New Kinorhyncha from Florida coastal waters

Four new species of Kinorhynchs are described from the West Atlantic coast off Fort Pierce, Florida, USA. They are the following: Antygomonas gwenae n. sp., Echinoderes riceae n. sp., Echinoderes adrianovi n. sp. and Pycnophyes norenburgi n. sp. All species were collected at the same locality called “20 miles station.” Samples were processed for standard granulometric data, yielding an estimated average particle diameter of 250 μm. The diagnostic characters and the general morphology of the new species are discussed in depth as well as the diversity and distribution of Kinorhyncha in the area.     

Ultrastructure, biology, and phylogenetic relationships of kinorhyncha

The article summarizes current knowledge mainly about the (functional)morphology and ultrastructure, but also about the biology, development,and evolution of the Kinorhyncha. The Kinorhyncha are microscopic,bilaterally symmetrical, exclusively free-living, benthic, marineanimals and ecologically part of the meiofauna. They occur throughoutthe world from the intertidal to the deep sea, generally insediments but sometimes associated with plants or other animals.From adult stages 141 species are known, but 38 species havebeen described from juvenile stages. The trunk is arranged into11 segments as evidenced by cuticular plates, sensory spots,setae or spines, nervous system, musculature, and subcuticularglands. The ultrastructure of several organ systems and thepostembryonic development are known for very few species. Almostno data are available about the embryology and only a singlegene has been sequenced for a single species. The phylogeneticrelationships within Kinorhyncha are unresolved. Priapulida,Loricifera, and Kinorhyncha are grouped together as Scalidophora,but arguments are found for every possible sistergroup relationshipwithin this taxon. The recently published Ecdysozoa hypothesissuggests a closer relationship of the Scalidophora, Nematoda,Nematomorpha, Tardigrada, Onychophora, and Arthropoda.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tubulideres seminoli</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zelinkaderes brightae</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Kinorhyncha,Cyclorhagida) from Florida

One new kinorhynch genus and species and one new species from the genus Zelinkaderes are described from sandy sediment off Fort Pierce, Florida. The new genus and species, Tubulideres seminoli gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of the first trunk segment consisting of a closed ring, the second segment of a bent tergal plate with a midventral articulation and the following nine segments consisting of a tergal and two sternal plates. Cuspidate spines are not present, but flexible tubules are located on several segments, and in particular concentrated on the ventral side of the second segment. Middorsal spines are present on all trunk segments and are alternatingly offset to a position slightly lateral to the middorsal line. Zelinkaderes brightae nov. sp. is characterized by its spine formula in having middorsal spines on trunk segments 4, 6 and 8–11, lateroventral acicular spines on segment 2, lateral accessory cuspidate spines on segments 2 and 8, ventrolateral cuspidate spines on segments 4–6 and 9, lateroventral acicular spines present on segments 8 and 9, and midterminal, lateral terminal and lateral terminal accessory spines on segment 11. The spine formula of Z. brightae nov. sp. places it in a position in between Z. submersus and a clade consisting of Z. klepali and Z. floridensis. The new findings on Z. brightae nov. sp. have led us to propose an emended diagnosis for the genus.     

四川自贡大山铺蜀龙动物群——简报Ⅲ.蜥脚类

本文记述了中侏罗世蜥脚类一新属种——巴山酋龙(Datousaurus bashanensts gen. et sp. nov.)对李氏蜀龙(Shunosaurus lii)的特征进行了补充,讨论了它们在蜥脚类进化过程中的位置。     

Lamellodiscus euzeti n. sp. (Monogenea:Diplectanidae), a parasite from Dentex canariensis and D. gibbosus (Teleostei:Sparidae) in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

