Lepocreadiidae (Digenea) from the batfish of the genus Platax Cuvier (Teleostei: Ephippidae) from the southern Great Barrier Reef,Queensland, Australia

The following species are described from Platax spp.: Neomultitestis aspidogastriformis n. sp., from P. teira, off Heron Island, Queensland, which can be distinguished from its congeners by the transversely elongate ventral sucker divided into three loculi and probably by testis number; Multitestis magnacetabulum Mamaev, 1970, from P. teira, off Heron Island, Queensland; Diploproctodaeum rutellum (Mamaev, 1970), from P. teira, off Heron Island, Queensland; Diploproctodaeum tsubameuo n. sp., from P. batavianus, from the Swain Reefs, off Queensland, which differs from its congeners in its overlapping, posteriorly attenuated testes and 38-55 ovarian lobes; and Diplocreadium sp., from P. batavianus, from the Swain Reefs, off Queensland.     

Two new species of lepocreadiid trematodes of marine fishes from the Taiwan Straits,China

Two new species of lepocreadiid trematodes are reported from marine fishes from the Taiwan Straits, China: Diploproctodaeum spinosus n. sp. from the intestine of Takifugu oblongus (= Fugu oblongus) and Preptetos parapristipomae n. sp. from Parapristipoma trilineatum. Diploproctodaeum spinosus differs from the known species of Diploproctodaeum, with 1 spine at the base of the ejaculatory duct. Preptetos parapristipomae is most similar to Preptetos rotto in having an entire ovary but differs from it in the sucker ratio, distribution of the uterus, position of the cirrus sac, and locality.     

Sympatric species of Deretrema Linton, 1910: D. combesae n. sp. and D. combesorum n. sp. (Digenea: Zoogonidae) from the manybar goatfish Parupeneus multifasciatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) (Perciformes: Mullidae) from New Caledonia

Two sympatric species of Deretrema, D. combesae n. sp. and D. combesorum n. sp. are described from the manybar goatfish Parupeneus multifasciatus from off New Caledonia, South Pacific. D. combesae n. sp. does not fit any of the described Deretrema subgenera. The combination of the characters, tegumental spines, caeca reaching past the testes, the vitellarium reaching into the hindbody, much of the uterus at the level of and anterior to the gonads, a long oesophagus, testes in the hindbody and the pre-testicular ovary are not found in any of the described subgenera. D. combesorum n. sp. fits into the subgenus Deretrema (Deretrema), but differs from the described species in the sucker-ratio, eggs size, elongate shape and contiguous testes. The sympatry of these dissimilar species of Deretrema casts doubt on the value of the subgenera in Deretrema.     

Lagerstroemia menglaensis sp. nov. (Lythraceae) from Xishuangbanna,Yunnan Province,China

Lagerstroemia menglaensis C. H. Gu, M. C. Ji & D. D. Ma, a new species of Lythraceae from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China is described and illustrated. The morphological characteristics of the new species and two morphologically similar species (L. guilinensis and L. venusta) are compared, and a key to distinguish between them is provided.     

Dactylospora mangrovei sp. nov. (Discomycetes, ascomycota) from mangrove wood

A new speciesDactylospora mangrovei is described and illustrated and compared withD. haliotrepha andD. canariensis, all marine inhabiting species.Dactylospora haliotrepha andD. mangrovei are tropical/sub-tropical mangrove species collected in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand, whileD. canariensis was described from temperate waters. A map of the geographical distribution of the three marineDactylospora species is presented.     

Scyliorhinus tokubee sp. nov. from Izu Peninsula,southern Japan (Scyliorhinidae,Elasmobranchii)

A new catshark,Scyliorhinus tokubee sp. nov., is described based on specimens from the coast of Shirahama, eastern Izu Peninsula, southern Japan. The present species is distinguished from other congeners in having a particular coloration with dark saddles, blotches and numerous small light spots, a wide oral cleft, the anterior nasal flap not reaching the oral cleft, a short interspace between the dorsal fins, developed clasper hooks, and some meristic characters (number of vertebrae, jaw teeth, and spiral valve turns). This species has been bred under captivity for several years in Shimoda Floating Aquarium.     

