Cryptic speciation in the narrow‐headed vole Lasiopodomys (Stenocranius) gregalis (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Recent study on Lasiopodomys (Stenocranius) gregalis has revealed four clear mitochondrial lineages with differences exceeding the species level. The most divergent is the clade from south‐eastern Transbaikalia. Multilocus (six nuclear genes), morphological (dental characters of m1 and M3) and behavioural (breeding experiments) analyses were conducted to test the hypothesis that L. gregalis is a complex of two cryptic species. All of the applied methods distinguish the independent status of voles from south‐eastern Transbaikalia. This clade occupies a portion of the distribution range of the currently valid subspecies L. g. raddei including its terra typica. According to the results of cyt b analysis, the lectotype of L. g. raddei belongs to the Transbaikal clade. We re‐establish the species status for the taxon Lasiopodomys raddei including populations from south‐eastern Transbaikalia, as a cryptic species of the narrow‐headed vole complex.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alcicornis haroldi</Emphasis> n. sp. (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from the yellowspotted trevally <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carangoides fulvoguttatus</Emphasis> (Forsskål) (Carangidae) from off New Caledonia

Alcicornis haroldi n. sp. is described from Carangoides fulvoguttatus from off New Caledonia, South Pacific. It differs from all other Alcicornis spp. in its large protuberant pharynx, and from the most similar species, A. baylisi Nagaty, 1937, in its broader rhynchus, indistinct withdrawn tentacles and vitelline distribution.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraliparis</Emphasis> (Scorpaeniformes: Liparidae) from the Ross Sea (Antarctica)

Liparidae from stomachs of Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni Norman, 1937 (Nototheniidae) caught in the Ross Sea (Pacific sector of Antarctica) have been identified. Two new species of deep-water liparids of the genus Paraliparis Collett, 1879—P. caninus sp. nov. (at a depth of 1182–1651 m) and P. vipera sp. nov. (1700 m)—were described. Both species that turned out to be most similar to P. neelovi Andriashev, 1982, from the Kerguelen area (the Indo-Oceanic sector of the South Ocean) are combined with it into a species group “P. neelovi.” According to meristic characters, pattern of dentition, and the size of gill opening, species of “P. neelovi” are close to the species group “P. copei.” In collections from a depth of 1700 m, also two individuals of P. andriashevi Stein et Tompkins, 1989, known previously from only two types from the northern boundary of the Ross Sea were found. The new finding supports species validity and extends the known limits of its range. The wide distribution of bathybenthal Paraliparis having low fecundity and leading a near-bottom mode of life can be explained by the presence of mesopelagic juveniles and their dispersal via currents.     

Gambusia quadruncus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae): a new species of mosquitofish from east‐central México

Gambusia quadruncus n. sp., the llanos mosquitofish, is described from east‐central México. The region inhabited by the species represents a hotspot of diversity of Gambusia, and G. quadruncus sometimes coexists with at least three congeners. The species differs from its closest relative, Gambusia affinis, in several characteristics with plausible effects on reproductive isolation, e.g. body size, body and fin morphology, male genital morphology (distal tip of gonopodium) and female anal spot morphology (colouration near the urogenital sinus). Moreover, combined analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequence data (c. 2158 total base pairs) indicates reciprocal monophyly of G. quadruncus and its sister species G. affinis, with levels of genetic divergence suggesting the two species diverged from one another over a million years ago. The origin of G. quadruncus may reflect a vicariant event associated with Pliocene orogenesis in the Tamaulipas Arch and a frontal section of the Sierra Madre Oriental (Lleran Mesas). Gambusia quadruncus inhabits a variety of freshwater habitats across several river drainages, with its range spanning at least 350 km from north to south, covering over 25 000 km². A key to aid identification of the species is provided.     

