Hemoflagellates of Oregon marine fishes with the description of new species of Trypanosoma and Trypanoplasma

Of 2,122 marine fishes representing 36 species collected in the northeastern Pacific Ocean in the vicinity of Newport, Oregon from 1971 to 1973, 541 individuals (25.5%) representing 8 species (22.2%) were infected with hemoflagellates. Four morphologically distinct trypanosomes and 3 distinct trypanoplasms were found in fishes collected offshore, but no hemoflagellates were observed in fishes from Yaquina Bay estuary. Trypanosoma pacifica was found in English sole Parophrys vetulus, Pacific sanddab Citharichthys sordidus, and slender sole Lyopsetta exilis, and survived in 5 other species after intraperitoneal injection. Trypanosoma gargantua was found in big skate Raja binoculata, and the leech Orientobdella confluens was able to transmit the trypanosome in experimental conditions. Trypanosoma khani n. sp. occurred in P. vetulus, petrale sole Eopsetta jordani, and Dover sole Microstomus pacificus. Trypanosoma murmanense was found in L. exilis collected from 200 m, but not in L. exilis collected from 80 m. Trypanoplasma beckeri parasitized the cabezon Scorpaenichthys marmoratus. Trypanoplasma bobolsoni n. sp. was found in E. jordani, L. exilis, and P. vetulus, and survived in 2 other species after intraperitoneal injection. A distinct, but unnamed trypanoplasm, was found in P. vetulus.     

Myzostomida from Madagascar, with the description of two new species

Four myzostomidan species were collected during a survey of echinoderms made on the Great Reef of Toliara, southwest Madagascar. The four species were associated with comatulid crinoids. Notopharyngoides aruensis infested the anterior part of the digestive lumen of Stephanometra indica. Comanthussp. aff.wahlbergiiwere infested by three myzostomidan species, two of them are new to science. Myzostoma polycyclus and Myzostoma pseudocuniculus n. sp. lived at the surface of crinoids. Myzostoma toliarense n. sp. live in soft cysts induced on crinoid arms. Cysts are always located close to the ambulacral grooves. They are each infested by one myzostomid.     

Eimeria species from the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis (Reptilia: Testudines), in Galicia (NW Spain), with description of two new species

Parasitological examination of feces from 44 Emys orbicularis from Galicia (NW Spain) revealed the presence of 2 new eimerian species, Eimeria gallaeciaensis sp. n. and E. emydis sp. n., as well as E. mitraria (Laveran and Mesnil, 1902) Doflein, 1909. Oocysts of E. gallaeciaensis n. sp. were found in 20 of 44 (45.4%) turtles and are subspherical to lightly ovoid-ellipsoid, 19.3 x 16.0 (17-22 x 15-18) microm, shape index 1.2 (1.1-1.3), with a smooth, single-layered wall. Micropyle and polar granule are absent, but an oocyst residuum is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoid, 9.7 x 5.1 (9-10 x 5-6) microm, shape index 1.9 (1.7-2.0), each with a sporocyst residuum and a conical Stieda body usually bearing 1-4 short and thin projections. Oocysts of E. emydis n. sp. were found in the feces of 5 of 44 (11.4%) turtles and are ovoid, rarely pear-shaped, 22.6 x 17.0 (20-25 x 15.5-18) microm, shape index 1.3 (1.2-1.5), with a smooth, single-layered wall with a slight thinning at the pointed end. Micropyle and polar granule are absent, and an oocyst residuum is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoid, 11.4 x 6.0 (9-13 x 5-7) microm, shape index 1.9 (1.6-2.2), each with sporocyst residuum and a prominent Stieda body bearing 3-5 club-shaped projections. In addition to the new species described, this is the first report of E. mitraria parasitizing E. orbicularis.     

