The taxonomic status of Distomum umbrinae Stossich, 1885 (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from the sciaenid fish Umbrina cirrosa (L.) in the Mediterranean Sea

Distomum umbrinae Stossich, 1885 from the intestine of Umbrina cirrosa in the Mediterranean Sea is described and figured based on material from several sources. Its generic designation is discussed in relation to Allocreadium, Podocotyle, Pycnadenoides and Pachycreadium. This species is considered to belong to Pycnadenoides and the new combination Pycnadenoides umbrinae is formed. A neotype is designated for this species. P. umbrinae is compared with P. ghanensis, which is considered valid.     

The opecoelidae (Digenea) of sparid fishes of the western Mediterranean. II. Pycnadenoides yamaguti, 1938 and Pseudopycnadena Saad-Fares & Maillard, 1986

The genera Pycnadenoides Yamaguti, 1938 and Pseudopycnadena Saad-Fares & Maillard, 1986 are redefined and their validity discussed. Two forms, currently considered to be Pycnadenoides senegalensis Fischthal & Thomas, 1972, one from Lithognathus mormyrus and Diplodus vulgaris off Corsica (Scandola) and one from Sparus aurata off Provence and Languedoc, are described separately, as some preliminary biochemical studies suggest that they might be distinct. This species is commented upon in relation to Distomum mormyri Stossich, 1885, D. umbrinae Stossich, 1885, Pycnadenoides pagrosomi Yamaguti, 1938 and P. ghanensis Fischthal & Thomas, 1968. Pseudopycnadena fischthali Saad-Fares & Maillard, 1986 is redescribed from Diplodus vulgaris, D. annularis and D. sargus off Corsica (Scandola).

---

Résumé Les auteurs redéfinissent et discutent la validité des genres Pycnadenoides Yamaguti, 1938 et Pseudopycnadena Saad-Fares & Maillard, 1986. Deux formes considérées actuellement comme Pycnadenoides senegalensis Fischthal & Thomas, 1972, l'une parasite de Lithognathus mormyrus et de Diplodus vulgaris des côtes de Corse (Scandola), l'autre parasite de Sparus aurata des côtes de Provence et du Languedoc, sont décrites séparément. Des études biochimiques préliminaires suggèrent qu'il pourrait s'agir de deux espèces différentes. Cette espèce est discutée par rapport à Distomum mormyri Stossich, 1885, D. umbrinae Stossich, 1885, Pycnadenoides pagrosomi Yamaguti, 1938 et P. ghanensis Fischthal & Thomas, 1968. Pseudopycnadena fischthali Saad-Fares & Maillard, 1986 est redécrit à partir d'exemplaires provenant de Diplodus vulgaris, D. annularis et D. sargus des côtes de Corse (Scandola).

     

Lecithostaphylus retroflexus (Molin, 1859) (Zoogonidae) and Tergestia acanthocephala (Stossich, 1887) (Fellodistomidae) (Digenea) from the epipelagic teleost Belone belone (L.) in the western Mediterranean

Numerous individuals of the poorly known species Lecithostaphylus retroflexus (Zoogonidae) and Tergestia acanthocephala (Fellodistomidae) have been recovered from the teleost fish Belone belone gracilis from off the Scandola Nature Reserve, Western Mediterranean. They are redescribed, incorporating previously undescribed features: for L. retroflexus, a post-oral ring, a bipartite seminal vesicle, the shape of the excretory vesicle, the subterminal excretory pore and the flask-shaped gland-cells associated with the distinctly pedunculate ventral sucker; and for T. acanthocephala, the intestinal bifurcation in the forebody, necessitating its return to the genus Tergestia from Theledera. Additionally, T. acanthocephala is compared with T. laticollis from various species of Trachurus from the same geographical area.     

Three Poorly Known and Rarely Reported Bucephalid Species (Digenea) in Fishes from the Western Mediterranean

Three poorly known bucephalid species are described from off Corsica, in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Bucephalus gorgon (Linton, 1905) (syn. B. introversus Manter, 1940) from Seriola dumerili is reported for only the third time in the Mediterranean Sea. Prosorhynchoides arcuatus (Linton, 1900) from Sarda sarda is reported for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea. P. tergestinum (Stossich, 1883) n. comb. (originally in Gasterostomum von Siebold 1848; has also been in Bucephalopsis Diesing, 1855 and Bucephalus von Baer, 1827) from Gobius geniporus is reported for only the second time.     

