Cytogenetic comparison of Podocnemis expansa and Podocnemis unifilis: A case of inversion and duplication involving constitutive heterochromatin

Podocnemis expansa and P. unifilis present 2n = 28 chromosomes, a diploid number similar to those observed in other species of the genus. The aim of this study was to characterize these two species using conventional staining and differential CBG-, GTG and Ag-NOR banding. We analyzed specimens of P. expansa and P. unifilis from the state of Tocantins (Brazil), in which we found a 2n = 28 and karyotypes differing in the morphology of the 13^th pair, which was submetacentric in P. expansa and telocentric in P. unifilis. The CBG-banding patterns revealed a heterochromatic block in the short arm of pair 13 of P. expansa and an interstitial one in pair 13 of P. unifilis, suggesting a pericentric inversion. Pair 14 of P. unifilis showed an insterstitial band in the long arm that was absent in P. expansa, suggesting a duplication in this region. Ag-NORs were observed in the first chromosome pair of both species and was associated to a secondary constriction and heterochromatic blocks.     

Une nouvelle espèce de Podocnemis (Pleurodira, Podocnemididae) provenant du Néogène de la formation Solimões, Acre, Brésil

A Neogene turtle from Brasil is described. It represents the first find of a new species close to the extant Podocnemis sextuberculata. Both species constitute a new clade in the genus. The synapomorphies they share and the differences between them are given. P. negrii nov. sp. is the second fossil species of the genus, after P. bassleri from the Neogene of Peru, which constitutes another clade with the extant P. expansa. The relationships between these two clades and the other species of the genus are not determinate.     

Two nematodes,Paratractis hystrix (Diesing, 1851) and Buckleyatractis marinkelli n. g., n. sp. (Atractidae: Cosmocercoidea) from Podocnemis spp. in Colombia

Two atractid nematodes are reported from the large intestine of freshwater turtles of the genus Podocnemis in Colombia. Paratractis hystrix (Diesing, 1851) is redescribed in detail using the scanning electron microscope and is reported from P. expansa, P. vogli and P. unifillis, the last being a new host. Buckleyatractis marinkelli n. g., n. sp. from P. unifillis is characterized by the nature and arrangement of the spines on the body, particularly the dorsal crest restricted to the cervical region and formed of three longitudinal rows of large spines.     

Beetles that live with ants (Carabidae,Pseudomorphini, Pseudomorpha Kirby, 1825): A revision of the santarita species group

The Western Hemisphere genus Pseudomorpha Kirby 1825 was last revised by Notman in 1925 based on only a few known species (22) and paltry few specimens (73); other authors have added an additional six species represented by 53 additional specimens since 1925. Baehr (1997) assigned three species from Australia to this genus, albeit in a new subgenus, Austropseudomorpha Baehr 1997. A recent study of collections from throughout the Americas (1757 specimens) has revealed numerous new species that can be arrayed across 19 species groups based on a suite of attributes, some used by Notman and others newly discovered. A taxonomic revision of the species contained in one of these species groups, santarita, is provided herein, as well as a distributional synopsis of the remaining 18 species groups. New species described herein are as follows, each with its type locality: Pseudomorpha huachineras p. n., Arroyo El Cocono, Sierra Huachinera, Sonora, México; P. patagonia sp. n., Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona; P.penablanca sp. n., Peña Blanca Lake, Arizona; P. pima sp. n., Madera Canyon (lower), Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona; P. santacruz sp. n., Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona; and P. santarita sp. n., Santa Rita Ranch, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona.     

Chromosome studies of the cultured cells of two species of side-necked turtles (Podocnemis unifilis and P. expansa)

The diploid chromosome number of two species of sidenecked turtles (Podocnemis unifilis and P. expansa) was found to be 28. Under normal culture conditions, half of the chromosomes of P. unifilis consistently show one or two clear secondary constrictions. In P. expansa, the incidence of cells with chromosomes bearing secondary constrictions and the number of such chromosomes per cell are less. Cells of two P. unifilis cell lines maintained a normal diploid karyotype for two years following their initiation. Then one cell line shifted to a hypodiploid mode of 27 and half of the population of the second line became pseudodiploid, the other half remaining diploid. A single six-month-old cell line from P. expansa has maintained a normal diploid mode through 10 passages.Supported in part by grant-CA 08737 from the National Cancer Institute.     

