychiidae ( Diophryopsis, Diophrys, Paradiophrys , and Uronychia ), and Euplotidae. The latter family contains species formerly in the genus Euplotes. Based primarily on cortical structure, endosymbionts, data from morphometric analysis, and ecology, we recognize four different groups. The first group of species remains in Euplotes with Euplotes charon as type. We place a second group of species into the genus Moneuplotes Jankowski 1979 with Moneuplotes vannus (Müller, 1786) as type. We erect two new genera: Euplotoides n. g. and Euplotopsis n. g. with Euplotoides patella (Müller, 1773) n. comb. and Euplotopsis affinis (Dujardin, 1841) n. comb. as type species respectively. We discuss possible phylogenetic relationships within the order.     

Freshwater ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) of the subfamily Dolerocypridinae Triebel, 1961 from Southeast Asia

The systematics of the freshwater ostracods of the subfamily Dolerocypridinae in Southeast Asia is reviewed: A total of five species are known and they are assigned to three genera. Astenocypris papyracea (Sars) 1903 and Dolerocypris sinensis Sars, 1903 are redescribed. Dolerocypris fasciata (Müller) 1776, from Indonesia is figured and the hitherto observed variations are discussed. Dolerocypris pellucida Klie, 1932 is transferred to the genus Tanycypris Triebel, 1959.     

南五味子属(五味子科)一些种类的分类学订正

根据对12个国家54个标本馆所收藏的5000余份南五味子属植物标本的研究,结合野外调查和采集,对南五味子属的一些种类作了分类学订正:将仁昌南五味子归并入狭叶南五味子,将菲律宾南五味子和盘柱南五味子归并入异型南五味子,将长梗南五味子、城口南五味子、少齿南五味子、麦克氏南五味子和峨嵋南五味子归并入南五味子,将苏拉威西南五味子归并入南洋南五味子,将史氏南五味子归并入柄果南五味子。在南五味子属中,11个种被确认。     

A Revision of Australian River Prawns, Macrobrachium (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae)

A taxonomic revision of Australian Macrobrachium identified three species new to the Australian fauna – two undescribed species and one new record, viz. M. auratumsp. nov., M. koombooloombasp. nov., and M. mammillodactylus(Thallwitz, 1892). Eight taxa previously described by Riek (1951) are recognised as new junior subjective synonyms, viz. M. adscitum adscitum, M. atactum atactum, M. atactum ischnomorphum, M. atactum sobrinum, M. australiense crassum, M. australiense cristatum, M. australiense eupharum of M. australienseHolthuis, 1950, and M. glypticumof M. handschiniRoux, 1933. Apart from an erroneous type locality for a junior subjective synonym, there were no records to confirm the presence of M. australe(Guérin-Méneville, 1838) on the Australian continent. In total, 13 species of Macrobrachiumare recorded from the Australian continent. Keys to male developmental stages and Australian species are provided. A revised diagnosis is given for the genus. A list of 31 atypical species which do not appear to be based on fully developed males or which require re-evaluation of their generic status is provided. Terminology applied to spines and setae is revised.     

Molecular analyses of the IGS & ITS regions of rDNA of the psychrophilic yeasts in the genus Mrakia

Species of the genus Mrakia are currently classified as synonyms based on molecular sequence analyses of the large sub-unit ribosomal DNA (LrDNA). Physiological and protein electrophoretic studies, however, reveal possible species differences. To clarify this discrepancy, we undertook molecular sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and intergenic spacer (IGS) regions of rDNA from the four psychrophilic Mrakia species and the psychrophilic yeast, Cryptococcus curiosus. Identical ITS sequences were found between C. curiosus, M. nivalis and M. frigida. Although, M. stokesii and M. gelida displayed identical ITS and IGS sequences, their sequences differed from the other three species by 2.3% and 38%, respectively. The results suggest that M. stokesii is a synonym of M. gelida, whereas M. nivalis is a synonym of M. frigida. Sequence differences (1.9%) observed in the IGS region indicates that C. curiosus is a distinct strain of M. frigida.     

