A phylogeny of Pacific fiddler crabs of the subgenus Minuca (Crustacea,Brachyura, Ocypodidae: Uca) with the description of a new species from a tropical gulf in Pacific Costa Rica

The phylogeny of all Pacific fiddler crab representatives of the subgenus Minuca Bott, 1954 (sensu Beinlich and von Hagen, 2006) is reconstructed. For the molecular analysis, Cox1 mitochondrial and 28S ribosomal nuclear DNA sequences were used. According to these data, same transisthmian sister species relationships are confirmed and a new species of the genus Uca Leach, 1814, Uca osa sp. n., is described from Golfo Dulce, a tropical gulf in Pacific Costa Rica. Morphological as well as molecular data confirm distinctness of this species compared with all other members of the subgenus Minuca, to which it belongs. Distinctive morphological traits are presented to distinguish Uca osa sp. n. from its congeners in the Eastern Pacific.     

New taxa ofCosmarium Corda (Desmidiaceae) from Karnataka State,India

Six new taxa including two new species (Cosmarium bourrellyi Bongale sp. nov. andC. desikacharyi Bongale sp. nov.) and four new varieties (C. auriculatum var.protrusum Bongale var. nov.,C. pachydermum var.inflatum Bongale var. nov.,C. pseudoconnatum var.tuberculans Bongale var. nov. andC. quadrum var.rotundatum Bongale var. nov.) are reported. Algae were collected from a paddy field at Belgaum.     

DICTYOSTELIUM AUREO-STIPES AND DICTYOSTELIUM TENUE: NEW SPECIES OF THE DICTYOSTELIACEAE

Three new cellular slime molds, Dictyostelium aureo-stipes sp. n., D. aureo-stipes var. helvetium var. n. and D. tenue sp. n., are described which possess characteristics heretofore unrecorded in the Dictyosteliaceae. The two species are unlike in dimensions and complexity of form, yet show a number of features in common, and may in fact be closely related. D. aureo-stipes var. helvetium is relatively large and robust, forming multiple-branched fruiting bodies without the regularity of form found in Polysphondylium, yet tending toward symmetry when well-developed. The golden-yellow stipe is a distinguishing feature of D. aureo-stipes and is even more pronounced in var. helvetium. D. tenue is smaller and simpler in form. The degree of branching is much reduced, and oftentimes a solitary sorus terminates a delicate stipe composed of a single tier of cells. Both species are quite sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly temperature, for optimum development occurs within relatively narrow ranges.     

Latest Cretaceous to Late Paleocene radiolarian biostratigraphy: A new zonation from the New Zealand region

The scarcity of records of Early Paleocene radiolarians has meant that while radiolarian biostratigraphy is firmly established as an important tool for correlation, there has been a long-standing gap between established zonations for the Cretaceous and from latest Paleocene to Recent. It has also led to considerable speculation over the level of faunal change across the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary. Consequently, the discovery of rich and diverse radiolarian assemblages in well-delineated K/T boundary sections within siliceous limestones of the Amuri Limestone Group in eastern Marlborough, New Zealand, is of great significance for biostratigraphy and K/T boundary research.This initial report is restricted to introducing a new latest Cretaceous to mid Late Paleocene zonation based on the radiolarian succession at four of these sections and a re-examination of faunas from coeval sediments at DSDP Site 208 (Lord Howe Rise). Three new Paleocene species are described:Amphisphaera aotea, Amphisphaera kina andStichomitra wero. Six new interval zones are defined by the first appearances of the nominate species. In ascending order these are:Lithomelissa? hoplites Foreman (Zone RK9, Cretaceous),Amphisphaera aotea n. sp. (Zone RP1, Paleocene),Amphisphaera kina n. sp. (RP2),Stichomitra granulata Petrushevskaya (RP3),Buryella foremanae Petrushevskaya (RP4) andBuryella tetradica (RP5). Good age control from foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils permits close correlation with established microfossil zonations. Where age control is less reliable, radiolarian events are used to substantially improve correlation between the sections.No evidence is found for mass extinction of radiolarians at the end of the Cretaceous. However, the K/T boundary does mark a change from nassellarian to spumellarian dominance, due to a sudden influx of actinommids, which effectively reduces the relative abundance of many Cretaceous survivors. An accompanying influx of diatoms in the basal Paleocene of Marlborough, together with evidence for an increase of total radiolarian abundance, suggests siliceous plankton productivity increased across the K/T boundary. Possible causes for this apparently localised phenomenon are briefly discussed.     

