A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litomosoides</Emphasis> Chandler, 1931 (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from the long-nosed hocicudo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxymycterus nasutus</Emphasis> Waterhouse (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in Uruguay

A new species of Litomosoides Chandler, 1931 was collected from the abdominal cavity of Oxymycterus nasutus Waterhouse (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in the grassland of the Departamento Rocha, Uruguay. Litomosoides nasuti n. sp. belongs to the ‘sigmodontis group’, and is characterised by: salient amphids; two ventral and one dorsal labial papillae, but no cephalic papillae; a buccal capsule with a transparent anterior segment and an annular asymmetrical thickening; a muscular oesophagus; a bottle-shaped buccal cavity; the male with symmetrically situated cloacal papillae (one pair ad-cloacal and three pairs post-cloacal); phasmids displaced laterally to the longitudinal axis; and microfilariae without terminal nuclei in the tail tip. It resembles five known species; three of which have been recovered from Oxymycterus spp. in neighbouring countries. However, the new species can be differentiated from L. sigmodontis Chandler, 1931 by the shape and size of the buccal capsule; from L. navonae Notarnicola, 2005 by the muscular oesophagus; from L. legerae Bain, Petit & Berteaux, 1980 by the length of the oesophagus and the cephalic papillae; from L. anguyai Notarnicola, Bain & Navone, 2002 by the absence of lappets in the female tail; and from L. oxymycteri Notarnicola, Bain & Navone, 2000 by absence of pre-cloacal papillae. L. legerae from O. quaestor and L. sigmodontis from Sigmodon hispidus in North America are closely related species, as indicated by Brant & Gardner’s phylogenetic tree based on morphological characters. However, a new analysis is needed to include the recently described Argentinean species for a better understanding of the diversification of this genus.     

Adaptive variation of pelage color within and between species of the subterranean mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi) in Israel

Summary Color notations of dorsal pelage were analyzed in 451 adult subterranean mole rats, comprising 19 populations and 4 chromosomal species (2n=52, 54, 58 and 60) of the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel. In addition, the color notations of soil samples from the collection sites were measured. In an attempt to evaluate the degree of correlation between pelage color of mole rats and the local soil color, each color was compared both macro- and microgeographically. The macrogeographic comparisons were among populations of the 4 chromosomal species, and the microgeographic comparisons were among pairs of geographically neighboring subpopulations which occur under similar climatic conditions but differ in soil type and color. The results indicate that 1. no differences in pelage color notation exist between the sexes; 2. pelage of mole rats is generally characterized by an over-all grayish color, but its shades vary regionally and locally in accordance with varying soil color; 3. a positive correlation was found between pelage and local soil colors in the macrogeographic analysis and this correlation was verified in a microgeographic comparison; 4. specimens from populations of the northern chromosomal species (2n=52, 54) mainly inhabit terra rossa and basalt soils, respectively, with reddish brown tones, and they tend to have a more reddish shade, whereas animals from the central species (2n=58), which inhabits mainly dark soils including alluvial clays, terra rossa and brown rendzina and the souther species 2n=60, which occurs mainly in light soil types such as pale rendzina, sandy loams and loess, tend to have a more yellowish shade. The general appearance of specimens from 2n=58 was dark gray while that of 2n=60 specimens was light gray; 5. mole rats living in xeric environments (particularly 2n=60, but also 2n=54) are lighter than those which live in mesic environments (2n=52, 58). The results support the conclusion that pelage color of strictly subterranean mole rats is subject to selection pressures of overground predation of disharmonious types with their background soil color. The possibility that the pelage color variation and patterns also contributes to better thermoregulation while mole rats are above ground is discussed.     

Redescription and designation of a neotype for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphthalmichthys kuro</Emphasis> Kuroda 1947, and its placement in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Callechelys</Emphasis> (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae)

Aphthalmichthys kuro, described by Kuroda (1947) based on a specimen from Suruga Bay, Japan, is referred to Callechelys (family Ophichthidae, subfamily Ophichthinae). It differs from its congeners in its vertebral number (142–146), tail length (2.0–2.1 in TL), and coloration (brownish black). The holotype is lost; we herein designate a neotype and redescribe and illustrate the species based on 5 specimens from Japan and 2 from Taiwan.     

