Haramonas viridissp. nov. (Raphidophyceae, Heterokontophyta), a new sand-dwelling raphidophyte from cold temperate waters

A new, marine, sand‐dwelling raphidophyte from Sylt, Germany, Haramonas viridis Horiguchi et Hoppenrath sp. nov. is described. This represents a second species in the previously monotypic genus Haramonas, which was originally described from a sand sample from a mangrove river mouth in tropical Australia, based on the type species, H. dimorpha. This new species from a cold temperate region: (i) possesses a tubular invagi‐nation in the posterior part of the cell; (ii) produces copious amounts of mucilage in culture; (iii) possesses both motile and non‐motile stages in its life cycle; and (iv) has overlapping discoidal chloroplasts, all of which are diagnostic features of the genus Haramonas. Therefore, it is indisputable that this species belongs to this genus. However, the species from Sylt differs from the type species of the genus in: (i) having a larger cell size; (ii) possessing a larger number of chloroplasts; and (iii) being greenish in color. The ultrastructural study revealed that the structure of the tubular invagi‐nation was the same as that of the type species.     

Haramonas dimorpha gen. et sp. nov. (Raphidophyceae), a new marine raphidophyte from Australian mangrove*

A new raphidophyte flagellate is described from the river mouth of the Daintree River, north-east Australia where there are extensive mangrove forests. The organism has two distinct phases: a club-shaped motile form, and a more or less spherical benthic non-motile form. The motile cell is metabolic and possesses 10–20 chloroplasts. The chloroplasts are imbricated, somewhat reminiscent of roofing tiles. A unique structure has been found at the posterior end of the cell. It is a tubular invagination, which consists of a single membrane supported by many small flattened vesicles. In addition, the structure is surrounded by many fibril-containing vesicles. The tubular invagination is different from both the contractile vacuoles and the pusules of dinoflagellates in both behavior and structure. Based on the possession of these unique features, it is concluded that the this mangrove flagellate should be described as a new species in a new genus and the name Haramonas dimorpha Horiguchi gen. et sp. nov. is proposed.     

Phylogeny and taxonomy of the Raphidophyceae (Heterokontophyta) and Chlorinimonas sublosa gen. et sp. nov., a new marine sand-dwelling raphidophyte

A new flagellate of the Raphidophyceae, Chlorinimonas sublosa gen. et sp. nov., collected from Wakayama Prefecture, Japan is described based on morphological observations, microspectrophotometry of chloroplasts, and phylogenetic analysis of SSU rDNA sequences. The cell was usually elliptical, sometimes spherical, oval or slender, and possessed two subequal heterodynamic flagella emerging from a subapical pit. Greenish yellow discoidal chloroplasts, 15–25 per cell, were situated at the periphery of the cell. The alga is very similar to the genus Heterosigma, but distinct in that there is no invagination of thylakoids into the pyrenoids and no typical girdle lamella in the chloroplast, and the chloroplasts are greenish yellow. Phylogenetic analysis of SSU rDNA revealed that this alga forms a sister clade with the clade of Chattonella and Heterosigma. Based on these results, we propose a new genus Chlorinimonas with Chlorinimonas sublosa as the type species. In addition, this paper is the first report of molecular data covering all genera of the Raphidophyceae. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that the intrusion to freshwater habitat has occurred only once in the Raphidophyceae.     

TETREUTREPTIA POMQUETENSIS GEN. ET SP. NOV. (EUGLENOPHYCEAE): A QUADRIFLAGELLATE,PHOTOTROPHIC MARINE EUGLENOID1

A new euglenoid genus and species, Tetreutreptia pomquetensis, is described from winter waters of Maritime Canada. This phototrophic species is characterized by four emergent heterodynamic flagella, two about the length of the cell and two less than one-half this length. Tetreutreptia pomquetensis has features in common with species of Eutreptiella while it differs in several respects from any of the described species of that genus. It could be assigned to the order Eutreptiales or Euglenamorphales sensu Leedale or the order Euglenales sensu Farmer. This new alga has a narrow range of temperature tolerance; it grows best from 0° to 7° C and dies at temperatures above 10° C. The optimum salinity for growth was near full-strength seawater. Growth conditions for the alga define the conditions whence this species was isolated.     

