Four closely related but forgotten species of Rhipidocotyle Diesing, 1858 (Digenea: Bucephalidae) in fishes from European seas

The following species of Rhipidocotyle are described: R. minima (Wagener, 1852) from Chelidonichthys gurnardus, C. lastoviza and Aspitrigla cuculus at various localities off the British Isles; R. nicolli n. sp. from A. cuculus off Plymouth, SW England; R. triglae (van Beneden, 1870) from C. lucernus in the Gulf of Marseilles, western Mediterranean; and R. viperae (van Beneden, 1870) from Echiichthys vipera at various localities off the British Isles. The distinguishing features of the species are discussed in detail. A list of the bucephalid species reported from the Mediterranean Sea is appended.     

A new species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden, 1850 (Tetraphyllidea: Onchobothriidae) from Pastinachus atrus (Macleay) (Batoidea: Dasyatidae) in Australian waters, with a reassessment of the host associations of Acanthobothrium spp. parasitising Pastinachus spp

A new Category 1 species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden, 1850 is described from the cowtail stingray Pastinachus atrus (Macleay) collected from the Gulf of Carpentaria near Weipa, Queensland, Australia. This species is unique among Acanthobothrium Category 1 species in that it retains gravid proglottids on its strobila. It differs further from the 34 other Category 1 species in total length, proglottid number and testis number. The host identities of other Acanthobothrium species reported from Pastinachus are revised based on recent taxonomic work on rays of this genus. Given the revised host taxonomy, according to which P. atrus is the only member of its genus occurring off Australia, this should be considered to be the fifth species of Acanthobothrium reported from this Australian endemic species.     

Microcotyle visa n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae), a gill parasite of Pagrus caeruleostictus (Valenciennes) (Teleostei: Sparidae) off the Algerian coast,Western Mediterranean

Parasite biodiversity of fish of the southern part of the Mediterranean sea is still incompletely explored. We describe here Microcotyle visa n. sp. from the gill filaments of the bluespotted seabream Pagrus caeruleostictus (Valenciennes) (Sparidae) collected off the Algerian coast. The identity of fish hosts was confirmed by barcoding. Microcotyle visa n. sp. is herein described and illustrated. Analysis of the cox1 gene of the monogeneans revealed minor intraspecific variation (1.4%), an order of magnitude lower than the distance between this species and other Microcotyle species (10–15 %). Microcotyle visa n. sp. is distinguished from Microcotyle erythrini van Beneden & Hesse, 1863, a congener infesting sparids, on the basis of morphological (size of clamps, number of testes) and molecular (cox1) differences. This is the fourth member of the genus known to parasitise a sparid host. A species of Paramicrocotyle sp. included in the molecular analysis was nested within a robust Microcotyle + Paramicrocotyle clade; in the absence of demonstrated molecular and morphological differences, we consider that Paramicrocotyle Caballero & Bravo-Hollis, 1972 is a junior synonym of Microcotyle van Beneden & Hesse, 1863 and transfer two species of Paramicrocotyle as Microcotyle danielcarrioni (Martinez & Barrantes, 1977) n. comb. and Microcotyle moyanoi (Villalba & Fernandes, 1986) n. comb.

     

The taxonomic history of the family Lecanicephalidae Braun, 1900, a little known group of marine cestodes

Parataenia Linton cannot exist as a cestode genus as it is preoccupied. Discobothrium van Beneden is not a junior synonym of Echeneibothrium van Beneden, and Hornellobothrium Shipley & Hornell and Eniochobothrium Shipley & Hornell are very likely not junior synonyms of Discobothrium. Hexacanalis Perrenoud should be considered a junior synonym of Cephalobothrium Shipley & Hornell. Yogeshwaria Chincholikar & Shinde, Spinocephalum Deshmukh and Flapocephalus Deshmukh are considered unrecognisable. Staurobothrium Shipley & Hornell should be returned to the Phyllobothriidae. Balanobothrium Hornell should remain in the Onchobothriidae Braun. The order Lecanicephalidea was not established by Baylis. There are no grounds for recognising the superfamily Lecanicephaloidea Southwell which contains only the Lecanicephalidae Braun. The elevation of the lecanicephalids to an order, the Lecanicephala, does not appear to be valid. To avoid further confusion the scheme set out by Braun (1900) should be used as a basis for classification of the lecanicephalids.     

