A partial skull roof of an embolomere from Linton,Ohio (Middle Pennsylvanian) and its phylogenetic affinities

Among the famous Middle Pennsylvanian tetrapod fauna from Linton, Ohio, embolomeres are extremely rare and known only from three snout fragments which are referred to as the eogyrinid Leptophractus obsoletus. We describe herein a skull roof fragment from Linton that consists of the left orbital and cheek region and parts of the palate preserved in dorsal view, which belonged to a skull of approximately 100 mm length. Although diagnostic parts such as the tabular horn and the otic region are not preserved, it can be assigned to embolomeres by its attenuated, irregular dermal bone sculpture. The specimen can be interpreted most plausibly as an eogyrinid because of (1) the distinct, mostly continuous lateral lines that appear like a string of beads due to the subdued ridges on their bottom, and (2) the kinetic line between skull table and cheek in combination with the firm suture between the postorbital and intertemporal. The participation of the lacrimal in the anterior orbital margin is unusual for eogyrinids but might represent a juvenile character. Because the eogyrinid skull roof is derived from the same locality and strata as the eogyrinid L. obsoletus, we tentatively assign it to that genus and species.     

A LONG-BODIED LIZARD FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS OF JAPAN

Abstract:  Platynotan lizards underwent a dramatic Late Cretaceous radiation into marine habitats. Beginning with small-bodied forms, the lineage culminated with the mosasaurs, large predatory lizards with a world-wide distribution in the Santonian–Campanian. Moreover, the marine squamate radiations of the Cenomanian–Turonian are remarkable in having produced a range of long-bodied, reduced-limbed swimmers (dolichosaurs, adriosaurs, coniasaurs and limbed snakes) that seem to have thrived in the shallow coastal environments of the Western Tethys region. Until now, none of these long-bodied aquatic squamates has been recorded prior to the Cenomanian, none has been recovered from a non-marine locality and none is known from Asia. Here we describe a small, gracile, long-bodied mosasauroid lizard from a swampy continental deposit in the Lower Cretaceous of Japan.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spathebothrium vivekanandai</Emphasis> sp.n. (Platyhelminthes: Cestoidea) from a Freshwater Fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Channa striatus</Emphasis> from West Bengal,India

The monotypic genus Spathebothrium Linton, 1922 contains the only known species Spathebothrium simplex Linton, 1922. In this paper Spathebothrium vivekanandai sp.n. is described and illustrated. The specimen was obtained from the intestine of a freshwater fish Channa striatus which was collected from Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. The species is characterized by a small scolex, rounded anteriorly; presence of neck; genital pores irregularly or regularly alternate and U-shaped ovary. In addition to these characters, absence of vaginal sphincter and absence of seminal receptacle differentiates the present species from the earlier described one. The genus Spathebothrium Linton, 1922 is being reported for the first time from West Bengal, India.     

Dramatic phenotypic plasticity within species of Siphomutabilus n. g. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) from Indo-Pacific caesionines (Perciformes: Lutjanidae)