Taxonomy of gastropods of the families Ranellidae (= Cymatiidae) and Bursidae. Part 2. Descriptions of 14 new modern Indo-West Pacific species and subspecies,with revisions of related taxa

Abstract

The subgenus Cymatium (Septa) is here restricted to species closely related to C. rubeculum (Linné, 1758). A lectotype is designated for C. rubeculum, neotypes are designated for C. hepaticum (Röding, 1798) and C. flaveolum (Röding, 1798), C. occidentale (Mörch, 1877) (= blacketi Iredale, 1936; = beui Garcia-Talavera, 1985) is recorded from the Indo-West Pacific, C. (Septa) marerubrum Garcia-Talavera, 1985 is ranked as a geographic subspecies of C. rubeculum, and three new taxa are named: C. (Septa) bibbeyi n. sp., Philippine Islands; C. (Septa) closeli n. sp., Indian Ocean; and C. (Septa) peasei n. sp., western Pacific. In the subgenus Cymatium (Ranularia), neotypes are designated for C. guttumium (Röding, 1798) and its synonyms, for C. moniliferum (A. Adams & Reeve, 1850), and for C. pyrulum (A. Adams & Reeve, 1850), a lectotype is designated for C. pseudopyrum (Martin, 1899) (a junior synonym of C. pyrulum), other species distinguished are C. encausticum (Reeve, 1844) and C. exile (Reeve, 1844), and new taxa named are C. andamanense n. sp., Andaman Islands, C. springsteeni n. sp., western Pacific and Red Sea, and C. sinense arthuri n. subsp., Red Sea. Other Ranellidae named are Sassia (Sassia) ponderi n. sp., Queensland, and Distorsio (Distorsio) euconstricta n. sp., Indian Ocean and southwest Pacific. A lectotype selected for Murex reticularis Linné, 1758 is a specimen of the species usually known as Distorsio reticulata (Röding, 1798).

In Bursa (Bursa), a lectotype is designated for B. grayana Dunker, 1862 (= B. bufoniopsis Maury, 1917; = B. pacamoni Matthews & Coelho, 1971), western Atlantic, and the similar new Oman to Philippines species B. davidboschi is named. Other Bursa taxa named are B. (Colubrellina) quirihorai n. sp., Philippines, and B. (Colubrellina) latitudo fosteri n. subsp., Philippines. In Bufonaria (Bufonaria), a lectotype designated for Murex rana Linné, 1758 confirms that as the name for the most common western Pacific species, a lectotype designated for Ranella crumena Lamarck, 1816 confirms that as the name for the most common Indian Ocean species, B. elegans (Beck in G. B. Sowerby II, 1836) is illustrated, and the new western Pacific species B. perelegans is named; the four similar species B. nobilis (Reeve, 1844), B. margaritula (Deshayes, 1832), B. gnorima (Melville, 1918), and B. thersites (Redfield, 1846) are distinguished, and the new Madagascar to Philippines species B. ignobilis is named. In Tutufa (Tutufella), the newly named species T. boholica occurs with T. rubeta (Linné, 1758) in deep water in the Philippine Islands.     

Study of the marine planktonic dinoflagellate Ceratium divaricatum (Dinophyceae), a confused and considerably variable species

