Leucothoe eltoni sp. n., a new species of commensal leucothoid amphipod from coral reefs in Raja Ampat,Indonesia (Crustacea,Amphipoda)

A new species of leucothoid amphipod, Leucothoe eltoni sp. n., is described from coral reefs in Raja Ampat, Indonesia where it inhabits the branchial chambers of solitary tunicates. With an inflated first gnathopod superficially resembling the genus Paraleucothoe, this new species has a two-articulate maxilla 1 palp characteristic of the genus Leucothoe. While described from coral reef environments in tropical Indonesia and the Philippines, it is an established invasive species in the Hawaiian Islands. The most likely mode of introduction was a US Navy dry dock transported to Pearl Harbor in 1992 from Subic Bay, Philippines.     

Tiron bellairsi sp. n. (Amphipoda, Synopiidae) from Coral Sand in Barbados, with Notes on Behaviour

Tiron bellairsi sp. n. is described and illustrated. The species, of less than 3 mm in length, was quite common on shallow-water coral sand with a fine layer of detritus. It has a hitherto undescribed behaviour in that the animals move around on top of the sand carrying, with pereopods 3–7, two flat slabs of coral or shell debris for protection. The species belongs to a group of Tiron having stubby, pincerlike dactyls on pereopods 3–7, and is compared with other stubby-legged species of the genus. Metatiron Rabindranath, 1972 is here included in Tiron Lilljeborg, 1865.     

New taxa and revisionary systematics of alcyonacean octocorals from the Pacific coast of North America (Cnidaria,Anthozoa)

A taxonomic assessment of four species of octocorals from the northeastern Pacific Ocean (British Columbia to California) is provided. Included here are a new species of clavulariid stolonifieran Cryptophyton, a new species of the nephtheid soft coral Gersemia, an undetermined species of soft coral in the genus Alcyonium that has been referred in the literature by several other names, and a new genus is named for a plexaurid sea fan originally described in the Indo-Pacific genus Euplexaura. Discussions are included that compare the species to related taxa, or provide revisionary assessments.     

Remarkable nutritional diversity of basidiomycetes in the Corticiales, including a new foliicolous species of Marchandiomyces (anamorphic Basidiomycota, Corticiaceae) from Australia

Fungi in the basidiomycete order Corticiales are remarkably diverse nutritionally, including a variety of saprotrophs, plant and fungal pathogens, and lichen-forming fungi. Tracing the origin of this diversity depends on a clearer understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of fungi in the order. One of its core members is the genus Marchandiomyces, originally established for lichen pathogens that form orange or coral bulbils. We describe here a new species in the genus, M. marsonii sp. nov., which is unusual in its appearance, habit, and geographic provenance. It is foliicolous on leaves of Pandanus (screw pines, Pandanaceae) and produces flattened, coral bulbils resembling apothecia of the ascomycete genus Orbilia. It is also the first member of the genus to be collected from Australia. An isolate of the new fungus and several additional cultures of related plant pathogenic fungi were obtained and investigated phylogenetically using parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian analyses of nuclear small and large subunit ribosomal sequences. Our phylogeny makes clear that Marchandiomyces species and their close relatives contribute significantly to the ecological diversity of the Corticiales and that this diversity is derived mainly from lignicolous ancestors.     

A new marine interstitial Psammogammarus (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Melitidae) from Gura Ici Island, off western Halmahera (North Moluccas, Indonesia), and an overview of the genus

Psammogammarus wallaceisp. n. is described from the shallow marine interstitial of a sand and coral rubble beach on the Gura Ici islands (North Moluccas; Indonesia). This is the first record of this circum-tropical genus from SE Asia, with the geographically closest relative inhabiting the Ryukyu archipelago in Japan. The new species is highly distinctive by the display of sexual dimorphism on pleopod II, with the medial margin of the male proximal article of exopod provided with a comb of short, blunt curved spinules; no other representative of the genus is known to display sexually-dimorphic appendages aside of the gnathopods. The new species is also noteworthy by the outline of the palm margin of male gnathopod II, hardly excavated, and by showing a carpus broader than long. An overview of the genus Psammogammarus with 14 species to date is provided.     

