A new species of Pseudomacrochiron Reddiah, 1969 (Crustacea: Copepoda: Macrochironidae) associated with scyphistomae of the moon jellyfish Aurelia sp. (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) off Japan

A new species of the Macrochironidae Humes & Boxshall, 1996 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida), Pseudomacrochiron aureliae n. sp., is described based on adult specimens extracted from the gastrovacular cavity of the scyphistomae of Aurelia sp. (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) collected in the Seto Inland Sea and Ise Bay off the coast of Japan. The new species differs from its congeners by having the following combination of characters: a caudal ramus with a length to width ratio of 3.1; an accessory flagellum on caudal setae II, III and VI; three apical setae on the maxillule; only setae I and II on the maxillary basis; two short spines on the female maxilliped claw (endopod); an armature of III, I, 4 on the terminal exopodal segment of leg 3; an armature of I, II, 2 on the terminal endopodal segment of leg 3; an armature of II, I, 4 on the terminal exopodal segment of leg 4; and a short free exopodal segment of leg 5 (length to width ratio of 1.4) armed with a long seta and short spine. P. aureliae n. sp. is the first member of the genus reported from off Japan and from the scyphistomae of its scyphozoan host.     

Micropacteridae, a new family of Remipedia (Crustacea) from the Turks and Caicos Islands

Recent diving explorations of anchialine caves on the Turks and Caicos Islands yielded a rather small and slender new species of Remipedia. Micropacter yagerae n. gen., n. sp. is distinguished from all other species of nectiopod remipedes by a number of autapomorphic characters, including an oval body terminus with fused segments, unequal pairs of terminal claws on maxilla and maxilliped, an almost complete reduction of sternal bars and pleurotergites, molar processes with relatively few, but strong spines, and frontal filaments with bifurcate processes. Based on the unique combination of derived and primitive characters, we propose to erect a new family, Micropacteridae, for this new species and genus of Remipedia. Taxonomic diagnoses for the class Remipedia, order Nectiopoda (emended due to discovery that the maxilliped is 9-segmented), and for the families Speleonectidae and Godzilliidae are presented and discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tubulideres seminoli</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zelinkaderes brightae</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Kinorhyncha,Cyclorhagida) from Florida

One new kinorhynch genus and species and one new species from the genus Zelinkaderes are described from sandy sediment off Fort Pierce, Florida. The new genus and species, Tubulideres seminoli gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of the first trunk segment consisting of a closed ring, the second segment of a bent tergal plate with a midventral articulation and the following nine segments consisting of a tergal and two sternal plates. Cuspidate spines are not present, but flexible tubules are located on several segments, and in particular concentrated on the ventral side of the second segment. Middorsal spines are present on all trunk segments and are alternatingly offset to a position slightly lateral to the middorsal line. Zelinkaderes brightae nov. sp. is characterized by its spine formula in having middorsal spines on trunk segments 4, 6 and 8–11, lateroventral acicular spines on segment 2, lateral accessory cuspidate spines on segments 2 and 8, ventrolateral cuspidate spines on segments 4–6 and 9, lateroventral acicular spines present on segments 8 and 9, and midterminal, lateral terminal and lateral terminal accessory spines on segment 11. The spine formula of Z. brightae nov. sp. places it in a position in between Z. submersus and a clade consisting of Z. klepali and Z. floridensis. The new findings on Z. brightae nov. sp. have led us to propose an emended diagnosis for the genus.     

Monostephanostomum georgianum n. sp. (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Arripis georgianus (Valenciennes) (Perciformes: Arripidae) off Kangaroo Island,South Australia,with comments on Monostephanostomum Kruse, 1979 and Stephanostomum Looss, 1899

Monostephanostomum georgianum n. sp. is described from Arripis georgianus off Kangaroo Island, South Australia. It differs from its congeners by the presence of a short second row of oral spines. M. manteri Kruse, 1979 is reported from A. georgianus off southern Western Australia and Kangaroo Island, South Australia and A. trutta off northern Tasmania. It is considered that the other two species, M. yamagutii Ramadan, 1984 and M. krusei Reimer, 1983, should probably be removed from this genus. Two new combinations are formed, M. gazzae (Shen, 1990) n. comb. (from Stephanostomum) and M. mesospinosum (Madhavi, 1976) n. comb. (from Stephanostomum). A key to the four recognised species of Monostephanostomum is given.     

