New land tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) from the Miocene of Africa

The described fossil testudinids from the Miocene of Africa are reviewed. Geochelone stromeri sp. nov . is described from Lower Pliocene (Langebaanweg) and Miocene (Namib) specimens. Kinixys erosa , an extant species, is reported from Songhor Hill. Chersina sp. is reported from Arrisdrift. Impregnochelys pachytectis gen. et sp. nov . is described from Rusinga Island, Kenya, and is unique in having the anterior shell opening orientated ventrally and in having struts on the internal surface of the neurals, but shares with Kinixys a unique epiplastron shape, a high number of axillary scutes and unique orientation of the head of the femur.     

Dolichodorus miradvulvus n. sp. (Nematoda: Tylenchida) with a Key to Species

Dolichodorus miradvulvus n. sp. from Anubias nana Engler in Florida is described and illustrated. The female is characterized by deep grooves in the cuticle on the ventral surface just anterior and posterior to the vulva, and by transversely elongate pouches anterior and posterior to the vulva. Both sexes have a constricted area of the stylet shaft just anterior to the knobs, and on the male the intersection of the lateral field and bursa appear sclerotized.     

Antarctic nemerteans: Heteronemertea– descriptions of new taxa, reappraisals of the systematic status of existing species and a key to the heteronemerteans recorded south of latitude 50oS

Twenty-three species representative of 15 heteronemertean genera are recorded from Antarctic and Subantarctic waters south oflatitude 50^oS. Five new genera are established and seven new species are fully described and illustrated. These are Cephalurichus antarcticus gen. et sp. nov., Dokonemertes magellanensis gen. et sp. nov., Dokonemertes macquariensis sp. nov., Micrellides multiperula gen. et sp. nov., Paramicrurinella falklandica gen. et sp. nov., Parborlasia landrumae sp. nov. and Zodionemertes chilensis gen. et sp. nov. Baseodiscus antarcticus Baylis, Antarctolineus scotti (Baylis), Lineus longifissus (Hubrecht) and Parborlasia fueguina Serna de Esteban & Moretto are redescribed and illustrated and the nature of rhynchodaeal pouches protruding into the cephalic blood lacunae of Parborlasia corrugatus (Mcintosh) is reexamined and discussed. The main anatomical characters of the remaining 11 species are recorded and it is concluded that of these only Parapolia grytvikenensis Wheeler, Cerebratulus malvini Wheeler, Chilineus glandulosa (Burger), Huilkia ushuaiensis Serna de Esteban & Moretto, Micrura pacifica Friedrich and Wiolkenia friedrichi Serna de Esteban & Moretto can at present be accepted as valid, although incompletely described, taxa. Cerebratulus larseni Wheeler, Cerebratulus validus Bürger, Lineus autrani Joubin and Lineus turqueli Joubin are so poorly and inadequately described that their taxonomic status cannot be verified, and the recorded occurrence of Lineus nigricans Burger in southern latitudes cannot be substantiated on the available evidence. Maps showing the recorded distribution of all the species are included and a key to the 18 validated species is provided.     

Parapsylla, a Gondwanan element in the psyllid fauna of southern Africa (Homoptera)

The genus Parapsylla (Homoptera: Psylloidea) is redescribed and placed in the Diaphorininae of the Family Aphalaridae. Its relationships within this subfamily are discussed. The genus Agmapsylla syn. nov. is placed into the synonymy of Parapsylla , and Pennavena syn. nov. and Eudiaphorina syn. nov. are placed into the synonymy of Diaphorina. The eight known species of Parapsylla are distributed in southern Africa and upland areas of East Africa. Host plant relationships are not clearly established but the genus appears to be associated with species of Maytenus (Celastraceae), Olinia (Oliniaceae) and possibly Olea (Oleaceae) and Syzygium (Myrtaceae). Parapsylla relicta syn. nov, and A. aureus syn. nov. are placed into the synonymy of Arytaina capensis. Parapsylla capensis comb. nov. is transferred from Arytaina, Parapsylla valens comb. nov. is transferred from Diaphorina , and the following new species are described: P. angolensis sp. nov., P. eafra sp. nov., P. huila sp. nov., P. marginipennis sp. nov., P. rufa sp. nov. and P. theroni sp. nov.     

Occurrence of species of the genusDaphnia in Brazil

Three species ofDaphnia are recorded from natural lakes and reservoirs in Brazil:Daphnia gessneri, Herbst, 1967,Daphnia ambigua, Scourfield, 1947 andDaphnia laevis, Birge, 1878. Some comments on their geographical distribution and ecology are made, showing the trend of the presence of these species in eutrophicated environments.     

