The fossil record of Glypturus Stimpson, 1866 (Crustacea,Decapoda, Axiidea,Callianassidae) revisited,with notes on palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography

Abstract: The fossil record of the callianassid genus Glypturus (Decapoda, Axiidea) is re‐evaluated. Our systematic revision, both of extant and fossil taxa, is based on major cheliped morphology only, thus providing an important impetus for palaeontological studies. Both spination and tuberculation of chelipeds are herein considered of great taxonomic importance. Presence of spines on the upper margins of the merus and propodus and the lower margin of the carpus are significant for generic assignment, whereas the extent of tuberculation on lateral surfaces of the propodus is important for assignment at the species level. Altogether, four extant and six exclusively fossil species of Glypturus are recognized. Several extinct callianassid taxa are now transferred to the genus, namely Callianassa berryi, Callianassa fraasi, Callianassa munieri, Callianassa pugnax and Callianassaspinosa; Callianassa pseudofraasi is considered a junior synonym of C. fraasi. Based on a comparison of ecological preferences of extant representatives, the presence of Glypturus in the fossil record is considered to be linked with tropical to subtropical, nearshore carbonate environments of normal salinity. We argue that Glypturus is of Tethyan origin, with a stratigraphical range going as far back as the Eocene. Since then, the genus migrated both westwards and eastwards, establishing present‐day communities in the western Atlantic and Indo‐West Pacific which both comprise several distinct species. In the presumed area of origin, the genus does no longer occur today. The exlusively fossil (middle Eocene) genus Eoglypturus from Italy is considered closely related to Glypturus and is thus assigned to the subfamily Callichirinae as well.     

A record of the Plain Tiger,Danaus chrysippus,in Turkey

Summary

In this publication, a subdivision of the genus Annenica O. Boettger, 1877 sensu Auct. is proposed. One result of our study is the recognition of the genus Sprattia O. Boettger, 1883 for most of the South Anatolian species of the former genus Armenica. The genus Astrogena Szekeres, 1970, which was synonymised by H. NORDSIECK (1975: 98) with Armenica is redefined and used as a subgenus of Armenica for some species. Extensive recent collections contain new species and subspecies of this genus, which are described here.     

Enterococcus: review of its physiology, pathogenesis, diseases and the challenges it poses for clinical microbiology

The genus Enterococcus is composed of 38 species, the most important of which are Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium—both human intestinal colonizers. Hospitals within the United States and around the world commonly isolate these bacteria because they are a cause of bacteremia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), endocarditis, wound infections, meningitis, intraabdominal and pelvic infections, and nosocomial and iatrogenic infections. Given the ubiquity of enterococci within the human population, it is important for laboratories to be able to distinguish these agents within hospitalized patients from other bacterial genera and also differentiate different species within the Enterococcus genus as well as different strains within each species. Unfortunately, the enterococci are emerging as serious pathogens in both the developed world, where surveillance needs to be improved and speciation procedures are inadequate or cumbersome, and in developing nations, which lack the trained hospital personnel or funding to sufficiently identify enterococci to the genus or species level. This review explores the Enterococcus genus and highlights some of the concerns for national and international clinical microbiology laboratories.     

New synonyms,combinations, and faunistic records of Western Palaearctic planthoppers of the family Issidae (Homoptera,Fulgoroidea)

Within the frame of the study of the Western Palaearctic Issidae, two generic and four specific synonyms are established: Logvinenkoana Gnezdilov, 2002 is placed as a synonym for Anatolodus Dlabola, 1982; Falcidiopsis Kusnezov, 1930, for Kervillea Bergevin, 1918; Hysteropterum ignavum Dlabola, 1981, for Aeluropsis karabachica Logvinenko, 1975; Hysteropterum alciranum Gnezdilov, 2003, for Hysteropterum alicantium Dlabola, 1986; Hysteropterum tangirum Matsumura, 1910, for Hysteropterum guadarramense Melichar, 1906, and Mycterodus syriacus Gnezdilov, 2008, for Mycterodus bicornutus Dlabola, 1986. Subgenus Corymbius Gnezdilov, 2002 is upgraded to genus. 12 new generic combinations are established: Aeluropsis karabachica Logvinenko, 1975, A. midica Logvinenko, 1975, Hysteropterum pictifrons Melichar, 1906 and H. transcaucasicum Melichar, 1914 are transferred to the genus Anatolodus Dlabola, 1982; Bubastia carinata Logvinenko, 1978 and B. parva Logvinenko, 1977, to the genus Inflatodus Dlabola, 1982; Quadrastylum tubulatum Dlabola, 1989, to the genus Rhissolepus Emeljanov, 1971; Hysteropterum laminatum Horváth, 1911, to the genus Libanissum Dlabola, 1980; Hysteropterum drahamense Linnavuori, 1965, to the genus Bergevinium Gnezdilov, 2003; Conosimus ochaninei Puton, 1890, to the genus Quadriva Ghauri, 1965; Hysteropterum guadarramense Melichar, 1906, to the genus Tingissus Gnezdilov, 2003; Agalmatium corsicum Dlabola, 1982, to the genus Fieberium Dlabola, 1980. New faunistic records are given for 18 species.     

