Two new and three redescribed species of Viscosia (Nematoda,Oncholaimidae)

Viscosia coomansi sp. nov. and Viscosia heterolaina sp. nov. are described from Lake Grevelingen and Eastern Scheldt (The Netherlands). Viscosia glabra (Bastian, 1865) de Man 1890, Viscosia franzii Boucher 1977, and Viscosia viscosa (Bastian 1865) de Man 1890 are redescribed, taking into account new important characters. Juvenile specimens are depicted for V. viscosa. Viscosia carnleyensis Ditlevsen, 1921 is synonymized with Viscosia glabra (Bastian, 1865). Mononcholaimus viscosus Allgén, 1930 and Mononcholaimus elegans sensu Schuurmans-Stekhoven, 1942, 1950 (nec. Kreis, 1924) are synonymized with Viscosia viscosa (Bastian, 1865).     

Epsilonematidae (Nematoda) from a cold-water coral environment in the Porcupine Seabight, with a discussion on the status of the genus Metaglochinema Gourbault & Decraemer, 1986

Thirteen species of nematodes from the family Epsilonematidae Steiner, 1927 were found to be associated with a cold-water coral reef in the Porcupine Seabight. Among them, four species were already known from various locations such as Chile and Papua New Guinea. Three new species are described here: Glochinema trispinatumsp. n. is recognized by three dorsal thorns in the pharyngeal region. This species was also recovered from the Antarctic shelf. Epsilonema multispiralumsp. n. is characterised by a multispiral amphid consisting of 3.25 coils. Bathyepsilonema lopheliaesp. n. is characterised by its body length, the position and relative width of the amphids and the nature of the cuticular ornamentation. Within the subfamily Glochinematinae Lorenzen, 1974, the number and arrangement of ambulatory setae is considered not to be of diagnostic importance. The former species Metaglochinema strigosumGourbault & Decraemer, 1993 is therefore classified under the genus GlochinemaLorenzen, 1974. The original genus diagnosis of Metaglochinema, now a monotypic genus, is adjusted. The geographic distribution of epsilonematid nematodes is briefly discussed.     

Revision of Comesomatidae (Nematoda)

The gross and fine morphology of the family Comesomatidae is reviewed and the systematic position of its members revised. Significant differentiating characters of the Comesomatidae within the Chromadorida are: a copulatory apparatus provided with apophyses, a female reproductive system with outstretched ovaries, the presence of marginal tubes within the oesophagus, and a non-sclerotized and enlarged tail tip. For classification within the family the following three main characters are used: the structure of the buccal cavity, the structure of the copulatory apparatus, and the arrangement of the cephalic sense organs. Structure of the Sabatieria type is considered basic. The genera are rearranged in three subfamilies as follows: Sabatieriinae ( Cervonema, Laimelia, Pierrickia, Sabatieria (syn. Actarjania), Scholpaniella ), Dorylaimopsinae (Dorylaimopsis (syn. Mesonchium), Hopperia, Metasabatieria, Paramesonchium, Vasostoma ), Comesomatinae ( Comesoma, Metacomesoma, Paracomesoma. ) Six species of Comesomatidae are described from the øresund, Denmark: Cervonema macramphis sp.n.; Laimelia filipjevi nom. nov. (syn. Sabatieria longicaudata Filipjev, 1922); Sabatieria hilarula De Man, 1922; S. ornata (Ditlevsen, 1918); S. punctata (Kreis, 1924); Dorylaimopsis punctata Ditlevsen, 1918. Representatives of these species constitute more than 40% of the total number of nematodes in the region.     

Revision of Microlaimidae, Erection of Molgolaimidae fam.n., and Remarks on the Systematic Position of Paramicrolaimus (Nematoda, Desmodorida)

The family Microlaimidae contains Bolbolaiminae subfam.n. (Bolbolaimus syn. Pseudomicro-laimus) and Microlaiminae ( Calomicrolaimus, Ixonema and Microlaimus ). The new family Molgolaimidae contains Aponematinae subfam.n. ( Aponema gen.n.) and Molgolaiminae subfam.n. ( Molgolaimus and Prodesmodora ). The main differentiating characters applied are: structures of the head region, shape of the oesophagus, position of the excretory pore, shape of the tail, structure of the gonads and ornamentation of the cuticle. The significance of porids and preanal supplements as distinguishing characters is, discussed. Microlaimidae are closely related to Desmodoridae; Molgolaimidae related to Spiriniidae. Paramicrolaimus is transferred from Microlaimidae to Spiriniidae.–Six species from the Øresund, Denmark, are redescribed: Microlaimus punctulatus Gerlach, 1950 and M. acinaces Warwick & Piatt, 1973; Aponema torosus (Lorenzen, 1973) gen.n., comb.n. (syn. Microlaimus torosus Loren-zen, 1973); Molgolaimus allgeni (Gerlach, 1950) comb.n. (syn. Microlaimus allgeni Gerlach, 1950) and M. turgofrons (Lorenzen, 1972) comb.n. (syn. Microlaimus turgofrons Lorenzen, 1972); Paramicrolaimus spirulifer Wieser, 1959.     

