Taxonomic study of twoProteocephalus secies (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) parasitising coregonid fishes: the synonymy ofP. fallax La Rue, 1911 withP. exiguus La Rue, 1911

Type-specimens (syntypes) and comparative material of twoProteocephalus species,P. exiguus La Rue, 1911 andP. fallax La Rue, 1911, parasitic in coregonid fishes from the Holarctic Region, were evaluated taxonomically. Morphological and biometrical study revealed conspecificity of the taxa.P. fallax is therefore, considered to be a synonym ofP. exiguus. Supplementary information is added to the species diagnosis ofP. exiguus and a lectotype is designated herein.     

Species of Proteocephalus Weinland, 1858 (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae), parasites of coregonid and salmonid fishes from North America: taxonomic reappraisal

A taxonomic study of species of Proteocephalus Weinland, 1858 (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae), from coregonid and salmonid fishes in North America, based largely on their type specimens, was carried out. None of the taxa studied possesses obvious autapomorphies that would justify its validity. On the contrary, all species share the following diagnostic features typical of Proteocephalus longicollis (Zeder, 1800) (syn. Proteocephalus exiguus La Rue, 1911), a polymorphic and widely distributed parasite in the Holarctic: (1) a spherical or club-shaped scolex, with sublaterally situated suckers and a vestigial but distinct and relatively large apical sucker; (2) the vagina possessing a well-developed vaginal sphincter and crossing mostly ventrally the proximal part of the cirrus sac; and (3) a long, thick-walled cirrus sac, overlapping vitelline follicles medially by more than its proximal half. Accordingly, Proteocephalus pusillus Ward, 1910; P. laruei Faust, 1920; "P. obtundus" La Rue, 1920 (nomen nudum); P. arcticus Cooper, 1921; P. wickliffi Hunter and Bangham, 1933; P. parallacticus MacLulich, 1943; P. californicus Haderlie, 1950; P. salmonidicola Alexander, 1951; and P. primaverus Neiland, 1952 are considered junior synonyms of P. longicollis.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Monticellia santafesina</Emphasis> n. sp. (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea), a parasite of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Megalonema platanum</Emphasis> (Günther) (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in the Paraná River basin,Argentina

The proteocephalidean tapeworm Monticellia santafesina n. sp. is described from the siluriform catfish Megalonema platanum (Günther) (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in the Paraná River basin, Argentina. The new species is allocated to Monticellia La Rue, 1911 (Proteocephalidae: Monticelliinae) because of the cortical position of the testes, ovary, vitelline follicles and uterus, a globular scolex without a metascolex and uniloculate suckers. The new species differs from all other species of Monticellia (except for M. lenha Woodland, 1933) in possessing a vaginal canal opening anterior or posterior to the cirrus-sac. M. santafesina can be distinguished from M. lenha by the following characteristics: a larger body size; a weakly developed internal longitudinal musculature arranged in 15–35 slim bundles of muscle fibres; vitelline follicles not interrupted at the level of the cirrus-sac and vaginal canal, and with a few paramuscular and/or medullary follicles; the absence of large spinitriches on the anterior margin of the suckers; and the utilisation of Megalonema platanum (in the Paraná River basin) as its host, rather than Sorubimichthys planiceps (Spix & Agassiz) (in the River Amazon). Monticellia santafesina exhibits low values of prevalence (9%) and intensity of infection (1). Megalonema platanum was parasitised by two proteocephalidean cestodes, Rudolphiella cf. lobosa (Riggenbach, 1895) and the new species described in this paper.     

Redescription de Proteocephalus paraguayensis (Rudin, 1917) (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) parasite de Hydrodynastes gigas (Dum., Bibr. & Dum., 1854) du Paraguay