A new aerial alga, Stichococcus ampulliformis sp. nov. (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) from Japan

A new aerial alga, Stichococcus ampulliformis S. Handa sp. nov. (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) is described based on a clone isolated from the bark of Cephalotaxus harringtonia (Knight ex Forbes) K. Koch collected from Taishaku‐kyo Gorge, Hiroshima Prefecture, south‐west Japan. This alga was examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and subjected to molecular phylogenetic analysis. Based on its morphological features and life‐cycle, especially short filament formation, the alga was assigned to the genus Stichococcus Nägeli. However, this alga differs from other described Stichococcus species in that it reproduces by a form of ‘budding’, producing two daughter cells of different sizes. The larger cell, enclosed within the mother cell wall, soon reaches the size of a normal vegetative cell. The smaller cell is extruded and takes longer to reach full vegetative size. A phylogenetic tree constructed using 18S rRNA sequences indicated that, within the Trebouxiophyceae, S. ampulliformis is closely related to S. bacillaris Nägeli and some species of Prasiola Meneghini.     

TAXONOMIC STUDY OF BIGELOWIELLA LONGIFILA SP. NOV. (CHLORARACHNIOPHYTA) AND A TIME‐LAPSE VIDEO OBSERVATION OF THE UNIQUE MIGRATION OF AMOEBOID CELLS1

A new species of a chlorarachniophyte alga, Bigelowiella longifila sp. nov., is described. It is classified as a member of Bigelowiella as flagellate cells constitute the main stage of the life cycle. However, this alga is different from the only described species of the genus, B. natans Moestrup, in having a unique amoeboid stage in the life cycle. We observed an interesting behavior of amoeboid daughter cells after cell division: One of the two daughter cells inherits the long filopodium of the parental cell, and it subsequently transports its cell contents through the filopodium to develop at its opposite end. The other daughter cell forms a new filopodium. This unequal behavior of daughter cells may have evolved before the chlorarachniophytes and some colorless cercozoans diverged.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE AND 18S RRNA GENE SEQUENCE FOR PELAGOMONAS CALCEOLATA GEN. ET SP. NOV. AND THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW ALGAL CLASS,THE PELAGOPHYCEAE CLASSIS NOV.1

Pelagomonas calceolata gen. et sp. nov., an ultra-planktonic marine alga, is described using electron microscopy and the cytoplasmic small subunit (18S) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequence. Cells are uniflagellate, about 1.5 × 3 μm in size. The flagellium has two rows of bipartite hairs, the paraxonemal rod has a dentate appearance, and a two-gyred transitional helix is present between two transitional plates. Microtubular roots, striated roots, and a second basal body are absent. A thin organic theca surrounds most of the cell. There is a single chloroplast with a girdle lamella and a single, dense mitochondrion with tubular cristae. A single Golgi body with swelled cisternae lies beneath the flagellum, and each cell has an ejectile organelle that putatwely releases a cylindrical structure. A vacuole, or cluster of vacuoles, contains the putative carbohydrate storage product. The 18S rRNA gene was sequenced completely in both directions, excluding three primer regions. When compared to the same gene sequence from other organisms, Pelagomonas calceolata gen. et sp. nov. occupies an unresolved position among other chromophyte algae and is distinct from members of any of these classes. Based on morphological, ultrastructural, and molecular data, we describe this alga as a new species, and we place this highly unusual new species in a new genus, family, order, and class.     

Taxonomy of four marine bacterial strains that produce tetrodotoxin

Four strains of tetrodotoxin-producing bacteria isolated from a red alga and from pufferfish were characterized. Two of these strains are members of the genus Listonella MacDonell and Colwell. The phenotypic characteristics, guanine-plus-cytosine contents, and base sequences of the 16S rRNAs of these organisms indicated that they are members of Listonella pelagia (Vibrio pelagius) biovar II. The other two strains are members of the genus Alteromonas Baumann et al. and the genus Shewanella MacDonell and Colwell. These two strains are mutually distinct and distinct from the previously described Alteromonas and Shewanella species and therefore are placed in new species. The names Shewanella alga and Alteromonas tetraodonis are proposed for these organisms; the type strains are strains OK-1 and GFC, respectively.     

