A NEW SPECIES OF OXYCHILUS FROM THE LIGURIAN APENNINES (ITALY) (PULMONATA: ZONITIDAE)

A new species of Oxychilus Fitzinger from the Ligurian Apennines(Italy) is described. The new species is particularly characterizedby its penial complex which has a very slender proximal peniswith variable inner sculpture and a widened distal penis. Theproximal penis inner structure consists of a series of longitudinalpleats which may often be crenulated, undulated or fragmentedto form rows of papillae, providing new evidence to supportthe opinion that this is not a valid diagnostic character forseparating Oxychilus into the nominal subgenus and OrtiziusForcart. Consequently Ortizius is herein proposed as a juniorsynonym of Oxychilus s. str. (Received 5 July 1990; accepted 4 March 1991)     

Description of a new species of the genus Tribasodites Jeannel (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from East China with a key to world species

A remarkable new species of the genus Tribasodites, 1960, Tribasodites spinacaritussp. n. is described and illustrated from Zhejiang Province, East China. A key to world species of the genus is provided. Systematic position of the new taxon is discussed.     

Two new species of Temnocephala (Platyhelminthes, Temnocephalida) from the South American snake-necked turtle Hydromedusa tectifera (Testudines, Chelidae)

Temnocephala brevicornis Monticelli, 1889 is the only species of the genus Temnocephala Blanchard, 1849 reported from chelonians to date. During a survey of the species of Temnocephala extant in southern Uruguay, two new species were found on the chelonian Hydromedusa tectifera Cope, 1869. They are described here as Temnocephala pereirai n. sp. and Temnocephala cuocoloi n. sp. Both resemble T. brevicornis, but differ in the morphometry of the penial stylet, and in qualitative details of the reproductive complex. Temnocephala pereirai n. sp. differs from T. brevicornis by having a massive, cylindrical sphincter in the distal portion of the vagina, and a seminal vesicle that opens into the subpolar to equatorial portion of the contractile vesicle. In addition, the penial stylet in Temnocephala pereirai n. sp. is large in relation to body size, straight and more slender, having the distal portion of its shaft slightly sinuous, and a smaller introvert equipped with about 16 distal crowns of smaller spines. Temnocephala cuocoloi n. sp. is most similar to T. brevicornis, but differs by having a smaller, curved penial stylet that has a smaller introvert in relation to stylet size, with about 10 distal crowns of smaller spines. A key to the species of the Temnocephala from chelonians is provided. This study supports the validity of the following characters previously proposed for the taxonomy of the genus Temnocephala: the shape of the sphincters in the female reproductive system, the shape of the penial stylet, and the number, size, and position of spines in the introvert.     

Arnhemtrachia ramingining: a new genus and species of land snail from Arnhem Land,Australia (Stylommatophora: Camaenidae)

The new, monotypic camaenid genus Arnhemtrachia is described for the new species Arnhemtrachia ramingining from Ramingining, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia with additional records from the Gove Peninsula in eastern Arnhem Land. This camaenid is characterised by a combination of distinct morphological features, such as a small, discoidal, keeled shell with regular axial ribs, open umbilicus and simple, rounded aperture as well as a reproductive system with a long epiphallus possessing a long flagellum and absence of a penial sheath, with a flap on the penial wall which transverses longitudinal pilasters, and a long, simple bursa copulatrix. Based on comparative morphology, Arnhemtrachia reveals affinities with Trozena morata Iredale, 1838 from NE Queensland.     

Redescriptions of Phallodrilus parthenopaeus Pierantoni and P. obscurus Cook (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae)

The type species of Phallodrilus Pierantoni, 1902, P. parthenopaeus Pierantoni, 1902; is redescribed on the basis of new material from W Scotland. The species is characterized by its specific spermathecal and penial setae, its very slender atria, and its long spermathecal ducts. Sexually fully mature specimens of P. obscurus Cook, 1969 are described for the first time, on the basis of material from New Jersey (E USA). The new material shows that this species possesses 5 to 9 penial setae in each ventral bundle of segment XI, and that its atria are coated with a relatively thick musculature.     

