Ontogenetic evidence supporting a relationship between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brotulotaenia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lamprogrammus</Emphasis> (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) based on the morphology of exterilium and rubaniform larvae

Analysis of the Dana collection of larval fishes yielded 36 exterilium larvae and 17 rubaniform larvae, referable to the Ophidiidae. Both larval types reach large sizes before transformation and are characterized by an exterilium gut, although it is less strongly expressed in rubaniform larvae. Both have early-forming, elongate, descending processes of the coracoid that serve to support the trailing intestines. Both have a greatly reduced pelvic girdle attached to a stalklike cartilaginous structure, resulting in a pelvic fin origin well posterior to the cleithral symphysis, a position that is without precedent in the family Ophidiidae. Both of these larval types also strongly display an anterior to posterior developmental sequence, lose the pelvic fin rays at transformation, and have extraordinarily elongate proximal radials supporting their dorsal and anal fins and modified proximal radials supporting the anterior dorsal fin rays. After examination of these larvae and reference to 5 previously described exterilium larvae and 1 previously described rubaniform larva, we conclude that they belong to Lamprogrammus (three species) and Brotulotaenia (four species), respectively. The most recent classification of the Ophidiidae places Brotulotaenia in the monotypic subfamily Brotulotaeniinae, and Lamprogrammus in the subfamily Neobythitinae along with 37 other genera. The latter subfamily is an unwieldy assemblage for which monophyly has never been established. Ontogenetic evidence suggests a closer relationship between Brotulotaenia and Lamprogrammus, and the most economical reorganization of the ophidiids would involve incorporating the latter genus into the Brotulotaeniinae.     

Larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lamprogrammus shcherbachevi</Emphasis> (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) from the western North Pacific Ocean

Three exterilium larvae (18.2 mm notochord length to 113.3 mm standard length) of an ophidiid, Lamprogrammus shcherbachevi, from the western North Pacific are described. The specimens had a highly specialized morph with a remarkably elongate trailing gut and ventral coracoid process, and many elongate anterior dorsal fin rays, as occur in other exterilium larvae, but were characterized by unique melanophore patterns (a cluster of melanophores on the back of the stalked pectoral fin base, a row of clusters midlaterally on the trunk and caudal region, and further clusters on the trailing gut). Although the largest specimen (113.3 mm standard length, much larger than the previously recorded maximum size of exterilium larvae) retained typical features of the exterilium stage, the ventral coracoid process was significantly reduced in size compared with that of a smaller specimen (37.8 mm standard length). Comparison of the largest specimen with an adult suggests that the anterior dorsal fin rays would disappear during the transformation stage.     

Remarkable ophidiid larva (Neobythitinae) from New Guinean waters

A new type of ophidiid larva referred to the Neobythitinae is described on the basis of one specimen (22.5 mm in standard length: SL) found in the “Dana” flatfish larval collection from New Guinean waters. It is characterized by a very high body (ca. 48% SL), with a single elongate first dorsal-fin ray and protruding abdominal cavity with a long fleshy appendage at its posteroventral end. Generic and specific affinities of the larva are discussed. It is supposed that the larva belongs to one of the Pycnocraspedum species, probably to P. squamipinne.     

Dolichopteryx minuscula, a new species of spookfish (Argentinoidei: Opisthoproctidae) from the Indo-West Pacific

A new species Dolichopteryx minuscula is described on the basis of three specimens [49.4–59.6 mm in standard length (SL)] collected from the Indo-West Pacific. The new species is characterized by pouchlike eyes with a small lens (lens diameter 2.2% SL), an adipose fin, the anal fin base originating posterior to the dorsal fin base, and 16–17 (= 5–6 + 1 + 10–11) gill rakers. Total fecundity was relatively low, only 658 ova being obtained from one specimen, despite the ovary being mature. Ovarian eggs were clearly subdivided into “undeveloped” (0.1–0.7 mm diameter classes, n = 561) and “developed” (1.0–1.3 mm classes, n = 97) groups, based on their frequency distribution. Such relatively low fecundity and frequency distributions of ovarian eggs suggest that Dolichopteryx species spawn iteratively during spawning season.     

A megapterygium larva of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Discoverichthys praecox</Emphasis> (Aulopiformes: Ipnopidae) from the tropical western Pacific

The larva of Discoverichthys (Aulopiformes: Ipnopidae) is described for the first time based on a specimen 39.5 mm in standard length collected in surface waters near the Marianas in the western North Pacific. Despite its remote location from the previous record in eastern North Atlantic (type locality), this larva was identified as Discoverichthys praecox by general agreements of meristic counts and other morphological features. It is characterized by the following possible autapomorphic features: body moderately elongate, with uniformly distended abdomen, terminating in long, stout trailing gut; all fins, particularly the pectoral and pelvic, are extensively produced; body pigmentation is scanty, but all fins except the caudal are polka-dotted distally and covered by unusually thick skin; the skeleton is largely cartilaginous, with poorly differentiated axial components and uniquely expanded dorsal- and anal-fin pterygiophores. Its peculiar morphology is discussed with special reference to transformation events.     

