Surface ultrastructure of the elasmobranchia parasitizing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Grillotiella exilis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudonybelinia odontacantha</Emphasis> (Trypanorhyncha,Cestoda)

The surface ultrastructure of two monotypic trypanorhynch genera is described based on new material of Grillotiella exilis (Linton, 1909) and type material of Pseudonybelinia odontacantha Dollfus 1966. In G. exilis, spiniform microtriches cover the bothrial surfaces and the anterior part of the pars vaginalis posterior to the bothria. Bifurcate microtriches adorn the bothrial margins, filiform microtriches the scolex peduncle, and capilliform microtriches the posterior scolex end. This microthrix pattern resembles that found in, e.g., Grillotia erinaceus (van Beneden, 1858), with the difference that the anterior part of the pars vaginalis is covered with a collar of multidigitate palmate microtriches. The position of Grillotiella within the Grillotiinae, Lacistorhynchidae is supported based on these data. The bothria and scolex peduncle of P. odontacantha are covered with acerosate and unciniform microtriches on the distal bothrial surface and capilliform microtriches on the scolex peduncle. Short filiform microtriches cover the appendix. The microthrix pattern resembles that of the Tentaculariidae but with unciniform and acerosate microtriches densely covering the entire distal bothrial surface. Tegumental grooves are present on the posterior bothrial margin. They can be distinguished from bothrial pits in otobothrioid trypanorhynchs in having similar unciniform microtriches compared to the other parts of the bothrial surface and in lacking any spiniform microtriches. With the absence of bothrial pits as characteristic for the otobothrioids and its characteristic microthrix pattern, P. odontacantha together with Paranybelinia otobothrioides Dollfus 1966, both belonging to the Paranybeliniidae change their position in the most recent system from the Otobothrioidea into the Tentacularioidea.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Petasiger islandicus</Emphasis> n. sp. (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) in the horned grebe <Emphasis Type="Italic">Podiceps auritus</Emphasis> (L.) (Aves: Podicipedidae) from Iceland

Petasiger islandicus n. sp. is described and figured from a demographically isolated population of the horned grebe Podiceps auritus auritus (L.) in Lake Myvatn (Iceland). This new species belongs to the group of species with 19 collar spines which possess a large elongate-oval cirrus-sac, well-developed pars prostatica and massive bulb-like cirrus. Within this group, P. islandicus appears most similar to P. oschmarini Kostadinova & Gibson, 1998, a form with similar body dimensions described from the same host, but differs in having a larger head collar, collar spines, oral sucker, pharynx, testes and sucker-width ratio, and a smaller cirrus-sac, cirrus and eggs. Two Nearctic species resemble P. islandicus in general morphology but differ as follows: P. pseudoneocomense Bravo-Hollis, 1969 has a larger body and collar width, notably shorter collar spines, smaller testes and sucker-width ratio, and a shorter but much wider cirrus-sac which is also smaller relative to the ventral sucker and almost entirely anterior to it; and P. caribbensis Nassi, 1980 has a smaller body, shorter collar spines and a seminal vesicle which is small in relation to the cirrus-sac, vitelline fields reaching anteriorly to the level of the genital pore and the intestinal bifurcation is located more anteriorly.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Luciaella ivanovae</Emphasis> n. g., n. sp. (Eucestoda: Proteocephalidea: Peltidocotylinae), a parasite of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ageneiosus inermis</Emphasis> (L.) (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) in Argentina

Luciaella ivanovae n. g., n. sp. (Proteocephalidea: Peltidocotylinae) is proposed to accommodate a new cestode from a siluroid fish, the manduvé Ageneiosus inermis (Linnaeus) (syn. A. brevifilis Valenciennes) (Auchenipteridae) from the Colastiné River, a tributary of the Paraná River, in Argentina. The new genus is placed in the Peltidocotylinae because it has a medullary ovary with projections into the dorsal cortex, cortical vitelline follicles and testes, a cortical uterine stem, and uterine branches penetrating the medulla and usually as far as the dorsal cortex. Luciaella can be distinguished from all other peltidocotyline genera by the following combination of characters: a quadrangular scolex with four biloculate suckers, each of which has a cap-peak-like structure situated on the anterior margin; the absence of a metascolex; vitelline follicles arranged in two lateral rows which are crescent-shaped in transverse section; testes distributed in two dorsal fields connected anteriorly and sometimes posteriorly; and a vagina which is always anterior to the cirrus-sac and overlaps the convoluted vas deferens. Filiform microtriches are present on all tegumental surfaces, with short filiform microtriches on the scolex and long filiform microtriches on the proliferation zone and on both immature and mature proglottides. The diagnosis of the Peltidocotylinae Woodland, 1934 given by Rego (1994) is amended. L. ivanovae is the fourth proteocephalidean described from A. inermis and the third recorded in this fish host from Argentina.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nataliella marcelli</Emphasis> n. g., n. sp. (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha: Rhinoptericolidae) from Hawaiian fishes

