<Emphasis Type="Italic">Weitschataster intermedius</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., a goniasterid starfish (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from the Upper Cretaceous of Germany

Weitschataster intermedius gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Upper Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Hannover (Lower Saxony, N Germany). The new species is characterized by its conspicuous rimmed pedicellariae scars covering almost the complete actinal surface and by small body size. W. intermedius represents a transitional state between W. decipiens comb. nov. from the Lower Campanian and the well-known W. undulatus comb. nov. from the Lower Maastrichtian of NW Europe. Among Spencer’s types of W. undulatus, one paratype is recognized as belonging to the genus Parametopaster.     

Parasitism of the rhizocephalan <Emphasis Type="Italic">Briarosaccus callosus</Emphasis> on the crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralomis verrilli</Emphasis> (Crustacea: Lithodidae) in the waters of southeast Sakhalin

The crab Paralomis verrilli in the waters of southeast Sakhalin is infected by the parasitic rhizocephalan barnacle Briarosaccus callosus. The prevalence of parasitic infection was on the average 4.36% (6.29% for females, 3.28% for males) and varied between samples from none up to 14.9%. The degree of prevalence was not related to the average carapace width and the sex ratio of crabs in samples. Sterilization of female P. verrilli was caused by the B. callosus infestation or its consequences. No more than two parasite externae per crab were found. Crabs with two externae made up 5.6% of all infected specimens. The infestation of crab hosts with two B. callosus externae negatively influenced the growth of the externae. A positive relationship was found between the width of the crab carapace and the length of the parasitic externae. The survival rate of P. verrilli with either one or two parasite B. callosus externae did not differ substantially. The proportion of crabs with externae and those with “scars” (12.2% in our case) can be taken as the index of survival of the parasitized crabs.     

Addenda to the Revisions of the Genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gergithus</Emphasis> Stål and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hemisphaerius</Emphasis> Schaum (Hemiptera,Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoroidea: Issidae)

The genus Gnezdilovius Meng, Webb et Wang, 2017 is revised. Maculergithus Constant et Pham, 2016, which was described as a subgenus of Gergithus Stål, 1870, is upgraded to a genus. Ishiharanus Hori, 1969 is reinstalled from synonymy with Gergithus and considered a valid name. Two new genera are erected, Ceratogergithus Gnezdilov, gen. n. (type species: Gergithus spinosus Che, Zhang et Wang, 2007) and Ophthalmosphaerius Gnezdilov, gen. n. (type species: Hernisphaerius trilobulus Che, Zhang et Wang, 2006). Hernisphaerius bistriatus Schumacher, 1915, Gergithus carbonarius Melichar, 1906, G. rosticus Chan et Yang, 1994, G. nummarius Chan et Yang, 1994, and G. rotundus Chan et Yang, 1994 are transferred to the genus Epyhemisphaerius Chan et Yang, 1994, Gergithus quinquemaculatus Che, Zhang, Wang, 2007—to the genus Maculergithus, Gergithus chelatus Che, Zhang, Wang, 2007 and G. pseudotessellatus Che, Zhang, Wang, 2007—to the genus Ceratogergithus, Hernisphaerius binocularis Chen, Zhang, Chang, 2014—to the genus Ophthalmosphaerius, and Gergithus robustus hoozanensis Schumacher, 1915—to the genus Gnezdilovius. The male genitalia of Gergithus herbaceus (Kirby, 1891) and Hernisphaerius interclusus Noualhier, 1896 are illustrated for the first time.     

A new late Cretaceous azhdarchid (Pterosauria,Azhdarchidae) from the Volga Region

A new azhdarchid genus and species, Volgadraco bogolubovi gen. et sp. nov., is described based on an anterior fragment of the mandibular symphysis (mandibular beak) and some postcranial elements from the Rybushka Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Lower Campanian) of the Shirokii Karamysh 2 locality, Saratov Region. The new taxon is intermediate in size and vascularization of the mandibular beak between medium-sized Turonian-Santonian azhdarchids (Azhdarcho, Bakonydraco) and the giant Maastrichtian azhdarchid Quetzalcoatlus.     

