Nematodes from the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel (Chile): the genera Cervonema and Laimella (Comesomatidae: Nematoda)

Five species of Cervonema and four species of Laimella are described from the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, Chile, six species of which are new to science. Cervonema chilensisn. sp. and Cervonema hermanin. sp. are separated from other known species of Cervonema by a short cervical region (less than one head diameter from the front end to the anterior border of the amphids). Cervonema chilensisn. sp. is characterised by a tail length of 5 anal diameters with posterior half filiform; Cervonema hermani n. sp. is characterised by a tail length of 6–9 anal diameter and posterior part (75%) cylindrical. Cervonema shiaen. sp. is characterised by the cephalic seta 4 m long, amphids 9–10 m in diameter; spicules 16 m long and 0.8–0.9 abd; tail 4.7–5.4 anal diameter and 50% posterior part filiform; 4–5 minute precloacal supplements. Laimella subterminatan. sp. is characterised by the subterminal position of the buccal cavity which separates it from the other species of the genus. Laimella annaen. sp. is characterised by the head diameter 9–11 m, cephalic setae and external labial setae 9 + 5 m long, respectively, amphids 7 m in diameter; spicules 28–30 m long; tail 14–17 anal diameter and posterior part (75%) filiform; 5 precloacal supplements. Laimella sandraen. sp. is very close to Laimella annaen.sp. in having similar cephalic sensilla, amphids and spicules. Laimella sandraen. sp., however, can be separated from L.annaen. sp. by the shape of head and the structure of sperm cells, the total body length and the cylindrical part of tail. Cervonema papillatum Jensen, 1988, C. tenuicauda (Stekhoven, 1950) and L. longicauda Cobb, 1920 are found in this area as well. The key of all known species of Cervonemaand Laimellais presented.     

New or rare species of Diacyclops Kiefer, 1927 (Copepoda,Cyclopoida) from different groundwater habitats in Italy

Diacyclops paralanguidoides sp.n., Diacyclops paolae sp.n., Diacyclops maggii sp.n. and Diacyclops sardous sp.n., all belonging to the languidoides-group of species, are described from groundwaters (wells, hyporheic habitats) in Italy.New localities are reported, from the same country, for other remarkable species of the genus, viz. Diacyclops clandestinus (Kiefer) and Diacyclops zschokkei (Graeter).The absence of a vestigial exopod and the armature of the basipodite of the antenna are considered as useful diagnostic characters for species demarcations.Research supported by a M.P.I. 60% grant. Gruppo Nazionale C.N.R.-Biologia Naturalistica.Contribution to the knowledge of the underground water fauna in central and southern Italy: XXXVIII.     

Daphnia (Cienodaphnia) menucoensis (Anomopoda; Daphniidae): a new species from athalassic saline waters in Argentina

Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) menucoensis n. sp. is described from various localities in arid and semiarid Argentina. D. menucoensis has no ocellus, and a characteristic head, fornices, ephippium and denticular arrangement of postabdomen in females and males. The species belongs to a group, along with D. mediterranea, D. dolichocephala Negrea 1984, and D. salina, sharing ecological and morphological characteristics.     

Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) hispanica sp. nov., a new daphnid (Cladocera) from Spain

Daphnia (C.) hispanica n. sp. has thoracic limbs of A D. (C.) atkinsoni type and is very similar toD. chevreuxi Richard, 1896. With this speciesD. (C.) hispanica shares the presence of a soft accessory seta on the outer side of the trunk of the first thoracic limb, apparently unique among the genusDaphnia. Although other morphological characteristics are very similar in this two species, a detailed comparison reveals that they can easily be separated as different species. The most useful features in differentiating both species are:D. (C.) hispanica has a dorsal crest in the head, its rostrum is longer, its accesory seta of the first thoracic limb is more developed, the juveniles are not helmeted and its male postabdomen lacks individual denticles on the anal and preanal margin.The new species is, up to now, restricted to Spain and inhabits the temporary and low mineralized waters of the steppe regions.     

