Redescription of a rare callionymid fish,Paradiplogrammus corallinus,from Hawaii and Japan

Paradiplogrammus corallinus (Gilbert) has been represented by only two female specimens collected from the Hawaiian Islands. The species is redescribed on the basis of male and female specimens from the Hawaiian Islands and Hachijo-jima, Izu Islands, Japan. This species is unique amongParadiplogrammus in having a pair of supraorbital cirri.     

Brachypotherium (Perissodactyla,Rhinocerotidae) from the late Miocene of Samburu Hills,Kenya

Several isolated cheek teeth and mandibular specimens of Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the upper Miocene Namurungule Formation in Samburu Hills, Kenya, are redescribed. Previously, these specimens had been identified as Chilotheridium pattersoni, Chilotheridium sp., Paradiceros mukirii, and Paradiceros sp. They are reidentified here as documenting the genus Brachypotherium based on their bucco-lingually broad molariform upper premolars with short crochet and flattened buccal walls on both upper and lower molars, the latter having a shallow external groove. Comparisons with other Brachypotherium species suggest that the present specimens belong to Brachypotherium sp. cf. B. minor. The presence of Brachypotherium in the Samburu Hills, at ca. 9.5 Ma, is concordant with the paleoenvironment (presence of lacustrine and river environments) known for this locality during the early late Miocene.     

Leptosomatides brevicaudatus n. sp. and a Redescription of Leptosomatides marinae Platonova, 1967 (Enoplida: Leptosomatidae)

The free-living marine nematodes Leptosomatides brevicaudatus n. sp. and L. marinae were described and redescribed, respectively, from material collected in the northwest Pacific. Leptosomatides brevicaudatus n. sp. from Simushir Island differs from L. marinae in the ratio c8 (body length divided by tail length measured on the chord) and the length of the spicules. Leptosomatides marinae is redescribed from light microscopy (LM) observations of the type specimens and LM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of specimens from Hokkaido, Japan. It appears to be impossible to distinguish among some species of Leptosomatides because they are either insufficiently described or known only from females. Secondary sexual characters of males are essential for purposes of identification.     

Tormopsolus orientalis Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Seriola dumerili (Risso) (Perciformes: Carangidae) in the western Mediterranean Sea

Tormopsolus orientalis Yamaguti, 1934, is redescribed from Seriola dumerili from off Corsica, Majorca and Águilas, SE Spain. The vitellarium is interrupted at the level of the ovary and both testes, and a bipartite seminal vesicle is found in many specimens. Oral sucker papillae are always seen. Type-specimens and voucher specimens from off Japan, Bermuda, Panama, Curaçao and the Great Barrier Reef have been compared with the Mediterranean species. Specimens of T. medius Reimer, 1983, from Mozambique have been studied and this species is synonymised with T. orientalis.     

A new stargazer,Uranoscopus flavipinnis,from Japan and Taiwan with redescription and neotype designation ofU. japonicus

Uranoscopus flavipinnis sp. nov. is described based on 39 specimens from the coasts of southern Japan and Taiwan. It differs from otherUranoscopus species in having the following combination of external characters: posterior nasal valve tubular, as long as anterior one; nape naked between the lateral lines; body reddish brown with irregular yellow spots. Previously,U. flavipinnis was wrongly identified asU. japonicus Houttuyn, 1782 (=U. asper Temminck et Schlegel, 1843). This new species occurs from the South China Sea northward to Ibaraki and Niigata Prefectures, Japan. Since the type specimen ofU. japonicus has been lost, one of the present specimens, HUMZ 109237, is designated as the neotype ofU. japonicus to stabilize the nomenclature.Uranoscopus japonicus is redescribed and compared withU. flavipinnis.     

Further studies on Contracaecum spasskii Mozgovoi, 1950 and C. rudolphii Hartwich, 1964 (sensu lato) (Ascaridida: Anisakidae) from piscivorous birds in China

Contracaecum spasskii Mozgovoi, 1950, collected from the great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus) (Podicipediformes: Podicipedidae), is redescribed using both light and, for the first time, scanning electron microscopy. Contracaecum spasskii differs from its congeners by having marked transverse cuticular annulations, the length of the oesophagus and spicules, the ratio between the intestinal caecum and the ventricular appendix, the number and arrangement of male caudal papillae, and especially by the particular morphology of the lips and interlabia. Some previously unreported morphological features of C. spasskii are also revealed and others corrected. Contracaecum rudolphii Hartwich, 1964 (sensu lato) is also redescribed based on the specimens collected from the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (Blumenbach) (Pelecaniformes: Phalacrocoracidae) from China. Based on the geographical perspective, the present Chinese material may represent the species C. rudolphii B.     