Microcladia exserta sp. nov. (Ceramiaceae,Rhodophyta) from the East coast of South Africa

Microcladia exserta, a new species of the red algal genus Microcladia Greville (Ceramiaceae, Ceramiales), is described from the Natal coast of South Africa. This small, creeping alga, an epiphyte on the coralline alga Amphiroa anceps (Lamarck) Decaisne, is distinguished from other species in the genus by the following combination of characteristics: the prostrate habit, the exerted position of the tetrasporangia, and the presence in the cortex of numerous and conspicuous vesicle cells. Evidence is presented to demonstrate that the criterion of an erect habit in Microcladia vs. a prostrate habit in Herpochondria used to separate these genera is not sound.     

A New Species of Dysmorphococcus (Phacotaceae,Volvocales) and Its Life Cycle

This paper deals with the morphology and life cycle of a new species of Dysmorphococcus oblatus Yu et Wei (Phacotaceae, Volvocales) from Africa. The alga seems to be morphologically rather distinct from the other members (lorica, protoplast and number of pyrenoid). Moreover, a comparison is made of overall morphological and reproductive characteristics of the present taxon with the other 8 known species of this genus. The cultural experiment of the life cycle of this alga reveals certain attributes unrecorded for early described species of this genus. The alga is homothallic, and heterogametic and sexual reproduc-tion produces 32-64 male gametes and 2 female gametes.     

A new genus and species of Baetidae from Sri Lanka (Ceylon): Indocloeon primum gen.n., sp.n. (Insecta,Ephemeroptera)

The nymph of a new genus and species, Indocloeon primum gen.n., sp.n. from Sri Lanka is described, distinguishing characteristics are illustrated. This new genus is most closely related to Cloeon Leach and Centroptilum Eaton. Indocloeon gen.n. possesses a unique combination of morphological characters and two derived characters.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE AND ECOLOGY OF AUREOCOCCUS ANOPHAGEFERENS GEN. ET SP. NOV. (CHRYSOPHYCEAE): THE DOMINANT PICOPLANKTER DURING A BLOOM IN NARRAGANSETT BAY,RHODE ISLAND,SUMMER 19851

Observations of a marked cessation of feeding in filter feeding animals maintained in flowing Narragansett Bay seawater in June 1985 drew our attention to a bloom of a golden alga 2 μm in diameter at unprecedented populations of 10⁹ cells. L^?1. This picoplankter lacked morphological features useful in discriminating it from other similar sized forms with either phase contrast or epifluorescence light microscopy. Natural populations of picoplankton, obtained from the height of the bloom until its decline, were examined in thin section with transmission electron microscopy. A cell with a single chloroplast, nucleus, and mitochondrion and an unusual exocellular polysaccharide-like layer was apparently the bloom alga. The ultrastructure of this alga is consistent with that of the Chrysophyceae, and a new genus and species, Aureococcus anophagefferens is described. Attempts to grow this previously unrecognized picoplanktonic alga as an obligate phototroph failed and only yielded cultures of other previously described picoalgae. Facultative and obligate phagotrophic protists with ingested cells of Aureococcus were only observed as the bloom waned and minute diatoms became common. Cells of A. anophagefferens with virus particles typical for picoalgae occurred throughout the bloom. Populations of the usually dominant photosynthetic picoplankter, the cyanobacterium Synechococcus Nägeli, were depressed during the bloom. This could be due in part to selective grazing on Synechococcus rather than Aureococcus by elevated populations of Calycomonas ovalis Wulff which accompanied the algal bloom.     

Taxonomic studies on the Chlorarachniophyta. II. Generic delimitation of the chlorarachniophytes and description of Gymnochlora stellata gen. et sp. nov. and Lotharella gen. nov.