New species of Epitoniidae (Gastropoda: Epitonioidea) from the Red Sea

Based on material stored in the Zoological Museum of the University of Bologna (MZB), four new species of epitoniids from the shallow waters of the Red Sea are described: Epitonium (Laeviscala) yemenita n. sp., Epitonium (Laeviscala) morassii n. sp., Epitonium (Labeoscala) zabargadense n. sp. and Epitonium (Labeoscala) aranea n. sp. Scanning electron microscope illustrations of type specimens of Scalaria gracilis Sowerby, 1844, Scalaria fucata Pease, 1861, Graciliscala histricosa Jousseaume, 1912, Graciliscala rostrata Jousseaume, 1912, Scala rissoinaeformis Melvill, 1903 and Scala thelcteria Melvill & Standen, 1903 are given. Systematic remarks on some species belonging to the subgenus Laeviscala are treated in additional notes. A lectotype of Graciliscala histricosa is designated.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8304A24D-5985-43D5-AEBF-1A7ED39A1F1C     

New Apioninae (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in Dominican amber

The following new species of Apioninae weevils (Coleoptera: Brentidae) are described from Dominican amber. Toxorhynchus leptorhinusn. sp., Toxorhynchus robustusn. sp., Toxorhynchus amphioculusn. sp., Toxorhynchus atriartusn. sp., Toxorhynchusatriantenusn. sp. and Toxorhynchus hispaniolicusn. sp. are members of the Toxorhynchus decoloratum species group. Toxorhynchus microsomusn. sp., Toxorhynchus stenelytrusn. sp., Toxorhynchus dominicanusn. sp., Toxorhynchus convexusn. sp., Toxorhynchus fuscocorpusn. sp., Toxorhynchus hispidulusn. sp. and Toxorhynchus convexoculusn. sp. are members of the Toxorhynchus sordidum species group. A new subtribe, Stenapiina n. subtribe of the tribe Toxorhynchini, is erected. New species Apionion homochrononn. sp.,Apionion kallimosumn. sp.,Apionion formoculusn. sp. and Stenapion levigatumn. sp. are described. The dominate species of the genus Toxorhynchus and especially those in the Toxorhynchus decoloratum and Toxorhynchus sordidum species groups in Dominican amber are now absent from the West Indies. A systematic update of extant representatives of Apioninae in Hispaniola is provided.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2D4A59DB-E804-4B45-8773-C027A8AD5A02     

Contribution to the Ichneumoninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Iran,with descriptions of three new species

In this faunistic survey, we give distributional records for 48 species and subspecies of Ichneumoninae found in Iran, mainly from Golestan and Azerbaijan-e-Grabi provinces. 13 of these taxa are new for the Iranian fauna. Three Iranian species are new to science and described and illustrated, namely Coelichneumon iranicus Riedel sp. n., Coelichneumon melanocastaneus Riedel sp. n., and Coelichneumon nigrifrons Riedel sp. n.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BE8AC3A5-D40E-4D78-BB05-C0DEDFC5C47B     

Six new species of the genus Diplopeltula (Nematoda: Diplopeltidae) with remarks on the heterogeneity of the taxon

Six new Diplopeltula species are described: D. pulchra sp.n., D. belgica sp.n., D. striolata sp.n. and D. curta sp.n. (Southern Bight of the North Sea), D. nellyae sp.n. and S. pumila sp.n. (New Caledonia). Diplopeltula indica Gerlach, 1962 is redescribed from Guadeloupe (FWI). Based on the examination of these seven Diplopeltula species, the genus has been reappraised. The systematic position of the other genera of the Diplopeltidae Filipjev, 1918 is also discussed. Diplopeltoides Gerlach, 1962 is moved from the Aegialoalaimidae Lorenzen, 1981 to the Diplopeltidae.     

