New genus of Ptereleotrinae (Gobioidei) from the South China Sea

A new genus and species Zagadkogobius ourlazon gen. et sp. nov. characterized by an unusual (for the subfamily Ptereleotrinae) combination of characters is described. A single specimen was collected at a depth of 73 m in the southwestern South China Sea to the south of the Anambas Islands. Based on the combination of characters, the new genus is most similar to the genus Nemateleotris. However, the species of the latter genus are associated exclusively with coral reefs. A key to the genera of the subfamily Ptereleotrinae is presented.     

New skull of Schizodelphis sulcatus Gervais, 1861 (Mammalia, Odontoceti, Eurhinodelphinidae) from the Lower Miocene of Pignan (Hérault, France) and its implications for systematics of Eurhinodelphinidae

Schizodelphis sulcatus is the type species of the Eurhinodelphinid genus Schizodelphis and was until now only known from a rather fragmentary specimen, lacking some important parts of the skull (vertex, ear bones and apex of rostrum). The study of a well-preserved skull of S. sulcatus Gervais, discovered in the lower Miocene of Hérault (France), helps to improve the diagnosis of this enigmatic species. Diagnostic features include the low height at the base of the rostrum, the lower position of the paroccipital process compared to the height of the postglenoid process in lateral view, the ventrally deflected postglenoid process and the ovoid-shaped nasals. It also confirms that the type species of Schizodelphis is indeed distinct. For the first time in Schizodelphis, the vertex is preserved and the ear bones are found in anatomic connection with the basicranium. A cladistic analysis of cranial characters of Eurhinodelphinidae, including ear bones, is performed and reveals a close phylogenetic relationship between S. sulcatus and the North American species Schizodelphis barnesi. This analysis also highlights some apomorphies of the genus as the smoothly laterally deflected anterior spine of the bulla in ventral view and the reestablishment of the contact between the falciform process of the squamosal and the lateral lamina of the pterygoid. Conversely, the attribution of Schizodelphis morckhoviensis to the genus Schizodelphis is questioned by this analysis.     

中国蹄盖蕨科一新记录植物——光叶对囊蕨

报道了采自安徽省金寨县天堂寨镇的中国对囊蕨属一新记录植物——光叶对囊蕨Deparia otomasui(Sa.Kurata)Seriz.。光叶对囊蕨之前仅发现于日本,其根状茎细长横走,叶片一回羽状,羽片羽状分裂,叶为纸质,有光泽,近光滑无毛,是对囊蕨属中形态较为独特的一个物种。该文对光叶对囊蕨的形态特征进行了详细描述,并提供了生态照片和线描图,编制了安徽省对囊蕨属部分物种的检索表,同时对该种的保护等级进行了评估。凭证标本保存于上海辰山植物标本馆(CSH)。     

Phylogenetic interrelationships,taxonomy, and reductive evolution in the Neotropical electric fish genus Hypopygus (Teleostei,Ostariophysi, Gymnotiformes)

A phylogenetic reconstruction of the Neotropical electric fish genus Hypopygus based on 47 parsimony‐informative morphological characters is presented. A series of synapomorphies support the hypothesis of monophyly of Hypopygus, and partially resolve species‐level relationships within the genus. Hypopygus species are recognized here as miniaturized fishes based on two criteria; first, a derived condition of diminutive body size, and; second, the presence of a suite of reductive morphological characters, including partial or total losses, simplifications, and reductions of the anal‐fin rays, scales, cranial bones, and laterosensory canal system. Reductive characters associated with miniaturization comprise 45% of the total number of characters in the phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus. Miniaturization and reductive morphological evolution in Hypopygus are discussed here in the phylogenetic context. A taxonomic revision of Hypopygus is presented, in which five new species are described, two species previously assigned to the genus are redescribed, and a single known species of Stegostenopos is redescribed and included in Hypopygus as a junior synonym. Distribution maps and a key for all eight valid species of Hypopygus are provided, based on the examination of 5014 catalogued museum specimens. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163 , 1096–1156.     

Taxonomy of Mechanitis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from the West Colombian Andes: an Integrative Approach

Species identification in the butterfly genus Mechanitis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) becomes difficult when it is based only on wing color patterns, a common practice in butterfly taxonomy. Difficulties in Mechanitis taxonomy are related to the widespread mimicry and polymorphism among species belonging to this genus. Species recognition and inventories of Mechanitis genus in geographic areas as the Andean region of Colombia are of particular interest and the use of more than one character for taxonomic identification is desirable. In this study, we included morphological, ecological, and mitochondrial DNA data to identify the occurring species in this region. Species of Mechanitis were studied from ecological, morphological, and molecular perspectives considering host plant identification, oviposition behavior, and life cycles under laboratory conditions. Immature morphology, patterns of wing color, and genital structures of adults were also studied. The genetic barcoding region of the cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene was sequenced and used to verify the limits between species previously defined by the other characters and to validate its usefulness for species delimitation in this particular genus. The integrative approach combining independent datasets successfully allowed species identification as compared to the approach based on a single dataset. Three well-differentiated species were found in the studied region, Mechanitis menapis (Hewitson), Mechanitis polymnia (Linnaeus), and Mechanitis lysimnia (Fabricius). New valuable characters that could improve taxonomic identification in this genus are considered.     

Ashea megacephala Kim & Ahn (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), a new gyrophaenine genus and species from Peru

Ashea megacephala, a new Peruvian genus and species is described. The specimens were collected on mushrooms and mushroom-associated trees. This genus can be readily distinguished from the other genera of the subtribe Gyrophaenina by the large head and the three indistinctly articulated labial palpomeres. A key to the known genera of Gyrophaenina is provided. A habitus photograph and illustrations of diagnostic characters are also presented.     

