Evolution of discocephalid ciliates: Molecular,morphological and ontogenetic data support a sister group of discocephalids and pseudoamphisiellids (Protozoa,Ciliophora) with establishment of a new suborder Pseudoamphisiellina subord. n.

Discocephalids and pseudoamphisiellids are possibly two of the most confused groups among hypotrichous/euplotid ciliates regarding their systematic position and phylogenetic relationships. The former were often regarded as related to euplotids while the latter, in the absence of molecular data, were mostly assigned to the urostylid-like hypotrichs. In the present work, the small subunit rRNA genes of several rarely observed discocephalid and pseudoamphisiellid genera were analyzed to obtain insights into the phylogenetic relationships of these highly ambiguous Spirotrichea. Four different tree reconstruction algorithms yielded nearly identical topologies, which indicated both groups belong to the same assemblage. This assemblage is clearly isolated as a deep-branching clade and invariably positioned between Euplotida and Hypotricha. The sister group relationship of the Pseudoamphisiellidae and Discocephalidae supports the previous suggestion that they might represent an ordinal taxon, the Discocephalida. Both morphological and morphogenetic features indicate that the pseudoamphisiellids should be placed in the order Discocephalida but as a sister group to other typical discocephalids. Thus we propose establishing a new suborder, Pseudoamphisiellina subord. n. The new taxon is diagnosed by the following characteristics: (i) two distantly separated midventral rows that are morphogenetically formed with an urostylid mode; (ii) absence of the “frontoterminal row”, which is formed from the posterior-most frontoventral-transverse cirral anlage in all other typical urostylids; (iii) numerous caudal cirri that derive from each of the dorsal kinety anlagen; (iv) right marginal row that has a unique de novo origin; and (v) inhabiting periphytic communities. The validity of the suborder Pseudoamphisiellina is firmly supported by molecular data.     

Remarks on the Composition of the Large Ciliate Class Kinetofragmophora de Puytorac et al., 1974, and Recognition of Several New Taxa Therein,with Emphasis on the Primitive Order Primociliatida N. Ord.*

With the realization that new data (especially ultrastructural) and new ideas are making necessary a major revision of the scheme of classification of the Ciliophora, several groups of ciliatologists are preparing treatises on the subject. The present paper is concerned with the composition of the large new class of ciliates, Kinetofragmophora de Puytorac et al., 1974, established very recently by the French group. Several new taxa, at ordinal and subordinal levels, are proposed for inclusion in that class, with special emphasis on the new order to contain the most primitive of extant species. Actions taken here are incorporated in a major review and revisory work of the author which is being published elsewhere. The class Kinetofragmophora, by far the largest of the 3 classes now recognized as comprising the whole phylum Ciliophora, is itself considered to contain 4 sizeable subclasses and to embrace a total of 13 orders and 14 suborders. Two orders and 6 suborders are named and described here as new, enumerated and briefly identified as follows: Order Primociliatida n. ord., for the most “primitive” of gymnostomes, with three new suborders— Homokaryotina n. subord., for the homokaryotic genus Stephanopogon; Karyorelictina n. subord., for a number of mostly interstitial ciliates which, though heterokaryotic, possess nondividing, diploid macronuclei (e.g. Trachelocerca, Trachelonema, and Tracheloraphis); and Prorodontina n. subord., for a group of relatively specialized formerly “rhabdophorine” gymnostomes such as Coleps, Placus, and Prorodon and order Haptorida n. ord., for rapacious carnivorous forms, formerly lumped with the preceding groups as “rhabdophorines,” many with oral toxicysts and well developed thigmotactic ciliature (e.g. Actinobolina, Didinium, Dileptus, Enchelys, Spathidium, and Trachelius). All foregoing taxa are members of the 1st kinetofragmophoran subclass, the Gymnostomata. In the taxonomic conclusions drawn, new significance is placed on ultrastructural data, on macronuclear differences of evolutionary importance, and on habitat and behavior. A brief review of the literature on psammophilous ciliates is presented. In the subclass Vestibulifera is now located the order Entodiniomorphida Reichenow, a group formerly considered to be a spirotrich taxon. A suborder, Blepharocorythina n. subord., is proposed to contain the old “trichostome” family Blepharocorythidae, species commensalistic in horses and ruminants and now—with their syncilia, etc.—considered ancestral to the ophryoscolecids and relatives. In the subclass Hypostomata, order Nassulida, the suborder Paranassulina n. subord. is established to contain nassulids which appear more highly evolved than Nassula itself (e.g. Paranassula and Enneameron) in perioral ciliature, mode of stomatogenesis, etc. In the enigmatic and still vexatious order Rhynchodida, the suborder Aneistrocomina n. subord. is erected to embrace rhynchodid genera with an anteriorly located sucking tentacle (and other unique characteristics)—for example, Ancistrocoma, Crebricoma, Holocoma, and Sphenophrya. With the banishment of the bulk of the old “thigmotrichs” to the oligohymenophoran order Scuticociliatida, the ancistrocomines are left with the family Hypocomidae (and relatives) in the order Rhynchodida. It is not yet clear, however, how closely related the 2 suborders of rhynchodids should be considered. Special nomenclatural problems are also involved.     

