Three species of Amphicorina (Annelida, Sabellida, Sabellidae) from Japan, with descriptions of two new species

We describe two new species and redescribe one in the polychaete genus Amphicorina Claparède, 1864 (Sabellidae) from Hokkaido, Japan. Amphicorina ascidicolasp. n. differs from its 38 congeners chiefly in the reduction of the collar, but also in having three pairs of radioles, one pair of ventral radiolar appendages, a bifurcate ventral lobe on the anterior peristomial ring, six abdominal chaetigers, and a large anterior tooth on the abdominal uncini. Amphicorina ezoensissp. n. has a crenulated collar, three pairs of radioles, and more than eight (12) abdominal chaetigers; Amphicorina ezoensis shares these character states with Amphicorina anneae (Rouse, 1994), Amphicorina eimeri (Langerhans, 1880), and Amphicorina persinosa (Ben-Eliahu, 1975), but differs from them in having two pairs of ventral radiolar appendages and a non-oblique collar. Amphicorina mobilis (Rouse, 1990) was previously known only from the type locality (New South Wales, Australia), but we identify our Japanese material as conspecific on the basis of morphological and molecular similarity.     

Contributions to the taxonomy of Sabellidae (Polychaeta)

The genus Potamilla Malmgren is particularly characterized by dorsal lips which lack any radiolar midrib; Pseudopotamilla Bush by compound radiolar eyes, dorsal collar lappets and flanges alongside the bases of the most dorsal radioles; Demonax Kinberg by a wide dorsal collar gap and companion setae with big heads and narrow blades; and Potamethus Chamberlin by an elongated first segment, enlarged ventral sacs, very long shafts to the thoracic uncini, and inferior abdominal setae much shorter than the superior ones. Perkinsiana gen. nov . lacks most of these characters, but the type species 'Potamilla' rubra Langerhans is remarkable in having red blood. It bores into limestone abundantly off S Wales and is here redescribed. Oriopsis hynensis sp. nov . from SW Ireland has a smooth collar set low on the first segment, with its ventral margin entire and free from the apex of the peristome. The new name Demonax langerhansi is proposed for Sabella (Potamilla) incerta Langerhans non Demonax incertus Kinberg.     

A new species of Fauveliopsidae (Annelida) from the North Sea

A new species of the genus Laubieriopsis Petersen, 2000 is described based on 28 specimens collected in the north-east part of the North Sea. It is characterized by fixed number of chaetigers (22), paired genital papillae, bidentate neurochaeta of chaetigers 1-4, the absence of acicular chaetae on chaetigers 5-21 and, on the last chaetiger, one acicular and three capillary chaetae enlarged and directed backward. The present study brings the number of known species of Laubieriopsis to five and the number of Northeast Atlantic species of this genus to two.     

A new Spionidae (Polychaeta) from North Carolina, and a redescription of Marenzelleria wireni Augener, 1913, from Spitsbergen, with a key for all species of Marenzelleria

Marenzelleria bastropi, a new species of Spionidae (Polychaeta) from the brackish water Currituck Sound, North Carolina, is described. The new species is characterized by the great number of chaetigers between the first neuro- and notopodial hooded hooks, the extension of the nuchal organ up to the end of chaetiger 2/middle of chaetiger 3 and the presence of about 60–90 branchiate chaetigers. Marenzelleria bastropi sp. nov. is closely related to M. neglecta (Sikorski and Bick, 2004) and Marenzelleria viridis (Verrill, 1873). Marenzelleria wireni Augener, 1913 is described here for the first time from western Spitsbergen. Adult specimens are investigated and compared with specimens from other areas of distribution. A key for subadult and adult specimens of all Marenzelleria species is provided.     

Setal Structure, Functions and Interrelationships in Spirorbidae (Polychaeta, Sedentaria)

Typical thoracic setae are composed of longitudinally arranged cylinders ending as teeth at the oblique distal surface. Most thoracic 'blades' are rounded in cross section and show bilateral asymmetry. Some have teeth in oblique rows ("cross striations") on the side adjoining the tube wall. Sickle setae found posteriorly on the thorax have distal portions like abdominal setae. These are flat, each composed mainly of a palisade of spatulate units. On one side cylindrical elements may also be present, in patterns which are characteristic of some taxa. Uncini are made of rows (sometimes single) of shorter cylindrical elements with hooked ends pointing anteriorly. Anterior thoracic hooks are usually blunt, but pointed in the genus Janua. The collar setae assist withdrawal into the tube, the abdominal setae help with emergence, whilst other thoracic setae act as distance pieces, pushing the body to anchor the thoracic uncini against the opposite wall. The other uncini are brought into use by the prehensile abdomen. The flaccid ends of the sickle setae are readily lost in some taxa and their development or loss may reflect unimportant variations in strength of the adjacent abdominal field. Fin and blade setae are not very different from simple setae and the natural grouping of the genera into subfamilies shows that changes from one form of collar seta to another have occurred independently several times.     

The genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bispira</Emphasis> Krøyer, 1856 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stylomma</Emphasis> Knight-Jones, 1997 (Polychaeta,Sabellidae): systematic revision,relationships with close related taxa and new species from Australia

A cladistic analysis undertaken to test monophyly of Bispira and Stylomma (including new species of both genera) and to ascertain relationships with related taxa reveals that Bispira is paraphyletic without the inclusion of Pseudobranchiomma and Branchiomma, and that Stylomma is monophyletic due to the presence of a structure on the dorsal basal flanges which has never been described before. New species of Bispira and Stylomma from Australia are described. Bispira serrata n. sp., differs from the other species of the genus in having serrated radiolar flanges whereas all other Bispira species have smooth flanges or lack them, and also by the shape of the thoracic and abdominal uncini, which are short-handled and have 2–3 rows of big teeth above the main fang, instead of having medium-sized handles and small, numerous rows of teeth over the main fang. Stylomma juani n. sp., is characterized by the presence of serrated radiolar flanges and unpaired compound eyes along the branchial radioles, whereas other species in the genus have smooth radiolar flanges and subterminal compound radiolar eyes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Handling editor: K. Martens     

Paratullbergia Womersley in China: the description of a new species and a key to the genus (Collembola,Tullbergiidae)

The genus Paratullbergia Womersley, 1930 is recorded for the first time from China. Paratullbergia changfengensis sp. n. from Shanghai is described and illustrated. It is characterized by the presence of 1+1 pseudocelli on thoracic segment I, with two pairs of pseudocelli on each of thoracic segments II and III, presence of seta px on abdominal segment IV, seta a2 and p4 on abdominal segment V as microsetae, and less differentiated sensory seta p3 on abdominal segment V. Both sexes present. The new species can be easily distinguished from its congeners by the presence of pseudocelli on thoracic segment I. An updated key to the world species of the genus Paratullbergia is provided.     

The Panama microplate,island studies and relictual species of Melipona (Melikerria) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

The endemic stingless honey‐making bee Melipona (Melikerria) insularis sp.n. on Coiba and Ranchería Islands in Pacific Panama is described, together with the proposed sister species, M. ambigua sp.n. from northeast Colombia. The Coiba Island group and Panama mainland were surveyed, yielding one meliponine endemic (M. insularis sp.n. ) and six meliponine genera and species. The poor Coiba fauna of amphibians and birds corresponds to the poor social bee fauna and suggests habitat barriers generally precluded recolonization from the mainland during glacial periods. Many animals became extinct, yet some remain as relicts. Melipona insularis sp.n. was isolated on accreted terranes of Coiba rainforest in the Panama microplate. Morphology suggests that M. insularis sp.n. is not a direct descendant of the San Blas‐E. Panama endemic Melikerria, M. triplaridis. A phylogenetic hypothesis corroborates disjunct distributions. Rainforest endemics such as Peltogyne purpurea (Fabaceae) and Ptilotrigona occidentalis (Apidae, Meliponini) also occur as relictual, disjunct populations in Central and South America. These may have been isolated before accelerated biotic exchange began 2.4 Ma. Our work supports the geological findings of both a volcanic arc and the San Blas massif providing a substantial bridge for Melikerria from Colombia and Panama in Eocene to Miocene times. We suggest there have been taxon cycles permitting recolonization during glaciations, whereby colonies of M. insularis sp.n. were able to recolonize Ranchería, a 250 ha island, 2 km from Coiba. However, rafting colonies nesting in trees, carried on vegetation mats, may have produced founding populations of Melipona in Central America and on oceanic islands such as Coiba.     

