Two new species of Aporhynchus (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from deep water lanternsharks (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) in the Azores, Portugal

New collections of cestodes from the spiral intestines of the lanternsharks Etmopterus spinax and Etmopterus pusillus off the island of Faial, in the Azores, Atlantic Ocean, have yielded 2 new species of trypanorhynchs belonging to Aporhynchus. Both species share the distinctive lack of all elements of the rhyncheal system that are characteristic of this genus. The identity of Aporhynchus norvegicus is clarified to allow it to be distinguished from A. menezesi n. sp., which also parasitizes E. spinax. This new species differs conspicuously from its congeners in that its mature and gravid proglottids are wider than long, rather than longer than wide, and also in its lack of spinitriches on the scolex. Aporhynchus pickeringae n. sp., the new species from E. pusillus , differs from all of its congeners except A. norvegicus in that it is a relatively delicate worm with relatively fewer testes. It also possesses fewer proglottids and a wider pedunculus scolecis than does A. norvegicus. Sections through the scolex of A. menezesi n. sp. support use of the term bothriate, rather than difossate, in reference to the scolex configuration of some trypanorhynchs. A key to the 4 species of Aporhynchus is provided.     

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.     

Redescription of Corallobothrium solidum (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea) and erection of a new genus, Essexiella, for tapeworms from channel catfishes (Ictaluridae)

The proteocephalidean tapeworm, Corallobothrium solidum, type species of the genus, is redescribed on the basis of the examination of its type specimens and extensive material recently collected from Malapterurus electricus (type host). Some morphological characteristics of taxonomic importance are reported for the first time, such as the presence of semispherical (U-shaped) sphincters on the external (outer) margin of the suckers, a vaginal sphincter, a well-developed seminal receptacle, and a unique morphology of the eggs. Corallobothrium solidum differs from the 2 remaining species of the genus, both parasitic in channel catfishes (Ictaluridae), in its scolex shape, morphology of its suckers, presence of longitudinal and transverse grooves on the body surface, dense network of excretory canals in the apical part of the scolex, morphology of the eggs, and uterine development. The non-monophyletic nature of Corallobothrium is further supported by molecular data (partial sequences of the 28S rRNA gene) because C. solidum and the 2 remaining species from ictalurids do not form a monophyletic assemblage. Therefore, Essexiella n. gen. is proposed to accommodate Essexiella fimbriatum new comb. (type and only species; syn. Corallobothrium fimbriatum) from channel catfish. Essexiella n. gen. differs from Corallobothrium, Megathylacoides, and Megathylacus by the absence of a sphincter in the suckers, from Corallotaenia by the shape of the scolex and the number and shape of proglottids, and from Paraproteocephalus by the structure of the uterus. The diagnosis of Corallobothrium, which becomes monotypic and restricted to electric catfishes in Africa, is emended. The remaining species of Corallobothrium, Corallobothrium parafimbriatum, is tentatively transferred to Corallotaenia as Corallotaenia parafimbriata n. comb., based on molecular data, small size of the strobila, and shape of the scolex.     

The plerocercus of Ditrachybothridium macrocephalum Rees, 1959 from two deep-sea elasmobranchs, with a molecular analysis of its position within the order Diphyllidea and a checklist of the hosts of larval diphyllideans

New collections were made of Ditrachybothridium macrocephalum Rees, 1959 from the deep-sea elasmobranchs Apristurus laurussonii (Saemundsson) and cf. Rajella bigelowi (Stehmann) in the northern Atlantic Ocean, allowing studies of the morphology of its plerocercus. The material has also allowed an estimate of its position within the Diphyllidea inferred from molecular data for the first time. The plerocercus is withdrawn, but not invaginated, within a cyst with a thick vacuolated wall. The encysted strobila is distinct, with several putative segments and advanced genital anlagen, and the scolex is fully developed with a distinct apical pad. 28S rDNA (D1-D3 regions) sequences were generated from both encysted and excysted D. macrocephalum , as well as from other diphyllidean and pseudophyllidean (outgroup) taxa for use in phylogenetic analyses. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses both showed that the diphyllidean genus Echinobothrium is paraphyletic without inclusion of the only two other diphyllidean genera, Ditrachybothridium Rees, 1959 and Macrobothridium Khalil & Abdul-Salam, 1989. A list of published records of larval diphyllideans, their hosts and localities is included.     

