A new Spionidae (Polychaeta) from North Carolina, and a redescription of Marenzelleria wireni Augener, 1913, from Spitsbergen, with a key for all species of Marenzelleria

Marenzelleria bastropi, a new species of Spionidae (Polychaeta) from the brackish water Currituck Sound, North Carolina, is described. The new species is characterized by the great number of chaetigers between the first neuro- and notopodial hooded hooks, the extension of the nuchal organ up to the end of chaetiger 2/middle of chaetiger 3 and the presence of about 60–90 branchiate chaetigers. Marenzelleria bastropi sp. nov. is closely related to M. neglecta (Sikorski and Bick, 2004) and Marenzelleria viridis (Verrill, 1873). Marenzelleria wireni Augener, 1913 is described here for the first time from western Spitsbergen. Adult specimens are investigated and compared with specimens from other areas of distribution. A key for subadult and adult specimens of all Marenzelleria species is provided.     

A new species of Fauveliopsidae (Annelida) from the North Sea

A new species of the genus Laubieriopsis Petersen, 2000 is described based on 28 specimens collected in the north-east part of the North Sea. It is characterized by fixed number of chaetigers (22), paired genital papillae, bidentate neurochaeta of chaetigers 1-4, the absence of acicular chaetae on chaetigers 5-21 and, on the last chaetiger, one acicular and three capillary chaetae enlarged and directed backward. The present study brings the number of known species of Laubieriopsis to five and the number of Northeast Atlantic species of this genus to two.     

The Magelonidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Seychelles, with the description of three new species

Three new species of Magelona are described from the Seychelles: M. conversa, M. falcifera and M. gemmata. Magelona conversa belongs to a 'M. mirabilisgroup', having a rounded prostomium and specialised chaetae on chaetiger 9, but differs from all other members in having long prechaetal neuropodial lamellae on chaetigers 1–8. Magelona falcifera bears large sickle-shaped hooded hooks in the abdomen and thus approaches the genus Meredithia, but lacks prostomial horns. Magelona gemmata belongs to a 'M. longicornis group' in having distinct prostomial frontal horns, and a thorax with lanceolate postchaetal lamellae in the notopodia and ventral neuropodial lobes. The distinctively swollen bud-like tips on the notopodial lamellae of chaetiger 9 are an unique feature. The status of MeredithiaHernández-Alcántara & Solís-Weiss, 2000 and current magelonid terminology are discussed.     

Two new species of Paraprionospio (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from the Grand Caribbean region and comments of the genus status

Material earlier recorded from the Grand Caribbean region as Paraprionospio pinnata (Ehlers, 1901) was reexamined and referred to two new species: Paraprionospio tamaii sp. nov. and P. yokoyamai sp. nov. Paraprionospio tamaii sp. nov. has dorsal crests on segments 20–29, notopodial lamellae oval on chaetigers 1–2, reniform on chaetiger four, neuropodial lamellae abovate on chaetiger three, and branchiae with two kinds of lamellae: (1) bifoliate, rounded lamellae positioned basally, and (2) flabellate lamellae positioned from the middle to distal region of branchiae. Paraprionospio yokoyamai sp. nov. has no dorsal crests, notopodial lamellae triangular and elongate on chaetiger 1–2, subtriangular on chaetiger four, neuropodial lamellae cordate on chaetiger three, and branchiae with three kinds of lamellae: (1) small subtriangular (unipinnate) in the basal region, (2) bifoliate in the middle region and (3) flabellate from the middle to distal region. None specimen revised from the Grand Caribbean region was identified as Paraprionospio pinnata. The geographic distribution of this ‘cosmopolitan’ species should be carefully verified. An identification key to currently recognized species of Paraprionospio is provided.     

Orbiniidae polychaetes (Polychaeta: Scolecida) from Coiba Island, eastern Pacific of Panama, with description of a new species

Santa Cruz and El Gambute, two mangrove systems with associated tidal flats, were sampled in Coiba National Park, Coiba Island, Pacific of Panama. At each site, two samplings were done at low, middle and high intertidal levels in February and November of 1997. A new orbiniid species were found: Orbinia oligopapillata n. sp. is characterized by having 15-16 thoracic chaetigers with four or five rows of uncini and up to three papilliform postchaetal processes on neuropodial lobes by the abdominal parapodia bearing flail-tipped neurochaetae, and by the presence on anterior-most abdominal chaetigers of interramal cirri and a low number of subpodial and stomach papillae. A specimen belonging to genus Leitoscoloplos Day, 1977 is described as "Leitoscoloplos sp.", characterized by the lateral pouches on its abdominal chaetigers, a unique case for the family because these brooding structures have only been previously cited in two species of Scoloplos. Naineris sp. is characterized by the number of its thoracic chaetigers, branchiae, uncini and bilobed abdominal neuropodia with protruding aciculae.     