Bisbalia vossi n. g., n. sp. (Nematoda: Onchocercidae), a filarial worm from a geomyoid rodent,Heteromys anomalus,in Venezuela

Bisbalia vossi n. g., n. sp. is described from Heteromys anomalus (Rodentia: Geomyoidea: Heteromyidae) in northern Venezuela (Aragua). The filariae were found in a membranous pocket in the pleural cavity, and almost all had ingested red blood cells of their host. The morphology of this onchocercine species is highly evolved (advanced reduction of head and caudal papillae; short undivided oesophagus). Its very short microfilariae (60 m) and the shape of the tail of the female (two terminal median pairs of bosses) suggest that this species could be derived from Ackertia Vaz, 1934, a South American genus parasitic in caviomorph rodents which is related to the Dipetalonema-line, but Ackertia has several pairs of precloacal papillae, which are absent in the new genus. In North America, where the geomyoid rodents originated and diversified, the two previously described filarial species differ from this new material and show affinities with Old World bat parasites (Litomosa van Beneden, 1871).     

Nomenclatural and taxonomic notes on two eastern taxa of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Primula auricula</Emphasis> complex

Discrepancies and errors in the taxonomic and nomenclatural treatment of Primula auricula complex by Zhang (2002) and Zhang & Kadereit (2004, 2005) are discussed. Investigation of a few hundred P. auricula specimens stored in BP yielded contradictory morphological results compared with those of the above authors. In contrast with the key proposed by them specimens (BP) from Mt Domogledu (Romania) have short, while those from the north Carpathians (Slovakia) have relatively long glandular hairs on the leafmargins. Lectotypes of P. auricula var. serratifolia Rochel ex Borbás and P. auricula var. hungarica Borbás are designated. Nomenclatural errors made by Zhang and Kadereit are corrected, and it is emphasized that the name P. lutea ssp. tatriaca applied for Slovak populations by them is superfluous. Further researches are needed to clarify the taxonomic position of Slovak and Romanian P. auricula populations. Morphological characters considered as distinctive and relevant by Zhang and Kadereit seem to be dependent on the phenological state of plants.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthobothrium</Emphasis> van Beneden, 1850 (Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) from carcharhinid sharks,with a redescription of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthobothrium laciniatum</Emphasis> Linton, 1890

Anthobothrium laciniatum Linton, 1890 is redescribed based on specimens taken from the dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur) collected from the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean, and a neotype is designated. A. laciniatum differs from A. cornucopia van Beneden, 1850, A. altavelae Euzet & Ben Hassine, 2002, A. lesteri Williams, Burt & Caira, 2004 and A. spinosum Subhapradha, 1955 in total length. It further differs from A. cornucopia, A. altavelae and A. spinosum in proglottid number, and differs from A. galeorhini Suriano, 2002, A. cornucopia, and A. spinosum in testis number. A. lyndoni n. sp. is described from the sandbar shark C. plumbeus (Nardo). This new species differs from A. laciniatum in ovarian width and from A. cornucopia, A. altavelae, A. galeorhini and A. spinosum in the total number of proglottids. It further differs from A. cornucopia, A. galeorhini, and A. spinosum in total length, and from A. cornucopia and A. galeorhini in the number of testes. A. lyndoni n. sp. differs from A. lesteri in bothridial muscle and ovarian morphology. Anthobothrium caseyi n. sp. is described from Prionace glauca (Linnaeus). This new species differs conspicuously from the other six species of Anthobothrium van Beneden, 1850 (sensu stricto) in the shape of its proglottid laciniations. The taxonomic status of 43 species that have been associated with Anthobothrium is addressed. Taxonomic actions regarding Anthobothrium during the past century have resulted in a polyphyletic taxon.     

Ascarophis sp. (Nematoda: Spirurida) attaining sexual maturity inGammarus spp. (Crustacea)

Ascarophis sp., including sexually mature adult worms, was commonly recorded in the amphipodGammarus oceanicus Segerstrle in the northern Baltic Sea and also inGammarus sp. in estuarine localities in the New Brunswick region of the north-western Atlantic. Species of the genusAscarophis van Beneden (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) are known as parasites of marine and brackish water fishes, whereas generally only larval forms have been reported from crustaceans. Adults as well as larval stages are described (LM and SEM) and the infection dynamics is analysed in relation to the amphipod population. The results suggest a direct transmission of embryonated eggs to new amphipods, although this remains to be verified experimentally.     

