Notogaeanemertes folzae gen. n., sp. n., an additional ecologically restricted hoplonemertean from New Zealand

Notogaeanemertes folzae gen. n., sp. n., a monoecious and ovoviviparous hoplonemertean, is described from the supra-littoral at Kaikoura, New Zealand. It shares more characters with group I terrestrial nemerteans than with group II which brings into question the significance of certain features in the systematics of semiterrestrial/terrestrial nemerteans.     

Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of Two New Marine Euplotids,Pseudodiophrys nigricans n. g., n. sp., and Paradiophrys zhangi n. sp. (Ciliophora: Euplotida)

ABSTRACT. The morphology, infraciliature, and molecular phylogeny of Pseudodiophrys nigricans n. g., n. sp., and Paradiophrys zhangi n. sp., isolated from a sandy beach near Qingdao, China, were investigated. Pseudodiophrys is characterized by the Diophrys‐like ciliature pattern, but having only a single, reduced undulating membrane. Pseudodiophrys nigricans, the type species by monotypy, is described from live and silver‐impregnated specimens. Paradiophrys zhangi is similar to the type species Paradiophrys irmgard but can be recognized by its border body and the number (7 vs. 8–10) and arrangement (in rows vs. sparsely distributed) of the frontoventral cirri. Small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequence data support the validity of both species. Phylogenetic analyses based on the SSU rRNA gene sequence data currently available for uronychiids and other related taxa indicate that P. nigricans is most closely related to Diophrys scutum and Diophrys apoligothrix, while P. zhangi clusters most closely with Apodiophrys ovalis within a clade that also includes two other Paradiophrys species.     

Tunicothrix rostrata n. g., n. sp., a new urostylid ciliate (Ciliophora, Stichotrichia) from the Yellow Sea

The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Tunicothrix rostrata n. g., n. sp., isolated from the Yellow Sea, are investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. Tunicothrix rostrata measures about 160 x 40 mum in vivo, and has a frontal beak-like protrusion, a conspicuous cortical alveolar layer, two right marginal rows, and usually three distinct midventral pairs. The discovery of T. rostrata enables us to reconsider the classification of Erniella wilberti, a curious ciliate with obscure midventral pairs. Both species are highly similar in overall appearance and nuclear and ciliary pattern. Thus, they are united in a new genus of the family Urostylidae, Tunicothrix, and E. wilberti is transferred to Tunicothrix: Tunicothrix wilbertiLin and Song, 2004 n. comb. By contrast, Erniella filiformis, type species of Erniella, has several ventral rows and does not belong to the urostylids. Tunicothrix rostrata is easily distinguished from T. wilberti by its beak-like anterior protrusion and by the distinctly elongated right marginal row 2, which curves anteriorly on the dorsal side of the cells. Tunicothrix is closely related to Parabirojimia, differing by the invariably two (vs. five-eight) right marginal rows and the conspicuous (vs. ordinary) alveolar layer, a unique feature in urostylid ciliates.     

Description of Paktylenchus tuberosus gen. n., sp. n. (Nematoda: Tylenchinae)

Paktylenchus tuberosus gen.n., sp.n. is described and illustrated from soil around Solanum tuberosum from Kaghan Valley, Pakistan. Paktylenchus gen.n, can be distinguished from the most closely related genus, Agelenchus Andrassy, 1954, by the distinct longitudinal striae, three incisures in the lateral field, and absence of males. Paktylenchus tuberosus shows affinities to Coslenchus Siddiqi, 1978 but differs in having an oblique vagina-to-body axis and a prominent sunken vulva with vulval flaps. Four genera of the subfamily Tylenchinae are also discussed herein.     

