Sinistrexcisa, a New Genus of Land Snail from Central West Africa with Four New Species (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Streptaxidae)

A new genus of Streptaxidae with four new species is describedfrom Central West Africa, viz. Sinistrexcisa cameruniae (typespecies) from Southwest Cameroon, and S. iradieri, S. cogoensisand S. fang from Equatorial Guinea. In addition to the shells,the genital anatomy of three species and the radula of one speciesare described. The species of Sinistrexcisa resemble some taxaof the heterogeneous genus Ptychotrema s.l., but differ conchologicallyby, among others, the extremely long and displaced aperturalsinus and the sinistrally coiled last quarter whorl, and anatomicallyby the morphology of the penis, especially the inner spinulation.A spermatophore was observed in the lower (distal) portion ofthe penis of a specimen of S. fang. This is probably the first recordof a spermatophore in the family Streptaxidae. (Received 9 October 1997; accepted 1 July 1998)     

Atebbania Bernasconii, a New Genus and Species from Subterranean Waters of the Tiznit Plain, Southern Morocco (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)

The new genus Atebbania is described for a new hydrobiid species,A. bernasconii, which lives in groundwaters of southern Morocco.Of the Hydrobiidae genera with known shell and anatomy Moitessieriais the closest to Atebbania. The two share the following characters:shell elongate; teleoconch surface with evident microsculpture;seminal receptacle absent. Atebbania is distinguished from Moitessieriaby: shell ovate; penis with a) apical stylet, b) one lobe bentdownward on left (inner) side and c) penial duct running nearthe right (outer) side; posterior end of foot indented. Atebbaniabernasconii n. sp., lives in a limited area, the Tiznit plainin southern Morocco. Other stygobiont hydrobiids from otherareas of Morocco are currently being studied. None of them appearsto be closely related to A. bernasconii or to the species ofMoitessieria (Received 10 February 1998; accepted 30 April 1998)     

TWO NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS ISLAMIA RADOMAN, 1973 FROM ITALIAN ISLANDS (PROSOBRANCHIA, HYDROBIIDAE)

Two new Italian species of the genus Islamia (Prosobranchia:Hydrobiidae), one living in eastern Sicily (I. cianensis), andone on Elba Island (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy) (I. gaiteri)are described. The two species are distinguished on the basisof shell and anatomical characters, mainly those of the malegenitalia. I. cianesis n. sp. is characterized by a valvatoidshell and a penial lobe with internal band of glandular tissuenot distinct in its lower portion from the penis body but bulgingapically as a small knob. I. gaiteri n. sp. is characterizedby a planispiral shell and a small lateral penial lobe withoutinternal glandular tissue. (Received 20 December 1993; accepted 27 June 1994)     

Development of indices for nonsacrificial sexing of imposex-affected Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) Trunculus (Gastropoda: Muricidae)

The muricid Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) trunculus lacks externalsexual dimorphism and is highly affected by imposex, which furthercomplicates its sexual identification. In this context, theaim of this study was to develop sexual indices based on thedimensions of male and imposex-affected female penis, whichcould constitute a useful, simple and nonsacrificial tool forsexing live specimens of T. trunculus. The adoption of sexualindices consisting of penis dimensions of both sexes relativeto individual size revealed a high accuracy in the sexual identificationof sacrificed specimens (>95% correct sexing). Additionally,multivariate discriminant analysis allowed correct sexing of98.8% of the original 1053 sacrificed individuals, with accuratesexual identification being higher for males (99.5%) than forimposex-affected females (97.7%). An anaesthetization experimentwas performed to investigate the effects produced by the anaesthetic(MgCl₂) on penis measurements, to test this nonsacrificial approachand to validate the previously developed sexual indices. Theanaesthetic provoked an expected enlargement in penis dimensionsbut, despite this side effect, the sexual indices developedfor sacrificed specimens were still highly successful in sexinganaesthetized T. trunculus (generally more than 95% correctsexual identification). The practical application and some limitationsof developing and employing this kind of index for the sexualidentification of T. trunculus and other imposex-affected gastropodspecies are discussed. (Received 30 May 2005; accepted 17 January 2006)     

A NEW MEDITERRANEAN SPECIES OF HAMINAEA LEACH, 1820 (GASTROPODA: OPISTHOBRANCHIA:CEPHALASPIDEA)

