First monogenean flatworm from a microhylid frog host: Kankana, a new polystome genus from Madagascar

Kankana manampoka n. gen., n. sp. (Monogenea, Polystomatidae), is described from the urinary bladder of the narrow-mouthed frog Platypelis pollicaris. This is the first record of a polystome from the Microhylidae and the third polystome genus from Madagascar, next to Metapolystoma and Madapolystoma. The extensive uterus and presence of hamuli resemble Metapolystoma but the vitellarium confined to the lateral fields in Kankana is different. Madapolystoma also has an extensive uterus but contain only up to 32 advanced developed larvae. Based on the extensive uterus filling the body proper and the vitellarium confined to two lateral fields posterior in the body this new polystome resembles Eupolystoma known from Africa and India. However, unlike Eupolystoma, the gonads are in the middle of the body, vaginae are lacking and a pair of hamuli is present. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of concatenated 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA gene sequences supplemented by genetic distances inferred from 28S and COI sequences showed that this new genus is more related to Madapolystoma, a genus only reported from Madagascar, than to Eupolystoma known from Africa and India and Metapolystoma known from Africa and Madagascar.     

A taxonomic study of Chinese species of the insidiosus group of Metaphycus (Hymenoptera,Encyrtidae)

In this paper, twelve insidiosus-group species of the genus Metaphycus Mercet from China are reviewed. Five species, M. corniae sp. n., M. cylindricus sp. n., M. deltoideus sp. n., M. transversus sp. n. and M. yaanensis sp. n., are described as new to science. A key to the females of these species is given to facilitate species recognition. Photomicrographs are provided to illustrate morphological characters of these species. All specimens, unless otherwise specified, are deposited in the National Zoological Museum of China, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing.     

Three new species of Melloleitaoina Gerschman & Schiapelli, 1960 (Araneae,Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) from northern Argentina

Three new species of the monotypic genus Melloleitaoina Gerschman & Schiapelli, 1960 are described from northern Argentina: M. mutquina sp. n., M. uru sp. n. and M. yupanqui sp. n. The female specimen originally described as M. crassifemur is not conspecific with the male holotype and thus is removed from this species and described as M. uru sp. n.; M. crassifemur is redescribed. All species are diagnosed, illustrated and a key to species is provided.     

Taxonomical revision of “Arctonyx” fossil remains from the Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave (South China) by means of morphotype and morphometrics,and a review of Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene Meles fossil records in China

“Arctonyx” fossil remains from the Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave, Guangxi, are redescribed and analysed in details. Detailed tooth character differences between Arctonyx and Meles are analysed. It is shown that materials from the Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave actually belong to two species of Meles: Meles minor and Meles magnus n. sp. At the same time, a review of Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene Meles records in China is made. During Late Pliocene, Meles are only represented by M. chiai and one archaic form. During Early Pleistocene, Meles from northern and central part of China are represented by two nearly sympatric species Meles chiai and Meles teihardi. Meles from South China are represented by M. minor and M. magnus n. sp., though the distribution of the two species is still unclear. M. magnus n. sp. is so far only known from the Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave, whereas M. minor is probably also known from Longgupo, Chongqing in the central part of China besides Liucheng. Great diversity of Meles in Early Pleistocene in China indicates that the genus radiated earlier than previously thought. Phylogenetic analysis suggests M. magnus n. sp. is sister group to living M. leucurus, whereas M. minor and M. chiai are early branches in Meles evolution.     

The genus Microserangium Miyatake (Coleoptera,?Coccinellidae) from China

The genus Microserangium Chapinfrom China is reviewed. Nine species are recognized, including seven new species: M. erythrinum Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. fuscum Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. glossoides Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. shennongensis Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. semilunatum Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. deltoides Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. dactylicum Wang & Ren, sp. n. Male genitalia of M. hainanensis Miyatake, 1961 are described for the first time. All species are described and illustrated. A key and distribution map to the known species from China are given.     