Interference by DDT and cyclodiene types of insecticides with chloroplast-associated reactions

The effects of DDT, some of its analogs, and selected cyclodiene insecticides on isolated spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) thylakoids were identified, characterized, and compared to responses induced by selected herbicides. Except for endrin, the insecticides inhibited light-induced electron transport, altered chlorophyll fluorescence transients, and competitively displaced [14C]atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine], a known photosystem II inhibitor, from the membranes. The insecticides appeared to act at, or near B, the secondary electron acceptor of photo-system II. Binding of DDT and dieldrin was estimated at 900 and 2200 molecules, respectively, per photosynthetic unit (490 chlorophyll molecules). The insecticides also inhibited valinomycin-induced swelling of the thylakoid membrane. Whereas inhibition of electron transport can be attributed to interaction by the insecticides with a proteinaceous component of the thylakoid membrane, interference with the action of valinomycin may involve interaction with lipoidal constituents of the membrane.     

Hoplolaimoidea (Nematoda: Tylenchida) from the Aleutian Islands with Descriptions of Four New Species

Four new species of hoplolaimoid nematodes (Merlinius adakensis, Pratylenchoides megalobatus, Pratylenchus pratensisobrinus, and Pratylenchus ventroprojectus) are described from Adak Island in the Aleutian chain. M. adakensis n. sp. is separated from other species by body length (0.96-1.3 mm), stylet length (32-36 μm), number of tail annules (49-68), and c'' (3.1-4.1). P. megalobatus n. sp. differs from all known Pratylenchoides spp. by having a very long esophageal gland lobe (b'' = 2.4-3.3, overlap 3-6 times the body width). P. pratensisobrinus n. sp. closely resembles P. pratensis (de Man) Filipjev, but has a longer stylet (15-17 μm), a longer tail (c = 12-15; c'' = 2.8-3.7), and more tail annules (23-37). P. ventroprojectus n. sp. is distinguished by body length (392-475 μm), three lip annules, low and flattened cephalic capsule, and presence of terminal subventral projection. Pratylenchoides variabilis Sher, Helicotylenchus amplius Anderson &Eveleigh, and H. spitsbergensis Loof are also reported from Adak and Amchitka Islands.     

Histopathology of Okra and Ridgeseed Spurge Infected with Meloidodera charis

Histological observations of okra Abelomoschus esculentus ''Clemson Spineless'' and ridgeseed spurge Euphorbia glyptosperma (a common weed) infected with Meloidodera charis Hopper, indicated that the juvenile nematode penetrated the roots intercellularly. Within 5 days after plant emergence the nematode positioned its body in the cortical tissue parallel to the vascular system. By 10 days after plant emergence the juvenile had extended its head into the vascular system and initiated giant cell formation, generally in protophloem tissue. Giant cells were one celled and usually multi-nucleate. Eggs were observed in the female body 30 days after plants emerged and juveniles were found within the female body by 40 days. Nematode development progressed equally in the root system of either host plant. Generally, throughout the nematode''s life cycle its entire body remained inside the cortical tissue of okra. In ridgeseed spurge, however, the posterior portion of the female erupted through the host epidermis as early as 15 days after plant emergence; only the head and neck remained embedded in the host. The nematode caused extensive tissue disruption in the cortical and vascular system of both plant species. Corn, Zea mays, was another host of the nematode.     

中国大陆的一种植物新记录

1985年,我在参加由安徽省芜湖市科委、卫生局和九华山管理处联合组织的九华山植物资源调查中,采到一种兰科毛兰属植物,经鉴定系葡萄毛兰Eria reptans(Fr. et Sav.)Makino。本种只记载分布于日本和我国台湾岛,而在中国大陆是地理分布新记录。同时,毛兰属也是安徽省地理分布新记录的属。     

Description of Thecavermiculatus andinus n.sp. (Meloidoderidae), a Round Cystoid Nematode from the Andes Mountains of Peru

Thecavermiculatus andinus n.sp. is described and illustrated from Oxalis tuberosa originally collected in the vicinity of Lake Titicaca high in the Andes mountains of southern Peru. This new species differs markedly front the other two species in the genus, especially in having a much greater female vulval-anal distance and annules with lined punctation on most of the female body with a lacelike pattern restricted to the posterior portion, particularly at the vulva and anus which do not protrude. Females are essentially spherical with protruding neck, white to yellowish in color, and can easily be mistaken for potato cyst nematodes. Among the dozen or more known weed and crop host plants are potato and eggplant. In order to accommodate this new species, the genus Thecavermieulatus is emended. A key to the species of this genus is presented.