Redescripción de Proteocephalus paraguayensis (Rudin, 1917) (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae), parásito de Hydrodynastes gigas (Dum., Bibr. & Dum., 1854) de Paraguay. Se describe esta especie notable, considerada por Freze (1965) como species inquirenda. Si comparamos esta especie con otras especies de Proteocephalidea, veremos que ella presenta caracteres anatomo-morfológicos propios. Esta especie se caracteriza por: vitelógenos de posición dorsal, adosados a la musculatura interna longitudinal, desbordando en parte sobre el córtex y la médula; formación particular del útero; posición cortical del tronco uterino y medular de los divertículos uterinos; esfínter vaginal proximal; cirro muy alargado; glándula de Mehlis muy desarrollada. Consideramos P. paraguayensis como una especie válida y presumimos que el huesped-tipo es Hydrodynastes gigas (Dum., Bibr. & Dum., 1854). A pesar de las características que posee P. paraguayensis, pensamos que no es oportuno clasificar esta especie en un nuevo género monotípico. Proteocephalus paraguayensis, considered by Freze (1965) as a species inquirenda, is redescribed and figured. When compared with other members of the Proteocephalidea, the species shows the following morpho-anatomical characters: the vitelline follicles in a dorsal position, attached to the internal longitudinal musculature and extending into both the cortex and medulla; a characteristic formation of the uterus; the uterine stem in a cortical position and uterine branches in a medullary position; a proximal vaginal sphincter; a very elongate cirrus; and very large Mehlis' glands. The specific status of Proteocephalus paraguayensis is confirmed. Our specimens were taken from Hydrodynastes gigas (the host according to Rudin was Coluber sp.). Even though the species differs significantly from other proteocephalideans, its systematic and phylogenetic position is not yet clearly demonstrated, and it is decided to refrain from attributing it to a new genus.     

Seasonal dynamics of the extent of the infestation of the vendace by the cestode Proteocephalus exiguus (Cestoda, Proteocephalidae) in Karelia

In two lakes of Karelia the infection dynamics of vendace (Coregonus albula L.) with the cestode Proteocephalus exiguus (La Rue) was studied in the summer-autumn period. 2006 specimens of vendace were dissected. Regularities of variations in the infection extensiveness depend on ecological characters of a water body and are modelled by various polynomes.     

Synonymy of shape Proteocephalus pollanicola Gresson, 1952 (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae), a parasite of pollan,shape Coregonus autumnalis pollan,with shape P. exiguus La Rue, 1911

The systematic status of the tapeworm Proteocephalus pollanicola Gresson, 1952, a parasite of pollan Coregonus autumnalis pollan Thompson, was evaluated on the basis of freshly collected material from the type-locality (Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland). Comparison of morphological, biometrical and DNA data (RAPD method) from P. pollanicola and from P. exiguus La Rue, 1911, a very common parasite of coregonid fish, did not find any substantial differences between them to confirm the validity of P. pollanicola. Accordingly, P. pollanicola is considered to be a synonym of P. exiguus, a widely distributed parasite in the Holarctic.     

中国哥纳香属(番荔枝科)植物新资料

番荔枝科(Annonaceae)是基部被子植物木兰目(Magnoliales)中较进化且物种数最多的科。目前的系统发育研究将番荔枝科划分为4个亚科,即蒙蒿子亚科(Anaxagoreoideae)、澄光木亚科(Ambavioideae)、番荔枝亚科(Annonoideae)和排石木亚科(Malmeoideae),有107属,2 400多种,中国原产21 属约110 种。番荔枝科泛热带分布,是热带植物区系的优势类群,中国云南盈江位于云南省最西部边境,与缅甸东北部接壤,并与印度的东阿萨姆较近,植物区系处于东南亚(印度—马来西亚)热带生物区系向东亚亚热带-温带生物区系的过渡地带,属典型热带北缘性质,在植被地理和生物地理上十分重要,成为生物多样性保护的关键和热点地区。该区的热带雨林是印度阿萨姆和缅甸北部的热带雨林向东和向北扩散分布的边缘类型,是东南亚热带雨林在纬度和海拔分布上的极限类型。该文报道了采自中国云南省盈江县,引种保存于中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园的番荔枝科哥纳香属2个中国新记录种,即皱叶哥纳香 [Goniothalamus sesquipedalis(Colebr. ex Wall.)Hook. f. & Thomson]和长梗哥纳香(G. peduncularis King & Prain)。Flora of China将盈江哥纳香(G. lii X. L. Hou & Y. M. Shui)处理为云南哥纳香(G. yunnanensis W. T. Wang)的异名,基于活植物观察、馆藏标本和文献研究,该文对盈江哥纳香的分类地位进行了澄清,将其处理为长梗哥纳香的异名。皱叶哥纳香原记载产于印度、孟加拉国和缅甸等地,长梗哥纳香仅产于缅甸,该文对它们进行了补充描述,并提供彩色图版以便于鉴别。凭证标本存放于中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园标本馆(HITBC)。哥纳香属2个新记录的发现,丰富了中国番荔枝科植物多样性的认识,为中国云南热带植物区系属于热带亚洲(印度—马来西亚)植物区系,以及与缅甸北部、印度东北部植物区系的关系增加了例证。     