A new trypanorhynch cestode from Hawaiian waters is described based on specimens in the collection of the Meguro Parasitological Museum, Tokyo, and newly collected specimens. Nataliella marcelli n. g., n. sp. is characterised by its elongate, craspedote scolex with four small, ear-shaped bothria, an elongate pars vaginalis and long bulbs. The homeoacanthous homeomorphous metabasal armature is comprised of five or six slender, solid hooks per half spiral row. A distinctive basal armature is present, including a combination of six characteristically shaped macrohooks not previously described for trypanorhynchs. The surface ultrastructure consists of gladiate spiniform microtriches that cover the distal and proximal bothrial surface and filiform microtriches on the scolex peduncle. The adults are not known. Nataliella is assigned to the family Rhinoptericolidae Carvajal & Campbell, 1975 based on its possession of four bothria, prebulbar organs and no chainette or intercalary hooks. The family diagnosis is amended to accommodate the new genus. Rhinoptericola megacantha Carvajal & Campbell, 1975 is considered the most closely related species, a position that has been confirmed by molecular analyses of the SSU and LSU rDNA. Nataliella n. g. is intermediate in morphology between the homeoacanth family Tentaculariidae Poche, 1926 (superfamily Tentacularioidea) and the Rhinoptericolidae and other eutetrarhynchid genera (superfamily Eutetrarhynchoidea), sharing characters of both superfamilies.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Grammatorcynicola</Emphasis> n. g. (Bucephalidae: Dolichoenterinae) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Grammatorcynus</Emphasis> spp. (Scombridae) on the Great Barrier Reef,Australia

A new trematode genus, Grammatorcynicola n. g. (Bucephalidae: Dolichoenterinae), and two new species, G. brayi n. sp. and G. nolani n. sp. from the intestines of the scombrids, Grammatorcynus bicarinatus and Gr. bilineatus respectively, are reported from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Grammatorcynicola n. g. is placed in the Dolichoenterinae, as the pharynx is in the anterior quarter of the body, the caecum is tube-like and extends to the posterior quarter of the body, the cirrus-sac is small relative to the size of the worm when compared with other bucephalids and the pars prostatica is curved. Grammatorcynicola n. g. differs from other dolichoenterine genera in having a simple sucker-like rhynchus, the ovary anterior to the testes and by not having a particularly thick cirrus-sac wall.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kiluluma</Emphasis> Skrjabin, 1916 (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) from the white rhinoceros, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratotherium simum</Emphasis> (Burchell) from South Africa

A new species of Kiluluma Skrjabin, 1916, Kiluluma ornata n. sp., is described from the intestine of the white rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum (Burchell) from South Africa. The new species is virtually identical with a species described as Kiluluma sp., but not named due to a paucity of material then available. The new species most closely resembles K. solitaria Thapar, 1924 and K. ceratotherii Beveridge & Jabbar, 2013, in the possession of an undulating anterior margin of the buccal capsule but differs in the leaf crown elements which have bulbous, lip-like expansions, which are lacking in K. solitaria and K. ceratotherii.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sanguinicola maritimus</Emphasis> n. sp. (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) from Labridae (Teleostei: Perciformes) of southern Australian waters

A new species of Sanguinicola Plehn, 1905 is described from the marine teleosts Notolabrus parilus (Richardson) and N. tetricus (Richardson) (Perciformes: Labridae) from Western Australian and Tasmanian waters. This host distribution is strikingly anomalous; however, the present material fulfils the morphological criteria of Sanguinicola. S. maritimus n. sp. differs from previously described species in having the combination of a body 1,432–1,701 μm long, the oesophagus 18.3–21.7% of the body length, the testis occupying 42.8–52.3% of the body length, an oviducal seminal receptacle and Mehlis’ gland present, ovoid eggs, and vitelline follicles that extend anteriorly past the nerve commissure, laterally past the lateral nerve chords and posteriorly to the anterior margin of the cirrus-sac. S. maritimus also lacks a protrusible anterior proboscis. It also differs in the combination of host and geographical location, being the first Sanguinicola species from a marine teleost and the first from Australian waters.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria khalkhalensis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria</Emphasis>, Scrophulariaceae), a new species from Iran