Revision and synopsis of the caddisfly genus Dicosmoecus (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae; Dicosmoecinae)

Six species of Dicosmoecus are recognized: the palatus species group of Siberia and Japan [palatus (McL.), obscuripennis Banks, and jozankeanus Mats.)]; and the atripes species group of western montane North America [atripes (Hagen), gilvipes (Hagen), and pallicornis Banks]. D. obscuripennis is re‐established as a valid species distinct from palalus and recorded from the Yukon Territory and Alaska, and also Siberia. Keys are provided for identification of males, females, and larvae. Hypotheses of phylogeny and biogeography are proposed, stating that the palatus and atripes species groups evolved independently in Asia and North America respectively; and that obscuripennis of the palatus group extended its range to North America during the Pleistocene Beringian land connection between the two continents.

Data on food, life cycle, habitat, and distribution are given for the North American species. Most Dicosmoecus appear to be generalized predator‐shredders with robust, toothed mandibles; but fifth instar larvae of D. gilvipes feed mainly by scraping rocks for diatoms, a behaviour which is evidently responsible for eroding the slender blade and weakly formed teeth of the mandible, unique to this species, to a uniform scraping edge. D. gilvipes is further distinctive in usually having a 1‐year life cycle, whereas atripes and the other North American species usually have a life cycle of 2 years.     

New species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macclintockia</Emphasis> (Angiosperms) from the Campanian of the Ugol’naya Bay (Northeastern Russia)

New species of angiosperms are described as members of the genus Macclintockia from the Ugol’naya Bay area, in northeastern Russia: M. barykovensis Moiseeva, sp. nov., M. gigantea Moiseeva, sp. nov., and M. terranea Moiseeva et Herman, sp. nov. Leaves of this genus are considerably variable, which hampers differentiation between particular species. The study of new material has allowed the author to trace the morphological variability of these species and revised on this ground the composition of the species M. ochotica Vachr. et Herman and M. beringiana Herman. The composition of Macclintockia is discussed, as well as its occurrence during the Late Cretaceous.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pycnoscelus surinamensis</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758) (Blaberoidea: Blaberidae), a cockroach with a possible association with the ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachymyrmex cordemoyi</Emphasis> Forel, 1895 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and which may be exhibiting a domiciliation trend.

In the present paper, we report on the occurrence of the cockroach Pycnoscelus surinamensis (Linnaeus, 1758) in Brachymyrmex cordemoyi Forel, 1895 nests, indicating a possible symbiosis between these two species. Also, the finding of intradomicile P. surinamensis nymphs may indicate this species is extending its habitat to human habitations, i.e. changing its ecological category from peridomestic to domestic.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clestobothrium gibsoni</Emphasis> n. sp. (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidae) from the bullseye grenadier <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathygadus macrops</Emphasis> Goode &; Bean (Macrouridae) in the Gulf of Mexico

Clestobothrium gibsoni n. sp. is described from the intestine of the bullseye grenadier Bathygadus macrops (Macrouridae) collected in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The new species can be distinguished from both C. crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819), the type-species of the genus, and C. neglectum (Lönnberg, 1893), the second species in the genus, by its unique ovary, which is transversely elongate and tapered on both ends rather than being U-or H-shaped, and by having more testes (60-65 vs 40-50 and 35-45 per proglottid). The new species is also compared to Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934 and B. kivuensis Baer & Fain, 1954, two species with similar scoleces which have previously been assigned to Clestobothrium . The generic diagnosis of Clestobothrium is amended to include species with either anoperculate or operculate eggs. This is the first report of an adult tapeworm from a species of Bathygadus , and the first report of a species of Clestobothrium Lühe, 1899 (Bothriocephalidae) from the Gulf of Mexico.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caulophilus</Emphasis> Woll. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cossoninae) from the Rovno amber