Hybridization between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alouatta caraya</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alouatta guariba clamitans</Emphasis> in captivity

Hybridization between Alouatta spp. has been suggested at contact zones of A. palliata and A. pigra in Mexico and of A. caraya and A. guariba clamitans in Brazil and Argentina. Whereas genetic data confirmed hybridization between the former pair of species, hybrid individuals of the latter pair have been putatively identified on the basis of a mosaic pelage color. In this paper, we describe the first confirmed cases of hybridization between a female A. guariba clamitans and a male A. caraya. One hybrid male was born in 2007 and one hybrid female was born in 2009 with distinct coat colors. The male resembled the newborn color pattern characteristic of A. guariba clamitans, whereas the female resembled the newborn pattern of A. caraya. The birth and survival of the male hybrid for a year and a half indicated the viability of the heterogametic sex.     

What We Think We Know vs. What We Need to Know About Orchid Pollination and Conservation: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cypripedium</Emphasis> L. as a Model Lineage

While Darwin (1862, 1877) showed that reproductive success in orchid populations depended on adaptive floral morphology coupled with pollinator visitation a more recent review of the literature (Tremblay et al., 2005) confirmed that many out-breeding species are pollinator-limited because most orchid species showing low fecundity also lack rewards. The absence of rewards depresses both pollinator fidelity and the frequency of pollinator visits to an orchid population even though orchid flowers that lack rewards retain the same interlocking floral structures for precise pollinia removal and deposition found in related species that offer rewards. Using the genus, Cypripedium, as a model lineage of non-rewarding flowers this study also shows that the correlation between low fruit set in a Cypripedium sp. and its specific pollinator(s) is insufficient to predict specific frequencies of low fecundity. Annual rates of fruit set often vary broadly between populations of the same species and within the same population over several seasons. We speculate that fruit-set rates also decline when orchid demography and additional biotic and abiotic factors interrupt rates of pollinator activity (pre-zygotic) and fertilization/fruit maturation (post-zygotic). We suggest that that traditional field studies on pollination ecology and breeding systems be combined with data sets recording genetic variation and orchid flower demography in relation to seasonal variation in climate. We also propose that the same information be collected in regard to genetic variation, demography and phenology of populations of known orchid pollinators and co-blooming angiosperm species native to orchid habitats.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthocephalum</Emphasis> Linton, 1890 (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) from dasyatid stingrays of the Gulf of California

Three new species of Anthocephalum Linton, 1890 are described from dasyatid stingrays collected in the Gulf of California. Anthocephalum michaeli n. sp. is described from Dasyatis longus (Garman). This species most closely resembles A. alicae Ruhnke, 1994, but differs from this species in proglottid number. A. lukei n. sp. is also described from D. longus. This new species is most similar to A. cairae Ruhnke, 1994, but differs from that species in marginal loculi number and number of proglottids. The third new species, A. currani n. sp., is described from D. brevis (Garman). This species is most similar to A. centrurum (Southwell, 1925) Ruhnke, 1994, but differs from that species in marginal loculi number, number of testes and ovarian length. Phyllobothrium kingae Schmidt, 1978 is also consistent in morphology with species of Anthocephalum and is transferred to this genus, forming the new combination Anthocephalum kingae n. comb. This species most closely resembles A. michaeli n. sp., but differs in testicular shape. This brings the total number of species of Anthocephalum to nine. The transfer of the species Phyllobothrium arctowskii Wojciechowska, 1991, P. georgiense Wojciechowska, 1991, P. rakusai Wojciechowska, 1991 and P. siedleckii Wojciechowska, 1991 to Anthocephalum is not warranted, as these four species lack a posteriorly recurved cirrus-sac and a sinuous vagina, and have vitelline follicles uninterrupted by the ovary. Of the nine known species, all are parasitic in batoid fishes, and six are found in species of Dasyatis Garman. The phylogenetic status of Anthocephalum species in relationship to Rhinebothroides Mayes, Brooks & Thorson, 1981, Pararhineothroides Zamparo, Brooks & Barriga, 1999 and other rhinebothriin taxa is discussed.     

