An exploration of diversity among the Ostertagiinae (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) in ungulates from Sub-Saharan Africa with a proposal for a new genus

Abomasal nematodes (Ostertagiine: Trichostrongyloidea) representing a previously unrecognized genus and species are reported in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) from Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. Africanastrongylus buceros gen. nov. et sp. nov. is characterized by a symmetrical tapering synlophe in the cervical region and a maximum of 60 ridges in males and females. Bursal structure is 2-2-1, with subequal Rays 4/5, massive Rays 8, and Rays 9/10, and a massive dorsal lobe that is reduced in length, laterally and dorsally inflated, and positioned ventral to externodorsal rays. Spicules are tripartite, and the gubernaculum is broadly alate in the anterior. A proconus is present. Among ostertagiines with a 2-2-1 bursa (Cervicaprastrongylus, Hyostrongylus, Mazamastrongylus, Sarwaria, Spiculopteragia, and Teladorsagia) specimens of Africanastrongylus are differentiated from respective genera based on the structure of the cervical synlophe, patterns of dorsal, externodorsal, lateral, and ventral rays, and configuration of the genital cone, gubernaculum, and spicules. Among 13 genera of the Ostertagiinae in the global fauna, 3 are entirely limited in distribution to Africa, including Africanastrongylus, Longistrongylus, and Pseudomarshallagia. Another 5 genera including Cervicaprastrongylus, Hyostrongylus, Marshallagia, Ostertagia, and Teladorsagia are represented as mosaics, with diversity centered in Eurasia or the Holarctic. Genera not represented in the African fauna include Camelostrongylus among Caprinae and some Antelopinae from Eurasia, Mazamastrongylus and Spiculopteragia in Cervidae from the Holarctic and Eurasia, respectively, Orloffia in Cervidae and Bovidae from the Holarctic, and Sarwaria among Tragulidae and Bovinae in southern Asia. The diverse nature of the ostertagiine fauna, with a disproportionate number of endemic genera relative to other regions of the northern hemisphere, may reflect the timing of episodic expansion events for artiodactyls into Africa from Eurasia during the Tertiary and Quaternary.     

Emended description and redetermination of Sarwaria caballeroi n. comb. (nematoda: Ostertagiinae) with details of the synlophe and esophageal characters

Among genera of the ostertagiine nematodes, structural attributes of Spiculopteragia caballeroi are consistent with criteria that diagnose the genus Sarwaria. Specifically, the following characters are compatible with referral to this genus: (1) species characterized by monomorphic males; (2) tapering lateral synlophe in the cervical zone; (3) minuscule, thornlike cervical papillae; (4) length of Ray "4" < Ray "5"; (5) relatively thick or robust Ray "4"; (6) a substantially reduced dorsal lobe and dorsal ray that are disposed or curved ventrally relative to Rays "8"; and (7) a broad, laterally inflated dorsal lobe. Consequently, we propose Sarwaria caballeroi n. comb., and we provide further validation for the genus Sarwaria. Additionally, we propose that the ostertagiines are represented by 12 valid genera, including those characterized by a bursal formula of 2-2-1 (Cervicaprastrongylus, Hyostrongylus, Mazamastrongylus, Spiculopteragia, and Teladorsagia in addition to Sarwaria), and those in which the lateral rays describe a 2-1-2 pattern (Camelostrongylus, Longistrongylus, Marshallagia, Orloffia, Ostertagia, and Pseudomarshallagia).     

Structure, biodiversity, and historical biogeography of nematode faunas in holarctic ruminants: morphological and molecular diagnoses for Teladorsagia boreoarcticus n. sp. (Nematoda: Ostertagiinae), a dimorphic cryptic species in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus)