Apoxyria hirtuosa (Wiedemann, 1821) comb. n., lectotype designation, redescription and identification key to species of Apoxyria Schiner, 1866 (Asilidae, Laphriinae)

The type specimens of Neodiogmites hirtuosus (Wiedemann, 1821), two males and one female, deposited at the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität (ZMHB), Berlin were examined. The specimens show the diagnostic characters of Apoxyria Schiner, 1866: face strongly pronounced, swollen and curved hind tibia, and terminalia with epandrium large and hypandrium short and obtuse. A new combination is suggested, Apoxyria hirtuosa (Wiedemann, 1821), and lectotype and paralectotypes are designated. The species is redescribed, the male terminalia is described and illustrated for the first time, and an identification key to Apoxyria is presented.     

Redescription of Heterodea zeae,the Corn Cyst Nematode,with SEM Observations

Heterodera zeae, the corn cyst nematode, is redescribed and illustrated with comparative details and measurements of females, cysts, and larvae from Maryland, USA; and India. Scanning electron micrographs o f specimens from the United States are also presented. Revised measurements for the larval stylet and new diadnostic characters, especially in the cyst cone, for H. zeae are given. The relationship of H. zeae to close species is discussed.     

First description of the female of Sarcophaga (Sarcorohdendorfia) gracilior (Chen, 1975) (Diptera,Sarcophagidae)

Sarcophaga (Sarcorohdendorfia) gracilior (Chen, 1975) is documented from specimens collected in Hubei Province, China, using morphological characters and wing interference patterns (WIPs). The female of S. (S.) gracilior is described for the first time, the male is redescribed, and both sexes are photographed. The distribution of the species is updated.     

Redescription of Mayerella magellanica McCain & Gray, 1971 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidea) from Chile with a revision of the genus Mayerella

Mayerella magellanica McCain & Gray, 1971 is redescribed and figured based on specimens collected from Huasco, Northern Chile, which represents the northernmost record of this species. Mayerella magellanica can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by the long basis of gnathopod 2. Figures of all species of Mayerella and a key to identification are given.     

Redescription of Heliconema africanum (Linstow, 1899) n. comb. (Nematoda: Physalopteridae), a nematode parasite of freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.) in South Africa

The little-known nematode species Heliconema africanum (Linstow, 1899) n. comb. (Physalopteridae) is redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations of specimens collected from the stomach of the African longfin eel Anguilla mossambica (Peters) in the Nahoon River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This species, previously misidentified as Heliconema longissimum (Ortlepp, 1922), is a common parasite of eels in South Africa. The systematic status of H. longissimum, a species originally described from unidentified Australian snakes, is unclear and probably several morphologically closely related species have been included under this name.     

Redescription of two freshwater ostracods (Crustacea,Ostracoda) of the genus Eucypris Vavra, 1891 from the Philippines

The type specimens of the freshwater ostracodsEucypris bayensis Tressler, 1937 andEucypris orca Tressler, 1937, from the Philippines are redescribed and their valves and appendages are figured.     

Morphology of adult and juvenile instars of Galumna?obvia (Acari,Oribatida, Galumnidae), with?discussion of its taxonomic status

The adult instar of the oribatid mite, Galumna obvia (Berlese, 1914), is redescribed in detail, on the basis of specimens from Finland. The morphology of juvenile instars of G. obvia is described and illustrated for the first time, and compared to that of other species of the family Galumnidae. The position of the insertion of the lamellar seta in adults proved variable in studied European populations, being either on or medial to the lamellar line. Since the genera Galumna and Pergalumna are currently distinguished only by the relative positions of the seta and line, specimens of G. obvia in some populations show an intermediate situation between other studied Galumna species – with lamellar seta on or lateral of lamellar line – and Pergalumna with lamellar seta at a distinct distance medially of lamellar line. A detailed reevaluation of the two genera is needed.     

The millipede family Ammodesmidae (Diplopoda,Polydesmida) in western Africa

Ammodesmidae are represented in western Africa by two species of a single genus, Ammodesmus Cook, 1896 (= Cenchrodesmus Cook, 1896, syn. n.). The type-species Ammodesmus granum Cook, 1896 (= Cenchrodesmus volutus Cook, 1896, syn. n.) is redescribed, based on neotype selection, as well as on additional samples, often containing numerous specimens, from Liberia, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. A new species is described from Mount Nimba, Guinea: Ammodesmus nimba sp. n.