Evolution of the order Urostylida (Protozoa, Ciliophora): new hypotheses based on multi-gene information and identification of localized incongruence

Previous systematic arrangement on the ciliate order Urostylida was mainly based on morphological data and only about 20% taxa were analyzed using molecular phylogenetic analyses. In the present investigation, 22 newly sequenced species for which alpha-tubulin, SSU rRNA genes or ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region were sampled, refer to all families within the order. Following conclusions could be drawn: (1) the order Urostylida is not monophyletic, but a core group is always present; (2) among the family Urostylidae, six of 10 sequenced genera are rejected belonging to this family; (3) the genus Epiclintes is confirmed belonging to its own taxon; (4) the family Pseudokeronopsidae undoubtedly belongs to the core portion of urostylids; however, some or most of its members should be transferred to the family Urostylidae; (5) Bergeriellidae is confirmed to be a valid family; (6) the distinction of the taxon Acaudalia is not supported; (7) the morphology-based genus Anteholosticha is extremely polyphyletic; (8) ITS2 secondary structures of Pseudoamphisiella and Psammomitra are rather different from other urostylids; (9) partition addition bootstrap alteration (PABA) result shows that bootstrap values usually tend to increase as more gene partitions are included.     

Revision of the genus Noculacia Mayer, 1903 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidea) with the description of two new species

The genus Noculacia Mayer, 1903 is reviewed. Two new species, N. africana n. sp. and N. australiensis n. sp., are described based on material collected from southeast Africa and western-southern Australia, respectively. Noculacia bullata Mayer, 1903, the type species of the genus, is redescribed. Noculacia bogisa Mayer, 1903 is transferred to the genus Pseudoprotella Mayer, 1890 mainly on the basis of the presence of a well developed molar, the structure of pereopods 3 and 4, and the setal formula of the mandibular palp being 2-x-1. The genus Noculacia is presently composed of three species: N. africana n. sp., N. australiensis n. sp, and N. bullata Mayer, 1903. The genus Pseudoprotella is composed of P. bogisa (Mayer, 1903), P. inermis Chevreux, 1927, and P. phasma (Montagu, 1804).     

