Scyphophyllidium uruguayense n. sp. (Eucestoda: Tetraphyllidea) in Mustelus mento (Cope, 1877) (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) from La Paloma, Uruguay.

A new species of Scyphophyllidium inhabits Mustelus mento near La Paloma, Uruguay. It resembles Scyphophyllidium giganteum from the Atlantic Ocean and specimens identified as S. giganteum from California by having anapolytic strobilae 155-258 mm long, 250-300 craspedote proglottids, scoleces 1.2-1.4 mm wide, necks 34-41 mm long, immature and mature proglottids wider than long, gravid proglottids wider than long to longer than wide, genital pores averaging 28% of proglottid length from the anterior end, relatively flat ovaries with digitiform lobes reaching the lateralmost extent of the testicular field, vitellaria in 2 fields converging toward the proglottid midline, straight and short cirrus sacs, and postvaginal vas deferens. The bothridia of the new species have accessory bothridial suckers that are smaller than those of California specimens; European specimens reportedly lack accessory bothridial suckers. The new species possesses a uterine duct that joins the uterus at the level of the genital atrium and ventral osmoregulatory ducts medial rather than lateral to the dorsal ducts, an arrangement described for Californian but not European specimens. It differs from both European and Californian specimens by having longer cirri, more testes per proglottid, prominent scales covering the neck, and vaginae and uterine ducts coiled immediately preovarially. Pithophorus, Marsupiobothrium, and Scyphophyllidium may form a clade.     

Paralepidapedon ostorhinchi (Korotaeva, 1974) n. comb. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) in Oplegnathus woodwardi (Waite) (Teleostei: Perciformes: Oplegnathidae) from off Rottnest Island,Western Australia

The digenean originally designated Lepidapedon (Lepidapedon) ostorhinchi is redescribed from its type-host, Oplegnathus woodwardi [= Ostorhinchus conwaii], from the waters off Western Australia. The discovery of a uroproct indicates that the generic designation is wrong and the worm should be Paralepidapedon ostorhinchi (Korotaeva, 1974) n. comb. It is distinct from its nearest relative, P. hoplognathi (Yamaguti, 1938), in having: a prominent post-oral ring; a distinct oesophagus; short anterior diverticula on the caeca; a long external seminal vesicle, ensheathed in a membrane bound gland-cell mass; and less anteriorly extensive vitellarium.     

Relationships betweenApanteles flavipes (Hym.: Braconidae) andNosema bordati (Microspora,Nosematidae) parasites ofChilo partellus (Lep.: Pyralidae)

A laboratory study was conducted on the relationships betweenNosema bordati Goudegnon andApanteles flavipes (Cameron) when they simultaneously parasitiseChilo partellus (Swinhoe). The results indicate thatN. bordati is highly pathogenic to the immature instars of the parasitoid. Lightly infected adults ofA. flavipes are able to transmit the Microsporidian.     

Cicesetrema unami n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae: Cryptogoniminae) from Paralichthys californicus (Ayres, 1859) (Osteichthyes: Pleuronectiformes: Paralichthydae) in San Quintin Bay, Baja California, Mexico

Cicesetrema unami n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) is described from the intestine of the California halibut, Paralichthys californicus, from San Quintin Bay, Baja California, Mexico. The new genus is distinguished from other members of the Cryptogoniminae in having vitellaria that form asymmetric bunches of follicles and extend in lateral fields from the level of the ovary posteriad beyond the testes. In addition, the species in the new genus possess a subterminal, funnel-shaped oral sucker that is prominent when protruded but usually retracted in a fold at the anterior end.     

Redescription of Hemiclepsis quadrata (Moore, 1939) n. comb. (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae)

Hemiclepsis quadrata, which is the only representative of the genus so far reported in Africa, is redescribed. Illustrations showing the diagnostic features of the taxon are provided for the first time. A thorough study of the holotype and one of the paratypes, as well as additional specimens, revealed that Moore overlooked certain important taxonomic features when he described the leech as a Batracobdella species. The transfer of this species to the genus Hemiclepsis is based on the following features exhibited by this leech: dilated head region, three pairs of eyes, central proboscis pore, ten pairs of crop caeca and small genital atria.     

