A new species of Mysidobdella (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) from mysids along the California coast

Mysidobdella californiensis n. sp. is described from the mysid Holmesimysis sculpta from Bodega Bay on the central California coast and from Holmesimysis costata var. from San Pedro on the southern California coast. The internal anatomy of M. californiensis is similar to that of the only other species in the genus, Mysidobdella borealis from the north Atlantic Ocean, except that M. californiensis lacks the medial, unpaired seminal receptacle present in M. borealis. Externally, M. californiensis is slightly larger and more robust than M. borealis, with a much larger caudal sucker. The most striking difference between the species is the unusually large, trumpet-shaped, fluted oral sucker in M. californiensis. At Bodega Bay, the prevalence of M. californiensis on its host was 17% with an average intensity of 1.46 (range 1-3) leeches per host.     

Two new species of Austrobdella (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) from Chile

Austrobdella coliumicus n. sp. is described from Coliumo Bay, Chile. It is characterized by a continuous, external coelomic canal (= marginal lacuna), 5 pairs of testisacs, accessory gland cells, a body not distinctly divided into trachelosome and urosome, 2 pairs of dorsal ocelli on the trachelosome, dorsal and ventral segmental ocelli present on the urosome, green overall pigmentation with transverse brown bands, and the absence of conducting tissue. Austrobdella coliumicus is distinguished from other species of Austrobdella by the presence of 2 pairs of ocelli on the trachelosome and a more cylindrical body. It is unusual that this leech was collected from inside the mantle cavity of the razor clam, Ensis macha. Austrobdella losmoliniensis n. sp. is described from the electric ray, Discopyge tschudii, collected at Los Molinos, Chile. It is characterized by a continuous, external coelomic canal; 5 pairs of testisacs; accessory gland cells; a body distinctly divided into trachelosome and urosome; 1 pair of eyes on the oral sucker; overall black pigmentation with unpigmented areas; and the absence of conducting tissue. Austrobdella losmoliniensis can be distinguished from other species of Austrobdella by the combination of 1 pair of eyes on the oral sucker and black pigmentation.     

A new species of marine leech (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) from giant kelpfish, Heterostichus rostratus Girard, in southern California

Collections of giant kelpfish at inner Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro, California revealed the presence of an undescribed species of Heptacyclus, described here as Heptacyclus cabrilloi n. sp. The leech is small, only up to 14 mm total length including suckers; it has 2 pair of slightly crescentiform eyes on the oral sucker, 1 pair of punctiform ocelli on the second annulus of the trachelosome, 13 pairs of punctiform ocelli dorsally and ventrally on the urosome, and 14 marginal punctiform ocelli on the caudal sucker. Pigmentation is yellowish-tan with an unpigmented mid-dorsal stripe on both trachelosome and urosome, and with unpigmented halos around eyespots and urosome ocelli. Male reproductive system with 5 pairs of large, spherical testisacs. Mycetomes present, accessory gland cells on atrial cornu absent. Prevalence was 24.1% in June, 2011 with a range of 1-2 leeches per fish and 25.8% in October, 2011 with a range of 1-6 leeches per fish.     

A new species of Oceanobdella (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) from the plain sculpin, Myoxocephalus jaok, from Bristol Bay, Alaska

Oceanobdella khani n. sp. is described from the plain sculpin, Myoxocephalus jaok, from Bristol Bay, Alaska, in the eastern Bering Sea. Prevalence was never greater than 10% in any single collection; maximum intensity was 12 leeches per host, but most fish had 5 or fewer leeches. Oceanobdella khani possesses generic characters of small oral sucker, 5 pairs of testisacs, unremarkable terminal male reproductive organs, coelomic system lacking pulsatile vesicles, and 3 pairs of eyes on the oral sucker-trachelosome. Oceanobdella khani is distinguished from other species in the genus by solid black pigmentation on the urosome, clitellum, trachelosome, and most of the oral sucker except for an unpigmented margin. The pigmentation of the caudal sucker is highly variable, ranging from overall mottled blackish gray to completely unpigmented. The caudal sucker lacks ocelli. Intestinal ceca are large, crop ceca are directed anteriorly, and postceca are separate for their entire length.     

Phylogeny of the fish leeches (Oligochaeta, Hirudinida, Piscicolidae) based on nuclear and mitochondrial genes and morphology

The phylogeny of the Piscicolidae was analysed from combined 18S rDNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO-I), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit I (ND-I) and morphological data using parsimony. A worldwide distribution of Piscicolidae was represented for the first time. While the family Piscicolidae was supported as a monophyletic group, the traditional subfamilies based on morphology were not supported. The Platybdellinae was polyphyletic and formed four distinct clades, and Bathybdella sawyeri did not group with any other platybdellins. The Piscicolinae was also polyphyletic, also forming four distinct clades. The pontobdellin genus Stibarobdella was shown to be the basal taxon within the Piscicolidae; however, the Pontobdellinae was found to be paraphyletic if Oxytonostoma was included. The genera Aestabdella , Austrobdella, and Malmiana were found to be paraphyletic; the genera Calliobdella, Cystobranchus, and Platybdella were found to be polyphyletic. The species Myzobdella lugubris was not found to be monophyletic. It is proposed that Oxytonostoma be transferred out of the Pontobdellinae, that Aestabdella be synonymized with Pterobdella , that Calliobdella vivida be returned to Cystobranchus , that Gonimosobdella be synonymized with Cystobranchus , and that Piscicolaria be synonymized with Myzobdella . The synonymy of Malmiana and Heptacyclus is confirmed, with Heptacyclus having priority. Piscicola milneri is confirmed to be a separate species from Piscicola geometra .     

