Species diversity of the deep‐water gulper sharks (Squaliformes: Centrophoridae: Centrophorus) in North Atlantic waters – current status and taxonomic issues

The gulper sharks (genus Centrophorus) are a group of deep‐water benthopelagic sharks with a worldwide distribution. The alpha taxonomy of the group has historically been problematic and the number of species included in the genus has varied considerably over the years and is still under debate. Gulper sharks are routinely caught in mid‐ and deep‐water fisheries worldwide and some have shown a considerable decline in abundance in the last few decades. Clear and consistent species discrimination of Centrophorus is essential for an efficient and sustainable management of these fisheries resources. Our study used molecular cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences and morphometric data to re‐evaluate the diversity of Centrophorus in North Atlantic waters, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean Seas. Molecular data separated North Atlantic Centrophorus into five well‐supported groups whereas morphometric data separated these same five groups and suggested three additional groups for which no molecular data were available. Four of the five groups identified in the North Atlantic also occur in the Indian and/or Pacific Oceans, thus extending the reported range of some species considerably. A species identification key for North Atlantic Centrophorus is provided based on our findings. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

Neoalbionella izawai n. sp. from the smallfin gulper shark Centrophorus moluccensis Bleeker and additional host records for N. etmopteri (Yamaguti, 1939) off South Africa

Neoalbionella Özdikmen, 2008 comprises 10 accepted species, which all infect sharks of Squaliformes and Carcharhiniformes. Adult females belonging to species of Neoalbionella, based on the maxillule palp armed with three setae and the maxilliped subchela claw with only one secondary denticle, were collected from sharks off the coast of South Africa. Neoalbionella izawai n. sp. collected from the anterodorsal part of the spiracle opening of Centrophorus moluccensis Bleeker differs from its congeners by having maxillae that are separated except at the tapering tips where they are fused and that are longer than the trunk, uropods originating from the pointed posterior margin of the trunk and that are well developed, and maxillipeds without an additional spine at the base of the subchela barb. Neoalbionella etmopteri (Yamaguti, 1939) is herein reported from two new hosts (Etmopterus spp.) off South Africa.

     

A new genus and a new species of freshwater Canthocamptidae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from wet mosses of Canada

A new genus and a new species of Canthocamptidae: Maraenobiotus canadensis and Neomaraenobiotus laurentiacus (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) are described and their taxonomic relationships are discussed. They have been collected from wet mosses in Northern Canada.     

Humicolous microcharmid scorpions: a new genus and species from Madagascar

A new genus and species of humicolous microcharmid scorpion are described on the basis of a single specimen collected in the Ankarana Reserve, Madagascar. New considerations regarding the taxonomy and morphology of micro-buthoid Malagasy scorpions are proposed, based mainly on the study of the peg-shaped sensillae of the pectines by scanning electron microscopy.     

Squalus formosus, a new species of spurdog shark (Squaliformes: Squalidae), from the western North Pacific Ocean

A new species of spurdog, Squalus formosus n. sp., from the lower continental shelf and upper continental slope off the coast of Taiwan and southern Japan, is described. It belongs to the 'highfin megalops group', the members of which share a short snout, high dorsal fins, robust dorsal spines, tricuspid denticles and a white posterior caudal margin. Squalus formosus is most similar to Squalus albifrons, a recently described species from eastern Australia, but differs in some morphological characters and fin colouration. Squalus formosus is sympatric with three other species of Squalus in Taiwanese waters, i.e. Squalus brevirostris, Squalus japonicus and Squalus mitsukurii, and can be readily distinguished from these in the following combination of characters: tall and upright first dorsal fin, with a tall and robust spine, short and bluntly pointed snout, white caudal-fin posterior margin and first dorsal fin with a white anterior margin parallel with dorsal spine. This new species was considered by some authors to be conspecific with Squalus blainville from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, but the results of this study reveal that it is probably endemic to Taiwan and southern Japan.     

A new species of the genus Attheyella (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Canthocamptidae) from Gosu cave in Korea

A new species, Attheyella namkungi sp. nov., is described from Gosu cave at Danyang, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. This species bears a superficial resemblance to A. coreana Miura, 1969 in having a 2-segmented mandibular palp with only four smooth apical setae, and in the armature formulae of the antennary exopod and thoracic legs. However the new species is clearly distinguishable by the non-sexually dimorphic caudal rami, two long plumose setae and a short seta on leg 6, and the absence of the setular row at the inner lateral margin of each caudal ramus. The new species is characterized from other congeners by having two adjacent inner spines on female leg 3 endopod-2, the caudal ramus twice as long as its width, absence of a barbed apophysis on male leg 3 endopod-2, and the seta number of legs 5 and 6. A key to the Korean species of the genus Attheyella is provided.     