Immature Stages of Neotropical Enochrus (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae): E. (Methydrus) lampros Knisch, 1924 and E. (Hugoscottia) tremolerasi Knisch, 1922

The preimaginal stages of the Neotropical species E. (M.) lampros Knisch, and Enochrus (H.) tremolerasi Knisch, are described and illustrated for the first time. They are compared to the immatures of the Neotropical species E. (M.) vulgaris (Steinheil) and E. (Hugoscottia) scutellaris (Bruch), the Nearctic E. (M.) fimbriatus (Melsheimer) and E. (M.) pygmaeus nebulosus Say, and the Australian E. (M.) maculiceps (MacLeay). Bionomical notes on the two species are included.     

Apotrachelocerca arenicola (Kahl, 1933) n. g., comb. n. (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Trachelocercidae): morphology and phylogeny

During faunistic study on psammophilic ciliates along the coast of Qingdao, China, a population of Trachelocerca arenicola Kahl, 1933 was found and then investigated using silver staining and gene sequencing methods. The results indicated that it represented a new genus Apotrachelocerca characterized by uninterrupted circumoral kineties composed of two rows of dikinetids and no brosse or ciliary tuft in the oral cavity. This new genus should be assigned to the family Prototrachelocercidae Foissner, 1996. Based on the small subunit rRNA gene sequence, phylogenetic trees revealed that Apotrachelocerca arenicola occupied a basal position to other trachelocercids.     

Oxytropis sobolevskajae sp. nov. (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae,Galegeae) from Tuva Republic (south Siberia,Russia)

Oxytropis sobolevskajae Pjak, a new species endemic to Tuva Republic (south Siberia, Russia), is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to O. sect. Xerobia Bunge subsect. Ampulla Vass. and is confined to the central Tuva depression. This species is probably most closely related to O. leptophylla (Pall.) DC., from which it is easily distinguished by the number of leaflet pairs, the length and type of inflorescence, and the length of the keel cusp.     

Polylekithum percai n. sp. (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) from Percichthys trucha (Perciformes: Percichthydae) in Patagonia,Argentina, and a redescription of Homalometron papilliferum (Szidat, 1956) n. comb.

Two species of Digenea are recorded from the intestine of Percichthys trucha (Percichthydae) from Patagonian water bodies. Polylekithum percai n. sp. (Allocreadiidae) is distinguished by its body size, the relative size of the suckers, the anterior extension of the vitelline fields, the number of eggs in the uterus and the different species of fish host from the two previously described species of Polylekithum. Homalometron (= Austrocreadium) papilliferum (Szidat, 1956) n. comb. is redescribed. Due to its spined tegument and the absence of a cirrus-sac, this species is considered a member of the family Apocreadiidae.     

Sporobolus copei sp. nov. (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) from Tenerife (Canary Islands,Spain)

Sporobolus copei F. Verloove sp. nov. is described and illustrated. It has been known since at least the 1970s on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). Until now it has been confused with both Sporobolus diandrus and S. indicus. Its origin and affinities are discussed. A status as very locally naturalised xenophyte seems most reasonable.     

Pterigodermatites (Paucipectines) spinicaudatis n. sp. (Nematoda: Rictularidae) from Dromiciops australis (Marsupialia: Microbiotheriidae) in Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina. Biogeographical distribution and host-parasite relationships.

Pterigodermatites (P.) spinicaudatis sp. n. from Dromiciops australis is proposed and described. The simple morphology of the ovijector and the presence of a well developed spine between the two cuticular projections at the caudal extremity of the female distinguish the studied nematode from the remainder species of the genus parasitizing South American Edentata, marsupials and cricetid rodents. The distribution area of the hosts of the different species of P. (P.) are given. The studied genus does not parasitize any Australian marsupials. It was found in the endemic South American Microbiotheriidae. This fact suggests from a parasitological point of view that D. australis is not related to the Australian marsupials but to the South American ones.