Dactylomyza gibsoni n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from Schuettea woodwardi (Waite) (Monodactylidae) from off Western Australia

An opecoelid digenean, Dactylomyza gibsoni n. g., n. sp. is described and figured from Schuettea woodwardi (Waite), a monodactylid from off the coast of Western Australia. The new genus conforms to the concept of the opecoelid subfamily Opecoelinae. The resemblance of the new genus to three other opecoelid genera, Pseudopecoeloides Yamaguti, 1940, Opecoeloides Odhner, 1928 and Poracanthium Dollfus, 1948, is discussed. Dactylomyza n. g. is distinguished from these morphologically similar worms on the basis of its median genital pore, ventral sucker appendages, uroproct and the absence of an accessory sucker. Pseudopecoeloides equesi Manter, 1947 is transferred to the new genus as Dactylomyza equesi (Manter, 1947) n. comb.     

Gauchergasilus,a new genus for Ergasilus euripedesi Montú, 1980, an abundant parasitic copepod from the Patos Lagoon in southern Brazil

Ergasilus euripedesi is redescribed from newly collected material of both sexes. A new genus, Gauchergasilus, is proposed, with Gauchergasilus euripedesi n. comb., formerly Ergasilus euripedsi Montú, 1980, as its type and only species. The new genus is characterised principally by the five-segmented antennule, the presence of a conspicuous barb on the concave margin of the claw of the antenna, the two-segmented endopod of leg 1 and the reduced fifth leg comprising two setae, one papillate. The male lacks the barb on the antennal claw but its other appendages are similar to those of the female, except for the maxilliped which is absent in females. The affinities of the new genus lie with the Acusicola group of genera.     

Pseudorhabdosynochus spp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from the gills of Epinephelus spp. in Brazilian waters

Pseudorhabdosynochus sulamericanus n. sp. from the gills of Epinephelus niveatus has a reniform proximal region of the cirrus-bulb which is divided in four chambers and contains a large, round reservoir of the male accessory glands, a partly sclerotised vagina which is enclosed in a muscular funnel cap and squamodiscs with 15–16 open concentric rows of elements. P. beverleyburtonae (Oliver, 1984) is redescribed from E. marginatus with additional morphological data. These are the first reports of Pseudorhabdosynochus spp. in South American Atlantic waters, where the potentiality for the mariculture of Epinephelus spp. is currently being evaluated. Pseudorhabdosynochus hargisi (Oliver & Paperna, 1984) n. comb. is proposed for Diplectanum hargisi.     

Dendromonocotyle lasti n. sp. from the skin and Monocotyle caseyae n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from the gills of Himantura sp. (Dasyatidae) in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia

Seven specimens of rays of the genus Himantura which could not be identified to species were collected from waters near Dunwich, Stradbroke Island, Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. The five smallest specimens of Himanturasp. (disc width 218-302 mm; four female, one male) had a banded tail and the dorsal surface was uniformly grey/brown. The two largest individuals of Himantura sp. (disc widths 460, 533 mm; female and male, respectively) also had a banded tail but the grey/brown dorsal surface had white spots. Two new monogenean species (Monocotylidae: Monocotylinae) are described from both the plain and white-spotted specimens of Himantura. Dendromonocotyle lastin. sp. is distinguished from other species in the genus by the number of papillae on the haptor, by the morphology of the male copulatory organ and by the morphology of the proximal portion of the vagina. The muscular sheath which surrounds the male copulatory organ is also unique having sclerotised spines at the distal end. Dendromonocotyle species are skin parasites, but a total of five juvenile specimens of D. lasti were found on the gills of four rays. Monocotyle caseyae n. sp. from the gills is characterised by the morphology of the male copulatory organ and its accessory piece. One specimen of M. spiremae Measures, Beverley-Burton & Williams, 1990, originally described from the gills of Himantura fai Jordan & Seale off Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, was also found on the gills of one Himantura specimen. The site and host-specificity of the parasites and the identity of the hosts are discussed.     

