Draconematidae (Nematoda) from cold-water corals in the Porcupine Seabight: The genus Cygnonema Allen & Noffsinger, 1978

Two new and closely related species of the genus Cygnonema Allen & Noffsinger, 1978 are described from a cold-water coral degradation zone in the Porcupine Seabight (NE Atlantic). Both species differ from C. steineri Allen & Noffsinger, 1978 by more pronounced pharyngeal and posterior swellings, a smaller body, a shorter pharynx in relation to body length, a higher number of CAT, and by the absence of a dorsal tooth. Cygnonema verum sp. n. differs from C. belgicae sp. n. by its greater body length, the relatively larger head capsule, a higher number of CAT, a more anteriorly positioned anteriormost laterodorsal CAT, a higher number of PAT, by the external labial sensilla being setiform, a higher number of subcephalic setae, and by a more anterior position of the amphidial fovea on the head capsule. Males of C. verum sp. n. are easily recognised by the presence of two large subventral, precloacal corniform setae. They also differ from males of C. belgicae sp. n. in the smaller amount of cytoplasm in the sperm cells, a knob-like capitulum, and a relatively shorter tail tip. The diagnosis of Cygnonema is emended, a dichotomic identification key to the three species is provided, and their biogeography is discussed.     

Calicotyle australiensis n. sp. and Calicotyle sp. (Monogenea,Monopisthocotylea) from the rectum and rectal glands,and Rugogaster hydrolagi Schell, 1973 (Trematoda,Aspidogastrea) from the rectal glands of holocephalans off the coast of southeastern Australia

Calicotyle australiensis n. sp. from Chimaera sp., caught off the coast of New South Wales, is described. It differs from the other species of the genus in the combination of the following characteristics: length of the penis-tube, absence of medial diverticula of the caeca and presence of hamuli. Calicotyle sp. from Rhinochimaera pacifica and Rugogaster hydrolagi from Chimaera sp. caught at the same locality are reported and illustrated.     

FOUR NEW SPECIES OF TAMBJA BURN, 1962 (NUDIBRANCHIA: POLYCERIDAE) FROM THE INDO-PACIFIC

The genus Tambja previously included 24 described species. Fournew species, T. tentaculata n. sp., T. gabrielae n. sp., T.zulu n. sp. and Tambja victoriae n. sp., from the Indo-Pacificare described. Tambja tentaculata n. sp., from Guam, is theonly known species in the genus with well developed, dorsolaterallygrooved, oral tentacles. Its inner lateral teeth have a bifidinner cusp with two long, sharp denticles. The oral tentaclesof T. tentaculata are more typical of Roboastra species, whilethe shape of the inner lateral teeth is more typical of Tambja.Nevertheless, the arrangement of the two cusps of the innerlateral teeth and the presence of a rachidian tooth withoutdenticles and with a central notch at the anterior edge, typicalof the species of the genus Tambja, suggest the placement withinthis genus. Tambja gabrielae n. sp., from Indonesia and PapuaNew Guinea, has dark green to dark brown ground colour withbright yellow patches scattered on the body. Tambja zulu n.sp. from Durban, South Africa, is characterized by a black groundcolour with slender yellow longitudinal lines. Tambja victoriaen. sp. is a new species from Papua New Guinea and Australiathat has frequently been misidentified as Roboastra arika, characterizedby its blue body colour and yellow lines. The four species aredistinguishable based on differences in body coloration, ofcharacters of the radula and of the reproductive system. Anoverview on distinguishing features of all known Indo-PacificTambja species is presented. (Received 21 June 2004; accepted 20 January 2005)     