Description of three new species of Paractenopsyllus genus (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllinae) from Madagascar

The males of three new and rare species of the Malagasy endemic genus Paractenopsyllus Wagner, 1938 are described. Paractenopsyllus beaucournui, P. oconnori and P. raxworthyi have been collected on endemic small mammals and the black rat. As for others species of the genus, biotopes are rain-forests of the central highlands or the northern mountains of Madagascar. Two of the described species were collected at elevations lower than typical for the genus and below the limits of the highland bioclimatic zone. Morphological affinities between these new species and those already described provide taxonomic framework for the genus. An updated identification key is provided for the diagnosis of all the 20 Malagasy species of Leptopsyllinae.     

A new species of Monstrilla (Copepoda: Monstrilloida) from a reef lagoon off the Mexican coast of the Caribbean Sea

From plankton samples taken at a Caribbean reef lagoon off the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, an undescribed species of a monstrilloid copepod belonging to the genus Monstrilla was collected. The new species is distinguished from the other species of the genus by the structure and proportional length of the antennulae, by the particular features of the spiniform genital process, and by its size. The new species constitutes the fourth report of the genus Monstrilla in the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.     

A new genus and two new species of Canthocamptidae (Copepoda,Harpacticoida) from caves in northern Italy

Lessinocamptus n. gen. is established toaccomodate three species from northern Italian caves.It can be ascribed to the family Canthocamptidae Sars1906 and is distinguished from the other genera by thecombined characters of: antenna exopod 1-segmented andbearing 3 setae (or 1 seta and 1 spine); mandibularpalp 2-segmented with distal article bearing 5 setae;swimming legs exopods 3-segmented; setal formula ofexopods: P1 0.0.022; P2 0.1.112; P3 0.1.212; P4 0.1.212; P1endopod 2-segmented; P2 endopod 1- or2-segmented; female P3 endopod 1- or 2-segmented, maleP3 endopod 3-segmented and modified as usual inCanthocamptinae; male P5 baseoendopod with 2 spinesand exopod with 3 spiniform setae. Three species aredescribed in detail: L. caoduroi n.sp. from thevadose zone of Lessinian caves, L. insoletus(Chappuis 1928) and L. pivai n.sp. from caveBuso della Rana near Vicenza.     

A new Mantalania species (Rubiaceae) from Madagascar

Mantalania longipedunculata De Block & A.P. Davis, a new species of Rubiaceae (Gardenieae) from Île Sainte Marie, Madagascar, is described, illustrated, and compared with the three other species in the genus. An extinction risk assessment is given, using the categories and criteria of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 421–424.     

Neoboeckella loffleri (Copepoda: Calanoida), a new species and genus from Bolivian fresh waters

A new species and genus of freshwater calanoid, Neoboeckella loffleri, is described from shallow, high-altitude waters. N. kinzeli (Löffler), 1955, is also included in the new genus. Neoboeckella, like Hemiboeckella Sars from Australia, is characterized inter alia by an exceptionally high degree of sexual dimorphism in size.     

Four new species of the genus Cheimacheramus Barnard, 1934 from Madagascar (Trichoptera: Sericostomatidae)

The genus Cheimacheramus Barnard, 1934 Barnard, K.H. (1934), ‘South African Caddis-Flies (Trichoptera)’, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 21, 291–394.[Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] included only three species, one from South Africa and two from Madagascar. Four new Malagasy species are described herein: Cheimacheramus akandi sp. n., Cheimacheramus barnardi sp. n. and Cheimacheramus anjojorobensis sp. n. from the Anjojorobe Forest, Cheimacheramus madecassus sp. n. from the Lakato Forest and the Marojejy National Park. Diagnostic characters of the genus and species are discussed and illustrated. In Madagascar, these discoveries confirm the localization of the genus within the eastern evergreen forests.

http://zoobank.org/urn:zoobank.org:pub:79472077-04E9-42FA-B55B-9EE291556E60     

A new genus of Platycopioida (Copepoda) from a marine cave on Bermuda

Nanocopia minuta was collected from an inland marine cave on Bermuda. This new genus is reminiscent of Platycopia in its cephalic appendages and in the 5th legs of the male. The 1st leg has a 3-segmented exopod and a 1-segmented endopod. The other legs show reductions with no armature along the inner margin of the exopods and with 2-segmented endopods in the female. Only 2nd and 3rd legs bear two outer spines on the first exopodal segment.Owing to similarities in sexual characters, mouthparts, and modifications of the swimming legs, Nanocopia and Platycopia are considered more closely related to each other than either is to Antrisocopia.Platycopioida now contains three genera of which two are found only in Roadside Cave. The order has retained several primitive characters and seems to have separated early from the gymnoplean stem.     