Himantura tutul sp. nov. (Myliobatoidei: Dasyatidae), a new ocellated whipray from the tropical Indo-West Pacific,described from its cytochrome-oxidase I gene sequence

It has been previously established that the Leopard Whipray, Himantura leoparda, consists of two genetically isolated, cryptic species, provisionally designated as ‘Cluster 1’ and ‘Cluster 4’ (Arlyza et al., Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 65 (2013) [1]). Here, we show that the two cryptic species differ by the spotting patterns on the dorsal surface of adults: Cluster-4 individuals tend to have larger-ocellated spots, which also more often have a continuous contour than Cluster-1 individuals. We show that H. leoparda's holotype has the typical larger-ocellated spot pattern, designating Cluster 4 as the actual H. leoparda. The other species (Cluster 1) is described as Himantura tutul sp. nov. on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a 655-base pair fragment of its cytochrome-oxidase I gene (GenBank accession No. JX263335). Nucleotide synapomorphies at this locus clearly distinguish H. tutul sp. nov. from all three other valid species in the H. uarnak species complex, namely H. leoparda, H. uarnak, and H. undulata. H. tutul sp. nov. has a wide distribution in the Indo-West Pacific, from the shores of eastern Africa to the Indo-Malay archipelago. H. leoparda under its new definition has a similarly wide Indo-West Pacific distribution.     

A new species,Gazza rhombea, from the Indo-West Pacific, with a redescription ofG. achlamys Jordan & Starks, 1917 (Perciformes: Leiognathidae)

Gazza rhombea sp.nov. is described from 61 type and 81 non-type specimens, 19–176 mm in standard length, collected from the Indo-West Pacific. The species is similar to other congeners in general body appearance, differing from them in having the dorsolateral surface of the body scaled anterior to the dorsal fin origin, but not reaching to a vertical through the tip of the posterior branch of the supratemporal canal (vs. dorsolateral surface of body naked anterior to base of sixth or seventh dorsal fin spine base inG. achlamys; dorsolateral surface of body with scales extending anteriorly beyond tip of posterior branch of supratemporal canal inG. minuta), and having a long narrow anterodorsal extension from the subocular silvery region, in contact with the orbit only proximally (vs. broad anterodorsal extension, with proximal and distal contact with orbit inG. dentex).Gazza rhombea is also distinguishable fromG. achlamys andG. minuta by the morphology of the first dorsal fin pterygiophore, and the neural and hemal spines of the fifth preural centrum. The new species has usually been misidentified asG. achlamys, which is redescribed here, owing to its similarly deep-bodied appearance.     

A new species of Sarcostemma (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae-Asclepiadeae) from Yemen

Sarcostemma areysianum Bruyns is described from the southern mountains of Yemen. It appears to be most closely related to S. arabicum Bruyns & P. Forst. and S. socotranum Lavranos, differing from both by the taller gynostegium with narrow, mostly acute inner corona lobes. A key to the species from Arabia and Socotra is provided.     

A new species ofThottea (Aristolochiaceae) from India

Thottea ponmudiana sp. nova from Kerala (India) can readily be distinguished from its closest allyTh. siliquosa and all the other known species of the genus by its yellow flowers with purple eyes, deeply lobed perianth with strongly reflexed margins, uniseriate stamens united in three bundles and strongly 4-angled, green, glabrescent fruits.     

A new species ofCrepidotus (Crepidotaceae)

Crepidotus ehrendorferi spec. nova (sect.Sphaerula) is similar to the North AmericanC. sinuosus and differs mainly by the anatomy of pileicutis with unseptated, long, slender terminal hyphae and some macroscopical characters. It is compared also withC. applanatus andC. crocophyllus. C. ehrendorferi is a very conspicuous, wood-inhabiting species known up to now from a very old forest reserve close to the city of Vienna (Austria).     

Three new species ofGalium (Rubiaceae) from Pakistan

Three new species ofGalium from the NW. Himalaya in Pakistan are described and illustrated.Dedicated to Prof.K. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

A new species ofJusticia sect.Ansellia (Acanthaceae) from Tanzania

Justicia brevipedunculata, a new species ofJ. sect.Ansellia endemic to Tanzania, is described and illustrated. Detailed palynological information is given, and relationships to other species of the section are discussed.     

A cysteine endopeptidase from tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) larvae with vitellin digestion activity

The hard tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is a blood-sucking ectoparasite. R. microplus free-living stage comprises egg development, hatching, and subsequent larval development until encountering a host. In order to complete the embryological development, this tick relies on yolk reserve substances, mainly vitellin (Vt), which is still present in the larval stage. The present study demonstrates presence and digestion of Vt in unfed R. microplus larvae. An increasing proteolytic activity is observed in larval development, as well as a decrease in total protein and in Vt content. Partial purification and characterization of a R. microplus larval cysteine endopeptidase (RmLCE) with Vt-degrading activity is also described. RmLCE has optimal activity at 37 °C at pH 5.0, being unstable at pH ≥ 7.5. This enzyme is active upon fluorogenic peptide substrates and is able to degrade Vt, its putative natural substrate. These results indicate that RmLCE has a role in supporting the nutritional needs of unfed R. microplus larva through Vt proteolysis, allowing survival until the first blood meal.     