Discovery of the ostertagiine nematode Teladorsagia boreoarcticus n. sp. in muskoxen, Ovibos moschatus, from the central Canadian Arctic highlights the paucity of knowledge about the genealogical and numerical diversity of nematode faunas characteristic of artiodactyls at high latitudes across the Holarctic. Teladorsagia boreoarcticus is a dimorphic cryptic species distinguished from Teladorsagia circumcincta/Teladorsagia trifurcata in domestic sheep by a 13% divergence in the ND4 region of mitochondrial DNA, constant differences in the synlophe, and significantly longer esophageal valve, spicules, gubernaculum, and bursa. Teladorsagia boreoarcticus represents an archaic component of the North American fauna and may have a Holarctic distribution in muskoxen and caribou. Recognition of T. boreoarcticus in muskoxen, in part, corroborates hypotheses for the existence of a cryptic species complex of Teladorsagia spp. among Caprinae and Cervidae at high latitudes and indicates the importance of climatological determinants during the late Tertiary and Pleistocene on diversification of the fauna. Also reinforced is the concept of the North American fauna as a mosaic of endemic and introduced species. Discovery of a previously unrecognized species of Teladorsagia has additional implications and clearly indicates that (1) our knowledge is incomplete relative to potentially pathogenic nematodes that could be exchanged among domestic and wild caprines; (2) we do not have sufficient knowledge of the fauna to understand the ecological control mechanisms (limitations) on dissemination and host range; and (3) an understanding of historical and geographical influences on the genealogical diversity and distribution of nematode faunas in domestic and wild ruminants is requisite to define the interface between agricultural and natural ecosystems across the Holarctic.     

Haemonchus horaki n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) from the grey rhebuck Pelea capreolus in South Africa.

In the course of a revision of species of Haemonchus Cobb, 1898 (Nematoda), commonly referred to as large stomach worms and significant pathogens of ruminants, a new species was discovered in the grey rhebuck Pelea capreolus, and the bontebok Damaliscus pygarthus, in South Africa. The new species, Haemonchus horaki, was previously reported as a long-spicule form of H. contortus (Rudolphi, 1803) Ransom, 1911. The new species, compared with H. contortus, can be distinguished by significantly longer spicules (555-615 microm vs. 383-475 microm); a synlophe with fewer ridges (26 vs. 30 in the region of the posterior part of the esophagus) that extend more posteriorly (within 1 mm of the copulatory bursa in males and postvulvar in females, vs. 2/3 to 3/4 of prebursal and prevulvar lengths); and an asymmetrical dorsal lobe with a long dorsal ray divided for more than half of its length, forming 2 branches of unequal length (vs. a dorsal ray divided for less than half of its length and forming 2 equal branches in H. contortus).     

Polymorphism in the Ostertagiinae Lopez-Neyra, 1947 and comments on the systematics of these nematodes

A list of 19 polymorphic species of the generaOstertagia, Orloffia, Teladorsagia, Marshallagia andSpiculopteragia is presented. The morphs of the polymorphic species in question have identical females and show similarities in some male features, e.g. the structure of the oesophagus, the synlophe and the shape of the rays of the copulatory bursa. However, they differ by characters which are recognised as generic features, e.g. the structure of spicules, gulbernaculum and genital cone. The presence or lack of minor morphs is a generic feature in the Ostertagiinae. Each polymorphic genus has a defined type of minor morph.     

Cervicaprastrongylus,a new genus proposed for the nematode species Ostertagia skrjabini Singh & Pande, 1963 (Trichostrongyloidea,Trichostrongylidae)

Summary A new genus, Cervicaprastrongylus, is proposed for Ostertagia (Grosspiculagia) skrjabini Singh & Pande, 1963, previously renamed Ostertagia (Grosspiculagia) malviyai by Chaturvedi & Kansal in 1977. The new genus is distinguished from Hyostrongylus by the structure of the spicules, the branching of the dorsal ray, the structure of the genital cone and the arrangement of the rays of the lateral lobe of the bursa. Other species transferred to the new genus in new combinations are Hyostrongylus gabonensis Durette-Desset & Chabaud, 1974 and H. moreli Durette-Desset & Denke, 1978. The genera Bergheia, Hyostrongylus and Parostertagia are discussed and the present position of the four separate species named Ostertagia skrjabini is reviewed.     