Morphology,morphogenesis, and molecular phylogeny of a new marine urostylid ciliate (Ciliophora,Stichotrichia) from the South China Sea,and a brief overview of the convergent evolution of the midventral pattern within the Spirotrichea

The morphology, infraciliature, morphogenetic events, and small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene‐based phylogeny of a stichotrich ciliate, Bergeriella ovata gen. et sp. nov. , found in coastal waters off Daya Bay, Guangdong, South China, were investigated. The new taxon has an atypical midventral pattern, and is characterized by several rather unusual morphological features: frontal cirri forming an irregular tricorona; one nonmigratory row located right of the midventral rows, which is morphogenetically derived from the posteriormost fronto‐ventral‐transverse (FVT) streak; conspicuously enlarged postoral ventral cirri, whereas the left ventral cirri are delicate and arranged in oblique rows. Based on both the morphological and morphogenetical data, a new family, Bergeriellidae fam. nov. , is proposed. In the SSU rRNA phylogenetic trees, B. ovata gen. et sp. nov. groups with the classic urostylids (urostylids s.s.) with high nodal support. Our phylogenetic analyses have revealed at least seven separate clades for midventral pattern‐bearing taxa (e.g. Pattersoniella, Neokeronopsis, Rigidothrix, urostylids s.s., Uroleptidae, Holostichidae + Psammomitridae, and Pseudoamphisiellidae), suggesting that the order Urostylida Jankowski, 1979 sensu Lynn, 2008 is a polyphyletic assemblage, and that the convergent evolution of the urostylid midventral pattern might have occurred more times among the spirotrichs than has previously been recognized. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 697–710.     

Phylogeny and classification of the Conochilidae (Rotifera, Monogononta, Flosculariacea)

To resolve several taxonomic problems within the family Conochilidae (Rotifera, Monogononta, Flosculariacea), we initiated a comparative study of the morphology in this and related taxa using samples collected from widely separated geographical regions. As part of this study, we paid special attention to trophal morphology using scanning electron microscopy. We also constructed and analysed a data matrix comprising 19 morphological characters of 11 taxa using cladistic methods to uncover all most-parsimonious trees. The results indicate that Conochilidae share a body form with Flosculariidae, but they possess a trophal structure which clearly differentiates them from all other Flosculariacea; thus, the diagnosis of the family Conochilidae is amended to incorporate morphological characters of the trophi. The analysis of our data matrix yielded a single, most-parsimonious tree. From the topology of that tree and our scanning electron microscopy observations, we propose the following: (1) the status of Conochilidae as a separate suborder of Flosculariacea is rejected; (2) taxonomic separation of Conochilus and Conochiloides as subgenera of Conochilus is confirmed; and (3) Lacinularia causeyae Vidrine, Mclaughlin & Willis, 1985 is reallocated to a new genus within the family Conochilide, Conochilopsis gen. nov., as Conochilopsis causeyae (Vidrine et al .) comb. nov.     

Phylogeny of the millipede genus Sphaeriodesmus Peters, 1864 (Polydesmida: Sphaeriodesmidae) based on morphological characters

In order to understand the evolutionary relationships among the species encompassed within the genus Sphaeriodesmus Peters, 1864, a cladistic analysis including 63 species was conducted. Ninety-five morphological characters were used for the phylogenetic reconstruction. The results suggested that the current composition of the genus Sphaeriodesmus does not circumscribe a monophyletic group; instead, the genera Eusphaeriodesmus, Colobodesmus, and Proeilodesmus are here synonymized under Sphaeriodesmus. Although raw morphological data had suggested the genus Lophocyclus as the sister taxon of Sphaeriodesmus, the phylogenetic analysis under implied weight identified the genus Cyphodesmus as the taxon most closely related to Sphaeriodesmus. Sphaeriodesmus isolatus Chamberlin, 1940 is a subjective synonym of Sphaeriodesmus conformans Chamberlin, 1925. The putative subdivisions previously proposed within Sphaeriodesmus do not hold as monophyletic either. Low stability was observed concerning the higher-level phylogenetic relationships of Sphaeriodesmus. Sphaeriodesmus crucis (Loomis, 1974), S. mecistonyx (Hoffman, 1990), and S. triramus (Kraus, 1954) are new combinations.     

