Redescription of Mymarilla Westwood,new synonymies under Cremnomymar Ogloblin (Hymenoptera,Mymaridae) and discussion of unusual wings

The monotypic genus Mymarilla Westwood is known only from St. Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean. The peculiar species M. wollastoni Westwood (Mymaridae) is redescribed and illustrated from non-type material. Mymarilla is compared with Cremnomymar Ogloblinspp. from the Juan Fernández Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Stephanodes Enock is shown to be the most likely sister genus to Mymarilla. Nesopolynema Ogloblin, syn. n., Oncomymar Ogloblin, syn. n., Scolopsopteron Ogloblin, syn. n., are placed in synonymy under Cremnomymar and their species transferred as Cremnomymar caudatum (Ogloblin 1952), comb. n., C. dipteron (Ogloblin 1957), comb. n., and C. kuscheli (Ogloblin 1952), comb. n. Wing shape and wing reductions in Mymaridae are discussed in relation to biogeography, particularly with respect island faunas and to four genera, Cremnomymar, Mymarilla, Parapolynema Fidalgo, and Richteria Girault, some or all of whose species have more or less convex fore wings.     

Taxonomic study of Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa Ransom, 1920 (Digenea: Heterophyidae) and related taxa

Species of Ascocotyle Looss, 1899 (subgenus Phagicola Faust, 1920) (Digenea: Heterophyidae) related to A. (P.) longa Ransom, 1920, i.e. those with a bipartite gonotyl and a single crown of 16 circumoral spines, were revised on the basis of examination of type and voucher specimens. The species A. (P.) arnaldoi Travassos, 1929, A. (P.) byrdi (Robinson, 1956) and A. (P.) longicollis (Kuntz & Chandler, 1956), all possessing 16 circumoral spines, are synonymised with A. (P.) longa. A. (P.) ascolonga Witenberg, 1929, the types of which were not available, is provisionally retained as a valid species despite its close similarity to A. (P.) longa (identical number of circumoral spines and morphology of the ventrogenital sac). It differs from A. (P.) longa in the presence of uterine loops posterior to the testes and intestinal caeca ending anterior to the ovary (versus the pretesticular uterus and intestinal caeca reaching to the posterior margin of the ovary in A. (P.) longa). A. (P.) inglei (Hutton & Sogandares-Bernal, 1959), found only once in a single specimen, is also tentatively considered a valid species because it differs in number of circumoral spines (19), slightly larger eggs (23–26×13–16 m) and the distribution of refractile bodies of the gonotyl arranged in four separate groups from A. (P.) longa and A. (P.) ascolonga (16 circumoral spines; eggs 15–20×–12 m; refractile bodies in two groups).     

Redescription and surface ultrastructure of Pygidiopsis macrostomum (Digenea: Heterophyidae)

Pygidiopsis macrostomum Travassos, 1928, a poorly known species originally described from a single specimen from Rattus norvegicus (Erxleben, 1777) in Brazil, is redescribed on the basis of metacercariae from the mesenteries of naturally infected guppies Poecilia vivipara Bloch and Schneider, 1801 (Poeciliidae), and adults obtained from an experimental infection of hamsters. Pygidiopsis macrostomum is characterized by the absence of oral spines, vitellaria extending forward to ventral sucker, uterus reaching pharyngeal level, X-shaped excretory vesicle, and an oral sucker/acetabulum ratio of 1:0.8. The surface ultrastructure shows that the tegument of the metacercaria does not strongly differ from that of adults. The brush-shaped spines of P. macrostomum are similar to those reported for Pygidiopsis summa and Pygidiopsis ardeae, but no differences in spine shape were observed throughout the body.     

Taxonomic status, redescription, and surface ultrastructure of Ascocotyle (Phagicola) pindoramensis n. comb. (Digenea: Heterophyidae)

Pygidiopsis pindoramensis Travassos, 1928, is redescribed from the holotype and specimens obtained from experimental infections of hamsters with metacercariae of the naturally infected poeciliids Poecilia vivipara and Phalloptychus januarius from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ascocotyle (Phagicola) pindoramensis (Travassos, 1928) n. comb. is proposed, based on the presence of a solid, tapering muscular posterior prolongation of the oral sucker and Ascocotyle (Phagicola) mollienisicola (Sogandares-Bernal and Bridgman, 1960) is synonymized with A. (P.) pindoramensis because of the identical morphology and measurements of adults and metacercariae, similar spectrum of fish intermediate hosts (poeciliids), and the same site of infection of the metacercariae. Trematodes designated as Pygidiopsis pindoramensis, previously reported from Argentina and Mexico, represent another species of Pygidiopsis Looss, 1907, because they possess circumoral spines and their oral sucker is devoid of the posterior muscular prolongation. Data on the surface morphology of metacercariae and adults of A. (P.) pindoramensis are inferred from scanning electron microscopy observations.     

