Naricolax insolitus n. sp., a bomolochid copepod (Poecilostomatoida) parasitic in the nasal cavities of silver pomfret Pampus argenteus off Taiwan

A new species of bomolochid copepod (Poecilostomatoida), Naricolax insolitus n. sp., parasitic in the nasal cavities of the silver pomfret Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen) from the Strait of Taiwan is described. The new species is distinguished from its only known congener, N. atypicus Ho, Do & Kasahara, 1983, by possessing the following four apomorphic features: (1) a complex outgrowth on the egg-sac attachment area; (2) a bent egg-sac; (3) a sharp hook (modified seta V) on the caudal ramus; and (4) an armature of II,I,4 (instead of II,I,5) on the terminal segment of leg 4 exopod. This is the first record of parasitic copepod from the nasal cavities of the silver pomfret.     

Re-description and molecular characterisation of Choricotyle australiensis Roubal,Armitage & Rohde, 1983 (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) infecting Chrysophrys auratus (Forster) (Perciformes: Sparidae)

Choricotyle australiensis Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983, a diclidophorid monogenean species, is redescribed and genetically characterised using the partial nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA gene (28S rRNA) and a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequences for specimens collected from Chrysophrys auratus (Forster) off Australia and New Zealand. Previous studies have either provided morphological or genetic results, whereas this study combines morphological and advanced molecular methods. A total of 70 Ch. auratus were examined with 22 individuals of C. australiensis recovered from the gills (overall prevalence of 23%). This study has provided the first evidence for the exploration of mitochondrial cox1 region for C. australiensis. Comparison of the newly generated sequences with other available data supported the distinction of C. australiensis among diclidophorid Furhmann, 1928 species thus confirming its taxonomic status.

     

Two species of parasitic copepods (Caligidae) new to Japan

Two species of parasitic copepods (Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae), Caligus sclerotinosus Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983, parasitic on red seabream Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel), and Lepeophtheirus longiventralis Yü & Wu, 1932, parasitic on spotted halibut Verasper variegatus (Temminck & Schlegel), are redescribed based on material found on their respective hosts cultured in Japan. Both species are new to Japan. Preliminary observation on the occurrence of L. longiventralis indicates that the larval development takes place on the body surface of the host and only the post-mated female migrates into the host's gill-cavities. Whilst the occurrence of L. longiventralis in Japan can be considered as due to natural causes, the occurrence of C. sclerotinosus is likely due to anthropogenic activities.     

Description of a new species of Dermoergasilus Ho & Do, 1982 (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) from the redbelly tilapia Coptodon zillii (Gervais) (Perciformes: Cichlidae) in Basrah,southern Iraq

Systematic Parasitology - A new species of Dermoergasilus Ho & Do, 1982 (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) parasitic on the gills of the redbelly tilapia Coptodon zillii (Gervais) from Basrah,...     

Rutaceae sampled from Germany, Malta, and Mallorca (Spain) are associated with AMF clustering with Glomus hoi Berch & Trappe

Six Rutaceae species collected from natural habitats (Malta, Mallorca (Spain), and Tenerife (Spain)) and the Botanical Garden in Marburg were examined with respect to mycorrhizal structures and fungal identity. All species have the same gross colonization pattern of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) with distinct intracellular and intercellular phases but show remarkable differences in details, especially in terms of the extent of the intracellular phase. The associated AM fungi, identified using molecular methods, cluster together with Glomus hoi Berch & Trappe, although the plants were collected from very distant locations.     

New caligiform Copepod (Siphonostomatoida: Dissonidae) parasitic on Seriola hippos from western Australian waters, with new records and orphological variation for Dissonus nudiventris and Dissonus similis, and an updated key to the species of Dissonus

Dissonus hoi n. sp. is described from female and male specimens collected from the nasal cavities of a Samson Fish (Seriola hippos Günther) captured off Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Adult female D. hoi are distinguished from their congeners by possessing the following combination of characters: (1) a quadrangular genital complex, (2) ventral spines on the genital complex, (3) pair of postantennal processes, (4) a sternal furca, (5) 1-segmented abdomen, and (6) convoluted, uniseriate egg strings. New records and intraspecific morphological variation are also given for Dissonus nudiventris collected from Australia, and Dissonus similis collected from the tropical western Pacific. A key to the valid species of Dissonus is provided.     

Pleurospermum tripartitum sp. nov. (Umbelliferae) from western Yunnan,China

Pleurospermum tripartitum Pu, R. Li & H. Li, a new species of Umbelliferae from western Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is closely similar to P. macrochlaenum K. T. Fu & Y. C. Ho, but differs by having unbranched stem, conspicuous calyx teeth, and white petals.     