Ellobiophrya conviva n. sp., a Commensal of Marine Ectoprocts,and a Revision of the Family Ellobiophryidae (Ciliophora,Peritricha)1

The sessiline peritrich Ellobiophrya conviva n. sp. is described from marine ectoprocts of the genus Bugula, the first report of an ellobiophryid on bryozoan hosts. The new species is distinguished from others of its genus by its different body proportions, size, host, and structure of the clasping holdfast (for which the new name cinctum is chosen). Ellobiophrya conviva has been found only on B. neritina and B. turrita and shows a marked seasonal cycle of abundance. The family Ellobiophryidae Chatton & Lwoff is revised on the basis of new information provided by E. conviva, with the single species of the genus Clausophrya removed to Ellobiophrya as E. oblida Naidenova & Zaika n. comb. The genus Caliperia Laird remains unchanged. The two genera of the revised family are distinguished from one another by differences in the structure of the cinctum. Hypotheses are advanced to explain the morphogenesis of the cinctum and the evolution of ellobiophryids from other peritrichs.     

New Fabriciola species (Polychaeta, Sabellidae, Fabriciinae) from the eastern Atlantic, with a description of sperm and spermathecal ultrastructure

New species in the genus Fabriciola Friedrich are described. Fabriciola is defined by a single synapomorphy, the presence of non-vascularized, ventral filamentous appendages. Otherwise the genus is variable, with differences among species in chaetae, eyes, and peristomial organization. The new species, Fabriciola flammula, F. liguronis and F. parvus , reflect this heterogeneity. Fabriciola liguronis has spermathecae in the radiolar crown of females, the first record of these structures in Fabriciola , but F. flammula and F. parvus lack spermathecae. Sperm ultrastructure in all three species share apomorphies with other fabriciins, but vary in other respects. Fabriciola may be paraphyletic, but material of the type species F. spongicola (Southern, 1921) has been unobtainable so far, and detailed study of this species is required to define the genus Fabriciola adequately.     

Two new species of Echinobothrium (Cestoidea: Diphyllidea) from myliobatiform elasmobranchs in the Gulf of California, México

Two new species of diphyllidean cestodes, Echinobothrium mexicanum n. sp., and Echinobothrium fautleyae n. sp., are described, the former from the spiral intestines of the bat rays Myliobatis californicus and Myliobatis longirostris and the latter from the spiral intestine of the cownose ray Rhinoptera steindachneri, all caught in the Gulf of California, México. Echinobothrium mexicanum is most easily distinguished from the majority of the species of the genus by the number of large apical hooks in each dorsoventral group (23) and from the remainder in the number of lateral hooklets in each group on the scolex. Echinobothrium fautleyae differs conspicuously from all other members of the genus in that the first and last lateral hooklets in each group are distinctly larger than the other hooklets in each group. Serial sections of the scoleces of these 2 new species confirm that the attachment structures on the scolex are bothria, rather than bothridia, as has been described in other species in the genus, suggesting that the attachment structures of the scolex should be examined in more detail in the genus in general. Palmate microtriches of various forms cover the proximal bothrial surfaces of both new species and are also found on the dorsal bothrial surfaces of E. fautleyae. The distal bothrial surfaces of E. mexicanum are covered with slender spiniform and short filiform microtriches. The cephalic peduncles of both species possess short filiform microtriches only. Comparison of these 2 new species with the other 3 species in this genus that have been examined with SEM suggests that the various forms and distributions of these microtriches is unique in each of these 2 species. We believe these features will prove to be taxonomically useful.     