Summary   Linaria khalkhalensis Hamdi & Assadi is described as a new species from Azerbaijan and Guilan provinces (northern Iran), belonging to Linaria sect. Linaria. It is close to Linaria lineolata Boiss. and L. elymaitica (Boiss.) Kuprian., which it resembles in habit and vegetative features. However, floral and seed characters together with a distinctive geographical distribution, warrant recognition at the species rank. An illustration of the new species, a distribution map, scanning electron micrographs of seed and capsule surfaces, and an identification key are also included.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macroptilium</Emphasis> (Benth.) Urb. (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leguminosae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Papilionoideae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolinae</Emphasis>) from North-Eastern Brazil

Summary  A new species of Macroptilium sect. Microcochle (Benth.) J. A. Lackey is herein described from the states of Piauí and Bahia, Brazil. Macroptilium cochleatum is characterized by few-flowered inflorescences, calyx teeth longer than the tube, a tightly four-coiled keel, and linear, patent fruits. The discovery of this unique Macroptilium species, with its distally coiled keel, expands the diagnostic features of the genus. A key to the Brazilian species of sect. Microcochle is provided.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Notocotylus biomphalariae</Emphasis> n. sp. (Digenea: Notocotylidae)from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Biomphalaria peregrina</Emphasis> (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) in Patagonia,Argentina

A new species of Notocotylus was found parasiting a freshwater pulmonate snail, Biomphalaria peregrina. Naturally infected snails were collected from two temporary ponds in the Nahuel Huapí National Park in Patagonia. The characteristics of the larval stages are presented. Experimental adults were recovered from the intestinal caeca of ducks and chicks. Adults of Notocotylus biomphalariae n. sp. exhibit an aspinose tegument, two lateral rows of 11 ventral glands and a median row of four, a uterus with 12–16 coils of which 2–4 are previtelline, a metraterm equivalent in size to 65–68% of the cirrus-sac length, a previtelline field which extends to the middle of the body, a lobed testis and a genital pore closely posterior to the intestinal bifurcation. The rediae have one to three cercariae. The cercariae, when shed, are trioculate and have a long tail; they encyst in the environment and become infective 12 days after encystment.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neolebouria blatta</Emphasis> n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus</Emphasis> (Valenciennes) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Etelis carbunculus</Emphasis> Cuvier (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) off New Caledonia

Neolebouria blatta n. sp. is described from Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus (Valenciennes) and Etelis carbunculus Cuvier in waters off New Caledonia. It differs from all other species of Neolebouria Gibson, 1976 but one, N. georgenascimentoi Bray, 2002, in the extension of the cirrus-sac to the ovary or nearly so. It differs from N. georgenascimentoi in its continuous, rather than interrupted, vitelline distribution. N. blatta belongs to a small group of similar Neolebouria species reported in deep-water lutjanids, which includes N. longisacculus (Yamaguti, 1970) n. comb., N. rooseveltiae (Yamaguti, 1970) n. comb. and N. ulaula (Yamaguti, 1970).     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stigmidium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphaerellothecium</Emphasis> (lichenicolous ascomycetes) on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stereocaulon</Emphasis>

Sphaerellothecium stereocaulorum sp. nov., Stigmidium beringicum sp. nov., Stigmidium stereocaulorum sp. nov. and goniocysts are described on Stereocaulon species from the northern Holarctic. Endococcus nanellus is reported new to Alaska and Mongolia. Taxonomical novelties Sphaerellothecium stereocaulorum Zhurb. & Triebel, Stigmidium beringicum Zhurb. & Triebel, Stigmidium stereocaulorum Zhurb. & Triebel.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacciger</Emphasis> Nicoll, 1914 (Trematoda: Faustulidae) in species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Herklotsichthys</Emphasis> Whitley (Clupeidae) from Queensland waters

Two new species of Bacciger Nicoll, 1914 (Faustulidae) are described infecting clupeids collected from the waters off Queensland, Australia; Bacciger minor n. sp. is described from Herklotsichthys castelnaui (Ogilby) in Moreton Bay, southern Queensland and Bacciger major n. sp. is described from Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus (Rüppell) collected off Lizard Island, on the northern Great Barrier Reef. The two species both differ from previously described species of Bacciger in the combination of their generally elongate bodies, an entire rather than deeply lobed ovary, vitelline follicles that reach to at least the intestinal bifurcation, instead of restricted to further posteriorly but principally distributed in the hindbody, and intestinal caeca extending posteriorly well past the ventral sucker. The two new species have non-overlapping size ranges and differ in their sucker ratios, the distribution of the vitelline follicles and in the shape of the cirrus-sac. ITS2 and 28S rDNA sequence data distinguish the two new species unambiguously. Phylogenetic analysis of available 28S data show they are most closely related to Pseudobacciger cheneyae Sun, Bray, Yong, Cutmore & Cribb, 2014, also recorded off Lizard Island. These are the first faustulids reported from species of Herklotsichthys Whitley, but overall members of the Clupeidae undoubtedly harbours the richest faustulid fauna of any fish family. Baccigeroides ovatus (Price, 1934) n. comb. is proposed for Bacciger ovatus (Price, 1934) Bray & Gibson, 1980 (syn. B. opisthonema Nahhas & Cable, 1964) based on the position of the genital pore being far anteriorly removed from the ventral sucker.     