Seven new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from colubrid snakes of Guatemala and a discussion of what to call ellipsoid tetrasporocystic, dizoic coccidia of reptiles

During a survey of Guatemalan herpetofauna in the summers of 1998–2000, 29 presumed new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 were found, seven of which have a distinct elongate-ellipsoidal shape (L/W ratio ≥ 1.7) and are described herein. Six of the seven new species are similar in oöcyst length, width and L/W ratio and sporocyst length, width and L/W ratio, lack a micropyle, oöcyst residuum, Stieda body, sub- and parastieda bodies, have a polar granule and sporocyst residuum, and their sporocysts appear to have dehiscence sutures. The seventh is slightly smaller and has sporocysts with a Stieda body. The new species are: E. coniophanes n. sp – whose sporulated oöcysts from Coniophanes fissidens are 29.2×14.9 (27–31×13–16) m, with sporocysts m; E. coniophis n. sp. –from Conophis lineatus are 32.0×16.5 (30–34×14–18) m, with sporocysts m; E. dryomarchoni n. sp. – from Drymarchon corais are 32.2×17.7 (31–34×17–19) m, with sporocysts m; E. leptophis n. sp. – from Leptophis mexicanus are 29.5×17.0 (28–31×16–18) m, with sporocysts m; E. oxybelis n. sp. – from Oxybelis aeneus are 31.8×16.5 (29–33×15–18) m, with sporocysts m; and E. scaphiodontophis n. sp. – from Scaphiodontophis annulatus are 30.0×15.3 (28–33×14–16) m, with sporocysts m. Sporulated oöcysts of E. siboni n. sp. from Sibon nebulata are 24.3×14.2 (21–27×13–16) m, with sporocysts m and with a Stieda body. We conclude that until all aspects of each life-cycle are known, it is prudent at this time to name all tetrasporocystic dizoic coccidia from snakes as members of Eimeria rather than place some of them in Choleoeimeria Paperna & Landsberg, 1989.     

Encentrum (Parencentrum) walterkostei n. sp., a new dicranophorid rotifer (Rotatoria: Monogononta) from the high alpine zone of the Central Alps (Austria)

A new dicranophorid rotifer, Encentrum (Parencentrum) walterkostei n.sp., is described from an oligotrophic alpine lake. The species was abundant in the psammolittoral of the Unterer Schwarzhornsee, 2543 m above sea level. The main distinguishing taxonomic features of the new species are long, swordshaped toes and only four vitellary nuclei. Its known occurrence in the sandy substrate of only one lake suggests a stenobiontic nature of this apparently oligothermic new species. Taxonomic problems associated with the Encentrum/Dicranophorus group are briefly discussed.     

Eight new Tricoma species (Nematoda,Desmoscolecidae) from a deep-sea transect off Calvi (Corsica,Mediterranean)

Eight new species of the genus Tricoma are described from the Mediterranean: Tricoma (Tricoma) apophysis sp.n., Tricoma (T.) latispicula sp.n., Tricoma (T.) corsicana sp.n., Tricoma (T.) pygmaea sp.n., Tricoma (T.) vincxae sp.n., Tricoma (T.) duopapillata sp.n., Tricoma (T.) setosa sp.n. and Tricoma (Quadricoma) tripapillata sp.n.. All are noteworthy for being small.     

Description of two new species of Pseudamnicola from southern Turkey (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)

New material of freshwater molluscs in the Mediterranean region of Turkey revealed two new species of the genus Pseudamnicola Paulucci, 1878, i.e., P. kayseriensis n. sp., and P. gullei n. sp.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3E39E467-22A5-4091-9975-17343DA8D02E     

New and described species of nematodes from shorebirds (Charadriiformes) collected in spring in Iceland