Phylogenetic affinities and taxonomy of the Oligocene Diomedeoididae,and the basal divergences amongst extant procellariiform birds

The Palaeogene Diomedeoididae are amongst the earliest representatives of procellariiform birds (albatrosses, tubenoses, and allies). Although several fossils of these birds have been reported in the past, many details of their osteology remained unknown. Here we describe a comprehensive collection of diomedeoidid fossils from the Rupelian stratotype in Belgium, which was found more than 100 years ago. The material includes all major limb elements as well as other cranial and postcranial bones, and allows the recognition of previously unknown features of phylogenetic significance. Based on these new osteological data, diomedeoidids were for the first time subjected to a phylogenetic analysis, which resulted in a position outside a clade including Hydrobatidae (northern storm‐petrels), Pelecanoididae (diving‐petrels), and Procellariidae (fulmars, petrels, shearwaters, and allies), either as the sister taxon of Diomedeidae (albatrosses) or as that of all crown group Procellariiformes. The latter placement is better supported by the osteological evidence, and diomedeoidids lack several apomorphies of crown group Procellariiformes. Previously unrecognized derived features are reported that support a monophyletic Hydrobatidae, thus contradicting recent proposals that Oceanitinae (southern storm‐petrels) are the earliest diverging crown group Procellariiformes. The new fossils also have a bearing on the convoluted taxonomy of diomedeoidids, and Diomedeoides Fischer, 1985 is synonymized with Rupelornis van Beneden, 1871. Diomedeoides lipsiensis (Fischer, 1983) is synonymous with Rupelornis definitus (van Beneden, 1871), a species that exhibits a large size range. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166 , 854–875.     

CELLULAR SLIME MOLDS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA. I. DESCRIPTION OF NEW SPECIES

Sixteen species of cellular slime molds were isolated from Southeast Asian forest soils. Ten of these, Dictyostelium mucoroides Brefeld, D. purpureum Olive, D. polycephalum Raper, D. lacteum van Tieghem, D. rhizopodium Raper and Fennell, D. lavandulum Raper and Fennell, D. vinaceo-fuscum Raper and Fennell, D. coeruleo-stipes Raper and Fennell, Polysphondylium violaceum Brefeld, and P. pallidum Olive have been previously described and are well-recognized species occurring in other parts of the world. Two, one in the genus Dictyostelium and one belonging to the family Guttulinaceae, are considered species by the author but have not been formally described. Four are described in this paper as new: Dictyostelium intermedium, D. multi-stipes, D. bifurcatum, and Acytostelium subglobosum. A new variety papilloideum of D. lacteum is also described. One other discovery of special interest is an isolate of Polysphondylium violaceum which produces abundant macrocysts, now known to be the sexual stage in the life cycle of cellular slime molds.     

Monogenea versus Monogenoidea: the case for stability in nomenclature

Monogenea van Beneden, 1858 is the most appropriate name to apply to the class of Platyhelminthes comprising the monogenean flatworms. Monogenoidea sensu Bychowsky (1937) is considered an emendation of Monogenea van Beneden, 1858. Arguments that support the use of Monogenoidea as the valid name of the class are based on erroneous assumptions of authorship and of “priority” and “rank”, as defined in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a document that does not apply to taxa above the family level. In the absence of defined rules, names for higher taxa should be based on a combination of priority, stability and consensus among specialists, with stability and consensus the most important considerations. The priority of Monogenoidea versus Monogenea is questionable, and both nomenclatural stability and consensus among specialists favour the use of Monogenea rather than Monogenoidea.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthocephalum</Emphasis> Linton, 1890 (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) from dasyatid stingrays of the Gulf of California

