A generic revision of the Phallodrilinae (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae)

The generic classification of the subfamily Phallodrilinae (with a total of 252 species) is revised according to phylogenetic principles. Morphological character patterns are assessed under the principle of maximum parsimony, but due to the poor resolution and instability in the resulting cladograms, the analysis is supplemented with intuitive weighting of synapomorphic similarities. Thirty-one genera are recognized. The former definition of the type genus Phallodrilus Picrantoni, 1902, is revised and the members of this genus are reclassified into 20 taxa, each hypothesized to be monophyletic: Phallodrilus s.str . (revised to contain the type species only), Somalidrilus gcn.n., Milliganius gen.n., Phallodriloides gen.n., Albanidrilus gen.n., Abyssidrilus gen.n., Paraktedrilus gen.n., Uniporodrilus Erséus, 1979, Inermidrilus gen.n., Gianius gen.n., Mexidrilus gen.n., Peosidrilus Baker & Erséus, 1979, Atlantidrilus Erséus, 1983, Thalassodrilus Brinkhurst, 1963, Pirodrilus gen.n., Pirodriloides gen.n., Marionidrilus gen.n., Pectinodrilus gen.n., Pacifidrilus gen.n. and Pseudospiridion gen.n. Nine new species are described from the Northwest Atlantic: Phallodriloides pinnulatus sp.n., Abyssidrilus opulentus sp.n., A. potens sp.n., A. altoides sp.n., Mexidrilus obtusus sp.n., Peosidrilus dalei sp.n., P. aduncus sp.n., P. riseri sp.n., and Atlantidrilus hamulus sp.n. The genus Discordiprostatus Baker, 1982, is synonymized with Nootkadrilus Baker, 1982.     

A new species of myxosporean (Sphaeromyxidae), a parasite of lined seahorses, Hippocampus erectus, from the Gulf of Mexico

Sphaeromyxa cannolii sp. n. is described from the bile ducts of aquaria-maintained lined seahorses (Hippocampus erectus) from the Gulf of Mexico. Spores of the new species are linear, 17-18 μm long and 5-6 μm wide, with flattened tips; polar capsules measure 4 × 3 μm. Routine necropsies of H. erectus following planned death revealed liver inflammation, bile duct obstruction, bile accumulation, and myxozoan parasites in the bile ducts of 11 of 40 animals sampled (27.5%). The presence of S. cannolii in an aquaculture setting should prompt keepers to carefully quarantine new animals and exclude annelid fauna, a potential intermediate host of myxozoans.     

Megadraconema cornutum, a new genus and species from Korea, with a discussion of its classification and relationships within the family Draconematidae (Nematoda, Desmodorida) based on morphological and molecular characters

A new genus and species of Draconematidae Filipjev, 1918, Megadraconema cornutum gen. nov., sp. nov., inhabiting subtidal sediments in Jejudo, Korea is described. Megadraconema cornutum gen. nov., sp. nov. is mainly characterized by a long body (1630-2220 μm), presence of a transverse circle of well-developed papillae-like cuticular protrusions at the base of the lip region, a head capsule with reticular structure of subcuticle, an amphid with a pore-like opening, and an internal, bar-shaped fovea. The diagnosis of the family Draconematidae is emended and a key to genus is provided based on their major differential diagnostic characteristics, summarized in a table. Phylogenetic relationships of all the genera within the Draconematidae are discussed for the first time, based on molecular analyses and morphological features. The phylogenetic position of the new genus and relationships within the family Draconematidae based on analysis of molecular sequence data are examined. Analysis of 18S rRNA gene sequences does not support the currently accepted classification, and indicates paraphyly of the subfamily Draconematinae.     

Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp., a new planktonic heterotrophic dinoflagellate from the coastal waters of western Korea: morphology and ribosomal DNA gene sequence

The heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp. is described from live cells and from cells prepared for light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Also, sequences of the small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) of rDNA have been analyzed. The episome is conical, while the hyposome is ellipsoid. Cells are covered with polygonal amphiesmal vesicles arranged in 16 horizontal rows. Unlike other Gyrodinium-like dinoflagellates, the apical end of the cell shows a loop-shaped row of five elongate amphiesmal vesicles. The cingulum is displaced by 0.3-0.5 × cell length. Cells that were feeding on the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae Hulburt were 9.1-21.6 μm long and 6.6-15.7 μm wide. Cells of G. shiwhaense contain nematocysts, trichocysts, a peduncle, and pusule systems, but they lack chloroplasts. The SSU rDNA sequence is >3% different from that of the six most closely related species: Warnowia sp. (FJ947040), Lepidodinium viride Watanabe, Suda, Inouye, Sawaguchi & Chihara, Gymnodinium aureolum (Hulburt) Hansen, Gymnodinium catenatum Graham, Nematodinium sp. (FJ947039), and Gymnodinium sp. MUCC284 (AF022196), while the LSU rDNA is 11-12% different from that of Warnowia sp., G. aureolum, and Nematodinium sp. (FJ947041). The phylogenetic trees show that the species belongs in the Gymnodinium sensu stricto clade. However, in contrast to Gymnodinium spp., cells lack nuclear envelope chambers and a nuclear fibrous connective. Unlike Polykrikos spp., cells of which possess a taeniocyst-nematocyst complex, G. shiwhaense has nematocysts but lacks taeniocysts. It differs from Paragymnodinium shiwhaense Kang, Jeong, Moestrup & Shin by possessing nematocysts with stylets and filaments. Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp. furthermore lacks ocelloids, in contrast to Warnowia spp., Nematodinium spp., and Proterythropsis spp. Based on morphological and molecular data, we suggest that the taxon represents a new species within a new genus.     

Parasitism of two zoonotic reservoirs Dasyprocta leporina and D. fuliginosa (Rodentia) from Amazonas, with Trichostrongylina nematodes (Heligmonellidae): description of a new genus and a new species

A new genus and a new species of Heligmonellidae nematodes are described parasiting the stomach of three agoutis (two Dasyprocta fuliginosa and one D. leporina) captured in the middle and high Negro river microregion, state of Amazonas, Brazil. The new genus, as well as its type-species, are closely related to the trichostrongylids included in Fuellebornema, particularly on what concerns the pattern of the caudal bursa, but differing from them by the characteristics of the synlophe, that presents a poorly developed carene, when compared to the referred number of body ridges in Freitastrongylus n. gen. and consequently in F. angelae n. sp.,in which the ridges are well developed and the carene at mid-body has a similar size when compared to the ridge situated in front of the right field (ridge no. 5). Caudal bursa is of the type 1-4, with rays 9 shorter than rays 10, with a very long genital cone.     

Ortholinea scatophagi (Myxosporea: Ortholineidae), a novel myxosporean infecting the spotted scat,Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus 1766) from southwest coast of India

A new species of myxosporean, Ortholinea scatophagi n. sp. infecting the urinary bladder of the spotted scat, Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus 1766) is described. O. scatophagi n. sp. is characterized by spherical myxospores with a slightly flattened anterior end and equal spore valves with extra sutural ridges on its surface; measured 7.34 ± 0.67 μm in length, 6.90 ± 0.71 μm in width and 6.48 ± 0.37 μm in thickness. Two polar capsules, equal, spherical to oval in shape, arranged diametrically opposite and measured 2.59 ± 0.42 μm in length and 2.24 ± 0.35 μm in width. Polar filaments, 21.84 ± 2.86 μm long, with four to five coils. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of extra sutural ridges on spore surface. Pansporoblasts spherical to irregular in shape, measured 31.08 ± 2.67 μm in length and 13.88 ± 5.40 μm in width; Monosporic, disporic and polysporic plasmodial stages were observed; plasmodia spherical or irregular in shape with granular cytoplasm containing refractile granules. The species was compared with 23 existing nominal species of Ortholinea, based on morphology and morphometry. Molecular analysis resulted in a 1773 bp long SSU rDNA sequence (GenBank accession number MN 310514). In phylogenetic analyses the present parasite clustered with other members of Ortholinea, under the freshwater urinary clade. Considering the morphologic, morphometric and molecular differences with previously described species of Ortholinea, and differences in host and geographic locations, the present species is treated as new and the name Ortholinea scatophagi n. sp.is proposed.     