Two new species of Chimaericola Brinkmann (Monogenea: Chimaericolidae) from Hydrolagus spp. (Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae) in the Pacific

Chimaericola ogilbyi n. sp. and C. colliei n. sp. are proposed for chimaericolids found on the gills of the ghost shark, Hydrolagus ogilbyi taken off the coast of southeastern Australia, and the ratfish, H. colliei, taken off the coast of Vancouver Island, respectively. Supplementary observations on C. leptogaster, the type-species of the genus Chimaericola, are included. The two new species are differentiated on the size and shape of the median sucker sclerite, hamuli, spines of the male copulatory apparatus and eggs. Amended diagnoses for the family Chimaericolidae and genus Chimaericola are provided.     

A new species of the ghost shrimp genus Neocallichirus Sakai, 1988 (Decapoda: Axiidea: Callianassidae) from the southwestern Atlantic

ABSTRACT

A new species of ghost shrimp, Neocallichirus pinheiroi, is described based on specimens collected in subtidal habitats of Saquaira beach, northeastern coast of Brazil. This new species resembles N. lemaitrei Manning, 1993, but differs from it primarily in having a third maxilliped propodus expanded ventrally, and in the case of males, a large subtriangular tooth on the cutting edge of the major cheliped dactylus. Diagnostic features of the new species include: (i) frontal margin of carapace with rounded lateral projections not exceeding rostrum distal margin, (ii) third maxilliped carpus with row of sclerotized setae on median internal surface, (iii) minor cheliped with cutting edge of dactylus microscopically pectinate, (iv) endopod of male second pleopod with appendices interna and masculina. This is the seventh described species of the genus Neocallichirus from the western Atlantic and the fourth report of this genus in Brazil. A key for identification of western Atlantic species belonging to the genus is provided.     

Monogenea of Chinese marine fishes. XIV. Two new species of Microcotylidae from fishes of the South China Sea

Two new species of microcotylid monogeneans are described. Solostamenides platyorchis n. sp. was obtained from the gills of Mugil cephalus (Mugilidae) and Polylabroides guangdongensis n. sp. from the gills of Sparus macrocephalus, S. berda and Acanthopagrus latus (Sparidae). Solostamenides platyorchis is morphologically similar to S. mugilis (Vogt, 1878) Unnithan, 1971 and S. pseudomugilis (Hargis, 1956) Unnithan, 1971 in the structure of the copulatory organ, but differs from them in the number, arrangement and shape of the testes. Features of P. guangdongensis distinguishing it from other species of the genus include a copulatory organ lacking small spines and an extremely long polar filament on the egg. In view of this species, we suggest omitting the presence of small spines on the copulatory organ as a diagnostic character of the genus Polylabroides Mamaev & Parukhin, 1976.     

Albionella fabricii n. sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae) from the gills of Centroscyllium fabricii from the Northwest Atlantic

Albionella fabricii n. sp. is described from the gills of the black dogfish Centroscyllium fabricii caught off the west coast of Newfoundland. Morphological differences are found in all the female and male appendages between Albionella fabricii n. sp. and A. centroscyllii, another species occurring concurrently on the same host. Female A. fabricii n. sp. can easily be distinguished from its four congeners by the length and structure of the second maxillae and the length of the uropods. A comparison between Albionella fabricii n. sp. and identifiable females of the genus Lernaeopoda is necessary, since both genera differ mainly in the morphology of the male. Two specific characteristics, the number of secondary denticles on the claw of the maxilliped and the number of setae on the exopod of the first maxilla, distinguish females of Albionella from those of Lernaeopoda.     

Stephanofilaria thelazioides n. sp. (Nematoda: Filariidae) from a hippopotamus and its affinities with the species parasitic in the African black rhinoceros

Stephanofilaria thelazioides n. sp. (Filarioidea: Filariidae: Stephanofilariinae) is described from a hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius. This nematode is close to S. dinniki Round, 1964, a parasite of the black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis in Africa, but differs from it in the number of cuticular spines surrounding the mouth, the arrangement of the cloacal papillae and the measurements of the spicules, gubernaculum and microfilariae. Species of the genus Stephanofilaria possess spines on the head which have been derived by modification of the sensory papillae. S. thelazioides is the most primitive species of the genus and has the least modified arrangement of these papillae, with six bifid internal labial spines, four bifid external labial spines and four cephalic papillae. The genus appears to have diversified in various mammals which have in common a thick skin, such as rhinoceroses, elephants, buffaloes and now the hippopotamus. It appears to have become adapted secondarily to domestic bovines, initially in Asia and subsequently in North America.     

