Redescription of Flexophora ophidii Prost & Euzet, 1962 (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) from Ophidion barbatum (Ophidiidae) off the Algerian coast,Mediterranean Sea

Systematic Parasitology - The diclidophorid Flexophora ophidii Prost & Euzet, 1962, the type- and only species of the genus Flexophora Prost & Euzet, 1962, has never been...     

On the Genus Peraclistus (Turbellaria, Proseriata), with Redescription of P. oofagus (Friedman)

A new interpretation of the anatomy and systematic position of Peraclistus oofagus , an ectocommensal on the queen crab, Chionoecetis opilio , is presented. P. oofagus is redescribed and it is claimed that the original interpretation was erroneous. The genus Peraclistus is redefined both on the basis of this study and on examination of the type material, of the other members of this genus.     

Redescription of Stenolophus thoracicus Casey (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Harpalini), a valid species

Stenolophus thoracicus Casey is revalidated. The species is redescribed based on a study of the syntypes and of several conspecific specimens from eastern North America. The species differs from the other eastern species of the subgenus Agonoleptus in having the metasternum shorter and the wings reduced to tiny stubs. The dorsal habitus and median lobe of the aedeagus, along with the structures of the internal sac, are illustrated.     

Redescription of Pseudoaugeneriella nigra (Langerhans, 1880), new combination (Polychaeta, Sabellidae), with remarks on some characters of Fabriciinae

The fabriciin sabellid species, Fabricia nigra Langerhans, 1880 from the Macaronesian region, is assigned to the genus Pseudoaugeneriella Fitzhugh, 1998, based on information provided by newly collected specimens. The species is redescribed, including the variability of key characters. Moreover, structures of the anterior end — dorsal lips, ventral filamentous appendages, peristomial rings — of Pseudoaugeneriella nigra and other species of Fabriciinae are studied histologically and by means of SEM. The systematic significance of these characters in Fabriciinae is discussed.     

Redescription of Enterobius anthropopitheci (Gedoelst, 1916) (Nematoda,Oxyurida), a parasite of chimpanzees

Enterobius anthropopitheci (Gedoelst, 1916), a parasite of the chimpanzees Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus, is redescribed. E. anthropopitheci can be distinguished from the two closely related species parasitic in man, E. vermicularis (L., 1758) and E. gregorii Hugot, 1983, by the following characters: in the males, the cuticular pericloacal ornamentation, and the size and shape of the spicule; in the females, the lateral alae, which are simple in the pinworms of man, are simple only anteriorly and divided into two crests at the mid-oesophageal level in the parasite of chimpanzees.Enterobius anthropopitheci (Gedoelst, 1916), parasite des chimpanzés, Pan troglodytes et P. paniscus, dans toute leur aire de répartition est redécrite. E. anthropopitheci est très proche par sa morphologie des deux oxyures de l'Homme, E. vermicularis (L., 1758) et E. gregorii Hugot, 1983, dont il diffère toutefois par les caractères suivants: chez le mâle, ornementation cuticulaire péricloacale, taille et forme du spicule; chez la femelle, aile latérale simple sur toute sa longuer chez les oxyures de l'Homme, simple dans la région antérieure se dédoublant en deux crêtes au milieu de l'oesophage, chez l'oxyure parasite des chimpanzés.     

Redescription of Licnophora chattoni Villeneuve-Brachon, 1939 (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea), associated with Zyzzyzus warreni Calder, 1988 (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa)

Licnophora chattoni, found in association with Zyzzyzus warreni, a tubulariid hydroid epizoic in sponges from São Sebastião (SP, Brazil), is redescribed and illustrated using light and electron microscopy. The ciliate has a flexible, transparent body formed by an oval anterior region linked to the posterior basal disc via a flexible neck region. Numerous cortical granules are observed scattered throughout the body and densely packed along the neck. The adoral zone is formed by about 81 external and 24 infundibular paramembranelles. The paroral membrane, formed by a row of long cilia arranged in monokinetids, extends through a groove in the body to the adhesive disc. Two dorsal kinetids are present along the right body margin and around the neck. The adhesive disc (18 μm in diameter) lacks cilia in the area above the velum. The velum covers a row of dikinetids bearing long cilia and four dikineties, two or three of which are interrupted on the ventral surface. Nine to twelve macronuclear nodules connected by isthmuses are distributed in the cytoplasm, plus two nodules located in the adhesive disc and between those there is an ovate micronucleus.     

Redescription of Mesocyclops leuckarti (Copepoda,Cyclopoida), Including a Study of its Naupliar Development

The female and male of Mesocyclops leuckarti (CLAUS , 1857) from a European population are redescribed in detail. New diagnostic characters are described which have passed unnoticed so far. All six naupliar stages of this species are studied as well. Characters of the adult and naupliar external morphology are discussed with respect to previous studies.     