Eleven new Colobomatus species (Copepoda: Philichthyidae) from marine fishes

A survey of 79 fish species revealed 16 species of Colobomatus of which 11 are new and described below. The first ten new species were from Australian fish and the eleventh from a South African fish.The following species are described: Colobomatus cresseyi n. sp. from the eastern river garfish Hyporhamphus regularis ardelio (Whitley) and the snub-nosed garfish Arrhamphus sclerolepis krefftii (Stein-dachner); C. nanus n. sp. from the trumpeter Pelates quadrilineatus (Bloch); C. lesteri n. sp. from the common silver-belly Gerres ovatus (Günther); C. sewelli n. sp. from the seven-fingers tassel-fish Polynemus heptadactylus Cuvier; C. hispidus n. sp. from the blotched javelin-fish Pomadasys maculatus (Bloch); C. ornatus n. sp. from the whiptail Pentapodus setosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes); C. cribbi n. sp. from the barred-faced spine-cheek Scolopsis taeniopterus (Kuhl & van Hasselt); C. rothae n. sp. from the dusky flathead Platycephalus fuscus (Cuvier & Valenciennes) and the bar-tailed flathead P. indicus (L.); C. gietzelae n. sp. from the thread-fin silver-belly Gerres punctatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes); C. creeveyae n. sp. from the white trevally Pseudocarynx dentex (Bloch & Schneider); and C. mackayi n. sp. from an African haemulid, Pomadasys striatus (Gilchrist & Thompson). Colobomatus mylionus Fukui, 1965, is redescribed from the silver bream Acanthopagrus australis (Günther).Details of the mouthparts of C. kyphosus Sekerak, 1970, are given for the first time. This is a relatively plesiomorphic member of the genus (West, unpublished data), and its morphology assists in the interpretation of the appendages of the Australian species.Revised diagnoses for the family Philichthyidae Vogt and the genus Colobomatus hesse, 1873 are given. These incorporate the genus Colobomatoides Essafi & Raibaut, 1980 and the new Colobomatus species described herein respectively.     

SOME BEHAVIOURAL AND ELECTRICAL RESPONSES OF SCROBICULARIA PLANA (BIVALVIA:TELLINACEA) TO SIPHONAL WOUNDING

Water pumping, valve movements and heart rate have been recordedfrom Scrobicularia for short periods of normal behaviour andthen after siphonal wounding. Scrobicularia exhibits regularand repetitive pumping periods interrupted for only 2–3s after siphonal wounding, without the regularity of these periodsbeing affected. Wounding does not prevent animals from usingtheir inhalant siphons for deposit feeding. A preliminary investigationof neural responses to stimulation has shown that wounding thesiphon causes minimal disturbance to the animal, a brief (2s)burst of nerve activity occurs, the siphon is retracted, butvalve adduction does not occur. In contrast to this tactilestimulation of the mantle edge always elicits a large burstof impulses in the posterior adductor nerve, valve closure results,usually for 14–15 s. ¹Present address: Dept of Zoology, University of Cape Town,Rondebosch 7700, South Africa. (Received 2 February 1981;     

Calicotyle australiensis n. sp. and Calicotyle sp. (Monogenea,Monopisthocotylea) from the rectum and rectal glands,and Rugogaster hydrolagi Schell, 1973 (Trematoda,Aspidogastrea) from the rectal glands of holocephalans off the coast of southeastern Australia

Calicotyle australiensis n. sp. from Chimaera sp., caught off the coast of New South Wales, is described. It differs from the other species of the genus in the combination of the following characteristics: length of the penis-tube, absence of medial diverticula of the caeca and presence of hamuli. Calicotyle sp. from Rhinochimaera pacifica and Rugogaster hydrolagi from Chimaera sp. caught at the same locality are reported and illustrated.

     

Two new species of Caprella (Crustacea:Amphipoda:Caprellidea) collected from sandy bottoms in the Strait of Gibraltar

Two new species of the genus Caprella (Crustacea:Amphipoda:Caprellidea) are described based on specimens collected from the Strait of Gibraltar (Southern Spain and Northern Africa). Both species were found living in sandy bottoms. Caprella pseudorapax n. sp. is very close to the species C. rapax (Mayer, 1890) and C. lilliput (Krapp-Schickel & Ruffo, 1987). Caprella sabulensis n. sp. resembles C. cavediniae (Krapp-Schickel & Vader, 1998).     