Antarcturus bovinus n. sp., a new Weddell-Sea Isopod of the family arcturidae (Isopoda: Valvifera)

Summary Antarcturus bovinus n. sp. (Isopoda, Valvifera) is described from the Antarctic Peninsula and the western and southern Weddell-Sea. This species can easily be recognized by the absence of large spines, the spine armature of the dorsal surface characteristic of other species is lacking. Only A. antarcticus Bouvier, 1910, A. coppingeri Miers, 1881, A. granulosus Nordenstam, 1933 and A. lillei Tattersall, 1921 are similar, but A. bovinus n. sp. can be discerned from these by the presence of blunt supraocular spines.Abbreviations used in text and figures A 1,2 antenna 1,2 - Hy hypopharynx - Md mandible - Md left mandible - Mx 1,2 maxilla 1,2 - Mxp maxilliped - P 1-7 pereopods 1-7 - Plp 1-5 pleopods 1-5 - rMd right mandible - Urp uropod     

Kinorhyncha from the stomach of the shrimp Pleoticus muelleri (Bate, 1888) from Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina

Six kinorhynchs were found in the stomachs of the Argentine red shrimp, Pleoticus mulleri (Bate, 1888) from the Argentine coast of Patagonia. Three new species are described: Condyloderes storchi n. sp., Pycnophyes argentinensis n. sp. and P. neuhausi n. sp. A fourth species, Kinorhynchus anomalus Lang, 1953 was previously known only from the coast of Chile. This is the third known record of kinorhynchs documented as a food source. Condyloderes storchi, n. sp. is the fourth new species in this genus. It is distinguished by its paradorsal cuspidate spines on segments 7 and 9, lateral accessory and ventrolateral spines on segments 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11. P. argentinensis, n. sp. has nearly equal sternal width for segments 3–11 (about 7% of the trunk length), episternal plates with three distinct areas along the anterior margin, mid-sternal plate with even margin, mid-dorsal spinose protrusions along the terminal borders of segments 11 and 12, and lateral terminal spines 176 μm long, about 21% of trunk length. P. neuhausi, n. sp.has a prominent posterior elongation of the tergal plate of segment 3, uneven lateral margins of the mid-sternal plate, a maximum sternal width at segment 3, no mid-dorsal spinose processes and mid-ventral thickenings on segments 10–12.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Malalophus jensenae</Emphasis> n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from the gills of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aetomylaeus vespertilio</Emphasis> (Myliobatidae) off northern Australia

Malalophus jensenae n. g., n. sp. is described from the gills of the ornate eagle ray Aetomylaeus vespertilio (Bleeker) collected off the eastern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Queensland. The new genus is similar to Heliocotyle Neifar, Euzet & Ben Hassine, 1999, with which it shares a haptor bearing seven peripheral loculi and a single dorsal haptoral accessory structure. M. jensenae can be distinguished from species of Heliocotyle by the presence of numerous sclerotised sinuous ridges covering the ventral surfaces of the peripheral loculi of the haptor. It also lacks pseudosepta which are present on the haptor of Heliocotyle species. This is the first published record of a monogenean from an elasmobranch in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia.     

Glyphidohaptor safiensis n. sp. (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) from the white-spotted rabbitfish Siganus canaliculatus (Park) (Perciformes: Siganidae) off Oman,with notes on its phylogenetic position within the Ancyrocephalidae Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1968 (sensu lato)

