Doxomysis algoaensis, a new mysid species (Crustacea: Mysidacea) from Algoa Bay (South Africa)

Doxomysis algoaensis sp.nov. is described from Algoa Bay, South Africa where it is common in nearshore marine waters just beyond the breaker line. D. algoaensis sp.nov. is morphologically similar to D. australiensis, but can readily be distinguished by the shape and armature of the telson and the length of the exopod of the fourth male pleopod. The apical cleft is one fifth the telson length in the former species and one third the length in D. australiensis. The telson apex on each side of the cleft is also armed with five and four stout spines in the two species, respectively. In D. australiensis, the exopod of the fourth male pleopod is almost three times the length of the endopod; in D. algoaensis sp.nov., the exopod is only slightly longer than the endopod. Other distinctive features of D. algoaensis sp.nov. include the maxillary palp, which is only slightly broader than long and the greater number of spines on the endopod of the uropod.     

Rhopalophthalmus tartessicus sp. nov. (Crustacea: Mysidacea), a new mysid species from the Guadalquivir estuary (SW Spain)

The first representative of the genus Rhopalophthalmus in European waters, Rhopalophthalmus tartessicus sp. nov., is described from specimens sampled in the Guadalquivir estuary (southwestern Spain). At first identified as the Algerian species Rhopalophthalmus mediterraneus Nouvel, 1960, the new mysid species can be distinguished from its closest relative by its higher number of articles on the carpopropodus of the third to seventh thoracic endopods, by the well hook-shaped eighth thoracic endopod of the male, by the slender eighth thoracic endopod of the female, and by the smaller antennal scale and telson. Its geographical distribution appears restricted to estuarine habitats in southwestern Spain. Its swimming behaviour, with the ventral side facing upwards, is unusual in mysids. An updated identification key for the 19 known species in the genus, including information on the respective geographical distribution and habitat, is presented.     

A new species of Cyzicidae (Crustacea: Conchostraca) from Iraq

A new species of Conchostraca, Eocyzicus mesopotamiensis sp. nov., from a small pond in Iraq is described and illustrated. The account includes structural details and means of recognition. Information on the habitat is also given.     

Keraladiaptomus rangareddyi a new genus and new species of Diaptominae (Copepoda,Calanoida, Diaptomidae) from a temporary pond in Mattam,Kerala State,India

Calanoid copepods, belonging to the new genus and species Keraladiaptomus rangareddyi, were collected from temporary ponds in Kerala State, India. The new genus belongs to the family Diaptomidae, subfamily Diaptominae. It is described in detail and its affinity to the related genera, Arctodiaptomus Kiefer, 1932 and Eodiaptomus Kiefer, 1932, discussed.     

A new member of the subgenus Sinobosmina Lieder, 1957: Bosmina tripurae sp. nov. (Crustacea,Cladocera) from India

A new species, Bosmina tripurae is described from South India. The species shares some of the morphological traits with Bosmina fatalis from East and SE Asia, and two other species described recently from North America. They all form a subgeneric group established earlier: subgenus Sinobosmina Lieder 1957. Parthenogenetic females of the new species are superficially similar to the species Bosmina longirostris, which occurs on Indian subcontinent, only in northern high mountain lakes. All reports of the latter species from Indian lowlands are either Bosmina tripurae or some other not yet described species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Two new species of the genusAmblyeleotris (Pisces: Gobiidae) from the Ryukyu Islands,Japan

Two new shrimp-associated gobies,Amblyeleotris yanoi sp. nov. andA. masuii sp. nov. are described on the basis of specimens from Iriomote-jima Island and Okinawa-jima Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.A. yanoi is distinguished from other members of the genus by the combination of the following characters: 14 anal fin soft rays, 19 pectoral fin rays, 97–103 longitudinal scales, a candle flame-shaped marking on the caudal fin, a very low membrane connecting the pelvic fins and absence of a ventral frenum.A. masuii differs from all other congeners by having 92–97 longitudinal scales, the length of the interpelvic connecting membrane relative to the longest pelvic fin ray (0.43–0.66), black blotches on the sides of the chin, and blue spots on the opercle and preopercle.     

A new species of the genusDiaphanosoma Fischer, 1850 (Crustacea: Daphniiformes: Sididae) from Central Asia and China

Diaphanosoma macrophthalma sp.nov. is described based on material (parthenogenetic females and males) obtained from a number of water bodies of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China. Intra- and interpopulation morphological variability, size range, sex structure and geographical distribution are analyzed.     