Three new species of the genus Oswaldocruzia Travassos, 1917 (Nematoda, Trichostrongylina, Molineoidea) parasites of Enyalius spp. (Iguanidae) from Brazil

Three new species of the genus Oswaldocruzia Travassos, 1917 belonging to the sub-family Molineinae are described from the stomach and/or the small intestine of Enyalius spp. from Brazil. They belong to group 6 of Ben Slimane, Chabaud & Durette-Desset (1996). In this group they share along with O. peruensis Ben Slimane, Verhaag & Durette-Desset, 1995, a parasite of Iguanidae from Peru the followings linked characters: (i) a caudal bursa of type II; (ii) cervical alae present; (iii) undulated cuticular ridges. The Peruvian species differs from the Brasilian species by the absence of a strut in the cervical alae, by a small number of cuticular ridges at mid-body and by a spicular fork with a ramified inner twig. Oswaldocruzio fredi n. sp., a parasite of the stomach and the small intestine of Enyalius iheringii, mainly differs from the two other species by the absence of the oesophageal ventral cuticular ridges. Oswaldocruzia benslimanei n. sp., a parasite of the small intestine of Enyalius bilineatus, differs from Oswoldocruzia burseyi n. sp., a parasite of the stomach of Enyalius perditus, by the division of the fork at 23.4 % of spicule length (versus 32 %), and the length of the blade longer than the fork. Oswoldocruzia subauricularis sensu Freitas, 1955 nec Rudolphi, 1819 and O. mazzai sensu Vicente, 1981 nec Travassos, 1935 should be considered as species inquirendae.     

Three New Species of Etamphidelus Andrássy, 1977 (Nemata: Alaimidae) in Southern Chile

Three new species of Etamphidelus are described from Orange Bay, Hoste Island, Chile. All three are distinguished from previously described species by their numerous longitudinal cuticular ridges. E. acucephalus n. sp. is further distinguished by its extremely narrowed anterior body region and posteriorly situated amphids. E. fueguensis n. sp. is distinguished from E. acucephalus by its anteriorly located amphideal fovea, fewer cuticular ridges, smaller V-an/tail ratio and presence of males. E. yamani n. sp. is more similar to E. fueguensis n. sp. differing from it by a wider head end, more posteriorly located excretory pore, longer V-an/tail ratio, more numerous cuticular ridges and smaller spermatozoa. E. puccinelliae (Lorenzen, 1966) Andrássy, 1977 is transferred to Paramphidelus puccinelliae (Lorenzen, 1966) n. comb. The generic diagnosis of Etamphidelus is amended, and a key to species is presented.     

Revision of the subfamily Meyliinae De Coninck, 1965 (Nematoda: Desmoscolecoidea) with a discussion of its systematic position

The Meyliinae contains seven species, belonging to four genera: Boucherius Decraemer & Jensen, 1982, Gerlachius Andrassy, 1976, Meylia Gerlach, 1956 and Noffsingtria Decraemer & Jensen, 1982, differentiated from each other primarily by the ornamentation of the body cuticle. The Meyliinae are compared with the Desmoscolecidae ( sensu Lorenzen, 1969; Timm, 1970) and found to be unique in the position and structure of the amphids and in the reflexed branches of the female reproductive system. It is concluded that they belong to the Desmoscolecida, closely related to the Tricominae.     

Morphological and molecular reinvestigation of acanthoecid species III. – Kalathoeca cupula (Leadbeater, 1972) gen. et comb. nov. (=Stephanoeca cupula (Leadbeater) Thomsen, 1988)

Based on a further re-examination of loricate choanoflagellate species with detailed morphological (SEM/TEM) and molecular data of the SSU and LSU rRNA, the present study aims to give new insights for Stephanoeca cupula. In contrast to the original allocation within the family of tectiform reproducing species, morphological and molecular data of S. cupula sensu Leadbeater, 1972 points towards an affiliation within the nudiform reproducing family. Based on these new data, we here erect the nudiform genus Kalathoeca with its type species K. cupula gen. et comb. nov. Our data challenges morphological species assignments, as K. cupula shares its morphological lorica characteristics with tectiform reproducing species of Stephanoeca sensu stricto. Kalathoeca cupula is an interesting candidate for further investigating and understanding the evolutionary relationship of tectiform and nudiform reproducing species.Stephanoeca cupula sensu Thomsen, 1988 has been morphologically re-examined based on the renewed understanding of the morphological variability associated with S. cupula sensu Leadbeater, 1972 (=K. cupula), allowing us now to distribute the different morphological forms investigated within K. cupula and Pseudostephanoeca quasicupula.     