Integrative taxonomy of the freshwater worm Rhyacodrilus falciformis s.l. (Clitellata: Naididae), with the description of a new species

The genetic and morphological variation within Rhyacodrilus falciformis Bretscher, 1901 (Clitellata: Naididae) in Europe was explored using an integrative approach, with three unlinked genetic markers [the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), the nuclear histone 3 (H3) and internal transcribed spacer region (ITS)] combined with morphology, to investigate whether this taxon constitutes a single or several species. Using Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery on the COI data set, the specimens were divided into seven clusters, used as hypothetical species that were further tested with the other data sources. Single‐gene trees were estimated for all three markers, using coalescence analysis and they were in many parts incongruent with each other. Only one of the clusters was supported by all trees; it was also morphologically differentiated from the other clusters by the shape of its modified penial chaetae. This group consists of two specimens from the Crotot Cave in south‐eastern France, and morphologically they fit a previously described but invalid variety, ‘pigueti’, which is here described as a new species, Rhyacodrilus pigueti Achurra & Martinsson sp. n. The study highlights the fact that a single data source (e.g. COI barcodes) seldom provides a sufficient basis for taxonomic decisions such as species delimitation.     

Polyclad turbellarians collected on the Osaka University Expedition to Viti Levu,Fiji, in 1985, with remarks on distribution and phylogeny of the genus Discoplana

We report the first records from Viti Levu, Fiji, for four species of polyclad turbellarians: Discoplana gigas (Schmarda), Paraplanocera oligoglena (Schmarda), Cestoplana cuneata Sopott-Ehlers et Schmidt, and Pericelis byerleyana (Collingwood). D. gigas has the widest distribution in the Indo-West Pacific among the six described species of Discoplana, and shows a wider range of color variation than has been attributed to it before. Analysis of morphological features in these species reveals that Discoplana can be divided hierarchically into several sister-species groups based upon differences in structure of the vagina and of the penis. Four species, occurring mainly in the Pacific, share an apomorphic feature of the vagina, a feature not seen in the other two from the Indian Ocean. This suggests that Discoplana originated in the Indo-West Pacific.     

Introduction to Physidae (Gastropoda: Hygrophila); biogeography, classification, morphology

Physidae, a world-wide family of freshwater snails with about 80 species, are reclassified by progressive characters of the penial complex (the terminal male reproductive system): form and composition of penial sheath and preputium, proportions and structure of penis, presence or absence of penial stylet, site of pore of penial canal, and number and insertions of penial retractor muscles. Observation of these characters, many not recognized previously, has been possible only by the technique used in anesthetizing, fixing, and preserving. These progressive characters are the principal basis of 23 genera, four grades and four clades within the family. The two established subfamilies are divided into seven new tribes including 11 new genera, with diagnoses and lists of species referred to each. Proposed as new are: in Aplexinae, Austrinautini, with Austrinauta g.n. and Caribnautu harryi g.n., nom.nov.; Aplexini; Amecanautini with Amecanauta jaliscoensis g.n., sp.n., Mexinauta g.n., and Mayabina g.n., with M. petenensis, polita, sanctijohannis, tempisquensis spp.nn., Tropinauta sinusdulcensis g.n., sp.n.; and Stenophysini, with Stenophysa spathidophallus sp.n.; in Physinae, Haitiini, with Haitia moreleti sp.n.; Physini, with Laurentiphysa chippevarum g.n., sp.n., Physa mirollii nom.nou.; and Physellini, with Chiapaphysa g.n., and C. grijalvae, C. pacifica spp.nn., Utahphysa g.n., Archiphysa g.n., with A. ashmuni, A. sonomae spp.nn., Physella hemphilli sp.n., and Ultraphysella sinaloae g.n., sp.n. The simplest reproductive system is found in Austrinauta of the Aplexinae; its penial complex approaches that in the related family Lymnaeidae. Within Physinae a close approximation is found in Haitia. By these two genera the two subfamilies are drawn close together. Four grades of progressive complexity are recognized: (I) penial sheath entirely muscular; (II) penial sheath with both glandular and muscular tissue; (III) penis with penial stylet or other specialization of the tip of the penis; and (IV) pore of penial canal lateral rather than terminal as in the lower grades. In both subfamilies there are clades with glandular tissue in the penial sheath, a penial sheath subdivided into two parts, and tip of penis specialized in various ways. These clades are formalized as new tribes. Of 23 genera of Physidae, 17 occur in Pacific drainages of North and Central America, eight of these restricted to the region. Concentration of primitive genera along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Costa Rica conforms to previous observations that primitive pulmonate families are concentrated within, or along the continental margins of, the Pacific Ocean. An ancestral origin of Physidae along an ancient eastern Pacific coast is probable. From this region the several lineages have spread north, south and east in the Americas, and through Siberia to Europe. Although Physinae have fewer genera than Aplexinae (11 v. 12), they have more species (47 v. 34). Greater land area in the temperate zone has provided more opportunity for speciation of Physinae, in contrast to the generally tropical and warm-temperate range of Aplexinae. Furthermore, 10 species of Physinae are localized in individual lakes, whereas Aplexinae are not lake-dwellers. Both well-developed egg strings and capsular strings are found in the spawn of Sibirenauta elongatus. These structures have been known in Lymnaeidae, but not hitherto in Physidae; they are a link with some marine groups, such as Siphonariidae. Spiral color bands and white streaks in the shell of Mexinauta recall those in Lancidae (Lymnaeacea), whereas the radula of Physidae is like that of Chilinidae. Physidae thus show affinities to various basal stocks of aquatic pulmonates; no clear-cut sister-group can be recognized. Most species have a restricted range; out of 55 with sufficiently detailed information for analysis, 25 are limited to a single 1 degrees x 1 degrees quadrangle. Only a few species are widespread, on one or even two continents. Accordingly, more species of Physidae are threatened by habitat destruction than in other families of Hygrophila with generally wider distributions. Other features are a key to genera; catalog of more than 430 names applied to living Physidae, with original reference, type locality, and location of type specimens; summary of museums with types; and glossary.     