A new species group in Megaselia,the lucifrons group,with description of a new species (Diptera,Phoridae)

With 1,400 described species, Megaselia is one of the most species-rich genera in the animal kingdom, and at the same time one of the least studied. An important obstacle to taxonomic progress is the lack of knowledge concerning the phylogenetic structure within the genus. Classification of Megaselia at the level of subgenus is incomplete although Schmitz addressed several groups of species in a series of monographs published from 1956 to 1981. Another problem is the lack of molecular phylogenetic analyses to support morphology-based conclusions. As a contribution towards addressing these problems, we here circumscribe a previously unrecognized monophyletic lineage of Megaselia consisting of species similar to Megaselia lucifrons. We base this taxonomic decision on morphological study of an extensive phorid material from Sweden, complemented by molecular analyses of select exemplars using two markers (COI and 28S). We name the clade the lucifrons species group, and show that it contains three distinct species. Our results also demonstrate that Megaselia subnitida Lundbeck, 1920, previously treated as a synonym of Megaselia lucifrons Schmitz, 1918, is a separate species, and we remove it from synonymy. The third species in the group was previously unknown; we describe it here as Megaselia albalucifrons sp. n.     

Loaches of the genus Lepidocephalichthys, from Manipur, with description of a new species

A new species Lepidocephalichthys manipurensis , is described, confined to the Chandel district of Manipur near the adjoining borderland areas of Manipur, India and Burma (Myanmar). It is distinguished by the following combination of characters: a sharp small black dot just above the upper base of the caudal fin; 8–9 dorsal short dark ashy brown bars from occiput to the base of the caudal fin; absence of scales on the vertex of head; caudal fin fork, pectoral, ventral and anal fins are non-immaculate; least depth of caudal peduncle 50·00–60·24% (mean 54·09) of its length and 7·69–8·11% L , S (mean 8·22); caudal fin with 4–5 W-shaped bands: a single dark black stripe from tip of snout to eye; 8–11 spots on the mid lateral line; and 30–31 vertebrae. A key to the identification of lepidocephalid loaches of Manipur is provided.     

A revision of the genus Lomaantha, with the description of a new species

Lomaantha phragmitis sp. nov. is described and illustrated from a specimen collected on dead culms of Phragmites communis in southern China. The fungus differs from other described Lomaantha species in its conidiophores, conidiogenous cells and conidial appendages. Conidial morphology and presence or absence of percurrent proliferation of conidiogenous cells are the main characters distinguishing species within this genus. We provided a key and synoptic table of morphological characters of all three Lomaantha species.     

Eimeria from bats of the world. II. A new species in Tadarida femorosacca from Sonora, Mexico

Between 1979 and 1980, 104 bats representing 13 species in 4 families were collected in California and New Mexico, U.S.A., and Baja California and Sonora, Mexico, and were examined for coccidia; only 3 (3%) had oocysts in their feces. Bats examined and their infection rates were: Molossidae: 0 of 12 Tadarida brasiliensis, 1 of 18 (6%) T. femorosacca; Natalidae: 0 of 1 Natalus stramineus; Phyllostomatidae: 0 of 1 Choeronycteris mexicana, 0 of 2 Leptonycteris sanborni, 0 of 1 Macrotus californicus; Vespertilionidae: 0 of 9 Antrozous pallidus, 0 of 28 Eptesicus fuscus, 0 of 1 Lasionycteris noctivagans, 0 of 3 Lasiurus borealis, 2 of 22 (9%) L. cinereus, 0 of 1 L. ega, 0 of 5 Pipistrellus hesperus. Sporulated oocysts were only found in T. femorosacca and these represent a new species, Eimeria tadarida n. sp. They are subspheroidal to ellipsoidal, 19 x 25 (16-23 x 20-30) microns; a micropyle is absent, and fragments within the oocyst may be oocyst residuum or multiple polar bodies. The oocyst wall, approximately 1.5 microns, is composed of a mammillated outer layer and smooth inner layer. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 8 x 12 (6-9 x 10-14) microns, and have a small Stieda body and a wide substieda body. This is only the 14th eimerian to be described from bats worldwide. Only unsporulated or partially sporulated oocysts of an eimerian were seen in 2 L. cinereus. These measured 28 x 25 (27-29 x 24-26) microns and had a mammillated outer oocyst wall.     