Caulophilus zherikhini, sp. nov. (Curculionidae: Cossoninae) is described from the Late Eocene Rovno amber. The new species is distinguished from all known species of the genus by its longer rostrum. It is especially similar to C. falini Davis et Engel, 2007 from Dominican amber, from which it probably differs also in the more strongly curved rostrum, less flattened body, longer and narrower profemur, and shorter elytral setae.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bracon (Lucobracon) iskilipus</Emphasis> sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae) from the Central Black Sea region of Turkey

During the studies on the Turkish Braconidae, a new species Bracon (Lucobracon) iskilipus sp. n. from the Turkish Central Black Sea region was recorded. Bracon (Lucobracon) iskilipus sp. n. was described, its morphological diagnostic characters were illustrated and it was compared with the related Bracon (Lucobracon) moczari Papp.     

Molecular phylogeny of African hinge‐back tortoises (Kinixys): implications for phylogeography and taxonomy (Testudines: Testudinidae)

We examine the phylogeography, phylogeny and taxonomy of hinge‐back tortoises using a comprehensive sampling of all currently recognized Kinixys species and subspecies and sequence data of three mitochondrial DNA fragments (2273 bp: 12S rRNA, ND4 + adjacent DNA coding for tRNAs, cytb) and three nuclear loci (2569 bp: C‐mos, ODC, R35). Combined and individual analyses of the two data sets using Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood methods suggest that the savannah species of Kinixys are paraphyletic with respect to the rainforest species K. homeana and K. erosa, and that the rainforest species may be derived from a savannah‐living ancestor. The previously recognized savannah species K. belliana was a conglomerate of three deeply divergent clades that we treat here as distinct species. We restrict the name K. belliana (Gray, 1830) to hinge‐back tortoises ranging from Angola to Burundi, while five‐clawed hinge‐back tortoises from the northernmost part of the formerly recognized range of K. belliana, together with four‐clawed tortoises from West Africa, are assigned to the species K. nogueyi (Lataste, 1886). These two species are allied to K. spekii, whereas Southeast African and Malagasy hinge‐back tortoises formerly lumped together with K. belliana represent the distinct species K. zombensis Hewitt, 1931, which is sister to K. lobatsiana. The latter two species together constitute the sister group of the rainforest species K. homeana and K. erosa. Mitochondrial data suggest that K. natalensis has a basal phylogenetic position in a clade embracing K. belliana sensu stricto, K. nogueyi and K. spekii, while nuclear data and the two data sets combined favour a sister group relationship of K. natalensis to all other hinge‐back tortoises. Phylogeographic structure is present in all wide‐ranging species and correlates in K. homeana and K. erosa with the Dahomey Gap and former rainforest refugia. The Malagasy population of K. zombensis is weakly differentiated from its South African conspecifics and further sampling is needed to determine whether there is support for the subspecific distinctness of Malagasy tortoises.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudorhabdosynochus quadratus</Emphasis> n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from the white-streaked grouper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epinephelus ongus</Emphasis> (Bloch) (Perciformes: Serranidae) off New Caledonia

Gill diplectanid monogeneans from the camouflage grouper Epinephelus polyphekadion (Bleeker) collected in the coral reef lagoon of New Caledonia, South Pacific, comprise four species. Very few monogeneans were found in most fish examined. Pseudorhabdosynochus dionysos n. sp. has a sclerotised vagina with a robust trumpet, a robust primary canal and two chambers of similar size; it is close to P. bacchus Sigura, Chauvet & Justine, 2007. P. viscosus n. sp. has a sclerotised vagina with a robust trumpet, long primary canal with an extremely thin wall and two small chambers, and a male quadriloculate organ with a characteristic thickening at the extremity of its cone. P. crassus n. sp., the most abundant species, has a sclerotised vagina with a thin-walled trumpet, thin-walled primary canal which is always coiled anteriorly and two small chambers. P. huitoe Justine, 2007, P. manifestus Justine & Sigura, 2007 and P. crassus have very similar sclerotised vaginae; however, species of this ‘huitoe complex’ can be distinguished by measurements of the haptoral hard parts. A few diplectanid specimens found in a single specimen of E. polyphekadion were attributed to P. huitoe, a species originally described from E. maculatus (Bloch) and also rarely found in E. cyanopodus Richardson in New Caledonia; specimens from these three fish species are morphologically indistinguishable.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pterothominx</Emphasis> Freitas, 1959 (Nematoda: Capillariidae) parasitising psittacine birds (Psittaciformes)