Description of Alaeuris stehlini n. sp. and Alaeuris numidica canariensis n. ssp. (Nematoda, Pharyngodonidae), parasite of Gallotia stehlini, lacertid of Grand Canary Island (Spain)

Pharyngodonid nematodes (Oxyuroidea) belonging to the genus Alaeuris Thapar, 1925, were collected from the posterior gut of Gallotia stehlini (Lacertidae) from Grand Canary Island. Two species Alaeuris stehlini n. sp. and Alaeuris numidica canariensis n. ssp. were identified. The new species is described in which the long thin males are characterized by narrow caudal alae, a rounded first pair of adanal papillae non pedunculate, the second pair attached and elongate, the three pair teated; a short narrow V plate and a relatively long caudal appendage. The females are also long and thin with a slightly salient vulva, a conical pointed caudal appendage, oesophageal length approximately one third of body, excretory pore below the oesophageal bulb. The new subspecies most closely resembles Alaeuris numidica numidica. (Seurat, 1918) Petter, 1966 and Alaeuris numidica madagascariensis Petter, 1966.     

Two new species and a new phyllobothriid cestode genus from sharks of the genus Negaprion Whitley (Carcharhiniformes)

Alexandercestus n. g. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) is erected for two cestode species found parasitising the two known species of lemon sharks (Carcharhiniformes: Negaprion spp.). This new genus differs from all other phyllobothriid genera except for Hemipristicola Cutmore, Theiss, Bennett & Cribb, 2011, Marsupiobothrium Yamaguti, 1952, Nandocestus Reyda, 2008, Orectolobicestus Ruhnke, Caira & Carpenter 2006, Orygmatobothrium Diesing, 1863, Paraorygmatobothrium Ruhnke, 1994 and Phyllobothrium van Beneden, 1849 in possessing uniloculate bothridia with an apical sucker and neck scutes. Alexandercestus differs from Orectolobicestus and Nandocestus in lacking marginal loculi on the bothridia, from Paraorygmatobothrium in possessing uninterrupted vitelline follicles at the level of the ovary and from Phyllobothrium in being euapolytic as opposed to anapolytic and in lacking posteriorly bifid bothridia. The new genus lacks the central accessory bothridial organ seen in specimens of Orygmatobothrium, and lacks the central bothridial accessory sucker of specimens of Marsupiobothrium. Alexandercestus spp. compare most favourably with specimens of Hemipristicola, especially with respect to aspects of proglottid morphology, but differ in possessing aristate gladiate spinitriches rather than serrate gladiate spinitriches on the proximal bothridial surface. In addition, the bothridia of Alexandercestus spp. are comparatively more fleshy and foliose than those in specimens of Hemipristicola. Two new species of Alexandercestus n. g. are described, Alexandercestus gibsoni n. sp. from Negaprion acutidens, collected from off northern Australia and the Marshall Islands, and Alexandercestus manteri n. sp. from N. brevirostris, collected off the islands of Bimini and the Florida Keys. The two new species differ in total length and vitelline follicle distribution. Bayesian inference and parsimony analysis of the D1–D3 region of the large nuclear ribosomal DNA of 17 published and seven novel sequences placed A. gibsoni as the sister taxon to a clade containing Hemipristicola gunterae Cutmore, Theiss, Bennett & Cribb, 2011 and species of Paraorygmatobothrium. This result supports the erection of Alexandercestus as a genus separate from Hemipristicola and Paraorygmatobothrium. At the present time, species of Alexandercestus are known only from hosts of the carcharhinid genus Negaprion Whitley; examination of extensive survey data suggests this may be the extent of the host distribution of this genus.     

The subfamily Encotyllabinae (Monogenea: Capsalidae) with the description of Alloencotyllabe caranxi n. g., n. sp. and Encotyllabe kuwaitensis n. sp.

