Martinssonia elongata gen. et sp.n., a crustacean-like euarthropod from the Upper Cambrian 'Orsten' of Sweden

A tiny arthropod, with five growth stages, is described. Three of the instars are metanauplius-like larvae, having unsegmented bodies and four pairs of appendages. The largest stage, with a length of about 1.5 mm, may still be immature. Its body is divided into three tagmata. The cephalon, including five appendiculate segments, h a projecting forehead with a rostral spine and a small shield with a joint between fourth and fifth segments. Eyes are absent. The trunk is composed of seven annular segments, the anterior two with appendages. The caudal end is a long pleotelson-like segment with the anus on its ventral surface. There are seven pairs of appendages: uniramous antennulae, composed of few tubular podomeres; four pairs of biramous postantennular, almost homeomorphic cephalic appendages; two pairs on the trunk, the anterior pair being similar to the cephalic appendages except for the exopodite, the posterior being much smaller, uniramous and apparently rudimentary. Martinssonia was probably benthic, feeding on detritic particles which it stirred up from the bottom. Besides various crustacean-like features, the new form reveals structures different from Crustacea as well as from all other known arthropodan groups. Martinssonia presumably is a descendant of an euarthropodan group, originating from the crustacean branch long before reaching the eucrustacean level of evolution.     

New taxa in the Tremellales: Bulleribasidium oberjochense gen. et sp. nov., Papiliotrema bandonii gen. et sp. nov. and Fibulobasidium murrhardtense sp. nov

Two new genera, Bulleribasidium and Papiliotrema, and three new species, B. oberjochense, P. bandonii and Fibulobasidium murrhardtense are described. An integrated analysis of morphological, ultrastructural, physiological, and molecular data indicates that the new taxa belong to the Tremellales (Basidiomycota). Relevant characteristics of the new genera and species are discussed and compared with those of closely related taxa.     

A haptophyte bearing siliceous scales: ultrastructure and phylogenetic position of Hyalolithus neolepis gen. et sp. nov. (Prymnesiophyceae, Haptophyta)

A haptophyte alga bearing hyaline but conspicuous scales was discovered in surface water samples of Shiribeshi Seamount, Japan. X-ray elemental analysis confirmed that silica was the major element in these scales. These scales were hat-shaped, ellipsoidal in top view, 4-6mum wide and 5-7mum long, perforated by several small pores, and were deposited on cells in several layers. Beneath the siliceous scale layers, organic scales were present, which are typical of haptophytes. The cells were non-motile despite having two short flagella hidden in the scale case. The haptonema, extended over the scale case, and one and a half times the cell length. The intracellular features were typical of haptophytes, including the peripheral endoplasmic reticulum (PER), Golgi cisternae with peculiar dilations, and the flagellar apparatus. The siliceous scales were produced in vesicles in the posterior region of the cell. Motile cells lacking silica scales were observed occasionally when cultures were maintained at lower temperatures and under oligotrophic conditions. This alga was described as Hyalolithus neolepis gen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis using the SSU rDNA and rbcL gene sequences indicated that Hyalolithus is a member of the Prymnesiales and falls in a clade including Prymnesium, Platychrysis, and Chrysochromulina polylepis. Based on these results, the evolutionary implications of the presence of silicified scales in haptophytes is discussed.     

Parablastocatena tetracerae gen. et sp. nov. and Corynesporella licualae sp. nov. from Hainan, China

Parablastocatena tetracerae gen. et sp. nov. and Corynesporella licualae sp. nov., collected on dead branches of Tetracera asiatica and Licuala fordiana, respectively, in tropical forests of China, are described and illustrated. Parablastocatena tetracerae is the type species for a new monotypic genus in possessing macronematous conidiophores forming distinct synnemata with holoblastic conidiogenesis and euseptate, short-chained conidia ending in a paler brown rostrum, whereas C. licualae is distinguished from described species by the smaller conidia with long appendages. A key to currently accepted species of Corynesporella is provided.     

Foonchewia guangdongensis gen. et sp. nov. (Rubioideae: Rubiaceae) and its systematic position inferred from chloroplast sequences and morphology

Abstract The new species, Foonchewia guangdongensis R. J. Wang & H. Z. Wen and the new monotypic genus Foonchewia R. J. Wang (Rubioideae, Rubiaceae), are described from eastern Guangdong, China. It is characterized by its subshrub habit, pentamerous and heterostylous flowers, 2‐1ocular ovary with many ovules, and apically dehiscent capsules with numerous angulated seeds. Phylogenetic analysis of four chloroplast DNA regions (rbcL, rps16, ndhF, and atpB‐rbcL) revealed that the new genus is nested in the Spermacoceae alliance and is sister to Dunnia. Morphological comparison between these two genera indicated that they had few synapomorphies; it was therefore inappropriate to classify the new genus in the existing tribe Dunnieae, and a new tribe, Foonchewieae R. J. Wang, is accordingly proposed.     

