Welwitschiaceae from the Lower Cretaceous of northeastern Brazil

Welwitschiaceae, a family in the Gnetales, is known today from only one extant species, Welwitschia mirabilis. This species is distributed in the Namibian desert, along the western coast of southern Africa, about 10 km inland from the coast. Very little is known about the fossil record of this family. Lower Cretaceous megafossils of various organs, assigned to Welwitschiaceae, are presented here. These fossils include young stems with paired cotyledons attached (Welwitschiella austroamericana n. gen. et sp.), isolated leaves (Welwitschiophyllum brasiliense n. gen. et sp.), and axes bearing male cones (Welwitschiostrobus murili n. gen. et sp.). They were collected in the Crato Formation, which is dated by palynomorphs and ostracods as Late Aptian (114 to 112 million years ago). These sediments are exposed in the Araripe Basin of northeastern Brazil. This study brings together new information of the megafossil record of Welwitschia-like plants and also reports of pollen said to be similar to that of Welwitschia from Lower Cretaceous sediments.     

Species cohesion despite extreme inbreeding in a social spider

Colonial social spiders experience extreme inbreeding and highly restricted gene flow between colonies; processes that question the genetic cohesion of geographically separated populations and which could imply multiple origins from predecessors with limited gene flow. We analysed species cohesion and the potential for long-distance dispersal in the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola by studying colony structure in eastern South Africa and the cohesion between this population and Namibian populations previously published. Data from both areas were (re)analysed for historic demographic parameters. Eastern South African S. dumicola were closely related to an east Namibian lineage, showing cohesion of S. dumicola relative to its sister species. Colony structure was similar in both areas with mostly monomorphic colonies, but haplotype diversity was much reduced in eastern South Africa. Here, the population structure indicated recent population expansion. By contrast, Namibia constitutes an old population, possibly the geographic origin of the species. Both the comparison of the eastern South African and Namibian lineages and the distribution within eastern South Africa show the potential for long-distance dispersal in few generations via colony propagation.     

Cephalopods in the diet of the South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus)

The stomach contents of 1522 adult seals ( Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus ) and 673 pups, which were collected around the West and South Coasts of Southern Africa, were examined and cephalopod prey identified. About 20 cephalopod species (some identifications were uncertain) were found in the stomachs, of which only six were significant: Loligo vulgaris reynaudii. Sepia spp., Octopus sp., Todaropsis eblanae, Todarodes angolensis and Ocythoe tuberculata. This list suggests that A. pusillus feeds exclusively on the continental shelf, frequently on or near the bottom. Among adults, cephalopod prey varied in importance around the coast. It was most important on the South Coast of South Africa where it comprised 35.0% of the weight of all prey, of which L. v. veynaudii constituted about 88%. On the West Coast cephalopods comprised about 26.6% by weight of all prey, and Octopus sp. predominated, whereas in Namibian waters cephalopods were least important, constituting only 3.4% by weight of all prey, with Todarodes angolensis and Octopus sp. being most significant. Among pups (aged 8–10 months) in the Lüderitz (Namibia) area, cephalopods were about 16.9% of prey by weight, of which Ocythoe tuberculata , small Sepia spp. and Octopoda were most important.     

Additions to the Mysid Fauna (Crustacea: Mysidacea) from Coastal Waters of Oman, Including Descriptions of Two New Species

Two new species of mysid shrimps are described from shallow coastal waters of Northern Oman. Haplostylus quadrispinosus sp. nov. is primarily distinguished from allied species by the arrangement and size of lateral spines on the telson. The form of the telson and exopod of the 4th male pleopod characterize a second new species, Anisomysis arabica sp. nov. A third species Mysidopsis kenyana, was previously recorded only from East Africa and its presence in samples considerably extends its geographical distribution. Four mysid species are now documented from coastal waters of Oman.     