Species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from fishes of Australian and South Pacific waters,including five new species

Nine species of Stephanostomum are described from Australian and Southern Pacific marine fishes: Stephanostomum madhaviae n. sp. [syn. S. orientalis of Madhavi (1976)] from Caranx ignobilis, off Hope Island, Queensland, with 30-34 circum-oral spines and vitelline fields almost reaching to the posterior extremity of the cirrus-sac; S. bicoronatum (Stossich, 1883) from Argyrosomus hololepidotus, off Southport Broadwater, Queensland; S. votonimoli n. sp. from Scomberoides lysan, off Moorea, French Polynesia (type-locality) and Western Samoa, with 33-38 circum-oral spines, a uroproct and the vitelline fields not reaching the cirrus-sac; S. nyoomwa n. sp. from Caranx sexfasciatus, off Heron Island, Queensland, with 33-38 circum-oral spines, a uroproct and the vitelline fields reaching the cirrus-sac; S. cobia n. sp. from Rachycentron canadum, off Heron Island, with 36 circum-oral spines, a uroproct and the vitelline fields reaching the cirrus-sac; S. petimba Yamaguti, 1970 from Seriola hippos, off Rottnest Island, Western Australia; S. pacificum (Yamaguti, 1951) from Pseudocaranx wrighti, off Fremantle, Western Australia; S. aaravi n. sp. from Lethrinus miniatus, off Heron Island, with 36-39 circum-oral spines, probably a uroproct and the vitelline fields reaching the ventral sucker; S. pagrosomi (Yamaguti, 1939) from L. nebulosus, L. miniatus and L. atkinsoni off Heron Island, Pagrus auratus, off Rottnest Island, Western Australia and Gymnocranius audleyi, off Heron Island. A digest of described species of Stephanostomum is included as an appendix.     

The Opecoelidae (Digenea) of sparid fishes of the western Mediterranean. IV.Peracreadium Nicoll, 1909 andCainocreadium Nicoll, 1909

The generaPeracreadium Nicoll, 1909 andCainocreadium Nicoll, 1909 are redefined and their validity discussed. Only one species ofPeracreadium, P. characis (Stossich, 1886) n. comb., is believed to occur in the Mediterranean region. This species, which is restricted toDiplodus [=Puntazzo] puntazzo and had previously been considered to be aspecies inquirenda, is redescribed and distinguished from other species of the genus; a neotype is designated.Cainocreadium labracis (Dujardin, 1845), the only species of the genus occurring in the Mediterranean region, is described fromDentex dentex and discussed in relation to its more usual host, the moronidDicentrarchus labrax.

---

Résumé Les auteurs redéfinissent et discutent la validité des genresPeracreadium Nicoll, 1909 etCainocreadium Nicoll, 1909. Dans le genrePeracreadium, une seule espèceP. characis (Stossich, 1886) n. comb. a été trouvée jusqu'à ce jour en Méditerranée; elle parasiteDiplodus (=Puntazzo) puntazzo. Cette espèce était considérée comme unespecies inquirenda; elle est redécrite et comparée aux autres espéces de ce genre; un néotype lui est attribué. Dans le genreCainocreadium, une seule espèceC. labracis (Dujardin, 1845) est connue de Méditerranée. Celle-ci est redécrite à partir d'exemplaires trouvés chezDentex dentex.

     

Does body size influence nest attendance? A comparison of Ross’s geese (Chen rossii) and the larger, sympatric lesser snow geese (C. caerulescens caerulescens)

The body-size hypothesis predicts that nest attendance is positively related to body size among waterfowl and that recess duration is inversely related to body size. Several physiological and behavioral characteristics of Ross’s geese (Chen rossii) suggest that females of this species should maintain high nest attendance despite their relatively small body size. Accordingly, we used 8-mm films to compare the incubation behavior of Ross’s geese to that of the larger, closely-related lesser snow geese (C. caerulescens caerulescens; hereafter, snow geese) nesting sympatrically at Karrak lake, Nunavut, Canada in 1993. We found that nest attendance averaged 99% for both species. Our results offer no support for the body-size hypothesis. We suggest that temperature requirements of embryos in relation to short incubation duration and a low foraging efficiency of females select for high nest attendance in both snow geese and Ross’s geese.     