Saccharopolyspora karakumensis sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora elongata sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora aridisoli sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora terrae sp. nov. and their biotechnological potential revealed by genome analysis

Exploration of unexplored habitats for novel actinobacteria with high bioactivity potential holds great promise in the search for novel entities. During the course of isolation of actinobacteria from desert soils, four actinobacteria, designated as 5K548^T, 7K502^T, 16K309^T and 16K404^T, were isolated from the Karakum Desert and their bioactivity potential as well as taxonomic provenances were revealed by comprehensive genome analyses. Pairwise sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA genes indicated that the four strains are representatives of putatively novel taxa within the prolific actinobacterial genus Saccharopolyspora. The strains have typical chemotaxonomic characteristics of the genus Saccharopolyspora by having meso-diaminopimelic acid as diagnostic diaminoacid, arabinose, galactose and ribose as whole-cell sugars. Consistent with this assignment, all of the isolates contained phosphatidylcholine in their polar lipid profiles and MK-9(H₄) as the predominant menaquinone. The sizes of the genomes of the isolates ranged from 6.0 to 10.2 Mb and the associated G + C contents from 69.6 to 69.7 %. Polyphasic characterizations including determination of overall genome relatedness indices revealed that the strains are representatives of four novel species in the genus Saccharopolyspora. Consequently, isolates 5K548^T, 7K502^T, 16K404^T and 16K309^T are proposed as novel Saccharopolyspora species for which the names of Saccharopolyspora karakumensis sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora elongata sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora aridisoli sp. nov. and Saccharopolyspora terrae sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. Comprehensive genome analysis for biosynthetic gene clusters showed that the strains have high potential for novel secondary metabolites. Moreover, the strains harbour many antimicrobial resistance genes providing more evidence for their potentiality for bioactive metabolites.     

Symbiomonas scintillans gen. et sp. nov. and Picophagus flagellatus gen. et sp. nov. (Heterokonta): two new heterotrophic flagellates of picoplanktonic size

Two new oceanic free-living heterotrophic Heterokonta species with picoplanktonic size (< 2 microm) are described. Symbiomonas scintillans Guillou et Chrétiennot-Dinet gen. et sp. nov. was isolated from samples collected both in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This new species possesses ultrastructural features of the bicosoecids, such as the absence of a helix in the flagellar transitional region (found in Cafeteria roenbergensis and in a few bicosoecids), and a flagellar root system very similar to that of C. roenbergensis, Acronema sippewissettensis, and Bicosoeca maris. This new species is characterized by a single flagellum with mastigonemes, the presence of endosymbiotic bacteria located close to the nucleus, the absence of a lorica and a R3 root composed of a 6+3+x microtubular structure. Phylogenetical analyses of nuclear-encoded SSU rDNA gene sequences indicate that this species is close to the bicosoecids C. roenbergensis and Siluania monomastiga. Picophagus flagellatus Guillou et Chrétiennot-Dinet gen. et sp. nov. was collected in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Cells are naked and possess two flagella. This species is characterized by the lack of a transitional helix and lateral filaments on the flagellar tubular hairs, the absence of siliceous scales, two unequal flagella, R1 + R3 roots, and the absence of a rhizoplast. SSU rDNA analyses place this strain at the base of the Chrysophyceae/Synurophyceae lineages.     

Conlarium duplumascospora gen. et. sp. nov. and Jobellisia guangdongensis sp. nov. from freshwater habitats in China

Conlarium duplumascospora gen. et. sp. nov. and Jobellisia guangdongensis sp. nov. are described and illustrated from submerged wood collected from Guangdong Province, China. Conlarium duplumascospora is characterized by gregarious, coriaceous and beaked ascomata; cylindrical, unitunicate asci with a bipartite apical ring; biseriate, fusiform, hyaline, 0-5-septate ascospores with or without appendages; and anamorph with muriform conidia. Jobellisia guangdongensis is characterized by globose to subglobose, gregarious and papillate ascomata; three-layered peridium; cylindrical, unitunicate asci with a refractive apical ring; and one-septate, fusiform, greenish brown ascospores. Sequence analyses of partial nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) were performed to infer the phylogenetic affinities of these new taxa. A key to species of Jobellisia is provided.     