Review of the millipede family Trichopolydesmidae in the Oriental realm (Diplopoda,Polydesmida), with descriptions of new genera and species

In the Oriental Region, the large, basically Northern Hemisphere family Trichopolydesmidae is shown to currently comprise 18 genera and 43 species. Based mainly on gonopod structure, all of them, as well as the whole family, are (re)diagnosed, including five new genera and seven new species. These new taxa are keyed, also being the first to be described from Indochina in general and from Vietnam in particular: Aporodesmella gen. n., with three species: A. securiformis sp. n. (the type species), A. similis sp. n. and A. tergalis sp. n., as well as the following four monotypic genera: Deharvengius gen. n., with D. bedosae sp. n., Gonatodesmus gen. n., with G. communicans sp. n., Helicodesmus gen. n., with H. anichkini sp. n., and Monstrodesmus gen. n., with M. flagellifer sp. n. In addition, Cocacolaria hauseri Hoffman, 1987, hitherto known only from New Ireland Island, Papua New Guinea, is redescribed based on material from Vanuatu whence it is recorded for the first time. One of the new genera, Gonatodesmus gen. n., provides a kind of transition or evolutionary bridge between Trichopolydesmidae and Opisotretidae, thus reinforcing the assignment of these two families to the single superfamily Trichopolydesmoidea.     

GROWTH OF TWO FACULTATIVELY HETEROTROPHIC MARINE CENTRIC DIATOMS1,2

The facultative, heterotrophs Cyclotella cryptica (sclone WT-1-8) and Coscinodiscus sp. were selectively isolated from coastal waters by dark incubation of organically enriched solid medium. C. cryptica grows in the dark with glucose and galactose, and Coscinodiscus sp. with glucose. Clone WT-1-8 of C. cryptica grows about twice as fast with glucose as a previously studied clone (0-3A). In the dark with, 5 × 10^?6 M glucose C. cryptica divides every 3 days, while with 5 × 10^?5 M glucose Coscinodiscus sp. divides every 10 days. Heterotrophic growth of either diatom for 1 year does not cause a major reduction in carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll c contents, or in photosynthetic ability, compared to light-grown cells. It is possible that facultative heterotrophy is of ecological benefit to these diatoms, probably for slow growth and survival during extended periods of dim light or darkness.     

Systematic revision of the Taiwanese genus Kurixalus members with a description of two new endemic species (Anura,Rhacophoridae)

Two new species of rhacophorid tree frog were identified in Taiwan. In both new taxa, derived reproductive characteristics of laying eggs in tree holes and oophagous tadpoles are shared with Kurixalus eiffingeri, but they are divergent from each other in molecular genetics, mating calls, and tadpole and adult morphology. The morphological characteristics and the molecular phylogenetic evidence support the hypothesis that the two new species, Kurixalus berylliniris sp. n. and Kurixalus wangi sp. n., are both monophyletic lineages.     

Metallopolia, a new subgenus of Polia (Noctuidae,Noctuinae, Hadenini), with the description of two new species and a new subspecies

A new subgenus of Polia, Metallopolia subgen. n., two new species (Polia (Metallopolia) dysgnorima sp. n. and P. (M.) metagnorima sp. n.) from China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu), and a new subspecies, P. (M.) subviolacea kanchenjunga ssp. n. from Nepal and SE Tibet (Sikkim) are described. Habitus, antennae, male and female genitalia of all Metallopolia species are characterised, depicted and compared with the related species.     

Diversity of Manota Williston (Diptera,Mycetophilidae) in Ulu Temburong National Park,Brunei

A total of 15 species of Manota Williston, 1896 are recorded from Brunei, based on the investigations in 2013-2014. Thirteen species are recorded from Ulu Temburong National Park and three species from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam Campus in Tungku. Six species are described as new to science: Manota belalongensis sp. n., M. kaspraki sp. n., M. macrothrix sp. n., M. megachaeta sp. n. and M. pileata sp. n. from Ulu Temburong, and M. ricina sp. n. from Tungku. New records of the following species are given: Manota bifida Hippa & Papp, M. bruneiensis Hippa & Ševčík, M. hyboloma Hippa & Ševčík, M. oligochaeta Hippa, M. pappi Hippa, M. perangulata Hippa & Ševčík, M. pollex Hippa, M. procera Hippa and M. simplex Hippa.     