Daptonema williamsi sp.n. (Nematoda, Xyalidae) from the Solomon Islands

Daptonema williamsi sp.n. from the Ombo river, New Georgia, is described and figured in detail. The species shows some interesting morphological characters, mainly in the reproductive system, e.g. an hitherto undescribed protraction and rotation system of the spicules, matching a posteriorly directed vagina. D. williamsi closely resembles D. normandicum (de Man, 1890), D. oxycerca (de Man, 1888) and D. tenuispiculum (Ditlevsen, 1918). The first of these species has shorter spicules, longer setae on the male tail, only 3–4 ejaculatory glands and a vagina perpendicular to the body wall. D. oxycerca and D. tenuispiculum have differently shaped spicules. D. oxycerca has only 3–4 ejaculatory glands and in D. tenuispiculum the ovary does not extend to the level of the pharynx.     

Allozyme and morphological identification of shape Anisakis,Contracaecum and Pseudoterranova from Japanese waters (Nematoda,Ascaridoidea)

Allozyme markers were used to identify anisakid nematodes from marine Japanese waters, morphologically assigned to three species complexes: Anisakis simplex (s. l.), Contracaecum osculatum (s. l.) and Pseudoterranova decipiens (s. l.). Samples assigned to A. simplex (s. l.) were found to correspond genetically to A. simplex sensu stricto, those of C. osculatum (s. l.) to C. osculatum A. No morphological characters are yet available to distinguish sibling species of these two complexes. As to the P. decipiens complex, two distinct species were detected: the first corresponded to P. decipiens C, previously recovered in the northern Atlantic, the second to P. decipiens D from Japan. The two species are genetically well differentiated, with five of the 19 loci tested showing distinct fixed alleles. Their reproductive isolation was proved by the lack of hybrids or recombinants in sympatric samples recovered from the same definitive host, Erignathus barbatus. P. decipiens D was found to correspond morphologically to Porrocaecum azarasi, previously considered a synonym of P. decipiens. Accordingly, the name Pseudoterranova azarasi (Yamaguti & Arima, 1942) n. comb. is proposed for P. decipiens D. Similarly, P. decipiens C fits in general morphology, type-locality and host with Ascaris bulbosa, also previously considered a synonym of P. decipiens. The name Pseudoterranova bulbosa (Cobb, 1888) n. comb. is proposed for P. decipiens C.     

Lobatiriccardia yunnanensis,sp. nov. (Metzgeriales,Aneuraceae) from Yunnan,China

Abstract

The genus Lobatiriccardia Furuki is reported as new to China, from the Dulong River valley, Gaoligong Shan range, Yunnan Province and this material is described as a new species endemic to China, Lobatiriccardia yunnanensis Furuki & D.G. Long, the fifth known species in the genus. The differences between the new species and the other members of the genus are enumerated, along with a key to all known species of Lobatiriccardia.     

Diplycosia rigidifolia sp. nov. (Ericaceae) from Borneo,Sabah, Malaysia

Diplycosia rigidifolia sp. nov. from Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Sabah, Malaysia, is described and illustrated. This species is similar to D. urceolata, but differs by its shorter petiole, thicker, strictly elliptic leaf blades, longer pedicels, calyx lobes with sharply acuminate apex, and larger purplish black fruiting calyx. The species is known only from Mt Kinabalu in northern Sabah state, Malaysia.     

Behavioral reproductive isolation inDrosophila silvestris,D. heteroneura,and their F1 hybrids (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

We investigated the role that courtship and aggressive interactions may have for the maintenance of reproductive isolation betweenDrosophila silvestris andD. heteroneura. We examined the behavioral bases of reproductive isolation between the parental species and we examined the courtship success of each sex of both reciprocal F₁ hybrids when paired with the parental species. We found reduced copulation success among heterotypic parental pairs compared to homotypic pairs, which was primarily due to the lack of courtship initiation betweenD. silvestris males andD. heteroneura females. When hybrid males from both reciprocal crosses were paired with parental females their copulation successes were not significantly different from that of parental males. In contrast, hybrid females from both crosses had reduced copulation success withD. silvestris males, which in turn was primarily due to a reduced success of reaching later stages of courtship. The time spent in copulation by hybrid males was intermediate between the two parental males. We studied aggression by observing the interactions of males of heterotypic pairs, both between the parental species and between the hybrids and parental males. A lack of aggressive interactions betweenD. silvestris males andD. heteroneura males in addition to the lack of courtship suggests thatD. silvestris males do not respond toD. heteroneura individuals of either sex. Hybrid males were equally successful in winning fights with bothD. silvestris andD. heteroneura males. These results indicate that the behavioral isolation betweenD. silvestris andD. heteroneura may be largely a consequence of the earliest stages of interactions. The two species may differ either in activity levels or in morphological or chemical traits that are important for species and mate recognition. The relatively high copulation and aggressive success of hybrids indicates that sexual selection against hybrids alone is unlikely to be a sufficient force to reduce gene flow and maintain species distinctions.     

