Systematic observations on tropical Asian medakas or ricefishes of the genusOryzias, with descriptions of four new species

The so-calledOryzias melastigma (McClelland, 1839), reported from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Malaysia by numerous authors beginning with Day (1877), is based mainly or entirely onAplocheilus panchax (Hamilton, 1822). India and Bangladesh have two species ofOryzias, both large. The deeper-bodied of these two species is reported for the first time asO. dancena (Hamilton, 1822). The other is identified asO. carnaticus (Jerdon, 1849). Myanmar has one large species,O. dancena, and one tiny species,O. uwai new species.Oryzias minutillus Smith, 1945 andO. uwai differ from all otherOryzias in having 4/5 instead of 5/6 principal caudal fin rays.Oryzias uwai differs fromO. minutillus in being more conspicuously pigmented and having large, 6-rayed pelvic fins often extending to anal fin origin instead of much smaller and shorter 5-rayed pelvic fins. In Thailand (including its part of the Mekong basin) three species are known: a large estuarine species tentatively identified asO. javanicus (Bleeker, 1854) and two tiny inland species,O. mekongensis Magtoon & Uwa, 1986, andO. minutillus. Oryzias minutillus from many localities are more or less melanoproctic, i.e. have a darkly pigmented genital or vent area not seen in other species. The Mekong basin in Laos has two large species,O. latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) andO. pectoralis new species, distinguished by a prominent black blotch on the pectoral fin base, both recently collected in the Nam Theun watershed in central Laos; and two tiny species,O. mekongensis andO. minutillus. Only one species ofOryzias is known from the Mekong delta in Vietnam, the small moderately deep-bodiedO. haugiangensis new species, with 19–22 anal and 9–10 pectoral fin rays. The Indonesian island of Java has one large species,O. javanicus (Bleeker, 1852) with 21–25 anal and 11 pectoral fin rays, and one small species,O. hubbsi new species, with only 17–21 anal and 9 pectoral fin rays.     

Discovery of three species of the genus Olethreutes (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from North Korea

In the present study, three species of the genus Olethreutes: O. aviana Falkovitsh, O. obovata (Walsingham), and O. orthocosma (Meyrick), based on the material deposited in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, are reported for the first time from North Korea. Among them, O. aviana Falkovitsh is newly recorded from the Korean peninsula. Photographs of the adults and genitalia of the species are presented.     

A contribution to the knowledge of the weevils of the subgenus Nubidanus Rtt., allied to Otiorhynchus impexus Schh. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

Results of the investigation of the subgenus Nubidanus Rtt. (sensu Reitter) of the genus Otiorhynchus are reported. The impexus species-group of the subgenus Nubidanus comprises 5 species from the Caucasus: O. impexus, O. juvenilis, O. poricollis, O. jarpachlinus, and O. hajastani. Morphological diagnoses and detailed distribution patterns of the species are given. Lectotypes of O. poricollis and O. jarpachlinus are designated. A new synonymy is established: O. poricollis Schoenherr, 1832 = O. breviusculus Stierlin, 1875, syn. n. Variants of the genesis scenario of the impexus species-group in the eastern part of the Caucasus are discussed.     

Intra-specific variation of Kudoa spp. (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) from apogonid fishes (Perciformes), including the description of two new species, K. cheilodipteri n. sp. and K. cookii n. sp., from Australian waters

Kudoa spp. from the musculature and intestinal mucosa of species of the teleost family Apogonidae were examined for their taxonomic identity. Two novel species are characterised: Kudoa cheilodipteri n. sp. from the musculature of Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus Cuvier, Ostorhinchus cyanosoma (Bleeker) and O. aureus (Lacépède); and Kudoa cookii n. sp. from the submucosa of the intestines of O. cookii (Macleay) only. Both species are characterised using morphology, small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA), large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA), and biological characters. Three new host records, O. cyanosoma, O. aureus and Apogon doederleini, and associated geographical, morphological and genetic data are also provided for Kudoa whippsi Burger & Adlard, 2010. Morphological and molecular intra-specific variation of all isolates assigned to K. whippsi is also examined. Phylogenetic analyses further support the idea that tissue tropism is a distinguishing character between morphologically similar species; species reported here display close relatedness to morphologically similar species infecting the same tissue within their hosts.     