A survey of Indo-Pacific lutjanids of the subfamily Caesioninae revealed the presence of Siphodera gurukun Machida, 1910 and two new cryptogonimid taxa from off Heron and Lizard Islands on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia and Rasdhoo Atoll, Maldives. A combined morphological and genetic characterisation of these species shows that they form a clade distinct from the type-species of Siphodera Linton, 1910, S. vinaledwardsii (Linton, 1901), and warrants the proposal of a new genus. Here we propose Siphomutabilus n. g. and transfer Siphodera gurukun Machida, 1986 as the type-species, Siphomutabilus gurukun (Machida, 1986) n. comb. Siphodera aegyptensis Hassanine & Gibson, 2005 is transferred to Siphomutabilus as S. aegyptensis (Hassanine & Gibson, 2005) n. comb. based on morphological and ecological similarities. Siphomutabilus raritas n. sp. is described from Caesio cuning (Bloch) off Lizard Island and S. bitesticulatus n. sp. is described from Pterocaesio marri Schultz off Heron Island. The two new species are unique in that they have two testes, making their morphology broadly consistent with that of Metadena Linton, 1910, yet the molecular analyses conducted here indicates that they are unequivocally united with Siphomutabilus gurukun (which has multiple testes) to the exclusion of Metadena lutiani (Yamaguti, 1942), which was sequenced here. The dramatic phenotypic plasticity observed among such closely related species of Siphomutabilus suggests a secondary modification of what is generally considered a robust generic diagnostic character within this and other digenean families, highlighting the need for a combined morphological and molecular diagnostic approach when characterising these taxa. Siphodera Linton, 1910 is amended to include just two species, the type-species S. vinaledwardsii (Linton, 1901) Linton, 1910 and S. cirrhiti Yamaguti, 1970, which are distinguished by their lack of oral spines and multiple testes that are primarily extracaecal. Siphodera ghanensis Fischthal & Thomas, 1968 is considered a species incertae sedis here based on significant morphological and ecological differences compared with species of Siphodera and Siphomutabilus n. g.     

TAXONOMIC REVISIONS OF MORPHOLOGICALLY SIMILAR SPECIES FROM TWO EUGLENOID GENERA: EUGLENA (E. GRANULATA AND E. VELATA) AND EUGLENARIA (EU. ANABAENA,EU. CAUDATA,AND EU. CLAVATA)1

The establishment of epitypes (together with the emended diagnoses) for three species of Euglenaria Karnkowska, E. W. Linton et Kwiatowski [Eu. anabaena (Mainx) Karnkowska et E. W. Linton; Eu. caudata (Hübner) Karnkowska et E. W. Linton; and Eu. clavata (Skuja) Karnkowska et E. W. Linton] and two species of Euglena Ehrenberg [E. granulata (Klebs) Schmitz and E. velata Klebs] was achieved due to literature studies, verification of morphological diagnostic features (cell size, cell shape, number of chloroplasts, the presence of mucocysts), as well as molecular characters (SSU rDNA). Now all these species are easy to identify and distinguish, despite their high morphological similarity, that is, spindle‐shaped (or cylindrically spindle‐shaped) cells and parietal, lobed chloroplasts with a single pyrenoid, accompanied by bilateral paramylon caps located on both sides of the chloroplast. E. granulata is the only species in this group that has spherical mucocysts. E. velata is distinguished by the largest cells (90–150 μm) and has the highest number of chloroplasts (>30). Eu. anabaena has the fewest chloroplasts (usually 3–6), and its cells are always (whether the organism is swimming or not) spindle‐shaped or cylindrically spindle‐shaped, in contrast to the cells of Eu. clavata, which are club‐shaped (clavate) while swimming and only after stopping change to resemble the shape of a spindle or a cylindrical spindle; Eu. clavata has numerous chloroplasts (15–20). Eu. caudata is characterized by asymmetrical spindle‐shaped (fusiform) cells, that is, with an elongated rear section and a shorter front section; the number of chloroplasts normally ranges from 7 to 15.     

Two Species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Marine Fishes off Namibia,Including S. Beukelaardori n. sp.

Stephanostomum kovalevae Parukhin, 1968 from the intestine of Lophius vomerinus off Swakopmund, Namibia, is redescribed. It is characterised by its large number (c. 73-88) of circum-oral spines, its relatively very long hindbody and the vitellarium reaching close to or just overlapping the ventral sucker. S. beukelaardori n. sp., from the intestine of Zenopsis conchifera off Walvis Bay, Namibia, is described. It belongs to the group of species where the vitellarium reaches the ventral sucker, and which has c. 32-38 circum-oral spines. It is closest to S. casum (Linton, 1910), but differs in lacking the lining of prominent spines in the ejaculatory duct, probably in egg-size and in both forebody and hindbody lengths.     