Hastatobythites arafurensis, a new bythitid genus and species from Australia (Bythitidae, Ophidiiformes)

A new genus and species of the subfamily Bythitinae (Bythitidae),Hastatobythites arafurensis, is described on the basis of two specimens from the Arafura Sea. The genus is unique in the subfamily in having two anteriorlydirected spines, one on the frontal and one on the mesethmoid. It is also distinguishable from all other genera in the subfamily by the following combination of characters: head scales absent; squamation on body incomplete; maxillary expanded posteriorly; no thin pore-bearing skin flap over opercle; opercle thin, weak, without distinct spine; jaw teeth conical; vomerine and palatine teeth present; developed gill rakers on 1 st arch 3; pelvic fins with 1 ray in each; pectoral peduncle elongated, with 16 rays; caudal fin rays 12; branchiostegal, rays 8; precaudal vertebrae 15, with tips of 6th to 12th neural spines truncated.     

A new freshwater folliculinid (Ciliophora) from the karstic region of Croatia

Members of the genus Lagotia (Folliculinidae, Ciliophora) were known only from marine habitats where they are widely distributed. In running waters on travertine barriers in the karstic region of Croatia we found a freshwater species, Lagotia dinaridica n. sp., which exhibits several characteristics that set it apart from its congeners.     

A new species of Cladophialophora (hyphomycetes) from boreal and montane bryophytes

During a survey of bryophilous fungi from boreal and montane habitats in central Alberta, a hitherto undescribed species of Cladophialophora was recovered from Polytrichum juniperinum, Aulacomnium palustre, and Sphagnum fuscum. On potato dextrose agar (PDA) colonies grew slowly, attaining a diameter of 25 mm after 30 d, were dark grey, velvety, radially sulcate, and convolute and cracked at the centre. Micronematous conidiophores gave rise to branched chains of small (1–2 × 8–22 μm), cylindrical to fusiform conidia with truncate, swollen scars at each end. Phylogenies built on the ITS and ribosomal SSU regions indicate the isolates form a monophyletic clade within the family Herpotrichiellaceae (Chaetothyriales) that is composed of two geographically based groups, each with 99 % within-group sequence similarity and 97–98 % between-group sequence similarity. A teleomorph has not been found but would likely be similar to species of Capronia. In vitro inoculation of the isolates onto axenically grown P. juniperinum produced no discernible host symptoms, and host penetration could not be detected using light microscopy. The production of polyphenol oxidases by the fungus and the role of other Cladophialophora species as latent endophytes and saprobes suggest that a potential role for the fungus is the degradation of the polyphenol-rich cell walls of mosses. A dichotomous key to species of the genus Cladophialophora is provided.     

Fine binding specificities to Ascaris suum and Ascaris lumbricoides antigens of the sera from patients of probable visceral larva migrans due to Ascaris suum

Fine binding specificities to Ascaris suum and A. lumbricoides antigens of the sera from patients with probable visceral larva migrans (VLM) due to A. suum infection were examined. Although multiple-dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was found to be useful for the primary screening of patients, identification of the responsible species was sometimes difficult due to extensive cross reactions with other ascarid parasite antigens. Fine resolution to determine the causative pathogen was obtained by a rather classical Ouchterlony's double immunodiffusion test. The difference in the binding of the patients' sera to A. suum and A. lumbricoides antigens was also demonstrated by an inhibition ELISA. The patients' antibodies bound with higher avidity to the A. suum antigen than to the A. lumbricoides and Toxocara canis antigens. Combination of at least two different immunological assay methods is recommended for the diagnosis of VLM due to ascarid parasites.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Soleichthys</Emphasis> (Soleidae: Pleuronectiformes) from tropical seas off northern Australia

Soleichthys maculosus, described from six specimens collected in shallow waters (37–63m) off northern Australia, is readily distinguished from congeners by its unique ocular-side pigmentation featuring numerous, conspicuous white spots and blotches nearly as large as the eye diameter on a uniformly dark brown background without any crossbands, and in having two elongated, ocular-side pectoral-fin rays, with the second dorsalmost ray longer than the first, and without scales on the pectoral-fin rays. Soleichthys maculosus is most similar to S. siammakuti, a poorly-known species collected in the Gulf of Thailand, but differs from S. siammakuti in having the second dorsalmost ocular-side pectoral-fin ray longer than the first (vs. first ocular-side pectoral-fin ray longer in S. siammakuti), and in having different ocular-side pigmentation than that of S. siammakuti, which features yellow spots on dorsal and anal fins, two conspicuous white spots arranged in longitudinal series on the lateral line, and also a series of nine, light brown crossbands on a dark brown body.