Gastrotrichs from interstitial fresh water,with a description of four new species

A study was performed on freshwater gastrotrichs living in the interstitial habitat of some lakes in Latium and of Lake Garda (Italy). Thirty-two chetonotids were collected, twenty-five of which could be identified. Four are new to science (Chaetonotus (Hystricochaetonotus) benacensis, Heterolepidoderma lamellatum, Ichthydium plicatum, I. squamigerum), and two are new to the Italian fauna (Heterolepidoderma macrops, H. majus). The faunistic composition of the lakes is compared with previous data. Interstitial gastrotrichs are less varied and abundant than those of epibenthos and periphyton, but often are of taxonomical and zoogeographical interest. The presence in the interstitial of some epibenthic and periphytic species demonstrates their capacity to colonize ecologically different habitats. The grain size of the substrate was not clearly correlated with faunal richness, but there was a possible influence of the amount of the organic detritus in the sediment. Morphological analysis showed a prevalence of small sized animals, with poorly ornamentated cuticular covering and well developed locomotory ciliature, as probable adaptations to interstitial life.     

西藏筱竹属一新种和错那箭竹补充描述

发表了产于西藏南部的筱竹属Thamnocalamus一新种,它被命名为牛色玛T.unispiculatusYi＆J.Y.Shi;此乃我国首次采集到的筱竹属有花竹种。新种以每佛焰苞内仅具1枚小穗,柱头2枚可以区别于属内其他种。此外,还补充描写了错那箭竹Fargesiagrossa的花、果特征。     

Sympatry in Mantophasmatodea,with the description of a new species and phylogenetic considerations

We describe a new genus of Mantophasmatodea, Viridiphasma gen. n. (Austrophasmatidae), represented by one new species, V. clanwilliamense sp. n. The new species differs from previously described species in features of the male and female postabdomen including the genitalia, in morphometrics and details of colouration. The new species occurs syntopically with another austrophasmatid, Karoophasma biedouwense Klass et al., 2003; this is the first well-documented case of sympatry of two mantophasmatodean species. We therefore survey the morphological differences between these two species, document the absence of any morphological evidence of hybridisation, and also report on differences in life history. While a previous molecular phylogeny using COI and 16S genes ambiguously placed V. clanwilliamense sp. n. near the base of Austrophasmatidae (but not as sister to all other Austrophasmatidae), morphological characters strongly support V. clanwilliamense sp. n. to be the sister taxon of a clade comprising all remaining Austrophasmatidae. This phylogenetic placement challenges the current hypothesis of a linear north-to-south diversification of Austrophasmatidae.     

Taxonomy of the Polygonum douglasii (Polygonaceae) complex with a new species from Oregon

The taxonomy of the Polygonum douglasii complex is revised. A summary of relevant taxonomic information is provided, along with a key to the species and subspecies, plus typification, synonymy, discussion, distribution, and ecology. Morphology and micromorphology of stems, leaves, perianth, pollen, and achenes are analyzed and illustrated. Based on these data, 12 species and two subspecies are recognized. A new species, P. gabrielae, is described and illustrated from Oregon.     

Systematic revision of the catfish genusSilurus,with description of a new species from Thailand and Burma

On the basis of external morphology and anatomy, 17 scpeies of the genusSilurus Linnaeus including a new species,S. torrentis from Thailand and Burma, are recognized as valid.S. bedfordi Regan is synonymized withS. asotus, andS. goae Haig is transferred to the genusOmpok. From an anatomical study of 12 species, the diagnostic feature of the genusParasilurus Bleeker is revealed to be invalid, and the genus is synonymized withSilurus. From the phylogenetic analysis, the genusSilurus is divided into two major species groups, thecochinchinensis group which is disributed mainly in Southeast Asia, and theglanis group which is further separated into three subgroups occurring separately in East Asia and Europe. The pattern of distribution and relationships between ontogeny and phytogeny in the genusSilurus are briefly discussed.