Systematics of freshwater gobies from Greece (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

Five species of gobiid fish are recognized in the fresh waters of Greece. Most distinctive is the south-western Hellenic (West Balkanian component) endemic genus Economidichthys Bianco, Bullock, Miller & Roubal, 1987, with the type-species E. pygmaeus (Holly, 1929) from Lefkas, Epirus and Lake Trichonis, and E. trichonis sp. nov., from Lake Trichonis, the latter probably the smallest freshwater European teleost at maturity (female, 18·0 mm) and maximum size (male, 30·0 mm). In tributaries of the northern Aegean basin (north-eastern Hellenic freshwater fauna), two species of the Ponto-Caspian genus Knipowitschia can be identified, the widespread Kn. caucasica (Kawrajsky in Berg, 1916) (coastal plain of Macedonia and Thrace) and the endemic Kn. ihessala (Vinciguerra, 1921) (Pinios river system, Thessaly). The larger Ponto-Caspian tubenose goby, Prolerorhinus marmoratus (Pallas, 1811), occurs in the Evros (= Maritsa) (Thrace) and Strymon (Macedonia) systems. Only the genera Economidichthys and Knipowitschia are considered in this paper, being redefined in terms of osteology and head lateral-line system, and the species described in detail, with special reference to meristic variation and squamation, and, in Economidichthys , the unique perianal organ of this genus. The relationships of Economidichthys and Kn. thessala are discussed and possible scenarios for their evolution are suggested in the light of Miocene to Recent events.     

Notocotylidae (Digenea) from the Australian water rat Hydromys chrysogaster Geoffroy, 1804 (Muridae)

Notocotylus johnstoni n. sp., N. imbricatus (Looss, 1893) Szidat, 1935 and Catatropis nicolli n. sp. are described from the large intestine and caecum of the Australian water rat Hydromys chrysogaster (Rodentia: Muridae). The water rat is the only known mammalian host of notocotylids in Australia. N. imbricatus, recorded from Tasmania, is a cosmopolitan species which elsewhere uses birds and bithyniid snails as definitive and intermediate hosts respectively. In Tasmania bithyniid snails are unknown and the only known definitive host is a mammal. In view of this it is possible that the material examined represents a species distinct from N. imbricatus. Catatropis gallinulae Johnston, 1928 is found to have three rows of ventral papillae and thus to belong to the genus Notocotylus. The new combination Notocotylus gallinulae (Johnston, 1928) is a senior homonym of Notocotylus gallinulae El-Naffar & Khalifa, 1983 which is replaced with Notocotylus elnaffari nom. nov.     

A Taxonomic Study of the Genus Agathidium Panzer (Coleoptera: Leiodidae) from Korea, Part II. Subgenus Agathidium

A taxonomic study of the subgenus Agathidium of the genus Agathidium Panzer in Korea is presented. Four species [Agathidium (Agathidium) coreanum Angelini, A. (A.) crassicorne Portevin, A. (A.) merkli Angelini, and A. (A.) oblongum Angelini] are recognized. Agathidium (A.) mequignoni Roubal recorded by Angelini is misidentification of A. (A.) crassicorne Portevin. Spermatheca of A. (A.) merkli is illustrated for the first time. A key to the species, diagnoses and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anoplodiscus</Emphasis> Sonsino, 1890 (Monogenea: Anoplodiscidae): a new Australian species,and the first African record from South African hosts

Species of Anoplodiscus Sonsino, 1890 were previously only known from host members of Sparidae. A new species, Anoplodiscus hutsonae n. sp. is proposed for museum specimens originally collected from species of Scolopsis Cuvier (Nemipteridae) off Heron Island and Lizard Island, Australia. Additionally, Anoplodiscus tai Ogawa, 1994 is synonymised with Anoplodiscus cirrusspiralis Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983 due to a lack of support for differential characters, and Anoplodiscus richiardii is considered a species inquirenda. Anoplodiscus cirrusspiralis causes visible lesions on the skin and fins of its host, and may also contribute to poor food conversion rates in sparid aquaculture. Anoplodiscus cirrusspiralis has been recorded from cultured sparids in Australia, Japan, South Africa, and South Korea, and was implicated as a disease agent in fish from the former two countries. However, the discovery of A. cirrusspiralis on Chrysoblephus gibbiceps (Valenciennes), Ch. laticeps (Valenciennes) and Cymatoceps nasutus (Castelnau) in South Africa, ?Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel) in South Korea, and P. auratus (Forster) in Australia, New Zealand and Japan suggests that this species may have a wide distribution and low host-specificity within the Sparidae. In South Africa, A. cirrusspiralis was first encountered on a morbid C. nasutus and Ch. gibbiceps from two public aquaria in 2009 (Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Town and uShaka Sea World, Durban, respectively). Additional material was collected from C. laticeps kept at an abalone farm in Hermanus that originated from Struisbaai on the South African south coast. Anoplodiscus cirrusspiralis is redescribed from the South African specimens. This is the first record of a member of Anoplodiscidae Tagliani, 1912 from Africa.     

Isolation and Identification of Diacylglyceryl-O-4'-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine from the Fern Adiantum capillus-veneris L.