The species Ceratium divaricatum (Lemmermann) Kofoid has largely been subject to misidentification and taxonomic confusion. The history of the species is complex: originally illustrated by Bergh (1881) as Ceratium tripos var., for which Lemmermann (1899) gave it the name Ceratium tripos var. divaricatum; the name Ceratium divaricatum was used by Kofoid (1908) with no specification of authors or references. It shows a high degree of morphological variation and development of autotomy of the apical and antapical horns. This great morphological variation has led to misidentifications in routine examinations of phytoplankton materials, and several names have been used for this species, including Ceratium dens, Ceratium porrectum and Ceratium tripos var. ponticum, as well as Ceratium balechii, a proposed new species for intermediate forms. Here, the species is redescribed, on the basis of material from Mexican Pacific coasts. Morphological and ecologic differences exist among this species and other closely related ones. Distribution of C. divaricatum is wider than previously documented (mainly because of previous misidentifications): the North Pacific Ocean, from British Columbia in Canada to temperate or subtropical waters of Mexico, and then is interrupted to reappear again in coasts of Peru and Chile, and also in coasts of the Benguela area, the South‐west Atlantic Ocean. In tropical and equatorial areas of the Pacific Ocean, a more delicate form occurs, herein proposed as a variety of this species: Ceratium divaricatum var. balechii. C. divaricatum and var. balechii may be relatively abundant, even producing non‐toxic red tides, in various spots along coasts of the Pacific Ocean (Canada to Mexico). It appears to be a neritic form, with high sensibility to changes in water temperature, and presumably associated to upwelling areas.     

Three new species of Penicillium belonging to Subgenus Biverticillium Dierckx,isolated from different substrates

P. samsonii, n.sp., isolated from apples damaged by indeterminate insects, P. rademirici, n.sp., isolated from air, and P. pittii, n.sp., isolated from clayed soil, were found to be different from previously described species and therefore are proposed as new taxa.     

A cladistic analysis of Erythracarinae (Acarina: Prostigmata: Anystidae), with the description of a new genus

A cladistic analysis of sixty erythracarine species is presented and used to justify recent nomenclatorial changes to the classification of erythracarine genera. Erythracarinae is redescribed, and a new diagnosis for the subfamily and a key to the included genera are presented. Neotarsolarcus is recognized as a junior synonym of Tarsolarkus, which is recorded for the first time from North America. A new genus, Pedidromus, with six new species (P. agitatus sp.n. P. curiosus sp.n., P. durongensis sp.n., P. peliculus sp.n., P. pilotrix sp.n., P. velox sp.n.) is described.     

Phylogeny of the highly divergent zoanthid family Microzoanthidae (Anthozoa,Hexacorallia) from the Pacific

Fujii, T. & Reimer, J. D. (2011). Phylogeny of the highly divergent zoanthid family Microzoanthidae (Anthozoa, Hexacorallia) from the Pacific. —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 418–431. In this study, one new family, one new genus and two new species of zoanthids from rubble zones spanning the temperate, subtropical and tropical Pacific Ocean are described. Two new species are described, Microzoanthus occultus sp. n. and Microzoanthus kagerou sp. n., both belonging to the new genus Microzoanthus and new family Microzoanthidae, and they can be clearly distinguished both morphologically and genetically from each other and other zoanthids by their very small size, reduced or absent stolon, habitat usually on the bottom side of rubble zone rocks, and divergent and distinct DNA (cytochrome oxidase subunit I, mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA, internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA) sequences. The phylogenetic analyses clearly show Microzoanthidae fam. n. to be genetically far different from all other hexacorallians at the order level, but the macrocnemic arrangement of mesenteries and other morphological characters (colonial specimens with narrow stolons, two rows of tentacles sand encrustation) clearly place these specimens within the order Zoantharia. This study demonstrates how it is highly likely the existence of many marine invertebrate taxa remains overlooked, and that widely distributed groups such as Microzoanthidae fam. n. remain to be discovered.     

Diversity and distribution of Laurencia sensu stricto (Rhodomelaceae,Rhodophyta) from the Mexican Pacific,including L. mutueae sp. nov.

The alpha diversity of Laurencia sensu stricto, as well as the majority of the other algal groups along the Mexican Pacific, was underestimated because very few studies had incorporated the use of molecular markers in taxonomic studies, which would allow a more realistic estimation of diversity, incluing new records and new species. The records of Laurencia s.s. for the Eastern Pacific (California, USA to Chile) currently represent 23% of its richness worldwide. In this work, we proposed an updated census of the currently recognized species of Laurencia s.s. for the Mexican Pacific. This checklist reported the occurrence of 22 species that represent 16% of the 137 species worldly recorded. We further included taxonomic remarks, type localities, and a detailed distribution for each species. In addition, we proposed a new species for this region, Laurencia mutueae sp. nov., based on morphological observation as well as phylogenetic analyses. The distribution in the Mexican Pacific revealed that the highest records of species were for the sub‐temperate region, while the localities along the Mexican tropical Pacific were poorly recorded. The scarcity of floristic affinities between the eastern and the western and central parts of the North Pacific Ocean was hypothesized to be a consequence of a strong isolation and hard barriers, such as the water masses between these regions.     