New water mite species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aturus</Emphasis> (Acari,Hydrachnidia, Aturidae) from Russia

Two new species of the genus Aturus Kramer (A. tuzovskyi sp. n. and A. kimichungi sp. n.) from Russia are described. These species and closely related species of the genus Aturus are compared. A. tuzovskyi sp. n. male is characterized by a slender body, the presence of a pair of bifurcated setae on the dorsal shield, two sword ventrodistal setae equal in length on the genu of leg IV, and 10–14 pairs of acetabula. The female of this species is characterized by the oval body and the presence of 10–13 pairs of acetabula. The male of A. kimichungi sp. n. is characterized by a rounded body, the presence of a single pair of bifurcated setae on the dorsal shield; sword setae on the genu IV are longer than tibia IV; 14–21 pairs of acetabula are present. The female of this species possesses a rounded body and 18–19 pairs of acetabula.     

The metatrochophore of a deep-sea hydrothermal vent vestimentiferan (Polychaeta: Siboglinidae)

Vestimentiferans (Siboglinidae, Polychaeta) live as juveniles and adults in an obligate mutualistic association with thiotrophic bacteria. Since their development is aposymbiotic, metatrochophores of vestimentiferans from the East Pacific Rise colonizing deep-sea hydrothermal vents are infected with the specific symbiont, develop the trophosome, and reduce their digestive system. To gain insight into the anatomy and ultrastructure and to compare this stage with metatrochophores from other siboglinids, we serial sectioned and reconstructed three specimens using light and transmission electron microscopy. The metatrochophore was composed of a prostomium, a small peristomium, two chaetigers (or two chaetigers and one additional segment without chaetae), and a minute pygidium. A digestive system and an intraepidermal nervous system were developed. Larval organs such as the prototroch, the neurotroch, and an apical organ were present, along with juvenile/adult organs such as tentacles, uncini, pyriform glands, and the anlage of the nephridial organ. We propose that in vestimentiferans, the vestimentum is the head arising from the prostomium, peristomium, and the anterior part of the first chaetiger. In frenulates, in contrast, the head is composed on the one hand of the cephalic lobe arising from the prostomium and on the other of the forepart developing from the peristomium and the anterior part of the first chaetiger. In frenulates the muscular septum between the forepart and trunk develops later than the first two chaetigers. Since this septum has no counterpart in vestimentiferans, the forepart-trunk border of frenulates is not considered homologous with the vestimentum-trunk border in vestimentiferans. The obturacular region in vestimentiferans does not appear to be a body region but rather the head appendages arising from the first chaetiger. In contrast, the tentacles in frenulates are prostomial head appendages. In both taxa, the trunk is the posterior part of the first chaetiger, and the opisthosoma is the following chaetigers and the pygidium. Comparisons with other polychaetes suggest that two larval segments are autapomorphic for the monophyletic Siboglinidae.     

A new species of the interstitial genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neopetitia</Emphasis> (Polychaeta,Syllidae, Eusyllinae) from Tenerife,with modified acicular chaetae in males

A new species of Neopetitia San Martín, 2003 is described from intertidal and shallow subtidal soft-bottom stations on the eastern and western coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands. The new species is characterized by the presence in males of a modified acicular chaeta in chaetiger 11. A discussion of known species of the genus is presented.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microrasbora</Emphasis> Annandale,a new genus record in China,with description of a new species (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

A new species of genus Microrasbora Annandale (1918), M. microphthalma, is described from the Nanwan River, a tributary of the Ruili River, Irrawaddy drainage, in southwest Yunnan province, China. This new species is the first record of the genus Microrasbora in China. Microrasbora microphthalma can be distinguished from the other species of Microrasbora by the following combination of characters: 15–16 predorsal scales, eye diameter/head length 27–38%, eye diameter/interorbital width 70–93%, predorsal length/ standard length 60–68%, the preanal length/ standard length 65–71% and the origin of dorsal fin is posterior of that of the ventral fin. Xiao-Yong Chen and Jun-Xing Yang contributed equally to this paper.     