Redescription of a rare threadfin (Perciformes: Polynemidae), Polydactylus macrophthalmus (Bleeker, 1858), with designation of a lectotype and notes on distributional implications

A rare threadfin, Polydactylus macrophthalmus (Bleeker, 1858), having long been included in the genus Polynemus, is redescribed on the basis of 9 specimens and a lectotype designated. Polydactylus macrophthalmus is characterized by the following combination of characters: 7 pectoral filaments, upper 3 filaments extending beyond posterior margin of hypural; 13 or 14 pectoral fin rays; 87–94 pored lateral line scales; 11 scales above lateral line, 15 or 16 below; 10–12 upper series gill rakers, 15 or 16 lower, 26 or 27 total; occipital profile concave in adults; second spine of first dorsal fin very strong; pectoral fin rays long (mean 24% [range 24–26%] of SL). The presently known distribution of the species, including the Kapuas River, Kalimantan, and the Musi and Batanghari Rivers, Sumatra, Indonesia, apparently reflects the ancient Central or North Sunda River during the last period of lowered sea levels, ca. 12 000 years ago. Received: November 1, 2000 / Revised: March 2, 2001 / Accepted: March 15, 2001     

Twelve new species of dactylogyrids (Platyhelminthes,Monogenea) from West African barbels (Teleostei,Cyprinidae), with some biogeographical implications

Fifteen species of dactylogyrid monogeneans, belong to Dactylogyrus and Dogielius were observed in seven different African species of Barbus and Varicorhinus (Teleostei, Cyprinidae). The barbels examined in West Africa were: Barbus occidentalis Boulenger, 1911, known in the large Sahel-Sudan rivers and in Gabon: B. waldroni Nordman, 1935, B. petitjeani Daget, 1962, B. sacratus Daget, 1963, B. parawaldroni Lévêque, Thys van den Audenaerde & Traoré, 1987 and Varicorhinus wurtzi (Pellegrin, 1908) are distributed in various coastal rivers in the Gulf of Guinea. B. bynni (Forskal, 1775) the seventh species, is found in East Africa where it is known in the Nile Basin and the lakes connected with it. Three previously reported monogeneans were found: Dactylogyrus pseudanchoratus Price & Géry, 1968, was identified on all the host species studied; D. falcilocus Guégan, Lambert & Euzet, 1988, was found on V. wurtzi from Little Scarcies in Guinea; D. ruahae Paperna, 1973, was found on B. sacratus, B. parawaldroni and V. wurtzi in the rivers flowing from the Fouta Djalon mountains in Guinea to the Atlantic.Twelve new species of monogeneans are described. Eight belong to Dactylogyrus Diesing, 1850 and the four others to Dogielius Bychowsky, 1936. Seven of the dactylogyrids described display strict specificity for their host fish: Dactylogyrus clani n. sp. and D. petitjeanii n. sp. on B. petitjeani; Dactylogyrus sacrati n. sp. and Dogielius phrygieus n. sp. on B. sacratus; Dactylogyrus parawaldronii n. sp. on B. parawaldroni; and Dactylogyrus wurtzii n. sp. and Dogielius vexillus n. sp. on V. wurtzi. The remainder have a broader host spectrum: Dactylogyrus archaeopenis n. sp. on B. petitjeani, B. sacratus and B. parawaldroni; Dogielius pedaloe n. sp. on B. parawaldroni and V. wurtzi; Dactylogyrus aferoides n. sp. and Dactylogyrus sahelensis n. sp. on B. occidentalis, B. waldroni, B. petitjeani and B. bynni; and Dogielius djolibaensis n. sp. identified on B. occidentalis, B. petitjeani and B. waldroni.Characteristics of gill parasitism in three particular hosts, B. bynni, B. occidentalis and B. waldroni, confirm the current opinion of the existence of clinal variations in individual Barbus specific complexes belonging to isolated basins. We discuss the differences in the composition of gill parasitofauna of barbels from different catchment areas. Cyprinids in isolated catchments in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are parasitised in particular by interesting monogeneans which are true relic taxa. The problem of the use of these parasite groups as palaeo-ecological markers is raised.     

Redescription of Rhamnocercus stichospinus Seamster and Monaco, 1956 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae), parasitic on Menticirrhus americanus (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Rhamnocercus stichospinus Seamster and Monaco, 1956 (Diplectanidae) parasitic on the sciaenid fish Menticirrhus americanus from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro, is redescribed and recorded for the first time in the South American Atlantic Ocean. The generic diagnosis of Rhamnocercus is emended to accommodate the presence of confluent intestinal ceca in R. stichospinus.     

Challenge infections of Gyrodactylus bullatamdis (Monogenea) on guppies, Poecilia reticulata (Peters), following treatment

The effects of an initial infection of Gyrodactylus bullatarudis on a challenge infection were investigated using guppies, Poecilia reticulala , by terminating the initial infection after 1 or 2 weeks and immediately reinfecting the fish. Establishment success, mean parasite population size, peak parasite burden, time to peak burden and duration of the infection were all significantly lower in the challenge infections than in the respective initial or control infections. These parameters did not differ significantly between the 1- and 2-week challenge groups.