Eunicid polychaetes (Annelida) from Scandinavian and adjacent waters. Family Eunicidae

Four species of Eunice [E. pennata (0. F. Müller, 1776), E. dubitata Fauchald, 1974, E. norvegica (Linné, 1767), and E. harassii (Audouin & Milne-Edwards, 1833)] and one species of Marphysa [M . sp., close to M. sanguinea (Montagu, 1815)] are described and a branchial formula is proposed. The genus Marphysa is reported from Scandinavian waters for the first time. The specimen of Marphysa studied has tridentate composite falcigers as well as composite spinigers in the anterior setigers, whereas M. sanguinea has been reported to have composite spinigers only. The geographical distribution of all five species is given and intraspecific variation is discussed. Reports of E. oerstedii (Stimpson, 1853) from Europe are discussed and specimens of this species are compared with E. dubitata . The behaviour of E. pennata and E. dubitata has been observed in aquaria.     

The demise of Leptotheca Thélohan, 1895 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Ceratomyxidae) and assignment of its species to Ceratomyxa Thélohan, 1892 (Myxosporea: Ceratomyxidae), Ellipsomyxa K?ie, 2003 (Myxosporea: Ceratomyxidae), Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 and Sphaerospora Thélohan, 1892 (Myxosporea: Sphaerosporidae)

A revision of Leptotheca Thélohan, 1895 is presented. The boundaries that separate Leptotheca from Ceratomyxa Thélohan, 1892 and Sphaerospora Thélohan, 1892 are vague and have been highlighted as an area of concern within myxosporean classification. A survey of the literature revealed 63 species that are currently assigned to Leptotheca and a further 11 species that have been relegated as synonyms in Ceratomyxa, Sphaerospora or Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882. The placement of some species in the genus is unclear and demonstrates the need for a revision. The type-species of Leptotheca (L. agilis Thélohan 1892) has many Ceratomyxa-like characters, such that a minor amendation of the diagnosis of Ceratomyxa will then accept the type-species of Leptotheca, rendering the latter genus its synonym. We propose the suppression of Leptotheca, with all species currently assigned to that genus reassigned to Ceratomyxa, Ellipsomyxa K?ie, 2003, Myxobolus or Sphaerospora on the basis of appropriate morphological and biological traits. The diagnoses of Ceratomyxa and Ellipsomyxa are amended appropriately. Molecular analysis may change the placement of some species in the future; however, the aim of this review was to eliminate the ambiguity of assignment of species in the genera Leptotheca, Ceratomyxa and Sphaerospora by suppressing Leptotheca.     

A discussion on the Heteracanthocephalidae Petrochenko, 1956 (Acanthocephala: Palaeacanthocephala)

Several heteracanthocephalid specimens were recovered from the flatfish Rhombosolea leporina (Günther), a host of Heteracanthocephalus peltorhamphi (Baylis, 1944) Petrochenko, 1956 from New Zealand. Unlike H. peltorhamphi, these new specimens have trunk spines. Measurements and proboscis armament of the new specimens are consistent with the worms being Aspersentis minor Edmonds & Smales, 1992 originally described from the Australian flounder Rhombosolea tapirina Günther. A review of the family Heteracanthocephalidae Petrochenko, 1956 was undertaken to assess the validity of its four genera and eight species. The validity of Aspersentis megarhynchus (Linstow, 1892) Golvan, 1960 (syn. Echinorhynchus megarhynchus Linstow, 1892) is questioned. E. megarhynchus is not considered to be an heteracanthocephalid and is relegated to a species inquirenda. A. megarhynchus (Linstow, 1892) of Golvan (1960) nec E. megarhynchus Linstow, 1892 is considered a synonym of A. austrinus Van Cleave, 1929. The monotypic genus Heteracanthocephalus Petrochenko, 1956 is proposed as a synonym of Aspersentis Van Cleave, 1929 because there appear to be insufficient morphological differences between them. Aspersentis peltorhamphi n. comb. is proposed for Heteracanthocephalus peltorhamphi. The monotypic genus Sachalinorhynchus Krotov & Petrochenko in Petrochenko, 1956 is considered valid, but the other heteracanthocephalid genus, Bullockrhynchus Chandra, Rao & Shyamasundari, 1985, also monotypic, is not. B. indicus Chandra, Rao & Shyamasundari, 1985 possesses more features resembling rhadinorhynchids than heteracanthocephalids but only females are known, and therefore the genus and species cannot be placed. There are currently four valid species of Aspersentis and one of Sachalinorhynchus.     

