Anthobothrium galeorhini n. sp. (Eucestoda: Tetraphyllidea) a parasite of Galeorhinus galeus (Triakidae) from the Argentine coast

Anthobothrium galeorhini n. sp. (Eucestoda: Phyllobothriidae) collected from the spiral intestine of Galeorhinus galeus (Linnaeus, 1758) at the Puerto Madryn (Atlantic coastal region) is described. The new species differs from A. cornucopia as described by Euzet (1959) by the size of body, bothridia, gravid proglottids and eggs; by the neck length and by the different number of testes and proglottids. The size of bothridia and the gravid proglottids, the cirrus length and the number of testes allow differentiating the species here proposed from A. laciniatum Linton, 1890 as described by Euzel (1959). The body and cirrus sac size, the bothridia shape and the number of testes separate the species here described from A. parvum Stossich, 1895 as described by Yamaguti (1952). The anatomic differences between the cestode described by Arandas Rego (1977) and located laxonomycally under the name Anthobothrium laciniatum are listed and the systematic position of the cestode is discussed. Species parasitic of skates listed in scientific literature must be taxonomically reaccommodated, since their characteristics are not consistent with the diagnosis of Anthobothrium.     

Two new species of Paraorygmatobothrium (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) from weasel sharks (Carcharhiniformes: Hemigaleidae) of Australia and Borneo

Two new species of Paraorygmatobothrium Ruhnke, 1994, P. janineae n. sp. and P. kirstenae n. sp., are described from the spiral intestine of 2 shark species of the Family Hemigaleidae: Hemigaleus microstoma and Hemipristis elongata. The 2 new cestode species differ from other members of Paraorygmatobothrium in vitelline follicle distribution and possession of a cephalic peduncle. The 2 new species differ from 1 another in total length, maximum width, scolex size, number of proglottids per strobila, and number of testes per proglottid. The generic diagnosis of Paraorygmatobothrium is emended to include the new species. The results of this study extend the distribution of Paraorygmatobothrium to include the carcharhinid shark family Hemigaleidae.     

A new species of Onchobothriidae (Tetraphyllidea) from Chiloscyllium plagiosum (Elasmobranchii: Orectolobidae) in China

A new species of cestode, Yorkeria xiamenensis n. sp., is described from the spiral valve of Chiloscyllium plagiosum from coastal waters of Xiamen, China. It is the first record of Yorkeria in China. The new species is distinguished from all other species of Yorkeria by its possession of the following characters: the length of specimens, 15.8 mm; 63-95 proglottids; 71-85 testes per proglottid; large medial and lateral hooks in scolex; and eggs with 2 long polar filaments. The new species most closely resembles Y. parva Southwell, 1927 in the follicular vitellaria and similar ratio of lateral-to-medial hooks (1:2.15 vs. 1:2-2.5). However, Y. xiamenensis n. sp. has a longer strobila, more proglottids, a smaller ratio of pedicel to cephalic peduncle, larger hooks, more testes, and a different host.     

Morphologic and genetic variability in the marine planktonic ciliate Laboea strobila Lohmann, 1908 (Ciliophora, Oligotrichia), with notes on its ontogenesis

Laboea strobila Lohmann, 1908 is a conspicuous oligotrich ciliate in the marine plankton. In order to compare different populations, the morphology of specimens from the Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, and Irish Sea was investigated using live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the PCR-amplified products of the SSrRNA gene from a monoclonal culture of L. strobila from the Mediterranean Sea were sequenced and aligned with sequences of other oligotrichs, including a population of L. strobila from the Atlantic coast of the USA. Finally, the data from the ecological literature were summarized and the cultivation methods were described. The SSrRNA gene sequences of the two distantly located L. strobila populations from the North Atlantic are identical. Likewise, the morphometrics of most populations so far investigated after protargol impregnation (i.e. from the North Atlantic) do not show obvious differences. In all computed phylogenetic trees, L. strobila groups with Strombidium species, forming a monophyletic taxon corresponding to the subclass Oligotrichia. These results are corroborated by the ontogenetic comparison. Since no type species was fixed for Laboea Lohmann, 1908, L. strobila was designated in the present paper.     