Three new species of Anthocephalum Linton, 1890 are described from dasyatid stingrays collected in the Gulf of California. Anthocephalum michaeli n. sp. is described from Dasyatis longus (Garman). This species most closely resembles A. alicae Ruhnke, 1994, but differs from this species in proglottid number. A. lukei n. sp. is also described from D. longus. This new species is most similar to A. cairae Ruhnke, 1994, but differs from that species in marginal loculi number and number of proglottids. The third new species, A. currani n. sp., is described from D. brevis (Garman). This species is most similar to A. centrurum (Southwell, 1925) Ruhnke, 1994, but differs from that species in marginal loculi number, number of testes and ovarian length. Phyllobothrium kingae Schmidt, 1978 is also consistent in morphology with species of Anthocephalum and is transferred to this genus, forming the new combination Anthocephalum kingae n. comb. This species most closely resembles A. michaeli n. sp., but differs in testicular shape. This brings the total number of species of Anthocephalum to nine. The transfer of the species Phyllobothrium arctowskii Wojciechowska, 1991, P. georgiense Wojciechowska, 1991, P. rakusai Wojciechowska, 1991 and P. siedleckii Wojciechowska, 1991 to Anthocephalum is not warranted, as these four species lack a posteriorly recurved cirrus-sac and a sinuous vagina, and have vitelline follicles uninterrupted by the ovary. Of the nine known species, all are parasitic in batoid fishes, and six are found in species of Dasyatis Garman. The phylogenetic status of Anthocephalum species in relationship to Rhinebothroides Mayes, Brooks & Thorson, 1981, Pararhineothroides Zamparo, Brooks & Barriga, 1999 and other rhinebothriin taxa is discussed.     

Surface ultrastructure of the elasmobranchia parasitizing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Grillotiella exilis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudonybelinia odontacantha</Emphasis> (Trypanorhyncha,Cestoda)

The surface ultrastructure of two monotypic trypanorhynch genera is described based on new material of Grillotiella exilis (Linton, 1909) and type material of Pseudonybelinia odontacantha Dollfus 1966. In G. exilis, spiniform microtriches cover the bothrial surfaces and the anterior part of the pars vaginalis posterior to the bothria. Bifurcate microtriches adorn the bothrial margins, filiform microtriches the scolex peduncle, and capilliform microtriches the posterior scolex end. This microthrix pattern resembles that found in, e.g., Grillotia erinaceus (van Beneden, 1858), with the difference that the anterior part of the pars vaginalis is covered with a collar of multidigitate palmate microtriches. The position of Grillotiella within the Grillotiinae, Lacistorhynchidae is supported based on these data. The bothria and scolex peduncle of P. odontacantha are covered with acerosate and unciniform microtriches on the distal bothrial surface and capilliform microtriches on the scolex peduncle. Short filiform microtriches cover the appendix. The microthrix pattern resembles that of the Tentaculariidae but with unciniform and acerosate microtriches densely covering the entire distal bothrial surface. Tegumental grooves are present on the posterior bothrial margin. They can be distinguished from bothrial pits in otobothrioid trypanorhynchs in having similar unciniform microtriches compared to the other parts of the bothrial surface and in lacking any spiniform microtriches. With the absence of bothrial pits as characteristic for the otobothrioids and its characteristic microthrix pattern, P. odontacantha together with Paranybelinia otobothrioides Dollfus 1966, both belonging to the Paranybeliniidae change their position in the most recent system from the Otobothrioidea into the Tentacularioidea.     

盐生植物盐爪爪的耐盐生理特性探讨

当前土壤盐渍化日益严重,是限制植物生长的一个主要环境因子,然而在盐碱自然环境中生长着许多耐盐植物,为更好地了解盐生植物的耐盐机理,该文从无机离子Na+,K+,Ca2+含量、脯氨酸水平、水势变化、丙二醛含量和盐胁迫的表型等生理参数以及半定量RT-PCR检测脯氨酸合成关键酶基因(P5CS)的表达规律等方面探讨盐胁迫下盐爪爪的耐盐特性。结果表明:(1)随着盐浓度的升高,Na+在根和肉质化的叶中显著地富集,且叶中积累的Na+比根中更多;(2)在盐胁迫条件下,随着盐浓度的增加,脯氨酸的含量和脯氨酸合成关键酶基因的表达显著地增强;(3)Na+和脯氨酸是植物有效的渗透调节剂,可使处于低水势的植物细胞仍能从细胞外高浓度的盐溶液中吸收水分;(4)在0和700 mmol·L-1Na Cl处理下,盐爪爪肉质化叶中丙二醛的含量较其它处理高,这表明植物在这两个处理下可能受到了氧化胁迫;(5)从盐胁迫3个月的生长表型来看,低盐环境中生长的盐爪爪植株的生物量更多,肉质化的叶嫩且绿。综上所述,结合对野外生境的调查和实验室长期的盐胁迫表型结果表明盐爪爪的生长是需盐的,相对低的盐浓度环境对盐爪爪的生长是顺境,而无盐或高浓度盐环境对于盐爪爪的生长来说都是逆境。该研究结果为全面深入研究盐爪爪的耐盐特性,以及更好地利用盐爪爪的生物和基因资源改良土壤和提高作物和林木的耐盐性奠定基础。     