A new genus of Nippostrongylinae (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) from the water rat Scapteromys aquaticus (Sigmodontinae) in Argentina

A new genus of Nippostrongylinae, Malvinema n. gen., with 3 coparasitic species M. frederici n. sp., M. carolinae n. sp., and M. victoriae n. sp. from the intestine of the water rat, Scapteromys aquaticus Thomas (Rodentia: Muridae), from the northeast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, is proposed in this study. The new genus shows similarities to 2 Neotropical Nippostrongylinae: Carolinensis (Travassos, 1937) by some characters of the synlophe and Stilestrongylus Freitas, Lent and Almeida, 1937, by the pattern of the caudal bursa. It is characterized by a synlophe with triple or quadruple gradient of size of the ridges, lateromedian, decreasing from the largest left and right ridges. The gradient situated in the right ventral quadrant is always present. The caudal bursa shows a pattern of type 1-4. Malvinema frederici possesses a synlophe with 17 ridges and an axis of orientation inclined at 45 degrees from the sagittal axis; M. carolinae possesses a synlophe with 22-24 ridges and an axis of orientation almost merged with the sagittal axis. Both species have a caudal bursa with the right lobe enlarged transversally. Malvinema victoriae possesses a synlophe with 22-24 ridges, an axis of orientation inclined at 45 degrees from the sagittal axis, and a caudal bursa with the right lobe enlarged vertically.     

Six new nematodes of the Heligmonellidae (Trichostrongylina) collected from endemic murines of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Nematodes in Odilia and Paraheligmonelloides (Trichostrongylina: Heligmonellidae) are first recorded from Sulawesi, Indonesia, with 6 new species from the small intestine of endemic murines: Odilia sulawesiensis n. sp. and Odilia moatensis n. sp. from Rattus xanthurus; Odilia mamasaensis n. sp. and Odilia maxomyos n. sp. from Maxomys musschenbroekii; Paraheligmonelloides eropeplios n. sp. from Eropeplus canus; Paraheligmonelloides paruromyos n. sp. from Paruromys dominator. The 6 species are readily distinguished from congeners in the arrangement and number of the synlophe ridges, dilatation of cuticle, shape of the bursa copulatrix and the spicules, and length ratio of the spicules or the ovejector to body. The intestinal heligmonellid fauna of Sulawesi rats shows affinity to both Sundaland and Australian representatives, reflecting dispersal and speciation history of the nematodes and their hosts.     

EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-PRESERVED MIDDLE ORDOVICIAN SPONGES FROM THE LLANDEGLEY ROCKS LAGERSTÄTTE, WALES

Abstract:  A diverse fauna of three-dimensionally preserved sponges is described from nearshore volcanogenic sandstones near Llandrindod, Mid-Wales. The fauna was preserved through early marginal silicification, in rare examples with silicification of soft tissue, and includes aspicular and spicular demosponges, hexactinellids, and a heteractinid. The fauna is largely endemic, with the following new species, genera and families erected: Onerosiconcha gregalia gen. et sp. nov., Ordinisabulo quadragintaforma gen. et sp. nov., Miritubus erinaceus gen. et sp. nov., Vadosifistula milvus gen. et sp. nov., Polycornua trescelestus gen. et sp. nov. (Pseudolanciculidae fam. nov.), P. entropus sp. nov., Palaeocallyoides improbabilis gen. et sp. nov., Reticulicymbalum tres gen. et sp. nov., Triactinella rigbyi gen. et sp. nov. (Triactinellidae, fam. nov.), Spissiparies minuta gen. nov., Brevicirrus arenaceus gen. et sp. nov., Pyritonema scopula sp. nov. (Pyritonemidae, fam. nov.) and Microastraeum tenuis gen. et sp. nov. In addition, Pseudolancicula Webby and Trotter is recorded outside Australia for the first time, although only as isolated spicules. The environment represented by this fauna has not previously yielded articulated sponges, and thus the apparent endemism may be misleading.     