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 revision of the species of Bothriocephalus Rudolphi, 1808 (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) parasitic in American freshwater fishes

The species of the pseudophyllidean genus Bothriocephalus Rudolphi, 1808 parasitising freshwater fishes in America are revised, based on the examination of type and voucher specimens of seven taxa. There are five valid species: Bothriocephalus claviceps (Goeze, 1782), B. cuspidatus Cooper, 1917, B. formosus Mueller & Van Cleave, 1932, B. acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934, and B. pearsei Scholz, Vargas-Vázquez & Moravec, 1996. B. texomensis Self, 1954 from Hiodon alosoides in the USA, and B. musculosus Baer, 1937 from a cichlid Cichlasoma biocellatum (= C. octofasciatum) which died in an aquarium in Switzerland, are synonymised with B. cuspidatus. B. schilbeodis Cheng & James, 1960 from Schilbeodes insignis in the USA, B. speciosus (Leidy, 1858) Leidy, 1872 from Boleostoma olmstedi in the USA, and B. cestus Leidy, 1885 from Salvelinus sp. in Canada are considered to be species inquirendae until new material for the evaluation of their taxonomic status is available. B. cordiceps (Leidy, 1872) from Salmo (= Salvelinus) fontinalis in North America is in fact a larva (plerocercoid) of a Diphyllobothrium species. The study showed that there have been many misidentifications, mostly of B. cuspidatus erroneously designated as B. formosus or B. claviceps. The five valid species are redescribed and illustrated, with emphasis on scolex morphology. The distribution of individual taxa and the spectrum of their definitive hosts are briefly reviewed and a key facilitating identification of individual species is also provided.     

A new genus and species of proteocephalidean tapeworm (Cestoda) from Pangasius larnaudii (Siluriformes: Pangasiidae) in Southeast Asia

A new proteocephalidean cestode is described from spot pangasius, Pangasius larnaudii (Siluriformes: Pangasiidae), from Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia and a new genus, Pangasiocestus , is proposed to accommodate it. The genus is placed in the Gangesiinae because its scolex possesses a large rostellum-like apical organ and its genital organs (testes, ovary, vitellarium, and uterus) are situated in the medulla, with some vitelline follicles paramuscular. Pangasiocestus romani n. gen. and n. sp., the type and only species of the new genus, is characterized mainly by its rosette-like scolex composed of 4 lobes bearing a small sucker in their center, and the apical part with a large, discoidal, rostellum-like apical organ devoid of hooks, by weakly developed inner longitudinal musculature formed by very few isolated muscle fibers, uneven size of testes in immature and mature proglottids, with lateral testes smaller and more dense than median ones, by very narrow lateral bands of vitelline follicles, formed usually by single follicles, and by the vagina anterior to the cirrus sac. This is the first proteocephalidean cestode from a pangasiid catfish identified to the species level (proteocephalidean cestodes from 3 Pangasius spp. reported in an unpublished account from Vietnam, misidentified as Proteocephalus osculatus (Goeze, 1782) [?= Glanitaenia osculata ], are not considered).     

The genus Lessonia Bory (Phaeophyta,Laminariales) in Southern Chile and Argentina

Study of Lessonia in southern Chile and Argentina indicates that it is represented there by three species: L. nigrescens Bory, L. flavicans Bory and L. vadosa Searles sp. nov. Plants of these three species have been confused with each other in the literature, but appear clearly separable. Lessonia nigrescens is distinguished from the others by its massive, solid holdfast and numerous stipes. In Lessonia flavicans and L. vadosa a single stipe arises from a branched holdfast. These two species are distinguishable from each other in details of blade morphology, anatomy, and ecology. The taxonomic status of plants in South America outside of the study area remains unresolved. Populations in the Falkland Islands and in northern Chile in particular are in need of further study.     

