A new species of Capillostrongyloides (Nematoda: Capillariidae) parasitizing the horsefish, Congiopodus peruvianus (Pisces: Congiopodidae), from Argentina

A new species of parasitic nematode, Capillostrongyloides congiopodi n. sp. (Capillariidae), is described based on specimens collected from the gall bladder of the horsefish, Congiopodus peruvianus Cuvier and Velenciennes (Congiopodidae, Scorpaeniformes), from the Patagonian Shelf, Argentina (45-48 degrees S; 60-64 degrees W). Among the 9 species described so far in the genus, the new species most closely resembles C. norvegica Moravec and Karlsbakk, 2000, by the presence of its conspicuously elevated anterior vulvar lip in females; however, it is readily distinguished from it by having a larger body size, larger eggs with protruding polar plugs, the shape and length of the spicule, and mainly by the general morphology of the caudal bursa of males. In addition, the site of infection, i.e., stomach versus gall bladder. This is the first Capillostrongyloides species reported from fishes in the southern Atlantic Ocean.     

Nerocila benrosei n. sp. (Isopoda: Cymothoidae), an external parasite of hogfishes from the northern Bahamas

Nerocila benrosei n. sp. is described from the hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum), and the Spanish hogfish, Bodianus rufus (Linnaeus), (Perciformes: Labridae) from the northern Bahamas. Nerocila benrosei differs from all species of Nerocila by having the body of females 1.4-1.9 times as wide as long, instead of 2.0-3.0 times, and pleopods 1 and 2 lacking accessory lamellae. It differs from the only species of Nerocila with which it overlaps geographically, N. lanceolata (Say, 1818), by having the lateral margins of pleonites 1-5 strongly produced ventrally, coxae 5-7 manifestly shorter than the posterolateral projection of the respective pereonite, and a vaulted dorsal surface. The species of Nerocila in the northwestern Atlantic have almost mutually exclusive geographic ranges: New England to Panama, including Bermuda and the northern coast of Cuba (Nerocila lanceolata); Brazil to Trinidad and Tobago (Nerocila fluviatilis Schi?dte and Meinert, 1881); and the northern Bahamas and Bermuda (Nerocila benrosei). No species of Nerocila have been reported from the insular Caribbean. Nerocila benrosei appears to be highly host and site specific.     

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.     

Monticellia ophisterni n. sp. (Cestoda: Monticelliidae) from the swamp-eel Ophisternon aenigmaticum (Synbranchiformes) from Mexico.

Monticellia ophisterni n. sp. is described from the swamp-eel Ophisternon aenigmaticum Rosen and Greenwood (Synbranchiformes: Synbranchidae) from Lake Catemaco, Veracruz, Mexico. The new species is placed into Monticellia because of the cortical position of the testes, ovary, and uterus. It differs from other Monticellia species (with the exception of Monticellia magna (Rego, Santos and Silva, 1974)) in the position of longitudinal musculature that crosses the vitelline follicles, making them paramuscular. The new species can be distinguished from M. magna--which possesses a similar number of testes (107-139), paramuscular vitelline follicles, and numerous gland cells distributed between the apex of the scolex and suckers--in the position of the genital pore (8-21% vs. 19-27%), in the presence of a weak internal longitudinal musculature, in the arrangement of the testes in the median field, and in the absence of a vaginal sphincter. This is the first proteocephalidean tapeworm reported from a synbranchid fish and the first species of Monticellia found in North America.     

Steinernema aciari sp. n. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from Guangdong, China

A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema aciari sp. n. was described. It was recovered from a soil sample collected from Haimen town, Shantou district in the eastern coast of Guangdong province, the People's Republic of China during a survey for entomopathogenic nematodes. S. aciari sp. n. belongs to the Steinernema glaseri group. It can be separated from all described Steinernema species by the combined morphological and morphometrical characters of various stages of the nematodes. For male, the new species can be recognized by spicule length (86+/-6.3 microm); spicule tip blunt with a hook-like structure; gubernaculum with a short and Y-shaped cuneus and corpus well-separated posteriorly. For infective juvenile, the combination of the following characters: body length (1113+/-68 microm), distance from anterior end to excretory pore (95+/-3.7 microm), tail length (78+/-5.2 microm), and E % (123+/-7) can be used to differentiate the new species from other nematodes. For female, the tail (conoid with a long mamillate terminus and a distinct postanal swelling) and vulva (slightly protruding from body surface with conspicuous double flapped epiptygma) shapes can be used as diagnostic characters for the new species. The new species can also be distinguished from other Steinernema species by DNA sequences of either a partial 28S rDNA or the internal transcribed spacer regions of rDNA, and from the close related species S. glaseri, Steinernema longicaudum CWL05, and Steinernema guangdongense by cross-breeding test.     