Multigene‐based phylogeny of Urostylida (Ciliophora,Hypotrichia), with establishment of a novel family

The Urostylida is a major taxon of hypotrichs with many unresolved evolutionary relationships. Due to incomplete or inaccurate character states and a paucity of morphogenetic data, the phylogeny of several taxa within urostylids is unresolved. Molecular phylogeny studies based on single gene (SSU rDNA) data may lead to conflict between morphological classification and SSU rDNA tree. In this work, 20 new sequences (SSU rDNA, ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 and LSU rDNA) of five genera of urostylids are provided to further investigate the phylogenetic relationships of this group. The main findings are as follows: (i) the establishment of Hemicycliostylidae, a novel family presently including Hemicycliostyla and Australothrix, is supported by both single gene and concatenated phylogenies; (ii) all molecular data support the exclusion of Eschaneustyla from the family Epiclintidae; (iii) Australothrix, Bergeriella and Thigmokeronopsis are distinctly separated in all gene trees although they share the character that each posterior streak generates the ventral row together with the midventral pair; (iv) compared with closely related genera in all trees, that is Metaurostylopsis and Apourostylopsis, Neourostylopsis is characterized by having more than three frontal cirri arranged in distinct or indistinct corona rather than the length of the midventral complex; (v) Hemicycliostyla and Pseudourostyla, two morphologically similar genera, do not form a monophyletic group in all molecular trees, suggesting that the bicorona, multiple marginal cirral rows and high numbers of dorsal kineties may result from convergent evolution; (vi) species of Bakuella fall into three separate clades in all trees suggesting that this genus needs to be split.     

Systematic revision of the genus Aglyptodactylus Boulenger, 1919 (Amphibia: Ranidae), and analysis of its phylogenetic relationships to other Madagascan ranid genera (Tomopterna, Boophis, Mantidactylus, and Mantella)

Recent field studies revealed two new species of the genus Aglyptodactylus (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae), which was hitherto considered as monotypic and confined to humid eastern Madagascar. Both new species, Aglyptodactylus laticeps sp. n. and Aglyptodactylus securifer sp. n. , occur syntopically in the deciduous dry forest of Kirindy in western Madagascar. In comparison to Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis from eastern rainforests, the new species A. laticeps shows a remarkable morphological divergence, which may be partly due to adaptations to burrowing habits in dry environments. Despite of the morphological differentiation, advertisement calls and osteology indicate that all three species of Aglyptodactylus are closely related. A phylogenetic analysis of the Madagascan ranid genera Aglyptodactylus, Mantella, Mantidactylus, Boophis , and Tomopterna (the latter including species from Madagascar, Africa, and Asia) strongly supports a sister group relationship of Aglyptodactylus with the ranine genus Tomopterna . We therefore transfer Aglyptodactylus from the Rhacophorinae to the Raninae and discuss implications of this rearrangement for ranoid systematics. The existence of the endemic genus Aglyptodactylus in Madagascar as well as its close phylogenetic relationships to Tomopterna confirm that the Raninae were already present on the Madagascan plate before its separation from Africa. The Madagascan Tomopterna labrosa shows several important differences both to Asian and to African species of the genus, and is therefore transferred from the subgenus Sphaerotheca (now restricted to Asia) to a new subgenus Laliostoma subgen. n .     

Revision and Checklist of the Species (Other Than Lecudina) of the Aseptate Gregarine Family Lecudinidae*

SYNOPSIS. A checklist is given of the 89 named species of the gregarine family Lecudininae, exclusive of the 42 named species of the genus Lecudina (phylum Apicomplexa. class Sporozoea, subclass Gregarinia, order Eugregarinida, suborder Aseptatina). The list includes also the synonyms, host names, locations in hosts, known geographic distributions of the species, as well as key references. Another list is given of synonyms, lapsi calami, nomina nuda, etc., associated with the genera. A new genus, Paraophioidina g. n., with type species, Paraophioidina haeckeli (Mingazzini, 1891) and a new species, Lankesteria ormieresi sp. n., are described. There are also new combinations in the genera Bhatiella, Ancora, Monocystella, Ascocystis, and Paraophioidina.     