Revision of Entomelas Travassos, 1930 (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) with a review of genera in the family

Summary Entomelas entomelas (Dujardin, 1845) Travassos, 1930, the type species of Entomelas, is redescribed based on specimens from Anguis fragilis and Ophisaurus apodus. The generic diagnosis is emended. E. dujardini (Maupas, 1916) Travassos, 1930, Paraentomelas kazachstanika (Sharpilo & Vakker, 1972) Sharpilo, 1976 and Hexadontophorus ophisauri Kreis, 1939 are synonymized with E. entomelas and the genera Paraentomelas and Hexadontophorus fall as synonyms of Entomelas. Kurilonema Szczerbak & Sharpilo, 1969 is synonymized with Entomelas and the type species, K. markovi, is reclassified as Entomelas markovi (Szczerbak & Sharpilo, 1969) n. comb. Entomelas cruszi n. sp. is described from agamid lizards of Sri Lanka. The genera in the Rhabdiasidae are reviewed and a key is provided. Ophiorhabdias Yamaguti, 1943 and Shorttia Singh & Ratnamala, 1977 are designated synonyms of Rhabdias Stiles & Hassall, 1905. ac]19790201     

On the Identity and Nomenclature of Paracanthonchus caecus (Bastian, 1865), with a Redefinition of the Genus Paracanthonchus Micoletzky (Nematoda, Cyatholaimidae)

A historical review of the systematics of Paracanthonchus caecus (Bastian, 1865) and a comparison of specimens from different localities show that this "species" in fact comprises four distinct species. Paracanthonchus caecus Micoletzky, 1924 nec P. caecus (Bastian, 1865) is designated as the valid type species of the genus Paracanthonchus. P. heterodontus (Schulz, 1932) and P. thaumasius (Schulz, 1932) are re-established. P. caecm sensu Gerlach 1965 is considered as a distinct species: P. gerlachi sp.n. P. canadensis sp.n. is described and is very close to P. caecus Micoletzky, 1924. The subspecies P. caecus opthalmophorus (Steiner, 1921), different from the typical caecus by the presence of ocelli, is considered as a different species; we therefore propose P.ophthalmophorus (Steiner, 1921) stat.n. The genus Paracanthonchus is redefined.     

Morphological characterization and molecular phylogeny of Portunoidea Rafinesque, 1815 (Crustacea Brachyura): Implications for understanding evolution of swimming capacity and revision of the family-level classification

Cheliped construction, in particular the teeth pattern on chelae fingers is considered as most important character suit (along with burrowing/swimming apparatus) for the diagnosis of Portunoidea. Heterochelic and heterodontic chelipeds with the molariform tooth in the larger chela and multi-lobed serial teeth are presumably ancestral and most common pattern for the group. New material (mostly species of Thalamitinae Paulson, 1875, Lupocyclus Adamd and White, 1848 and Portunus Weber, 1795 sensu lato) have been combined with the existing sequences from the GenBank to produce molecular phylogenetic reconstructions based on the histone H3 gene fragment and a multi-gene tree (for smaller set of species) based on partial sequences of H3, D1 region of 28S gene and mitochondrial COI gene. These reconstructions have not provided necessary support to the monophyly of Portunoidea sensu lato but indicated the presence of several monophyletic lineages, i.e. Portunidae sensu stricto, Polybiidae + Thiidae + Carcinidae + Pirimelidae, Benthochascon + Geryonidae (to lesser extent), and Ovalipes. Monophyly of the Portunidae sensu stricto is supported by both the H3 and multigene trees and morphological evidence. Swimming capacity probably evolves as a result of parallel evolution in at least three different lineages of portunoids. A new version of the family level classification of Portunoidea and a key to their families are provided with the following taxa: Geryonidae (Geryoninae + Benthochasconinae subfam. nov.), Ovalipidae fam. nov., Brusiniidae Štev?i?, 1991, Thiidae, Pirimelidae, Carcinidae McLeay, 1838 (Carcininae + Portumninae Ortmann, 1893), Polybiidae Ortmann, 1893, and Portunidae Rafinesque, 1815 sensu stricto. The most radical change in the systematics of Portunidae sensu stricto is the final recognition of the polyphyly of Portunus sensu lato and the need for revalidization and re-diagnozing of several taxa that were synonymized by Stephenson and Campbell (1959) and Stephenson (1972) under Portunus. While some subfamilies of the Portunidae (Podophthalminae Dana, 1851, Thalamitinae, and Lupocyclinae Alcock, 1895) are well supported by molecular phylogenies and the presence of morphological synapomorphies, the others need re-assessment.     