A new species of Gorgoderina (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) from Rana berlandieri in Los Tuxtlas tropical rainforest,Mexico, with the elucidation of its life cycle

Species in the genus Gorgoderina Looss, 1902 are parasites of the urinary bladder of amphibians and include around 50 species described globally. Molecular data on species of the genus are scarce, as is the information of their life-cycle patterns. During a survey on the genetic characterization of the frog trematodes in the tropical rain forest of Los Tuxtlas, in the Gulf of Mexico slope of Mexico, specimens of two morphotypes of Gorgoderina were sampled from the Rio Grande leopard frog, Rana berlandieri. One of them represented an undescribed species which is described herein as Gorgoderina rosamondae n. sp., whereas the other one was morphologically very similar to an apparently widely distributed North American species, G. attenuata, which has been previously reported in the same geographical area. Specimens of both morphotypes were sequenced for two nuclear and one mitochondrial genes. Phylogenetic trees corroborated the distinction of the new species, and data on the internal transcribed spacer 2 revealed genetic differences between G. attenuata sequenced from frogs in USA and specimens of Gorgoderina sp. from Los Tuxtlas, indicating the possibility that they also represent an undescribed species. COI sequences showed high genetic divergence values between the new species and Gorgoderina sp. from Los Tuxtlas (8.63–9.99%). Additionally, COI sequences of the larval forms (sporocyst, cercariae and metacercariae) sampled in the same locality from their first and second intermediate hosts (Pisidium sp. and Agriogomphus tumens, respectively) showed conspecificity, and the 3 host life-cycle of the new species was elucidated.     

Four new Mouse Spider species (Araneae,Mygalomorphae, Actinopodidae,Missulena) from Western Australia

Four new species of the Mouse Spider genus Missulena Walckenaer, 1805 (family Actinopodidae) are described from Western Australia based on morphological features of adult males. Missulena leniae sp. n.(from the Carnarvon and Yalgoo biogeographic regions), Missulena mainae sp. n. (Carnarvon), Missulena melissae sp. n. (Pilbara) and Missulena pinguipes sp. n. (Mallee) represent a broad spectrum of morphological diversity found in this genus and differ from other congeners by details of the male copulatory bulb, colour patterns, eye sizes, leg morphology and leg spination. Two of the species, M. pinguipes sp. n. and M. mainae sp. n., are characterised by swollen metatarsi of the fourth legs in males, a feature not previously recorded in the family. A key to males of all named Missulena species from Australia is presented and allows their identification based on external morphology.     

Filaires Splendidofilariinae de lézards: nouvelles espèces,redescription, cycle chez phlébotome

Four new species of Splendidofilariinae from different families of lizards are described: Thamugadia wertheimae n. sp., from Acanthodactylus b. boskianus from Israel, Madathamugadia versterae n. sp., from Mabuya capensis from the Northern Transvaal; M. bissani n. sp., from Mabuya quinquetaeniata from Mali; and M. ineichi n. sp., from Pseudocordylus microlepidotus melanotus from the Orange Free State. The life-cycle of M. ineichi is described. It occurs in a Phlebotomus species and is similar to the two known life-cycles in the genus. The new combination Madathamugadia huambensis (Petit, Bain, Gomes & Touratier, 1983) is proposed for the filarial worm from Mabuya aff. quinquetaeniata in Angola, previously placed in the genus Piratuboides (Oswaldofilariinae). Pseudothamugadia physignathi, from Physignathus lesueurii in Australia, is redescribed. In New Guinea, this filarid, or a closely related species, is a parasite of Chlamydosaurus kingii. The presence of splendidofilariines in lizards from southern and western Africa is a new finding. These Ethiopian species show several original characteristics but exhibit affinities with the two Madathamugadia spp. from Malagasy. M. ineichi appears to be a primitive form with a well-developed buccal capsule and well-developed pre- and post-cloacal papillae. Two lines appear to derive from this group: the first is characterised by the reduction of the post-cloacal papillae and comprises the eight species of Madathamugadia in the Ethiopian and Mediterranean regions; the second line is characterised by a reduction of the pre-cloacal papillae and includes the four species of Thamugadia in the Mediterranean region. Morphologically, Pseudothamugadia appears to be closely related to Madathamugadia.     