New fan worm genera and species (Polychaeta, Sabellidae, Fabriciinae) from the western Pacific, and cladistic relationships among genera

Five new species are described from among the genera Fabriciola Friedrich, 1939 (one species from Okinawa), Novafabricia Fitzhugh, 1990 (two species from Australia and Papua New Guinea, respectively), and two new monotypic genera, Brifacia gen. n. (Australia), and Pseudoaugeneriella gen. n. (Okinawa). All species are known only from the intertidal. Fabriciola rubra sp. n. is a member of the species complex with red peristomial and pygidial eyes, inferior thoracic flagellate setae, and abdominal pin-head setae. Novafabricia labrus sp. n., and N. exiguus sp. n., are distinguished from other species based on the distribution of inferior thoracic pseudospatulate setae. Brifacia metastellaris sp. n., resembles Fabricia stellaris (Müller, 1774) with regard to anterior peristomial ring collar construction and distribution of pseudospatulate setae, but differs in having abdominal uncini with relatively short manubria. Pseudoaugeneriella unirama sp. n., most closely resembles species of Augeneriella Banse, 1956 in general form, but has unbranched vascularized ventral filamentous appendages. Revised keys to fabriciin genera and selected species are provided. Cladistic relationships of these new genera and species to other Fabriciinae are examined and the status of some characters are reviewed. Whereas previous analyses have supported a monophyletic Augeneriella on the basis of branched, vascularized ventral filamentous appendages, present results show Augeneriella paraphyletic relative to Fabricia Blainville, 1828, Novafabricia, Fabricinuda Fitzhugh, 1990 Parafabricia Fitzhugh, 1992 and Brifacia. Similarly, some topologies show Novafabricia, which has only been defined by the presence of poorly developed dorsal lips, to be paraphyletic relative to Fabricia, Fabricinuda, Parafabricia, and Brifacia. The cladistic analyses do, however, support recognition of Brifacia and Pseudoaugeneriella. With the addition of Brifacia, the presence of unbranched, vascularized appendages is plesiomorphic for the Fabriciinae, which has not been previously hypothesized.     

Behaviour, Setal Inversion and Phylogeny of Sabellida (Polychaeta)

The path taken by the faecal groove, following two right angle bends, appears inefficient in Sabellidae. It fits well with the thoracic folds of serpulids and follows a gentle spiral in caobangiids, but only in spirorbids is it of obvious adaptive value, being suited to life in a coiled tube. The associated setal inversion is not necessary for locomotion, which does not depend wholly on setal leverage, except in the smaller Fabriciinae where long-shafted uncini also thrust actively against the elastic tube wall. The collar setae of spirorbids and some serpulids thrust anteriorly, giving some backward movement, but such motion is mainly by body contraction. Short uncini are virtually passive, engaged by opposing setae acting as distance pieces. Some broad bladed setae have a hollow structure around a central core. Pick-axe setae of Sabellinae may have developed to counteract the thrust of respiratory peristalsis. This is not seen in spirorbids and serpulids, the thoracic folds of which are a sufficient respiratory supplement to the tentacles. — Numbers of thoracic segments in Sabellidae range from 1 to 16, and the abdomen becomes vestigial in some Fabriciinae. Abdominal inversion is important to spirorbids but not to sabellids, which are more varied. It seems that the former are archaic and the latter had a coiled ancestry. Sabellariids also show abdominal inversion suggesting a distant relationship with Sabellida.     

Two new species of polychaetes from the sublittoral bottoms off Antofagasta, Northern Chile: Clymenella fauchaldi n. sp. (Maldanidae) and Mooreonuphis colosensis n. sp. (Onuphidae)

Individuals belonging to two new species, from two genera Clymenella Verril (Maldanidae) and Mooreonuphis Fauchald (Onuphidae), have been collected and described from a sublittoral bottom area close to Antofagasta, northern Chile. The environment consists of medium to fine sands and the samples have been collected at ca. 60 m depth. Clymenella fauchaldi sp. n. is closely related to Clymenella minorArwidsson, 1911, but clearly differs from other species of the genus in the type of notochaetae, winged capillaries, and neurochaetae, thick acicular spines, that are borne on the first chaetigers. Mooreonuphis colosensissp. n.is related to Mooreonuphis nebulosa (Moore, 1911) and Mooreonuphis peruana (Hartman, 1944), but differs mainly in the form of the mandibles, in the maxillary formula, location of the subacicular hooks on chaetigers, number of the ceratophore rings and the length of the medium and lateral antennae styles.     