Congruence between mitochondrial genes and color morphs in a coral reef fish: population variability in the Indo-Pacific damselfish Chrysiptera rex (Snyder, 1909)

The Pomacentrid fish Chrysiptera rex (Snyder 1909) is a small conspicuous member of Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Despite having planktonic larvae, which would seem to facilitate genetic and morphological homogeneity, it possesses three distinct color variations, which are geographically restricted. To investigate the presence of possible incipient speciation, samples were taken from three geographically distinct areas including the South China Sea, the Philippines and Indonesia. Phylogenetic analysis of these morphotypes resulted in congruence between color and genetic data sets, with separation by color type. Each of the color variants possessed a unique genetic signal at two mitochondrial loci, but the color variants were invariant across a nuclear gene. This study highlights the importance of range wide sampling when characterizing a species and argues that multiple lines of evidence should be used when evaluating the taxonomic and conservation status of coral reef organisms.     

Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teratorhabditis</Emphasis> (Osche, 1952) Dougherty, 1953 (Nematoda:Rhabditida) from sewage and manure samples in India including a discussion on relationships within the genus

Three species of the genus Teratorhabditis (Osche, 1952) Dougherty, 1953 collected from sewage and manure samples of North India are described. The species T. andrassyi Tahseen & Jairajpuri (1988) synonymised by Sudhaus (1991) has been reinstated and is characterized by oviparous females having bluntly rounded lips with labial sensilla not raised beyond labial contour; lip margins and axils heavily cuticularised; three lines in lateral field; considerably wide and tubular stoma having swollen metastegostomal walls with prismatic inner lining bearing five teeth on each plate; basal bulb with usually single haustrulum; tail conoid with a terminal spike; eggs with ridged shells and males with 40–45% distally-fused spicules and a smooth, non-indented bursa having slender papillae in 2/4 + p + 3 configuration. Other populations identified as T. synpapillata and T. palmarum Gerber and Giblin-Davis (1990) are reported for the first time from India. An identification key to species is provided. Relationships within the genus are discussed. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users Handling editor: K. Martens     

Morphological and Body Color Variation in Thai <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macaca fascicularis fascicularis</Emphasis> North and South of the Isthmus of Kra

Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis) are widely distributed in Southeast Asia and are morphologically and genetically (Tosi et al. in International Journal of Primatology 23:161–178, 2002) distinguishable on either side of the Isthmus of Kra (ca. 10.5°N). We compared the somatometry and body color of 15 local populations of long-tailed macaques in Thailand distributed over areas from 6.5°N to 16.3°N and also a Thai rhesus macaque population at 17.2°N. Limb proportions and body color variation follow the geographical trend. However, contrary to a previous report, body size does not decrease with latitude in the northern group and also in the southern (southerly distributed) rhesus macaque. Relative tail length (RTL) and color contrast in yellow between the back and thigh are the sole traits that distinctively separate the 2 groups: the southern group has a long relative tail length (RTL >125%) and small color contrast, whereas the northern group has a short RTL (<120%) and large color contrast. The southern rhesus macaques appear to have somatometric and body color traits that follow the geographical trend in long-tailed macaques, though they maintain their distinctive species-specific traits of shorter RTL (ca. 55%), shorter relative facial length, and a bipartite body color pattern. Researchers assume that the northern group of long-tailed macaques and the southern rhesus macaques had undergone partial introgression with each other. Montane refugia present during the glacial period are localities in which introgression occurred in long-tailed macaques.     

Indonesian Kickxellales: two species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coemansia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linderina</Emphasis>

Four species belonging to Kickxellales (Kickxellomycotina) isolated from soil of Indonesia are described and illustrated. Two new species of Coemansia, C. asiatica and C. javaensis, were discovered in South Sulawesi and West Java, and two known species of Linderina, L. pennispora and L. macrospora, were discovered in East Kalimantan and South Sulawesi, respectively. These four species are newly added to the Indonesian mycobiota. A technique for inducing sporulation of C. javaensis and L. macrospora by adding substances derived from invertebrates such as aphids, nereids, or cladocerans to culture media is described.     