Neotropical Monogenoidea. 49. Four new species of the Diplectanidae (Dactylogyrinea) from the gills of some pachyurines (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) from the Rio Tocantins and Rio Doce Basins, with the proposal of Anoplectanum n. g. and Spinomatrix n. g.

Four new species of the Diplectanidae from the gills of freshwater sciaenid species (Pachyurinae) in Brazil are described and two new genera, Anoplectanum n. g. and Spinomatrix n. g., are proposed. These are: Diplectanum copiosum n. sp. from Pachyurus junki and Petilipinnis grunniens; Anoplectanum haptorodynatum n. g., n. sp. from Pachyurus junki and Petilipinnis grunniens, and A. microsoma n. g., n. sp. from Petilipinnis grunniens, all in the Tocantins Basin; and Spinomatrix penteormos n. g., n. sp. from Pachyurus adspersus in the Rio Doce Basin. Anoplectanum is proposed to accommodate diplectanids lacking squamodiscs and having a superficial root of the ventral anchor as long or longer than the deep root. Spinomatrix is proposed for species having a haptoral and peduncular armature composed of spines, hooks, anchors, squamodiscs and armed muscular pads.     

Neogene planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and evolution: Equatorial to subantarctic, South Pacific

Detailed planktonic foraminiferal zonations have been established for the Neogene (Latest Oligocene through present) in six DSDP sites in the South Pacific ranging from equatorial to subantarctic latitudes (48°S). Two basic zonal schemes are readily recognized: tropical and temperate. The tropical zonation is best developed in DSDP Site 289 and the temperate zonation in Sites 206, 207A and 284. Tropical and temperate zonations can be linked by a warm subtropical scheme in Site 208, because this sequence includes a mixture of tropical and temperate elements. A site located close to the Subantarctic Convergence (Site 281) contains a zonation largely of temperate character, but the present of cooler elements and some differences in biostratigraphic ranges have required a slightly different biostratigraphic scheme.Although two broad schemes are recognized, none of the biostratigraphic sequences are identical between any of the sites. This reflects differences in biogeography, evolution and diachronous extinction at various latitudes during the entire Neogene. Diachronism in biostratigraphic ranges continue to create difficulties in correlation across such wide latitudes.Our detailed work has required the establishment of new biostratigraphic zonations in certain parts of the Neogene sequence and modifications in some other parts. Otherwise, previously established schemes are followed as closely as possible. In the temperate region, a new zonation has been established for the Early Miocene to early Middle Miocene. For the remainder of the Neogene the zonation of Kennett (1973) has been largely used. The tropical zonation of Blow (1969) is employed in the equatorial Site 289, but with further subdivisions for Zones N4 and N17. For areas intermediate between tropical and temperate latitudes (Site 208), a modified Early Miocene zonation is established based on changes in tropical and temperate elements.The zonal schemes are established on taxa that exhibit both diachronous and isochronous ranges across the latitudes. Zones that are at least partly diachronous include the Globigerinoides trilobus and Globorotalia miozea Zones of Early Miocene age; perhaps the Globorotalia mayeri Zone (its base) of the Middle Miocene; the Globorotalia conomiozea Zone of the Late Miocene; and the Globorotalia crassaformis Zone of the Early Pliocene.A large number of datum levels are recognized based on first evolutionary appearances or extinctions. The most widely applicable datums are as follows: latest Oligocene — Globigerinoides F.A.; Early Miocene — Globoquadrina dehiscens, F.A., Globorotalia kugleri L.A., Catapsydrax dissimilis L.A. and Praeorbulina glomerosa F.A.; Middle Miocene — Orbulina suturalis F.A., Globorotalia peripheroacuta F.A., Fohsella lineage L.A., Globorotalia mayeri L.A.; Late Miocene — “Neogloboquadrina” continuosa L.A., Globoquadrina dehiscens L.A., Globorotalia cibaoensis F.A.; Early Pliocene — Globorotalia puncticulata F.A., Globorotalia margaritae F.A.; Early Pleistocene — Globorotalia truncatulinoides F.A. A number of other datums are identified which assist with correlation over more restricted latitudinal ranges.The evolution of most Neogene planktonic foraminifera is now well established for a wide range of water masses. Evolutionary lineages are primarily centered in the temperate and tropical regions. Tropical lineages have recently been reviewed by Srinivasan and Kennett (1981) and are not discussed in detail here. However, Sphaeroidinellopsis seminulina is now considered to have evolved directly into S. paenedehiscens during the Late Miocene and S. subdehiscens Blow is considered to be junior synonym of S. seminulina.A new evolutionary lineage is recognized in the warm subtropics (Site 208) whereby Globigerina woodi woodi gave rise to Globigerinoides subquadratus via Globigerina brazieri. The discovery of this lineage clearly demonstrates that Globigerinoides is a polyphyletic “genus”. Another major phylogenetic lineage is recognized within the temperate globorotaliids of Early Miocene age as follows: “N.” continuosa → Globorotalia zealandica incognita → G. zealandica zelandica → G. praescitula → G. miozea. Although parts of this lineage have been recognized earlier, the entire phylogeny has previously been underscribed.A new Early to Middle Miocene lineage is recognized in the subantarctic to temperate areas which involve a transition from Globorotalia praescitula to G. challengeri n. sp. via intermediate forms.Two major Neogene globorotaliid lineages — the Menardella of the tropics and Middle Miocene to Recent forms of Globoconella of the temperate areas — are both considered to have evolved from Globorotalia praescitula beginning in the Early Miocene. This evolution initially was restricted to temperate areas but has since separated into distinctly tropical and temperate phylogenetic elements.     