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Hoferellus jutubensis n. sp. (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) found parasitising Ageneiosus inermis (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae), in the Brazilian Amazon region

The present study describes Hoferellus jutubensis n. sp., a myxozoan parasite found in the urinary bladder of the driftwood catfish Ageneiosus inermis, captured on Jutuba Island in the state of Pará, northern Brazil. A total of 30 A. inermis specimens were examined, of which 26 (86.7%) had myxospores and polysporic plasmodia of varying shapes and sizes dispersed in the lumen of the urinary bladder, either floating freely or attached to the epithelium. In the apical view, the myxospores of Hoferellus jutubensis n. sp. are rounded, 6.1 ± 0.2 (5.7–6.3) μm long and 5.5 ± 0.3 (5.2–6.0) μm wide, with two sub-spherical polar capsules, equal in size and shape, 2.5 ± 0.2 (2.3–2.7) μm long and 1.7 ± 0.2 (1.4–2.2) μm wide. The phylogenetic analysis of a partial sequence of the SSU rDNA gene, indicated that the new species is the sister taxon of Hoferellus azevedoi, with these two species forming a Brazilian lineage of Hoferellus. The comparison of the morphological and molecular data with those of the existing members of the genus confirmed the species status of Hoferellus jutubensis n. sp., which adds one further Hoferellus taxon to the known myxosporean diversity of the Amazon basin.     

A new genus of Nippostrongylinae (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) from the water rat Scapteromys aquaticus (Sigmodontinae) in Argentina

A new genus of Nippostrongylinae, Malvinema n. gen., with 3 coparasitic species M. frederici n. sp., M. carolinae n. sp., and M. victoriae n. sp. from the intestine of the water rat, Scapteromys aquaticus Thomas (Rodentia: Muridae), from the northeast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, is proposed in this study. The new genus shows similarities to 2 Neotropical Nippostrongylinae: Carolinensis (Travassos, 1937) by some characters of the synlophe and Stilestrongylus Freitas, Lent and Almeida, 1937, by the pattern of the caudal bursa. It is characterized by a synlophe with triple or quadruple gradient of size of the ridges, lateromedian, decreasing from the largest left and right ridges. The gradient situated in the right ventral quadrant is always present. The caudal bursa shows a pattern of type 1-4. Malvinema frederici possesses a synlophe with 17 ridges and an axis of orientation inclined at 45 degrees from the sagittal axis; M. carolinae possesses a synlophe with 22-24 ridges and an axis of orientation almost merged with the sagittal axis. Both species have a caudal bursa with the right lobe enlarged transversally. Malvinema victoriae possesses a synlophe with 22-24 ridges, an axis of orientation inclined at 45 degrees from the sagittal axis, and a caudal bursa with the right lobe enlarged vertically.     

A New Genus and Two New Species of the Family Kinnaridae (Cicadina) from India and Iran

Entomological Review - A new genus, Ptorthus gen. n. with the type species Ptorthus kermanicus sp. n., is described from Iran (Fars Province), and Adolenda marusiki sp. n., from India (Uttar...     

Trichostrongylina (Nematoda) from Malagasy Muridae. I--Description of two new species of Heligmonellidae in Nesomys spp

Two new species of Heligmonellidae, Heligmonina wrightae n.sp. (Nippostrongylinae) and Nesomystrongylus fissicauda n.gen., n. sp. (Brevistriatinae) are described from Madagascar in Nesomys rufus and N. audeberti (Muridae). In Nesomys audeberti, the species are coparasites. Heligmonina wrightae is differentiated from all the other species of the genus, except H. malacomysi Sakka & Durette-Desset, 1988, by the ratio of the length of the spicules on the length of the body (25-27.8% versus 9.5-7%). It differs from H. malacomysi by the pattern of the caudal bursa and by the angle of the axis of orientation of the cuticular ridges on the sagittal axis. Nesomystrongylus fissicauda is related to the genus Fissicauda Durette-Desset & Krishnasamy, 1976, by the absence of the carene, by the ridges discontinuous on all the sides of the body and by the deeply divided dorsal ray. It differs from this genus by a different structure of the ridges, by the pattern of the caudal bursa, (very tiny rays 2 and strongly developed rays 3, rays 8 arising from common trunk of rays 2 to 6) and by the presence of a caudal tip in the female.     