Icriocarcinidae: a family of portunoid crabs from the Upper Cretaceous of North America

Icriocarcininae ?tev?i?, 2005, an extinct North American subfamily of portunoid decapods, is elevated to family level to contain two Late Cretaceous genera—Icriocarcinus Bishop, 1988, from the Pacific Coast, and Branchiocarcinus Feldmann and Vega, 1995, from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast Plain. The family is centered on Icriocarcinus xestos Bishop, 1988, described from the Late Campanian of Baja California. Closely allied with this species are: “Eryma” flecta Rathbun, 1926, originally described from the latest Campanian of Tennessee and now known to occur throughout the Maastrichtian of the adjoining Mississippi; Branchiocarcinus cornatus Feldmann and Vega, 1995, from the Maastrichtian of San Luis Potosí, Mexico; and undescribed material from the latest Maastrichtian of New Jersey. The Gulf and Atlantic populations compose a single new species—Branchiocarcinus flectus (Rathbun). Provisionally regarded as a lobster, on the basis of a single, eroded chela, B. flectus is now known from complete bodies found at several locations in the eastern US. The additional material also clarifies the identity of B. cornatus, which is based on a distorted external mold of a lone dorsal carapace. Members of the family lack the typical portunoid flattened fifth pereiopod but share other characters that enable placement within the Portunoidea.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Condyloderes kurilensis</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Kinorhyncha: Cyclorhagida)—a new deep water species from the abyssal plain near the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench

A new species of centroderid kinorhynchs, Condyloderes kurilensis sp. nov., collected from muddy sediment at the abyssal plain near the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, North-West Pacific, is described and illustrated using light and electron microscopy. Previously, members of the genus Condyloderes were found only in nearly shallow water enviroments—C. multispinosus (North Sea), C. paradoxus (Bengal Bay), C. setoensis (Tanabe Bay, Japan), C. storchi (Argentina coast), and C. megastigma (Korea Strait). The new species is characterized by the presence of lateroventral cuspidate spines only on trunk segment 8 in both sexes, paired ventromedial appendages (tubules) on trunk segments 7 and 8 in females only, and dorsolateral spines on trunk segment 10 in males only. Condyloderes kurilensis sp. nov. constitutes the sixth species of the genus Condyloderes described so far and the only second abyssal species of the Kinorhyncha described from the North-West Pacific. A key to the six species of the genus Condyloderes is proposed.     

Two new gonad-infecting species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Philometra</Emphasis> Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachinus</Emphasis> spp. (Osteichthyes: Trachinidae) in the Gulf of Hammamet,Tunisia

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845, P. draco n. sp. and P. radiata n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae), are described from the marine perciform fishes Trachinus draco (Linnaeus) and T. radiatus (Linnaeus) (both Trachinidae), respectively, in the Gulf of Hammamet, off the northeastern coast of Tunisia. Philometra draco n. sp. and P. radiata n. sp. can be separated from other gonad-infecting species of this genus by the structures associated to the gubernaculum (e.g. dorsal protuberance, smooth field separating the dorsolateral longitudinal parts), as well as by the length of the body, spicules and gubernaculum. Philometra radiata n. sp. can be distinguished from P. draco n. sp. in having the dorsal side of the gubernaculum distal end provided with a median longitudinal smooth field demarcated by two dorsolateral lamellate parts. These two new species are the first philometrid species described from fishes of the family Trachinidae.     

Brachiopods of the family Linoproductidae from the Kasimovian Stage of the Moscow Region

Brachiopods from the Kasimovian Stage of the Moscow Region that for more than 70 years were referred to the genus Linoproductus (family Linoproductidae) are revised and redescribed. New characters connected with the ornamentation and inner structure of the dorsal valve are used for the first time in the analysis of the taxonomic structure of the group. Six species from three genera are described; four of them are new: one species of Linispinus Lazarev, 2006, three species of Linipalus Lazarev, 2007, and two species of Sublinoproductus gen. nov. The new genus is considered to be transitional between the genera Linispinus and Linoproductus.     

New and little known crickets of the subfamily phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae): 5. Neotropical taxa of the tribe Paragryllini

One new genus, two new subgenera, and eight new species from Ecuador, Brazil, and Venezuela are described. The former genus Hattersleya Nischk et Otte is considered as a subgenus of the genus Neoacla Des. Acla multivenosa Chop., A. reticulata Chop., A. vicina Chop., Selvacla choreutes Otte, S. salvator Otte, S. alsiosus Otte, and S. sophos Otte are transferred to the genus Neoacla, and Desutteria epiplatys Nischk et Otte, to the genus Silvastella Des.-Gr. New data on the geographical and ecological distribution of some species are given.     

Gall midges of the supertribe stomatosematidi (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic region,with descriptions of new taxa from the late Eocene Rovno Amber. 2. The genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didactylomyia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rovnodidactylomyia</Emphasis> gen. n.

One new genus (Rovnodidactylomyia Fedotova et Perkovsky, gen. n.) and four new species (Didactylomyia dlusskyi sp. n., Rovnodidactylomyia zosimovichi gen. n. et sp. n., R. sidorenkoi sp. n., and R. iconica sp. n.) are described from an amber sample of the late Eocene Period (Rovno District, Ukraine). Two species from a Baltic amber sample of the late Eocene Period, described earlier in the genus Bryocrypta, are attributed to the genus Rovnodidactylomyia (R. girafa (Meunier, 1904) comb. n. and R. capitosa (Meunier, 1904)). The first fossil species of the genus Didactylomyia is described for the first time; two contemporary Palaearctic species are recorded. Keys to the species of the genus Didactylomyia are given.     