The metatrochophore of a deep-sea hydrothermal vent vestimentiferan (Polychaeta: Siboglinidae)

Vestimentiferans (Siboglinidae, Polychaeta) live as juveniles and adults in an obligate mutualistic association with thiotrophic bacteria. Since their development is aposymbiotic, metatrochophores of vestimentiferans from the East Pacific Rise colonizing deep-sea hydrothermal vents are infected with the specific symbiont, develop the trophosome, and reduce their digestive system. To gain insight into the anatomy and ultrastructure and to compare this stage with metatrochophores from other siboglinids, we serial sectioned and reconstructed three specimens using light and transmission electron microscopy. The metatrochophore was composed of a prostomium, a small peristomium, two chaetigers (or two chaetigers and one additional segment without chaetae), and a minute pygidium. A digestive system and an intraepidermal nervous system were developed. Larval organs such as the prototroch, the neurotroch, and an apical organ were present, along with juvenile/adult organs such as tentacles, uncini, pyriform glands, and the anlage of the nephridial organ. We propose that in vestimentiferans, the vestimentum is the head arising from the prostomium, peristomium, and the anterior part of the first chaetiger. In frenulates, in contrast, the head is composed on the one hand of the cephalic lobe arising from the prostomium and on the other of the forepart developing from the peristomium and the anterior part of the first chaetiger. In frenulates the muscular septum between the forepart and trunk develops later than the first two chaetigers. Since this septum has no counterpart in vestimentiferans, the forepart-trunk border of frenulates is not considered homologous with the vestimentum-trunk border in vestimentiferans. The obturacular region in vestimentiferans does not appear to be a body region but rather the head appendages arising from the first chaetiger. In contrast, the tentacles in frenulates are prostomial head appendages. In both taxa, the trunk is the posterior part of the first chaetiger, and the opisthosoma is the following chaetigers and the pygidium. Comparisons with other polychaetes suggest that two larval segments are autapomorphic for the monophyletic Siboglinidae.     

Chaetal arrangement provides no support for a close relationship of Sabellidae and Sabellariidae (Annelida)

Sabellid and sabellariid polychaetes are regarded as sister groups in a number of recent phylogenetic analyses. This is based mainly on a shared specific arrangement of chaetae referred to as chaetal inversion. Remarkably, the uncini have a notopodial position in the abdomen, whereas capillary chaetae occur in the neuropodia in both taxa in contrast to the situation in putative relatives. However, in sabellids uncini and capillary chaetae change their position completely at the border between thorax and abdomen, whereas uncini are missing in the parathorax of Sabellariidae. Due to this difference the significance of the chaetal inversion for systematics has been subject to discussion for years. Serial semithin sections of parapodia of the Sabellidae Sabella pavonina, Branchiomma bombyx, Fabricia stellaris, and of the Sabellariidae Sabellaria alveolata were studied in order to obtain detailed information on their chaetal arrangement and sites of chaetal origin. SEM investigations and computer-aided 3D-reconstructions provide deep insight into the spatial organization of the rami. Though differing externally, the principal chaetal arrangement and the location of the formative sites turned out to be almost identical within the species of Sabellidae. Most chaetae are aligned in straight transverse rows with a dorsal site of origin within neuropodia and a ventral one in notopodia as is common in sedentary polychaetes. Semicircular and spiral arrangements are revealed to be modified transverse rows. Only in thoracic notopodia does an additional dorsocaudal formative site form distinct rows. The chaetal inversion in Sabellidae is additionally characterized by an abrupt change of capillary chaetae and uncini along with a sudden change of the parapodial morphology at the border between thorax and abdomen. All chaetae of S. alveolata are aligned in transverse rows with the same location of the formative sites as in sabellids and other sedentary polychaetes. However, in contrast to sabellids the chaetae are not inverted across a parathoracic abdominal border. Moreover, there is no inversion of the parapodial structure from parathorax to abdomen and the neuropodial chaetal composition changes gradually from parathorax to abdomen. The chaetal arrangement in Sabellariidae thus cannot be described as inverted along the body-axis as in Sabellidae. Evolutionary steps implied by the assumption of an inverted chaetal pattern in a supposed common ancestor are discussed. It is concluded that the specific chaetal arrangement of Sabellidae and Sabellariidae arose independently and therefore provides no support for a sistergroup relationship of sabellids and sabellariids.     

Oribatid acari (Acari: Oribatei) from Coiba Island National Park, Panamá

Taking part of the Program for The Inventory of Flora and Fauna of Coiba Island National Park (Panama), a first list of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatei) is presented. Materials studied come from several soil samplings, including humus and fallen leaves, done in Coiba Island in July 1998. 134 species were identified from a total amount of 1053 individuals collected. Almost all the identified species are new records for Panama as well as eigth species that represent first records for the Neotropical Region. A new name is given: Aeroppia mariehammerae n. nom. for Aeroppia sp. and a new combination is proposed: Protoribates antillensis (Mahunka, 1985) n. comb. (Xylobates).     