A new genus and two new species of Aporhynchidae (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) off Taiwan

New collections of cestodes from the spiral intestines of catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) off Taiwan have led to the discovery of a new genus and 2 new species of trypanorhynchs. These taxa are relatively unique among trypanorhynchs in their lack of all elements of the rhyncheal apparatus. The new genus, Nakayacestus n. gen., is considered to belong with Aporhynchus in the Aporhynchidae. In addition to lacking the rhyncheal apparatus, these 2 genera share circum-medullary vitelline follicles, post-ovarian testes, and complex terminal genitalia consisting of accessory, external, and internal seminal vesicles. The 2 genera differ conspicuously in spinithrix configuration; whereas both species of Nakayacestus n. gen. bear scolex spinitriches that are bifid, trifid, or pectinate, species of Aporhynchus either lack scolex spinitriches entirely or possess spathulate spinitriches. The configuration of the bothria of the 2 genera also differ conspicuously. Whereas the bothria of Aporhynchus are sessile and generally do not extend beyond the lateral margins of the cephalic peduncle, those of Nakayacestus bear only a tenuous connection with the scolex proper, being conspicuously free both anteriorly and posteriorly and extending conspicuously beyond the cephalic peduncle. Futhermore, the boundary between the scolex and the strobila of members of the new genus is clearly delineated, whereas this distinction is ill-defined in species of Aporhynchus. Nakayacestus takahashii n. sp., the type of the new genus, was collected from the Broadmouth catshark, Apristurus macrostomus, and differs from Nakayacestus tanyderus n. sp., collected from the Blacktip sawtail catshark, Galeus sauteri, in being shorter, bearing a longer pedunculus scolecis, an ovary that is more posterior in the proglottid, and fewer post-ovarian testes. Furthermore, the 2 new species differ conspicuously from one another in the configuration of their scolex spinitriches.     

Yansacyclops ferrarii,new genus,new species (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) from the Amazon Basin,Brazil

Yansacyclops ferrarii, new genus, new species (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) is described from the plankton of Rios Guamá and Acará Grande near Belém, State of Pará, Brazil.     

A new genus and species (Cornucollis gen. n. masoalensis sp. n.) of praying mantis from northern Madagascar (Mantodea,Iridopterygidae, Tropidomantinae)

An examination of Malagasy specimens accessed within the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France, produced a praying mantis (Insecta: Mantodea) of an undescribed genus and species. An investigation of the internal and external morphology, in addition to its collection locality, revealed that this specimen belongs to the Iridopterygidae subfamily Tropidomantinae. Furthermore, the specimen’s unique combination of characters justified the creation of a new genus. Geographic distributional records and external morphological character evidence are presented for Cornucollis gen. n. masoalensis sp. n. We provide a dichotomous key of the Tropidomantinae and Nilomantinae genera distributed within Madagascar. High-resolution images, illustrations of morphological characters, natural history information, and measurement data are presented.     

Septitrema lichae n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from the nasal tissues of the deep-sea kitefin shark,Dalatias licha (Bonnaterre) (Squaliformes: Dalatiidae), off Algeria

Systematic Parasitology - Septitrema lichae n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae: Merizocotylinae) is described from the nasal tissue of the deep-sea kitefin shark, Dalatias licha (Bonnaterre)...     

Pindamoraria boraceiae, a new genus and species of freshwater Canthocamptidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from Brazil

Members of a new genus and species of harpacticoid copepod crustacean appeared in samples from semi-terrestrial (moist arboreal mosses, wet soil) and aquatic (bromeliad tanks, Sphagnum moss, rock pools, stream) habitats in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in south-eastern Brazil. The new taxon, for which we propose the name Pindamoraria boraceiae sp. nov. , is distinguished by a unique combination of characters, in particular the segmentation and setation pattern of legs 1–4 in both sexes, the structure of leg 5 in the female, and the strongly modified claw of the maxilliped in the male. It most resembles the canthocamptid genera Moraria , Pseudomoraria , Morariopsis and Paramorariopsis . Both previous records of species of Moraria from South America refer to members of Antarctobiotus , which is not considered a member of the Moraria group: Moraria (Kuehneltiella) neotropica Löffler has previously been transferred to Antarctobiotus ; and we propose herein the transfer of Moraria kummeroworum Ebert & Noodt to Antarctobiotus as well. In the New World, the genus Moraria extends only as far south as Honduras; and Pseudomoraria , Morariopsis and Paramorariopsis are Old World genera. The new species from Brazil is therefore the only member of the Moraria group known from South America.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 139, 81–92.