PHYLOGENY OF THE GENUS ROSTANGA (NUDIBRANCHIA), WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Rostanga elandsia sp. nov., Rostanga aureamala sp. nov. andRostanga phepha sp. nov. are characterized by having the radulawith slender innermost lateral teeth, which lack denticles onthe inner side of the cusp and have a single denticle on theouter side. The outermost lateral teeth of these three speciesare elongate, but shorter than in other species of the genus.In addition, R. aureamala is the only species of the genus withrachidian teeth and R. phepha is unique within the genus Rostanga byvirtue of its white coloration with dark spots. A phylogenetic analysis shows that the three new species fromSouth Africa and Rostanga setidens (Odhner, 1939) are the sistergroup of the rest of the genus. The species from Japan and MarshallIslands (North Pacific Ocean) are basal in the sister cladecontaining the other species of Rostanga Bergh, 1879. The tropicalIndo-Pacific species of Rostanga are not monophyletic. The Atlanticand Eastern Pacific species form a monophyletic, derived clade,being the sister group of Rostanga australis Rudman & Avern,1989, which has a narrow range restricted to south eastern Australia.The widespread Indo-Pacific species Rostanga bifurcata Rudman& Avern, 1989, is the sister group of Rostanga dentacus Rudman& Avern, 1989, also widesprad in the tropical western Pacific. This phylogeny suggest s a viariant origin of the Sourth African, Atlantic-EasternPacific, and probably North Pacific species, whereas in thetropical Indo-Pacific most sister speceis are sympatric. (Received 16 May 1999; accepted 31 July 2000)     

Systematic revision of Jorunna Bergh, 1876 (Nudibranchia: Discodorididae) with a morphological phylogenetic analysis

The genus Jorunna is characterized by a dorsum covered withcaryophyllidia, a prostate with two sections, a penis usuallyunarmed but occasionally armed with hooks, a copulatory spine,the presence of an accessory gland and a labial cuticle smoothor armed with jaw elements. The examination of 216 non-typespecimens, 30 types, and a review of the literature show thatthere are 16 valid species of the genus Jorunna: J. tomentosa(Cuvier, 1804); J. funebris (Kelaart, 1859); J. pantherinaAngas,1864; J. rubescens (Bergh, 1876); J. labialis (Eliot, 1908);J. parva (Baba, 1938); J. spazzola (Marcus, 1955); J. hartleyi(Burn, 1958); J. alisonaeMarcus, 1976; J. lemchei (Marcus, 1976);J. evansi (Eliot, 1906); J. pardusBehrens & Henderson, 1981;J.ramicolaMiller, 1996 and J. onubensis Cervera, García-Gómez& García, 1986. In addition, two new species fromthe Eastern Pacific are described: J. osae n. sp. and J. tempisquensisn. sp. We propose two new combinations: Jorunna parva and J.evansi. New records for the genus Jorunna are provided fromItaly, Algeria, Seychelles, Madagascar, Thailand, Marshall Islands,New Caledonia, Île de la Réunion, Sudan, PapuaNew Guinea, Indonesia, Panama, Costa Rica, Bahamas, and SouthernMexico. We present the first preliminary phylogenetic analysisof this cryptobranch dorid genus, based on morphological anatomicaldata, and discuss the biogeography and evolution of severalcharacters in this group. The phylogeny supports the hypothesisthat the genus Jorunna is a monophyletic group and shows thatKentrodoris is nested within it. (Received 31 December 2004; accepted 10 January 2008)     

A revision of the chigger mite genus Paratrombicula Goff & Whitaker, 1984 (Acari: Trombiculidae), with the description of two new species

The monotypic chigger mite genus Paratrombicula Goff & Whitaker, 1984 is expanded to include five species. Two new species of chiggers, parasitising iguanid lizards in Chile, Paratrombicula chilensis n. sp. and P. goffi n. sp., are described, and two species, P. neuquenensis (Goff & Gettinger, 1995) n. comb. and Paratrombicula plaumanni (Brennan & Jones, 1964) n. comb., are transferred to this genus from Parasecia Loomis, 1966 and Neotrombicula Hirst, 1925, respectively. A key to the species of Paratrombicula is presented.     