A new species of cephalaspidean gastropod from MediterraneanSea (West Naples Gulf, Italy) is described. This species, Haminaeafusari, is characterised mainly by the presence of short parapodiallobes, which cover only the anterolateral parts of the shell;the prostatic gland has two lobes separated by a narrow andcylindrical zone; the lateral teeth of the radula are all smooth;the penis has a triangular section at the apical zone and asmall sharpened tip; and the spawn is horse-shoe-shaped or coiledin a single spiral. This species is compared with all the Europeanspecies of the genus and a key to identification is provided. (Received 4 May 1992; accepted 4 January 1993)     

THE BIOMPHALARIA HAVANENSIS COMPLEX (GASTROPODA: PLANORBIDAE) IN CUBA: A MORPHOLOGICAL AND GENETIC STUDY

Conchological, anatomical and genetic characteristics werecompared among several populations of the Biomphalaria havanensis complexfrom Cuba and other localities in the Caribbean region. Two morphometricmeasures (height and diameter) distinguished two closely similarmorphs of the shell. The reproductive system also separated thesemorphs, particularly upon comparison of sizes of the penis sheathand the preputium. The two morphological groups differed in9 to 12 fixed alleles according to population. Further allozymicdata analyzed in the present work confirmed this difference.The results strongly support the assumption that the B. havanensis complexincludes two distinct species: B. havanensis, for which thetype locality is the swampy area near the vicinity of Havana,Cuba and Biomphalaria sp. a species which commonly occurs inCuba and in Dominican Republic. The taxonomic identity of Biomphalariasp. is discussed. (Received 28 January 2000; accepted 15 August 2000)     

A new species of Acartia (Copepoda, Calanoida) from the Yellow Sea

A new species (Acartia hongi) of Acartia (family Acartiidae)predominating in the Korean coastal waters of the Yellow Seais described. This species closely resembles Acartia bifilosa,from which it can be easily distinguished by the co-occurrenceof the following morphological characters: the absence of rostralfilaments in both genders; the terminal spine on the femalefifth leg toothed only on the inner side; the first exopodalsegment of the male right fifth leg with a long seta; the distalsegment of the male left fifth leg with a rod-like appendage.Its distribution was discussed in comparison with two siblingspecies, Acartia omorii and Acartia hudsonica.     

A NEW OVOVIVIPAROUS SPECIES OF TECTARIUS (GASTROPODA: LITTORINIDAE) FROM NIUE, SOUTH PACIFIC, WITH A MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF THE GENUS

A new ovoviviparous littorinid gastropod, Tectarius (Echininiopsis)niuensis, from Niue, west of the Cook Islands, is described.This is distinguished from the only other ovoviviparous memberof the genus, T. (E.) viviparus (Rosewater, 1982) from the MarianaIslands, here redescribed in detail. The new species is remarkabletor its high-level habitat in the littoral fringe on wave-exposedkarstic limestone cliffs, for its variation in shell shape accordingto tidal level, shell colour polymorphism, calcified operculumand penis with a single mamilliform penial gland. In a cladisticanalysis of morphological characters, including single representativesof each of the three other subgenera of Tectarius (Tectarius,Echininus, Tectininus), these two ovoviviparous species appearas sister-taxa. This is confirmed by a molecular phylogeneticanalysis of the same species, based on the sequence of a portionof the 16S ribosomal RNA mitochondrial gene. Neither analysisunequivocally confirms the monophyly of Tectarius. The divergenceof DNA sequences within Tectarius suggests that the genus arosein the Upper Cretaceous, much earlier than the oldest (UpperEocene) fossils. Only 4 of the 175 species of Littorinidae areknown to be ovoviviparous (with brooding through metamorphosis)and the possible adaptive significance of this type of developmentis discussed. Hitherto, its rarity had been explained by earlyextinction of poorly-dispersed brooding taxa. However, ovoviviparitymay have persisted in Echininiopsis for at least 35 millionyears, and has not precluded colonization of islands 6300kmapart. (Received 17 September 1996; accepted 15 November 1996)     

Musculature of the penial complex: A new criterion in unravelling the phylogeny of Hygrophila (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)

