Five new didymozoid trematodes (Platyhelminthes, Digenea) from Australian platycephalid fishes

Five new didymozoid trematodes are described from two species of platycephalid fish collected in Moreton Bay. Australia. Indodidymozoon moretonensis sp. n. from the buccal cavity and branchial arches and 1. suttiei sp. n. from the flesh are described from Platycephalus fuscus. Indodidymozoon lesteri sp. n. from the belly skin. I. pearsoni sp. n. from the eye, and Helicodidymozoon tortor gen. n., sp. n. from the buccal cavity. branchial arches and operculum are described from Platycephalus endrachtensis. The taxonomic composition of the genus Didymozoon is discussed. Five species. D. branchiale. D. brevicolle, D. koti, D. musculi and D. Platycephali are moved to Indodidymozoon ; the generic diagnosis of Indodidymozoon is revised. One species. D. spirale , and one species from Neometadidymozoon, N. helicis. are moved to the newly creeted Helicodidymozoon. Helicodidymozoon differs from Didymozoon, Indodidymozoon and metadidymozoon in the structure of the hindbody which is spirally twisted.     

Three species of plagioporine opecoelids (Digenea), including a new genus and two new species,from marine fishes from off the coast of Chile

Villarrealina peruanus (syn. Pirupalkia queulensis) is described from Cilus gilberti, off the Talcahuano region, Chile. It is considered an opecoelid and is distinguishable by the combination of its extensive uterus, which reaches to the posterior extremity, and the vitellarium restricted to the hindbody. Jerguillicola leonora n. g., n. sp. from Aplodactylus punctatus, off the Talcahuano region, Chile, is distinguished by the uterus reaching into the post-testicular region, the lack of a seminal receptacle, the eggs attached together is strings formed by a matrix, the large cirrus-sac filled mainly with fairly dense connective tissue, a long coiled seminal vesicle and a long coiled ejaculatory duct. Neolebouria georgenascimentoi n. sp. from Pinguipes chilensis and Prolatilus jugularis, off the Talcahuano region, Chile, can be distinguished from its congeners by a its elongate cirrus-sac and oblique entire to weakly lobed testes.     

Opistholobetines (Digenea: Opecoelidae) in Australian tetraodontiform fishes

Opistholebetine opecoelids are reported following examination of 1,041 individual tetraodontiform fishes, comprising 60 species and seven families, collected in Australian waters between 1986 and 2018. Nine species consistent with Opistholebes Nicoll, 1915, Heterolebes Ozaki, 1935 or Maculifer Nicoll, 1915 were recovered. However, phylogenetic analysis of sequence data, generated for some of these species, suggested that five genera, not three, are required to adequately accommodate these taxa. Thus, the concept and composition for each is revised, Pseudoheterolebes Yamaguti, 1959 nec Gupta, 1968 is resurrected and Parallelolebes n. g. is proposed. Of the nine species examined, five are new. Four new species are from fishes endemic to subtropical and temperate Australian waters for which no trematodes have previously been reported: Pa. australis n. sp. and Ps. corazonae n. sp. from the slender-spined porcupinefish Diodon nicthemerus Cuvier (Diodontidae) off Stanley, Tasmania; Pa. virilis n. sp. from the horse-shoe leatherjacket Meuschenia hippocrepis (Quoy & Gaimard) (Monacanthidae) off Stanley; and Ps. stellaglobulus n. sp. from the threebar pocupinefish Dicotylichthys punctulatus Kaup (Diodontidae) in Moreton Bay, south-east Queensland. The fifth new species is M. diodontis n. sp., collected from the spotted porcupinefish Diodon hystrix Linnaeus and the blackblotched porcupinefish D. liturosus Shaw, in tropical waters on the Great Barrier Reef. Species reported previously include the type-species of Opistholebes, O. amplicoelus Nicoll, 1915 from the rough golden puffer Lagocephalus lunaris (Bloch & Schneider) (Tetraodontidae) and the common toadfish Tetractenos hamiltoni (Richardson) (Tetraodontidae) in Moreton Bay, and three species reported for the first time from fishes in Australian waters: H. maculosus Ozaki, 1935, Pa. elongatus Ozaki, 1937 n. comb. and Ps. diodontis (Cable, 1956) n. comb., each from both D. hystrix and D. liturosus on the Great Barrier Reef. Following the revisions, Opistholebes is recognised for two species, Heterolebes for five, Maculifer for eight, Pseudoheterolebes for five and Parallelolebes for three.     