A mtDNA phylogeny of sea eagles (genus Haliaeetus) based on nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome b-gene

The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of seven species of sea eagles H. albicilla, H. leucocephalus, H. leucoryphus, H. leucogaster, H. sanfordi, H. pelagicus and H. vocifer was amplified by PCR and sequenced (1026 bp). Phylogeny reconstructions by the Maximum Parsimony and Neighbour-Joining methods produced similar trees in which sea eagles represent a monophyletic group. In addition, the clade H. albicilla/H. leucocephalus groups with the clade H. pelagicus/H. leucoryphus in a monophyletic boreal group while H. vocifer clusters with the H. leucogaster/H. sanfordi clade in a monophyletic tropical clade. The nearest relatives of sea eagles are the kites (genus Milvus) and buzzards (genus Buteo), whereas ‘booted’ eagles (genus Aquila) and vultures (genera Gyps and Aegypius) have diverged earlier from the accipitrid branch. Honey bussards (genus Pernis) and vultures of the genera Gypaetus and Neophron represent basal taxa of the accipitrid lineage. Falcons, New World vultures and the secretary bird (Sagittarius) appear in separate clades outside the Accipitridae.     

迷蛱蝶属及相关物种细胞色素b基因序列及其分子系统学研究

迷蛱蝶属Mimathyma隶属于蛱蝶科Nymphalidae闪蛱蝶亚科Apaturinae,该属所包含的种类复杂,其分类学地位存在争议.本文对迷蛱蝶属、闪蛱蝶属Apatura和带蛱蝶属Athyma7个种共19个个体的线粒体DNA细胞色素b基因部分序列进行测定分析,并以花斑螯蛱蝶Charaxes kahruba (Moore)作为外群用PAUP软件构建MP和NJ分子系统树.结果显示迷蛱蝶Mimathyma chevana(Moore)、夜迷蛱蝶Mimathyma nycteis(Ménétriès)、白斑迷蛱蝶Mimathyma schrenckii (Ménétriès)和环带迷蛱蝶Mimathyma ambica Kollar形成1个聚类簇,支持Moore将这4个种由闪蛱蝶属移出并建立迷蛱蝶属的观点.同时,尽管迷蛱蝶在形态上与该属其余3种相似,但研究发现聚类簇Ⅰ中夜迷蛱蝶、白斑迷蛱蝶和环带迷蛱蝶首先相聚,然后再与迷蛱蝶聚在一起,表明迷蛱蝶与这3种亲缘关系较远.此外,本文的研究结果还显示迷蛱蝶属与闪蛱蝶属关系密切,而与带蛱蝶属的关系较远.     

Large-scale diversity reassessment,evolutionary history,and taxonomic revision of the green macroalgae family Udoteaceae (Bryopsidales,Chlorophyta)

Udoteaceae is a morphologically diverse family of the order Bryopsidales. Despite being very widespread geographically, this family is little known as compared with the closely related Halimedaceae or Caulerpaceae. Using the most extensive Udoteaceae collection to date and a multilocus genetic data set (tufA, rbcL, and 18S rDNA), we reassessed the species diversity of the family, as well as the phylogenetic relationships, the diagnostic morphoanatomical characters, and evolutionary history of its genera, toward a proposed taxonomic revision. Our approach included a combination of molecular and morphological criteria, including species delimitation methods, phylogenetic reconstruction, and mapping of trait evolution. We successfully delimited 62 species hypotheses, of which 29 were assigned (existing) species names and 13 represent putative new species. Our results also led us to revise the genera Udotea s.s., Rhipidosiphon s.s., and Chlorodesmis s.s., to validate the genus Rhipidodesmis, and to propose three new genera: Glaukea gen. nov., Ventalia gen. nov., and Udoteopsis gen. nov. We also identified two large species complexes, which we refer to as the “Penicillus–Rhipidosiphon–Rhipocephalus–Udotea complex” and the “Poropsis–Penicillus–Rhipidodesmis complex”. Using a time-calibrated phylogeny, we estimated the origin of the family Udoteaceae at Late Triassic (ca. 216 Ma), whereas most of the genera originated during Paleogene. Our morphological inference results indicated that the thallus of the Udoteaceae ancestor was likely entirely corticated and calcified, composed of a creeping axis with a multisiphonous stipe and a pluristromatic flabellate frond. The frond shape, cortication, and calcification are still symplesiomorphies for most extant Udoteaceae genera and represent useful diagnostic characters.     