Spinitectus acipenseri n. sp. (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from the lake sturgeonAcipenser fulvescens (Rafinesque) in Canada

Spinitectus acipenseri is described as a new species from the muscular stomach of the lake sturgeonAcipenser fulvescens from Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This new species closely resemblesS. gracilis Ward & Magath, 1917, but the major differences are the arrangement and larger size of spines (circlets and semicirclets of spines reaching to the anus in females ofS. acipenseri). Other differences include total body dimensions of adults (length and width relationships) and a 1:4–1:5 ratio of oesophagus to body length.     

Revision of the cyprinid genus Discogobio Lin, 1931 (Pisces: Teleostei) from the upper Red River basin in Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan, China, with descriptions of three new species

The species of the genus Discogobio (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) inhabiting the Wenshan prefecture (branches of upper Red River) of Yunnan Province, China are reviewed. The authors recognize four species from the prefecture, Discogobio antethoracalis n. sp., Discogobio propeanalis n. sp., Discogobio poneventralis n. sp., and D. yunnanensis. D. antethoracalis and D. propeanalis had previously been identified as Discogobio brachyphysallidos. D. antethoracalis can be distinguished from D. brachyphysallidos by the following characters: snout rounded, not projected (versus slightly pointed, projected); head length 17.5–20.6% of SL (vs. 20.8–22.8); prepectoral length 16.3–18.3% of SL (vs. 19.1–22.0); interorbital width 52.5–60.9% of head length (vs. 44.7–50.0); anus to anal-fin origin distance 25% posterior end of pelvic-fin base to anal-fin origin distance (versus less than 25). D. propeanalis can be distinguished from D. brachyphysallidos by the following combination of characters: interorbital width greater than half of head length (versus less than half); pelvic-fin extending beyond anal-fin origin (versus not reaching anal-fin origin); anus closer to anal-fin origin, anus to anal-fin origin distance less than 25% posterior end of pelvic-fin base to anal-fin origin distance (versus more than 25%). D. poneventralis, with a small oral sucking disc (its posterior edge not reaching vertical of anterior margin of eye) is similar to Discogobio longibarbatus and D. macrophysallidos, but distinct from them in the following characters: rostral barbels equal to eye diameter (versus twice as long as eye diameter in D. longibarbatus); maxillary barbels not reaching posterior margin of oral sucking disc (versus beyond in D. longibarbatus); mid-ventral region anterior to pelvic-fin insertion scaleless (versus scaled in D. macrophysallidos); prepelvic length 57.1–58.1% of SL (vs. 52.4–55.6 in D. macrophysallidos); pectoral-pelvic length 40.8–41% of SL (vs. 32.6–35.9 in D. macrophysallidos); head length 17.5–18.4% of SL (vs. 19.8–21.8 in D. macrophysallidos); and snout length 44.9–47.2% of HL (vs. 48.9–55.4 in D. macrophysallidos).     

New species of tremstodes from Indian Ocean and Red Sea fishes

On the basis of the material collected in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean four new species of trematodes are described: Bucephalopsis pseni sp. n., Diploproctodaeum chelonodoni sp. n., Bucephalus neoscombropsi sp. n., Phyllodistomum sobolevi sp. n. Anatomical and morphological characteristics of the above species as well as original figures of the trematodes are given, their taxonomic position is discussed.     

Description of Parasitorhabditis frontali n. sp. (Nemata: Rhabditida) from Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