Lamellodiscus euzeti n. sp. (Monogenea:Diplectanidae) is described from the gills of two sparid fishes, Dentex canariensis (Steindachner) off Senegal and Ivory Coast and D. gibbosus (Rafinesque) off Senegal and Tunisia. The new species belongs to the "ignoratus" group, characterized by a lamellodisc with complete lamellae, a "lyre" shaped male copulatory organ type, and the "ignoratus" sensu stricto subgroup, characterized by a haptor with simple lateral dorsal bars. Lamellodiscus euzeti n. sp can be distinguished from all the congeneric species of the "ignoratus" subgroup by the presence of a prominent protuberance at the base of the curved part of the simple piece of the male copulatory organ (MCO), a large bulb at the base of the bifurcated piece of the MCO and the presence of 5-6 spines in the distal portion of the axial branch of the bifurcated piece of the MCO. Specificity and biogeography of Lamellodiscus species from sparid fishes are discussed.     

The anatomy, affinity, and phylogenetic significance of Markuelia

The fossil record provides a paucity of data on the development of extinct organisms, particularly for their embryology. The recovery of fossilized embryos heralds new insight into the evolution of development but advances are limited by an almost complete absence of phylogenetic constraint. Markuelia is an exception to this, known from cleavage and pre-hatchling stages as a vermiform and profusely annulated direct-developing bilaterian with terminal circumoral and posterior radial arrays of spines. Phylogenetic analyses have hitherto suggested assignment to stem-Scalidophora (phyla Kinorhyncha, Loricifera, Priapulida). We test this assumption with additional data and through the inclusion of additional taxa. The available evidence supports stem-Scalidophora affinity, leading to the conclusion that scalidophorans, cyclonerualians, and ecdysozoans are primitive direct developers, and the likelihood that scalidophorans are primitively metameric.     

Phaneropsolus spinicirrus n. sp. (Digenea: Lecithodendriidae), a human parasite in Thailand

Phaneropsolus spinicirrus n. sp., collected in a postpraziquantel treatment stool of a 44-yr-old woman from Kalasin Province in northeastern Thailand, is described. It is the second species of the genus Phaneropsolus Looss, 1899, found to parasitize a human host. It differs from the first species, Phaneropsolus bonnei Lie, 1951, in the presence of a short spinose cirrus and the structure and distribution of tegumental spines. The new species is most similar to Phaneropsolus perodictici Goodman and Panesar, 1986, isolated from the potto, Perodicticus potto, in Uganda because digeneans of both species have numerous spines on the cirrus. However, the new species differs from P. perodictici in having more conspicuous spines, the genital pore at the posterior border of the oral sucker or lateral to the pharynx, a body and internal organs of larger size, conical spines on the tegument, an ovoid to bilobed ovary and a large V-shaped excretory bladder. Phaneropsolus spinicirrus is distinguishable from other previously reported Phaneropsolus by possessing a spinose cirrus.     

Andracantha, a new genus of Acanthocephala (Polymorphidae) from fish-eating birds, with descriptions of three species.

Problems in taxonomy of the Polymorphidae are discussed, with particular reference to trunk spines. Andracantha gen. n. is proposed for species with genital spines and 2 fields of trunk spines. Corynosoma gravida Alegret 1941, C. mergi Lundstro?m 1941 and C. phalacrocoracis Yamaguti 1939 are redescribed and placed in Andracantha, with A. gravida (Alegret, 1941) comb. n. designated as type species.     

The role of dendritic spine morphology in the compartmentalization and delivery of surface receptors