Speciation,phenotypic plasticity,or ontogeny,the case of the genus Galkinius (Pyrgomatidae,Cirripedia, Crustacea)

Barnacles of the genus Galkinius occupy a large spectrum of host corals, making it one of the least host‐specific genera within the Pyrgomatidae. Molecular analyses show that within the genus Galkinius there are highly supported clades, suggesting that the genus Galkinius is a complex of evolutionarily significant units (ESUs). The morphology of the opercular valves has been used as the basis for the separation of species of Galkinius. In this study, morphological variability was found both between specimens within ESUs extracted from different host species and between specimens extracted from the same colony. Identifications based on the opercular valves cannot therefore be assigned to different species despite being genetically distinguishable. It is proposed that in many cases the differences between valve morphology of different species of Galkinius are the outcome of ontogeny. Allometric growth of the valves has resulted in differences in the proportions of the parts of the valve. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

Cyst‐motile stage relationship,morphology, ultrastructure,and molecular phylogeny of the gymnodinioid dinoflagellate Barrufeta resplendens comb. nov., formerly known as Gyrodinium resplendens,isolated from the Gulf of Mexico

In the present study, we redescribed Gyrodinium resplendens through incubation of process bearing cysts extracted from sediment collected in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The morphology and ultrastructure of the motile stage and cyst stage were examined using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy and this revealed that the species should be transferred to the genus Barrufeta. This genus differs from other gymnodinioid genera in possessing a Smurf‐cap apical structure complex (ASC) and currently encompasses only one species, Barrufeta bravensis. B. resplendens shows a Smurf‐cap ASC that consists of three rows of elongated vesicles with small knobs in the middle one. B. resplendens is very similar to B. bravensis in cell morphology, but can be separated using the ultrastructure such as the shape and location of nucleus and pyrenoids, which highlights the importance of ultrastructure at inter‐specific level in the genus Barrufeta. The unique cysts of B. resplendens are brown and process bearing, and have a tremic archeopyle with a zigzag margin on the dorsal side of the epicyst, and not polar as in cysts of Polykrikos. The cysts do not survive the palynological treatment used here and probably have a wide distribution. Maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian inference were carried out based on partial large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) sequences. Molecular phylogeny supports that the genus Barrufeta is monophyletic, and that the genus Gymnodinium is polyphyletic. Our results suggest that details of the ASC together with ultrastructure are potential features to subdivide the genus Gymnodinium.     

Kritische Revision der „Thlaspi”︁-Arten Europas,Afrikas und Vorderasiens I. Geschichte,Morphologie und Chorologie

In the general introduction of a taxonomical revision of the genus Thlaspi L. from Europa, the Near East and Africa — a conspectus of the species till now comprised within this genus has already been published — a historical survey of the genus Thlaspi is given. Morphological resp. anatomical characters have been judged. The structure of the seedtesta inter alia exhibited a different pattern which proved to be valuable for differentiation. In Thlaspi s. str. this pattern revealed to be well distinguishable from all the other Thlaspi-species hitherto put in this genus; thus showing Thlaspi s. str. a species-complex of its own. The characteristical differences of the numerous species out of the Thlaspi s. str.-complex allow further separation of different genera, so that the hitherto existing genus Thlaspi has been found to be a mosaic of different genera. The degree of their closer or wider relationship, however, could be investigated after extensive studies in different genera of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). A subordination of these complexes of closer relationship as subgenera of the genus Thlaspi is impossible, because the morphological and anatomical differences are too great. A persistency in the hitherto scope of a heterogenous genus Thlaspi is considered unreasonable and would encourage a greater humping of many genera within the family Brassicaceae which are well separated till now. This would not reflect the natural conditions. Additional figures of fruits and seedtestas of different species support this view. Finally the geographical distribution of the several genera has been described which in Noccaea Moench shows shortly the wide extension of this genus throughout northern Asia and the extratropical America.     