Alloencotyllabe caranxi n. g., n. sp. is found in groups of 9–15 specimens attached close together to the lower pharyngeal plate of Caranx sp. It is characterized by having an elongate body, a prohaptor with large spines, an armed penis which lies in a pouch and a vaginal pouch guarded by two sets of glands. Encotyllabe kuwaitensis n. sp. is attached individually to the lower pharyngeal plate of Caranx sp. It is characterized by having an elongate body and tandem testes. E. spari is reported from the lower pharyngeal tooth plate of Plectorhynchus cinctus, P. pictus and P. schotaf. All fish hosts were caught in Kuwaiti waters in the Arabian Gulf. The subfamily Encotyllabinae is reviewed and the genus Neoencotyllabe is regarded as a genus inquirendum. The new genus is attached to the subfamily Encotyllabinae.     

A new species of Odaginiceps Fiers, 1995 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Tetragonicipitidae) from the Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Male and female of Odaginiceps korykosensis sp. n. (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Tetragonicipitidae), collected in the intertidal zone of Kızkalesi beach along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey (Mersin Province), are described. The new species is the fifth member of the genus and can easily be distinguished from the other species by the presence of four setae/spines on the second endopodal segment of P4 and by the structure of the caudal rami. Previously, representatives of the genus Odaginiceps have been reported from Gulf of Mexico, off Bermuda and Kenya. Odaginiceps korykosensis sp. n. is the first record of the genus in the Mediterranean Sea.     

Descriptions of two new marine scuticociliates,Pleuronema sinica n. sp. and P. wilberti n. sp. (Ciliophora: Scuticociliatida), from the Yellow Sea,China

Two new marine scuticociliates, Pleuronema sinica n. sp. and P. wilberti n. sp., collected from the sand beach of Qingdao, China, were investigated in vivo and following protargol impregnation. Ciliates of the genus Pleuronema are normally recognizable by their large sail-like paroral membrane although one species, P. grolierei, has shorter cilia in the paroral membrane. Neither of the new forms has the conspicuous paroral membrane in vivo so in this respect they are not typical members of this genus. Pleuronema sinica is characterized by its large, conspicuously flattened body, the possession of only one preoral kinety, the irregular-shaped macronucleus and the rather unusual structure of the oral apparatus. By contrast P. wilberti has a medium-size broad-oval body, six to eight preoral kineties and a highly differentiated membranelle 3 that is five- or six-rowed. An identification key is supplied for the 15 species of Pleuronema for which the infraciliature is known.     

A revision of the chigger mite genus Paratrombicula Goff & Whitaker, 1984 (Acari: Trombiculidae), with the description of two new species

The monotypic chigger mite genus Paratrombicula Goff & Whitaker, 1984 is expanded to include five species. Two new species of chiggers, parasitising iguanid lizards in Chile, Paratrombicula chilensis n. sp. and P. goffi n. sp., are described, and two species, P. neuquenensis (Goff & Gettinger, 1995) n. comb. and Paratrombicula plaumanni (Brennan & Jones, 1964) n. comb., are transferred to this genus from Parasecia Loomis, 1966 and Neotrombicula Hirst, 1925, respectively. A key to the species of Paratrombicula is presented.     

Taxonomic and biogeographic analysis of the Proasellus coxalis-group (crustacea, isopoda, asellidae) in Sicily, with description of Proasellus montalentii n. sp.

The genus Proasellus is widespread in ponds, ditches and rivers of Sicily. A detailed morphological analysis of several samples of asellids collected in Sicilian freshwaters resulted in the determination of three species of the Proasellus coxalis-group: P. banyulensis italicus (Dudich, 1925), P. montalentii n. sp. and P. wolfi (Dudich, 1925), which is elevated to specific rank. The three species can be distinguished on the basis of the sutures of pleopod V. exopod. Proasellus montalentii inhabits the western part of Sicily, while the range of P. wolfi is confined to the Iblean region. Both species are more closely related to the North African taxa of Proasellus coxalis-group, while Proasellus banyulensis italicus is very similar to the populations found in peninsular Italy. These patterns are explained supposing multiple colonizations of Sicily during Pliocene connections.     