Atherospio guillei (Laubier and Ramos, 1974) comb. nov. (Polychaeta: Spionidae) and closest relatives

Atherospio guillei (Laubier and Ramos, 1974) comb. nov. is redescribed based on new material collected during a benthic survey in the German Bight, North Sea. Main characteristics of this species are a deeply incised prostomium, modified neurochaetae on chaetiger 5 superior to a small bundle of capillaries, branchiae fully fused to notopodial lamellae with digitiform distal process from chaetiger 7 over a limited number of succeeding chaetigers, predominately unidentate curved hooks with closely applied sheath from chaetiger 13-15 and a pygidium surrounded by several pairs of lateral cirri. Atherospio is closely related to Pygospiopsis and Pseudatherospio. Interrelationships of these genera are discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Byssoloma rubromarginatum</Emphasis> (Pilocarpaceae: Ascomycota), a new corticolous species from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nothofagus</Emphasis> forests in Argentina

A new corticolous species of Byssoloma, B. rubromarginatum Messuti and de la Rosa from Nothofagus dombeyi forests is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by the morphology of the thallus and apothecia, the 3–5 (7)-septate ascospores, the presence of an anthraquinone in the exciple, and its ecology. It is the first species within the genus known to have gyrophoric acid in the apothecial margin. A key to Byssoloma species known from Nothofagus temperate forests in South America is provided.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tubulideres seminoli</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zelinkaderes brightae</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Kinorhyncha,Cyclorhagida) from Florida

One new kinorhynch genus and species and one new species from the genus Zelinkaderes are described from sandy sediment off Fort Pierce, Florida. The new genus and species, Tubulideres seminoli gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of the first trunk segment consisting of a closed ring, the second segment of a bent tergal plate with a midventral articulation and the following nine segments consisting of a tergal and two sternal plates. Cuspidate spines are not present, but flexible tubules are located on several segments, and in particular concentrated on the ventral side of the second segment. Middorsal spines are present on all trunk segments and are alternatingly offset to a position slightly lateral to the middorsal line. Zelinkaderes brightae nov. sp. is characterized by its spine formula in having middorsal spines on trunk segments 4, 6 and 8–11, lateroventral acicular spines on segment 2, lateral accessory cuspidate spines on segments 2 and 8, ventrolateral cuspidate spines on segments 4–6 and 9, lateroventral acicular spines present on segments 8 and 9, and midterminal, lateral terminal and lateral terminal accessory spines on segment 11. The spine formula of Z. brightae nov. sp. places it in a position in between Z. submersus and a clade consisting of Z. klepali and Z. floridensis. The new findings on Z. brightae nov. sp. have led us to propose an emended diagnosis for the genus.     

A new species of the clingfish genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apletodon</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from Sao Tome and Principe,Eastern Central Atlantic

The clingfish Apletodon wirtzi sp. nov. is described on the basis of ten specimens and colour photos from Bombom Island, Principe Group, Sao Tome and Principe, eastern central Atlantic Ocean. The species is very small, apparently not exceeding 16 mm total length; it is characterized by having three pores in the mandibular canal, the head length 2.2–2.5 in standard length: SL, the head broad, head width in males 3.6–4.0 (mean 3.8) in SL, the snout in males long, more or less pointed, conical, preorbital length in males 3.1–4.0 in head length, the occipital region with a large pinkish blotch behind each eye (in alcohol specimens), and the lower sides of the body with a row of dark blotches, scattered with white spots in between. The new species is compared with other species of the genus; a key to the males of the four known species of the eastern Atlantic genus Apletodon is presented. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic format at     

Anterior regeneration in the polychaete Marenzelleria viridis (Annelida: Spionidae)

The objective of this study was to examine the regeneration capacity of the spionid polychaete Marenzelleria viridis from Long Island, New York. In the field, ~7% of the worms exhibited regeneration of the anterior end. In the laboratory, worms were ablated at the 10th–50th chaetiger and their regeneration documented. Anterior morphogenesis was similar to that previously reported for spionids, with wound healing, blastema formation, differentiation of segments, and formation of feeding and sensory structures (mouth, palps, nuchal organs) occurring within 14 d. Unlike in some spionids, the segments do not appear to all form simultaneously from the blastema; rather, external differentiation of segments was observed from posterior to anterior on the regenerate. The number of segments replaced was equal to the number ablated for up to 10 segments. A maximum of 17 segments were replaced when 20–30 chaetigers were ablated, and the number replaced decreased to 14 when 40–50 chaetigers were ablated. Survival and normal growth of the worms decreased with more chaetigers ablated; a significantly higher number of worms died or grew abnormally with ≥30 chaetigers ablated, compared to worms with ≤20 chaetigers ablated. Members of M. viridis could be valuable model organisms in the study of the cellular mechanisms involved in regeneration, and further research on regeneration in the field should be completed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinocyclocheilus guilinensis</Emphasis>, a new species from an endemic cavefish group (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in China

The endemic Chinese cavefish genus Sinocyclocheilus possesses very rich species diversity. Specimens of this genus collected from Guilin, Guangxi, China, were originally described in an unpublished document in 1982. Later, they were recognized as Sinocyclocheilus jii. Comparison to the type specimens of S. jii leads to the conclusion that, though similar, they represent two different species. Herein we describe them as a new species, Sinocyclocheilus guilinensis sp. nov. It can be distinguished from all congeners by its possession of soft, unbranched dorsal ray without serrations, 19–20 (11–12) scale rows above (below) the lateral line, 34–36 circumpeduncular scales and 8–9 pre-dorsal vertebrae. Sinocyclocheilus guilinensis sp. nov. is most similar to S. jii. In addition to the scale count differences, a morphometrics-based principal component analysis (PCA) also supports designation of S. guilinensis and S. jii as two distinct species.     