Two New Diophrys‐Like Genera and Their Type Species,Apodiophrys ovalis n. g., n. sp. and Heterodiophrys zhui n. g., n. sp. (Ciliophora: Euplotida), with Notes on Their Molecular Phylogeny

ABSTRACT. Based on both morphological and molecular information, two new euplotid genera Apodiophrys n. g. and Heterodiophrys n. g. are described in the present paper. Apodiophrys n. g. is defined as sculptured Diophryinae with bipartite adoral zone; frontoventral cirri arranged in Diophrys‐pattern; marginal cirri located in two clearly separated groups. Heterodiophrys n. g. is recognizable by the combination of Diophrys‐like frontoventral cirri and the unique structure of several marginal cirri that are arranged in a long row. The type species for both new genera, Apodiophrys ovalis n. sp. and Heterodiophrys zhui n. sp., collected from southern China sea, are described. The small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences for both new taxa are determined. Phylogenetic analyses based on these data indicate that Apodiophrys is most closely related to Paradiophrys, which then clusters with Uronychia species. Thus, Apodiophrys–Paradiophrys is separated from other typical Diophrys‐like genera in the SSU rRNA gene trees. The new genus Heterodiophrys is basal to the sister group of Diophrys–Diophryopsis, hence belongs to the “core”Diophrys‐complex.     

Austropeltum glareosum gen. et sp. nov., a New Lichen from Mountain Plateaux in Tasmania and New Zealand*

Austropeltum gen. nov. is described as a monotypic genus of the family Stereocaulaceae. It differs from other genera of the family by a sqamulose habit. The single species, Austropeltum glareosum sp. nov. is characterized by an heteromerous thallus with a thick, heavily gelatinized upper cortex, and stalked, lecideine, glomerate apothecia. The apothecial stalk is a pseudopodetium, which is delimited from the subhymenium by a pigmented boundary tissue. Asci are eight-spored and possess an amyloid tube-structure; the simple ascospores are fusiform and colourless. Filiform conidia are produced laterally and terminally in marginal pycnidia. A. glareosum grows over gritty soil on exposed mountain summits and plateaux in New Zealand and Tasmania.     

Bispiculum inaequale n. gen. & sp. (Nematoda: Tetradonematidae) from New Zealand wood-boring beetles (Curculionidae: Platypodinae )

Abstract

A monotypic new genus, Bispiculum, is erected for B. inaequale n.sp. from the haemocoel of Platypus apicalis, P. caviceps, and P. gracilis, ambrosia beetles indigenous to New Zealand. B. inaequale is characterised by its possession of a pair of spicules and three rows of anal papillae in the male, and ‘escape-form’ juveniles. This is the first record of a tetradonematid in New Zealand, and the first of a tetradonematid from the Curculionidae. All stages are described, and the life history is discussed. The diagnosis of the Tetradonematidae is emended, the family is reviewed, and a key to species is provided.     

New species and new combinations in the yeast genera Kregervanrija gen. nov., Saturnispora and Candida

Analysis of nucleotide sequences from the domains 1 and 2 of the large-subunit rDNA demonstrated species of the Pichia fluxuum clade to be phylogenetically isolated, and domains 1 and 2 and internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence analyses of strains phenotypically identified as P. fluxuum resulted in the discovery of three new species. From this work, the following new genus, new species, and new combinations are proposed: Kregervanrija gen. nov.; type species Kregervanrija fluxuum comb. nov. (type strain NRRL YB-4273, CBS 2287); Kregervanrija delftensis comb. nov. (type strain NRRL Y-7119, CBS 2614); Kregervanrija pseudodelftensis sp. nov. (type strain NRRL Y-5494, CBS 10105); Saturnispora besseyi comb. nov. (NRRL YB-4711, CBS 6343); Saturnispora mendoncae sp. nov. (type strain NRRL Y-11515, CBS 5620); and Candida abiesophila sp. nov. (type strain NRRL Y-11514, CBS 5366).     

New species of Euptyctima (Acari,Oribatida) from New Zealand

Abstract

Oribotritia contortula n. sp., O. contraria n. sp., O. teretis n. sp., Rhysotritia bifurcata n. sp., Microtritia contraria n. sp., M. glabrata n. sp., Hoplophthiracarus bisulcus n. sp., Austrophthiracarus pulchellus n. sp., and Notophthiracarus claviger n. sp. are described from New Zealand.