The taxonomy and phylogeny of the cyprinid genus Opsariichthys Bleeker (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Taiwan, with description of a new species

The morphological and mitochondrial genetic differentiation in the cyprinid genus, Opsariichthys Bleeker (Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde 1:187–218, 1863) have been surveyed in Taiwan. Among them, there are three valid species can be recognized in Taiwan including Opsariichthys pachycephalus Günther (1868) distributed in northern and western Taiwan, Opsariichthys evolans (Jordan and Evermann Proc US Nat Mus 25:315–368, 1902) in northern Taiwan and an unnamed species from southern Taiwan described herein as Opsariichthys kaopingensis Chen and Wu, new species which can be well distinguished from the related O. pachycaphalus by their body proportions, scale counts, and specific coloration patterns. We utilized mitochondrial complete D-loop sequence data to infer phylogenetic relationships within a subset of related genera of opsariichthines, and to examine evidence for genetic differentiation in these two sibling species formerly assigned to “Zacco” pachycephalus and their genetic relationship with other congeneric species around nearby regions. The clade of O. pachycephalus and O. kaopingensis in genetically were recovered as more closely related to Opsariichthys uncirostris (Temminck and Schlegel 1846) species complex including both O. uncirostris and O. bidens Günther (1868) from Japan and mainland China than to typical Zacco from Japan. This molecular phylogenetic insight strongly supports the assignment for both so-called “Zacco” pachycephalus and this new species described herein as the typical monophyletic members of Opsariichthys and the type species of Zacco as Zacco platypus (Temminck and Schlegel 1846) from Japan is sister clade for all species groups in Opsariichthys. Opsariichthys pachycephalus and O. kaopingensis were strongly differentiated by large mitogenetic distances and phylogenetic support from distance and discrete method and Bayesian inference based on complete mtDNA D-loop sequences, with an average mitogenetic divergence of 3.3%, which may suggest that the separation of the two species happened much earlier than the last glacial period. Opsariichthys evolans seems to share the close genetic relationship with O. acutipinnis (Bleeker Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde 1:187–218, 1863) from the Yangtsi River basin.     

Nematodes from saline and freshwater lakes of the Vestfold Hills,East Antarctica,including the description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypodontolaimus antarcticus</Emphasis> sp. n.

The invertebrate fauna of many Antarctic ice-free areas, even those close to permanent research stations, can be poorly known. Here we describe some nematodes from freshwater and saline, marine-derived lakes of the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. The freshwater lakes contained the widespread East Antarctic endemic species, Plectus frigophilus Kirjanova, 1958. The saline lakes were inhabited by two recently described species, Halomonhystera halophila Andrássy, 2006 and Halomonhystera continentalis Andrássy, 2006, and by a new species described in this report, Hypodontolaimus antarcticus sp. n. Originally marine but now brackish Highway Lake contained a nematode fauna with both freshwater and marine-derived components. The nematode fauna of Antarctica now consists of 54 named species, 22 of which are found in East Antarctica.     

Morphometric and pelage color variation of two sibling species of shrew (Mammalia: Soricomorpha)

Pelage color variants have been documented in some small mammals, but there is not any reported about coat color variation in shrews. Here, pelage color variants of the two sibling species (Sorex cylindricauda and Sorex bedfordiae) were uncovered in different sampling sites. Our data may initiate new interest to pelage color variants in small mammals. Furthermore, the classification of two striped shrews has been controversial for several decades. We conducted a detailed examination of the morphometric characters for the two sibling shrews. Significant differences between the two species morphologically confirmed the two-species classification status.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penopus</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) from the Ryukyu Trench,the West Pacific,with remarks on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penopus microphthalmus</Emphasis>

The bathyal genus Penopus (Ophidiidae) is revised based on 23 specimens. One specimen from the Ryukyu Trench represents a new species, Penopus japonicus. The remaining 22 specimens were found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and neither 28 meristic and morphometric characters nor several morphological characters show any differences between the two populations. This supports Séret (1988), who considered Penopus macdonaldi Goode and Bean 1896 a junior synonym of Penopus microphthalmus (Vaillant 1888). The new Japanese species can be separated from the Atlantic species by having fewer rays in the dorsal (117 vs. 135–158) and anal (89 vs. 106–122) fins, the squamation of the head restricted to the middle part of the preopercle versus the squamation covering the dorsum, preopercle and the opercle in part, a distinct spine behind the posterior nostril versus the spine hardly visible and 9 spines on the hind margin of the preopercle versus 4–7 spines.