Redescription of Alinema amazonicum (Travassos, 1960) n. comb., a philometrid nematode with unusual morphology

Nematodes (1 male and numerous females) of the Philometridae were collected from the mesentery of 2 species of pimelodid catfishes, Calophysus macropterus and Perrunichthys perruno, from the Amazon River basin (fishmarket in Iquitos, Loreto District) in Peru. A detailed study of their morphology (including scanning electron microscopy) and a reexamination of the type and voucher specimens of Philometra amazonica Travassos, 1960, from Brazilian catfishes confirmed that they belong to this species and that Philometra (Alinema) alii Rasheed, 1963 is its junior synonym. Because of some marked morphological peculiarities of this species (presence of minute peribuccal sclerotized formations, a functional vagina and vulva in gravid female, and structure of the male tail), the validity of an independent genus, Alinema Rasheed, 1963, is confirmed, to which this species is transferred as Alinema amazonicum (Travassos, 1960) n. comb. This is the first record of this parasite from Peru, and P. perruno represents its new host record.     

Redescription and systematic reclassification of the trematode Topsiturvitrema verticalia (Trematoda: Digenea) in a new family

The trematode species Topsiturvitrema verticalia Vélez and Thatcher 1990 is redescribed based on two paratype samples and new material from the small intestine of the bat Myotis levis (Geoffroy), from Bahia Samborombón, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. This species is characterized by the presence of a "rhynchus", that is, an anterior sucker-like attachment organ, by the position of the mouth on the ventral surface (surrounded by the ventral sucker), by two blind digestive structures, by the presence of two false saccular caeca located anteriorly and behind the anterior attachment organ, by the presence of the genital pore in the marginal anterior position of the body, and by the mid-dorsal position of the excretory pore. T. verticalia was originally described as a member of the family Lecithodendriidae (Lühe 1901), however, the presence of "rhynchus" and the position of the mouth opening in the ventral sucker constitute morphological features that preclude its inclusion in this family. On account of this, it is considered necessary to create a new family for the genus Topsiturvitrema Vélez and Thatcher 1990, which is included in a new family, Topsiturvitrematidae fam. nov. Furthermore, the geographic range of the species is expanded from Colombia to Argentina and M. levis is added to the species' host list.     

Redescription of Hebesoma violentum Van Cleave, 1928 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae).

Hebesoma violentum Van Cleave, 1928, is redescribed from 155 paratypes from Van Cleave's original 1921 and 1923 collections in China. The present distribution of H. violentum in China and the Soviet Union is reported and the uncertain status of Hebesoma derosum Gupta and Jain, 1973, examined.     

A new species of Metadelphis Travassos, 1944 (Digenea: Dicrocoeliidae) from the gall-bladder of Molossus molossus (Pallas) (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in the Brazilian eastern Amazon

Systematic Parasitology - Metadelphis tkachi n. sp. is described based on material from the gall-bladder of Molossus molossus (Pallas) (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in the Brazilian eastern Amazon. The...     

Studies on the life-cycle of Ganeo tigrinus Mehra & Negi, 1928 (Digenea)

The life-history stages of Ganeo tigrinus Mehra & Negi, 1928 infecting the Indian bull frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin) are described, those from cercaria to egg-producing adult having been established in the laboratory. Non-virgulate xiphidiocercariae are released by the planorbid snail Indoplanorbis exustus (Deshayes). Metacercariae occur in the haemocoel of dragonfly nymphs and become infective to the frog H. tigerinus within 15 days. The pre-patent period is 45 days. Growth and development of both metacercariae and adults are described in detail. Comments on the systematic position of Ganeo Klein, 1905 are included.     