Lecithophyllum kitrii n. sp. (Digenea: Lecithasteridae) from Australian coral reef fishes of the genus Siganus

Lecithophyllum kitrii n. sp. is described from Siganus punctatus and S. lineatus off Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. It differs from most other species in the genus in its elongate pars prostatica and globular sinus-sac, and from all other species in having the seminal vesicle almost always entirely in the hindbody.     

Sucrea (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), a new genus from Brazil

Sucrea, a new genus of herbaceous bambusoid grasses is based on the newly described species,S. monophylla. Also belonging to this genus is another new species,S. maculata, and the taxon originally namedOlyra sampaiana. The new genus is contrasted in a key with others of its tribe Olyreae, and a key is given to its three species.     

Goodmania (Polygonaceae), a new genus from California

A new genus,Goodmania, is described for the species currently known asOxytheca luteola Parry of central and southern California. A member of Polygonaceae, subfamily Eriogonoideae,Goodmania is an isolated genus, distinct fromEriogonum by the awned bracts, and fromOxytheca by its involucral bracts not forming a distinct tube, yellow flowers, non-glandular pubescence, and small, paired cauline leaves.Goodmania is seemingly related to the Death Valley endemic,Gilmania, but differs in having a whorl of five involucral bracts subtending the cluster of short-pedicellate flowers.     

Dedeckera (Polygonaceae), a new genus from California

A new genus and species,Dedeckera eurekensis, are described from the Last Chance Mountains, Inyo Co., California, from an area just south of the Eureka Valley sand dunes. A member of Polygonaceae, it is most closely related toEriogonum, differing from that genus in lacking a tubular involucre, and fromStenogonum, Hollisteria, Nemacaulis, andGilmania in being a shrubby perennial. It differs from all other members of the subfamily Eriogonoideae in having (1) a head of subsessile or sessile flowers borne on a slender peduncle and subtended by 2 to 5 foliaceous bracts, and (2) a single short-pedicellate axillary flower at the base of each peduncle. The numerous yellow-flowered heads are arranged in open cymose inflorescences that terminate short annually produced branches with alternately arranged exstipulate foliage leaves.Eriogonum flexum is transferred to the genusStenogonum. A key to the genera of subfamily Eriogonoideae is included.     

Chimborazoa (Sapindaceae), a new genus from Ecuador

Paullinia lachnocarpa has been known only from flowering and immature fruiting material collected in Ecuador. A recent collection with mature fruit shows that this biternate-leaved plant with multi-stelar stems and schizocarpic (indehiscent) fruit is best placed in its own genus,Chimborazoa. The only known species isChimborazoa lachnocarpa, which appears to be endemic to mountainous areas (1200–2000 m) in the provinces Chimborazo and Cotopaxi, Ecuador. The pollen morphology ofChimborazoa differs from that ofPaullinia. The lectotypification ofP. lachnocarpa is discussed, the new genus is described and illustrated, and a key to the genera of the Paullinieae is provided.     

Neomussaenda (Rubiaceae), a new genus from Borneo

A new genus, Neomussaenda is described to accommodate the species Greenea xanthophytoides and the new species Neomussaenda kostermansiana , described here. Neomussaenda is endemic to Borneo and differs from the genus Greenea in the induplicate-valvate aestivation, shape and indumentum of the corolla, heterostyly, bifid stipules, pollen morphology, seed exotestal cells with tuberculate inner wall, ideoblasts filled with numerous minute druses, and fruits not opening while attached to the inflorescence, but may open later loculicidally by decay. It is close to the genera Pseudonmussaenda and Schizomussaenda , with which it shares the induplicate-valvate aestivation and fruits with a splitting zone for loculicidaly dehiscence. Neomussaenda is placed in the tribe Isertieae.     