THE EFFECT OF RADIATIONS FROM A MERCURY ARC IN QUARTZ ON ENZYMES : I. THE EFFECT OF ULTRA-VIOLET RADIATION ON PEPSIN IN SOLUTION.

Pepsin in solution is inactivated by the radiations from a mercury arc in quartz. It would seem that the effective radiations are those in the ultra-violet region of the spectrum. The form of the curve describing the course of the inactivation is the same as that found for monomolecular chemical change.     

Theletrum lamothei sp. nov. (Digenea), parasite of Echidna nocturna from Cuajiniquil, Guanacaste, and other digenes of marine fishes from Costa Rica.

A new species of Theletrum is described from the intestine of two palenose morays, Echidna nocturna, collected in Cuajiniquil, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. The new species differs from the type species, T. fustiforme Linton, 1910 by having a subspherical pars prostatica, a subspherical seminal vesicle extending anteriorly to the anterior border of the acetabulum, by the presence of a poorly developed hermaphroditic sac, and by having a larger body size. We also report eight additional species of digeneans parasitizing marine fishes in several localities along the Atlantic and Pacific coast of Costa Rica: Bianium simonei, Didymozoinae (metacercariae), Ectenurus virgulus, Hypocreadium myohelicatum, Lecithochirium microstomum, Pseudolecithaster sp., Stephanostomum casum, and Tergestia laticollis. In addition, we present an updated list of helminth parasites of marine fish from Costa Rica and discuss the importance of including parasites as an integral part of biodiversity inventories.     

Extraintestinal stages fo Isospora ohioensis from dogs in mice

The development of Isospora ohioensis was studied in mice by feeding tissues of mice inoculated with oocysts to coccidia-free dogs and by the examination of mesenteric lymph nodes using light and electron microscopes. Extraintestinal organs of mice became infectious to dogs within 1 day after ingesting oocysts and remained infectious for at least 211 days after inoculation (DAI). Isospora ohioensis sporozoites were found in lymphoreticular cells of mesenteric lymph nodes of mice from 1-374 DAI. Intracellular sporozoites were located in parasitophorous vacuoles. Sporozoites grew from 5--6 to 11--16 micron in length on the 39th DAI but never lost the 2 crytalloid bodies typical for coccidian sporozoites. PAS-positive granules accumulated gradually in intracellular sporozoites with duration of infection in mice. The appearance of parasitophorous vacuoles varied with duration of infection. Beginning with 7 DAI, the vacuole contained a marginal zone of electron-dense material (up to 0.8 micron wide), giving the appearance of a cyst wall or sheath under the light microscope; a true cyst wall was was not found.     

Four species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Seriola dumerili (Risso) (Teleostei: Carangidae) in the western Mediterranean,including S. euzeti n. sp.

Four species of Stephanostomum are described from various sites in Seriola dumerili from off Corsica, France. S. ditrematis (Yamaguti, 1939), from the stomach, pyloric caeca and duodenum, has 36 circum-oral spines. S. seriolae Yamaguti, 1970 is considered a synonym of S. ditrematis. S. filiforme Linton, 1940, from the mid-intestine, has 43-46 circum-oral spines. S. petimba Yamaguti, 1970, from the rectum, has a 42 circum-oral spines. S. euzeti n. sp. has 49-51 circum-oral spines, and differs from worms with a similar anterior extent of the vitellarium and circum-oral spine number in details of the vitelline distribution and the distances between the gonads. Attention is drawn to the presence in the rectum of S. dumerili of sympatric species differentiated mainly on circum-oral spine number.     