东喜马拉雅山地区木材腐朽菌研究2.四川青城山的木材腐朽菌

在四川青城山风景区发现木材腐朽菌60种,给出了每个木材腐朽菌的寄主和生长基质。拟黄薄孔菌Antrodia subxantha为一新种,其特点为子实体平伏,孔口表面黄色,担孢子圆柱形至窄椭圆形（3－4×1.6－2.1μm）,菌髓主要由生殖菌丝组成;该种与黄薄孔菌Antrodia xantha具有相似的孔口表面,但后者的担孢子为腊肠形（4－5×1.2－1.5μm）,且其菌髓主要有骨架菌丝组成。     

Longidorus ferrisi n. sp. from California Citrus

In October 1999, the authors received fixed specimens of a species of Longidorus from Howard Ferris found about the roots of a citrus tree in Oakville, Napa County, CA. After determining it to be new a species, we requested additional specimens. The samples contained roughly equal numbers of males and females. Longidorus ferrisi n. sp. is most similar to L. elongatus, but can be distinguished by a greater c-ratio (111-187 vs 73-141), a lesser c′ (0.7-1.1 vs 1.0-1.3), a more offset head, a more posterior guide ring (35-40 vs 30-33 μm), the presence of sperm in the uterus in mature females, and the approximate 1:1 ratio of females to males. Other similar species include L. artemisiae, L. crassus, L. glycines, and L. milanis. Longidorus ferrisi n. sp. differs from L. artemisiae by a lesser a-ratio (74-102 vs 109-155), a lesser c′ value (0.7-1.1 vs 1.0-1.6), a more posterior guide ring (35-40 vs 27-34 μm), a longer odontostyle (91-108 vs 84-98 μm), a wider lip region (16-19 vs 14-17 μm), wider mid-body (53-69 vs 41-52 μm), and longer spicules (57-65 vs 39-49 μm). The new species differs substantially from L. crassus by its lip shape and the presence of males, and differs from L. glycines by a shorter body (4.33-5.97 vs 6.14-8.31 mm), a lesser c′ value (0.7-1.1 vs 0.9-1.4), a narrower lip region (16-19 vs 20-23 μm), wider mid-body (53-69 vs 39-57 μm), longer spicules (53-69 vs 45-53 μm), and fewer supplements (7-11 vs 11-17). Longidorus ferrisi n. sp. differs from L. milanis by a longer body (4.33-5.97vs 3.00-4.90 mm), a greater c value (111-187 vs 86-130), a wider mid-body (53-69 vs 43-56 μm), a different head shape, and longer spicules (53-69 vs 41-54 μm). The nuclear 18S ribosomal DNA sequence of this species revealed that this species is unique with respect to all sequenced Longidorus species.     

Parvatrema chaii n. sp. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) from mice experimentally infected with metacercariae collected from surf-clam, Mactra veneriformis

Parvatrema chaii n. sp. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) is described using the worms recovered from experimentally infected mice in Korea. The metacercariae were collected from surf-clams, Mactra veneriformis, from a tidal flat in Sochon-gun, Chungchongnam-do. The metacercariae were elliptical (0.262 x 0.132 mm), and the genital pore had an anterior arch of 16-17 sensory papillae in scanning electron microscopic view. Adult worms were ovoid to foliate (0.275-0.303 by 0.140-0.150 mm), and their characteristic features included the presence of lateral lips, short esophagus, genital pore located some distance anterior to the ventral sucker, club-shaped seminal vesicle, a compact to slightly lobed vitellarium, elliptical eggs (0.018-0.020 by 0.010-0.013 mm), and absence of the ventral pit. This gymnophallid is classified as a member of the genus Parvatrema because of the location of the wide genital pore some distance from the ventral sucker, and the absence of the ventral pit. It differs from previously reported Parvatrema species, including the type species, P. borinquenae. In particular, the morphologies of the vitellarium and the genital pore with an anterior arch of 16-17 sensory papillae are unique features. Therefore, we propose it as a new species, Parvatrema chaii n. sp. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae).     