A revision of Hexacanalis Perrenoud, 1931 (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea) and description of H. folifer n. sp. from the zonetail butterfly ray Gymnura zonura (Bleeker) (Rajiformes: Gymnuridae)

Hexacanalis Perrenoud, 1931 was erected for H. abruptus (Southwell, 1911) Perrenoud, 1931 based on the presence of six excretory vessels, a unique feature among the Lecanicephalidea. The genus has since been considered a junior synonym of Cephalobothrium Shipley & Hornell, 1906 or Lecanicephalum Linton, 1890, or as a genus inquirendum. Based on examination of the syntype series of H. abruptus, this species is redescribed and a lectotype designated. Examination of cestodes from the zonetail butterfly ray Gymnura zonura (Bleeker) from off Indonesian Borneo resulted in the discovery of a second species. Hexacanalis folifer n. sp. is unique among lecanicephalideans in its possession of an ovary that is U-shaped in cross-section and craspedote proglottids with prominent posterior dorso-ventral processes in the form of large lappets. The presence of six excretory vessels, confirmed in both species, supports the validity of Hexacanalis. An additional species, H. pteroplateae (Zaidi & Khan, 1976) n. comb., also from a butterfly ray, G. micrura (Bloch & Schneider) [as Pteroplatea micrura (Bloch & Schneider)], is transferred to this genus from Cephalobothrium Shipley & Hornell, 1906. A revised diagnosis of Hexacanalis is presented. Seven species of this genus remain species inquirendae. Hexacanalis appears to parasitise species of the Gymnuridae van Hasselt; however, specific identifications of the hosts are in need of re-evaluation. A summary of the cestode parasites of the Gymnuridae is presented.     

Natural occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi ( Zygomycetes : Entomophthorales ) of aphid ( Hemiptera : Aphididae ) pests of horticultural crops in Argentina

A three-year survey of entomophthoralean pathogenic fungi of aphids from horticultural crops in La Plata, Argentina, was conducted. Nine species of aphids, including Aphis fabae Scopoli, Aphis gossypii Glover, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), Myzus sp., Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley) and Capitophorus elaeagni (del Guercio) were recorded as hosts of entomopathogenic fungi. Six species of Entomophthorales that infected and killed aphids were found in vegetable crops. The fungal species identified were Conidiobolus obscurus (Hall & Dunn) Remaudière & Keller, Entomophthora planchoniana Cornu, Neozygites fresenii (Nowakowski) Remaudière & Keller, Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudière & Hennebert) Humber, Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko and Zoophthora sp. Pandora neoaphidis was the most predominant pathogen of aphids and was found throughout the summer (December–March) 2004. The recovery of C. obscurus, N. fresenii and P. neoaphidis represent first records of these fungi for South America.     

Yolk-platelet crystals in three ancient bony fishes: Polypterus bichir (polypteri), Amia calva L., and Lepisosteus osseus (L.) (Holostei)

Summary Yolk-platelet crystals in Amia calva L., Lepisosteus osseus (L.) and Polypterus bichir have orthorhombic features with unit-cell dimensions a= 8.3...8.8 nm, b= 16.4...16.9 nm and c= 18.6...19.8 nm as determined in electron-diffraction patterns of fixed, epoxy-resin embedded and thinsectioned material. Electron-diffraction patterns, crystal projections and the above unit-cell data make them extremely similar to the orthorhombic yolkplatelet crystals known for amphibians and teleosts. This observation fills a gap in yolk-platelet research and supports the view that the general architecture of yolk platelets has been conserved for nearly 400 million years. It follows that the peculiar platelet architecture itself has physiological significance.     

