Apotrachelocerca arenicola (Kahl, 1933) n. g., comb. n. (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Trachelocercidae): morphology and phylogeny

During faunistic study on psammophilic ciliates along the coast of Qingdao, China, a population of Trachelocerca arenicola Kahl, 1933 was found and then investigated using silver staining and gene sequencing methods. The results indicated that it represented a new genus Apotrachelocerca characterized by uninterrupted circumoral kineties composed of two rows of dikinetids and no brosse or ciliary tuft in the oral cavity. This new genus should be assigned to the family Prototrachelocercidae Foissner, 1996. Based on the small subunit rRNA gene sequence, phylogenetic trees revealed that Apotrachelocerca arenicola occupied a basal position to other trachelocercids.     

Phylogeny of the Cardiidae (Mollusca, Bivalvia): Protocardiinae, Laevicardiinae, Lahilliinae, Tulongocardiinae subfam. n. and Pleuriocardiinae subfam. n.

In a preliminary cladistic analysis of the bivalve family Cardiidae (Schneider 1992), members of the subfamilies Protocardiinae, Lahilliinae, and Laevicardiinae, plus the genus Nemocardium , were found to be the least derived taxa of cardiids. A cladistic analysis is undertaken of the genera and subgenera of these cardiid taxa, plus several Mesozoic taxa which have never been assigned to any subfamily. The Late Triassic Tulongocardium , which is placed in Tulongocardiinae subfam. n., is the sister taxon to all other cardiids. Protocardiinae is restricted to the genus Protocardia. Most other Mesozoic taxa which have been placed in the Protocardiinae are found to be members of the Lahilliinae. Nemocardium is placed in the Laevicardiinae. Incacardium, Pleuriocardia , and Dochmocardia form a monophyletic group, Pleuriocardiinae subfam. n. Pleuriocardiinae, Laevicardiinae, and the remaining members of the Cardiidae (herein informally termed "cucardiids") form a monophyletic group.     

Dominibrentus leptus,n. gen., n. sp. (Curculionoidea,Brentidae, Cyphagoginae,Dominibrentini, n. tribe), a straight-snouted weevil in Dominican amber

A new tribe, genus and species of straight-snouted weevils (Dominibrentus leptus, n. gen., n. sp., Dominibrentini, n. tribe; Coleoptera: Brentidae; Cyphagoginae) has been described from Dominican amber. The new taxon is characterised by compressed, ventrolateral concavities on the prothorax and abdomen and lateral concavities on the metathorax for reception of the legs. This is the first representative of a straight-snouted weevil in amber.     

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Pauciconfibuloides amazonica gen. n. sp. n. (Platyhelminthes,Monogenoidea) parasitizing the Amazonian croaker Plagioscion squamosissimus

An integrative study was performed to understand the phylogenetic relationships of an undescribed, freshwater species of microcotylid parasitizing Plagioscion squamosissimus from the Amazon River Basin. Based on morphological and molecular analysis (18S rDNA and partial 28S rDNA genes), a new genus is proposed to accommodate this new species, Pauciconfibuloides amazonica gen. n. sp. n. The new genus is closely related to Protastomicrocotylinae and Pauciconfibula by sharing the vagina, male copulatory organ, and genital atrium all unarmed. However, Pauciconfibuloides gen. n. can be distinguished from those taxa by the prostatic system and position of the vaginal pore. Molecular phylogenetic inference suggests a sister relationship with species of Polylabris (Prostatomicrocotylinae), but to date, there are no available 18S or 28S rDNA sequences of Pauciconfibula to be compared. This is the first report of a microcotylid parasitizing a freshwater sciaenid from South America.     

Sumatrella chelonica gen. n., sp. n., a new remarkable genus and species from Indonesia,Sumatra (Acari,Uropodina, Oplitidae)

A new genus Sumatrella gen. n. is described and illustrated based on the new species Sumatrella chelonica sp. n. collected in Sumatra, Indonesia. The new genus belongs to the family Oplitidae based on its hypertrichous internal malae and the absence of strongly sclerotized structures on the dorsal shield. The new genus is closely related to the genus Chelonuropoda Sellnick, 1954 but the transverse furrow on ventral idiosoma close to coxae IV and the strongly sclerotized C-shaped dorsal line are missing in the new genus. These characters can be found in species of Chelonuropoda.     

Endomyces tetrasperma, sp. n

A new fungal species has been described and placed in the genus Endomyces. Endomyces tetrasperma forms a true septate, multinucleate mycelium which breaks up into arthrospores. Ascus formation occurs after isogamous copulation between sexual protuberances which develop at the ends of arthrospores or between two cells, adjacent mycelial cells, or arthrospores. The asci which dehisce at maturity release two to four smooth, ovoid, thick-walled spores, each containing two oil droplets. The proposed life cycle is based on morphological and cytological observations.     