Ossicaulis yunnanensis sp. nov. (Lyophyllaceae,Agaricales) from southwestern China

Ossicaulis is a small genus in the family Lyophyllaceae. Two known species, O. lachnopus, and O. lignatilis, are distributed in north temperate regions. The third taxon, O. yunnanensis sp. nov., is described from the alpine belt of subtropics of southwestern China, and this genus is also reported for the first time from China. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by its whitish basidiomata and very small basidiospores. Molecular analyses from the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) show that the subtropical alpine species is distinct from hitherto known Ossicaulis species and has a close relationship to O. lachnopus.     

A Tourist element in the 5′-flanking region of the catalase gene CatA reveals evolutionary relationships among Oryza species with various genome types

Tourist-OsaCatA, a transposable element, was found in the 5′-flanking region of the rice gene CatA. The characteristics of this element are similar to those of the other Tourist elements so far found in Oryza sativa. PCR and sequence analyses of 37 accessions of 18 species revealed that all the Oryza species examined, except for one accession, have either a full-length or a partial Tourist element at this locus. Unlike the Tourist elements previously reported, this Tourist element is found in all four Oryza species complexes in the Oryzeae tribe. All AA genome Oryza species, except O.?longistaminata, contain the full-length Tourist element. O. longistaminata and the species of the O. officinalis, O. meyeriana and O.?ridleyi complexes contain the partial element. A phylogenetic tree of Oryza species based on the nucleotide sequences of these Tourist elements was constructed. The O.?longistaminata accessions were placed near the neighboring cluster of the officinalis complex. We propose that the ancestor of O.?longistaminata and that of other species with the AA genome diverged, and the ancestor(s) of the O.?officinalis, O.?ridleyi and O.?meyeriana complexes then diverged from the ancestor of O.?longistaminata in the course of the evolution of the Oryza species. The Tourist elements associated with CatA and its orthologs thus provide useful tools for examining evolutionary relationships among Oryza species.     

Review of Canadian species of the genera Gnathusa Fenyes,Mniusa Mulsant & Rey and Ocyusa Kraatz (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

Four species of Gnathusa Fenyes (G. alfacaribou Klimaszewski & Langor, G. caribou Lohse, G. eva Fenyes, and G. tenuicornis Fenyes) occur in the Nearctic and in Canada. Three species of Ocyusa Kraatz (O. asperula Casey, O. californica Bernhauer, O. canadensis Lohse), and three species of Mniusa Mulsant and Ray (M. minutissima (Klimaszewski & Langor), M. yukonensis (Klimaszewski & Godin), and M. odelli Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.), are known from the Nearctic and all but O. californica occur in Canada. The recently described Gnathusa minutissima Klimaszewski and Langor and Ocyusa yukonensis Klimaszewski and Godin, are transferred here to the genus Mniusa Mulsant & Rey. New provincial and state records are reported for: G. eva (Alberta), G. tenuicornis (Alberta, Oregon, and New Brunswick), O. canadensis (New Brunswick and Newfoundland), M. minutissima (New Brunswick), and M. yukonensis (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and British Columbia). The female of M. yukonensis was discovered and is illustrated for the first time. The genus Mniusa is reported for the first time from Canada and represents the first confirmed generic record for North America. Keys for identification of all Canadian species, images of body and genital structures, maps showing distribution mainly in Canada, and new bionomics data are provided.     

Chromosome numbers of Orthocarpus and related monotypic genera (Scrophulariaceae: Subtribe castillejinae)

A chromosome number ofn=12 is reported for the three monotypic genera of subtribe Castillejinae:Clevelandia beldingii, Gentrya racemosa, andOpicopephalus angustifolius. Chromosome numbers ofOrthocarpus correspond mostly with current infrageneric classification. SubgenusTriphysaria hasn=11.Orthocarpus sectionsCastillejoides andCordylanthoides, which are closely related toCastilleja (x=12) and the three monotypic genera above, haven=12 with aneuploid reductions ton=10 inO. linearilobus andn=11 inO. lacerus (a species also withn=12). Tetraploids are found in two species.O. brevistylus (n=24) andO. hispidus (n=12, 24). The polyploid.O. laciniatus (n=36, 48) of Peru is postulated to be of hybrid origin between a species ofCastilleja andOrthocarpus attenuatus. SubgenusOrthocarpus sectionOrthocarpus, which hasn=14 in all species except.O. bracteosus (n=15), stands apart both morphologically and in chromosome number from the remainder of the genus.     