Parachordatortilis n. g. (Nematoda: Spirurida: Acuariidae), with a redescription of P.mathevossianae (Petrov & Chertkova, 1950) n. comb., a parasite of Falco tinnunculus L. (Aves: Falconiformes)

Parachordatortilis n. g. is proposed as a monotypic genus for Parachordatortilis mathevossianae (Petrov & Chertkova, 1950) n. comb. (Spirurida, Acuariidae), previously Dispharynx mathevossianae Petrov & Chertkova, 1950. The new genus can be distinguished from all other acuariid genera by having cordons with a sinistral torsion. Parachordatortilis possesses cordons consisting of two rows of delicate cuticular plates delimiting a longitudinal canal. This pattern of cordon structure suggests that Parachordatortilis is closely related to Dispharynx Railliet, Henry & Sisoff, 1912, Synhimantus Railliet, Henry & Sisoff, 1912 and Chordatortilis Machado de Mendon?a & Olivera de Rodrigues, 1985. P. mathevossianae is redescribed on the basis of light and scanning electron microscopical observations of specimens collected from a common kestrel Falco tinnunculus L. in southern Italy.     

The erection of Pelecanema n. g. (Nematoda: Spirurida: Acuariidae), with redescriptions of P. sirry (Khalil, 1931) n. comb. and P. pelecani (Johnston & Mawson, 1942) n. comb.

Pelecanema n. g. is erected for P. sirry (Khalil, 1931) n. comb., syn. Synhimantus sirry Khalil, 1931 (type-species) and P. pelecani (Johnston & Mawson, 1942) n. comb., syn. Dispharynx pelecani Johnston & Mawson, 1942. In the structure of its cordons, consisting of two rows of delicate cuticular plates, the new genus is similar to Synhimantus Railliet, Henry & Sisoff, 1912, Dispharynx Railliet, Henry & Sisoff, 1912, Chordatortilis Machado de Mendon?a & Olivera de Rodrigues, 1965 and Parachordatortilis Mutafchiev, Santoro & Georgiev, 2010. Pelecanema sirry, a parasite of Pelecanus onocrotalus L. and P. crispus Bruch (Pelecaniformes, Pelecanidae) in Africa (Egypt and Senegal) and Europe (Ukraine and Bulgaria), is redescribed using light and scanning electron microscopy on the basis of specimens from P. crispus from Bulgaria. Pelecanema pelecani, a parasite of Pelecanus conspicillatus Temminck in Australia, is also redescribed using light microscopy on the basis of specimens from its type-host and type-locality. In contrast to a previous opinion recognising Pelecanema sirry and P. pelecani as synonyms, the two species are considered distinct and P. pelecani is validated.     

A new species of Lernanthropus De Blainville, 1822 (Copepoda: Lernanthropidae) parasitic on Menticirrhus ophicephalus (Jenyns) (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) from the Peruvian coast

Lernanthropus huamani n. sp. (Copepoda: Lernanthropidae), a parasite of the Peruvian sciaenid fish Menticirrhus ophicephalus (Jenyns), is described and illustrated. The new species differs from all other species of Lernanthropus by a combination of characters, including the dorsal plate, legs and other appendages. L. guacoldae Villalba & Fernández, 1984 is considered a synonym of L. pacificus Oliva & Duran, 1982.     

Molecular systematic analysis of the order Proteocephalidea (Eucestoda) based on mitochondrial and nuclear rDNA sequences

Two ribosomal DNA sequences were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among the Eucestoda order Proteocephalidea. A 437 bp portion of the 16S mitochondrial and a 1149 bp 5' portion of the nuclear large sub-unit rRNA molecule were sequenced for 53 proteocephalidean cestodes (representing nine subfamilies and 22 genera) and for one outgroup species. Parsimony and distance-based analyses of the two databases, alone and combined, failed to support the monophyly of the two traditionally accepted families, of numerous subfamilies (with the exception of the Rudolphielliinae and Othinoscolescinae which were validated in our analysis) and of various genera, including the genus Nomimoscolex (Woodland), Ophiotaenia (La Rue) as well as the type genus Proteocephalus (Weinland). Palaearctic Proteocephalus species nevertheless constituted a well-defined clade. The two genes globally yielded compatible results; however, the nuclear ribosomal gene provided a better resolution of relations among Proteocephalidea.     