Three new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora from the three‐striped ground squirrel,Lariscus insignis,in Java

Three new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora (Siphonaptera, Ceratophyllidae) are described from the three‐striped ground squirrel, Lariscus insignis, from Tjibodas, West Java (Jawa Barat), Indonesia at an elevation of 1500 m. Macrostylophora larisci sp. n. is described from three male specimens, Macrostylophora debilitata sp. n. is described from one male and Macrostylophora wilsoni sp. n. is described from one female. Non‐genital morphological characters of the female specimen, including ctenidial spine shapes and lengths, show that it is not the corresponding female for either M. larisci sp. n. or M. debilitata sp. n. It is unusual for three different species of congeneric fleas to parasitize the same host species in the same geographical location. These three new species represent the first known records of Macrostylophora from Java and they could be enzootic vectors between rodents of flea‐borne zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia typhi and Yersinia pestis, both of which are established on Java. A list is provided of the 43 known species and 12 subspecies of Macrostylophora together with their known geographical distributions and hosts. A map depicting the distributions of known Indonesian (and Bornean) species of Macrostylophora is also included.     

Questa (Annelida, Polychaeta, Orbiniidae) from Pacific regions — new species and reassessment of the genus Periquesta

On the basis of new material from various Pacific regions we critically evaluate the characters for the taxonomy of the genus Questa and the former Questidae, a taxon now concluded to be a lineage within the family Orbiniidae. Two new species, Questa retrospermatica sp. n. from Hawaii (with similar forms also from New Caledonia and China), and Questa fijiensis sp. n. from Fiji, are described, and the morphological character patterns and phylogeny of the genus are revisited on the basis of a cladistic analysis. The finding of Hawaiian material of a new species, Levinsenia hawaiiensis sp. n., similar to Periquesta canariensis Brito & Nunez, 2002 (=Levinsenia canariensis comb. n.), challenges the view that Periquesta Brito & Nunez, 2002 is closely related to Questa; rather, it belongs to Paraonidae as a junior synonym of Levinsenia Mesnil, 1897.     

Systematics of Mukdenia and Oresitrophe (Saxifragaceae): Insights from genome skimming data

Oresitrophe and Mukdenia (Saxifragaceae) are epilithic sister genera used in traditional Chinese medicine. The taxonomy of Mukdenia, especially of M. acanthifolia, has been controversial. To address this, we produced plastid and mitochondrial data using genome skimming for Mukdenia acanthifolia and Mukdenia rossii, including three individuals of each species. We assembled complete plastomes, mitochondrial CDS and nuclear ribosomal ETS/ITS sequences using these data. Comparative analysis shows that the plastomes of Mukdenia and Oresitrophe are relatively conservative in terms of genome size, structure, gene content, RNA editing sites and codon usage. Five plastid regions that represent hotspots of change (trnH-psbA, psbC-trnS, trnM-atpE, petA-psbJ and ccsA-ndhD) are identified within Mukdenia, and six regions (trnH-psbA, petN-psbM, trnM-atpE, rps16-trnQ, ycf1 and ndhF) contain a higher number of species-specific parsimony-informative sites that may serve as potential DNA barcodes for species identification. To infer phylogenetic relationships between Mukdenia and Oresitrophe, we combined our data with published data based on three different datasets. The monophyly of each species (Oresitrophe rupifraga, M. acanthifolia and M. rossii) and the inferred topology ((M. rossii, M. acanthifolia), O. rupifraga) are well supported in trees reconstructed using the complete plastome sequences, but M. acanthifolia and M. rossii did not form a separate clade in the trees based on ETS + ITS data, while the mitochondrial CDS trees are not well-resolved. We found low recovery of genes in the Angiosperms353 target enrichment panel from our unenriched genome skimming data. Hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting may be the cause of discordance between trees reconstructed from organellar and nuclear data. Considering its morphological distinctiveness and our molecular phylogenetic results, we strongly recommend that M. acanthifolia be treated as a distinct species.     