A new species of Hemicyclops (Copepoda,Poecilostomatoida) from a dredged area in Tokyo Bay,Japan

A new species of poecilostomatoid copepod, Hemicyclops japonicus, is described from a dredged area in Tokyo Bay. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the setation of the first antenna, the segmentation of the antenna and the urosome, the length to width ratio of the caudal ramus and the shape of the genital segment and the labrum.     

PROTOPERIDINIUM BELIZEANUM SP. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE) FROM MANATEE CAY,BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA1

A new marine heterotrophic dinoflagellate species, Protoperidinium belizeanum sp. nov., from a coral reef‐mangrove pond was identified from scanning electron micrographs. Recognition of this new species was based on unique features of the thecal morphology, which included cell size and shape, presence of short and wide postcingular plates, sulcal architecture, antapical spines, and intricate thecal plate patterns of ridged hexagonal depressions. The thecal plate formula is as follows: Po, X, 4′, 3a, 7″, 4C (3+t), 6S, 5?, 2″″. Species association of P. be‐lizeanum sp. nov. within the genus Protoperidinium, its habitat, and associated dinoflagellates species are discussed.     

The Drosophilidae (Diptera) of the Scattered Islands,with the description of a novel association with Leptadenia madagascariensis Decne. (Apocynaceae)

Thirteen drosophilid species belonging to seven genera and two subfamilies are reported from three coral islands (namely Europa, Juan de Nova and Glorioso) that belong to the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean. Five species are cosmopolitan and five are African. Three are endemic to the insular Western Indian Ocean, including a presumably new Scaptodrosophila species. On the island of Juan de Nova, most captured flies had pollinia attached to the bases of their proboscis. DNA analysis using the rbcl gene revealed that these pollinia belong to the genus Leptadenia (Apocynaceae), of which a single species L. madagascariensis, endemic in Madagascar and Comoros, is present in this island. This is the first reported association between this plant and drosophilids.     

A new genus of soft coral (Cnidaria,Octocorallia) from the Republic of Congo (Pointe-Noire Region)

A new genus of soft coral from the Republic of Congo is described, Complexum gen. n. Nine West African octocoral species previously described in the genus Alcyonium by Tixier-Durivault (1955) are referred to this new genus, and a new species is described and figured, Complexum pusillum sp. n. The new species is characterized by having encrusting growth form and abundant spiny clubs in the surface of the polyparium. It colonizes shallow calcareous rocky banks (5 to 20 m depth) existing in coastal water of the region of Pointe-Noire. Based on molecular phylogeny this new genus is well separated from Alcyonium species.     

Some aspects of the biology and functional morphology (including the presence of a ligamental lithodesma) of Montacutona compacta and M. olivacea (Bivalvia: Leptonacea) associated with coelenterates in Hong Kong

The leptonacean genus Montacutona is represented by a number of species, mostly recorded from Japan and known only from type specimens. An Australian species, M. ceriantha , has been more adequately described but still in insufficient detail. This study reports upon the Japanese species, M. olivacea . Both M. ceriantha from Australia and M. olivacea from Hong Kong and Japan inhabit the tubes of species of the burrowing anemone Cerianthus. M. compacta inhabits the surface apertures and crevices of coral heads in Hong Kong, apparently not in association with any of the other inhabitants, but probably with the coral itself.     

Early Silurian(Telychian)rugose coral fauna of Daguan area, northeast Yunnan Province,China

Study on rugose coral fauna of the Sifengya Formation(early Telyehian)and Daluzhai Formation (mid-late Telychian)in Daguan area,northeast Yunnan Province,China was carded out.Rugose coral fauna of the Sifengya Formation included 18 genera and 34 species,while Daluzhai Formation with nine genera,ten species.We described rugose coral fauna(12 genera,19 species)including one new genus and five new species,i.e.Protoketophyllum daguanense gen.et sp.nov..Crassilasma huanggexiense sp.nov.,Pseudophaulactis heae sp.nov.,P.convolutus sp.nov.,and Shensiphyllum minor sp.nov..The characteristics and geological significance of rugose coral fauna of Sifengya Formation and Daluzhai Formation were analyzed.Particularly,mgose coral fauna of the Sifengya Formation represent early Telychian rugosan fauna in the Upper Yangtze region and improve the sequences of early Silurian(Llandovery)mgose coral assemblages in Yangtze region.It is therefore very meaningful to further analyze radiation period of rugose coral fauna in such epoch.     