Redescription of Petasiger exaeretus Dietz, 1909 and P. phalacrocoracis (Yamaguti, 1939) (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae), parasites of cormorants

Two echinostome trematodes of the genus Petasiger, P. exaeretus Dietz, 1909 and P. phalacrocoracis (Yamaguti, 1939), parasitising cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), were found in Phalacrocorax carbo L. from the Czech Republic. Both taxa are redescribed and literary data on their occurence in cormorants are reviewed. The species P. exaeretus appears to be a rather rare species, hitherto recorded in Phalacrocorax carbo in Europe, Kirghizia and Azerbaidzhan. P. baschkirovi Ablassov & Iksanov, 1959 is synonymized with P. exaeretus. P. phalacrocoracis (syn. P. hospitale (Mendheim, 1940) and P. exaeretus auct. nec Dietz, 1909), which has previously been misidentified and erroneously designated as P. exaeretus, appears to be the commonest species of the genus, parasitising cormorants in the Palaearctic Region (Europe, CIS [USSR], Japan) and in Australia. Differential diagnoses of both the above mentioned species are presented.     

Water relations and thermal sensitivity of several cockroach species (Dictyoptera: Blattidae and blaberidae)

• 1.1. Per cent total body water content (%TBW), cuticular permeability (CP), rate of water loss, critical thermal maxima (CTMax), and upper lethal limits (ULL) were determined for Pacific beetle, Diploptera punctata (Eschscholtz), Surinam, Pycnoscelus surinamensis (L.), and Turkestan, Blaita lateralis (Walker), cockroaches.
• 2.2. Initial body mass ranged from 153.16 to 464.96 mg, for D. punctata and P. surinamensis cockroaches, respectively. Mean %TBW was 57.8 for P. surinamensis and 67.7 for B. lateralis.
• 3.3. Mean cuticular permeability was not related to initial mass and ranged from 20.9 to 38.7 μg/cm²/hr/mmHg for D. punctata and P. surinamensis, respectively.
• 4.4. Cumulative mass loss and %TBW lost increased linearly with desiccation time.
• 5.5. CTMax ranged from 43.2°C for D. punctata to 44.3°C for P. surinamensis. There were significant, but small differences in CTMax among the three species.
• 6.6. ULL were 2.2 to approximately 4°C greater than CTMax. The greatest ULL was 48.1°C for B. lateralis and the lowest ULL was 45.0°C for D. punctata.

     

A revision of European saxicolous species of the genus Buellia de Not. and formerly included genera

Abstract: A detailed taxonomic survey of the saxicolous European species of Buellia based on a detailed survey and assessment of the important features of the genus is presented. These include the conidia, the anatomy of the exciple, the spore wall pigmentation, ornamentation and internal wall thickening, as well as analysis of the lichen substances. As a result, 36 saxicolous species are recognized, of which Buellia griseosquamulata and B. longispora are new taxa and B. atrocinerella and B. parvula are new combinations. Buellia coniops, B. lecideina and B. punctata are transferred to the validated genus Amandinea. A key to 43 accepted species of Buellia, Amandinea and Hafellia is included.     

Redescription of Takahashia citricola Kuwana, 1909, and its transfer to the genus Pulvinaria Targioni Tozzetti (Coccoidea, Coccidae)

The Japanese soft scaleTakahashia citricola Kuwana, 1909 is redescribed and transferred to the genus PulvinariaTargioni Tozzettias Pulvinaria citricola (Kuwana, 1909), comb. n.(Coccoidea: Coccidae). Pulvinaria gamazumii Kanda, 1960 is synonymized with Pulvinaria citricolacomb. n. and Pulvinaria nipponica Lindinger, 1933, is resurrected as the replacement name for Pulvinaria citricola Kuwana, 1914 (nec Kuwana, 1909). The adult female of Pulvinaria citricola (Kuwana, 1909) is redescribed and illustrated.     