The taxonomy of freshwater pulmonates (Hygrophila) has been in a fluid state warranting the search for new morphological criteria that may show congruence with molecular phylogenetic data. We examined the muscle arrangement in the penial complex (penis and penis sheath) of most major groups of freshwater pulmonates to explore to which extent the copulatory musculature can serve as a source of phylogenetic information for Hygrophila. The penises of Acroloxus lacustris (Acroloxidae), Radix auricularia (Lymnaeidae), and Physella acuta (Physidae) posses inner and outer layers of circular muscles and an intermediate layer of longitudinal muscles. The inner and outer muscle layers in the penis of Biomphalaria glabrata consist of circular muscles, but this species has two intermediate longitudinal layers separated by a lacunar space, which is crossed by radial and transverse fibers. The muscular wall of the penis of Planorbella duryi is composed of transverse and longitudinal fibers, with circular muscles as the outer layer. In Planorbidae, the penial musculature consists of inner and outer layers of longitudinal muscles and an intermediate layer of radial muscles. The penis sheath shows more variation in muscle patterns: its muscular wall has two layers in A. lacustris, P. acuta, and P. duryi, three layers in R. auricularia and Planorbinae and four layers in B. glabrata. To trace the evolution of the penial musculature, we mapped the muscle characters on a molecular phylogeny constructed from the concatenated 18S and mtCOI data set. The most convincing synapomorphies were found for Planorbinae (inner and outer penis layers of longitudinal muscles, three-layered wall of the penis sheath). A larger clade coinciding with Planorbidae is defined by the presence of radial muscles and two longitudinal layers in the penis. The comparative analysis of the penial musculature appears to be a promising tool in unraveling the phylogeny of Hygrophila.     

FOUR NEW SPECIES OF TAMBJA BURN, 1962 (NUDIBRANCHIA: POLYCERIDAE) FROM THE INDO-PACIFIC

The genus Tambja previously included 24 described species. Fournew species, T. tentaculata n. sp., T. gabrielae n. sp., T.zulu n. sp. and Tambja victoriae n. sp., from the Indo-Pacificare described. Tambja tentaculata n. sp., from Guam, is theonly known species in the genus with well developed, dorsolaterallygrooved, oral tentacles. Its inner lateral teeth have a bifidinner cusp with two long, sharp denticles. The oral tentaclesof T. tentaculata are more typical of Roboastra species, whilethe shape of the inner lateral teeth is more typical of Tambja.Nevertheless, the arrangement of the two cusps of the innerlateral teeth and the presence of a rachidian tooth withoutdenticles and with a central notch at the anterior edge, typicalof the species of the genus Tambja, suggest the placement withinthis genus. Tambja gabrielae n. sp., from Indonesia and PapuaNew Guinea, has dark green to dark brown ground colour withbright yellow patches scattered on the body. Tambja zulu n.sp. from Durban, South Africa, is characterized by a black groundcolour with slender yellow longitudinal lines. Tambja victoriaen. sp. is a new species from Papua New Guinea and Australiathat has frequently been misidentified as Roboastra arika, characterizedby its blue body colour and yellow lines. The four species aredistinguishable based on differences in body coloration, ofcharacters of the radula and of the reproductive system. Anoverview on distinguishing features of all known Indo-PacificTambja species is presented. (Received 21 June 2004; accepted 20 January 2005)     

Recent bivalve molluscs of the genus Calyptogena (Vesicomyidae)

The genus Calyptogena (Bivalvia: Vesicomyidae) comprises highlyspecialized bivalves living in symbiosis with sulphur-oxidizingbacteria in reducing habitats. In this study, the genus is revisedusing shell and anatomical features. The work is based on typematerial, as well as on the extensive collection of vesicomyidsobtained during twelve expeditions to the Pacific and IndianOceans. Nine Recent species are ascribed to the genus Calyptogena,four of which are new: C. pacifica Dall, 1891, C. fausta Okutani,Fujikura & Hashimoto, 1993, C. rectimargo Scarlato, 1981,C. valdiviae (Thiele & Jaeckel, 1931), C. gallardoi Sellanes& Krylova, 2005, C. goffrediae n. sp., C. starobogatovin. sp., C. makranensis n. sp. and C. costaricana n. sp. Thecharacteristic features of Calyptogena are: shell up to 90 mmin length, elongate-elliptical or elongate; presence of escutcheon;presence of broad posterior ramus (3b) of right subumbonal cardinaltooth as well as right posterior nymphal ridge; absence of pallialsinus as a result of attachment of intersiphonal septal retractorimmediately adjacent to ventral surface of posterior adductor;absence of processes on inner vulva of inhalant siphon; presenceof inner demibranch only, with descending and ascending lamellaewith interlamellar septa not divided into separate tubes. Themost closely related taxa to Calyptogena are probably the genusIsorropodon Sturany, 1896, and the group of species representedby ‘Calyptogena’ phaseoliformis Métivier,Okutani & Ohta, 1986. These groups have several charactersin common, namely absence of pallial sinus, presence of singleinner pair of demibranchs and absence of processes on innervulva of inhalant siphon. The worldwide distribution of thegenus Calyptogena suggests that methane seeps at continentalmargins are the major dispersal routes and that speciation waspromoted by geographical isolation. Recent species diversityand fossil records indicate that the genus originated in thePacific Ocean. Sufficient data to discuss the distribution atspecies level exist only for C. pacifica, which has a remarkablynarrow bathymetric range. Published studies on the physiologyof C. pacifica suggest that adaptation to a specific geochemicalenvironment has led to coexisting vesicomyid genera. The bacteria-containinggill of C. pacifica and other Calyptogena species is one ofthe most specialized in the family Vesicomyidae and may reflectthese ecological adaptations. (Received 23 December 2005; accepted 3 April 2006)     