PHYLLODESMIUM GUAMENSIS (NUDIBRANCHIA: AEOLIDOIDEA), A NEW SPECIES FROM GUAM(MICRONESIA)

A new species of Phyllodesmium (Aeolidoidea) from Guam (Micronesia)is described. Phyllodesmium guamensis n.sp. is characterizedby having two rows of denticles in the radular teeth, this beingdifferent from the previously described species of the genus.The shape of the teeth, however, is identical in all the speciesof the genus, and unique among aeolids. Furthermore, P. guamensispossesses a double row of cerata in the precardiac cluster andup to 10 post-cardiac ceratal rows. Also, P. guamensis showsa very dense accumulation of zooxanthellae in the ceratal digestivegland, which is ramified inside the cerata. This species feedson at least three species of the soft coral Sinularia: S. polydactyla,S. maxima and a third, undescribed species. The aeolid matchesthe colour of its prey and is cryptic on the soft coral surface. (Received 3 October 1996; accepted 28 April 1997)     

A new species of Leucothoid Amphipod, Anamixis bananarama, sp. n., from Shallow Coral Reefs in French Polynesia (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Leucothoidae)

Both leucomorph and anamorph developmental stages of Anamixis bananaramasp. n., are illustrated and described from shallow back reef environments of Moorea, French Polynesia. Distinguished by vestigial first gnathopods that persist in post-transformational adult males, this is the second species in the genus to exhibit this unusual character. In other features such as coxae and second gnathopods Anamixis bananaramasp. n. resembles other Pacific Plate endemics of Anamixis known from the region. Specific host association is not documented but suspected to be small calcareous asconoid sponges associated with coral rubble.     

DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE CARIBBEAN CORAL- AND ROCK-BORING BIVALVE,LITHOPHAGA BISULCATA (d'ORBIGNY) (MYTILIDAE: LITHOPHAGINAE)

Lithophaga bisulcata is the most common Caribbean and Atlanticlithophagine and is the only species of the genus known to occurfrequently in both living and dead coral. The abundance in livingcorals is non-random and variable. Most common hosts are Siderastereasiderea and Stephanocoenia michelini. The bivalves are moreabundant in their preferred hosts than in dead coral. Individualsfrom the two habitats are indistinguishable in shell shape,musculature and size of boring and posterior pallia! glands,indicating a single population. Boreholes differ in the twohabitats with respect to size and lining. Linings are formedat the "inactive" end of the burrow; therefore living coralinhabitants line the anterior end of the burrow and dead coralborers line the posterior end. Recruitment rates are unknownin dead coral but were very low in living coral (Received 9 June 1987;     

A new species of Hemicyclops (Copepoda, Poecilostomatoida) from burrows of the ocypodid crab Macrophthalmus japonicus in an estuarine mud-flat in Tokyo Bay, Japan

A new species of poecilostomatoid copepod, Hemicyclops spinulosus, is described from burrows of the ocypodid crab Macrophthalmus japonicus in an estuarine mud-flat in Tokyo Bay. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the segmentation and setation of first antenna, the ornamentation of maxilliped and the modified seta on the first segment of the endopod of legs 1–4. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pachyseris inattesa sp. n. (Cnidaria,Anthozoa, Scleractinia): a new reef coral species from the Red Sea and its phylogenetic relationships

A new scleractinian coral species, Pachyseris inattesa sp. n., is described from the Red Sea. Despite a superficial resemblance with some species in the agariciid genus Leptoseris with which it has been previously confused, P. inattesa sp. n. has micro-morphological characters typical of the genus Pachyseris. This genus, once part of the Agariciidae, is comprised of five extant species and is widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. It is currently incertae sedis as a result of recent molecular analysis and appears to be closely related to the Euphylliidae. A molecular phylogenetic reconstruction including P. inattesa sp. n., the genus type species P. rugosa, and P. speciosa, all present in the Red Sea, was performed using the mitochondrial intergenic spacer between COI and 16S-rRNA. The results confirm that P. inattesa sp. n. is a monophyletic lineage closely related to the other Pachyseris species examined.     