SPERMOGENESIS AND SPERM STRUCTURE IN THREE SPECIES OF PATELLOIDA AND ONE SPECIES OF NIPPONACMAEA (PATELLOGASTROPODA: ACMAEOIDEA)

The spermatozoa of Patelloida profunda albonotata, P. saccharina,P. pygmaea and Nipponacmaea schrenkii (Lottiidae) are describedby transmission electron microscopy. All have ect-aquasperm,typical of invertebrates using external fertilization. The spermof all four species have a cylindrical nucleus (length: breadth> 4: 1 in P. p. albonotata and P. saccharina; <4: 1 inP. pygmaea and N. schrenkii) which tapers towards the roundedanterior end. All have an acrosome with a posterior acrosomallobe which extends into the centre of the subacrosomal space.In P. p. albonotata and P. saccharina the acrosomal contentsare undifferentiated and the posterior lobe extends to the nucleus,being separated from it by flocculent material. In P. pygmaeathe acrosomal contents are differentiated, the lobe is relativelyshort and the subacrosomal space is filled with material witha fibrous appearance. The acrosome of N. schrenkii is undifferentiatedand the posterior lobe is no more than a bulge. The sperm ofP. p. albonotata and N. sacchrina have a small (0.25 µmlong) cytoplasmic collar which surrounds the axoneme anteriorlywhereas in P. pygmaea and N. schrenkii the cytoplasmic collaris longer (1 µm) and is swollen by an electron-dense vesicle.The composition and function of this vesicle is unknown. Thespermatozoa of Patelloida and Nipponacmaea have structural featureswhich are similar to sperm of the Lottiidae providing some supportfor the placement of these genera in the Lottiidae as proposedby Lindberg & Hedegaard (1996) and Sasaki & Okutani(1993) respectively. The similarities of the sperm of P. pygmaeato N.schrenkii raise some doubts about the tax-onomic statusof the former species. Spermiogenesis in all four species issimilar to that described for other Acmaeoidea and Patelloidea.In P. pygmaea and N. schrenkii, however, in addition to theacrosomal vesicle, the Golgi body produces a number of electron-densevesicles which fuse and eventually form a single vesicle inthe collar of the mid-piece. (Received 24 October 1996; accepted 10 February 1997)     

Two new species of mazocraeid monogeneans from Clupanodon punctatus (Temminck & Schlegel) (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) found in Daya Bay, South China Sea, with the proposal of Chelimazocraes n. g.

Chelimazocraes liaoi n. g., n. sp. and Chelimazocraes ascidiformis n. sp. (Monogenea: Mazocraeidae) are described from the gills of Clupanodon punctatus (Temminck & Schlegel) in Daya Bay (South China Sea). The new genus is characterised by the following features: (i) the haptor is distinctly separated from the body proper, and the arrangement of the clamps is bilaterally symmetrical but longitudinally heteromorphic; (ii) the anterior three pairs of clamps are of the mazocraeid-type, whereas the fourth pair is of a non-mazocraeid type with three sclerites; (iii) all three pairs of clamps are similar in shape but their size gradually becomes smaller from the anterior to the posterior; (iv) the inner spines of the copulatory organ have a similar shape; and (v) the testes are numerous and arranged longitudinally posterior to the ovary. The two new species are easily distinguished from other members of the Mazocraeidae by the unique structure of the fourth pair of clamps; however, there are some noticeable differences between the two species. The major differences are as follows: (i) the body of C. liaoi n. sp. is significantly larger than that of C. ascidiformis n. sp.; (ii) the anterior three pairs of clamps consist of different sclerites in the two species; and (iii) the copulatory organ has one pair of outer spines and 15–16 pieces of inner spines in C. liaoi n. sp. (vs two pairs of outer spines and 22–26 pieces of inner spines in C. ascidiformis n. sp.).     

Trimusculotrema schwartzi n. sp. (Monogenea: Capsalidae) from the skin of the stingray Dasyatis zugei (Elasmobranchii: Dasyatidae) off Hong Kong,China

Trimusculotrema schwartzi n. sp. (Capsalidae) is described from the skin of the stingray Dasyatis zugei (Elasmobranchii: Rajiformes: Dasyatidae) off Hong Kong, China. Only three other species have been placed in the genus Trimusculotrema: T. micracantha (Euzet & Maillard, 1967), T. leucanthemum (Euzet & Maillard, 1967), and T. uarnaki Whittington & Barton, 1990. T. schwartzi n. sp. may be differentiated from all known species of Trimusculotrema by the length of the anterior hamuli and by the absence of pigment shields over the eye-spots. Its occurrence on a stingray off China represents a northern extension of the geographical range of Trimusculotrema.     