The Chinese species of the genus Ontsira Cameron (Hymenoptera,Braconidae, Doryctinae)

The Chinese species of the genus Ontsira Cameron, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Doryctinae) are reviewed. Eleven species are recognized, of which four new species are described from China and South Korea: O. abbreviata sp. n., O. henana sp. n., O. robusta sp. n., and O. rugivertex sp. n. Two species, O. ignea (Ratzeburg) and O. neantica Belokobylskij et Maetô, are recorded in China for the first time. A key to the Asian species of the genus Ontsira is provided.     

El género Ochrolechia A. Massai. (Pertusariaceae,liquenes) en Espana y Portugal

The genus Ochrolechia is widespread in Spain and Portugal and now includes 14 species, 1 form and 4 chemical races (11 species and 3 chemical races are epiphytes, 2 species, 1 form and 1 chemical race are saxicolous and one species is muscicolous). We propose a new combination: O. dalmatica (Erichsen) Boqueras. Eight species are excluded from the Spanish and Portuguese floras: O. aggregata (Bagl.) Verseghy, O. anomala Verseghy, O. glaucescens (Hue) Zahlbr., O.frigida (Sw.) Lynge, O. pseudotartarea (Vain.) Verseghy, O. rosella Müll. Arg., O. subpallescens Verseghy, O. tenuissima Verseghy, O. crozalsiana Clauzade et Vêzda is included in O. tartarea. The criteria for the identification of these species are: 1 ) the chemical substances (the presence/absence of gyrophoric acid in the thallus and/or in the apothecia determines the groups inside of the genus, the presence of alectoronic acid determines the chemical races); 2) thallus with or without soredia or isidia; 3) the presence of pruina on the disc; and 4) the substratum. A key for the identification to all mentioned species is included.     

New data on the systematics, distribution, and ecology of weevils of the Otiorhynchus morosus Fst. Group (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

Results of investigation of the Otiorhynchus subgenus Nubidanus Rtt. (sensu Reitter) are reported. Pseudotiorhynchus Magnano is downgraded to a subgenus of Otiorhynchus Germar. Four species-groups are distinguished in the subgenera Nubidanus (as recently treated) (the hebraeus and impexus groups) and Pseudotiorhynchus (the morosus and ruminalis groups). Morphological diagnoses and brief distributional characteristics of the groups are given. Lectotype of O. morosus is designated, four new species closely related to O. morosus are described from Middle Asia and Kazakhstan.     

The species composition of the nemertean genus Oerstedia (Nemertea: Hoplonemertea) in the Far Eastern seas of Russia

According to the literature, six species of nemerteans of the Oerstedia genus occur in the Far Eastern seas of Russia. The results of genetic (28S) and allozyme (11 loci) analysis revealed that O. oculata (Kulikova, 1987), O. zebra (Chernyshev, 1993) and O. valentinae (Chernyshev, 1993) are junior synonyms of O. polyorbis Iwata, 1954, while O. phoresiae (Kulikova, 1987) is a valid species. The species validity of O. dorsalis sensu Iwata, 1954 was also corroborated. New data on the variability and distribution of certain nemerteans are furnished.     

Lichenized species of Omphalina (Tricholomataceae) in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract:A taxonomic revision of the lichenized species of the genus Omphalina in the Iberian Peninsula is presented, based upon fungal and lichen herbarium material, as well as on fresh collections. Relevant morphological and ecological features are discussed and a diagnostic key is provided. Four lichenized species, O. ericetorum, O. hudsoniana, O. meridionalis and O. velutina, are recognized. A squamulose vegetative thallus (Coriscium -type) is present only in O. hudsoniana, while the other three species form a thallus of hyphal globules (Botrydina -type). Anatomical features of the vegetative thallus cannot be used to distinguish between these last three species. Whilst O. hudsoniana is known only from the montane belt of the Eurosiberian Region and O. meridionalis seems to be restricted to the Mediterranean Region, living in more or less humid sites of the Supramediterranean belt, the other two species, O. ericetorum and O. velutina, are widespread.     