A New Genus and Five New Species of the Gelechiid-Moth Tribe Gelechiini (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae,Gelechiinae) from Laos and Malaysia

Entomological Review - A new genus, Anicula gen. n. (Gelechiidae) with the type species A. tristificula sp. n., and four new species of the genus Gelechia Hubner (G. festa sp. n., G. exigua sp. n.,...     

Interstitial Dorvilleidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from Europe, Australia and New Zealand

Four dorvilleid species new to science are described from intertidal and subtidal sandy sediments. For three of them new genera are erected: Coralliotrocha natans gen. et sp.n., Microdorvillea otagensis gen. et sp.n. and Pusillotrocha Åkessoni gen. et sp.n. One species represents the first record of the genus Pettiboneia from Australia, P. australiensis sp.n. Ophryotrocha minuta Levi, 1954 redescribed from Helgoland is transferred to a different genus, Arenotrocha gen.n. The present taxa belong to a morphological series of species with an increasing degree of neoteny in the family Dorvilleidae.     

Description of Crassolabium persicum sp. n. (Nematoda, Dorylaimida, Qudsianematidae), an interesting species from Iran

A new species of the genus Crassolabium, Crassolabium persicumsp. n., collected from Arasbaran rangelands of Iran, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by its body 1.92-2.40 mm long, lip region offset by constriction and 17-19 μm wide, odontostyle 16-19 μm long with aperture occupying less than one-third (27-30%) its length, neck 428-690 μm long, pharyngeal expansion 369-390 μm long or occupying 54-56% of total neck length, female genital system amphidelphic, uterus bipartite and 162-218 μm long or 2.3-3.5 times as long as body diameter, pars refringens vaginae well developed, V = 54-57.5, vulva longitudinal, prerectum bearing a blind sac, tail conical with rounded tip to conoid (25-36 μm, c=60-69, c'=0.5-0.9), spicules 68-72 μm long, precloacal pair of supplements far (22-27 μm) from cloacal aperture, and 13-17 shortly spaced ventromedian supplements with hiatus. The new taxon is compared in depth to its relatives in Crassolabium as well as other similar species of Aporcelaimellus and Amblydorylaimus.     

Light and ultrastructural description of Meglitschia mylei n. sp. (myxozoa) from Myleus rubripinnis (Teleostei: Serrasalmidae) in the Amazon River system

Meglitschia mylei n. sp. found in the gall bladder of the teleostean fish Myleus rubripinnis (Serrasalmidae) from the middle Amazonian region of Brazil is described using light and transmission electron microscopy. The spores observed in the bile averaged 24.6±0.8 μm long, 8.7±0.4 μm wide and 5.1±0.3 μm thick and were strongly furcate and arcuate ∩-shaped composed of two symmetric equal-sized valves, up to ～70 nm thick. Each valve possessed one opposed tapering appendage, 20.1±0.7 μm long, oriented parallel towards the basal tip of the appendages and joined along a right suture line forming a thick strand. The strand goes around the central part of the spore, which in turn surrounds two equal and symmetric spherical polar capsules (PC), 2.1±0.3 μm in diameter, located at the same level. Each capsule contains a polar filament with five (rarely six) coils. The binucleate sporoplasm was irregular in shape, contained several sporoplasmosomes, ～175 nm in diameter and filled all the space of the two caudal appendages. Based on the arc shape of the spore with two tapering caudal appendages oriented to the basis of spores, on the number and position of the PC and of the polar filament coils and arrangements, and on the host specificity, we propose the name M. mylei n. sp. for this new myxozoan. Accordingly, this is the second described species of this genus.     

A new genus and four new species of quill mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophiudae) from phasianid birds (Galuformes: Phasianidae)

A new genus and four new species of the quill mites are described. Galliphilopsis gen. n. (G. francolinus sp. n., type species) differs from the closely related Dissonus Skoracki, 1999 by loss of leg setae dGII, the slightly divergent tips of epimeres I and the stylophore constricted posteriorly. Three new species of the genus Galliphilopsis gen. n. and one new species of the genus Mironovia Chirov and Kravtsova, 1995 are described from galliform birds (Phasianidae) collected at the Museum of Natural History, Wroclaw University (Poland): G. lophurus sp. n. from Lophura leucomelanos, G. bochkovi sp. n. from Tragopan sp. and Alectoris barbara, G. francolinus sp. n. from Francolinus levalliantoides, and Mironovia rouloul sp. n. from Rollulus rouloul.     