First reports of Grania (Clitellata: Enchytraeidae) from Africa and South America: molecular phylogeny and descriptions of nine new species

In this article, our knowledge of the geographic distribution of Grania species is expanded by describing seven new species, G rania bekkouchei sp. nov. , G rania brasiliensis sp. nov. , G rania capensis sp. nov. , G rania chilensis sp. nov. , G rania cryptica sp. nov. , G rania hinojosai sp. nov. , and G rania simonae sp. nov. , from poorly investigated regions of the Southern Hemisphere, plus two new species, G rania carolinensis sp. nov. and G rania unitheca sp. nov. , from off the east coast of the USA. An immature achaetous specimen that we call Grania cf. levis was also included. The newly generated data were combined with a previously published data set in order to update the hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships among Grania species. All new species except G . cryptica sp. nov. are supported by both morphological and molecular data. In addition, we find that G . chilensis sp. nov. is structured in at least four distinct populations along the Chilean coast. The species described from South Africa form a monophyletic clade where two are morphologically indistinguishable but diverging in both mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal genes, and thus we describe them as different species, G . bekkouchei sp. nov. and G . cryptica sp. nov. Among the North Carolinian species, G . unitheca sp. nov. is indicated as a close relative of Grania monospermatheca Erséus & Lasserre, 1976, and G . carolinensis sp. nov. is indicated as a close relative of G. cf. levis. The updated phylogeny is strongly concordant with geographical species distributions, thus supporting a low level of dispersal within this genus, as has previously been hypothesized. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

New species and new genus of Pseudohaploporinae (Digenea): Pseudohaploporus pusitestis sp. n. and Parahaploporus elegantus n. g., sp. n. (Digenea: Pseudohaploporinae) from Vietnamese mullet fish

Two new species of Pseudohaploporinae, Pseudohaploporus pusitestis sp. n. and Parahaploporus elegantus n. g., sp. n., are described from intestines of the Vietnamese mullet fish Moolgarda seheli and Osteomugil cunnesius, respectively. Pseudohaploporus pusitestis sp. n. differs from two known Pseudohaploporus species, P. vietnamensis and P. planiliza, by the absence of a diverticulate hermaphroditic duct and muscular sphincters at the proximal end of the hermaphroditic sac. Metrically, P. pusitestis sp. n. is close to P. vietnamensis and differs from this species and from P. planilizum by lower maximum sizes of most parameters. Parahaploporus elegantus n. g., sp. differs from representatives of Pseudohaploporus by the presence of a single testis and the armament of hermaphroditic duct and is morphologically close to trematodes of the genus Haploporus. However, P. elegantus n. g differs from all known Haploporus species from mugilids of the Indo-West Pacific by the structure of the armament of the hermaphroditic duct and also by size of body, organs and eggs. The validity of designating two new species and a new genus of trematodes is supported by ITS and 28S rDNA sequence data. Phylogenetic reconstructions showed that the new trematodes belong to the Pseudohaploporinae, which formed a well-supported cluster within the monophyletic Haploporidae.     