A Key and Diagnostic Compendium to the Species of the Genus Tylenchorhynchus Cobb, 1913 (Nematoda: Belonolaimidae)

An identification key to 111 species of Tylenchorhynchus is given. Tylenchorhynchus is defined as containing only those species with four incisures in the lateral field. A compendium providing the most important diagnostic characters for use in identification of species is included as a supplement to the key. Some species in a related but unnecessary genus were placed in the genus Tylenchorhynchus, based on morphological structures and logical groupings of the species. Bitylenchus iphilus is transferred to Tylenchorhynchus. The diagnosis of Tylenchorhynchus is emended, and a list of all the valid species of the genus is given. The characters most useful for separating species are the stylet length, shape of lip region, number of lip annules, shape of tail and tail terminus, number of tail annules, and position of vulva (V%). As defined in the paper, the genus currently is composed of 111 valid species.     

Revision of the Neotropical Genus Hemibidessus Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Bidessini)

The genus Hemibidessus Zimmermann, 1921 is revised. Six species are recognized in the genus. Two new species are described, H. spirodiscus sp. n. from Bolivia and H. spangleri sp. n. from Argentina. A key for identifying the species is presented. The female genitalia are thoroughly illustrated and described for the first time for any species of Bidessini. Other important diagnostic structures are also illustrated including the male genitalia. A cladistic analysis is presented for 8 species (6 ingroup and 2 outgroup species) and 13 characters. A single most parsimonious cladogram was found.     

The oldest known chironomids of the tribe Tanytarsini (Diptera: Chironomidae) indicate plesiomorphic character states

Taxonomic studies on chironomids of the tribe Tanytarsini recorded in Eocene Baltic amber from the Rovno region have revealed two new species: Archistempellina perkovskyi and Stempellinella ivanovae. Both species display interesting characters supporting evolutionary trends in the tribe. A. perkovskyi nov. sp. combines plesiomorphic characters, thus consolidating the hypothesis that the genus Archistempellina is one of the basal lineages of the tribe Tanytarsini. The antennal flagellum composed of 13 discernible segments found in S. ivanovae nov. sp. is defined as a plesiomorphic character state opposite to a reduced number of flagellomeres in extant species; the nipple-like process on the apex of the gonostylus is recognised as a unique character in the Tanytarsini and a possible homologue of the horn-like tip of the gonostylus known from several extant species of the genus Stempellinella Brundin. A key to determination of all genera and species of the Tanytarsini recorded in the Eocene is presented. Notes on evolutionary trends in the tribe are also provided.     

A revision of the Puerto Rican species of lepanthes (Orchidaceae)

Six species of the orchid speciesLepanthes are described as new. A seventh species,L. sanguined, previously known only from Jamaica, is reported from Puerto Rico. The current misspelling ofL. selenitepala, the only species of the genus previously reported from Puerto Rico, is corrected. A key to the eight Puerto Rican species ofLepanthes is presented, and the value of several interesting taxonomic characters is discussed. The possibility of apogamy in this genus is raised, and detailed biosystematic investigations are indicated as necessary for a complete understanding of the group.     

Pachyjoenia howa,a new symbiotic parabasalid joeniid flagellate of the termite Postelectrotermes howa

The Joenia-like lophomonad of Postelectrotermes howa is identified by light and electron microscopy as a new genus and species Pachyjoenia howa. Its flagellar area of about 1800 flagella is dome shaped. Basal bodies bear a composite root oriented counterclockwise in addition to the clockwise hook-shaped lamina present in other joeniids. There are four parallel privileged basal bodies. The main parabasal fibre is twisted around the axostyle and splits into several branches bearing Golgi bodies. The axostyle trunk is conspicuous and composed of a bundle of ∼90 small axostyles. There are sausage-shaped bacterial endosymbionts mixed with hydrogenosomes in the cytoplasm and coccoid bacterial endobionts in the nucleus. The characters of this new joeniid genus are compared with those of other joeniid genera.     

Differentiation of two hemp nettle species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Galeopsis bifida</Emphasis> Boenn. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">G. tetrahit</Emphasis> L.) inferred from morphological characters and DNA markers

Two species of the genus Galeopsis L., G. tetrahit L. and G. bifida Boenn. (family Lamiaceae), are problematic to distinguish often wrongly recognized, and treated by some taxonomists as a single species. Morphological diagnostical characters of these species are variable and partly overlap. Species independence of G. tetrahit and G. bifida was evaluated and their diagnostic characters verified using ISSR and RAPD markers. A total of 57 ISSR and 28 RAPD fragments were obtained providing distinct subdivision of the accessions examined into two groups. Analysis of molecular data using the neighbor-joining method showed that the accessions studied fell into two clades in the same way as demonstrated by the analysis of 20 morphological characters using single linkage method. These results suggest that G. tetrahit and G. bifida are distinct species. The morphological characters were found to be more variable compared to the molecular markers, although the combined of these characters provided differentiation of the species.     

A new stichaeid fish of the genusAlectrias from Mutsu Bay,northern Japan

Alectrias mutsuensis sp. nov. is described on specimens collected from Mutsu Bay, Aomori Pref. This new species is rather deep dweller compared to other species of the genus, living on muddy bottoms, about 20 to 40 meters deep, and is diagnosed by the following characters: dermal crest on head reaching to occipital region; distance between end of dermal crest and dorsal fin origin less than eye diameter; end of anal fin separated from caudal fin; anterior dorsal spines before anal origin, slender and flexible; epaxial hypurals mostly fused into a single plate. A key to all nine species belonging to the subfamily Alectriinae is presented.