Comparative morphology of Ostertagia mossi and Ostertagia dikmansi (trichostrongylidae) from Odocoileus virginianus and comments on other Ostertagia spp. from the Cervidae

The synlophes of Ostertagia mossi Dikmans, 1931 and O. dikmansi Becklund & Walker, 1968 were found to be identical supporting recognition of these as the major and minor morphotypes, respectively, of a putative species pair within the Ostertagiinae. The cervical synlophe included three narrowly spaced, continuous, parallel ridges laterally and three parallel but more widely spaced ridges in the dorsal and ventral fields (Type II and Type A patterns, respectively). The disposition of the synlophe in conjunction with a long oesophageo-intestinal valve, and attributes of the genital cone and spicules are characteristics shared among other Ostertagia spp. from cervids in the Holarctic region that allow recognition of a species group morphologically distinct from the Ostertagiinae of domestic ruminants. The morphological similarity of O. mossi/O. dikmansi, O. leptospicularis Assadov, 1953/O. kolchida Popova, 1937 and O. gruehneri Skrjabin, 1929/O. arctica Mitzkewitsch, 1929 is substantial, but these species can be differentiated by small but constant differences in the synlophe and genital complex of males; females cannot be easily distinguished. The morphological similarity of this cryptic complex of species and their relatively restricted distribution among cervids suggests a coevolutionary history for hosts and parasites in the Holarctic region.     

A new Heligmonellid (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) from Oecomys mamorae (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in the pantanal and new data on the synlophe of Guerrerostrongylus zetta from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

A new species of Heligmonellidae nematode, Guerrerostrongylus gomesae n. sp., is described from specimens collected from the small intestine of the rodent Oecomys mamorae Thomas, 1906 in the Brazilian Pantanal. It differs from the 2 other species of the genus by the number of ridges in the synlophe 35-46 and 40-48 at the midbody in the male and female, respectively, by rays 8 arising at midlength of the dorsal trunk, ending near the margin of the caudal bursa, and the dorsal ray divided at the second-third part into 2 branches, each branch divided into 2 subequal subbranches. In addition, specimens of Guerrerostrongylus zetta Travassos, 1937 collected in Oligoryzomys nigripes Olfers, 1818 contain synlophe with 36-42 cuticular ridges in males and 38-42 in females at the midbody. By the characteristics of the synlophe and caudal bursa, Gerrerostrongylus gomesae n. sp. is considered a new species. We suggest that the number of cuticular ridges for this genus broadens the range of the cuticular ridges to at least 35 at midbody.     

Description of Sclerorhabditis miniata n. sp. and First Description of Male of Diploscapter coronatus Cobb, 1913 (Nematoda: Rhabditidae)

A population of Sclerorhabditis miniata n. sp. is described and illustrated from Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir State, India. The new species is characterized by small body size, with an annulated cuticle, offset labial region, crown shaped, strongly sclerotized lips, thin lateral lips, membranous, stegostom without glottoid apparatus, cheilostom rod shaped, sclerotized, spicules free, strong and thick, gubernaculum simple, bent proximally, bursa open, peloderan with seven pairs of bursal papillae in 1+1/1+1+2+1 pattern. The males of Diploscapter coronatus are described for the first time. They are usually smaller than the females and have labial region similar to females. Spicules separate, with a small dorsal velum, gubernaculum simple, almost straight, bursa open, pseudopeloderan with seven pairs of bursal papillae in 1+1/1+2+1+1 pattern.     

中国河北省弱蛛科一新属新种记述(蜘蛛纲,蜘蛛目)

记述了采自于中国河北省赞皇县嶂石岩风景区(九女峰景区)的弱蛛科1新属新种:宽跗皱弱蛛Rhysscoleptoneta latitarsa gen.nov.et sp. nov..皱弱蛛属Rhyssoleptoneta gen.nov.与该科其它属的主要区别在于雄性触肢跗节较宽,端部无分叉,背面具1个短小的突起;雄性触肢生殖球结构复杂等.模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所.     

Description of Distorhabditis poonchiana n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from Jammu and Kashmir,India

Distorhabditis poonchiana n. gen., n. sp. from humus in Jammu and Kashmir, India, is described and illustrated. The new genus is characterized by a small body; slightly setoff labial region; long tubular gymnostom; prominently cuticularized cheilostom; absence of glottoid apparatus; monoprodelphic reproductive system; vulva (V) = 81 to 84; spicules with trifurcated distal ends, simple gubernaculum, peloderan bursa with eight pairs of bursal papillae arranged in 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 arrangement.     