Since AMPA receptors are major molecular players in both short- and long-term plasticity, it is important to identify the time-scales of and factors affecting the lateral diffusion of AMPARs on the dendrite surface. Using a mathematical model, we study how the dendritic spine morphology affects two processes: (1) compartmentalization of the surface receptors in a single spine to retain local chemistry and (2) the delivery of receptors to the post-synaptic density (PSD) of spines via lateral diffusion following insertion onto the dendrite shaft. Computing the mean first passage time (MFPT) of surface receptors on a sample of real spine morphologies revealed that a constricted neck and bulbous head serve to compartmentalize receptors, consistent with previous works. The residence time of a Brownian diffusing receptor on the membrane of a single spine was computed to be ～ 5 s. We found that the location of the PSD corresponds to the location at which the maximum MFPT occurs, the position that maximizes the residence time of a diffusing receptor. Meanwhile, the same geometric features of the spine that compartmentalize receptors inhibit the recruitment of AMPARs via lateral diffusion from dendrite insertion sites. Spines with narrow necks will trap a smaller fraction of diffusing receptors in the their PSD when considering competition for receptors between the spines, suggesting that ideal geometrical features involve a tradeoff depending on the intent of compartmentalizing the current receptor pool or recruiting new AMPARs in the PSD. The ultimate distribution of receptors among the spine PSDs by lateral diffusion from the dendrite shaft is an interplay between the insertion location and the shape and locations of both the spines and their PSDs. The time-scale for delivery of receptors to the PSD of spines via lateral diffusion was computed to be ～ 60 s.     

Acuariid, capillariid and hymenolepidid parasites of the dasyurid marsupial Antechinus stuartii Macleay, 1841, from southeastern Australia.

Stammerinema suffodiax sp. n. is described from the dasyurid marsupial Antechinus stuartii. It differs from S. soricis, the only other member of the genus, in lacking lateral body spines, as well as in the spicules and characters of the anterior extremity. As well as redescribing Synhimantus australiensis (Johnston and Mawson, 1952) now collected from the stomach of A. stuartii, a new capillariid, Capillaria rickardi from the stomach and two cestodes Hymenolepis aklei sp. n. and H. bradleyi sp. n. are described from the same host.     

Two new species of bucephalids (Digenea: Bucephalidae) parasitic in freshwater fishes of Argentina

Two new species of bucephalids (Digenea: Bucephalidae) were found parasitizing freshwater fishes of Argentina. Prosorhynchoides cambapuntaensis sp. n. from Salminus maxillosus (Characidae) is characterised by the tegument covered with two kinds of spines, scale-like spines anteriorly and fine spines posteriorly; uterine loops reaching the vitelline arch in the pre-oral region; and the Laurer's canal short, opening dorsally immediately posterior to the ovary. Rhipidocotyle santanaensis sp. n. from Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro (Acestrorhynchidae) is characterised by the rhynchus with two lateral projections; the testes arranged in tandem or slightly diagonal; and the vitelline follicles forming an arch in the pre-oral region.     

New deep-sea Tardigrada (Arthrotardigrada,Halechiniscidae) from a manganese nodule area of the eastern South Pacific*

Three new Tardigrada species are described from a manganese nodule area of thc abyssal castern South Pacific. Moebjergarctus mangunis gen. et sp.n. is characterized by its segmcntcd ccphalic cirri, club-shaped and forward bent primary clavae, spherical secondary clavae, spines on legs I, 11, 111, small clavoid papillae on legs IV, long cirri E, and corkscrew-shaped digits with simple claws. Angursa capsula sp.n. is distinguished by the presence of secondary and tertiary clavac, occurring as elevated cuticular areas, club-shaped primary clavae, short lateral cirri, short median cirrus, spines on legs I and hcmisphcrical, capsulc-shaped papillae on legs IV. Angursa lingua sp.n. is characterized by the presence of secondary and tertiary clavae, occurring as elevated cuticular areas, balloon-shaped primary clavae, long lateral cirri, long median cirrus, spines on legs I, clavoid papillae on legs IV and weakly broadened distal parts of cirri E, resulting in tongue-shaped swellings. A simple key to the species of Angursa is presented.     