Hemibranchiate sphaeromatids (Crustacea: Isopoda) from Queensland, Australia, with a world-wide review of the genera discussed

All known Queensland species of the isopod family Sphaeromatidae, subfamily Sphaeromatinae (= hemibranchs), are discussed. The following new taxa are erected: Calcipila cornuta, gen. nov., sp. nov. ; Cymodoce tribullis, sp. nov. ; Cymodoce bipapilla, sp. nov. ; Paracilicaea aspera, sp. nov. ; Cilicaeopsis glebosa, sp. nov. ; Cilicaeopsis furculata, sp. nov. ; Cilicaea calcarifera, sp. nov. ; Zuzara curtispina, sp. nov. ; Zuzara digitata, sp. nov. ; and Clianella brucei, sp. nov. Exosphaeroma intermedium Baker is transferred to the genus Sphaeroma Latreille. The genus Dynoides Barnard is reviewed and its current synonymy is contested. With several new records, this brings the total number of sphaeromatid species known from Queensland to 49, 24 of which are in the subfamily Sphaeromatinae. A checklist of all sphaeromatid species occurring in Queensland waters is given. From the rest of Australia: Cymodoce tuberculata Haswell is given the replacement name Cymodoce haswelli, nom. nov. ; Cymodoce granulata Miers is made a junior synonym of Cerceis trispinosa (Haswell) (subfamily Dynameninae); Zuzara diadema Leach, Z. dicantha (Milne Edwards) and Z. Integra Haswell are made junior synonyms of Z. semipunctata Leach; Cilicaeopsis dakini Tattersall is tentatively transferred to the genus Paracilicaea Stebbing. The genera discussed are reviewed world-wide and among the non-Australian species: Exosphaeroma papillae Bayliff is transferred to the genus Sphaeroma; Sphaeroma irakiensis Ahmed is made a junior synonym of Sphaeroma annandalei annandalei Stebbing; Cymodoce richardsoniae Nobili is shown to be distinct from Cymodoce truncata Leach; Cymodoce eupyga Nobili is transferred to the genus Paracilicaea; Dynoides amblysinus Pillai, Dynoides castroi Loyola e Silva and Exosphaeroma globicaudum (Dana) are transferred to the genus Clianella Boone; Dynoides brasiliensis (Loyola e Silva; and Sphaeroma savignn Milne Edwards sensu Dana, 1853 are declared to be conspecific with Clianella castroi. The name Sorrentosphaera Verhoeff is made a junior synonym of Dynamene Leach (subfamily Dynameninae.     

PREDAEA WELDII,A NEW SPECIES OF RHODOPHYTA FROM HAWAII,WITH AN EVALUATION OF THE GENUS1

A new species of Predaea (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) is described from Hawaii. It is compared in important morphological details with other species of the genus, all of which are distributed in the subtropics. Predaea is likewise compared to the genera of Nemastomataceae, and should be included in that family. The genus Yadranella Ercegovic (Nemaliales, Rhodophyta) is placed in synonymy with Predaea.     

On the anatomy and zoogeography of Tritoniella belli Eliot, 1907 (Opisthobranchia,Nudibranchia) and the synonymy of T. sinuata Eliot, 1907

Summary Rich material of the genus Tritoniella (Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia) from the Atlantic sector of the Antarctic Ocean demonstrates that the features of the internal anatomy are fairly constant in contrast to those of the external morphology and the cuticularized structures (radula and jaws). There are specimens intermediate between the two known species of the genus: T. belli Eliot, 1907 and T. sinuata Eliot, 1907. These specimens either show a combination of features characteristic for T. belli and T. sinuata, or of features which lie in between. Therefore T. sinuata is considered to be synonymous with T. belli. The monotypic genus Tritoniella has a circumpolar distribution with an extension of its range to the Subantarctic (South Georgia).     

Phylogenetic relationships within the Archiloa genus complex (Proseriata,Monocelididae)

Of the seven genera which we have recognised within the Archiloa genus complex sensu Karling (1966) the cosmopolitan genus Archilina is the most primitive and is characterised only by plesiomorphic characters, and has to be considered paraphyletic. All other species of the Archiloa genus complex are hypothesized to be derived from Archilina-like ancestors through different evolutionary lineages. One lineage led to the genera Archiloa, Inaloa, Archilopsis and Monocelopsis, taxa found in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. These genera are monophyletic and their relationships are analyzed. The genera Mesoda (Brazil) and Tajikina (Northern Pacific) can be considered as two other separate lineages. Similarly, within what we now consider as the genus Archilina different lineages can be recognized in different regions.     

Lobatiriccardia yunnanensis,sp. nov. (Metzgeriales,Aneuraceae) from Yunnan,China

Abstract

The genus Lobatiriccardia Furuki is reported as new to China, from the Dulong River valley, Gaoligong Shan range, Yunnan Province and this material is described as a new species endemic to China, Lobatiriccardia yunnanensis Furuki & D.G. Long, the fifth known species in the genus. The differences between the new species and the other members of the genus are enumerated, along with a key to all known species of Lobatiriccardia.     