A new chlorarachniophytan alga, Gymnochlora stellata Ishida et Y. Hara gen. et sp. nov., has been isolated from Anae Island in Guam. It is a green, star-shaped, unicellular, amoeboid organism with several filopodia that do not form a reticulopodial network. Neither zoospores nor walled coccoid cells have been observed throughout the life cycle. The chloroplast ultrastructure is similar to those of described species; however, the pyrenoid matrix, which is invaded by many tubular structures originating from the inner membrane of the chloroplast envelope, is unique. A classification system is proposed for the Chlorarachniophyta. In this system, the ultrastructural features of the pyrenoid and the location of the nucleomorph in the periplastidial compartment are used as generic criteria, while the morphological features of the vegetative cells and life cycle patterns are used for species criteria. The described species, except for Cryptochlora perforans Calderon-Saenz et Schnetter, are also reassessed under the new system, and consequent nomenclatural requirements for the genus Chlorarachnion are dealt with in this paper. The taxonomic rank of a previously described species, Chlorarachnion globosum Ishida et Y. Hara, is elevated and Lotharella globosa (Ishida et Y. Hara) Ishida et Y. Hara gen. nov. et comb. nov. is proposed.     

Silurian craniide brachiopods from Gotland

Seven craniide brachiopod genera are described from the Silurian (Wenlock–Ludlow) of Gotland, including one new genus and five new species. The new genus and species Thulecrania septicostata is unique among Silurian craniides as it possesses solid spines. The new species Lepidocrania multilamellosa is the first Silurian record of this poorly known Permian genus. The problematic North American Propatella Grubbs, 1939 , was originally described as a gastropod, but the new species Propatella palmaria from Gotland shows that it is a craniide with sutured hollow spines of a type not previously recorded from Silurian craniides. The dorsal valves of the new species Valdiviathyris? bicornis are remarkably similar to those of the type species and represent the first possible Palaeozoic record of this poorly known extant craniide. This first systematic study of craniide brachiopods from the Silurian of Gotland shows that the diversity is relatively high as compared to other known Silurian craniide faunas, but a more thorough comparison is not possible due to the lack of data from most parts of the world. The new data from Gotland support the view that the craniides were not affected by the end‐Ordovician extinction.     

Amphidiniella sedentaria gen. et sp. nov. (Dinophyceae), a new sand-dwelling dinoflagellate from Japan

A new sand-dwelling dinoflagellate is described from Sesoko Beach, Okinawa Island, subtropical Japan and its micromorphology is studied by means of light and electron microscopy. The cell consists of a small epitheca and a large hypothecs superficially resembling members of the unarmored genus Amphidinium. The cell is dorso-ventrally flattened and possesses a single chloroplast with a large conspicuous pyrenoid. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the dinoflagellate possesses typical dinoflagellate cellular organization. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the organism is thecate and the thecal plate arrangement is Po, 4′, 1a, 7″, 5c, 4s, 6″′, 2″″. Most of the characteristics suggest gonyaulacalean affinity of the new species. These are the presence of ventral pore, lack of canal plate, direct contact between the sulcal anterior plate and the flagellar pore, possession of six postcingular plates and asymmetrical arrangement of the antapical plates. Affinity to existing families of the order Gonyaulacales has not been determined. Based on the unique cell shape, thecal plate arrangement and the presence of ventral pore, a new genus, Amphidiniella, is established for this organism and the species is named A. sedentaria Horiguchi gen. et sp. nov.     

Grammephora peyssonnelioides gen. et sp. nov. (Rhodophyta, Rhodymeniaceae) from the Solomon Islands, South Pacific

A new genus and species of red alga in the Rhodymeniaceae, Grammephora peyssonnelioides, is described from both shallow and deepwater habitats in the Solomon Islands, South Pacific. The new genus and species is characterized by prostrate overlapping lobes with a strongly cartilaginous flexible texture, distinct surface linear markings perpendicular to the growing margins, and a compact three to four celled medulla of relatively small refractive cells. Tetrasporangia are elongate and decussately divided, and occur in large scattered dorsal surface sori. Cystocarps are prominent and conical, on the dorsal surface of the blade, with a network of nutritive filaments and basal nutritive tissue around the suspended, centrally located carposporophyte, with all gonimoblast initials becoming carposporangia. The columnar fusion cell is uniquely crowned by a ring of discoid cells of nonalgal origin.     

The peculiar Asian ghost moth genus Bipectilus Chu & Wang: taxonomy and systematic position (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae s.str.)