A new Parasitorhabditis species with males and females was discovered from the southern pine beetle Dendroctonus frontalis and its galleries in loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, growing in Mississippi. Females of the new species have a cupola-shaped tail with a small spike; males possess a 2 + (3+2) + 3 ray pattern on the tail fan with ray 10 reaching the margin, and a distinctive stomatal tooth. Parasitorhabditis frontali n. sp. has some similarities to P. hylurgi Massey, 1974 from Hylurgops pinifex in New York, USA, P. terebranus Massey, 1974 from D. terebrans (Olivier, 1795) in Texas USA, P. ligniperdae Fuchs, 1915 from Hylergops ligniperda (Fabricius, 1787) and P. dendroctoni Rühm, 1956 from D. micans (Kugelann, 1794) in Europe, P. ateri Fuchs, 1915 isolated from the beetle Hylastes ater (Paykull, 1800) in Germany, and P. malii Devdariani and Kakulia,1970 from Scolytus mali (Bechstein, 1805) within the republic of Georgia. Morphometrics for 44 species of Parasitorhabditis are provided to update older keys. Parasitorhabditis frontali n. sp. was initially grown on Malt Extract (ME) agar with its own microbial contaminants that included a bacterium and fungus. The nematode also grew and reproduced after slices of ME agar with nematodes and microbial contaminants were transferred to water agar. It was killed by E. coli on NGM agar plates commonly used to raise other Rhabditida. Drawings of diagnostic anatomy and low-temperature SEM images of bodies, heads, and tails are provided for cultured specimens from pine beetle frass.     

Steganoderma (Steganoderma) valchetensis n. sp. (Digenea: Zoogonidae) from the relict fish Gymnocharacinus bergi (Osteichthyes: Characidae) in Argentina

A new species of Steganoderma (Steganoderma) (Digenea: Zoogonidae) was found in the digestive tract of the southernmost, endemic and scale-less characid, Gymnocharacinus bergi, inhabiting thermal headwaters of the Valcheta Creek in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Steganoderma valchetensis n. sp. is included in the subgenus Steganoderma because of having a sessile ventral sucker and caeca reaching to the testes. This new species can be distinguished from other species of this genus on the basis of body-length, sucker-ratio, the length of the cirrus-sac, the morphology of the seminal vesicle and gonads, and the location of the vitelline follicles and genital pore. The taxonomic status of the species of Steganoderma, parasitising the freshwater fishes of Patagonia, in southern Argentina, and Chile, is also discussed.     

Variation of wing shape in the Drosophila virilis species group (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Wing shape variation was analysed with geometric morphometric methods in 17 laboratory strains, representing 11 closely related species (including two subspecies) of the Drosophila virilis group: D. virilis, D. lummei, D. novamexicana, D. americana americana, D. americana texana, D. montana, D. lacicola, D. flavomontana, D. borealis, D. littoralis, D. ezoana and D. kanekoi. Overall shape estimated using Procrustes coordinates of 14 landmarks was highly variable among strains and very similar in females and males. The landmarks in the distal part of the wing showed higher variation across strains than those in the proximal part. Procrustes distances between species were not consistent with phylogenetic distances previously suggested for the virilis group. Moreover, Procrustes distances between strains within species and within two major phylads (virilis and montana) were comparable with those between species and between phylads, respectively. The most different from other members of the group was the endemic D. kanekoi species, currently viewed as separate subphylad within the montana phylad. Allometric effects were found to be partly responsible for shape differences between the strains. Three most significant shape transformations were considered using the relative warp analysis and the strains were ordinated in accordance with transformation values. The pattern of relative warp scores could be easily interpreted only for the third warp explaining about 13% of shape variation. It separated the largest species, D. montana, D. ezoana and D. kanekoi, from other ones and was mainly associated with shape changes in the proximal region of the wing. The results of the present work suggest that wing shape in the virilis species group is not related to the speciation process. The observed proximal‐distal contrasts and allometric effects are in agreement with data of other studies, in which wing shape variation was analysed within Drosophila species.     

Dendrocalamus longiligulatus sp. nov. (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from Son La,Dien Bien province,Vietnam

A new species of Dendrocalamus, D. longiligulatus N. H. Xia & V. T. Nguyen, is described and illustrated. This species is distinguished from D. pachystachys Hsueh & D. Z. Li and D. jianshuiensis Hsueh & D. Z. Li by its inconspicuous culm sheath auricles, margins with 8–10 mm long fimbriations, fimbriate ligules of culm sheath 11–14 mm long, palea with 3 veins between and 1 vein on either side of the keels, and blunt paleaceous apex.     

Dendrocalamus menglongensis sp. nov. (Poaceae–Bambusoideae) from Yunnan,China

A new species Dendrocalamus menglongensis Hsueh & K. L. Wang ex N. H. Xia, R. S. Lin &Y. B. Guo is described and illustrated from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China. It differs from D. giganteus by e.g. shorter internodes, 4–5 florets, a perfect terminal floret and persistent culm sheaths. A key to the new species and the other 7 species of Dendrocalamus known from Xishuangbanna is provided.