Tetrameres (Gynaecophila) aspicula n. sp. (Nematoda: Tetrameridae), a proventricular parasite of the white-faced ibis Plegadis chihi in Argentina

Tetrameres (Gynaecophila) aspicula n. sp. is described from the proventriculus of the white-faced ibis Plegadis chihi (Vieillot) (Ciconiiformes, Threskiornithidae) from Argentina. The new species is characterised by the absence of spicules, by possessing two ventral rows of extremely small spines in males, extending along the second half of body length, and by the tiny, very feebly developed postcloacal papillae. T. (G.) aspicula n. sp. is compared to the remainder of the species in the subgenus as well as to other species of Tetrameres which lack or possess feebly developed spines. The absence of spicules is a character shared with two other species in the genus, T. (G.) gynaecophila and T. (G.) deccani,from which the new species differs in body size, the arrangement of caudal papillae and the somatic spination in males. A pair of somatic papillae, previously unreported in species of this genus, was found just on or ventral to the lateral line at various regions of the body length. The homology of these structures to other paired somatic papillae described in nematodes is discussed.     

Kinorhyncha from the stomach of the shrimp Pleoticus muelleri (Bate, 1888) from Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina

Six kinorhynchs were found in the stomachs of the Argentine red shrimp, Pleoticus mulleri (Bate, 1888) from the Argentine coast of Patagonia. Three new species are described: Condyloderes storchi n. sp., Pycnophyes argentinensis n. sp. and P. neuhausi n. sp. A fourth species, Kinorhynchus anomalus Lang, 1953 was previously known only from the coast of Chile. This is the third known record of kinorhynchs documented as a food source. Condyloderes storchi, n. sp. is the fourth new species in this genus. It is distinguished by its paradorsal cuspidate spines on segments 7 and 9, lateral accessory and ventrolateral spines on segments 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11. P. argentinensis, n. sp. has nearly equal sternal width for segments 3–11 (about 7% of the trunk length), episternal plates with three distinct areas along the anterior margin, mid-sternal plate with even margin, mid-dorsal spinose protrusions along the terminal borders of segments 11 and 12, and lateral terminal spines 176 μm long, about 21% of trunk length. P. neuhausi, n. sp.has a prominent posterior elongation of the tergal plate of segment 3, uneven lateral margins of the mid-sternal plate, a maximum sternal width at segment 3, no mid-dorsal spinose processes and mid-ventral thickenings on segments 10–12.     

Postembryonic development of Antygomonas incomitata (Kinorhyncha: Cyclorhagida)

Postembryonic development in the kinorhynch species Antygomonas incomitata was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The morphology of the six juvenile stages, J‐1 to J‐6, varies at numerous details, but they can also be distinguished by a few key characters. Juvenile stage 1 by its composition of only nine trunk segments; J‐2 by the combination of possessing 10 trunk segments, but no cuspidate spines on segment 9; J‐3 by the presence of cuspidate spines on segment 9, but only one pair of cuspidate spines on segment 8; J‐4 by the combination of 10 trunk segments only, but having two pairs of cuspidate spines on segment 8; J‐5 by possessing 11 trunk segments and same spine compositions as adults but is still maintaining postmarginal spiculae; J‐6 specimens closely resemble adults and are most easily identified by their reduced trunk lengths. New segments are formed in a growth zone in the anterior part of the terminal segment. The complete number of segments is reached in J‐5. Development of cuticular head and trunk structures are described through all postembryonic stages and following developmental patterns could be outlined: the mouth cone possesses outer oral styles from J‐1, but in J‐1 to J‐3, the styles alternate in size. Scalids of the introvert are added after each molt, and scalids appear earliest in the anterior rings, whereas scalids in more posterior rings are added in older postembryonic stages. The early J‐1 stage is poor in spines and sensory spots and both structures increase in number after each molt. The complete spine composition is reached in J‐4, whereas new sensory spots appear after all molts, inclusive the final one from J‐6 to adult. Sensory spots in the paraventral positions often appear as Type 3 sensory spots but are through development transformed to Type 2. This transformation happens earliest on the anterior segments. J. Morphol., 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Hystrignathus dearmasi sp. n. (Oxyurida, Hystrignathidae), first record of a nematode parasitizing a Panamanian Passalidae (Insecta, Coleoptera)

Hystrignathus dearmasi sp. n. (Oxyurida: Hystrignathidae) is described from an unidentified passalid beetle (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Panama. It resembles Hystrignathus cobbi Travassos & Kloss, 1957 from Brazil, by having a similar form of the cephalic end, extension of cervical spines and absence of lateral alae. It differs from the latter species by having the body shorter, the oesophagus and tail comparatively larger, the vulva situated more posterior and the eggs ridged. This species constitutes the first record of a nematode parasitizing a Panamanian passalid.     