Conservation of Britain's biodiversity: the case of Hieracium cyathis (Asteraceae) and its relation to other apomictic taxa

Hieracium cyathis (Ley) W. R. Linton (Asteraceae), Chalice Hawkweed, is a rare species endemic to Britain. It is a distinct member of Hieracium Section Oreadea , characterized by a short acladium and out-curved tips to the phyllaries. Historic records and current field survey indicate it has occurred in two localities in SW England and seven in South Wales. It is still present in all sites except for one Welsh locality, is significantly threatened at Cheddar Gorge, and two Welsh sites have only three plants each. Comparative morphology, cultivation experiments and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis do not support the reported differences between material from SW England and Wales. AFLP analysis showed that every plant in the field was genetically similar but different, and minor genetic variation was found in one progeny array. It is a triploid (2 n  = 27) with apomictic seed production, and 26% potentially viable pollen. It qualifies as 'Near Threatened' under the 2001 IUCN threat criteria. General guidelines for conservation of microspecies of Hieracium are discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 669–680.     

A survey on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in the area of Thessaloniki, Greece

Faecal specimens randomly taken from 232 healthy dogs living in the area of Thessaloniki were screened for internal parasites. In 39.2% of the examined dogs excretion of Sarcocystis bovicanis (1.3%), Isospora ohioensis/burrowsi (3.9%), Giardia lamblia (0.8%), Hammondia heydorni (0.4%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.8%) Diplopylidium nolleri (0.4%), Joyeuxiella pasqualei (0.8%), taeniids (0.4%), Toxocara canis (22.4%), Toxascaris leonina (1.3%), Uncinaria stenocephala (3.0%), Trichuris vulpis (2.6%), Spirocerca lupi (0.4%), or Linguatula serrata (0.4%) was detected. The overall rate of infection did not show any significant difference concerning sex or age. T. canis, however, was significantly more often found in the youngest age group (1-3 months).     

A comparative study of microdosimetric properties of x-rays, γ-rays,and β-rays

The objective of this study was the computation of microdosimetric functions and quantities for sparsely ionizing radiations. The calculations are performed on simulated electron tracks generated by Monte-Carlo techniques. Ten different radiations of biomedical interest are considered. The comparison of radiation qualities shows marked differences between these sparsely ionizing radiations. The microdosimetric data are represented graphically for use in radiation biology and in clinical applications.     

Morphology and Life History of Ophryotrocha maculata sp. n. (Polychaeta, Dorvilleidae)

The type locality of the new species is a muddy bottom at a depth of 25 meters in the Gullmarsfjord on the Swedish west coast. On that locality the fauna is recovering from previous sulphite pulp mill pollution. The shape and morphology of O. maculata conform with most other members of the species. It is distinguished by segmental transverse rows of dark spots. It is a contemporary hermaphrodite with anterior male and posterior female segments. Different from other known species the germ cells are released directly into the water. As a consequence the brood is not protected by the parents.     

Type localities of the Gibbon,Hylobates pileatus gray, 1861, and the leaf monkey,Presbytis crepuscula wroughtoni Elliot, 1909, collected by A. H. Mouhot

The type specimens of two nominal primate taxa were collected by A. H Mouhot during his historic expedition to Indochina from 1858 to 1861. His death from fever in Laos led to the material being accompanied by unreliable locality data. Combining information from his published itinerary with evidence from more recently collected specimens, I attempt to determine the type localities more accurately.     

GOBIID FISHES OF THE GENUS GLOSSOGOBIUS IN THE LIMPOPO SYSTEM: A FIRST RECORD AND A RANGE EXTENSION OF G. CALLIDUS (SMITH, 1937)

Summary

Recently, a specimen of Glossogobius callidus was collected in the Marico Oog, a major source of the Limpopo River in the western Transvaal. This locality is some 1500 km from the river mouth. Earlier taxonomic confusion of Glossogobius giuris and G. callidus has resulted in the omission of G. callidus from identification keys published before 1979. As a result, that species has not been recorded from the Limpopo system. A previously published record of G. giuris from that system, at a locality about 950 km from the sea, is now shown to be based on a misidentification of G. callidus specimens.