Clostridium saccharogumia sp. nov. and Lactonifactor longoviformis gen. nov., sp. nov., two novel human faecal bacteria involved in the conversion of the dietary phytoestrogen secoisolariciresinol diglucoside

Two anaerobic bacteria involved in the conversion of the plant lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside were isolated from faeces of a healthy male adult. The first isolate, strain SDG-Mt85-3Db, was a mesophilic strictly anaerobic Gram-positive helically coiled rod. Based on 16S r RNA gene sequence analysis, its nearest relatives were Clostridium cocleatum (96.7% similarity) and Clostridium ramosum (96.6%). In contrast to these species, the isolate was devoid of alpha-galactosidase and -glucosidase and did not grow on maltose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose and trehalose. The hypothesis that strain SDG-Mt85-3Db represents a new bacterial species of the Clostridium cluster XVIII was confirmed by DNA-DNA hybridisation experiments. The G+C content of DNA of strain SDG-Mt85-3Db (30.7+/-0.8 mol%) was comparable with that of Clostridium butyricum, the type species of the genus Clostridium. The name Clostridium saccharogumia is proposed for strain SDG-Mt85-3Db (=DSM 17460T=CCUG 51486T). The second isolate, strain ED-Mt61/PYG-s6, was a mesophilic strictly anaerobic Gram-positive regular rod. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, its nearest relatives were Clostridium amygdalinum (93.3%), Clostridium saccharolyticum (93.1%) and Ruminococcus productus (93.0%). The isolate differed from these species in its ability to dehydrogenate enterodiol. It also possessed alpha-arabinosidase and -galactosidase and had a higher G+C content of DNA (48.0 mol%). According to these findings, it is proposed to create a novel genus, Lactonifactor, and a novel species, Lactonifactor longoviformis, to accommodate strain ED-Mt61/PYG-s6. The type strain is DSM 17459T (=CCUG 51487T).     

Threats affecting the distribution of Lygeum spartum Loefl. ex L. and its associated species in the Western Mediterranean desert of Egypt: Perspectives of conservation

The current study intends to evaluate the many hazards affecting the spread of the significant fodder grass Lygeum spartum Loefl. ex. L. and its associated species in Egypt's Western Mediterranean Desert over the past 60 years (from 1958 to 2020); depending on the data of the previous literature and the current situation evaluation by recent field trips. It also aims to assess its ecosystem services. Sixty-nine stands were collected from previous studies and unpublished data, in addition to 30 stands (10 m²) were added including 5 field trips during the period from spring 2019 to spring 2020. Measurements were taken to create a classification of this vegetation and to determine the main threats that affect its distribution composition. There are 142 species associated with the distribution of the studied plant in 6 habitats. While only 107 species were recorded in the recent stands in 7 habitats. Vegetation groups (G1- G8) obtained from TWINSPAN classification indicating that G1 (wadis) is the most diverse group with a species richness 34.7 species per stand, while G6 (dune) has the highest species turnover (4.57) during the period of 1958 to 2014. But in recent stands; G5 (saline and non-saline depression) is the most diverse group (30.875), while G2 (dunes) has the highest species turnover (4.819). Medicinal plants are the most represented (79.86%), followed by grazing plants (72.9%). The most common service is sand stabilization (92% of total services), followed by windbreak (natural) (40%). Threatened species represent 92.4%; habitat loss is the most affected threat (95 species), followed by over-collecting and over-cutting (82 species). Twenty out of 99 stands (20.2% of the total stands) have been destroyed due to human activity. Continuous monitoring of remaining patches of Egypt’s northwestern Mediterranean coast was required to save its natural flora from extinction.     

珍珠矮

珍珠矮绘图：何顺清栽培及配文：钟树华,韦毅刚珍珠矮（ＣｙｍｂｉｄｕｍｎａｎｕｌｕｍＹ．Ｓ．ＷｕｅｔＳ．Ｃ．Ｃｈｅｎ）是我国著名兰科植物分类专家吴应祥、陈心启于１９９１年定名的新种,发表在《植物分类学报》第２９卷第６期上。模式标本是由余大鹏于１９８９年...     