Diatoms from Indonesian mangroves and their suitability as sea-level indicators for tropical environments

We collected modern diatom samples from two mangrove environments of Sulawesi, Indonesia to provide a much needed dataset for the reconstruction of sea level from tropical environments. The diatom assemblages are dominated by mesohalobous species (e.g. Amphora coffeaeformis, Amphora turgida, Achnanthes delicatula, Nitzschia sigma and Tryblionella balatonis) and oligohalobous (e.g. Amphora veneta, Diploneis ovalis and Progonoia didiomatia) taxa. Both study sites show strong vertical zonations, which suggests that duration and frequency of intertidal exposure are important factors in controlling the relative abundance of diatoms. The assemblages can be generally divided into a mixed assemblage of mesohalobous, oligohalobous–halophilous and oligohalobous-indifferent diatoms that are found from the dense mangrove vegetation towards the landward edge of the transects, and mesohalobous diatom assemblages that are located within the fringing Rhizophora and tidal flat environments. We subsequently developed a diatom-based transfer function, which is a quantitative approach to sea-level reconstruction. The relationship between observed and diatom-predicted elevations suggests accurate and precise reconstructions are possible. The error estimate (± 0.15 m) is comparable to diatom-based transfer functions from temperate marshes.     

Prosorhynchine trematodes (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from epinephelines (Perciformes: Serranidae) on the Great Barrier Reef,Australia

Six new species of bucephalid trematodes from the prosorhynchine bucephalid genera Prosorhynchus Odhner, 1905 and Neidhartia Nagaty, 1937 are reported from the epinepheline genera Cephalopholis, Cromileptes, Epinephelus and Variola on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Two species of Prosorhynchus and one of Neidhartia are reported from Epinephelus spp., P. jexi n. sp. from E. quoyanus, P. lafii n. sp. from E. fuscoguttatus and N. epinepheli n. sp. from E. maculatus. The other three new species are P. robertsthomsoni n. sp. from Cephalopholis argus, C. cyanostigma and C. miniata, P. conorjonesi n. sp. from Cromileptes altivelis, and P. milleri n. sp. from Variola louti. Extensive examinations of other piscivorous fish species from the Great Barrier Reef have not revealed these six bucephalid species, which appear to be restricted at least to the host genera from which they are reported here.     