Description of Distorhabditis poonchiana n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from Jammu and Kashmir,India

Distorhabditis poonchiana n. gen., n. sp. from humus in Jammu and Kashmir, India, is described and illustrated. The new genus is characterized by a small body; slightly setoff labial region; long tubular gymnostom; prominently cuticularized cheilostom; absence of glottoid apparatus; monoprodelphic reproductive system; vulva (V) = 81 to 84; spicules with trifurcated distal ends, simple gubernaculum, peloderan bursa with eight pairs of bursal papillae arranged in 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 arrangement.     

Tanganyikacypridopsis gen.n. (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from Lake Tanganyika

A new genus of freshwater ostracods, Tanganyikacypridopsis gen.n., is established to include the species Potamocypris depressa Kiss, 1959, Cypridopsis calcarata Rome, 1962 and Cypridopsis anomala Rome, 1962, all from Lake Tanganyika. The genus is related to Sarscypridopsis McKenzie, 1977 and Plesiocypridopsis (Rome, 1965), mainly because of its hemipenis anatomy, and is believed to be endemic to Lake Tanganyika.     

Baiohelmins elegans n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Nanophyetidae) from the Australian water rat,Hydromys chrysogaster

A new genus and species of nanophyetid,Baiohelmins elegans, is described from the intestine of the Australian water rat,Hydromys chrysogaster Geoffroy, 1804 in North Queensland. The new genus differs from previously described forms by the combination of the following characters: vitelline follicles restricted to a small group posterior to each testis, cirrus pouch present and caeca not extending posterior to the ventral sucker.     

Agamococcidiorida ord. n. and Rhytidocystidae fam. n. for the Coccidian Genus Rhytidocystis Henneguy, 1907

Agamococcidiorida ord. n. and Rhytidocystidae fam. n. are established in the apicomplexan subclass Coccidiasina for the genus Rhytidocystis Henneguy, 1907. Dehornia Porchet-Henneré, 1972 is synonymized with Rhytidocystis.     

Tyrrhenia blennii g.n. sp. n. (Hemiurata : Halipegidae Poche, 1925) parasite of Blennius gattorugine and Blennius sanguinolentus]

Trematodes recovered from Blennius gattorugine and Blennius sanguinolentus from the Gulf of Gaeta, Italy, are described and figured as Tyrrhenia blennii g.n. sp.n. The new genus differs from other members of the Arnolinae Skrjabin and Guschanskaja, 1958 (Halipegidae Poche, 1925) chiefly in having acetabulum equatorial, receptaculum seminis uterinum present and eggs without filaments. The diagnosis of the new genus Tyrrhenia and a key to genera of Arnolinae are given.     

Lernaeopoda tenuis n. sp. andPseudolernaeopoda caudocapta n. g., n. sp. (Copepoda,Lernaeopodidae) parasitic onTriakis maculata (Kner & Steindachner) from the Chilean coast,South Pacific

Summary One new genus and two new species of the Lernaeopodidae (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida), parasitic onTriakis maculata off the coast of Chile, are described and illustrated. The new genus,Pseudolernaeopoda, parasitizes the cloaca of its host. Its type-species,P. caudocapta, can be distinguished fromLernaeopoda by the absence of modified uropods. A new species ofLernaeopoda, L. tenuis, was found on the gills of the same host. In absence of the male, the generic affinities of this species must be considered only tentative. ac]19850409     

Sievoides kocyigiti n. gen., n. sp., Mesoendothyra altineriana n. sp. and Kurnubia feleensis n. sp. from Kimmeridgian shallow water limestones intercalated with alkaline igneous rocks, Western Taurus, Turkey

In the framework of the palaeogeographical reconstruction of the Western Taurus during Jurassic, the study of northern and eastern boundary of the Taurids started. Detailed facies analysis evidenced the position of the Barla Dag ramp between two elevated areas: the southern rimmed shelf extension of the platform system and the northern neritic-beach-land plain. In the basal biostratigraphical and ecological characteristics of the Balcikhisar volcano-sedimentary sequence, correlated with the Fele outcrop, one genus and three new species of foraminifers have been found: Sievoides kocyigiti n. gen., n. sp. and Mesoendothyra altineriana n. sp. from neritic environment, and Kurnubia feleensis n. sp. from rimmed shelf lagoon. Both carbonate sedimentary deposits are intercalated with spilitic-basalt pillow lava flows. The age of the new three species is Kimmeridgian, controlled by some foraminifer golden hooks.     

