Discovery of a novel type of body scale in the marine dinoflagellate,Amphidinium cupulatisquama sp. nov. (Dinophyceae)

A new species of Amphidinium, A. cupulatisquama Tamura et Horiguchi, from sand samples from Ikei Island, Okinawa Prefecture in subtropical Japan, is described based on light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and the partial sequencing of the large subunit rDNA gene. The species has a typical morphology for the genus, but is distinguished from previously described species by having a combination of the following characteristics: (i) a relatively large cell (over 30 µm in length); (ii) possessing an eyespot on the dorsal side of the cingulum; (iii) the longitudinal flagellum emerging from a point close to the cingulum; (iv) cell division taking place in the motile phase; and (v) possessing body scales. This is the third species of this genus to possess body scales. The body scales of A. cupulatisquama are uniform and cup‐shaped in side view and elliptical in face view. Their dimensions are 136.4 nm by 91.0 nm by 81.8 nm high. In side view, the scale is seen to have a thick lower half and a thin upper half. This scale type is very different from those of previously reported Amphidinium species (HG114 and HG115). The molecular tree indicated that A. cupulatisquama and the two other strains of body scale‐bearing Amphidinium are distantly related within the Amphidinium clade.     

MORPHOLOGY AND MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF ANKISTRODINIUM GEN. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE), A NEW GENUS OF MARINE SAND‐DWELLING DINOFLAGELLATES FORMERLY CLASSIFIED WITHIN AMPHIDINIUM1

The classical athecate dinoflagellate genera (Amphidinium, Gymnodinium, Gyrodinium) have long been recognized to be polyphyletic. Amphidinium sensu lato is the most diverse of all marine benthic dinoflagellate genera; however, following the redefinition of this genus ～100 species remain now of uncertain or unknown generic affiliation. In an effort to improve our taxonomic and phylogenetic understanding of one of these species, namely Amphidinium semilunatum, we re‐investigated organisms from several distant sites around the world using light and scanning electron microscopy and molecular phylogenetic methods. Our results enabled us to describe this species within a new heterotrophic genus, Ankistrodinium. Cells of A. semilunatum were strongly laterally flattened, rounded‐quadrangular to oval in lateral view, and possessed a small asymmetrical epicone. The sulcus was wide and characteristically deeply incised on the hypocone running around the antapex and reaching the dorsal side. The straight acrobase with hook‐shaped end started at the sulcal extension and continued onto the epicone. The molecular phylogenetic results clearly showed that A. semilunatum is a distinct taxon and is only distantly related to species within the genus Amphidinium sensu stricto. The nearest sister group to Ankistrodinium could not be reliably determined.     

Testudodinium gen. nov. (Dinophyceae), a new genus of sand‐dwelling dinoflagellates formerly classified in the genus Amphidinium

A new genus of sand‐dwelling photosynthetic dinoflagellate, Testudodinium Horiguchi, Tamura, Katsumata et A. Yamaguchi is proposed based on Testudodinium testudo (Herdman) Horiguchi, Tamura, Katsumata, et A. Yamaguchi comb. nov. (Basionym: Amphidinium testudo Herdman) and a new species in this new genus, Testudodinium maedaense Katsumata et Horiguchi sp. nov. is described. Amphidinium corrugatum is also transferred to this genus, making a new combination T. corrugatum (Larsen et Patterson) Horiguchi, Tamura et A. Yamaguchi. These three species are similar to the members of the genus Amphidinium in having an extremely small episome and a dorsoventrally flattened cell body. They are, however, distinguished from the genus Amphidinium seusu stricto by the possession of a distinct longitudinal furrow in the middle of ventral side of the episome. Phylogenetic trees based on small subunit (SSU) rDNA revealed that all three of these Testudodinium species formed a robust clade and, although statistical support is not high, the tree suggests Testudodinium clade is not closely related to Amphidinium seusu stricto clade. The morphological differences together with molecular data support the establishment of a new genus for A. testudo and its related species.     

Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the genus Aneorhachis Kleine 1923 (Coleoptera: Brentidae: Microtrachelizini)

A taxonomic revision of the genus Aneorhachis Kleine 1923 (Coleoptera: Brentidae) and a phylogenetic analysis of species belonging to this genus are carried out. The genus Ipsopisthius Kabakov 2001 is synonymised with Aneorhachis, and two new combinations are proposed: Aneorhachis hirta (Kabakov 2001), n. comb. and A. incerta (Kleine 1935), n. comb. Higonius nitens Goossens 2008 is synonymized with A. incerta. One new species is described from New Guinea, A. papuana n. sp. All the species are redescribed and type-specimens are illustrated; an identification key is proposed. A maximum parsimony analysis is provided on the base of 23 characters from adult morphology. This analysis confirms the monophyly of the genus and seems to show that Aneorhachis originated on continental Asia and then spread out eastward to colonize Pacific islands.     

The genus Apsiphortica from China with DNA barcoding information (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Two new species of the genus Apsiphortica are described from China: A. orthophallos n. sp. and A. sinuatipenis n. sp. Species delimitations are improved by integrating morphological and DNA barcoding information. The intra- and interspecific pairwise p-distances (proportional distance) are summarized for five Apsiphortica species from China. Furthermore, nucleotide sites with fixed status in the alignment of the COI sequences (639 nucleotide sites in length) are used as “pure” molecular diagnostic characters to delineate the five species. A key to all the Chinese species of the genus Apsiphortica is provided.     

The Afrotropical genus Afroaltica Biondi & D’Alessandro (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae): new data and description of a new species from Limpopo (Republic of South Africa)

A second flea-beetle species attributable to the South-African genus Afroaltica Biondi & D’Alessandro 2007, is here described: A. parvula n.sp. External habitus with scanning electronic micrographs and line drawings of some diagnostic morphological characteristics are reported. New localities for A. subaptera Biondi & D’Alessandro 2007, are also provided. Because of these new records, both new diagnostic characters and an update of the distribution of the genus Afroaltica are also supplied.     

Three new species of gnathostomulida from the West Atlantic

Two new species of Gnathostomulida from Bermuda and one from North Carolina are described. All belong to the higher Bursovaginoidae with two occurring in the genus Austrognathia and one in the genus Gnathostomula. Tables of major diagnostic characters showing morphological variability within species and between previously described species in the same genus are included. Clarification in recognition of Gnathostomula jenneri and Gnathostomula brunidens is given under “Remarks on Known Species”.     

Campylocentrum guarinae sp. nov. (Vandeae,Orchidaceae) from Colombia

A new species of Campylocentrum from the Colombian Andes, C. guarinae, is described, illustrated and placed within a key to Colombian species of the genus. The new species resembles C. lansbergii from which it differs in vegetative and floral characters. The main differences between these species are described and illustrated.     

REVISION OF THE GENUS OPACOPTERA GOZMANY* (LEPIDOPTERA: LECITHOCERIDAE)

Abstract The characters of the genus Opacoptera Gozmány are revised and 3 species belonging to 2 subgenera are treated. A new subgenus, Fulvitalia, and a new species, O. (O.) ecbasta, are described and figured. Key to the species is provided.     

Sisyrinchium humahuacense of sect. Segetia a new species from Argentina

Abstract

A new species from the Andean region of northwestern Argentina is described and illustrated: Sisyrinchium humahuacense. This species can be distinguish from its closest related species by three main characters: the presence of a conspicuous horizontal rhizome, the colour of the flowers and the presence of rudimentary leaves not splitting in fibers. A phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequences supported the inclusion of S. humahuacense within the genus and as part of the section Segetia. Also, a key to species to identify S. humahuacense is presented herein.     

Fungus gnats of the genus Urytalpa Edwards (Diptera: Keroplatidae) in Japan

Three Japanese species of the genus Urytalpa are examined. Urytalpa sapporoensis (Okada) is transferred from Zelmira. Urytalpa yoshidai and U. crassicauda are described as new to science. Morphological characters indicate that U. yoshidai is closely related to Asindulum montanum Röder, and the genus Urytalpa is indicated to be non‐monophyletic. A key to the Japanese species is given.     

The genus Valdivianemertes Stiasny-Wijnhoff 1923 (Nemertea,Enopla, Hoplonemertea): nomenclatural status and proper systematic position

The genus Akrostomum was erected by Grube in 1840 for a single species A. stannii which remained a nomen dubium until redescribed by Bürger in 1895 as Amphiporus stanniusi. Bürger (1909) described Drepanophorus valdiviae which shared many characters with A. stannii. Stiasny-Wijnhoff (1923) noted that these two forms belonged neither to Amphiporus nor Drepanophorus and united them in a new genus Valdivianemertes but did not mention the earlier name Akrostomum nor a family affiliation. Several major characters are examined. The nomenclatural status is analyzed, with retention of the junior synonym Valdivianemertes, and the type species is fixed as V. stannii by subsequent designation. Family affiliation is discussed, and the genus is transferred to the Cratenemertidae.     