The following were found in shorebirds collected during late April and early May shortly after their arrival in Iceland. Voguracuaria lankesteri n. g., n. sp. was found in the oesophagus of eight of 20 whimbrels Numenius p. phaeopus. The new genus resembles Syncuaria, but males have an area rugosa and small caudal alae, females are didelphic and the vulva is distant from the anus. Also, Syncuaria spp. occupy the gizzard rather than the oesophagus. Skrjabinocerca europaea n. sp. was found in the oesophagus of six of 22 ringed plovers Charadrius h. hiaticula (type-host) and in one dunlin Calidris alpina schinzii. The new species is readily distinguished by the presence of a cuticular flange at the distal end of the left spicule, its slightly recurrent cordons and its longer right spicule. Skrjabinocerca prima previously reported from American avocets Recurvirostra americana in North America is recognised as a distinct species and named S. americana n. sp. Ancyracanthopsis shikhobalovi found in the gizzard of whimbrels and Viktorocara charadrii found in the gizzard of ringed plovers are redescribed. Other nematodes found in the birds were Chevreuxia revoluta, Cosmocephalus capellae, C. obvelatus, Echinuria sp., Streptocara sp., Ancyracanthopsis parvialatus, Schistorophus cornutus, S. cirripedesmi, Sciadiocara bihamata, Viktorocara limosae, Microtetrameres sp., Tetrameres sp., Stellocaronema skrjabini and Porrocaecum semiteres.     

Multivariate discrimination among cryptic species of the mite genus Chaetodactylus (Acari: Chaetodactylidae) associated with bees of the genus Lithurgus (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in North America

Twenty-seven morphological characters from 111 heteromorphic deutonymphs of the mite genus Chaetodactylus Rondani (Acari: Chaetodactylidae) were analyzed. The mites were collected from four species of bees of the genus Lithurgus Berthold (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in continental North America. Principal component and canonical variates analyses on Darroch and Mosimann shape and size-and-shape variables revealed the presence of three cryptic species. Chaetodactylus gibbosi sp. n. (Florida) is geographically isolated from C. lithurgi sp. n. distributed in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Idaho. Sympatric C. lithurgi and C. abditus sp. n. (USA: Arizona, Mexico: Socorro Is.) are seasonally isolated in Arizona. Chaetodactylus gibbosi is associated with a single bee species, Lithurgus gibbosus Smith in Florida. The host range of C. lithurgi includes bees flying predominantly in the spring: L. apicalis Cresson, L. littoralis Cockerell, and western L. gibbosus. Chaetodactylus abditus sp. n. is associated with L. planifrons Friese and L. echinocacti Cockerell, flying predominantly in the fall in Arizona. No distinct groups separated by geographic locality or size were detected in any species. A six-variable model developed by the canonical variates analysis and estimated using jackknife resampling and external validation (n=100) is capable of classifying the three species with 100% accuracy. Factors that influenced speciation of cryptic species of Chaetodactylus associated with Lithurgus are discussed. Based on morphological and geographical data and data on mite associates, the western and eastern populations of the bee L. gibbosus are distinct. Therefore, the taxonomic status of L. gibbosus s. lat. should be reevaluated.     

Hydraenidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) of Mindoro,Philippines. I: Hydraena Kugelann, 1794 of the Baroc River basin,Roxas, Oriental Mindoro with description of three new species

The species of the genus Hydraena Kugelann, 1794 of the Baroc River basin in the Philippine Island of Mindoro are studied taxonomically. Five species of Hydraena (Hydraenopsis) are recorded of which three new species, namely H. hinundungan sp. n., H. quirao sp. n., and H. sanvicentensis sp. n., are described. Their genital characters are illustrated by line drawings. Photographs of their habitus and type localities, and a map of the collection sites are provided. Their habitat requirements are briefly discussed and their potential usefulness as bioindicators is deduced. The paper is based on a student thesis and intended as a first step towards the review of the entire hydraenid beetle fauna of Mindoro.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BDB0EABE-5A9A-46D0-83A2-81A3DA895BFD     

Medusae from Mcmurdo Sound,Ross Sea including the descriptions of two new species,Leuckartiara brownei and Benthocodon hyalinus