The genus Orientodiploproctodaeum Bhutta & Khan, 1970 (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae), its synonyms and a new species

Orientodiploproctodaeum diacanthi from Protonibea diacanthus and Lutjanus sp. from Pakistan and India and Orientodiploproctodaeum chinabutae sp. nov. from Nibea soldado in Thailand are described. Orientodiploproctodaeum and the subfamily Orientodiploproctodaeinae, characterized by an anterior muscular collar, are placed in the family Cryptogonimidae. The subfamilies Harutrematinae and Cryptocollaritrematinae are synonymized with the Orientodiploproctodaeinae. Multiovarium, Anterodiscus, Cryptocollaritrema, Harutrema and Folliculovarium are synonymized with Orientodiploproctodaeum. M. heteroforme, M. interruptum, A. biseminalis, A. triuteri, C. provesiculatum, H. marinum and F. indicum are synonymized with O. diacanthi. O. chinabutae differs from O. diacanthi in lacking a gonotyl and its associated sac.     

Stuessya (Asteraceae: Heliantheae), a new genus from southcentral Mexico

Stuessya, a new genus from the Pacific slopes of southcentral Mexico is described. It is comprised of three species:S. apiculata, previously assigned to the genusViguiera;S. perennans, the generotype; andS. michoacana. The latter two taxa are previously undescribed. The genus is characterized by its urceolate, sclerified (at maturity) involucre. Chromosome counts of2n = 34 are reported forS. perennans. Relationships are problematical, but are reckoned to be somewhere betweenAldama andViguiera.     

The family liolopidae (Digenea) including a new genus and two new species from crocodilians

Two new species of liolopid digeneans infecting crocodilians are described and the classification of the family slightly revised. Liolope copulans from the salamander Megalobatrachus japonicus in Japan actually possesses an internal rather than external seminal vesicle and tegumental spines, and the generic diagnosis is emended to include those features. Liolopids paratisitizing crocodilians are removed from Harmotrema and placed in a separate new genus characterized by the possession of a relatively short body with gonads in the posterior rather than middle third of the body. Liolopids infecting Neotropical lizards and turtles remain in Helicotrema and those parasitizing freshwater and marine snakes remain in Harmotrema. The first new species, from Alligator mississipiensis in the southeastern United States, most closely resembles the species described as Harmotrema rudolphii from a saltwater crocodile in the Philippines, but differs from it by having a shorter cirrus sac, stouter and shorter cirrus, and slightly smaller eggs; it differs from all crocodilian liolopids by possessing a more extensively folded metraterm. The second new species, from Crocodylus cataphractis in the Congo (Belgian), differs from all others in crocodilians by having a relatively larger pharynx and smaller acetabulum. Diagnoses of all crocodilian liolopids are presented. Harmotrema laticaudae, previously known from Laticauda laticaudata in Okinawa only, is reported from Aipysurus laevis, Hydrophis major, and a ‘black and white-ringed sea snake’ in Queensland, Australia.     

Austro-oriental genus Parabaliothrips Priesner (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), with a new Australian species forming male aggregations

A second Australian species of Parabaliothrips Priesner is described, P. newmani , forming male aggregations on the leaf buds of Moreton Bay fig, Ficus macrophylla (Moraceae). The genus, predominantly south-east Asian, is redefined and a key provided to the five described species. Members of this genus feed on leaves across a wide range of plant families, although each species is host specific. The host plant of the previously known Australian species, P. setifer Karny, is newly recognised as Leucopogon lanceolatus (Epacridaceae), and different south-east Asian species are associated with species of Betulaceae, Hamamelidaceae and Fagaceae.     