Metadena phoceae n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae), a rectal parasite of the shore rockling Gaidropsarus mediterraneus (Teleostei: Lotidae) in the western Mediterranean

Metadena phoceae n. sp. is described and figured in detail from the rectum of the shore rockling Gaidropsarus mediterraneus (Lotidae) in the Gulf of Marseilles and off Corsica. It is compared with other cryptogonimids occurring in Mediterranean and Black Sea fishes and is distinguished from its closest relatives, M. depressa (Stossich, 1883) and M. pauli (Vlassenko, 1931), which occur in sparid and sciaenid fishes, respectively, by both morphometrical and biological features. The host-specificity of cryptogonimids occurring in Mediterranean and Black Sea fishes is commented upon.     

Occurrence and prevalence of Philometra filiformis (Stossich, 1896) on Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea

In this paper the host‐parasite relationship between Philometra filiformis and the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus from the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea were studied. A total of 305 (257 females and 48 males) specimens of common pandora were sampled from June 2009 to April 2011 from commercial landings as well as from bottom trawl surveys. A total of 39 P. erythrinus were parasitized (mean prevalence, P = 12.80%; mean abundance, A = 0.19), with the parasite occurring throughout the study area and with wide fluctuations in prevalence values ranging from 0 to 28.60%. Prevalence increased with age of the host, with most parasites (27.78%) found in the older common pandora whereby P. filiformis parasitized only the females. A significant correlation between prevalence, abundance and maturity stages of the fish was evident, with most parasites found in mature/spawning specimens. The varying degrees of gonadic damage caused by this nematode reveal a serious threat to the reproductive success of P. erythrinus.     

The Opecoelidae (Digenea) of sparid fishes of the western Mediterranean. V.Allopodocotyle Pritchard, 1966

Allopodocotyle pedicellata (Stossich, 1887) is redescribed fromSparus aurata from off Corsica and off Provence, France andA. jaffensis (Fischthal, 1980) is redescribed fromSparus pagrus, Dentex dentex andPagellus erythrinus from off Corsica. The status of the genus and these two species is briefly discussed.

---

Résumé Allopodocotyle pedicellata (stossich, 1887) est redécrit chezSparus aurata des côtes de la Corse et de la Méditerranée française.A. jaffensis (Fischthal, 1980) est redécrit à partir d'exemplaires provenant deSparus pagrus, Dentex dentex et Pagellus erythrinus des côtes de la Corse. Le statut du genre et de ces deux espèces est discuté.

     

A revision of the Haploporinae Nicoll, 1914 (Digenea: Haploporidae) from mullets (Mugilidae): <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haploporus</Emphasis> Looss, 1902 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lecithobotrys</Emphasis> Looss, 1902

The status of the nominal species of Haploporus Looss, 1902 and Lecithobotrys Looss, 1902 is re-assessed by means of a comparative morphological study based on newly collected specimens from the western Mediterranean, the re-examination of museum material and a critical evaluation of published data. H. benedeni (Stossich, 1887) (type-species) is described and H. lateralis Looss, 1902 is considered to be its junior synonym. Additional data are given for H. pseudoindicus Rekharani & Madhavi, 1985, H. spinosus Machida, 1996 and H. magnisaccus Machida, 1996. Species parasitising Valamugil spp. from the Indo-West Pacific region, H. indicus Rekharani & Madhavi, 1985, H. spinosus, H. magnisaccus, H. mugilis Liu & Yang, 2002 and H. muscolosaccus Machida, 2003, are considered incertae sedis with respect to their generic affiliation. H. pacificus (Manter, 1963) (syn. Neohaploporus pacificus Manter, 1963), H. pseudoindicus and H. musculosaccus are designated as species inquirendae and H. lossii Al-Bassel, 1990 is considered to be a nomen nudum. Lecithobotrys putrescens Looss, 1902 is described based on newly collected material from Liza spp. Pseudolecithobotrys n. g. is erected to accommodate Lecithobotrys stomachicola Machida, 1996, as P. stomachicola (Machida, 1996) n. comb., from the North Pacific. L. aegyptiacus Hassan, El-Aziz, Khidr & Abu Samak, 1990 is considered to be a synonym of Saccocoelium tensum Looss, 1902, and L. brisbanensis (Martin, 1974) (syn. Paralecithobotrys brisbanensis Martin, 1974), L. vitellosus Sharma & Gupta, 1970 and L. suezcanali Nisreen Ezz El-Dien, Abdel-Rahman, El-Gawady, Imam & Fahmy, 1990 are regarded as species inquirendae. New generic diagnoses are presented for both Haploporus and Lecithobotrys.