A clarification of two congeners,Pseudodiaptomus lobipes and P. binghami (Calanoida,Pseudodiaptomidae) from India,with description of P. mixtus sp.n. from Bangladesh

Two closely related and often confused species of Pseudodiaptomus from the Lobus-species group, P. lobipes and P. binghami are redescribed from various locations along the east coast of India. These species predominately occur in freshwater though they can survive temporary periods of increased salinity. The distinctive features of the species are found on: female caudal ramal setae, female and male urosome 1–2 spinulation patterns, and fifth legs. A new species P. mixtus from Bangladesh is described.     

Revision of the genus Diclidophora Krøyer, 1838 (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae), with the proposal of Macrouridophora n. g.

The present study re-examines the detailed morphology of the type-species, Diclidophora merlangi (Kuhn, in Nordmann, 1832) Krøyer, 1838, and other Diclidophora species parasitic on gadid fishes: D. denticulata (Olsson, 1876) Price, 1943, D. esmarkii (Th. Scott, 1901) Sproston, 1946, D. luscae (van Beneden & Hesse, 1863) Price, 1943, D. minor (Olsson, 1868) Sproston, 1946, D. palmata (Leuckart, 1830) Diesing, 1850, D. phycidis (Parona & Perugia, 1889) Sproston, 1946, D. pollachii (van Beneden & Hesse, 1863) Price, 1943 and the recently described D. micromesisti Suriano & Martorelli, 1984. An amended generic diagnosis of Diclidophora Krøyer, 1838 (synonym Diclidophora Diesing, 1850) is provided, which includes the presence of a prostatic vesicle in the terminal male genitalia and the distal fusion of the median and peripheral sclerites, a₁ and c₁ in the clamp anterior jaw. Macrouridophora n. g. is herein proposed for species previously considered in Diclidophora, which are parasitic on macrourid and morid fishes. The clamp morphology in Macrouridophora n. g. has distinct lamellate extension attachments to peripheral sclerites c₁ and the distal portion of d₁, with no distal fusion between a₁ and c₁ in the anterior jaw. Macrouridophora macruri (Brinkmann, 1942) n. comb. is chosen as the type-species. Nine other species are herein transferred to Macrouridophora n. g.: M. coelorhynchi (Robinson, 1961) n. comb., M. lotella (Machida, 1972) n. comb., M. nezumiae (Munroe, Campbell & Zwerner, 1981) n. comb. and M. tubiformis (Rohde & Williams, 1987) n. comb. are redescribed, based on the re-examination of type or voucher specimens. Macrouridophora attenuata (Mamaev & Zubtschenko, 1979) n. comb., M. caudata (Mamaev & Zubtschenko, 1984) n. comb., M. papilio (Mamaev & Avdeev, 1981) n. comb., M. paracoelorhynchi (Mamaev & Paruchin, 1979) n. comb. and M. physiculi (Mamaev & Avdeev, 1981) n. comb. have adequately described haptoral clamps in the literature. The clamp morphology in Macrouridophora sp. from Lepidorhynchus denticulatus in Australia is also considered. Diclidophora whitsonii Suriano & Martorelli, 1984 is herein transferred to the genus Macruricotyle Mamaev & Ljadov, 1975, as M. whitsonii (Suriano & Martorelli, 1984) n. comb. D. embiotocae Hanson, 1979 is herein considered a species incertae sedis. D. caudospina Khan & Karyakarte, 1983 and D. paddiforma Deo & Karyakarte, 1979 are herein considered species inquirendae. D. aglandulosa Deo, 1977, D. glandulosa Das, 1972, D. minuta Das, 1972 and D. spindale Deo, 1977 are formally dismissed as nomina nuda. The systematic position of Diclidophora Krøyer, 1838 and Macrouridophora n. g. in the subfamily Diclidophorinae Cerfontaine, 1895 (sensu Mamaev, 1976) is discussed.