Two new species of linebellies (Genus Pseudoscopelus) with a revised key of species (Perciformes: Chiasmodontidae)

The swallowerfishes previously identified as Pseudoscopelus altipinnis and P. cf. altipinnis (Prokofiev, Kukuev, 2005) are described as a complex of two new, closely-related, allopatric species having antitropical distribution. P. astronesthidens—superspecies is most closely related to P. altipinnis due to its dark orobranchial cavity and the details of its photophore arrangement, but is unique within the genus in the disconnection between the mxf and apf series of photophores and in the details of jaws dentition. P. astronesthidens sp. n. (North Atlantic) differs from P. australis sp. n. (Southern Hemisphere) mainly in the long upper jaw and pectoral fins and in the presence of the ppf series of photophores. P. altipinnis Parr, 1933 is considered as a senior synonym of P. microps Fowler, 1934. A revised key for identification of the linebellies of the genus Pseudoscopelus is given.     

A review of the palm genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acrocomia</Emphasis>: Neotropical green gold

The genus Acrocomia, popularly known as macaw palm or macaúba, occurs in savanna areas and open forests of tropical America, with distribution from Central to southern South America. They are important oleaginous palm trees, due to their role in ecosystems and local economies and their potential for biofuel production and vegetable oil. Although the taxonomy of the genus is not resolved because of observed phenotypic diversity in A. aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart., there are several conflicting treatments. Some authors recognize three caulescent spp. occurring in South America: A. aculeata, A. intumescens Drude, and A. totai Mart, although a new one was described recently—Acrocomia corumbaensis. Because some Latin American governments want to expand production of macaw palm in their territory as raw material for agro-energy, several groups have been encouraged to study this genus, focusing on the production of biodiesel, seed germination, phenotypic aspects, and genetic diversity. The goal of this review is to compile key information available in the literature and herbarium data, focusing on South American populations of the genus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralepidapedon variabile</Emphasis> sp. n. (Trematoda,Lepocreadioidea, Lepidapedidae) and other representatives of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralepidapedon</Emphasis> from Antarctic fish

In the Ross Sea and Amundsen Sea, four representatives of the genus Paralepidapedon—Paralepidapedon cf. dubium Prudhoe et Bray 1973 sensu Sokolov et Gordeev 2013, P. lepidum (Gaevskaya et Rodyuk 1988), Paralepidapedon sp., and P. variabile sp. n.—were found in demersal fishes Muraenolepis marmorata and Macrourus whitsoni. Paralepidapedon variabile sp. n. is described from Muraenolepis marmorata in the Amundsen Sea. Paralepidapedon variabile sp. n. differs from other species of the genus Paralepidapedon by the position of the anterior border of the vitellarium at the level of the anterior edge of the ventral sucker or genital pore and by the highly variable shape of the testes: from roundish with a smooth edge to sinuate–lobate. Paralepidapedon lepidum was found for the first time in the Antarctic.     

A Review of the Fauna of the Planthopper Family Lophopidae (Homoptera,Fulgoroidea) from Vietnam with Descriptions of New Genera and Species and with Taxonomic Notes

Six new species are described from Vietnam, Apia simplexsp. n., Bisma angulatasp. n., Pitambara trypetoidessp. n., Sarmatoca cathemerinagen. et sp. n., Maracota soulieraegen. et sp. n., and Serida castaneasp. n., and Zeleja thoracalissp. n. from Malaysia. Two new genera, Maracotagen. n. (type species M. soulierae sp. n.) and Sarmatocagen. n. (type species S. cathemerina sp. n.), and a new subgenus Zelomachasubgen. n. (type species Zeleja thoracalis sp. n.) in the genus Zeleja are erected. The genus Binaluana Soulier-Perkins et Stroiński is downgraded to a subgenus of Zeleja Melichar. The genus Silvispina Wang et Soulier-Perkins with an uncertain systematic position is attributed to the subfamily Lophopinae and the tribe Lophopini. The placement of the genus Elasmoscelis Spinola (and, correspondingly, the tribe Elasmoscelini) in the subfamily Menoscinae, the genus Epiptyxis Gerstaecker in the tribe Menoscini, and the genus Jivatma Melichar in the tribe Lophopini is substantiated. New records of 11 species are given from Vietnam, some being first records for this country.     