---

Two new and one known species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tergestia</Emphasis> Stossich, 1899 (Trematoda: Fellodistomidae) with novel molecular characterisation for the genus

Combined morphological and molecular analyses are employed to characterise three species of Tergestia Stossich, 1899 (Digenea: Fellodistomidae) from fishes of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Tergestia clonacantha Manter, 1963 is reported here for the first time from the halfbeak (Beloniformes: Hemiramphidae) species Arrhamphus sclerolepis krefftii (Steindachner), Hyporhamphus australis (Steindachner), H. quoyi (Valenciennes) and H. regularis ardelio (Whitley). Two new species, both infecting trevally (Perciformes: Carangidae) species, are described: T. maryae n. sp. from Alepes apercna Grant and T. henryi n. sp. from Pantolabus radiatus (MacLeay). Complete ITS2 and partial 28S ribosomal DNA data were generated for each of the new taxa. The three species differ from each other by 47–58 base pairs (bp) in the ITS2 rDNA region. Phylogenetic analysis of 28S rDNA supports Tergestia as a reliable generic concept, with our analyses showing that some species of the genus form a well-supported clade to the exclusion of all other fellodistomids for which sequence data are available.     

Three new genera of nematodes (Strongyloidea: Cloacininae) from the redlegged pademelon,Thylogale stigmatica Gould (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) from eastern Australia

Summary Cassunema exigua n.g., n.sp., Monilonema lacunosa n.g., n.sp. and Foliostoma macropodis n.g., n.sp. are described from the stomach of the redlegged pademelon, Thylogale stigmatica Gould, 1860 (Marsupialia: Macropodidae), from north Queensland, Australia. All three genera belong to the subfamily Cloacininae Stossich, 1899 and to the tribe Macropostrongylinea Lichtenfels, 1980. The genus Cassunema is characterized by a poorly sclerotized buccal capsule with longitudinal ridges formed by the lining of the anterior part of the capsule. The genus Monilonema is characterized by a leaf-crown like flange at the mouth opening, a bulbous cervical collar, and paired dorsal and ventral tubular structures running internally and posteriorly from the collar. The genus Foliostoma is characterized by a leaf crown of tiny elements at the mouth opening, and oesophagus with short narrow anterior part, wide posterior part, bulb narrower than corpus and a heavily sclerotized ring between buccal capsule and oesophagus. A revised definition of the tribe Macropostrongylinea is given together with a key to the genera. ac]19810101     

Separation of Leydigia louisi Jenkin, 1934 from L. leydigi (Schoedler, 1863) (Chydoridae, Anomopoda, Cladocera)

The aim of the present article was to contribute to the systematics of the leydigi-like species of Leydigia consisting of a few (probably 3) formal species with: (1) a large basal spine on the postabdominal claw (as long as claw thickness at the base); (2) a short setulation at anterior margin of labral keel; (3) no longitudinal striation on the female valves; (4) at least three lateral setae in each fascicle on the postabdomen; (5) three large lateral setae on exopodite III. The morphology of L. leydigi (Schoedler, 1863) and L. louisi Jenkin, 1934 are redescribed, and type material of L. macrodonta Sars, 1916 is studied. In contrast to previous suggestions (Jenkin, 1934; Smirnov, 1971), I found that: (1) L. louisi is a valid species, not a subspecies of L. macrodonta; (2) L. macrodonta is not a member of the L. leydigi-group. The third member of leydigi-group, Leydigia macrodonta longiseta Chen Shou-zhong, 1992, was described from China. It is not a subspecies of L. macrodonta, but a relative of L. leydigi; most probably, it is a valid species, but this opinion must to be confirmed by examination of original Asian material. In this article, the presence of L. leydigi in Palearctic only, and that of L. louisi in only Africa was confirmed. A new subspecies of L. louisi, found in Mexico, will be reported separately.     