Three species of Pycnadenoides Yamaguti, 1938 (Digenea: Opecoelidae), including two new species from temperate marine fishes of Australia

Pycnadenoides pagrosomi Yamaguti, 1938 and P. reversati n. sp. from Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) and P. invenustus n. sp. from Nemadactylus valenciennesi (Cheilodactylidae) are described from the temperate marine waters off south-west Western Australia and south-east Queensland. The difference in the anterior extent of the vitelline follicles observed in P. reversati n. sp. recovered from off south-east Queensland waters and the material from off Western Australia is discussed. P. reversati n. sp. is distinguished from P. pagrosomi mainly in the position of the genital pore and in the arrangement of the testes, and from P. invenustus n. sp. in the posterior extent of the cirrus-sac. P. reversati belongs to the group of species with a short cirrus-sac and P. invenustus to the group with the cirrus-sac reaching into the anterior hindbody.     

Johanneshowellia (Polygonaceae: Eriogonoideae), a new genus from the Intermountain West

A new genus ofPolygonaceae subfam.Eriogonoideae is established for what has long been known asEriogonum puberulum. NamedJohanneshowellia in honor of the late John Thomas Howell (1903–1994), a new combination,J. puberula, and a new species,J. crateriorum, are established. The common name Howell's-buckwheat is proposed for the group. The new genus differs from other members of the subfamily in having its involucral structure reduced to a spiral of four to seven bracts each of which is associated with a flower-bearing pedicel and a basal bractlet. In bud and early anthesis the outer two (rarely outer three) bracts may be partially connate, but typically become separate at full anthesis. The connate, ternate, foliar bracts at the base of the node act as a traditionalEriogonum-like involucre surrounding the branches of the inflorescence, the involucral bracts, and the flowers. Members of the new genus are found in the arid Intermountain West of the United States from Inyo Co., California, across Nevada to western Utah.     

Species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from fishes of Australian and South Pacific waters,including five new species

Nine species of Stephanostomum are described from Australian and Southern Pacific marine fishes: Stephanostomum madhaviae n. sp. [syn. S. orientalis of Madhavi (1976)] from Caranx ignobilis, off Hope Island, Queensland, with 30-34 circum-oral spines and vitelline fields almost reaching to the posterior extremity of the cirrus-sac; S. bicoronatum (Stossich, 1883) from Argyrosomus hololepidotus, off Southport Broadwater, Queensland; S. votonimoli n. sp. from Scomberoides lysan, off Moorea, French Polynesia (type-locality) and Western Samoa, with 33-38 circum-oral spines, a uroproct and the vitelline fields not reaching the cirrus-sac; S. nyoomwa n. sp. from Caranx sexfasciatus, off Heron Island, Queensland, with 33-38 circum-oral spines, a uroproct and the vitelline fields reaching the cirrus-sac; S. cobia n. sp. from Rachycentron canadum, off Heron Island, with 36 circum-oral spines, a uroproct and the vitelline fields reaching the cirrus-sac; S. petimba Yamaguti, 1970 from Seriola hippos, off Rottnest Island, Western Australia; S. pacificum (Yamaguti, 1951) from Pseudocaranx wrighti, off Fremantle, Western Australia; S. aaravi n. sp. from Lethrinus miniatus, off Heron Island, with 36-39 circum-oral spines, probably a uroproct and the vitelline fields reaching the ventral sucker; S. pagrosomi (Yamaguti, 1939) from L. nebulosus, L. miniatus and L. atkinsoni off Heron Island, Pagrus auratus, off Rottnest Island, Western Australia and Gymnocranius audleyi, off Heron Island. A digest of described species of Stephanostomum is included as an appendix.     

Nowickea (Phytolaccaceae), a new genus with two new species from Mexico

A new genus of Phytolaccaceae,Nowickea, includes two new species,N. xolocotzii andN. glabra, each known only from its type locality in the states of Jalisco and Morelos, Mexico, respectively.Nowickea exhibits close relationship withPhytolacca by a robust herbaceous growth habit, 7- to 10-carpellate ovary, carpels with terminal, basally connate styles, basal placentation, and fleshy fruits. It is distinguished by green, subequal, herbaceous, and often lanceolate tepals 3 to 12 mm long, ovary and fruit elevated on a well developed gynophore, obovoid or obpyriform fruits, and narrowly ellipsoid seeds.