A new genus and two new species of Aporhynchidae (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) off Taiwan

New collections of cestodes from the spiral intestines of catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) off Taiwan have led to the discovery of a new genus and 2 new species of trypanorhynchs. These taxa are relatively unique among trypanorhynchs in their lack of all elements of the rhyncheal apparatus. The new genus, Nakayacestus n. gen., is considered to belong with Aporhynchus in the Aporhynchidae. In addition to lacking the rhyncheal apparatus, these 2 genera share circum-medullary vitelline follicles, post-ovarian testes, and complex terminal genitalia consisting of accessory, external, and internal seminal vesicles. The 2 genera differ conspicuously in spinithrix configuration; whereas both species of Nakayacestus n. gen. bear scolex spinitriches that are bifid, trifid, or pectinate, species of Aporhynchus either lack scolex spinitriches entirely or possess spathulate spinitriches. The configuration of the bothria of the 2 genera also differ conspicuously. Whereas the bothria of Aporhynchus are sessile and generally do not extend beyond the lateral margins of the cephalic peduncle, those of Nakayacestus bear only a tenuous connection with the scolex proper, being conspicuously free both anteriorly and posteriorly and extending conspicuously beyond the cephalic peduncle. Futhermore, the boundary between the scolex and the strobila of members of the new genus is clearly delineated, whereas this distinction is ill-defined in species of Aporhynchus. Nakayacestus takahashii n. sp., the type of the new genus, was collected from the Broadmouth catshark, Apristurus macrostomus, and differs from Nakayacestus tanyderus n. sp., collected from the Blacktip sawtail catshark, Galeus sauteri, in being shorter, bearing a longer pedunculus scolecis, an ovary that is more posterior in the proglottid, and fewer post-ovarian testes. Furthermore, the 2 new species differ conspicuously from one another in the configuration of their scolex spinitriches.     

Orygmatobothrium spp. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) from triakid sharks in Argentina: redescription of Orygmatobothrium schmitti and description of a new species

Two species of Orygmatobothrium were found inhabiting triakid sharks collected from the coast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Orygmatobothrium schmittii from Mustelus schmitti is redescribed, including new information on the microtrich pattern. Orygmatobothrium juani n. sp. from Mustelus fasciatus can be distinguished from all other species in the genus using the following combination of characters: worm length, number of proglottids, number of testes, testes distribution, size of eggs, ornamented egg shell, shape of bothridial cleft at level of the marginal accessory sucker, and the extension of vitelline follicles. Species in Orygmatobothrium share a common microtrich pattern with the distal bothridial surface covered with maisiform microtriches interspersed with filiform microtriches, a proximal bothridial surface covered with trifid microtriches, with a medial projection conspicuously larger than the lateral basal projections interspersed with filiform microtriches, an inner and outer surface of the accessory sucker and glandulomuscular organ covered with short filiform microtriches, the scolex proper and cephalic peduncle surface covered with bladelike microtriches, and the germinative zone and entire strobila covered with scutes formed by densely packed filiform microtriches. This general configuration is basically similar to the microtrich pattern described in species of Orectolobicestus and Paraorygmatobothrium.     

The evolution of the forms of hermaphroditism in Cyclophyllidea (Cestoda). 2. Morphofunctional causes of the formation of tapeworms having a protogynous type of the genital apparatus development

Morpho-biological causes of the formation of protogynous forms of Anoplocephalidae (Cyclophyllidea) parasitizing rodents have been studied. The reduction in the number of segments in the strobila of anoplocephalideans (Anoplocephaloides, Paranoplocephaloides) in comparison with related polymeric species of the taxon (Paranoplocephala) suggests that protogyny is resulted from the secondary oligomerization of strobila in the phylogenesis of these cestodes. It is evident that the ecological cause of the selection for a small number of segments in the strobila is a tough competition among large polymeric cestodes that results in the formation of small anoplocephalideans located in the back part of the small intestine (Paranoplocephaloides) and in the blind gut (Anoplocephaloides) of rodents. There is slowing down of strobilation rates, acceleration of genital apparatus development and somatic proglottid morphogenesis during the change into protogyny. Due to an earlier, regarding testicle morphogenesis, formation of the ovary and uterus, uterus segments are developing most of the time in the strobila. Thus, proterogyny is one of the universal mechanisms to extend the terms of hexacanth embryogenesis in the second oligomeric strobila of tapeworms.     