Sucrea (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), a new genus from Brazil

Sucrea, a new genus of herbaceous bambusoid grasses is based on the newly described species,S. monophylla. Also belonging to this genus is another new species,S. maculata, and the taxon originally namedOlyra sampaiana. The new genus is contrasted in a key with others of its tribe Olyreae, and a key is given to its three species.     

Plesiophysa dolichomastix sp. n. (Gastropoda: Planorbidae)

A new species of planorbid mollusc, Plesiophysa dolichomastix (Greek dolichos = long, mastix = flagellum), collected from Lagoa da Pedra, municipality of Santa Rosa, state of Goiás, Brazil (15 degrees 01'S, 47 degrees 13'W) is described. It is indistinguishable by the shell characters from the five congeneric species described so far: P. striata (Orbigny, 1841), P. granulata ("Shuttleworth" Sowerby, 1873), P. guadeloupensis ("Fischer" Mazé, 1883), P. ornata (Haas, 1938) and P. hubendicki Richards & Ferguson, 1962. It differs from the anatomically studied species in the following characters: about 50 ovotestis diverticula, against 12 in granulata, 100 in ornata, unstated in hubendicki; and length of flagella - about as long as the penial complex -, against about 1/3 to 1/6 in the other three.     

Description of Pomphorhynchus spindletruncatus n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Pomphorhynchidae) from freshwater fishes in northern Iraq,with the erection of a new pomphorhynchid genus,Pyriproboscis n. g., and keys to genera of the Pomphorhynchidae and the species of Pomphorhynchus Monticelli, 1905

The status of species of Pomphorhynchus Monticelli, 1905 is examined and 23 species are recognised as valid. These include P. spindletruncatus n. sp., which is described herein from two species of freshwater fishes in northern Iraq, Aspius vorax Heckel and Barbus xanthopterus (Heckel) (Cyprinidae). Only one other species, P. yunnanensis Wang, 1981, has a spindle-shaped trunk similar to that of P. spindletruncatus, but is distinguished from it by a distinctly different proboscis armature. A key separating the new taxon from other species of Pomphorhynchus is included. P. heronensis Pichelin, 1997 is reassigned to a new pomphorhynchid genus, Pyriproboscis n. g., based on its unique proboscis shape and armature, short proboscis receptacle and tubular cement glands. A key to the genera of the Pomphorhynchidae is also included.     

Aplanochytrium stocchinoi: a new Labyrinthulomycota from the southern ocean (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

Aplanochytrium stocchinoi, a new species of Labyrinthulomycota, is described from samples collected in Antarctica. Ultrastructural, life cycle and molecular data characterizing the new taxon are provided and compared with the features of other species included in the genus Aplanochytrium. The phylogenetic position of A. stocchinoi is investigated using the 18S rDNA as molecular marker and applying maximum parsimony, minimum evolution and maximum likelihood methods.     

