Body temperature and oxygen uptake in the kinkajou (Potos flavus, Schreber), a nocturnal tropical carnivore.

Two kinkajous (Potos flavus, Procyonidae) showed marked nycthemeral variations in their rectal temperature. The mean Tr at night was 38.1 +/- 0.4 degrees C SD and 36.0 +/- 0.6 degrees C SD while resting during the day. Body temperature and O2-consumption were measured at ambient temperatures from 5-35 degrees C. With one exception at 35 degrees C, hypo- or hyperthermia was never observed. At air temperatures above 30 degrees C the bears reacted with behavioural responses. O2-consumption was minimal at Ta's from 23-30 degrees C. The mean basal metabolic rate was 0.316 ml O2 g-1 h-1 which is only 65% of the expected value according to the Kleiber formula. Below 23 degrees C heat production followed the equation : y (ml O2 g-1 h-1) = 0.727--0.018 Ta. The minimal thermal conductance was 90% of the predicted value according to the formula : C (ml O2 g-1 h-1 degrees C-1) = 1.02 W-0.505 (HERREID & KESSEL, 1967). Kinkajous are another distinct exception to the mouse to elephant curve.     

Achromobacter starkeyi sp. n., a methionine-decomposing bacterium isolated from soil

During a screening for methionine-decomposing bacteria several strains were isolated from soil. One of the most active was studied further. It belongs to the genusAchromobacter. As it could not be identified with any of the known species its morphological and biochemical characteristics are presently given.The facilities given by Dr. W. Buttler from the University of California, San Diego, U.S.A. to use his single beam recording spectrophotometer are appreciated.This work was supported by a fellowship from the Comisión de Operación y Fomento de las Actividades Académicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional.     

On a new nematode Leipernema leiperi n.g., n.sp. (Strongyloididae), parasitic in the pangolin Manis pentadactyla from Hyderabad, India.

Leipernema leiperi n.g., n.sp. is described from the pangolin Manis pentadactyla in India. Both parasitic free-living generations have been examined. Features which differentiate the parasite from Strongyloides and Parastrongyloides are described.     

A new heterolobosean amoeba Solumitrus palustris n. g., n. sp. isolated from freshwater marsh soil

During the course of research on the bacterial feeding behavior and resistance of amoebae to virulent pathogens, we isolated a new strain of amoeba from organic rich soil at the margin of freshwater swamp in the northeastern United States. Light microscopic morphology is characteristically heterolobosean, resembling vahlkampfiids, including a broadened, limax shape, and eruptive locomotion, but occasionally becoming more contracted and less elongated with lateral or anterior bulges and somewhat branching sparse, uroidal filaments. Electron microscopic evidence, including mitochondria with flattened cristae surrounded by rough endoplasmic reticulum, further indicates a heterolobosean affinity. The solitary nucleus contains a centrally located nucleolus. Cysts are rounded with occasionally an eccentrically located nucleus. The cyst walls are relatively thin, becoming crenated, and loosely enclosing the cyst when mature. Molecular genetic evidence places this isolate among the Heterolobosea, branching most closely in a clade including Allovahlkampfia spelaea and previously isolated, un-named strains of soil amoebae. Based on differentiated features, including morphology of the uroid, cyst wall structure, and molecular genetic evidence that distinguish it from A. spelaea, a new genus and species, Solumitrus palustris, is proposed for this new heterolobosean.     

Investigations on the sheathed bacteriumHaliscomenobacter hydrossis gen.n., sp.n., isolated from activated sludge

The morphological and physiological properties of a recently isolated, thin, sheathed bacterium are described. The observations demonstrate that this bacterium differs from the known sheathed microorganisms in many characteristics. The following nomenclature is therefore proposed:Haliscomenobacter hydrossis gen.n. sp.n. The growth of this bacterium in activated sludge is discussed.     

Steinernema weiseri n. sp. (Rhabditida,Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from Europe

Steinernema weiseri n. sp. is described from a roadside with apple trees near Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic. The species is also widely distributed in Germany and Slovakia, from where it had previously been reported as Steinernema spec. F. The British Steinernema sp. D1 is considered conspecific with S. weiseri n. sp. Males of the new species are mainly characterised by light brown, slightly curved spicules with a long manubrium and the presence of a short tail mucron in the second generation. Third-stage infective juveniles are characterised by a `medium size' body and tail length, short hyaline tail portion (mostly around 1/3 of tail length), the excretory pore situated in the mid-pharynx region, lip region slightly offset, angular and flattened, and the lateral field having nine equally developed lines separated by eight distinct ridges. S. weiseri n. sp. is most similar to S. feltiae, with which it did not hybridise. RFLP analysis of the ITS region of the rDNA repeat shows S. weiseri n. sp. to be distinct from 50 other Steinernema species and isolates. The new species was found in a wide range of habitats and is readily maintained on Galleria mellonella larvae.     

Candida silvae sp.n., a yeast isolated from humans and horses

A new yeast,Candida silvae sp.n., isolated from humans and horses is described. The new species has some important properties in common withCandida norvegensis andTorulopsis inconspicua, but its assimilation pattern and maximum temperature for growth are different.This work was supported by the Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisboa, Portugal.     

Rhodopseudomonas globiformis,sp. n., a new species of the Rhodospirillaceae

Enrichments of pH: 5.1, inoculated from a warm, acidic sulfur spring of the Yellowstone Park, yielded purple red cultures of a mobile, spherical organism belonging to the Rhodospirillaceae, described herein as a new species Rhodopseudomonas globiformis. Under favourable conditions, the cells are 1.6–1.8 μm in diameter, smaller and larger cells may occur. The photopigments consist of bacterio-chlorophyll a_P and new aliphatic methoxylated ketocarotenoids. The organism grows either under anaerobic conditions in the light or under microaerophilic conditions in the dark. Biotin, p-aminobenzoic acid and a source of reduced sulfur are required as growth factors. Gluconate, mannitol, fructose and ethanol are the best carbon sources at a pH of 4.9. Growth is inhibited by low concentrations of sulfide.     

Pseudoeurotium globosum n. sp., a new ascomycete from Indian soils

Summary The namePseudoeurotium globosum Rai andTewari n. sp. has been given to a fungus isolated from soil collected from the banks of a stream in village Harchandpur, District Rae Bareli, (U.P.) India. This form is distinguished from any other described so far in this genus, in having multisporous asci with large globose ascospores. P.globosum n. sp. inhabits a specialised habitat, and this along with the fact that it was isolated only byWarcup's Soil-plate Method, makes it an ecologically interesting form.