Trophic interactions involving mysid shrimps (Mysidacea) in the near-bottom habitat in the Baltic Sea

In a six month mesocosm tank experiment, hypotheses were tested concerning the role of benthopelagic mysid shrimps (Mysidacea) in the near-bottom food web of the Bothnian Sea, in the northern Baltic Sea. The first hypothesis tested was that the mysids interact, through predation, with benthic deposit-feeding Monoporeia affinis amphipods. A second hypothesis tested was that the sediment type is important for the overwintering success of the mysids. Changes in abundance and mass were recorded for M. affinis and mysids when separate and when coexisting, in two sediment types differing in organic content (food level); soft muddy clay (rich) and fine sand (poor). Despite the fact that newborn M. affinis offspring, a plausible target for predation by mysids, were present in substantial numbers in the tanks, no consistent evidence for any interaction between these taxa was found. The biomass of mysids was slightly higher in the muddy clay than in the sand tanks, and the mechanism behind this substrate effect is discussed. A third hypothesis, that the mysids interact with near-bottom zooplankton, was investigated. The tanks were continually supplied with in situ near-bottom sea-water containing a semi-natural assemblage of near-bottom plankton. As a result of mysid predation, tanks with mysids had lower abundance and biomass of cyclopoid copepods than tanks without mysids. Thus, the major interaction found was predation on near-bottom zooplankton by mysids and it is suggested that this interaction could potentially be an important food link, especially during periods with low food availability in the pelagic system.     

The subterranean genus Niphargus (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in the Middle East: A faunistic overview with descriptions of two new species

The Middle East is at the southeastern borderline of the range of the subterranean amphipod Niphargus. The review of new and published data identified two new species and set the guidelines for the future research in the area. The genus in this part of the world seems to be insufficiently studied. The taxonomic status of Niphargus valachicus, population identified as N. spoeckeri and some populations, identified as N. nadarini, need to be reviewed. According to present data, we expect the highest diversity in Western Turkey. The eventual new records of the genus in the Middle East can be expected from those areas where even the longest periods of drought in the recent geological history did not affect the water supply.     

Review of the genusBembras Cuvier, 1829 (Scorpaeniformes: Bembridae) with description of three new species collected from Australia and Indonesia

The bembrid genusBembras Cuvier is reviewed. Five species,B. japonica Cuvier,B. adenensis Imamura & Knapp and three undescribed species, were assigned to the genus. Type species of the genus,Bembras japonica is redescribed on the basis of 36 specimens including the holotype, and three new species,B. macrolepis, B. longipinnis andB. megacephala, previously misidentified asB. japonicus, are also described on the basis of specimens collected from Australia and Indonesia.Bembras macrolepis differs from its congeners by having large body scales, a long pectoral fin with 17–19 rays and a dark blotch on slightly upper portion to middle of margin, 14–15 anal-fin rays, small head and orbit, and caudal fin with a broad vertical dark band near posterior margin.Bembras longipinnis is distinguished from other members of the genus by having a slightly long pectoral fin with 17–19 rays and lacking a small black blotch near tip of upper rays, caudal fin with a large dark spot most intense in lower lobe, 1–2 gill rakers on upper gill arch, 13–14 anal-fin rays, slightly elong ated head and small orbit.Bembras megacephala is characterized by the following combination of characters: caudal fin with several irregular narrow vertical dark bands, small orbit, pectoral fin with 19–20 rays and lacking a small black blotch near tip of upper rays, head elongate, 2–4 gill rakers on upper gill arch, 15 anal-fin rays and small body scales. A key separating the five species ofBembras is given.     

Cladocera (Crustacea) from Nicaragua

Thirty-one Cladocera taxa are recorded from lakes, rivers and ponds of Western Nicaragua. They include Alona bromelicola sp. nov. found in water accumulations in epiphytic Bromeliads. The Cladocera recorded are neotropical and circumtropical. Other invertebrates found are also listed.     

Tasmanomysis oculata n.g. n.sp. from Tasmanian waters (Crustacea: Mysidacea: Mysini)

Tasmanomysis oculata n.g. n.sp. belonging to the Tribe Mysini is described from the coastal waters of southern Tasmania. This new genus superficially resembles the monospecific genus Arthromysis Colosi,1924 known only from the Straits of Magellan. The form of the pleopods in the male together with the segmentation of the thoracic legs and shape of the telson clearly distinguish the two genera.     

Hansenomysis anaramosae n. sp., a new suprabenthic mysid (Crustacea: Mysidacea: Petalophthalmidae) from the Bellingshausen Sea (Southern Ocean)

A new petalophthalmid mysid, Hansenomysis anaramosae n. sp., is described from specimens sampled with a suprabenthic sled in the Bellingshausen Sea (Southern Ocean). Hansenomysis anaramosae is clearly distinguishable from its closest congener, H. angusticauda Tattersall, by the carapace sculpturing, the rostrum produced into a spine-like process, the shape and armature of the antennal scale, eyeplate, and telson. This new species is the fourth Hansenomysis species described from the Southern Ocean. A key to these Antarctic species is presented.     