Deviation from the Groundplan: a unique new species of freshwater planarian from South Brazil (Platyhelminthes, Tridadida, Paludicola)

The species Girardia biapertura Sluys, sp. nov. is described from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A unique derived character distinguishes this species from its congeners and all other planarians known to date, namely separate openings of the vasa deferentia at the tip of the penial papilla. Present knowledge on the distribution of Girardia species in Rio Grande do Sul is summarized.     

On the taxonomic status of a Dugesia species from Buenos Aires (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria: Tricladida)

The taxonomic and distributional statuses of the freshwater planarians of South America are imperfectly understood, and a comprehensive review is sorely needed. The species known from the vicinity of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was first described by Böhmig (1902) under the name Planaria dubia Borelli, 1895. Subsequent authors (Kenk, 1930, 1974; Cazzaniga & Curino, 1987) have cast doubt on this assignation. Some have assigned it to Dugesia anceps Kenk; Hyman (1959) was inclined to regard the Buenos Aires planarian as a geographical variant of Dugesia sanchezi Hyman. A comparison of D. sanchezi from the mountainous region of central Chile with specimens from Buenos Aires confirms that the Argentinian material is a distinct species.The differences between the two species are subtle. The Argentinian specimens are distinctive in their possession of infranucleate epithelia of the atria, penis, and bursal canal, as well as in their penial structure. In both species, the epithelia of the atria and bursal canal are glandular. Those of D. sanchezi are nucleate and their secretions are cyanophilous. In the Argentinian specimens, these same epithelia are infranucleate; but while the secretion of the bursal canal is indeed cyanophilous, that of the atrium is erythrophilous. The presence, in these same specimens, of cyanophilous glands opening into the penial vesicles, and of erythrophilous glands whose secretions contribute to a viscous plug in the ejaculatory duct, suggests a difference in the physiology of copulation.It is apparent that the Argentinian specimens are distinct from D. sanchezi Hyman, and probably they represent a new species, one to be described in detail elsewhere. In any case, Hyman's (1959) suggestion that D. sanchezi occurs near Buenos Aires is mistaken; so also is Cazzaniga's & Curino's (1987) identification of specimens from Buenos Aires as D. anceps.     

A new species of Didymodon Hedw. (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) from Peru

Didymodon incurvus J. A. Jiménez & M. J. Cano, is described and illustrated as a new species based on specimens collected from the Puno department in southern Peru. The new taxon is distinguished from others species of the genus by its oblong-lanceolate and appressed leaves when dry, incurved margins above midleaf, and the presence of a bulging ventral costal pad of cells. A key to species of Didymodon in Peru is provided. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 221–226.     

Nitidulidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) of Vanuatu

A checklist to the Nitidulidae of Vanuatu is provided based on a combination of historical museum specimens and recent field expeditions. A dichotomous key to the described species recorded from the country is provided. Specific data per island is given where available; in addition, broader distributions are outlined for each described taxon. Several undescribed taxa are listed but not described until further work can be done in the region. A discussion of the movement of invasive Nitidulidae throughout Vanuatu is also included with an emphasis on the relationship between increases in human movement and commerce and the number of invasive species present. This discussion is extended to other islands in Vanuatu that have not yet been sampled in an attempt to predict the presence of invasive species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptocorticium</Emphasis> (Corticiaceae s.l., Basidiomycota): New species and combinations

The genus Leptocorticium is redescribed, and a key to the species is provided. A new taxon, Leptocorticium tenellum, is described, and two new combinations, L. sasae and L. utribasidiatum, are proposed. Dentocorticium nephrolepidis is determined to be conspecific with L. cyatheae. All four species are described and illustrated.     

A new species of Castilleja (Orobanchaceae) from central Hidalgo, Mexico

Castilleja hidalgensis is described from several collections from xeric limestone sites in central Hidalgo, Mexico. The new species belongs to a small complex of poorly known and uncommon species within sect.Euchroma, sharing important characteristics withC. macrostigma, the first-described taxon in this assemblage. The new species appears to be rare and highly restricted both geographically and ecologically. A key to the species of theC. macrostigma group is provided.