Genetic markers in the blood of three species of tamarins (Saguinus mystax, S. labiatus and S. oedipus)

Alkaline phosphatase (Alp), esterase-I (Es-I), esterase-II (Es-II), carbonic anhydrase (CA), cell esterase (cEs), esterase-D (Es-D), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD), tetrazolium oxidase (To), ceruloplasmin (Cp), Haptoglobin (Hp) and hemoglobin (Hb) in 58-75 samples of three species of tamarins (Saguinus mystax, S. labiatus and S. oedipus) were detected by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Two types (Es-I 1 and Es-I 2) for Es-I, four types (Es-II 1, Es-II 2, Es-II 3 and Es-II 2-3) for Es-II, three types (cEs 1, cEs 2 and cEs 1-2) for cEs, three types (PGD 1, PGD 2 and PGD 1-2) for PGD, two types (To 1 and To 2) for To, and three types (Hp 3, Hp 1-3 and Hp 2-3) for Hp were observed. However, Alp, CA, Es-D, ICD, MDH, Cp and Hb were monomorphic. In the S. mystax, no Es-II or PGD variants were observed. No Es-II variant was seen in the S. oedipus. Gene frequencies of cEs, PGD and Hb were biased in the three species. It is concluded that six polymorphic loci are useful as genetic markers for a species or individual.     

Parastrombidinopsis shimi n. gen., n. sp. (Ciliophora: Choreotrichia) from the coastal waters of Korea: morphology and small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence

The planktonic ciliate Parastrombidinopsis shimi n. gen., n. sp. is described from both living cells and quantitative protargol-stained (QPS) preparations and the sequence of the small subunit rDNA (SSU rDNA) is reported. This species is almost oval when the cells are alive; when stained, it is cylindrical for the upper two-fifths, half-bowl shaped for the middle two-fifths, and narrow rodshaped for the lower one-fifth. The ranges (and mean +/- standard deviation, n = 20) of cell length, cell width, and oral diameter of living cells were 112-221 microm (168 +/- 39), 88-176 microm (121 +/- 30), and 53-110 microm (80 +/- 14), respectively, while those of the QPS-stained specimens (n = 54) were 88-225 microm (162 +/- 29), 55-163 microm (102 +/- 19), and 53-98 microm (69 +/- 9), respectively. Thirty-six to 48 external oral polykinetids had cilia 25-40 microm long. However, unlike Strombidinopsis species sensu stricto, P. shimi has an external oral polykinetid zone that is an open circle. This species has two shorter polykinetids associated with the end of the oral polykinetid zone, deep in the oral cavity. Like Strombidinopsis species in the subclass Choreotrichia, 36-50 somatic kineties were equally spaced around the cell body and extended from the oral to the posterior regions with 68-105 dikinetids per kinety. Both kinetosomes of each kinetid bore cilia 3-10 microm long. Parastrombidinopsis shimi had 2 (1-4) ovoid macronuclei of 20-82 x 15-32 microm. When properly aligned, the sequence of the SSU rDNA of P. shimi (GenBank Accession No. AJ786648) was approximately 5% different from that of Strobilidium caudatum and 6% different from that of two Strombidinopsis species. Based both on morphology and gene sequence divergence, we establish this is as a new species in a new genus belonging to the family Strombidinopsidae.     

Two Species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Marine Fishes off Namibia,Including S. Beukelaardori n. sp.

Stephanostomum kovalevae Parukhin, 1968 from the intestine of Lophius vomerinus off Swakopmund, Namibia, is redescribed. It is characterised by its large number (c. 73-88) of circum-oral spines, its relatively very long hindbody and the vitellarium reaching close to or just overlapping the ventral sucker. S. beukelaardori n. sp., from the intestine of Zenopsis conchifera off Walvis Bay, Namibia, is described. It belongs to the group of species where the vitellarium reaches the ventral sucker, and which has c. 32-38 circum-oral spines. It is closest to S. casum (Linton, 1910), but differs in lacking the lining of prominent spines in the ejaculatory duct, probably in egg-size and in both forebody and hindbody lengths.     

Geoalkalibacter ferrihydriticus gen. nov., sp. nov., the first alkaliphilic representative of the family Geobacteraceae, isolated from a soda lake