Citharoides orbitalis, a new sinistral citharid flounder from western australia (pleuronectoidei, pleuronectiformes)

A new citharid flounder,Citharoides orbitalis, is described based on four specimens from Western Australia. The new species can be distinguished from the only known congener,C. macrolepidotus, by its longer orbit, greater distance between the upper eye and dorsal profile, and wider space between each eye and the anterior rim of the orbit.     

On a new charophyte from India

Chara indica is described as a new species on morphological and cytological grounds.Part of Ph. D. Thesis of Ranchi University.     

Johnius (johnieops) philippinus, a new sciaenid from the philippines, with a synopsis of species included in the subgenusjohnieops

A new sciaenid,Johnius (Johnieops) philippinus, is described from the Davao Gulf, Mindanao Island Philippines. It differs from all known species of the subgenus in the combination of 29–32 dorsal fin soft rays, 5–6 scales above and 10–13 scales below the lateral line, 10–12 lower gill rakers, a broadly rounded anterior snout margin (from dorsal aspect), large eyes (28–35% HL), a narrow interorbital space (23–28% HL) and well-developed pleural ribs on 11th vertebra. A synopsis of species included in the subgenusJohnieops is provided.     

A new species ofThottea (Aristolochiaceae) from India

Thottea ponmudiana sp. nova from Kerala (India) can readily be distinguished from its closest allyTh. siliquosa and all the other known species of the genus by its yellow flowers with purple eyes, deeply lobed perianth with strongly reflexed margins, uniseriate stamens united in three bundles and strongly 4-angled, green, glabrescent fruits.     

Purification and characterization of vitellin from the estuarine mysid Neomysis integer (Crustacea; Mysidacea)

Invertebrates account for roughly 95% of all animals, yet surprisingly, little effort has been invested to understand their value in signaling potential environmental endocrine disruption. There has been, however, much recent attention on vitellogenin induction in egg-laying invertebrates and vertebrates as indicators of exposure to estrogenic xenobiotics. Mysid shrimp (Crustacea: Mysidacea) have been put forward by several researchers and regulatory bodies (e.g., US-EPA) as suitable test organisms for the evaluation of environmental endocrine disruption. In view of developing sensitive assays to study endocrine disruption in the estuarine mysid Neomysis integer, we isolated and characterized vitellin, the major yolk protein in eggs. Vitellin was purified using gel filtration and characterized by electrophoresis using different staining procedures. Specific (as shown by Western blotting) polyclonal antibodies were produced in rabbit against the purified vitellin of N. integer. These antisera will be used to develop immunoassays to study vitellogenesis in mysids and to detect potential stimulatory or inhibitory effects of endocrine disruptors on the production of vitellin.     

A new species ofRhinogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Fujian Province, China

A new freshwater goby,Rhinogobius xianshuiensis sp. nov. was collected from the upper Mulan River basin of Xianyou County, Fujian Province, eastern China. The species is distinguished from related species in the region by 3–7 predorsal scales, 27 vertebrae, cephalic lateralis canals always always with 2 derived post-orbital pores (ε1) in adults, a reddish-brown vertical line below the anterior margin of the eye, and a red netlike pattern on the opercle. A key to species ofRhinogobius with higher vertebral numbers (27–29) from eastern China, Taiwan and Japan is provided.     

Thraustochytrium gaertnerium sp. nov.: a new thraustochytrid stramenopilan protist from mangroves of Goa, India

Thraustochytrids are ubiquitous, chemo-organotrophic, marine stramenipilan protists belonging to the class Labyrinthulomycetes. Their taxonomy is largely based on life cycle development stages. We describe here a new species of thraustochytrid isolated from mangroves of Goa, India. The organism is characterized by large zoosporangia with two distinct development cycles. In one, typical thalli with ectoplasmic net elements mature into zoosporangia that divide to form heterokont biflagellate zoospores, leaving behind a proliferation body. In the second type, the thalli develop into amoeboid cells, reminiscent of the genus Ulkenia Gaertner. Unlike Ulkenia, however, the 'amoebae' do not immediately produce zoospores, but round up prior to division into zoospores. The two types of development occur simultaneously in single cell-derived in- vitro cultures. Molecular characterization of the new isolate involving 18S rRNA gene typing and comparative phylogenetic analysis further establish it to be a new and distinct thraustochytrid species with Schizochytrium aggregatum Goldstein and Belsky and Thraustochytrium kinnei Gaertner as the closest forms. We have named this new species as Thraustochytrium gaertnerium, deriving its species name in honour of Dr Alwin Gaertner, a pioneer in the studies of taxonomy and ecology of thraustochytrids.