A new species, Pterothominx (Pterothominx) moraveci n. sp. (Trichinelloidea: Capillariidae) is described from an Australian parrot, Barnardius zonarius Shaw (Psittacidae: Psittaciformes), imported from Germany and kept in captivity in the Czech Republic. Males of the new taxon differ from all other species of the subgenus Pterothominx Freitas, 1959, which mainly parasitise galliform birds, in having a shorter spicule (0.925–1.338; mean 1.050 mm), a shorter body length and a different form of armed spicular sheath and bursa. Females differ in having the smallest eggs (40–50 × 20–25; mean 48 × 23 μm) and in other morphometrical characters. From the species P. (P.) totani (Linstow, 1875), which parasitises charadriiform birds, the new species differs in its smaller number of stichocytes (females 42–46, mean 44; versus 50–54), different form of the bursa and praebursal alae, and other characters. This is the only species of Pterothominx that parasitises psittacine birds.     

Amphicreadium n. g. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) from monacanthid fishes (Tetraodontiformes) from the coast of northern Tasmania

A new lepocreadiid genus, Amphicreadium, is erected for the species A. denspeniculus n. sp. from Acanthaluteres vittiger and for an unnamed species from Meuschenia freycineti, both from off northern Tasmania. The new genus is distinguished from all other members of its family by its amphistomatous body plan.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptoclinus maculatus diaphanocarus</Emphasis> (Schmidt, 1904) (Zoarcoidei: Stichaeidae) of the northen part of the Sea of Japan

Juveniles of Leptoclinus maculatus diaphanocarus were observed in great numbers in netting of bottom trawl in the period from April 28 to May 7 2007 in the Tatar Strait. Metamorphosis of juveniles reached its end at the body length from 8.5 to 11.0 cm. It was accompanied by change of coloration. After transition to the bottom mode of life, the frequency of occurrence of specimens of this species in catches drastically decreased. Principal counts are estimated, with consideration of additional material from far eastern seas of Russia. Two groups of specimens which would correspond to the Pacific and the Atlantic subspecies sensu Andriashev are not found. It is suggested that, for determination of the actual taxonomic status of intraspecies groups of the species L. maculatus, additional comparative material on morphology and genetics is needed from different regions.     

Two new species of the genus Probles Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae) from South Korea and Russian Far East

Two species of the genus Probles Förster, P. interruptor sp . nov . and P. segaza sp . nov ., from South Korea and Russian Far East, are described. Probles interruptor differs from its congeners by occipital carina mediodorsally narrowly interrupted and polished occipital surface extending partly on the vertex. Probles segaza differs from other species of Euporizon by its robust ovipositor with a deep and narrow dorsal subapical notch.     

A new species of anglerfish (Lophiidae: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lophiodes</Emphasis>) from the western Pacific

Lophiodes endoi sp. nov. is described from the western Pacific Ocean. Within the genus Lophiodes, the new species belongs in the L. mutilus group mainly defined by the absence of the fourth dorsal fin spine and differs from other species in the L. mutilus group in having a rounded esca with a paler tip, a third dorsal spine bearing a pair of black tendrils at two-thirds its length, 20–21 pectoral fin rays, a relatively short head, a relatively short illicium, a relatively short third dorsal spine, and a relatively long fifth dorsal spine, reaching the third soft dorsal fin ray when folded back. Comments on a similar species, L. bruchius, newly collected from the Kyushu–Palau Ridge, and notes on the distribution of congeneric species in the northwestern Pacific are provided.