THE GENUS HAMINOEA (GASTROPODA: CEPHALASPIDEA) IN PORTUGAL, WITH A REVIEW OF THE EUROPEAN SPECIES

The study of specimens of Haminoea collected on the coast ofPortugal, together with the re-evaluation of historical specimensused by Nobre (1938–40) in his main work on the Portuguesemolluscs, recognized the presence of two species, Haminoea navicula(da Costa, 1778) and H. orbignyana (Férussac, 1822),and confirmed the misidentification of H. orbignyana as H. elegans(Gray, 1825). Anatomical analysis found intraspecific variabilityin the radula of H. navicula and H. orbignyana and in the seminalduct of the latter. The systematic value of taxonomic featuresincluding the shell, external morphology, animal coloration,radula, jaws, gizzard plates, prostate gland, seminal duct,penis and egg-masses is discussed. For all European speciesbut H. orbignyana, identification is only possible when anatomicaldata are considered, and the most relevant character is themale reproductive system. SEM images of the penis and prostateof H. navicula and H. orbignyana are given for the first time.A synoptic table for the recognition of the European speciesis provided. (Received 21 January 2005; accepted 17 June 2005)     

HAMINAEA TEMPLADOI, A NEW SPECIES OF CEPHALASPIDEAN OPISTHOBRANCH FROM THE ATLANTIC IBERIAN COAST

A new species of Haminaea from the Southern Iberian Peninsulais described. Haminaea templadoi is characterized by the presenceof a penis with an apical semispherical crest provided by tensmall transverse folds and a well developed lateral lobe. Theshell has a sculptured surface with growth lines crossed bysmall transverse folds. (Received 20 October 1990; accepted 24 January 1991)     

Systematic revision of Jorunna Bergh, 1876 (Nudibranchia: Discodorididae) with a morphological phylogenetic analysis

The genus Jorunna is characterized by a dorsum covered withcaryophyllidia, a prostate with two sections, a penis usuallyunarmed but occasionally armed with hooks, a copulatory spine,the presence of an accessory gland and a labial cuticle smoothor armed with jaw elements. The examination of 216 non-typespecimens, 30 types, and a review of the literature show thatthere are 16 valid species of the genus Jorunna: J. tomentosa(Cuvier, 1804); J. funebris (Kelaart, 1859); J. pantherinaAngas,1864; J. rubescens (Bergh, 1876); J. labialis (Eliot, 1908);J. parva (Baba, 1938); J. spazzola (Marcus, 1955); J. hartleyi(Burn, 1958); J. alisonaeMarcus, 1976; J. lemchei (Marcus, 1976);J. evansi (Eliot, 1906); J. pardusBehrens & Henderson, 1981;J.ramicolaMiller, 1996 and J. onubensis Cervera, García-Gómez& García, 1986. In addition, two new species fromthe Eastern Pacific are described: J. osae n. sp. and J. tempisquensisn. sp. We propose two new combinations: Jorunna parva and J.evansi. New records for the genus Jorunna are provided fromItaly, Algeria, Seychelles, Madagascar, Thailand, Marshall Islands,New Caledonia, Île de la Réunion, Sudan, PapuaNew Guinea, Indonesia, Panama, Costa Rica, Bahamas, and SouthernMexico. We present the first preliminary phylogenetic analysisof this cryptobranch dorid genus, based on morphological anatomicaldata, and discuss the biogeography and evolution of severalcharacters in this group. The phylogeny supports the hypothesisthat the genus Jorunna is a monophyletic group and shows thatKentrodoris is nested within it. (Received 31 December 2004; accepted 10 January 2008)     

PHYLLODESMIUM GUAMENSIS (NUDIBRANCHIA: AEOLIDOIDEA), A NEW SPECIES FROM GUAM(MICRONESIA)