A revision of digger wasps of the genus Oxybelomorpha (hymenoptera, crabronidae, oxybelini): 6. The O. persa and O. steckii species-groups

The Palaearctic species-groups of the digger wasp genus Oxybelomorpha Brauns 1897, O. persa and O. steckii, are revised. Three species were investigated. Oxybelomorpha steckii (Kohl 1923) and O. maroccana (de Beaumont, 1957) are considered separate species. The male of O. maroccana is described for the first time. The lectotype of Belomicrus (Pseudoxybelus) persa Gussakovskij, 1933 is designated. A key to 24 revised species of the genus Oxybelomorpha is given.     

Taxonomic review of the genus Orius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) in the Korean Peninsula

A total of five species the genus Orius are revised from the Korean Peninsula, containing four native species, O. minutus (Linnaeus 1758), O. sauteri (Poppius 1909), O. nagaii Yasunaga 1993 and O. strigicollis (Poppius 1914), and an introduced species for biological control, O. laevigatus Fieber 1860. Orius laticollis Reuter 1884, formally recorded in the Korean Peninsula, is deleted from the Korean fauna registry. The preparation of the macerated slide specimen was applied to this group for the first time, which is confirmed to be effective to identify the Orius species, especially the female specimens whose genital structures have been hardly observed in the traditional dissection method. Observing macerated specimens, new taxonomical characters are documented.     

Distribution and diversity of the Opheliidae (Annelida,Polychaeta) on the continental shelf and slope of Iceland,with a review of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ophelina</Emphasis> in northeast Atlantic waters and description of two new species

The diversity, taxonomy and distribution of the Opheliidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) in Icelandic waters is reviewed based on material collected during the BIOICE project. Nine opheliid species are recorded from Iceland; of these, three were previously reported in the area (Ophelia limacina, Ophelina cylindricaudata and O. acuminata), four are new for Icelandic waters (Ammotrypanella cf. arctica, Ophelina abranchiata, O. helgolandica and Tachytrypane jeffreisii), and two are new to science. Ophelina basicirra sp. nov. is distinguished by having a narrow anal tube with one short proximal anal cirrus in ventral position. Ophelina bowitzi sp. nov. is characterized by the small size of its anterior branchiae, which become larger in the middle and posterior body regions, and by an upwardly bent anal tube that is wide at the base and narrowing distally. The genera Euzonus, Armandia and Polyophthalmus are not represented in the BIOICE samples. The distribution of each species off Iceland is presented; one species is restricted to shallow waters of northwestern fjords, three species are found south of the GIF Ridge, and five species are circumicelandic. Several body characters with taxonomic relevance in some species are reviewed based on SEM images. Furthermore, as a first step towards a future revision of the genus Ophelina Örsted 1843 in North Atlantic waters, the status of each species originally described or subsequently reported from the area is commented on, and a key to the currently valid species is presented. Ophelina longicephala Hartmann-Schröder, 1977, formerly a subspecies of O. delapidans (Kinberg, 1866), is raised to species status.     

Chromosome variation in British populations of Oncopsis (Hemiptera:Cicadellidae)

The British species of Oncopsis fall into two groups with respect to male karyotype. Four species—O. avallanae, O. carpini and O. subangulata, together with an undescribed new species close to carpini—consistently show ten autosome pairs and a single X-chromosome (2n=10AII+XO). In O. tristis too the XO state predominates but single neo-sex chromosome variants with nine and eight autosome pairs respectively have also been found. The two remaining species-O. alni and O. flavicollis—both regularly include derived neo-XY states involving the incorporation of autosomal material onto the X(2n=9AII+XY). The single population of O. alni studied was entirely neo-XY but the situation in O. flavicollis proved more complex. Montane populations which occur on Betula pubescens are XO-monomorphic whereas populations in lowland woodlands are polymorphic, including both XO and neo-XY types. In such situations the XO forms are found predominantly on B. pubescens whereas the XY morphs predominate on a second species of birch, B. pendula, which is absent from montane woodlands. In all three species where the neo-XY state is present, different autosomes have been involved in the fusion process.