Life-history studies of heterophyid trematodes in the Neotropical Region: Ascocotyle (Phagicola) diminuta (Stunkard & Haviland, 1924) and A. (P.) angrense Travassos, 1916

The life-cycle of Ascocotyle (Phagicola) diminuta (Stunkard & Haviland, 1924) was reproduced experimentally, starting from cercariae from naturally infected Littoridina castellanosae and L. parchappei (Hydrobiidae) collected from artificial ponds in the Zoological Garden in Buenos Aires and from Los Ranchos stream, Buenos Aires Province, respectively. Metacercariae were found encysted in the gills of experimentally exposed Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Poecilidae) and of other naturally infected freshwater fishes. Adults were obtained experimentally in chicks and mice and from a naturally infected egret, Egretta thula. A. (P.) angrense Travassos, 1916 was found parasitising the egret Ixobrychus involucris; it is considered a valid species and the morphological differences between it and A. (P.) diminuta were established. The “Phagicola-form” of the cercaria in the present life-cycle is also known in the genus Pygidiopsis.     

A Redescription of Adult Phyllodistomum umblae (Fabricius) (Digenea, Gorgoderidae) from Salvelinus alpinus (L.) in Norway

Phyllodistomum umblae (Fabricius, 1780), originally described on the basis of specimens recovered from the ureter of Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus in Drangedalen, Norway, is here redescribed with both light (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) from material obtained from the type host and type locality. This species has been overlooked in general text-books of this century, e.g. those of Dawes and Yamaguti, but was discussed by Nybelin in a paper in 1926 in which he suggested its conspecificity with P. conostomum Olsson. The dimensions, shapes, position and arrangement of the internal structures and selected size ratios are described and illustrated with LM-pictures. The SEM-investigation reveals the tegumental microstructure, and special emphasis is given to the arrangement of papillae. The body papillae comprise: (a) constant numbers in a constant bilateral arrangement; (b) a variable number in an orientated bilateral concentration called rows; (c) regional concentrations; (d) randomly distributed ones. This system and its variability are described and figured. Four types of papillae, and their distribution as seen by SEM, are described. These results are compared with the results from other SEM–investigations on gorgoderids.     

Neocucullanus neocucullanus Travassos, Artigas et Pereira, 1928 (Nematoda: Cucullanidae) from the Characidae fish, Brycon hilarii Valenciennes, 1850, from Brazil

During investigation on the helminth parasites from Brycon hilarii Valenciennes, 1850 (Characiformes, Characidae), from River Juba, Tangará da Serra, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, several specimens of the nematode Neocucullanus Travassos, Artigas et Pereira, 1928 were detected. A detailed study of this material, including scanning electron microscopy, allowed to identify these nematodes as N. neocucullanus Travassos, Artigas et Pereira, 1928 and to confirm N. multipapillatus Petter, 1989 as a junior synonym of N. neocucullanus.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Ochoterenatrema Caballero, 1943 (Digenea: Lecithodendriidae) with descriptions of two new species

Ochoterenatrema is a small genus of lecithodendriid digeneans that includes six species parasitic in Neotropical bats in North and South America. Members of this genus are characterized by the presence of a pseudogonotyl formed by thickened tegument on the left side of the ventral sucker. We examined morphology of specimens belonging to five species of Ochoterenatrema from Brazil, Ecuador and the USA and describe two new Ochoterenatrema spp. (Ochoterenatrema sphaerula n. sp. and Ochoterenatrema gracilis n. sp.). These new species are readily differentiated from their congeners by a combination of morphological characters, including the distribution of vitelline follicles and the body shape. We have provided the first DNA sequences for Ochoterenatrema. Newly generated partial nuclear 28S rDNA and mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences were used to differentiate among species and study the phylogenetic affinities of Ochoterenatrema spp., including one of the new species, O. gracilis n. sp., as well as Ochoterenatrema diminutum, Ochoterenatrema fraternum and Ochoterenatrema cf. labda. The phylogeny of the Microphalloidea based on 28S had well-supported topology, particularly at the family level. The Ochoterenatrema clade was strongly supported; however, the internal topology of the clade was weakly supported. Comparison of sequences revealed 0.4–1.3% interspecific divergence in 28S and 9.1–19.7% interspecific divergence in cox1 among Ochoterenatrema spp. We hypothesize that extremely diverse fauna of bats in South and Central America harbors multiple undescribed species of Ochoterenatrema. Several lecithodendriid genera from bats and other hosts are yet to be included in future molecular phylogenetic analyses to test the monophyly of this extremely diverse digenean family and analyze evolutionary affinities of its constituent taxa.