Diacylglyceryl-O-4'-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine was isolatedfrom fronds of the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris L. and identifiedby chemical and spectral analyses. Positional analysis of thefatty acids by lipase treatment showed that palmitic acid wasesterified at position 1, but linoleic, linolenic and arachidonicacids at position 2 of the glycerol moiety of the lipid. Althoughthe trimethylhomoserine lipid has been found in some algal species,this is the first report that it exists in a vascular plant. (Received April 9, 1983; Accepted June 22, 1983)     

The Lepocreadiidae (Digenea) of fishes from the north-east Atlantic: review of the genus Neolepidapedon Manter, 1954, with a description of N. smithi n. sp.

A new species, Neolepidapedon smithi, is described from the fish Mora moro in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and is distinguished from other members of the genus. It differs from its congeners in the extension of the vitellarium into the forebody and/or the body shape. The genus Neolepidapedon is reviewed and a key to species given. The genus has previously contained up to 20 species, but is here restricted to eight species, which possess a very thick male duct wall within the cirrus-sac, a narrow internal seminal vesicle, an excretory vesicle restricted to the hindbody and no eye-spots. The remaining nominal species with a relatively thin-walled internal male duct, a globular internal seminal vesicle, an excretory system which reaches into the forebody and eye-spots are considered to belong to a separate group which is related to Opechona. Some of these species were included by Yamaguti (1971) in his new subgenus Neolepidapedon (Neolepidapedoides), which is raised to full generic status. Eight new combinations are made: Neolepidapedoides belizensis (Fischthal, 1977), N. dollfusi (Durio & Manter, 1968), N. equilatum (Siddiqi & Cable, 1960), N. hypoplectri (Nahhas & Cable, 1964), N. israelense (Fischthal, 1980), N. macrum (Overstreet, 1969), N. medialunae (Montgomery, 1957) and N. mycteropercae (Siddiqi & Cable, 1960).     

Redescription and molecular characterisation of Allogastrocotyle bivaginalis Nasir & Fuentes Zambrano, 1983 (Monogenea: Gastrocotylidae) from Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich) (Perciformes: Carangidae) off the Algerian coast,Mediterranean Sea

Systematic Parasitology - Allogastrocotyle bivaginalis Nasir &amp; Fuentes Zambrano, 1983, the sole species of Allogastrocotyle Nasir &amp; Fuentes Zambrano, 1983, was described from...     

Tardigrades from Ecuador,with the Description of Two New Species: Mixibius ornatus n. sp. and Diphascon (Adropion) onorei n. sp. (Eutardigrada,Hypsibiidae)

Seven species are reported from Ecuador, South America, two of which, Mixibius ornatus and Diphascon (Adropion) onorei, are new to science. Mixibius ornatus n. sp. differs from Mixibius saracenus (Pilato 1973) and from M. fueginus Pilato & Binda 1997 by having a sculptured cuticle, broader claws, lunulae present, stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube in a more caudal position, and shorter placoids. Diphascon (A.) onorei n. sp. has an elongate pharyngeal bulb with small apophyses, three rod-shaped macroplacoids, a granular microplacoid, and septulum; claw bases enlarged, smooth (first three pairs of legs) or crenate (outer claws on the hind legs); a cuticular bar is present near the inner claws on the first three pairs of legs. Other species reported are Echiniscus aliquantillus Grigarick, Schuster & Nelson 1983; Minibiotus intermedius (Plate 1888); Macrobiotus coronatus De Barros 1942; Macrobiotus danielae Pilato, Binda, Napolitano & Moncada 2001, and Astatumen bartosi Weglarska 1959.     

Copepod parasites of a commercial clam (Meretrix meretrix) from Phuket,Thailand

Three species of copepods are reported from hard clams, Meretrix meretrix (L.), obtained from the market in Phuket, Thailand. They are: Conchyliurus bombasticus Reddiah (Clausidiidae), Ostrincola portonoviensis Reddiah (Myicolidae), and Lichomolgus similis Ho & Kim (Lichomolgidae). The first two species are redescribed based on the newly collected material. Conchyliurus fragilis Reddiah is proposed to be relegated to a synonym of C. bombasticus. L. similis is recorded for the first time from the Indian Ocean.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can transfer substantial amounts of nitrogen to their host plant from organic material

Nitrogen (N) capture by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi from organic material is a recently discovered phenomenon. This study investigated the ability of two Glomus species to transfer N from organic material to host plants and examined whether the ability to capture N is related to fungal hyphal growth. Experimental microcosms had two compartments; these contained either a single plant of Plantago lanceolata inoculated with Glomus hoi or Glomus intraradices, or a patch of dried shoot material labelled with (15)N and (13)carbon (C). In one treatment, hyphae, but not roots, were allowed access to the patch; in the other treatment, access by both hyphae and roots was prevented. When allowed, fungi proliferated in the patch and captured N but not C, although G. intraradices transferred more N than G. hoi to the plant. Plants colonized with G. intraradices had a higher concentration of N than controls. Up to one-third of the patch N was captured by the AM fungi and transferred to the plant, while c. 20% of plant N may have been patch derived. These findings indicate that uptake from organic N could be important in AM symbiosis for both plant and fungal partners and that some AM fungi may acquire inorganic N from organic sources.