Tooth replacement in the bowfin (Amia calva — Holostei)

The dissected tooth bearing bones of 20 specimens of Amia calva (Pisces:Holostei) ranging from the third to tenth season have been examined radiographically and in alizarin red S stained and cleared specimens. Although forms of alternate (1:1) tooth series replacement (sensu Edmund, '60) were frequently observed, even in the youngest, immature specimens, many examples of irregular replacement were recorded. In several bones, the maxillae in particular, series with every third (2:1) or fourth (3:1) tooth replacing were seen and possible patterns of 2:2, were recorded. It is concluded that these data are not consistent with the Zahnreihen concept but support a morphogenic field concept of tooth development.     

Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) chimalapasensis n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from the freshwater fish Awaous banana (Valenciennes) (Gobiidae) in Mexico

Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) chimalapasensis n. sp. (Eoacanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) is described from the intestine of Awaous banana (Valenciennes) (Pisces: Gobiidae) collected in the Río Negro, a tributary in the upper Río Coatzacoalcos basin, Santa María Chimalapa, Oaxaca State, Mexico. It is the third species of Neoechinorhynchus Stiles & Hassall, 1905 described from Mexican freshwater fishes, although 36 other species are known from freshwater fishes in the Americas. Like four other species of Neoechinorhynchus from freshwater fishes in North America and Mexico, N. (N.) limi Muzzall & Buckner, 1982, (N.) rutili (Müller, 1780) Stiles & Hassall, 1905, N. (N.) salmonis Ching, 1984 and N. (N.) roseus Salgado-Maldonado, 1978, males and females of the new species are less than 20 mm in length, lack conspicuous sexual dimorphism in size, have a small proboscis of about 0.1 mm in length with the largest hooks being the anteriormost, about 30–90 μm in length and of equal size, and have subequal lemnisci, larger than the proboscis receptacle but still relatively short and, in males, generally restricted to a position considerably anterior to the testes. The new species is closest to N. (N.) roseus, but it is distinguished from it by having: (1) a slightly larger cylindrical proboscis with almost parallel sides versus a globular proboscis with a rounded tip which is shorter and somewhat wider in N. (N.) roseus; (2) smaller but robust anterior proboscis hooks that do not reach the equatorial level or extend beyond the hooks of the middle circle as in N. (N.) roseus; and (3) the female gonopore situated ventrally subterminal, as opposed to being a significant distance anteriorly to the posterior extremity in N. (N.) roseus.     

Teeth of extant Polypteridae and Amiidae have plicidentine organization

The study of teeth of the lower jaws of Amia calva and Polypterus senegalus, with non -destructive X-ray tomography, has revealed that there are dentine folds in the tooth pulp cavity in both species. These folds are simple and present only in the base of the pulp cavity where they strengthen the fixation of teeth on the jaw. So the teeth of these two basal actinopterygian taxa have a simplexodont type of plicidentine like the extinct †Cheirolepis and various extant teleostean predators, whereas the extant Lepisosteids, the sister group of Amiidae, have polyplocodont plicidentine. The phylogenetic/adaptive significance of this simplexodont plicidentine is discussed.     

Revision of the Brazilian species of the genus Halipegus Looss, 1899 (Trematoda: Derogenidae)

Halipegus dubius Klein, 1905 is redescribed and illustrated from a Brazilian frog Leptodactylus ocellatus. The type-material of Halipegus genarchella (Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928) and Halipegus parva (Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928) are redescribed with original figures. New synonyms are proposed: Halipegus salmini Yamaguti, 1958 is considered a synonym of H. genarchella, H. tropicus (Manter, 1936) sensu Kloss (1966) of H. parva and Genarchella lenti Fábio, 1984 of H. overstreeti (Brooks, Mayes & Thorson, 1979) n. comb.     

Two new combinations in Pyrostria (Rubiaceae, Vanguerieae) from Thailand

In order to bring the names of two Rubiaceae taxa into current usage, two new combinations are proposed in Pyrostria: P. brunnescens (Craib) Utteridge & A.P.Davis, and P. cochinchinense (Pierre ex Pit.) Utteridge & A.P.Davis. Pyrostria brunnescens occurs in Thailand and P. cochinchinense in Indo-China (Thailand, Vietnam) and Malesia (Malaysia, N Borneo).