A preliminary cladistic analysis of Nipponoserica,with implications for phylogenetic relationships among sericine chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

A cladistic analysis of the species of Nipponoserica Nomura, 1972, was executed using 36 morphological characters of adults. From the generated phylogenetic tree, the monophyly of the genus is supported, when Pseudosericania Kobayashi, 1980 is included. Consequently, Pseudosericania Kobayashi, 1980 is considered a junior subjective synonym of Nipponoserica Nomura, 1972. Interestingly, the analysis indicates the monophyly of the East Asian Nipponoserica and the North American Stilbolemma. A new genus, Xenoserica gen. nov., is established for the basal monophyletic clade found for the Himalayan species so far assigned to Nipponoserica including the first brachypterous species of Sericini from the Himalaya. Two new species are described: Xenoserica brachyptera sp. nov. from Nepal, and Nipponoserica dahongshanica sp. nov. from Hubei (China).     

Description of a new species and phylogenetic analysis of the subtribe Cynopoecilina,including continuous characters without discretization (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae)

A new species of the subtribe Cynopoecilina is described from the rio Gravataí basin, laguna dos Patos system, southern Brazil. The relationships of the new species among taxa of the subtribe Cynopoecilina is discussed based on two analyses: one using 71 discrete characters and other with the addition of six continuous characters analyzed without discretization. The addition of the continuous characters resulted in the first fully resolved phylogenies for Cynopoecilus and Leptolebias species, not obtained in the analysis including only discrete characters. The new species is assigned to Cynopoecilus as sister group to the remaining species of the genus. A new diagnosis is proposed for Cynopoecilus to accommodate the new species. The resulting phylogeny indicates that the occupation of the grasslands of the Pampa biome by the species of Cynopoecilus occurred along the evolution of the genus and that this event was significant for the diversification of the genus. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

Preliminary notes on the genus Aeschnosoma Selys 1870 (Odonata: Anisoptera: Corduliidae s. str.)

Three new species of the genus Aeschnosoma are briefly described and illustrated. A. pseudoforcipula n. sp. and A. heliophila n. sp., both from the Brazilian Central Plateau are respectively related to the two Amazonian species A. forcipula Hagen in Selys 1871, and A. auripennis Geijskes 1970. A. louissiriusi n. sp. from Northern Brazil is not closely related to any known species. Based on larval and adult derived characters, the genus Aeschnosoma appears closely related to the Australian genus Pentathemis Karsch 1890, and also to the Madagascan genus Libellulosoma Martin 1907. The clade Aeschnosomata nov. is erected to receive the three genera. Some putative plesiomorphies would place this clade sister group of the remaining Corduliidae s.str.     

Contribution à la systématique du genre Pichia

The presence of intracellular osidases, nitrite and nitrate reductases, vitamin requirements and GC content in the DNA, have been investigated for in 18 species of Pichia.According to their typical characters and their biocaracters, a pattern is suggested for the integration of these new species into the formerly existing groups of the genus Pichia. A new way of classifying the species of the genus Pichia is proposed.     

Taxonomy of some common Amphidinium species

The taxonomic status of several well known species belonging to the genus Amphidinium (Dinophyceae) has been re-examined. Studies in culture and observations on the micro-anatomy of these organisms suggest that the number of species can be reduced to two, A. klebsii and A. carterae. They may be distinguished on the basis of fundamental differences in chloroplast morphology.     

Furcarcturus polarsterni gen. nov., sp. nov., a large deep-sea arcturid isopod from the Drake Passage, with a preliminary molecular characterization

A new arcturid species of unusual size (> 6 cm) is described from a locality in the Drake Passage at 3720 m depth. Due to the unique combination of characters found in these isopods, the new genus Furcarcturus is proposed. Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene obtained from eight species indicate that the new species does not belong to groups of species currently placed in the genera Antarcturus and Chaetarcturus. More sequences are needed to corroborate arcturid phlylogeny. Accepted: 28 May 2000