Seven species of medusae were collected using scuba equipment in neritic waters of McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Two species dominated, the narcomedusa Solmundella bitentaculata and the scyphomedusa Diplulmaris antarctica. Two new taxa were found. Leuckartiara brownei n. sp., a pandeid anthomedusa, has gonads with two major longitudinal folds in the interradii and several smaller perradially directed folds. Besides four large perradial tentacles, it has up to 28 short rudimentary tentacles. This is the first report of this genus from the Southern Ocean. Benthocodon hyalinus n. gen., n. sp., a rhopalonematoid trachymedusa, has 8 linear to sinuous gonads on the radial canals. The tubular manubrium is attached to a gastric peduncle. The tentacles are numerous (about 800) and grow successively. This is the second reported trachymedusa from the Ross Sea. Solmundella bitentaculata ate the thecosome pteropod Limacina helicina. Diplulmaris antarctica medusae fed on the gymnosome pteropod Clione antarctica and on L. helicina. The hyperiid amphipod Hyperiella dilatata, mostly females, was seen attached to the exumbrellas of both D. antarctica and S. bitentaculata. Up to 54 amphipods were seen on each D. antarctica medusa. The amphipods did no visible damage to the medusae.     

New species of the subfamily Cossoninae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Dominican amber

The following new genus and seven new species of Cossonine weevils (Curculionidae: Cossoninae) are described from Dominican amber: Acamptus exilipes Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to A. rigidus), Caulophilus camptus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to C. bennetti), Caulophilus elongatus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to C. swensoni), Caulophilus ruidipunctus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp., Dryotribus pedanus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to D. amplioculus), Ogygius obrieni Poinar and Legalov, n. gen., n. sp. (similar to the genus Apotrepus), and Stenotrupis pumilis Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to S. breviscapus). A key to the Dominican amber species of the genus Caulophilus is provided. Based on the extant weevil fauna, it appears that the Hispaniolan Cossonine were more diverse in the Tertiary than at present. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:14D1CFC0-4967-4D22-888B-0DE3E157D6BD     

Fruiting studies in species ofCapronia (Herpotrichiellaceae)

A recently described protocol for thein vitro production of ascomata was employed to determine the sexual incompatibility systems of five species ofCapronia. The formation of mature ascomata in isolates derived from single ascospores demonstrated thatC. epimyces, C. mansonii, andC. munkii n. sp. are homothallic. In contrast, fertile ascomata were observed only in mass-ascospore isolates and pairwise crosses between specific single-ascospore isolates inC. dactylotricha n. sp. andC. moravica. TheExophiala anamorphs ofC. dactylotricha andC. munkii are described and aPhialophora-like synanamorph is reported for the former species. Germinating ascospores ofC. munkii formed conidiogenous cells directly, while the ascospores of the remaining species germinated to produce germ tubes and hyphae. The application of the terms microcyclic conidiation to secondary conidium production and sclerotial body and stroma to the multicellular structures produced by species ofCapronia andExophiala are discussed.     

New species and new records of Callionymus from the Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Callionymidae)

Recently obtained material of Callionymus from the Pacific Ocean includes: Callionymus marquesensis sp. n. (Marquesas Islands), characterized within the C. variegatus-group of the subgenus Calliurichthys by its preopercular spine formula of with an upcurved main tip and a bony keel between the points on the dorsal margin, and a spotted dorsal fin without filaments which is higher than the 1st D₂ ray in both sexes; C. pleurostictus Fricke, 1982, record from New Britain and Solomon Islands, with a discussion of competition with C. delicatulus; C.simplicicornis Valenciennes, 1837, record from Society Islands and Marquesas Islands, with a discussion of competition with C. marquesensis; C. obscurus sp. n. (Ambon, Indonesia) which is characterized within the subgenus Spini-capitichthys by its preopercular spine formula with an upcurved main tip and very small ventral serrae, its weakly armed head, and its 7 anal fin rays.