Tortulomyces thailandicus gen. et sp. nov. and Nitschkia siamensis sp. nov. (Coronophorales,Ascomycota) from northern Thailand

Two new species collected in northern Thailand are herein described and discussed. Tortulomyces thailandicus is the type of a new genus characterized by a combination of such features as a dense subiculum, non-ostiolate ascomata, two kinds of paraphyses (filiform and bead-like), and 1-septate, brown ascospores. Nitschkia siamensis has non-ostiolate, turbinate and stalked ascomata and hyaline, often slightly curved, 1-septate ascospores.     

Phylogenetic position and morphology of Raphidiophrys elongata sp. nov. (Haptista: Centroplasthelida) with notes on cyst wall structure and evolution

The majority of centrohelids bear external coverings consisting of organic spicules or siliceous scales. Cyst coverings are usually reinforced with additional layers of modified scales. The cyst wall of Raphidiophrys heterophryoidea has an unusual and complex structure. It consists of three different types of scales and includes the mosaic scale layer not known in other centrohelids. During excystment, the cyst wall fragments along the sutures of the mosaic layer. For other Raphidiophrys species, cyst coverings are not studied. The present paper describes a new Raphidiophrys species, R. elongata, belonging to the NC7 environmental clade. Trophozoites bore thin plate scales with reduced upper plate. Under starvation, cysts emerged in clonal cultures. Cyst coverings of R. elongata and R. heterophryoidea were studied in comparison with the use of FIB-SEM. Cyst wall of R. elongata was significantly thinner than in R. heterophryoidea and was formed with 3–5 layers of uniform overlapping scales. No mosaic scale layer was present. During excystment, trophozoite exited cyst shell through random fissure. Possible evolutionary events and driving forces behind the complication of cyst wall within Raphidiophrys were discussed.     

A mid-Cretaceous trichomycete,Priscadvena corymbosa gen. et sp. nov., in Burmese amber

Priscadvena corymbosa gen. et sp. nov., is described from thalli and sporangia emerging from the oral cavity of a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The fossil contains several features unknown in extant Trichomycetes including a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) host, spiny, aerial thalli with the entire thallus bearing numerous small uninucleate globular spores and stalks attached to the oral cavity of its host. Based on these features, P. corymbosa gen. et sp. nov. is placed in a new family, Priscadvenaceae fam. nov., and new order, Priscadvenales ord. nov. The new morphological and behavioral features of the fossil add to the diversity of the trichomycetes as currently defined.     

Havispora longyearbyenensis gen. et sp. nov.: an arctic marine fungus from Svalbard, Norway

Information on the diversity and ecology of arctic marine fungi is lacking. During a short visit to Longyearbyen (78 degrees 13'N 15 degrees 33'E), Svalbard, Norway, a new marine fungus growing on driftwood collected at the shore was encountered. This taxon belongs to the Halosphaeriales (Ascomycota), a fungal order of mostly marine species. Havispora longyearbyenensis gen. et sp. nov. is morphologically similar to Nautosphaeria and Nereiospora, all with tufts of appendages at polar and equatorial positions of the ascospore but differing in color and septation of the ascospore and morphology and ontogeny of the ascospore appendage.     

Mobilicoccus pelagius gen. nov., sp. nov. and Piscicoccus intestinalis gen. nov., sp. nov., two new members of the family Dermatophilaceae, and reclassification of Dermatophilus chelonae (Masters et al. 1995) as Austwickia chelonae gen. nov., comb. nov

Two Gram-positive bacteria, designated strains Aji5-31(T) and Ngc37-23(T), were isolated from the intestinal tracts of fishes. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that both strains were related to the members of the family Dermatophilaceae, with 95.6-96.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities. The family Dermatophilaceae contains 2 genera and 3 species: Dermatophilus congolensis, Dermatophilus chelonae and Kineosphaera limosa. However, it has been suggested that the taxonomic position of D. chelonae should be reinvestigated using a polyphasic approach, because the chemotaxonomic characteristics are not known (Stackebrandt, 2006; Stackebrandt and Schumann, 2000). Our present study revealed that strains Aji5-31(T), Ngc37-23(T) and D. chelonae NBRC 105200(T) should be separated from the other members of the family Dermatophilaceae on the basis of the following characteristics: the predominant menaquinone of strain Aji5-31(T) is MK-8(H(2)), strain Ngc37-23(T) possesses iso- branched fatty acids as major components, and the menaquinone composition of D. chelonae is MK-8(H(4)), MK-8 and MK-8(H(2)) (5 : 3 : 2, respectively). On the basis of these distinctive phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis results, it is proposed that strains Aji5-31(T) and Ngc37-23(T) be classified as two novel genera and species of the family Dermatophilaceae. The names are Mobilicoccus pelagius gen. nov., sp. nov. and Piscicoccus intestinalis gen. nov., sp. nov., and the type strains are Aji5-31(T) (=NBRC 104925(T) =DSM 22762(T)) and Ngc37-23(T) (=NBRC 104926(T) =DSM 22761(T)), respectively. In addition, D. chelonae should be reassigned to a new genus of the family Dermatophilaceae with the name Austwickia chelonae gen. nov., comb. nov.     

Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on a new taxon of budding, hyphal Proteobacteria, Hirschia baltica gen. nov., sp. nov

Four strains of budding, hyphal bacteria, which had very similar chemotaxonomic properties, were isolated from the Baltic Sea. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization experiments, indicated that three of the new isolates were closely related, while the fourth was only moderately related to the other three. Sequence signature and higher-order structural detail analyses of the 16S rRNA of strain IFAM 1418T (T = type strain) indicated that this isolate is related to the alpha subclass of the class Proteobacteria. Although our isolates resemble members of the genera Hyphomicrobium and Hyphomonas in morphology, assignment to either of these genera was excluded on the basis of their markedly lower DNA guanine-plus-cytosine contents. We propose that these organisms should be placed in a new genus, Hirschia baltica is the type species of this genus, and the type strain of H. baltica is strain IFAM 1418 (= DSM 5838).     

Teruelia diezii gen. et sp. nov.: an early polysporangiophyte from the Lower Devonian of the Iberian Peninsula

A new basal land plant, Teruelia diezii gen. et sp. nov., is described from the shallow‐water marine deposits of the Lower Devonian (Lochkovian–Pragian) Nogueras Formation of the Iberian Peninsula (north Gondwana palaeocontinent). Teruelia is preserved as a compression fossil and consists of isotomously branched, robust stems terminated in large, fusiform, twisted sporangia. This morphology suggests that Teruelia is very probably equivalent to Aglaophyton, a permineralized early polysporangiophyte known up to now only from the Lower Devonian (early Pragian to ?earliest Emsian) Rhynie Chert in Scotland (Laurussia palaeocontinent), which represents an early terrestrial hot‐spring ecosystem. Accepted phylogenies identify Aglaophyton as sister to vascular plants. Our phylogeny‐based results identify the Aglaophyton/Teruelia biological entity (i.e. Aglaophyton anatomical characters plus Teruelia external morphology) as the most direct vascular plant precursor. It shows that at least one Rhynie Chert type plant had a much wider distribution than previously known and suggests that Aglaophyton was not restricted to hydrothermal environments, unlike other Rhynie Chert plants.     

Multi‐gene phylogenetic analyses of New Zealand coralline algae: Corallinapetra Novaezelandiae gen. et sp. nov. and recognition of the Hapalidiales ord. nov.

Coralline red algae from the New Zealand region were investigated in a study focused on documenting regional diversity. We present a multi‐gene analysis using sequence data obtained for four genes (nSSU, psaA, psbA, rbcL) from 68 samples. The study revealed cryptic diversity at both genus and species levels, confirming and providing further evidence of problems with current taxonomic concepts in the Corallinophycidae. In addition, a new genus Corallinapetra novaezelandiae gen. et sp. nov. is erected for material from northern New Zealand. Corallinapetra is excluded from all currently recognized families and orders within the Corallinophycidae and thus represents a previously unrecognized lineage within this subclass. We discuss rank in the Corallinophycidae and propose the order Hapalidiales.     

Alarista succina gen. et sp. nov. (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) in Dominican amber

Alarista succina gen. et sp. nov. (Poaceae) is described from a single floret preserved in amber of Tertiary age originating from the Dominican Republic. The new genus is characterised by (1) a narrow-winged lemma awn, (2) numerous (as many as 17) lemma nerves, (3) a lengthy rachilla internode (implying a lax spikelet), (4) sinuous-margined long cells, (5) silica cells arranged transversely, (6) stomatal subsidiaries low domed and (7) papillae. The epidermal features are characteristic of the abaxial leaf blade surface of members of the Bambusoideae and the fossil is placed in this group.

htp://zoobank.org/033FCBF4-CD61-4C85-97E4-8418C9ABA5E6     

Genitalata mahajani gen. et sp. nov. from Himachal Pradesh, India (Dermaptera: Chelisochidae)

The present paper is based on a collection of earwigs received from High Altitude Field Station, Zoological Survey of India, Solan. An interesting new genus was found which is described below.