Parapodial glandular organs in Spiophanes (Polychaeta: Spionidae)—studies on their functional anatomy and ultrastructure

Parapodial glandular organs (PGOs) of Spiophanes (Polychaeta: Spionidae) were studied using light and electron microscopy. These organs are found in parapodia of the mid body region, starting on chaetiger 5 and terminating with the appearance of neuropodial hooks (chaetiger 14 or 15 in adult individuals). Large PGOs in anterior chaetigers display different species‐specific types of openings whereas small PGOs in posterior parapodia of the mid body region always open in a simple vertical slit. Each PGO is composed of three main complexes: (1) the glandular sac with several distinct epithelia of secretory cells and secretory cell complexes and the reservoir filled with fibrous material, (2) the gland‐associated chaetal complex (including the region of chaetoblasts and follicle cells, follicular canals, two chaetal collector canals, the combined conducting canal, the chaetal spreader including the opening of the glandular organ with associated type‐1 secretory cells, and the gland‐associated chaetae), and (3) a bilayered musculature surrounding the gland. A considerable number of different cell types are involved in the secretory activity, in the guidance of the gland‐associated chaetae, and in the final expulsion of the fibrous secretion at the opening slit. Among these different cell types the type‐5 secretory cells of the proximal glandular complex with their cup‐shaped microvilli emanating thick microfibrils into the lumen of the glandular sac are most conspicuous. Secretory cells with cup‐shaped microvilli being involved in the production of β‐chitin microfibrils have so far only been reported from some representatives of the deep‐sea inhabiting Siboglinidae (Polychaeta). We suggest that the gland‐associated chaetae emerging from inside the PGOs of Spiophanes are typical annelid chaetae formed by chaetoblasts and follicle cells. Functional morphology implies the crucial role of PGOs in tube construction. Furthermore, the PGOs are discussed in consideration of phylogenetic aspects. J. Morphol., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penopus</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) from the Ryukyu Trench,the West Pacific,with remarks on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penopus microphthalmus</Emphasis>

The bathyal genus Penopus (Ophidiidae) is revised based on 23 specimens. One specimen from the Ryukyu Trench represents a new species, Penopus japonicus. The remaining 22 specimens were found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and neither 28 meristic and morphometric characters nor several morphological characters show any differences between the two populations. This supports Séret (1988), who considered Penopus macdonaldi Goode and Bean 1896 a junior synonym of Penopus microphthalmus (Vaillant 1888). The new Japanese species can be separated from the Atlantic species by having fewer rays in the dorsal (117 vs. 135–158) and anal (89 vs. 106–122) fins, the squamation of the head restricted to the middle part of the preopercle versus the squamation covering the dorsum, preopercle and the opercle in part, a distinct spine behind the posterior nostril versus the spine hardly visible and 9 spines on the hind margin of the preopercle versus 4–7 spines.     

Blackfly assemblages (Diptera,Simuliidae) of the Carpathian river: habitat characteristics,longitudinal zonation and eutrophication

Investigations were carried out in 2003–04 within a project on trend biomonitoring of macrozoobenthos in the Hron River system. They were focused on blackfly assemblages of the Hron River (Slovakia), using the distribution patterns of blackflies (18 species) from 14 sites, representing a fluent transition from epirithral to epipotamal. Two main “sister” groups were distinguished using TWINSPAN analysis. Prosimulium rufipes is an indicator species within the first group. This group typically occurs in the zone representing a part of the river upstream and its tributaries. Simulium lineatum is an indicator species within the second group that occurs in the zone representing the middle and lower part of the river. The Upstream–Downstream gradient represents, in fact, the ecological position (EP) of the studied localities of the Hron River along the River Continuum Concept. The distribution fitting analysis divides the distribution amplitude data of blackfly species into three sets of nonoverlaping intervals: (1) 0.00–0.19 stenotopic (P. rufipes in the upper course of the river, Simulium erythrocephalum in the lower course of the river), (2) 0.20–0.39 mesotopic (Simulium argyreatum, S. equinum—hyporhithral) and (3) 0.40–0.50 eurytopic (Simulium reptans, S. variegatum). According to CCA the most important variables correlated with the first axis, and were linked to the nitrate and maximal water temperature which gradually increase from the upper stretch of the river. Handling editor: K. Martens