The cave population of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 from Palawan,Philippines, and description of a new species (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae)

The study of an important collection of scorpions, belonging to the genus Chaerilus, recently collected from a cave in the Palawan Island, Philippines, allows the clarification of the identity of this population, often misidentified with Chaerilus chapmani Vachon & Lourenço, 1985 known from caves in the Gunong Mulu National Park in Sarawak (Borneo). Chaerilus agnellivanniorum sp. n. is described from the Puerto Princesa Underground River Cave in Palawan Island based on 14 specimens, males, females, and juveniles. The new species is totally distinct morphologically from Chaerilus chapmani, a true troglobitic species. Chaerilus agnellivanniorum sp. n. may also be a true troglobitic element, but with a less marked degree of regression for several characters. Some comments on the ecology of the new species and on regional biogeography of Borneo and Palawan islands are also proposed.     

Morphogenia: a new genus of the Neotropical tribe Jubini (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from the Brazilian Amazon

A new genus and species of the large Neotropical pselaphine tribe Jubini is described from Manaus, Brazil, based on material preserved in the Natural History Museum, London. Morphogenia struhli gen. et sp. n. represents the possible sister taxon of the abundant and speciose genus Barrojuba Park, sharing with it the putatively derived condition of anterolaterally shifted vertexal foveae, producing a smoothly convex vertex devoid of fovea or sulci. However, unlike Barrojuba, Morphogenia retains a plesiomorphic antebasal sulcus on the pronotum in both sexes, and additionally lacks elaborate abdominal fovea-like pockets and teeth on the lateral margins of the pronotum that are typical of Barrojuba. The genus is also unusual among jubine genera in lacking the characteristic V- or Y-shaped gular carina. In contrast to the commonly-collected Barrojuba, specimens of Morphogenia are absent in extensive jubine collections housed in museums in the United States, indicating that the new taxon may be relatively scarce or localised.     

Baylisascaris potosis n. sp., a new ascarid nematode isolated from captive kinkajou,Potos flavus,from the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

We describe a new nematode species, Baylisascaris potosis n. sp., isolated from captive kinkajou, Potos flavus, from the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The nematode was found in fecal specimens, identified morphologically, and confirmed genetically. The new species is similar to Baylisascaris procyonis, Baylisascaris columnaris, and other Baylisascaris species, but is distinguished by the position of the male phasmidial pole. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence analyses confirmed that the new species is phylogenetically distinct from all the members of the genus Baylisascaris, and groups with B. procyonis and B. columnaris. This nematode is the 10th species assigned to the genus Baylisascaris.     

Petrocephalus boboto and Petrocephalus arnegardi,two new species of African electric fish (Osteoglossomorpha,Mormyridae) from the Congo River basin

A specimen of the African weakly electric fish genus Petrocephalus (Osteoglossomorpha, Mormyridae) collected in the Congo River at Yangambi, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, is described as a new species. Petrocephalus boboto sp. n. can be distinguished from other Central African species of Petrocephalus by a combination of the following characteristics: three distinct black spots on the body, one at the origin of the pectoral fin, one at the origin of the caudal fin and one below the anterior base of the dorsal fin; Nakenrosette and Khelrosette electroreceptor clusters distinct on head but Augenrosette cluster reduced in size; 23 branched dorsal rays, 34 branched anal rays, and electric organ discharge waveform triphasic. Petrocephalus boboto sp. n. most closely resembles the holotype of Petrocephalus binotatus but is easily distinguished from it by its smaller mouth. A comparative molecular analysis including 21 other Petrocephalus species shows Petrocephalus boboto sp. n. to be genetically distinctive and to represent a deep lineage in the genus. Two specimens of Petrocephalus collected at Yangambi are morphologically similar and genetically closely related to specimens previously assigned to Petrocephalus binotatus, collected in the northwestern Congo River basin within Odzala-Kokua National Park, Republic of the Congo. This prompts us to formally describe a new species from these collections, Petrocephalus arnegardi sp. n., that, although similar to the holotype of Petrocephalus binotatus, can be distinguished from it by its smaller mouth and shorter interorbital width.