The involvement of <Emphasis Type="Italic">engrailed</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">wingless</Emphasis> during segmentation in the onychophoran <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euperipatoides kanangrensis</Emphasis> (Peripatopsidae: Onychophora) (Reid 1996)

As the putative sister group to the arthropods, onychophorans can provide insight into ancestral developmental mechanisms in the panarthropod clade. Here, we examine the expression during segmentation of orthologues of wingless (Wnt1) and engrailed, two genes that play a key role in defining segment boundaries in Drosophila and that appear to play a role in segmentation in many other arthropods. Both are expressed in segmentally reiterated stripes in all forming segments except the first (brain) segment, which only shows an engrailed stripe. Engrailed is expressed before segments are morphologically visible and is expressed in both mesoderm and ectoderm. Segmental wingless expression is not detectable until after mesodermal somites are clearly distinct. Early engrailed expression lies in and extends to both sides of the furrow that first demarcates segments in the ectoderm, but is largely restricted to the posterior part of somites. Wingless expression lies immediately anterior to engrailed expression, as it does in many arthropods, but there is no precise cellular boundary between the two expression domains analogous to the overt parasegment boundary seen in Drosophila. Engrailed stripes extend along the posterior part of each limb bud, including the antenna, while wingless is restricted to the distal tip of the limbs and the neurectoderm basal to the limbs. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vampirolepis kulkinae</Emphasis> n. sp. (Cyclophyllidea: Hymenolepididae) from the common noctule bat <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nyctalus noctula</Emphasis> (Schreber) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Kazakhstan

A previously unrecognised species of hymenolepidid cestode attributable to Vampirolepis Spassky, 1954 is described based on specimens from the common noctule bat Nyctalus noctula (Schreber) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from southeastern Kazakhstan (Dzungarian Alatau). Specimens of Vampirolepis kulkinae n. sp. differ from the morphologically similar congeners based on the number, size and shape of the rostellar hooks. The new species is further distinguished from additional cestodes attributed to Vampirolepis (sensu lato) by the arrangement of the testes in one row, egg structure (i.e. thin outer coat and emryophore without polar filaments) and the relative position and length of the cirrus-sac. This is the first species of the genus Vampirolepis described from Kazakhstan.     

A new acuariid nematode, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Syncuaria mackoi</Emphasis> n. sp. (Spirurida), from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ciconia nigra</Emphasis> (L.) (Ciconiiformes: Ciconiidae) in Europe

Syncuaria mackoi n. sp. is described, based on light and scanning electron microscopy, from the stomach of the black stork Ciconia nigra in Bulgaria. The new species is characterised by: body length 7.18–8.30 mm (males) and 10.13–11.40 mm (females); cordons anastomosing about the level of the middle of the muscular oesophagus and consisting of delicate cuticular plates; bifurcate deirids 7–9 μm long; lateral longitudinal cuticular band-like swellings; nine pairs of pedunculate caudal papillae, i.e. four precloacal and five postcloacal, the latter forming two groups (2 + 3); sixth pair of postcloacal papillae sessile; left spicule 854–907 μm long; right spicule 138–154 μm in length, with a curved distal end resembling a horn and a short lateral projection at some distance from its tip; and vagina vera provided with an anteriorly-directed blind appendix. The specimens identified as S. ciconiae (Gil’bert, 1927) by Macko (1964) from C. nigra in Slovakia are considered as belonging to S. mackoi. A pair of small cupolae situated dorsally and ventrally between bases of cordons of the new species is described for the first time in this genus; they are recognised as homologous to the pair of spines in the same position previously described in S. diacantha Petter, 1961 and S. plegadisi Digiani, 1999.     

The Madagascan genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vaughania</Emphasis> is reduced to synonymy under <Emphasis Type="Italic">Indigofera</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leguminosae-Papilionoideae-Indigofereae</Emphasis>)

Summary  Eleven species comprising the Madagascan genus Vaughania are subsumed within the large pantropical genus Indigofera. Six new combinations are made; the remaining species were originally described in Indigofera.