Abstract Bipectilus Chu & Wang, 1985, from China, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam is redescribed. Eight species are recognized in the genus; two were described previously ( Gorgopis unimacula Daniel and Bipectilus yunnanensis Chu & Wang) and six new species are named. A key to the males is provided and all species and their genitalia are described and illustrated. One new combination is established and one lectotype is designated. Observations on the cuticular anatomy of Bipectilus are presented. The monophyly of Bipectilus is supported by several autapomorphies but the genus also possesses many plesiomorphic traits including spurs on the hind tibia in some species. Bipectilus is placed in the Hepialidae s.str. and the autapomorphies of that taxon are summarized. It is concluded that Bipectilus represents an early lineage within the family, and possibly represents the sister-group of all other Hepialidae s.str. All Asian species originally placed in Gorgopis Hübner are removed from this endemic Afrotropical hepialid genus.     

Heterocapsa psammophila sp. nov. (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae), a new sand-dwelling marine dinoflagellate

A new armored dinoflagellate species, Heterocapsa psammophila Tamura, Iwataki et Horiguchi sp. nov. is described from Kenmin‐no‐hama beach, Hiroshima, Japan using light and electron microscopy. This dinoflagellate possesses the typical thecal plate arrangement of the genus Heterocapsa, Po, cp, 5′, 3a, 7′′, 6c, 5s, 5′′′, 2′′′′; and the 3‐D body scales of Heterocapsa on the plasma membrane. The cell shape is ovoidal. The spherical nucleus and the pyrenoid are situated in the hypotheca and the epitheca, respectively. The ultrastructure of H. psammophila is typical of dinoflagellates and the pyrenoid is invaginated by cytoplasmic tubules. H. psammophila is distinguished from all other hitherto‐described Heterocapsa species by the cell shape, the relative position of the nucleus and pyrenoid and the structure of the body scale. The habitat and behavior of this new species in culture suggest that the organism is truly a sand‐dwelling species.     

A UNIQUELY CALCIFIED BROWN ALGA FROM HAWAII: NEWHOUSIA IMBRICATA GEN. ET SP. NOV. (DICTYOTALES,PHAEOPHYCEAE)1

An encrusting brown alga from subtidal habitats around the island of Oahu (Hawaiian Islands) represents only the second genus of the class Phaeophyceae to form calcium carbonate, which it deposits primarily as both extracellular and intracellular aragonite, admixed with small (3.3%) amounts of calcite. Plants form expanses 15–100+ cm in extent consisting of horizontally aligned imbricating tiers of distromatic blades 1–4 mm in diameter that are separated from one another by cementing layers of extracellular aragonite, the tiers forming stacks of dozens of laminae and anchored to coral substrata by a basement layer that adheres tightly without haptera or rhizoids. The hypodermal layer of each blade consists of lightly pigmented rectilinear cells bearing either one or two smaller deeply pigmented epidermal cells in cross‐sectional profiles and three or four in long‐sectional profiles, the cells of both layers becoming encased in rigid carbonate skeletons laid down in their outer wall matrices. The successive tiers become stacked by either overgrowing marginal proliferations or new blade primordia that arise from the hypodermal layer of surface laminae and initially spread centrifugally by means of continuous marginal meristems. Neither plurilocular nor unilocular reproductive structures are known. The alga is described as the new genus and species Newhousia imbricata Kraft, G.W. Saunders, Abbott et Haroun and is assigned on the basis of small subunit rDNA gene sequence analyses to the order Dictyotales, family Dictyotaceae, within a strongly supported monophyletic clade that includes Distromium, Lobophora, and Zonaria.     

PLATYSIPHONIA DECUMBENS SP. NOV., A NEW MEMBER OF THE SARCOMENIA GROUP (RHODOPHYTA) FROM WASHINGTON

A new species, Platysiphonia decumbens, belonging to the Sarcomenia group (Rhodophyta, Ceramiales), is described from Puget Sound, Washington. Reproductive thalli are described and illustrated, and the growth of this alga in culture is correlated with observations made on field material. The limits of the genus Platysiphonia Børgesen are broadened to include this species. The relationship of Platysiphonia to Sarcomenia Sonder is discussed.