Seven new species of Penicillium and a new variety of Penicillium novae-caledoniae Smith

Seven new species of Penicillium Link ex Fries and a new variety of Penicillium novae-caledoniae Smith are described and illustrated. Four of them have been recovered from the air in Madrid, Spain, one from beech leaves litter in a beech forest near Nancy, France, two from sandy soils in Madrid, and one from an andosol in the Spanish Province of Navarra. They clearly differ from all species of the genus described so far and are, therefore, described and proposed as new taxa: Penicillium turolense sp. nov., Penicillium murcianum sp. nov., Penicillium ovetense sp. nov., Penicillium asturianum sp. nov., Penicillium onobense sp. nov., Penicillium castellonense sp. nov., Penicillium aragonense sp. nov., and Penicillium novae-caledoniae Smith, var. album var. nov.     

Molecular phylogeny of neodalyellid flatworms (Rhabdocoela), including three new species from British Columbia

Rhabdocoel flatworms are abundant members of marine meiofaunal communities worldwide, contributing to a reservoir of biodiversity that thrives in sediments and on macroalgae. Yet, they are relatively understudied due to bias in meiofaunal collection techniques, time‐intensive identification and a lack of taxonomic expertise. Here, sampling of intertidal habitats in British Columbia, Canada, was undertaken to enhance our understanding of rhabdocoel diversity in this region. Six species of neodalyellid rhabdocoel were discovered and characterized with DNA sequence and morphological data: Pogaina paranygulgus, Anoplodium hymanae, Baicalellia pusilla n. comb., B. solaris n. sp., B. daftpunka n. sp. and Tamanawas kalipis n. g., n. sp. The latter three species are new to science. A phylogenetic analysis of neodalyellid rhabdocoels, inferred from 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA gene sequences of 39 taxa, provided further insight into their interrelationships, trait evolution and systematics, including the recognition of a new genus, Tamanawas, and the suppression of Canetellia and Coronopharynx.     

Revision of the southern African genus Macroderes Westwood (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

The southern African genus Macroderes Westwood is revised. Six new species, M. amplior n. sp., M. minutus n. sp., M. endroedyi n. sp., M. namakwanus n. sp., M. foveatus n. sp., and M. cornutus n. sp., are described.The neotype of M. bias (Olivier) is designated.Two new synonymies are established: M. pilula Sharp is a junior synonym of M. bias (Olivier), and M. westwoodi Preudhomme de Borre is a junior synonym of M. undulatus Preudhomme de Borre. A key to species and notes on biology and distribution are given.     

Variation of upwelling/oceanic conditions during the latest Pleistocene through Holocene off the central Peruvian coast: A diatom record

Diatoms are well preserved in partly laminated Holocene and late Pleistocene sediments on the upper continental slope of central Peru. Accumulation rates of diatom species previously recognized as tropical (oceanic, warm water) and subtropical (neritic, cooler water, upwelling) changed markedly downcore in Kasten cores obtained at 11°15′S, 12°58′S, and 13°37′S latitude. Subtropical species (e.g., Thalassiosira eccentrica “group”, Thalassiothrix frauenfeldii, Chaetoceros spp. resting spores, Delphineis spp.) predominated in late Pleistocene sediments of the two southern cores. A mix of tropical and subtropical diatom assemblages occurred in latest Pleistocene sediments, while tropical species (e.g., Coscinodiscus nodulifer/radiatus, Pseudoeunotia doliolus, Thalassionema nitzschioides var. parva) predominated in the late Holocene sediments. In the northern core latest Pleistocene sediments also contained a mix of tropical and subtropical species. Similarly, late Holocene sediments contained predominately tropical species of diatoms. Neoglacial periods (200–400 yr B.P., 2000–2700 yr B.P.), however, were sometimes characterized by a greater abundance of subtropical species and punctuated periodically with blooms of Skeletonema costatum and Rhizosolenia shrubsolei. It is proposed that during times of Southern Hemisphere cooling, Peruvian coastal waters north of 12°S were subjected to episodic mixing with warmer water masses before being overwhelmed by tropical waters that may have either passed southward across a weakened Equatorial Front or arose from intensified offshore countercurrents. Coastal waters south of 12°S latitude were probably unaffected by the tropical influence. Rather, these waters may have undergone intensified upwelling during the last Glacial epoch.