Microthrix pattern of Pseudogilquinia thomasi (Palm, 2000) (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) and a review of surface ultrastructure within the family Lacistorhynchidae Guiart, 1927

The microthrix pattern of larvae of Pseudogilquinia thomasi (Palm, 2000) is described for the first time using scanning electron microscopy. The surface ultrastructure of this species consists of three main forms of microtriches: papilliform filitriches, acicular filitriches and quadridigitate to octadigitate palmate spinitriches. The bothria are covered with palmate spinitriches interspersed on some parts with papilliform filitriches. Palmate spinitriches with papilliform, acicular and capilliform filitriches adorn the pars vaginalis and at the anterior part of the pars bulbosa, there is a transition zone in which the palmate spinitriches are replaced by papilliform to acicular filitriches towards the end of the scolex. ANOVA tests with Duncan's post hoc analyses revealed that there are significant differences in the length of spinitriches and their prongs, whether on the surfaces of the bothria or on the surfaces of the scolex peduncle. Callitetrarhynchus gracilis Pintner, 1931 is the second lacistorhynchid species for which surfaces of the segments were examined and the occurrence of large structures called scutes are reported for the first time from this species. There were also significant differences in the base length as well as height of the scutes in different parts of the strobila. In addition to describing the surface ultrastructures of the two lacistorhynchid species, all the available information on the microtriches within the family Lacistorhynchidae is reviewed herein and generic diagnoses related to microtriches are amended. J. Morphol. 277:394–404, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Brachylepis gen. n.--a new genus of cestodes (Cyclophyllidea: Hymenolepididae) from shrews in Siberia and the Far East

A new genus Brachylepis gen. n. hymenolepididean cestodes associated with common shrews (Sorex) in Siberia and Russian Far East is created. These genus includes three species removed from the genus Mathevolepis: Brachylepis morosovi (Karpenko, 1994) comb. n. (type species), B. sorextscherskii (Morosov, 1957) comb. n. and B. triovaria Karpenko, 1990) comb. n. The new genus is characterized by the gradual strobila with a little number of segments, unarmed scolex with apical glandular organ, by lack of internal seminal vesicle and differential seminal receptacle, by form of uterus as horse shoe in young worms and buble-like in mature worms. A tendency of inverse proportional dependence between the number of uterus segments in the strobila and the number of hexacanths in the uterus has been noticed. The table of differential characters for the species of the genus Brachylepis is proposed.     

中国湖南杜鹃花科杜鹃花属一新种——天门山杜鹃

报道了中国湖南天门山国家森林公园内发现的杜鹃花科Ericaceae杜鹃花属Rhododendron一新种——天门山杜鹃R．tianmenshanense C．L．Peng＆L．H．Yan。该种与雪山杜鹃R．aganniphum Balf.f.＆K．Ward近似,但以叶为长圆状椭圆形,叶背具两层毛被,上层为银白色短绒毛,下层为紧贴的鳞片状细毛,总花梗和花梗具密而短的腺毛,花常5朵组成总状花序而不同。该种隶属常绿杜鹃组大理杜鹃亚组sect．Ponticum subsect.Talienisa。     

Inflorescence bracts of fossil and extant Tilia in North America,Europe, and Asia: patterns of morphologic divergence and biogeographic history

The enlarged inflorescence bract diagnostic of extant Tilia has an extensive Tertiary fossil record in the Northern Hemisphere. Diversity of bract morphology, and the extent of adnation between peduncle and bract, is reviewed for fossil and extant species of Tilia. An extinct type of bract with an orbicular outline and palmate venation is documented by the fossil species Tilia circularis (Chaney) comb. nov. from the early Oligocene of Oregon and is designated Type A. Living species of the genus have elongate bracts with predominately pinnate venation that are borne in two basic configurations: Type B, with the peduncle fused only to the extreme base of the bract lamina, as in extant Tilia endochrysea Hand.-Mzt. of southern China; and Type C with the peduncle fused medially along the basal one-third of the bract lamina, as in most extant species. Bracts of Type B were widely distributed in the Tertiary of western North America (late Eocene to Miocene) and Europe (early Miocene to Pliocene), while those of Type C are known in the fossil condition only from the middle and late Tertiary of Asia and Pliocene of Europe. The bracts of T. circularis, like those of type B, are borne on relatively long stalks and have the peduncle fused only at the extreme base. The fossil record supports recognition of the following characters as apomorphic in Tilia bract evolution: bracts sessile, peduncle adnate to the upper surface of the bract, and pinnate bract venation.     