A new species of Phyllodesmium (Aeolidoidea) from Guam (Micronesia)is described. Phyllodesmium guamensis n.sp. is characterizedby having two rows of denticles in the radular teeth, this beingdifferent from the previously described species of the genus.The shape of the teeth, however, is identical in all the speciesof the genus, and unique among aeolids. Furthermore, P. guamensispossesses a double row of cerata in the precardiac cluster andup to 10 post-cardiac ceratal rows. Also, P. guamensis showsa very dense accumulation of zooxanthellae in the ceratal digestivegland, which is ramified inside the cerata. This species feedson at least three species of the soft coral Sinularia: S. polydactyla,S. maxima and a third, undescribed species. The aeolid matchesthe colour of its prey and is cryptic on the soft coral surface. (Received 3 October 1996; accepted 28 April 1997)     

The Generic Position of Protorhus namaquensis Sprague (Anacardiaceae): Evidence from Fruit Structure

In Protorhus namaquensis the outer epidermis of the ovary formsthe exocarp. At maturity it is uniseriate and consists of palisade-likeparenchyma cells and modified stomata (MS). A cuticle, extensivecutinization of the outer cell walls and starch also characterizethe exocarp. The mesocarp develops from the ground tissue ofthe ovary wall and includes an outer zone of large-celled tanniniferousparenchyma, secretory ducts associated with some of the vascularbundles, prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and brachysclereids.The inner epidermis of the ovary undergoes successive periclinaldivisions whose derivatives form the mature endocarp. It isstratified and tetraseriate, comprising successive layers (frommesocarp inwards) of crystalliferous cells, brachysclereids,osteosclereids and macrosclereids. The morphology of the femaleflower, and the fruit structure of P. namaquensis are comparedwith that of P. longifolia (lectotype of the genus and onlyother African species) and species of Ozoroa. We present abundantevidence that P. namaquensis should be associated with somemembers of the genus Ozoroa , rather than with P. longifolia.The new combination, Ozoroa namaquensis (Sprague) Von Teichman& Van Wyk, is proposed. Characters of the perianth and pericarp,inter alia the occlusion of the pores of most MS, are consideredadaptations of the species to its harsh semi-desert habitat.Copyright1994, 1999 Academic Press Anacardiaceae, Protorhus namaquensis, Ozoroa namaquensis, pericarp, fruit, flower, modified stomata, ontogeny, histochemistry, cutin     

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN OPISTHOBRANCHIA: DOTIDAE (DENDRONOTOIDEA), ARMINIDAE AND MADRELLIDAE (ARMINOIDEA)

An account is given of Doto, Armina and Madrella species collectedon diving and dredging expeditions to the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian,Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Seas during the period 1973–1988,supplemented by material collected around Naples (southern Italy)and Banyuls (French Côte Vermeille). In all, 5 speciesof Doto, 3 of Armina and 1 of Madrella were investigated, yielding5 new records for the eastern Mediterranean Sea and one speciesnew to science, Armina tricuspidata from the Tyrrhenian Sea.The common arminid on the American coast from North Carolinato Texas is not A. tigrina as claimed by Abbott(1954) and byEyster (1981), but is a new species, for which we propose thename Armina abbotti. Consideration of world-wide records of Madrella leads to theconclusion that the senior Madrella sanguinea Angas, 1864, embracesM. ferruginosa Alder & Hancock, 1864, M. aurantiace Vayssière,1903 and M. granularis Baba, 1949 (but not the Japanese M. gloriosaBaba, 1949, which is probably distinct). ^*T.E. Thompson died in a car accident 1 January 1990. (Received 2 May 1989; accepted 4 November 1989)     

ONTOGENY OF THE PSEUDOHERMAPHRODITIC REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM IN NASSARIUS VIBEX (GASTROPODA: BUCCINIDAE: NASSARIINAE)

Pseudohermaphroditism or imposex is an abnormality of the gastropodreproductive system caused by the effects of an environmentalpollutant, tributyltin, in which parts of the male reproductivetract develop in females. In this study, the post-larval developmentof the reproductive system in pseudohermaphroditic male andfemale Nassarius vibex was investigated relative to normal developmentto determine how and when the abnormalities associated withpseudohermaphroditism develop. Two populations of N. vibex were compared:one exhibiting normal development, and one in which the animalswere effected by pseudohermaphroditism. In the affected N. vibexpopulation, a penis and anterior spermiduct developed very earlyin ontogeny in both males and females. Normal reproductive systemdevelopment was affected in some females, evidenced by fusion ofthe induced spermiduct and anterior oviduct, or by abnormaloviduct development. Several males displayed precocious maturationof the gonad in addition to early development of the anteriorspermiduct and penis. (Received 25 April 2000; accepted 1 July 2000)