Descriptions of Meloidogyne camelliae n.sp. and M. querciana n.sp (Nematoda:Meloidogynidae), with SEM and Host-Range Observations

Meloidogyne camelliae n.sp. on camellia (Camellia japonica) from Japan and M. querciana n.sp. on pin oak (Quercus palustris) from Virginia, USA, are described and illustrated. M. camelliae n.sp. is distingnishable from other species of the genus especially by its striking perineal pattern having heavy ropelike striae forming a squarish to rectangular outline with shoulders or projections, appearing sometimes ahnost starlike. M. querciana differs from other species by its characteristic perineal pattern round to oval in outline, sometimes with a low arch, and sunken vulva surrounded by a prominent obovate area devoid of striae. M. querciana shows some relationship to M. ovalis, but differs further fxom the latter by longer larvae, absence of annules on head of larvae, and rarity of males. Examination of specimens of M. camelliae n.sp. and M. querciana n.sp. with the scanning electron microscope confirmed observations made by optical microscopy and revealed diagnostic and other structures in greater detail. In greenhouse host tests, M. camelliae infected camellia heavily, showed moderate infection on oxalis, only a trace infection on tomato, and no infection on five other plants tested; and M. querciana attacked pin oak, red oak, and American chestnut heavily, but did not infect nine other test plants. In another test, pin oak seedlings did not become infected when heavily inoculated with and grown in the presence of two populations of M. incognita incognita and one of M. incognita acrita. The common names "camellia root-knot nematode" and "oak root-knot nematode" are respectively proposed for M. camelliae and M. querciana.     

Molecular data reveal a new species of Seuratascaris Sprent, 1985 (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) from Quasipaa exilispinosa (Liu & Hu) (Amphibia: Anura)

The genus Seuratascaris Sprent, 1985 is a group of obligate nematode parasites of amphibians. In the present study, a new species of Seuratascaris, S. physalis sp. n. was described using light and scanning electron microscopy based on specimens collected from Quasipaa exilispinosa (Liu & Hu) (Amphibia: Anura) in China. The new species differs from S. numidica (Seurat, 1917) by the cuticle of the cervical region distinctly inflated to form a cephalic vesicle-like structure and the absence of single medio-ventral precloacal papilla. The molecular characterization of the nuclear large ribosomal DNA (28S) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (cox2) and 12S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of S. physalis sp. n., together with the 28S, cox2 and 12S of S. numidica are provided for the first time. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of high level of interspecific genetic variation between the two species in the ITS (5.50%), cox1 (13.3%), cox2 (10.6%) and 12S regions (10.5%), which strongly supported that S. physalis sp. n. represented a different species from S. numidica. Angusticaecum ranae Wang, Zhao & Chen, 1978 reported from the frog Quasipaa spinosa (David) (Anura: Dicroglossidae) in China was transferred into the genus Seuratascaris as S. ranae (Wang, Zhao & Chen, 1978) comb. n. based on the morphology of lips and the presence of very short and robust spicules without alae and small numbers of precloacal papillae. The present study provided useful genetic data for molecular identification of species of Seuratascaris and provides the foundation for being able to determine if S. numidica represents a species complex of some sibling species or a single species.     

Morphogeographic variations in the genusMesopodopsis Czerniavsky with descriptions of three new species (Crustacea,Mysidacea)

Most of the exceptional morphological features of the genusMesopodopsis are shared withNanomysis, Diamysis, andLimnomysis in a mosaic-like pattern. This group, comprising euryhaline species from fresh-to metahaline waters, has its centre of recent species richness in the Mediterranean to Ponto-Caspian region. Within the genus one may distinguish two morphogeographic groups, Euro-African species with a spine below the statocyst, and Indo-Australasian species without this spine. Detailed study from the entire distribution range indicates thatM. slabberi (van Beneden) should be split into 4 species: the nominal form from the NE-Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Sea, with 5–8 segments on the tarsus of the fourth thoracic endopod;M. aegyptia n.sp., widely distributed in the Mediterranean, with 7–9 segments on this tarsus as well as dimorphic setation patterns on the eighth tarsus;M. tropicalis n.sp. from equatorial W-Africa with 5–6 segments and dimorphic setation patterns on the mandibular palp; andM. wooldridgei n.sp. from South African waters with 9–12 segments on the tarsal joint of the fourth thoracic appendage, respectively. A key to the seven known species of the genus is given.