Molecular ecology, speciation, and evolution of the reef fish genus Anisotremus

Grunts (family Haemulidae) in the genus Anisotremus comprise 10 described species which occur predominantly on coral reefs and subtropical rocky reefs in the Neotropics of the Tropical Eastern Pacific the Caribbean and adjacent waters. In this study, the phylogenetic relationships for all described species were examined based on one mitochondrial gene (cytochrome b) and one nuclear marker (the first intron of the ribosomal protein S7). Closely related species of the genus Haemulon and the single representative of the genus Genyatremus, G. luteus were also included in the analysis, following the suggestion, based on morphological data, that they may be closely related to, or possibly placed within, Anisotremus. Two sweetlips, genus Plectorhinchus, which belong to the recognized sister subfamily Plectorhynchinae, were used as outgroups. Two species pairs in the ingroup genus Anisotremus are geminate species, which presumably diverged after the rise of the Isthmus of Panama, thus providing an internal molecular clock calibration. This allowed for a comprehensive evolutionary scenario for the genus. Our data were consistent with two independent allopatric speciation events (geminate species), and one likely sympatric speciation event. Our data were also consistent with the placement of Genyatremus and Haemulon within the genus Anisotremus, thus breaking its monophyletic status. As proposed for other coral reef species, Anisotremus seems to have colonized coral reefs from non-coral reef habitats. In addition, ancestral species seem to have been widespread, since species that are currently found in Brazilian and Pacific waters are basal on the phylogenetic tree. Finally, this study adds to the hypothesis of a secondary evolutionary center in the New World.     

Early Silurian (Telychian) rugose coral fauna of Daguan area, northeast Yunnan province, China

Study on rugose coral fauna of the Sifengya Formation (early Telychian) and Daluzhai Formation (mid-late Telychian) in Daguan area, northeast Yunnan Province, China was carried out. Rugose coral fauna of the Sifengya Formation included 18 genera and 34 species, while Daluzhai Formation with nine genera, ten species. We described rugose coral fauna (12 genera, 19 species) including one new genus and five new species, i.e. Protoketophyllum daguanense gen. et sp. nov., Crassilasma huanggexiense sp. nov., Pseudophaulactis heae sp. nov., P. convolutus sp. nov., and Shensiphyllum minor sp. nov. The characteristics and geological significance of rugose coral fauna of Sifengya Formation and Daluzhai Formation were analyzed. Particularly, rugose coral fauna of the Sifengya Formation represent early Telychian rugosan fauna in the Upper Yangtze region and improve the sequences of early Silurian (Llandovery) rugose coral assemblages in Yangtze region. It is therefore very meaningful to further analyze radiation period of rugose coral fauna in such epoch. __________ Translated from Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, 2005, 44(2): 229–246 [译自: 古生物学报, 2005, 44(2): 229–246]     

A new genus of soft coral of the family Alcyoniidae (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) with re-description of a new combination and description of a new species

A new genus, Aldersladum (family Alcyoniidae), is established to accommodate a previously described species, Efflatounaria sodwanae Benayahu, 1993 (family Xeniidae) from Sodwana Bay, South Africa that was wrongly assigned to the latter genus. This species is redescribed and a second new species, Aldersladum jengi from Penghu Is., Taiwan, is described. The diagnostic features of the new genus include the presence of only figure-eight shaped platelets in all parts of the colony, thus differentiating it from all known genera of the Alcyoniidae. Based on examination of additional material from other localities, the zoogeographical distribution of the genus is confirmed to include the coral reefs of South Africa, Kenya, Gulf of Oman, Taiwan and Japan. Phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial genes strongly support its placement in the family Alcyoniidae.