Pterobothrioides,a new genus of tapeworms (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha: Pterobothriidae) from dasyatid stingrays in the Eastern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Two new species of pterobothriid trypanorhynch cestodes representing a new genus are described from dasyatid stingrays taken in Pacific coastal waters off Mexico and Costa Rica and from Atlantic waters off Senegal, West Africa. Pterobothrioides carvajali n. g., n. sp. is described from Dasyatis longus (Garman) from Pacific coastal waters off Mexico and Costa Rica. P. petterae n. g., n. sp. is described from Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus) from Atlantic coastal waters off West Africa. Both species resemble other pterobothriids in their possession of four pedicellate bothridia in a cruciform arrangement, elongated scolex and bulbs, heteroacanthous armature with five hooks per principal row, one or more intercalary rows and a band consisting of irregular files of microhooks on the external tentacular surface. Both new species are unique in the possession of a simple chainette of hooks in addition to a band of microhooks in the tentacle armature. The chainette hooks of P. carvajali are robust, rose-thorn-shaped hooks with large rounded bases. The chainette of P. petterae consists of smaller uncinate hooks that are most distinct in the basal region of the tentacle armature and progressively decrease in size until they become almost indistinguishable from the band microhooks in the distal metabasal region. A new genus, Pterobothrioides, is proposed to accommodate these two new species, combining a chainette, considered characteristic of poeciloacanths, with the band of hooks characteristic of atypical heteroacanths. It is suggested that through changes in hook number and arrangement the typical heteroacanths, having bands of hooks, evolved into poeciloacanths with chainettes and that clades are now apparent in the family Pterobothriidae.     

Description and ultrastructure of Leishmania zuckermani n. sp. amastigotes detected within the erythrocytes of the South African gecko Pachydactylus turneri Gray, 1864.

In erythrocytes recovered from blood of geckoes of the species Pachydactylus turneri collected in Gauteng Province, Republic of South Africa, leishmania zuckemani n. sp. were detected. Giemsa stained erythrocytes contained amastigotes, either single or numerous, in loose assemblies or in a compact rounded oggregates which may condense to become a round basophilic bodies with a central hollow. This new species of Leishmania differs from all previously described species in being almost exclusively parasitic in circulating erythrocytes. Three to seven amastigotes lodged all within one, or divided between several parasitophorous vacuoles were detected at the EM level. The amastigotes demonstrated essentially all the cytological components characteristic of leishmania species known to parasitize mammals. A point which emphasizes an already suggested close affiliation between mammalian and lizard Leishmania.     

Two new species of Prosorhynchoides (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from Tylosurus crocodilus (Belonidae) from the great barrier reef and French Polynesia

We surveyed 14 individuals of Tylosurus crocodilus Péron & Lesueur 1821 (Belonidae) collected from the waters around Lizard Island and Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, and the waters around Moorea, French Polynesia. We describe two new species of bucephaline trematodes from them, Prosorhynchoides galaktionovi n. sp. and P. kohnae n. sp. They are morphologically distinct from existing Prosorhynchoides spp., with molecular data from 28S and ITS-2 ribosomal DNA, as well as cox1 mitochondrial DNA, further supporting our morphological findings. Neither species has been observed in other belonid fishes. The new species fall into the clade of species of Prosorhynchoides from belonids previously identified in Australian waters. These findings strengthen the observation that groups of bucephaline species have radiated, at least in part, in tight association with host taxa. There are now five species of Prosorhynchoides known from two belonid species in Australian waters. We, therefore, predict further richness in the nine other belonid species present.     

Seven new species of Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961 (Monogenea) from the gills of Heterobranchus longifilis and H. isopterus from the Ivory Coast,West Africa

The gills of two species of Siluriformes, Heterobranchus longifilis and H. isopterus collected from the Rivers Agnéby and Bia in the Ivory Coast (West Africa) revealed the presence of seven new species of Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae). The following parasites are described: Quadriacanthus longifilisi n. sp., Q. thysi n. sp., Q. ayameensis n. sp., Q. agnebiensis n. sp., Q. simplex n. sp., Q. gourenei n. sp. and Q. macrocirrus n. sp.     

Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Leucocytozoidae) from West African birds, with descriptions of two species

Five species of Leucocytozoon were recovered from 35/828 birds of 95 species examined from 6 sites in West Africa between May 1995 and June 2001. Leucocytozoon pogoniuli n. sp. is described from the tinker barbets Pogoniulus subsulphureus and Pogoniulus atroflavus. Leucocytozoon trachyphoni n. sp. is described from the barbet Trachyphonus purpureus. No leucocytozoids have been reported previously in species of Pogoniulus. Leucocytozoon nectariniae was identified from the sunbird Nectarinia olivacea, and Leucocytozoon brimonti was recovered from 4 species of Pycnonotidae (bulbuls), all of which are new host records. We also report the first Leucocytozoon to be recovered from the phylogenetically isolated bird, Picathartes sp. (Picathartidae). This parasite is similar in appearance to Leucocytozoon sakharoffi, and probably represents a previously undescribed species. In view of the intraspecific variability and, frequently, relatively minor interspecific differences within Leucocytozoidae, we suggest that the development and application of molecular techniques would greatly advance understanding of speciation and relationships within this family.     

Oenothorachona ectenolaemus n.g., n.sp. and Spirochona halophila n.sp., Two New Marine Chonotrichous Ciliates

SYNOPSIS. Two new species of chonotrichous ciliates, Oenophorachona ectenolaemus n.g., n.sp. and Spirochona halophila n.sp. were found on Anisogammarus sp. collected from the waters of Humboldt County, California and Argyle Bay, San Juan Island, Washington. This is the 1st reported occurrence of 2 genera of chonotrichous ciliates on a single host species as well as the 1st of the occurrence of Spirochona in marine and brackish water environments.     

Systematics and biology of the endemic water scavenger beetles of Hawaii (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae, Hydrophilini)

Abstract.  Recent field surveys in the Hawaiian Islands have revealed an adaptive radiation of endemic water scavenger beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Phylogenetic analysis based on 55 adult morphological characters affirms that this endemic hydrophilid fauna is a monophyletic clade that incorporates the first well-supported transformation from an aquatic to terrestrial way of life within any lineage of the subfamily Hydrophilinae. The clade is prescribed to the genus Limnoxenus Motschulsky, where described members were previously placed. Five new species are described: L. waialeale sp.n. (Kauai), L. kauaiensis sp.n. (Kauai), L. oahuensis sp.n. (Oahu), L. punctatostriatus sp.n. (Kauai) and L. namolokama sp.n. (Kauai). Lectotypes are designated for the two previously described species L. semicylindricus (Eschscholtz) and L. nesiticus (Sharp). The Hawaiian lineage is a component of a larger clade that also includes the remaining four species of Limnoxenus from Europe, South Africa, and Australia, plus the monotypic genera Limnocyclus Balfour-Browne of New Caledonia and Hydramara Knisch of South America. The majority of the Hawaiian species exhibit vestigial wings, an extremely unusual condition in aquatic beetles. No other island-endemic members of the Hydrophilinae are known to be flightless, suggesting insularity per se is not responsible for this condition. L. nesiticus of Oahu has not been collected during the past 106 years, suggesting that it has been lost to anthropogenically mediated extinction.     