Variability in the numbers of post-settlement King George whiting (Sillaginidae: Sillaginodes punctata, Cuvier) in relation to predation, habitat complexity and artificial cage structure

The importance of predation by fish in altering abundances of juvenile King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctata) was examined at multiple locations in Port Phillip Bay, Australia, by manipulating the numbers of piscivorous fish in unvegetated sand and seagrass habitats using cages. Additional information regarding the local abundances of, and habitat use by, the most common piscivorous fish, Western Australian salmon (Arripidae: Arripis truttacea, Cuvier), was gathered using netting surveys and underwater video. Regardless of habitat, abundances of S. punctata were similar in partial cages and uncaged areas. In unvegetated sand, S. punctata were more abundant inside cages than partial cages or uncaged areas. In seagrass, there was no difference in the numbers of S. punctata between caging treatments. Patterns in abundances of S. punctata between cage treatments in each habitat were consistent between sites, but the relative difference in the abundances of S. punctata between habitats was site specific. Abundances of A. truttacea varied significantly between sites, and they consumed a variety of epibenthic fishes including atherinids, clupeids, gobiids, syngnathids and pleuronectids. At one site in Port Phillip Bay (Blairgowrie), A. truttacea occurred more commonly in patches of unvegetated sand than seagrass. Over unvegetated sand, abundances of A. truttacea varied little between partial cages and uncaged areas. The numbers of S. punctata varied between caging treatments and habitats in a manner that was consistent with a model whereby seagrass interferes with foraging by predatory fish and provides juvenile fish with a refuge from predation. The almost total absence of A. truttacea in seagrass habitats and the lack of S. punctata in their diets implies, however, that patterns in S. punctata in seagrass/unvegetated sand mosaics are driven by processes other than direct predation.     

Ochoterenella esslingeri n. sp. (Nematoda: Onchocercidae: Waltonellinae) from Bokermannohyla luctuosa (Anura: Hylidae) in Minas Gerais,Brazil, with notes on Paraochoterenella Purnomo & Bangs, 1999

The waltonelline Ochoterenella esslingeri n. sp., a filarial parasite of the anuran Bokermannohyla luctuosa in Minas Gerais, Brazil is described. Several characters distinguish this new species from the 15 species presently included in the genus: the cuticular ornamentation of the female that is restricted to the posterior region of the body, the irregular arrangement of the small, rounded bosses, the postoesophageal vulva, the short glandular oesophagus, the size and shape of the microfilariae, the long left spicule and high spicular ratio. Irregularly arranged, tiny, rounded bosses are common in the monotypic genus Paraochoterenella from an Indonesian ranid, which is not well defined but likely valid. In the Neotropical Realm, the type hosts of the species of Ochoterenella are Hylidae (O. esslingeri n. sp.), Leptodactylidae (two species) and the remaining 13 species were described from the giant toad Rhinella marina (Bufonidae).     

A review of the Holarctic genus Tmeticus Menge, 1868 (Araneae, Linyphiidae), with a description of a new genus

Eight species attributed to Tmeticus are reviewed; five are redescribed and illustrated: Tmeticus affinis (Blackwall, 1885), Tmeticus bipunctis (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906), Tmeticus nigriceps Kulczyński, 1916, Tmeticus ornatus (Emerton, 1914) and Tmeticus tolli Kulczyński, 1908. The new genus, Paratmeticus gen. n. is erected for Tmeticus bipunctis, and a new combination is established: Paratmeticus bipunctis (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906), comb. n. Three species names: Gongylidium vile Kulczyński, 1885, syn. n., Tmeticus difficilis Kulczyński, 1926, syn. n. and Tmeticus dubius Kulczyński, 1926, syn. n., are synonymized with Tmeticus tolli Kulczyński, 1908. Although Gongylidium vile has date priority over Tmeticus tolli it is synonymized because of the lack of usage. Three species from Japan attributed to Tmeticus: Tmeticus neserigonoides Saito & Ono, 2001, Tmeticus nigerrimus Saito & Ono, 2001 and Tmeticus vulcanicus Saito & Ono, 2001 are not related to Tmeticus affinis, the type species of the genus, and their affinities remain unclear. The male of Tmeticus nigriceps is described for the first time.     

Two new species of the Stenochinus amplus species-group from China (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Stenochiini)

Two new species of the Stenochinus amplus species-group are described, S. apiciconcavus sp. n. (CHINA: Shaanxi) and S. xinyicus sp. n. (CHINA: Guangdong). Also, some new distribution data are provided for S. cylindricus (Gebien, 1914), and a key to the seven species of the S. amplus species-group from China is given.