Kinorhynchs from the Andaman Islands

Echinoderes andamanensis sp. nov. is described from the Andaman Islands (Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean). Unlike most members of this genus, this new species lacks middorsal spines. It is further distinguished by the presence of lateral spines on segments 4, 10 and 11 in the female and 4, 10–12 in the inale. Collected with E. andamanensis were specimens of E. ehlersi previously known only from a single specimen collected in 1885 in Zanzibar. The Andaman Island females have shorter spines than the males. Additional species include Catena gerlachi , previously known only from Walcair, India. A single juvenile exuvium of Pynophyes sp. was also found. The taxonomic relationships of the species and other members of the genus are discussed.     

Two new species of mazocraeid monogeneans from Clupanodon punctatus (Temminck & Schlegel) (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) found in Daya Bay, South China Sea, with the proposal of Chelimazocraes n. g.

Chelimazocraes liaoi n. g., n. sp. and Chelimazocraes ascidiformis n. sp. (Monogenea: Mazocraeidae) are described from the gills of Clupanodon punctatus (Temminck & Schlegel) in Daya Bay (South China Sea). The new genus is characterised by the following features: (i) the haptor is distinctly separated from the body proper, and the arrangement of the clamps is bilaterally symmetrical but longitudinally heteromorphic; (ii) the anterior three pairs of clamps are of the mazocraeid-type, whereas the fourth pair is of a non-mazocraeid type with three sclerites; (iii) all three pairs of clamps are similar in shape but their size gradually becomes smaller from the anterior to the posterior; (iv) the inner spines of the copulatory organ have a similar shape; and (v) the testes are numerous and arranged longitudinally posterior to the ovary. The two new species are easily distinguished from other members of the Mazocraeidae by the unique structure of the fourth pair of clamps; however, there are some noticeable differences between the two species. The major differences are as follows: (i) the body of C. liaoi n. sp. is significantly larger than that of C. ascidiformis n. sp.; (ii) the anterior three pairs of clamps consist of different sclerites in the two species; and (iii) the copulatory organ has one pair of outer spines and 15–16 pieces of inner spines in C. liaoi n. sp. (vs two pairs of outer spines and 22–26 pieces of inner spines in C. ascidiformis n. sp.).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Proctocaecum gairhei</Emphasis> n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae: Acanthostominae) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gavialis gangeticus</Emphasis> (Gmelin) in Nepal and a revised cladogram of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Proctocaecum</Emphasis> Baugh, 1957

Proctocaecum gairhei n. sp. is described from the gharial Gavialis gangeticus (Gmelin) in Nepal. The new taxon can be distinguished from all other species of Proctocaecum Baugh, 1957 by the combination of the following morphological characters: a single row of 23 cephalic spines, lateral anal pores opening at uneven levels, a forebody accounting for 16% of the total body length (TBL), an oral to ventral sucker width ratio of 1:0.7, an oral sucker to pharynx width ratio of 1:0.6 and uterine loops that occupy 59-67% of the TBL. While sharing some morphological characteristics with Acanthostomum slusarskii Kalyankar, 1977 from Crocodylus palustris (Lesson) in India, P. gairhei n. sp. is distinguished from the latter by possessing the solid muscular gonotyl diagnostic for Proctocaecum, by the number of cephalic spines, position of the anal pores and egg size. The existing cladogram for Proctocaecum was expanded using the character information of P. gairhei n. sp. The host range of Proctocaecum is now known to include all three families of the order Crocodylia.