A new Heligmonellid (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) from Oecomys mamorae (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in the pantanal and new data on the synlophe of Guerrerostrongylus zetta from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

A new species of Heligmonellidae nematode, Guerrerostrongylus gomesae n. sp., is described from specimens collected from the small intestine of the rodent Oecomys mamorae Thomas, 1906 in the Brazilian Pantanal. It differs from the 2 other species of the genus by the number of ridges in the synlophe 35-46 and 40-48 at the midbody in the male and female, respectively, by rays 8 arising at midlength of the dorsal trunk, ending near the margin of the caudal bursa, and the dorsal ray divided at the second-third part into 2 branches, each branch divided into 2 subequal subbranches. In addition, specimens of Guerrerostrongylus zetta Travassos, 1937 collected in Oligoryzomys nigripes Olfers, 1818 contain synlophe with 36-42 cuticular ridges in males and 38-42 in females at the midbody. By the characteristics of the synlophe and caudal bursa, Gerrerostrongylus gomesae n. sp. is considered a new species. We suggest that the number of cuticular ridges for this genus broadens the range of the cuticular ridges to at least 35 at midbody.     

A new gymnosperm <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sylvocarpus armatus</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Permian of the Ural Mountains

A Permian gymnosperm is described as a new genus and new species, Sylvocarpus armatus gen. et sp. nov., on the basis of half-closed seed-bearing capsules. The new plant is assigned to the Angaropeltidaceae, a family related to the Peltaspermales and Caytoniales.     

Phylogenetic revision of the Taenogera Kröber genus-group (Diptera: Therevidae), with descriptions of two new genera

The phylogenetic relationships of the Taenogera genus-group, consisting of nine genera, are examined using cladistic methods. Twenty-one species representing nine genera and one outgroup were compared in a cladistic analysis across 99 states in 44 characters. The genus Taenogera Kröber is revised to contain only T. longa (Schiner), T. nitida (Macquart) and T. notatithorax Mann. Two new genera are described and figured: Actenomeros gen. n., with two species, A. corniculaticaudus sp. n. and A. onyx sp. n.; and Taenogerella gen. n., with four species, Ta. elizabethae sp. n., Ta. platina sp. n., Ta. schlingeri sp. n. and Ta . nigrapicalis (Mann) comb. n. Phylogenetic analysis also supports the removal of Nanexila gracilis (Mann) comb. n. from Taenogera .     

Palaearctic species of the genus Confluaria Ablasov (Cestoda,Hymenolepididae): a redescription and synonymy of C. capillaris (Rudolphi, 1810)

Four species of actinosporeans are described from marine oligochaetes (all Tubificidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. They developed in the coelom of the oligochaete and produced spores in groups of eight in the pansporocysts. The new genus Endocapsa is proposed within the family Sphaeractinomyxidae Janiszewska, 1957 on the basis that mature spores have small valve cell processes and non-protruding polar capsules. The type-species, Endocapsa rosulata n. sp., has three valve cell processes, which resemble a rosette, and submerged polar capsules. It infected Heterodrilus cf. keenani from Heron Island and morphologically similar parasites occurred in Thalassodrilides cf. gurwitschi and Heronidrilus sp. from Lizard Island. E. stepheni n. sp. has asymmetrical valve cell processes and submerged polar capsules. It was found in H. cf. keenani and H. queenslandicus from Heron Island. Sphaeractinomyxon leptocapsula n. sp. has thin widely spaced polar capsules and is described from Heronidrilus sp. from Lizard Island. S. ersei Hallett, O'Donoghue & Lester, 1998 infected Tubificidae gen. sp. from Heron Island and S. cf. ersei occurred in Bathydrilus sp., Thalassodrilides cf. gurwitschi and Limnodriloides lateroporus from Lizard Island.