Three new leeches (Piscicolidae) from marine shore fishes (Cottidae) in British waters

Two species of Malmiana (=Ottoniobdella) are recorded from Cottusbubalis on the Yorkshire coast. Malmiana bubali sp. n. has sixeyes, but no metameric markings or posterior ocelli. Malmiana yorki sp. n. has four eyes and 14 posterior ocelli. The body in both is somewhat flattened, but their other characters clearly place them in this genus, the history of which is reviewed.     

New Antarctic deep-sea weird leech (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae): morphological features and phylogenetic relationships

A new fish leech Ambulobdella shandikovi n. g., n. sp. (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae), a parasite of Whitson’s grenadier Macrourus whitsoni (Regan) (Macrouridae: Gadiformes) collected in the Ross Sea at depths from 1,221 to 1,433 m, is described and compared with related taxa based on morphological and molecular characters. Ambulobdella shandikovi n. sp. is characterised by prominent segmental tubercles on the venter and dorsal segmental tubercles, an uncommon appearance of its anterior sucker with ear-like edges and an inner membrane around the mouth-pore, well-developed musculature and a unique combination of features of the reproductive and digestive systems. The presence of uncommon tubercles can be attributed, in part, to temporary associations of A. shandikovi n. sp. with its fish hosts and a need for well-developed sensory and locomotory organs. A certain locomotory function of ventrolateral tubercles of A. shandikovi n. sp. is hypothesised and discussed. Further deep-sea surveys are obviously needed to shed light on the behaviour and mode of locomotion of this species.     

Two new species of Lepeophtheirus (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on fishes from southern California waters.

Two new species of Lepeophtheirus are described and illustrated based on a collection from the Orange County sewer outfall, California. They are: L. remiopsis sp.nov. from the branchial cavities and external body surfaces of Parophrys vetulus Girard, Hippoglossina stomata Eigenmann & Eigenmann, Pleuronichthys verticalis (Jordan & Gilbert), Chitonotus pugetensis (Steindachner), and Porichthys notatus (Girard); and L. rotundipes sp.nov. from the external body surfaces and occasionally the gill cavities of Scorpaena guttata (Girard) and Citharichthys stigmaeus Jordan & Gilbert.     

A new species of Orobdella (Hirudinida, Arhynchobdellida, Orobdellidae) from Taipei, Taiwan

A new quadrannulate species of Orobdella, Orobdella ketagalansp. n., from Taipei, Taiwan, is described. This is the first record of Orobdella and the family Orobdellidae from Taiwan. This new species possesses small, paired sperm duct bulbs in the male reproductive system. In addition to these bulbs, the following combination of characters distinguishes this new species from other quadrannulate species: somite IV uniannulate, male gonopore at XI b6, female gonopore at XIII a1, 1/2 + 4 + 1/2 between gonopores, simple tubular gastroporal duct, lacking epididymides, and undeveloped atrial cornua. Phylogenetic analyses using nuclear 18S rDNA and histone H3 as well as mitochondrial COI, 12S rDNA, tRNA(Val), and 16S rDNA markers showed that Orobdella ketagalan is related to the two Ryukyu Archipelago species Orobdella dolichopharynx Nakano, 2011 and Orobdella shimadae Nakano, 2011.     

A new species of Minuartia (Caryophyllaceae) from Northwest California

Minuartia decumbens, a serpentine endemic resembling the members of theMinuartia nuttallii-M. rosei complex, is described, illustrated and contrasted with the complex.     

A new earthworm species of the genus Drawida Michaelsen(Oligochaeta: Moniligastridae) from China

A new species of terrestrial earthworms is described as Drawida dandongensis sp. nov. from Dandong, Liaoning, China. It is distinguished from others by a pair of spermathecal pores lie in the ventral of 7/8 intersegmental furrow, and a pair of male pores lie in 10/11 intersegmental furrow, between setae b and c.     

A new species of Siphocampylus (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae) from northern Peru

Siphocampylus platysiphon (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae) is described as a new species from northern Peru. It is a member of subsect.Megastomi in sect.Brachysiphon and is most closely related toS. giganteus, a species common to the north in Ecuador and Colombia.     

A new species of Gynoxys (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) from northern Peru

Gynoxys dilloniana from northern Peru is described and illustrated, and its taxonomic relationships discussed.     

A new species of Pilocarpus (Rutaceae) from northern Brazil

A new species,Pilocarpus trifoliolatus Skorupa & Pirani from Pará, Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new taxon resemblesP. microphyllus Stapf ex Wardleworth andP. alatus C. J. Joseph ex Skorupa by its winged rachis and petiole and by its dilated stigma.     

A new species of flourensia (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) from northern Peru

Flourensia cajabambensis, a new species from northern Peru, is described and illustrated, and its relationships are discussed. A key to the Peruvian species ofFlourensia is presented.     

A new quadrannulate species of Orobdella (Hirudinida,Arhynchobdellida, Orobdellidae) from western Honshu,Japan

A new quadrannulate species of Orobdella Oka, 1895, Orobdella naraharaetmagarum sp. n., from the mountainous region of western Honshu, Japan is described. Orobdella naraharaetmagarum is a small species with a body length of less than 5 cm. Phylogenetic analyses using nuclear 18S rRNA and histone H3, as well as mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, tRNA^Cys, tRNA^Met, 12S rRNA, tRNA^Val, 16S rRNA, tRNA^Leu and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 markers indicated that the present new species is the sister species of the quadrannulate Orobdella esulcata Nakano, 2010. Furthermore, mitochondrial DNA genealogy within Orobdella naraharaetmagarum demonstrated that this new species is divided into eastern and western lineages.