A new species of Acanthobothrium (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea: Onchobothriidae) from the ocellate river stingray, Potamotrygon motoro (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae), in Argentina

Examination of the spiral intestines of 44 freshwater stingrays, Potamotrygon motoro, from tributary rivers of the Parana River in Argentina, allowed for the collection of specimens of an undescribed species of Acanthobothrium. Acanthobothrium ramiroi n. sp. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the combination of the following characters: asymmetrical hooks (medial and lateral hooks conspicuously different in size and form, with axial prong of medial hooks stouter than abaxial prong), hook size (total length of medial hooks up to 242 microm, total length of lateral hooks up to 239 microm), bothridia not fused to the scolex proper at posterior ends, worm size (51-84 mm long), and the presence of a conspicuous vaginal sphincter. The new species is different from all other species of Acanthobothrium in freshwater potamotrygonids, except Acanthobothrium terezae, in having conspicuous asymmetrical hooks. The main differences that allow for the distinction between A. ramiroi and A. terezae include hook size, the way the bothridia are attached to the scolex proper, and the shape of the older gravid segments. The discovery of a new species of Acanthobothrium from a potamotrygonid extends our understanding of the diversity of the genus in freshwater stingrays in South America.     

Revision of the Southeast Asian millipede genus Orthomorpha Bollman, 1893, with the proposal of a new genus (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae)

The large genus Orthomorpha is rediagnosed and is shown to currently comprise 51 identifiable species ranging from northern Myanmar and Thailand in the Northwest to Lombok Island, Indonesia in the Southeast. Of them, 20 species have been revised and/or abundantly illustrated, based on a restudy of mostly type material; further 12 species are described as new: Orthomorpha atypicasp. n., Orthomorpha communissp. n., Orthomorpha isarankuraisp. n., Orthomorpha picturatasp. n., Orthomorpha similanensissp. n., Orthomorpha suberectasp. n., Orthomorpha tuberculiferasp. n.,Orthomorpha subtuberculiferasp. n. and Orthomorpha latitergasp. n., all from Thailand, as well as Orthomorpha elevatasp. n.,Orthomorpha spiniformissp. n. and Orthomorpha subelevatasp. n., from northern Malaysia. The type-species Orthomorpha beaumontii (Le Guillou, 1841) is redescribed in due detail from male material as well, actually being a senior subjective synonym of Orthomorpha spinala (Attems, 1932), syn. n. Two additional new synonymies are proposed: Orthomorpha rotundicollis (Attems, 1937) = Orthomorpha tuberculata (Attems, 1937), syn. n., and Orthomorpha butteli Carl, 1922 = Orthomorpha consocius Chamberlin, 1945, syn. n., the valid names to the left. All species have been keyed and all new and some especially widespread species have been mapped. Further six species, including two revised from type material, are still to be considered dubious, mostly because their paraterga appear to be too narrow to represent Orthomorpha species. A new genus, Orthomorphoidesgen. n., diagnosed versus Orthomorpha through only moderately well developed paraterga, coupled with a poorly bi- or trifid gonopod tip, with at least some of its apical prongs being short spines, is erected for two species: Orthomorpha setosus (Attems, 1937), the type-species, which is also revised from type material, and Orthomorpha exaratus (Attems, 1953), both comb. n. ex Orthomorpha.     

TAXONOMY OF THE LENORMANDIA - LENORMANDIOPSIS COMPLEX (RHODOMELACEAE, RHODOPHYTA)

The genus Lenormandia is composed of nine species from Australia and New Zealand. Some of the these are well known, but others are rare, obscure and ill-defined. We have examined material of all described species and found that they fall into two discrete groups that differ in apex morphology and position of reproductive structures. Plants of the first group, containing the type species L. spectabilis , have a cleft apex and reproductive structures produced directly on the blade surface, whereas those of the second group have a strongly inrolled apex and produce reproductive structures dorsally on small branchlets which arise either from the margins or the midrib. The groups were also found to form discrete clades on analysis of 18S rRNA sequences. All the members of the first group are endemic to Australia, whereas the second group, designated by the new genus name Adamsiella , contains two previously described New Zealand species and a single Australian representative. In addition, two new species are described in this group from New Zealand. Members of the closely related genus Lenormandiopsis were also examined and the type species, L. latifolia , was found to conform in apex morphology and position of reproductive structures to the genus Lenormandia. Accordingly Lenormandiopsis has been subsumed within Lenormandia. The remaining three members of the former genus Lenormandiopsis , however, were found to differ from both the type species and the genus Lenormandia and consequently have been transferred to the separate genus Geraldia , along with a new species from Geraldton, Western Australia which is designated as the type.