拟单性木兰属（木兰科）植物的分类学修订

根据标本研究和野外调查,对木兰科(Magnoliaceae)的拟单性木兰属(Parakmeria Hu &; Cheng)进行了分类学修订。回顾了此属的分类学简史,阐述了保留拟单性木兰属的理由,将Magnolia Linn. subgenus Gynopodium Figlar &; Noot. section Gynopodium 作为拟单性木兰属的新异名,将Magnolia yunnanensis (Hu) Noot. 和M. nitida W. W. Smith var. robusta B. L. Chen &; Noot.作为云南拟单性木兰(Parakmeria yunnanensis Hu)的新异名,将Magnolia omeiensis (Cheng) Dandy、M. lotungensis Chun &; C. H. Tsoong、M. nitida W. W. Smith var. lotungensis (Chun &; C. H. Tsoong) B. L. Chen &; Noot. 和Parakmeria lotungensis (Chun &; C. H. Tsoong) Law作为峨眉拟单性木兰(Parakmeria omeiensis Cheng)的新异名,确认拟单性木兰属含４种植物,列出了分种检索表,描述了各种的地理分布和生长环境。     

New species, new records and new morphological characters of the genus Tillicera Spinola from China (Coleoptera, Cleridae, Clerinae)

Two new species of the genus Tillicera Spinola, 1841 from China are described and illustrated: Tillicera sensibilissp. n. from Yunnan (also from Myanmar, Thailand and Laos) and Tillicera weniisp. n. from Taiwan. Tillicera bibalteata Gorham, 1892, Tillicera hirsuta (Pic, 1926) and Tillicera michaeli Gerstmeier & Bernhard, 2010 are newly recorded from China. Tillicera auratofasciata (Pic, 1927) is newly recorded in some provinces of China. A key to species of the genus from China is provided. Relationships between species are discussed with emphasis on characters of male phallus, female internal reproductive organs and pit-like sensilla in male terminal antennomere, which is discovered in Tillicera for the first time. The present generic definition of Tillicera is discussed as well. Photos of terminalia of the previously known species are also provided for comparison.     

Revision of the Merodon aurifer group (Diptera: Syrphidae) with new synonyms of M. testaceus Sack, 1913

The hoverfly genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 (Diptera, Syrphidae), which comprises more than 200 species is distributed in the Palaearctic and Afrotropical Region, but one species, Merodon equestris, is a pest of flower bulbs and has been invasive into New Zealand and North America. In this work, the Merodon aurifer species group, a member of the M. avidus-nigritarsis lineage, is revised. The diagnostic characters of the M. aurifer species group, and the morphological differences between M. aurifer Loew, 1862 and M. nudicorpus sp. n. are explained and illustrated, as well as their distribution map. A detailed study of the type material resulted in three new synonyms: M. distinctus Palma, 1863 is a junior synonym of M. aurifer; M. manicatus (Sack, 1938) and M. testacoides Hurkmans, 1993 are junior synonyms of M. testaceus.Lectotypes are designated for two taxa M. aurifer and M. manicatus instead of the erroneously designated types for these species in Hurkmans (1993).