Description of Scalithrium n. gen. (Cestoda,Tetraphyllidea) with Scalithrium minimum (Van Beneden, 1850) n. comb., a parasite of Dasyatis pastinaca (Elasmobranchii,Dasyatidae), as type species

Scalithrium gen. n. (Cestoda, Tetraphyllidea) is proposed with Scalithrium minimum (Van Beneden, 1850) n. comb., parasite of Dasyatis pastinaca (Elasmobranchii, Dasyatidae) as type-species. The new genus Scalithrium (Tetraphyllidea, Phyllobothriidae, Rhinebothriinae) is erected for several species previously included in the genus Rhinebothrium. These species have a scolex with four bothridia, the distal surface of which is divided by transverse septa in a single row of loculi. Scalithrium minimum (Van Beneden, 1850) n. comb. is redescribed from specimens collected from the type-host Dasyatis pastinaca in Tunisia and becomes the type-species of the new genus. After Braun (1900) Echeneibothrium variabile Van Beneden, 1850 is considered as type-species of the genus Echeneibothrium. Species of Rhinebothriinae to be transferred into the genus Scalithrium are discussed and a key is proposed for the eight species.     

Cinetozona pyriformis n. g., n. sp.: a Relative of the Ciliate Genera Urozona and Cinetochilum (Ciliophora, Scuticociliatida)

Cinetozona pyriformis n. g., n. sp. is a very small scuticociliate recently found in a freshwater artificial pond in Madrid, Spain. This new ciliate is here described using silver impregnation techniques. C. pyriformis bears a girdle of cilia near the equator ot the cell, similar to the genus Urozona Schewiakoff, 1889, while the oral structures resemble those in the genus Cinetochilum Perty, 1852. The ciliate's systematic position is discussed, and its inclusion in the family Cinetochilidae is proposed.     

Kudoa cerebralis sp. n. (Myxosporidea,Chloromyxidae) from the Striped Bass,Morone saxatilis (Walbaum)*

Kudoa cerebralis sp. n. is described from connective tissue of the nervous system in the striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), from the southern Chesapeake Bay area. This is the first time the genus Kudoa has been found in association with the nervous system. The polar view mean diameter of the spores was 7.0 μm and the polar capsule mean length was 3.7 μm.     

Description of Two New, Mycophagous Soil Ciliates (Ciliophora, Colpodea): Fungiphrya strobli n. g., n. sp. and Grossglockneria ovata n. sp.

ABSTRACT The morphology and infraciliature of two new, mycophagous soil ciliates are described. Specimens were isolated from dried, rewetted soil samples with the non-flooded Petri dish method and investigated in vivo and with various silver impregnation techniques. Fungiphrya strobli n. g., n. sp. was discovered in the mud of rock-pools on the summit of Table Mountain, Republic of South Africa. It is a holotrichously ciliated, about 50 × 40 μm-sized grossglockneriid with the oral apparatus on the right side of the cell. The adoral ciliature, minute in all other members of the group, is well developed and has a mean of eight kineties forming a conspicuous left, oral polykinetid, highly reminiscent of that found in small species of the genus Colpoda . The ejected extrusomes have a unique, inflated distal end. Grossglockneria ovata n. sp. was discovered in leaf litter from the Lackawanna State Forest in Pennsylvania, USA. It differs from the other members of the genus by the ovate shape, smooth cortex, and the sparse, irregularly-shaped mucocysts. Taxonomic characters and ranking of grossglockneriids are discussed. Because of the complex, unique feeding tube associated with a unique feeding strategy, mycophagy, it is argued that grossglockneriid ciliates should be classified in a separate order, in spite of their close genetic relatedness to members of the order Colpodida.     

Syngnathinema californiense n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) from the circulatory system of the bay pipefish Syngnathus leptorhynchus in California.

A new dracunculoid nematode Syngnathinema californiense, n. gen., n. sp., is described from gravid female parasites found inside the heart of wild-caught Bay pipefish Syngnathus leptorhynchus; histologically it was recorded from different sites of the host circulatory system (sinus venosus, atrium, and renal and hepatic veins). The new genus is characterized by the structure of the cephalic end (large oral aperture with a narrow peribuccal ring surrounded by 10 papillae in 2 circles, large circular amphids), division of the esophagus into muscular and glandular portions, location of the well-developed vulva posterior to the esophagus, monodelphic female reproductive organs, and the sharply pointed tail. Because males remain unknown, the genus is provisionally assigned to the Daniconematidae.     

Pirupalkia queulensis n. gen., n.sp. (Digenea: Callodistomidae) in the fish Cilus montti (Pomadasyidae)

A new genus and species of the subfamily Callodistomidae is described. The new genus is named Pirupalkia queulensis n. gen., and was found in the small intestine of the fish Cilus montti. This new genus, compared with other genus of the subfamily differs principally in the distribution of the vitellaria and location of the uterus.