Novel cnidocysts of narcomedusae and a medusivorous ctenophore, and confirmation of kleptocnidism

Cnidocysts have been examined from the tentacles of the ctenophore Haeckelia rubra (Euchlora rubra) and five species of hydrozoan narcomedusae (Solmundella bitentaculata, Aegina citrea, Solmissus marshalli, Solmissus albescens, and Cunina sp.) using TEM, both in sections and by firing whole cnidocysts onto EM grids. The study revealed that these apotrichous isorhiza cnidocysts have a novel morphology in which the intracapsular inverted tubule has five circumferential pleats when viewed in transverse section, rather than the usual three pleats. Accordingly, the definition of helicoptychoneme cnidocysts has been broadened to include both the usual three-pleated cnidocysts and these new five-pleated cnidocysts. In general, apotrichous isorhizas have subspherical capsules with a thick, bilayered wall, whose interior is nearly filled with the regularly coiled, helically folded, five-pleated inverted tubule. Upon discharge, the everted tubule is several mm long and the five circumferential pleats become manifested as five helical rows of spines running up the tubule, which has three morphologically different segments. The very short basal segment is devoid of ornamentation; the remaining proximal portion is characterized by five spirals of uniform, closely packed short spines; the long distal portion is characterized by a single spiral of regularly spaced large spines that derive from all five spirals-the five spirals are otherwise demarcated in the distal portion by 'scales' that are visible only with the electron microscope.     

Two new species of Bathypalaemonella Balss (Crustacea, Decapoda, Campylonotidae) from the Australian Northwest Shelf

Two new species of shrimp belonging to the campylonotid genus Bathypalaemonella Balss from the Australian Northwest Shelf. R. brevirostris sp.n. and B. pilosipes sp.n., are described and illustrated. constituting the first records of this genus from Australian waters. Present knowledge of the genus is reviewed and the distribution of the known species listed. The two new species can be readily distinguished from the previously described species of Banthypalaemonella by the very characteristic morphologies of the dactyls of their ambulatory pereiopods.     

A new citrus-feeding psyllid from the Comoro Islands, with a review of the Diaphorina amoena species group (Homoptera)

ABSTRACT. Analysis of host plant data for the seventy-one species of Diaphorina shows the genus to be unusually polyphagous, the species developing on eighteen families of dicotyledonous angiosperms. Apart from the common Asian citrus pest, Diaphorina citri , a second citrus-feeding species is described and discussed. This species belongs to the amoena species-group which is defined and a key to nine of the ten included species is given. Seven new species are described: flavipennis sp.n. and nigripennis sp.n. from East Africa on Strychnos usambarensis; huila sp.n. from Angola on Ptaeroxylon obliquum; turned sp.n., from South Africa (host unknown); orantimina sp.n. from Madagascar (host unknown); auberti sp.n. from Comoro Islands on citrus trees; and bispinulata sp.n. from Madagascar (host unknown).     

中国东南沿海裸鞘花水母一新属及三新种记述

记述了采自中国东南沿海台湾海峡南部、福建南部东山湾和福建东部宁德三都湾裸鞘花水母1新属——拟长管水母属Dipurenella gen.nov.和3新种,即刺胞海帽水母Halitiara knides sp.nov.,东山拟长管水母Dipurenella dongshanensis sp.nov.和粗管外肋水母Ectopleura crassocanalis sp.nov.。详细描述其形态特征,并与近似种进行比较。模式标本保存于厦门大学海洋与环境学院。     

A review of the genus Johnstonia Quatrefages, 1866 (Polychaeta, Maldanidae), with a description of a new species from Trinidad, West Indies

In the interests of nomenclatural stability it is proposed that Johnstonia Quatrefages. 1866 (Polychaeta, Maldanidae) be conserved relative to its senior homonym Johnstonia Quatrefages, 1849 (Polychaeta, Nereidae) and its coexistent junior homonym Johnstonia Basir, 1956 (Nematoda, Thelastomatidae). Type material of all species previously assigned to Johnstonia Quatrefages, 1866 is re-examined and a new species from Trinidad described. All three valid species ( J. clymenoides Quatrefages, 1866; J. knysna Day. 1955; J. duplicata sp. n.) are described and figured in detail. An unnamed fourth species is known only from fragments collected off West Africa, and Johnstonia gracilis Kinberg, 1867 is newly synonymised with Euclymene oerstedii (Claparède. 1863).