Two new species of Mediomastus (Annelida,Capitellidae) from Tokyo Bay,Japan

Two undescribed species of polychaetes in Mediomastus (Annelida: Capitellidae) were collected from intertidal to shallow habitats in Tokyo Bay, Japan. These are M. duobalteus sp. n. and M. hanedaensis sp. n. Mediomastus duobalteus sp. n. is distinguishable from all congeners by the following characters: 1) segments 3, 4, 8–11 stainable with methyl green, 2) thoracic capillary chaetae unilimbate, 3) abdominal capillary chaetae absent, 4) paddle-like chaetae in the thorax absent, and 5) abdominal hooded hooks not flared. Mediomastus hanedaensis sp. n. is similar to M. warrenae Green, 2002, but differs from the latter in the shapes of the thoracic capillary chaetae and the abdominal hooded hooks, and the staining pattern with methyl green. In addition, a key to all Mediomastus species is provided.     

Ontogenetic variations in characters of Euchone analis (Krøyer, 1856) (Polychaeta, Sabellidae, Sabellinae) from Spitsbergen, and new assignments of Oriopsis ingelorae Plate, 1995 and O. liefdefjordensis Plate, 1995

Euchone analis, the type species of its genus, was collected in high densities and in different size classes from Kongsfjorden, west Spitsbergen. This material has provided the basis for an investigation of the size dependence of characters. Almost all characters used in diagnoses were highly variable, especially the number of abdominal chaetigers forming the anal depression and the shape of the depression. The only relatively constant features are the number of chaetigers anterior to the anal depression and the branchial crown‐to‐body length ratio. A branchial skeleton extension of the radiolar appendages of the dorsal lips was found for the first time within Euchone, and this character has been added to the diagnosis of Euchone. Oriopsis liefdefjordensis and small specimens of E. analis agree in all characters, and O. liefdefjordensis is proposed to be a junior synonym of E. analis. Characters found in O. ingelorae are in accordance with those described for Chone, and we propose assigning O. ingelorae to this genus. The significance of ontogenetic character variations in the Sabellidae is discussed.     

中国宁夏图属一新种(弹尾纲,等节科)(英文)

记述了采自中国西北部宁夏省六盘山自然保护区的图姚属1新种,六盘山图姚Tuvia liupanensis sp.nov..文中给出了图姚属已知种类检索表.模式标本保存于中国科学院上海生命科学研究院植物生理生态研究所昆虫标本馆.     

Ultrastructure of opisthosomal chaetae in Vestimentifera (Pogonophora, Obturata) and implications for phylogeny

Schulze, A. 2000. Ultrastructure of opisthosomal chaetae in Vestimentifera (Pogonophora, Obturata) and implications for phylogeny. — Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 82 : 127–135
The posterior segmented body region of Vestimentifera bears rows of uncini that function to anchor the animal within its tube. SEM studies of five vestimentiferan species reveal intraspecific and interspecific variation in the number of chaetigerous segments and the arrangement of uncini within a given segment. The portion of an uncinus that extends beyond the epidermis comprises two opposing groups of teeth that probably correspond to the capitium and subrostral process of polychaete uncini, and a distinct protuberance between them, interpreted as a rostrum. In Ridgeia piscesae , the uncini are formed by chaetal follicles, consisting of a chaetoblast, a follicle cell and an epidermis cell. The chaetal shaft is elongate and composed of up to 40 hollow cylinders that are invaded at their base by microvilli from the apical part of the chaetoblast. Opisthosomal chaetae in perviate Pogonophora are usually restricted to four per segment and are of a rod-shaped type. It is hypothesized that the rod-shaped chaetae represent reduced hooked chaetae probably derived from a condition such as found in Monilifera. Uncini of Pogonophora, Sabellida, Terebellida and Oweniida are considered homologous but details of chaetal design may be due to functional adaptations and thus do not represent reliable characters for phylogenetic studies on higher taxonomic levels than genera or potentially families.     

A new species of the genus Attheyella (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Canthocamptidae) from Gosu cave in Korea

A new species, Attheyella namkungi sp. nov., is described from Gosu cave at Danyang, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. This species bears a superficial resemblance to A. coreana Miura, 1969 in having a 2-segmented mandibular palp with only four smooth apical setae, and in the armature formulae of the antennary exopod and thoracic legs. However the new species is clearly distinguishable by the non-sexually dimorphic caudal rami, two long plumose setae and a short seta on leg 6, and the absence of the setular row at the inner lateral margin of each caudal ramus. The new species is characterized from other congeners by having two adjacent inner spines on female leg 3 endopod-2, the caudal ramus twice as long as its width, absence of a barbed apophysis on male leg 3 endopod-2, and the seta number of legs 5 and 6. A key to the Korean species of the genus Attheyella is provided.