A new species of Linstowia (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) from marsupials in Bolivia.

A new species of cestode of the genus Linstowia (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) is described from marsupials of the genera Thylamys and Monodelphis. The new species (Linstowia schmidti) differs from Linstowia iheringi Zschokke, 1904, in having a much smaller strobila and reduced number of proglottids, and in the distribution of the eggs in gravid proglottids. In Bolivia, cestodes of the genus Linstowia appear to have a restricted geographic distribution, occurring in marsupials only in southeastern Bolivia near the western margin of the Chaco. This host-parasite association may represent an ecological-historical relict.     

Cichlid Fishes from the La Plata Basin. Part IV. Review of the Apistogramma Species, with Description of a New Species (Teleostei, Cichlidae)

Apistogramma inconspicua sp.n. is described from the Rio Candclaria in the Rio Guaporé drainage in Bolivia, and recorded also from Cáceres on the Rio Paraguay in Brazil. The new species is closely related to the Paraguayan species A. commbrae (Regan) and an undescribed species in the Guaporé drainage system. These species share a specialized feature in the colour pattern, viz. an expanded vertical bar on the caudal peduncle which it confluent with the caudal spot. The now presumably complete record of Paraguayan Apistogramma species allows an analytical key to be given. Of the additional species, A. borellii (Regan) and A. trifasciata (Eigenmann & Kennedy) represent two distinct lineages. Apistogramma pleurotaenia (Regan) is probably a La Plata basin species, although no localities are known, and its relationship remain obscure. The assemblage of Paraguayan Apistogramma species reflects the heterogeneity of the Paraguayan cichlid fauna as a whole.     

The ontogeny of swimming behavior in the scyphozoan, Aurelia aurita. II. The effects of ions and drugs.

1. The responses of Aurelia medusae to pharmacological agents and ionic variation were classified into four response types: Type I, no response; Type II, inhibition of pacemaker activity; Type III, inhibition of both pacemakers and swimming muscles; and Type IV, increase in pacemaker output. 2. The swimming pacemakers of Aurelia medusae become hyperactive in Mg+2-free solutions (Type IV). This response appears to be general in swimming scyphozoa. 3. The response pattern to pharmacologically-active compounds indicates that the coelenterate neuromuscular system is quite different than those in other phyla. In fact, the response spectrum is not consistent within the Cnidaria. 4. Similarly, the responses of adult medusae to ionic variation show no consistent pattern within various scyphomedusae. 5. Test solutions from each response type established with medusae were selected and tested on the scyphistoma and strobila stages. The comparison of the responses to the test solutions between the medusa, scyphistoma, and strobila showed that the neuromuscular systems are physiologically different. The strobila, specificially the ephyra, is a mixture of both polypoid and medusoid response types. The strobila, therefore, is physiologically an intermediate stage in the development of the adult medusa.     

Rhinebothrium xiamenensis n. sp. (Eucestoda: Tetraphyllidea) in Dasyatis zugei from the coast of Xiamen, China

A new species of Rhinebothrium inhabiting Dasyatis zugei is reported from the southeast coast of China. This is the first report of Rhinebothrium from D. zugei. It represents a new host and a new location. The new species resembles Rhinebothrium corymbum by having a V-shaped ovary. It differs in the fewer loculi and testes numbers, longer bothrium pedicel and cephalic peduncle, larger cirrus pouch and vitelline follicles, and an aspinose peduncle. Rhinebothrium xiamenensis differs from Rhinebothrium ezuti, Rhinebothrium walga, and Rhinebothrium hawaiiensis by having discrete vitelline follicles, fewer loculi, and ovarian shape.