Body-size trends of cyrtocrinids (Crinoidea,Cyrtocrinida)

Cyrtocrinids (Cyrtocrinida) are fully sessile post-Palaeozoic crinoids (Crinoidea) of unusual morphology exhibiting complex diversity dynamics and evolutionary history. To date, however, no study has ever examined the macro-evolutionary patterns of body-size trends in these crinoids. A compilation of a body-size dataset for cyrtocrinid genera revealed a trend of increasing size throughout their evolutionary history. A maximum-likelihood approach showed that the observed trend is best characterized by a general random walk. Recorded body-size pattern is thus consistent with the Cope-Depéret's rule implying the existence of active, directional selective pressures towards larger body-sizes. The case provides a rare example of directional body-size trend in the fossil record.     

Three rare and little known cryptogonimid digeneans from the sciaenid fish Sciaena umbra (L.) in the western Mediterranean

Three species of cryptogonimid digeneans are redescribed from the gut of Sciaena umbra off Corsica. The systematics of the three species, Metadena pauli (Vlassenko, 1931), Paracryptogonimus aloysiae (Stossich, 1885) n. comb. and Anoiktostoma coronatum (Wagener, 1852), are discussed. The latter two species, which have not been reported for more than 100 years, have previously been confused and synonymised with each other. P. aloysiae, which is transferred to Paracryptogonimus from Anoiktostoma, is restricted to the rectum, whereas A. coronatum prefers the pyloric caeca and anterior intestine.     

A taxonomic revision of Labiostrongylus (Labiostrongylus) (Yorke & Maplestone, 1926) and Labiostrongylus (Labiomultiplex) n. subg. (Nematoda: Cloacinidae) from macropodid and potoroid marsupials

The morphological characters used to differentiate species in the genus Labiostrongylus Yorke & Maplestone, 1926, parasitic in macropodid and potoroid marsupials, are discussed. The genus is divided into three subgenera Labiostrongylus (Labiostrongylus), L. (Labiomultiplex) n. subg. and L. (Labiosimplex) n. subg. on the basis of the presence or absence of interlabia and the morphology of the oesophagus. A key to the subgenera is given and a detailed revision of two of the subgenera is presented. Keys to each of the subgenera are given, the species discussed being: L. (L.) labiostrongylus) (type-species) (syn. L. (L.) insularis, L. (L.) grandis, L. (L.) macropodis sp. inq. and L. (L.) nabarlekensis n. sp., in the subgenus Labiostrongylus, and L. (Lm.) eugenii, L. (Lm.) novaeguineae, L. (Lm.) onychogale, L. (Lm.) uncinatus, L. (Lm.) billardierii n. sp., L. (Lm.) constrictis n. sp., L. (Lm.) kimberleyensis n. sp., L. (Lm.) thylogale n. sp., and L. (Lm.) potoroi, n. sp., in the subgenus Labiomultiplex.     

Zur Genetik und biologischen Bedeutung des Aggressionsverhaltens von Poecilia sphenops (Pisces,Poeciliidae)

The aggressive behaviour of hybrids between an epigeous and a cave-dwelling form of the toothcarp Poecilia sphenops was investigated in order to test whether a genetically determined reduction of aggressive behaviour exists in the cave population. The scores for five different elements of this behaviour as well as for the duration of fights support this hypothesis and suggest that aggressive behaviour in Poecilia spbenops is controlled by a closely linked polygenic system. On the basis of laboratory and field investigations, to aggressive behaviour is attributed the function of giving large ♂♂ a reproductive advantage within the framework of a body-size dependent rank order. Small ♀♀ appear to counteract this onesided selective advantage through a special strategy of sexual behaviour.