The genera of Oribotritia Jacot, Rhysotritia Märkel & Meyer, Hoplophthiracarus Jacot, and Austrophthiracarus Balogh & Mahunka are new records for New Zealand.     

Katatopygia gen. n., a monophyletic branch segregated from Boletina (Diptera, Mycetophilidae)

The genus Katatopygia gen. n. is proposed for the Boletina erythropyga/punctus-group that was first introduced by Garrett (1924, 1925) and currently comprises eight described species. Molecular studies have strongly indicated that this group forms a monophyletic sister-group to a clade consisting of all other Boletina, Coelosia and Gnoriste, and its monophyly is supported by morphological data as well. The new genus includes the following species: Katatopygia antoma (Garrett, 1924), comb. n., Katatopygia antica (Garrett, 1924), comb. n., Katatopygia erythropyga (Holmgren, 1883), comb. n.,Katatopygia hissarica (Zaitzev & Polevoi, 2002), comb. n., Katatopygia magna (Garrett, 1925), comb. n., Katatopygia laticauda (Saigusa, 1968), comb. n., Katatopygia neoerythropyga (Zaitzev & Polevoi, 2002), comb. n. andKatatopygia sahlbergi (Lundström, 1906), comb. n., all transferred from Boletina. Katatopygia sahlbergi is found to be a senior synonym of Boletina punctus Garrett, 1925, syn. n. A phylogeny based on morphological data and using parsimony analysis yielded four most parsimonious trees where the new genus is retrieved as monophyletic with high support. Katatopygia neoerythropyga is found to be the sister-taxon to all other species that form two clades, one with Katatopygia sahlbergi-like species and one with Katatopygia erythropyga-like species. A key to males of Katatopygia is provided.     

A new genus of trans-Tasman midge: Anzacladius gen. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae)

Based on larvae, pupae and adults of Australian and New Zealand Orthocladiinae (Chironomidae) midges, a genus new to science, Anzacladius , is described. Two species, A. numbat Cranston sp. n. and A. kangaroo Cranston sp. n., are described from temperate Australia (both western and south-eastern). A. kiwi Cranston sp. n. is described from both North and South Islands, New Zealand: association of the pharate pupa with its putative larva used sequence similarity of the CO1 ( cytochrome oxidase 1 ) gene. Pupal exuviae, the major stage for species recognition, show the genus occurs in running waters, especially in Australian acidic and sandy-bedded creeks, and Anzacladius species are found also in perched lakes of Queensland's Cooloolla region and Fraser Island. Previous morphological phylogenetic studies (under the code 'SO3') indicate a relationship to austral genera Botryocladius Cranston & Edward, Naonella Boothroyd and Echinocladius Cranston.     

Chilocoris neozealandicus,a new species of burrowing bug from New Zealand (Heteroptera: Cydnidae)

Abstract

The Old World cydnid genus Chilocoris Mayr is recorded from the Australasian region for the first time. A key is provided separating Chilocoris from Centrostephus Horvath and Parachilocoris Horvath. A new species, Chilocoris neozealandicus, is described from New Zealand, along with habitus drawing and illustrations of diagnostic characters.     

A new genus of male cones of voltzialean affinity,Uralostrobus voltzioides nov. gen., nov. sp., from the Lower Permian of the Urals (Russia)

A new genus and species of male cones of coniferophyte from the Lower Permian (Artinskian and Kungurian) deposits of the Urals, Russia is described: Uralostrobus voltzioides Naugolnykh nov. gen., nov. sp. The cone shows characters typical of some representatives of conifers belonging to the order Voltziales: more or less isometrical bracts of rhombic shape, prolonged sporangia with attenuate apices, and bisaccate pollen of Illinites-type. General information on the associated female seed scales and vegetative leafy shoots is given as well.     