Echinocampidae fam. nov., a new family of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous radiolarians of Arctic Siberia

When studying Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous radiolarians from the Nordvik section (Arctic Siberia), unique morphotypes of multicyrtoid nassellarians with many horns in the apical part of the shell, which continue the rays A, V, 2l, D, and 2L of the cephalic spicule, were recorded. These morphotypes are assigned to a new family, Echinocampidae fam. nov., including three new genera (Echinocampe gen. nov., Nordvikella gen. nov., and Arctocapsula gen. nov.) and eight new species. The family Echinocampidae was probably restricted to high latitudes and belonged to the boreal fauna of the terminal Jurassic and the basal Cretaceous.     

Srivastavanema cynocephali n. sp. (Nematoda,Trichostrongylina, Heligmosomoidea), a parasite of a dermopteran from Indonesia

Srivastavanema cynocephali n. sp., a parasite of Cynocephalus variegatus (Dermoptera) from Indonesia, is described. This species is closely related to S. yapi Durette-Desset & Lim Boo Liat, 1975, in the characters of the synlophe at the mid-body and in the shape of the caudal bursa, but it is distinguished by the pattern of the synlophe in the posterior part of the body, very long, thin rays 2 and 3, a less developed genital cone, the absence of a membrane between left and right rays 6, and longer spicules. Its morphology is slightly less specialised than the four previously known species of the genus, which are all parasites of petauristines. The genus Srivastavanema (Singh, 1962) has a systematic position between the Heligmonellinae and the Brevistriatinae. Therefore, it may be a parasite of the Dermoptera which could have secondarily evolved within the Petauristinae. The Dermoptera may have played an important role in the evolution of the Heligmonellinae.     

Tadaridanema delicatus (Schwartz, 1927) n. gen., n. comb. (Trichostrongylina: Molineidae) parasite of Molossidae bats

On the basis of the revision of the type material of Anoplostrongylus delicatus Schwartz, 1927, and new specimens collected from Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana (Saussure, 1860) in 4 arid localities from Mexico, we describe a new genus (Tadaridanema n. gen.), to which A. delicatus is transferred (as Tadaridanema delicatus (Schwartz, 1927) n. gen., n. comb.). This new genus differs from all other genera included in Anoplostrongylinae by having ray 2 larger than ray 3. In addition, T. delicatus can be differentiated from the type species of Anoplostrongylus (Anoplostrongylus paradoxus (Travassos, 1918)) because it possess vestibular branches equal in length, cephalic inflation divided into 2 regions, and synlophe with many small ridges at the midbody level, whereas in T. delicatus, vestibular branches are equal in size, cephalic inflation is simple in structure, and the synlophe has only 2 well-developed dorsal cuticular ridges.     

Upper Devonian Sponges from the Holy Cross Mountains, Central Poland

The rich fauna of Late Devonian (Late Frasnian) siliceous sponges from the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland is composed of 15 species and 11 genera. Both astylospongid demosponges (lithistids) and hexactinosan hexactinellids are present. The following new genera and/or species are proposed: D regulara Rigby and Pisera sp. nov., Jazwicella media Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., Astyloscyphia irregularia Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., A. turbinata Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., Astylotuba modica Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., Paleoregulara cupula Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., Paleoramospongia bifurcata Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., Cordiospongia conica Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., Paleocraticularia elongata Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., P gigantia Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., Polonospongiadevonica Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., P fistulata Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., Urnospongia modica Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov., and Conicospongia annulata Rigby and Pisera gen. et sp. nov. The investigated fauna contains the youngest astylospongiids known and the oldest well-preserved, and most diversified Palaeozoic hexactinosans. The sponge fauna constituted a significant element of a brachiopod-coral-sponge assemblage that inhabited a deep slope of the local Dyminy Reef structure, during its final phase of growth, in a clearly hemipelagic setting. This fauna is limited to the intrashelf depression within an incipiently drowned carbonate platform.