A new ancyrocephalid monogenean is described from the gills of wild White-spottedrabbitfish Siganus canaliculatus (Park) based on morphological and molecular analyses. Glyphidohaptor safiensis n. sp. can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the shape of the accessory piece of the male copulatory organ (MCO). Unlike its congeners, the rod-shaped accessory piece of G. safiensis n. sp. is distally broad and flattened. The MCO of G. safiensis n. sp. is curved, enclosed in a heavy sheath with a terminal flap. Partial large subunit (LSU), partial small subunit (SSU) and the partial SSU, entire internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1) and partial 5.8S rDNA of the new species and two species of Tetrancistrum Goto & Kikuchi, 1917 from the same host and locality were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. The LSU rDNA analysis grouped G. safiensis n. sp. with Tetrancistrum sp. from the gills of Siganus fuscescens Houttuyn from Australia, indicating a possible misidentification of the latter. Sequences of the SSU rDNA of the new species were most similar to those for Pseudohaliotrema sphincteroporus Yamaguti, 1953, demonstrating the close relatedness of the genera Pseudohaliotrema Yamaguti, 1953 and Glyphidohaptor Kritsky, Galli & Yang, 2007 within the Ancyrocephalidae. The comparison of the partial SSU (424 bp) and entire ITS1 and partial 5.8S rDNA (246 bp) sequences obtained for G. safiensis n. sp. with the only available sequence of another member of Glyphidohaptor Kritsky, Galli & Yang, 2007, G. pletocirra Paperna, 1972 (HE601931-HE601933) yielded on average 1.08% dissimilarity (a difference of 7 bases), with a p-distance of 0.010 ± 0.004%. This is the first record of a species of Glyphidohaptor from S. canaliculatus and from the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

     

A new species of Cancricepon Giard & Bonnier, 1887 (Isopoda: Bopyridae) from China

Specimens of the genus Cancricepon Giard & Bonnier, 1887 are recorded for the second time from China, and a new taxon, Cancricepon multituberosum n. sp., is described based on specimens parasitising the xanthid crab Liomera laevis (A. Milne-Edwards). Females of the new species can be distinguished from the other seven species of Cancricepon by the presence of mid-dorsal projections on all pereomeres and the absence of a palp on the maxilliped. Merocepon knudseni Danforth, 1970 is transferred to Cancricepon as C. knudseni (Danforth, 1970) n. comb. A table of the eight described species of Cancricepon is provided.     

Caligus solea n. sp. (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on the common sole Solea solea (Linnaeus) from the north-eastern Mediterranean off the Turkish coast

A new species of caligid copepod, Caligus solea n. sp., is described from the common sole Solea solea (Linnaeus) caught off the north-eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Both sexes of the parasite were collected from all over the upper body surface of its host. The new species belongs to the macarovi-group of species as established by Boxshall & Gurney (Bull Br Mus (Nat Hist) (Zool), 39:161–178, 1980), with which it shares the following four characters: (i) leg 4 with two-segmented exopod, distal segment carrying three apical spines but no lateral spine; (ii) distal exopodal segment of leg 1 with three plumose setae posteriorly plus four distal margin elements, spine 1 naked, spines 2 and 3 with accessory process and spine 4 about twice length of the others; (iii) females with one-segmented abdomen while males with two-segmented abdomen; (iv) male maxilliped with myxal process opposing the tip of the subchela. However, the new species differs from its congeners within the macarovi-group in the number of sensillae on each papilla on and around the postantennal process, and also in the absence of serrations along the distal margin of the maxilla. This is the twenty-eighth species of Caligus to be reported from the Mediterranean Sea.     

A new monogenean genus from an ephippid fish off Peninsular Malaysia

Sundatrema langkawiense n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) is described from the gills of the orbfish Ephippus orbis (Bloch) (Ephippidae) off the Island of Langkawi, Malaysia, in the Andaman Sea. This new genus has the ancyrocephalid characteristics of four anchors, 14 marginal hooks and two bars, but differs from other four-anchored monogenean genera, and notably from Parancylodiscoides Caballero & Bravo Hollis, 1961 (found on the ephippids Chaetodipterus spp. off Central and South America), by having a unique combination of features. These include a muscular genital sucker and a vas deferens and vagina on the same (sinistral) side of the body. It is similar to Parancylodiscoides in having four haptoral reservoirs opening at the anchoral apertures, four anchors, similar connecting bars and small marginal hooks. The new species is characterised by the above generic features and by possessing a small, short copulatory organ lacking an accessory piece. Diplectanum longiphallus MacCallum, 1915 (previously attributed to Ancyrocephalus Creplin, 1839, Tetrancistrum Goto & Kikuchi, 1917 and Pseudohaliotrema Yamaguti, 1953) is transferred to Parancylodiscoides as P. longiphallus (MacCallum, 1915) n. comb.