A New Family of Entodiniomorph Protozoa from the Marsupial Forestomach, with Descriptions of a New Genus and Five New Species

ABSTRACT. A unique group of entodiniomorph protozoa was found in forestomach contents from quokka ( Setonix brachyurus ), western grey kangaroo ( Macropus fuliginosus ), red kangaroo ( Macropus rufus ) and euro ( Macropus robustus erubescens ). A new genus, Macropodinium n.g., containing five new species, is described. Three species are described from forestomach contents of the quokka: Macropodinium baldense n. sp., Macropodinium moiri n. sp. and Macropodinium setonixum n. sp. A single species, Macropodinium ennuensis n. sp., is described from the red kangaroo and euro. The last species, Macropodinium yalanbense n. sp., is described in forestomach contents from the western grey kangaroo. At least three distinct features in the new genus are incompatible with any of the described families in the order Entodiniomorphida. On this basis, the new family Macropodiniidae has been created.     

Ultrastructural description of the life cycle of Nosema monorchis n. sp. (Microspora, Nosematidae), hyperparasite of Monorchis parvus (Digenea, Monorchiidae), intestinal parasite of Diplodus annularis (Pisces, Teleostei)

Life cycle stages of a new species of the genus Nosema Naegeli, 1857 (Microspora, Nosematidae), were examined by light and electron microscopy. It parasitizes the gut and the uterus of the digenean Monorchis parvus (Monorchiidae), in Diplodus annularis (Pisces, Teleostei). All stages were in close contact with the cytoplasm of the host cell and were probably all diplokaryotic. The divisions of meronts and sporonts were recognizable by the formation of spindle plaques at the surface of the nucleus. Spores were oval, measured 3.2±0.3×2.5±0.2 μm on ultrathin sections, and had a polar filament with 16–17 coils. The polaroplast presented two parts: an anterior region with closely packed lamellae and a posterior part with wider lamellae. This Nosema species is compared with the other microsporidian parasites of digeneans. This new species is named Nosema monorchis n. sp., after the generic name of its host.     

Morphogenesis of the freshwater ciliate Neokeronopsis spectabilis (Kahl 1932) Warren et al., 2002, based on a China population (Ciliophora: Urostylidae)

The morphogenesis of the stichotrichous ciliate, Neokeronopsis spectabilis, collected from a freshwater pond near Harbin, north China, was observed following protargol impregnation. The overall morphogenetic events are characterized by: (1) the new oral primordium originates in association with the transverse cirri; (2) the proter's undulating membrane anlage is formed following the dedifferentiation of the parental endoral and paroral membranes, while the old adoral zone of membranelles is retained; (3) the fronto-ventral-transverse cirral anlagen originate independently on the right of the proter's undulating membrane anlage; (4) the left and right marginal cirri are derived from new anlagen that originate within the old marginal rows; (5) the generation of the dorsal kineties is of the "two-group-mode" with fragmentation and hence an oxytrichid pattern; and (6) similar to that in oxytrichids, the caudal cirri are formed at the posterior ends of the rightmost and two leftmost kineties of the group 1. Some new morphological data for N. spectabilis are also presented and the systematic position of the genus Neokeronopsis is briefly discussed. We conclude that its position among the urostylids is peripheral and that it very likely represents an intermediate form between the oxytrichids and urostylids.