Leptojacobus dorci n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Diplogastridae), an Associate of Dorcus Stag Beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)

A new species of diplogastrid nematode, Leptojacobus dorci n. gen., n. sp., was isolated from adults of the stag beetle Dorcus ritsemae (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) that were purchased from a pet shop in Japan. Leptojacobus n. gen. is circumscribed by a very thin, delicate body and by a small stoma with minute armature. A combination of other stomatal characters, namely the division of the cheilostom into adradial plates, the symmetry of the subventral stegostomatal sectors, and the presence of a thin, conical dorsal tooth, further distinguishes Leptojacobus n. gen. from other genera of Diplogastridae. Phylogenetic analysis of nearly full-length SSU rRNA sequences support the new species, together with an isolate identified previously as Koerneria luziae, to be excluded from a clade including all other molecularly characterized diplogastrids with teeth and stomatal dimorphism. Therefore, the new species will be of importance for reconstruction of ancestral character histories in Diplogastridae, a family circumscribed by a suite of feeding-related novelties.     

Leonophyllum tenellum nov. gen., nov. sp., an enigmatic plant from the Early Jurassic of the Mecsek Mts (Hungary)

The Early Jurassic flora of the Mecsek Mountains is diverse, with numerous representatives of ferns, seed ferns, cycadophytes, ginkgophytes, and conifers. Its (para-)autochthonous deposition, good preservation and low collection bias has permitted researchers to save delicate, small plant remains that would generally be missing from the fossil record. These plant fossils are characterized by having a “filmy” (probably unilayered) structure, thin stalks with flat leaf-like branches and ultimate irregular segments with streamlined epidermal cells having thick cell walls. Due to the absence of sporangia, the plant remains cannot be confidently assigned to any higher plant group, although they show some similarities to thalloid liverworts with raised vegetative bodies and also have some resemblance to the fern family Hymenophyllaceae. The new genus and species Leonophyllum tenellum Barbacka et Kustatscher is erected.     

Rectogerochammina eugubina nov. gen., nov. sp., a new agglutinated foraminifer from the Upper Cretaceous of Gubbio, Italy

We describe the new agglutinated foraminiferal genus and species Rectogerochammina eugubina nov. gen., nov. sp. from the Upper Cretaceous Scaglia Rossa Formation of the Umbria-Marche Basin in Italy. The genus differs from Gerochammina (Neagu, 1990) in the presence of a terminal uniserial part.     

Longidorus orongorongensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) from subsoil of conifer/broadleaved forest

Abstract

Longidorus orongorongensis n. sp. is bisexual and recognisable from its large size (adults over 6 mm long), long odontostyle (145-172 μm), bluntly conoid lip region continuous with the body contour and especially by the posteriorly placed guide ring more than 60 μm from the oral aperture; also the female has a bluntly rounded tailless than an anal body width long. The first stage juvenile has a bluntly rounded tail. Juveniles and adults from one site below virgin forest are described.     

Brevilinea pocosinensis Siver, Hamilton & Morales gen. et sp. nov., a new diatom (Bacillariophyceae) genus from North Carolina, USA

A new diatom genus, Brevilinea gen. nov., is described from an acidic freshwater lake situated on the Atlantic Coastal Plain of North Carolina, USA. The type for the genus, Brevilinea pocosinensis sp. nov., differs from other diatoms by the presence of a unique and reduced raphe that is restricted to the central portion of the valve. The new taxon has large and distinctive areolae that also serve to separate it from existing genera. The taxonomic placement of the new organism relative to other diatoms possessing a reduced raphe is discussed. Although Brevilinea may eventually be placed into a new family, given the current dynamic state of diatom systematics, it is premature to do so at this time.     

Araneibatrus gracilipes gen. et sp. n., a remarkable Batrisitae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from P. R. China

Araneibatrus gracilipesgen. n. and sp. n. from South China is described and illustrated. The systematic position of the genus is discussed.