On the First Finds of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Djanaliparkinsonia</Emphasis> (Stephanoceratidae,Ammonoidea) in the Upper Bajocian of the Northern Caucasus

The genus Djanaliparkinsonia Kutuzova, 1975 was originally described as an endemic subgenus of the genus Parkinsonia (family Parkinsoniidae of the superfamily Perisphinctoidea) from the Upper Bajocian (middle member of the Degibadam Formation) of the Gissar Range (Uzbekistan). A new species D. alanica sp. nov. is established from the Upper Bajocian Garantiana garantiana Zone (upper member of the Djangura Formation) based on occurrences in the Northern Caucasus (Karachay-Cherkessia). Macroconchs and microconchs of the new species are described from the two localities on the Kuban and Kyafar rivers. Djanaliparkinsonia sp. is identified from the lower subzone of the Parkinsonia parkinsoni Zone of the Kyafar River. The species composition and geographic range of Djanaliparkinsonia are expanded: a species previously described from Germany as Garantiana bentzi Wetzel, 1954 also assigned to the genus. The genus Djanaliparkinsonia is assigned to the subfamily Garantianinae of the family Stephanoceratidae (superfamily Stephanoceratoidea).     

Notes on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teskeyellus</Emphasis> Philip &amp; Fairchild (Diptera: Tabanidae: Diachlorini) and Description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cyanommatus</Emphasis> Sp. Nov., a Non-blood Sucking Horsefly from the Amazon Basin

The monotypic genus Teskeyellus was described for T. hirsuticornis Philip & Fairchild 1974, from Mexico. After more than 40 years, another species is described in the genus, T. cyanommatus sp. nov., based on two females and one male specimens from Amazon basin. The type specimens of T. hirsuticornis were studied and we concluded that there are enough similarities to include the new species in Teskeyellus.     

Evolution of the Permian family Spirolegoceratidae (Goniatitida,Ammonoidea)

The evolution of the Permian ammonoid family Spirolegoceratidae is discussed and a new phylogenetic reconstruction is proposed based on new data. Two subfamilies are recognized within the family Spirolegoceratidae: Spirolegoceratinae Nassichuk and Sverdrupitinae subfam. nov. A new genus, Archboldiceras, is proposed to accommodate the Australian species Uraloceras lobulatum and U. whitehousei. Species of the genus Sverdrupites Nassichuk, 1970 are described based on new material from the Volga-Urals Region. The new species S. bogoslovskayae from the Gerkinskaya Formation of Novaya Zemlya previously identified by M.F. Bogoslovskaya as S. amundseni is described.     

Zur Entwicklung und Taxionomie der Tricornidae (Ostracoda) in Mitteleuropa

This paper is an attempt to summarize the existing knowledge on the Tricornidae Contrary toBlumenstengel (1965) the range of the family is vastly extended and its position as well as the taxonomic significance of its characteristic features are discussed. Several trends as to lateral view, strengthening of sculpture and marginal structures can be discerned within the entire generic group consisting ofOvornina—Tricornina—Bohemina—Saalfeldella. Probably these genera listed constitute a genuine phylogenetic line. The author gives a review on the range and delimitations of the most important genera. As a new genusOvornina (type speciesTricornina ovata Blumenstengel 1962; Ordovician—Devonian) is described; new subgenera of the same genus areOvornina andTricornella.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cloacina</Emphasis> von Linstow, 1898 (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) parasitic in the stomachs of wallaroos, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Osphranter</Emphasis> spp. (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) from northern Australia

Three new species of the parasitic nematode genus Cloacina von Linstow, 1898 (Strongyloidea: Cloacininae) are described from the stomachs of wallaroos, Osphranter spp. (Marsupialia: Macropodidae), from northern Australia. Cloacina spearei n. sp. is described from O. robustus woodwardi (Thomas) and O. antilopinus (Gould) and is distinguished from congeners by the shape of the cephalic papillae, the shallow buccal capsule, the presence of an oesophageal denticle and the convoluted but non-recurrent vagina in the female. Cloacina longibursata n. sp. also from O. robustus woodwardi and O. antilopinus is distinguished from congeners by the elongate dorsal lobe of the bursa, with the origin of the lateral branchlets posterior to the principal bifurcation, in the features of the spicule tip, the lack of bosses lining the oesophagus and the absence of an oesophageal denticle. Cloacina crassicaudata n. sp., from the same two host species was formerly identified as C. cornuta (Davey & Wood, 1938). Differences in the cephalic cuticle (inflation lacking in the new species), the shape of the cephalic papillae, the dorsal oesophageal tooth and the spicule tips, as well as differences in the sequences of the internal transcribed spacers of the nuclear ribosomal DNA, indicate that this is an independent species. The geographical distribution of this species is disjunct with populations in both the Northern Territory and Queensland. Possible reasons for the disjunct distribution are discussed.