Proposal of a new genus,Doorochen (Digenea: Lepocreadioidea), for reef-inhabiting members of the genus Postlepidapedon Zdzitowiecki, 1993

A new genus, Doorochen n. gen., is erected for four species of Postlepidapedon Zdzitowiecki, 1993, all of which inhabit members of the labroid genus Choerodon Bleeker, the tuskfishes, and which molecular phylogenies have indicated are not congeneric with the type-species, P. opisthobifurcatum (Zdzitowiecki, 1990) Zdzitowiecki, 1993. Doorochen secundum (Durio & Manter, 1968) n. comb. from Choerodon graphicus (De Vis), the Graphic tuskfish, from the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and New Caledonia is designated the type-species of the new genus. Other species recognised are Doorochen spissum (Bray, Cribb & Barker, 1997) n. comb. from C. venustus (De Vis), the Venus tuskfish, C. cyanodus (Richardson), the Blue tuskfish, and C. graphicus from the GBR; D. uberis (Bray, Cribb & Barker, 1997) n. comb. from C. schoenleinii (Valenciennes), the Blackspot tuskfish, and C. venustus from the GBR and Moreton Bay; and D. philippinense (Machida, 2004) n. comb. from C. anchorago (Bloch), the Orange-dotted tuskfish, from Philippine waters. In addition to these four species, two new species are described: D. zdzitowieckii n. sp. from C. fasciatus (Günther), the Harlequin tuskfish, and C. graphicus from the GBR; and D. goorchana n. sp. from C. anchorago from the GBR and Palau. The genus Postlepidapedon is now considered to comprise just two species, P. opisthobifurcatum and P. quintum Bray & Cribb, 2001. The relationships of Doorochen, Postlepidapedon, Myzoxenus Manter, 1934 and Intusatrium Durio & Manter, 1968 in the family Lepidapedidae Yamaguti, 1958 are discussed.     

Taxonomic Study of the Genus Eucriotettix Hebard (Orthoptera: Tetrigidea) from China

The genus Eucriotettix Hebard from China was reviewed and 13 were species recorded, including two new species: Eucriotettix nigripennis Deng & Zheng n. sp. and Eucriotettix strictivertex Deng & Zheng n. sp. A key to the species of Eucriotettix from China is provided. Type specimens were deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Shaanxi Normal University.     

Description of a New Genus and Three New Species of Figitinae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae) from Colombia

A new genus and three new species of Figitinae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) are described from Colombia: Ferpereira Pujade-Villar n. gen., Ferpereira fiorellae Pujade-Villar n. sp., Neralsia levis Pujade-Villar & Petersen-Silva n. sp., and Figites colombiensis Pujade-Villar & Paretas-Martínez n. sp., which is the first species of Figites Latreille from Colombia and the second from South America. The diagnostic characters of these new taxa are illustrated.     

Chauhanellus Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1969 (Monogenea) from ariid fishes (Siluriformes) of Peninsular Malaysia

Twelve new species of Chauhanellus Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1969 have been found on six species of ariid from Peninsular Malaysia: Chauhanellus trifidus n. sp., C. digitalis n. sp., C. malayanus n. sp., C. forcipis n. sp. and C. intermedius n. sp. from Arius sagor; C. aspinous n. sp. from Arius venosus; C. caelatus n. sp. from Arius caelatus; C. auriculatum n. sp., C. poculus n. sp. and C. pulutanus n. sp. from Arius maculatus; C. duriensis n. sp. from Arius thalassinus; and C. osteogeneiosi n. sp. from Osteogeneiosus militaris. Some of these Chauhanellus species possess characteristics that are not commonly observed in the genus. C. aspinous n. sp., C. intermedius n. sp. and C. digitalis n. sp. exhibit features found in both Chauhanellus and Hamatopeduncularia: these include absence of spines on the mainpart of the dorsal anchors in C. aspinous n. sp. and C. intermedius n. sp. and presence of haptoral digitation in C. digitalis n. sp. Other features are the five transverse rows of peduncular spines in C. duriensis n. sp., ear-like projections on the anchors in C. auriculatum n. sp., and thin sclerotised plates that partly envelope the ventral anchors in C. forcipis n. sp. Mid-dorsal appendices occur on the dorsal bars of seven of the present species.