Actinodontum,a new genus of Desmidiaceae (Streptophyta,Viridiplantae) from tropical Africa

A new desmid genus, Actinodontum Alfinito et Coesel, is described from mountain areas of tropical Africa. The newly described genus differs from the allied genus Actinotaenium by the presence of marked teeth at the base of each semicell that alternate with those on the other semicell. Morphology of the type species, Actinodontum lomaense (Alfinito et Mazzoni) Alfinito et Coesel, is dealt with in much detail. Cosmarium basituberculoides Bourrelly et Couté and Cosmarium elgonense Kusel-Fetzmann are transferred to the new genus. The geographical distribution of the genus Actinodontum is discussed.     

A preliminary analysis of distribution patterns in a large, pantropical genus, Barleria L. (Acanthaceae)

Barleria L. (Acanthaceae) is a large, polymorphic, widespread genus of herbs and shrubs comprising about 300 species, occurring mainly in Africa and Asia but with one species, Barleria oenotheroides Dum.Cours., extending to the New World tropics. Recent completion of a monographic infra-generic classification of the genus (in which seven sections are recognised, and the names of four of these validated in this paper—see Appendix 1), has facilitated a comprehensive analysis of distribution patterns on a global scale. The richest representation of Barleria is in Africa where there are two centres of diversity, one in tropical East Africa (about eighty species) and the other in southern Africa (about seventy species). The number of species tails off rapidly to both the Far East and the West. Barleria shows a marked trans-Atlantic disjunction between West Africa and the Neotropics, with B. oenotheroides shared by these two regions. This type of disjunction, which is known in other genera of the family, cannot be adequately explained in Barleria on the basis of long-distance dispersal or past continental movements. There is a high degree of regional endemism (e.g. 75% for the Indian subcontinent) at both the species and sectional levels within this genus. The degree of similarity between regions is correspondingly low. The endemics in each region tend to belong to only one or a few of the sections. There are few truly widespread taxa within the genus. East and West Africa are the only regions in which all sections are represented. Sections Barleria and Prionitis C.B. Cl. are the most widespread in the genus; Sections Somalia (Oliv.) Lindau, Fissimura M. Balkwill and Stellatohirtae M. Balkwill are mainly restricted to Africa and Sections Chrysothrix M. Balkwill and Cavirostrata M. Balkwill are the most restricted, occurring mainly in India and Sri Lanka. On a local scale, many of the species show highly restricted, clumped distributions; this is apparently related to particular soil types and possibly to the short-distance, ballistic mode of seed dispersal. This account of the biogeography of Barleria is to be regarded as preliminary, as much taxonomic work at the species level remains to be done before a full-scale cladistic biogeographic account can be undertaken. Particular areas worthy of future investigation include establishing the centre of origin of the genus and investigating the basis for the high degree of endemism shown by many of the species.     

The Genus Pluchea: Phytochemistry,Traditional Uses,and Biological Activities

In this review, literature data on phytochemical and biological investigations on the genus Pluchea are compiled. Pluchea is a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family and comprises ca. 80 species distributed mainly in Northern and Southern America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Sesquiterpenoids and flavonoids are the main constituents of this genus. Compounds isolated from plants of the Pluchea genus display a variety of biological properties, viz., anticancer, antileishmanial, immunosuppressive, antioxidant, anti‐acetylcholinesterase, antimicrobial, trypanocidal, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, larvicidal, anti‐ulcer, anti‐inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities.     

Nervostroma, gen. nov. in the Sclerotiniaceae, the teleomorph of Cristulariella, and Hinomyces anam. gen. nov. to accommodate the anamorph of Grovesinia: reassessment of the genus Cristulariella

Taxonomy of the genus Cristulariella is revised, retaining Cristulariella (Crist.) depraedans as the type. Two new species, Crist. cercidiphylli and Crist. corni, are additionally described under the genus. The new anamorphic genus Hinomyces is erected to accommodate Botrytis (Cristulariella) moricola and Cristulariella pruni. A new genus and species, Nervostroma depraedans, is erected in the Sclerotiniaceae to accommodate the teleomorph of Crist. depraedans, with an additional species, Nervostroma cercidiphylli.     

57 Systematics of hydropuntia montagne (gracilariaceae,gracilariales, rhodophyta) based on comparative morphology and rbcL sequence analysis

The taxonomic validity of the genus Hydropuntia Montagne (1843) (including Polycavernosa) within the Gracilariaceae (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) is controversial. Morphological characters that define species of Hydropuntia are said to be variable and to overlap with those of Gracilaria. Here we present a global phylogenetic study of the family based on a Bayesian analysis of a large rbcL DNA sequence dataset indicating that the genus Hydropuntia forms a well supported monophyletic clade within the family, and recognize Hydropuntia as a genus distinct from Gracilaria. We also conducted smaller phylogenetic analyses in which thirty four Hydropuntia rbcL sequences resulted in two major clades within the genus, comprising a Caribbean clade and an Indo‐Pacific clade. Diagnostic reproductive stages that separate these two clades will be illustrated.