Investigation of iron reduction in bottom sediments of alkaline soda lakes resulted in the isolation of a new obligately anaerobic iron-reducing bacterium, strain Z-0531, from Lake Khadyn (Tuva Republic, Russia) sediment samples. The cells of strain Z-0531 are short (1.0-1.5 by 0.3-0.5 microm), motile, non-spore-forming, gram-negative rods. The isolate is an obligate alkaliphile, developing in the pH range of 7.8-10.0, with an optimum at pH 8.6. It does not require NaCl but grows at NaCl concentrations of 0-50 g/1l. It can oxidize acetate with such electron acceptors as amorphous Fe(llI) hydroxide (AFH), EDTA-Fe(III), anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (quinone), Mn(IV), and S(0). On media with EDTA-Fe(III), the isolate can oxidize, apart from acetate, ethanol, pyruvate, oxalate, arginine, tartrate, lactate, propionate, and serine. H2 is not utilized. The reduced products formed during growth with AFH are siderite or magnetite, depending on the growth conditions. The isolate is incapable of fermenting sugars, peptides, and amino acids. Yeast extract or vitamins are required as growth factors. The organism is capable of dinitrogen fixation and harbors the nifH gene. The DNA G+C content is 55.3 mol %. 16S rRNA analysis places strain Z-0531 into the family Geobacteraceae. Its closest relative (93% similarity) is Desulfuromonas palmitatis. Based on phenotypic distinctions and phylogenetic position, it is proposed that strain Z-0531 be assigned to the new genus and species Geoalkalibacter ferrihydriticus gen. nov., sp. nov.     

A new species of Spermacoce (Rubiaceae) from the Manika high plateau (Katanga; R. D. Congo)

Spermacoce manikensis , a new species from Katanga (R. D. Congo) is described and illustrated. Special attention is given to anatomy of the primary root and pollen and seed morphology. The species is mainly characterised by the geoxylic habit, large flowers arranged in two-or three-flowered inflorescences, and seeds with a basal elaiosome. It is closely related to Spermacoce stipularis , from which it differs in its more robust taproot and habit, longer leaves, larger fruits, and 10–13(-14)- aperturate pollen grains. The species is found on the Kalahari sands of the Manika high plateau in suffrutex grassland.     

Micropleura australiensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Micropleuridae) from the body cavity of Crocodylus johnsoni in Western Australia

A new nematode species, Micropleura australiensis n. sp., is described on the basis of specimens found in the peritoneal cavity of the Australian freshwater crocodile, Crocodylus johnsoni Krefft, from the Ord River area, Western Australia. The new species is mainly characterized by the length of spicules (0.360-0.366 mm) and gubernaculum (0.096-0.105 mm), the number and arrangement of male caudal papillae (4 preanal and 6 postanal pairs), and the postequatorial vulva. To date, it is the first species of Micropleura reported from Australia. Micropleura trionyxi Agrawal, 1966, and M. lissemysia Chattervati, 1985, are considered junior synonyms of M. indica Khera, 1951.     

Methylobacterium soli sp. nov. a methanol-utilizing bacterium isolated from the forest soil

A Gram-negative, pink-pigmented, non-spore-forming rod shaped, methanol-utilizing bacterium, strain YIM 48816(T), was isolated from forest soil collected from Sichuan province, China. Strain YIM 48816(T) can grow at 4-37 °C, pH 5.0-7.0 and 0% NaCl (w/v). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies, it belonged to the genus Methylobacterium, and formed a phyletic line. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were 96.2% to Methylobacterium mesophilicum DSM 1708(T) and 96.0% to Methylobacterium brachiatum DSM 19569(T), and the phylogenetic similarities to all other Methylobacterium species with validly published names were less than 96.0%. The major menaquinones detected were Q-10 (97.14%) and Q-9 (2.86%). The major fatty acids were C18:1 ω7c (80.84%). The DNA G + C content was 66.2 mol%. It is apparent from the genotypic and phenotypic data that strain YIM 48816(T) belongs to a novel species of the genus Methylobacterium, for which the name Methylobacterium soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 48816(T) (CCTCC AA 208027(T) = KCTC 22810(T)).     

Description and host relationships of Polymorphus spindlatus n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) from the heron Nycticorax nycticorax in Peru

Polymorphus spindlatus n. sp. is described from the black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, in Lake Titicaca, Peru. It is distinguished from all 27 known species of the subgenus Polymorphus by its spindle-shaped proboscis and its trunk shape, the anterior 2/3 of which is ovoid, tapering into a tubular posterior end. It resembles Polymorphus brevis (=Arhythmorhynchus brevis), which is, however, longer and considerably more slender, and has smaller and more numerous proboscis hooks per row and smaller eggs. It is separated also from Polymorphus swartzi, Polymorphus striatus, Polymorphus contortus, and Polymorphus cincli by its proboscis armature (usually 18 longitudinal rows of 11-13 hooks each), among other characters. Histopathological sections of host tissue show well defined localized damage including hemorrhaging with subsequent phagocyte cell migration (granular tissue). The lumen of the host intestine is obstructed and villi show compression. The proboscis of P. spindlatus extends through the intestinal mucosa and submucosa, displacing the smooth muscle layers of the muscularis externa. Fibrosis also was observed.